May 2013 surgeries

cateyz, just take it easy with driving.  I drove last week and I felt like I could barely turn the steering wheel.  Thank goodness I limited myself to only in my neighborhood.  LOL  This week, I can drive more confidently as my right arm i more mobile.  It's my left that I worry about.  Got a chuckle on those too   let us know how the driving went.

I have been sleeping in bed the whole time.  I love my bed.  I'm pretty sure a recliner would have been easier on me but we just don't have one.  I think I am going to go shopping tomorrow for some camesol type shirts to wear.  

Hi ladies and welcome Hunneybun. I hope you get the answers you need. I know how frustrating the wait is. Healing hugs to all.

GoWith-You up and moving?  You have to read ChimneyMaes post yesterday ... you will def snort lol!

Ann-Wasn't there one of us on this board that had swelling there..they said it was like they almost had a small breast? You know, I read so much..plus brain fried from narcs I can't remember where I heard that.

Hi ckmoss,  I got tested because my mom tested positive and my cousin tested positive.  So when I tested positive, I was followed by Breast Cancer Supportive Care here in Calgary.  We have done high risk serveillence since my genetics testing confirming BRCA1 gene.  Each has to decide on their own to weigh the pros and cons to each thing they do.  Do they do testing? What happens if testing comes back + or - ? What will do you? One of the biggest questions that my cousin has just made me face is:  Will you regret NOT doing a treatment (MX, Chemo, ect) That is the biggest question we have to ask ourselves.  Do I regret not going for a PBM? no, i do not regret that at all.  It was what we were able to do at the time.  And I am also glad for my high risk serveillence as well, as we caught it earloy.  It's amazing how the doctors are basically jumping for joy when they find something this small and this early.  I mean.. they were sympathtic too, but it PROVES that it does work.  IF you follow along and do it.  Like I said.. you (or your sister) has to do this for her, and her alone.  This journey at what we are on, yes is a solitary one.. but we as BC warriors don't go down without a fight and have each other.  Normal people just don't get it, especially if cancer is new to them or their lives.  Me.. well as much as I don't want chemo I may have to travel that road... no regrets.  

Was it stressful watching and waiting to see if I would get BC? no, because I didn't let it rule my life.  The tests were just part of my life and that's how i choose to see things.  Because of history and my BRCA status.. I would have been shocked if the biospy came back negative.  I still would have followed the same course... MX 

I hope that helps to answer some questions sorry for rambling .. had to get it out more so for me probably LOL  xxxx

Honey-Thanks if you don't mind Im going to copy /paste what you said and send to her in email. Thats a whole part of it I didn't know..I thought you took test and off you went..that was it..either MX or not..its nice to know that someone is watching you closely after that. I've heard this test is pricey..do you remember?

whoo hoo sweetpickle.. go rest my dear and heal.. enjoy the drugs  I hear ya about those drains.  

ckmoss.. sure please by all means copy and paste yes.  As for cost, here in canada, alberta I didn't have to pay anything as it's part of our health care system, and I was deemed high risk even without the testing.  One thing that I forgot to mention is.. BEFORE you even think about getting testing done.  Go and get your insurance, critical illness insurance, disability insurance, ect if you can.  Because once you find out your positive.. your are not going to be able to get any.  It's one thing that I wish we would have paid more attention on.  But we live and learn.

Ann.. love it "'itty bitty no pity for the titty'"  hahaha.. what are you going to do??? I wanna hear all about it! 

Luv n hugs to everyone today.. can you tell I'm feeling much better today?  LOL  Well.. I was anyway. I think I over did at work and now upper back hurts.  Ah well.  tomorrow is a mostly day of rest.  LOL

Oooppps! I forgot to tell all you ladies today I drove for the 1st time since berfore my surgery!!!

Did a little retail therapy and bought some shoes and shirts

Sweetpickle, congrats! Drain free at last, free at last!



Ckmoss, the surgical bra and booby "puffs" (my terminology) I received when I had the surgery are even too much to put on my chest even though I'm over 4 weeks from surgery. I finally couldn't take another second and talked with the PA today.



APPARENTLY, my itty bitty size A you know whatsies are not an optimal size during the earlier stages if TE placement and fills. Who knew??!! There is so little room to work with that everything is super tight and super OUCHIE! Any movement has been just plain painful.



So my PA sent a muscle relaxer prescription in and we are gonna see if this will provide relief until the "fill" balance gets to the point where the pressure on my chest is reduced and I "turn the corner."



Come on, corner, lets go - I'm waiting for you!



Just took one. Praying it will work. At this point I'm perfectly happy going around braless and hairless. It's like when I had my kids - there comes a point when you just don't care who sees what!



Long winded answer to your question, Ckmoss.



AnnBR, love your party theme! You gotta make the best of it. When I had my head shaving party last Friday, I did a Shinaed O'Connor impression. It was fun channeling a famous bald person!



Love and gentle (and in my case SUPER gentle) hugs to all of you wonderful ladies.

Ann- love theparty name! LOL



AMBNH- Hoping the muscle relaxer works for you!



Ckmoss- I am finally feeling at the end of this cancer journey!

Gowith=I am so glad the rads are going well. Now you are truly living up to your user name! ha ha..When thinking of a user name for this website that would have been wayyy to optimistic for me..lol~

AMBNH=Im sorry you are in such pain! I've been wishing since I had my MX that I had been born with A cup..Well, I have a D cups worth of skin I could donate some to you..lol..I keep asking my best friend and sister..dontcha want to donate a breast to the cause?

Sweetpickle=Im sorry I keep missing post..you and I seem to post at same time and then I go back and read last one..and I'm like what???........I am soo glad to hear that! And seeing that you came through this type reconstruction gives me hope that I have made right choice.  The nurses said it was painful up front..but once done was done..Gosh look at you!! You started in November and now there is light at the end of your tunnel  And I see you did 4 diff chemo drugs!..You have def fought a hard, good fight!!

Ann-With you in spirit!!  Wish Iowa wasn't so far away!!!  I loveee Hobby Lobby!

I'm not sure if any of ya'll do Pinterest. But if you do, I have found a board by a lady named Karen Purtell..she has a whole board that I gather must be for her daughter who had breast cancer and there are some awesome pins in there.  Also, another place that has great quotes, pins is MyCancer.com Official.  They have some extremely good boards/pins in theirs. Even if you don't have boards on Pinterest, you may enjoy just looking those up in the search box and seeing what all is there..some of the quotes and pics just make me feel better!

Hi ladies. I hope everyone is having a good night.

Go with Im glad the treatments are going well.

Ambnh, Im so sorry about the pain. I hated those blasted te`s. I think my neurontin helped with the burning pain. So did ice but my ps did not want me to put ice on it.

Ann I so want to see pics of your party. I wish I was closer so I could come. It sounds like such a good time.

Sweetpickle I know you have to be feeling a ton better without those drains. Sounds like you are healing fast.

Hope everyone is having a blessed night

So Ckmoss, here's my experience so far with the A/C chemo I started last week. Hope it's not too long and boring:



* Hydration: I thought I did a good job the day before but when they checked out my vein for an IV, it wasn't as strong as they'd have liked. Next week I will super hydrate the day before.



* Port: after reading all the horror stories and having so much chest discomfort I opted for no port.



* They gave me super doses of anti nausea meds via IV first.



*. The "A" (Adriamycin) was injected directly into my IV by my gowned up nurse. Very toxic chemical so it's handled via very strict protocol. Hmm, it's ok to go into MY body but not touch anyone else's?



* The "C" Cytoxan was given via IV and that took an hour.



* I religiously followed the required meds schedule for 3 days of anti nausea pills.



* I hydrated like crazy after and still am. I think this has really helped get it out of my system fast.



* I've been eating (grazing) small meals or snacks throughout the day vs 3 meals. I even have a piece if toast or handful of cereal right before bed. This has really helped me avoid feeling nauseous.



* I took Claritin the day after with the Neulasta as they recommended (3 days) and had no muscle aches. I didn't take it on day 4 and had mild aches so I took another one and they went away.



* 1 Senna every other night worked for me to keep things moving. The off day I take Colace. When I tried 2 Sennas the first night, it was too much the next day.



* I started off not taking Prilosec for heart burn bc I never get it. They told me to have them handy. As soon as I ate breakfast the day after, I got it, so I've been taking one every day and no heartburn.



* Been rinsing my mouth 3x day with antacid (CVS brand) to avoid canker sores. My dentist told me to do this ad it raises the pH in your mouth and that's supposed to keep them from forming.



* I carry the backup anti nausea medication with me wherever I go just in case.



* I carry a bag of Cheerios in my bag just in case I get nauseous when out and throwing a handful in my mouth stops it immediately.



* I bought a small notebook and write out my medication schedule each morning, both the required and "take as needed" so I don't forget to take something and can record when I do so I don't forget that I took it.



* As gross as this sounds, I record my "movements" in my meds notebook to keep accurate track and be able to see if any of the meds are impacting me.



* Sunscreen! I went out at 5:30PM and my face got slightly burned.



Hope this helps. So far, I have had no nausea.