rwhdesmoines

Dear New Friend: Welcome! This is a wonderful place to gain experience, strength and wisdom from women who are on the same path. Ask questions and know that we are all in the same boat, bailing as fast as we can, and there's an extra life jacket here for you!

Hi Rwhdesmoines,
I'm reading your profile and I'm just curious as to your first dx. What stage was your Breast cancer and how did you find out?
Thank you!

Thankyou for your prayers but unfortunately Bi Polar disorder has taken my sister. We were successful in bringing her back,even paid for a doctor to travel back with her on the plane, she was really doped up. First night went ok. Morning came and she refused to take her med.,started getting agitated. Drove her to her bank where she was able to withdraw funds. Started talking about picking up her car which had been left for two months parking at an airport 2 1/2 hours away,husband already drove seven hours previous day and two hours today at that point, said possibility of getting car in another day, Agitation increased, did not want us to drive her to her house.I had finally had enough and told her she had to start helping herself and realize she is BiPolar. She wanted to be let out immediately, which we did in the small town about fourteen miles from her home. I have had enough, everyone has been telling me this. Hate this disease.Am changing my phone number when we get home.Love my sister but not willing to risk my marriage and sanity over someone unwilling to help themselves, only so much a person can do.

I got lymphedema within a few weeks after my first mastectomy....18 lymph nodes were removed. Unfortunately, anyone who has had lymph nodes removed are at risk for developing lymphedema at any time the rest of your life. It is nothing to play with as it progresses. I would advise that you go see a certified lymphedema therapist right away. Only he/she can tell you for sure if you have it and advise you what to do in your particular case. You may need a compression glove and/or sleeve as well as education on what and what not to do with your arm.

As an example to how it progresses. Mine started in my upper arm. I had "cording" from the surgery and I couldn't lift my arm up very far. The lymphedema therapist gave me exercises to do, fitted me for a compression sleeve, and taught me to do manual lymph drainage. I was told I had to wear the sleeve any time I did any repetitious motions including doing the exercises for my arm. I was compliant and got to where I could lift my arm up over my head. Then we moved and I was packing many boxes. I was wearing my compression sleeve as I was told to do and my hand got swollen. I went to the lymphedema therapist and she said I had lymphedema in my hand. Now I have to wear a compression glove as well as the sleeve.

It is very important the person you see is lymphedema certified. Not just anyone knows what they are doing. The therapist I had been seeing retired and I had a very hard time finding another one. The women who replaced her was supposedly knowledgeable in lymphedema. My thumb and index finger had been swollen for a while and I couldn't get them to go down. Because my arm, hand, and fingers were not significantly larger than my other arm, she didn't take me seriously and said I was managing my lymhedema well and there was really nothing she could do for me. She passed off the swelling in my fingers to arthritis since all my fingers were not swollen. After months of looking, I was finally able to find someone else lymphedema certified. She did not "blow me off" like this other "therapist" did. You don't wait until you are hugely swollen to do something or say you have lymphedema. There is a point of no return, where the area of swelling will not go back to its normal size. You have to take care of it at the slightest sign of swelling. This new therapist introduced me to need for bandaging my fingers, hand and arm. The swelling in my two fingers has gone down but I have to keep after it. Now I am told I must either where the compression garments or do bandaging 24/7 for the rest of my life.

If you choose to go to a lymphedema therapist, update us and let us know what you were told about your swelling, whether you have lymphedema or not and what you are told to do about it.

Thank you for your kind words May God Bless you always I pray you feel better I will pray for you

I saw your message that you were feeling overwhelmed and sad. Please know that all of us on this site feel for you and stand by your side. It is a difficult situation you face and I cannot understand your daughter's position. What is wrong with her? Maybe she needs some counseling to help her deal with this, and maybe you need some help trying to deal with her. Just the fact that you post on this site shows how strong you are. You are taking an active role in your life and connecting with people who care about you. Chin up!

Thank you for reaching out and offering help. Do not understand the abbreviation you used. Hopefully she will take the med. And become more lucid.The consulate felt the psychiatric hospital will only keep her a few more days. She had been living on the streets. Has been in the country for a little more than a month,how she got there from California no idea. Did you have a conservator for your sister? Have contacted Adult Protective Services today but no call back so far. Feel lost and hopeless.

Welcome to the site. I am sure that you will find this a friendly place to come when you need someone to talk to. We are all in the same boat when it comes to emotions and feelings about our health. Just know that no question is to silly to ask and if you need to vent because you are having a bad day, we are here for you. I hope you find this site as helpful to you as it has been for me.

Thank you so much for awarding me best answer! I just hope that I gave you good advise! I’m living with metastatic breast cancer as well and we are about the same age. I’m so sorry that you are going through this, but I’ve been doing well for over 4 years and I plan on living for decades longer! It has been a constant battle for me unfortunately because I have often had to switch treatments but ever single one has given me more time here and I am very thankful for my life and I am also very thankful that metastatic breast cancer is treated like a chronic illness and that there are so many of us surviving and thriving now! Hugs!!!! XOXOXO

are you still taking chemo drugs? I too am stage IV and this
is year 8 for me. I feel good and the drugs seem to slow the
cancer down.

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GregP 3X Survivor
WhatNext Community Mgr.

Welcome to the WhatNext family! The WhatNext family is made up of people like you who are looking for help or looking to help others. To help you along your journey the WhatNext family has put together a Beginner's Guide to Cancer that I highly recommend you check-out here: http://bit.ly/10BQKCi. Also, please do not hesitate to reach out to others or ask for help.

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David
Founder, WhatNexter