2012 sisters

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Aruba, congratulations! The decision making is DEFINITELY the most emotionally stressful part of BC! I'm glad you have made the best decision for you, that gives you peace!



    Congratulations Cindyl!!! NED! Each marker is a victory!



    Firestorm....you are soooooCUTE with your pillow pals! (((hugs!!!))))

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

    Cindy, congrats on NED! Wonderful!

    Firestorm, love your buddies. To everyone, much love.

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  • internutz1
    internutz1 Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2012

    Firestorm - As a licensed insurance agent - your husband's insurance premiums will not go up as the result of your BC. All health insurance rates are calculated against the entire pool of claims. Just as some don't use their insurance, that lack of claims allows for others to use more when they need it. Even when you buy health insurance privately, the rate is based on your age and whether you have had continuous coverage.

    Even if you lost your job - you are offered COBRA and can't be rejected or pay an unfair premium to keep your coverage. You'd pay the same COBRA rate as anyone else.

    Hopefully this will help others rest assured about at least one portion of our concerns!

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  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited August 2012

    Welcome to the new ladies -  crappy you have to be here... but what an awesome bunch of ladies you have found.

    Aruba... happy you came to your decision.

    Firestorm... I love your stuffed animals... you will  need to reserve another BGC for them alone Smile

    Hope Issac is staying out of your paths (those who are in it).

    Wishing you all absolutely wonderful weekends filled with love, laughter and happiness.

    Busy one for me - off shopping and supper with a friend this afternoon whilst DH is at golf (that's the only way he can get his rest 2Fried Surprised) and tomorrow to other friends for supper.   I just hope that my energy levels can keep up.

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  • MrsCich
    MrsCich Member Posts: 409
    edited August 2012

    I know my surgery incisions will be a cut at the crease of each breast and an incision up to the nipple. So an upside down T. I'm really leaning towards just having artificial nipples made and then tattooed. I've never been fond of my nipples (I've always thought they were small for my size 36DD). I wont feel any less of myself without them. I'm just torn as to why some would keep there's if they had the opportunity. Those that have had there's made... We're they made at the time of your MX and tattooed later or do you go back in for the nipples to be made?

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  • PaEaglesFan
    PaEaglesFan Member Posts: 277
    edited August 2012

    Firestorm, I have never seen a Pillow Pal that big!  (I have a lady bug Embarassed).  

    Aruba, I am glad you've come to a decision and you can relax now.  Wait for me in the Fall Rads group (Is there one started yet?)  I will be along in a month.  

    Mcook, Hope you are feeling well and getting rest.  Prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.

    MrsCich, I can't think of any other place in the world that I would ever see or hear a conversation about keeping a nipple or having one made except right here.  These boards have been a great source of relief for me because the ladies here are great.  I was given information about joining a support group when I was diagnosed, but I don't think I would feel comfortable sitting in a group so I passed on it.  I came across these boards by accident and love it because I can control what I am reading and learning and if I have a question, I can post it any time of day or night and pretty much have a response within hours.  

    Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. 

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  • MrsCich
    MrsCich Member Posts: 409
    edited August 2012

    PAeagles, you are so right. Lol. You can't just ask anyone about nipples! :). Thanks for your input.

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  • Isabelle2
    Isabelle2 Member Posts: 389
    edited August 2012

    PAeagles, that nipple post got me too, speaking of which mine (right side lumpectomy May 24) is aching from the rads..had #14/25 yesterday but I guess that is normal.   There is so much freedom to speak on these boards...this is just not a topic for 5 oclock cocktail hour.

    Mrs. Cich..I loved your post....

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  • Cindyl
    Cindyl Member Posts: 1,194
    edited August 2012

    Yes.  I wish I had found these boards a little sooner.  I'd already had my surgery by the time I wandered in here.  I believe I would have had a much better understanding of what my choices were and what I should have asked my doctors.  I don't know that I would have done anything differently, but knowledge is power. 

    The support and friendship that we share really makes this whole process less scary.

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  • 2FriedEggs
    2FriedEggs Member Posts: 640
    edited August 2012

    I feel really lucky to have found these boards even before I was diagnosed. It really helped me prepare for the different procedures  then surgeries that I had to face. There were several of us that were going thru surgery at the same time so we could comiserate with ea other. lol  

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  • MrsCich
    MrsCich Member Posts: 409
    edited August 2012

    From diagnosis to BMX is only 9 days for me. All of my testing started on July 31 but i was dignised on Aug 20 and my BMX with TE placement is Aug 29 (if that damn Hurricane Isaac) doesn't come here. Uuuuugh!!!!!!!



    These forums have been such help to me. I'm so grateful to all of the wonderful ladies I've met these past 3 weeks. Thank you all!!!!

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  • firestorm531
    firestorm531 Member Posts: 176
    edited August 2012

    internutz - thanks for the info :)  I'm feeling much less panicked over the insurance change now LOL

    Pillow Pets now come in a 'Jumboz' size and its awesome!!!  The giraffe is perfect for laying on and my naps are so much more comfy.  Of course, my hubby isn't amused with Ted in the least and made it known that as long as he's in bed with me, Ted isn't!  hahahaha

    Has anyone heard about the new blankets that have lights in them?!?!?!  Those would be SO fun to take to chemo! lol

    Aruba - I'm so glad your mind is finally at peace; that was an incredibly tough decision to make! 

    PS - I still hate my port lol 

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  • Cottontail
    Cottontail Member Posts: 374
    edited February 2013

    Less than a week until surgery, and I'm having an emotional crisis day today.



    I'll be happy to see the port go, but the rest of it is really stressing me out.

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  • tina_jason
    tina_jason Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2012

    Its been awhile since I've posted anything but I have been reading and trying to keep up with you girls.  This is a very busy thread but enjoyable and encouraging.  I guess I haven't posted because I feel stagnant.  My wound is still healing although it is making amazing progress.  I packed wet to dry for 13 days and have been on the wound vac now for 18 days.  When I add those days up its a long time. 

    PA eagles- Looks like I will be joining the Fall Rads too.  I had already joined summer rads because I was supposed to start on July 23 but my body had other ideas.

    What I have learned?  Patience.  Things don't work out as planned.  When things change we just take a new course. 

    I don't know if anyone else has had a big setback in their treatments but for me this has been one of the most difficult times for fighting off depression and discouragement.  I do feel healthy and have no side effects during this time.  Just an inconvenience of carrying this pack with me, bathing with it, sleeping with it and next week I will be teaching with it.  I see the doctor on Wednesday and may be ready to lose the wound vac but can't start rads until it is closed.  Big ugh!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Internutz1

    I also have an insurance question. My husband left his job on July 31, and started his new job the next day. We have had major medical through his old job for 5 years, and were insured when I was diagnosed.

    New insurance becomes affective on October 1. There shouldn't be a pre-existing clause, should there? That's only a 60 day break.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    I guess I should have added that I'm scheduled for surgery on October 22, so I'm really concerned about all of this.

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  • juneaubugg
    juneaubugg Member Posts: 951
    edited August 2012

    OK s here is my new do....(see avatar)  I buzzed of the horrible short haircut I had. Funny thing is, I really LIKE this on me.

    I'll write more later after I catchup with everyone's posts.

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  • juneaubugg
    juneaubugg Member Posts: 951
    edited August 2012

    PS - this is Lump. My friend brought him to the hospital for me after my surgery.  Once I am through this I am going to donate it to the oncology depatment.  It's just so huge it makes everyone smile.  He is sitting in my leather desk chair and is too big for it.  LOL.

    Photobucket 

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

    Hey juneaubug, cool picture.

    Sotaria, just make sure you get a letter from your old insurance company. I can't think of the name of the specific letter, but it prices you had continuous coverage.

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  • Soyaandpepper
    Soyaandpepper Member Posts: 368
    edited August 2012

    Juneaubugg-Great pic! And love the bear!

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  • juneaubugg
    juneaubugg Member Posts: 951
    edited August 2012

    Mrscich; I had NSMX on my right breast (I kept my left one). All I know is when I looked at myself the day after surgery, what I saw still LOOKED like my old breast, even though it doesnt feel the same. It makes me feel less butchered to see my nipple still there looking back at me.



    Michelle. Heal up sweetheart.



    Websister- where you been?



    Tazzy - my husband runs off to play golf too. I think I'm too much woman for him sometimes. ;-)



    Firestorm- I hate my fucking port too (nice hair by the way. You look hot!)



    Ok I gotta try to sleep. Maybe I don't be up all night for a change.

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  • juneaubugg
    juneaubugg Member Posts: 951
    edited August 2012

    Mrscich; I had NSMX on my right breast (I kept my left one). All I know is when I looked at myself the day after surgery, what I saw still LOOKED like my old breast, even though it doesnt feel the same. It makes me feel less butchered to see my nipple still there looking back at me.



    Michelle. Heal up sweetheart.



    Websister- where you been?



    Tazzy - my husband runs off to play golf too. I think I'm too much woman for him sometimes. ;-)



    Firestorm- I hate my fucking port too (nice hair by the way. You look hot!)



    Ok I gotta try to sleep. Maybe I won't be up all night for a change.

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  • Cottontail
    Cottontail Member Posts: 374
    edited February 2013

    I took a small plush rabbit with me to every chemo appointment. I never took it out of my bag, but it was comforting to know it was there. It's identical to the one I have slept with for many years.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Cute hair Juneaubugg!



    Back to the nipples....I'm having a DIEP in November, with skin sparing MX on my good boob...my PS told me she does a "stage 2" for making the nipple and tattooing the areola. During this consult she asked if I'd like larger areolas,,,,,noting that my natural are smaller than the norm. ...."petite" is how she put it :-)

    My DH spoke right up and said, "I've never been a fan of her areolas.". He never told ME!

    So, I guess one benefit from this is that I'll get " normal" (bigger) areolas!

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  • juneaubugg
    juneaubugg Member Posts: 951
    edited August 2012

    Ps. Did anyone's eye vision change with chemo. My Rx reading glasses became too weak in days. I can't see anything. Had to buy super strong readers to see again. I googled and it seems it happens. Anyone else?

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  • Ellendou
    Ellendou Member Posts: 139
    edited August 2012

    My eyes seem to have changed also, just finished my chemo yesterday so will wait for a month or so and will go get them tested....some days they seem to be worse than other days.

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

    Yeah, I was told it could take a few months to settle down. I see better than when on chemo, but I still have Herceptin to finish, I will just wait it out.

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  • firestorm531
    firestorm531 Member Posts: 176
    edited August 2012

    juneaubugg - isnt this SO much better!  lol We are proof that hair isn't what makes us beautiful ;-)  BTW LOVE the bear!  I don't think I could part with something that big and snuggly!  hahaha

    ellen - my optometrist told me that my vision would be a little funky during chemo and suggested that I NOT wear my contacts, but wear my glasses as much as possible to give my eyes a break.  She also told me that my vision would change; but that it was temporary.  The strange part was that she said that my prescription wouldn't change but that it would feel like it did because the chemo would effect how my eyes worked at a team as opposed to how they saw in general.  Make sense?  LOL 

    jill - they're yours, get the areolas YOU want!  lol  I had a lumpectomy and mine (on that side) seems to have lost a great deal of its pigment.  Its become this strange appendage that I own and 'tsk tsk' at LOL

    tina - I hope you get to ditch the wound vac this week; you're going to have enough on your hands with school starting!

    Did anyone ever post the link to the photos thread that was mentioned a few days ago?  I would love to see all the pictures but couldn't find the thread... 

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited August 2012

    Hello everyone....is been hard for the past 3 weeks it all started July 31 that i felt a lump on my right breast, i finally got diagnost on the 6th of August and more testing since it was not clear....I have IDC...and i start chemo on the 10th of September and i need to use a  port ....its been a crazy month but im glad i found this site i can sit here and read and type all day..and yes Issac is coming this way in miami...any more storms that i should be aware of at least this storm was not a surprise as it was my diagnost!!! :)

    Cool 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Hi Patricia

    Welcome to the club. I came upon this site quite accidentally after being diagnosed on July 27. I typed in a BC related question on yahoo, and it brought me to this site. I'm so glad it did! These ladies have been amazing! You can find answers to most of your questions on here. Of course, there are some things only our doctors & pathologists can answer.



    I won't know everything until surgery on October 22, but, I feel up to the battle.



    Blessings

    Paula

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