Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Italychick- you made me think of my symptoms lately. I had the heavy legs too walking around the outdoor outlets yesterday. And the Nike store sent me spinning with all of the colors and orange sneaker boxes! I have Vertigo and my daily activities feel like Vertigo symptoms. I wonder if the chemo is exacerbating the Vertigo? I usuallyonly get it when I shop for Christmas trees, pumpkins at a farm or shop at an unfamiliar, large grocery store.

My mo said that my immune system will be at its lowest mid-way through each treatment. That's about day 10 for me. Is it +/- a few days on each side? I'm just trying to prepare myself with rest, diet, exercise and precautions. I'm sooo hyper sensitive now when someone coughs or sneezes! And I'll be in Florida for day 10 of my next treatment and flying the next.

I learned a cute way to greet people in lieu of hugs... Tap elbows! My friend,(who is currently going through chemo for colon cancer), taught me that trick. I tried it this weekend with my daughters' friends as they approached me with open arms. It worked great and they though it was kinda cool. Like a high five with elbows! And I plan to great my favorite French restaurateur with two elbows as he always kisses me cheek-to-cheek;)

MLP3, We're all too used to cutting and pasting everything and when we can't, it trips us up. I know I found it hard to remember at first. I'm sure there's a reason but it doesn't matter - it's "just because"

That's cool - bumping elbows. I'll remember that one!

HUGS!

Hi Ladies,

Just checking back in I have now finished 4 rad treatments and I feel about the same. There has been no skin changes and I am just as active as before. I just thought I would post this for I did wonder what it is like for others? It might be helpful if that had a tag line for number of treatments under radiation for I am learning there are again many different combinations beyond just days in treatment. The one change I made was to switch to a different bra my last one was too tight for it was more of a sports bra. Each day I also soak my feet in epsom salts. I don't know if this make a difference but I thought I would give it a try.

Suzanne, in your pocket for the visit to the LE therapist! Good to intervene early. Wish I had insisted on an earlier appt. when I began having those cording symptoms after T’giving--might have had a glove instead of a gauntlet when I flew to Rome and thus avoided finger swelling. (After a day in the glove--kinda tight, but manageable--my ring practically falls off my finger)! There are two wonderful LE specialist doctors--Feldman & Schiff--up here in the NorthShore system, which is U of C-affiliated. Long schlep, I know, but your therapy itself can be done closer to home.

MLP. one of the things I miss dearly on my low-carb diet is long-cooked steel-cut oats with maple syrup!

Jill, continue to take it easy. Hydration is key if you’re coming down with a cold, and chicken soup (real, from a chicken) works wonders at thinning secretions and doesn’t conflict with chemo the way supplements and herbal preparations can.

MLP - you are correct, the first week of infusion your immune system is fine, its the 2nd and 3rd week, you are immune compromised so they say to watch your temp in those weeks. I was super lucky 4.5months of treatment and didnt get sick even amongst working with children.

LTF - the fatigue is cumulative with Chemo so it does get tougher as you go, but you are doing so great,

Rosie I was numbed for both my biopsy and the wire. I can tell you neither one hurt. I was just nervous but no pain. I was not put under for either of them.

justmaximom, I'd probably take the rest of the day off.You may have some pain and wooziness after the procedure.

Dear Molly:  Thanks.  I have an appointment with my dermatologist tomorrow so I will have him look at it first, before I contact my MO.  The area is actually in the fleshy part below my sternum, between my breasts, not above my sternum.  I think that I am just a worry wart now. 

Dear MLP:  I am glad that you are starting to feel better.  The walk should help.

Dear Melclarity:  I am sorry that you are always in pain.  I feel for you.  My boyfriend was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Myofasciitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and severe peripheral neuropathy in his hands and feet.  He is in constant pain and can no longer work.  He hasn't found medicines yet that work.  I am glad that you are able to work again now.  However, working with autistic children is a very physical and tiring job.  Loving your job helps a lot.

Dear LTF:  I did not see your blog but your wigs and hats are amazing.  You rock.  You have such a fantastic attitude.  Don't let anyone get you down.

Dear Brit:  I am happy that you don't have to have any more chemo.

FYI:  My cousing finished her whole breast radiation tx today.  She had every side effect possible from rads.  I am glad that she is done and now she can recuperate.  I hope that her level of fatigue will not be staggering.

Hugs, healing, health, happiness, and hello to everyone.

LTF, I have had a drippy nose ever since starting chemo. I lost all my nose hair and it's been slow to come back. The dripping is especially bad in the evening, too. Drives me crazy.

Update on the big, giant wound--I have been doing wet-to-dry dressings since Fri. For those who don't know what this is, I have to take two woven gauze, wet them with normal saline, then stuff them into this gaping wound and cover it up with a dry dressing. I'm telling you, I put these dressing changes off until the last possible minute. It takes a lot to gross me out--I've been a nurse for 39 years, so I've seem a LOT Of bloody-gutty things. That stuff doesn't faze me. But this horrible looking gash is more than I can take.

I called the PS this a.m. to find out if I could get a shower with all this going on. The NP called me back right away and told me that would be fine. I told her that one of my drains came almost all the way out during the night and how I was having such a difficult time with these dressing changes. She told me to come on to the office so they could take a look at everything. .

By the time we got there, the drain was almost all the way out, so it didn't hurt at all coming out. They also pulled the other one. Yay! They deemed the wound "healthy" and "looking good", however the PS decided to put on a wound vac. This entails putting a sponge about 1/2" thick down into the wound, covering with Tegaderm plastic dressing, then attaching this round disc which has a 5ft tube on it that connects with a motor. The motor provides suction, the point of which is to withdraw fluid and encourage the wound to heal faster. I have to carry the motor in a shoulder bag about 9"x9"; I tuck the tubing up under my camisole, best I can. The motor gurgles constantly, like an upset stomach.

The biggest advantage to me is that I don't have to do any dressing changes. The PS plans to see me every M-W-F to take out the sponge and re-dress the wound with a new disc & tubing. I am so happy about that. This wound is just so disgusting, it makes me feel ill when I look at it. The PS assures me that this wound vac will make everything heal up much faster than the wet-to-dry dressings. And once it heals more, she plans to take me back to the OR to explore and clean up the last bits, then stitch it all up. She didn't quite promise me that this would all be completed before I go to my nursing conference in San Diego April 1, but I'm hoping it will be done. I really do not want to have to carry this wound vac around while I'm there.

This feels like a bit of a set-back to me for some reason. I'm trying to stay positive, but I have to admit that I'm having some depression. I'm so sick of dealing with BC and all the complications I've had since July 2015. Sick of it. All I want to do is sleep, no energy at all. Can't get motivated to fix meals, so I'm basically grabbing anything in the fridge. Thankfully, my friends are bringing food over every 2-3 days or we'd be starving. I'm sure there will eventually be an end to all this, but I'm impatient and ready to not be dealing with all this crap.

LTF, I never even thought about Neosporin with pain relief. I just used Vaseline in my nose, especially at night. That took care of that chapped feeling pretty well. Hope you can go to work tomorrow without too much difficulty.

Poodles, your wound sounds horrible. If it grosses YOU out, it must be exceptionally icky. I hope the vacuum thing does the trick and you can heal and get all stitched up and whatever else long before you leave for San Diego. I can understand why you're depressed. You've done so good and you really are entitled to be down in the dumps. I suggest a big glass of wine and chocolates. A good book, cuddle with the furbabies and a good night's sleep. Wish I were close enough to help out.

HUGS!!!

Dear Poodles:

I hope that you heal quickly.  I'm glad that the vacuum contraption will help.  I am so sorry that you must endure this too.  I wish you the best.

Dear LTF:

I hope that your nose clears up.  I would have thought to use vaseline.  Good luck at work tomorrow if you are up to it.

Dear MLP:

Your dinner looks amazing.  Enjoy.  I'm glad that you are feeling better.

Dear Peggy:

Your suggestions are fantastic, as usual.

Poodles- I'm with Peggy- if it grosses YOU out it just must be aw.ful! Wish we were closer to help you but am glad your friends are still bringing food...hoping you are updating them so they will continue to help out- you need it! Down in the dumps...um, yeah. The hits just keep on coming for you. Wine, furbabies, good book or some mindless but entertaining tv sounds like a good idea. Sending you BIG hugs.

MLP- love zucchini noodles- that dish looks yummy. Glad you are starting to feel better.

LTF- one of the worst things is the loss of nose hair- WHO KNEW how important it was until we lost it, right?? One of those things that when you realize you have a problem- it's too late...I now understand why very old women keep a Kleenex or hanky "up their sleeve". The Neosporin sounds like a good idea for the painful chapped feeling though. I used vasoline. You are one smart cookie!

Poodles, your DH definitely hit the right thing for you. I'd add the glass of wine with the cake tonight - you deserve it!

HUGS!