Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[luvmarypoppins]

Lisbet - sorry you are here and having to deal with this. The ladies here are great and they inspire me with their strength and courage. (I have thy ca).

robinb - glad to hear the path report is good but sorry that you have to have more surgery.

Barbara - if you are reading along, just wanted you to know you are in my prayers.

Peg - how are you feeling? Hope you are resting and healing.

koflsinky - hope you visit goes well this week and that you continue to heal. At first we were using Tegaderm on top of the wound because the surgeon didnt want any water getting in it during the shower and boy was that stuff expensive. We were happy when we went for visits at the surgeon that they gave us wound supplies. Lets say that we were also keeping CVS in business that time and we sure got a lot of extra bucks with all the dressing supplies etc.

Laurie - how are things going?

Well I talked to dh. He only had a carry on bag and was happy as he said the security lines for luggage people were over 1 1/2 hours long in Kiev and Helsinki.

Tomm. I have a school meeting. I think I will book the blood tests so ds3 can take me Friday. Heard from my cousin. His son is coming but I think he wont be there when we are there. My boys would have liked being with him, oh well. Also my cousin has a bad skin infection on his nose. It looks terrible. Necrotic and black. He said the dr. said he can go on the vacation but has to wear a hat at all times. I showed the pictures to ds. He agrees with me that it looks like it should be covered up and I think it looks like the lady at church who had the melanoma. Scary.

GAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[Feralpeg]

Great news at the doctor today! All my counts are back to normal! The port can come out! He will continue to give me B12 shots to help the neuropathy in my feet, but I don't need to see the oncologist for two months.

On Thursday, I see the surgeon for my follow up. Things are going well. I am pretty bruised along the breast bone and that area is sore. But, it is feeling better each day.

Next week, I see the radiologist for my markings and will start radiation the next week. I'm feeling good, so I want to get it started and done!

I finally abandoned my wig. Of course, my hair is VERY short, but it is there. It's just too hot and itchy with the wig now that my hair is growing back and I'm just over caring what I look like. All natural for me from this point on! lol!

Thinking of you all!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Great news at the doctor today! All my counts are back to normal! The port can come out! He will continue to give me B12 shots to help the neuropathy in my feet, but I don't need to see the oncologist for two months.

On Thursday, I see the surgeon for my follow up. Things are going well. I am pretty bruised along the breast bone and that area is sore. But, it is feeling better each day.

Next week, I see the radiologist for my markings and will start radiation the next week. I'm feeling good, so I want to get it started and done!

I finally abandoned my wig. Of course, my hair is VERY short, but it is there. It's just too hot and itchy with the wig now that my hair is growing back and I'm just over caring what I look like. All natural for me from this point on! lol!

Thinking of you all!

Awesome!

 

[CherylDan]

Peg, terrific news! And enjoy your new all natural look!

Robinb, sorry about the not so great part, but non-invasive is super good news!
Nice to hear that we aren't the only crazy people who like the parks over Christmas......we've gone several times and, like you said, it's a zoo but still a good time. Just have to adjust the expectations a bit.

Lizbet, sorry that you are here, but welcome. Hang in there!

I just heard that today is national cheeseburger day Not sure that Hallmark makes a card for that!

GAGWTA!!

 

[kofslinky]

My month of hell seems to be continuing. I went for my second post-op appointment today. At first, the surgeon was quite happy with my progress, encouraging us to pack the wound less tight so it could heal more. Then he poked around a little more and changed his mind. He's unhappy with some fatty tissue in the wound- it's not necrotic, but he doesn't like the way it looks. He pokes around a little more.

Dr.: "What are you doing tomorrow??"

Me: "I'm working."

Dr.: "Yeah, not so much. I want to go back in and clean it out some more. We'll put you under for about 20 minutes, or we can do it with local, but I recommend going under in case we need to go deeper."

Me: "But... fine."

So tomorrow I'm back at the hospital for day surgery, during one of the busiest times of the school year. It's driving me crazy! I just want to go to work and teach my students, not deal with this anymore. I've had a pretty good time so far- did well with 2+ years of chemo, haven't been sick too much, worked full time barely missing days for things other than appointments- so I'm not used to this.

Grrr!!!

 

[robinb]

Just a quick update on me. I had my second surgery today to take a bigger slice off my medial edge. I'll get the pathology on Friday. Everything went fine. The surgery itself was only 15 minutes long. They originally had me set up for a general but when the anesthesiologist came in and told me that I asked what my options were and he told me I could have the nerve block again. Nerve block ALL THE WAY baby! It rocks . I am in very little pain now and I think that's from the nerve block. Basically, your body does not even notice you are in pain so recovery is easier.

Now I get to heal up all over again. At least I know what to expect this time and by the time the Badger game rolls around on Saturday I'll be able to tail gate and jump around.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Peg - yeah for your great news! Hope your visit tomm. goes well

robinb - you are brave with the nerve block. I am assuming that you are awake? I am such a scaredy cat, I tell them I dont want to know or see anything! Hope you are resting and healing. Wow, you are brave to go to the game! Sounds like fun. You are brave to go at Christmas! I went once when I was a teen. DH and I are probably going Dec. 10th to the 17th. I dont know where we are staying yet, maybe Swan or Yacht Club.

kofslinky - sorry you are going through this. Honestly sounds like the same thing I had to do too. (not a port but stomach wound) He tried doing it in the office but said I couldnt take it. So he said its wound debridment for you in the or. After I did that the next day I went into the office and he said it didnt work so then he decided to open up everything more etc. I did find that the shorter surgery anesthesia really burned with the iv. I also had to have him rip the wound apart in the office with a q tip, strange because he didnt like the way it was healing again. I am sure you just want to get back to your students and they can get to know you etc. But you have the whole rest of the school year so I am sure it will go well. I admire teachers. They really put their hearts and souls into their classes. I am on the school council of my kids former grade school. I only teach vacation bible school at my church for a week and its so much prep etc. I love 3rd and 4th grade the best! Well, sorry for the little blab, but rest up and hope all goes well for you!

Cheryl - thought of you because in a few weeks we are going to the pumpkin farm again. I know you were amazed at the pumpkin prices here.

Oh, guess who is coming home tomm. like around 1 am. Why yes, dh by way of Siberia, Kiev, Helsinki and then the good ole USA.

Food and WIne next Friday cant come fast enough. I think tomm. I am going to reserve the wheelchair and town car.

GAGWTA

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Just checking in and hopng everyone is having a good week end

Barbara, Peg, robinb and kofslinky thinking of you all as you are healing

I am resting and taking a break from cooking. Tomm. is our annual church picnic. I already made a pasta salad with lots of vegs., a broccoli salad, now I need to make a coleslaw,apple and almond salad and ds3 is making a chickpea, onion, red pepper and cilantro salad.

Yest. ds and I worked on the garage stuff all afternoon and in the morning he took me for the blood test. I think they did 6 tubes. Yikes. She commented, wow, you sure have a lot of diagnosis codes etc. I said its a new dr. and I really dont like her too much.

Ordered the wheelchair and town car so we are making progress.

GAGWTA, Enjoy your week end everyone.

 

[kofslinky]

So here's the latest on my most recent surgery.

It sounds like it was smart to go under general for me. My surgeon got in there and found some necrotic tissue, probably related to an infiltration I had over a year ago, but he decided it needed to come out. This caused the incision to become about double the size it was, which is now huge. I can't look at it yet- I'm scared of what I'm going to see. We unpacked it for the first time today, and when the last of it came out it was quite uncomfortable, and I'm pretty sure it was packed from the middle of my chest to my chin. Holy cow! It's not as painful as it was originally, but it's still painful. And I feel like my sternum is thoroughly bruised.

My surgeon was talking about the possibility of a wound vac to help it heal quicker. Anyone have any experience with one? I had a friend who's husband had one, and it wasn't really covered by insurance and they didn't know it- cost them a fortune!

GAGWTA

 

[luvmarypoppins]

So here's the latest on my most recent surgery.

It sounds like it was smart to go under general for me. My surgeon got in there and found some necrotic tissue, probably related to an infiltration I had over a year ago, but he decided it needed to come out. This caused the incision to become about double the size it was, which is now huge. I can't look at it yet- I'm scared of what I'm going to see. We unpacked it for the first time today, and when the last of it came out it was quite uncomfortable, and I'm pretty sure it was packed from the middle of my chest to my chin. Holy cow! It's not as painful as it was originally, but it's still painful. And I feel like my sternum is thoroughly bruised.

My surgeon was talking about the possibility of a wound vac to help it heal quicker. Anyone have any experience with one? I had a friend who's husband had one, and it wasn't really covered by insurance and they didn't know it- cost them a fortune!

GAGWTA

My heart goes out to you. Yes they wanted to put the wound vac on me too. I know I told the girls here I was crying and all upset about it and really didnt want it.

After being in the hospital for about 3 days they kept trying to convince me to do it. I looked it up on You Tube. The video I saw had a boy using one on his leg. I asked my surgeon about it. He said a visiting nurse would have to come and pack the wound and do the machine.

I dont know where or how yours would be hooked up. But he said mine would have been like a belt around my waist that was hooked up to a little portable battery pack and I would feel like a gentle tugging from the machine. The tube would be in my belly button wound. Umm, after my dh and I thought about it. We asked the surgeon if the gentle "tugging" would pull on the one mesh implant he just implanted into my stomach. Um, after he thought about it, he confirmed with us that this machine would be a very bad idea for my type of wound since he just implanted the mesh. But I am thinking if you have an open cavity it would probably work much better as its only tissue that would be healing and not affecting underlying mesh like mine would have.

Also why would it not be covered under your ins, if it is medically necessary? I dont know. My surgeon was always fighting for me for stuff. Like they wanted my one surgery to be outpatient and I ended up in the hospital for 3 days so he had to fight the whole thing for me etc.

I am sorry you are dealing with this, but overall I think the wound vac does promote healing much sooner in the right circumstances.

Once I did find out that taking some pain med prior to the packing made the pain more bearable.

Linda -hopefully you can give a better medical view point than my almost experience.

 

[Feralpeg]

So here's the latest on my most recent surgery.

It sounds like it was smart to go under general for me. My surgeon got in there and found some necrotic tissue, probably related to an infiltration I had over a year ago, but he decided it needed to come out. This caused the incision to become about double the size it was, which is now huge. I can't look at it yet- I'm scared of what I'm going to see. We unpacked it for the first time today, and when the last of it came out it was quite uncomfortable, and I'm pretty sure it was packed from the middle of my chest to my chin. Holy cow! It's not as painful as it was originally, but it's still painful. And I feel like my sternum is thoroughly bruised.

My surgeon was talking about the possibility of a wound vac to help it heal quicker. Anyone have any experience with one? I had a friend who's husband had one, and it wasn't really covered by insurance and they didn't know it- cost them a fortune!

GAGWTA

I don't know that much about your surgery. If it helps at all, I had my remaining breast removed a week ago as a precaution. The first few days, the area around my sternum was painful. If I moved just wrong, it hurt pretty bad. It has been a week and a half since my surgery and I am no longer having pain in that area. In fact, the only painful area left is where he removed the drain last Thursday. So, hopefully, your pain will let up soon!

I don't know anything about a vac. I do know about scars! I now have a scar running from under one arm, across my chest, to under the other arm. Great white attack survivors have less scars than I do! lol! kofslinky, I'm not making light of this. It's just the way I handle things. I know how hard it is, but you will get through it. Take your time. Face it when you're ready.

I'll be thinking of you!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hope everyone is healing and dong well

Right now poor dh has a really bad cold. I know he got it in Russia. I sure hope he is not feeling all that bad for the trip. He went to go get some daquil. I know when we were there in May and we were suppose to see Sha at Hollywood Studios, dh was sick then too. At Disney a pack of 2 dayquil is around $2.50 I think from the Bach Club Marketplace, so I am def. rememebering to pack all the cold meds this time.

And the biggest news...last night I was looking online to see if we could get a reservation at Crystal Palace for dinner for the ds. We had the Plaza which was ok. Well what pops up on the screen as available but...Be Our Guest!!! OMG!!! I almost fell over. I have been trying for that forever for dh and myself and never got it. The first time it opened I was on the phone for 4 hours and nothing! I know the food is not that good but I am just happy to go and say we did it once it. I guess it might be easier with 4 versus 2 to get an adr. So I am excited to say the least.

I am also calling today or tomm. to try and book the xrays for next friday. Dh wil be in calif. and its ds day off so he can take me. Parking is near impossible at this place.

GAGWTA. Have a great day everyone.

 

[Talking Hands]

Update. I see my internist on Thursday to get my meds for other issues.
Tuesday I see the surgeon. Ready to get this going and done with.

 

[kofslinky]

luvmarypoppins- I ate at Be Our Guest when we were there in July. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I thought the food was pretty good! We had the same scenario play out for our reservation- we were supposed to eat somewhere else that night (I think it was actually the Brown Derby), and my DBF was randomly checking the reservations and up popped Be Our Guest. We immediately booked it and rearranged the week's worth of reservations, which this time meant missing out on trying Citricos. That being said, we really enjoyed it- the ambiance was nice, the food was good, and we really liked it. When ordering dessert, there was a family of 4 next to us who had already ordered dessert. When they brought the dessert tray over, my DBF looked at the waitress and said, "We want the one that kid has- it looks really good." Everyone smiled, the kid agreed it was a good choice, and we really liked it. Have a great time! (I have pictures if anyone wants to see them.)

Talking Hands- good luck on Tuesday!

My update:
I've been suffering with quite a lot of pain since Thursday. Today was the first day I went back to work, and I only made it for about half the day before going home. Everyone was great about it though- even my principal who doesn't like me much was great about it. I came home and slept for a few hours, and now the wound seems to be sticking and needs to pop, which is going to be quite painful I'm sure. I'll be ready for this to be all over. I go back for my post op appointment tomorrow. He better be happy with the way this is going. (If he even THINKS about saying he wants to go back in, I may have a nervous breakdown.)

GAGWTA

 

[Feralpeg]

luvmarypoppins, I've not been to Be Our Guest. It's seems crazy since I live just down the road, but I'm always the last to see things. I hope to go soon. Hope your husband feels better soon!

Talking Hands, Waiting is the worst. Once the ball gets rolling, it is so much easier. I'll be thinking of you.

koflinky, So sorry that you are still having so much pain. Praying that you find some relief very soon!

Had my scan today with the radiologist and got my markings. They will be calling me in a couple of days to set up my radiation schedule. Ready to get this going and over! Last surgery is healing well. The only sore place is where he took out the drain, but it is getting better every day. I'm schedule on October 1 to have my port removed. After what koflinky is going through, I'm more than ready to get rid of it!

Hang in there, ladies!

 

[kofslinky]

Feralpig- don't take my example as normal! I'm sure it isn't, I'm just being punished for the infection and previous infiltration. I'm sure yours will go better than mine!

Since I know I need one, I'll share this with everyone else!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Talking Hands - wishing you all the best with your appts.

Peg - looks like things are progressing, but sure is a lot on your plate

kofslinky -hope you appt. goes well today. Dont know what you mean about the popping reference. But I did feel like that too and a couple of days later I did "pop", well the surgeon called it "exploding". He said it was a seroma. Not a pretty sight to wake up to and scared dh and myself. Just another thing to deal with post op and the wound infection etc.

Well dh is sounding so much sicker. I doubt we will have a good time on the vacation but we will make the best of it. I cant tell him to stay home because the hotel reservations are both in his name with his airline miles and he has to show a photo id to check in and use the vouchers etc. Cant move the dates because of all his travel and meetings too so we are stuck.

Got a big surprise today. My new internist herself called me with the blood test results. Hmm, what was I expecting, good news?? Like that would ever happen. She said 3 things are borderline. One test is not good and might be a false positive, so she wants to repeat it. If its still bad she wants a few more tests and if those are bad then she says she wants me to see a liver specialist. Hmm, I dont know about all of this. It does seem like she is leaving no stone unturned, but sometimes I wonder just how much is too much or enough???

At last she called me back,unlike Dr. waste my time who never called etc. She didnt seem compassionate on the phone at all again, just all business. Like I was some bunch of statistical numbers etc. on a lab form. Sigh.

GAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[Feralpeg]

luvmarypoppins, I'll be praying that it is a false positive and everything is good.

Sorry to hear your DH is still sick. Not a good way to start a vacation. Hope you can both relax a bit and just enjoy some quality time together!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

kofslinky - hope your appt. went well

Laurie - hope things are well with you. Miss you posting.

Has anyone seen this on tv or read about it? It was on the news here but I didnt hear the whole thing. Its either in a clinical trial or in use. Its some kind of laser device that the surgeon uses and it turns red if there are still cancer cells in the margins and then green if the margin contains no cancer cells. (Robinb, so thought of you when I heard this). They say its accurate.

I have everything mostly laid out to pack so that is good and I hurt my leg while trying to cut my toenail. Glad dh was home today. He took the day off.

Reading terrible reviews about BOG, gosh I hope its ok.

I am packing some pants. I dont know how cold it gets at night, but I am always cold anyway.

Also our flight is sold out. Oh how I hate the southwest cattle car, sigh.

GAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[Talking Hands]

Internist appointment went well. Doctor decided to hold off on the blood work until we get a date for surgery so he doesn't have to stick me twice. Feels that I am fine for the surgery with my other issues in control. Gave me my results of the mammo and biopsy to take to the surgeon.