February 2012 MX

Hi Ladies,

I'm back.  Working my first 12 hour Midnight tonight.  My schedule is really lousy for the next month as they just fit me in where they were short...

Deborah,

Sorry I didn't get to wish you good luck, but by now it's all done and I'm sure you're doing fabulously!!

To everyone dealing with bureaucracy, hang tough!!!

Debbie,

Keep us updated on the exemestane and we'll keep our fingers crossed for no side effects:>

Hope everyone is doing well!!

Carolyn

Carolyn...hope your shift isn't to bad for you, I don't know how you do it. I return to work Thursday and I have mixed feelings. It seems I have been home for so long I am in a new routine, one the other hand I am glad to get back out in the real world and do something productive and be around my work friends again.

Deborah...glad you are home and still have a sense of humor, love reading your post. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Looking forward to hearing from everyone and wishing you all the best!!!

Take care ladies and Deb, I will call you this afternoon!

Hugs,  Deb

Thanks Bern. ...Oh, and by the way....HUGE, HUGE difference between Arimidex and Aromasin (Exemestane) side effects for me...so they definitely are not all alike!  So, if one doesn't work, definitely try another!

Thanks Debbie...Right now the hot flashes at night seem to be getting worse just from the ovaries coming out. I am gradually getting back into my workouts so hopefully the joint pain/stiffness won't be as bad. Were you just getting headaches or did you get other SE's too?

Hi girls! I am ok today,not sad but scared cause I gotta go to my MO appt and tell him I quit the Arimi without his permit due to not being able to breath and talk (tongue swoll up) and another long list of side effects. Also very mad that the oncotype dx test was never mentioned...are they making too much money throwing the Arimi at me and then I gotta get the bld prz med for the side effects and 2 expensive ointments for my sores on my severely chapped lips? Maybe my chance of it coming back is 1%??And whats up with Montel Wms he had breast cancer 20 yrs ago and now he wants to talk about it?  Anybody in FL know what I gotta do to get eh Oncono test? And what is it? Is it a blood test? Or like an MRI? My office wants a dr treatment scenario on the FMLA papers and the PS gave the papers to her asst who is refusing to do it until my next surgery. At our office the FMLA on file gives you the right to take an unpaid day off so you can save your paid leave for the surgery. I am waiting on my implant surg and get my TE out got 420 cc right now but waiting to be a C or thereabouts. I am mad!!!!yeah and the British kind of insane mad also.

Hi Layla!  Definitely ask your doc about exemestane...it's another aromatase inhibitor, but for me, there seem to be zero side effects from it versus the arimidex, which was a nightmare. 

Hi Bern,

I took the generic for Arimidex about an hour ago.  All I can say, is be careful what all these oncs  wish for.  They didn't want to wait until after I recover from the final implant surgery I had on 4-30-12.  I have a drain on the lifted left side. 

So, here's what I faced this morning.  I had to take my anti-biotic horse-sized pill that always makes me nauseous.  I am directed to take it with food even though one should take it on an empty stomach.  I also popped the hormone blocker, at the same time.  So, if I get nauseous, they won't know why.  Too many damned variables.  I did sleep through the night without any pain meds whatsoever.

The lifted "Ms. Goody Nippled" hurts much.  The MX side can't feel a thing. The PS gave me a velcro belt to help keep the lifted side hiked up. The wonderful side effect of the belt is the deep sutures propping her up are not doing all the heavy lifting on their own as I heal.  I stuffed a kotex pad under the belt as well to create a soft shelf and keep the band on better under the lifted breast.

Also, PS got rid of the deep suture that was attached tomy sternum from the TE (that mild pain was always present).  I don't miss the TE cardboard box under my chest one bit.  That has been a real value add to my quality of life.

Smiles and hugs to all.

Glad to see Layla posting again. What a drag you're facing all that aggravation and disappointment.  Sending goodwill your way.

Deborah2012

Deborah -- YAY!!  So glad to hear your exchange isn't too bad.  I'm so ready to get my over with.  I literally laughed out loud at your post last night.  I've learned to embrace my upside down faux righty, she is just misunderstood :-)

Nel -- I was wondering about you the other day.  Hugs girl.

Debbie & Bern -- sending all my "get out of a headache free" cards to you two.

Beth -- You are missing AGAIN.  Just sayn'

Carolyn -- I hear ya!!  I've been working 50/60 hour weeks for the last month, I'm thinking they forgot I'm in RECOVERY!!!! :-)

Layla & mma -- Good to see you again :-)

If I missed anyone who still checks in daily.....I miss you too!!

Hello FFF,

Well, I had a set back last night. I've a call in to my PS. I had a terrible pain episode.  Felt like my lifted breast skin was on fire, as in topically burning.  I literally screamed out loud in severe pain and then cried because it hurt so much.  Shook up DH pretty much, too. Poor guy. I don't believe I have an infection.  No fever.  Never had pain like that before.  It's my own fault.

I had gone 30 straight hours without any pain meds whatsoever- not even an ibuprofen. Why?  Because I wanted to take my Anastrozole for the first time yesterday morning without pain meds in me.  I'm already taking antibiotics, etc. 

Okay the pain comparisons for those who are facing reconstruction:

1. With the MX I had deep suture dull aches and if I moved a certain way, it'd hurt.  Had to make the pillow fortress to avoid painful positions.  However, I think I took 3-4 pain pills total spread out over a week.  I could handle the sutures to my sternum.  The MX was almost a "breeze'.  Not bad at all. The drain regimen is what stunk.

2. The reconstruction on the MX side.  The TE replaced is a breeze!  She has no feeling, looks great, the deep sutures were removed, she's a very good girl!.  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy easier than the MX. No black and blue, green nada.  Picture pretty!

3.  The lifted non-MX side is a @*%*! The dull pain from deep sutures (more sutures than what was done when TE was installed), I can handle.  In fact, I don't have to make the exact pillow fortress like I had to with the MX TE install to avoid dull pain.  The skin sensitivity is another matter entirely.  The burning is sporadic.  I don't know what triggers it. I would assume it has something to do with nerve sensations after anesthesia wears off? My nipple was surgically uninvolved although it's very sensitive.  The incision was under my breast fold above the top rib. It is NOT the same as the "zings" we felt with the MX.  Those were almost comical.  All of the sudden we'd get a surprising little electrical charge and it zapped us for a split second.   This feels like kerosene had been splashed on my breast skin and then lit on fire.  And it lasted longer than a split second.  I truly do not know how women tolerate chemo.  Nel, you're my hero! I've heard chemo for many is like fire inside.

And to top it off, my BRCA sample sent to the lab last week hasn't been tested yet!  Apparently the BRCA lab wants more family history info?

Ya know, I'm just going to celebrate the whole blasted goat rodeo with some Milk of Magnesia since I'm on day 4 of that hostage crisis situation!  We've all been there, done that one, right!

Your cranky FFF

Bah humbug!

FFFs, may you all be well during your journey and recoveries.

Deborah2012....glad to hear you have your optimism back and will be pain free...yay!!! Love the happy bubbles floating around...here's to an even better day tomorrow.

Galsal...anything new?

To all the FFF's...have a great night, hope you all sleep well

Hi Nel...great advice! I just finished day 2 at work and I stayed ALL day because I just keep trying to get my desk cleaned off...Monday I am going in later so I am forced to take a shorter day...really felt it in the arms today and left groin/hip area (I guess from the ovaries out) ugggh....TGIF.

Deborah2012...are you feeling any better today? I hope so

To all the FFF's hope you are being kind to yourselves and have a relaxing weekend! 

Deborah, glad you figured that out about the med.  Bern, I go on Tuesday to see PS again.  So hoping to finally get started at least on the pre-testing!

You know it.  Hesitant to get excited at this time since there's been so  many  delays already