Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

lmp

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Lisa - Machete Love it.

MaryAnn - Sending good thoughts your way.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Laurie - I hope your shoulder is improving.

Dh says he feels like we are living in Flordia lately!! Between the heat and severe storms and rains, its alot lately. More storms tomm. I think.

Well I thought of Linda and decided to eat 2 chocolate cupcakes yest. since I am so stressed out about this situation. I gotta be good today and just have fruit I guess.

At least the drainage is minimal but I hope maybe he will even do nothing tomm. and let it heal itself. I would feel better if he says this wont happen again., especially since he told me like 3 weeks ago, that I am "good for another year." Yeah right! Hmm, maybe I should ask for that in writing

Dh will pack tonight. He is happy with his fan and bug spray, but he wants a mosquito net when he sleeps at night. Hmm...

GTAGWTA, Have a great day ladies

 

[TruBlu]

Good morning ladies!

Tracey, Avery is doing just wonderfully, complete remission at this time, and having his first real energetic active "normal" summer in 4 years!

I had the MRI Monday afternoon, my first one of any type at all....very interesting, yikes, the loud noises!! And not being able to move/shift and looking at nothing but white plastic for 1/2 hour was boring. Wish I could have listened to music. But it's over, now just the wait for results. They said "within a few days" and that the surgeon will be the one following up with me. I'm taking the fact that no one called me yesterday is good and if no one calls today even better

Yay for Avery! My DS8 (Cameron) still asks about him often. I'll have to share this wonderful news tonight!

I hope the results are good with your MRI. I had a pretty frightening one a few months ago. It was in a truck outside. They practically ran me from the building because the bank around the corner had just been robbed and they were on "lock-down". Knowing that had just happened, I had to lay in that loud tube for an hour and a half. About 10 minutes in I started wondering what would happen if the bank robbers broke into the truck... It wasn't much fun at all! I was having a brain MRI, so they had me clamped in a big collar. I sure was glad when they let me out!

 

[TruBlu]

lmp

From me, too!

 

[snappy]

Me as well, lmp.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good late afternoon ladies

I am back from the surgeon. And dh is now on his way to Frankfurt then Siberia soon.

Well as I suspected the dr. thought it was a seroma. He opened the wound up so it could drain some more if it has to. Linda and Sha would find this funny - he wanted a q tip, looks in the drawer and cant find one, so does he call for the nurse or go in the next room to get one? Hmm, no he pulls out a culture kit. I say - oh are you going to culture it, he says no, I just want the q tip. Gheesh, I guess they dont mind wasting stuff etc. So I have to go back Aug. 2nd or 3rd at the regular office for a check up.

One bad thing he did say is that possibly there is a 50% chance that there is an internal stitch that is irritating stuff and causing the fluid to build up. If this turns out to be the case then I am going to have to go into the hospital just for some day surgery and they will take it out. Oh what fun again So now its just wait and see and hope it heals. He did say the worst case scenario is another 3-4 weeks um, I hope its 3-4 DAYS!!. So this can happen at any time again. Now I will have to add bandages and tape to my packing list (visions of Elizabeth!!)

I asked ds222 about his tux for the wedding tomm. He said its in the car (its raining out). I asked him what color, He said blue He said he didnt know what the bride was thinking. I have pictures of him being a peacock in my mind now I gotta see it sometime!!

Sun. I am suppose to go to a bridal shower, but I think I might just stay home and rest. Also my blood pressure was 157/93. I think that was because I was so stressed about all of this and I still have the other weird pain in my stomach which I will address with him again at the next visit. Last time he said he didnt know what it could be etc.

The surgeon said he wanted to change jobs with dh for a year because dh gets to go to the "Fun" places. I dont think Siberia is fun. They were talking and I felt like saying "Um, hello, patient on the exam table.. But heah, its good to bring dh because they spend more time in the room with you.

GTAGWTA. Have a great week end and thanks for the prayers and good thoughts.

And in the mail today guess what dh got (complements of my little sweepstakes and contest habit). (The other week I won 8 rapid reward credits for southwest),. Well he gets a FREE TICKET. So we had the rest of the credits ourselves. So that will help with the dec. trip. Hmm, maybe I can take that budget amount and use it to buy dh and ap and tiw card???

 

[snappy]

I would like to send you some pixie dust, Maryann to help you heal. I hope the wound can heal on its own, without the additional surgery. Now you play the waiting game yet again.

I think you are wise to choose to skip the shower and rest. You have had a crisis this week and need to take care of yourself for a few days.

Limiting your activities is part of that, although I know it gets old and boring to be confined.

I hope your husband is able to return quickly from his travels for work.

Congrats on winning the contest. That is awesome!

I noticed I can't reach the high shelf anymore where I put our plastic water cups. I am hoping the injection will give some gradual help with the pain.

DD14 got back late from camp last night, and had a fantastic time. So many cute stories. Gosh I missed her more than I realized.

I took a quickie trip to stay with my good friend Cindy in New Orleans overnight and catch a great live music show they hold in the neighborhood she lives in on Wednesday nights. She made a wonderful dinner. . . crawfish monica. . . and we had a blast. I ended up at my sister's house trying to doing more planning for the party next weekend.

Our son turned 22 yesterday-poor guy he leaves for work without his wallet so no money for lunch. DH passed by the job site where DS is working yesterday morning which is on one route to his office anyway and dropped it off to him. In the afternoon DS headed to New Orleans to meet with the landlord to sign some paperwork and look for a part time job in the fall.

He will only be here for a couple more weeks so I am trying to enjoy every minute. He wrote a lovely letter for mom's memory book for her birthday. . . brought tears to his eyes and mine.

We are all building memories of some kind every day, aren't we?

 

[Sha]

I can see the frustration with the possible suture in there LMP. I have to say that it isnt the doctor who should be going out to get something... whoever is suppose to restock the room or (even if it was the doctor) the last person to use the last one or second to last should have said something. I am not a fan of not having what I need when I need it with a patient. Hope it heals soon, even if he has to go in to get it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternnon ladies

Laurie - hope you have lots of quality time with your ds before he heads off and that your party plans go well and that the party turns out simply wonderful for your mom

How is everyones weather. Last night it was storming. I like to watch it but it doesnt help in getting any sleep for sure. More today I guess. Its pretty gloomy looking out.

I told the lady I would not be attending the shower today. She understood (the one who was planning it). It started at 3 pm. I took a nap then. I told her I would send a card and money.

Dh called all the way from Siberia!!He only could get through to ds20 phone for some strange reason. He is fine.

My stomach feels sore and pinchy but seems the draining is subsiding alot so that part is good.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day everyone.

 

[TruBlu]

My stomach feels sore and pinchy but seems the draining is subsiding alot so that part is good.

I hope it heals quickly.

I'm still having lots of pain from my surgery, too. I saw the surgeon this week. She gave me LOTS of restrictions! The worst for me was that I can NEVER swim again. My boys swim on a team, so that is an activity we do as a family all the time. It looks like I'll just be standing in the shallows from now on. I'm pretty sure I got this hernia swimming laps, so I know it's the right call - I'm just not happy about it.

Hopefully by Dec. we'll both be healthy and can celebrate together at the Candlelight Processional.

 

[snappy]

Wow, never swim again?

I am truly sorry to hear this.

Hope you are on the way to healing for that trip.

 

[snappy]

Crazy thunderstorms here too MaryAnn. The dogs were really frightened when it started around 5 am. We got spooked when hurricane Bonnie appeared to be on its way and anyway with hurricane season upon us, we had one tree that had some dead areas removed yesterday and another one topped.

It was an all day affair, but the tree guys were aces and very careful. I still get nervous as a cat with tree stuff.

A young man who was in DS22's class in grammer school was killed right after the fourth of July while trimming a water oak with his father. The limb broke and hit both of them, killing the boy. Very tragic.

I have not been loving the trees we have that survived hurricane Gustav. Hopefully, we have taken care of the risk but who knows?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Lisa - Hope you had a great time with your friends over the week end

Laurie - so sorry to hear about your ds classmate. But glad you got your trees taken care of

Tracey - wow, about the swimming. I am too just bobbing around. I cant really use my L arm well anyway since he cut the nerve. I guess the cancer was in the way of stuff so it had to be done. Just curious as to what other restrictions you had? Hope the pain subsides and you heal quickly. In two months I was having dh push me in the wheelchair at disney . I didnt want to over do it with walking.

Sweet dh called me from Siberia again wondering how my stomach was. So short quick call. Ds20 took me to the grocery store today. That was enough for me. I think we will order out some food tonight. I am trying not to over do it. My stomach is hurting and I dont know why again. Now its the R side.

I had alot of plans today that went no where. Called the dentist for an appt. No answer. Hmm, maybe they are off on mondays? Called the regular dr. Going to ask about blood tests and try to get a med refill. They also did not answer which causes me to think they are on vacation, so I switched to my Plan B. I called the ENT surgeon who ordered the last med refill and I left a message for the nurse for that. I will see if they call me tomm. So I basically got nothing accomplished. I also tried to call the lady from church who was so sick. Just left a message on her ans. machine too. Fine, maybe she is resting. So this was my tried and did not succeed day. Well I did get a card for the shower and will mail that tomm. So something got done.Just nothing I planned on.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day everyone.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi Sistas

Everyone betta grab some cheee cause I'm gonna whine! Got a call that they cancelled my surgeons appt. for tues. She said she doesnt know why he wont be there as that is done through his secretary. Asked me if I wanted to speak to her in the hosp. I tried to schedule at the other office and she said nothing there either. I point blank asked if he was going on vacation. I told her I need a Plan B if something happens and he is not here.

Why does the surgeon have to go on vacation when I am having a problem, couldnt be any other time but now. I cant decide between the mad or sad smiley.

So now I must wait until Aug. 10th. Hopefully this will be better by then.

O.K. Whine over..go back to having a great day GTAGWTA.

 

[TruBlu]

Wow, never swim again?

I am truly sorry to hear this.

Thanks. I guess I'll get used to it.

Tracey - wow, about the swimming.
Just curious as to what other restrictions you had?

The other restrictions weren't any fun either: no rollercoasters ever again, no rides that "jerk" me in any way, no EXCERCISE ever again except walking, I have to wear the binder any time I do any lifting, and she is still not sure I wont have another one. She said that with each hernia the chance of having another one increases. Since I've had 8 in the same spot - two with bowel obstruction, my chances are not good. She is hopeful that the mesh will help.

Why does the surgeon have to go on vacation when I am having a problem, couldnt be any other time but now.

This happens to my mom, too. She's had a staff infection in the mastectomy scar twice, and both times her oncologist has been on vacation. He was also traveling when she had a reaction to the chemo. After the last time, she told him that she was just going to start traveling with him!

Hang in there. I pray you get relief soon.

 

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA!!

Happy to report that yesterday (after a full week of waiting) I got the breast MRI results.......I was told "Category 1" which I was told means no concerns noted. I was quite pleased and relieved to hear this as I had been steeling myself for a possible callback given that it was the first one, and there is a high rate of "false positives".

NOW, if I could just get to the bottom of the intense fatigue and vague "something's not right" that's been intensifying the last few weeks. At first I blamed it on the extended unusual heat, now I'm wondering if my thyroid med needs a boost, I am just bone weary regardless of how much sleep I get and completely useless after work, no energy or motivation. I called my primary yesterday and they ended up freaking me out by considering having me go to the ER when I mentioned I'd been having some heartburn as well as the fatigue. Eventually after much discussion they decided that wasn't necessary and I am going in to the office Thursday for a visit.

Tracey, I am so sorry about your restrictions

LMP...you go right ahead and whine, lady! I'd be doing a lot more of it than you are.

Laurie, that is such a sad story about the young man killed in the tree accident. The frequency of heavy windstorms here in the northeast seems to have increased in recent years, winter and summer so tree-related issues/damages to people, cars, property as well and power outages seem more frequent as well. Scary stuff.

Got a booklet in the mail about the Epcot Food & Wine Festival....no trip on my horizon but it sure did make me want to get down there and brought back great memories of the 2008 Race for the Cure trip during that time of year

Thinking of you all....

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Ann - That is such good news about your test results.

Tracey - The only "rough" thing I now go on at Disney is the Safari at AK. And that is pushing it for me in the stomach dept. I can feel it tossing me around etc. Dh and I have learned to seek out the more "sedate" aka boring stuff. I guess you will have to be a spectator sometimes with your ds. But I am sure they will understand.

Laurie - I am sure you are in full party planning mode now. I hope things turn out fantastic for your mom.

Well I got some progress today. They called in my med from the ent surgeon, good now the pcp cant hold it over my head to get in there to see him, hmm, guess he shouldnt have gone on vacation either. And the dentist finally called me back. Ds20 and I are going tomm. That should be an adventure in itself. Dh called from Russia again checking up on me. Told him the drainage is minimal and I am fine. Told him about the visit being postponed a week.

What do you think of this??? Has anyone ever done this?? I am thinking of writing a little pain journal for the dr. I dont know if it will give him any insight as to frequency, which side etc. Would that be helpoful to him? Sha or Linda, any comments? Or am I crazy??

Poor ds22 is so miserable at his job. He is still searching for something else. Life is tough for sure.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day everyone. Blessings to you all.

 

[wdw4us2]

Hi everyone! Sorry I have been MIA lately - we're having computer issues. DD is letting me use her laptop.

Tru - I am so sorry to hear of all the restrictions the surgeon has placed upon you. I'm sure it's for the best, but it's probably tough to take anyway.

NHAnn - Great news about your MRI!

LMP - Hang in there!

Laurie - You don't realize how much you miss your kids till they're away for a while, do you?

I had a great visit with my friends over the weekend. Every time we're together it's like no time has passed. The visit was too short to suit me, though.

I have been having a roller coaster week. I began having some pain on my left side last week and thought something was going on with the expanders. I went to the plastic surgeon yesterday who thought I might have a seroma so he sent me to the surgeon to have him check it out. The surgeon has a portable ultrasound machine in his office, so he looked at it. He said he doesn't think it's a seroma, he thinks I have pulled or torn my pectoral muscle and there is blood or fluid built up around it. He sent me for a more extensive ultrasound at the hospital today and requested the results STAT. I still have yet to hear from him or the radiologist who was going to read the scans.

I'm also a little down today. It would have been my Mom's 83rd birthday, so I took flowers to the cemetery as I usually do although the kids are usually with me and they weren't today as I went right after the ultrasound. For some reason, I was very emotional while I was there. I don't know if it's because of what I've gone through the past year or because I'm remembering what she went through with cancer. It's been 33 years since I lost her and I was very surprised by my reactions today. Anyway, I'm still feeling a little weird about it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Lisa - hope your test results came out well and that there is not anything very serious going on. Wishing you a quick recovery and healing sista.I wish my surgeon would do an ultrasound. I dont know if he has that in the office. Its shared by so many different surgeons etc. about your mom. I miss my mom too.

Well dh took an early flight home and just arrived. He promptly kissed me hello and left for work. O.K. He said he was taking the day off tomm. I didnt plan on that but o.k. I mentioned it but didnt plan on it. I think he needs to go in and get his paycheck though. Oh and he also told me...he might have to go to China, so he will discuss it with another boss on Mon. Oh more fun.

I made out well at the dentist. Only one cavity that I will get filled next week.
Right now I am having pain on the L side, this is so upsetting to me. I just feel like something bad is around the corner for sure.

GTAGWTA, Have a great day everyone.