Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[CherylDan]

Hi Linda....sounds like a great trip, how relaxing!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies

KJ and Fl Lisa - Hope you are both doing well

Lisa (Honu) - are you getting ready for your trip to the surgeon?

Laurie - I guess I am not in your suitcase

Laura - I hope your surgery goes well and that you will heal quickly

Ann - Thinking of you at this time

And what is new in the soap opera of my life you might ask,. Of course its none other than ds20. He calls me on my cell phone. I said how are you doing this etc? He says he is broken down with my van on the side of the road by college and he begged and talked to the cell phone company for 30 minutes and begged them to turn his phone back on, it was an emergency etc. He happened to know dh ss# so they did. I know he knows it as we have to write it on all his medical forms when he goes to the dr. etc. All the girl said was, gee I hope your father wont be mad about this, um, no his mother is mad about this. Well he did need the phone to find a ride to school the next 2 days etc. I told him after this crisis is over I want the phone off again etc. Oh and that little tow cost $100. You cant abandon the car etc. I think they give you 24 hours around here. So now we have to find out about donating it to a charity we know. I think they will tow it away. The transmission is completely blown now and ds car is suppose to be done by thursday night. I guess dh doesnt care as he is having some medical issues which I have to get the name of 2 doctors. I am letting him make his own appt. One is with a dr. who covered for my surgeon over the week end once. He has a very good rep. etc.

Ds 18 told me he is thinking of inviting "Diane" to his prom. Yippee! He took her 2 years ago. I like her, she is sweet etc. Yeah!!

My stomach is really hurting on the L side. It definetely feels like something is wrong/wacky even though nothing is popping out. I am trying to hold off going to the surgeon about this. I guess he must know something when he said the last time "we have to keep an eye on this etc." Oh I just dont want to hear the word surgery ever again!!

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[honugirl]

GAGWTA guys!

Thanks for thinking about me LMP!

Yes, I am currently in Salt Lake City. I met with the adrenal surgeon yesterday. I really, really, really, really like him! I feel very comfortable with him. That's the good news. The bad news is I'm stuck here until Saturday because they want me to see their neurosurgeon to make sure he doesn't want to do another pituitary surgery. Sooooooo, I wait. I'm surprisingly at peace with this hiccup. I'm praying that things will go well and he'll say no to the second pituitary surgery. I think in the long run it will do more harm than good.

I'll update when I know more.

Hugs! Hope you're feeling better soon.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

MaryAnn - I'm so sorry to hear of all the troubles you and your family are having. Right now I wish for you to have a dull and boring life. Sometimes dull is nice, even if it is, well, dull.

We have above freezing weather and the snow is starting to melt. It's nice to see the roof of the house again. March can bring horrible snow storms though so we aren't out of the woods yet but I'll take this beautiful weather while we can get it.

Rads are going fine - Nothing like 198 miles a day for 5 minutes on the table. I wonder if a laser pointer would do the same thing although then I would have the cat running up and down my body.

I hope everyone has a great day. I had been working from home during chemo but now I'm back in the office - it sure didn't take long to get used to working in my jammies but boy it's taking a while to get into the swing of being in the office by 7 each morning.

GAGWTA!

 

[NHAnn]

Hi all...
checking in to say hello and GAGWTA.
I went back to work Monday, there was drama while I was gone, and while part of me wants to sleep for a few days... the backlog of my own work and extra stuff due to other people's drama would have made missing more days too stressful once I got back. And the fact that we were without power here from the wee hours of friday morning (before heading to Massachusetts for wake/funeral) and didn't get it back til 4:30 a.m. Monday..... .I just wanted "normal".

Been getting some really touching cards, messages, etc from old friends, neighbors, and colleagues and former students of my dad. Here is a link to a really cool article about him: http://www.bc.edu/publications/chronicle/TopstoriesNewFeatures/news/dmohowski030110.html

Laurie, we tried Il Mulino this trip and enjoyed it, I particularly liked that you can get a "small" (and cheaper) size portion of their pasta entrees. Which was plenty along with a salad or other starter. We also did a lunch at Teppan Edo since DH loves it there, I get annoyed that they do not take the Tables in Wonderland card there. But the food is great and we like sitting with "strangers". Met a neat couple from Wales and their 8 year old DD and a family with two boys from Massachusetts.

At my support group meeting tonight, a local bead business has a non-profit sideline where they bring in supplies and volunteers to cancer patients/groups ...they helped us each make a bracelet! Mine is really pretty with smokey quartz, citrines and amethyst...bronzey and purpley tones. I love it and I had fun with the "****ie club" as DD calls them.

Thinking of you all

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies

Ann - that was a beautiful article about your dad

Lisa - I am so glad you loved the adrenal surgeon. I think it helps alot. Hope your neuro surgeo visit goes well too.

KJ and Lisa - hope you are both well and KJ that the rads are going ok.

Elizabeth - How did your ds audition go??

Well ds car is suppose to be done today. Dh got an appt. with the surgeon who covered for mine a few times. I liked him in the hosp. and he has a good rep. He only has office hours on monday, so dh has to wait until like the 29th because of his trip etc.

My stomach is still hurting, but I am trying not to do much, I know the dr. said to rest for a few days if it happens etc. My aunt is coming home from the rehab sunday too so that is good. The weather is suppose to be so nice this week end. Yeah!!

GTAGWTA. Have a great week end.

 

[wdw4us2]

Hello everyone!

honugirl - Good to hear that you like the surgeon you met with. That makes everything so much better in the long run.

KJ - I'm happy that your rads are going well. Just keep counting them down.

NHAnn - It's good that things are getting back to normal for you. I enjoyed your DDs name for the support group!

LMP - Sorry that you are not feeling well. With all the automobile/DS stress you are dealing with, I'm sure that's not helpful.

My sim did not go as planned on Tuesday and I just talked to the radiologist. There was a problem with the beam going over the right breast area and he was not happy about that. Since my reconstruction is not complete, I still have the expanders/saline to deal with. The radiologist talked to the plastic surgeon who has agreed to drain some of the saline from that side so the radiation won't interfere. I will hear more about this next week and get a start date for the rads. I'm going to have to do another sim, too.

Sometimes it feels as though nothing can be simple or uncomplicated with my treatment. . .

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

FL Lisa - I'm sorry about your sim. not going right. It's tough mentally when one is ready to move on to the next stage at a certain time and then you hit a snag and have to wait. I hope the radiologist and technicians can get it corrected quickly for you. I've heard others say that the expanders gave the radiologist oncologist a fit but mine didn't bat an eye when he heard I had an expander in, he just checked it and made sure that it was going to be fully expanded before starting radiation. I hope it doesn't cause problems down the road. But if it does, it will just have to be removed and I'm lopsided for the rest of my life . There are worse things.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

GAGWTA.

 

[honugirl]

So I met with the neurosurgeon... I like him. He's very good friends with my original surgeon. So I have to go for a repeat set of scans at 1 pm today. Then they're going to look at them Nd conference about them. So I probably won't know my fate until the end of next week. Of course neuro #2 is going out of town to Egypt next week. So that throws a monkey wrench into things... I'm exhausted. Ready to go home but I love it here the staff here is AMAZING! I love them all. So I'll give y'all an update when I know more. Hugs! Hope everyone is feeling OK.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

to all.

 

[honugirl]

GAGWTA all! I'm emotionally spent. I'm exhausted. It's been a long few weeks. The hardest thing for me right now is watching everyone else grow and change and move on with their lives and I'm just trying to hang on for surgery. I really want to be happy for people, I really do. It just eats me up inside when I think of everything I'm missing out on. I guess I'm having a little pity party for myself and I shouldn't. I really shouldn't. I've just got nothing in the gas tank. I just want to be home. At MY house. Not a hotel, not a friends house, my house! And I know it's going to be. a few more days until I get there. Until then I'm going to spend spoons I don't have. Hope for no delays on the plane home today because I just can't take it...

 

[wdw4us2]

Hey honugirl - I've been feeling that way a bit myself lately. It seems as though every time I think things might return to somewhat normal I have a setback.

You just have to hang in there and hope for the best. It's what keeps me going!

 

[honugirl]

Hey honugirl - I've been feeling that way a bit myself lately. It seems as though every time I think things might return to somewhat normal I have a setback.

You just have to hang in there and hope for the best. It's what keeps me going!

Thanks! You're right. I've been battling this for 3 years this month with the help of doctors (I've been sick since at least puberty I just couldn't get anyone to listen). I know I have to keep fighting and once I get home and recharge, I'll feel better.

I guess I'm a little sad too that no one in my family outside my parents seems to care. Here I am making the biggest decision of my life and they just don't care. No encouraging notes on Facebook, no calls, no emails, nothing. I'm tired of fighting alone. I just spent 5 nights alone in a hotel over 1000 miles from home scared spit-less and no one in my family cared enough to even send a quick text. People I didn't meet before this week care more than my own family does. I know it shouldn't hurt as much as it does, but it really hurts. I wonder what would happen if I completely ignored my cousin when they have their baby later this month?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

Wanted to pop in and send lots of and to all. I do try to read along but I am not the best at posting.

Honu, hang in there, girl! Things will get back on track, even if its not happening as quickly as you would like!

FL Lisa, I hope they are able to get going with your rads ASAP!

Maryann, sorry your DS is giving you fits.

DS had his audition last Saturday, but they don't mail out letters until 3/12 at 5 PM. I am already an absolute basket case. I guess if things don't go well I will have gotten a 2 week head start on being sad and bitter. Which is silly, because on a global scale it isn't that big of a deal. BUT what I have discovered is that when something is important to me personally, it doesn't matter if it has global importance because I can't see past my own hurt. Which is horribly selfish and petty, but what can I say? I just want DS to be happy and safe. That absolutely won't happen at our "home" high school.

My mom called today. She is going on a trip next week with the high school band, chaperoning my sister. They are going to New York. She will get to see "Chicago" on Broadway and do some other neat things. I am happy for her, because that isn't really the sort of thing she would normally do. Chaperone, yes, but not on a big trip like this. I hope she enjoys it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks! You're right. I've been battling this for 3 years this month with the help of doctors (I've been sick since at least puberty I just couldn't get anyone to listen). I know I have to keep fighting and once I get home and recharge, I'll feel better.

I guess I'm a little sad too that no one in my family outside my parents seems to care. Here I am making the biggest decision of my life and they just don't care. No encouraging notes on Facebook, no calls, no emails, nothing. I'm tired of fighting alone. I just spent 5 nights alone in a hotel over 1000 miles from home scared spit-less and no one in my family cared enough to even send a quick text. People I didn't meet before this week care more than my own family does. I know it shouldn't hurt as much as it does, but it really hurts. I wonder what would happen if I completely ignored my cousin when they have their baby later this month?

I remember feeling sad like this, too. It feels like life goes on for everyone else while you're living in your own little hell. Not to excuse it, but I think, to some degree, it's human nature. People don't really understand these types of things, and they're also kind of afraid of them, think they won't happen to them, don't want to think about them, etc. Lots of stuff all wrapped into one. The best thing I can say is that someday, hopefully, you will have moved on from this and there may be a time that someone else is hurting that you don't realize it. We all do it to some degree, I think. All we can do is to try to be aware as best we can and offer support when we can. I admit that sometimes I'm not the greatest at keeping in touch with people even though I do care. I'm the worlds worst at sending cards. I sometimes think I should just boycott them altogether then I can just say I don't do cards, instead of trying to explain why I was late (which is lame). Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I care. We care. I hope things take a better turn for you soon.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies. Its really sunny here, good because I am blue.

Lisa - I hope you are safely at home and will be able to renew, refresh and recharge yourself. I know what you mean about your family not caring. I guess since none of ours even lives in the same state they think its ok. I dont thiink I ever got a get well card from any of them, maybe once from 1. No flowers, no phone calls, maybe a few e mails, but that was only after I kept sending them an update after each of the surgeries. So they had 7 reasons to contact me etc. What is that old saying about not being able to choose your relatives? My church family is a real support as are all of the ladies here. Sending you a . WE care about you and are here for you. I know what you mean about being home. I would always write on my board in the hospital room, "theres no place like home." Helped me to focus on getting out of there and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Fl Lisa - Sorry to hear about the sim. I am sure you feel like you are trying to get forward and it ends up 2 steps backwards. This too will pass. It will just take a little longer and it helps to have alot of patience. Hang in there sista!

Elizabeth - I am hoping your son will get good news. I am sure that letter cant come fast enough. We are still waiting for ds college letter, nothing. I have a back up plan B. I always like to do that. That is awesome about your mom, gosh, I live in NY and never go to the city. I dont think I would really enjoy it. Too crazy busy. I like peace and quiet.

Laurie - Hoping your trip is going well. Cant wait to hear all about it.

Hmm, what is new? Well aside from dh embarrassing me at church and saying I am too sensitive, saying its the meds, not the meds etc. He is gone off to work and ds20 has decided to quit his dead end job. Um, I told him that puts money for gas for you etc. Dh is delighted ds is quitting the job and thinks he is going to be studying more now. Um, yeah right. And of course I am stuck here in the midst of all of this. We will see what happens. I am not expectig anything good to come of it. I told dh instead of turning off the phone which as we saw just wont work then we will cancel the whole contract. but dh has to agree with me. Dh is leaving sun.Wed. I have a sonogram. Hoping they dont see anything etc. Well I wont be watching the oscars on tv tonight thanks to disney and cablevision.

GTAGWTA. Have a great day.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Honu - I know it's not the same but there are a whole bunch of us who care out here in cyberworld . But we are all here to listen when you need to talk about it as well.

 

[lookingforward]

Hi everyone! I have been reading and trying to catch up with everyones news.

I am sending hugs and best wishes to Honu, Maryann, FL Lisa, and who ever else needs a hug !

Elizabeth, I have a good feeling about Carter! I know you are on pins and needles waiting...I am too about Danielle!

Laurie...are you back at WDW? Now sure what trip you are on but I hope you are having a great time!

Linda..sending you a hug too!

Miss you all, I am definately getting online more to the disboards lately now that my school work is less.

I had more reconstruction surgery on 2/11 that went really well. The new implants are much, much better. Not sure if I told you all about it? Anyway, my husband had to have surgery because he had a kidney stone that would not come out for months. SO they went in and got it and placed a stint there. He is in a bunch of pain! He has three kidneys, which is kind of funny. He gets the stint out in another week!

GAGWTA!!!

 

[lookingforward]

Cutting our trip short and returning home early tomorrow. Got word yesterday evening that my father passed away suddenly.

So sorry to read this! My thoughts and prayers are with you and family.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA!!

Maryann, I hope your DS hears something from the college soon! Did they tell you how long it would be? Our friends have a DS graduating and some of the colleges told them they wouldn't know anything until April!

Maureen, I didn't realize you had another surgery! Glad it went well! Good thoughts for your DH to recover quickly! And more good thoughts for DD!! I know she will get an acceptance letter next month! It is the very least they can do since they made you wait so LONG!

Many hugs and good thoughts to all!!