And much as I tried to steer around it, over it, under it, I hit it this afternoon. I knew it was coming this morning. I couldn't think of the name for a flat round disc that you put on a nut and bolt. (a washer) I knew that I was close to exhaustion.So, I watched movies this afternoon, The Crimson Pirate with Kirk Douglas and The Great Train Robbery with Sean Connery. I NEVER watch television movies during the day but I was incapable of doing anything else. I was asleep by 4.30pm and woke up at 7pm. I'm swollen under my arm and hoping very much that there is no infection. I've had a hot/cold pack under my arm on and off for an hour. Anyone else had this swelling that got painful?Cas XX

I was quite swollen under my arm after my surgery. It turned out to be a seroma. Keep an eye on your temp in case it is an infection. If it hasn't gone down tomorrow give your Dr a call. It's a while ago, but from memory he just drained it with a needle. It didn't hurt as the area was numb after surgery. Take care Paula

Thanks Paula,It's been 3 weeks and I've been back to see him about fluid and he wasn't concerned about it. It has only been today that under my arm has become sore and swollen. I'm hoping it is because I've unwittingly put my arm up too high or jerked it. I haven't felt hot and I've never owned a thermometre so I'm hoping it isn't an infection. I will be careful though. I might do Brisbane bra-less tomorrow. Everyone walks around looking at the pavement there anyway so I hardly think I'll be noticed :PCas x

Gosh you have been through the wringer a few times Paula. I feel like a right whinger considering what you've had to undergo. I hope you are doing well now?Cas x

You can generally tell if you have a fever. So you will probably know. The other thing you can do is call your breast care nurse if you have one, they are pretty switched on. I actually developed lymphedema, but that was more a gradual slow achy feeling rather than fast and swollen so prob not that... Hmmm not being much help am I. Still nice to share. Sending a hug your way. Paula.

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28 Replies

Casjsa
Member
12 years ago
Love you too Janey ...mwah!... :)

Paula, I had a ball at the Cancer Council. The lady, Jenny, is just the nicest person. There was giggling but no flourescent green wigs.

I have a gorgeous wig, 2 fringes, one to wear at the front, one at the back (with a hat or scarf) and 3 hats. I was offered as many things as I wanted to take and I can borrow them for as long as I like, no questions asked. They didn't even want me to sign for anything nor did they want any information from me. I was almost flabbergasted (a large task where I'm concerned).

They even gave me a booklet that has instructions to make some of the caps that I borrowed. My mother has worked out that she can make them from my old tshirts or $5 tshirts from Best and Less. Doncha just love clever mums?

I'm booked for the next Look Good Feel Better makeup morning on December 3rd and I've been told to phone any time I want to talk to anyone and come back whenever I like to exchange hats, scarves or wig.

They were just the most fabulous people I've met yet.
Queensland Cancer Council - Southport, well done ladies and guys.

Cas
Janey235
Member
12 years ago
Cas, you're a laugh a minute. Just brilliant! I hope your energy and enthusiasm doesn't falter. Well done you. Love Janey xxx
Casjsa
Member
12 years ago
Do you think I should warn them? Or just have the fun of seeing their faces? Meh! Warning people is overrated, I like to see them squirm.

I wondered whether the wigs are hot? I'm on the Gold Coast and right now it is almost Townsville type of humidity. I don't mind the idea of scarves but I can't cope with sympathy (unless I want a seat on the train) or with people staring. I am hoping to be mentoring at uni next year so unless I want to frighten the teenagers I'd better get used to a wig.

I'll tell you what though. I never had large breasts but I always wore a bra. I'm now getting very used to the idea of not wearing one and just wearing a camisole and a shirt. No one has noticed that I'm missing a breast. I was finding that even wearing very soft sports bras with a prosthetic was creating a bruise along under my scar and I was getting swelling under my arm. 3 days of no bra and the swelling is almost gone as is the bruising. I'm going hippy :) No shoes, no bra and soon to be no hair :P Bring it on man...hahaha

I'll report tomorrow night on how much the Cancer Council had in the way of wigs and hats and things and on how much fun and giggling went on. :)

Cas
mum2jj
Member
12 years ago
The shop,I went to was amazing. It was in a little country town near where I live. At the back of a hairdressers. Apparently she was horrified with the lack of this service that she set one up herself. It was in a private room. She had everything, hats, scarves bandanas. 1st diagnosis I hardly ever wore my wig as I live in the tropics and it was way to hot. Only at work which was air conditioned or really special occaisions. I rocked the bandana look. Loved them as they were cotton, had so many. Also had a great hat for when I went in the sun. It was lined with a tight t-shirt lining that made it snug on your head so no chance of flying off in the wind. My friends and I would laugh if we went out to dinner and I took my hair out. The second diagnosis wore my wig a bit more as it was cold and it kept my head warm ;) Great idea to wait and find out first though....don't want to be stuck with a green wig you don't need. LOL. I wish your oncologist good luck when they meet you. Hehehe Cheers Paula :)
Casjsa
Member
12 years ago
I'm taking my, until just lately, very staid mother along with me. Something is going on with her that I can't put a finger on. All of a sudden she is talking about getting streaks in her pepper and salt coloured hair. I'm like "really?". I think it's a great idea but it is so out of character for her to even think about it. I am wondering whether she's watching me and thinking lifes too short to not be having some fun. I hope so.

Anyway, there will be a lot of giggling going on I can assure you. I can be as silly as a cut snake when the mood takes me and I won't think twice about choosing a bright green wig just for a reaction :P My mother just pretends she doesn't know me hahaha.....

Please feel very sorry for the oncology doctor and nurses who are about to witness cyclone Cas. I only do what I'm told if I like the idea :)

I would be in a state of panic too if my wig wasn't going to be available mind you I've been having a lovely time looking at scarves and fringes lately. I'm going to see if the Cancer Council sell the beanies and scarves and fringes otherwise I will order them online. When I know whether I will have chemo or not.

Cas
mum2jj
Member
12 years ago
Sounds like you achieved lots. Glad your legs ok ;) hehehe I have fond memories of wig shopping believe it or not. I had to do it twice as after my recurrence my hair was still short and so the original bob was no good...at least not at work where clients had no idea of my cancer. Would have had a hard ti me explaining how my hair suddenly grew overnight. On both occaisions I took two girlfriends who are a riot and my daughter. We laughed and laughed. It's great that you go while you still have hair so the ladies in the shop have an idea of your cut colour etc... That is unless you are going to go radical and change your look completely. I imagined I would go blonde...just because I could, but it looked awful. The nurses in oncology told me my hair would start to fall out two weeks after first chemo. They were right to the day, both times :). It was a great comfort knowing I had the wig there ready if I needed it. The funniest thing was the second time. I had ordered this really short wig with streaks. It was a different colour to the one I tried on at the shop. I picked it from one of those hair samples. I went to pick it up and it looked awful. No worries she said, I will send it back and a new one will be here next Thursday. I nearly died...."I need hair on Monday" I cried as my hair had started falling out already. Luckily there was a different wig that I actually liked better in the shop and I took that one. The lady was really nice and shaved my head for me as it had started to come out in clumps. Anyway that's my wig(or one of them...have many)story. A drive sounds like fun. Love Byron Bay. Enjoy yourself. Paula :)
mum2jj
Member
12 years ago
Sometimes a "me" day does wonders for the soul. Take care Paula :)
Janey235
Member
12 years ago
Glad to hear you've 'behaved' today Cas :) I love blue flowers too. I have lots of aggies growing in my garden mostly blue but a couple of white ones. They are considered weeds by some councils here in Melbourne but fortunately not in mine. They remind me of my grandmother's garden. Lovely old fashioned flowers. One of my favourite quotes - "Happiness held is the seed, happiness shared is the flower". So pleased you took time out today. Love Janey xxx
Casjsa
Member
12 years ago
Today I took the day off my intensive workshop and I did nothing all day except talk on the phone, sit on Facebook and I finished my Honours application.

I thought I would get into the swing of scarves and things so I wore a scarf around my head. I kind of like the feeling so I might continue to wear them so that it won't be so much of a shock when I have to.

In my travels online this morning I came across this shop.
http://www.hatshow.com.au/

They have the cotton beanies that I have been looking for and I love some of the scarves and the fringes. I think I am going to have a wardrobe of head wear soon.

I am getting impatient now to go and see the oncologist so that I know what I'm in for next. I don't trust the office staff at his rooms because they have already mucked me about with appointments twice. Can anyone tell me whether he will request blood tests or anything that I can do between now and then to speed the process up? I don't want to have waited a month to see him and then find that he needs more information.

Today my mother insisted on potting some Agapanthus that I have been given. My uncle lives on Mt Tamborine behind the Gold Coast and the agapanthus are growing wild in the bush near him. Someone has obviously dumped them and they've taken off. I just love blue flowers, any variety so I'm thrilled to bits to have aggies everywhere in the ground and in big pots.

So Janey, I've been very good today, I relaxed and I even had a sleep this afternoon for 2 hours.

Cas
Casjsa
Member
12 years ago
Today I took the day off my intensive workshop and I did nothing all day except talk on the phone, sit on Facebook and I finished my Honours application.

I thought I would get into the swing of scarves and things so I wore a scarf around my head. I kind of like the feeling so I might continue to wear them so that it won't be so much of a shock when I have to.

In my travels online this morning I came across this shop.
http://www.hatshow.com.au/

They have the cotton beanies that I have been looking for and I love some of the scarves and the fringes. I think I am going to have a wardrobe of head wear soon.

I am getting impatient now to go and see the oncologist so that I know what I'm in for next. I don't trust the office staff at his rooms because they have already mucked me about with appointments twice. Can anyone tell me whether he will request blood tests or anything that I can do between now and then to speed the process up? I don't want to have waited a month to see him and then find that he needs more information.

Today my mother insisted on potting some Agapanthus that I have been given. My uncle lives on Mt Tamborine behind the Gold Coast and the agapanthus are growing wild in the bush near him. Someone has obviously dumped them and they've taken off. I just love blue flowers, any variety so I'm thrilled to bits to have aggies everywhere in the ground and in big pots.

So Janey, I've been very good today, I relaxed and I even had a sleep this afternoon for 2 hours.

Cas