December 2011 Surgeries - want to wait together?

Thank you, thank you....once again, you guys have made me feel so much better.  I called my Dr and he changed it to laproscopic without blinking. 

I'm not looking forward to going on an AI.  I'm confortable with the devil that I know (tamoxifen).  Kam, both my gyn and MO have brought up the uterus as well.  It is another one of those choices that I wish I didn't have, especially not knowing how I will do on whatever she puts me on next.  I've heard that without the uterus in there holding everything up, there is a risk of things shuffling around in there specifically the bladder falling down.  I have a friend who had a hysterectomy 10 years ago and she has enough problems still to make me decide I'd like to keep mine a bit longer. 5 years seems like a long time, but it is already nearly a year since I started chemo and almost 6 months of tamoxifen.  My hope is that we have many, many....many years after the hormone suppression crap. 

Have a great day everyone

Of the 3 doctors I talked to about removing the uterus, the one I trust the most said "no."  She is the actual gynecologist, surgeon, oncologist, Phd, ovarian cancer researcher.  I am curious why she didn't factor in the Tamoxifen angle, though.

Faith- totally get the "devil you know!"  My MO suggested changing hormone blockers so quickly while I was ready to fight through all of the symptoms before giving up.  By that time, I'd already seen the hot flashes mostly go away.  I'm glad I stuck with it, as I've just figured out how to manage these finger joint issues.

As far as the daVinci robotic machine and or plain vanilla laproscopy, my surgery was going to go either way depending on how much room the PS needed to maneuver around the da Vinci for the exchange.  Turned out I got the plain vanilla laproscopy.  According to my friend, a surgeon, and my surgeon, it makes no difference to either whether they use the DaVinci or not - there is no advantage to them.

If I recall correctly Faith, my surgeon took 45 minutes for the ooph.   (This is based on what she told me later.)  That's not a horrible amount of time to be under a general.  Keep us posted! 

Ginger - at first my hands went numb - maybe for 2 nights and always felt only upon waking up, then the finger joints were totally stiff upon waking.  Then the trigger fingers.  I tried wrist splits (ACE brand, I think, from Rite-Aid drug store) and at first it didn't really do any good. I only tried 2 nights.   After going through this stiffness for nearly 2 months (and it was starting to create residual pain during the daytime), I tried the wrist splints again.  Voila!! No stiffness when I woke up the next day.  Wore the wrist splints again - no stiffness upon waking.  I've done this 3 nights and no stiffness.  There still is some residual something in the joints, but it is clearing. 

I also took celerex around noon before each of these 3 nights.  One might say the Celebrex is what helped, but yesterday I fell asleep while watching tv and I woke up with stiff finger joints (no splints on).  So it is the lack of movement, for me, while bending the wrist.  I don't think the celebrex played a part, though I'm adding it now to try to get my inflammation down.

My stiffness started 3 months after starting Exemestane. I have no doubt in my mind it wa the hormone blocker that caused it.

Have you tried wrist splints?

Edited to add - I have had these issues before, in 2006, including horrible shoulder issues.  Celebrex (only temporarily and very occasionally if I feel something coming on) and ergonomics eventually cured both (or kept it away).  For one, I sleep with one of those large European pillows and wrap my arm over the top (hugging it).  This helped my shoulders.  Also, using the computer while seated - I had a horrible situation.  Lots of exercises, like tucking chin in relieved the shoulder issues.  Rocking pelvis back and forth.  Lots of stretches. Ofcourse, if things are really bad, you sort of have to nurse things back to a certain state.  Celebrex is one of those black box drugs, but it is also curative for these inflammation issues.

Kam- sounds so familiar. I will have to look into Celebrex. I am having inflammation issues all over my body. What are the downsides to that medicine?

Thanks for the info. Given my current stomach issues, this might not be the best drug for me to take. What kind of splint/where did you get it?

That is the same wrist splint a Neurologist recommended I use. I may purchase a second one since it does give some relief. I thought 9-12 month marker the stiff hands and trigger finger were supposed to resolve by then. Im still waiting...

Bogie - how are you feeling?  Please tell me more about what your neurologist said vis a vis the 9-12 month marker and stiff hands and trigger finger???  All my MO says is "let's try a new drug."

Ginger- I had a nerve study too, 6 years ago.  Nothing then.  Honestly, I think it "crowding" due to swelling and the tendon's and nerves don't function so well under these conditions.  That's kam's dx  The swelling (or maybe inflammation), ofcourse, caused by the AIs.

Faith- I hear ya!! I have not slept well at all since my surgery in June of 2011.first it was due to the pain from BMX and a frozen shoulder. Now I have a CPAP mask to wear for sleep apnea, numb arms and hands(not sure why) and neck pain from fibromyalgia. Sprinkle in some hot flashes and night sweats for good measure. I would do just about anything to close my eyes and not wake up till the alarm goes off in the morning.

I'm in FL, so I have the AC cranked as much as possible but when my sweeties boys are with us I can't turn it down as much. On those nights I end up on the floor once or twice under the fan til I can cool down. We call me the space heater

Faith - isn't it a relief to get those ovaries out!!  The hopeful thing for brca2's, per my MO, that if we would develop ovarian cancer, it would usually be 9 years after BC.  Let us know what the pathology says.

Had an US yesterday for this rather large lump under my right (clean breast) implant. Hoping for fat necrosis or some other benign thing.  I was rather ok until I had the actual scan....brought back memories.  The PA doesn't think it is cancer, which is good. Nevertheless, I can't help myself from worrying some.

Faith- glad it is going well!



Kam- Hope it is nothing!



Hi Fitz- hope you are doing well.



My catscan was normal. Very relieved! Hoping for a good, healthier year!

Hey Kam - all good with the scans?

Kam- congratulations!!

Thanks for sharing the good news, Kam!

Good news, Kam!!!

I'm doing better... the "Iron Bra" feeling is subsiding a bit thanks to the myofascial release therapy I've been doing.

Now I'm concerned that there may be a leak in Righty's saline implant....

Oh, well, just goes to show....