Just checking in

Hi Hon,
Thank you for
Hi Hon,

Thank you for checking in, I was getting a little worried. I'm still mad about your pathology, but I'm calm enough now to give you the support you need. I know what a fighter you are, and I know that you are giving everything you've got to this battle. I picture you kicking and stomping until you've stomped this hateful nasty thing to nothing.

As you go through the days without your wonderful hubby, you will get better and better at dealing with the fears. Each hour that you face will make you stronger and stronger. And as for PT, they're just waiting until you heal enough to tolerate the PT without doing damage to your healing surgery site. Be careful about babying the left arm too much, even though it is sore you want to move it (especially the shoulder) enough so it doesn't "freeze". I liked the exercise where you climb your fingers up the wall, so that your fingers are like spiders climbing up. Exercise will help with possible lymphedema too.

My heart is in this battle with you...Keep stomping!

Hugs,

Linda

Dawne
so glad to hear that you're back in fighting mode. I can understand you being apprehensive about your husband going back to work but hopefully he's only a phone call away. You are probably stronger than you think you are. Continue to heal and rest. The 17th does seem like a long time to wait but you can do your own arm lifts at home. I will keep you in my thoughts. You go girl
{{hugs}} Char

cahjah75 said:

Dawne
so glad to hear that you're back in fighting mode. I can understand you being apprehensive about your husband going back to work but hopefully he's only a phone call away. You are probably stronger than you think you are. Continue to heal and rest. The 17th does seem like a long time to wait but you can do your own arm lifts at home. I will keep you in my thoughts. You go girl
{{hugs}} Char

HiYa my friend,
I am so
HiYa my friend,

I am so glad to hear from you, I've been thinking about you all weekend. It's funny how we've only known each other for a few short weeks but our journey is so close together I feel connected with you. You, like myself and every other woman here on this board, are very strong spirited women. The quote your friend gave you was from Elizabeth Edwards a true pioneer in her breast cancer fight. As for your husband having to go back to work, I think it only attests to how true your love for him really is, but in the same since it's you that needs to start taking your life back. It's time for him to allow your wings to flutter unassisted, although I am sure he won't be far away.

You are amazing and I love your spirit.. We are here for you buddy.
Hugs,
Lorrie


Quotations: "Cancer doesn’t have us. We have cancer. Cancer doesn’t own us. We own us. We decide how we are going to face this disease, how we are going to live each day."

Elizabeth Edwards

CypressCynthia said:

Dawne, I was so glad to see
Dawne, I was so glad to see your post. It sounds as if you are doing well and I think your feelings are completely normal. Remember though, we survivors are at higher risk for anxiety and depression. If your anxiety and fears persist beyond a couple of weeks, talk with your oncologist. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it--your doctor will know that you may have trouble coping. Your oncologist should be able to recommend medication and/or counseling.

Please PM me if you need anything and know that Louisiana is not that far from Texas! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

A Cancer Diagnosis Can Affect Your Emotional Health

Dawne,
It sounds like you're
Dawne,
It sounds like you're feeling a little better and I'm glad to hear, ready for the fight.
I think it's perfectly natural that you've been clingy to your hubby. I wouldn't worry about that at all. You're going through a lot of tough times and of course you've needed him.
Prayers are always being sent and please keep us posted.
Hugs,
Wanda

sunshine0406 said:

I am glad to see you are feeling better
I am glad to see you are feeling better. I also had the numb but hurting feeling , but mine was just under the arm pit. It was that way for a little over a month (I never had any PT I don't know why my dr did not tell me to go). It drove me crazy too, I as so happy when it started to feel "normal" again. My Dr said it had something to do with the nerves being cut and it would just take time to feel better. I had my surgery Feb 28th and just noticed it not hurting a couple days ago. I also had the anxiety of being left alone (well alone as you can get with 2 small kids and a puppy). I come on here and read up on everybody just so I don't feel alone. I wish the chat worked for me but I can not get it to work I am also (get this) glad to have radiation everyday just so I get out of the house to see adults (sick I know but I feel so alone. I end radiation in about a week and I hope I can handle the alone time).
Hugs, Laura

Dawne,
I had numbness under both my arms as well. When they did my double they took the Sentinel node under each side. Mine felt more like a puckering feeling but my numbness stretched down the side of my torso and even around the backside of my underarm. As the weeks go by (Surgery was Feb 28th) it gets better and better. My breast surgeon said to do two different exercises. One was as mentioned earlier to slowly walk your fingers up a wall and get them as high as you can. The other is while your arm is dangling at your side start making slow circles with your arm. Each rotation make the circle bigger and bigger and as the circles get bigger you should be raising your arm towards the ceiling. Do this until you feel it and then slowly revert back to smaller circles. Not done yet... Now do the same thing in reverse.

Anyways with me it wasn't so much the pain, I was more concerned with popping stitches or staples. About four weeks post op was when I was told to do these exercises, so you should be okay to start using that arm more but be careful and don't over do it.

As far as sleeping, I think if your drains are out and you can tolerate it.. go for it. Once my drains were removed I slept on both sides and within a week I even at times slept on my stomach.

Hugs my friend,
Lorrie

Texasgirl10 said:

Thanks
Hey Lorrie,
Thanks for the advice on the exercises. It's been 2 weeks today since my surgery, I can't believe it. I start PT next week. Infact I have a busy a week next week, PET scan, rads, onc, chemo.

I am sorry that you had the numbness and puckering feeling too, but I am glad to know that I am not the only one. Man, I was starting to think there was something wrong with me lol. I want to sleep on my left side so bad, but I am afraid. I am still pretty tender and I am having visions of "popping" open if I sleep on my side. I guess time will make it all better.

Well girl, I hope you are doing good today and enjoying life. I'll talk to you later,

Hugs,

Dawne

You're so sweet Dawne, I am
You're so sweet Dawne, I am doing well thank you. Wow girlfriend you do have a busy week scheduled. So you will be doing your second round of chemo right along with your rads huh? Good way to get it all done I guess, but take care of yourself.

As for popping open... LOL, that was my main concern too. But two weeks after my surgery my plastic surgeon started putting saline into my tissue expanders. So after two weeks of healing those incision sites must have some strength to them or my "new girls" would have made a grand appearance.

Keep in touch and you can IM me if you want to talk about goofy stuff.. LOL

Hugs back,
Lorrie

lonely
You also can contact the Amrican cancer society to be linked with a person who has had a similar experience in your local area. Your's is a bit more complicated I admit but even having phone contact when you are lonely could be of great help as it would be help in real time rather than waiting for replies.

Yes the underarm feels numb. I always felt like there was a wad of flesh or buble under there, but there was not. I weigh a lot and part of my tumor went under my arm on the side of my breast a bit. That is I think why if felt funny under there, or maybe just the lymph node removal. But I looked under my arm a lot trying to insure there was nothing actually there.

About sleep: Sleep with the surgery side up. With that position and putting a pillow under your arm to elevate it you will reduce your chances of lymphedma. I asked the surgeon about this technique as it reduces swelling. Your heart is just a bit off center below you left breast and it is always good to have the injured part above the level of your heart when possible. I asked if the lymph nodes left behind will take up the slack when it comes to removing lymph fluid. He said yes. He liked that I was elevating my arm when sleeping. Of course the pillow falls out but I would just put it back if I woke up.

God bless you throught the sped up regimen you are starting. Keep in touch.