Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Melissa - Happy yesterday birthday! Feb. 13 is a great day for a birthday - 2 of my other friends also had birthdays yesterday!

Laurie - The veal sounds yummy!

Alice - Hope you are "hanging" in there!

Maureen - Enjoy the new TV!

Mom has 4 rads to go. She got her compression sleeve, and they are ready to discharge her from daily treatments at the lymphedema clinic. The bad news is that she has just pretty much ruined her arm - the swelling isn't going to get better, she is going to be in the sleeve for the rest of forever. I am really angry that she was so complacent about it when the swelling first started. Now I will ALWAYS wonder if treating it sooner would have given her a better outcome. I guess I should be thankful that her cancer treatments are almost finished and that she feels OK.

 

[CherylDan]

GAGWTA!! and Happy Valentine's Day, too!

I hope everybody had a good day. DH & I are in the process of remodeling our master bathroom - so we spent the day working on that, which is actually rather nice to have a project that we are doing together. Although I must say, that its only been a week since we started tearing everything out, and I really miss having my bathroom! From the look of things, it's gonna take quite a while before it's finished - redoing everything..... shower, vanity, tile, floor, tub - the whole shebang.

Melissa, happy belated birthday!

Alice, that youtube video was great!

LMP, I hope you are feeling better today.

I know I haven't been around much - but I do pop in from time to time and try to stay caught up with you all. I need to do a better job of keeping in touch.

Good thoughts and well wishes to everybody who needs them - heck, even to those who don't!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Could I ask a favor? My cousin's daughter, almost 17, has been sick a lot this past year. The docs keep treating her for infections, but haven't thought it was anything serious. They didn't take my cousin seriously when she told them that the daughter is tired all the time, etc. This past week, she took her to urgent care with another infection and a blood test showed that her blood counts are all off and she's anemic. Now the docs are thinking it may be leukemia. My cousin is divorced, and raising three kids on her own. I know she's terrified, not only about her child, but about money and getting the best care. Could you please pray for them?

BTW, I told my cousin about Avery and it lifted her spirits a little. Funny how a story can help ease your fears a little bit.

Now for the God wink. I had a dream last night. It was about two dear friends of ours that have passed away in the past few years. One was a family friend that we met through my grandfather. He was like another grandpa to me growing up and I loved him so much. The other was our neighbor when I was a child. His wife is my mother's best friend and he was a good friend of my dad's. When my dad died, he sort of became the closest thing I had to a dad. I loved him a lot too.

In my dream, I was at some sort of convention. Well, actually I wasn't part of the convention. I was just sort of passing through. And I saw these two dear men sitting together at a table. They were so glad to see me and they invited me to pull up a chair and visit with them for a while. Of course I did. (In my dream I didn't remember that they had died.) They had a real heart-to-heart with me. They told me that anything is possible if I just believe in it enough. They asked me if I could fly and I said that I couldn't. They said if the Wright brothers had had that mindset they wouldn't have invented the plane. They also used the example of Walt Disney and how people said he was crazy to build Disneyland or make a feature cartoon and yet look where it got him. They told me to hang onto my dreams and work to get what I wanted to happen to happen. They encouraged me to believe that even though I didn't have the power to do everything, I had a lot of power in my life if I just would believe.

I called my mother this morning. I wanted to share the dream with her and I knew she'd want to call her best friend and share that I'd dreamed of her husband. Mom told me it gave her goosebumps, because she'd just been reading a book that said we have to believe and have faith. It even used flying as an example. Weird, huh?

Then I get the call tonight from my cousin. I told her I think someone is trying to tell us we have the strength to get through this. We just need to have faith and believe that she'll be okay and work (and use good judgement) to get her the best care possible. I just had to share this with you because I knew you'd all understand.

 

[laurabelle]

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

Quick post...Had to take hubby to the ER at 3:00 a.m. yesterday in a lot of pain. They think he has inflammation around his heart. No heart attack, chest xray and ct are negative, bloodwork and EKG look good, and pacemaker is in place. They admitted him, hopefully they will get it fixed and he can come home today.

I have officially failed methotrexate and I'm back up on the steroid dose. I'm getting on the schedule for a colonoscopy before colectomy. Don't have a date yet. Whew! Calgon, take me away...

 

[NHAnn]

Oh my goodness Laura..... tons of hugs and prayers coming your way (and a boatload of Calgon!!)

Melissa....what is your cousin's DDs name if you don't mind? PM me if you don't want to post it. I will be praying for her and rallying the prayer warriors! If she does have luekemia or some other serious illness, there is a wonderful girl around that age maybe a little younger, here on the DIS that I bet would be a great "friend"/resource....she has posted to this thread a few times. She has recently finsihed her treatment for osteosarcoma. She has a Caring Bridge page too. her screen name is "imabrat" I believe. Please keep us posted.
I love the story of your dream/GodWink

Alice...that was funny. I wish I could pull something like that off heehee

CHerylDan, and Maureen... nice to "see" you.

JSG, still thinking of your mom and glad she is at the end of rads!

Always keepin LMP in my thoughts.

....

My news is that after a good heart to heart with onc before my trip, and much reflection and soul-searching, I am stopping the estrogen-inhibiting trial med.

.......

GAGWTA!!!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Melissa, many good thoughts for your cousin's DD!

Laura - I hope DH is feeling better soon!
Good luck with your prep for your surgery. I am sorry you have to go through all of this!

Ann - I think you will feel better when you stop the meds. Lots of good thoughs for a positive outcome!!

Maryann - Thinking of you!

Hugs and good thoughts all around!

 

[snappy]

Oh my, I go to sleep for a few hours and come back to all these posts.

Elizabeth, I am sorry about the lymphedema. I wish the doctors would have been more proactive with her. Some patients listen more to the medical folks than to relatives.
I know it is little consolation but she could have landed with it despite being careful but it sure gives you better odds if you take the basic precautions that are known about.

I find my mother has the attitude that the precautions are not important. I think her surgeon suggested that and that I was going overboard a bit (I did go overbaord on some other stuff with her). The surgeon's attitude was very surprising to me. My surgeon cautioned me about lympheda early on and gave me an exercise or two but that was it. I went to a one on one lymphema clinic early on. Also, I am a bit anal anyway, it is the conservative nature in me.

Melissa, I will be glad to pray for your cousin's DD. I loved hearing about your godwink dream. . . thanks for sharing. Did you feel wonderful when you woke up?

How neat that Ann knows someone here of her age that she might correspond with. I know my constant contact with you wonderful dear women is a constant source of wind beneath my wings. Maybe these two could get together and find a bit of the same.

Laura, I am sure your husband's crises are causing you more stress. However, life is by its nature stressful, you can't avoid it. I think you have given the meds treatment of your UC every possible opportunity to work.

How far out is your surgery date?

Ann, you too have give the college try to the med you are on. When did you get off? Have you had any symptom relief yet?

Beaming good thoughts on the way to each and everyone one of you.

I just had a kind of godwink too. My mom sent me a link to a story the New Orleans paper ran yesterday. It was about our old neighborhood we lived in during the late sixties through early 70's, Walnut Bend. All the streets in the subdivision were holidays or things associated with holidays. My friend lived on Prancer, we lived on Valentine Court. It showed a picture of some of the houses and how wonderful they looked, well-kept with ultra nice landscaping.

I had heard the area had gone down a bit several years ago, drug issues and such.

It was a great walk back in time to see the pictures and read about the street and some of the people who live there now.

My best friend now lives not far from there, a mile or two. I am going to make sure we stop in on my old neighborhood when we go down to see her again.

GAGWTA!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Could I ask a favor? My cousin's daughter, almost 17, has been sick a lot this past year. The docs keep treating her for infections, but haven't thought it was anything serious. They didn't take my cousin seriously when she told them that the daughter is tired all the time, etc. This past week, she took her to urgent care with another infection and a blood test showed that her blood counts are all off and she's anemic. Now the docs are thinking it may be leukemia. My cousin is divorced, and raising three kids on her own. I know she's terrified, not only about her child, but about money and getting the best care. Could you please pray for them?

BTW, I told my cousin about Avery and it lifted her spirits a little. Funny how a story can help ease your fears a little bit.

Now for the God wink. I had a dream last night. It was about two dear friends of ours that have passed away in the past few years. One was a family friend that we met through my grandfather. He was like another grandpa to me growing up and I loved him so much. The other was our neighbor when I was a child. His wife is my mother's best friend and he was a good friend of my dad's. When my dad died, he sort of became the closest thing I had to a dad. I loved him a lot too.

In my dream, I was at some sort of convention. Well, actually I wasn't part of the convention. I was just sort of passing through. And I saw these two dear men sitting together at a table. They were so glad to see me and they invited me to pull up a chair and visit with them for a while. Of course I did. (In my dream I didn't remember that they had died.) They had a real heart-to-heart with me. They told me that anything is possible if I just believe in it enough. They asked me if I could fly and I said that I couldn't. They said if the Wright brothers had had that mindset they wouldn't have invented the plane. They also used the example of Walt Disney and how people said he was crazy to build Disneyland or make a feature cartoon and yet look where it got him. They told me to hang onto my dreams and work to get what I wanted to happen to happen. They encouraged me to believe that even though I didn't have the power to do everything, I had a lot of power in my life if I just would believe.

I called my mother this morning. I wanted to share the dream with her and I knew she'd want to call her best friend and share that I'd dreamed of her husband. Mom told me it gave her goosebumps, because she'd just been reading a book that said we have to believe and have faith. It even used flying as an example. Weird, huh?

Then I get the call tonight from my cousin. I told her I think someone is trying to tell us we have the strength to get through this. We just need to have faith and believe that she'll be okay and work (and use good judgement) to get her the best care possible. I just had to share this with you because I knew you'd all understand.

Holy, Holy Cow! Merry, I'd say you had a Visitation Dream - and yes, a God Wink, too, since all of these events came together so succinctly. Simply Amazing! Definitely a great message there, one we can all learn from. Love the Walt connection!

Will keep this young woman in my prayers. Hoping it's something a) not as serious as leukemia and b) that whatever it is is treatable.

Happy Belated Birthday!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

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

Quick post...Had to take hubby to the ER at 3:00 a.m. yesterday in a lot of pain. They think he has inflammation around his heart. No heart attack, chest xray and ct are negative, bloodwork and EKG look good, and pacemaker is in place. They admitted him, hopefully they will get it fixed and he can come home today.

I have officially failed methotrexate and I'm back up on the steroid dose. I'm getting on the schedule for a colonoscopy before colectomy. Don't have a date yet. Whew! Calgon, take me away...

Aww, sorry for the ongoing issues.

It's not uncommon to have some inflammation around the heart after these procedures, as they have to go through the wall surrounding the heart to get at the heart itself. If it's minor, a course of antinflammatories will usually make things better. If it's more serious, they sometimes need to take some fluid off and even insert a drain into the pericardium. I hope in your hubby's case it's the former. Let us know.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My news is that after a good heart to heart with onc before my trip, and much reflection and soul-searching, I am stopping the estrogen-inhibiting trial med.

Everyone has to do what's right for them. I'm sure this was the right decision for you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

GAGWTA to everyone, good to see you all!

Alice, how's it hanging? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

For Valentine's Day my kids got me Sylvia Browne's new book All Pets Go To Heaven: The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love I've fallen asleep the last two nights reading it. So far, so good. She begins by telling the story of her favorite dog and how when she had to put her to sleep, she "saw" a white mist go sideways across the room and then saw her romping in a field of daffodils. She knew she was ok, but she was sad she'd be without her. She says that every now and then she sees a little white blur go by in her yard and she knows it's her (she was a West Highland White Terrier). I loved that!

I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day! DH and I didn't do anything special with just the two of us, but we had a nice day with the kids and ended with a dinner at our friends' house. I was a little sad this year watching my kids do their valentines for school. As 5th graders, they go off to middle school next year. I take it that middle schoolers don't do valentines, is that right? Anyway, it's great that they're growing up (and that I'm here to be part of it ), but boy, it's gone by fast!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Linda - DS said they had a thing where they could send "candy-grams" to their friends at school. There was also a Valentine's dance on Friday, but DS is not a dance kind of guy. The girls might still do Valentines for their friends, but the boys don't.

 

[Aliceacc]

GAGWTA to everyone, good to see you all!

Alice, how's it hanging? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

!

Pretty much down to my hips on one side, but nice and perky on the other. Thanks for asking

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Mom has 4 rads to go. She got her compression sleeve, and they are ready to discharge her from daily treatments at the lymphedema clinic. The bad news is that she has just pretty much ruined her arm - the swelling isn't going to get better, she is going to be in the sleeve for the rest of forever. I am really angry that she was so complacent about it when the swelling first started. Now I will ALWAYS wonder if treating it sooner would have given her a better outcome. I guess I should be thankful that her cancer treatments are almost finished and that she feels OK.

I am glad she's almost done. You know, it's possible she might have had the lymphedema anyway (my cousin has to still wear a sleeve, we had BC at the same time and she did all the right things). The other thing is that it's possible it won't be for forever. The key is that they lymph fluid HAS to find a new way to travel out of the arm, as the original channels were severed with the axillary node surgery, then further interrupted/destroyed with radiation. What the exercises and massage do is help "teach" the fluid how to get out. Once it "learns", it may get better. Within that framework, each patient has to learn what affects her. With me, I found that salt affected my lymphedema, and so did flying, so I try to watch my salt intake (not always completely successfully ), and I wear a light sleeve when I fly (though I forgot to wear it on the way home this trip - DD reminded me halfway through the flight and fortunately, things were fine). So maybe in time it will be ok. Encourage her to keep up with her exercises, watch her salt intake and avoid things like cuts, and go back to PT for flare ups. (I know you will! )

 

[snappy]

Linda, we did valentines this year (7th grade). I heard no valentines in 8th though.

Alice, hang in there!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Pretty much down to my hips on one side, but nice and perky on the other. Thanks for asking

So good to have a sense of humor about these things, LOL.

 

[Aliceacc]

Ah, snappy, you're my new best friend!!! I love it!!!

And, hey, you've GOT to laugh. Otherwise this monster gets the best of you!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Linda & Laurie - I know the outcome could have been the same even if she had started treatment immediately (the first part of November). She admits that she doesn't bother with the exercises, so I doubt she will see any improvement. She is very good at making excuses for not following the directions the doctors give her. And really, it's her decision. If she can't be bothered to take care of herself then me hounding her isn't going to matter.

She has forms that need to be filled out for insurance claims, a claim on money that was in my father's estate that she was named beneficiary for, taxes - she isn't bothering to fill out any of it. I threatened to fly up there and help her fill them out. That made her mad. She says her hand is too swollen to write, yet she won't do the exercises. I sometimes think she prefers to wallow in it rather than try to make it better.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Linda - DS said they had a thing where they could send "candy-grams" to their friends at school. There was also a Valentine's dance on Friday, but DS is not a dance kind of guy. The girls might still do Valentines for their friends, but the boys don't.

Good to know, thanks. I imagine my DS won't be a big dancer, either (just in private, though maybe you could call that more "prancing" - in his undies around the house! DH says he's feeling his oats! )

Linda, we did valentines this year (7th grade). I heard no valentines in 8th though.

Thanks. DD will be happy about that.

Alice, hang in there!

 

[Aliceacc]

Linda & Laurie - I know the outcome could have been the same even if she had started treatment immediately (the first part of November). She admits that she doesn't bother with the exercises, so I doubt she will see any improvement. She is very good at making excuses for not following the directions the doctors give her. And really, it's her decision. If she can't be bothered to take care of herself then me hounding her isn't going to matter.

She has forms that need to be filled out for insurance claims, a claim on money that was in my father's estate that she was named beneficiary for, taxes - she isn't bothering to fill out any of it. I threatened to fly up there and help her fill them out. That made her mad. She says her hand is too swollen to write, yet she won't do the exercises. I sometimes think she prefers to wallow in it rather than try to make it better.

Could it be depression? I mean clinical depression,not just sadness.

Maybe flying up there, helping her out, and possibly accompanying her on a doctor's visit, would help???