Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part III - GAGWTA!

[CherylDan]

smiley....I am so sorry, and cannot even begin to imagine how devestated you all are. That is such a wonderful picture of your family, I know you will always cherish it.

 

[MinnieTink]

Dear Smiley
Please just know that I am praying for you all. God Bless you all.

 

[wdw4us2]

Smiley - I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.

 

[Sha]

Smiley ~ So many hugs and prayers coming your way for you and your family at this difficult time. Please take care of yourself as best as you can though. You and your family are being carried in Gods strong arms right now.

 

[snappy]

I just read your post, smilie. I have been away for a couple of days, but Barbara emailed me last night.

Here are her words via email. I think she would want me to share her feelings.



Hi Laurie: Just a short note to thank you for posting the issues I'm experiencing on the board. I don't want everyone to think I've forgotten about them.

I read the posts a few minutes ago and I'm feeling heartbroken for Smiley and her family. What a tragedy and how does any family cope with something so heartbreaking. In the blink of an eye our lives can change as we all know on this board and it certainly makes me appreciate each and every moment of every day and to tell my DH and children and grandchildren how much I love them.

This is me, Laurie, again:

Smilie, I can't improve on Barbara's words, or those of others of our GAGWTA group that have already posted. Please know we are praying for you and are here for you at this time and in the future.

Laurie

 

[NHAnn]

speaking of posting trouble.....ugh, just lost another whole post. Need to try again though:

smiley---there are just no words that seem adequate in the face of such tragedy. My heart goes out to you and your family, wishing you peace in your heart and comfort as you grieve. I'm so sorry, please know that my thougths and prayers are with you all.

kacw--the early weeks are so hard....the anger, the fear of the unknown. Acceptance and healing seem so far off, but you will get there. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor about a sleep aid (or try an over-the counter, like Simply Sleep which is basically benedryl) just short term to get yourself some relief from the racing thoughts interrupting your rest. I also strongly second the suggestion of a local support group...I never thought I was a "group" type but it can be invaluable. Where are you located, perhaps we can help you find something? Sometimes the doctor's offices, or hospital social services can steer you to a group; or organizations like American Cancer Society or Susan G Komen. Hang in there, and lean on us for questions, support, or just diversion/distraction too.

Had a wonderful week at the Swan, got back yesterday afternoon. It was 64 degrees at breakfast yesterday, then we sat by the Grotto pool for awhile before checking out. This morning it was 8 below when I got up We were lucky as far as travel timing, got right out after a storm and flew back right after one as well. Nice neighbor cleared a pass up our 200 foot driveway for us, DH is out there now cleaning up the rest and some roof sections!

GAGWTA!!!

 

[marcij]

Finally heard today about my CT scan last week. Turns out something is showing up on my colon, and somewhere else (can't remember what he said - something about noduals maybe??). Anyway, based on blood test, he suspects that the BC has spread even though the colon is not a very comon place. He's ordered a colonoscopy/biopsy and a PET scan, and I have an appt in two weeks to discuss everything.

Not sure what to make of all this, trying not to go into panic mode....mostly right now I'm hoping that our planned WDW trip in March to visit DD isn't affected. Soooo, that's my story thus far and the waiting game begins....or continues, I guess. In the meantime, I'm going to paint & redecorate the upstairs bathroom. Gives me something else to focus on.

I'm so sorry. I hope the time passes by quickly. The waiting is so hard. And I pray that everything turns out as easy as possible.

Hi -

I am new to this thread...diagnosed two weeks ago tomorrow. I am scheduled for mastectomy on Friday. I am so angry. Will I always feel this way? Today I am getting a second opinion from a group of doctors at the hospital. I am a nervous wreck. I need someone to tell me what it's really like and no one will. I just turned 36 so I don't have any friends who have been through this and DH and I just moved across the country with our kids 4 months ago. No friends or family here, either. I also feel like I haven't had sleep for months but it's only been 2 weeks.

Thanks for any stories you can share.

You've already gotten good advice from ladies that know much more than I do, but I wanted to chime in my support and encouragement. You must feel so isolated, scared and mad. I lost my Mom four years ago and that's one of the hardest things for me. Luckily, I have a lot of support from the rest of my family. There are some great books as well as support groups that you might try. I love the Komen website and their discussion board for info on surgery etc. Please know I'm sending prayers for you and your family.

BTW -- I'm 44 with two boys, had a bi-lateral with DIEP mid-November and just finished my third chemo treatment yesterday. I have one more in two weeks (of the harder treatments), two weeks off, then 12 weeks of taxol.

Good morning ladies

kawc - welcome. The ladies here are a great wealth of support, information and encouragement. You have found a good place here. Its ok to grieve at first. Boy I did alot of that for sure! Wishing you all the best (I have thy ca but the ladies here have adopted me, so I cant share an actual bc story.

Barbara - thanks for thinking of everyone. Hope you are bearing up under this unbearable weather.

Sha- Please send us some A disney trip sounds great for you. Laurie and I will be there in May too.

Merry - see you are being slammed weatherwise too. I hope your mil surgery can take place when its safe as possible.

Lisa - hope you get over the cold

Pats mom - Good you can have a little medical break for a while

Laurie - how are you feeling? Hmm, I think dh and I will be there the same time as you. We must plan something. Can I drag you to the gf for the tea to celebrate my b day? If anyone else is there then we can do something too.

Linda and Ann - hope you are making it through this terrible weather too

Cheryl - Sorry you have to go through all of this testing. But as in my previous post I am so glad your doctor is leaving no stone unturned.

smiley and marci - hope you are both doing well

Well I am and thanking God. I know alot of people at my church were praying for me too. The stomach surgeon says he likes that it appears healed and come back in 3 months. I actually had to have a nurse, a nurse pract. and the surgeon all look at my belly button and then there was the medical student, he looked from a little distance. Oh, teaching hospitals are just the best.

After that dh took me for some new glasses , oh did I mention he SAT on them in church sun. This was after he crashed the van a few days before, not to mention an incident in california that I cant discuss on here due to the legal stuff and the govt. etc. We are being slammed weather wise here. Enough already. Tomm. I am going to the endo. I hope she says my blood level number is undetectable.

GTAGWTA.

If it isn't one thing, it's another, right? I hope life settles down for you.

Hi ladies. I've come here just to let you know why I have gone missing, and to ask for your prayers to support my entire family.
Our son was killed on friday in a workplace accident. He worked with my husband, who was the first to arrive on scene and free him from the log that had crushed him. tried to perform cpr on him until the helicoptor arrived to fly him out. He was 28 years old, had a beautiful family, wife and 4 beautiful little girls. the youngest only turned 1 last week.
There are no words. I went for my first appointment with my oncologist on monday anyway at the insistence of the rest of the family, but I am finding it very hard to be anything close to positive with my bc on top of this.
hubby is going through trauma councilling. he was debriefed on sunday. we have a viewing today with dearest daughter in law, who was always more like one of our own daughters to us, and the service will be at our local church on friday. I really don't know how we are going to all cope. My 2 dear daughters are obviously having a hard time coping with their loss on top of their fears for me. here is a picture of us at my birthday celebration this past august. that is our son standing directly behind me. his wife is beside him in pink, I am holding his youngest on my lap, his oldest is standing beside me, and his 2 middle girls are at the end. our middle daughter is holding her son on her leg. our 2 daughters have dark hair like thier dad beside me. this is as close to a family portrait as we have, the one missing is my second daughters partner so we are going to have him photoshopped into it and have big pictures made for all of us. thankyou for being here.

Oh Smiley. I'm so sorry. I know you feel like you need to focus on your family now, understandably, but you need to also make sure you are taken care of as I think they would worry less. I'm praying for your entire family and want you to come on here anytime to vent/grieve.

speaking of posting trouble.....ugh, just lost another whole post. Need to try again though:

smiley---there are just no words that seem adequate in the face of such tragedy. My heart goes out to you and your family, wishing you peace in your heart and comfort as you grieve. I'm so sorry, please know that my thougths and prayers are with you all.

kacw--the early weeks are so hard....the anger, the fear of the unknown. Acceptance and healing seem so far off, but you will get there. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor about a sleep aid (or try an over-the counter, like Simply Sleep which is basically benedryl) just short term to get yourself some relief from the racing thoughts interrupting your rest. I also strongly second the suggestion of a local support group...I never thought I was a "group" type but it can be invaluable. Where are you located, perhaps we can help you find something? Sometimes the doctor's offices, or hospital social services can steer you to a group; or organizations like American Cancer Society or Susan G Komen. Hang in there, and lean on us for questions, support, or just diversion/distraction too.

Had a wonderful week at the Swan, got back yesterday afternoon. It was 64 degrees at breakfast yesterday, then we sat by the Grotto pool for awhile before checking out. This morning it was 8 below when I got up We were lucky as far as travel timing, got right out after a storm and flew back right after one as well. Nice neighbor cleared a pass up our 200 foot driveway for us, DH is out there now cleaning up the rest and some roof sections!

GAGWTA!!!

Glad you had a good trip!

GAGWTA!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Good morning ladies

Dearest smiley - know yesterday must have been so hard for you, sending you lots of thoughts, and prayers for Gods peace and comfort.

kacw - praying your surgery went well yest. I am sure it is so hard for you with your family so far away. As others have said, try to get into a support group. They also have cleaning for a cause, something you might want to check out. My whole family has passed away but my church family helps me out alot as does my dh and the 3 ds. Wishing you all the best

Lisa - hope your treatment went as well as possible and that there were no side effects. Hang in there sista!

marci - hoping your treatments are gong well. Sure you all have super bowl overload there and throw in the ice etc.

Ann - you vacation sounds wonderful. Sitting by the pool. I am jealous!! Sounds like you had a great mid winter recharge

Laurie - hoping your flu symptoms are subsiding.

Cheryl - sorry you have to go through all this testing. The bathroom remodel sounds great. What colors have you picked out? I think I would like blue or green tones if we remodel ours.

Well the endo visit went very wel,. Praise God the cancer numbers are undetectable! She did say she thinks the radiation has affected my eyes, she saw them tearing so much there so she wants me to get another opinion at a univ. opthamol. And they said they will try to get the reclast for me since they changed their rules jan. lst. Yeah, I dont go back to see her until July and have another blood test and ultrasound, so that is good. I get a little break until May when I will have drs. visits and testing etc.

GTAGWTA

 

[annrae]

My DD worked on my computer today and changed my browser and that seemed to fix the problem that I've had for a few months. I am really happy that I can post again. Melissa, perhaps that might work for you. You can e-mail me and I can attempt to tell you what she did to it.

It pleases me to say hello to all the new people who are posting and I wish them comfort and good luck as they embark on this journey that we've all been on at one time or another.

I hope that your wonderful memories will help sustain you over the next days, weeks and months Smiley. Ann, so nice to see you posting - Maryann - happy your tests are turning out well. Cheryl, hoping for the best results for you. For all of you that I have not been in contact with, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

For Laurie and Linda - thank you for your notes.

I will be in touch again. Hugs, Barbara

 

[snappy]

My DD worked on my computer today and changed my browser and that seemed to fix the problem that I've had for a few months. I am really happy that I can post again. Melissa, perhaps that might work for you. You can e-mail me and I can attempt to tell you what she did to it.

It pleases me to say hello to all the new people who are posting and I wish them comfort and good luck as they embark on this journey that we've all been on at one time or another.

I hope that your wonderful memories will help sustain you over the next days, weeks and months Smiley. Ann, so nice to see you posting - Maryann - happy your tests are turning out well. Cheryl, hoping for the best results for you. For all of you that I have not been in contact with, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

For Laurie and Linda - thank you for your notes.

Way to go to your DD!

I will be in touch again. Hugs, Barbara

Glad you are back posting, Barbara!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Have been thinking of smilie and all of you.

 

[CherylDan]

Just wanted to stop in and say thanks for all the good thoughts and support. I have a PET scan on Tuesday, and an appt Monday with the surgeon to get the colonoscopy set up, so things are moving right along. Trying not to bleed before I'm shot. I've been keeping busy with my bathroom project. Paint is called Silver Moss, it's a light blue/greenish color, going for a spa effect. Doing all the accents in brushed nickle and glass. Found a new bathroom fan/light combo that doesn't look at all like a fan but rather a ceiling fixture. New shower curtain, rug, towels, etc. Anyway, it's a really small bathroom, so this is a pretty easy and quick project, but should be a major improvement.

Smilie, thinking of you.

LMP, yay for good test results!!!!

Ann, glad you had a good trip....but wow, such awful weather to come home to!

Marci & Lisa, how are treatments going?

Barbara, good to see you again!

Laurie, heard it was cold down your way....did you get any snow?

Linda, read your thread the other day about driving home in the blizzard, and clogging your disposal with veggies! Hope you've had some better days since then.

GAGWTA!!!!

 

[snappy]

Clogged the disposal with veggies, oh no, say it isn't so!!!

I had to have a plumber a week or two ago when water was backing up in the sink, dishwasher, etc.

DH came back home just after he got to work to see what he could do. The stoppage was just beyond where he could get. We paid the plumber $110 for about 2 minutes of work. Good work if you can get it.

He said always always always run a full stream of water when using the disposal. So I guess my problem ultimately was a disposal problem too, or more, the way I operate my disposal.

Cheryl, there was a prediction of ice on bridges (of which we many around here) so all schools were closed on Friday and some businesses Thursday. It ended up to be mostly cold rain. Fun.

The snow/ ice was mostly west and north of here.

Cheryl, good luck with your testing next week. Your bathroom update sounds lovely. Have you had a colonoscopy previously? Laura, one of GAGWTA thread originators with Linda, gave me a website in 2006 before my first colonoscopy with some good ideas to make the prep easier on your system, if you are interested in the link, pm me.

To make up for not going to WDW for Mardi gras I have a May trip AND a July trip planned, and I am thinking of going in November to meet Barbara and do the tail end of Food and Wine.

It may be an exercise only, but it is fun.

MaryAnn, I would love to have lunch or tea or something on your birthday in May if we can coordinate. I have not done tea at the GF, but I had a ball doing it at the Windsor court when DD20 was a sweet little thing. Remind me which day is your birthday? I extended my trip to 6 days, May 19-May 26.

Ok, the July dates are something like July 6-11 and the November dates probably November 3-7th or longer.

Anybody here ever use lastminutetravel? I read a post about it on the Orlando hotels and attractions board and pm'ed the poster-she got a good deal at the Hilton bonnet creek in September so that is where I am doing half of my May trip. The Hilton is the sister property to the Waldorf, but at $80, a heckuva deal.

Love that bonnet creek area, close to 'my' boardwalk area.

We are in the process of helping my mom see about getting my brother in Costa Rica back in the country for an assessment of how to help him with his addictions. It has been quite a week, many phone calls, emails and texts, much second guessing and ruminating. Losing myself in WDW planning helps, as did my massage on Wednesday.

Sometimes I think I pamper myself a bit too much.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This was my post, lol.

Yesterday, my DH:

Worked 10 hours
Drove home in a blizzard
Helped put groceries away
Snowblowed for an hour and a half
Finally took a shower and sat down to relax, when....

I clogged the garbage disposal making a hearty vegetable soup.

So...

In the midst of making dinner, with a friend of DS's in the house, we had to plunge the sink for over an HOUR

DH wound up under the house - in a dirt crawl space - where the elbow in the pipe is.

He loosened the pipe and the pressure from above caused it to EXPLODE so all the shredded vegetables and dirty water from the sink came gushing out all over him!!

He came walking upstairs drenched in dirt, fluid and vegetable pieces!

Let's just say he was not a happy camper. Thankfully he's in a better mood today.

 

[MerryPoppins]

kaw, if you want someone to "talk" to I can share my email. I have posting issues here.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Smiley, my heart breaks for you. I can't imagine what you are feeling. But you'll get through all of this. You have such a beautiful family. I'm here if you want to email.

 

[MerryPoppins]

We survived the blizzard. It's melting, but week we may get more. Still too dry, so it's all good. Surgery was Friday. All is well.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Not sure if I still have your email. I'll check. I'm mouthy so this is getting old. Very un-sexy posts.

 

[snappy]

For the newbies amoung us, we had a male visitor by the name of Popdaddy to our GAGWTA thread years ago who hasn't checked in for quite a while.

He teased us (gently) about the long posts some of us tend to do (I was once of the worst offenders and Linda was pretty windy too from time to time). He called the long posts "sexy."

Not sure exactly what the context, but the idea of long posts been sexy has kind of stuck.

So. . . here is to all the posts, the sexy ones and the not so sexy ones.

Actually, you can really boost your post count with multiple short ones, but the short ones are not as satisfying, lol .

 

[CherylDan]

Laurie, thanks, but yep, unfortunately I'm an old pro at colonoscopies. Diverticulitus, leading to a colon resection about 15 yrs ago, and several follow ups after that. I love that you can plan trips so often! This year is really odd for us, getting to go last Christmas, then again in Jan to take DD to the college program. We are planning a trip in March to visit, and then again in May to move her out. We usually only get to go about once every two years, so I'm really enjoying this! I sure do hope whatever my medical condition is, it doesn't screw up the upcoming trips. Yeah....how's that for priorities??

Merry, glad the surgery went well, and you all survived the blizzard! We are still digging out around here...saw a couple people shoveling off a roof today. Mostly back to normal, except it's so darn hard to see when trying to pull out into the street because the snow is piled up so high everywhere.

How's everybody doing? Any big super bowl parties? We aren't much into football, but I did watch the commercials online! LOL

I saw my surgeon today, got the colonoscopy all set up for Friday, and he also wants to look at my stomach. Oh goody, more stuff. Oh well, might as well get it over with at the same time, I guess. Anyway, after this week I should at least know something.

GAGWTA!!