CMF Question

Annie

I just had implants put in.  My ps didn't use expanders for my surgery, because he said since I am so small, he could do this implant surgery in "one shot".  It was like breast augmentation, only I didn't have any breasts!  Now I forget...did you have bi-lateral mastectomy, or was it just ONE??  My ps office has a tattoo artist who will tattoo the aureolas on ... I go on Thursday!   My ps will take my nipple off and make two nipples and attach them, but not til May 22nd.

I don't know if my friends are polite because they tell me things sometimes, and I wonder What are they thinking?

I will check for the instructions.  My pictures aren't very good... I am very un photogenic!

Thanks!

Harley

WoW!!  That is TOO BiG!  But, I don't know how to make it small!!!

Rita,

You are just TOO nice!  That was a sundress that I bought when my dh and I went on that cruise back in February!  I could never wear anything like that before bc, since I was just TOO small chested!!  lol

Good Luck with your bowling!!  Have fun!  I guess after this last game, it will be golf for you!

Harley

Ginny,

Aww... thanks so much!  Yes, I guess that is the kind of mast. I had.  I have all my skin, but for the reconstruction, my ps just shoved some implants in, under the chest muscle, and filled them up... Voila!

I just went for the tattooing of the aureola today, and OUCH! did it ever hurt!  The tattooist numbed the area, but it took awhile before it took effect. 

I'm glad the hives seem better...  You know, alot of things are related to auto immune issues!  I also have Hashimotos thyroiditis, as well as Premature Ovarian Failure... 

Glad you are feeling better!

Harley

Hi Ladies, sorry I've been mia this week, I tend to spend too much time on the Jan 2008 chemo thread, and sometimes by the time I'm done there I'm pooped out, or need to do something around the house.  This working fulltime is getting in my way!!!

Anyhow, all is well on the homefront.  I definitely feel that my energy level by the end of my work day is just about shot.  I know that the txt is cumulative and I think not sleeping more than a few hours at a time doesn't help.  I have had a huge problem with a dry mouth throughout the night.  I don't know if I'm sleeping with my mouth open or what.  But the dry mouth leads to more water, and the water leads to peeing, yada, yada, yada!  I swish with biotene, have tried putting a humidifier in our bedroom, but so far no great success.  Feeling like thats not much to complain about, so life is good!

Harley, thanks for sharing the great pic, and I must admit I did have to examine the new hoots.  Your looking mighty fine there gal!  I let out an ouch on your behalf when I read about your tatooing!  Heck I don't even want the dots tatooed before for rads!  Couldn't imagine what you went through.  With the smile you have on your face, I'm sure your very happy.

Rita, bowling too huh?  Havn't league bowled since I was too big to bend when I was preggo now 16 yrs ago.   We used to have a great time!  So with today being the first day of spring, I say its time for this crappy weather to go away, and lets dust off those clubs!!!

We're heading to Arizona on Sat, planning on seeing a spring training game, golfing ourselves, relaxing at the pool, meeting Jill at her home, and also watching the LPGA tour, the lady golfers are in the valley next week.  Can't wait!!!  

Ginny, glad that you seemed to be feeling better, and I appreciate you asking how I'm also doing.  You gals all told me that this txt is tolerable, and you have not sent me astray! 

The ol' hair is pretty thin, just got it cut real short, I don't even have to dry it out of the shower, just a lil gel and the spikey look is it for now! 

Had a great treat this week, my bf of 38 yrs owns a salon and spa, and she gave me a massage/facial as a birthday gift.  Went in Monday, and felt like mush when I left!  I think I need to treat myself to another in a few months (I'd love more often but there's a pretty hefty price tag attached).  I left feeling rejuvinated and I know my bf felt equally as good with the gift she was able to provide. 

Annie, hope all is well with you, I don't have much input on the boob surgery stuff, I just decide in the morning if I want to wear my boob or not.  I've got my swim boob packed for vacation, hope I don't bob to one side in the water  !!!

Jill, Hope that your txt went well today, and the se's stay at a minimum.  So looking forward to meeting you on Weds., and can't wait to get some warmth on my bones, its raining and about 45 here today, and the weather report looks pretty darn good for the next week your way. 

Off to clean out my golf bag, take out the cold weather gear, and get geared up for some sun!

Take care ladies, and thanks for keeping this post going when some of us go mia!!!

Carol

Hi girls, sorry if I post this twice, just got back from getting my daughter at college in PA, a bit tired.

Harley you are beautiful!  I love your curly 'do and I can't see anything at all on your chest to even show you ever had bc...you look amazing!  I could never wear that top, those pretty little things would not cover the "lakefront property"..nor all the scars!  But you look fabulous, lucky girl.

Carol, I am glad you are feeling better and even more glad you get to go on vacation and golf!  that's going to be wonderful, get some sun for us all!  I love the swim boob comment.  You have a great attitude, I hope your vacation is terrific.

re: my surgery, Harley, I had one boob off with skin sparing..they went in thru the nipple and did like an apple coring procedure, most of which I probably do not need to share, huh.

Now ladies, I too, had hashimotos, and the hives came before diagnosis.  there seems to be an autoimmune link here, we prob. should all mention to our oncs...

Anyway, glad to read everybodys posts and hear all the news and know we all are getting along.

Treatment #3 for me on Tuesday.  Oh well, 3 down, 5 to go.  I still feel great, but have been using exercise bike 20 mins. daily when i have energy and I do notice it helps alot with energy levels.  I wonder if your body can process the chemo better that way or something.

xoxo

annie

Harley, I get the steriods in a drip prior to my infusion, I havn't had to take any pill form prior to or after.  Thank goodness as I have a hard time sleeping on txt day as it is, even with a lorazepam.

So your a little sensitive, "ya think", what a goofy thing for the tatooist to say... so do you get this procedure done at a medical office or what?  I'm a little ignorant on the subject but kinda curious.

Annie, bottoms up to you on Tuesday.  Hope that your txt goes smoothly for you.  I'm a firm believer that keeping your body moving has got to be good.  I took what Rita and others said and went with it ... although at times I have over did just a bit.  Between the mass quantity of water and lots of activity, those chemicals have to be working through our bodies.

I'll be checking in occassionally on vacation and I hope you all have a nice Easter holiday.

Carol

Harley, thanks for sharing, I continue to learn on a daily basis ... I was assuming that the tatooing wasn't done at the local parlor!  I still think I would need atleast a couple shots of whiskey to get through it, (and I don't like whiskey!). 

Off to my Jan 2008 post, its a chatty group!

Night to you all, Carol

Hiya ladies!

Rita:  Thank you so much for your encouragement...I am modelling my treatment regime (mod. exercise as fatigue permits) on you, Carol and Harley, as I subscribe to the same beliefs as you guys re: exercise and keeping moving to move those drugs through.  And all three of you seem to have done so well!!

Carol: Have such a great time!!! Hope for lots of sunshine and fun and great golf for you! I bet your spikey 'do looks fabulous, you have such a beautiful face!

Harley:

Good lord, I think that tatoo artist must be mentally challenged...I can't even imagine how that must have hurt.  Ow, I hurt on your behalf!!

Nope, nipple was gone, kind of like a face without an eye, I try not to dwell on it, only to say, "well, they can make a new one if I need it".  The skin sparing thing was kind of like leaving a hollow shell, how's that for weird...I so felt like a science experiment.  

I had those bags of stuff hanging off me too, and once they got rid of those, so much better.  I think it's part of the whole "experience" for us all pretty much, not with lumpectomy I had tho.  Perhaps it's where the cancer is?

Anyway, thanks for input ladies!!   Carol, have a blast, and I hope everyone has a beautiful, blessed Easter.

love to all,

annie

Hi all:

Happy Easter!  Carol, happy vacation!!!

Harley, I'm glad the boobs feel better.......another step in this seemingly endless (feels like) process, right?

I too, had the tatoo parlour thought.  And I also, was thinking Kat Von Dam, LA Ink, tough types hanging out.....silly, but I went there as well.  I did see a tatoo artist advert in the ps's office, so I knew that rationally, of course they have good people, but you know how it is.  None of this stuff has anything to do with rationale.

I always had a sharp pain in different spots after the lumpectomy and now after mastectomy (sort of mastectomy I guess) again.  It is more really tight, like you are wearing an 8 year old's bra.  So annoying, cuz you really want to take the bra off and can't.  Lots and lots of stretching for us!

My "leftie" doesn't seem to want to be bigger than a B but as my stripper days are behind me as well, that's ok

Everyone hang in, thanx for all the good wishes on tuesday!  I'm scared of SEs but will just put my head down and muddle thru!

love to all

annie

p.s to Rita

Somehow, you always find the most encouraging things to say and I really appreciate it....writing that I am almost half way there.......what a positive spin that puts on it.  Thank you!!

I appreciate all you ladies and all your input..

love

annie

Rita, just a quick note, had my best round ever today, shot a 87, albeit on a pretty short course from the reds, 4800 yds.  Had a blast, must be having a numb underarm and fake boob on the right thats helped.  Hey, whatever it takes ... although not recommended to others!!!

I'll be lurking throughout the week, kinda nice to be in another world if even for a short time ...

Carol

Hi ladies...

Oh wow, Rita, you have read my thoughts..each treatment has been so very different, I thought today I did not know what to expect.  Haven't been all that thrilled about going, but as you put it so very well, another one to mark off!  Your cyber hug helped so much...my husband is wonderful but men can't get it, would rather not discuss it, and my family is too freaked out by the whole thing, I end up having to reassure every one else.  Kind of draining, I'm sure you guys have all felt that way.  Other than this wonderful message board and all my new friends here, felt kind of alone.  You guys make all the difference, you really truly do.

I am keeping that thought in my head tomorrow...."almost halfway there"..I just love that.  When I look at my "barbie boob" in the mirror I tell myself "this too will pass, think ahead six months!"

And then, inevitably come the "oh god, more tests, blah blah"  ....what on earth do they do for mammograms with reconstructed boobs?  MRIs instead?  If they try to get a mammogram won't the damn thing pop?

And knowing me, I'd probably laugh if it did except for all the expense and the pain of it.  Some days I kind of wish I'd gone the au naturel route and just said the hell with it and gotten me a pop on and off pair........easier I think in the end.  However...before I get completely off track, thank you again for your kindness and helping all of us here to keep on hanging in there.

It really helps so much!!

I am so happy you had a great time with those adorable grandbabies of yours!

Carol, you sound great!  You so deserve this vacation and I hope it is sunshine for you all week long and that you have a great time!

I so admire your can do attitude and positive outlook.  The fact that you work full time, keep a smile on your face and your home life intact is awesome.  And all while undergoing chemo on a pretty tough schedule, too.  Some people can't handle all that w/out chemo on top of it! You are an inspiration, you truly are.

Jill, I hope you are feeling OK, what number is this for you?

Harley, how are you doing today lady?  I hope the boobs are better!

Oh well, better sign off, took daughter back to college today and kind of sleepy. (and sad, cuz I loved having her home and miss her already)  However......it's better when they aren't here to witness chemo crapola!  Easier, I think than last time when she was 12, and keeping the upbeat stuff going, and the schedule of all the activites you have to drive them to, etc. was rough.  Carol, again, my hat's off to you!

love to all, hang in there everybody!

annie

Annie,

Yes, the boobs feel better, Thanks!  Although, I am frustrated, because...the little pasty pads that cover the tattoos keep shifting, and I have ruined TWO bras!  They are now discolored!!

Just remember... "Keep your eye on the prize!"  You are almost halfway?  WOW!!   I remember when I reached that point in my tx!  I only had 4 tx of Taxotere & Cytoxan, but when I finished, we took some friends out for dinner, and I had a glass of champagne to celebrate!!

It WILL get better!!

Hugs

Harley

Hi all:

Well, treatment #3 crossed off, I am almost halfway!  Yay!

Hope no ses, but will think positive.

Thanks everyone for keeping my vibe positive and upbeat....it really helps.

Harley, you had champagne?  Is that OK to do?  Cuz this girl could soooo use a drink!  I thought I couldn't.

Maybe it's excused if it's champagne

It should be!  medicinal you know.

Good to know about the tatoos!  I ruined many many bras when they were still marking with blue market for radiation sites.

Let me know how the nip sharing goes, you too, are almost there, and just tying "bows" on the finished product.

Here's a weird aside..........girls, I don't want my husband to see "it" til it looks OK...he wants to make love and I am just too self conscious...how does one approach this issue?  I hope this is OK to ask, if it's too personal don't go there, but if anybody wants to tell me how they get over this hurdle (the lumpectomy one was easy) fire away!

Carol, thinking of you in the sun, and hope you are having a wonderful time!

love

annie