Too early for April 2012 mastectomy?

@lisamarie - i'm not having exchange surgery until October because i have too much going on in my life!  Doc said i am "eligible" for it starting in end of July/August-- but i'm going away end of August and Doc doesn't want to do before then.  and September is hard with school starting for kids.  So...October it is.  I don't mind the look of my TEs in clothing. And while not beautiful naked, i've gotten used to them.  i think this whole journey is about "new normals." 

Lisamarie,  So sorry your still having such pain with the TEs!  Hopefully you won't have many more fills and then once that is done,  you won't have the pain.  The PS told me Friday that I only have 3 more fills.  I think he put extra in on Friday because I had a bit more pain but I'm trying to ignore it!  I did modified push-ups today so tomorrow I might have to take a tylenol.  Doing some exercise does seem to loosen thing up in there.  

My exchange will be in September.  Another drain is assured according to the PS.  This means a whole week off of work for me because I can't go in with a drain attached.  I just keep in mind the perky boobs and tummy tuck and that keeps me moving forward.

Anyone else getting ready to take tamoxifen or already on it?  I'm getting my perscription filled on Monday.  Another stage entered! 

Hello to all my April ladies. Hope everyone is doing well! Question for those who had mx/diep. I just about 8 weeks out from surgery 4/23 and still not feelng fantastic. I have aliens in my body (nerve ending) moving all the time and so so uncomfortable. Additionally from just under the breast all the way to the abdomin my skin is sensetive and hurts when touched or even if clothing are on or rubs against it. Just wondering if this is normal. going back to doc next tuesday but I thought I would see what other say. Let me know and keep cool (NYC 100 today, or close to it)

I miss everyo ne , hope all are well   it's very hot here on Long Island .. bought some air conditioners yesterday , just got off working my 12 hour night shift .. a little tired . I have 2 more fills and I am done with filling my TE's .. doc says I am at the point i should be .. so these next ones are overfills , then I will rest my month and go for the exchange .. hoping its over soon .. other than that just working thank god .. and paying bills and routing for my Yankees .. hugs to all 

I miss all you surgery sisters also!  I guess it's a good sign that everyone is getting on in life (either that or they have moved on to another thread).  I will always have fond memories of the April 2012 gals.

I meet with the radiologist on Monday to determine if radiation is needed for the tumor that was within 1mm of the margin.  We are also doing the BRCA test and getting my oncotype to have a better picture of what to do next.  For now, I am recovering nicely from the ALND (other than the horrible shingles like pain on my arm).

 Hope happier days are upon each of you! 

I am so bummed out. MO said my hair would not fall out with CMF chemo and guess what it is by the handfuls. I am going to get it cut short tonight. I can't deal with the long pieces coming out in my hands. I cried halfway to work. Chemo sucks.

Lisamarie- I am glad you are almost finished withe the whole expander thing. What size implants are you getting. I know you are small like me. My PS said the biggest I can have are 275's.

RTNYC and keonghi- I am sorry you are both having pain. I still have a lot of numbness. I was getting bit by a bug and didn't even feel it. I wonder how he liked chemo.

Plymouthpeople- I too am used to the expanders. They even looked great in a swimsuit. I am hoping the implants have the same projection.

Glad to hear from everyone. I don't come here as much due to chemo and work. We should all try to stay in touch. Have a great night and for those in this dreadful heat, stay cool.

Diana rose , hope u start to feel better . sorry about ur hair. I miss u . I am working like crazy , days and nights .. playing catch up .. as of right now I have 340cc in left and 370 in right .. and he says 2 more fills .. over fill i guess, I am supposed to be a full B when all is said and done . I look huge right now . but thats because I never had any to begin with , i was a negative A lol... 

Hope everyone else is well gotta get ready for work .. hugs  

Got my hair ( what's left of it) chopped last night. The saving grace of it all is I have curly hair so the cut is in a way that I don't think anyone can tell right now just how thin it really is. It was still falling out this morning when I showered.

Plymouth people- you are right. The hair loss is more devistating than the boob loss.

Lisamarie- I wish I could go as big as you, but can't due to radiation. I hope you are happy with the end results. It is the only prize out of the whole dam thing. I have been working as much as possible to just to play catch up. I have chemo brain a lot though. Used the wrong attachment twice while making bread at work and couldn't figure out what was wrong for a few minutes. I threw my knife in the trash the other day and kept the stuff I needed to throw away on my work table. By then I finish up  and go home before I burn the place down.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Hello, ladies.  I have been so so busy and have not been checking in much -- but i have been thinking about you all.  RTNYC-- so so sorry you are in so much pain.  Hopefully it will get better with time!!  You had such a major surgery with the DIEP -- i think much bigger than TE.  Maybe you just need more time. ugh!!!  I wish you felt better.  I was burning for the first month or so after surgery...but mine has mostly all gone away.  Still uncomfortable if you touch certain areas of my breast, and still don't wear the shoulder part of my seatbelt when driving...but mostly pretty good.

Diana Rose-- so sorry about the hair loss. sucks!  grrr...... can you get a beautiful wig that makes you feel good?  my friend got one that looked absolutely natural.

Keonghi-  glad you are recovering from the ALND! sorry about the pain and am hoping your ONC is sparing you from RADS!  

Other than still feeling stiff (particularly when i get chilly), i feel good.  I'm doing PT 2 times a week and my ROM is much improved.  PT says I'm at about 75% ROM.  I feel good.  Am working like crazy.  And am trying to ignore breast cancer until my next surgery in October.  I haven't even been giving any thought to implants, which i suppose i'll need to do in the next couple of months.  Busy with work, end of school, summer and life!  Still hard to believe I have breast cancer.  WTF!  miss all you ladies.  am keeping the chemo girls in my prayers always. xxo

Hi Ladies , had my last fill on Tuesday and boy it was a lot , I dont even know how much ... but by the time I got home I couldnt sit, stand , lay ..by 5 pm I had to call Dr back was in so much pain..he had to call me in the dreadful Percocet .. UGH ! stayed in bed and throwing up all night and all day and night yesterday. he says they wil call me and schedule my exchange in about 3 weeks .. everything is moving so fast . I am glad to be getting it over with ...I hate these TE's I feel like I have big balls under my arms .. it is so huge ...Hope all of you are in good health and spirits .. Love and Hugs 

Lisamarie- sorry about your pain. Just think in 3 weeks you can get the dam things out and get your squishy girls.

I went wig shopping yesterday. I need one that is heat resistant because of all the commercial ovens at work. I about fell out of the chair when she told me the price. It is 950.00 and my insurance will only pay 350.00. It all sucks. I hope my mortgage company is sympathetic because my payment for July is going to be a tad late.

Work is crazy busy, but I have a hard time sometimes with I guess what is chemo brain. I go into the walk in and forget what the hell I went in there for. Picked up all my meds today to start regimen #2 on Tuesday. I wish It was the last one. I just want my life back. The hair too would be nice. Well I used to have to bleach my upper lip, but now there is nothing to bleach. One positive thing.

Lisamarie- I have never had pain after a fill. I don't get much each time because I can't get the exchange until next yr so there is not point in rushing. I am only at 210 each side. It's more than I had to begin with so I not going to complain. Are you going with silicon or saline? I took Xanax for the spasms. It worked great, no puking, and it helped me sleep. I am not a fan of pain meds or puking. I haven't puked with chemo, just nausea where you think you are going to. Hope you get some sleep.

Dianarose , I look like a mini dolly parton .. omg im so big but its just overfill he says , I am having a B at exchange and I am doing silicone. I am still in so much pain the TE's are so full they are even under my armpits and it sucks because I cannot shave good due to them . besides the fact that my arms rub on them each time i move .. its just gross.. This is the most pain iv'e have since having any fills , I am thinking I am over 400cc in each as he did not tell me how much he placed this time . I am praying that the exchange is not bad . I have not gone to bathroom since tuesday .. and the laxativs dont work .. im just getting more and more miserable , and I work this weekend .. anyway I complain too much and feel like a big baby .. but it really hurts burns pulls .. its crazy ... Hugs to u all 

Kristi glad u are healing  

dianarose...I am sure that wig looks beautiful on you; wear with your head up and a smile on your face!!!  If you haven't already check out Look Good Feel Better; they hold workshops to help women going through chemo look good and feel better. The workshop will teach how to apply makeup the right way for your new skin affected by chemo, will show you how to use makeup to make eye brows, etc etc...all FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

 keonghi where do you use your miracle cream neuragen on what part of your body. I have the numbness tingle etc on my arms, under arm and boobs. Well I have the flap diep procedure and it's totally numb and the nerve endings keep me up at night. is that cream good for all my problems??  I was thinking about going to acupuncture for insonmia, I haven't had a good night sleep before surgery, even with drugs of all kinds. Does it really work? Do I need to go to someone who specializes in insomnia.

Everyone, please feel better, xoxo

Oh my PS said I do not have to wear a bra but if I want to I can, underwire or not. I went to Wal-mart and got a size up because I'm still swollen/numb didn't want it to be tight but my god, $8.98 each!  I will wear one tomorrow hoping it's comfortable since I go back to work in 2 weeks.  the brand is Dream Fit in case anyone else is in need of a comfy cheap bra.. 

rtnyc - Neuragen definitely will help and it is homeopathic. Also, one of the things that Chinese medicine can help better than western MDs is treating insomnia.

I put the cream all around my upper arm and on my shoulder blade 4xday.  It has worked wonders with stopping that extremely sensitive skin and the sharp tingling.  It doesn't take it away 100% but probably about 80%.  Any relief I can get is better than nothing.  I also tried Aspercrem and that didn't do anything except make me nauseous (one on its side effects).

I bought the cream in the muscle cream section of Walgreens (I'm sure any drugstore would have it).  You can find a .15 oz tube of Neuragen PN in the diabetic's section for $30 or you can look in the section where there is Bengay etc and find a 4 oz tube of Neurogen cream for the same price.  I think they charge more for diabetics cuz their insurance will pay for it.  here's the website for it http://www.originbiomed.com/neuragen

 Dianarose - Sorry to hear about the cost of your wig.  Just remember when you are putting it on the wig stand, that it is only temporary.  Your hair will come back stronger than ever.

Hugs to all!