Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[snappy]

Gosh, I am not sure, although I took Tamoxifen for 5 years, I had no issues with it.

Another of our regular posters, Merry, did have issues, but I am not sure what they were exactly..

I am hoping she sees your post and answers. I will try and send her a pm.

I would definitely call your doctor.

 

[wdw4us2]

Hi everyone! Back from our WDW weekend. It went better than I had hoped.

DD came down from UCF on Friday to have dinner and spend the night with us at The Swan. It was great seeing her, she always makes me feel better especially because she's talkative and funny. We call DH and DS the monosyllabic boys due to their great conversational skills.

I sent the boys to Epcot to do Food & Wine on Saturday. DS thought it was fun eating his way around the World Showcase. DH just thought it was expensive. I went to the Cast Connection with one of my CM friends to get a start on my Christmas shopping. I only lasted about 30 minutes before I started getting fatigued, so we hung out at her house for the rest of the afternoon. We met friends for dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse. I was happy that I found something I could eat that didn't give me digestion challenges - filet mignon. I told DH he'd better plan on grilling a lot in the near future!

We spent Sunday at DTD. I had fun, but was annoyed with myself because I could only shop for about 20 minutes before needing a 10 minute rest. DS, who hates to shop, thought it was more fun sitting on a bench with me than going through the stores. We stayed about three hours, had lunch, then headed home. The best part of the weekend for me was getting 8 hours sleep each night - something I haven't been able to do at home since my surgery in August. I'm thinking it might have been the black out curtains in the resort, or that fact that I was tired from all the activity.

Anyway, it was great to get away even if it was just for the weekend. I see the plastic surgeon this afternoon to find out what the next step is with the expanders.

LMP - I'm sorry to hear you had such a difficult time with you most recent hospital stay. I hope it goes better for you next time!

PNM - Sounds like you have a lot of work to do. We were about to refloor and paint the inside of our house when I got my diagnosis. Guess it will be put on hold for a while.

Snappy - We're enjoying the two day cold snap here, too. It's supposed to be back in the mid 80's by Wednesday, though.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Sky Girl - Welcome. I hope someone here can answer your questions

Maureen - I have never stayed at WL, but we did eat dinner at WCC the last time we were there.

Candy - Hope your meetings go well today

Fl Lisa - Glad you had a great trip. I actually know why you slept alot, of course...it was the Heavenly Bed!! We love the Swan too, especially when we get the great govt. discount with dh.

Ann - Hope you can post soon

Elizabeth - how did the RFTC go?

Sha - Have a great trip. Thinking of your mom. How is Miss Lee doing?

Laura - , Thinking of you always sista and saying a prayer for you!!

Laurie - Thought of you when I was watching the football games this week end. Saints etc.

Linda - wow, your projects are ambitious!!

Alice - long time, no post sista!! How goes school??

Well ds17 and ds21 gave me a really nice present, their cold!! at least I am not coughing as that would kill my stomach, its just a head cold. Sat. dh took me out for dinner. I am glad I took a pain pill dose before we went. It was exhausting but good to get out. We only went to a local diner with a ramp so I would not have to walk up any stairs etc and I asked for a table not a booth. It rained here alot. Tomm. is the surgeon visit early am. We will see what he says. Dh has gotten every vaccination known to man, well only typhoid,flu,hep A and tetanus. Gotta love Uncle Sam. He leaves thurs. morning. It will be a long 17 days for sure. The nice church lady callled me and they all want to cook for me again. I said we will see, I only said yes to sun. so far. Remember I told you about the girl from church with the breast cancer and my radiation, which she had, versus chemo thing? Well now this poor girl has been diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm. It sends chillls through me as this is what my sister died from due to the disease she had etc. I will calll her mil one day to see what is happening.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[lookingforward]

Hi everyone! Back from a really fun weekend! The Food and Wine is definately worth a trip, the tastings were very impressive. For massive quantity they did a really great job with quality and taste! My favorites were Japan (the tuna/avacado sashimi and the beef sukiyaki rolls were amazing! And china's chicken dish and polands perogi's YUM!!!

The Wilderness Lodge is really nice. The rooms are very small for a deluxe hotel. The club level was really nice but not my kind of food. The appetizers were "gamey". Deer meat, Boar meet, etc. Not my cup of tea! Breakfast was the standard fare. The CM's were really friendly and nice, turn down service was done well, all in all a great place to stay. Just be prepared to eat like Johnny Crockett! (Or is it Davey Crockett?) Pochantas?? HA! We are going to try and head back Nov. 8th for one night, but now not so sure. I hurt my knee (sprained) and have a little bit of a sore throat. I discovered that even though I am well past one year post chemo/radiation I am still not 100%. It is tough on me to walk so much.

We had lunch at Germany and as always had a great time. We had a quick dinner at WOlfgang express at downtown disney and the food was average to poor! Pasta was bland and my son's chicken sandwich was really awful. The salads were good though!

I love disney. Next time....bay lake. We changed to Wilderness and the whole time I was wishing I had not! So we are planning a four night this spring at bay lake. Lookingforward to that.

Sending hugs to all in treatment and well...to EVERYONE here! GAGWTA!

OH I forgot...my daughter turns to me at Epcot and asks me which hotel I like the best. She tells me that she loves All Stars the most. All the deluxe hotels she has stayed at and she loves All Stars because she thinks its more fun. I am going to save a LOT of money now! (After Bay Lake this spring...that is!)

 

[snappy]

Two great trips, FL Lisa and Maureen. I thought the WL rooms were perfect for 2 people, Maureen. Interesting about the CL food, deer meat! Are you kidding? I never heard that before! I guess the CL rooms are the same size as the regular ones.

At Bay lake will you get a 1 Bedroom? Love those kitchens. Looks liek IKEA to me. I was wondering if Linda's new kitchen will look like that!

I did love my courtyard view (upgrade as we only paid $138/night) there though when Mom and I went two years ago for the RFTC. She loved walking around seeing everything in the lodge and especially the music. That surprised me but it shouldn't as I think a lot of the music are old movie theme music.

I liked the Food and wine a lot last year too. What fun we had meeting up with Ann and her sisters and Sha and her mom. They need to bring the RFTC back to Disney. We had such nice weather last year.

Sounds like I need to write a letter to the new Komen group in central florida.

I cannot wait until we go in November.I sure hope this trip is a go.

LMP, I hope the cold is not worse today. Good luck at the surgeon's visit today. Please let us know. So you DH is going to be out of town for 17 days? That sure seems like alot!

I am dealing with the audit, I am outnumbered this year as I got two auditors for the price of one!! Running a special I guess! I will be glad to put this behind me.

DD19 is coming home again this weekend, I can't wait to see her. I love getting her texts. Now she sends me a quickie text when she gets her test grades. Got one yesterday for her Spanish II course, got a 95. She insists the teacher grades her harder since shehas had 3 years of high school Spanish. Her boyfriend is in the class too and speaks a number of languages, but not Spanish. DD says the teacher goes easy on him and I am sure DD is helping him too. It is a very small class so the teacher knows each student and their backgrounds very well.

DD13 is going to the open house at the magnet high school this morning. Financially it would be wonderful as the Catholic school as $10 grand a year. Either would be a good choice but I tend to lean towards the Catholic one. I am glad she is at least open to both and wanting to make an informed decision. I don't want her to decide only because one or the other is where most of her friends are going.

GAGWTA one and all!

 

[Candy30]

LMP Hope your check up goes well with the surgeon today. Maybe you should let some cookin' be done for you. May give you a bit of relief especially with your hubby gone. Take care of your cold.

FL Lisa- Nice mini report on your trip. I wish I could stay at some of the places you mentioned. Our last day we toured a few of the deluxes and were in awe. I hope your appt with the surgeon goes well.

Ann I hope you can post soon. Is it a connection problem?

Sha- I know what you mean about preferring one sibling over another. I have one that acts like the "Momma" and one that is accomodating. I worried when "Momma" would go with her but found out that My Mom could put her in place when she needed to be. I hope you have a great time at Disney.

Snappy-Enjoy your time with your daughters visit! I am sure you will. I hope that you do not get tooo boggled down with work.

LF-Loved your mini report too. Deer meat! Don't think I could do that. We used to get it from a neighbor ground and we could always tell when my Mom cooked with it. WL sounds like my Mom's cup of tea. She loves westerns and adores John Wayne. It's funny your daughter likes All Star! My daughter wanted to stay at the Floridian just becaus of the slide for the pool.

Honu-Where are you girl?

Went to the Orientation and it was long and not very informative. But the new Bosses were nice. Took the time to sit and talk with everyone. I started getting sick and had to leave about 20 min early. Went home and got in the bed and slept. I am sure work will be crazy today. My daughter has a evening with High Schools. It's hard to believe that I have to think about high school with her. I want to go but I know there will be too many people around and can't chance it with cold and flu around. I am hoping that my Mom can take her. My husband has to go food shopping for us and look at side job too. I know he won't want to run anymore. With me down from chemo he picks up a lot. I am really tired this round. Well I have 2 more to go.

GAGWTA!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies!

RFTC was good! I have pics up on FaceBook but I have been too lazy to load them to PhotoBucket. Hopefully I will get to that soon!

Laurie & Candy - We will be looking at the Arts magnet with DS in January. It makes me crazy that he wants to go to the regular high school because he THINKS that's where all of his friends are going. I would be willing to bet A LOT of his friends are applying to other magnet schools so there will be fewer familiar faces than he thinks. So far all I have told him is he better not purposely throw his audition to the Arts magnet because it really is a one shot deal. He better bust his tail and if he is offered a slot we will discuss IN DEPTH what the ramifications of turning it down would be. The Arts magnet has fewer students, stronger academics, INCREDIBLE scholarship opportunities, and it would be a MUCH better fit for him. He just doesn't see it that way. Darn kids.

Candy, I am sorry the chemo is causing havoc!

Maureen, we stayed at WL once. It was fine, but we LOVE LOVE LOVE AKL so we spent the whole trip saying "We should have stayed at AKL." I didn't know their concierge offerings were the stuff they serve at Artist's Point. Hmm. I am not a big "game" kind of girl. DS LOVES to stay at Pop. The problem is that the 3 of us do not fit comfortably in those double beds.

WELCOME to our new posters!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Laurie - wow that is expensive for hs!! I think ds is a little less than 7 because he got that scholarship. But they do have alot of fundraisers too and I am sure the church that it is associated with supports it financially too hence the cost.

Maureen - cant say I would enjoy those meats but the F and W food sounds good

Elizabeth - hope things go well for your ds. What kind of scholarships??

Candy - I am so sorry you are experiencing the chemo side effects. I thought of you as the hosp. got a new dr. for the univ. of pitts I think.

Well dh got informed that our health care contributions will rise almost 10%, I think that means the amt. they take out of his monthly paycheck. That in itself is based on a mathmatical formula, then the 10% is based on the health plan we choose. Another one is even more and the least cost increase was a lousy HMO we had once and I got rid of since I had to beg the surgeon to see me in the er once. The cold is better. The surgeon visit went well. We got the last parking place. I hate it now that they mved the childrens services there too, never enough parking. The surgeon got new glasses and had his shadowing student with him. He said I will be in pain for quite a while yet and the pain is more predominent where the more incisions were etc. Oh what fun. He said if I need more pain meds to call and he will get them for me. I didnt think to ask for the script anyway since I was there. I just was in pain and not thinking etc. I didnt understand what dh was tellling me. I dont have to go back to dec. and he said I can drive and go back to physical therapy so I will work on that next. I am suppose to finish those visits by Nov. 5th or 8th, I cant remember. I think I have 5 or 4 left.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Maryann, I hope you are feeling better soon! Such a long recovery.

The Arts high school just gets tons and tons of money for college scholarships. Arts based stuff, obviously. But like $3 million worth of scholarships last year if I recall correctly. The high school is public, so no tuition. Only 800 kids, and all of them WANT to be there, as opposed to the thugs who go to the regular high school who simply see it as a way to grow their drug business. And our high school is supposed to be one of the "better" ones. The superintendent's kid graduated from there last year and now he is at Harvard, but I am not impressed.

We have super high rated math/science magnets, but DS is a flighty little artsy guy. The Arts magnet is the perfect niche for him.

 

[wdw4us2]

Hi Ladies!

LMP - Sorry to hear about your cold. When anyone here gets a cold, I banish them to the other side of the house and steer clear. They think I'm cruel, but they're getting used to it.

Maureen - I agree with you about the size of the WL rooms. They are the same size as the moderates. When we went in June, we were upgraded to the Jr. suite for DS's birthday. That room was great! We were also on the concierge floor. They didn't have any deer or boar meat then fortunately for us!

Snappy - That sounds expensive for high school! I hope the magnet school works out because you could save the Catholic school tuition for college!

The visit to the plastic surgeon was uneventful. I started the saline injections for the expanders, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Left side is fine, but I've been having problems with the right side since the surgery with excessive fluid. I was already drained twice after the drains were removed and the plastic surgeon could not inject as much on that side. I will probably have to go back to the surgeon once more for an ultrasound and possibly more drainage.

As far as doctors go the only thing I have left this week is the Herceptin drip on Friday.

 

[lookingforward]

Maryann, I hope you are feeling better soon! Such a long recovery.

The Arts high school just gets tons and tons of money for college scholarships. Arts based stuff, obviously. But like $3 million worth of scholarships last year if I recall correctly. The high school is public, so no tuition. Only 800 kids, and all of them WANT to be there, as opposed to the thugs who go to the regular high school who simply see it as a way to grow their drug business. And our high school is supposed to be one of the "better" ones. The superintendent's kid graduated from there last year and now he is at Harvard, but I am not impressed.

We have super high rated math/science magnets, but DS is a flighty little artsy guy. The Arts magnet is the perfect niche for him.

Tell your son to try really hard for the magnet arts school! Tell him that there are two girls to every guy! That hooked my son! He loved the arts middle school. Unfortunately he got wait listed for the high school and is now at our local school. However, for him, it worked out. He is always getting cast in their shows, so he is happy. My daughter is auditioning for the arts middle school. Its super competitive so I am just hoping but it would be great! She is preparing for it now. I am praying!
The Arts school is always full of top, creative students and there is NEVER a discipline issue because if they misbehave they get booted back to their home school.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Tell your son to try really hard for the magnet arts school! Tell him that there are two girls to every guy! That hooked my son! He loved the arts middle school. Unfortunately he got wait listed for the high school and is now at our local school. However, for him, it worked out. He is always getting cast in their shows, so he is happy. My daughter is auditioning for the arts middle school. Its super competitive so I am just hoping but it would be great! She is preparing for it now. I am praying!
The Arts school is always full of top, creative students and there is NEVER a discipline issue because if they misbehave they get booted back to their home school.

From what I can tell, we only "sort of" have an arts middle school. It is on a campus with a regular middle school, though. I am not sure how the logistics work. It is too far from our house to really consider it, and I have never heard anyone else mention it (EVER) so I am thinking their programs can't be that strong. The only reason I know about it is from the district website.

Good luck to your DD!! We don't start that process until late January.

I don't think the drama program at our "home" high school is anything that spectacular, and neither is the band. But at the "regular" high school he could do both. At the Arts magnet he wouldn't be playing drums at all. There was a boy from the high school drum line at the football game last night, and between songs he was working with DS on some things. DS loves drumming, so in a way I would be little sad for him to lose that. So we'll see.

 

[Candy30]

Jacks, I think the 2 to 1 ratio is a good arguing point! I hope the best for you and your son. That Arts High School sounds wonderful! How goes the planning for your Dec trip?

LMP- Glad your cold is better. Will you feel up to doing PT with all your pain?

FL Linda- I will be thinking of you when I get my Rituxumtab drip on Friday. I am glad to hear that your shots weren't too bad for you.

Thanks for everyone's well wishes. A few guys at work have the flu and thankfully stay out of the office. One guy came in this AM hacking all over the place and I put him out and was spraying everything he touched. I sure hope I don't get anything.

Hi Sha and Snappy!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA, Ladies! Sending many good thoughts to everyone undergoing procedures, treatments, and recovery!!

Another rainy, rainy day here. It is making me very grouchy.

Candy, DS isn't all that interested in girls yet so trying to use that to entice him isn't going to work. He has had a crush on the same little cheerleader for 3 or 4 years, but mostly he is interested in drumming.

There is nothing to plan for December. It has been an incredibly long and boring wait so far. We leave six weeks from tomorrow.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good afternoon ladies

Laura - Hope today finds you feeling ok

Lisa - Where are YOU sista? I hope you are ok and in calif. at the endo.

Candy and Fl Lisa - I hope your treatments go as well as can be expected.
Candy - are you a Phillies fan??

Elizabeth - did yoou go to the fair??

Well nothing too much new. Ds17 is in the midst of senior trip fundraising,. So I am the new proud owner of an entertainment book, and 2 packages and a tub of cookie dough. I dont know when that will arrive. Does anyone know if you can freeze that stuff? I think I will pass on the jewelry fundraiser. It looks like junk. DS21 has completed chapter 1 of his senior thesis. DS19 is unappreciative of me as always, sigh, sigh. I am getting dh stuff ready for the trip. Wow, I didnt know he actually owned 15 pair of underwear, . I just hope his suitcase doesnt get lost along the way and with aeroflot and russia, I am not holding my breathe for sure. I am signing him up for every promotion for everything that he is on I hope. I am loving american airlines right now!!More miles for our disney trip next year.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[Sha]

Good morning ladies... I have been awake for a bit this morning, as I was to meet a friend for breakfast as she and her husband were driving through to WDW. They will stop and see me still but may be at the office. I will see them at dinner tonight... Le Cellier.

Mom is doing okay. She still hasnt talked much about the surgery. 530am on Tuesday we have to be at the hospital. I am not sure if she will call my sister and see if she will take her to the walk or not. I may ask my sister to see about it.

I asked mom again about Miss Lee, but she hadnt heard anything. She has gotten emails, but no updates.

I am hoping I can relax a little this weekend and be ready for the road ahead.

 

[wdw4us2]

Good afternoon ladies


Well nothing too much new. Ds17 is in the midst of senior trip fundraising,. So I am the new proud owner of an entertainment book, and 2 packages and a tub of cookie dough. I dont know when that will arrive. Does anyone know if you can freeze that stuff? I think I will pass on the jewelry fundraiser. It looks like junk. DS21 has completed chapter 1 of his senior thesis. DS19 is unappreciative of me as always, sigh, sigh. I am getting dh stuff ready for the trip. Wow, I didnt know he actually owned 15 pair of underwear, . I just hope his suitcase doesnt get lost along the way and with aeroflot and russia, I am not holding my breathe for sure. I am signing him up for every promotion for everything that he is on I hope. I am loving american airlines right now!!More miles for our disney trip next year.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

The answer to your question about the cookie dough is yes. DS had a fundraiser a few years ago with the cookie dough and we froze all of it. It was fine once we took it out of the freezer and made the cookies.

Sorry you are still having problems with DS 19. Maybe his attitude is part of his way of dealing with your illness. Each kid handles it differently, as I am finding out myself.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

GAGWTA!

Maryann, we didn't go this year. It is SO expensive, and we are putting all of our extra pennies towards the Dec. WDW trip.
DS was selling those tubs of cookie dough. The brochure didn't say anything about how it had to be stored. The website says it is frozen. Which will come as a nasty surprise to anybody who was expecting it to be shelf stable. I just made a cash donation to the Drama program because they were only making 48% profit on the dough. I didn't want a tub of dough.

Sha, sending lots of good thoughts to you and your mom!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Quick post ladies as I feel sick, sick sick.

Sha - Have a great dinner with your firiends. Praying for your mom.

My cold has come back wtih a vengance. I feel horrid and took vicks, hot tea and some nice codeine cough medicine I have from my reg. dr. in the house from before. It helps alotl There is no way my stomach could handle all that coughing. Dh was up packing till after 2am. He weighed the suitcase - 70lbs. So he is taking 2, one will be a carry on and 1 checked etc. I guess for 17 days and no laundry access, you need alot of stuff and for different climates took russia winter and new zealand summer.

GTAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[Sha]

Dinner was good thanks... unfortunately, I was a bit stressed because I left work and hour late... and was late getting to dinner. I even had to go to dinner in my scrubs. At least I had my Disney ones on with Tink. Because I was late and rushed, dinner tried to disagree with me. So hoped to sleep in longer this morning, but didnt.

Talked to mom last night and she is doing okay. She is going to call Miss Lee today. I may have to remind her. There is a couple on the today show... both husband and wife have breast cancer. The man had a stage 4 and his wife barely a 1.

Tonight I have dinner with my friend Cait and her husband... my friend was suppose to be with me, but he is not available. Then a small group of us are going out on the Grand 1 yacht for 2 hours. That is the surprise that I referred to. Am looking forward to it!