DIEP 2013

is the magnesium citrate in a small bottle?

They sent me home with a gallon jug of the stuff you drink before a colonoscopy. Told me to sip on it through the day. I almost vomit every time I try to drink it. I've had about half of it with no luck.

I'd be willing to try the mag citrate if I can get it down in a couple of gulps.

the mag citrate is overly sweet like syrupy soda but you can chuck it down. You may have to resort to an enema if that doesn't work. Gross but beats going to the hospital! Good luck girl!

RHGSR...hear me, grasshopper, that thy bowels shall be released from their torpor and burst forth. For I am the constipationator.

I had my first chemo on a Wednesday, and I didn't drop the kids off at the pool until the following Tuesday. It was most uncomfortable. I developed a plan that worked for me.

When I KNOW I will be at risk of constipation (surgery), a couple of days before I start taking a stool softener morning and night. At night I take a big dose of Metamucil, stirred up with a big dose of Miralax. You can get all three of these wonder drugs at the Costco, generic and cheap. Wa-la! No more "no go." If you're really desperate, a Fleets enema is a small, pre-packaged enema you can buy at the drugstore and give yourself at home.

In the midst of this research, though, I learned that you have to have a license to buy dynamite.

Nihahi, "LIKE" button for your post! I am so thankful to have made friends from all over the English-speaking world who have supported and helped me through a couple of the toughest years of my life. Even if they can't spell "favorite."

Jeannie, I'm glad your brother has a plan and a PICC line, and that your eye seems to be settling down somewhat. You're still in my prayers.

Everyone came over tonight to eat tuna sandwiches and watch "Blackfish," the CNN special on Orcas. It gave me the shivers. I told Aubrey that under no circumstances may she consider killer-whale training to be a career path.

I am truly, unreservedly thankful for the blessings I've experienced along this breast cancer experience, including all of you. Happy Thanksgiving to my peeps.

Excuuuuuuse ME! I'm verklempt. I must have a lie-down on the chesterfield.

Nihahi and Sbe......you are making me laugh....you silly girls......

Have peeked on here, but DD #1 has been running me ragged since we arrived back in Portland over the weekend.........haven't been able to get on and PROPERLY thank you all for "voting" my ugly Christmas sweater the ugliest.......the winner's sweater was done up to look like a bag lady who lived underneath a Christmas tree......ugh! I am being a sore loser, and this is even more exaggerated by the fact the the winner was MY OWN DD#1!!!!!!!! (How DARE she????? I mean, really!!!!!!!!). . I am going to fix her wagon...........

Can I just say thank you to ALL of you for being my breast friends??? (All kidding aside, I am truly, truly grateful for the support, friendships, and love I have found here........) I love you all, and you have each made my BC journey bearable, and you have given me courage when I was fresh out of it........thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! XO

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my stateside peeps.......

XO to you ALL............

Happy Thanksgiving!

RHG .....Oh honey.....So sorry about your situation......listen to the constipation veterans......they know how to win this battle! 

jeannie....that is crap about your eye, and understandably "freaking" territory. When do you see the specialist again??? If it isn't for awhile, maybe give him a head's up on the quick progression?? Maybe he would try steroids to try to minimize inflammation? Investigate re: autoimmune process going on......SOMETHING???!!!!

Is your daughter coming over for turkey breakfast????

Oh, Jeannie, I'm sorry. I thought I remembered a post where you thought your eye issue was leveling out. I'm with Nihahi, that's crap.

These are deep waters you're swimming in, dear one. We're here to be your raft whenever you need us.

Been trying to keep up but things have been crazy lately - just popped in to say two things. Firstly, I'm not American but I want to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving and say thank you to all of you. (Oh, and it is spelled "favourite"!) Secondly... ahem... Ridley... Mark Harmon is mine. And I'm not sharing.

For most of us, the one thing we had total control over before BC was our bodies. Then we were betrayed. We don't get any absolutes. We have to cede control to people we don't know and grab back what control we can. I think if we were 5 we would be shouting to anyone and everyone "you are not the boss of me". But what we are really are shouting at is our bodies and the cells that multiplied too quickly and created cancer. So we exercise control over what we can and try to lay blame. And that is the hardest part - we want our medical team to assure us that they can save us, that they can do it in a manner we find acceptable, that we can control what they do and how they do it. Sadly, there are no guarantees in life. I feel for Dyvgirl. I want to reach out and help her some how, but we live across the continent from one another. I think we all want to be that voice of reason when one of us appears to be approaching a precipice because we can't control what is happening. We are out of control and desperately want to return to what was - before BC.

After 28 years I have learned not to let it define me, but I know I can not control it. I can simply do my best to determine the best path for my health and to pursue that path (whether others agree or not). Though I think I have finally become convinced that while there are many natural things I can do to stay healthy, I know that a recurrence would most likely bring scientific intervention. I am grateful that my integrative medicine doctor understands my wish to do whatever I can without medications, but he knows that if he really feels that a drug will work where a natural supplement has not I will go with his recommendation.

BTW - Happy Birthday, Goldie!

sbelizabeth - hmmm...dynamite... That is looking like a good possibility.

Drinking half of that stuff they sent me home with and no results. Took one ex lax this morning. Moved things a little but am so constipated I'm almost afraid I'm impacted :0(.

Going to send hubby to store for a fleets and prune juice.

Not what I'd thought I'd be doing on thanksgiving.

Slept all night! Used the wedge in bed with a lot if pillows under my knees.

Thank you for all the advice ladies. I hope I am able to pay it forward.

Hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving day!!

Hey Sisters!! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from the bottom of my heart!!

I know I have many things to be thankful this year. Like meeting ya'll here and finding information where you otherwise can't find on the internet!! I am thankful that next year at this time I will be close to being finished with the B/C!!

Now, here the so-so news.. Tuesday, hubby notice I was red over my right breast, arm, and back. Hmmmn. I had to go in for an INR draw so new plans were to see the MO. It is

Cellulitis again like last year to the date. Blood cultures done on on Tuesday and late Wednesday. Grrrr. Temperature going up and down so it looks like maybe by Saturday, I could go home. Thank goodness, I wasn't planning to have family here.

Question? Could this cellulitis be caused by having so many nodes taken out?

I am in good spirits as I have my laptop and can keep up my usual routine. Kat

Marty and Nihahi,

Thanks for the encouraging words, I know you all prolly think I'm bat shit crazy but are here for me nonetheless. Just trying to find an approach in this crazy mixed up cancerland. Marty I am glad you said you liked your integrative doc. My ND was asked to head an integrative medicine dept at our local hospital so we have talked at length regarding standard of care vs all natural and I'm trying so desperately to find that happy medium for me. I quit chemo because my resting heart rate was 110 and I felt like I was gonna die of a heart attack doing the simplest things. Cleaning the house, walking a flight of stairs, etc and I'm working full time. Not at a desk job either. So I decided enough is enough already. I did as much as I thought my poor body could handle. When I brought my side effects up to my onc I was told it was perhaps because I was overweight and sedentary. Seriously?? Final straw for me. 2 months out and my resting heart rate is 65 and I feel great! I still get angry and frustrated at the system and lack of choices so I apologize for ranting but no one else gets it. I'm truly thankful for everyone here and their patience of Job. To all the ladies in the hospital or home recovering, you are in my prayers! God Bless!

hmm....still here...phone keeps ringing.

dvygirl....hugs lady. Nope, I don't think you're crazy at all. I think you're unsure of the future (who isn't), inquisitive (we all should be), seeking answers (yeah!), and scared shitless (again.....YEAH!)!!! If you had walked away from treatment of ANY KIND....then yes, I would think you were bat shit crazy!!!!! But you haven't, you are trying to find the treatment that "feels" right for you, which is why you have chosen to be treated by an ND (I think that is what you have done). My choices and your choices don't have to be the same, to be the right choice for us.

I will tell you.....the "anger" that I hear in your words, (like marty so eloquently versed) ring very close to me. The perspective of time, has given me the insight to realize that I was angry too, EXTREMELY ANGRY, at all things and everyone connected to my dx and treatment. I have often thought I must be a very shallow person, because I just didn't have the warm, fuzzy appreciation like so many of the ladies speak of, towards the doctor that "amputated my breast", or the nurses who pushed the syringes of chemo into my arms, or the techs who needed 4 sticks to draw blood, etc, etc, etc....I truly hated them all. AND I EVEN HAVE A BACKGROUND AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER. I "knew" it was irrational, but I couldn't get over the anger....until I realized it really, was fear and sadness and mourning for the future I had envisioned. It was stressing me out so much, I was doing more harm to myself, than any sx, any drug, any tx every would. Perhaps holding on to that anger, is blocking you from being able to find some measure of "confidence" in the path you want to take, and the information/treatment you are pursuing or being offered. It certainly isn't making you stronger, healthier, or happier. There is a big big difference, between being strong, and being angry.

I think you have mentioned that you practice yoga. Can you spend more time in that "yoga mindset"....You cannot control all things in a pose, you control what you can, and accept what you cannot, with the awareness, that with time and practice and patience.....all things change.

Can you try to really, openly share your fears with both sides of the medical approach?.....can you find a way to put aside the anger, fear, and sadness, and really listen to what they are saying and how they are trying to help you, without judgement, but in the mindset of understanding??? Easy, nope, but maybe something to think about??