Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[CherylDan]

GAGWTA!!!

Laura- Congrats on the new kitchen remodel! Making plans is always such fun. I love the planning stages of a big project, and the end result - I just wish to actual work stage would go as quick as it does on HGTV!

LMP- So glad to hear that your endo appt. went well! Sounds like you and her hit it off right from the start. How did the surgeon appt go today? And I agree with what everybody else has already said - coming here and getting it out is soooo helpful! Please continue to do so!

Ann- I hope you're feeling better today!

Maureen- That sounds soooo nice! I wish we lived close enough to be able to a quick trip like that. Sounds like you could use some R&R, hopefully you'll feel less tired after a little Disney magic and those iron shots too, of course!

JSK- Glad to hear you and DS got to see your mom. Her arm sounds awful! Is it painful for her to do the exercises, maybe that's why she doesn't? I hope her docs can figure out something for her to get some relief soon.

Linda- That MRI would have freaked me out! But congrats on the graduation!!! What a great feeling that must have been!

Laurie- Sounds really good to be so close to getting the boot!

Charlie has been keeping me busy, that's for sure! Let's see.....I started this post over two hours ago. During that time, we've been outside twice, had playtime, had cuddle time, and now he is taking a nap. He likes to fall asleep in my lap, which is fine - but it makes it hard to type! He is quite the charmer. Even DH, who really wasn't into the whole "let's get a dog" idea, can't resist him.

Housetraining seems to be going ok......I say "seems" because as far as I know, he hasn't had an accident yet. On the other hand, it's really hard to tell when he goes pee - he does not squat. At all. I usually resort to checking him for wetness. My DD was completely grossed out with that method!

Have a great day everybody!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Glad things are going well, Cheryl. They do have a way of worming their way quickly into your heart, don't they? He sounds like a charmer. Please keep posting pictures as he grows!

I hope this is ok but I wanted to say I got a PM from Merry saying she's still having trouble posting. Sad news, though, she had to put her cat to sleep. Also that Katie switched doctors. Post when you can, Merry.

That MRI would have freaked me out! But congrats on the graduation!!! What a great feeling that must have been!

It was a good feeling but strange in a way. I think I kind of liked the security of having so many people "watching" me. She did tell me to feel free to come back anytime or even just to say hello, which was nice. She also reassured me that my Onc is watching me closely and still CCs her everything, which I guess I didn't know (and this probably goes for my primary care as well, I assume, they're all part of the same practice). I still have to follow up with my RO, who moved to another location, but I suspect she'll say the same thing. It'll be six years this fall that I found the lump. Hard to believe how much time has passed.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Laurie, I am not sure how she manages at work. Thankfully she only has to get through May 20 and she will be off for the summer.

Cheryl - She says the exercises make her "good" arm sore. They did a CT on her arm because they thought maybe there was a blood clot or something, but they didn't find anything. She just has no interest in taking care of her arm - she would rather go around with it all swollen than do the exercises and keep it elevated and so forth.

 

[laurabelle]

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

Ann- What a scary experience! Especially the bleeding part. I've never given blood, but I have fainted. I hope you are feeling better today.

Linda- Congrats on graduating!

Maureen- No wonder you're so tired! I hope the shots have you feeling better soon. Congrats on your trip!

Maryann- I'm so glad the endo. visit went well. No, don't think a thing about feeling obsessive...I'm glad you're here.

Well, just as fast as we started planning the kitchen it has come to a complete halt. Hubby had to take his car in for work and long story short the catalytic converter needed to be replaced with some other things and it cost a fortune. It was either spend the money or buy a new car and we are trying to avoid that right now. So, the kitchen is on the backburner. He wanted to still try to do it, but I said no. I'm so nervous about spending $...just like everyone else I guess.

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi guys!

I'm deep into a pity party. Come,join me.

I'm having my expander replaced on April 6th. Somehow I got it into my head that at the same time he would be doing the reduction on the other side, and that by Springtime I would have 2 breasts of the same time. Wrong. The reduction takes place in the NEXT surgery, six weeks after this one.

So I get to finish most of the school year either wearing a blazer through the temps in the 80's and 90's or looking lopsided in front of the coed teenagers I teach.

This whole thing is the pits.

I was so looking forward to Spring, when I could wear a T shirt and skirt to school just like everyone else.

Sorry-- I know some of you have serious medical issues at the moment, and I'm here whining about my poor bruised vanity. But you guys are the only ones who really get it.

Anyway, hope all is well with you.

 

[snappy]

Alice, I feel your pain.

I am so sorry you have longer to wait, especially thinking all alone this was it, D day so to speak.

Can you get a temporary prothesis?
Not ideal, certainly. I would send you mine but I doubt you need queen size and anyway, I donated both the lightweight jobbie I had at first that was just foam as well as the silicone wonder.

It is hot but you would look even.

I donated to my local cancer services chapter. They lend them out. Maybe you have something similar in your area?

 

[laurabelle]

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

Alice- I'm sorry you not only have to wait for your matched set, but are going to need another surgery too. It's really frustrating...you're allowed to complain.

Dan Murphy could use our prayers. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2128770

 

[luvmarypoppins]

GTAGWTA Hi Sistas!!

Hope you are all well

Linda - for graduating. I doubt I will ever hear that word for sure

Laura - Sorry the kitchen stuff is on hold. We have so much we need too, like new appliances, mattress for 2 ds and ourselves and new living room furniture. I think with our tax refund and only doing 1 disney trip will help a little. Too much too do and no $$ money to do it. Our ds think we have a big money tree out front

Elizabeth - I hope things work out for your mom and her arm etc.

Alice - to you. Hang in there sista!!

Ann - Hope you are feeling better.

Maureen - I had to have a few B12 shots too. I didnt notice the difference but I guess they worked, this was in sept. Enjoy your trip!!

Laurie,Cheryl And Melissa - Hope you are all well.

I had a really busy day yest. 11am ds2 drove me for my blood test. Of course, I made an online appt. Everyone there got mad that they had to wait and they just took me almost right away. Sorry, maybe next time they will make an appt. too. Then we drove home, picked up ds2 and took him to the ped. because I thought he might have strept. I told him I was fighting cancer and couldnt afford to get any of ds germs etc., so he gave him amoxicillin anyway. The strept was negative so that is good. Then dh picked me up for the surgeon appt. at 3. I love the surgeon. Very nice guy. He took out the staples, Hooray and he said the wound is healing very nicely. I only have to put some gauze in the belly button area once a day., I can drive but I still have to wear this binder thing for the next 3 weeks until I go back for a check up. Then we went out to dinner to celebrate, so needless to say I fell asleep when I came home in the chair.

Now today I made an appt. for the ENT surgeon the day after the other guy. My dh cant really afford to take off much more time, he has it but his bosses are terrible and always load him up with work and all kinds of projects and threaten to fire him etc. He is seriously thinking of early retirement, so we have a few more years. If you retire you get free medical for life so that is really all we care about. I know the ENT will scope my vocal chords again. I dont think my voice is what it should be, so we will see what he says.

 

[snappy]

LMP, be sure and use the binder at all times. I had one for my abdomen after my free tram flap.

I wore it for more than a month. It really helped protect the stomach. It was tight so that part was uncomfortable, but when I took it off the pain was pretty bad.

I had forgotten about that thing. Funny how your mind works. I do remember some of the downside of my surgery, but I try and focus on the positive aspects.

Glad you liked the surgeon. I sure do hope you are able to avoid catching what your DS has.

 

[laurabelle]

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

Maryann- Gee, you would think other patients would have the sense to make appts...glad you are working the system. Sorry your son is sick..same one? I hope the meds help him and you are able to stay well. I wish I was nearby to take you to some of these appts. Are you comfortable driving yourself now?
House stuff...our list sounds like yours, and then some.

Laurie- I know I sure don't recall all the details of everything I've gone through medically. I think part of it is a defense mechanism. That's a good thing!

My SIL and her family are flying in from CO today. They aren't staying with us though, they are in D.C. My nephews are on spring break, but my kids are still in school through next week. We'll meet up with them Sat. and go to some museums and have lunch. I want to go to the American History museum. It was closed for 2yrs and just reopened. I love looking at the First ladies gowns, and they've added some new stuff, like Julia Child's kitchen. And the cherry blossoms should be in full bloom!

We booked our condo for after our CO visit. We are going somewhere I've never been before, Siesta Key, FL. It's regularly voted one of the top beaches. It looks beautiful, very laid back. Has anyone here ever visited?

 

[snappy]

Ah, the trip this weekend with the cherry blossoms screams for pictures.

Hope you enjoy the visit.

We do the beaches on the panhandle since they are closer, I like Destin and San Destin the best, but over the years we have done many of the areas, starting in Alabama, Perdido Key, Pensacola, Ft Walton,and along the panhandle going west.

I can't even remember all the names.

There are some awesome condos all along the beaches. Some areas are much more touristy and developed than others.

Sounds like a very relaxing trip. I hope your spot is pristine and lovely.

 

[laurabelle]

Thanks Laurie, I had remembered that you went to Destin.

I noticed my hands felt funny this morning, similar to how they felt after I took my last injection. I was on the phone with hubby and started feeling itchy. I have hives all over, even worse then before. I have racked my brain trying to think if it could be anything else but my shots and I haven't done anything differently. I was supposed to give myself a shot today. I took benedryl, it hasn't kicked in yet. Emailed my doc. ugh.

 

[snappy]

Laura, do you have an epipen?

Hives scare me.

Please let us know how you are feeling.

I assume you are by yourself?

 

[annrae]

Hi Laura: Thank you for letting us know about Dan. I'm hoping everything will go well for him - such a very nice man.

Hugs, Laura, Barb

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon sistas!!

O.K. Who's got the calgon? Pass it over here because I need to be taken away.

I am having the tickle in the back of my throat like ds3 started with.

We have no hot water. DH is calling the plumber. We know we need a new hot water heater, but that is not the only problem I think. Can you say $$$, which we probably dont have that much of. We purposely told him not to do the hot water heater last time, 2 years ago, because we didnt have the $$$,

Now I am going with dh to the eye dr., He said his L eye feels funny.

So the lst one up gets the hot shower and everyone else gets to freeze their butts off, Actually I was 2nd today and had a luke warm shower, not good when you have cancer for sure!!

O.K. Visions of Alice are dancing in my head., like what else will happen?

Sorry this is short, but I got to go for now, blessings to all. Have a good week end. I am cooking for a church covered dish on sun., I will make a few things. Nothing fancy. I am not up to that for sure.

 

[snappy]

Dd13 has fever and a headache. I am taking her in to get swabbed. I'll put us all on tamiflu if she has it.

I guess no tournament for us this weekend. Probably just as well as everything everywhere is totally soaked due to the thunder boomers that continue all along the southeast.

They are moving the games to turf fields. I have a feeling that there will be injuries.


Hope not.

LMP, I hope you tickle is just from allergies and drainage?

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi all!

Thanks for all the kind words. I'm over my pity party. I'll take it as it comes; having the implant can't possibly look worse than the expander does now. If that means blazers until it gets too hot and I have to let my pride go, well then so be it.

My husband (aka "the rat") is at Disney this weekend on the Senior Trip. He spent this morning at the MK and this afternoon at Epcot. I think after a late dinner they're planning on DHS this evening. He's having a wonderful time! After this horrible year he certainly deserves it.

We finally have a hint of spring on Long Island. It's long overdue!

Hope everyone is well.

 

[laurabelle]

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

Laurie- I hope your dd feels better soon. Sounds like it worked out well for her to take a break now considering the field conditions.

Maryann- Geez gurl, when it rains it pours! I hope you all dry up soon!

Alice- I didn't know your hubby was going to Disney...you must really love him to let him go without you!

My allergic reaction is raging on. My GI doc wants a dermatologist to confirm that this is from the methotrexate, but I'm not sure how he can evaluate that? I know from my dd's allergist that there are just so many things that can do a skin test for. In the meantime I am off the shots, holding the prednisone where it is. We really think it's from the methotrexate, but since the GI doc thinks that's what healed my colon, he wants to be certain before he stops the drug altogether. The GI's office is handling the referral and making the appt for me, which is nice, but the derm. office will not make an appt without the referral and I have no idea when that will happen. I don't know what to think, but I'm trusting God in this.

The funny thing is, I googled the dermatologist he wants me to see at the hospital... he treated "Treeman" http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/my-shocking-story/previous-episodes/half-man-half-tree/... ick!

So the rest of the family is off to meet my SIL and family in D.C. while I stay home drifting in and out of my benadryl fog...

 

[luvmarypoppins]

GTAGWTA Good morning Sistas!

Hope you all had a good week end

Laura- Hope you had a good time ihn DC

Alice - I am sure you were thinking of your dh in Disney. I hope he brings you back some nice souveniers!!

My week end can be described in one word: PAIN!!

Sat. I was MISERABLE.. My belly button was throbbing. My neck was killing me. I ended up taking one of the pain pills and it really helped, not to mention I think I am getting some of what ds had, so for the cough I had some nice cough medicine with codeine. So I got alot of sleep. I pushed myself to do everything this week end. I had to cook for church, I drove ds to work. It still feel werid about turning my neck and looking in the mirrors etc. I actually drove dh home from the eye dr. friday and that was my first timne driving since the end of Jan.

I am still waiting for the endo to call me about the blood rtests and for the rad. on. to tell me the new schedule of things etc.

Its going to be a busy week here, my head spins. Everyone has something going on. DS3 is going to the prom friday. Its so far away. I told dh to be home to drive him etc. So I will run with him to get the corsage and he wants me to take him for a new shirt and tie etc. Wow. Then dh is talking at the university, not for the univ., just a group meeting there and the the plumber and dh is going to the dr. to go over his colonoscopy stuff which will hapen in may. He is having the same dr. I had at the local hosp. A nice guy, very knowledgeable. One ds is working extra hours and the other one is suppose to check out the new Yankee Stadium with some friends.

I got to see one of the new little boys next door. I just saw him rrun into the house and he looks so cute!! I guess he is the 6 year old.

Blessings to you all!!

 

[snappy]

Laura, how is the allergic reaction? Did you "wake up" from the Benadryl and get to enjoy your visitors?

LMP, ouch about the pain. Good for you for fighting through it and accomplishing so much. You amaze me.
Driving again much have been out of this world-ish. But the first time is behind you.

You are taking some giant steps, sista! I hope everything goes smoothly with all the stuff happening this week.

DD13 did NOT have the flu when I brought her Friday. I was glad I took her though (even though it meant a 2 hour wait for results, etc.). At least I knew what she had was an upper respiratory virus. Her fever went away around noon Friday, so the tournament was on. No fever Saturday morning either, although the 2 other girls we carpool with to soccer practice from our neighborhoold both got it. One did not go, the other did go to the tournament (her mom is the team manager and she had to go). DD was able to play the first game before the fever returned, and she felt awful after it was over. Her temp went back to normal later and her appetite came back in the pm. Sunday she played at 8 am and then had the fever again afterwards.

The team manager's mom let her daughter play with fever Sunday morning. Crazy.

DD's temp was low again last night, and high this morning so she is home. I really question my decision to let her go to the Jackson tournament since standardized testing starts today, and she will have to make it up during Easter holiday.

Oh well. You would think at my advanced age I would know better. Somehow when you are playing premier you don't want to let the teammates down. If you can go and cheer them from the sidelines, you just go.

Unless you mom has some sense (like I did not).

It looks like we are giving up Pop and staying at Bonnet Creek in a 2 br unit right for the first part of our May trip before we go to the Boardwalk.

I found a nice owner, and he offered what I believe is a good deal. Found him though Myresortnetwork.com and got some good vibes about it from several people on the dis board for offsite hotels.

Trying to save money on accomodations and food. I see the economy slipping further. I don't know maybe we should bank our points into next year. Have to decide before April 22nd.

I look forward to our family trips so much. It is just that financial realities seem to be bearing down on us right now.