Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

I just got a fibit for Christmas. I would love to friend any of you!

I am interested Molly. I also have a Fitbit and love it.

My email Sally.Zoch@Comcast.Net

I'm getting my port on Tuesday. I usually get sick with anesthesia. I will be having conscious sedation for the port placement. Any idea whether that will make me ill?

Sally, my arm/armpit get better each day. I still have to be careful not to over reach though. I went grocery shopping yesterday and did too much reaching for things and was a bit more sore last night.

Dear LMV:

I am glad that you decided to get a port. 

I hope that you do not feel sick with the conscious sedation.   Thankfully, I have never had any problems with anesthesia or Twilight sedation, so I cannot respond to your question. 

I did not have chemo either but women in my support group stated that the icing was to prevent neuropathy.  Maybe it is done for both reasons.  I don't know.

I read icing is for both sparing damage to nails and to prevent neuropathy.

I had an epiphany yesterday. Was reading a NYTimes humor article about Spanx, and the author discovered that you're not supposed to pull them on overhead (which drove her crazy when they'd start riding up) but rather to step into them. Hmmmm.....could that be why I was finding those size 20 Amoena shelf-bra camis too tight? So I tried stepping into them, and whaddaya know? Just right! And it turns out they're normally sold as “tankinis" to be paired with swim bottoms (bikini, boy short, skort, etc). Appeals to the multitasker in me--I use them as combination bras/layering pieces.

LoveMyVizsla I got my port in September. I was awake for the whole procedure and just very loopy. When sedation started wearing off I got very very nauseous. Only lasted about 30min and then I was fine. Hopefully you don't get nauseous, but if it happens, hopefully it will be short!

Now I have a question... how was recovery from the lympectomy? Also did everyone have a lymph node or several removed during your lumpectomy? I will have surgery in March, most likely. My next MRI will be in a few weeks. Just to see how my breast cancer and lymph nodes did with chemo. I'm actually only anxious about 1 thing, and that's if they think the lymph node under my sternum needs to be removed. Unfortunately it would call for a cardio thoracic surgeon to open my chest. The lymph node sits between my lung and Aorta.

With my chemo, first lot, it didnt cause neuropathy, however it was the hard hitting one and you had to eat a lemonade icy pole at infusion. Taxol 8 infusions does cause neuropathy, however they don't Ice your hands or feet here, that's something I hadn't heard of,I was super lucky and didn't suffer with that. I did get severe cording of ,my vein and a blood clot in the arm. I have to do exercises and it will come good hopefully.

Good luck all facing surgery, rads or chemo...kick butt!

Molly, I'm with you. This thread IS moving fast. I suspect one reason is that this is a really positive forum. While ladies here do have problems and we help solve them, it is not negative. Some threads are not. We also have a wide variety of experiences with our lumpies and prior treatments and post-surgery treatments. Besides, we're just plain good!

For the past few days I've had little stabbing pains in my underarm (yup, nearly 18 months later), like a non-dissolving stitch is trying to surface. I don't think I had any there but it is rather weird. But finally now all the numbness is gone - I'll take those little jabs.

HUGS!

LovestoFly - I drove home from my first infusion, and will likely drive home from them all, since it gets dark so early, and my DH can't drive at night. I had no Benedryl or Ativan with my infusion, so the Dr. said it was fine.

Cdixson- I had 27 nodes removed - 3 positive, and that's been the most annoying thing about my lumpie. The whole pit area is still numb and there are numb patches all the way down to my elbow. The actual lumpie has never really caused me a problem other than now, since the swelling has gone down, I have a divot in the upper part of my breast.

LovemyVizsla - I had no problem with conscious sedation for my port, but then I never get sick with anesthesia. I would not have been able to drive home from it though.

Had a lost day yesterday, I was so tired, I could barely move, yet I was having to make numerous trips to the bathroom to get what was still inside, out. I finally was able to take a nap in the afternoon which made me feel much better, so I could watch Downton Abbey last night.

I may have turned the constipation corner; however, since I feel pretty good this morning (up at 5:30 a.m.) but starting to feel the diarrhea part of the Taxotere. As

Roseanne Roseannadanna said, "It's always something."

hi violethope. I haven't had 2 lumpectomies, but I have heard of it. Perhaps some of the other ladies have some more knowledge in this area. I wish you the best of luck and know that no matter what the outcome, you can get through it!

Wrt icing, I have heard that helps with neuropathy and nails. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to do it, I guess I will see if they offer it when I get to chemo clinic. To be honest it pisses me off! Is this the best they can think of? Chemo sucks, I cannot imagine having my hands and feet stuck in ice, and being unable to even use my tablet, read, etc.

I looked into cold capping a bit for my head, it would be $2400 to rent the penguin cap. I guess we could suck it up and put it on the line of credit, but it just seems like an off a lot of money that could be used elsewhere. Still, now that it is probably too late for me to get it, I'm kicking myself a bit!

LovesToFly, I think that if I were having chemo, I would likely not choose icing. I detest being cold and I, like you, wonder how you manage to read or use your tablet during the sessions. Is it possible your insurance would pay for the cold cap if you want it? It is now an approved treatment. Let us know what you decide Wednesday and good luck! I'm with you. Remember that chemo is KILLING CANCER!

HUGS!

LovesToFly, well, poop. I can see where a $1000 HSA would not be very helpful when you have children. I'm envious of people who manage to wear nail polish, have it look nice AND still can type. By the time my nails are the right length for polish, I can't stand them - they get in the way typing on my computer. Many nail polishes make my nails feel like they are being suffocated (I never said I was normal!). So I generally go with plain, short, rather ugly nails.

HUGS!

MLP3, I also don't know how the ladies manage home, family, work, living and BC treatments either. Kudos to them. I was glad I was retired though I did have full care of DH.

HUGS!