October 2014 Surgery Sisters
Comments
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Sharpei is back! I second Sandra's advice. I had some friends come by to "help" two days after surgery and it was counterproductive. I slept quite a bit the first week and was not good for much else. It was shocking to me because I don't think I slept that much after the mastectomy, but maybe I did and I can't remember. I was also pretty sore from the moment I woke up from anesthesia. My PS did a lot of work under the implant to create a new inframammary fold, which let me bruised and tight. For a few days it felt like my left rectus abdominis was a bow string and sitting up and even walking was not easy. But i didn't have any of the shoulder stiffness I did the first time. I went back to work after 3 weeks without a problem. I did have a drain for a week.
Sandra, great to hear Mike is doing so well and has a match in his sister!
Hopeful, just remember getting past lying down on that table is a huge relief. Some of you ladies know i read mammograms and when I talk to women about getting a biopsy I make sure to tell them that they should just do it and get it over with because thinking about things is the worst part.
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So good to hear from you, Sharpei! I can't speak to the exchange surgery (yet) but I had a much rougher recover from the TE placement but for a much shorter time. I'm one week out now and am feeling much better. I think Four is right that you should plan on being sore for a week at least. I'm like you and was dreading this surgery because I was feeling SO good just to be knocked back down again. I hope you sail through!
Sandra, I'm so happy Mike is doing so well and that truly is a miracle that his sister is such a perfect match. My father in law had a bone marrow transplant years ago and of his 3 siblings one was a perfect match and the doctors were surprised. I hope he continues to do well on the chemo.
Four, I didn't know you read mammos! That's awesome! I've been thinking about sending a thank you card to the radiologist (is that the correct person) who read mine. I specifically remember him coming in and essentially apologizing to me saying he was the reason for my trouble, and I feel like he saved my life! Do you think that is hokey? I sent a ton of thanks yous after my dx but none to the medical professionals and they are the reason I'm still here. I actually got a thank you card from them surgery center and the hospital after the TE surgery, which blew me away! I just wondered what you thought. I've thanked them all along during this ordeal but is sending a card appropriate now?
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The mammographer who read my mammogram was apologizing to me after the second time they called me in for a second spot compression and a rolled view because she was sure it would be nothing. After she handed me the letter with the BIRADS 4 on it she teared up and said she was sorry but I said through my tears that its OK because this is why we read mammograms, to find things.
I too didn't call her to thank her. I was kind of in shock and then making decisions and plans. No one has thanked me either, but i figure its the same thing; by the time you think of it, its been so long you don't even know if matters.
It sucks to tell someone she's got to face this beast, but you just hope that you've spared her a worse path.
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Hi everyone!
We just returned from Mickey Mouse land (Disney World) for our spring break trip and had a great time! The weather could have been a little better, but compared to here I couldn't complain. For all the walking we did, I was very happy with my stamina and energy level. The only difficulty was keeping my LE in check. I had to pump my arm a couple of times a day and it really swelled a lot on the airplane. I cannot even begin to verbalize how extremely frustrating this all is. I would say that the LE is worse than having my two breasts removed. Something I have to deal with...forever.
At any rate, my hair is slowly growing back, my life is returning to 'normal' and I look forward to my TE on the 28th of April. I am REALLY looking forward to my little cruise from April 16-20th. Its on the Royal Caribbean Liberty... leaves Ft. Lauderdale, spends a day at sea, docks at Cozumel for a day, another day at sea and then return. If anyone would like to join me, I would LOVE to have some company!
It is wonderful to hear everyone talk of spring and look forward to brighter days ahead. This has been a dark and long winter in so many different ways. As we approach Holy Week leading to Easter, I pray that each of you receive the rejuvenation and blessing that Life brings!
All my best,
Robyn
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Robyn,
If you don't already have plans in Cozumel, may I recommend Nachi Cocum? We've been to Cozumel seven times over the past ten years so we've seen all the area has to offer and Nachi is our favorite. Everyone we've ever sent there feels the same. The Nachi Cocum Beach Club takes a maximum of 100 people per day at it's lovely, all inclusive resort. All your liquor and food is included. There are comfy beach chairs and hammocks under palapas and palm trees or you can enjoy the huge pool with my favorite...the swim up bar with bartenders that keep those drinks coming. When you're ready for lunch, you move over to the outdoor restaurant and order from the menu. Talk about fresh fish!!
Nachi Cocum is a private excursion but no worries. It's a 10 minute taxi ride from the cruise terminal. You make reservations on-line. Google it and see for yourself.
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OMG ladies, to my shock, yesterday I pulled out the shoebox filled with my pre-mastectomy bras and for the hell of it tried one on and it fit like a glove! No joke, the unwire came right around the implant and the foob filled the cup and it was more comfortable than some of the non-underwire things I've been wearing for months! Even in a tight shirt there was no way to tell anything had happened, and even the material did not ripple at the front! I have been reading the Bras=101 thread and so was prepared that this was a highly unlikely event. I tried one more on and I suspect though that it will not be universal as anything that was plungy does not cover the medial part of the scar and anything that pushes them in and up shows the top edge of the implant. I need the full cup coverage ones that remind me of an old Sears catalog, but none the less are much more comfortable.anyway. I"m a 32DD so I don't need help with cleavage.
Now i think my PS was an artist.
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What a great surprise and how very welcome that must be, Four Minor!! I'm so pleased for you.
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Yay for happy news. Not having to buy bras is a good thing. I'm back to not wearing one again. I had to for the first time after surgery #5 in October through the recovery from #6 in December/January. I have them...just can't bring myself to giving up going commando.
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I don't mind WEARING a bra but I truly HATE shopping for them! I will confess that I've been wearing my zip up "post-lumpectomy" bras a lot more than my nice lingerie ever since my string of biopsies. These may be my 'new normal'...
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I'm in no mans land in the bra department. Not sure what to wear with my 60cc of saline mounds until Monday, which is my first fill and then every week for 3 more weeks at least. How does that work exactly? I have no clue but I guess I'll be packing up my prosthetics. I'm going to have a pile of stuff to donate at some point
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I was just thinking of you, Kim, as I watched one of our resident hummers work the maple 'blossoms' before settling in at the feeder. I hadn't seen any for a while (they may be nesting) so it was gratifying to see it hang out for a while.
Good luck with the lingerie question. It is, unfortunately, not one I can help with!
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I woke up from mastectomy with a small mound which correlated with 175 ccs I think. By the second fill it was close enough that any forms or stuffing was unnecessary, just one extra of one of those thin forms you would find in a swimsuit. By the last fill (I think I did 4 or 5?) things were even enough that I needed nothing and I was fine with no underwire bras in winter clothing. But I really wanted the exchange done before summer clothes.
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I just made my first batch of hummingbird food this last weekend and have 2 feeders up in my backyard. My sister in law lives in Klamath falls, Oregon and believe it or not, she has them year round! I'm so jealous! I haven't seen any here yet but I want my backyard to be on their list of "go-to" places. At least I can see them from my living room and still have two weeks off, so hopefully I'll see them when they get here.
I know I have 60ccs in now and have 4 weekly fills on the calendar so that would be 3000 ccs maybe? I don't know and she just said we would fill until she was where she thought I should be and until I was good and shoot for a b plus or c.
So happy for Spring! If I could figure out a way to meet Robyn on that cruise, I would be there!
Take care everyone
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Sandra - thank you for the recommendation. I am going to take you up on that!
I have not worn a bra since the day before surgery so very long ago... I won't bother until I have the exchange surgery on the 28th of April. Until then, I am happy going commando, even though I am missing the nipple on one side. It doesn't bother me too much. I have also decided not to have the PS mess with the nipples - neither remove the one that is left or take half and put it on the other side. I am just going to "let it lie" - quote from When Harry Met Sally!
Happy Spring to everyone!
Akitagirl
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Kim, we have two varieties of hummers, one of which winters over. It's really something to see them sitting out on the feeder with snow falling. People around here rig up all sorts of rather ingenious warming devices for them. I saw downy headed woodpeckers out on the deck earlier today - my cat was fascinated as he'd not seen them that close up before.
Robyn, good to see you back. Glad you enjoyed mouseland despite LE and everything.
Back to work for a while then probably to yoga for some much needed stress relief. And then I have a few little pranks to execute for tomorrow (said with an evil wink). Our family takes April Fool's Day rather seriously!
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Robyn,
You're inspiring me, my family is in dire need of a vacation. We had our last one in June of last year! Since the summer was so mild and lovely I was just taking long weekends until my mammogram in August upended things. Since then, aside from two days at Christmas, I have not had one day off that was not specifically for a doctors appointment, surgery, or recovery. That was one reason I really wanted to plow through reconstruction, so we could make plans for our lives again that doesn't revolve around breast cancer.
I'm so sorry though that you are suffering with LE. I hope it ease up on you.
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Fourminor - Thank you for your encouragement. I want to encourage you to take some time off....I cannot tell you how much it helps to just re-center and realize that there is life outside of BC. It's interesting how life just keeps on ticking. Now that I am feeling normal again, my family has moved on and seems to expect me to be my old cheery, energized self. My body hasn't quite caught up yet and my mind/emotions are still processing.what has happened over these last 6 months. Hence, I am very much looking forward to going off on my own. Just to treat myself to some enjoyment without worrying about everyone else!
R.
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Akitagirl, glad to hear you are doing something for yourself. Sent you a pm... talk soon.
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Four Minor, I can't find the meditation thread that you (I think) started but wanted to thank you for the link to Fragrant Heart. I really like the meditations on the site.
Has anyone heard anything from Revelle lately? I'm worried about her.
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My sixth and last surgery was Dec. 19th. I just realized I haven't thought about breast cancer in a few weeks. My brain kept repeating (every day, all day) "Ihavecancer, Ihavecancer, Ihave cancer" from the day in July 2013 when I got the news that the stereotactic biopsy found malignancy until sometime in March 2015. I guess that means I've found my new normal.
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Congratulations, Sandra. That is something of a milestone, isn't it? Of course, you've had plenty of additional concerns to occupy your mind, heart and hands.
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Hopeful,
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/152/topic...
Last night I went to my second class of Tai Chi instruction. I was saying that i had studied Tai Chi in my late 20's when I was living in Manhattan and had long forgotten it when I moved to Brooklyn now more than 10 years ago and took up yoga. But since I am recovering from mastectomy and reconstruction, I thought Tai Chi would be a better way to rehab my body since there is no lying on the floor and weight bearing on the arms. After class one of the other women told me she had a mastectomy too, did chemo, and finds it helps with the joint pain from tamox. Funny to meet a real person going through this!
I was also thinking about something that only a breast cancer survivor could find funny. When I read someone's mammogram and its normal, I actually think in some subconscious way: Congratulations! You get to keep your breasts for another year!
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Thanks, FM for the link. I think I'd feel a bit of the same, and just a wee bit wistful as well. Did it ever cross your mind that one day your own mammogram might be abnormal? It never, ever occurred to me.
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I agree. I've had yearly mammograms for years and in the exam room is a poster that says "did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer"...I just never thought it would be me.
I haven't seen Revelle either, I hope she's doing ok.
I'm a bit down today, I don't know why. I'm sore and tired of pretending like nothing is wrong with me. I think Robyn said that she feels like her family has put BC behind them and that's how I feel. Before this TE surgery I'd been able to (sort of) put it away but here I am again. I got a nice card from work yesterday and one of my coworkers wrote "two down, none to go" referring to surgery and I think yeah, thanks but I still have one more to go, at least.
Sorry, I'm grateful, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I'm ust tired I guess.
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It's o.k. to be down, Kim. Your body's still doing a LOT of healing and that takes its toll. Plus, grieving isn't something we do once, on a schedule, then check it off a list and move on. I think it's easy for family and friends not to understand how much grief is involved in this dx. - maybe for some even more than fear. And yet so many times we're told that we should embrace it, live through it graciously, welcome the fact that we'll be better people for it, ad nauseum. There are so many adjustments we go through and most people, even those closest to us, have little to no clue.
I prescribe a cup of something hot and tasty (good coffee, a favorite tea, hot chocolate?) and some time to just sit and do something you like; a crossword, planning your garden, a lighthearted movie maybe? Also, some of the meditations at www.fragrantheart.com are VERY helpful, I've found. Sometimes I talk to God about things and find that helps. Sometimes the opposite helps; cleaning out a drawer or a file - getting rid of anger/hurt/resentment along with stuff. If you're up to it physically, it can feel really GOOD.
You're in my thoughts this afternoon; the blues are tough to get through and I'm happy to lend support as you slog through. (Hug)
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Thank you, Hopefel. I don't know if I ever saw your first name, but I like Hope.
I'm going out for a walk in the sunshine and then to my sons baseball practice! I think these walls are just closing in on me.
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If you've got sunshine, go for it! And baseball practice should be a fun diversion. It's so chilly here today that it didn't cross my mind that it could be warmer in Idaho.
Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. PS - I like Hope, also, but it's actually Julia.
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Julia is a beautiful name! Thanks for always being so supportive. I appreciate you and I feel better just getting some fresh air. It's about 56, breezy and bright blue skies here
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Last we heard Revelle was dealing with diverticulitis, no? They decided no more chemo right now. Did I miss anything after that? I hope she is OK.
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That's pretty much it, FM.
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