Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

Thanks, Texas.  Definitely not looking forward to the drain, but it will be better than this big, messy opening in my incision.  Did you have a hematoma after surgery, too?  I had necrosis and infection after MX and ended up with surgery, another drain and 3 weeks of antibiotics.  It healed up fairly quickly, so I'm hoping for similar results this time. 

Bonnie, I'm soo soo sorry that you are having to go thru this now too.  It is bad enough to have to give up your implants.  This all, especially the drain is just too much.  I'm praying that you heal quickly and get rid of that damn drain!

Carie, my husband very much anticipated my hair loss.  He couldn't wait to shave my head and see me bald.  He does like my super short boy cut now.  Are you getting Neulasta shots as well?  I think those knocked me on my butt more than the chemo did.

bold, I talked to my stylist about a weave.  I don't have enough hair on the crown of my head to hold a weave.  It does pretty much suck.  My stylist does an amazing job at minimizing the baldness. 

Geez, Texas.  That sounds like it was miserable.

Woo Hoo Texas!

Carie, ready for round #2?

So, let's start a fun subject, vaginal dryness! LOL! Seriously ladies, anyone dealing with that? I was fine during chemo, but since my cycle has returned last summer, it's been up & down. It's so bad right now, I went to the dr today thinking I was a UTI. But no, it's clear. Trying Replens right now, hopefully it will help. Geezz..

Texas, ask your PS about Silvedene.  It's used on burns to heal them and my PS had me use them on my nip construction coz they didn't want to heal up.  It worked very well.

congrats on getting to the finish line.  I'm still looking at 2-3 procedures starting Jan 12.  Then some re-tattooing.  Sigh 

Caroline, I somehow missed the dryness question.  Maybe a subconscious oversight.  LOL.  YES  It is a big problem.  My gyn Rx Estriol vag. cream.  Like Texas, there is a loading dose of everyday for two weeks.  Then 2x weekly to maintain.  You shouldn't have any problem getting an Rx since you are ER/PR-.  It was like pulling teeth to get my onc to agree to this for me.  He asked me if it was really that big of a big deal.  I asked him how he would feel if every time he had sex it felt like someone was ripping the skin off his penis.  He ok'd my request.    As far as frequency, that helps a lot too.  When we don't very often, it's like starting all over again and the pain is back.  Sometimes bleeding.  At that point I just remind DH to be gentle.  I'm a virgin again.  LOL  

Check the I want my MoJo back thread.  TONS of info there. 

Cebula -- you are so right that treatment ends and procedures go on and on and on..... DH and I were counting yesterday and I've had 6 procedures, including MX, since getting BC.  Most recently, I had implant removed 10/26 after 2nd capsular contracture and then got a huge hematoma that was washed out in another surgery earlier this week.  I'm done with "immediate reconstruction" procedures and am going for a prosthetic when everything is healed up.

As for the vaginal dryness, my gyn prescribed vagifem and estrace cream, but I was so afraid of a recurrence that I didn't use them very long.  Replens didn't work for me, but we're still looking for something that will work.  Today my surgery side is very sore and I'm still "wearing" a JP drain, so must get well from all of this before doing much else.

Have a wonderful day.....

Hi Everybody.:-)

Home from chemo #2 of cycle #2.  What a wonderful way to spend a friday afternoon.  Not.   Today was one of those days that when I got to the parking lot of the cancer center, I just didn't want to get out of the car.  Blah.

Firni, if I ever win the lottery I will give you whatever you need to put your face back where it belongs, and maybe some hairplugs?:-)  I think you are a special lady, and I wish you didn't have to deal with not feeling good about yourself.

We actually have a winter storm warning starting tomorrow morning at 6am until Sunday morning at 6am.  Woohoo!!  I'm one of those weird people that actually likes snow, especially now that I don't have to get up and drive a city bus around in it.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend.:-)

Blah, blah, blah.  Really had a miserable day today. The decadron from yesterday had me up at 3am, which had me all discombobulated.  I forgot to take all my meds.  And instead of being able to just sit inside and watch the snow I actually had to go drive in it and it sucked.  Tried to take a nap and I just felt all weird and funky and inside out.  Gonna drug up and pass out.  Sorry for the whining, I just know that at least here everybody will understand.

Carie -- So sorry about your miserable day and hoping you get some good sleep tonight and tomorrow is a better day for you.  ((Hugs))

Yikes Carie, and you can't even enjoy the snow Now that's sad! I'm with you on that one, I LOVE snow. One chemo morning, we had a big snow storm, so we wrapped up the kids and took them out sledding for a couple of hours then back in for hot cocoa, then out to chemo at 11AM! Yeah, I like snow that much.. hehe.. It also made the day more enjoyable. Hope you feel better this morning. So how many rounds are you doing?

You are not a whiney crybaby, Carie so we could never call you one.  You are one strong person who has been given alot to deal with and you impress me every day with the way you handle things. It is perfectly OK to come here to tell us when you feel annoyed or frustrated with what is going on. That is why we are here for eachother.

Sending big hugs

Mandy 

Carie, I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better, and whine all you want, you're entitled to! That's what I kept telling myself

Last month, I started putting my blog in a shutterfly photobook. I just finished it! I wanted to make this so that I would always have a reminder of this journey and how life is precious. I know myself, and I can easily sweep under the carpet what I don't want to remember. And while my boys were little at the time, I wanted them to know what their mommy went through, how much I love them and how much I tried to make life normal for them during that time. It's my blod in it's entirety and photos of everything we did during that time, from diagnosis to end of treatment. I like it. Since you have all been so helpful and a big part of my treatment, I wanted to share it with you all http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZNG7Vo2btnkw 

Caroline: Your photo blog is beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes as I went through it.  You were wise to document each step of the way. 

Hugs

Caroline, I wish I could have read the text.  What a journey and what a beautiful documentation of it. You should take it to a publisher.  Thank you for sharing it with us!

Texas, what's going on?  Why are you so down?  Or is it one of those I don't know why I feel like crap, but there it is. ?  Can I bring you some brownies?