August 2010 Mastectomy

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  • soccermomofthree
    soccermomofthree Member Posts: 163
    edited March 2011

    Shari glad your feeling a bit better.  I never thought of diep surgery.  Do you need mammos if you have that?  I never wanted another mammo. 

    Carrol very exciting that you are getting so close.  Be sure things you need are at elbow level your elbows may need to stay at your sides...

    lago I was doing crunches before my implant surgery now I have not done one!  Summer is coming too! lol

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited March 2011
    zumba is great for abs if you do it right. Lost of twisitng at the waist. Ok so good for the waist.
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  • sgreenarch
    sgreenarch Member Posts: 528
    edited March 2011

    Right, Carrol. Zumba is actually really popular here. But you have to be coordinated, which I'm not. Two very left feet. My big exercise excitement is that I am in training for a swim across the Sea of Gallilee, end of May. First time for me, doing something like this. I love to swim and I'm excited about it. Need to swim 1.5K, which isn't really that hard. 60 laps in an olympic pool. What other kinds of exercise have you been doing? I need to lose weight, about 15 lbs. Onc said I didn't, that I'm not considered fat, but I'm still carrying around 15 lbs of baby weight and baby is almost 14 years old!

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited March 2011
    sgreenarch i have 3 left feet, soooo not coordinated. But after a while i picked up the steps. it;s hard for me to follow so it keeps my mind off that i am working out. I basically go to teh gym about the same time every day and take whatever class they have which is besides zumba body sculpting and step class and sometimes i take yoga after. But you can only lose weight if you eat less. I am a huge weight watcher fan. I lost 23 pounds and made my goal right before i was diagnosed and kept it off all though surgery and chemo. I have about 8 pounds that i put on after chemo but 3 of that is gone so just five to go. It is the best plan for eating healthy and making that a lifetime committment.
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  • sgreenarch
    sgreenarch Member Posts: 528
    edited March 2011

    I think you're probably right about WW. I need to do something like that. Thanks.

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  • smurfiep
    smurfiep Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2011

    lovesnature - just saw that you are scheduled for your exchange on March 28. I'm so happy for you! It is easier than the first surgery and you will feel better when the coconut shells are gone. I wish you luck and sending you a hug!!

    ~ Maria

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  • Pawprint
    Pawprint Member Posts: 464
    edited March 2011

    So nice to see some of our group back on our site. I am doing well. Still running the scans on the liver tumor but it appears to be benign. The new breasts ( implants silicone) are looking better. No feeling in them whatsoever. Started back to exercising and eating nutritiously. Gained some weight throughout the year....especially in my stomach and i never gained weight there before. Hope everyone else is doing well.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    Thanks for checking in. Great news on the liver scan. I too had to do another liver scan after chemo. Seems to be benign cysts but they do want to scan again in a year.

    I'm still doing expansions. I keep bumping into my party foobs. My PS likes to overfill. I have 2 more left. I was told last week my sensation is coming back fast than most. Great I was hoping I'd stay numb till after the exchange.

    I too am trying to get back into exercising but last week was a bad week. I still need to lose 8lbs.

    I started Anastrozole on the first. So far I think I get heartburn and some fluid retention but that's it. Are you doing any hormone therapy?

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  • kad2kar
    kad2kar Member Posts: 336
    edited March 2011

    Lovely Ladies...........Today I had my exchange, officially real fake boobs! Don't know what they look like yet. Lago.... if you start having really severe Side Effects ask for Effexor that helps with those, calmed down the BLAZING FLASHES I started having afew months after starting Anastrozole and it calmed them down after about 3 days.  Ladies ,take care of yourselves. DO NOT forget we are precious gifts to someone.kar

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited March 2011
    Home from my TE surgery yesterday. I have pain but it's manageable. I had some trouble peeing in the hospital and my blood pressure went too low. But everything turned around today and I was able to come home. 
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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    Kad2kar & Carrol I was thinking about you both yesterday. Ironically I was visiting another woman from this list who had her exchange yesterday. Just happened she was going to recovery not long after my expansion appointment literally on the same block.

    Hope your pain doesn't get too bad. Carrol the peeing issue isn't that unusual. 

    BTW this expansion (#9) is hell. I think he put in more than last time. Been doing Aleve since before I even left the office yesterday morning. It still hurts if I breathe in too deeply and my arms hurt… remember those nerves in your arms that hurt when they took the drains out? That's where both my arms hurt. Debating if I should call and get deflated a little or wait one more day. Oh and my right foob is itchy. Undecided

    Yes lucky me my sensation is coming back a little faster than most. Sure do wish it held out a few more months. I should know about my exchange date today. Right now it looks like the end of May or the end of June. I could go on the 13th of May but I have a wedding on the 15th… and who wants to have surgery on Friday the 13th? Granted it could be my lucky day. Amazing how fast these doctors get booked.

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited March 2011

    Thanks for thinking of me lago. I do have quite a bit of pain and the compression bra is killing me. I can't wait to take a shower so I can take it off and get a good look.I could not see much in the hospital. He ended up using a wider expander than he anticipated a.nd he filled me with 150cc. He thinks it will need 5 more fills Follow up is tuesday and they will most likely take the drains out

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    5 fills! guess they are going fast. Next week will be my 10th and I'm going smaller than you.

    I was not allowed to shower till the drains were removed. Lots of sponge baths.

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  • soccermomofthree
    soccermomofthree Member Posts: 163
    edited March 2011

    Carrol glad to hear all went well!  How exciting! :) 

    Lago so wonderful to hear you have sensation! I feel nothing...

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited March 2011

    I took off the compression bra and i was going to take a shower but i got very light headed and decided to wait another day. I did the sponge bath thing. Yeah the peeing issue happens a lot to people on morphine which i was on a lot in the hospital. I still have quite a bit of pain. Taking it easy. My sister went to zumba for me lol. Nothing tastes good and i am not hungry at all. I have to eat. I did get on the scale though and my weight went up from getting TEs I am going to check it again in the morning but looks like i gained about 5 pounds. Anyone know how much 300 ccs weighs? 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011
    Carrol you are probably retaining fluid from surgery. Remember that IV of fluids they gave you. Stop obsessing on weight and heal.
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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited March 2011

    Lago I know i am not obsessing i was just curious. The pain is making me not want to eat. My sister made me eat a little soup and an egg. She has a nice vegetable and beef stew going in the crockpot. I feel best when i am standing up so been pacing a lot.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited April 2011

    The walking is probably good for circulation. Just don't worry about a few pounds here or there for a few weeks at least.

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  • kad2kar
    kad2kar Member Posts: 336
    edited April 2011

    Lago...Thank You for thinking of me. As I told before you are the Light of this thread.I was so full of energy I couldn't stop moving. Didn't get to bed until 2am! Up at 3am decided that I needed more sleep,back to bed up at5am. Had my ace bandage removed and BOY are they smaller that when I went to the hospital!! Dr says they just need to get settled around and then I'll look better.Carrol...when I checked in yesterday Iweighed in at 125, last night 132, this am 139,right now 10pm 131, so the moral here do not worry so much about weight right now. I'm not a big eater never have been. My thyroid went wacky and I went fron 115 to 170 in amatter of a couple of months. That's worrisome,have yor thyroid checked if you haven't before. Make sure that's OK. Right now it is time to veg and heal. Lago...... how many cc's are you going to? I topped out at 550 &525 and that was streeetchED and they felt like they always had a fever. My R side had been in since August L one since mid Feb. Now they are 425 & 450..soft no pain aroud the perimeter of the breasts which was constant with the TE's.  How are your nails doing? I'm going to go to bed now and Sleep, Dr gave Rx for AMbien. I Know that works really good!!! EVERYONE have a goodnight of peaceful,restful sleep. kar

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  • lovesnature
    lovesnature Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2011

    smurfiep

    Just saw your post, thanks for the well wishes. I'm now three days post op and tylenol is doing the job. Had my post op appointment with PS, everything is healing nicely. Seems like I'm the only one who had nipples done at exchange. Time will tell how that works out. So nice I don't have to have another operation for that. All and all I trust my surgeon, so have faith it was the right choice for me.

    Thinking of all our August ladies, and all ladies who have to deal with what we have all been through.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited April 2011

    Congratulations Lovesnature. You'll have to let us know about the nipples. I think you are the first in our group.

    Kadkar from what I hear the implants need time to "fluff up". Everyone comes out of exchange surgery smaller… at least I better. I am huge now. I have shirts that are too small to wear because of my party foobs.

    I still think you ladies are retaining fluid and that's why you are having such quick weight gain.

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited April 2011
    Third night home since the TE surgery. Sleeping ok but do still have pain. When I wake up during the night I take more pain meds. Trying to stay on top of it as they say. Took a shower yesterday. I hate having those drains hanging there while showering. But it does feel better to be clean. I also got an xtra compression bra that the doctor gave me to use when I wash the first one that they put on me. This one is different and more comfy not as tight around my stomach area. This may be TMI but where else could i even think of discussing this but i had my first bowel movement after 5 days and ouch! Guess i should have taken the stool softener. You can bet I took it now. just took all my meds no food feeling queezy so better go rest. Just stuffed a banana and a hot choclate down.

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  • Pawprint
    Pawprint Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2011

    Hi again...Wow brings back memories when i see the posting of the surgeries. We have been through so much.

    Lago, yes I am on Arimidex since August 2010, The doc switched my effexsor over to Cymbalta for general body aches and pains. I am also dealing with acid reflux so I take a stomach pill for that as well everyday. Having short term memory problems, and some depression.

    I am doing fine with my implants. They are 550cc's full C/D cup depending on the bra. I had nipple sparing so I look somewhat the same except for the scars. Numbness in breasts probably forever.

    Whenever I feel a pain somewhere or start coughing I worry the cancer came back in another area of my body. I hear that is common for cancer survivors.

    Getting ready to walk another relay for life walk locally next weekend. Hope you are all doing well.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited April 2011
    Brokendreams I haven't reported the heartburn yet. My concern is they will put me on a proton pump inhibitor again. Long term use of those is not good for your bones. I'm already slightly osteopenic + the Anastrozole I don't need any additional crap eating at my bones.
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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited April 2011

    ok 4 days since my TE surgery. Home 3 nights so far. I was doing pretty well but today was bad. I took all my meds before i ate at 7am and i got really nauseaus all day. I finally threw up around 4pm.I felt a lot better after that but still feel sick. I am afraid to take the antibiotic now or anything for pain. I am thinking maybe wait to take now until tomrrow maybe i can get more food down. I just ate two ravioli and a banana. Tummy is not happy.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited April 2011
    Carrol try some saltines. Ravioli isn't such a good idea if you are puking. Sorry you feel this way.
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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited April 2011

    ok gonna try saltines. i hope i can take my antibiotics tomorrow i am supposed to take 4 a day and only took one today

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited April 2011

    Carrol stick to clear liquids, chicken without skin (bakes or broiled) oatmeal, pasta (no red sauce or rich sauces) potatoes sans skin, white rice, white toast, Popsicles

    It's what I call the white food diet. Yes it's alot of carbs but until your stomach settles you need to stay away from acidic, vegies etc.

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  • soccermomofthree
    soccermomofthree Member Posts: 163
    edited April 2011

    Carrol you should really try to take your antibiotic or call PS for a different one.  You really don't want an infection in your TE.  I hope you feel better soon!

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited April 2011
    Felling a lot better today still a bit iffy. I did eat some saltines. Got a packet of isntant oatmeal down and an ensure and i just ate a fudge pop. so not too bad. I took one antibiotic and one protonix gonna try another antibiotic at 4:00 that will be 6 hours like the instructions say. Keeping the saltines handy really helps. Took a shower. I have two surgical bras. The one they put me in at surgery and one they gave me to take home. The one they put me in is way tighter around the waist makes it hard to breathe and the other is really high on the armpits but looser much more comfy. I washed that one and i am wering the tight one till it dries. I am pretty miserable can;t wait for this to pass.
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