Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

Sha, I'm so sorry. I can imagine how upset you must feel.

lmp, hard to say not knowing full story, what you're on them for, how much, etc. Many people take them super early if they have somewhere to go and don't want to be going on a long car ride, etc.

Laura, thinking of you. How is your spirit holding up?

Just home from full day of beach, sunburned, am on fire, LOL. First time this summer I've gotten together for a beach day with my usual group of friends. Getting my life back now that baseball's over.

GAGWTA

 

[snappy]

Sha, I will keep your friend Jenroc in my prayers. You are right about how these boards bring us together even though geographically we are far apart. We are like a band of brothers. Or more like sistas but band of sistas just does not have the same connotation in my book.

Linda, nothing like a beach setting either to bond. I had to miss the trip with my sister, her DH and my mom this week to Sandestin. I am getting nice reports though that they are having fun. My mom is more about the lazy river than the surf, so that is where they spend their time.

We'll get the results from the DS 21's arm MRI later in the week. He will be moving to the dorm a week from Thursday. I am thinking another road trip to New Orleans to help him. He just can't do much with that arm so far.

My New Orleans friend had a very wierd break in to the shed behind her house over the weekend. DD19 is staying there until the dorm opens so she can work (she has been working doubles at the restaurant near campus and racking up the $$).

Not a good scene there, it was reportedly a crack adict who broke in and stole a good portion of my friend's new audio equipment, and all the food DD19 had bought last week and stored in the fridge in the shed.

DD19 called me yesterday morning asking what she should do, that all her food had disappeared. She had not noticed the audio stuff missing. I told her she had to tell my friend, that it sounded suspicious. DD19 was adverse to talking to her about it since she felt it sounded like she was accusing my frined of absconding with DD19's food. My friend said no, but went in and investigated the premises.

Police and crime lab came, big hullabaloo, a workman in the neighborhood came buy and said some addict on a bike had stolen his expensive carpentry tools.

All the locks ar changed but I am getting a little um nervous about DD staying there.

We are checking our options, she can't move into the dorm until August 23rd.

I wish she had not committed to working during this period but she wants to retain this job. I was thinking of her staying with my MIL and two SIL's but they have early hours and DD19 works late.

Hopefully they will catch the thief or thieves.

Never dull around here. I was trying to focus on 11th hour stuff for the board meeting today AND get the payroll done yesterday. All the phone calls as the day unfolded were shall I say unnerving.

And it all came to light with missing lean cuisines and ice cream. Who wouda thunk it?

Poor DD19 took a spill when she schleped down the front steps going to work while the numerous cop cars were parked in the front. My friend said the cops leaped into action to make sure she was ok.

Well, our DD is 19 and beautiful and I am sure appeared a bit vulnerable after all the questioning and crime lab stuff. She had to sign statements, etc. I am sure the testosterone levels were high. My friend said the whole street was wall to wall police cars. I am wondering why it took that many cops to work the crime but I think I may know why.

It was also a little confusing to the cops why this 19 year old Tulane student, not related to my friend, was living and working in the city.

Good script for a law and order show someday. Trying to see the humor in all of it as usual.

Good to see you posting Barbara and Ann.


Thinking of you honugirl, LMP, Maureen, Candy, and Laura.

No bingo stories, I am trying to stay out of dodge with that craziness, although I had to get money on an emergency basis on Friday when I was trying to get to my zen place before a massage. The bingo worker had only four players Thursday night and did not have enough $$ for the cash payouts for the next session.

Why does no one plan ahead?

 

[Candy30]

Sha- Oh My Goodness! I am sooo very sorry to hear about your friend. That has to be difficult for "you" (and the rest of her "boards"family) and her family.

Snappy- I can only imagine how nervous you are!!!! Your poor DD. The bad part is that it was all the stuff she saved up for. I hope she takes precautions since she comes home late from work. Does she have pepper spray and whistle? This worked twice with my older daughter. I bought her a whistle for her keys and pepper spray on a spring band for her wrist. That way is was easy for her to take off at home and the whistle is light enough for her keys. My daughter used the whistle on two occasions. Just in case. It can't hurt. I know what you mean about not planning. We have state and other inspections. The state is usually a surprise and everyone calls down when they hear that the state is in to have work done in their area. When they get real irrate with me (which happens a lot), I always say I am sorry but your lack of planning is not an emergency for our department.

LMP and Laura- I hope you both are feeling better.

Honu- At least you won't let your license lapse and maybe you won't use it this year but maybe in the future you will.

GAGTWA!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Sha - so sorry to hear about your friend Jennifer. I am sure she wil be missed by all those whose lives she touched. Prayers for her family.

Linda - Break out the aloe vera gel! I dont know what the dose is, I am picking it up tomm. Its just the reg blood pressure pill with the diuretic addedc into it, does something like 12.5 sound right? She said take it with my synthroid in the morning.

Laura - Hope you are feeling stronger each day. praying for your healing.

Laurie - That is really scary about your dd and your friend. I hope they catch the person too. Before that safety is number #1 for everyone. Hope the mri results are able to show your ds problem.

Barbara - Thanks for the good thoughts

Lisa - Hope today finds you feeling a little better

Well yest. right when the ds were getting ready for the beach, ds19 gets a nice post surgical nose bleed. He insisted on going to the beach, I was insisting on takng him to the surgeon since I knew he was there yest. The beach won. There were no more nose bleeds PTL. Also dh was upset as one of his workers committed suicide over the week end. He had alot of family problems, like sick wife, wife insisting on adooting foster kids etc. A very tragic thng. Tonight is the dinner. I have decided on bla k pants and black print shirt. I am sitting with a fellow cancer lady. She finished her chemo and rad in feb. for uterine cancer.

GTAGWTA, thinking of you all.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Melissa - where are you????

Awww. Y'all missed me.

Our trip to Vegas was fantastic. I walked millions of miles up and down the strip, even with the bus service. My only real complaint (other than tired feet) was how hot it got in the afternoon. One day it was at least 114. I never looked to see if it got hotter. And with all the cement it just feels so much hotter. The breeze when there was one felt like a blast furnace. Ugh. My skin got so dry that I felt like a lizard. DH and I went to lots of good shows when he had evenings free. We definitely want to return. If anyone ever plans to go there, I learned a lot in the week I was there. I'm glad to share info.

Our trip home was not as nice. Our flight was delayed due to bad weather in Denver. When we finally got to Denver, it was just in time to see our next flight taxi to the runway without us. We stood in line 3 hours to get rebooked (everyone else on our flight and many others that were also grounded all had the same issues with connecting flights). The airline said they wouldn't comp us a room since they had no control of the weather, but they gave us a cut rate. So we at dinner at 11:30 and checked into a hotel for the night with no clothes or toiletries. Those things were checked and we had no access to them. Home never looked so good the next day.

Sorry I've been MIA. Seems when we got home there was much to do. My cousin's daughter was visiting my mom. I'd been gone the first week of her visit, so I felt a need to try to help entertain her a little. Then my cousin came to pick her up and I needed to spend time with her. Now I'm hip deep in getting DD ready for moving into the dorm. I think she starts moving on the 20th and I still have a list of things she needs.

I skimmed the last few pages.

Sorry Laura had to have surgery, but glad it went well.

Sounds like I'm not the only one who had a great vacation, and some are just around the corner.

Yay for a good mammogram and just coming back for 6 month checks.

Yes they still do mastectomies. I also had one. It's not always recommended. I think it very much depends on the type of cancer whether it's beneficial. They suggested that if I'd had a lump I'd have been just as well off with a lumpectomy with clean margins. Actually, clean margins with DCIS is fine too. Problem with ductal cancer is they can't see it and it's hard to know if they've got clean margins. If they miss some you have to go through the whole thing again and each time you're risking that it could spread. Not worth it in my case. But you have to look at each person as a different situation. There's not one clear cut answer. Breast cancer is not something that has clear, cookie-cutter solutions.

Now I can't remember what else I had to say. GAGWTA! I missed you all. I promise I'll try to do better.

 

[honugirl]

Honu- At least you won't let your license lapse and maybe you won't use it this year but maybe in the future you will.

GAGTWA!

Maybe. You never know I guess. I just feel goofy paying $50 for something I know I'm not going to use. Maybe I'm just trying to protect myself from the inevitable I see coming...

Lisa - Hope today finds you feeling a little better

Thanks! The cold is starting to get better, i think...

Well yest. right when the ds were getting ready for the beach, ds19 gets a nice post surgical nose bleed. He insisted on going to the beach, I was insisting on takng him to the surgeon since I knew he was there yest. The beach won. There were no more nose bleeds PTL. Also dh was upset as one of his workers committed suicide over the week end. He had alot of family problems, like sick wife, wife insisting on adooting foster kids etc. A very tragic thng. Tonight is the dinner. I have decided on bla k pants and black print shirt. I am sitting with a fellow cancer lady. She finished her chemo and rad in feb. for uterine cancer.

GTAGWTA, thinking of you all.

Wow! Thinking of you guys. That's a lot to deal with. Hugs!

I had my 6 month MRI today. I think I got the idiot tech. I never move at all, I take an ativan and I'm pretty much out for the test. I mean, I was loopy today. So she had to repeat part of the test because she claimed I was moving. Um, OK. How do you move with that big ole thing on your head and foam shoved in there to hold it still?

Next she comes in to hook up the auto-injector for the contrast dye. Well, she didn't do a very good job... The dumb thing started spraying all over me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I kept pushing the call button and freaking out. There was a puddle under my arm. I didn't know if it was contrast or blood or what. So she finally comes in and was like, "are you alright?" Um, no, I'm not alright, I have a puddle under my arm! She's like, Oh, yeah, I see it now. Well, I'll just wrap a towel around your arm and shove you back in and finish. Um, thanks. That was helpful. How about actually figuring out if we need more contrast dye? Huh? Yeah.

So I'm really hoping they don't call me and say they have to do it all over again.... sigh. MRI's and me do not mix. Which reminds me, I have to email the surgeon and let him know what happened...

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies, its so dreary here, just waiting for the shoers to start

Melissa - Glad you had a great time in vegas. How is your niece? that you were posting about before, katie? sorry I cant remember.

Lisa - wow that is awful about your mri. I sure hope you dont have to do a repeat. Being tortured once is quite enough I think. My heart goes out to you

Laura - Look for my card, it coming to you sista!! Feel better.

Notatourist - thinking of you and wondering how you are.

Well the dinner last night was o.k. We had to take Mr. and Mrs. K. as our guests. Well when we get there Mr. and Mrs. W. arrive and take the stairs with them while dh and I head for the elevator. We find out Ms. W. is Mrs. K.s car pool member and also works in the same building, um, nice couldnt you tell us they were coming. They sit at our table, thats fine. I sit next to my cancdr friend Penny. She is so sweet. She has a wig on and really looks fabulous. I could tell and she did apologize about her chemo" brain. I really couldnt talk that much with my voice. I apologized to Mrs. W. telling her it was still nice to meet her etc. As soon as the speaker was over Mr. and Ms. K. stood up, I guess they wanted to get out of there, so since we were their chariot we took them. I told dh, its obvioul they dont like us, they really never have, its just something they have to do with us once a year. I will be glad I have a whole year until next tme, lol. O.K. dh is going to the wake tonight for his worker, Just so, so sad.

I am really thinking about getting a misty fan for my hot flashes!! Since the dr,. doesnt think its my thyroid, we will see what dr#2 thinks about that when I go see her one day.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day. Blessings to you all.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I just feel goofy paying $50 for something I know I'm not going to use.

I hear you on that one. I am an educator, but I let my license expire when I started staying home with my kids years ago. It just seemed like too much trouble to keep doing the training and paying every year, when I doubted I'd ever go back to teaching. I figured if it ever came to that, I'd take the classes required, etc. Just found out they've changed the law in Oklahoma. I can now pay a yearly fee and keep my license up-to-date. No need to take classes to get reinstated. I might just do it. Then if I decide to sub, I get full teacher's pay.

Melissa - Glad you had a great time in vegas. How is your niece? that you were posting about before, katie? sorry I cant remember.

Katie is my cousin's daughter, pretty close to being my niece. She is doing okay, but not great. She still doesn't feel well and they still haven't gotten to the bottom of what exactly is wrong with her. Her blood work is all messed up, but it doesn't seem to be any of the usual suspects.

about getting a misty fan for my hot flashes!!

I forgot to mention that I won a misty mug in Vegas. You fill the mug with something cold and frosty. Water goes in a center chamber, so it gets cooled by the frosty drink. And it's topped by a mister so you can squirt yourself in the desert heat. Too funny. I'd never seen anything quite like it before.

 

[laurabelle]

I'm home from the hospital as of Tues. I take back what I said before, dilaudid (not morphine) is NOT my friend. I got so sick from it, I needed to spend an extra day in the hospital. Now I'm fighting the gas from the surgery, it's horribly painful. But surgically everything is beautiful. Thanks so much for the thoughts and prayers. These set backs have zapped my energy so I probably won't post much. Thinking of you all though...

 

[snappy]

I'm home from the hospital as of Tues. I take back what I said before, dilaudid (not morphine) is NOT my friend. I got so sick from it, I needed to spend an extra day in the hospital. Now I'm fighting the gas from the surgery, it's horribly painful. But surgically everything is beautiful. Thanks so much for the thoughts and prayers. These set backs have zapped my energy so I probably won't post much. Thinking of you all though...

Thinking of you as well, Laura. We do miss your posts here. I am sorry about the drug side effects.

Thank goodness you are home and the surgery went well. Is there nothing that will help the gas besides time?

May we will here from either Linda or Sha. They have come through with good suggestions in the past.

Hang in there, the best is yet to come!

 

[snappy]

Merry, what did you teach before your kids?

I think you should go for it.

I kept my license for my CPA in force byt did not keep up with the hours either. It did not hinder me from getting a job (one I did not seek), after being "retired" for 9 years.

I have posted this before but I think I am sharper now, having worked closing on 2 years. Accounting can be like figuring out a crossword puzzle. It can keep you on your toes. The wierdest things crop up with numbers sometimes, and the figuring out the "fix", not necessariky performing the "fix", aye, there's the rub.

I told my New Orleans friend that I am "master of my universe" when she was here recently. Not just work, but the family dynamic even more so.

It can be good or bad. I am sure many of you feel the same in your world.

Teaching is probably different from an accounting gig but with your two bith in college, substituting is a great idea if you have the energy.

More Disney $$$.

 

[Notatourist]

Hello All and GAGWTA...

The reason you guys haven't heard from me is that....(cue Music) I'm back at work!

The doc said I could work part time, so I am now in front of a phone, a computer and the "Legal" ways to answer things...so, at least I am out of the house.

Just dealing with old neuropathy...any tips?

Hope everyone is well, sounds like most of you are...

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi and GAWTA ladies!!!

We're back from a wonderful week at the Polynesian. IT was all I had hoped for-- we got on all the favorite rides 5 and 6 times with no more than a 15 minute wait. The weather was hot but nothing unexpected, with minimal rain. The food was fabulous-- I think Yak and Yetti is my new favorite restaurant.

I got my new most favorite possession-- a stuffed Heffalump. That's what we've been calling my ever-changing breast all year, and I found a stuffed one. It's my new symbol of getting past all the trauma of the past year.

OK, gotta get to laundry and get Brian to the orthodontist. Hope all is well-- I'll try to go back and catch up later!

 

[tazdev3225]

I am just checking in to say Hi. I got the official report from all my tests and they confirmed that everything is fine. I have to go for a followup mammogram in February and i think I will be a little more diligent about it now. Waiting 5 years between mammos was a little dumb. I hope you all are doing well and thank you for the support it was greatly appreciated.
Sha I do remember her name from some posts. My prayers are with you and her family.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Laura - Sorry you are having all these side effects post surgery. Would percocet help instead of the dialuid? or maybe it wouldnt be strong enough?

Alice - welcome back!! Too bad we got crummy weather here today again as usual!! I am so glad you had a great trip. Does the spirit good!!

Candy - Have you ever been to Dorney park, ds is going mon. and tues. with 2 friends.


Not too much new here. Poor dh went to the viewing last night. The couldnt believe the casket was open. He said you could see the rope mark on the guys neck etc. Wow, I guess the wife wanted it that way. Alot of people from work were there he said. Well I dont know what my dh has decided but the way he is talking it looks like he will stay in his job and not go to the other dept. and says he will hire an asistant who he will send to Siberia most of the time. I said when you interview people, ask if they like travel, as in extreme travel and have you seen the amazing race episode that was from Siberia because that is where you are going!! Needless to say I am not happy about this. I am thinking of permanently making ds21 the back up person on the health care proxy. I want to do a permanent one. I did tell dh that he should be spending more time with me, not less especillaly since my cancer is so agressive, rare etc. Oh well, such is life.
My belly area has been hurting the last 2 days, dont know why etc. Tomm. is the ent visit, so I hope it goes well, say a prayer.

GTAGWTA, Thinking of you all. Blessings to you all always.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Merry, what did you teach before your kids?
Teaching is probably different from an accounting gig but with your two bith in college, substituting is a great idea if you have the energy. More Disney $$$.

I may do that. I'm pretty sure I'll apply for the certification. Good to keep up no matter what. It might even help me get a job doing something besides teaching, such as tutoring.

I got my new most favorite possession-- a stuffed Heffalump. That's what we've been calling my ever-changing breast all year, and I found a stuffed one. It's my new symbol of getting past all the trauma of the past year.

I love it! I'm always saying I should get something with Betty Boop, since I call my prosthesis Betty oops can't say that.... well, you get the idea.

It's always good to head home after the hospital. Sorry the meds are not agreeing with you. I can't take much in the way of pain meds. They either make me unable to sleep and I feel like bugs are crawling on my skin or they make me deathly sick. I usually opt for tylenol and hurt a little more because I'd rather hurt than spend all my time upchucking or feeling like I'm part of some reality tv show where they dumped a box of bugs over my head.

GAGWTA and prayers for all that need them.

 

[honugirl]

GAGWTA all!

So I saw the surgeon yesterday... cue dramatic music.

The med student was a fine specimen if you know what I mean. Tall, blonde, hockey player from Dartmouth. Thank you god!

The resident, was cute, but not as cute.

The surgeon, not cute, but knows his stuff. Agreed to do surgery.

Now the bad news... dum dum dum...

I currently have no endocrinologist that will provide my care while in the hospital. My diagnosing endo is in Los Angeles. He has no privileges at OHSU. My current local endo at OHSU said No freaking way was he going to do anything for me while I'm in the hospital recovering. Thanks.

Sooooooo, the surgeon set me up with another endo at OHSU. I'm supposed to see him Tuesday. He may want MORE freaking tests to prove I need this surgery. Good freaking grief! He seemed nice when I talked to him on the phone tonight, but honestly, if I have to jump through any more hoops, I'm going to scream and then I'm going to call UCSF in San Francisco and schedule my surgery there because they will do it without a hassle.

I'm exhausted. I've been crying for 2 days straight. This is how it always goes. Someone says yes, someone says no and I'm caught in the middle. Some days I wonder if it's worth it all, all the fighting, all the extra energy being used up on petty hospital politics. But then I realize, I don't have a choice. I have to keep fighting or I'll die.

Just for once I wanted one person to look me in the eye and say, I can and I will help you.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Lisa - I am so sorry that you have to put up with all this medical crap
I hope your visit tues goes well and also hope you dont have to have a repeat mri. You are a tough cookie, a warrior princess (o.k. my ds wsas fascinated by the Xrna showe), Never gikve in and never give up. You go girl!!

Laura - Hope you are feeling a little stronger and less wsie effects each and evedy day

Alice - so what color is your heffalump?

Well I spent 3 hours between the ent surgeon and getting my med and dressing supplies. Oh and they ran out of large latex gloves because they said cvs is having a manufacturing problem? O.K. I will seee about going to a different store to see if they have any left I knowonce dh likes a brand he doesnt like to change etc.
\
So the good

 

[luvmarypoppins]

sorry somehow that got posted before I was even done or prooffread it etc. sorry about that.

So the good stuff about my ent visit today was
He spent so much time with me. Wow, I was amazed.
I didnt have to get scoped,
He loved my blood tests and said they were fantastic cancer wise, yippee!!
I dont have to see him for 6 months

Now the bad
The feeling in my ear will never come back. I didnt know that he permanently had to cut that nerve.

I have to go for physical and occupational therapy as my shoulder is really bad. So guess what I will be doing for at least the next 2-3 months. I told him, um its $30 a pop for my co pay for this, so he said go to a good place. I think I will go to the hosp. outpatient place, its not too far away and if they have a question they could contact him much easier. I think I only get 30 visits max from my ins. I will have to check this out etc.

The nerve to the vocal chord appears to be damaged. Of course its a side effect of the surgery. He wants me to go see the dr. who saved my life since voice is his specialty. I have to have a special nerve test - strobe test in oct. that sounds like fun!! I think they mentioned no drinking 3 hours prior to test, a needle in the neck etc. oh joy!!

Again he mentioned the surgery with injecting the foam into my neck. This would be done by surgeon 2. I told him my dh was not happy about this siince it was mentioned in the past too.

O.K. Enough medical stuff. Dh and ds are gone on their way to ca. I miss them both so much already! Dh said he will decide over the week end about the other job. The surgeon actually told me my dh is a "really smart guy". Um, yeah he should see his google page!!

GTAGWTA, have a great week end. Blessings to you all.

 

[Aliceacc]

Good afternoon ladies

Alice - so what color is your heffalump?

It's pale purple-- a color that my own heffalump has occasionally been in the past months. I got it at Downtown Disney, in the toy store there.