The Beast & Me: Round Two

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  • dash
    dash Member Posts: 766
    edited February 2007
    G--
    I sent you a PM regarding the compression garment and other stuff. I woke up with a binder on supplied by the PS or hospital and wore it for about 10 days straight--the drains hung from the sides and the garment kept them from wiggling around too much.
    I bought mule type sneakers and they were(and are!) wonderful to slip on easily. Socks were a whole other problem!
    Wishing you the best~!
  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited February 2007
    My PET scans were moved up tomorrow! They told me to stop eating carbs and start eating meat... ugh.
    I have the whole body PET, the chest ct, abdominal ct and pelvic ct. Then on Wednesday I have the brain MRI and bone scan.
    are we having fun yet???
  • Biker54
    Biker54 Member Posts: 1,310
    edited February 2007
    G, good luck with your scans tomorrow! I'm sure you will do just fine!

    I pinned my drains to my bra and the hospital gave me a little bag, that hung around my neck, that I used when I showered. I didn't have drains when I had my mast./recon. I had them when I had the original lumpectomy and node removal. I'm going to ask my ps to put one in this time, because I think I had problems because of swelling.

    Good luck and gentle hugs,
  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited February 2007

    Remember that red meat is needed to help you heal faster--enjoy!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2007
    Eating meat! Oh, no! LOL Are you a "meatless" eater?

    You're posts are so strong. You have everything organizeed.
    You ARE ready to get this thing going. And good for you!
    You're attitude is absolutely wonderful. I have a feeling you are going to do just fine.

    Good luck on those scans. You know the worse part is...the waiting.
    Shirley
  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited February 2007
    Ha ha- I am not a big meat fan! BUT I have been thinking that I need to change my diet a bit to boost myself up before surgery. Add more protein, etc. I am taking extra C and echinachea - should I take anything else??

    I had a little "slip" today.
    I went to the mall to look for sport bras that close in the front and couldn't find ONE. And it was really hot in there and I was cranky and and and- oh hell- I had a chocolate ice cream cone! I KNOW I am not supposed to have the day before the PET- but man did it taste good!!!
  • LiveForToday
    LiveForToday Member Posts: 311
    edited February 2007
    NS - You will be in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow!!
    We will be awaiting good news from you very soon...

    huggs, Sherry

    ---------------------
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2007

    Good luck with the tests tomorrow and Wednesday. I'll be thinking about you - good thoughts only!

  • Maria_C_
    Maria_C_ Member Posts: 69
    edited February 2007
    NS;
    I knew you had LE probs. on your other side,
    from a post long, very long ago,
    but I was not sure ...
    I have chemo brain, it's not that bad,
    but it ain't that good neither ...

    Another good reason for you to consider
    to have a PT close to you after this.
    In my opinion and mainly for whom had dealt with
    arm problems already, one feels "safer"
    if watched and guided during this
    and if the PT is a good one, the better.

    I agree absolutely with Erica on having PT
    weather they mess too much with us or too little,
    recovery is faster and one can be back to normal
    with 100% of range moves more easily.

    "I also got a call from a long distance friend last night.
    ...he called to tell me his company
    is sending him here in June.
    Of all times- I will probably be bald, ...
    I guess this was just not meant to be!"


    Time out!!! Time out!!!!!
    I guess this was just not meant to be!!?!?
    I mean ...
    you're guessing that is just not meant to be??... image
    I see that you are a person
    that do plan ahead to be prepared, that's great;
    I can understand that
    now while you are planing your things for this,
    you may forget at some point
    your brain inside of your cocoon or some place else,
    it's understandable, but...
    guess would do you good to rewind now and then, ...
    I mean...
    you are facing this crap for the second time,
    you run over Docs and so on
    over this stuff and for what you want,
    you're going full speed and strength for what you decide,
    and being bald is going to stop you from hitting a guy??...image
    How's that?... image
    Nope. No, no, no, no, ...
    I think you should give it another thought,
    and it's better be a good one and with good results.
    And then again ... until June a lot of things can happen.
    Sometimes ...
    when in a hurry to fix our life ...
    we just forget that stuff of
    "one thing and day at the time",
    and mainly at its time, don't we?

    Hope you do not get offended by my comment on this,
    if so, I'm sorry in advance;
    planing is good, but sometimes we just plan too much,
    and the worst on certain things, is that we decide ahead.

    Hope all went well today.

    Hugs.
    .
  • silvergirl9114
    silvergirl9114 Member Posts: 381
    edited February 2007
    Gina-
    Ask your surgeon about the vitamin C---large doses affect the way the blood clots.

    And as far as the guy in June? That's JUNE---let's not throw him under the bus in February. If he's a potential keeper, tell him what the story is and buy a wig! (Or not.) One good way to find out what he's made of. He's interested enough in you to call four months ahead!

    Thinking of you all day today---and tomorrow. My Gramma always said that hiccups means someone is thinking about you-----you must be gasping for breath by now since so many on the boards are thinking about you.

    Jeannie
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2007
    Quote:

    I had a little "slip" today.
    I went to the mall to look for sport bras that close in the front and couldn't find ONE. And it was really hot in there and I was cranky and and and- oh hell- I had a chocolate ice cream cone! I KNOW I am not supposed to have the day before the PET- but man did it taste good!!!




    Why can't you have an ice cream cone the day before the PET? No one ever told me to withhold any kind of food before mine. Hmmmmmm...
    Shirley
  • SheriH
    SheriH Member Posts: 785
    edited February 2007

    I was just told not to eat anything the morning of the PET. The day before should be ok.

  • myrnaincabc
    myrnaincabc Member Posts: 76
    edited February 2007
    Oh my gosh silvergirl that " lets not throw him under a bus" was pretty funny and I agree. Come on Gina he could end up being cool/
    Im thinking positive thoughts and sending your way
    Myrna
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2007
    Saying a prayer for you, Gina. Hope all goes well with the scans and you get good results. I think of you often. Wish I could help.

    pals
    cheri
  • fancy2
    fancy2 Member Posts: 162
    edited February 2007
    Quote:

    Why can't you have an ice cream cone the day before the PET? No one ever told me to withhold any kind of food before mine. Hmmmmmm...
    Shirley




    A PET works by measuring sugar uptake. Cancer cells absorb sugar faster than normal cells do. So they want to have your blood sugar level below 90, or even lower, before they start the test. They measure your blood sugar level. Then they give you a measured dose of radioactive sugar water, wait a specified time, and see what lights up. If you exercise, do heavy work--even housework, or eat sugar before the test, it throws the test off and the results may not be accurate. If your hospital didn't tell you that, they are REALLY wrong. The folks who ran my test did it absolutely by the book. I had to do no exercise for three days before, eat a no-sugar/low-carb diet, and sit in a darkened room doing nothing for 45 minutes whilst waiting for the test to start. They were very firm about all of that. No negotiations.
  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited February 2007
    Hello!
    I had all my tests. All SIX.
    The contrast stuff they gave me today triggered one of my migraines so I won't be able to be on long....
    BUT:
    This is according ONLY TO THE PRELIMINARY REPORTS and what I could beat out of the techs--

    ALL CLEAR!

    The lung nodules and plueral whatevers look to be the same size so they most likely hopefully knock on wood are scarring from rads.

    The thyroid lit up AGAIN but we all know that is from the Hashimotos caused by rads.

    Guess what? the right breast lit up?? Ya think? We KNOW what that is.

    I made the bone scan guy tell me if I can sleep tonight or not. After haranguing him he admitted that "something" showed up- MY LE! Apparently the LE arm was sucking up all the contrast! HOWEVER, he didn't see anything else. But he is just a tech...but they know what they are looking at.

    Then I weasled a confession out of the brain MRI tech and she said it looked "normal" of course with one of my headaches again tonight I am hoping she is right.

    SOOOO- keeping our fingers crossed and barring any kinehura-- I AM dealing with a new primary.

    All this is subject to the final report and call from my doc.

    THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

    Love,
    g
  • AlaskaDeb
    AlaskaDeb Member Posts: 2,601
    edited February 2007
    WooHoo G! We will take good news no matter how you had to wheedle it out of the techs. I have found that they will not give you even "Maybe" good news unless things look totally OK. I hope you get some rest and your head feels better.

    Whew
    One step done!
    Big hugs
    Deb C
  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 1,595
    edited February 2007
    That sounds like good news so far. Someone's gotta keep those techies on their toes. LOL

    I am amazed that they can tell the difference between a new primary and recurrence of the original. I don't know if this thread is the best place to ask, but why would a new primary be better than a recurrence of the previous?
  • newvickie
    newvickie Member Posts: 3,939
    edited February 2007
  • gracejon
    gracejon Member Posts: 972
    edited February 2007

    Great News!!!! Doin' ahappy dance!

  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2007
  • bearlysane111
    bearlysane111 Member Posts: 735
    edited February 2007
    Wonderful,ns!! I have been reading abt your tests and am so delighted with your posts. You are in my thoughts and all good wishes are being sent your way!!

    --------
    Iris
  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited February 2007
    NS - so happy for your "good news"
    Karen in Denver
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2007
    Gina: Glad, glad, glad to hear your news. FYI Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disorder. It is not caused by breast radiation. You can google Hashimoto's and you'll find about a billion articles about it.

    Good luck to you.

    Joanne
  • dash
    dash Member Posts: 766
    edited February 2007

    Oh, I am so glad about your preliminary great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It all sounds wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2007

    Sounds good, Gina. This is TOTALLY something you can deal with!

  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited February 2007
    I couldn't get my final reports today because it is my onc's day off! But I am still confident that all went well.

    I made an appointment to see the breast surgeon before my surgery. I have another appointment with the plastic surgeon beforehand and feel that just seeing this guy once is not enough!

    I am still waiting on my receptors- they must be really whacked. I have been thinking that if they are ER positive then I can get the oncotype dx test done. My Onc has told me he doesn't think I will escape chemo... THAT is not something I want to think about now.

    I would like this all to just be over- the surgery and the first couple of days of pain and be on the healing end of this.... this has been too long of a wait!

    Were many of you on anti-biotics when you had your mast/recons? I have a problem with them too and was wondering how long and how much you have to take if any.

    Thank you so much again for being my lifeline!

    Love,g
  • dash
    dash Member Posts: 766
    edited February 2007
    G--
    I have antibiotic probs too and although they gave me them in the hospital, my PS said antibiotics are over prescribed and not needed postoperatively so I didn't have any once I was home. But he said if I hadn't talked him about my concerns, he would have prescribed them automatically so it's worth talking to your PS
  • looneycrew
    looneycrew Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2007
    I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this again. I had antibiotics with surgery, but I always have to take them b/c of past heart surgeries when I was 6mos. old and 13 yrs old.
    I will be sending thoughts your way that you CAN escape chemo. That is one of my fears right now, but just like last time, I'll do what I need to do to live for me and my family.
    Please let us know how the results turn out and please let me know if you want to chat about anything. Sucks going through all of this again!
    Remember your name---NO SURRENDER!!!
    Love,
    Jen
  • looneycrew
    looneycrew Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2007
    They should put you in the mechanical compression gear right after surgery. Please talk to your doctor about blood clots. If you're on tamoxifen, it's a risk. Also, a risk is if you went through chemo. From my experience I'm living now, just ask and watch for any signs of cramping in your legs after surgery.
    The first couple days after surgery aren't fun, but it really didn't go that badly after. Arms and chest are sore, but it wasn't unbearable.
    YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

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