Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

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LMP, I'm glad to hear that you're feeling so much better. Hang in there, my friend. You WILL get through this. I'm a mom and a teacher, which makes me an authority on all things. I KNOW you'll be feeling much better before you know it.

You have me beat; my tumor was only (?) 10 cm! Gotta LOVE LI!!!

And, to add a minor little vent: my heffalump is so itchy it's driving me CRAZY!!! I have 5 more radiation treatments.. today's pink should be pretty red by Friday. Thank goodness school is closed for President's Week and I can go braless for a day or so if I need to.
 
:grouphug: ~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~:grouphug:

Maryann- Wow! Praising God along with you sista! Yes, you are a miracle...don't you forget it! I'm glad the news is looking good. I'm still praying...rest and heal sista.:hug:

arminnie- Thank you for sharing your story. I'm glad for that dr. coming in and taking over, and that one good nurse holding on to you!

Alice- Yikes! That itch sounds miserable. I hope you find something to help. Yeah, no bra sounds like a good start. Any news on the trip planning?pixiedust:

Linda- I really loved looking at your pics. A real stop and smell the roses trip!:flower1:

Yesterday a packet came in the mail from the hospital with info on hubby's pacemaker. They included a photocopy of an article about a woman who is our age and had the exact same thing happen. She is seen by a dr. at Hopkins. He sent her for genetic testing and is able to use that info to better treat her. I am going to call his office tomorrow.

I'm so scared...but see God's hand in this...
:grouphug:
 
:grouphug: ~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~:grouphug:

Maryann- Wow! Praising God along with you sista! Yes, you are a miracle...don't you forget it! I'm glad the news is looking good. I'm still praying...rest and heal sista.:hug:

arminnie- Thank you for sharing your story. I'm glad for that dr. coming in and taking over, and that one good nurse holding on to you!

Alice- Yikes! That itch sounds miserable. I hope you find something to help. Yeah, no bra sounds like a good start. Any news on the trip planning?pixiedust:

Linda- I really loved looking at your pics. A real stop and smell the roses trip!:flower1:

Yesterday a packet came in the mail from the hospital with info on hubby's pacemaker. They included a photocopy of an article about a woman who is our age and had the exact same thing happen. She is seen by a dr. at Hopkins. He sent her for genetic testing and is able to use that info to better treat her. I am going to call his office tomorrow.

I'm so scared...but see God's hand in this...
:grouphug:
good to be able to see the silver lining, Laura!. Actually that is awesome.
 
:grouphug: ~~~***GAGWTA sistas***~~~:grouphug:
Yesterday a packet came in the mail from the hospital with info on hubby's pacemaker. They included a photocopy of an article about a woman who is our age and had the exact same thing happen. She is seen by a dr. at Hopkins. He sent her for genetic testing and is able to use that info to better treat her. I am going to call his office tomorrow.

I'm so scared...but see God's hand in this...
:grouphug:

I see it in so many places!!!

How wonderful to live in a time when information on everything is so readily available!!! I hope you get the info you need from Hopkins!
 

It would be good to uncover any possible genetic link related to your husband's diagnosis for your daughters' benefit as well, Laura.

Heart disease in general is hereditary. i did not know there were any specific genetic links that have identified.

This is good info. Many of DH's family members have had heart issues, particularly early heart attacks.

Good to know. Sounds like a question for DH's next visit to his cardiologist. It will be interesting to see how up to date the docs here are on this topic. I tend to think of us living in a Banana Republic down here. Hope I am pleasantly surprised.
 
LMP, I'm glad to hear that you're feeling so much better. Hang in there, my friend. You WILL get through this. I'm a mom and a teacher, which makes me an authority on all things. I KNOW you'll be feeling much better before you know it.

You have me beat; my tumor was only (?) 10 cm! Gotta LOVE LI!!!

And, to add a minor little vent: my heffalump is so itchy it's driving me CRAZY!!! I have 5 more radiation treatments.. today's pink should be pretty red by Friday. Thank goodness school is closed for President's Week and I can go braless for a day or so if I need to.

LMP, listen to the teacher!!!!:goodvibes
 
GAGWTA, Ladies! Hope everyone is doing well!

I spoke to my mom last night. 9 more rads and she is finished! Unfortunately her lymphedema is still pretty severe and not improving with treatment. Hopefully it will get better. She said the neuropathy in her left hand is really bad, too. (Her right arm is the one ithe the lymphedema.)

Anyway, she is hanging in there!

Laura - Good thoughts for you and DH as you gather more info!
 
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.
My bad experience was in Little Rock not New Orleans. It was St. Vincent's Hospital which was a wonderful hospital for many years. But they had some really bad times after control was taken away from the nuns. Plus there was a multi-year nursing feud that really hurt patient care. I've been told that things there are SO much better now. I hope so.

I did have to use a New Orleans hospital last spring when my dad had a stroke. He had to have surgery on his carotid artery also. This was all done at Touro, and I could not have been happier with the care and competence at Touro. They were just great.
 
From a nurse on allnurses.net when asked her opinion of St V's by another nurse thinking of applying there.

No good things to say...

I affectionately refer to St Vincents as the hospital from hell when I am telling stories. I went there as a traveler a year or so ago and they had just lost 16 nurses including the nurse manager. They did get a manager while I was there and she was really great, but the upper admin's would never let her do her job.

Holding patients in the ER for 24+ hours, never go on divert even if you are slammed and have no more stretchers, dangerously short staffed, treating MI's in a chair because there is no place to put them, taking patients back from cath lab because there are no floor beds, etc. These are just a few of the situations you come up against. They routinely accepted direct admits from outside hospitals when the ER had been holding patients for too many hours. Many times the ER got the direct admits because there was no place to put them, but admin kept them coming...it's all about the revenue.

I was afraid I would lose my licence and was so thankful to get out of there safely. Maybe things have changed, but be very, very cautious. Don't take any sign on bonus, because you may live to regret it. They were offering huge bonuses before I left and many new nurses came because of them. Most, if not all, asked them to stop making the pay outs to them, because they did not plan to complete the 2 years promised, and began to pay the hospital back.

I would not go back for $100/hour. Nope, scary place. Staff was great, what few there were, ER docs were wonderful, but many were looking at alternatives to working there as well. Until upper admin makes a complete change of face, it will be a dangerous place to work, and even a scarier place to be a patient.

I live in Arkansas, and we have a big garden. There were many times on my days off, while working in the garden, that I actually hoped I would get bitten by a copperhead snake, so I would have a good excuse not to go to work. My husband finally brought me to my senses when he asked me if risking my license was worth it, for any amount of money. Yes, it was really that bad.

Don't let my words come back to haunt you when you are in charge, the place is out of control, and you are responsible and have no back up.
The nurses were likely fighting for better conditions.

I'm sorry for your experience. But when you hear stories like that, you know things are horribly wrong.
 
My bad experience was in Little Rock not New Orleans. It was St. Vincent's Hospital which was a wonderful hospital for many years. But they had some really bad times after control was taken away from the nuns. Plus there was a multi-year nursing feud that really hurt patient care. I've been told that things there are SO much better now. I hope so.

I did have to use a New Orleans hospital last spring when my dad had a stroke. He had to have surgery on his carotid artery also. This was all done at Touro, and I could not have been happier with the care and competence at Touro. They were just great.

Yes, I agree. Touro is good. I also had very luck at Ochsner. I audited them in my publice accounting days and was a patient for 2 births and used the endocrinologist, high risk OB's and pediatricians there.

Very good docs. Busy hospital.
 
From a nurse on allnurses.net when asked her opinion of St V's by another nurse thinking of applying there.


The nurses were likely fighting for better conditions.

I'm sorry for your experience. But when you hear stories like that, you know things are horribly wrong.

Thanks for posting this, Linda. It helps us understand the whole picture from someone who lived it.

I think it is great there is a website like this. I have not found anything like it for accountants but then accounting is not a life or death profession like nursing.
 
From a nurse on allnurses.net when asked her opinion of St V's by another nurse thinking of applying there.


The nurses were likely fighting for better conditions.

I'm sorry for your experience. But when you hear stories like that, you know things are horribly wrong.
Thank you for posting that. I agree that it was horrible for the nurses. One night when I had an emergency and waited what seemed like forever for a nurse to come administer something IV - I promise you that there were at least 5-6 people coming in with emergencies and needing the nurse "RIGHT NOW" during the 5-10 minutes she was dealing with me.

I was so ill and yet I felt so sorry for the poor nurse who was being pulled in so many directions all at once. It was not her fault that they were so understaffed. And in my opinion they were understaffed because they treated the nurses like dirt - and there were other good places for them to work.

I learned early in life (whether right or wrong) that one of the main criteria for choosing a hospital is the overall nursing environment. Good nursing staff = good care. The best doctor and all of the equipment in the world is just not enough.

Can you tell that I really appreciate nurses? By the way I didn't always feel that way. When I was growing up a girl could either be a nurse, teacher or secretary - and I didn't want to be stuck in a mold. I really learned to respect (and worship) nurses after being in the hospital - starting with my tonsils out at 23!
 
:thumbsup2 Good afternoon sistas!!!

How is everyone doing?
Its actually a warm, nice and sunny day out and here I am in my fuxzy flannel Pjs. That stinks>:sick:

I am tired so I will make some lunch, take some oxy and take a nap. My dh called the radiation oncologist. They will get back with an appt. date. Gheesh, its like you cant pick anything around here. He also told the surgeon my daily 24 hour drain number. It has to be around 20 I think, I have to ask dh again, there goes the memory and he will take out the drain the following day. Mine was 60. He said he will do it in the office, or if he is operating to come to the hosp. like after 6 and he will take it out there. I think I would like that better anyway as if there is a problem they can take care of it quick. They will give me more pain meds if I need it because its like I had 3 operations. At least the np said that. I told dh I am noticing that now the Dr. who did my lst 2 operations, is getting a little condescending in his attitude and asked dh if he noticed this. He thinks my pain is something else and I should see another dr.?Wth?

Laura - Thanks for the funny card and I hope you get the answers you need. They want me to see a cardiologist too in my never ending cancer coaster, up we go again, etc,. Hope you dh is feeling better

Linda - where are your pictures posted? Would like to see them and hope your dh is fine.

Elizabeth - I want to be in Texas now. At least it would be before tornado season starts,

Laurie, Melissa, Barbara, Carol, Alice, Maureen and everyone else, Have a great day and hope all is going well. Blessings to you all.
 
Maryann - Good to see you posting! I am sorry it seems that each day brings more questions! :hug: Hopefully you will have some answers soon! :wizard:

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Nothing much to report here. DS is home sick today. I went back home after I got my little charge dropped off at preschool and stayed with DS until DH came home. They were going to eat lunch and have a nap. Hopefully DS will feel better tomorrow or we will have to take him to the Dr. His cough is horrible!
 
:angel: :angel: :cloud9: :cloud9: O.K. Sistas, I am posting with what you all call here a "god wink"

Past history - I was the class mom for years at the ds old school for middle ds class. Met one mom who I knew worked at the univ. hosp. and knew did cancer stuff. She is a messianic jewish believer.

Well GUESS WHO called me back from the radiation oncologist? Yup, ya guessed it right sistas, none other than this blessed mom!!!!! She said as soon as I saw the name I knew it was you, D.'s mom etc. so sorry you are going through all this etc. ) She gave me the appt. date and wont be there that day but I can just call and ask for her if I am getting the other treatments. She proceeded to tell me about eating natural etc. etc. Do any of you do this?? She is big into it.
(Side note to Elizabeth - I told her well I guess the Lays potatoe chips will have to go :rotfl2: ) This lady starts talking religious stuff with me (Side note: Anyboy read the nurse thread on the CB Board lately). This mom says to me - well if the door is open I jump in it and talk about religion if they bring it up etc.) I asked her how her boss feel about this, the radiation oncologist because I knew the dr, is Jewish, she says she only talks if the patient mentions it lst etc. Wow, this whole experience is just another glimpse of God showing his hand upon me, amazing!!! I told her to pray for me etc. (Please note: I dont want my comments to be mistaken, I love you all, even if you are not even a religious person, I was just thinking of that other thread and hence my comments).

Another side note: Don't tell youngest ds he can buy whatever he wants at the grocery store yest. with dh. Hmm, they came home and the bill was over $200, this does not include any "real" dinner food, since the ladies from church are bringing that over, just lunch meat etc, and the usual stuff. Wow, men at the grocery store are dangerous. I better get better real fast:rotfl2:
 
Linda - your pictures are awesome and your kids are cute too. Looks like they enjoy pin collecting. My oldest ds said, when I asked him if they wanted to do it years ago, No Mom, its just another way of Disney trying to make money from us :rotfl2: I should have named him Donald Trump!!

My favorites were the AK ones of the birds and Devine. Also what was the one of the lighted lion? I am technically inept. I wouldnt even know how to post a link etc.
 
luvmarypoppins said:
(Side note: Anyboy read the nurse thread on the CB Board lately).
Read it? Have you looked at posters' usernames? :yay: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:

I've been thinking of you in some of my rantings on the thread. You have been through he LL and back. I'm glad prayers make you feel better and that you're willing to accept the prayers of those whose beliefs might not mirror your own. I myself was always happy when anyone prayed for me. The quote I mentioned there (courtesy of DH) comes to mind with all of us, Father Mulcahy on MASH - "There are no athiests in foxholes!" It's easy to say prayers don't matter, but most people welcome them when they're facing a life threatening illness, don't they?

BTW, this friend, is she a nurse?
 
YOU may not be eating chips anymore, but I bet your DH and DS have my back! ;) :rotfl2:
We spent $218 at the grocery yesterday, but we did buy real food. :rotfl: Of course we also bought stuff like a new hair dryer and a big bottle of Tide and stuff that pumps up the bill.

I am so happy that you are feeling more positive about things! :goodvibes

I am fascinated by Judaism. My previous employers are Jewish and I used to go to the preschool Shabbat services with the kids. I really miss it! For the most part I have no religious beliefs, but I have welcomed all of the prayers for my mom. :) Good thoughts and prayers can not possibly do any harm, and I hope that some good comes from them!
 
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