@foxgem tbh Tis often better to titrate pain meds down each day after surgery than crashing down if pain starts to control you. For some that Ican be smaller steps down than others because pain is so personal and what ca n be excruciating for one is bearable for another. I hope to be able to quickly step down to paracetamol but will try to listen to my body in two weeks time ( yep still counting!)
Glad you are feeling more yourself, l would say keep up with the physio but you strike me as someone self motivated to do so. Keep telling myself if you can get through a DMX l will get through a SMX.
They didnt send me home with any so I have been a bit neglecting of it. But I have been doing lots of shoulder rolling and small arm movements. I need to get myself a routine going again
Good to hear your day 4 feedback! The barbecue is just a couple of streets over so hopefully I could just duck out and leave them to it if Iām getting tired. My husband can stay if my daughterās not ready to go yet. Thankfully itās also not quite as hot here as it is down south! @foxgem also good to hear your pain has reduced already, gradually.
Iām hoping to be able to walk round and pickup my little from holiday club later but might need another nap!
Ooh thatās good - being able to get home easily if/when you start feeling tired is a good way to be able to go somewhere xxx
Iām doing ok - been going for a walk most days this week (being very careful) and trying to do things to keep my body moving (mostly so I can take a bit of a break from the stockings they want me to wear for 2 weeks ! I figure if Iām on my feet and moving then I should be ok without them although I do put them back on if Iām sat around and at night). I agree @foxgem - somehow feeling that I can get through most things that are thrown at me after this year which I think might be true for us all. Would quite like my eyelashes to grow back a bit though .
Hi all, glad to hear surgeries have been managed and people are healing. Amazing people - you must rest and take time to do more rest. It heals and we are all too strong minded to listen to loved onesā¦I see you all!! I learnt the hard way post op. (Said with much love and a wink!)
Today I had my post chemo check up on my therapeutic mammoplasty, done because I had a second scrape op to clear margins too. I went in fearing some kind of surprise attack of ānow youāve done chemo we want to whip out all lymph nodes or remove a boob or twoā - never a catastrophist! However the consultant was pleased with the healing and redistribution of breast tissue plus scar healing. I am officially done with surgery. I think the ānext stepā for me post chemo was this appointment and what possible other outcomes could be from it, which I think has weighed on me more than I realised, but I left a lot lighter and happier than I went in! I have the option of a lift for the nice boob if I feel I want it but TBF at 51 with c-section scar, plus multiple others I think my gals are fine as they are. Time to focus up for radio oncology appointment in a few weeks.
Writing this from a teeny village near Thetford Forestā¦..l made it. Currently sat in a tiny cottage. Now if I can find some way to stop myself from having nightmares about being made to wear fake hot sweaty foobs that would be great. Might be my subconscious trying to wave that l really really do not want a mocking replacement that will also irritate my uber sensitive skin after surgery Iin two weeks time.
On the plus side got out, walked round village, found an open pub that does GF food and ate a mains and pudding for the first time in months. Glad I did not aim for the lake district as itās twice as far and travelling to here was enough. Itās pretty flat so hoping I can build up some walking stamina pre-surgery.
Hope everyone who has already had theirs continues to recover and heal.
Hello marchies. Been quiet here of late, which hopefully is most of us having finished chemo. I had a nice call from my BCN today and it prompted me to check in and see how peopleās heads are.
Since Iām having to take time off after surgery Iām finding myself in my own brain a bit more - I donāt have the excuse of being so busy. On one hand itās nice because I feel quite physically well and Iām able to just enjoy some peace, books and TV. But Iām also noticing some of my own anxiety tells and a slight sense of looming existentialism which feels connected to the āpostā cancer future. Admittedly, Iām on phesgo for another few months at least, maybe until early summer next year, and Iāll have some sort of endocrine therapy to start and be on, plus a balancing surgery late next year so itās going to be still happening for a while. And maybe the wait for the pathology results is in my head - our old friend uncertainty again. Keep getting the urge to book or change something so I can focus elsewhere but that is probably a diversion tactic.
Small novel there. Would love to hear updates from anyone at all - hope you are all well.
Hi @felineoptimist it is quiet here. Maybe we have all gone into shock at the same time
I am 2 weeks post surgery today so still feeling quite uncomfortable but I am trying to be gentle on myself and not be too impatient. What I wouldnt give for a really good and comfortable nights sleep. I am the same as you with too much time on my hands really though I wont complain too much. I am grateful its the summer holidays and im not needed early in the mornings by the family.
I do have some good news! My eyebrows are growing back! I have eyebrow stubble it makes me so happy to see them. I have taken this as a good sign that my body must be healing ok even with the added surgery.
Has anyone started any hormone therapy? Ive had 2 Zoladex injections and Iām about 1 month into Tamoxifen. Id be interested to hear how you are finding things. My oncologist wants to switch me over to Anastrozole and Ribociclib soon but ive managed to hold her off a few weeks whilst I recover from surgery
So happy to hear your eyebrows are on their way back @foxgem. Mine are doing the complete opposite of that, but are heading for the hills in a weirdly organised way. Itās as though theyāre being systematically removed from the bottom like Iām actually doing it on purpose!
Hi All, Iāve been super quiet since all my active treatment finished as Iāve been feeling so much better, holidays etcā¦actually feeling better than before my diagnosis if thatās possible! Hair is growing back quickly (my chemo finished 6th May so nearly 3 months), bushey eyebrows and all!! I havenāt been able to catch up on all the messages but hope everyone is doing well x
I just started tamoxifen a couple of days ago and canāt lie, feel like absolute shit. I think itās the fatigue, but itās like my body is heavy, my brain is slow, been having hot flushes since the chemo so nothing new there. @foxgem how have you found it a month in? Similarly interested to hear anyone elseās experiences x
The hot flushes started before so I dont really pay them much attention now either. Ive got a hand fan I keep next to me on the sofa but when im up and about they dont seem too bad. I get night sweats which is annoying but if I can get myself asleep I tend to sleep through them. I am hoping once the weather cools I might also.
Fatigue was definitely a thing but now I dont notice it really. It was mostly early morning. Waking up tired and unable to shake it. The best thing for this is a walk or moving my body to encourage it to wake up. Even a little dance in the kitchen whilst making tea my ultimate plan is to not let it in. If I feel fatigued, I move.
I havent yet had any joint or bone pain thankfully
although I do put them back on if Iām sat around and at night). I agree 
my ultimate plan is to not let it in. If I feel fatigued, I move.