Surgery

[Guest guest]

Every doctor I've gone to (for more than a one-visit consult) has warned me

against surgery...they've all felt the " cure " would be worse for me, unless it

were an extreme condition that could not be treated any other way. Several

have warned me specifically about knife-happy doctors, and told me to get

multiple opinions if any doctor recommended surgery to me. I asked one if this

were

something he'd say to any EDS patient; he said he probably wouldn't suggest

surgery to any EDS patient, but in my case, no matter how difficult it got for

me

to manage he couldn't see how I could possibly rehabilitate and I'd be left

in a worse situation. Just my experience, though...

[Guest guest]

let all of us know what the orthopedist has to say. good luck. lois

Re: surgery

Lois,

After three months of pain and not being able to pick up anything or

even laying on my right side. I just couldn't take the pain anymore

and went to the ER. He thought it was carpal tunnel syndrome, but

since I don't have insurance and I dont' work. I go the local Indian

health center since I am a registered member of a tribe. They

thought it was a torn rotator cuff, then another visit..the pa

thought it might be in my head...then another visit..this time to my

diabetic dr who said it was tendonitis in my elbow and shoulder.

Then another visit with another pa..she said it was bursitis but

they dont' usually see that in patients my age(42). My son has a

social worker with the child welfare because I put him on medicaid

and we receive FS, too. She said I qualified for medicaid. I don't

see how I qualified but she made the argument since I seem not to be

able to do the mundane things around the house without help that it

would be beneficial to me to see a " real " dr. I hope to see a

orthopedist in May. I will request one. This pain is sometimes

bearable, but alot of times it isn't. I have the key board on my

knees so I am able to type. If it was in another position like on

the desk. No way I could make it without cringing.

Thanks

susan

> >

> > Lois here- I had my shoulder surgery yesterday. My 20 minute

surgery

> took 2 hours. There was a surprise for the doctor.

>

>

>

>

>

> Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/

>

> To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-

unsubscribe

> Hope you come back soon!

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Does your arm and hand go to sleep as well as having the extreme pain? I have

been having problems with that since I was diagnosed with diabetes and quit

eating sugar (well, sometimes I have sugar now, just watch to keep the carbs

lower). I am going back to the doctor on Monday to see what can be done for

that. The other doctor I had to see said that no therapy could be tried unless

I went to neurology and had the electric needle testing, but Dr. Fedde knows I

couldn't handle that and is going to see what we can do about it without that.

Darlene

----- Original Message -----

From: starkiss149

To: diabetes <mailto:diabetes >

After three months of pain and not being able to pick up anything or

even laying on my right side. I just couldn't take the pain anymore

and went to the ER. He thought it was carpal tunnel syndrome, but

since I don't have insurance and I dont' work. I go the local Indian

health center since I am a registered member of a tribe. They

thought it was a torn rotator cuff, then another visit..the pa

thought it might be in my head...then another visit..this time to my

diabetic dr who said it was tendonitis in my elbow and shoulder.

Then another visit with another pa..she said it was bursitis but

they dont' usually see that in patients my age(42). My son has a

social worker with the child welfare because I put him on medicaid

and we receive FS, too. She said I qualified for medicaid. I don't

see how I qualified but she made the argument since I seem not to be

able to do the mundane things around the house without help that it

would be beneficial to me to see a " real " dr. I hope to see a

orthopedist in May. I will request one. This pain is sometimes

bearable, but alot of times it isn't. I have the key board on my

knees so I am able to type. If it was in another position like on

the desk. No way I could make it without cringing.

Thanks

susan

[Guest guest]

Whoa , that's my dream recovery. I did all kinds of cleansing and organic food,

Iooked amazing in the hospital, all fit and tan and glowing but I took it like a

big whimp. I was in the hospital for 3 days!! Well, I also opted for

reconstruction by way of expander and then implant later, I guess that

lengthened my time in the hospital. Jeez, everyone has such different

experiences with this. I don't know what the one woman got given for chemo but

I was on dose dense (AC @ Taxol) for 4 months. Another woman was on the same

schedule but every 3 weeks instead of every 2 and she said she felt great. I

was like, are you kidding me? I had a hell week then an okay week then it was

back to the drip. There is no way I could have worked, not even at a lemonade

stand serving blind people. I hid out mostly but then when I was out people

thought I seemed just great so maybe the trick is to act like you're okay,

feeling good. I even went to 2 techno shows in LA and was up

until all hours being the " sober " driver, which is really funny because I was

on more drugs than anyone else there, easily. Major druggie.

a

Maya Brand wrote:

Wahoo Vicky. Your's is a truly amazing story of recovery. You describe

what

I thought I was going to do, but alas - I was 67, not 27 (as I had thought).

:-)

Maya

_____

From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]

On Behalf Of Vicky Nico

Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 4:04 PM

To: breastcancer2

Subject: Re: Surgery

Hi Juli! I hope I can be of some comfort to you. I was diagnosed with BC

10/05. I had a lumpectomy and 19 lymph nodes removed 2 weeks after the

diagnosis. Onlyn 2 of them were affected. That was on a Thursday and I was

back to work on Monday. Having that many lymph nodes removed was

uncomfortable but bearable. The surgeon was not happy with the margins and I

had the choice of trying to get those margins by taking out more tissue or

going for the mastectomy. After advice from my radiation oncologist, I went

for the mastectomy. The surgery was performed on 11/10/05, I went home on

11/6 and I was back to work 11/14. Everyone handles this differently both

physically and mentally. There was some pain the next day but with each day

it diminished. I refused to let this thing get me down. I was not going to

lay in bed and feel sorry for myself. I had 8 subsequent chemo treatments. I

scheduled those for Fridays...just in case. But there was no " just in case " .

I

handled them pretty well and never missed a day of work, except for the

treatments. Radiation treatment followed...33 of them. The only problem with

those was by the end I was feeling pretty tired. I really hope you are as

lucky as I was with this whole " miserable " thing. Good luck and you are in

my prayers.............Vicky

jeban80 <jeban@... <mailto:jeban%40aol.com> > wrote: I am about to have

a mastetomy and a bunch (not sure how many yet)of

nodes removed. I have IIIb breast cancer. I am 43. I've been told I

will probably come home from the hospital the next day. How long is

usual to be in bed at home afterwards...... how is the pain? I'm not

sure what to expect.

thanks,

Juli

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I am stage 3 and had to stay home from work at least 4 weeks...came home with 2

drainage tubs and had them for a week...some pain...you do alot of

sleeping...and did not want to eat much...drink lots of fluids and I wanted

tomato soup...It was 4 yrs go...have a little more than a year left on

arimidex...

Cat...

Note: forwarded message attached.I

[Guest guest]

OH MY G-D! OK, can I call it chemo brain? I confused my lumpectomy and

reconstruction surgeries with my double mastectomy. Of course you are right

Ruthie, I was in the hospital for 3 days. They have not gotten away with

sending us home the same day after double mastectomies (yet). LOL, it's just

that there was so much going on. I got confused. Sorry all.

Maya

_____

From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]

On Behalf Of ruthiema36

Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 8:32 PM

To: breastcancer2

Subject: Re: Surgery

I think those were the days of drive by mastectomies. There have been

laws passed in many states that no longer allow that. I believe

overnight is the norm now. I was in three nights (complications, just

what I needed!) and strongly encouraged to stay longer, but wanted to

go home and so did. Went home on a Saturday and the surgeon insisted

on seeing me that Monday.

Ruth

> >

> > I am about to have a mastetomy and a bunch (not sure how many yet)of

> > nodes removed. I have IIIb breast cancer. I am 43. I've been told I

> > will probably come home from the hospital the next day. How long is

> > usual to be in bed at home afterwards...... how is the pain? I'm not

> > sure what to expect.

> > thanks,

> > Juli

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions re: muscle cramps and nerve pain. This

site is great !! keeping you all in my prayers !! sheri.

---------------------------------

Get your email and more, right on the new Yahoo.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynette,

I will try to remember the time line...My surgery was on Januray 11th of this

year and I remember being really tender for at least 3-4 weeks afterwards. I

think it took 2 1/2 hours. I can't remember exactly. Bring pictures of ones

you like, I cruised the internet. Plastic surgeon sites have lots of good and

bad pictures. Hugs had to be given gently for at least 3 weeks. After the

first week the swellings not so bad. For me, it was a 2 week deal. I had both

sides done, I had a mastectomy on one side, I called that my " Bio boob " .

Actually that was my boyfriends name for it. It will always be " enboob " to

me. It's Halloween soon, it's favorite time of year. Anyway, I had a post op

really soon after, like within a couple of days, then another one a week later.

I've flashed my chest to so many doctors now I see a white coat and

automatically start undressing. My dentist was very surprised last week. Just

joking. I healed very well. I just got my nipple

made about 2 months ago and in December I get it tatooed. The surgery was my

excuse to get some more percocets so, you know. It's not bad compared to what

you have already been through. AND you have a nice new SOFT lightweight breast

instead of a hard tight weight in you chest. Back Pain? I had a lot from the

mastectomy, I see a massage therapist. That will lesson after you get that big

cluncky thing out of your body. It's really nice afterwards, it's the journey

that makes that end a gift. And maybe you'll like the ones your getting better?

Are you having the other side done too? I did for symmetry, I practicall live

in a swimsuit, been swimming my whole life and I live at the beach. There was

no way I was going to live my life out with a piece of rubber in my bikini top,

it would show! Or flop out when a big wave came in. I'm very happy with my

result, I didn't go too big and my former boyfriend says you can't even tell,

which is the BEST part of all. It's

coming up you should be very excited! Good for you! a

Lynnette Vardaman wrote:

a-u said u had expander and implant surgery.i am going to have

this in Nov.please write and tell me how long it takes and how often u went back

to have these checked after surgery.Are u able to lift do u have any

restrictions.

a Kleczko wrote: Whoa , that's my dream

recovery. I did all kinds of cleansing and organic food, Iooked amazing in the

hospital, all fit and tan and glowing but I took it like a big whimp. I was in

the hospital for 3 days!! Well, I also opted for reconstruction by way of

expander and then implant later, I guess that lengthened my time in the

hospital. Jeez, everyone has such different experiences with this. I don't know

what the one woman got given for chemo but I was on dose dense (AC @ Taxol) for

4 months. Another woman was on the same schedule but every 3 weeks instead of

every 2 and she said she felt great. I was like, are you kidding me? I had a

hell week then an okay week then it was back to the drip. There is no way I

could have worked, not even at a lemonade stand serving blind people. I hid out

mostly but then when I was out people thought I seemed just great so maybe the

trick is to act like you're okay, feeling good. I

even went to 2 techno shows in LA and was up

until all hours being the " sober " driver, which is really funny because I was on

more drugs than anyone else there, easily. Major druggie.

a

Maya Brand wrote:

Wahoo Vicky. Your's is a truly amazing story of recovery. You describe what

I thought I was going to do, but alas - I was 67, not 27 (as I had thought).

:-)

Maya

_____

From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]

On Behalf Of Vicky Nico

Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 4:04 PM

To: breastcancer2

Subject: Re: Surgery

Hi Juli! I hope I can be of some comfort to you. I was diagnosed with BC

10/05. I had a lumpectomy and 19 lymph nodes removed 2 weeks after the

diagnosis. Onlyn 2 of them were affected. That was on a Thursday and I was

back to work on Monday. Having that many lymph nodes removed was

uncomfortable but bearable. The surgeon was not happy with the margins and I

had the choice of trying to get those margins by taking out more tissue or

going for the mastectomy. After advice from my radiation oncologist, I went

for the mastectomy. The surgery was performed on 11/10/05, I went home on

11/6 and I was back to work 11/14. Everyone handles this differently both

physically and mentally. There was some pain the next day but with each day

it diminished. I refused to let this thing get me down. I was not going to

lay in bed and feel sorry for myself. I had 8 subsequent chemo treatments. I

scheduled those for Fridays...just in case. But there was no " just in case " .

I

handled them pretty well and never missed a day of work, except for the

treatments. Radiation treatment followed...33 of them. The only problem with

those was by the end I was feeling pretty tired. I really hope you are as

lucky as I was with this whole " miserable " thing. Good luck and you are in

my prayers.............Vicky

jeban80 <jeban@... <mailto:jeban%40aol.com> > wrote: I am about to have

a mastetomy and a bunch (not sure how many yet)of

nodes removed. I have IIIb breast cancer. I am 43. I've been told I

will probably come home from the hospital the next day. How long is

usual to be in bed at home afterwards...... how is the pain? I'm not

sure what to expect.

thanks,

Juli

__________________________________________________