October 2014 Surgery Sisters

If your immune system was compromised by chemotherapy, it could have made the diverticulitis worse than if you hadn't been receiving chemo.

Most likely they will have to wait a while before they can give you another round.

Sorry to hear that Rev. Hope you are feeling better soon.

hummingbird… You are so right, I have reasearched this and it is a side effect. I didn]t go into detail on a lot that happened but it was a learning curve. They were going to take out my gallbladder that as accutley inflamed and mention the diverticulits as an after thought. They were going to do emergency surgery Sat night but white counts so low .7 so decided to scheduale it for Monday, I demanded they test my gallbladder first to see if it was dead, along with my daughter, thank goodness for low white counts or they would have had it out. Got the test Sunday, gallbladder was good, surgeon never came back to talk to me the doc emplyeed by the hospital told me. They use their employeed docs in the hospital, they don't have a practice of their own, the are called Hospital specialists, that was new to me. They consult with your doc but you are under their care. Now I am going to see the OC Wednesday for the first time after the infusion and hospital stay, interesting to hear what he has to say if anything. Going to my Doc on Thursday going to ask to see a specialist, still having pain. I will get no more treatments until I know what's going on. Interesting that no mention of gallbladder issues, or the surgery sechdualed Monday were in my discharge paperwork. While I was waiting for my daughter to pick me up Monday they brought my lunch, I said I am leaving, and than a nurse came up behind her and said she cant eat she is due to have surgery today. Guess they didn't get caught up with the charts. My hair is all gone, it went fast after the hospital stay so cant say I am in a good spot right now. But it helps being here, feels pretty lonely out here now

((Revelle)), I'm so sorry!  Is your daughter or someone else able to go with you to most appointments? I hope so!!  Please don't feel alone.  I know we're all just tethered here but please know we care about you and you are not alone!  We're all going thru our own personal BC hell and if I could be there for you, I would.  I was so petrified of chemo and the thought of losing my hair was scarier than the actual treatment but now that yours is gone, it's one more thing you don't have to think about - it's out of your control so you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  I'm glad you're seeing the oncologist and your own doctor.  Keep being a squeaky wheel and I hope they are able to find you some relief.  You've had one infusion so far, right?  Out of how many total, four?  It will be interesting to hear what they have to say.

I head into surgery again on Thursday.  I'm very much NOT looking forward to it but in the big picture of things (for me), this feels finally like a step in a positive direction. 

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Hi Everyone,

Just checking in...and I am so sorry I have been gone this long!!! Revelle - I just hurt for you and understand a little of what you are going through. Severe bowel cramping that began 3 days after each chemo treatment and lasting for a full 24 hours was my experience. That, along with all the other cumulative SEs led me to stop treatment after 4 instead of 6. I know you will be stronger than me! I am praying for you and just sending positive thoughts your way. Lovely Hummingbird - I will be thinking of you and praying for you on Thursday. Think positive and imagine fluttering through it lightly like a little hummingbird. ;-)

On this Friday, I will be 6 weeks out from my last treatment. Each day I get better, each day the thoughts of BC become less and less. There is light at the end of this tunnel, and as some of us know, there may be more tunnels in life to crawl through. However, there seems to always be a bit of time between the darkness to renew your spirit and enjoy life!

With love,

Akitagirl

P.S. my hair is SLOWLY growing back. I am hoping that by the time I go on my little vacation on April 16th, it will be long enough to be seen as a "GI Jane Wannabe" and then I can walk around without a hat/scarve/beanie/etc. That is my prayer.

Here are a few more hugs, Revelle, to see you through the night. Glad to hear that your BRCA 1/2 came out negative, as you were overdue for some good new. Did you have any other testing done or just the BRCA?

Stand firm with your MDs, Revelle. We'll be here to back you up.

Robyn, glad you're finally feeling more like yourself and looking forward to a vacation. I'm sure that will do you a world of good - almost as much as seeing your hair return

Sandra, I know you're too busy to check in here but want you to know you and Mike are in our hearts.

Hummingbird, take it easy tomorrow and best wishes on Thursday.

Hummingbird, Hope all went very well today. Take it easy and know we're thinking about you.

Wow, Revelle - you've certainly been on the extended ride version of the roller coaster. I am amazed that you were able to walk out of that office without slapping somebody (at least in your own mind) and I'm super impressed with how you handled him.

So you got just enough chemo to make you lose your hair and set off a bunch of side effects, is how it sounds to me. I hope that it incidentally did you some good, too, and certainly hope so.

I hope you'll be able to establish a GOOD working relationship with a caring, capable oncologist to assist you through the remainder of your recovery and keep you healthy.

Good luck dealing with the diverticuli and your gallblader. I hope you settle into hormonal therapy without any blips. Let us know when your port comes out and we'll throw a coming out party. In the meantime, please take it as easy as you can. You've got a LOT to heal from. (((Revelle)))

Hello my friends! I'm home from the hospital with two little mounds on my chest..woo hoo! That feels so good but otherwise, I feel like I got hit by a bus! The pain from this surgery was much different than BMX surgery and all of you who had immediate recon are my heros! I feel good until I try to move or walk and then I see stars. She's got me on at least five different meds and last nite I took a muscle relaxer and slept like a rock. The whole mood is different this time and I feel happy but I was surprised by the level of pain.

Thanks for thinking of me. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as well.

Kim

Yay Kim! Some people sail through exchange and say they took one Tylenol...others have a harder time. The good thing is that tomorrow will be better than today and pretty soon this part will all be behind you.

Thanks for thinking of me! I just got my 2 drains removed today, so I get to take a shower, which is a very good thing and something I certainly took for granted. I am feeling a lot better. The stabbing pains are gone and for the most part I am just achy and sore but considering it's only been a week, I'm very encouraged.

Yes, spring is definitely here! Its supposed to be in the high 60s to low 70s the next few days, so I plan to take some walks. The hyacinth (my favorite) and daffodils are blooming and its only a matter of time before my hummingbirds return, can't wait.

You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Kim

Hi Four,

Brooklyn?! Yes, you guys have had a very long, cold winter. I'm in Boise, which is the banana belt of Idaho. We don't have much of a winter, although it does get pretty cold and we do get snow. It was a mild winter for us though. We typically have eager bulbs and shrubs and sometimes (like last year) they pay for it when we have a spring freeze. My husband planted a beautiful Japanese maple in our backyard a week before one of those freak spring freezes and I think we lost it, it doesn't look good at all.

I hope you catch a break soon. The forsythia are the first to bloom here.

Good for you on taking up tai chi again. I lost 15 lbs after dx and am fairly motivated to NOT find it again.

How are you feeling now?

Hi, Kim - I'll bet it felt GREAT to be able to take a shower!! And it's encouraging that the stabbing pains are gone, along with the drains. I hope you can take it easy and enjoy the warmth and the budding out of spring and let that do its healing work. I'm crossing my fingers for your Japanese maple, as well as for your recovery.

4M - What a shame about those big, old fig trees; I'll bet many of you in the neighborhood will miss them.

The tai chi sounds like a great idea - definitely good for the body but it doesn't place stress on joints or muscles. And it really does quiet the mind and release stress, so the after work timing must be helpful.

I don't usually follow celebrity gossip but did read AJ's piece and appreciate what she is doing to increase awareness of the reality of the choices women face. She's doing it gracefully and intelligently, in my opinion.

I'm still battling with my insurer over some technical issues with radiation - whether I'll have to drive to a facility 45 minutes (min.) each direction or 15, and waiting for my genetic testing panel to come back, which was another item we had to battle over, thus delaying it 2 months. I'm starting to consider a mastectomy just to get the radiation out of the picture - it seems like overkill, but then, so does radiation.

I'm SO sick of this - there are times I just want to walk away from my life and pretend I'm as healthy as I look and feel. It's so encouraging to hear of you two (and some of the others) who are moving through this and doing well. Both of you enjoy your days - I hope sun and warmer temperatures are on the agenda.

October surgery sisters all, hello! Hope things have gone well.

I am scheduled for my Boob Job May 5th. The tissue expander will be swapped out for my permanent prosthesis and my other breast will be reduced and lifted.

Right now I call them Perky and Slumpy. Perky starts at my clavicle and is as round as a cupcake and since I have been wearing my camisoles (and not a bra) since October, Slumpy is way down there somewhere. I am 68. No one cares about my chest! I have been in Florida wearing loose tunics, some cashmere capes, occasionally a loose t shirt.

I am not looking forward to being "in recovery" again. I have felt well, I have been very busy and active with my ongoing condo renovation, and I like this feeling. The past six months has taken more from me than I wish to acknowledge. I am forgetful, sometimes sad, unable to focus at times. My life is better than ever and I want to be healthy and active.

My surgery is a Tuesday morning. There is an event two hours away which I would love to attend on Saturday evening. Does anyone have experience with my kind of surgery? Can you give me some idea of my activity level and pain level? Dare I plan this? What are my chances? I realize every experience is unique. I believe I have high pain tolerance. I take minimal pain meds. I will not drive. Anybody able and willing to share experiences and tell me if I am either crazy to try or would have a good chance of tolerating the experience? It honors an amazing young woman.

My second problem is this: Just like the previous surgery, my husband has a business trip the following week. I have no family or close friends I would invite in. We are new to the area. Will I be able to take care of myself? The Visiting Nurses were wonderful aids to me after the mastectomy and subsequent problems. Will I need them? My PS said no drains this time.

I would be very grateful for any experiences. I am not near my PS so I haven't had a recent conversation about this. If we go to the event, we need to make a commitment by next week.

Each of our bodies, diagnoses, diseases, experiences are unique, but we are still able to share and support. I wish you all healing and peace.

Love, Sharpei

Kim, I don't know what happened to my earlier response but thank you so much for your kind understanding. Your encouragement and support really meant a lot to me. The image of that dinghy is so apt and one that I will turn to as I muddle through the rest of this.

Sharpei, it's good to hear from you! The condo project sounds all-engrossing (and fun) and a great antidote to thinking about all this stuff. I'll be thinking of you in May as Perky and Slumpy go in for their makeovers.

Sandra, I am so delighted to hear that Mike's done so well, also that Lisa was able to produce so many stem cells. That's great news. I know there are many, many challenges that you're dealing with every day and more over the horizon but I think we all know to treasure every bit of encouraging news and make the most of it. You, Mike and all your family remain in my thoughts and prayers, Sandra.

If we do a cruise out of Houston/Galveston I vote for Galveston. It's a sweet, historic little city that I'd enjoy re-visiting. We did a cruise out of there years ago that was loaded with Texans celebrating and talk about a fun crowd! Lots of fond memories there...

I hope everyone is finally seeing prospects of spring. Even though we had such an early but brief winter, I am ready to be outdoors in flip flops again! I did have a few windows open for a couple of hours today - what a luxury!! Even my cat has spring fever....Take care, all.