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  • beth1225
    beth1225 Member Posts: 1,061
    edited February 2008

    Hi PGC's!  I posted this elsewhere but it is a great positive and can't wait until Friday to post it.  I copied and pasted so I hope you don't mind.

    Colleen, I am going to try a little technology and copy and paste too since i am pretty beat tonight!

    I actually put in 4 hours of work today!  I took time off because the drain was in for a month after the new expander was placed (had a bad time with infections before).  I work retail in a dollar store and I tried not lifting anything too heavy.  I mentioned to one customer that their shopping basket was too heavy for me to lift and could she either take out the items or put it up on the counter.  I was wearing my bc pin and she asked me how long after surgery am I?  Turns out she is a 5 year survivor, had used the same set of surgeons I did and comlpetely understood.  We laughed, cried a little, exchanged phone #s and will meet at the Mother's Day 3K walk!  You never know.

    Also, even with all the problems we had today with my stepson at school, when I called back to make the appt with the principal, I told the secretary I needed to move my fill appt back to 1 PM.  So of course we got to talking and she used the same ps for her TRAM flap.  Small world and a very good and caring surgeon.  I found out from the first lady that he was a pioneer in the use of alloderm and has written many papers on it.  Made me feel so good that I made the right choice in PS!

    Lori I loved the quote of the week. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    I just discovered the "profile" stuff and added my two cents worth about me...

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  • dkmaustx
    dkmaustx Member Posts: 363
    edited February 2008

    Hi All

    Welcome, Jill, there's always room for more here.

    Lori, it's nice to see your picture. I love the Owl Woman Quote you shared the other day and also your signature line.

    Sheila, good luck with the tattoos. Is that how they do the nipples for your reconstruction or is it a design instead of reconstruction? Sorry, I forgot what you said originally. We'll keep sending you good thoughts and prayers as your son is deployed.

    Beth, I've met a few survivors when I'm out shopping, too. It really is a sisterhood. A few weeks ago I met a lady in the gourmet grocery store near me. She had on an employee badge so I knew she worked there. When I saw her scarf pulled down so it covered the no hair situation, I decided to say something to her. She said that she had just finished with chemo. I told her that my hair had been growing for 6 months at that point so there is hope for hair eventually.

    Speaking of growing hair, I decided it was time to change my picture; the old one was from November. I took this new one today when I went out to lunch with my hubby. We are trying to use some of our Feb coupons before we leave next week. This my hair spiked up with gel. It did good today so it may be a while before I try curlers again. Take note that I can now cover the top of my ears. Hip, Hip, Hooray!

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited February 2008

    Debbie, I had minor surgery in December to create the nipple 'mound'. He cut a 'football' shape from the skin with a small portion still attached on one of the long sides, gathered some tissue up and wrapped the skin around the tissue and stitched everything up. The size looked huge when first created but they do shrink some. Now they are nice looking and I have just enough projection to show through tighter fitting blouses. I will be getting the 'normal' tattoos next week, my ps said that they don't do anything "wild and crazy" ( I wore removable tattoos into his office several times as jokes). The whole office now knows that I am a little "wild and crazy" at times. There are some tattoo artists around the country doing a 3-d tattoo where the nipple is not created physically but hinted at with shading of the tattoo on the bare chest.

    My dh was scheduled to deliver Tuesday night in Jackson TN but the dispatcher changed his delivery plans Tuesday afternoon. He was south of Nashville when the tornadoes were going through Jackson. I know that the Lord does answer prayers. He called me at 4:00 pm to see where the storms were and he was supposed to be in Jackson about the time the storms were projected to hit.

    My son emailed that they had their hump day party this week. They are half way through.

    Sheila

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    Sheila, thanks for sharing...I had no idea tatooing was part of reconstruction...If you hadn't shared i would not have learned, thanks...many thanks!!!

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  • beth1225
    beth1225 Member Posts: 1,061
    edited February 2008

    Sheila, you just gave me a great reason to just get the tats and not the nipples, lol.  When the final recon is all wrapped up I do not want to see any more OR rooms!  I will be unique among my friends for sure!  You are a braver woman than I am, Sheila.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    Debbie, we have many of the same hobbies..I just started crocheting doilies, of all things!  A friend of ours is a cabinet maker and he is doing bookshelves for us, and also just completed shelving for the bathroom in this gorgeous wood and I don't want  to  put anything on them!

    Hence, the incentive to put something frilly and yet protective on them!   I haven't used a #6 needle in a long time...I did do a filet picture of an owl, but ruined it trying to stiffen  it with wrong stuff, so will do again but in small thread.  I have a large picture my grandmother crocheted of the Lord's Supper.  I am trying to figure out where it can find a good home of people who can appreciate it.  Perhaps a local church.  I am still trying to meditate on it.

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  • beth1225
    beth1225 Member Posts: 1,061
    edited February 2008

    Lori did you ever find the craft thread here?  It is in Moving beyond: Time to Circle the Wagons.  i will look for it and bump it up for you!  I started a new knitting project.  Will take a picture and post it there when finished.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008
    Beth, I will check it out.  I really am having a rough night, can't sleep right now and it is 1:30 a.m.  I am starting to get amphasia (spelling?), I am slow to get my words out.  I know what I want to say but can't get it out.  I use to be a fast thinker, always alert and articulate, now I can't get the words out and it makes me cry.  I get so mad and scared I take it out on my husband, who is such a doll. Life gets so frustrating..I roll over a cat or dog's tail with my wheelchair, stumble with my words, get tangled in my oxygen line, drop things...oh, bummer, but yet my spirit is positive..what a dichotomy (spelling is off tonight, but you get the idea)  Tomorrow is another day!  CryEmbarassedWink  Life is such an enigma! 
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  • PJF42
    PJF42 Member Posts: 24
    edited February 2008

    Hi Girls!!!

    It has been a very long time since I've posted on the Positive Girls Club but I just had to share a small milestone --- it was one year ago today that I had my mastectomy and got rid of the beast within!!  This past year has gone by in a flash!  I am doing great and feeling well!!  I think going to the surgeon's office every 3 months for my check ups, made the year go fast since I was only looking ahead 3 months at a time!  So far so good - I went for my annual MRI and everything was fine! No signs of anything new!  I go next month for the next reconstruction surgery!  A little tweeking and a nipple!!

    Sorry, it's been so long but I just feel really happy today and wanted to share it with someone!  I hope you all find happiness in something today!!  :)

    Smiling inside and out,

    Pam

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    Great for you Pam!  I will be finished with my Herceptin tx in April.  My mastecomy a year ago February 9, hey it's my anniversary..proved clear, but taking preventative tx.

    Wow, you just shook my memory of a whole year gone by!!!  What a roller coaster year!  Joy, we are still here to share!

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  • Barb1953
    Barb1953 Member Posts: 479
    edited February 2008

    Hello Ladies,



    Congratulations Pam and Lori -When you're going through everything, it seems like it will never end, then before you know it a year has passed !!! I still find it hard to believe it's been 8 yrs. for me !!



    It's so good to read some happy news !



    HUGS

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  • joys_pink_ribbons
    joys_pink_ribbons Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2008

    Hello Everyone in this group of Positive Girls!!!

    I just wanted to let all of you know I am new to this website and hope to be part of your group here and be one of the positive girls who survived with having cancer....Take care!!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    Welcome Jill and congrats on a year Pam and Lori! My mastectomy was 1 year ago Feb 7th! I am also cancer free at the moment!

    My positive for the week is my friend, Karen is here for the weekend. She was also here one year ago when I had my surgery! We're going to an all day scrapbooking event tomorrow. yay! I am so far behind in my scrapbooking!

    Best wishes to all with drains and getting nipples and whatever else is going on! You ladies rock!

    Miss S

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  • beth1225
    beth1225 Member Posts: 1,061
    edited February 2008

    Good to see you Pam and congrats to you!  Lori, what a difference a year makes, huh.  Last time this I was just getting all the facts and research done before I made up my mind on my PBM.  I don't regret it but I wish I hadn't run into so many problems.  But I am here and doing much better today than yesterday.

    Welcome Joy.  I saw your hometown and thought I would also tell you that a group of gals from your neck of the woods is having a get-together I think in March.  Check out the thread .  That would be a great way to meet some really terrific people.  Stick around and get to know us.  We all have our ups and downs but Lori forces us to look at a positive when we can, as often as we can.  I also hang around the Dreamers thread in Moving Beyond:Time to circle the wagons forum. 

    Welcome to Jill again too.  How is it going for you around the boards here?  Hope you are getting yourself settled in and comfy.

    Anybody heard from Jule lately?  Did I miss her post?  We talked briefly on Yahoo but that was it.  Hope she is OK.

    MissS, I bump into you over on the humor thread quite often.  But after Sheila's little talk on nipples, I think I will go without.  I can always get them later right?  You guys go ahead and get it done and I will cheer you on.  How is that?

    I am up at a ridiculously early hour.  I had a cup of herbal tea and am going back to bed for a couple hours.  Both boys are sound asleep and will be in bed until noon if we let them!  Usually their stomachs wake them up anyway!  Who knew teenage boys could eat so much!  We run out of milk so fast I wish we had a cow out back.  Only kidding.  It is enough taking care of two finicky cats.

    Love and hugs to all of you.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    Hi ladies,

    Sorry, Im here Ive just been busy getting along with life and work....

    The weather has changed yet again here....it has gone from being snowy and frozen to spring like weather!!!!! (not that Im  complaining, Im more than ready for winter to be over)....

    My positive for this week is that I finished a very special project and will be posting it in the mail tomarrow..I cant go into detail but I will as soon as I know it has arrived at its destination....

    Positive #2 (I think)-Im kind of back into the dating world...definately a different experience than when you are in your 20's!!!!!! Im trying to figure out ways to meet new people but living in such a small town it is rough...

    Positive #3: I spent a wonderful evening with mom for her birthday Friday night then the morning with my squeeze man grandson today for his 5th bday....

    Outside of those things life is pretty simple right now.....and let me tell ya ladies Im lovin it!!!!!!

    Talk to you all again soon

    Hugs

    Jule

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  • grannie
    grannie Member Posts: 94
    edited February 2008

    I came home the morning after my partial mact.  I was ready to come home as I slept only about 3 hrs. in the hospital. I just couldn't sleep.  When I was first diagnosed I told my son I'm going to be ok and he said I don't know, I said I've turned this over to God and asked him to direct me. His wife said if she feels that way that is good for her to be positive. No one has said they think I'm in denial but I'm wondering how many think it. I had company yesterday and received an email today that he was glad my spirits are up and I looked great. He has seen his sister thru breast cancer and she was in a bad place at one point. I'm glad I could cheer him up as they made me laugh at their stories.  Keep positive thoughts!!

    Grannie

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  • grannie
    grannie Member Posts: 94
    edited February 2008

    Pam, Congradulations on your 1 yr. I'm glad to hear that you are doing well and pray that will continue for you.

    Grannie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    Welcome to the PGC club Grannie!!!!!!

    We are always happy to have more members as sometimes we each need something to make us look for a positive in our lives....when this thread was first started I wasnt in a very good place and this helped tremendously....

    Congrads on surgery and your safe return home.....take your time and rest up....keep us posted on how you are doing and what we can do to help.....

    Hugs

    Jule

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  • dkmaustx
    dkmaustx Member Posts: 363
    edited February 2008

    Hi and welcome, Grannie, if turning things over to God puts you in a better place, then more power to you. It's rough to handle everything by yourself and God is as good a partner as anyone. You do your part and God can handle the rest. I may have been good at denial because I never saw all those pitying looks from people that so many here talk about. Maybe I only saw the supportive types, I don't know.

    Jule, we get winter here in Austin for a few days at a time, and even that is too much for me, now. I can't imagine how I survived for nine years in Wisconsin. I've been in Texas for 22 years, and I'm spoiled.

    My positive for this week is that I got all the laundry done so the hubby and I will have clean clothes for me to pack for our trip. I pack tomorrow, and we leave on Tuesday. Towards the end of the trip, we'll get to see our great niece who turned 1 last week. I'm really looking forward to getting a few pics with her and comparing our hair. She may be the only one in the family with less hair than I have. We'll see.

    Welcome to Joy, too. 

    In case I don't get a chance to check in while I'm gone, I'll see you around March 1. I'm sure you'll do fine without me for a while.

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  • larjo
    larjo Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2008

    hey positive girls club!

               I just wanted to thank you for sharing your positivity.It really does help. I  finished chemo for bc, est + pro + her2+, stage 2 about just over a year ago.I had a lumpectomy.I was 27(just tunrned) when i was diagnosed.(Im 29 now.)And it devistated me , and my family.Absolutely turned my life upside down and inside out.I had all the usual treatments; chemo ...radio...blah..blah

    And just when i was at the lowest with sickness and being depressed and not to mention braindead(no memory), my boyfriend (of 5 yrs) left me!!.i had 2 chemos to go.!!!it has been extremely hard for me  to stay positive as  i  have always been a bit pesimistic anyway. but my 2 beautiful sisters helped me through and my mum and dad also.I really think that having gone through this experience i have gained so much strength and realise more than anyone how precious life is. And that the people in our lifes should be cherished...every minute,every hour, everyday. thanks again ladies for your uplifting texts.

    stay well.

    lara

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  • larjo
    larjo Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2008

    hey im trying to fing "mcpete", my last user name was spencer. i hope you are still on this site.... i spoke with you during my lowest time ,and i wanted to tell you that you you were right!!! i am doing really well and my period has come back so  i can have children!!!!

    i hope to hear from you mcpete.

    lara  aka spencer.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    tomorrow I get my third MUGA.  Today I have had a relatively pain free day...I do take a lot of pain meds for my Fibromyalgia and Post Polio and some days they just don't  work, but today I have had a good day.  I even did the dishes.  My friend Shari is being a grandmother for the first time so I am  knitting and crocheting for new baby due March 21.  I just love feeling good...ususally my spirit is pretty happy, but my body a mess...but today is a good day!!!

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  • grannie
    grannie Member Posts: 94
    edited February 2008

    Lori, I kind of know what you are going thru as I also have fibro. I'm much better now then when I was first diagnosed. I'm just starting out on the cancer appts and Fri. I will go to the onc to see how my tests this week went and when I might start my treatments. I also knit & crochet and that helps me to take my mind off of "me". I'm so glad that I was given this web site as I come here often to read and get answers.

    Grannie/Rose

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  • larjo
    larjo Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2008
    why doesnt anyone reply to my messages like...ever?.. its sooo depressing.and its suppossed to be a  positive club. ah club shmub.Frown
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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited February 2008

    Lara, Sorry I did not see your post earlier this week. Hi, I am Sheila, I am not sure who McPete is but I am glad that you got your period back and possibly have children. Let us know how things are going.

    Sheila

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited February 2008

    My positive for the week is I had a nice Valentines dinner with my parents, my hubby on the road. I also got the tattoos done on Wednesday! I am taking care of them like the nurse said and cant wait for the scabs to come off and see the finished results.

    sheila

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  • jezza
    jezza Member Posts: 698
    edited February 2008

    Hi Lara (larjo)

    I have sent you a Private Message...hope you get it!

    Its in My Home.

    jezza

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    Sorry largo, sometimes life gets to everyone and its often hard to get enough spirit to respond.  I haven't had a very good day...I think perhaps the stomach flu.  My meds sometimes get me all turned upside down as well.  But if there is one thing I have learned and try to remember on these "not so good days" is that song from CATS "a new day has begun."  I always remember how many times I was afraid to go to sleep (regarding PTSD from past) and had to remember that "I made it through the night" again and again...and if I don't...there's a wonderful world waiting for me on the other side, so there really is just getting through our moments of doubt and moments of grief and misery.  Slowly those long moments become less and less.

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  • dkmaustx
    dkmaustx Member Posts: 363
    edited February 2008

    Hi, everyone, just a quick check in here. the first week of my vacation was terrific. I even learned to do something new on my camera. I took a couple of videos of the Jellies in the Monterey Aquarium and figured out how to watch them later. I'll check back again later.

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