Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

My lumpectomy was anything but easy-peasy. I definitely took the Percocet. And sleeping pills. As far as the burning, the only other thing that helped me was ice packs and sitting still. No reaching for anything. Boring, yes, but the combo of ice, Percocet, and rest helped more than anything else.

Great News, MLP!! Woo Hoo!

HH and ChiSandy, wow, the get-together sounds fabulous! Thanks for organizing. I'll look into flights. It would be so great to meet everyone (or some, anyway).

Gemma12, sorry for the inconclusive score. One more damned decision to have to make.

MLP, woot!!!!!!

Tami sorry. Take your painkillers and hugs!!

Yeah mlp!!! So happy for you.

What a HUGE relief MLP!!! Celebrate!

Dear MLP:  YAY!!  Congratulations.

Dear Gemma:  I would ask your MO many questions.  Please take someone with you to the appointment.  I agree with everything that Peggy said.  You may even need to go for a third opinion.  Don't second guess yourself once you make your decision.

Dear Tami: The SLNB is very painful.  Take time to heal and don't push yourself.  Use the ice and pain killers.  Good luck.

Gemma, so sorry that your results put you at a fork in the road. Hoping that you get some good answers and direction at your appointment with the MO.

MLP3, clear margins and no lymph nodes - Yay! (I had neither, so am wicked happy for you!!)

Happy Hammer, my DH doesn't play golf or any other sports. I always say I'm a lucky woman--I never have to endure football, basketball, or baseball games. The extent of our sports-watching is the Super Bowl (for the commercials) and the Olympics every other year, LOL.

My DH would probably come up with me just for the ride, but I doubt he'd want to join us. He has pretty low stamina due to chronic lung & heart issues. He'd probably rather read in our hotel room.

violet hope, great news on node negative

Happy Hammer said: "- we can have a meal together or whatever with the DH's or whomever comes along for the ride. Plus, we can all have supper at the Alehouse on the 22nd for sure and enjoy the concert."

That sounds great! I really hope we can do this.

Good deal!

So, one of my least favorite things right now is realizing at around 8pm that I still need about 1500-2000 steps to get at least 10,000 steps in for the day....I usually make a big deal about it as I start playing some funky music on Pandora and....one of my very favorite things right now is that my precious husband dances around the house with me so I can hit my goal. He is truly the best guy EVER! (Kevin doesn't even like to dance and does NOT like FUNKY music. He is the best cheerleader!)

hh that's so awesome!! I make my kids dance with me. Adam never would (but he's always up for a walk).

Iusually put on music and dance while I'm folding laundry, seems weird but it works!

MLP3 YES!!

Molly, I was doing good until I came down with a rotten cold. This is Day #4 and I feel less than wonderful. But overall I am doing pretty good. Have 4 weeks until the house is to be on the market. Cross your fingers that it will be ready!

I won't be able to make the Carolina gathering but I know you all will have a grand time!

HUGS!

I am so pumped to be meeting HH and whoever else can make it to the NC gathering & concert. It's for a great cause--our well-being is not just about treatment, but also about feeling good and looking good without products that can endanger us.

MLP3, yay on the clear margins and N0 status. Violet, fantastic news for you too. Amy, that 18 score is frustrating--but still gives you a little wiggle room. Your MO will take into account, among the other factors in your dx, your age and general health before advising you regarding chemo. And you're not required to take it as gospel--might be a good idea to get a second or third opinion from an MO at a different health system. Tami, my SNB incision was the real troublemaker--the lumpectomy site didn't bother me until well into rads. I found that ice and cushioning between upper arm and breast/lower axilla helped immensely--but it took a long long time before the burning turned to itching, then to feeling like I was walking around wearing a shoulder holster. My BS' nurse gave me a “P3"--aka Protective Pillow Purse, which was a pillow hanging from an adjustable Velcro shoulder strap, which went between breast and bicep (like a shoulder holster morphed into a pillow). It had a pocket, which contained a smaller cushion to place between the shoulder harness and my chest when driving. There's a local volunteer organization called Protect the Girls which makes them once a year to hand out to bc surgical patients in the North Shore area. Unfortunately, they don't have a website or FB page and they're not on Etsy. But if you go to the various bc clothing and accessory sites such as those listed on BCO and type “breast pillow" into the search box. Most of them are heart-shaped, which is anatomically the most comfy. I think there are also patterns if you're handy with a sewing machine.

I'm pretty bummed out right now--went to my LE therapist today and she says I not only have cording but that my LE is now Stage 1 (mild) rather than Stage 0 (subclinical). The fibrosis over my tumor-cavity seroma seems to have shifted forward--so I had to switch to a full-breast Swell Spot to wear beneath my sleep bra.I have to wear compression now all day for the next two weeks to see if it helps; but the gauntlet is making my fingers swell (though paradoxically, my thumb is flexier than it’s been in weeks). If I switch to the glove, the fabric is way too stiff for guitar-playing. Thus far, I won't need night garments, but who knows? My LE doc has authorized another 6 sessions of MLD and observation. Under normal circumstances, I'd draw myself a bubble bath (now verboten bec. of the LE), have some wine (now extremely limited) or some type of comfort food--now also out of the picture. Closest thing to comfort food now is some Paleo granola with almond milk or Greek yogurt....unsweetened. Maybe I can still have my one square of very dark chocolate, or a decaf almond-coconut milk cappuccino. (Only now I have to tamp with my L hand--the R palm feels bruised like I've been doing one-handed handstands). I think maybe I'll pull on the glove and distract myself by restringing one of my guitars that needs it....remembering to hoist the case with my L hand, of course. Thursday I’m going to ask my therapist to measure me again--especially finger length--in case I can get a more comfortable glove or properly-fitting gauntlet custom-made.

In the grand scheme of things as a post-op bc patient (especially knowing what so many on these boards are going through), I realize things could be SO much worse and my kvetching is the cancer equivalent of First World Problems (to use the more socially considerate term). But, dang........