Hello all
Sorry know this is not the right place to air my problem, but am new to computors,so dont know how to start a subject, picked this one cuz you all have finished your treatment,as i have, well i have my first yearly mammogram on wednesday 4th. Had op april 11, and my breast is still giving me pain,to the extent it wakes me up at night, iam thinking this mammogram is going to be painfull, may be its still healing? what iam feeling is this normal, i am thinking i should take painkillers before hand ,this might take the edge off the pain, sorry to take up your space,
Dear garden party, this space belongs to everyone all are flutterbys in the making. I was like you terrified of going for my mammo sure it would hurt ,I did take pain killers an hour before going just in case but as it turned out I was fine. the radiographer was very patient and gentle with me , you just need to let them know how nervous/scared you are they have seen this many times before and will talk you through it. I had mine in March and was absolutely terrified in fact shaking! but I would do it again in a heartbeat now I know it is not so bad ,in fact I am sure the couple I had before BC hurt more! I too still have aches and pains but it’s all part of the healing process I am sure all the flutterbys will assure you it is the same for them too, please do let us know when you are going morning/afternoon? I am sure you will have us all giving you a cyber hand to hold and we are there with you in spirit! Please excuse the ones who giggle (that will be me then!) As you can see from previous posts on here we are all a bit mad but then the wonkey sense of humour is what gets us all through. Take care and do let us know how you get on also sending a )))hug((( Em xxx
Thank you for letting me gate crash your space, its nice to be reassured sometimes, iam sure we have all been through enough pain.
like you i was meant to have my mammogram in march but i have had that many infections that everything has been delayed, my BC started with a routine mammo in jan 11 and with all the prodding and poking didnt have my WLE and sentinel lymph node biopsy untill apr 11, then chemo may, then another op to remove all lymph nodes in nov 11 then the doctors decided to give me a rest, restarted with RT in feb12, this is my history.
my mammo on apr 4th is at 2.20pm, then on apr 10th at 3.20pm i see the surgeon for the results, then breathe when everything be ok, its been a long drama.
its nice to know the pains iam experiencing still are healing ones. Will keep u informed of the out come of these appointments.
Thanks again for letting me share all this with you.
garden party - if you had your op a year ago, and the pain is still waking you up at night, methinks you should talk to someone about it… BCN or GP or someone you trust… Not a medical person, bit it sounds rather grim to me… let us know… Jane
Hi garden party. This certainly is the right place to air your problems, so welcome! You’re just the same as us, gone through treatment but find we still aren’t quite back to our old selves. Sorry you have pain at night. Would a pillow help to cushion your sore side? Perhaps mention it when you go to see your oncologist soon. Taking pain killers on Wed could help to ease your worry a bit, but as Emmy says, they understand, and I doubt they would put you through anything unpleasant but there’s no harm in mentioning how you feel. I’m another hand holding butterfly to help you on Wed. Think about us when you’re having it done, but don’t laugh out loud or the nurse will think you’re mad, like us!
Emmy: I’m passing our hands from you to garden party with your permission and as you say, I’m lurking! Love that……luuurking! He he! Take it you’ve got rid of the scary smile now? Hope you’ve not scrubbed the yard or hauled the coal out of the bath or something daft like that, today
Jane: I should think you ARE too tired to make carrot cake! As the saying goes - life’s too short to stuff a mushroom. Don’t want that new found energy to disappear.
Janice: Bet it’s cold up where you are. I have to remember to cover a few tender plants each night. Be cautious and take it easy and I’ll be thinking of you Thurs.
Carolyn: Just got your family farm day in before the weather’s turned. Blossoms on the trees in the garden are bursting forth, regardless of cold.
Doz: Love the term Winged Beauties! You and garden party both have marks on the calendar for Wed!! It’s really good Vikki is near your ward and you can pop in. It must give you both some comfort. Hope you’ve found her settled today.
All other Butterflies: It’s cold here. Been local shopping and couldn’t believe the change in weather. All those in need of PJ’s and comfort blanket ….get them out early tonight, you‘ll need them!
Ami xx
Dear ami
I have so many pillows i feel like iam sleeping with some one,lol. also i start off sleeping on my good side and some where inbtween land up on my sore side, sods law,
will say something about it on mammogram day if i can.
Thanks xxxx yvonne
Hi Gardenparty what a cute name next time you have one a gardenparty that is… watch out for us flutterbys winging their way to join you
I still have the odd pain when I lie on my bad side and was assured it is quite normal to feel it up to a year or so after the op, it does take a long time for things to settle especially after R/T as it destroys a lot of tissue and only now 15 months after surgery do I wake up on THAT side without pain, just a funny feeling that I have slept on a side that feels a bit alien… but as Jane said mention it when you see your Consultant i’m sure they will reassure you hon xx
Finished work at 8 tonight then went to sit with Vikki who is looking a bit more like her old self but still in a bit of pain and still waiting for the Hickman line and scans… hopefully tomorrow??
Feeling a bit low today probably all catching up with me after the last few weeks of mayhem and being back at work… was really tired when I finally got home at 10 but after doing a few odd jobs and such like i’m now wide awake and feel like I just need a good cry Oh my what I would’nt give for a week in the sun a good book and a bottle of wine… SIGH dream on girl!!!
Housework tomorrow dog walking ironing and then visiting Vikki and if i’m lucky some sunshine!! Pretty please!!!
Sending you some of my spoons Em ready for thursday and a massive hug xxxx
Janice I can just feel that itch for you eeeeek!! do not scratch!!! and I hope all goes well for you on thursday too honey xxx
Love and lots of hugs to you all hoping you are ALL keeping well Flutterbys xxxxxhugsxxxx night night xx
Just to add my 2 penny’s worth. It has been almost a year since I had the mastectomy and I am still a little sore if I lie on that side. It wakes me up if I turn from my good side. I will be mentioning it when I go for my 1st check-up but as it’s not too painful, I’m in no hurry. It seems to me you are suffering quite a lot more than I as it’s not so bad for me to need painkillers. I’m sure your mind will be put to rest on the 4th. Some of us take longer to heal than others, I guess. Good luck with the outcome and hope they can sort the pain for you.
Hello also to you all you flutter-bys. It’s 2 am and have not been able to sleep hence popping on here and having a read through. A Q I would like to ask is how on earth do they take a mammogram xray when there is nothing there to flop on the slab??? I have a big lump of fat that the surgeon left me with which is big enough to plop on but not interesting to them…lol. I try to imagine how they are going to squeeze what I have left, flat :0 Now, if they were to use that lump of fat for re con surgery, it could be the deciding factor to go ahead with it…I hate it!!! I don’t know why he left it on unless it’s purpose was for that particular reason?!
Hope you are all enjoying your sleep, especially gardenparty. I’m going back to bed to try and sleep again.
Hope Mamo goes well Gardenparty - holding hand too (we’re good at not looking!) Re fat… yep - with you there… wasn’t sure why the (brilliant) surgeon left some fat… I have a line of it over the scar, and under… I’ve decided the one over sort of helps cover up the lack of cleavage when I’ve got a bra on - it meets the bra if you see what I mean, whereas if it were flat, there’d be agap… not sure about the bit underneath, but I think there must BE a reason, because the rest of the scar is barely noticeable now, he’s so fab… puts thinking hat on… takes thinking hat off and decides it’s time for breakfast and real life…
Hi gardenparty and welcome.I had wle in Nov 2010 and when I saw my consultant this January re my revision op I mentioned my boob was still a bit tender and he says it can take years for the body to recover from r.t so maybe you are still feeling effects of this especially if it was just Feb when you had it.Itoo was terrified before my mammo and it was fine they were very gentle in fact good boob was more uncomfortable.
Thanks all you flutterbys for your thoughts for Thurs hope I can find out results of cyst when I’m there but its dressings clinic so may have to wait.Might ring bcn if I need to as don’t see consultant for 6 weeks.Bit of a bummer as have 6 months check with my breast surgeon on 30th April and worked it out it will be the following week to see plastic surgeon(he’s not reAlly made of plastic) ha ha.
Ami it has been very windy here today and it snowed bot didn’t lie thank goodness.We have a bin in the garden for garden rubbish and the lid flew off like a frisbee this morning it was so funny.Unfortunately the wind has ruined my daffs but they were starting to die off so not to bad just hope weather improves for the weekend as need to get some walking done or I will seize up.
All you other lovely ladies stay cosy and keep those wings fluttering love and hugs Janice xxxxxxx
Hi all
Thank you for all your kind wishes, when iam haveing mammo i will be thinking of you holding my hand in cyber land.
Weather here today wet and windy, typical weather to turn bad just as i have this hosp app. my daughter is coming with me, so a light lunch is in order before hand, feeling ok about this mammo, now that i have found you all to give me reassurance.
i will let you know how the day went.
Well gardenparty we will be there as janice says we won’t look but are there holding your hand
You may hear some giggling in the corner but we will try to keep the noise down! Bless do let us know how it goes so we can have our hands back! Ready for the next one!
Janice you are a brave soul but your itch did conjure wonderful pics of you sneaking around to scratch! Well done onwards and upwards!
ami I have done nothing and that was hard! Unbelievable even doing nothing is exhausting! How long after finishing did you start to feel better? I know we are all different but there is a thread where they have been told around six months after as it builds up in your system so ughhhh!!! Never mind body says no way and the mind now says so what!
Jane bet you will be busy with Easter coming don’t leave out a big egg for yourself mmmmm!
Carolyn I bet Lewis can’t wait for the Easter bunny and you get the wonderful excitement from your little man Enjoy!!!
To all flutterbys wrap up it’s looking grim!! Blankies, pj’s and DG’s at the ready take care sending big hugs xxxxx
Go for it girl… chin up boobs/boob out and dont look at your hand as you’ll see half a dozen of us there tittering behind your back!!!
ha ha!!! can you imagine it MMMMMMM!!!
It will be fine we all had our doubts as well we may after all we’ve gone through but together we got there and it was a better experience than any of us thought, and they are gentle as they must see some terrible post op boobys, they;re not there to hurt us hon… easy to say when we’ve had ours but honestly its ok xxxxxxx
Having an earlyish night tonight to get my stock of spoons ready to face the I’M DROPPING MY HOURS WOOOHOOO!!! Looked well into it and I wont be much worse of money wise as i’m loosing a weeks wages in tax!!! Its not good is it! so i’ll be more than happy to drop the one shift
back tomorrow and thurs so will have fri sat sun to visit baby flutterby, a bit low again tonight but had a bad headache so an early night for her too I hope…
Love and spoons to you ALL wherever you are my flutterby friends you give my life purpose THANKYOU xxxxxxxxxxxxxxhugxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thinking of flutterbies today as you have “THE conversation” and “THE squish”… hand holding… not looking… trying not to titter…(and/or trying not to get angry on your behalf!) Team meeting in other hosp today, followed by a trip to London to meet mentor, which is always good, so a gentler day… o forgot the baby funeral first thing…sigh… poor loves… Have learnt to keep a packet of tissues in my pocket after watching one young mum wipe her nose on her sleeves all the time!!! Cold but not raining yet… be gentle with yourselves flutters… love Jane xx
Hand holding and lots of spoons! It’s blowing a gale here and I am sadly looking at the beautiful blossom getting blown away! Such a shame it was looking so pretty! Ah well we do need the rain so I suppose it’s not all bad. I hope everyone is cosy and it isn’t too horrible for those of you going out! Jane I think some more hand holding going to you too!
Yay!! Doz I am sure you will feel better for it and when Vik is recovered you can enjoy some downtime you deserve it!I wish I could be there to see sister’s face! I am just going to veg out today and just be! Get tomorrow out of the way then it will be my last one! WOW! I thought it was a long,long time at the beginning but how fast did that go!
Take care all sending group hug Em xxxx
Emmy I hope tomorrow goes ok and glad you are resting. Weather is ruining gardens but we are fortunate not to have snow.Sun has shone all day but windy and cold.Ami hope you haven’t got snow but looks like you may have .My daughter is in Florida but where she lives in Scotland it has snowed so she is lucky to be missing it.Gardenparty hope it was ok for you today.Doz hope your day turned out ok and your hours will be reduced as long as you can manage you will benefit with more me and Vikki time.Jane hope your day eventually was ok and you have a pleasant easter weekend without any trauma.Carolyn I hope you aren’t eating Lewis eggs ha ha.
Well looking forward to tomorrow and strapping and dressings off will no doubt feel more comfy and cooler as they do make you sweat.
Love and hugs to everyone Janice xxxx
radiographer nurse,asked me to undress to waist, took one look and said that looks red and swollen, dont think it should be done, anyway i said we should try, she was really nice and said ok, when she did sore boob i never let on how painful it was, she also said it was very warm,a sign of infection,
anyway she said that she would talk to BCN and let her have a look, had to hang a round which i did not mind at all,
BCN said it was warm red and swollen,the effects of RT,as i am back in on tuesday to see surgeon the results of mammo will show if there is anything wrong and can be dealt with then.
since my op last april i have had sooooo many infections with x2 doses of cellulitis, one put me in hospital;so this is comparatively
mild i hope. its just a question of waiting to see what the mammo shows.
all in all the day went well and have a positive feeling that all will be ok.
did think of u all holding my hand in cyber space lol
Doz Hope you’re not feeling so low today. Well, you were hoping for some sunshine today, I got up this morning to a blizzard and everything white over, I couldn’t believe it! Glad you’ve worked out that you’re happy with the dropping of shift. Having a headache sounds like tension so try and switch off a bit if you can, although easier said than done.
|Emmy, I think the H thread may well be right. I began to feel gradually better over some months and it was about the 6 months time when I fell and fractured my wrist which put me back, so yes, I‘d say up to 6 months. Just don’t expect to feel great as soon as you’ve finished and then you’ll not be worrying and think there‘s something wrong. Nobody told me this and I thought I should be OK when I wasn’t having treatment anymore. Will be thinking of you tomorrow and hand holding. Think the snow could be heading your way so I hope you get to H and back OK
Janice Yes, you’re right. We did get snow all day but started to rain and thaw a bit late afternoon but if it turns cold tonight just hope we don’t have some more! Thinking of you also tomorrow. There’s nothing worse than having an itch you can’t reach, so you‘ll be glad in getting everything off!
Bobbin. I think the lump of flesh left is in case you need reconstruction. I have one round the side and it’s just where my bra sits. I think you can have it removed as a day patient quite easily if you’d like to. I was told this from a lady who’d asked about reconstruction after mastectomy. And, about the mammogram, you only need to have the remaining breast checked.
Aaaw, Yvonne! Glad we’ve been a help to reassure you. I’ve been so grateful for the reassurance by all these lovely ladies ‘cos they know how we feel, don’t they? So glad you’ve got the mammo over with and you sound really positive……sounds OK for you. Hope you didn’t titter!
Jane Will also hand hold if needed rather than you holding everyone else! Have you some time off at Easter?
Carolyn If you haven’t snow, hope you’re able to make the most of the holiday and get out and about with Lewis.
Really hope you all don’t get snowed in!
Hugs Ami xx
Yvonne glad it wasn’t too bad and at least that part is over and not long to wait for result I am sure all will be fine.Afriend of mines mum has problems with cellullitis as well but it is improving as time goes by.
Ami hope snow doesn’t last too long its still cold here but sunny.
Well girls got all the tape and dressings off and area where it had been was scarlet nurse said neither wonder it was bothering me.All has calmed down now after wash and cream applied and boob much comfier and looks a lot better as well.Supposed to see consultant 6 weeks after but couldn’t get app till 13th June which will make it 10 weeks so not happy but she gave me some numbers to ring if I have any probs and I see my breast surgeon on 30th April so will ask him for results of cyst I presume it must be okay otherwise I presume they would contact me (thats if they’ve looked at them) anyway 3 weeks isn’t too long too wait.
Doz hope all went ok yesterday and Vikki is improving love and hugs to you all Janice xxx
Hi Yvonne glad it’s done with,I am glad you will get your results fairly quickly 'cos waiting is the pits! I think you did amazingly well and am glad they made you comfortable. Still hand holding 'cos that’s what we do!
Janice yay! You will feel better by the day without the mummy wrapping! I am in awe you did it! You be kind to yourself and keep us updated with your progress.
ami I had a fair chat with chemo nurse today (got it in one! and did my bloods at the same time so only one yay!) she told hubby to make sure I didn’t go back as she doesn’t think I am up to it and yes the 6 month timeline seems to be agreed by her to, your words of wisdom are worth their weight in gold! Funny thing is no matter how much I sleep I am still tired!
Doz love you will be cream crackered another double?!! Not good I hope you have got your hours sorted, what a to do all round! I think both Vik and you so need a break! I hope she is recovering nicely? Enjoy your time off this weekend I am not going far ‘H’ went straight to tum so taking the Piriton! Did think of you all holding my hand and it made me smile!
Jane busy weekend? I watched Angels of Mersey and yes thought of you! I hope you get some ‘me’/ time you deserve it!
Carolyn I did smile at you being told not to eat Lewis’s eggs, hubby asked did I want one and I told him no! Got to work on this ruddy spare tyre which is turning into a tractor tyre! I so hope I will lose the weight though it’s soo tempting as chocolate is my drug of choice! He!He!
Going to snuggle it’s still cold here! Barmy son and wife have gone camping!!! brrr! Have a wonderful weekend flutterbys if I missed you sorry! Elsa how are you doing? I did remember wow chemo brain and all .Sending group hug to all ,I hope the weather is kind and you get to flutter your wings. P.S nurse loved our flutterby persona! Em xxxxxx
next time you have one a gardenparty that is… watch out for us flutterbys winging their way to join you 
probably all catching up with me after the last few weeks of mayhem and being back at work… was really tired when I finally got home at 10 but after doing a few odd jobs and such like i’m now wide awake and feel like I just need a good cry