December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

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  • Bogie
    Bogie Member Posts: 286
    edited August 2012

    Thanks, she was a pillar of strength and will be missed terribly. She was a breast cancer survivor, but ended up dying from congestive heart failure. I feel fortunate I had her with me so long.



    I am back on the Aromasin and starting up with the numbness and stiff hands, trigger finger in the morning. Seems less this round though so I hope that continues. Anyone else having some blurred vision from it? My MO thinks its not related, but I do.

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited August 2012
    Bogie - how long after you started Aromasin the first time did you get the stiffness and trigger finger??  I am on my 7th day (generic) and I seem to be symptom free, thus far.
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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited August 2012

    Bogie - I'm so sorry to hear about your mom :( thinking of you!

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  • faithhopenluv
    faithhopenluv Member Posts: 323
    edited August 2012

    Kam - The few weeks after chemo ended were the most draining for me. When I first started chemo I joked that the last one didn't count, that I'd be so amp'd about it being over it would be like it didn't even happen. That wasn't the case, I underestimated how much effort it took to just be ok and once that last chemo was done it completely caught up to me. I'm 14 weeks post now, it's a good feeling when I actually have to think about it and count it out in my head. Give yourself plenty of time to adjust.

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited August 2012

    Oh, Bogie, so sorry to hear about your mother. Much love.

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited August 2012

    Bogie - sorry to hear about your mom. Sorry about the TE's too. From someone who did DIEP, I'd recommend it.

    Goldlining - I think that they think the keyhole leaves less visible scarring since the round part is at the edge of the areola, it'll just fade into the areola, so there's just the vertical line down then. But I don't know for sure. There may have been worries about working near the nipple too in the past?

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited August 2012

    Bogie-sending hugs, so sorry for your loss.

    Cookie-HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Mine was last week-my first since dx and it was sweet.

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited August 2012

    Cookie, sorry I missed your birthday so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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  • Bogie
    Bogie Member Posts: 286
    edited August 2012

    Thank you all, I appreciate your thoughts. Kam, the carpel tunnel and numbness started at the 3 month mark. Hoping you won't have that side effect with Aromasin. Other than blurred vision it has the least amount of side effects for me.



    Cookie, I'm happy to,hear you recommend the Diep. I'm a little Leary due to my truncal lymphadema though or developing a hernia. Any thoughts?

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited August 2012

    Bogie, thinking of you!!

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited August 2012

    Thanks for the b-day wishes! It was a thoroughly enjoyable day.

    Bogie - With DIEP they do not take any muscle so your abdominal muscles are not compromised. So I think there's very little if any worry about hernia. As for the lymphedema, I don't know what to tell you about it, I'd talk to others here - maybe post a question to one of the DIEP threads, and definitely talk to your doctor as well.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited August 2012
    Bogie, I had a DIEP in Dec and I do have a little LE on the chest on the side where just two nodes were taken in the previous mx. I did not notice it until after the DIEP but I think it's just because now it's three dimensional again, not flat. I hadn't been conscious of the swelling on the back of my shoulder/armpit but it was there before. I have a little swelling over top of the chest on that side, and I'm still experimenting with how to drain it. It's mild so I am fortunate. The abdominal part just takes tissue outside the muscle, no muscle, and you have to baby the abs for a while so that the reassembly heals (because now you're shorter on the front than the back, until it stretches out). However, no hernia issues as far as my experience goes, and I went back to being quite active (in between phases of utter laziness) pretty early. I was very pleased to donate the surplus belly that I had been saving since my daughter was born!
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  • chrissilini
    chrissilini Member Posts: 313
    edited August 2012

    Hello all. Haven't posted in a bit but I have been browsing. Glad to hear some are doing well. For those struggling a bit my thoughts are with you. Of course my thoughts are with all of you.



    I think I'm the only one not on any hormone therapy. My oncologist, well, I only met with her once, didn't believe the benefit would be enough to warrant the risks. My ca was a little ER+, I think 34% and PR 94%. I'm ok with the decision and I've been doing everything else I can. I've lost 28 lbs, 10-20 more to go, I exercise everyday and am eating better. In fact, aside from the cancer, I'm in the best shape I've been in the last 10 years. Too bad it took getting cancer to smarten up. Oh well, better late than never.



    I go to see Vinnie in October for tattoos. Can't wait. Going to make it a mini vacation. It's been a long summer, no time off as I used it up for the surgeries so a few days away is going to be fabulous. Other than that I just take one day at a time and make the most of it. Take care all. Be well.

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited August 2012

    Chrissilini-are you going to Baltimore or NOLA?  I want to make an appt with Vinnie, but not sure which place to go.

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited August 2012

    Blessings! - surgery tomorrow, right?  Can't wait to hear from you when you're all tucked away at home near a computer.  I'm heading up to PDX tomorrow for my pre-ops.  Can't get myself to pack tonite, so I made a long list of things not to forget at 5am.  Yeah right...

    Hey Chrissilini! 

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited August 2012

    Blessings , Kam, good luck

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited August 2012

    Blessings, Kam- good luck!



    Chrissilini- good to hear from you; nice job on the weight loss!

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  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited August 2012
    Positive thoughts heading your way tomorrow Kam & Blessings.
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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited August 2012

    Positives vibes and healing prayers to Kam and Blessings

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited August 2012

    Just pre ops

    On tram from top of hill to bottom!

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  • chrissilini
    chrissilini Member Posts: 313
    edited August 2012

    spunky.... I'm going to Baltimore to see Vinnie. He's pretty busy and is booking a couple of months out. Could have gone to NOLA I suppose but originally I was thinking of driving and Balitmore is closer. I'm in NH. Only have a few days off and never having been to New Orleans, didn't think I'd have enough time to do all I'd want to there.



    I don't think it really matters which place you go to. Someone posted on another thread that when they made their appt at NOLA, they took care of the insurance. Going to his shop I'll have to submit a claim and hope they reimburse. My insurance stinks. Other than that I think it's just a matter of preference.



    Take care all.

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited August 2012

    Chrissilini-can't wait to hear about your experience.  I think I may wait for a few months to see if my scars fade a bit.

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited August 2012

    I still need to finish getting filled and healed. So nips are quite a way off in the future. My scars are so new, and I still have squishies to get done. Gonna be a while.

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited September 2012

    Hi Guys - hope all are doing well.

    I'm a week out from TE Exchange, Port Removal and Ooph.  The anesthesia just did a number on me after being under for 5 hours and only 4 weeks out from chemo.  So tired.  Did stay overnight in hospital, thankfully, as they finished surgery in the early evening (though they never told me I'd be spending the night).  The implants do not seem much different, lookwise, from the TEs, so the jury is still out.  Not much projection and very hard.  Go back to see the doctor tomorrow.  For a moment I thought they forgot to take a part of the Port out and I'm still not convinced!  The ooph was the easiest part, except for the 10lb post surgery weight gain. (Came off the next two days and then some.) 

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited September 2012

    Kam, heal well and quickly.

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 738
    edited September 2012
    Kam-Glad to hear things went well, hope the port is gone 100%.  As for the implants, mine don't project like the real ones which makes bra shopping frustrating...Yell
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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited September 2012
    Spunky - after the exchange, did you have any more surgeries to "make them right."  I sense I will need this, but not sure if this is normal?  I honestly don't have any metric to know if it "went right."  Anymore, surviving surgery is a big plus on it's own....I hate going under!!  My next big task is to get my energy back.
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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited September 2012

    Helloooo Sisters!

    Today is two weeks and two days out from exchange, and overall, I'd say I'm pleased. I still have some swelling issues on Lefty, and instead of releasing me from restrictions at the two week mark, the PS EXTENDED them for another two weeks!!!! Yell He's just being careful....wants to make sure the post-op swelling resolves without further injury.  I just want to get back to exercising! (Sheesh, never in a million years did I think I would ever utter those words!!!)

    Today a girlfriend picked me up and we went to a baby shower at the university we both retired from. It was so much fun! I had on real clothes and makeup and everything!!! Gotta get out more.....Wink

    spunkyboobster - I read on some bra thread that if you're having trouble filling the cups of regular bras, check out the minimizer bras. They still have the good support, and underwires, but a flatter cup shape.

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  • chrissilini
    chrissilini Member Posts: 313
    edited September 2012

    spunky and Kam...mine are the same way, kind of flat in front. I think I kind of expected it. I'm happy overall but like you both have said, buying bras is a pain. I have a gap in the front of the cup that the jubblies just don't fill. Not really sure if there is anything to do to fix that.



    Blessings....how great that must have felt.



    Hope all are well. Have a great weekend.

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  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited September 2012

    Blessings - restrictions? No one has mentioned this to me (I was at the PS office today).  I mentioned I was walking and no concern was expressed.  Are you even restricted from light walking?  These PS's are so different - no bra or ever a need for underwire when I start wearing a bra.  My right breast is bruised and swollen a bit, so it's not like I'm perfectly healed, either.

    My good news - no malignancies in the pathology for the ooph (I read that 17% of non-symptomatic BRCA prohphy oophs come back showing cancer) and none in the pathology of the reexcisions (during TE exchange). News to me they even sent that for another path report.   

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