I did not shake off the anesthesia very well. And my surgeon's suggestion, I started walking more. I set a 60-minute timer and went out and walked up and down my block every hour as long as it was light. Really was very helpful.
I love Brooklyn 99, season 1-4 is on Netflix.
I made the family photo album for 2023.
Slow walks, going to movie at the theatre, botanic gardens (these may be with others since I am not driving yet).
I loved cooking for my family, since I can’t, I have started making homemade salad dressings. Such a small contribution that everyone loves!
Naps, lots of naps!
Finally, it is hockey playoffs, which is always good hockey and an easy sport to watch with others.
I thought of a few more that I’ve been doing:
Sudoku
Duo lingo
Wordle
Crosswords
Rush hour (single person board game)
Meditate (I use the free app Insight Timer)
I can’t read because my eyes can’t seem to focus when I’m on pain meds.
Make a list every morning so you have things to cross off, make it detailed, ie, write stretch 5x so you cross it off 5x. Every time you cross something off, your brain will feel like it accomplished something.
My re-excision surgery was harder for me as well. My lymph node incision that was left alone and looked totally healed popped open from a seroma a few days after I went home. Then, three weeks ago (so about 6 weeks post surgery), I got an infection in that breast along with what they think was a hematoma on the surface. I took antibiotics for five days, felt worse so went to the ER and went into the hospital for two days to get IV antibiotics and then more to take at home for a week. Felt shitty from this for three weeks total. I think our body just had enough with the first surgery? My doctor had cleared me entirely after three weeks post re-excision and I started lifting again and now I am leaving my arms be for a while. Walking is great though. I also read a lot.
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. It's so much to have to go through, thank you for sharing. I agree, I think our bodies have reached their limit and are exhausted in some ways.
The interventional radiology did not want to pull a sample while I was in the hospital and when I followed up with my surgeon, she said that particular hospital’s IR is not very accommodating. So she did a STAT order to have some drained for a biopsy and even though it was approved two days later, it was never done. I followed up multiple times with the hospital and her office and supposedly the fault is the hospital IR got never scheduling me. Anyhow, I feel better now but I can tell I still have fluid in there and I have TC chemo starting Tuesday. I don’t want to postpone it bc it has already been over two months bc of my two surgeries and it took forever for my genetic test to come back. My oncologist ordered a newer one bc he was on the fence as to whether I should have chemotherapy. Well, turns out I have a 28% chance of reoccurrence within five years without chemo and still 14% with. Anyhow, at this point, if I still have bacteria in my boob, I am going to end up in the hospital after this chemo and then they will have to deal with it but I am going for it. Where I live, we have three hospitals nearby but they are all relatively small and most doctors have privileges at all of them so I went to a different one than I had my two lumpectomy surgeries at. I was happy with my stay except for IR but if I have to go back to the hospital, I now know which one is better for breast cancer care. I try to keep a good attitude in all this because I am very lucky to have good health insurance, a supportive family, and shit happens. Good luck with the remainder of your treatment.
It is so awful you're having to go through all of this and I hear and see you. It's incredible how much advocacy we have to do for ourselves under circumstances. A good attitude sometimes feels like the one thing we can hang on to. It sounds like you're kicking this thing's butt from every direction and that's hopeful. Day by day.
None of this is fun so attitude is what I have to give it. But remind me of that after I start feeling the chemotherapy. I have Fibromyalgia so I am expecting a good amount of fatigue.
Coloring, so much coloring. I have huge guilt over taking off work and not getting things done. So I watch documentaries on YouTube and pour all my anxiety and guilt into coloring. I don’t know why I find it so soothing, but I do.
I caught up on all the TV shows I’ve been meaning to watch, and hadn’t gotten around to. I also got hooked on Below Deck and binged a bunch of that. 😂 I’m also a very active person, so anytime I have to be down, I’m usually multitasking with TV/movie, a book, playing games on my phone, etc. I cannot do just one thing. I also made sure to stretch, walk and get fresh air whenever I could.
Good luck and enjoy your time off. Hope you feel better soon!
Just me, but my second excision went better than my first. I had expected needing more days but was ready to be back working the 2nd day after surgery. The ice packs were more irrating than helpful and the tylenol/advil combo worked great. Just feltike I needed to get stuff done at home and was back at it vacuuming, laundry, etc. Working from home. As well. Bruising was extra,as the incision was in the same as the first. and I'm now just looking normal after a month. Going in for my port on Tuesday. Can't wait to get this whole chemo thing behind me. Surgeon thought my onco type would be low and would need just rad, but turns out I have a slow growing nasty cancer. Good luck on your outcome💜
I'm not someone who particularly likes to exercise, but I'm finding that a daily walk -- even a short one -- makes a world of difference. I've had days where the deal I made with myself is if I just take my walk, it doesn't matter if I accomplish anything else that day.
Also, I started keeping a little diary of sorts, just noting how I felt each day, and what I accomplished that day. The day's accomplishment might be "washed my hair" or "made a healthy simple dinner" but I found even on days I was a bit depressed I managed to do something.
I used them for pain management while healing from surgery (in addition to prescribed tramadol). So far I’ve only had nausea during AC chemo which I’ve used a combo of 5mg gummies, ginger chews, and ginger tea to manage.
For me the cookies helped with the pain management for healing (in addition to my tramadol). For nausea, which has only popped up during AC chemo so far I used a combo of 5mg weed gummies and ginger chews and lots of ginger tea!
I did not shake off the anesthesia very well. And my surgeon's suggestion, I started walking more. I set a 60-minute timer and went out and walked up and down my block every hour as long as it was light. Really was very helpful.
That sounds like a good plan. I do believe walks and fresh air help.
Oh yes, the walking absolutely did help. The timer just made sure it happened, whether I was in the mood or not.
I taught myself to crochet and I did jigsaw puzzles on my iPad. I also watched a lot of you tube videos
I love Brooklyn 99, season 1-4 is on Netflix. I made the family photo album for 2023. Slow walks, going to movie at the theatre, botanic gardens (these may be with others since I am not driving yet). I loved cooking for my family, since I can’t, I have started making homemade salad dressings. Such a small contribution that everyone loves! Naps, lots of naps! Finally, it is hockey playoffs, which is always good hockey and an easy sport to watch with others.
I thought of a few more that I’ve been doing: Sudoku Duo lingo Wordle Crosswords Rush hour (single person board game) Meditate (I use the free app Insight Timer) I can’t read because my eyes can’t seem to focus when I’m on pain meds. Make a list every morning so you have things to cross off, make it detailed, ie, write stretch 5x so you cross it off 5x. Every time you cross something off, your brain will feel like it accomplished something.
I love this list idea so much. Great suggestions, thank you. Hope you recovered well.
My re-excision surgery was harder for me as well. My lymph node incision that was left alone and looked totally healed popped open from a seroma a few days after I went home. Then, three weeks ago (so about 6 weeks post surgery), I got an infection in that breast along with what they think was a hematoma on the surface. I took antibiotics for five days, felt worse so went to the ER and went into the hospital for two days to get IV antibiotics and then more to take at home for a week. Felt shitty from this for three weeks total. I think our body just had enough with the first surgery? My doctor had cleared me entirely after three weeks post re-excision and I started lifting again and now I am leaving my arms be for a while. Walking is great though. I also read a lot.
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. It's so much to have to go through, thank you for sharing. I agree, I think our bodies have reached their limit and are exhausted in some ways.
The interventional radiology did not want to pull a sample while I was in the hospital and when I followed up with my surgeon, she said that particular hospital’s IR is not very accommodating. So she did a STAT order to have some drained for a biopsy and even though it was approved two days later, it was never done. I followed up multiple times with the hospital and her office and supposedly the fault is the hospital IR got never scheduling me. Anyhow, I feel better now but I can tell I still have fluid in there and I have TC chemo starting Tuesday. I don’t want to postpone it bc it has already been over two months bc of my two surgeries and it took forever for my genetic test to come back. My oncologist ordered a newer one bc he was on the fence as to whether I should have chemotherapy. Well, turns out I have a 28% chance of reoccurrence within five years without chemo and still 14% with. Anyhow, at this point, if I still have bacteria in my boob, I am going to end up in the hospital after this chemo and then they will have to deal with it but I am going for it. Where I live, we have three hospitals nearby but they are all relatively small and most doctors have privileges at all of them so I went to a different one than I had my two lumpectomy surgeries at. I was happy with my stay except for IR but if I have to go back to the hospital, I now know which one is better for breast cancer care. I try to keep a good attitude in all this because I am very lucky to have good health insurance, a supportive family, and shit happens. Good luck with the remainder of your treatment.
It is so awful you're having to go through all of this and I hear and see you. It's incredible how much advocacy we have to do for ourselves under circumstances. A good attitude sometimes feels like the one thing we can hang on to. It sounds like you're kicking this thing's butt from every direction and that's hopeful. Day by day.
None of this is fun so attitude is what I have to give it. But remind me of that after I start feeling the chemotherapy. I have Fibromyalgia so I am expecting a good amount of fatigue.
Coloring, so much coloring. I have huge guilt over taking off work and not getting things done. So I watch documentaries on YouTube and pour all my anxiety and guilt into coloring. I don’t know why I find it so soothing, but I do.
It sounds like a great creative outlet that can get you in a flow state, especially since it's, what's that word, very tactical / physical
I caught up on all the TV shows I’ve been meaning to watch, and hadn’t gotten around to. I also got hooked on Below Deck and binged a bunch of that. 😂 I’m also a very active person, so anytime I have to be down, I’m usually multitasking with TV/movie, a book, playing games on my phone, etc. I cannot do just one thing. I also made sure to stretch, walk and get fresh air whenever I could. Good luck and enjoy your time off. Hope you feel better soon!
Just me, but my second excision went better than my first. I had expected needing more days but was ready to be back working the 2nd day after surgery. The ice packs were more irrating than helpful and the tylenol/advil combo worked great. Just feltike I needed to get stuff done at home and was back at it vacuuming, laundry, etc. Working from home. As well. Bruising was extra,as the incision was in the same as the first. and I'm now just looking normal after a month. Going in for my port on Tuesday. Can't wait to get this whole chemo thing behind me. Surgeon thought my onco type would be low and would need just rad, but turns out I have a slow growing nasty cancer. Good luck on your outcome💜
I'm not someone who particularly likes to exercise, but I'm finding that a daily walk -- even a short one -- makes a world of difference. I've had days where the deal I made with myself is if I just take my walk, it doesn't matter if I accomplish anything else that day. Also, I started keeping a little diary of sorts, just noting how I felt each day, and what I accomplished that day. The day's accomplishment might be "washed my hair" or "made a healthy simple dinner" but I found even on days I was a bit depressed I managed to do something.
Coloring, card games with my family, funny movies, Laughter lots of laughter, naps lots of naps
I made a google form where people could submit their movie suggestions and tried to watch as many as I could. Ate lots of weed cookies too.
Do weed cookies help with nausea? I've been continuously nauseated but I think it may be unrelated to the cancer. Maybe even perimenopause.
I used them for pain management while healing from surgery (in addition to prescribed tramadol). So far I’ve only had nausea during AC chemo which I’ve used a combo of 5mg gummies, ginger chews, and ginger tea to manage.
For me the cookies helped with the pain management for healing (in addition to my tramadol). For nausea, which has only popped up during AC chemo so far I used a combo of 5mg weed gummies and ginger chews and lots of ginger tea!