MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited January 2012

    chiluvr228,  Wow!  What a scare.  Good thing you went directly to the ER that night.  That's one Christmas you will not soon forget, and now you unfortunately have to face other family issues to keep your little GD safe.  It will work out for the best, I'm sure.  Now, why do you hate your foobs?  

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  • marlegal
    marlegal Member Posts: 2,264
    edited January 2012

    janis, I'm posting this after reading yours about swelling from rads...others may have answered but I'll throw in my 10 cents! do NOT assume that your surgeon will recognize LE. Sad but true that many doctors ignore swelling. Regardless of what he thinks, please ask for a referral or get the name of a trained LE therapist and go for an evaluation. Radiation can bring on LE even months out from treatment. In my case, my breast continued shrinking for literally years after I was done with rads. That shit does things to us that no one really knows about!!! Hopefully it also kills all those nasty cells that may have lingered, so I'm ok with the effects that come on, but please please please make an appointment with a LE therapist for at least an initial evaluation. I developed LE 2.5 yrs post surgery and wished that I'd known then what I know now.

    This is me coming off my soapbox :)

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited January 2012

    I'm going to be another voice chiming in about truncal LE--I got it after rads, the pain was terrible, and only stopped after I had a mastectomy.  So much for "conserving" my breast.  The Rad Onc I was seeing at the time actually correctly diagnosed the problem, then told me there was no treatment!  Fortunately my Med Onc knew better and referred me to a couple of LE therapists who taught me the massage and got me a compression bra (uncomfortable to wear but it did decrease the pain from a 10 to a 6).  My BS knew nothing about truncal LE.  So even if your BS knows about truncal LE he/she may not know about treatment. 

    Listen to Binney, she's an expert and got me through a really rough time with all the LE stuff.  

    Hi, Binney!  

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited January 2012

    binney...many thanks for doing your homework and all the good advice.  I will be reading up in just a few minutes.  If my BS is clueless then I will have to go to my MO.  I have to have a referral to go to PT. 

    odie.......thanks to you too.  The more experiences I hear about the more I understand this.

    Denise, I am so sorry you had to go through such a frightening and traumatic experience.  How awful, but at least you were there for her and she is okay now.

    marlegal...I always love your 10 cents, or two cents!  Sound advice and good to know that I am not alone.  Hopefully my BS will know about LE if that is the case.  I don't think infection as the pain is not constant and no redness.  Just the persistant swelling and some pain.  The right (BS) breast definitely fills out my bra well.  Go figure huh?

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited January 2012

    Denise, big hugs for what's to come! You did good.

    Janis, my surgeon doesn't believe in LE and I actually had a revision surgery to take even more tissue! Well, of course it wasn't tissue, it was LE, so it made it even worse. My MO diagnosed it. My surgeon still doesn't get it. Thank goodness my PCP is VERY aware of it. At my recent visit to the hosptial they were amazingly aware of LE!!! Once they asked what side my cancer was on, they did nothing on that side! I was surprised and pleased. Didn't want to tell them it could have been my other side as it's not only nodal surgery that interupts the lymphs, but any breast surgery.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited January 2012

    Meant to add, your PT should be teaching YOU how to do the massages so you don't have to pay to get it done. My DH does my back.

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited January 2012

    Binney....I read the information and it sure fits me.  The swelling and the pain have developed in the past couple of months but gotten noticeably worse as far as the pain and discomfort goes.  I fill out the BC side of the bra a lot more than the other side.  Thanks for the link...

    Barbe I really don't know WHO to contact!  I don't see my MO until next month so wondering if I should call that office?  I LOVE his nurse and she has been more helpful than he ever has.  Maybe I will just leave a message for her.  Barbe I really am sorry you have had to go through so much!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Justmejanis, try the search engine here: http://www.clt-lana.org/therapists/default.asp and see if you can find someone in your area.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited January 2012

    Janis, any doctor on your team can make the referral, even your PCP. So can the helpful nurse. If one won't do it, ask another. The LANA site Momine gave you is a good start. Here's more information and ways to find a therapist who's fully trained:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

    Be well!
    Binney

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited January 2012

    Thanks Binney!  I put in my search for 50 miles and came up empty handed.  So put in my state and came up empty handed as well.  I always live in backwards places!  Will come up with some plan.  I am definitely going to leave a message for Esther next week. 

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited January 2012

    Janis, here are two listings sites for fully-trained therapists. Enter Idaho in each and you'll find several therapists in Boise and Meridian:

    http://www.klosetraining.com/TherapistDirectory.asp

    http://www.vodderschool.com/find_a_therapist

    If the links don't work let me know and I'll copy them out and PM you. Hope that helps!
    Binney

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited January 2012

    Did I miss the mystery pic?

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 8,543
    edited January 2012

    Yea!  Where is the mystery pic?  Who was supposed to post it?

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited January 2012

    Thanks Binney I will check in awhile.  Boise is out of the question, I could not afford the gas to get there even though it is only about 25 miles from here.  Meridian is not much better at at least 15.  It is so darn frustrating.  I'll see what I can find.  Thanks.

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2012

    Denise- So sorry about your GD.  My youngest son had very bad asthma when he was a baby and it is so terrifying. I had to really learn to listen to his breathing to know what was going on because he was too young to communicate.  So sorry you spent Christmas in the hosptial but she is so lucky to have you.

    Eli- I had two really good Dr visits.  My pain Dr released me even though am having neck pain. He feels that my PCP is handling it good and just wants me to check in when I finish this treatment.  If i need him I can call him.  Feels good to ditch a Dr. event hough I really like him.  My MO appt when well all my bloodwork is good I just have to wait a few days for my Vit D levels but otherwise good.  He is concerned about my neck but agreed for me to get off my tamox for a couple of weeks and try the steroid pac again.  He could not believe that it did nothing for me the first time.  He said if this did not work wants me to call him and he wants to ge to the bottom of it.  We talked about my upcoming BMX and he is very supportive since my last B9 lumptecomy on my other breast.  He said my breast are very unpretictable and he thinks a BMX is a good decision.  I told DH that I am finally feeling good about my BC future.  I told my MO I had changed BS after this last surgery and that the new one wants me to have a breast MRI on MOnday because my guide wire came out right before the last surgery and he wants to make sure everything is OK before we proceed on the BMX.  I think my MO was glad because I don't think he and my old BS have the best relationship. Neither one has ever said anything but I can read between the lines. 

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2012

    NO you didn't miss it.  I can't do it.  DD isn't here  & I have no clue how to do it.  I've been away from home all day so this is the 1st moment I've been on the computer since early Friday @ work.  Sorry!

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  • marlegal
    marlegal Member Posts: 2,264
    edited January 2012

    joni ... we'll wait for you hon :)

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited January 2012

    Joni, no worries!

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited January 2012

    No problem! Please don't stress over it.

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited January 2012

    Joni I never guess the puzzles as I am afraid to win!  I tried to upload a photo once and after almost tearing out all my hair, I gave up.  My DH even tried, he is a lot more computer savvy than I am, and he couldn't figure it out either!  Maybe we are missing something but enough other people here participate it is no big deal my not guessing.  I totally understand!  :)

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited January 2012

    Janis, you can do it one of two ways: 1. Go to your Facebook account and click on a picture to get it full size. Then right mouse click and select copy. Go open a post reply window and right mouse click and paste. You must paste twice.  2. Or you can upload a photo to Photobucket. Once uploaded, when you click on the photo, there is a direct link URL you can click. Then do the same thing as above, paste twice.

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  • justmejanis
    justmejanis Member Posts: 1,847
    edited January 2012

    Barbara...you will laugh at this one.  I have heard of Photobucket but no idea how to use it!  I think the FB sounds easy.  Thanks so much for the tips!

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited January 2012

    janis,  In the meantime, if you want to, look on You Tube and you can find videos that demonstrate the lymphadema massage, and you could try it to see if there is a difference.  On the MP, you can still guess and get the outpouring of prestige that comes with guessing right.  If you cannot post something, you can pass it down to the second closest.

    Eph,  If you can get something posted from your Facebook, we can guess through tomorrow and you could tell us tomorrow night.  If you can't get it, PM me and I'll have to go back and see who came in second place (or noodle6 can tell me), then that person could post next weekend.

    ---------------------

    These are the photo posting instructions from BCO that someone made:

    Posting Pictures 

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2012
    What is it?
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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited January 2012

    Hahaha!  It looks like a dolphin eating a life vest.  Naughty!

                                                                                        

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2012

    hahahaha

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  • marlegal
    marlegal Member Posts: 2,264
    edited January 2012

    hmm...the red part looks like the biohazard warning thing I see at the doctor's office all the time! the other part is a section of the waste receptacle lid.

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  • Denise2730
    Denise2730 Member Posts: 648
    edited January 2012

    The new foobs look like the TE's did: hamburger buns.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited January 2012

    chiluvr,  I take it they don't have a natural slope to them.  Did they tell you it would gradually change or anything?  Hope it can be worked out somehow to your liking.

    Did you ever notice that if we are dis-satisfied with surgical outcomes, they don't step up to fix it on their dime?  Unless you get malpractice award $$.  You might get something fixed with a second procedure YOU pay for.  Why is it you can get a suit tailored and if they screw it up, you go back and they re-do for free.  Surgery, if they screw up, you pay for the fix.  Don't doctors have the same simple pride in their work that a tailor has?

    Eph, give a few more people a chance to get their guesses in tomorrow, before revealing what the strange MP is??????????

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited January 2012

    MP--the end of a bandana

    I am going tomorrow for my breast MRI.  This is a new breast surgeon so I don't know if he will call me with results or make me wait until I see him on the 25th, although I don't expect anything to be there since my last surgery was in November.  This is just a follow up to make sure they got everything.  If everything looks good then I'll get the green light to move forward with my BMX.

    Chilvur I sure hope they will drop and fluff otherwise you might have to go back for a redo.  I agree with Eli why do we have to do this on our $$ does not make sense.

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