Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[MerryPoppins]

GAGWTA and Merry Christmas!

We're still in the middle of the holiday crazies. One more Christmas tomorrow with my mom and my brother's family. Things are hectic but still happy and fun.

I'm keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Many of you were mentioned by name at our candlelight service last night. I feel very blessed to have so many caring friends that understand where I've been. It's wonderful to be able to offer my support to all of you as well. Thanks for being there for me. Sometimes you understand in a way that other friends can't.

Hugs to all of you. You're all the best. I'll try to get back soon, when things slow down just a little bit.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I hope you all had a nice holiday.

I wanted to tell you about a little God Wink I had on Christmas Eve. It made me so happy.

I don't think I posted too much about it, but I was quite sad going into the holiday which would be the first without BIL. We actually go to his house which my inlaws live in too. His wife had said she wanted no tears so as to keep it happy for her sons, which is understandable. But the night before Christmas Eve I was very melancholy and thought to myself, "I'm actually really going to miss him teasing me", which was the norm for us. In fact, we had many gag gifts back and forth over the years, including one the week before he passed.

So SIL, his wife, had my name in the grab. She told me as she handed it to me that one of the gifts "was inspired by him" and that "I'd know which one it was when I got to it". Sure enough, it was a dumb *** book that would absolutely be something he would have gotten for me. She said as she was walking by it she just stopped, looked at it, and had to buy it. So I felt like I got "teased from beyond", and it was really just what I needed.

(DH and his siblings found some time to be together to talk, which was good. He was teary in the car on the ride home telling me about it, but it was a good teary. Overall, it was a really good night for the whole family.)

Maureen, how are you doing? I have an extra book I would like to send you if you PM me your address. I bought one for everyone in DH's family. I think you'll like it.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Love the Godwink. And I'm happy that the holiday seemed to have a healing quality to it for all of you.

We're through with all the Christmas rush. Now we get to just sit back and enjoy the rest of the break. DS will go up to Tulsa to visit with his girlfriend's family on New Year's Eve and stay a few days, I believe. He doesn't head back to school until after mid-January. It'll be fun to have him around, other than the few days he plans to be away. DD goes back much sooner of course, but we'll all be together evenings. DH even took some time off work this next week to play with us.

We got a Wii for Christmas, so we're all experimenting with the games. I'm not much into video games, but I have to admit this is fun. DD's occupational therapist suggested it might help with her issues and she'd have fun doing it. So we felt justified spending the money. Tomorrow we've made plans to go to lunch with some good friends that we don't see very often. I'm looking forward to that. I think we're also making plans to go to a movie either tomorrow or Monday. Just lots of down time. It's lovely.

On the down side, DH discovered a knot on FIL's back close to where he had the melanoma removed a few months ago. He looked at it and thinks it may have come back. There isn't much they can do if it has. I mean, they can remove it again, but anything else would be too much for him. He's so weak. I'm praying that's not what it is, but in my heart I feel sure it is back. We're all so lucky that our health is good enough to fight the beast. It's sad when you're not strong enough to stand surgery or chemo and can't even really fight back.

GAGWTA! I'm thinking of you all as I listen to my Christmas music. Yes, for me Christmas lasts at least until Epiphany, so we're only on the 3rd day of my celebration. I love this time of year! Hope everyone is doing well. Hugs and Christmas blessings to all of you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Could it be scar tissue, Merry?

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~
I agree with all the Christmas wishes, you all are so special to me!

Melissa- Christmas isn't over here yet either. I'll never forget, the year I was dxed, I kept my nativity up through the end of March! My parents have had a Wii for a year now and love it. My mom is not very mobile, but she can do the bowling and boxing. Dad bought her the Dancing with the Stars game so she's enjoying dancing with Joey Fatone. I hope your FIL can been seen soon. Maybe it is scar tissue...try not to BBYS.

Linda- It sounds like the Christmas Spirit surrounded your family.

Cheryl- I think going with the flow sounds wonderful! I hope you have a magical trip!

We had a great Christmas. Unfortunately my kids came down with nasty colds yesterday. I went to Walmart and Target, picked up some lights and more candy, which immediately got stashed away. I got some books from the library. Started reading The Shack...wow. It was tough emotionally getting through the beginning, but I'm loving it.

We gave our oldest dd her "class ring" yesterday. We collectively talked about it, and decided to buy her a nice piece of jewelry instead. But she didn't know when or what we bought. I wasn't sure when we would give it to her, since it wasn't a Christmas or birthday present (her bday is next month). It just seemed like a good time, since she felt so yucky. We bought her a Tiffany silver lariat necklace. It has three rings, two interlocking. I told her the rings represented me and daddy and her. She started singing "Sunrise, Sunset", her usual when we talk about her growing up and she tries (usually successfully) to make me cry.*sigh* Anyway, she loves it!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Very strange you should post that, Laura. I've been humming Sunrise, Sunset to myself for the past 30hrs. Why, you ask? I bought DD Fiddler on the Roof for Christmas and we watched it Friday night, LOL. That was the first time I've seen it, but DH somehow knew all the songs so he's been humming them, too. Wow, very coincidental (and funny story, what a character your DD is!) That sounds like a beautiful gift.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

GTAGWTA - Good evening Ladies

I can finally get on since all the ds are out and either working or with friends. Christmas went o.k. I promised the ds I wouldnt cry and guess what Laurabelle...my ds gave my dh The Shack too. Dh said, I dont read fiction, so he gave it to me. I think oldest ds is getting it...one of his gifts to me was a picture of all the 3 ds that was taken in the summer by a friend.

We had fun watching the parade. I finally got to go shopping yest and it was good to get out. Got some pjs for the hosp.

Dh best friend and the best man from our wedding called yest. Well big mouth dh tells him what kind of cancer they think I have. I am telling him to be quiet etc. Well ds 17 says I thought there were no secrets here, I thought you had the good kind of cancer. It just broke my heart. I just said something like, well sometimes things change etc. So he wants the truith. We tell him the dr. thinks it is something that has not shown up in the tests yet and he just needs to take it out now etc.

At our candelight service my friends dd was in front of us. This girl is 18 and has survived leukemia and a bone marrow transplant at age 2. She is now on the heart transplant list in NYC and they have bumped her down a few notches but it was good to see her and be reminded that God does do miracles each and every day. I got to teach her in sunday school once. She is such a sweetie,very quiet and precious.

Friday I am going to the pcp for a pre op clearance. Dh and I are really having issues with this guy and this will be a hard visit too. DH wants to deck him since my 11/20 blood tests are still "on his desk,".

I will pop in again I am sure. I need the support so much right now. Blessings to you all.

 

[Sha]

Evening ladies

I am asking for some prayers for some family. A little bit of history, there is a LOT of cancer on my mom's side of the family. These 3 are no exception, they are all 2nd cousins of mine: Keith (dont remember what kind his is and not doing well), Allison (Luekemia) and Preston (prostate).

I appreciate it, and continue to keep you all in thoughts and prayers

 

[MerryPoppins]

A while back I promised to start sharing some of my favorite quotes. The holidays got in the way, so I decided today was a good time to start. It's sort of an early New Year's resolution, if you will.

The first, because I treasure all the friendships here...

"A friend is a gift you give yourself."

And an appropriate GAGWTA style quote....

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of it's troubles. It empties today of it's strength."

So stay strong ladies, and try not to worry. We're all in my prayers.

 

[laurabelle]

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

luvmarypoppins- Your son's gift to you was so sweet! I'm so glad you got to recognize why that precious young lady was sitting in front of you. I can't remember your surgery date, is it next week? I'm praying for you...

Sha- That's so horrible. Do they live near each other? I'll be praying for them.

Linda- Now you've got a bunch of those songs running through my head... thanks! I don't think I've ever watched the whole movie, but like your hubby, I don't think you need to, to know all the songs. I guess I have to rent it now. I do love musicals. My kids really got into them when they were younger, and we'll still pull them out from time to time.

Melissa-Thanks for reviving the quotes! Here's 2:

“A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.” -Anonymous

"That's too coincidental to be a coincidence." -Yogi Berra

 

[Sha]

Sha- That's so horrible. Do they live near each other? I'll be praying for them.

all are in the state of Virginia.. maybe 100 miles at most apart.

 

[laurabelle]

all are in the state of Virginia.. maybe 100 miles at most apart.

I was thinking not only in terms of supporting each other, but cancer clusters. We have a high cancer rate in the county I lived in for many years.

 

[Aliceacc]

I was thinking not only in terms of supporting each other, but cancer clusters. We have a high cancer rate in the county I lived in for many years.

My next door neighbor had her mastectomy a month before mine. The woman across the street has a lump she's choosing to ignore (that's hearsay; we're not close so I really can't approach her on it) and the 19 year old across the street had a lump removed 2 years ago.

Who says Long Island isn't a cancer cluster???

 

[grammynelliebelle]

GAGWTA! I dont know when my computer has been unplugged for this long! Enjoyed "catching up" with you all today. Too many things to respond to individually but all of you in my thoughts. Believe it or not, the surgeon never called me re the results of the mri I had. If I need anything down the road you can be sure I'll be looking for a new doc. In the meantime, we are pretty much cleaned up from Christmas: tree and decorations away and are getting ready to leave for Florida. We did overnight babysit for dgd age 4 and dgd age 18 months over the weekend, so that set us back a bit with packing. They are so fun! Our van is in the shop awaiting a new transmisson. They expect the parts in tomorrow, so if it gets fixed on 12/31 we will leave 1/2. If not, I hope we will be out by Sat early am. We should get to Kissimmee by Sun afternoon and I'll get my things to Moffitt in Tampa on Mon am. DH and I are so looking forward to getting to Florida.!You all are in my thoughts as we get ready to ring in the New Year. Grammy (Carol)

 

[Sha]

I was thinking not only in terms of supporting each other, but cancer clusters. We have a high cancer rate in the county I lived in for many years.

I dont think it is just a location thing. I have cousin (son of my 1st cousin), on mom's side who lives in FL that is paralized because of cancer. He has his own place and functions as independently as possible. Basically a quad, but has some use of his arms because of the location of where the paralysis starts. Learned a lot from him even without seeing him much.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Alice - How did your lst radiation treatment go?

I went to the grocery store and saw someone I hadnt seen in a while from the ds old school. She said, Oh my,have you lost weight. I told her I have cancer and pray for me. I guess the 40lbs is noticeable.

Sent a card to a guy from my church. He just had to get his kidney out as the tumor was attached to the outside of it. I havent heard an update lately, but I am sure he would want some things private and that is understandable.

Laura - I just started reading The Shack

How do your spouses cope with all of this? Last night I knew dh was crying in the bathroom. He came to bed in the dark and I heard him sniffiling. I told him it was o.k. to cry and asked him what his thoughts were. He said he felt so sorry for all that I am going to have to go through. He has been really good. Called and got that nerve monitoring thing in the operating room straightened out. They will pay for it but I dont know how much of it, but it seems they will do all if the dr. appeals if if they dont like the payment etc.

Now today I get another nice bill for like almost $1,500. for the biopsys I had done in the office, not the dr., only the pathology place. They said I owe $500 as an out of network provider. I, of course, will fight this as usual since I have no control over where they sent the biopsy etc. I fought this before when I had the stomach and colon stuff done in sept. Wouldnt it be nice if they just paid the bills so we would have one less thing to worry about in our fight. Gheesh, gets me frustrated. Thanks for letting me vent. Today is a beautiful day here, way above normal temperatures, a beautiful gift from God, so I enjoyed it outside a little.

 

[Aliceacc]

Alice - How did your lst radiation treatment go?

.

Thanks for asking.

Actually, I went for the "simulation." That's where they allign everything and figure out where the radiation will go. I went at 8:30 am Christmas Eve, and was out by 9:30. I start treatments next Monday, right after school. In fact, I just got off the phone with the AP of my school, to let him know I may need to be sprung early from 9th period study hall. He was, as always, incredibly kind and caring.

I know what you mean about the insurance and the medical bills. A few days after my mastectomy, my sister dropped by to find me sobbing after looking at all the money. But you know what?? It's only money. They can't get blood from a stone. Whatever insurance doesn't cover, we'll get to as soon as we can get to it. So take a deep breath, and try not to sweat the finances.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I called the ins. company and they are going to pay for it and reprocess the claim, hooray!!

I think its really getting to dh now. I think he was crying again. He says he feels so bad for all the stuff I am having to go through. Well, real men do cry!!

I feel terrible. I would say another word but dont know if that is allowed here, lol. My ear is ringing, I told the dr. this before and he didnt seemed fazed by it, my neck hurts, I took tylenol last night, I feel cold and tired alot. I actually made the dinner this morning while I had some energy and will just pop it in the oven later.

Hope everyone has a fantastic NYE tomm, however you celebrate it.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

I have been reading along, but not good at keeping up with posting. You are all in my thoughts!

Mom saw the rad onc this morning - they are still trying to hash out the insurance for the IMRT thing.

She has to go to the lymphedema clinic tomorrow because she hasn't been taking care of her arm so it isn't any better.

After that she goes for a PET scan because there is some weirdness under her arm. She says it is like a bulging vein. Sounds related to the lymphedema to me. Guess we'll see what they say.

Alice - Good luck with your radiation!

luvmarypoppins - Many hugs and good thoughts for you and DH!

Sha - Good thoughts for your family members!

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas! DH was spoiled by having 5 days off. Of course we didn't know he was going to have time off until the week before so we couldn't DO anything with the days.

I hate New Year's Eve. DH has a dock time of 3 AM on 1/1/09 so he will have to leave the house at 1 AM. It is the night I am MOST nervous about him being killed by a drunk. I am always somewhat concerned about that, but NYE seems to beg for something horrible to happen.

Having said that, I hope everyone stays safe and has a Happy NewYear!!

 

[laurabelle]

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


luvmarypoppins- Glad your ins. will pay the claim. In my experience they automatically deny first, expecting people not to follow through. I wonder if you have a cold on top of everything else...my kids still have it.
My hubby (who is the best, and whom I love dearly) never has cried about it, never. I wish he would. It's not healthy. I hope your hubby has someone, other than you, that he can feel free to vent about this to. We have no idea what this is like for them.

Sha-I hate cancer.

Aliceacc- I'm so glad your school is being supportive. You have a great attitude!

Carol- Have a safe, and magical trip!

Elizabeth- I know from other sistas with lymphedema that there can be "knotting", maybe it's this. I'm glad your hubby got some time off, even if it was just staying home. That's how we've been spending our break for the most part. I know what you mean about your hubby driving home late. I worry about mine when he plays gigs, thankfully he's not playing tonight.

We don't have much planned for tonight. The kid's colds are lingering. I'd like to do something (?) local today.They want to buy some sparkling cider to toast with. I have a 2nd crab dip that I made up for Christmas Eve and froze. So I guess it's a repeat of C.E. dinner. I told the kids to wake me up at 10:00 if I'm asleep.

Here's to a Happy, HEALTHY New Year!