Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Maryann - I am glad you made some progress with the doctor yesterday! I am glad the biopsy is finished and that your surgery is next week. I am keeping you in my thoughts!

GAGWTA, Ladies!

 

[snappy]

Luvmarypoppins, I applaud your sense of humor.

I agree with Laura about the second opinion now before surgery, although I know how difficult it is with not being able to drive and your husband going out of town.

Is it possible, with the moved up date for surgery?

When do you get the results of the path test from yesterday's biopsy? Was the biopsy of your thyroid or the lymph nodes?

Thyroid biopsies are tricky, I have had a number of thyroid fine needle biopsies over the years (none recently), one doc had to go in twice as he missed the nodule the first time.

It is very hard to face that needle coming straight on, and I could find no way to not observe the proceedings, unlie with other biopsies (although one fine needle biopsy of my breast did not go very smoothly and I saw too much).

I am glad you posted and I glad you have your doc's attention.

 

[Aliceacc]

Today was day #10 of radiation. So far, so good.

I passed the doctor on the way out, and he asked how it's going.

I did mention that my period is almost a week late. I turned 50 in October, so it's not a huge shock, but important in light of the radiation. Up until the past few months, I've been fairly regular; once in a while I get an early surprise. But it's unusual for me to be late.

I'm 99.9% sure I'm not pregnant. (Hey, I've been off birth control since 1990. Of my 3 kids, one is adopted. The math is pretty easy.) And the times I was pregnant, I knew it before my period was even due; I feel absolutely normal. But there is that one off chance.

So he gave me a script to go to a lab and have a pregnancy test. No big deal, right?? Except that, by the time I got home at 4 pm, the labs are all closed!! At 4 pm!!!!

I tried my PCP, he's done for the day too.

So I called the radiologist back, and left a message.

I really, REALLY don't want to miss another day of school, or even a period of school, on this. (By the way, I'm scheduled for my yearly observation 3rd period.)

Does anyone know an "I need my period TONIGHT!!!!" prayer???

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Aliceacc - Can you go buy a test at the pharmacy, or do you have to have a blood test? I hope things work out so you can skip the test entirely!

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm guessing he wants a definitive answer from a blood test. Those home tests aren't totally reliable, and if by some chance I am pregnant, I would imagine that's the end of radiation.

Enough is ENOUGH!!!!

But maybe I will pick up a home test tonight, just in case by any chance it comes up positive; then I'll know I have a problem.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Alice, saying a prayer for you so you don't have to worry about this and get back to what you do best, see the smilie!! and getting your rads.

Wow I dont even know how much I am going to have, and they better not change their minds either. I am getting a 2nd opinion I think on the radiation etc. I will talk to dh and he will talk to his friend whos wife goes to the sloane satellitte.

I am feeling a little better today. My neck still hurts alot and I am not allowed to take a shower because of the wound etc. but we worked around that till tomm.

The endo called with the test results and I had to call her back, so we are playing phone tag. The message said, oh, your tests were good, um, hello, these tests were to find out what kind of cancer I have, not a good or bad answer, a type answer. So now I am as confused as ever.

Now the dr. says that there will not be surgery until I go for a pulmonary function test and see a pulmonary dr. so that is scheduled. Nothing like a little running around. Thurs. 9 am is the test, then at 3:15 dh will take me to the pre op test. They said they might add a chest x ray this time. Then friday when dh is going to california I have to be at the dr. at 8:20, yuckiy time around here, school busess galore. This dr. will discuss the reults with me and give the clearance if all is well. Oh also throw in one of the ds birthdays around this time too. Head spinning.

I actually slept so well last night, in the bed, not the recliner, that I didnt even hear the alarm go off and thus ds17 missed the school bus. He goes to a private school like 30 minutes away, so I drove him, I made sure I didnt take the med though and all was fine. I think my body is getting adjusted to it now.

 

[grammynelliebelle]

GAGWTA! Finally got internet access while visiting my friend. Had my apt at Moffitt on Jan 12 and all was good. They redid the mamo and did an ultrasound and are in agreement that this calcification needs to be watched every 6 months. They suggested I go again in 6 mos at home for the diagnostic and then come back to them in Jan for the full mamo. I thought they were very good. I hope all are doing well. When I can get better access I will go through the thread and catch up with what you all are up to. Being here is a huge blessing. Carol (Grammynelliebelle)

 

[snappy]

GAGWTA! Finally got internet access while visiting my friend. Had my apt at Moffitt on Jan 12 and all was good. They redid the mamo and did an ultrasound and are in agreement that this calcification needs to be watched every 6 months. They suggested I go again in 6 mos at home for the diagnostic and then come back to them in Jan for the full mamo. I thought they were very good. I hope all are doing well. When I can get better access I will go through the thread and catch up with what you all are up to. Being here is a huge blessing. Carol (Grammynelliebelle)

Wonderful news, Carol!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Carol was thinking about you Great news about your test results.

Hoping you are enjoying yourself and hope you are having lots of weather.

 

[Sha]

Aliceacc... hope that this is just one of those things, with the radiation and stress.


Thinking of all you lovely ladies. Hoping you are all staying warm too. Little chilly here in FL tonight.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Aliceacc - More good thoughts for you!

Carol - It is good to hear from you! Sounds like things are going pretty well!

Maryann - I am sorry there is so much running around you have to do to get things squared away! Lots of good thoughts for you!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

GTAGWTA, good afternoon ladies!!

Hope you are all doing well today. I am doing and etc. I actually had ds21 sit in the car with me and we went to the bank, I wanted to drive, but felt better with him with me just in case. The bank is not in our town. Later I went to the post office by myself. I dont like the way I am breathing, so I am praying the lung test will come out good tomm. I feel pathetic when I get excited just about being able to drive and do these little things. I miss the old me for sure. But I guess its one day at a time.

DH is sending his technician out early to california so he will leave friday morning, hence he will be taking me to the pre op. and I will take myself to the lung test or drag a ds with me if I feel too weird to drive myself. So I am happy he will be here to celebrate the ds birthday a little early tomm.

I am trying to do all the bills, paperwork etc. and even just have it ready, since dh is oblivious to how to do this stuff. I wanted to write it down but he refuses, but I think I will make a list etc. We also have been having little episodes of the talk, you know, the talk you never want to have etc. Well goes along with my philosophy to be prepared, Well dh was never a boy scout, so I guess some one has to be prepared.

Wishing you all a great day.!!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Had to take DD to the urgent care tonight. She fell on her knee yesterday. We iced it last night and this morning she thought it felt better and looked less swollen. After school, it was really hurting, so we had it checked out. The doc said it presented itself more like a fracture than a sprain, but he couldn't find a crack in the x-ray. So they put a thing around it to imobilize it. She can walk on it, but nothing high impact. If it's not better in a week, back for more tests to be sure.

I'm reading everything, but too lazy to respond to you all. Just know that my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who needs them. Hugs to all of you, cause even if you don't need it, everyone can use a hug, right?

I'll try to do better in the future. But tonight I just want to go to bed.

 

[laurabelle]

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

Carol- That is wonderful news! Enjoy your vacation!

Melissa- I hope your dd is ok and the immobilization is all she needs.

Maryann- Don't feel pathetic...look on it as appreciating the little things in life. You sound really good...keep it up sista!

Alice- ugh. Did you do the test?

Hubby finally has a dx.
He went for a follow up appt. at the heart center yesterday. This is the second reading off of his implanted heart monitor. It picked up that he has an AV Block, which basically means the top chambers of his heart either slow way down or stop while the others keep going. This is why he blacked out at the end of August. He has not had that happen again, but he has had times when he doesn't feel well. Mostly he is functioning. He has been running, and he feels ok when he does that. The problems happen at random times, for intsance, he felt bad just sitting in his office.

He needs to have a pacemaker. The pacemaker will keep his heart going, but will not slow down his heart rate. His resting heart rate is still too high, and they are considering what to do about it, maybe beta blockers. It can't be left alone, at this rate his heart will wear out prematurely.

He is fit, not overweight, runs, has low cholesterol and blood pressure, eats healthy and has no reason to have this problem, but there it is. It sucks.

He has been driving for about a month, because at that point the first readings weren't picking up the AV block. Now he cannot drive again. They should be scheduling his surgery for next week.

 

[snappy]

Alice, do you have your results? Thinking of you dear.

Laura, sorry about your DH's diagnosis. He is so young to deal with this!!

I guess there is some good in at least the problem has been uncovered and he will be treated for it . . . rather than for anxiety or something equally unrelated.

Sounds like he is receiving good followup. I know you are worried about the surgery, any surgery is worrisome.

My SIL Claudette has been in the hospital this last week, they had to move her pacemaker after many years to the other side.

I need to check up on her this morning and see if she how she did. I think the surgery was scheduled for today.

How in the world do y'all manage without him driving? That would never work for us as we are all going in different directions all the time.

We are getting a small SBA loan to help with trying to make our yard presentable again after Gustav last year. I thought spring would help hide the scars from the tree equipment ruts, but it ain't happening. I thought it would be a lower interest rate (some got 2 % after Katrina, but not for us). At least we will be able to do the work now instead of waiting until the older two are out of college in 3 and 1/2 years (but who is counting?)

Merry, I hope the immobilization stabilizes the knee without further complications. How is it this am?

luvmary poppins, good luck with the lung test today. I hope they can ease your mind and get to the bottom of all this before surgery. I am glad you DS will be with you. Support is so key in all of this.

I heard you about the talk no one wants to have. Even folks much older than you and I shy away from those. Good for you for addressing it. It shows your spunk for sure. My parents did not face the decisions until way after their parents died, until my dad was fairly ill.

My mom and I have talking about the last few days as she has changed her will so that my brother in Costa Rica get his inheritance in installments (care of yours truly). It is sticky as he is holding her up right for money to start up a new restaurant. It is not a lot of money but he keeps coming back to the trough so to speak. It is unnerving because none of his ventures ever succeed and he is back in the dire straits again. Only now he has a Costa Rican wife and a 2 year old and 1 year old. We wonder if we will ever see those little ones. Hard for my mom, it is good she is close to our three as ours are the only ones she has until these two so far away.

I hope my own kids are more stable. Who knows what the future will bring?

OK a downer, sorry about that, but GAGWTA! Thanks for listening!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Maryann - I hope your tests go well today!

Laura - How scary for you and DH! I hope his surgery goes well and he is back to feeling "normal" in no time! I am very glad to hear he has a proper diagnosis.

I talked to Mom last night. She is doing OK. She sees the rad onc today, and her regular onc next week. I still don't think she is complying with the lymphedema guidelines she is supposed to follow at home. The bandages make it hard for her to do the exercises, so that is her excuse not to do them. I am mostly finished arguing about it. She knows what she is supposed to do.

 

[snappy]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Maryann - I hope your tests go well today!

Laura - How scary for you and DH! I hope his surgery goes well and he is back to feeling "normal" in no time! I am very glad to hear he has a proper diagnosis.

I talked to Mom last night. She is doing OK. She sees the rad onc today, and her regular onc next week. I still don't think she is complying with the lymphedema guidelines she is supposed to follow at home. The bandages make it hard for her to do the exercises, so that is her excuse not to do them. I am mostly finished arguing about it. She knows what she is supposed to do.

Elizabeth, you have done all you can. It is out of your hands. Maybe the docs she is seeing with counsel her?

 

[Sha]

I talked to Mom last night. She is doing OK. She sees the rad onc today, and her regular onc next week. I still don't think she is complying with the lymphedema guidelines she is supposed to follow at home. The bandages make it hard for her to do the exercises, so that is her excuse not to do them. I am mostly finished arguing about it. She knows what she is supposed to do.

JSG ~ my mom has just a minor amount of lymphedema. She gets a massage every 2 weeks by someone who is licensed in massage and specializes in lymphedema. She has said that movement is the next best thing. She suggested on of those small trampelines (spell.) that has the support bar for my mom. Just to get on there and walk... bounce just a little... (not jump), that that can be enough to help that fluid move. But, she of course has to be the one to want to do it. That old saying you can lead a horse to water, but you cant make him drink.

MerryPoppins ~ I hope your DD's knee isnt fractured. Had the pleasure of wearing an immobilizer... fun (not)

Laura ~ Sorry about the "electrical" problem with your DH's heart. Same thing with my dad. Glad they found it

Laurie ~ hugs for you and your mom. Why did they move his pace maker over?

Luvmarypoppins ~ prayers for your test and some hugs and I am glad your DS was riding around with you. That is a good idea

Aliceacc ~

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Melissa - I hope DD's knee is better soon!

Sha - I think once Mom is finished with rads she will take better care of the lymphedema. At least that is my hope. She has never been one to exercise so that is part of the problem.

Laurie - Good thoughts for your SIL!

 

[Sha]

Sha - I think once Mom is finished with rads she will take better care of the lymphedema. At least that is my hope. She has never been one to exercise so that is part of the problem.

I hope so too