May 2016 Surgeries

Raven - wait, fat grafting can be reabsorbed? Why does no one mention these things? All my PS mentioned was the possibility of fatty necrosis, from what he explained of too much going in one spot and it just not "taking".

Update for me: there is a small chance, which I don't want to jinx with hope or excitement, that the last two months of new, worsening, torturesome, nerve pain were the unintended side effect of one of the pills I was put on by one of my drs. It's a small chance but I quit taking it three days ago and I've noticed a difference already. Someone else please hope for me that it's a real difference and a real cause-effect relationship and not just a psychosomatic effect because I have a lot of sleep I'd like to catch up on and I could use a break.

GreyKat - Hoping, hoping, hoping! Keep us updated....and fingers crossed you had sweet dreams and some quality sleep last night!

Raven - Totally recognize that description - hard, shriveled, caved-in mess that's surrounded by scars. Yep - sounds familiar! Love that you're seeing progress now!

SpecialK - You inspire me with your great attitude despite all you've been through. I've never once seen you complain about your circumstances. I need to take tips from you!

Grandma - Glad you were able to spend time with family! Let's keep telling our right sides to behave!

Got a new article from BC.org in my email this morning about 1/3 of breast cancer patients not following up with imaging in the years after their treatments. Read the article and was surprised to see my BS is an author of the study. I have my 6 mo follow-up with her on Friday, so I'll have to give her props. (Bonus - I now know that annual follow-ups with her patients may be a priority of hers....cool!)

Invited to attend the Breast Cancer Center's fundraiser over the weekend. Dress code is "Dressy Casual". Need to go shopping for something to wear today. Any hints? I'm assuming I should be shooting for a simple cocktail dress or cute skirt with fun accessories and heels....yes?

Thanks, Raven!

Hi, Val! Glad to hear the surgeon said everything looked good. Baby steps on getting back up and going, girl! You don't want to do too much too soon but I'm sure you're anxious to get back to your old self. {{{hugs!}}}

Glad things are looking up, Valstim!

Great outlook, SpecialK!

Steri-strips are off and I can report that the scars aren't better than I was hoping, but probably aren't worse than I was expecting.

The "dressy casual" dress code for this weekend's cancer center event has flummoxed lots of us. This is the first year of the event, so outfits can't be based off last year's experience. Don't want to show up over/under dressed. Found a couple of things on Tuesday, but I think I'll go shopping for cute shoes today. As someone who once attended a Go Red event very last-minute, didn't own any red at the time, was the only one there without red on (yep), then ended up in a picture that was put on the front of the brochure the following year (naturally), I've become more sensitive to the dress codes...ha!

Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate the May board? So glad we've kept it going!

Basically what I purchased on Tuesday....

Here is your daily stupid: My fabulous PT is technically and legally titled "Dr", and has whatever national provider number that goes along with that. BECAUSE he's technically titled "Dr" and his provider number popped up in their billing database, my insurance company has rejected his prior approval request for more PT visits because he's not an in-network doctor.

Never mind that he's staff, not an independent contractor, at the hospital PT clinic which bills as the hospital, not by individual therapists' names, and of course the hospital and its rehab clinic is in-network; never mind that he doesn't use his billing number with this job; never mind that he's not THAT kind of doctor and he's - as I kept trying to explain to insurance - a physical therapist with a doctorate in his field, not a physician; and never mind that I've been going to the hospital rehab center since June/July with zero problems until now - nope. He is an unapproved, out-of-network MD-doctor and that's the truth they're going with.

So I unhappily get an unneeded PT vacation while his office tries to fix this.

Still in a notable amount of pain with lost hand ability & weakness, and hard to sleep, but the pain level did come down from an unbearable, torturesome 10 from stopping that drug. So I guess we can all add that to the list of things I won't be taking again because of nasty side effects. That list is becoming laughably long.

Seriously though, insurance. Hung up on a technicality so I can't get PT where I'm already established and mid-treatment. Thanks guys. Thanks.

Raven - that's an interesting point of view. I just think it's sad that if my PT was actually less qualified and less educated, this wouldn't have been an issue. How utterly backwards is that?

ETA: Actually, I got to tell the PT that my insurance reviewed his case notes and was happy to authorize more PT for me as necessary - they aren't disputing that, thankfully - but it just can't be with him. Because he's personally out-of-network. Because he's a "Dr". Because *AARGGHH*

Had my 6-mo follow-up appt with my BS on Friday. Am still considered a high-risk patient due to the strong family history and my young-ish age, so I will continue to be seen every 6 months. Gave her kudos on her recently published study and we chatted about it a bit. She was also quite impressed with the work my PS has done....she checked on me a few times while hospitalized for the infection this summer and knew what a mess my chest was.

Saw my PS today. Got the all-clear for the next 3 months....woohoo! He thinks a revision on leftie is in my future - he'll see how things look at the next appt. It's pulling down and out a bit he thinks he can tighten it up to match rightie better. But I'm healing great, so all of my lifting and movement restrictions were lifted; I can choose any type of bra to wear - unwire or no underwire - my choice; and he feels fairly confident I'm past the point of being at serious risk of the pseudomonas acting up. That's a pretty good appt.

Had a lovely time at the cancer center fundraiser! And my outfit was 'on point'....dressy casual definitely slid way over toward the dressy side of the scale at the event. Thanks for your clothing advice, ladies!

mytoystory, yippee for good news all the way around and kudos on your outfit.

myToyStory, great news all around. I'm happy for you! Glad the dressy-casual worked out for you!

Grandma, I'm at 4-1/2 weeks post FG and I'd estimate that at least 50% of the fat has already re-absorbed. But that means there's still 50% sitting in there with all its yummy stem cells doing it's thing (I hope.)

I've kind of been in a big vicious cycle of bad-attitude-ness lately: "supposed" to be feeling thankful >>> feeling guilty because I'm not >>> feeling sad because I feel guilty for how I feel >>> feeling mad because I should get to feel however I want >>> feeling guilty again because I really don't have it so bad compared to others >>> trying to be thankful again >>> lather, rinse, repeat - and, really, no one wants to hear it.

I'll get there. Just not feeling it right now.

Was surprised to get an email yesterday letting me know I had a new test result in my online hospital chart. I've only had check ups for the past few appointments, so I didn't know what that was referring to. Intrigued, I went to the page and found out that I had suspicious skin removed from my cancer-side breast during my exchange surgery. Good news - it's benign. Wait....what?? First I've heard of this!

Suddenly suffering from a case of "ignorance was bliss"....but grateful that the results were in my favor!

Happy birthday, Valstim! Glad you were feeling good enough to go out and enjoy your day!

Grateful for you, too!

Happy Birthday Valstim. Glad to hear you're doing well. I agree... Thank God for BCO!