The Hermit Club

Little fuzzy, but my best shot of the lunar eclipse this am. We had great visibility out here in NM this morning of this stellar event!

More favorites from today (not my pics). Bottom one from Humbolt University FB page and top one from local photographer on a local NM FB thread.

Well it is six years since I knew (albeit not officially diagnosed) that I had breast cáncer.  After battling for reconstruction for almost all that time I can finally report that my endless complaints at escalating levels have finally worn them down and they are now beginning the process of reconstruction for me.  Problem is this has worn me out too and while this should be long over it is now reopening all sorts of stuff for me.  My recon options are not extensive and their DIEP statistics are a 25% failure rate.................and no chance of anything else afterwards as they tellme they will need to remove a rib to do the DIEP (is this normal?).

Anyway I wanted to be able to share something positive for once

Hi friends- happy almost spring here in the northern hemisphere! I wanted to share I made it to my five year mark and came off the aromatase inhibitors a couple weeks ago. I am already feeling better (my feet have less pain, less cramped hand writing, sleeping better, etc.) I celebrated last week with a good friend who did a little ceremony with me with a nice reserve bottle of wine I brought and a reading she did. She was a great support to me during everything. I have more celebrations around this coming up with family. The five years for me really marks coming off the meds, and was not sure at one point if I would make it through, but I did!

Hoping everyone here is doing okay?

Well I see this thread has gone really quiet.........how are you BB??  How is everyone?  

Life has changed hugely.....the man who was not there for me during my treatment is now terminally ill with a vicious cáncer, and of course I am there for him.......but finding it really hard...... it has happened scarily fast..........I feel more like a sleep deprived carer than anything else......and he is behaving exactly the same way with his cáncer as he did with mine, head firmly in sand and leaning on me enormously........ 

I never stopped loving him, well the him he was at first, but am finding it really hard to see how little effort he is putting in to his own fight despite saying he wants to fight........

not yet but waiting to be called for pre operative tests......however going with implants as risk of failure of DIEP too high for me and if it fails leaves me as I am now.......struggling to feel there is life ahead........feel very disillusioned by people and life but also warmed by others too.......

Am not going to delay recon due to situation even though it means me being in hospital alone miles from home and brought back by ambulance......its stirring up memories i dont need too

How are you Jazzy? Has anyone heard from BB?

Wow, the last post here was April. How is everyone doing here as we approach summer in the US?

Lily- did you get your recon done and if so, how are you doing? I know that surgery is not an easy one but you have waited for so long for this, I just hope it was worth it and the work was good. Are you okay friend?

Mommy- did you go anywhere fun?

Lily- we have something here called Home Health that comes with most insurance and it has a visiting nurse come in to check on you. That won't help with everything, but at least you can have someone checking in with you. In the socialized medicine world, not sure what they have but worth asking if you have not? They can be sure you are healing and watch for signs of infection (I remember you had a bad infection before too). I had home health during my abdominal surgery and BS in 2012 (for months) and it really helped to be sure I was okay.

Logistics are different. Are there cancer organizations where you live where people can volunteer to come help? People to walk dogs, take you back for post opp, etc. A lot of times the ones here are volunteers whom are previous cancer survivors.

I have been scared too doing surgeries on my own and with little help. I found some resources and friends who were able to fill some of the gaps.

Change your sheets, fill up the fridge with food before you go in. Try to get your bedroom comfortable as possible since you will be resting a lot.

Will share any other ideas I can think of.

Its the time in hospital i wont have help for, over here family are expected to do all personal care, nurses don´t........and i will be totally on my own there apart from a possible charity volunteer who might come in once

They said anything from 4 to 7 days.......its the first couple of days when I feel I will need help........its daunting going and knowing no one will be there when I come round etc not to mention practical things like how will I keep my personal items, phone etc safe.......

Lily55, are you out of the hospital yet?

Wishing everyone a good summer. Sending love to those in treatment or healing from other care.

Lilly- just checking in again here. Are you on the other side of your recon and home now?

Lilly- such excellent news. I am glad you received such excellent care in the hospital and that the surgery is already helping you to feel better.

Thank you for letting us know how you are doing!