Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[Aliceacc]

GAGWTA !!!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone here for all the help you've given me and others this year. This has been the most remarkable resource!!! It's so wonderful to have a place to turn with those little questions that I just didn't think to ask the doctor, and to hear the low down from others who have been there.

Here's to a new year of health, happiness, and love.

(Oh, and am I the only one planning to dance naked at Times Square tonight to bid farewell to 2008??? I'll be right there in front of the camera, "heffalump" and all, dancing in 2009 )

Happy New Year!

 

[snappy]

I need to dust off my dancing shoes too, Alice!

Carol, your extended Orlando vacation is wonderful and that you get some good input from the docs there.

Good luck to everyone in the new yeat!

 

[Sha]

As today is the last day of 2008, I want to thank you Ladies for so many things. Your friendship and compassion that you share with everyone on this thread, no matter what stage they are in their journey of life. I am truly blessed to have stumbled onto this thread and lucky to have met some of you outstanding women in person. I hope to meet more in 2009! And I want to thank you for your cheering and prayers you gave me as I went through school. I am looking forward to being an active participant in the RFC at WDW Oct 4th to honor each of you and remember many many others! Thank you again and may you be blessed with a Year full of love, peace, better health and more Disney trips.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

To all the sisters here:

As one of the newbie sisters around here, thanks for adopting me and letting me tag along with you. Thank you for your compasion and caring. Means more than anything!! You are all a blessing to me.

I wish you all a wonderful 2009 in this journey called life.

Well my dh wanted to know why I was laughing so hard last night..it was someones thread on the cb. He said he hadnt heard me laugh so much lately.Nice to know things are normal in my house sometimes especially when the ds were having a major altercation last night.

A week from tomm. is surgery day so I am counting down the days. I read another post on the cb about the young lady with nose surgery who was intubated awake, which I will have to be, ugh! Just so not looking forward to that!

 

[grammynelliebelle]

GAGWTA and Happy new Year! I will be over and out for a few days. We will have limited internet access in Fla, but I will be able to check in when I get to a library or my friends house. Thank you all for your good wishes and concerns and my best to you all.Luvmary poppins, you will especially be in my thoughts. Carol

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Well, Mom is being banished to the lymphedema clinic every day starting next Tuesday. I TOLD her that was going to happen. But I am trying not to rub it in.

She had a full body PET scan today and they told her it was all clear!

Her radiation is pending insurance approval. Once the Dr. knows for sure what they will cover she will be scheduled for her treatments. She is considering taking a leave of absence while she finishes her treatment because it sounds like the lymphedema treatment will limit her ability to use her arm and fingers.

I hope you all have a safe and happy new year!!

 

[snappy]

Sorry mom is dealing with the swelling, but great news on the scan results!!

Great way to end the year!!

Everyone stay safe tonight.

I am home after working an awfully long day. Now i have to figure how how to cook all these ducks (DH got back from a duck hunting trip to the hunting club. He also picked up some boudin sausage.

Not exactly your traditional New Years dinner.

Bye all!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I guess it's getting close to New Year's where some of y'all live. Just thought I'd get on and say Happy New Year. Hope you're all safe and warm. May we all have a joyous and healthy 2009!

 

[Sha]

I am home after working an awfully long day. Now i have to figure how how to cook all these ducks (DH got back from a duck hunting trip to the hunting club. He also picked up some boudin sausage.

Not exactly your traditional New Years dinner.

Bye all!!

I will be having pork, corn bread, spinach (greens), and black eyed peas tomorrow. Nothing special tonight. But trying something new with the pork, so wish me luck!!!

 

[NHAnn]

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my wonderful friends here...old and new!!

I agree with the sentiments expressed....the friendship and support, the caring and the laughter, and even the tears and challenges we share on this thread are blessings!!

I have been busy back at work this week and DH and I have enjoyed a little "empty nest" this week as DD headed to Calgary (brrrrrrr!) Sunday to visit friends from her camp job last summer, she returns Friday.

I started the generic synthroid Saturday morning. Got notified also that my bone density has decreased since last year... PCP sent me this info in a letter suggesting I talk to his nurse about "which presc I want called in" for "osteoporosis" (Boniva or Fosomax). The report itself though shows I'm still in osteopenia range,not osteoporosis,though it has decreased since last year. I called the onc clinical trial nurse instead (after some more online reading). Ran everything by her....the increased joint pain, in recent months, the thyroid thing, the bone density thing. She pulled up my labs on the computer as we spoke, we had a nice long discussion, it was good to get her perspective. Called doc and told him I am holding off on anything for the bones right now, until I get the thyroid thing straightened out. When I told him my understanding of the numbers (osteopenia vs osteoporosis) he said it was "semantics" (ggrrr) and he was just focusing on the radiologists' report on "significant decrease" in recommending meds. I'll continue my calcium and D, increase my exercise (I've been bad since the weather turned coldand the mornings got dark!) etc. My head spins at times sorting out the risks/benefits/side effect issues.....aromitase inhibitor (which we're pretty sure I'm on in the blind trial) to lower cancer recurrence risk, causes bone loss and joint pain, live longer statistically but maybe crippled by fractures...so throw another med in the mix which can cause MORE bone pain andheaven knows what other else...while trying to figurethis thyroid thing out with no help at all from the PCP. Need a new PCP I think!! Ack...excuse my ranting, I know things could be alot worse!!!

I really just want to wish you all a very happy and healthy 2009...gotta go smooch my DH in 2 minutes!! I'll be back...next year!
GAGWTA and happy new year!!!

 

[laurabelle]

~~~***Happy New Year GAGWTA sistas!***~~~

Aliceacc- I was asleep at midnight, but if you were dancing naked in Times Square in that weather you should get on t.v.!

Elizabeth- Congrats to your mom... clean PETs rock!

luvmarypoppins- I'm so glad you found your laugh!

Ann- An endocrinologist will be best able to sort this all out. When I went to mine, her fellow felt based on some of my spine numbers that I had osteoporosis not penia, but she said you can't base it on just one number. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I was on Boniva when I saw her, a script from my onc who ran the dexascan and who I saw first for the results. We decided on Boniva because I could take it at home monthly. At that point I didn't know that Actonel (which I had used before) was now monthly. My endo. dr. said that monthly Actonel is better than Boniva, and gave me the numbers showing % decrease of fractures in spine and hip. I saved the note she wrote.

Here's her comparision:
Fosamax- hip 50% spine 50%
Actonel- hip 35% spine 50%
Boniva- hip -- spine 50%
Reclast- hip 35% spine 50%

I have only taken one monthly Actonel so far, and I am having a little bit of upper GI issues. I haven't noticed anything else. I may end up going in for infusions for another drug if it gets worse, but I'm going to try Actonel again this month. They do have a free trial on their website, so sign up if you think you may go on it. They compared my dexascan from 2yrs ago and the fellow was shocked at how quickly my scan went from normal to this. But I had hysterectomy/oopherectomy, have been on Aromatase Inhibitors and lots of steroids. Not to mention physically I'm the poster child for osteoporosis.

Anyway, I know it's a pain to have to go around seeing all these different dr.s, but that's what medicine has become. A good endo. dr. will help you sort it out. Your PCP should be the overseer, that's how mine acts. I feel good that I have her in my corner. She helps me keep it all straight, keeps her eyes peeled for things that could be missed, ect. I usually go to my PCP first for recommendations. HTH

Yes, you ladies rock! Thanks again for being here. I wish for all of us a year filled with joy, moving past sickness into health and wholeness.

 

[Aliceacc]

~~~***Happy New Year GAGWTA sistas!***~~~

Aliceacc- I was asleep at midnight, but if you were dancing naked in Times Square in that weather you should get on t.v.!
:

Oh, I was!!! Didn't you see me???

I've got to tell you: there are some parts of the body that were NOT meant to be exposed to frostbite!!!

 

[laurabelle]

Oh, I was!!! Didn't you see me???

I've got to tell you: there are some parts of the body that were NOT meant to be exposed to frostbite!!!

I'm impressed you're awake! I recommend you soak your parts in a hot toddy...

 

[Pea-n-Me]

there are some parts of the body that were NOT meant to be exposed to frostbite!!!

I agree. Tell my family (and friends) that. In a little while they'll be doing the annual dip in the ocean at our local beach. We got about a foot of snow yesterday and it is absolutely frigid here. I don't know if I can stand even being down there let alone going in. I am going to see what I can capture in pictures, though. It is pretty funny to watch. There's usually a crowd of hundreds (not sure about this year where it's especially snowy and cold). Right at 12 o'clock the whole crowd just starts running toward the ocean, then they run in a ways and dive. Some wear funny hats and clothes. Hopefully if my hands aren't numb I can get some good shots. Stay tuned.

Happy New Year to all of you.

ETA: our weather

Forecast Details from the WBZ Weather Team
11°
Blowing Snow
Wind: NW 21 mph | Humidity: 47% | Dew Point: -6 | Visibility: 7.0 mile | Barometer: 30.05 | Windchill -8

 

[snappy]

Oh my, I sure hope there is some of that hot toddy stuff handy for after the swim.

Can't wait for those pictures. Be sure to use the color setting and not black and white one to capture the true shades of blue.

My new year's resolution is to squeeze in a short trip to WDW in January/early February. Having trouble deciding on the resort.

Any suggestions?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, and Happy New Year!

Laurie- I hope you got your ducks sorted out.
The only resorts we have been to are Pop, Poly, SSR, WL and AKL. Of course AKL is our favorite.

Linda - I don't think I would go outside if it was 11 degrees. I would definitely not go in the water! But if you are going outside and other people are jumping in the water I hope you can get some great pics!

 

[snappy]

We will do AK one day, Elizabeth, after the construction is done.

I ended up with Carribean Beach.

The new zero entry pool drew me in. The CM I got on the phone said to definitely try Shutters, the sitdown there. She said that cast members go there alot and her family goes there to celebrate family special occasions. She also said the walk around the lake at night is not to be missed.
Maybe I can rent a ECV or borrow my sister's.

I like the theme, the island music and the hammocks. I just hope I can get a close in building.

The new pirate rooms were not available with the discount.

It will be just DD13 and me, end of January, the week after MLK day.

I have been a bit down and DH agreed in a heartbeat. Wish I could convince mom to join us.

I'll have to work on her.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Laurie - I think a trip sounds perfect! We have been that time of year twice because DS's birthday is at the end of January. This year with our work schedules we couldn't seem to coordinate a trip. Besides, our APs are expired and airfare is hideous so it would be very hard to justify a trip right now. Guess I'll keep plugging away towards August.

 

[annrae]

Sorry mom is dealing with the swelling, but great news on the scan results!!

Great way to end the year!!

Everyone stay safe tonight.

I am home after working an awfully long day. Now i have to figure how how to cook all these ducks (DH got back from a duck hunting trip to the hunting club. He also picked up some boudin sausage.

Not exactly your traditional New Years dinner.

Bye all!!

Hi Laurie: Your post really brought back memories for me. I have not had boudin sausage since I was a young girl living in Canada. It always was one of my favorite meals and my grandmother used to cook it for me.

Enjoy the duck and the boudin. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Barbara

 

[lookingforward]

Hey everyone. Happy new year. I have been out of touch for a while. To add insult to injury this year (08) my dad was put in the hospital with kidney issues. He is doing okay and home today.

I have been having a hard time with the tomoxefin. Pain, leg cramps, etc. I am seriously thinking about stopping it. I am about at my wits end.

We are supposed to head to disney the last weekend of January for a three night stay. I am not sure I am up to it.

I hope everyone is well and that our new year is filled with good health, good times and love.