Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[Sha]

physically im improving a lot... the depression that came with it... so so. Have had some distractions which have helped but its still there... but am talking with someone.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Sha - to you. Sometimes that's all we can do here. It's not much but we are thinking of you.

FL Lisa - Hope you have your energy back soon. The fatigue can just really wipe a person out and everything takes so much longer to do.

I had my last chemo yester day . But it took 12 sticks to get the needle in. My veins kept rolling. And I have good veins usually. Although 2 are now permanently and totally blocked with clots that will never go away from the chemicals. Now I wish the onc would have give me the option of a port. Oh well - it's done!!!! Now, one more fill on the expander, then off to 6weeks of radiation. At least that's only a 98 mile trip every day. I normally like to drive, but by the end of those sessions, I'll probably be sick of it. Oh well, there are worse things in life.

Thank you to everyone who has offered advice and concern. I'm sure I will have questions as I go into the next phase.

GAGWTA!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi Ladies

I wanted some nice cheerful smilies because snow is coming before tomm. Hope its not a lot. I never trust the weathermen around here that much.

Sha - sending you a ,My thoughts and prayers are with you.

KJ - Keep up the great work sista! There is light at the end of the tunnel!!

Laurie - hope you continue to heal and that the plans for the vacation work out.

Fl Lisa - hope you get your strength back, until then, rest and take it easy!!

Nothing too much new. DS18 did his back up college plan., the community college application. His guidance dept. thinks he could qualify for the honors college the lst year with his grades, the 2nd year would be the degree courses, and the one good thing is they have an agreement if you graduate there they will accept you at the state univ. (his lst choice) so that is good.
She said it was also good he has aed and cpr already, but it expires the end of the month and he is going to another class.

Well in the news today..a lovely medical resident got in trouble from the wonderful hosp. I go to for..(it did happen 4 years ago I think?) posting a picture on facebook of a friend in the anatomy lab standing over a cadaver with 2 thumbs up and smiling. O.K. at this hosp. when you have surgery etc. you sign that they can take pictures of you as long as they conceal your face etc. Hmm, hope I aint floating around there somewhere, at least it wont be on facebook.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day everyone. Thinking of you all.

 

[snappy]

Your cold better, LMP? I hope you get some sunshine with that snow.

Hey chemo over for you too, KJ! Very good news!

I booked the air for my mom and me, and have the 2 bedroom booked at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, and a car, so I guess we are going. I guess I will be soaking myself in Orlando.

I can hardly believe I got everyone on board. I did not cue my DH in until today which was not too bright since he will be holding down the fort with the two dogs and DD14. I was dreading telling him, is that silly or what? After 31 years, he could tell something was up when I was laughing nervously when I called him earlier after putting it off all this time. He thought it was pretty humerous. Boy I could never get away with any real underhanded devious stuff.

I got so uptight waiting to call him that I had a kind of anxiety attack, felt flush and rapid heart beat and the works.

He is good to me, and I knew intellectually he would be ok with the trip. I just don't normally wait 2 weeks before discussing something with him.

I don't like secrets.

I am motivated to get caught up workwise for sure now.

Anyone else going early March? March is one of the two remaining months I have yet to travel to WDW, the other being December.

December is too hard with college and school aged kids, in my opinion. You can go in November and see the decorations anyways.

GATGWTA!

 

[wdw4us2]

Sha - you're in my prayers.

KJ - Hooray for being done with chemo! Is your oncologist having you wait a month before radiation begins? Mine is.

Laurie - Glad your plans for the WDW trip worked out. Sorry I will miss you this trip - maybe I'll see you on your May trip?

LMP - Backup plan may be the best thing for your DS. My DD ended up having to go with hers (didn't get into her first choice school) and with what happened with me it turned out to be for the best. Sounds like your DS will do better financially this way, too.

Finally starting to move around the house a bit more and not sleeping so much. Still feeling weak, though. I have to feel better by tomorrow since I have labs at the oncologist tomorrow morning.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I'm not sure exactly when I'll start radiation. My onc. said 3-4 weeks but he would leave it up to the radiologist who I see next week for the consultation. I don't mind moving it along but I have an expander that needs another fill and I don't want to do it too quick after the fill which is also next week. So, I'll have to see how the timing works out on all of it.

I hope your radiation goes well and that your skin doesn't get too nasty throughout the process. Do you have 6 weeks or do you get to do the 5 days compressed schedule?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies
Ah, thoughts of spring, especially since they are watching a possible snow storm for friday/sat. Oh what fun!! Snow is on the ground here but suppose to melt much later they say

Lisa - hoping you will get your strength back and glad you have your vacation to look forward to.

KJ - wishing you all the best with your appts. and the consultation next week

DS22 team lost last night, we didnt go. Dh has been working his butt off. I rarely see him. He goes to bed lke 3 am alot. Oh and he is going to England and Denmark around the lst week of March for a week. Here we go again, well I hope its on an airline where we can get ff miles. He really is not allowed to choose which one. I won another online contest, yeah!! Some baby stuff which might go to my cousins son and wife. Tomm. night I have a meeting to go to with dh. I hope its not long. So when I go see my surgeon I am thinking of giving him..a 6 pack of V8 to celebrate my cancerversary, no this aint the one who saved my life, its the one who might have almost killed me. And why V8? Because when we first met him he was drinking v8 at his computer and looking at my pet scan (he didnt bother to do it before I got there, so dh said lets look at it now together etc. ). I know, I am strange right?? Well I am still praying for ds lst college choice, nothing yet.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day everyone.Thinking of you all.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

O.K. Ladies I am ready to cry right now.
Dh just callled me and said they are demanding him and some other guys go to Russia, well SIBERIA to be exact in 2 weeks!!, o.k. not to mention its like 50 below there right now, dh said last time he flew from Moscow to Siberia on Aeroflot, pieces of the plane inside he could see were being held together with black electrical tape. I am so worried for my dh safety.
Not to mention, he was the one who told them not to deal with these people etc. Now they are mentioning either having someone stay there permanently (I told dh, no way was it going to be him), or maybe not doing work with them etc. What a mess, also its my dh b day probably right around that time, and the one "free" vacation day he gets will most likely be there too. I know I shouldnt complain and he has a job, but this is getting to be too much. I will be just oh so glad when he works for the new dept.

 

[snappy]

Lisa, I am sorry you are under the weather.


I would love to see you in May. You should be rocking and rolling by then!

LMP, that is all just too much.

Something is wrong if he is working till 3 am regularly. Been there, done that.

It is a sign of poor management when that is going on

Once is a blue moon, maybe.

I am drinking a blue moon, by the way. I kinda like the term, and definitely like the beer.

I actually think my mom is excited about the trip. I gotta show her some pictures of the resort etc. I will be surprised if she ventures to the parks much. We will see.

Her surgeron encouraged her again to get the implant exchange. All I can do is to be there for her when she is ready.

Toms says he is getting good airfares from New York. Not sure which airline.

Any suggestions for new restaurants? My mom is a healthy food crazie!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hi Ladies

Laurie - we are an alcohol free home but here is me having a caffeine free pepsi!! I so need that right now

Nothing too much new. So it appears dh boss is also worried about aeroflot because now they are talking about going to bejing china lst and getting a direct flight on another airline, I think its something like s7?? Then in a short time after this trip he will go on the one to england and denmark. sigh, sigh.

Not to mention I told him about my surgeons visit next week. The 2 ds have class and internship and cant take me and now dh grabs my appt. card and says he is calling the surgeon to change the visit because its not convenient for him to take me then. O.K. I made this appt. in augusst and its really hard just to get an appt. there anyway etc. I guess if I had a car that I wouldnt be stressing about this stuff. I was actually thinking of a toyota highlander, and our friends dd works at the dealership in the office, oh well there goes that out the door with the safety issues. Still nothing from ds lst choice college. Our weather forcast is for about 6 inches of snow so far. They always change it of course. Tonight is our meeting and I dont know if we are even going since dh is so tired from working.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[CherylDan]

LMP, I hope your schedules get all worked out ok! It would drive me nuts having to rely on somebody else for transportation. Hopefully you'll get a car soon. Your DH seems really busy, as well as your sons - I can imagine it is difficult to keep all those schedules straight along with where you are supposed to be and when.

Laurie, DH likes Blue Moon too, actually loves it. I'm not a beer drinker at all, never did like the stuff. Give me something fruity and frozen.....yum! Although with this medication I'm taking (the antidepresents to combat the hot flashes caused by the tamoxifen) I'm not supposed to have any alcohol, so I mostly don't. Very, very seldom.

KJ, for the end of chemo!

Lisa, I hope your energy starts coming back soon! It took me awhile....but everyday it got better. It was really kinda strange, I really didn't realize just how crappy I was feeling until I started feeling better. Talk about a new appreciation for feeling good!

New puppy is doing great, having fun playing with Charlie. Took her to the vet today, she weighs a grand total of 2.6 lbs!

GAGWTA!!!!!

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

It looks like this weekend is going to be pretty nasty weather wise for a lot of folks. Everyone stay safe out there if you are in the path of this storm. This round has really hit hard so my weekend will probably be a fairly easy one - I'll cook and do dishes but not too much else. At least I got the laundry done. The worst part is putting the dog and cat in and out - one wants to go out and the other wants to come in, and then they trade places and never at the same time so I'm up and down all the time with them (why can't animals be on our schedule )

I hope this weekend is peaceful for everyone and that those who are going through side effects - they will begin to diminsh. This is doable!!!

to all.

GAGWTA!

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

CherylDan - I keep forgetting to mention, I use your tagline in my mind all the time. I Fight Like A Girl! It keeps me going strong. Thank you so much for using it, it gave me so much strength.

 

[snappy]

Stay warm everyone. Going outside here is like having a cold bath.

I keep telling myself the water is good for the plants but I think they may be dead anyway from the freeze.

I guess the grass will come back?

Oh joy we have the soccer tournament and everything will be backed up.

If they expect us to play during the superbowl they better check their batteries!

I am scheduled for a good old massage today, sadly with a different masseuse. The one I love has left and I dont know how to contact her.

So I will give it a whirl. I am at least 4 massages behind at massage envy so I am thinking about a weekly one until I catch up.

Who is up for a massage meet in WDW someday?

That Waldorf spa looked liked a religious experience.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Yippee. we are getting 3-7 inches of snow. Well if you are reading Laura, my heart goes out to you and the 2 feet you are suppose to get, we did that in dec.

Laurie - a massage sounds great! Hope you enjoy it. I would be someones worst nightmare at the spa. I dont even think I could do that. I have a giant scar from my neck to butt from the 3 back surgeries I had. Even some of the drs. laugh and say stuff, like boy you really got it etc. Not to mention having half my neck gone now too.

KJ - Keep fighting sister!!

Cheryl - I'll have something fruity and frozen with you.

Went to the meeting last night with dh. Of course I already knew the boys old school is not doing well, I am on the committee. Other stuff was o.k. Lets just say when you talk to other people sometimes your problems dont seem so bad. I was talking to this lady who came to visit me in the hosp. All I can say is, wow, I dont know how she handles all these problems in her life right now. She has alot of faith and strength for sure. Some physical stuff and lots of family stuff. I told her I would keep praying.

Dh is now not going to Russia since the guy who was suppose to go and translate with him might have cancer. He just had surgery and is waiting for the biopsy report.

Dh also managed to change my surgeon visit to the 15th. He only got to do this as the lady told him they just got a cancellation. Mon. we will go see ds basketball game hopefully, tues. we have some meetings and Laurie is this the cheer - who dat!! Go Saints!! Sorry Peyton. I wish we would hear something from the college for ds. sigh, sigh, pray, pray.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[wdw4us2]

Hi Everyone!

LMP - Happy to hear your DH is not going to Russia. It didn't sound like it was going to be a pleasant trip at all.

Laurie - Loved your comment about Blue Moon. I haven't been much of a drinker the past few years, but tell me I'm not allowed to have something and I suddenly want it. My best friend keeps telling me we're going out for lunch "with cocktails" as soon as the doctor says it's okay lol.

CherlyDan - The new puppy sounds fun!

KJ - Stay safe this weekend. Hope the weather isn't too terrible.

Saw the oncologist today. Everything looks good and I started the new dose of Herceptin. So far, so good. The doctor scheduled me for a PETscan, MUGA and hormone panel in the next two weeks. I'm also seeing the radiologist next Wednesday to set up my schedule. I also see the surgeon next Friday for a follow up. Starting to feel a bit better every day.

I'm really going to need that trip to WDW by the end of the month!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good news

Fl Lisa - wow that is sure alot of appts. to deal with. I have only done the pet scan. I think it was so bizzarre that I had to eat eggs and a ton of bacon and water before the test. This was when I was unaware of what a pet scan was for. Wishing you all the best.

First dh called and wanted to know when my appts. were next month as he is going to england and denmark. So I remembered that they didnt give me an appt. card for the endo. so I called them and got the date, then I said to myself..since I am on a roll I will call the rad. onc.

Well I get a lady whose english is so so. She says again, let me have someone call you back. I said I have called 4 times, no one ever calls me back and right now I am going to CRY!!. Nothing dramatic, just polite. So I hold and hold,. Yes I know its passover and the dr. takes a 2 week vacation etc. So praise god she gives me like April 29!! So now the yucky 2 week diet,horrid 2 days of hormone shots and nuclear scan will probably be in the lst to mid part of may. I need just to make sure its not when ds college graduation is. Maybe I can talk dh into a nice disney trip after that? We always go around the 3rd week of may anyway. No mail from the college. Poor ds was so disappointed.

 

[snappy]

Maybe I can talk dh into a nice disney trip after that? We always go around the 3rd week of may anyway. No mail from the college. Poor ds was so disappointed.

I sure hope you are able to go that time in May, because we will be there. Would absolutely love to meet you, MaryAnn.

We will celebrate life together.

Sorry about the lack of communication from your DS's 1st pick.

Fl Lisa, glad you are feeling stronger. You will need that energy with all the visits coming up. So glad you have finished chemo!

And MaryAnn, that is geaux saints. Us citizens of the banana republic, we don't spell so well.

My massage was great, although I miss Elizabeth, the one I always ask for. I had Amanda today, I went with someone my co-worker has had massages from. She said this Massage Envy location let go a bunch of people recently.

I have quite a few knots so I am going back in two weeks.

I am sorry you can do a massage. It really relaxes me, although I have not had many in my life, except for this past year.

I think I surprised my DH. He bought me a gift card for Christmas and I proceeded to sign up for the "club."

It is less than 5 minutes away from my office so it was so tempting. I bring my lunch to work a lot so I justify the cost of the massage that way.

Having another of those blue moons to start working out the rest of the kinks. Some boiled crawfish would sure go well with this beer.

Maybe DH can pick a sack up on the way home.

The rain is actually good for the mudbugs.

Not a good menu choice for our sistas here just finished chemo though. One day when everyone is healthy I will have to bring a big portion of crawfish ettoufee so we can have a Louisiana food fest at WDW. What do you think?

 

[snappy]

In case you have not seen it. My momma just emailed this to me.

A outspoken but much loved now deceased longtime New Orleans sportscaster said he would wear a dress if the Saints ever got to the superbowl.

So in tribute to Buddy D:




http://vimeo.com/9131842

 

[NHAnn]

Happy Superbowl!

Laurie, I am sitting here thinking of you! I've got all kinds of snacks here for the Super Bowl, and since our Patriots didn't make it we are rooting hard for the Saints! I pulled out the grandkids trinket basket and found 3 gold mardi gras necklaces that haven't yet migrated out the door on their visits...from the big baset you sent me when Avery was ill! So DH, DD and I each have our gold beads on (mine looks AWESOME with my black fleece shirt!!)

Sha, thinking of you...

I had a busy week...attended a wine-tasting Thurs nite that was a fundraiser benefiting the genetic counselling program at my local Breast Care Center. That was fun, though I don't usually go out on weeknights!

Sending all of you my thoughts and prayers! GAGWTA!!