January 2013 surgery

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  • Tamiami
    Tamiami Member Posts: 396
    edited January 2013
  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 219
    edited January 2013

    Thank you, Ariom. I will get used to it. Just bizarre. I appreciate your advice and findings greatly.

  • MMSS
    MMSS Member Posts: 103
    edited January 2013

    Welcome Iamenough. So sorry that you are having to fight another round but we are glad to have you with us. Your little one is beautiful.

    So tomorrow is the day when the infamous "lumpie" bites the dust. He will get what he deserves when the pathologist slices and dices him .Love and prayers to jzog, smethot and kkuziel. Hope you all do great and heal quickly.

    Thanks to everyone who is honest about the ups and downs of this journey. I never thought that Pollyanna would make a very good friend and we all have our good days and our not so good days. We just need to keep our eyes on the overall trend which is toward health and healing. The pace may frustrate us and the detours are maddening but the goal remains clear and together we are so much stronger than we are separately.

  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited January 2013

    Amy..I'm thinking of buying cami's and putting pockets on them myself. I don't want to spend a ton of money on something I'm not going to wear for very long. Then after, I'm burning them and everything else associated with this cancer. Lol



    Thanks Brandie and Pam...I'm feeling so much better today.



    Tami...What is the name of the books you are reading?



    Smethot.. You can bet your bottom dollar that TOMORROW, Ms. Lumpie will be gone.



    Mirmipanda..hugs to you! We are all just going to have good days and bad days. Pretty soon, when you look in the mirror, you will see a beautiful face with a full head of hair. It will happen. I know not soon enough but it will and this bump in the road will be fading from your memory. You will be chasing Hazel around the house before you know it. Hang in there!



    Iamenough... Cute picture of you and your son! Sorry your having to go through another surgery. Keep us posted.







  • Amy4978
    Amy4978 Member Posts: 473
    edited January 2013

    Hopex you took the question for tami right out of my mouth.... Lol we gotta know the name of these books......

  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited January 2013

    Jzog, kkuziel, smethot, praying for a good surgery outcome tomorrow!!



  • peanutsgal
    peanutsgal Member Posts: 161
    edited January 2013

    Ok, so it's probably a strange question and probably falls under the category of TMI, but here it goes....



    Yesterday while I was draining the hot water tank with my first shower since surgery, I found it really difficult to shave my right arm pit. My skin seemed like it was stuck to my ribs and the "cavern" of an arm pit I have now is so deep and narrow that I couldn't get my razor up in there. To complicate matters, I can't feel a lick of my underarm! My tissue expander seems like it is bunched up in there as well. (Only had a very small fill at surgery.)



    Has anyone experienced this?

  • Lmimp64
    Lmimp64 Member Posts: 219
    edited January 2013

    I haven't tried to shave yet, but I do know it feels completely different. Hollow is a good word. Maybe electric razor?

  • smethot
    smethot Member Posts: 161
    edited January 2013

    DEATH TO LUMPIE!!!  Thanks to those of you cheering us on today and good luck to those of us heading for surgery today and the rest of January.  I am scared, excited, freaked out, nervous and glad i don't get to eat today- pretty sure the ants in my pants wouldn't be pleased with trying to keep food down at all.  :)  We leave for the hospital (5 minute drive) in 1 hour & 45 minutes and surgery is in 3 1/2 hours.  Woo hoo.  Get the wire placement and get the damned, loathed and never-to-return (knock on wood!!!) lumpie the hell out!!!  Here's to lumpie-death, nodes out, happy and healing and chemo coming to eradicate insurgents.  Onward & upward ladies!!!

  • wirdgirl118
    wirdgirl118 Member Posts: 231
    edited January 2013

    10-4 on Death to Lumpie! You will find today an empowering day ....for me, going to hospital on Tuesday, and moving step by step thru admission and gowning, was an experience that covered all kinds of emotions. Mostly, I felt like a strong, powerful woman who "just said no" to breast cancer, and I felt powerful because what I wanted, to get the bc out of my body, was happening because I made it happen! I say to you, Onward and upward to you amazing warrior you!

  • mrenee68
    mrenee68 Member Posts: 383
    edited January 2013

    peanutsgal I know what you mean about shaving. I have resorted using and electric razor with smaller attachments so I can get into that deep cavern. No fun at all. I asked my PS if that will go away after the exchange and he told me not much, dang it. Good luck to all who are having surgery. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Take care.

  • Morningsun1
    Morningsun1 Member Posts: 649
    edited January 2013

    I will have Bi-lat NSM with DIEP on January 28.

  • Tamiami
    Tamiami Member Posts: 396
    edited January 2013

    The books I am reading are by Maya Banks.  They are along the lines of the "50 Shades" books.  I'm not really sure that I love the author or her writing style, but the books are hot and are holding my interest!  Embarassed

    I'm not able to comment on the armpit shaving thing because I can't shower yet, but I did look at and feel my armpits and I don't think I'd have trouble getting a razor in there...they are still very puffy.  Maybe I'm just "puffier" all over than you girls!  LOL!

    Back to the issue of the puckering nipples...does anyone else have this feeling when they get cold?

    Tami

  • Tamiami
    Tamiami Member Posts: 396
    edited January 2013

    Wirdgrl118~  Can you tell me a little about your Pagets?  From your other posts it seems like you had DCIS and a LX with rads in 2005, and then Pagets now.  How did you discover the Pagets?  The reason I am asking is because my final pathology mentions Pagets along with LCIS and the DCIS that I knew about from the biopsy.  I never had any trouble with my nipple or the skin on the breast.  Is it possible to have Pagets inside the breast?  I'm just trying to get some understanding about it so I can speak to my BS and have some idea of what I'm talking about.

    Thank you in advance Smile

  • AuntieEm
    AuntieEm Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2013

    Tami: I get that nipple pucker as well. It is the strangest feeling considering they are gone. I guess we will all be feeling some weird stuff as our bodies get accustomed to all of these changes.



    Well, I'm off to my Doctor visit. Hope the drains come out!



    Love and prayers to all!



    Emily

  • Tamiami
    Tamiami Member Posts: 396
    edited January 2013

    Good luck Emily!  I'm praying that you will be able to enjoy the weekend drain free!

    Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone!

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited January 2013

    Hi Tami,  know exactly what you mean about the "puckering nipples". I still have one breast and nipple.The now non existent one will still give me the same feeling in unison with that one when I am cold, or when something emotional gives me goosebumps. Another interesting one is, when I am sitting watching TV, I can feel the non existent breast resting in the same position as the other one. I also often get a nipple sensation for no reason at all. My Surgeon called it Phantom Sensation, just like amputees can get. Thankfully, not pain like a friend with only one arm describes.

    I hope this isn't TMI, but after your comments about reading the "Hot" book Tami,  I got my husband to gently blow air where my nipple used to be and even though I am still numb in that area I got the sensation in the pit of my stomach as though it were still there. Maybe just a good imagination, I don't know.

  • robinlee76
    robinlee76 Member Posts: 27
    edited January 2013

    I noticed the same thing with the cold feeling in my chest and I just passed it odd to having no tissue since I did not get the te's.  Thought I was weird good to say for once no.

    I'm telling you girls if you can not find the surgical camisole look into the fanny pack.  All my doctors have thought it was such a great idea when I do in.  It fit all 4 of the drains at the beginning just fine and it is not uncomfortable.  Another plus was i only cost $8.  You only need it for a couple of weeks so I could not see spending the money on the surgical camisoles.

    Another good thing came today.  I got my reconstruction surgery scheduled. YAY!!  It is scheduled for April 19th.  Since it is a 10 hour surgery I will be the first one in at 7.

  • alcb70
    alcb70 Member Posts: 166
    edited January 2013

    I haven't been able to keep up much as my last chemo round really knocked me out!  But I will go back through and read your posts. Everyone is so helpful for sharing their stories!  I found out today that I don't have clearance for surgery until after Feb 1st.  My numbers are ok, but he wants me to receover a little before my next beat down. :)  I guess I will be on the February thread.  Good luck to everyone else in January!!   ~Andrea

  • josie123
    josie123 Member Posts: 1,817
    edited January 2013

    good news and bad news.I got path results Monday Lymph node is clear I think I already posted that but the margins weren't clear.This really upsets me I guess I'm going back to surgery.Might have to put me on the list for Feb.I see surgeon on Tuesday 1-22.He' s out of town at a conference this week.So kind of anxious to know when He will want to do surgery.Sooner the better.Why can' t they know this before I wake up?

  • IAmEnough
    IAmEnough Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2013

    Thank you, thank you, thank you my beautiful fighting friends! :-)

  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited January 2013

    josie - I hear you on the not clear margins. I had three rounds of lumpectomy without clear margins.Two things, first the cancer cells don't look different when they're doing the surgery so the surgeon takes his or her best guess based on mammo, MRI, ultrasound or whatever other things they used, to figure out where to cut so that they get all the cancer but don't take more tissue than they have to.  Second thing, DCIS can be pesky, it'll not be continuous so there will be some and then a clear spot in the duct and then another spot of DCIS. Between those two, they do their best to get it all, but sometimes they don't. Some women opt for the mastectomy sooner than I did, but they can also do re-excision if you chose to go that route.  Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss more. Getting that news can really take the wind out of your sails.

  • Tamiami
    Tamiami Member Posts: 396
    edited January 2013

    Awww Josie~ I'm so sorry to hear the news.  I hope you can get scheduled asap!  Try to focus on the clear lymph nodes for now because that's fabulous!

    Andrea~  It sounds like a good idea to wait a few extra weeks to give your body time to be ready for the surgery!

    RobinLee~  Congrats on the reconstruction date!

    Ariom~  I personally feel that there really is no such thing as TMI...we all learn from each other, and it is important to know we are not alone in our thoughts or feelings.  I love that you asked your husband to help with the "experiment" and I really love that he just did it and probably didn't even ask why!  As to whether it worked or it was your really good imagination...who cares?!?!  It worked!!!  Losing "that" feeling was the scariest part of all of this for me.

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited January 2013

    Thank you Tami, for that lovely response!

  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Member Posts: 397
    edited January 2013

    Josie...So sorry about your margins but as Tami says celebrate the negative nodes!

    Hope you can get back in real soon and then be done! Thinking of you!!



    The phantom sensations is very interesting. Ariom...I will have to have my husband try that after my surgery. Fifty shades?? Weird stuff that we have to go through, isn't it?



  • runner1987
    runner1987 Member Posts: 18
    edited January 2013

    Hi ladies! If you are nervous and waiting for your surgery, I wanted to check in to let you know that there is light at the end of the tunnel! It has been exactly one week since my BMX with TEs, and I am feeling sooooooo much better! I'm off the pain meds, walking around, laughing and starting to get back to normal. I had two of my four drains pulled on Thursday and it was completely painless, except for a little stinging at the exit site where the stitch was cut. (The other two are coming out next Wednesday.) I truly feel a little bit like my old self. It wasn't an easy journey but hey, one or two weeks of discomfort to trade for a long, cancer-free existance? I'll take it.

    Good luck to those with upcoming surgeries. Soon, you'll be just like me - feeling good and happy to be alive!

    Also, thanks to all that have said such kind words about my blog. :)

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited January 2013

    Why am I not surpried that you are doing so well Runner?

    You are an amazing dynamo, all the very best for the future, and I meant every word about your blog.

    Cheers!

  • Amy4978
    Amy4978 Member Posts: 473
    edited January 2013

    Runner... Thanks for the post! My surgery is set for feb 13 and although I am confident with my choice I have moments that it truly overcomes me and I freak out for a moment. Surgery is scary! But I could not agree more 2 weeks for a lifetime....well worth it!

  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited January 2013

    Hello all!   How is everyone doing with their post surgery exercises?  My arm, underarm, and back are so tight still.  My BS said I just need to continue my exercises daily (I end up in pain however with the heating pad before bed).

    Best wishes to all for this upcoming week!

  • Tamiami
    Tamiami Member Posts: 396
    edited January 2013

    JoJo~  Your post about excercises just made me think about Jebdra...we haven't heard from her in a few days.  I hope she is doing ok!  Jebdra, where are you?

    I'm kind of winging it with the excrecises.  They were just very briefly described by my PS.  Do you have a list of excercises?  Maybe since they are causing you so much pain, you could break them up and do fewer reps at a time and do them more often so that you are getting them all in?  Were you prescribed any muscle relaxers?  They may help as well.  Hope every day gets better!

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