Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[smiley_face2]

A couple more.... I got a set of nice led wax candles, they smell yummy and are on a time... the one in the glass jar, that's the sand and shells I brought home from Hawaii I have my sound machine in my bedroom set to ocean waves and go to sleep listening to it with this candle flickering....very relaxing!! and another one in a lantern on my dining room table. And a before of the bathroom... it looks super bad because it is a progress pic, I didn't think to take and actual before pic, it really wasnt' this bad!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Smiley, tell your DH Duffy says Hi!

Funny I have that exact candle holder as in picture #2 only mine is black and it's flameless. I keep it in my Sunroom. I got a similar one for DD but it is white and it has the lattice work that reminded us of the Grand Floridian (which is her favorite resort). I gave it to her last Christmas and she keeps it in her room. Best part is they were only like $20 or something at Chistmas Tree Shops, candle and all.

 

[smiley_face2]

Hi all! still busy busy here.... Construction has stopped temporarily, unfortunately before my cast iron roll top tub got its new finish! the rest is looking really good though. You can see just the edge of the tub, it's been stripped down, sanded, just waiting for some stuff from Florida, apparently it is what the US military uses on their ships!! we don't want to have to do it again!! lol.... the outside of the tub is navy blue like the toilet, with silver feet. I am thinking about changing out the light fixture.

 

[snappy]

Love it!

Colors are amazing and that dark blue (I think!) toilet is adorable

You did good, darling.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

smiley - I love your bathroom. Of course blue is my favorite color too!

Cheryl - how are you feeling? Thinking of you

Jilly - thinking of you too

Laurie - when is your dd going to NY for her graduation present?

It was too busy for me last week. I had a meeting wed, another one on thurs, and had to cook on sat and spend a lot of time at church sun. I made a giant pasta salad. I am assuming it was good as there were no leftovers. I also had to make a dozen sand.

Ds1 is going for a 2nd opinion for his hip on thurs. I hate the dr. he is going to but he is suppose to be good and covered by ds ins. He has no bedside manner.

The weather here has been terrible and will be this week Rain and gloom. Its suppose to be like this but its not, sigh.

Did you see my little thread about ds3 having a garage sale on sat? I wish he would pick another time. We shall see.

GAGWTA

 

[smiley_face2]

Love it!

Colors are amazing and that dark blue (I think!) toilet is adorable

You did good, darling.

LOL..... I really dislike the blue toilet!! that is hubby's choice....and both daughters, and the grandkids!! that's why you don't ask for opinions on things that really matter to you.... I really wish I had just gone about it like I did with my ensuite bathroom. My choice would have been the white one that will be getting returned now, and the beadboard white, with blue on the wall above.... next time!

LMP.... too busy!! I have been way too busy lately too, do not like it!!

 

[Feralpeg]

Hi, Ladies! I wanted to stop by and tell all of you that I am thinking of you! I do keep up reading, even though I haven't had a lot to add lately.

Things are going well. I saw the oncologist last week. He said I didn't need to see him again for six months! Yea! Unfortunately, my weight and blood pressure seem to be on a steady increase. He says it is the Arimidex. Darn! I am still walking my three miles a day, although it is getting difficult. It is so hot now. Since I began doing all the walking, my feet have started to really give me fits. I had heel spurs years ago. They had improved, but the walking has made the pain flare. So, I walk and then I hobble around. Always something!

Hang in there, ladies!

 

[jillyb]

Can ya'll get some gabapentin for the neuropathy? That's what my mother takes for hers (chemo induced, she has multiple myeloma).

Jillyb, are you signed up for FMLA? If so, I don't think your boss can say a thing about the time off.

I took Gabapentin but it didn't help so I stopped taking it. The neuropathy is slowly going away so I'm just biding my time until it's all gone.

The firm I work for is too small for FMLA. I could always go back out on short term disability but I really don't want to do that.

Tomorrow is DD's 12th birthday. It's going to be a rough day. I am taking her and a friend out to dinner tomorrow night. Friday she is having a sleepover and we are doing pizza, cake and ice cream. Friday will also be one month since her Dad died. Then Sunday is Father's Day. I just want to crawl under the covers and not come out.

I pressure washed the house a couple of weeks ago and last Saturday I painted the outside trim (that I could reach!). It was an all day job and I'm still exhausted from it. Surprisingly, I wasn't sore or stiff.

Pea-N-Me: that is a seriously adorable puppy!

Hope everyone else is well. GAGWTA!

 

[robinb]

Hi, Ladies! I wanted to stop by and tell all of you that I am thinking of you! I do keep up reading, even though I haven't had a lot to add lately.

Things are going well. I saw the oncologist last week. He said I didn't need to see him again for six months! Yea! Unfortunately, my weight and blood pressure seem to be on a steady increase. He says it is the Arimidex. Darn! I am still walking my three miles a day, although it is getting difficult. It is so hot now. Since I began doing all the walking, my feet have started to really give me fits. I had heel spurs years ago. They had improved, but the walking has made the pain flare. So, I walk and then I hobble around. Always something!

Hang in there, ladies!

Crap! Arimidex causes weight gain? No wonder I've had so much trouble losing weight since I started to take it. *sigh* It is always something!

Do you have a Planet Fitness near you? They usually charge about a $30 initiation fee in addition to just $10 per month and it's air conditioned .

 

[Straitlover]

I have to say that my MRI was probably the worst part of my entire treatment last year and the doctor I ended up choosing for my surgery doesn't even use them. Does your area have an open MRI?

I know there is an open MRI somewhere nearby, but I can't remember if it's Raleigh or Durham. If I do have to do it again, I will either be doing it or the bigger machine they use for obese/claustrophobic folks!

 

[smiley_face2]

I took Gabapentin but it didn't help so I stopped taking it. The neuropathy is slowly going away so I'm just biding my time until it's all gone.

The firm I work for is too small for FMLA. I could always go back out on short term disability but I really don't want to do that.

Tomorrow is DD's 12th birthday. It's going to be a rough day. I am taking her and a friend out to dinner tomorrow night. Friday she is having a sleepover and we are doing pizza, cake and ice cream. Friday will also be one month since her Dad died. Then Sunday is Father's Day. I just want to crawl under the covers and not come out.

I pressure washed the house a couple of weeks ago and last Saturday I painted the outside trim (that I could reach!). It was an all day job and I'm still exhausted from it. Surprisingly, I wasn't sore or stiff.

Pea-N-Me: that is a seriously adorable puppy!

Hope everyone else is well. GAGWTA!

You have my deepest heartfelt admiration and sympathy!! I am praying hard for you, that you can be there for your daughter, because she needs you so much!!! Even though I do have my husband, and he is a great help and support for lots of things, he has severe PTSD, and depression, takes very strong medication, can't work and can't do much around here, so I do most things myself now. I often feel like a single person, or a single mom looking after a child.
They tried me on gabapentin for my pain and I reacted very badly to it psychologically, so I stopped taking it. It has taken 2 and a half years but the pain is down to twinges, so hopefully yours will go eventually too. Your poor little girl....my heart absolutely breaks for her

 

[Straitlover]

Checking back in. Had my followup appt w/ the breast surgeon re my MRI and mammo. The mammo was fine (already knew that, was only on the one side I had the biopsy on). The MRI showed areas like I had on the earlier mammograms, mostly on the left side (non-biopsy side) and a little bit on the right (don't know if it's new or something he didn't take out w/ the surgical biopsy back in November). They think it's still papillomas, but they have to biopsy to be sure. So, I had him go ahead and do the needle biopsies while I was there (so I wouldn't have to pay an additional co-pay ). Will find out the results on those hopefully by Wednesday evening (he calls after 5 PM).

He did say with multiple papillomas (if that is what it turns out to be), that raises my BC risk, plus w/ the family history (2 sisters and an aunt), we might be looking at considering preventive measures. Could be anything from just frequent mammos to taking tamoxifen to surgery. I kinda zoned out at that because I don't want to even think about that right now.

So, we wait and see.

GAGWTA!

 

[Feralpeg]

Ladies, I came across this video and thought some of you might find it interesting. Things have come so far since I had my first mastectomy and reconstruction 30 years ago. I hope this gives some peace of mind to those facing the prospect of reconstruction.

http://www.superstarmagazine.com/ta...pe-of-loving-their-bodies-again-this-is-epic/

 

[snappy]

Thanks for posting, Peg.

Recently, I read an article about Vinnie the tattoo guy, but I did not watch the video.

It is worth viewing in my opinion.

I love when the woman making the video said women call going to him to get the tattoo "getting my vinnies."

Also got a kick out of Vinnie's comment, this ain't no bible study.

Even my DH cracked up laughing at that one.

Your are right, Peg, things have come a long way.

Hurray!

 

[smiley_face2]

Checking back in. Had my followup appt w/ the breast surgeon re my MRI and mammo. The mammo was fine (already knew that, was only on the one side I had the biopsy on). The MRI showed areas like I had on the earlier mammograms, mostly on the left side (non-biopsy side) and a little bit on the right (don't know if it's new or something he didn't take out w/ the surgical biopsy back in November). They think it's still papillomas, but they have to biopsy to be sure. So, I had him go ahead and do the needle biopsies while I was there (so I wouldn't have to pay an additional co-pay ). Will find out the results on those hopefully by Wednesday evening (he calls after 5 PM).

He did say with multiple papillomas (if that is what it turns out to be), that raises my BC risk, plus w/ the family history (2 sisters and an aunt), we might be looking at considering preventive measures. Could be anything from just frequent mammos to taking tamoxifen to surgery. I kinda zoned out at that because I don't want to even think about that right now.

So, we wait and see.

GAGWTA!

I think the waiting is one of the hardest things we go through!! at least mentally.....
My sister who has had both breast and lung cancer (both primary not metastasized) now has a tumor in her bowell. She will find out on monday how soon they will be going in for surgery. My oldest sister passed away in 2008 from cancer in the top of her esophagus and throat, and my mom had skin cancer. Gramma and aunt both ovarian cancer. Have to not think about it all too much or I get really freaked out

 

[snappy]

Oh my goodness, Smiley, thinking good thoughts for your sister. Was it found through a recent colonoscopy?

My mom is scheduled for a surgical biopsy on a growth on the top of her palate that could be salivary gland cancer. She is holding up pretty good but I am a mess. Seems like a slow growing thing as a surgeon looked at it a few years back. but if it is cancer this will be her third go around after breast and squamous cell skin cancer on her leg in 2008.

DH delayed his colonoscopy much longer than he was supposed to since he had a few polyps the last time but he is having it again in a few days.Not looking forward to the next few weeks.

Straitlover, hoping you get good news on your biopsies.

Jillyb, I hope your plans for your DD's birthday went well. You are right Sunday will be hard. Thinking of you and your daughter and step-daughter.

GAGWTA!

 

[kofslinky]

Hello everyone! It's been such a crazy month here so far- school's winding down, graduation just happened this week, state track meet last weekend, end of school next Thursday. Nuts!! Throw into that meeting with my surgeon and I think I might go crazy if I don't get some down time. I saw my surgeon after my latest mammo, expecting to talk about a lumpectomy. He thinks a mastectomy is a better plan because of the size, and if I wanted to do a bilateral he wouldn't think twice about saying okay. I had thought about all of it 3.5 years ago when I was diagnosed, but when it became chemo first I hadn't given it any real thought. Now I'm meeting with a plastic surgeon to talk to him and figure out what I want to do. I think I'm leaning towards a bilateral- be proactive, try to prevent recurrence, all that jazz- but it's a little scary to think about. My boyfriend has been great through all of this. He told me if he had to cut something off to help prevent cancer, he wouldn't think twice, and that I shouldn't either. And of course he loves me no matter what. it's just strange to think at 31 I could be chopping off part of me to help prevent cancer from coming back. Anyone here chose a bilateral? I'd love to hear how it went and how you dealt with it!

 

[Feralpeg]

Kofslinky, I had my first mastectomy at 31. I had my other breast removed last November. Thirty years in between. Now, looking back, I wish I had done a bilateral at the time of my first mastectomy. I had reconstruction, but my breasts were never the same size. Unfortunately, real breast tissue looses elasticity over the years. I ended up with one breast that was much lower than the other. It made wearing clothes very difficult. I also had five different biopsies on my remaining breast over the years. Due to my past history, the doctors were incredibly cautious. I guess it was a good thing, but it was a lot of surgery and worry.

I am very glad now that I had my other breast removed. It is much easier to dress and more comfortable, not to mention the ease of mind.

Good luck to you on whatever you decide. Take a look back at the video I posted yesterday. It might make your decision a little easier.

 

[kriddle]

I read here all the time but never post anything. I felt compelled to login and post when I read your question. I am 32 and was diagnosed in October 2013. Estrogen and progesterone positive her2 negative. It spread to my lymph modes which is how I found it. I had 8 chemo treatments. Four AC and four Taxol. I had a bilateral mastectomy on February 25. They also removed 13 lymph nodes. Radiation started in May and I had 25 treatments. I finished last Tuesday! Healing has not been fun at all. I have no family history and my brca 1 & 2 genes came back negative. The mastectomy was the best thing I did. I love my new "foobs". I still have my tissue expanders in. They can't be exchanged until 6 months after radiation ends. That makes it December.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Glad you posted, kriddle, and congratulations on finishing your treatment.

kofslinky, I had a lumpectomy, but if I have a recurrence I will likely have a bilateral mastectomy. I also had that option originally but chose lumpectomy for a variety of reasons. Sorry I can't be more helpful than that.

Also sending prayers and good thoughts to anyone undergoing treatment or testing. Snappy, hope Mom is ok.