April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

Also forgot to mention, I went to my neurologist (whom I used to see for migraines) to get her take on my pain. She prepped me well for April appointment with Rheumotologist, did a thorough neuro exam, and said it's definately not fibromyalgia. She said I definately have peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet but it is very minor and there is hope for it to resolve....eventually. She said I am very lucky to have escaped a worse case of it and it is most likely due to the hand/foot icing.

Hi Lynne! Thanks for the list of questions, I printed and took them. It went really well, I am trying not to Get too excited yet. She went over all my options, including flap and BRAVA, and which ones she did and which she would refer me out for. What she prefers is two rounds of fat grafting and then TE placement, then exchange. She is a member of all pertinent professional organizations and is from Montana, and wants to be close to family. So I'm feeling cautiously positive. I'll meet with guy number 2 next week...

Edited to add-ok so you want to move fat from my belly and saddle bags to my chest? Ummmm....yes please lol. Maybe the silver lining is finally becoming visible? Cautiously hopeful?

So, I see someone finally started an April '16 discussion (only post on it so far is from our ksusan :-) I think I'll wait a few days to have it get going before popping on to give some encouragement.

Six month surgeon follow up today. Keep fingers crossed for me! I'm starting to get scared in the waiting room.

lol you are on! You know I'll do it too. Yup....getting more scared and I haven't even been called back yet. This guy never has good news...

My oh shit face

Hahahahaha OK I'm calming down a mite. Good strategy k susan- its almost like you are a professional or something lol. This sassy enough for ya?

haha right up the nose! Ok, no one needed to see my nostrils. Thanks ksusan, got felt up and the all clear. Whew.

Okay, Jen, I owe you a photo at my next appointment.

Hi Sheila, glad you are seeing some improvement with the pain. I'm probably at the same stage...more uncomfortable than in pain. (Rant: other than my hands!) I am cheating on and off with the compression. I've been switching back and forth between abdominal and thigh compression. Having both on all the time just makes me claustrophobic. Today I am being bad and not wearing either. Gasp! I'll get back on it tomorrow, but it's nice to be able to breath again. The heat here also makes it very uncomfortable to wear the compression layers. I'm not too concerned since most of the swelling is long gone. I'm only noticing the lumps and bumps of scar tissue forming at the grafting sites, which I read is normal. My thighs are the most uncomfortable. Also, the area just under my breast between my ribs...the skin has that tugging feeling when I walk around (like after stage 1). It's not bad enough to hunch over, but annoying. I'm having a bit of an issue regaining strength too. I was cleared to walk for first 2 weeks, lift under 10 pounds until week 4 (challenging sticking to that), and then I'm allowed to do what I want and am able to do. My P.S. isn't very restrictive at all. Which is good, because I have a hard time following orders. ;-)

Hi Ladies, with the April 16 group starting up, I was thinking of compiling a list of "what was your worst side effect from chemo and what did you do about it and are there any lasting effects from it today?" As far as side effects, I'm thinking a wide definition - including trips to the hospital due to infection/low WBC, etc. I'll add it to our spreadsheet, and share (with names and other information blocked) with the April 16 group if it would be helpful.

Lynne

Sounds useful, and maybe add a category for "I didn't have bad chemo side effects" as well? The balance could be helpful.

You can post it here - I'll add the request to FB page too when I'm home (can only access via phone now, and it's a PITN) and we can post it there.

Hm, I didn't think that the worst would be overwhelming, overall I was thinking it would be positive because we all survived it.

I think my worst side effect were the mouth sores. I tried to prevent them by sucking on popsicles during adriamycin infusions and used salt water rinses, and then added Lysine once I started getting them, but I still got them, and it was very painful. I sometimes feel like my mouth is more reactive since chemo - I'll feel like I might have a sore starting, but it doesn't.

The close tie is my foot neuropathy, but even though I hate it, it's not as annoying as the mouth sores were.

Lynne

You are a straight up sweetheart to think of this, Lynne! Worst for me was nausea brought on by acid stomach.