May 2013 surgeries

Hi everyone.. wow what a filled day to catch up on.  (((hugs))) to everyone.  sorry if It's a general one, I'm still trying to keep up.  

So, little update of me.  I am able to drive fully now.. YAY me! I am fully able to go to my longer distance appointments now without hurting myself.  It's amazing what a week will do in recovery.  Still a long way to go.. but getting there. slowly.   I do have my initial appointment with the oncologist for Tuesday, June 25.  Positive vibes would be appreciated.  BUT.. what ever will be.. will be.  I'm scared.. to be honest.... 

HBun-Congrats on driving!  Its such a great feeling to do that again, isn't it?  Nothing like the sheer freedom of it!

Well, Mom went with me to surgeon today and she just reminded me of something he said. I seriously had totally deleted from my mind..He said he was going to try and remove dead tissue site to help promote healing ..shouldnt take 20 min in office (I remembered that)..but then he went on to say that if he got in and area was too deep we would have to move to operating room.  First, I am extremely scared..because I only have 2 days of antibiotics left (2000 mg) and you can barely tell they have helped (and if the smell ..not purtrid, but funky metallic god awful smell...is any indication it hasnt).  Also, he just called post op infection..but looked online at images of staph infections and there it is..Of course, I have flesh eating in my head..I just took ativan. I'm worried that this isn't going away. I told my husband it would be hell to get through 2 surgeries..have them say cancer is all gone (which they did) then go down with a staph infection. And its probaly because I wasn't allowed a shower for 2 week fup with him. Sorry getting close to hysterical now.

Ckmoss, I pray a lot. I am saying a prayer for you right now.

Thanks so much ya'll!  Prayers are so welcomed and hbun-you are right need to not google..they ..they, being google..did say that if antibiotics don't work, then next step iv antibiotics..I feel so frustrated..wish something could fix this..Im thinking this is Karma..I have went my whole life..never admitted in hospital..had kidney stones  and bronchitus..occasional uti..Its like Im getting hit with everything at once..I feel so HELPLESS...ok im going to bed before I cry

CK, sending prayers your way.  Take the ativan and get some rest.  Stop googling.  Hoping they clear it up soon. Maybe another antibiotic that is stronger?  ((HUGS))

Run, I definitely will!!!! Let us know how it goes.

ckmoss, so good to hear that you are better. Take it easy today.

Run4us, good luck today! I will be thinking of you! You got this!!

Ckmoss, I hope you wake up feeling a little less sore and uncomfortable today.



Chinneymae, I'm excited for you going to the beach - enjoy!



As I was laying awake at 3AM I started to think about how this cancer is forcing me to be MORE "in the moment" and LESS worried about the future and things I can't control. I'm really gonna try not worrying so much about stuff that hasn't come to pass yet. i.e. will I lose my job bc of the economy, wil I ever pay off my mortgage, will my kids be ok, etc.



Right now I'm just enjoying a nice cup of coffee and a Golden Girls rerun.

Sweetpickle &AMBNH-Im feeling better..had bit of stress morning as my surgeons nurse (the one I have lots of words for) hasn't sent in any detailed med info to Metlife for my disability except 2 Drs out notes..they need details..and so my check was 16 hours shorter than the 65% they are paying me with...OK SILVER LINING..haven't had time to fret about upcoming scraping of tissue..YUCK..as mad at her and now trying to figure what bills to juggle. 

AMBNH-Hows your chemo going?  You know, I could have swore that everyone was telling me that you don't feel any side effects at all until your 2nd or 3rd treatment..but looking in boards..I don't think thats true.  

Chimneymae-Just rereading post..meant to tell you..Have fun at the beach!! Unless Im in hospital, we are going somewhere this week..would love the beach..just lie on beach listen to the wavessss..chilin dude....lol....I need day off from all this.  I hope ya'll have a wonderful time.

Catey, Steph, MelMacbee-Are ya'll doing ok?

Gowith-Hope rads still going well!

I just took a shower completely unassisted! Woohoo, I think Im turning that corner guys!

Hi, all! Just returned from surgeon. Looks like its surgery again tomorrow...counting port this makes 4 (have I told ya'll until this never been admitted to hospital or had anything other than kidney stones and bronchitus??) ..The GREAT thing..it is not a staph..is/was simple infection from the sedoma..he gave lecture about Googling..Melissa, I told him what you said in your post last night..he said you were smart and I should listen..lol.  First, to explain what a seroma is. It has nothing to do with drains coming out early or anything like that. Lymphs don't seal off like blood vessels when cut..so generally after 2-3 weeks..they lymphs figure out the breast isn't there anymore and they will, on their own, start redirecting fluid another route..this one lymph is hard headed and determined that there is a breast there...so it kept pumping and finally broke through 2 small holes in incision...ok so today, he said was trying to calcify..that the seroma was trying to become like a part of my body..that all that puffy around site and fluid was protein and was trying to form its on "body part" and left untreated would turn to big rock in my body. He got a good bit of fluid out, but said he needed to go back in ..clean all that out..trim edges , so to speak ..PUT BACK IN DRAINS...and start over. I hate that..but, honestly, I don't care...I am so happy this wasn't a staph!!! I had worked myself up to where I was fighting tears last night..You are right...GOOGLE BAD. He said that he believed infection was about gone, but would know more when he got in.

Melissa-I am so sorry you are feeling nauseous..I can't stand my stomach to hurt!  So I am very there with you hating that!

Yea sweet pickle!!!!  So will you be doing nipple reconstruction? Or is that done? ...I love that we can ask things like that...one would never ask someone out in the world that..lol..but you know why I want to know..your journey is mine.

Ckmoss, that disability stuff is a pain every month battle. lol. Good luck with that and I hope your procedure goes well and they can finally get you out of pain and aggravation. Im doing ok.

Gowith, I counted every freaking rad down to one and celebrated when each one was over. Try to stay hydrated.

Sweetpickle I think its amazing how fast you are healing. Thats great about the shower.

Honeybunny I hope your feeling better. Ask for nsusea meds if they didnt give you any.

Run4us, hope you are having an easy time today.

Ladies, how is everyone else? I hope well. Healing hugs

Ck: so happy that you have a course of treatment. I know the idea of drains (again) is discouraging, but remember the long term picture! I think the biggest reasons my drains are not bothering me too much is that I was so scared of them! Of course, I did manage to get rid of two yesterday, and the remaining drain is producing so much that I just keep thinking "better out than in"!!!



Go with: sorry the rads are so difficult for you. I think you are right to have started the lotion early. Don't be afraid to use it often: they will probably give you more before you're done, and then you'll have extra after treatments anyway! so, use lots of lotion, and drink lots of water: in short, keep your body and skin hydrated!



Chinneymae: yeah for the beach! Relax and soak up lots of chillin vibes!



Sweet pickle: so happy about the shower. I'm hoping its my next milestone!



I can hardly believe that I'm a week post-op already. I'm kind of looking forward to my parents heading home for the day on Saturday. You think if I promise to behave, they might leave me alone for a couple of days? They have to come back on Tuesday to drive me to my post-op appointment. I'm hoping the dr will tell me I can go back to work part-time, but sooner than we had originally planned. I'm healing fast, but still missing my bed and my independence!