General Chat

I've thought that several times when I've been buying replacement pillows!! :-D



s
xx

Hi Sylvia

Yes i know the pillows you mean shame i didn't half inch the ones we had when we came back from Florida earlier in the year.

It's funny in a way cos it not till something is pointed out that you say to yourself oh yeah your right & i mean what yo have said about the sleeping, thankfully i sleep on my left side

Julie

Julie

I found some small travel pillows over here ... a little bit larger than the ones you used to get on planes (in the days when they gave out things for free!).

They are meant I think for kiddies in cars, but they re proper pillows (ie, not those dogs or cat ones).

I have found those to be extremely useful for the last 16 years.

I take one with me if we are driving any distance, and have it tucked under my right arm (I'm always the passenger) ........ not too sure what I'll now. One under each arm means I'll be taking up quite a bit more room!!


But Liz is quite right ............. the pillows do provide support .................... if you sleep on your right side, you'll find there is something missing, the left one has lost its support, and it can be a bit uncomfortable.


You may also find that you hurt from your collar bone down to your waist, and from your breastbone round under your arm after the operation ..... that is because breast tissue can extend that far. It feels like deep bruising.



s
xx

Many thanks everyone for your replies

Liz.....I will see if i can find 1 of those heart cushions.

trafiklitedol....Im sorry you were through it on your own & i do hope that date you had your mastectomy isn't right lol.

Shirley......congratulations to your daughter.....I am lucky i haven't had to lift a finger since June, well only to do the washing don't trust OH with that 1 lol

Hi Sylvia

I glad that things are all good with you & that you managed to catch yours early.

I have just finished my chemo & will have radiotherapy after my mastectomy. Thanks for the heads up about as this is on my right side but i eat left handed. The cancer nurse showed me & my OH some photo's of different types of mastectomy scar's & tbh im not worried about what it'll look like as i have quite a few already lol.
Over here everything is free so i'll be taking all the physio i can get :o)).

Many thanks for your post as you have hi lighted things that i wouldn't have thought about

TC Julie

The care these days is marvelous for all sorts of cancer, Take all the help that is offered both from the health care side and from family . Don't try to do too much too soon. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Our daughter got her 5 year all clear from Hodgkins in Oct, her treatment was handled with all care and she got through it YOU CAN TOO

Shirley

Best of luck to you for your op and good recovery, treat yourself very kindly and make sure everyone around you does the same, remind them about karma lol I am sure you have supported people in the past, it's your turn now.

If you have a Cancer care centre nearby ask about the little heart cushions, some places supply them and they give a little comfort placed between your arm and the wound, I think. I got one for Vickie and also for a friend of mine a while back. I also got a pattern for making them but not sure what happened to it as we lost a lot of things when computer went wrong.

Had I realised Sylvia, I would have tried to get one to you but I think I was a bit preoccupied in September and away on holiday for two weeks of the time. Hope you are recovering well now.

Lizxx

Thoughts and good wishes to you for a speedy recovery. Take care.

The best of luck for 24th Nov.I

I agree with SylviaInCanada, just look after yourself for as long as it takes.

I had a mastectomy in 1904 and a lupectomy in 1993.

I just wish that during that time I'd had the luxury of being able to have someone to take care of the everyday things and I could have concetrated on recovery.

Once again good luck and my best wishes for your speedy recovery.

Thoughts ahead brave lady.

Speedy recovery.
<3

good luck Julie and get well
we will be thinking of you and your family xx

Good luck, Julie


I had a mastectomy on September 20 ........... my second one. The first one was 16 years ago ... this recent one was NOT a recurrence, but a completely different cancer.

They just took the Sentinel node for me, and the mastectomy was my choice ........ the cancer was very early and I could have got away with a lumpectomy (followed by chemo and radiation). The pathology report has come back with clear nodes, and a sufficiently large clear area, so everything is now fine.


Word of advice from one who has just been through it

...... the incision is much longer than you imagine beforehand.

...... try and make sure you have someone with you for as much of the day and night as you can. You WILL need help reaching things, lifting things, even cutting your food, etc etc. It was my left arm that was affected this time ............. and, for several days, I found it very uncomfortable to use that arm. I could really only use a fork in my right hand (American style!), so OH had to cut up my food for me.

...... do take as much physiotherapy as you can get or afford, and do the exercises as religiously as you can., especially the "climbing the wall" ones .................. otherwise you will find it very difficult to get mobility back in your arm.

....... take as many pain killers as you need, not only what you think you should be having. I tried cutting back too soon, and had to go back on the stronger ones after 3 or 4 days.

....... rest as much as you can. You WILL find that you are tired, and get fatigued quickly.



I'll be thinking of you.


you can pm me if you want to know any more about it is like.




sylvia

Wishing you the very best Julie with a speedy recovery

Shirley <3

I shall think of you, my dear. The best of luck. BC XX

Julie,

I do wish you a speedy recovery ....I'm sure you'll get through this operation with all the help from your family & friends.

It will take time ....but you will pull through.

I'll be away at that time .....so I'll say good luck to you for November. .

Marilyn x

:-D

Hope all goes well Julie.
Best wishes
Ria x

Shall be thinking of you, and your family, too.
x x

Thanks Angelsong

All the very best to you Julie. Take care.

Thanks Annie & Gwynne xx