Aa
reconstruction pain
What is the normal time frame for pain reduction after bi=lateral mastectamies with expanders? I am still having considerable pain after 3 weeks. Thanks
Wow, talking about going to parties etc...you are feeling better!
Hang in there girl!
Hang in there girl!
Sorry it has been so long since I have posted.... it seems you get into this chemo-grind and nothing else matters. Most days, I don't even bother with the internet. The Adriamycin/Cytoxan combo is all over (I had four of those) and they were definitely ROUGH. I am now on the Taxol, (four of those, as well) I have had one so far... They give you a heavy dose of sedation (benedryl IV) beforehand, so mostly you just sleep for 4 hours while it is dripping in. Definitely not as nausea producing as the other, though the Taxol seems to cause a strange sort of muscle pain for me, sort of like I just ran a half marathon the day before and am just sore all over. They call it myalgia... I take a bit of Norco each day and it seems to ease the soreness. That is really the only thing I notice... Still bald. Have been styling my wigs like they are Barbie hair... I even cut one of them. My husband said, "Thats about $100 of hair you just wacked off.
Also trying to do the Christmas thing, though way scaled back. We have the usual round of hospital cocktail parties and I was delighted to buy my size 6 outfits... have never been quite this lean and mean. Though now I have no Butt! That is a bad thing... Trying to get up the courage to go bald to one of the parties just for fun... but have not done it yet. Have set up the big Christmas tree, then smaller ones in the kids rooms, so they can look at them at night. They have yet to write their letters to Santa. Wish they would hurry up, so I could get shopping.
It is looking like I won't have radiation, so I will be done with chemo in mid January, then probably back to work by the first of Feb. I only work 2 days per week as a psych nurse, so it will be good to concentrate on other's peoples problems for awhile. It will also be good to get back in the classroom to volunteer. They told me I shouldn't volunteer while I was immunosuppressed.
So, that is all the news from our household.
I think about you all and hope your treatments are going well too.
Tammie.
PS. I had both invasive ductal and invasive lobular, and one positive node. I had a double mastectomy on 9/14, no reconstruction yet. The cancer was in the Left breast, I had the right one taken as well. My pain is gone, but I am still numb, probably always will be. Tam.
Also trying to do the Christmas thing, though way scaled back. We have the usual round of hospital cocktail parties and I was delighted to buy my size 6 outfits... have never been quite this lean and mean. Though now I have no Butt! That is a bad thing... Trying to get up the courage to go bald to one of the parties just for fun... but have not done it yet. Have set up the big Christmas tree, then smaller ones in the kids rooms, so they can look at them at night. They have yet to write their letters to Santa. Wish they would hurry up, so I could get shopping.
It is looking like I won't have radiation, so I will be done with chemo in mid January, then probably back to work by the first of Feb. I only work 2 days per week as a psych nurse, so it will be good to concentrate on other's peoples problems for awhile. It will also be good to get back in the classroom to volunteer. They told me I shouldn't volunteer while I was immunosuppressed.
So, that is all the news from our household.
I think about you all and hope your treatments are going well too.
Tammie.
PS. I had both invasive ductal and invasive lobular, and one positive node. I had a double mastectomy on 9/14, no reconstruction yet. The cancer was in the Left breast, I had the right one taken as well. My pain is gone, but I am still numb, probably always will be. Tam.
I actually had invasive lobular cancer, as well as non-invasive lobular cancer. The doc told me yesterday that because I had both kinds they were able to determine that that was the place it began, and since the lab report came back clear, I do not have to have further treatment...we got it at the very beginning... I think bi-lateral matectamies is trouble enough. :)
How about you, labhusky, what was your type of cancer? Remember to drink lots of water when you go for your massage, all those toxins can be yukky! Isn't it amazing that the rest of the world really doesn't understand this whole process and how much energy it takes...especially radiation, chemo, etc. I was like that too before I went through this. I have so much respect for how you're handling it, you're doing great. I'll pray for your next rad treatment! Blessings
How about you, labhusky, what was your type of cancer? Remember to drink lots of water when you go for your massage, all those toxins can be yukky! Isn't it amazing that the rest of the world really doesn't understand this whole process and how much energy it takes...especially radiation, chemo, etc. I was like that too before I went through this. I have so much respect for how you're handling it, you're doing great. I'll pray for your next rad treatment! Blessings
T-belle YOU are done with treatment then? Not even hormonal therapy? That is GREAT news!!! Im "jealous". ((((t-belle))))) I took today off work because of my cold or sinus infection or whatever it is. I hate it when I lay down, turn my head to the right then I get dizzy for a little while then it stops. I have a "filled" head but I 'll be ok. I did go to rads this morning. Might as well. I figure thats a place of healing, my work is not. Plus, if and when I get fatigued down the road fron rads I dont want to push it now. Sometimes the bosses at work can make you feel bad about missing work if you let them. Well, I say no more guilt for me!!! Ive learned alot this year going through this whole process thankfully the best diagnosis if I had to have it at all. What type of cancer did you have t-belle and maa. I was checking previous blogs but couldnt find it. However, those blogs are better than a novel if one wants to laugh or cry.
I hope we hear from Snowtree again!!!! Been thinking about alot of those people and wondering how they are.
Tomorrow, I will go to work. I made an appointment with my reg Dr early January just to "follow up" and take a pro active stance in my health. Shes easy to talk to. She made some nice comments today acknowledging Ive been through alot but knew I was a trooper. She said that if theres a gold lining in this its that I caught it early. I always feel good after walking out of that office. I had the botox shots, they can hurt. Then you have to do a repition of 15 smiles and 15 frowns every 15 minutes for 2 hours. One cannot lay down for a couple of hours either or it can move around to where one doesnt want it to go. I get it in the forehead and around the eyes.
Oh, Jan 18th I made an appointment for a full body massage for a hour and a half. That will be a week after rads finishes. I figure a rite of passage or a celebration and get all the toxins out.
I hope we hear from Snowtree again!!!! Been thinking about alot of those people and wondering how they are.
Tomorrow, I will go to work. I made an appointment with my reg Dr early January just to "follow up" and take a pro active stance in my health. Shes easy to talk to. She made some nice comments today acknowledging Ive been through alot but knew I was a trooper. She said that if theres a gold lining in this its that I caught it early. I always feel good after walking out of that office. I had the botox shots, they can hurt. Then you have to do a repition of 15 smiles and 15 frowns every 15 minutes for 2 hours. One cannot lay down for a couple of hours either or it can move around to where one doesnt want it to go. I get it in the forehead and around the eyes.
Oh, Jan 18th I made an appointment for a full body massage for a hour and a half. That will be a week after rads finishes. I figure a rite of passage or a celebration and get all the toxins out.
Just realized I've been spelling your name wrong...please forgive the oversight!
It was nice to hear from Snowtree...it's funny that although she doesn't know me, I feel that I know her from the first post that all of you guys were on together. I used to read it and was encouraged so many times. All of you have been an inspiration to me.
It is quite true that through this process I have felt a very real nearness to the heart of Jesus...He is always present, always whispering His words of love, always making sure that I am aware that He will never leave nor forsake me. I'm sure that both of you have had similar situations...I know I could not have made it through without Him...He is so good!!!
I found out today that I will not have to have radiation, chemo, or further testing...the report came back that the cancer is no longer present. I can only thank God for that. It is still a journey in terms of the reconstruction process and recuperation(SP).
I hope both of you are doing well!
It is quite true that through this process I have felt a very real nearness to the heart of Jesus...He is always present, always whispering His words of love, always making sure that I am aware that He will never leave nor forsake me. I'm sure that both of you have had similar situations...I know I could not have made it through without Him...He is so good!!!
I found out today that I will not have to have radiation, chemo, or further testing...the report came back that the cancer is no longer present. I can only thank God for that. It is still a journey in terms of the reconstruction process and recuperation(SP).
I hope both of you are doing well!
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