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new to forum, diagnostic mammo & ultrasound found large lumps, Part 2

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Posted 10/21/2018 9:16 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Linda, I decided I better start a part 2 here. The system is old & when the threads get long they often get wonky. The admin has updated the looks of HW & made it more conducive for cell phones users. He is making tweaks along the way to work out some of the bugs.

So, November 14th is the surgery date. Very glad to read that you are somewhat calm. I am sorry that you are spending so much time in drs offices. I have been there & done that before. It's overwhelming, it was for me. It seemed like that was the only thing I had time for.

You know we went from a drought, to the month of September being a deluge, almost 13 inches. It has continued right along & we are beyond saturated. It's awful. We went down to the lake yesterday. We have no access to the boat dock, the road is under water. One of the camp sites by the darn, the awnings & picnic tables are completely under water, just incredible. They are letting the water out, but it is still high. We have set records on rainfall & temperature drops. It was 80 one day, the following morning 42 with a wind chill of 34.


We just got home from there. I am short on time right now but wanted to touch base with you.
Posted 10/24/2018 9:09 PM (GMT -7)
Good to hear from you, Susie. Your Texas weather is just bizarre, lol. We also have had either drought or horrendous rains (without the temperature swings), and no matter how much rain we get, 2 days of dry and sunny and the plants start dying. Of course as soon as you water, you get a downpour and then they’re overwatered. Without professional help it’s nearly impossible to keep nice flower beds, or even grass.
I had my pre-op visit yesterday. The visit went fine, but it wrecked my nerves for the rest of the day and most of today. Just all the horrific memories start flooding in and it takes me a day or so to get a grip and concentrate on the present and future, and not relive what has gone wrong in the past. I am exercising as much as I can. Mostly walking, but I’ve added light weights also. I was just heading for bed and I can feel myself drifting off, so goodnight and I will TTYL.
Best of health and positive thoughts to all.
Posted 10/30/2018 10:57 AM (GMT -7)
Hola. 2 weeks from tomorrow is the new “big day”. We’re technically in flu season now (which my doctor says lasts until MAY), so I am forgoing doing anything in public from now on. No opening the doors a hundred times tomorrow night for the trick or treaters. I am washing my hands like a fool and Purelling myself often. Changing sheets every day and my husband is bleaching the kitchen and all the baths 2-3 times a week. A friend suggested waiting to have surgery until after the worst of flu season is over (end of February), but I don’t want to wait if I’m healthy, physically and emotionally, and there’s also the issue of my insurance. It ends in February, and then I’ll go on disability Medicare. However through the end of this year I have met every deductible and out-of-pocket expense, which is a BIG DEAL. Just to get one surgery done before I start incurring those deductibles and out of pockets means a lot to us. We’ve had problems with the house that we just can’t even afford to fix now.
.... cancer is just the beginning when you get diagnosed. So many other things end up impacting your life also that you aren’t leading YOUR life anymore. I can dream that I’ll get my life back!! But with 3 surgeries to fix the last disaster, and knowing that things ALWAYS come up, it’s hard to picture how old I’ll be by the time I ever get to be “me” again. Ugh. Sorry, this wasn’t meant as a poor me/pity me post. I am THRILLED that a major surgery is just a couple weeks away. And I’ve been eating very healthy and exercising so I feel well prepared.
... best of health and positive thoughts to all.
Posted 11/3/2018 9:25 AM (GMT -7)
Linda, so good to read that you are moving forward, surgery on the 14th if I remember correctly. I will continue to pray this all goes as plan. Most of all, keep your positive thought process in the forefront. Don't get sucked down the dark hole, you will persevere as you have done all along. You have an incredible amount of strength without any doubt. We often have no idea how strong we are until we are out to the test.Try to remember this, fear can cause reality to become cloudy.

I am happy that you are back to exercising. I know this is something you did before, I am in agreement with the dr that said start doing as many things you did before. Making the effort is what counts most of all.

Oh yes, the good old flu season is back again! Keeping yourself safe is a must. I always get the flu shot every year. I know there is so much controversy over it not helping the strains that often show up. Regardless, I have COPD, the flu could be extremely serious for me according to my drs. Knowing this, I will not risk it. I am having terrible sinus issues, this rain has our mold count off the charts & mountain cedar is really high. I have been dealing with a slight sinus infection for 2 months. Until I have it in check, I will hold off on the flu shot.

Oh gal, the rain the past 2 months has been insane. September & October we set new records, I heard on the news last week, we had over 40 inches of rain in 2 months. Currently, we are on day 3 or 4 of sunny skies. Our temps are lower, so things are not drying out fast. My yard is still extremely wet, most of my flowers are done from too much water. I have mold on the zinnias in a flower bed. I hope next week it is dry so my lawn guy can clean up a couple of flower beds & go over the yard. I have some things for him to cut back & to make it look a little tidy, lol. This morning it's sunny, a little cool & very windy! Hopefully the wind will help dry things out a little. We have a chance of rain tonight sadly.

My laptop took a nose dive which I knew was coming. It slowed to a crawl & trying to get into HW was a huge problem. I took it in last week & they replaced my hard drive. I do not use my phone for HW, even though, it is now phone friendly. I can read on it because the print is larger, but I am not comfortable trying to post with it. I have an IPad & it's ok in a pinch. I am just a creature of habit, lol. I like having a bigger screen.

I plan to run a couple of quick errands this afternoon while there is sunshine! I am thinking about making chicken & dumplings today, so I will need to get some chicken tenders. A friend gave me a recipe for chicken & dumplings & it calls for chicken tenders. Much easier to cook them rather than breasts or a whole chicken.

Sending many positive vibes to you!!
Posted 11/3/2018 11:10 AM (GMT -7)
YUM!! Chicken and dumplings! I will forever think of being a little girl and enjoying both my mom’s and grandmom’s chicken and dumplings. One did it with the big, fat, round ball dumplings and one did it with flat, square dumplings. I loved them equally and never mastered either!
Posted 11/15/2018 3:52 AM (GMT -7)
Well I had my surgery done yesterday. They are generous with the dilaudid, thank goodness, as the back pain is severe. (But I’ve had worse pain through Voldemort, so I feel like I can handle most anything.). It’s weird... I am not wearing any Gauze sponges, ABD pads or bandages or anything. I can just look down and see my new breast (from my back skin) sewn onto the front. And in the standing bathroom mirrors I can see a HUGE, maybe 10-12 inches long incision going horizontal from about under the armpit and just over then central spine. A friend told me this scar evens out and goes flat, and the fat from the other side gets redispersed, so I won’t be flat-backed on one side, and rollly, lumpy on the other side. The doctor was able to gather up quite a lot of fat from this one side, and with the expander underneath (which she already expanded once) I may only need one more expansion in order for it to be equal to the other side. Thee is a lot more visible scar line on this left chest, so I hope my scar Rx cream works as well as before.
All for now. I can barely keep my eyes open.
Best of health and positive thoughts to all.

Post Edited (exqualls) : 11/15/2018 3:57:08 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/18/2018 7:12 AM (GMT -7)
Linda, you are such an amazing woman! Here you are posting 24 hours post-op about your surgery. Thank goodness the dr was generous with providing adequate pain relief. The so called opioid crisis is leaving many people having surgery without any type of a narcotic for pain control post op. It's hideous & being highly supported by teaching hospitals.

I said some prayers on the 13th & 14th. I definitely had you on my mind on the 14th. Needless to say I was happy to see your post. Now let the healing begin. I think your friend is right about the incision healing nicely. When it's allowed use your cream. I have seen some pretty nasty looking incisions heal & look great as time went by.

It is cold this morning, in the 30's once again. Yesterday it was 70 & sunny. Our temps are all over the place. We have already had a freeze & it wiped out my plants. The only plant that is never affected is my rosemary plant. That thing can survive anything, lol. It also happens to be my least favorite, so go figure on that one.

Any plans for Thanksgiving? I know you are not up to cooking much, how about your son & husband, can they put something together? We are eating out again this year. We did this last year with the kids & I enjoyed it. My husband on the other hand is having a fit, lol. He thinks I should be standing in the kitchen for 2 days cooking for everyone. I long quit doing that, my ability to stand is about 20 minutes at a time. I am perfectly content going back to the place we went to last year. The food was great & I am real picky about where I eat out at.

I can't believe the holidays are coming up so soon. My grandson will be out of school for 2 weeks. I told him the other day that we would pick a day & get the tree down & decorate it. It's a small tree, somewhere between a slim & pencil style. I think it's 6 ft tall, I do not have much room for a tree in the living room.

Please keep us posted on your progress!!
Posted 11/19/2018 8:36 AM (GMT -7)
Positive, healing thoughts for you exqualls. smile
Posted 11/23/2018 10:51 AM (GMT -7)
Thank you! I do think i am healing pretty well, and pretty quickly. I end up in pain several times a day, so that's my alarm clock for taking medicine. But the pain no longer gets up to a ten out of ten. The worst pains probably reach 8.5-- enough to want medicine to get through it. What really surprises me is how much the back CONSTRICTS me. Yes, it hurts, but it's a very specific pain-- like someone has tied a rope around me and pulled it into as tight a knot as possible. It feels that way all the time, but when the 8.5 comes around, it's like someone decided to pull the knot even tighter.
Got to go now,
best of health and positive thoughts to all.
linda
Posted 12/12/2018 7:39 AM (GMT -7)
Linda, somehow I thought I had posted. Jeesh, my mind some days gets just muddled, lol. I do hope by now you are turning the corner with your healing. The pain you described with your back sounds painful. I can see with your description of the tightness, it makes a lot of sense. Is this pain getting better?

My plans to get my tree up flopped, my grandson & I just never had the time needed to get my tree up.My husband is dealing with bursitis of the hip. He has had an injection done as an out-patient at the hospital. It lasted 2 days & came right back. He see's the ortho this afternoon to see what is next. His xrays showed a good deal of arthritis plus a spur. A hip replacement was briefly discussed, but because of underlying health issues, he is not a very good candidate for a replacement. Not sure what is next. It's very doubtful I will get a tree up since the husband is not feeling all that great.

What are your plans for Christmas, is your other son coming home? We will go to our son's on Christmas Day for a late lunch & let the kids open presents. With kids involved, it's much easier to go to them & spend the day. I gave up hosting the holidays years ago, it became too much for me. The kids wanted to take over this & I was more than willing to hand over the reins.

Our crazy Tx weather is continuing. We are expecting a potential for a wet snow late Thursday! Rain turning to snow is a real possibility. Our temps has been in the 60's during the day, so at least we will not have to deal with slick roads. It has been a very unusual year for crazy weather here.

I wanted to touch base with you, please let us know how you are doing.
Posted 12/23/2018 9:47 AM (GMT -7)
Omgosh, I am so sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I did not die! lol

The healing continued really well from the reconstruction of 11/14/18. The back scar is flattened out, but a section of my back is flat as well. I haven't really found out if I can build that muscle back up to how it used to be. The scars on the breast are healing very well, too. This doctor did an AMAZING job-- you'd never know I had a huge canyon in my chest that covered more than just the breast area. It looks like a regular reconstruction from a mastectomy-- something I was SURE was not possible.

I ended up not needing any other fill ups, other than the one she did at the time of surgery. So, my next surgery is January 4th! Less than 2 weeks away, to take the expander out and put the implant in. After I heal from that there will be one more surgery to put on nipples. I am really thrilled.

My son who was always "gone", moved to an apartment with a friend about 45 minutes away, but he will be here for Christmas. My other son, who lives in DC, came home as soon as exams were over and is staying 2 weeks. So overall, I'm a happy woman! My back still hurts from the surgery at times (always at the end of the day when I try to rest. There is NO comfortable position.)

And I still have to work on my leftover issues from Voldemort.... I'm trying to give that no thought/stress at this time. All my thoughts and prayers are for healing from these frequent breast surgeries.

I'm sorry about your husband. It sounds terrible when the typical option for a cure isn't possible. I hope there is some medical device that can help. You sound great! And having your kids or other relatives host Christmas sounds ideal.

By accident (it's hard to explain), I ended up re-joining facebook after nine years away. I went on the site to formally quit--since I started getting so many emails from them suddenly, and well, I stayed. At first it was just to post pictures of my paintings, since I haven't done enough yet to put on a show. I thought it would be nice to get feedback. But then being the chatterbox I am I started spilling the beans. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year if I don't read from you before then


Linda, I removed your name, this is to protect your privacy. Unfortunately, HW gets hit with a lot spam.

Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 1/17/2019 1:05:17 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/10/2019 12:48 AM (GMT -7)
Well, I had another surgery 6 days ago, on January 4. This was to take the expander out and exchange it for an implant. The surgery went very well. I only had minimal pain from it. I still actually have more pain from the area in my back where the chunk was taken out (the surgery on 11/14/18). I had my post-op visit yesterday and she said I am healing so well that we could schedule the next surgery, which MAY be the last, scheduled for February 18!!! The actual left breast that she constructed from my back tissue to fill in the area mutilated by the staph infection looks BETTER than the right breast! The shape and size is better. What this February surgery will do is even out the contour of my left armpit, and she’ll take fat from my belly to give the right breast a better shape, like the left one has. She will also make nipples for both using belly skin! So it will be like getting a mini tummy tuck.

Everything is moving so fast now. I have had minor setbacks from Voldemort. But every day I work hard on my leg strength and balance, so I think I am not far behind. I take EXCEPTIONAL care to avoid germs for at least 2 weeks pre-ops and 2 weeks post-ops.

Well it is late and I should rest. I can feel pain in my back so sleep doesn’t come easily.

I hope you and hubby are doing well. TTYL
Posted 1/17/2019 1:27 PM (GMT -7)
Linda, I have been MIA for quite some time now! A few days before New Years I got hit with a stomach virus that landed me in bed for 5 days. I slowly started making a come back. This past Friday night it hit again with vengeance. Early Saturday morning I ended up in ER. I tested positive for the flu. I was given IV fluids & meds & released. The Tamiflu is a big help. I am still not well, but better than what I was.

I am extremely excited to read about the latest surgery. One more down & one more to go. There is finally light at the end of the long tunnel that you have been traveling.This has to be such a relief for you on so many different levels. You are truly an inspiration, I don't think you realize this.

It sounds like you had a great Christmas. I am so glad you had both of your boys at home too. We did here, of course just being with the kids & the grandson makes it for us. It came up pretty fast for me but I did not get too stressed out, lol.

Wow, I did check you out on FB & saw your paintings. What a talent you have. I admire anyone with that type of talent. It is very obvious that you enjoy painting, so please stay with it, your work is awesome. I always wished I had an artistic talent for drawing or painting but I don't, lol. Either a person has it or they don't. Were you interested in art as a child?

I removed your full name from the post to protect you. The admin doesn't allow us to post personal info such as that. We get hit with a lot of spam here. I guess some people have nothing better to do with their time, ugh.

Please keep me posted on how you are doing!!!
Posted 1/17/2019 8:15 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Susie. Thanks for removing my last name, I didn’t know that was a no-no. I wouldn’t want to get put into forum jail!
Yes, I painted as a child, very young, I started drawing as soon as I could hold anything in my hands, and then my mom started getting me canvases and paints and easels probably by age 4 or five. Back then I only painted seascapes. Over and over again. some of them with a palm tree, some of them with a dock, some of them with a pelican sitting on one of those wood posts. Just endless seascapes, and a few horses, because all girls love horses.
When I started taking piano lessons at about age 9, I gave up painting and was consumed with the piano, until I went away to college. And in the decades since then I have only drawn or painted maybe a dozen times. I was in charge of an art project at my sorority for Rush Week and when the boys were in elementary school I did a painting for a Halloween event. And when they were in elementary school I actually did a couple paintings on commission! But once I got busy with the kids and other activities, I did not paint or draw again.
You know Voldemort made it so that I can’t do any of the physical activities that I used to do, at least not yet anyway.
And although the palms of my hands are partially paralyzed, I decided I would try to draw or paint since I couldn’t do any of the other activities that used to keep me so busy.
I honestly did not know if I would be able to draw or paint anymore. Not because of the partial paralysis, but because I thought the talent had disappeared from not being used. I don’t mean to sound egotistical, but I have impressed myself! I really didn’t know I could do all that I have done. Like I said I really had only done seascapes in oil painting. And the style was always realism. And the thought of ever painting a face never even occurred to me, as I thought that was impossible. And now I’ve painted faces, which I think have turned out quite well, and as you’ve seen I’ve painted all kinds of different animals and subjects, and use different styles like impressionism, and abstract.
Well I certainly am hogging this whole text about me. I’m so sorry you had the stomach bug and the flu, but happy to hear that you got medicine for it and are on the mend. How is your weather right now? We are having a wonderful cold front. For the last two or three days it’s gotten down into the upper 40s I believe. This is the weather that I love love love. Normally I would be outside walking quickly, but I am staying inside to avoid germs. And, I’m not supposed to be walking quickly yet, not supposed to get my heart rate up yet —the last surgery was just 13 days ago. Although it seems like it was months ago for some reason.
How is your husband doing? And how old is your grandson now? If you are on Facebook again say hi to me! TTYL
Posted 2/13/2019 9:47 AM (GMT -7)
Linda, I think January has been almost like a blur for me, it was here & gone. Between being sick twice & trying to get back on my feet, jeesh. My husband is doing better since he was put on Meloxicam, an anti-inflammatory rx'd for arthritis. He needs to be up moving around a lot more than he is, but we know how tht often goes with husbands.

My son remarried on the 26th of January. The wedding took place in Fredericksburg, its south of here. It was great, they rented a B&B for the weekend with some other couples. The place has a screened in room which was where the ceremony took place. His old neighbor & friend married them, it was awesome. Nothing fancy, laid back & very fitting for them. I love going to that part of Texas. So many vineyards & wineries, something most do not associate with Texas. It is very much a tourist area. We had heaters to help stay warm, lol.

I am not on FaceBook much, but I will send you a friend request. I go there when one of my kids tell me to go look at pictures of something, lol. I am so happy to see you returning to things that you once had pleasure with.

How are you coming along with the healing from the last surgery? I am off to the pharmacy to get a script filled. I have a very busy day ahead of me.
Posted 2/13/2019 2:50 PM (GMT -7)
Susie!! Your son got married! Congratulations, that is wonderful 😀!
I hope your husband’s new meds are helpful in the long run. So many times (we all) fix one problem, and then others pop up. I’ve seen that a lot with my own husband.

I’m glad you wrote. I was fixing to post in a day or so as I am coming up on what may be my last surgery, God willing. It’s on 2/18. I healed very quickly from the Jan. 4 surgery. I mean I FELT totally healed after about a week, so I had to force myself to restrict my movements so I could continue to heal inside. Plus, being the height of flu season I have had to avoid going places and seeing people. The last thing I want is to catch something that would postpone the next surgery. Also, a cold or flu can cause a relapse of Voldemort, which is my biggest fear. I used to panic more that a surgery could trigger it..... which it can, but it’s more likely to happen after a URI or even a GI.

Anyway, I’m so glad you wrote, however you didn’t mention yourself! I hope that is a case of ‘no news is good news’!

I’ll check back in after my surgery. Take care, Linda.
Posted 2/15/2019 8:27 AM (GMT -7)
Linda, wow, the final surgery on the 18th, how awesome is that! I will certainly keep you in my thoughts & prayers for an excellent outcome.

We are on the uptick here with the flu season. I have always tried timing my trips out in public during flu season. I refuse to be a hermit, lol, so I try to make my trips when stores are the least busiest. We will be seeing this hang around until April.

Yes, we are happy about my son getting remarried. The lady that did the ceremony was outstanding. It truly makes a difference when that person knows who they are marrying.

I am doing ok, I am waiting on spring. The cold it just not good for me. Our weather changes every two days. Some of the trees are budding out a little, early spring bulbs are blooming. It seems to get earlier every year, lol.

Can't wait to see another good report from you.
Posted 3/14/2019 8:28 PM (GMT -7)
Linda, I have had you on my mind lately. I have been checking for an update & hope that you will be posting soon.
Posted 4/8/2019 11:42 AM (GMT -7)
Linda, I am bumping your thread up in hopes of getting an update from you!!
Posted 4/29/2019 3:43 PM (GMT -7)
Has anyone heard from Linda? I hope her surgery went well.
Posted 4/30/2019 9:43 PM (GMT -7)
pmmedic, so far no response from Linda. I am concerned about her too. I keep checking this thread hoping she will check in.
Posted 5/5/2019 6:25 PM (GMT -7)
I hope she responds soon! I have followed her case since she started posting. It hit home for me. What happened to her was a magnified version of what happened to me upon my Crohn’s diagnosis. I am praying she responds soon and is fully recovered and well from her last surgery. 🙏🙏🙏
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