Forum Discussion
Touching Base to say hi
Hello everyone,
It has been quite some time since I have been on here so I feel a little out of touch with everyone. I hope you are all travelling ok. Following my bilateral mastectomy and TRAM flap recon back in July, I returned to fulltime work in September. Yeah, I know, crazy lady. But it was good to be back - to a life away from cancer - despite battling a frozen shoulder, a result of all the trauma inflicted on my poor arm this year.
A week before Christmas I went in for my third surgery for the year - this time saying goodbye to my ovaries and tubes. My last preventative surgery, (being BRCA2 pos) and the pathology results came back all clear so yay.
Bad news though is that while the surgeon was in there he noticed that something wasn't quite right with my intestines - red, inflamed, some scarring apparently. I have suffered from IBS my whole life but chemo this year really affected my tummy and with all the other drugs I have had thrown at me, things in that department haven't exactly been moving smoothly - or in most cases, too smoothly. My surgeon suggested Crohn's. I'm hoping it's not and that it's just some side effects that can be easily fixed. I'm grasping.
Anyway, just when I thought that the last surgery marked the end of it all, no, it has marked the beginning of something else. So now it's off to the gastroenterologist.
I'm having a little difficulty navigating this new site - I kind of preferred the old one, found it easier. But I just wanted to put it out there that if anyone needed a chat or some advice following my journey - early breast cancer, triple neg, lumpectomy, chemo, BRCA2 pos, bilateral mastectomy, TRAM flap recon, ovaries and tubes gone - then I am more than happy to share my experiences. Heck, I can even throw in a frozen shoulder, early menopause and now intestinal issues following treatment to the mix!!
It's been a hell of a year, How many days left?
Sherril
It has been quite some time since I have been on here so I feel a little out of touch with everyone. I hope you are all travelling ok. Following my bilateral mastectomy and TRAM flap recon back in July, I returned to fulltime work in September. Yeah, I know, crazy lady. But it was good to be back - to a life away from cancer - despite battling a frozen shoulder, a result of all the trauma inflicted on my poor arm this year.
A week before Christmas I went in for my third surgery for the year - this time saying goodbye to my ovaries and tubes. My last preventative surgery, (being BRCA2 pos) and the pathology results came back all clear so yay.
Bad news though is that while the surgeon was in there he noticed that something wasn't quite right with my intestines - red, inflamed, some scarring apparently. I have suffered from IBS my whole life but chemo this year really affected my tummy and with all the other drugs I have had thrown at me, things in that department haven't exactly been moving smoothly - or in most cases, too smoothly. My surgeon suggested Crohn's. I'm hoping it's not and that it's just some side effects that can be easily fixed. I'm grasping.
Anyway, just when I thought that the last surgery marked the end of it all, no, it has marked the beginning of something else. So now it's off to the gastroenterologist.
I'm having a little difficulty navigating this new site - I kind of preferred the old one, found it easier. But I just wanted to put it out there that if anyone needed a chat or some advice following my journey - early breast cancer, triple neg, lumpectomy, chemo, BRCA2 pos, bilateral mastectomy, TRAM flap recon, ovaries and tubes gone - then I am more than happy to share my experiences. Heck, I can even throw in a frozen shoulder, early menopause and now intestinal issues following treatment to the mix!!
It's been a hell of a year, How many days left?
Sherril
16 Replies
- Hi Sherrill, so nice to see you here again. I was away all of December and only just saw this. So sorry about the possible Chrons diagnosis. I hope the gastro guy had good news for you.
keep us posted.Hugs.
Paula xxx - I've heard some pretty good maintenance reports on crohns and cannabis oil now its legal. Ask your doctors. It won't cure it but it is a very good anti inflammatory medication.
- Hi Tessy another site is
http://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/home.html
They also have a suggested list of what to pack for hospital which the ladies of this forum all contributed to.
We're all here to help you through. As Cath said previously the group Choosing Breast construction is a wealth of info
Good luck and sending you a virtual hug xx - @tessytink I know exactly how you feel, Im a recurrence at the 4yr mark however, facing now after treatment my Mastectomy/reconstruction. If youd like to start your own discussion, just hit home...the New Discussion, that way everyone will see you have posted, you'll get a wider audience to interact with. Hugs Melinda xo
- i would like to say thankyou to all you wonderful women out there for all your support I never had all this support first time I'm overwhelmed I was alone no one to talk to except my family so thankyou it's a great help for me and I'm sure it's great even other women ❤️❤️❤️❤️
- Hey Tessy, Have you joined the group Choosing Breast Reconstruction yet? Choosing breast reconstruction if you join up the group has discussions and photo's regarding reconstruction and you will be able to chat with the ladies who have had the same procedure you are going to. You will need to join it as it is a closed group.Just right click on this link and you can open it in a new tab. Hope this helps. Sorry to hear that your going through this again. Xx Cath
- Hi everyone had a very emoitional weekend thinking about everything I google some information about Diepfree flap breast reconstruction now I'm feeling better understanding I see my plastic surgeon on Friday. I'm from Melbourne this is reacurence breast cancer I was very surprised when I got my results because it's been 20years when I had breast cancer the first time thx
- Hi Tessy that's no good that it was an emotional weekend however it does happen. Hope you're feeling better today.
Take care - Hi everyone hru all doing had a emotional weekend but I'm ok now
Hi Sherrill,
From one to another I say hi and your story is one so familiar - how many more hurdles, speed bumps, chicanes, roadblocks & roundabouts are going to be put in front of you before I get to be "Me".
Eerily enough, your rollercoaster ride is similar to mine - lumpectomy, chemo, mastectomy (just the one), tram flap, ovaries gone (of course "Menopausal Myrtle" here too) and return to work.
Whilst mine was not full time initially, I too have found that work is so important - if you are able to - as it brings another dimension to your life and a sense of control where cancer is not the one controlling you !
I hope that your intestinal issues are not going to stop you from continuing your great outlook and enjoyment of your work. It is not just frustrating but so daunting sometimes that after all that you have been through that there is another health concern that is preventing you from getting on with life.
All the best for your appointment with your gastroenterologist.
Good to know there are great stories still coming through the forum.
P.S. Now 2017 - yay - 2016 au revoir :
Sheryl x
