Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

Laura keep us posted. I'm praying for you, sista.

lmp, it sounds ok. Debridement just takes away the dead tissue and exposes new so it can grow. Healing often takes a very, very long time. I know it's frustrating, though. Hang in. (What steak pictures?)

tazdev, good advice already, hang in.

Alice, have a great trip!

Thoughts to all in treatment or waiting for results.

I have a routine onc appt today. I usually go in after work but they rescheduled me. Have to fight am Boston traffic to get in there now. Yuck.

Had to share my son's excitement. His team made the playoffs and won the first round, so went on to game 2. They were winning game 2, but the other team tied the score in the top of the 6th (last) inning. DS's team had last ups, though. DS led off the inning, and hit a game winning, bench clearing walk off in-the-park home run to win the game! So they are going to the World Series!! DS was on it was the first time he ever got a home run! I am happy for him.

 

[snappy]

Laura, dear, thanks for posting here about your surgery. You have fought the IBS long and hard, with every weapon in the arsenal.

You sound like you are at peace with the surgery, good for you. I will be glad twhen that disease is removed from you, but sorry that it means removal of body parts.

I love your spunk though, with the crap joke. Your spirit is not diminished, never will be.

You are a strong lady and a brave one.

I will be thinking of you in the next days and looking forward to hearing from you afterwards. Hugs and prayers!

Linda, what a wow night that was for your son. What fun for you too! Great story!

LMP, your description of your visit made me smile, as always. I am glad our nurse friends added their input. Sometimes the doctor is so busy it is hard to feel satisfied that eveyrthing was covered. Put into the mix the attitude some doctors have, and it is hard to get their attention. iIhave been lucky in finding a number of doctors who I can really connect with over the years. Sadly, I had to leave a few of them in New Orleans (if they didn't retreat after Katrina), but I have found new ones here.


Some visits turn out to be like a light lunch that doesn't satisfy. I wonder how much worse this will be if we all end up in government care. I think we should consider having any elective stuff done pronto.

Alice, have a wonderful vacation. Sounds like a crazy busy morning but you will relax once you soak up the Disney magic.

Please give us a full report when you return.

I wanna see the steak and creme brullee pictures too.

Today is our 31st anniversary. Not much on the agenda, but we are doing the hot air balloon festival this weekend and I am getting another massage Friday with my New Orleans friend.

I need to take DS21 to the orthopedic doc again today to see what is up with his arm that appears to be broken. The temporary cast is not too steady. And his classes start ont he 24th. I am not sure how this is all going to work out but I am sure it will.

Love to all, but especially healing wishes for Laura and LMP.

Now off to find those pictures.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Laura - praying for you sista. Don't laugh too hard when you get my card.

Laurie -Thanks for the thoughts and encouragement

tazdev - hope your news is good today

Linda and Sha - I asked a few more ? below, Thanks

Linda - That was so awesome about your ds from a baseball loving mom too. Did he get to keep the game ball?



Its hot here, really hot. Driving arond in a van with no ac doesnt help either. Also the ice cream protested and melted too. I am done running around with ds for the day. Dh will pick him up depending if it storms etc.

Well dh looked at the wound. (this is for Linda and Sha's benefit. He said Dr. M. opened it all the way down to the alloderm graft. So it aopears he didnt make it any wider, just back to the original post surgery 7/10 deeper Sigh, sigh, even dh was mad, saying he is a nut case etc. Dr. M. also murmered something like you know this is never going to heal the right way etc. (I sure hope he means cosmetically and not medically). Also here is ??? for our 2 wonderful nurses - If he is only going to put a permanent graft in and I am assuming he is going to use the same surgical site, (the wonderful belly button area) why is he so obsessed with it healing right if he is just going to rip it open again anyway and that will be in 6 months or less etc.

Well next weekend is something that could be a mothers nightmare, ds21 was asked to be a date of a girl who used to go to his hs for her brothers wedding. That in itself would not be bad, but this girl has turned from a nice religious person to a witch. I dont know what she exactly practices like wicca, pagan stuff etc. Ds19 saw her and she said she wasnt into God anymore etc. She dresses in black and wears a pentagram etc. Sorry but this is not some girl I want ds bringing home to mama!! Also I hope he realizes that she just might not be the same person he used to know with a whole new set of values etc. Shouled be an interesting story.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[Candy30]

Laura-Keep us up to date when you can. I hope and pray your surgery turns out great.

LMP- I am curious too about the healing process if he is going to cut it open again.

Alice- I wanted to take you up on that suitcase deal!!!

Linda-What an awesome experience for your DS! I would have been screaming like a banchee (sp). Tell him congratulations!

Hello and to everyone I missed.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Well dh looked at the wound. (this is for Linda and Sha's benefit. He said Dr. M. opened it all the way down to the alloderm graft. So it aopears he didnt make it any wider, just back to the original post surgery 7/10 deeper Sigh, sigh, even dh was mad, saying he is a nut case etc. Dr. M. also murmered something like you know this is never going to heal the right way etc. (I sure hope he means cosmetically and not medically). Also here is ??? for our 2 wonderful nurses - If he is only going to put a permanent graft in and I am assuming he is going to use the same surgical site, (the wonderful belly button area) why is he so obsessed with it healing right if he is just going to rip it open again anyway and that will be in 6 months or less etc.

A graft will not take unless it's attached to healthy tissue. Healthy tissue is the only type of tissue that will correctly transport blood and nutrients to the site as well as remove unwanted particles from it. Dead tissue is just that - dead tissue. So it beehoves you to get that site healthy as best you can in order for a graft to be successful.

FWIW, I think you are all doing a great job (yay, team!). The fact that there is a) not only no infection but b) no resistant infection is testament to the fact that you're doing nice work. It just takes time. BTW, I hope your DH wasn't truly offended by the surgeon's statement (surgeon's can be like that - which is why I prefer working medical ). The fact that he is willing to do it and actually doing it is incredible, even if it may not be perfect. Tell him I said I think he's awesome. (There were many times over the years that my DH had to help me with things, too. When we were first pregnant with the twins, he gave me 70 oily injections into my butt (1 a day for 10 weeks). I mean no offense to my dear husband, but it felt like a gorilla was giving me the shots, poor guy! But he did the best he could, and he always said he would have done anything to be able to take the shots himself instead of me having to take them. Same with the whole cancer thing. But life is like that, the chips fall where they must, and we all go on doing the best we can.)

It really sounds like you have a great family, lmp.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Laura, just wanted to say I will be thinking of you and hoping your surgery goes well tomorrow!!

Maryann, hugs to you, too! I hope that wound starts behaving soon!!

GAGWTA, Ladies!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks, guys. My DS is an interesting kind of player, he's quiet and kind of shy. Definitely not the kid walking around banging his chest. So to be the center of attention, even though he was excited and proud, was half fun and half mortifying for him, LOL. But he loves being part of a team, so this was just really special for him. A few of the kids on this team are kids he's played with all year long, and that made it even more special.

Linda-What an awesome experience for your DS! I would have been screaming like a banchee (sp). Tell him congratulations!

My DH said his throat was sore from screaming. As did another mother on the team who just called me to tell me so. I was at work at the time but they called me right after the game to give me the news. I was bummed I missed that one, but what can you do. It was still really fun to hear him tell me about it. (Thank you, God, for letting me be here for these special moments with my children!!) Ironic that with the thousands of pictures I've taken of games this year, I missed that particular moment of all moments.

 

[lookingforward]

Thanks, guys. My DS is an interesting kind of player, he's quiet and kind of shy. Definitely not the kid walking around banging his chest. So to be the center of attention, even though he was excited and proud, was half fun and half mortifying for him, LOL. But he loves being part of a team, so this was just really special for him. A few of the kids on this team are kids he's played with all year long, and that made it even more special.


My DH said his throat was sore from screaming. As did another mother on the team who just called me to tell me so. I was at work at the time but they called me right after the game to give me the news. I was bummed I missed that one, but what can you do. It was still really fun to hear him tell me about it. (Thank you, God, for letting me be here for these special moments with my children!!) Ironic that with the thousands of pictures I've taken of games this year, I missed that particular moment of all moments.

So happy for your son! YEA!!!! And I also thank the Lord for keeping me here for my kids too. PS I have had a few "sore throats" from screaming and yelling at my kids games, too!

 

[lookingforward]

Today is our 31st anniversary. Not much on the agenda, but we are doing the hot air balloon festival this weekend and I am getting another massage Friday with my New Orleans friend.

Now, I have met you and you look so young that I can't believe you have been married for 31 years. Amazing! Happy ANNIVERSARY Laurie! When are you going to disney next, I will be there 10/15-10/18.

 

[tazdev3225]

I wanted to give an update and thank you all for your support. I had a mammogram, ultrasound and a second mammogram this morning. The original area of concern didn't show up on the ultrasound but a different one did. The drs are all positive it is just a couple of small cysts. I go back for another mammogram and ultrasound in 6 months and if that shows everything looks the same it will be one more mammogram 6 months after that then the regular yearly check-ups. The last time I went through this it took 3 of the longest weeks in my life for answers. It was such a relief to walk out of there today with answers. My birthday is tomorrow and it is the best present I could have asked for. I hope all of you are doing well and I will stop in to keep up with you. It was so nice to have somewhere to turn where people understood my fears. Thank you all again.

 

[annrae]

Hi Linda: How proud you must be of your son! It's a great feeling to have something special like this happen and it makes for a great memory!

Hope all is well.

Barbara

 

[lookingforward]

I wanted to give an update and thank you all for your support. I had a mammogram, ultrasound and a second mammogram this morning. The original area of concern didn't show up on the ultrasound but a different one did. The drs are all positive it is just a couple of small cysts. I go back for another mammogram and ultrasound in 6 months and if that shows everything looks the same it will be one more mammogram 6 months after that then the regular yearly check-ups. The last time I went through this it took 3 of the longest weeks in my life for answers. It was such a relief to walk out of there today with answers. My birthday is tomorrow and it is the best present I could have asked for. I hope all of you are doing well and I will stop in to keep up with you. It was so nice to have somewhere to turn where people understood my fears. Thank you all again.

GREAT news! I am happy for you, I know it is tough waiting and worrying.

 

[CherylDan]

GAGWTA!!!

Laura, just wanted to wish you well for your surgery tomorrow. Please let us know how you are doing when get a chance.

Well wishes to everyone else in treatment too.

Linda, congrats to your son!

Snappy, happy anniversary! The hot air ballon festival sounds fun. Although I'd probably be chicken to go up in one, I'm afraid of heights!

Summer is flying by, life has been hetic but good. Just wanted to stop in for a quick hello.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Update: my son's team won the World Series last night!

 

[Candy30]

Linda: Now I know your throat is sore !! And your neck and arms are sore from doing the "cabbage patch"! Congratulations!!!!!! That is so great!!!!

LMP- I hope everything is healing well and your spirits too. I miss your weather updates.

Honu- Where are you? How have your spirits been. I hope you are better from your cold!!!

LF- I know about the sore throat. I am so bad that my daughter (who is the laid back kinda shy one) always tells me not to yell loud!! How can I not?

Alice and Jacks- Hope your having a great time!!! Jacks I am loving your report!

Snappy-I think the hot air balloon would be so cool. I hope you get to do it.

TAZ- GREAT NEWS!!! Now go and enjoy life.

So I have been working on the Tshirts and it is hard. I have a few characters that are close to being finished. When I figure out how to put them on I will show them. Tell me what you think.

OK I posted them successfully on another thread. Tell me what you think. I did Stich, Iredissa, silvermist and tink. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2220068

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Its raining here, but not on my parade, because these are showers of blessings I tell ya, Praise God, yup I'm shouting it, the endocronoligist said the blood tests all showed undetectable levels so that means...I am cancer free right now. I do have to go for an ultrasound in 2 weeks that is normal followup. I dont know how good the image wil be, but it would be nice to see what is in there post emergency/life saving surgery #3 etc. She doesnt want to see me back until dec. I asked her about my hot/cold stuff, she thinks its menopause not thyroid issues. So she asked me when was my last check up etc. I told her oh about 10 years ago. I think she about fell off her chair. Looked like her eyes were gonna pop out of her head. She said, let me give you the name of a very nice dr. etc. O.K. I am bad, what can I tell you. But I do get the mamo once a year. etc. She also wants to adjust my bp med. One with a diuretic in it. I told her if I pee too much then she can forget it and we will go back to the old med etc.

Laura -praying for you lots today, sista!

Lisa - Hope your cold is getting better. Miss ya sister!

Laurie - Happy Anniversary!! That hot air balloon festival/ride sounds great.

Linda - Thanks for the info and hooray for your son.

Candy - The shirts look great. Wow, that is a big job but I am sure everyone will appreciate all the love and hard work you are putting into this project.

Tomm. is ds ent visit and I get to see him next friday oh joy. I am not combining our visits like the other time. I want my $30 co pay worth of his time and I dont want him to blow me off. I think he might scope me this time.

GTAGWTA. Blessings to you all.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Maryann, That IS good news!!!

TC

 

[annrae]

Update: my son's team won the World Series last night!

Congratulations! This is AWESOME! What a great summer for all of you!

 

[snappy]

I sure hope you got to go to the world series games, Linda!! Wow, what a memory!!

LMP, great news about your blood work. I know you were sweating it out.

Candy, I think the t shirts will be dynamite!! Really like the black and white, I think it draws your eyes more to the detail.

Excellent news, Taz. Please don't be a stranger, you hear?

I am thinking and praying for Laura today.

Barbara, hello lady, how is life treating you?

Maureen, thanks for the compliment. I feel old some days, but I am like the energizer bunny, I just keep getting back up. Work is wearing on me. It is becoming increasingly difficult for me to suffer fools these days.

We had a "team meeting" today offsite. What a joke! You should have heard the complaints about the input required from them on the budgets. I had forgotten to take my BP meds, not wise as it was really hard for me to bite my tongue. These people are freaking prima donnas.
They don't want to participate but watch em wail when they don't like how I divy up the budget $$.

I think I can't win.

You guys misunderstood, I am not riding in a balloon (although my friend wants to arrange for her to ride next year). It is all about watching the competition for me. I am generally happy as a lark just watching them overhead from my patio as they pass right over my house (last year one had an um unscheduled landing shall we say in our yard).

It is very peaceful to watch them sail over and there are lots and lots on Saturday am.

DH and I appear to be going to WDW in late September, so I will miss you Maureen. My current arrangements are for Sept 24-30, but everything in my life is subject to change.

Elizabeth, I found the pictures. You are an expert at documenting your trips in words and pics.

I am loving it.

My sister and her DH are trying to work out a trip to Sandestin to bring my mom for a break. They are trying to include me but I just don't see how. Whatever the heck is wrong with DS's arm cannot be seen by xray so he is scheduled for a MRI Monday night. Then we will know where to go from there. I never heard of doing a MRI on an arm injury but there we go. We gotta get the fix in as college classes start two weeks from Monday.

GAGWTA

 

[honugirl]

GAGWTA everyone! Sorry I've been away. Not feeling well at all. The cold is finally starting to get better. Today was my first day really out of bed. I went over to the mall and got some new jeans, a couple new belts, and a new shirt.

Still waiting on the surgeon's office to call. I called them today and they were like, "oh your records are still waiting for review, the nurse should call you by the end of the week." Um, OK. Isn't it the end of the week now?

I'll try to write more tomorrow, pretty wiped out.

Hugs everyone! Congrats to everyone who had good news this week!!!!!