witabix Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I can't believe 23 hours...I know, the insurance thing, but what about what's best for the patient...It's crazy!! I wish you lived in Canada right now.. I hope you get some rest tonight. You're in my thoughts LB. ????????????????? What country is this again? USA? I thought our health service was pants but my SO, and I when I needed it, were granred free medical treatment based on our diagnoses. No means tests, no questions, no waiting, She will remain in hospital until 24 hours after her drain is clear, so approximately a week. I spent six weeks in hospital. We all pay for our serious treatments in our taxes, and we never stop complaining about health services here. I am almost outraged at learning that you will only get 23 hours in hospital. Anyway, rant done... Good luck LB, you will be in my thoughts also today. Link to post Share on other sites
PinkKittyKat Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Good luck, LB. I hope all goes well. I've been lurking this site for longer than I've actually been a member and I've always liked your perspective. When I found out about your cancer I cried for you. You're very brave and I can only wish I'd be as much in your position. Sending much love!!! :bunny: Link to post Share on other sites
Author LucreziaBorgia Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Thanks all! I am getting ready to pack, shower and head out of here. Nervous, but ready... Link to post Share on other sites
nicki Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 LB, holding you in my heart and in my thoughts. (((((Sending you waves of love and healing)))) Link to post Share on other sites
Fun2BMe Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hope the surgery went well and that you are recovering in comfort...sending prayers your way! Link to post Share on other sites
Author LucreziaBorgia Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Well, today sucked. I checked in at ten, got my gown on, got settled in bed, got my IV started and then settled back to wait. I was the third case today. An hour and a half after I got there, the patient advocate came in to tell me that there would be a delay. The first case was taking longer than expected, and the second case would be two hours on top of that. So, I waited some more. Finally at three, my surgeon's PA came in and let me know that my surgery had been canceled and would have to be rescheduled for next week. I can't be but so mad. The first case went from a routine case to an emergency one. They finished him up, and then he crashed in recovery and had to go back in to be reopened. For me it was an inconvenience. For him it was life or death. So, a little after three I left and got something to eat and then went back to take a nap at exH's house. Now I'm back home thawing out some stuff for dinner. Oh well. Another week. Link to post Share on other sites
Fun2BMe Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 sounds like it was practice for the big day lol now you know what to expect Link to post Share on other sites
Mino Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hi LB, I am so sorry that you are going through this, Every womans worst nightmare. My mother had breast cancer almost 21 years ago. Things were alot different then. Chemo made you sick for 3 days. Today medication will help you manage the pain better. My mom had one breast removed. She was also a 38 D, then actually brought the one down to a C cup and did reconstruction on the other side. I was kinda of jealous cause she had perfect boobs:) I know this may sound kind of crazy, but cancer was a blessing to her. My mother spent her life taking care of others, always putting herself last. Through her cancer she has learned to put herself first. Today if the sun is shining she say" The sun is out, I am going swimming" she really started "living her life" after cancer. She travels, she has tons of hobbies, and housework has become secondary!! That was almost 21 years ago, she is my hero, she lives each day to the fullest, as if it were her last. She has no stress anymore, refuses to ackknwowlge any stress. No time for it:) She is now 73. and healthly as can be, even more then me...... And she still has almost perfect boobs, in c cup. I wish you the same strength, courage and wisdom my mother has.... (((( Hugs)))) Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Your nerves must be shot! That sucks... Well, I guess FUN is right, you know what to expect for next week. Link to post Share on other sites
Lizzie60 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 ahhh. that sucks.. you were all prepared for this one.. I thought about you a lot today.. oh well.. one more week to 'prepare' again.. Link to post Share on other sites
PWSX3 Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I am sorry to hear you didn't have surgery. I am like you & do NOT like hospitals. There is a reason they had to postpone it & it is for the best. Link to post Share on other sites
Author LucreziaBorgia Posted April 7, 2008 Author Share Posted April 7, 2008 Ok, we are trying this one more time. Tomorrow I check in at 6am, and surgery is at 8am. I went tonight and bought a bag of 'wifebeaters' because those are easiest to get into and out of while accommodating for the drains that I will have. I probably won't be signing in tomorrow, but I'll update from my new boobless perspective soon enough! Link to post Share on other sites
Lizzie60 Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 Ok, we are trying this one more time. Tomorrow I check in at 6am, and surgery is at 8am. I went tonight and bought a bag of 'wifebeaters' because those are easiest to get into and out of while accommodating for the drains that I will have. I probably won't be signing in tomorrow, but I'll update from my new boobless perspective soon enough! OMG... good luck LB.. I will send you my best vibes.. I love your spirit. Link to post Share on other sites
Fun2BMe Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 I will pray for your complete recovery and wish you the least pain possible in the process. Maybe you can make a wifebeater with velcro that opens at the sides for minimal movement taking it on/off but that's prob. too late to make at this point... Good luck with everything. Link to post Share on other sites
Trimmer Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 Good Luck - I look forward to hearing from you when you feel up to coming back. - T Link to post Share on other sites
Kasan Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 Sending you wishes for a speedy recovery!!! Stay strong LB! Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 You're in my thoughts again and I KNOW tomorrow will go well. Boobs or no boobs, we love ya LB!! Link to post Share on other sites
KATANYA Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Hi LB....I'm assuming the woman who PM'ed you was me! lol. I have tried to access you via your other site to no avail. That being said, I've managed to muster through two surgeries and started my first chemo treatment last week.........what a ride so far! Unlike you, I do not have a great ex for support but I do have some wonderful family> Of course, there was the whole MM/ex MM thing but the end of it is he is a wonderful and supportive man who right now is the best friend I could have for both me and my kids which is what I fully expected. Being a single mom, I'll take all the love and support and I can right now! I am so happy to hear you are doing well and have come through this with such a vibrant, radiant outlook on life. This is a bit of a down day for me so I thought I would log on and see what the rest of the world is up to. Funny how this BC thing can be so far reaching but so isolating at the same time. I'm just waiting to see how long it takes my hair to start falling out now. I have not told anyone except my immediate family and my friend and lawyer about my diagnosis because of how terribly private I am and I find it absolutely amazing that people are so self absorbed that very few if any notice anything different. lol. I'm not complaining I just find it amazing. That being said, I've ordered some fabulous wigs that I hope will make me look fabulous for the next few months. Just curious how long it has taken for your hair to start coming back in and how long is it now? I will try to log in to see your updates and if you pm me with an address, I will try again to look you up on your other IM site. Take care and God Bless you Girl! Link to post Share on other sites
White Flower Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Katanya, it sounds like you're doing OK. Kudos for you for getting past the two surgeries. My fingers are crossed for you, I hope you know that. I've been thinking about you since you PMed me:) LB, I am so proud of you for coming this far. It seems like yesterday since the first post of this thread came out. What a journey! You did it, girl:) Link to post Share on other sites
KATANYA Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Thanks WF...will pm you again to touch base. Been thinking of you too. Just so much going on. Hope things are going well for you. Link to post Share on other sites
Author LucreziaBorgia Posted May 27, 2008 Author Share Posted May 27, 2008 1. Hi LB....I'm assuming the woman who PM'ed you was me! lol. I have tried to access you via your other site to no avail. 2. That being said, I've managed to muster through two surgeries and started my first chemo treatment last week.........what a ride so far! 3. he is a wonderful and supportive man who right now is the best friend I could have for both me and my kids which is what I fully expected. 4. This is a bit of a down day for me so I thought I would log on and see what the rest of the world is up to. Funny how this BC thing can be so far reaching but so isolating at the same time. 5. I'm just waiting to see how long it takes my hair to start falling out now. Just curious how long it has taken for your hair to start coming back in and how long is it now? 6. I will try to log in to see your updates and if you pm me with an address, I will try again to look you up on your other IM site. Take care and God Bless you Girl! 1. Was that the AIM thing? Oh man, I haven't signed on to that in a long time, but I'll try and catch up with you through that. 2. Oh man - how did your surgeries go? What type of chemo cocktail did they give you? 3. That is good to hear - a relief. 4. I'm sorry that it is a down day. Do you ever write? I found that blogging, posting, etc really helped get those thoughts out. When they stay trapped in, it can get worse with every day. I agree about the isolation thing. Even in the middle of support, I would still feel that way sometimes. 5. My hair starting falling out around my second treatment - it started with the pubic hair. My head hair came out not too long after. I could tell it was happening, because I got a tingle/itch and when I pulled it where it was itching it came out with no resistance. That day I shaved my head bald so that I wouldn't look mangy. It won't come out all at once, and for some people, patches will stay. I preferred the clean look. It felt much better. I would shave it every week or so to keep the patches smooth like the bald spots. My eyebrows and eyelashes fell out two weeks after my last treatment. My big toenails are peeling away from the nail beds now and it looks like I will lose them both. That taxotere is some nasty stuff. My hair is now about a quarter of an inch long - took from March 4 to now to get there. It is like a fuzz covering my head. People tell me that even day to day it looks fuller and like it is growing more. When it came back, it came back patchy and somewhat uneven. It looks fairly even now. People who don't know about the cancer just think I shaved my head for fun. My eyelashes are about halfway in now, and my eyebrows are back. I don't wear a hat or scarves anymore. I'm so glad to hear an update. I was worried for you! I'm so happy to see that you are hanging in there. I'll drop you a PM! Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 Hey LB, just wondering how you are doing! Link to post Share on other sites
Author LucreziaBorgia Posted June 15, 2008 Author Share Posted June 15, 2008 I am doing pretty well. I have been back at work since the middle of May and have been really happy to be back there. I have been taking Tae Kwon Do, and while it tires me out really easily, it is still lots of fun and great exercise. I still need to lose around fifteen to twenty pounds and I don't think it will be that much of a problem. In the fall I will be starting my master's program and I am very excited about that. As for me and H - we are ebbing right now. It is a rollercoaster, that's for sure. Next weekend, I will be going out for the first time since last fall. I am looking forward to putting on my slinky dress, high heel boots and going out for an evening of light drinking and some rockin' 80's music. Most of my friends and coworkers will be there. It will be celebratory for me. Healthwise I am fine. I hit myself in the chest the first week back at work, and I have a big clot near my incision site on the right side of my chest that is draining. It looks like I have a huge bruise on my chest. Really weird looking. No pain though, so its all good. I am still happy with my 'flat' life. I can wear so many more types of clothes now. I look normal really. Just flat chested than most. I have a nice thick coating of hair on my head. I have lost the 'chemo' look and am looking more like someone who just took it upon herself to shave her head. I love my new hair color, too. It is growing out a mix of dark blonde, mostly light blonde, and some grey/white. It is considerably lighter and less auburn than my old hair. My eyebrows are lighter too. I am still suffering through hot flashes. I have a freezer full of ice pops for when one hits, and I carry around paper towels in my pocket at work to sop off with. It seriously looks like I stepped out of the shower when one hits and I don't wipe myself down. It is annoying, but it would be far worse without the Effexor. Things are pretty good, I guess. Ups and downs as usual I suppose. 'As usual' sure feels good though. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 I hear the hot flashes are normal, so make sure your house has atleast one room of A/C (that's air conditioning, not Art_Critic! hehe) otherwise you'll sweat and melt! I'm so happy that things are falling into place for you. Gotta love 80's music eh! Post afew pictures of you in your outfit! Link to post Share on other sites
Author LucreziaBorgia Posted June 15, 2008 Author Share Posted June 15, 2008 Will do! I should have a bunch of updated pictures soon. Oh, and tonight I worked on the introduction for my book some and tweaked the chapter outline. It feels good to be writing again. Link to post Share on other sites
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