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lilymole
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since
07-09-2013
18
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30-01-2016
04:20
I have been taking Letrozole for 2 and 1/2 years now. Having suffered with trigger finger with a ganglion at the base of my finger for over a year my hand consultant wondered if they maybe connected to the Letrozole medication. After research, particularly on Cancer Research website, have found the very specific side effect mentioned. I am seeing my breast consultant next week and I feel sure he may want to change my medication. I don't know what to ( am post menopausal) and the same research site also listed Arimedex having same side effect. Has anyone out there also suffered the same trigger finger complaint and how have they dealt with it? Does it stop once one finishes 5 yrs medication? Do all the various aches and pains infact stop, or is there no going back. Any thought and advice gratefully received. lilymole
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27-04-2014
06:25
Hi, no TEVA has been great...ish! I have just started Sandoza and waiting...The one that gave me joint pains I didn't identify as I wasn't expecting any problems and Boots supplemented the prescription as they didn't have enough TEVA. Have you been ok with Sandoza so far? Apparently Hypromellose is not in TEVA, Sandoza or Femara...so cross your fingers! Good luck.
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25-04-2014
03:47
Thank you for those. It is strange how areas differ. I have a fantastic pharmacy who use several wholesalers and I know they tried their best to source TEVA. In the meantime they have given me Sandoza which they say doesn't have Hypromellose. I start taking it tomorrow and I am very reluctant as I hated those joint pains...! My local hospital is running a conference day on Moving On on Monday. I do hope they acknowledge and give advice on how to deal with side effects. (I had 5 years on Tomoxifen from 96-01 but the Big C returned last year. So far have only been told that I will be taking Letrozole for 5 years.)
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23-04-2014
04:49
Hi, I'm wondering if anybody out there has had problems with a) sourcing TEVA brand of Letrozole and b) suffered joint pains when not taking TEVA. I was first prescribed Letrozole at the hospital and all was fine for the first couple of months. I then had trouble getting hold of the drug and Boots prescribed 2 weeks of another brand and 6 weeks of TEVA. In that time I suffered the most agonising joint pains in my legs. After the pains stopped I put it down to this other brand which I failed to identify. I am now in the position of having asked n number of pharmacies to source Teva brand without any success. I guess I now have to try an alternative brand but I am scared incase those pains return. Has anybody else had problem with such side effects? Has anybody managed to get hold of Teva brand? Any help would be appreciated soon. Thanking you
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23-04-2014
04:37
Oh poor you. I had to wait nearly 3 months before I could have a bath. I was so longing for the comfort of warm water and relaxing before going to bed. I had necrosis where the boob was cut which took an age to heal. Along with not being able to eat chocolate for two weeks after the surgery ( surgeon's rules!) I learnt to appreciate normal little pleasures that we take so for granted. I am now nearly 6 months post op and believe me you do get through it all and one day soon it will feel like a distant nightmare. Good luck to you.
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31-01-2014
04:03
Hi, You don't want to be too hot in hospital. I found some short sleeve M&S nighties with front opening comfortable and suitable for the hospital staff to get to me to inspect flap. I didn't want anything around my waist because of the tummy dressings. It is quite a palava getting yourself 'equipped' for your hospital stay but you need to feel sorted as there is enough other things to worry about. Good luck. You will be surprised how time flies by and you do get through it all.
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01-01-2014
03:20
Hello Wicko, I wish I had seen your post earlier but I guess as time moves on one doesn't check the forum as much as you do in earlier days. I was diagnosed early August and didn't make up my mind until end of September. I was being offered a reconstruction with TRAM which meant cutting stomach muscles. Instead I chose immediate reconstruction with DIEP flap, although I had to go further afield to Frenchay hospital because a) I couldn't stand the thought of the ugly flat scar and b) I wanted to have a breast that was still all me and c) I didn't want my muscles impaired. After making the choice for the gold standard I had to wait 7 weeks before the op. That seemed an age but looking back I needed that to get ready physically and emotionally. So now it is 8 weeks since I had the op. Everything hasn't gone smoothly as I am still patiently changing daily a silicone dressing on my boob, as once the dressings came off a huge black area of skin necrosis was revealed. Meanwhile I cannot bath and the whole breast healing process is going to take longer thus delaying any further tidying up or reduction on other boob operation. However, after 4 weeks life virtually goes back to normal and next Monday, after 8 weeks I start a phased return back to work. My advice- everybody's case is different and everybody's recuperation varies. I was told quite vehemently at the beginning that reconstruction is a process, a journey. Things might go quite not according to plan but at the end of the day an extra month off work is nothing in the big scheme of things...and the rest of your life. Go for it. Even though your body will never look the same you will feel more 'whole' whilst having got rid of the cancer baddy. Good luck. You will surprise yourself at how you manage to get through the whole process. Jill x
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11-12-2013
11:29
Hi, I had lots of trouble going around department and chain stores to find suitable bra for post surgery in my size. I was 40 D and was recommended to go up one size. Lots of companies seem to stop at 38 or 40. Anyhow started looking online and came across Bra Clinic where they had vast choice of bras for mastectomy, immediate post surgery and reconstruction. The Sales Manager Sue is very helpful and of course you can return unwanted bras. I ended buying 2 Anita bras which are both very comfortable and supportive- good job as I live in them 24/7. Some of the bras are a bit pricey but really felt after NHS had spent thousands on ones op one shouldn't skimp! Good luck.
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28-11-2013
03:37
Dear jolly bee and Looby, oh dear your experiences sound so horrid. Well done to you both getting through it. I am hoping that healing will go smoothly, if not quickly!! It is beginning to feel far less sore and bruises are fading. I have to wait everyday for my husband to dry me with the hair dryer before applying the dressing!! Not sure. I can cope with that for three months...but I am so squeamish! Lilymole
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25-11-2013
10:24
1 Hug
Hi everybody, I wonder if anybody out there has had skin necrosis after DIEP reconstruction. I had op on November 7 th and thought whilst in hospital everything was going smoothly until I was being hurriedly discharged when I noticed my bra was rather damp with fresh blood. I asked for it to be looked, the dre sing was changed and I was told a blister had burst. Before see ing the BCN I had dressing checked a couple of times at local GP surgery. When the nurse re moved the dressing last Wednesday she again talked of a burst blister that w old take a long time to heal. Today I returned to have it checked only to find the surgeon there too. He then told me I had a skin necrosis and that 10% of women had this problem. I actually saw it for the first time today and it was horrid! About one eighth of my breast is like black shiny plastic. I was given the option of either treating it conservatively and leaving it up to Mother Nature in which case it will take about 3 months of changing dressing daily and having frequent check ups to ensure there is no infection. The best result would be a patchy uneven Mis-matched breast. Alternatively I could have further surgery with skin graft from my thigh which would heal up much quicker than leaving it to do its own thing. My second breast, although healthy is much bigger and droopier, and reduction is of course now put much further back to no earlier than 6 months time. Oh deary me. Has anybody else had this experience and how long did it really take to grow new skin? Was the breast sore for all that time? How did it make them feel emotionally? I should really like to find others who have coped with this hiccup in their recovery. Lilymole
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01-11-2013
04:44
Hi everybody who has been kind enough to give advice. I am beginning to think its like packing for holiday- some things you will wear all the time and others you just won't wear because you can't forecast sizing very accurately. Hospitals and patients all seem to vary. I have 2 pJs and 1 front opening nighty and hopefully if those ordered from Amazon and Bra Clinic arrive on time 3 bras of varying openings. Hope that will be enough for 6 days in hospital. Nobody has mentioned knickers other than Bridget Jones. Does that just mean waisted or does it mean supportive ones? What happens to waist sizes when all the swelling subsides? Are you left with a smaller waist? Must admit that would be a treat! 5 days to go and am getting jittery. Trying to keep busy- never seen a house or freezer so full! immediately post op in hospital were you very with it? Really hoping I'm not otherwise I'm going to find sleeping and being comfortable rather annoying. Did you find having visitors helpful? What happens to you appetite with all these comings and goings? Oh deep joy! Thanking you, Jill
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30-10-2013
10:13
Hi Sara42, some useful advice thank you especially as you have much on your paler too. Good luck with the chemo- not an easy time for you and quite frightening first time round. One of my biggest headaches has been finding bras. Have been told to go up a size but stay same cup size. Being 40D now I don't find it easy to buy bras anyhow but trying to find 42s very tricky. Have gone to Bra Clinic online where they have bras specifically for breast reconstruction. A good choice but expensive. And nighties- what a pfaff just for a few days in hospital. Your post prepares me for hiccups along the way. Well done you for still smiling. Thanking you, Jill
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29-10-2013
10:08
Hi flower75 Thank you so much for your positive and encouraging reply. One can read so many alarming and scarey posts on this forum. I will try to take on board your advice. Generally I am a control freak who likes to organise things my way and to be zonked out in hospital relying on nurses will be difficult. I also have been advised to be lazy and 'slob' out for two weeks post op when normally I shall want to be setting myself goals and pushing myself. I had breast cancer 17 years ago treated with lumpectomy, chemo and rads so guess am scared how horrid all this business can get. I just have to tell myself I conquered it once so can do it again. I am heartened by yours and others' response to their tummy tuck and perky breasts so have something concrete to look forward to. Good luck with the breast reduction. Will that be after about 3 months?
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27-10-2013
08:33
Hi everybody, I am 10 days away from the biggest operation of my life- mastectomy followed by DIEP reconstruction. I was given the date 6 weeks ago and so far have kept fairly positive, calm and busy. However I can feel that I am beginning to wobble. Any advice please. I am still to complete my choice of post operation underwear and nightwear. What a nightmare. I have 40C at present and have been told to go up to 42- not easy. Other than that am collecting bits and bobs to take in. However really getting anxious about hospital stay and immediate post op recovery. I am quite genned up on what to expect but how can I keep calm. Any suggestions? Thank you ladies in advance. Lilymole
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17-09-2013
05:11
Hi Wow I am impressed that you are up and feeling like communicating with the world., I hope you don't mind me contacting you but I made the decision last Friday to have DIEP reconstruction at Frenchay and most of the time I still feel quite brave but sometimes I wonder what the...! I think it is much better to have all the detail so I hope you will continue to post on the forum, or dare I ask, email me? Jill alias lilymole.
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11-09-2013
10:51
Thank you kitten_mad I have managed to get lots of info re DIEP from the threads and I feel very positive about the procedure- seeing plastic surgeon at Frenchay on Friday. My local hospital in Bath does only gives TRAM as option and it seems to me this is not so popular nowadays. Obviously would be easier to go to local hospital but I am getting impression that outcomes from TRAM are not so great. So whilst DIEP might be a more major op it might well be worth the aggro of choosing a hospital further afield. Trying to think about the more distant future rather thank the immediate. Lilymole
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09-09-2013
05:25
Hi Rather disappointed nobody replied to my other thread. Have been reading heaps about DIEP but very little about TRAM. I wonder why. Has anybody gone through a TRAM reconstruction? I should love to know of your experiences and results. Please. Have to make decision soon and really torn. Lilymole
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07-09-2013
11:01
Hi everybody This is the first time I have ever done anything like this so I hope it works! 6 weeks ago I was diagnosed with DCIS Stage 1. What a bombshell! I had been treated with Stage 2 breast cancer 17 years ago and been treated with a lumpectomy, radiotherapy, chemo and 5 years tamoxifen. I really thought I was a survivor and then the little blighters came back! Anyhow I am now faced with quite a minor tumour but am facing radical surgery in as much although only 16 mm I am advised to have a mastectomy as the tumour is in the same breast. Being fairly large breasted I cannot face just a mastectomy so am contemplating reconstruction. I am advised not to have an implant as the tissue which has been zapped with radiotherapy won't accept it. So my options are to have reconstruction using tissue from my abdomen either with a TRAM flap or DIEP. I should dearly like to hear from other women who have had this decision to make and to hear of their experiences of either operation. There is no rush but I really want to make the decision, get the op done and then get on with life. Thanking you in anticipation Lilymole
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