Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

Laura, FWIW, I think you're making the right decision. You will feel so much better physically off the drugs. I hate the fact that you have to give up another body part in return, but having watched two people close to me with ostomies, and taken care of many, many others over the years, I know you will be eventually fine with it, too. You are a survivor, sista, and this is just one more bump in the road for you, hopefully your last hurdle.

I will do a little trip report soon. Besides working the end of last week and doing post trip I'm knee deep in photo procecessing. I have to work today so I'll have to put everything off until at least tomorrow and Wed when I'm off.

Thinking of lmp. I'm not sure whether she'll be feeling better or worse at this point. Probably feels like she got hit by a bus right about now. Hang in there, sista. Also thinking of the "parents" here and hoping all are doing well.

Laurie, glad you liked CBR and had a great trip with your daughter. Sounds like you and Maureen had a good time together, too. Neat.

Off to work. GAGWTA

 

[laurabelle]

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

Laurie- Thank you for the kind words and prayers for me and hubby. Yes, his surgery is tomorrow.
It sounds like they did a great job on the refurb at CBR and the setting sounds so relaxing. I can picture your dinner at CS Grill...I'm so glad my dd and I took you there first! We stayed one night at AKL. It was an add on day before checking in to DVC. We booked last minute in a standard room and they upgraded us to a savanah room. Even on vacation I'm an early riser, and I loved sitting on the balcony watching the giraffes feed. It really does make you feel like you're not in FL anymore... someplace exotic. I loved the scents there. I'm sure Elizabeth could tell you all about it!

Linda- The nurse called to talk to hubby and answer questions about his surgery tomorrow. He wasn't home from work yet. I'm such a Diser I requested a private room for him and to have the pacemaker placed on his right side, since he plays guitar.
Thank you for your input on my surgery. I'm still hoping I will hold out for a little while longer, but I don't think I'll ever really be ready...
So how did you like the CS dining plan?

We are booked in DVC for 6 days, from the end of June checking out July 3rd. I was going to extend our stay through the holiday and stay at the Dolphin. I would love to see the special fireworks, but it falls on a Sat. this year, and I think the crowds will be larger than usual. I just don't feel like dealing with it. I don't know if we're driving or flying. Right now SW prices are still high for June. I'm also thinking about the gulf beaches for a couple of days. I've never been there. Siesta Key looks lovely...
Disney dreaming keeps me from going crazy! Thanks pal!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Laura, you and your DH are in my thoughts today! I hope everything goes well with the pacemaker placement!
I hope that you are able to find some peace in your decision about your own surgery.

Isn't AKL the best?

Did everyone see that they are extending the Buy 4, Get 3 free deal through August 15, effective next Monday? We will be there Aug. 1-15 in case anyone is inspired to book a trip!
Also, on the DVC website you can click a link to add your "celebration" to your ressie. I did that yesterday.

I hope Maryann is recovering well.

Lots of hugs to all!

 

[Sha]

JSG where did you see about the extention of the buy 4 get 3??? That would be great for a couple friends of mine.

Laura prayers for your DH and surgical team today. Prayers for your upcoming surgery too.

Im a little bummed today. A little emotional I guess. Overnight was 3 years that my dad passed, and we had lost the closeness because of his wife (that he left mom for). He did say the week he died that we were good and I believe that. I just am not sure why its bothering me so much this time.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Sha - Hugs to you! I am sorry you are feeling sad.

One of the girls on another thread I post on is a travel agent, and she got an e-mail about it yesterday. There is a thread on "Codes and Rates" where other folks have heard the same info from their travel agents, so I am pretty sure it is true.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sha My father died over twenty years ago and I still miss him a lot, too. Sometimes it still feels acute. We'd had some issues, too, but fortunately had gotten some of them resolved before he passed suddenly. There really is no love like the love of a parent, is there?

Maureen, how are you doing, and how is your father?

Thinking of lmp and Laura's DH today.

GAGWTA

 

[MerryPoppins]

Wish the buy 4 get 3 free applied with DVC points too. It's looking more and more like we'll try to take a trip in January of 2010. I'm excited.

I just stopped by to see if there was any news about our patients. I'm thinking good thoughts for them.

Things are busy around here. Nothing unusual, just the same old routine. Just a lot of it, I guess.

Here's my thought for today...

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

That's how I feel about all of you. When I get down and forget the words, you seem to be able to sing my song to me. It's a lovely gift.

I hope your heart is singing today. GAGWTA!

 

[laurabelle]

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

Quick update...hubby is home and resting now. Surgery to put in the pacemaker and remove the heart monitor took 4hrs. We found out today that the last reading the implanted monitor picked up, the one they dxed him from, the AV block lasted nearly 10 seconds. I told him on the ride home from the hospital, that I'm not scolding him, but he was supposed to call the dr. if that happened. He didn't even tell me about it. This was in early Dec. He was at his desk getting ready to leave work, he kind of went in and out, (I guess he blacked out again) but he thought it only lasted a second. I sure hope he has nine lives!
Thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers...
Any word on Maryann?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Laura

Merry

Sorry I haven't done a little trip report, but I've been busy doing this: Photography Board Trip Report. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

 

[lookingforward]

Hi everyone. Sha, I can only send you a I miss my mom every single day.
Laura, I am glad your husband's surgery went well. He was in my prayers and I hope his recovery is easy.

I have not had a lot of time to read all the posts so if I missed anyone please forgive me. I went to disney this weekend and had a great time, a highlight was meeting Laurie and her daughter. It was really wonderful! Of course, as soon as I got back to work I developed my usual post-disney cold. So I have been going to bed early and trying to get through the week at work. It does not help that there is no HEAT at work....the weather in south Florida has been in the 30's. FREEZING!

We went to a dvc sales thing while at disney and are seriously thinking about buying bay lake. However, my husband is set to get a bunch of dental work done (his parents never took care of it as a child) and that may delay things. I kind of felt that the sales person was a bit pushy, and once she realized we were not going to sign anything that day she kind of just went through the motions. But I am definately going to do it some day....soon, I hope. I loved the models...it was like the Jetsons!

I hope you are all doing well. I am thinking about Maryann, hoping she is okay.

Merry..I loved your last post.

 

[snappy]

Laura

Merry

Sorry I haven't done a little trip report, but I've been busy doing this: Photography Board Trip Report. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Oh my the pictures are great.

I am afraid to even look at mine now.

 

[snappy]

Merry, what a lovely lovely quote. Struck me as very Disneyish for some reason.

Maureen, I am still in the afterglow of meeting you and your family. I am sorry you caught that cold. What did you think of the the family suites?

Laura, I am glad you and your husband are home. Scary about that 10 second thing. Was that Afib?

Wondering too about LMP?

You guys have to go check out LInda's pictures. You will feel like you are there, honest to goodness.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

GUESS WHO?? Guess what Maryann and Lazarus have in comon? Well my latest e mail update was entitled not Quite Lazarus. I read, re read that bible story today. I believe Jesus felt the same way about me, he cried when I was so sick, he knew if everyone saw what he did that God would be glorified through him and Of course I didnt want to be like the other 9 lepers and forget to say thank you to Jesus, I want to be like the l who remembered. For the 2nd time I am Jesus walking miracle.I almost died once before, another story for another time, medical of course.

Yes, I do feel like I got hit by a bus. Hmm, my l shoulder is not working, I pee alot, I have so many med, I dont know about the dosing times so I am writing everything down., I have 1 drain sticking out my neck, the staple are out. I have to ration my remaining 45 pain pills. I have the same throbbing cancer pain, gheesh!! Glad I had 3 kids with no epidurals. I am using my grannys walker to get around as I am still weak. I even emptied and refilled the dishwasher. Nice church people have been leaving food in a cooler outside,. I dont like loud noises or to be disturbed. I have no short term memory these days.

I talked to my dh, from what I gather it went something like this, lst surgery 6 hours, then I was bleeding, 2 more hours of surgery, which was operation #2, couldnt find bleeding, just used glue inside,. Tumor was wrapped around alot of stuff, including huge vein? jugular? Went to roon, had severe skull pain, asked for pain med, puked so much I blew the questionable jugular, asked if I was dying,. wouldnt answer, Felt like I was chociking to death. Dh said face was like a watermelon, bp was inverted like 60/50. Got surgeon who had lst surgery at hospl. and couldnt find operating room. He saved my life. Had like 6 blood transfusions. Was the talk of many surgeons since about 6 pints of me was oer the or walls, very graphic, sorry. No one ever saw anything like it in their life, hmm, heard that one before, Lost a day as I was on morphine 24/7 every 10 min. Went to surgical icu for at least 2 days. DH said I was so cold when he held my hand. Had 4 nurses in recovery for 24/7 for 2 days I think since there were no icu beds available. Went to icu stepdown. Horrible care there, absolutely horrible. Patient familys were even screanming at nurses. Sorry state of affairs there. Will write again, Thanks for all the cards, prayers, thoughts and wishes. God is Good, Good all the time!!

 

[lookingforward]

GUESS WHO?? Guess what Maryann and Lazarus have in comon? Well my latest e mail update was entitled not Quite Lazarus. I read, re read that bible story today. I believe Jesus felt the same way about me, he cried when I was so sick, he knew if everyone saw what he did that God would be glorified through him and Of course I didnt want to be like the other 9 lepers and forget to say thank you to Jesus, I want to be like the l who remembered. For the 2nd time I am Jesus walking miracle.I almost died once before, another story for another time, medical of course.

Yes, I do feel like I got hit by a bus. Hmm, my l shoulder is not working, I pee alot, I have so many med, I dont know about the dosing times so I am writing everything down., I have 1 drain sticking out my neck, the staple are out. I have to ration my remaining 45 pain pills. I have the same throbbing cancer pain, gheesh!! Glad I had 3 kids with no epidurals. I am using my grannys walker to get around as I am still weak. I even emptied and refilled the dishwasher. Nice church people have been leaving food in a cooler outside,. I dont like loud noises or to be disturbed. I have no short term memory these days.

I talked to my dh, from what I gather it went something like this, lst surgery 6 hours, then I was bleeding, 2 more hours of surgery, which was operation #2, couldnt find bleeding, just used glue inside,. Tumor was wrapped around alot of stuff, including huge vein? jugular? Went to roon, had severe skull pain, asked for pain med, puked so much I blew the questionable jugular, asked if I was dying,. wouldnt answer, Felt like I was chociking to death. Dh said face was like a watermelon, bp was inverted like 60/50. Got surgeon who had lst surgery at hospl. and couldnt find operating room. He saved my life. Had like 6 blood transfusions. Was the talk of many surgeons since about 6 pints of me was oer the or walls, very graphic, sorry. No one ever saw anything like it in their life, hmm, heard that one before, Lost a day as I was on morphine 24/7 every 10 min. Went to surgical icu for at least 2 days. DH said I was so cold when he held my hand. Had 4 nurses in recovery for 24/7 for 2 days I think since there were no icu beds available. Went to icu stepdown. Horrible care there, absolutely horrible. Patient familys were even screanming at nurses. Sorry state of affairs there. Will write again, Thanks for all the cards, prayers, thoughts and wishes. God is Good, Good all the time!!

You are in my prayers. I am sorry you had such a terrible time, but am glad you are home now. Please keep us informed as you feel up to it. I am sending you big hugs and lots of prayers. God Bless You!

 

[arminnie]

Horrible care there, absolutely horrible. Patient familys were even screanming at nurses. Sorry state of affairs there. Will write again, Thanks for all the cards, prayers, thoughts and wishes. God is Good, Good all the time!!

I am so sorry for what you have been thru.

On Easter Sunday 8 years ago a doctor cut my jugular vein and sent me back to my room covered in blood. I almost bled to death. Finally another doctor came in after about 6 hours and performed surgery in my hospital room to close the vein. A nurse was holding it shut that whole time. I kept telling my dad and sister that they were going to be really rich from a malpractice suit if I died.

I'd been in the hospital for two weeks already at that point in bad shape. My care was awful. One day everyone (including me) was screaming (literally) as they forgot to give out our meds, and no nurses could be found.

It was truly hideous. For quite a while afterwards I was just in pitiful, pitiful shape. I mean I literally could barely walk 6 steps.

I am not saying this to try to match you for horror stories - but to give you some hope. I did get well again and get my strength back.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Maryann- Good to hear from you! Hang in there! You are in our thoughts.

 

[MerryPoppins]

My goodness LMP. You've really had a time. So glad you're doing better now. I bet it's good to be home.

It's good to hear that both our patients are recovering.

I liked the quote, too. That's why I shared.

 

[snappy]

Very disneyish quote to me for some reason, Merry.


Marryann, what an experience!! Thank God he sent the right surgeon to you.

I am glad you are home. I hope you can rest and recover without any more bumps in the road.

I am glad to hear you are being supplied with some meals. You do need to try and eat in order to heal and to buffer your stomach against the pain meds but I am sure you know that.

I am amazed you could post, but thankful to hear from you. We have been worried.

Arminnie, was your awful experience in a New Orleans hospital? I am not asking for the name of the hospital but I am just curious. Pm me if you like. Thanks for posting, I believe too it gives hope to those going through the same or worse, since you did fully recover from such a low point.

Arminnie, your post is what this thread is all about.

Glad you are following us here. It is nice to know we have friends who don't post regularly.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Guess what I was doing today sistas?? Well I actually just folded the batch of towels and had the ds put them away. Dh says I am hormonal I told him I am seriously frustrated by stuff. Like when I say put the food away, and I come back in the kitchen and stuff is still on the table etc. gheesh. Dh called the surgeon and talked about the biopsy. I dont want to post everything until we see the radiation oncologist, have to call mon. for that appt. Its good but still rare, so we need some clarifications etc. Lets just say the tumor was the size of a 28 oz. Jif peanut butter lid, 12 centimeters, But lots of other stuff was good he said. The drain is still putting out too much, so dh willl call with the count tomm. The np told me since I had 3 surgeries they are giving me lots more pain meds, good I am not rationing and being a hero anymore. I slept most of the afternoon in the chair and did my physical therapy. My L ear is still numb. At least I am not running to the bathroom so much and the edema seems to be a little less since my socks can go on now. I took 14 pills yest. Sorry, it sounds this is all about me,,but you all are in my thoughts as usual. Blessings to you all. You are the best. Keep praying.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It's ok to be all about you, lmp. I'm sure we all wish we could help in some way.

Just know we're here to listen and wish you a speedy recovery and strength to get through it.