Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[Aliceacc]

GAWTA, ladies!

I am SO angry!!!

As you may remember, the endocrinologist wants half my thyroid out. Though the biopsy didn't detect any trace of cancer, the goiter is large and he wants to be sure. Right after he told me that (2 WEEKS AGO) I called the surgeon who did my mastectomy and explained things. I made an appointment for tomorrow and had the tyroid biopsy and lab results faxed over.

The surgeon's office called today to ask why I have 2 appointments scheduled (tomorrow's and one in August.) I explained, only to learn that he doesn't do thyroids!

So I've lost 2 weeks on nothing. And of course, this pushes the plastic surgery back. So I'm still wearing a sports bra every day, with the straps showing (maybe a fashion statement for some, but I hate it and think it looks cheesy.) I'm still lopsided, and I really wanted this all done over the summer.

I just can't understand how they got the results for a thyroid biopsy and didn't think to question why I had them sent there. Or, for that matter, when I first scheduled the apointment, they didn't check to see whether or not he did thyroids.

I called and got a referral, and made an appointment with another doctor for Saturday morning. Now I have to get a sitter.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Barbara, we might actually be there after your cruise. I know we won't leave Oklahoma before Jan 2 and we want to be home sometime MLK weekend. But I'm not sure which week we're looking at yet. It may depend on availability.

DH says if girlfriend can ride all the way down and back with us and she still wants to be part of our family, then she's a keeper. It'll be trial by fire. LOL! And I need to grow up and realize that we're not just the four of us now...we're four plus one. Everything changes, and it's usually for the better. I have to admit that DS and his girlfriend have been trying hard to include DD lately. DS has been guilty in the past of acting like his little sis is invisible when he's with his friends, but he's really trying. Even made a point of going out of his way to introduce her to a bunch of fraternity buddies the other night.

Sha, have a safe trip.

Ann, have you figured out the dress yet?

Linda, that story is priceless. I can just see the look on the men's faces.

LMP, thinking of you. Hope all goes well.

It's cool and cloudy today. I really should run out and trim along the front walk while the weather is so nice. I'm just not motivated. Been doing mounds of wash and there's so much more. Where are all the clothes coming from? Part of it is DS is home for the summer.

GAGWTA!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

O.K. Ladies, here is a clue as to how it went . O.K. Alice, sista, I feel your pain. I will tell you about my wasted time and more delays too. But what kind of surgeon are you going to? Is it a general one, ENT etc?

Well the np at the pre op remembers me. I tell her my surgical tales of woe. She saiys, oh I remember you couldnt breathe, Anyway lovely surgery scheduler from the Dr. puts me in for surgery at the ambulatory place, I guess she didnt verify with the dr. that he is doing it in the big hosp. We ask if he can go to the big hosp. They say oh no, on mondays (surg. day) he only goes to the ambulatory place. So my dh did know the other date she mentioned was the 18th,. She left for the day. They tried to call her. They will call her tomm. lst thing and then call me at home. So as of now I don't even know when the surgery will be and I am stuck with the draining wound. One funny thing was you have to talk to the anesthesia people and I saw the girls name tag. I asked her if she was related to the ortho surgeon with the same last name. He is my one ds dr. She says, oh thats my father in law. Too funny!

O.K. sista Alice, lets have a party, but not a pity party o.k. I dont drink but I could sure use something right now!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Works for me LMP!

 

[Candy30]

Hi My Girls!

Alice- I can't believe that. That is so frustrating! Keep us updated on your surgery.

Honu- I hope you are getting stronger and I would go for the parking placard. Any fortune with jobs?

LMP- There's nothing wrong with being nervous. Just remember we are all praying for you.

Sha- Have a great trip! Check in on us and keep us up to date. I hope Ms. Lee does well in chemo.

PNM- I howled at your basement story. This is the best time of year for kids. My daughter said she likes school now because it's fun this time of year.

MerryP- What your DH said is true...this is the dry run test. for the GF! Clothes always seem to multiply when you are doing laundry. Except for socks! They disappear!

Hi Barbara and Tuff Cookie!

My Boss' wife called and thanked me. I told her that I was nervous about holding his hand and her showing up! LOL We both laughed. She said he passed it. It's a good thing we work at a hospital. Working on planning our Disney trip in September. I can't back out of it now because we bought our airfare. So we are going carless or not!

Any tips? I have to get ressies and restaurants to eat at. any suggestions?

 

[Aliceacc]

.

MerryP- What your DH said is true...this is the dry run test. for the GF! Clothes always seem to multiply when you are doing laundry. Except for socks! They disappear!

?

I HATE socks. I'm counting the days until the kids are done with school for the summer so I can stop dealing with socks!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi Sistas!!

Bingo - J10!! In my surgical bingo world the new number is June 10, even sooner than the June 14th. Right now its 10:30 with a 12:30 OR time and then they said they might want me sooner. DH said, sorry no way. He has a speech to give. So the still have to verify this with the dr. who is at a conference for the next 2 days I think and if this does not work out then it will probably be June 18. Gheesh. My head spins. I just don't like the psychological stuff of getting psyched up and prepared etc. mentally, especially since I feel like freaking out when I see the OR. This will be operation 30 or 31 of my lifetime.

Hope you all have a great day. GTAGWTA

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Quickly popping in sistas

Alice - Was thinking and praying for you and wondering how your surgeon appt. went.

Its such a nice and sunny day here finally. Gotta go and pick ds up from work. Lucky him, gets a good suntan by the pool today. Oh the joy of being a lifeguard!!

Thinking of you all. GTAGWTA

 

[honugirl]

GAGWTA everyone.

Just thought I'd stop in and say hi.

I've got my Growth Hormone stimulation test scheduled for June 15th. I wish it was sooner. The leg pain and weakness is really getting to me. I just never really feel rested and I'm always exhausted.

I need to go to the mall today and I just can't seem to make myself go. I'm just too tired.

None of my doctors will approve the handicap placard. They don't think I need it. Wish they'd walk a few miles in my legs for a day and see how it feels.

But on the bright side, I've got my 2 lovely dogs by my side today as we watch tv.

 

[Aliceacc]

Quickly popping in sistas

Alice - Was thinking and praying for you and wondering how your surgeon appt. went.

Actually, it went well. He's going to look into combining the 2 surgeries; he'll get back to me in a few days once he's had the chance to review the biopsy results.

 

[Sha]

GAGWTA everyone.

Just thought I'd stop in and say hi.

I've got my Growth Hormone stimulation test scheduled for June 15th. I wish it was sooner. The leg pain and weakness is really getting to me. I just never really feel rested and I'm always exhausted.

I need to go to the mall today and I just can't seem to make myself go. I'm just too tired.

None of my doctors will approve the handicap placard. They don't think I need it. Wish they'd walk a few miles in my legs for a day and see how it feels.

But on the bright side, I've got my 2 lovely dogs by my side today as we watch tv.

Sorry I do not have time to read and catch up... England is wonderful so far! (even if it did rain all day yesterday). I wanted to say that I lit a candle for all my friends yesterday...

And Honugirl... everytime you go to any of your MDs complain about your legs and how tired you are... difficulty walking.. not sure if that will help you or not. But its worth a try.

 

[snappy]

Actually, it went well. He's going to look into combining the 2 surgeries; he'll get back to me in a few days once he's had the chance to review the biopsy results.

I sure hope this works out. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[snappy]

Enjoy your trip, Sha.

Is mom traveling with you? Tell her hi for me.

 

[Sha]

Enjoy your trip, Sha.

Is mom traveling with you? Tell her hi for me.

Thanks! yes she is traveling with me. She is doing pretty good and the others are watching out for her too so I can get photos and grab things in a shop if we are short on time.

 

[snappy]

Great that you are traveling in a group.

Tell me some of the spots you are routing. DD19 is going to traveling there, along with Paris and the Spanish coast in about 2 weeks with her boyfriend and his family.

I am sure they will know where to take her but I would be interested as wlel in what you have seen and your thoughts on it.

She can always request that they go to a particular place.

I want her to do some research now so she can prioritize what she wants to do.


On another topic, I sure hope Laura is doing OK. Thinking of you, Laura.

Honugirl, having the dogs with us is a real positive. My dear Snappy girl has not left my side day or night since we got back from our trip except when I leave the house.

It is so comforting to have her lie next to me in bed. Damn the furballs, I could not care less about that.

 

[Sha]

Great that you are traveling in a group.

Tell me some of the spots you are routing. DD19 is going to traveling there, along with Paris and the Spanish coast in about 2 weeks with her boyfriend and his family.

I am sure they will know where to take her but I would be interested as wlel in what you have seen and your thoughts on it.

She can always request that they go to a particular place.

I want her to do some research now so she can prioritize what she wants to do.


On another topic, I sure hope Laura is doing OK. Thinking of you, Laura.

Honugirl, having the dogs with us is a real positive. My dear Snappy girl has not left my side day or night since we got back from our trip except when I leave the house.

It is so comforting to have her lie next to me in bed. Damn the furballs, I could not care less about that.

I can send you a copy of our Itinerary... just need an email address.

 

[snappy]

I'll send you a pm.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I just got an email from my friend of the dinner group of survivors I go out with. One of the girls in the group passed away this morning. Last time we went out she and I sat across from eachother and chatted the night away. She was fine then. About a month after we went out, we got word she had a recurrence in her bones, but that they'd taken care of it with radiation. I thought sure she'd be ok, like Elizabeth Edwards. And that was the last I'd heard until tonight. I don't know what happened. I'm so sad. She had young children.

Another friend also has a recurrence and needs prayers. He went through a very rough course of treatment last year for appendix cancer. It's a very difficult cancer to treat/cure. I'm not sure what they can do now but he's having surgery this week to start. He also has a young son.

On a happy note, my oldest neice got engaged this weekend. I was a crying fool when she told me, I'm so happy for them. When we were at Disney in January, they met us for the day. We have a great picture of the six of us on EE, my neice with her hands covering her head, LOL. I just love the way they are as a couple. He's a sweetie. So this will be the first wedding on either side of our families of that generation. The news occurred at her parents 25th anniversary party, DH's sister. I sat next to my SIL at the dinner (DH's brother who passed away last year's wife) and it was the first time I saw her without her wedding rings. So the night was bittersweet. I give her a lot of credit for how courageous she's been this past year. She's actually offering support to others now who've also been widowed.

 

[honugirl]

Sorry I do not have time to read and catch up... England is wonderful so far! (even if it did rain all day yesterday). I wanted to say that I lit a candle for all my friends yesterday...

Glad to hear England is so awesome. I loved it when I was over there. I'm hoping to go back some day. What has been your favorite part so far? And don't tell me the food. We all know British food isn't the bees knees...

And Honugirl... everytime you go to any of your MDs complain about your legs and how tired you are... difficulty walking.. not sure if that will help you or not. But its worth a try.

Thanks for the advice! I'll try it. I'm thinking about getting a cane to help me when it gets really bad. Hard to see myself at 31 using a cane. My ego hasn't quite caught up to the rest of my body yet.

If I get a cane, I want a really sweet one. Like pink with purple flames or something on it. Nothing "normal". I need something kind of punk rockish...

Honugirl, having the dogs with us is a real positive. My dear Snappy girl has not left my side day or night since we got back from our trip except when I leave the house.

It is so comforting to have her lie next to me in bed. Damn the furballs, I could not care less about that.

Yup, it's a pain to vaccuum up the furballs, but I wouldn't trade those little munchkins for anything. They knew when you're not feeling well, at least mine do, and they come and lay by my side all day, they follow me around too. I guess it's their "job".

Actually, my older one helped me get my original diagnosis. He could smell the changes in my hormones. If he went crazy and started licking my face I knew to test and he was pretty much right on the money every time.

I just got an email from my friend of the dinner group of survivors I go out with. One of the girls in the group passed away this morning. Last time we went out she and I sat across from eachother and chatted the night away. She was fine then. About a month after we went out, we got word she had a recurrence in her bones, but that they'd taken care of it with radiation. I thought sure she'd be ok, like Elizabeth Edwards. And that was the last I'd heard until tonight. I don't know what happened. I'm so sad. She had young children.

Another friend also has a recurrence and needs prayers. He went through a very rough course of treatment last year for appendix cancer. It's a very difficult cancer to treat/cure. I'm not sure what they can do now but he's having surgery this week to start. He also has a young son.

On a happy note, my oldest neice got engaged this weekend. I was a crying fool when she told me, I'm so happy for them. When we were at Disney in January, they met us for the day. We have a great picture of the six of us on EE, my neice with her hands covering her head, LOL. I just love the way they are as a couple. He's a sweetie. So this will be the first wedding on either side of our families of that generation. The news occurred at her parents 25th anniversary party, DH's sister. I sat next to my SIL at the dinner (DH's brother who passed away last year's wife) and it was the first time I saw her without her wedding rings. So the night was bittersweet. I give her a lot of credit for how courageous she's been this past year. She's actually offering support to others now who've also been widowed.

Congrats on the engaged niece! That's very cool. I'm really sorry about everything else though. That's rough.


I'm feeling really weird today. It's my 31st birthday. Everyone keeps asking me what I want to do for it. I can't think of one solitary thing I want to do. I can't even pinpoint a restaurant that I want to go to. I just have this weird, empty, hollow feeling inside. Maybe because my surgery didn't work? I'm back to where I was before surgery, in fact slightly worse off because we've probably decimated my growth hormone. I don't know if it's just because I've been tired lately and just really don't want to do anything or what. Maybe I feel like I don't really deserve a party because I don't have anything to celebrate? I was supposed to be back in the gym training for next hockey season and I can barely walk. I never imagined my 31st birthday I'd be wishing for a second surgery to hopefully cure me. Never imagined that the once mighty warrior would be reduced to having to think about buying a cane to get around.

Maybe after last year, which was totally awesome, this year seems like a dud? I went to visit my Jersey fireman and we spent the whole day in NYC. Coney Island, the aquarium, the Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel, and Bobby Flay's for dinner. Maybe I miss myself from last year, even though I knew I was sick and was trying so hard to prove it, I still was in way better shape than I am now.

On top of it all I have to go the ENT and have a camera shoved up my nose. Happy birthday to me.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Happy Birthday, Honugirl! Adjust your expectations, but do something really nice for yourself today. How about a great, big bouquet of flowers? (I bought some for myself last night. It was actually something I was ordered to do by my social worker when I was in treatment and very down. I still do it because looking at flowers always cheers me up.)