Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[snappy]

Welcome, Donnabres!! What a wonderful niece you have to direct you our way. There are some amazing ladies here. There is much sharing of info as well as support and encouragement.

I feel the same way, I joined the DIS back in 2002 to gain info on Disney. It was not until early this year that I even started posting, I am an accomplished lurker. The lion's share of my posts are here since the thread started back in May. I have learned so much. It is such a gift to be able to bounce things off others in the same predicament. I always seem to have questions that I fail to ask at my doctor visit.

I have said it before, kudo's to Laurabelle and Pea-n-me for getting this off the ground. I never imagined so many Disney lovers either are BC survivors themselves or a loved one is. Maybe it's the other way around, that so many BC survivors love Disney.

 

[donnabres]

Thankyou for your kind words and prayers. Dan Murphy I may be in Disney same time as you are. I have had a trip planned with my oldest son and his family. My reservations are 12/4to the 11th. I may have to cut the vacation a little short per the oncologist.
My surgeon thinks I should go and enjoy the grandkids. I am scheduled to have the surgery to check the lymph nodes on the 30th of this month. I'm thinking that the chemo would be starting late the next week. If I can just be there to see their faces walking into the Magic Kingdom, it will be worth it. I made reservations to take the family, grandson 11 1/2, granddaughter 8 1/2, twins one girl and one boy 7 1/2 to have dinner with Cinderella. They are so excited.
I will definately be visiting this site, and you will be hearing from me again. My sister in law has told me of a support group here in our city, I am thinking of going to that too.
Again, thankyou for your kindness and support

Donna

 

[denisem]

GAGWTA and welcome Donnabres! I was also recently diagnosed and these ladies have inspired me (and pointed me in the right direction as far as gathering information). It IS overwhelming at first, but as I plug away learning of the various options, things have fallen into place.

Good luck on your journey!

 

[snappy]

Thankyou for your kind words and prayers. Dan Murphy I may be in Disney same time as you are. I have had a trip planned with my oldest son and his family. My reservations are 12/4to the 11th. I may have to cut the vacation a little short per the oncologist.
My surgeon thinks I should go and enjoy the grandkids. I am scheduled to have the surgery to check the lymph nodes on the 30th of this month. I'm thinking that the chemo would be starting late the next week. If I can just be there to see their faces walking into the Magic Kingdom, it will be worth it. I made reservations to take the family, grandson 11 1/2, granddaughter 8 1/2, twins one girl and one boy 7 1/2 to have dinner with Cinderella. They are so excited.
I will definately be visiting this site, and you will be hearing from me again. My sister in law has told me of a support group here in our city, I am thinking of going to that too.
Again, thankyou for your kindness and support

Donna

I agree with your surgeon (he sounds like a real sweetheart), make that trip, you will be making some wonderful memories.

The support group is an excellent idea too. I would go before your surgery too if you can. Several newly diagnosed survivors have attended my group's meetings, and they were so grateful for the support and insight they received. I never fail to learn new things each meeting. I have read every BC book I can get my hands on and WAY too much on the internet yet there is always more out there.

Please feel free to ask away with any questions. Do not worry if it is something previously discussed here, there have been so many pages of posts here it will take you a while to get through it all. It is very rewarding to another survivor to be able to share something to help a newly diagnosed patient. You'll see what I mean before too long.

GAGWTA!!

Great party for DD10. It was much easier than having a big extravaganza party at home like we usually have, I really like having a hostess to set everything up, cut and serve the cake, clean up, etc. Unfortunately, one of the guests fell when a big lug cut in front of her in the skating rink. Her arm was hurting her big time, we had one doctor mom and one nurse mom in our group, they were in agreement that the arm was most likely broken. I am sure we will hear the whole story tomorrow, her mom has her at the ER right now. It happened near the end of the party, turned me in to a nervous wreck, which actually isn't very difficult. DH wouldn't even let me drive anyone else home, he took 6 girls home himself, the big dear.

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

Donna- I'm so glad you found us, but so sorry you had to! I went to WDW right before my excisional biopsy (lumpectomy)... It's a great distraction! To put the pink ribbon in your siggie, just follow the directions in the 1st post on this thread. Looking forward to getting to know you!

snappy Laurie- I am so glad to hear you're in such good hands! It's important that they listen to you!!!

 

[Amy]

Welcome, Donnabres! Sorry you had to join us, though. Watch out - sometimes this thread moves pretty fast and it's hard to keep up! I missed a couple of days a while back and I was lost!

Hope you can make your trip to Disney. We'll be there Dec. 7-11 - DS15's band will be marching in the afternoon parade on Dec. 9, and they're doing a concert at the Galaxy Theatre in Tomorrowland on Dec. 8. Since your trip is so soon after your surgery, you should take it easy and do lots of sit-down things, like the parade and the concert. Maybe I'll see you there!

 

[MNSusan]

Hi Donnabres! I was just diagnosed last week, and am leaving on Thursday for a trip to WDW with the grandkids. My lumpectomy is scheduled for Dec 7. I've really found a lot of support and great information here.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Hi Donna. Sorry you needed to join us, but glad you found us. I say go and enjoy your vacation! You don't want to miss their shining eyes. You'll never forget the looks on their faces. It'll give you new strength to fight the fight. And go ahead and add that ribbon.

My allergies are just terrible this fall. I'm not sick, but I'm afraid if I don't get it under control soon, I might end up with a sinus infection. Today it is a tiny bit better. I have my fingers crossed.

GAGWTA! I'm praying for all of you.

 

[snappy]

My allergies are just terrible this fall. I'm not sick, but I'm afraid if I don't get it under control soon, I might end up with a sinus infection. Today it is a tiny bit better. I have my fingers crossed.

Merry, are you taking anything for allergies? I take the Sam's brand generic for Claritin (VERY reasonable). I take it year round, even when I am not suffering. I used to take it only AFTER I started suffering with allergies. I think it is harder to control once it gets ahold of you. since I have been on it continually I have not had a single problem. It either is keeping at baby or I have been extremely lucky. I used to be miserable both in the spring and the fall during oak pollen season.

Separate item: I have take the Airborne product several times at the start of a cold and had great results. The bottle of 10 was about $6 at Walmart.
You take it at first sign of a cold or even prior to being a a crowded are where you would be more likely to be exposed to something and then every 3 hours as needed. You can go through one bottle in a day easily. This might be a good product for anyone undergoing chemo.

Anyway, I noticed during my last trip to Walmart that the price was more like $10 now for ten dosages. I think it stinks for them to hike up the price during cold and flu season. Kind of like what happened here with gas during the hurricane season. ARGGGGG!!!!!!!

OK, just my pet peeve for the day.

Have a good Monday all you lovely ladies!!!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

DH just suggested Claritin last night, so we ran out and got a generic. I don't know why he didn't suggest it sooner. I've never taken it before, but I do think it's helping me. Don't know if I'll take it all the time, but definitely during my problem seasons. I used to take allergy shots, but don't any longer. Usually, my allergies are under control. But fall leaves and the mold they bring are not my friends. Oh well, they are beautiful, so it's a trade-off. I do love this time of year. I've never taken Airborne, but maybe I should pick up some. I've heard good things.

Well, I have a huge list of things to keep me busy today. I'll check in later.

 

[mickeymost]

GAGWTA

Welcome donnabres. It seems as though alot of us will be in WDW soon. I told my 3DSs no matter what we're going. They'll have to chain to a bed to keep me from going. Don't let things changs your plans. If nothing else, you definately learn to smell the roses a bit more after dx.

I'll be at the world 12/2 - 12/11

Hope to see some of you there!

Kelly

 

[snappy]

Merry, it has been my experience that it takes at least several days to get the full effect of Claritin. Give it a while before you decide it is really helping.
For me, after the full force of the allergy sets in, I end up with sinus issues on top of allergies, it just morphs. That's why I am taking it now each day.


I tried generic Benedryl, for allergy relief as well as to help me sleep at night.
I found Benedryl did help me sleep but the allergy benefit did not last 24 hours, and I was needing something in the am as well. It makes me too sleepy during the day so I went back to my Claritin.

Hope it works for you.

 

[donnabres]

I am waiting for a call today, hasn't come yet from the oncologist. To schedule the ct scan, and a followup. Since I have the procedure to check the lymph nodes on the 30th, I'm assuming that I will start chemo late the next week, or the following. If they schedule it late following week, I'll be cutting early, but if the following week, maybe I'll just come home Sat. instead of Sunday.
You can bet that I will be smelling the roses a little diffrently this trip. I don't know the schedule we will be keeping, that's my DIL's dept. But hope to see the performance in the theatre on the 8th if I'm still there. Let me know what time, and if in the Magic Kingdom, I will be there. I think the 7th is when they want to do the Mickey's Christmas Party at night.
I plan to take double the video's I normally do, and when I have a bad day, or start to feel sorry for myself, I will watch those 4 kids.
Well, off to work.
Have a great day all. I will be putting the ribbon into my sig.line shortly. You are right. I am a survivor.

Donna

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~

Donna- Don't be surprised if you almost forget about it while you're in Disney! That's why we go so often... And you're right, those videos will be a great escape hatch for the bad days. It was so funny, I was in the hospital over the summer and the day I got to come home, I turned on the travel channel and there were a bunch of Disney shows on... now that makes me feel better!

MerryPoppins- My dd is on daily Claritin...it does take time to work.

Hubby and I finally planned our anniversary dinner that we had to postpone until I was feeling better. We're going Friday night. I'm down to 5mg of Prednisone, and my body's having a little trouble weaning off. Hopefully this won't interfere with dinner. It's a lovely, historic mansion, very romantic, gourmet food... we've been wanting to try it forever. I can't eat alot in one sitting, so I hope I don't overdo it. Here it is if you'd like to see... http://www.miltoninn.com/

 

[snappy]

Laura, yum, yum. What a great choice for an anniversary dinner!! I hope you two have a beautiful evening.

One of the things I really miss about living in the New Orleans area is going to a fine restaurant. Especially before kids we had the disposable income to eat out a lot. We often went out with two other couples and really splurged. The company I worked for treated us to meals at really nice restaurants a lot too, especially lunches.

I hope the majority of the fine restaurants are able to come back. I think it will take awhile though. Just getting the staff to keep them open is dicey now. The restaurants that are open are apparently doing a good business. When I picked up DD's birthday cake here Saturday she said the New Orleans bakeries that are open are doing a tremendous business, there are so many workers in town, they are scarfing up the doughnuts and other goodies.

Also, I miss the N. O. zoo and the aquarium, although we do visit from here, it is not as often. I think the zoo will reopen in a few weeks, not sure about the aquarium. The zoo was able to send animals to other zoos early on and are getting them back, the aquarium lost most of the fish.

My sis in law keeps me informed about Mardi Gras, she is a nut about it, she says it will roll. I'm betting the Jazz fest will too, but that is not until April/May so there's time.

Ah, DH told me his niece has located the contractor she used to remodel her shotgun house uptown where his mom and sisters are staying. They will use him to redo the Metairie house DH has been helping with. They finally hit the wall (literally) with what they can do without a professional. I am hoping DH will be able to be home more now. Yay!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA!

Laura, have a wonderful dinner at The Milton Inn and Happy Anniversary. It reminds me of a nice restaurant that we go to, The Dan'l Webster Inn. www.danlwebsterinn.com

snappy, it must be nice to see N.O. getting back on its feet.

My DH and DS also take claritin during allergy season, it really helps.

Well I had an interesting morning. I was just interviewed by a magazine writer for an article she is doing on embryo adoption. Very strange how things happen. I've been thinking about the subject a lot and have been considering writing a book about it myself. I don't know if I mentioned that the couple who adopted our embryos is pregnant, it will be their first child after many years of infertility. It is kind of emotional but we are very happy for them. I've always felt that if more people knew this was an option they might choose it for their own frozen embryos (that would otherwise be discarded) and I've been looking for ways to get the word out. It's true that God works in mysterious ways.

 

[Quackmore]

GAGWTA!

Laura, have a wonderful dinner at The Milton Inn and Happy Anniversary. It reminds me of a nice restaurant that we go to, The Dan'l Webster Inn. www.danlwebsterinn.com

snappy, it must be nice to see N.O. getting back on its feet.

My DH and DS also take claritin during allergy season, it really helps.

Well I had an interesting morning. I was just interviewed by a magazine writer for an article she is doing on embryo adoption. Very strange how things happen. I've been thinking about the subject a lot and have been considering writing a book about it myself. I don't know if I mentioned that the couple who adopted our embryos is pregnant, it will be their first child after many years of infertility. It is kind of emotional but we are very happy for them. I've always felt that if more people knew this was an option they might choose it for their own frozen embryos (that would otherwise be discarded) and I've been looking for ways to get the word out. It's true that God works in mysterious ways.

WOW Pea!!!! That is awsome news.

 

[snappy]

Very cool, Linda!!

You will have to let us know what magazine and month the article will be published in. I would still love to see you write a book about it, though.
You are very good with words, I did not do IVT but I am still very interested in the subject. And your case is resulting in such a heartwarming ending for the adoptive couple. I would love to hear "the end of the story."

GAGWTA!!!!

 

[laurabelle]

Laurie- Hubby and I want to go to NO just to eat! I hope and pray it is reborn, even better than before!

Linda- That is fabulous! I can't think of a better person to do it!!!

 

[Hollyann]

Hi Ladies!

It's been crazy busy at work - I'm catching up on being absent - finally! I hope you have a great day! Went out with some old neighbors last night. We try to go the 1st Monday of the month. We just went to a salad bar - but ended up talking most of the night. Always nice to spend quality time.

I have a friend who saw her surgeon today regarding breast issues - I hope everything went well....haven't heard yet.

Laurabelle - Ooh, the Milton Inn sounds GREAT - have fun and Happy Anniversary!

Merry - I hope your allergies are better. I have food allergies, so I carry allegra and benedryl with me all the time.

Donnabres - did your call come in? We're thinking of you - this is a GREAT group of ladies....and a wealth of information!

Well, I'm gonna post on a few other threads and catch up! See you around!