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Update 5 months after mastectomy

I have not written in a few months, but I just read Jojo's newest post (I feel so badly for you, the stress of lawsuits is overwhelming on its own...) so I thought I should post because my story has changed a bit since I last posted and I am actually cautiously optimistic for the first time in a long time.

My back story is that I was diagnosed with IGM in July 2011 after months of living with IGM without a diagnosis.  I had many biopsies and then a partial mastectomy last July.  I was treated with methotrexate and prednisone.  Even while on these drugs my IGM was present.

On January 19, 2012 I had a full bilateral mastectomy.  On both sides all that was saved was the extra skin.  I never felt that the IGM was gone, I still had pain and my anxiety level was incredibly high.  Even though my doctors assured me that the IGM had not returned I did not believe them.  I went in for surgery on May 15 to have tissue expanders put in, I was certain that when they cut me open they would find abscesses.  When I awoke in recovery I asked my husband and he said they had NOT found any evidence of the GM.  I was so relieved.  I'm sure you all are the only people on earth that know the relief I felt.

Yesterday was my first tissue expansion and it went well.  I am so "over" being in pain and poked with needles and I have had 4 general surgeries in the last 11 months...I am happy to report that the expansion is no big deal.

So anyway, I know that the IGM could return eventually, or another auto immune disease could result from all of this.  And certainly the past year has been awful, really awful...but for the first time I am hopeful that I am actually getting better.  I am hopeful that the IGM is gone.  I am finally coming out of this horrible depression.
I just want you to know that there is hope out there for all of you.
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Avatar universal
Did you choose to do both, for preventative measures? Or, because it spread to the other breast?
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Avatar universal
I had IGM in both breasts unfortunately.
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Avatar universal
Im sorry. Im happy you're doing well now. Im seriously thinking of having the other removed for preventative measures. Im scared it'll go to the other breast and have to do this all over again. Some people think its a bit much. Still, they have no clue how much this disease affects our life. I don't know what to do.
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