August 2014 Surgery

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  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 235
    edited May 2015

    Good morning everyone...just checking in to see how everyone is doing ?? I am dong pretty good except the body pain, bone and joints and my ribs hurt from the SE's of arimidex ugghh. Other than that things have been uneventful

     

    hope all I weel with everyone :)


     

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited May 2015


    Hello Ladies, I have made my choice. I will be going for another mastectomy. As far as I know there is not problem, but why wait until there is. I did find another lump and it helped to make up my mind. I will let you know when the date is.

    Hugs to all

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited May 2015

    Hi everyone!

    Ganz - I will most likely start Aromasin soon.  I have finished chemo and based on the SOFT study, my MO and I have decided to suppress ovarian function with Lupron shots and then I will take Zoladex and Aromasin.  I am just hoping that SEs will be minimal.  Once we see if I can tolerate this, I may look into a having the ovaries removed, maybe in the fall when I have some plastic surgery revisions.

    Quilty - I am sorry that you found another lump and am hoping that all is well.  I understand your decision to have a mastectomy.  I think the main reason I had a mastectomy to begin with was because I didn't want to go through this again on the other side.  I know there are no guarantees in life, but it made sense to me.

    I hope that everyone else is enjoying Spring and doing well.

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  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 235
    edited May 2015

     Hello ladies :)

    Ml143333...I am 42 years old and was not even close to natural menopause. I didnt end up having to do chemo so I didnt have chemo pause. I had my ovaries out this past November. I thought I was in the clear with hot flashes and all the fun stuff that comes along with meno. NOPE ! Lol...I got unbearable hot flashes with tamoxifen so my MO switched me to arimidex, hot flashes are bearable but the bone pain is horrible. Damned if I do, damned if I don't :(

    Quilt..Im so sorry about the new lump but another mx is the best choice in my opinion. For the same reason you've chosen another mx is the same reason I chose a bmx. I, also, didnt want to deal with this again down the line. Please keep us updated....

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited June 2015


    Hello Ladies. Just a quick note to say I will be having my 2nd mastectomy very soon. In either June or July. I will let you know when.

    Hugs all

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited June 2015

    Quilti - sorry about the new lump, but I pray that the 2nd mastectomy will do the trick!  Please let us know when you are scheduled for surgery.

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited June 2015


    Will do that.

     

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited June 2015


    Hello all, I have my date. I guess august is my time to have boobs removed. August 7 is the date. I will have day surgery and no nodes removed this time. Happy to have the date.

    Hope everyone is doing well

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited June 2015

    Quilti - I am sorry that you have to go through this, but am glad that you have a firm date.  Praying for you!

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  • brandyrose
    brandyrose Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2015

    Hey Everyone,

    I had my surgery in August, and have finished chemo and radiation since then. Just wanted to check in and say that I am doing well. It's been a hard few months, and I'm finding getting back to "normal" is difficult, so I'm also trying to create a new normal for me. Being back at work helps, although it can make things overwhelming at times.

    I hope all my August Surgery Sisters are doing good.

    Quilti - Sorry to hear you have to have a second surgery. I had to have two as my first one didn't work and I remember how horrible it was to hear that news. I ended up switching surgeons and hospitals, and my second surgery was much better.



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  • Allydp
    Allydp Member Posts: 520
    edited June 2015

    Hi ladies! I haven't checked in here in quite some time!

    Quilty - I'm so sorry you're facing another surgery, but hopefully this will be the end of the scares and help you move past all this cancer nonsense. Sending you hugs and prayers.

    Ganz - I also had BSO/hyst and finally had to break down and take something for the hot flashes and to help me sleep. I'm on 100 mg Gabapentin at nighttime. It's an incredibly small dose but it's really helped me. Hot flashes aren't gone, but they're bearable now. Everything else I tried gave me too my SE's (antidepressants caused depression and Clonidine made me a zombie.) This one is doing the trick. I hope you find something that helps! I know they are not fun at all!

    Does anyone know how Milaandra is doing?

    Hi to everyone else!

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited June 2015

    Ally so good to hear from you. Hugs


     

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  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 235
    edited June 2015

    Hello Ladies ...quilt Im so sorry that you have to go thru this again. Sending hugs and prayers.

    Ally DP soo glad to see your doing well. ...hot flashes hmm where shall I begin lol. I am on 1200mg's of gaba at bedtime and Im on 150mg's Effexor. I STILL  get them pretty bad :(

    I just got home from the hospital a couple hours ago. My PS had to replace the implants because  the original ones he used were too small and caused alot of pain. So he put bigger ones in and so far I feel awesome, loving them ! I was supposed to have fat grafting and nipple recon yesterday but he called me Monday and said that he wanted to swap the implants out. Three more months then he will do fat grafting. Ugh I cat wait till all these surgeries are over

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  • Allydp
    Allydp Member Posts: 520
    edited June 2015

    Ganz, I'm so sorry about the hot flashes! Glad you like your new implants though! My PS wants to swap mine out too...then also do fat grafting at a later date. I definitely need more surgery, but I just can't commit to the down time right now. Maybe in a couple years I'll work on them, but for now they look okay in clothes. Hope you have a quick and easy recovery!

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited August 2015

    Hello Ladies, well here we are in august of 2015. I would love to know how everyone is doing.

    Hugs


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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited August 2015

    Hi quilti and how are you?

    I am doing well and am on Femara after finishing chemo in April, 2015.  I have some aches and pains from the Femara and some chemo brain now and then, but all in all I can't complain - I'm alive!

    I hope we will hear from everyone else!

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited August 2015

    Ml I am doing well. Surgery on Friday for preventive mx. Glad to know that you are good.

    Yes it would be lovely to know how everyone is.

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited August 2015

    Hoping all will go well with your surgery on Friday.  I hope your healing will be like mine - easy!

    My plastic surgeon wants to do some revisions and fat grafting on the girls in the fall which is quickly approaching.  I haven't picked a date yet and am not sure if I will wait until after the first of the year or not.  Decisions...decisions

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  • angelfaith456
    angelfaith456 Member Posts: 83
    edited August 2015

    Hi Ladies!

    I'm just checking in! I'm doing pretty good..still have neuropathy in hands a little, chemo fog a few days a week, and getting stronger everyday..Getting my hot flashes under control with an antidepressant, evening primrose, and vitamin E. It works very well when I remember to take all of it..I still can't exercise like I want because it causes a lot of fatigue the next day. I'm signing up for the LiveStrong free yoga classes at the YMCA in August. It's for cancer patients and it should help a lot.

    I can't believe that it is August(a year later)! I'm planning on doing the nipple recon and tattoos sometime in September. I decided to wait to get my son off to college and my daughter back in school. So I've been really busy!:0! LOL!!

    I lurk on here occasionally and in the triple negative forum..I miss you ladies and I'm glad everyone is doing OK..

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited August 2015

    Angel - so glad you are doing okay. Glad you are finished with chemo! Woot! Woot!

    I too suffer with pretty bad hot flashes, but don't want to take more pills right now, so I'm just chugging through.

    My son and I started biking and swimming 5 nights a week about a month back. My knees kill me because of the Femara, but I still do it because my fat butt needs it.

    I need another reconstructive plastic surgery and my PS wants to do it in November, but I just don't know that I want another surgery right now. I am just building up my leave from work after finishing chemo in April.

    Good to see you!

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited August 2015

    Hello Ladies. Long day yesterday hospital at 6:30 am home again at 5:45 pm.

    I have two drains in and good pain control. I have some swelling in the area and in my arm. Which will get checked out this morning. I have to wait until drains are under 20 ml for two days before they will take them out.

    So glad that surgery is over.

    hugs

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited August 2015

    Quilti - I am glad your surgery went well and that you are home.  How have you been doing?

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited August 2015

    A bit of a set back this morning. woke up to a wet shirt and drains not sucking. Off to the hospital to met my surgeon. Half a hour later and more stiches pulled tighter around drain tubes and working drains. I have a couple more days before I can get rid off my drains. Pain is under control as long as I take my t3.

    Hugs to all

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited August 2015

    Sorry things aren't going very smoothly for you Quilti!  Hoping that things start improving for you and you can have drains removed soon.  I remember what a pain they were. 

    I need to go back in for plastic surgery revisions as they don't look as they should.  I'm not looking forward to the drains at all.  I need to build up more leave at work before I can't do this, so it won't be happening any time soon.  Maybe after the first of the year.

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  • quiltlibrarian
    quiltlibrarian Member Posts: 174
    edited August 2015

    Ml sorry that you have to go back for more surgery. Some times it feels like it will never end.

    hugs

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  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 235
    edited August 2015

    Good morning ladies :)

    I am doing well for the most part. I started arimidex AGAIN. My onc says she doesn't want to switch me to any thing else. The hot flashes are more like warm flushes but the bone and joint pain is horrible. This feels like a pill form of chemo ! I'm foggy all the time and in pain most of the time. But, I am alive! I cant believe its been almost a year since this began...a year ago I never thought it would end. Hopefully only one more surgery for fat grafting in October. Havent decided what to do about nipples yet..I checked out the 3D nipples and they are so realistic so I may go with that. Glad to see that we are all still here a year later and for the most part doing well..

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited August 2015

    Ganz - I understand about the AI.  I take Letrozole and have been for almost 3 months.  I have joint pain for sure, but I guess even though it hurts and I feel 100 years old, I tolerate it because yes - I am still alive and I can work through it.  The hot flashes for me are truly HOT flashes complete with sweat which is GROSS!  My MO said he could put me on Effexor which is an antidepressant known to help with hot flashes but I don't want to take another medication if I don't have to.  I'm not foggy, but I don't remember as much as I used to and write more things down.  I do notice that I am not depressed, but I'm not happy either.  I am kind of flat.  I know...people say I should take something, but I just don't want to.  I just want everything to even out.

    Way to go for you - only one more surgery!  I need to have the original implants reworked and fat grafting but I don't want another surgery.  I was supposed to have the surgery in October, but honestly, I am still building up my leave at work after going negative through chemo.  I may think about it after the first of the year.

    When I get to the nipple part - I'm going with 3D.  I will wait and make an appointment with Vinnie in MD.

    Glad to see you are doing well.

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  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 235
    edited August 2015

    Hi ml....I'm on 150mg's of Effexor and it doesn't help at all with the hot flashes but does help a bit for my depression, I guess. The 20th was my one year anny, the day I lost my girls. It was kind of a sad day but a good day at the same time. I also decided to go with the 3D nipples. I checked them out online and I couldn't believe how realistic they are ! I was going to have nipple recon but changed my mind when my ps said they will always be erect...no thanks lol. I will be having fat grafting and my right implant replaced again (this will make for the 3rd revision on the right side). For some reason the right side ends up looking like a football and half of it is under my armpit. Ugg !!

    I hear what your saying about not being depressed but not happy. I feel the same way. Some days I don't get out of bed, other days I'm happier than I should be. Which is why I said I guess the Effexor helps with my depression. I still have a lot of anxiety too. Not sure why tho. I dunno...such a one of a kind journey that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

    Glad to hear your doing ok :)

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited August 2015

    Ganz - I have to had revisions to both of the girls.  The left is kind of like your right, like a football and under my armpit.  Weird!  He is going to replace both because they didn't end up looking like he wanted them to and he will fat graft.  I was supposed to do it in October, but honestly, I don't have the time to take off from work again and I just don't want another surgery right now.  Maybe after the first of the year.

    I hate being on Letrozole, but it is helping to keep cancer from recurring so I will continue.

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited August 2015

    I just remembered that today is the year anniversary of my BMX!  Wow!  In some aspects, it seems so far away, but then sometimes it seems like it was yesterday.  My life has changed so much over this past year and not all of it was bad.  I certainly see life and its struggles differently.  I try and take each day as it comes and not worry about something that may not even need my concern.  I try and be thankful for each morning that I wake up and am able to be here with my family.  Each evening when I take that magic pill, I think positive, healing thoughts even though my joints are killing me and the sweat may be pouring from my brow from the hot flashes.  I am thankful to still be here today!

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