Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[annrae]

I haven't been around for some time now but I have been reading when I get a chance.

I hope your back and tail bone are improving Laurie and that you are feeling better. Hope your Mom is improving every day also.

Cheryl - so glad you are feeling better and able to see your little granddaughter quite often.

LMP - it sounds like you really enjoyed your trip to Disney and I hope you will be able to go again in Dec.

Linda, hoping your Mom is doing well.

I know I've missed many of you but I think of all of you so often.

Last Wednesday during dinner, my heart decided to take a 6 second pause and the Loop that I had inserted in my chest carried the information to the hospital and on Thursday afternoon I had a pacemaker inserted and the Loop removed. I had flat-lined and it was scary to see on the cardiogram. It really did its job well - when I held the monitor up to it, it began transmitting immediately. Believe it or not, we were flying out with our son, DIL and GD on Thursday morning to Orlando to go on a 5 day cruise and then to spend 5 days at the Boardwalk. They went and my DS was kind enough to cancel all of our dining reservations for us. He even made airline reservations for us for Saturday, but I could not go. My cardiologist said I could probably fly out on Friday nite if I had the pacemaker put in on Thursday afternoon. Not so. It was done (2 1/2 hour surgery) on Thursday afternoon, I stayed in the hospital overnight but the Dr. who did the surgery told me I had to cancel my plans and not travel for 6 weeks. I still can't understand why my cardiologist said I could go the next day. In fact, it is Tuesday, and I am just beginning to feel better now. I was really bummed out because of the trip but I know I would have been in big trouble had I been in the Bahamas and this had happened so I was blessed. I was looking forward to spending so much time with our GD because my DIL is running in the marathon and my DH and I were going to keep her overnight. Such is life!

I guess I have whined enough. Take care all of you and I will be in touch again. Thank you for listening.

Barbara

 

[luvmarypoppins]

leebee - welcome you are a very kind dil.

Barbara - so sorry to hear that you had to go through all of the heart issues and now the pacemaker. I am sure it was disappointing to have to cancel your vacation, but you need time to heal and rest. Its also a miracle that it happened here. I too would hate to think what would have happened if you were out of the country. I always have that in the back of my mind with my dh traveling so much. Take care and wishing you a speedy recovery

Laurie - hope your mom is recovering and getting stronger. I am sure the diet is an adjustment

Lisa - hope you are healing and the drains can come out soon

Cheryl - hope you enjoyed your time with Zoe

Peg - are you going to Food and Wine? I have been looking at some of the pictures people are posting, yummy!

I have not been feeling well. My back hurts and now my R side hurts, hmm I still have my appendix so I wonder? Its definetely not the plastic poking me because I know what that feels like. We shall see.

Dh went for his annual work physical. They were not happy with the results and told him to see his reg. dr., so he is off to dr. waste my time today, yup same one who couldnt even figure out I had cancer. Ugh.

GAGWTA. Have a great weekend everyone. Its suppose to rain here all day sat. so far.

 

[jillyb]

Just popping in to say hello. Seems like here lately there just aren't enough hours in a day. I hope everyone is doing well. I've had a lot of fatigue lately but other than that I'm doing good. DD is doing really well in school so far and keeping my fingers crossed that it continues. StepDD is also doing well in school. She's set a goal to make straight A's. She's a Senior in H.S. this year and NOW she decides to put forth some effort! lol I'm very proud of her and I know her Daddy would be too.

GAGWTA!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Jill - sorry you are dealing with the fatigue issues. Hope it doesnt last too long. Glad to see the girls are working hard in school too.

Lisa - did you get the drains out? Hope things are going well.

Laurie - how is your mom? Also hope you have fully recovered from the fall.

Barbara - hope you are healing

Peg - I am sure you and Kendall are looking forward to MNSSHP

Cheryl - hope you are doing well and I am sure you are enjoying baby Zoe

Hope everyone is enjoying the fall The pumpkin patch is calling soon. I am sure there is an apple caramel walnut pie with our name on it I know you are always shocked when we tell you how much the NY pumpkins cost Cheryl, well these are the NY metro pumpkin prices not upstate. I always tell the ds not to get huge ones as they charge by the lb.

I still havent made the bone scan test appt. I am bad.

Ds1 and DS3 continue on their job quests. Nothing yet but...ds3 is now an officially licensed Florida Nurse!!!! He also heard another of his friends just went to Fl and got a job. So I am sure it will probably only be a matter of time before he seriously heads down there etc.

A very good friend of ours suffered a fall at their country home in Vermont. She had to be airlifted to Dartmouth in New Hampshire where Anne's grandson Avery was. She is having surgery today. Our whole church is praying for her.

My meeting did not go well yest. Sadly I think this might be the last year the school as the financial issues seem too large. I will keep praying.

My dh was just informed that he has a new project and he might have to go to...South Africa We both are not happy about this, but will see what happens. I am afraid it will probably happen as this place is the only place in the world that can do what needs to be done etc.

GAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[CherylDan]

Have had a lot going on here lately keeping busy, some good, some not so much!

Had Zoe and her mommy and daddy here last weekend, youngest DD and her BF also came over for dinner. We all had a nice visit, lots of cooking though! SIL and BIL came and joined us for brunch the next day too. It was a nice weekend, but I was exhausted!

Zoe is growing by leaps and bounds! We will be babysitting her next weekend, I sure hope she takes the bottle for us ok. Apparently, she is not a fan. DD goes back to work next week already, so Zoe will either be a bottle pro by the weekend, or really hate it by then!

DH was out of town for a conference this week, glad he is back home now. He doesn't have to travel much, so I'm glad about that. MarryAnn, I don't know how you keep track of all you DH comings and goings!

I've been putting some plans together for our trip to DL later this month. I'm really looking forward to it! It is amazing to me how much easier it is to plan for than WDW! Speaking of which, we recently decided a trip to WDW at Christmas is in order. LOL, I must be nuts! We haven't gone since all the FP+ stuff started. Can I just say what a PITA!!! Probably doesn't help that I feel like I'm taking a crash course, but I'm really not enjoying this aspect of planning at all. I know, silly thing to complain about in the grand scheme of things.

Been having a lot of trouble with blurred vision so I've been to the eye doc for two appointments, and now he is referring me to a retina specialist. Apparently I have had a big increase in the muscular degeneration over the past year in addition to suffering from extremely dry eyes. But the retina specialist is called for because of some type of hemoraging on the back of my eye. Fun times.

Still going to physical therapy, but I think I'm going to take a break from it after next week. I've been going since July, and although it has helped very much, I'm just getting burned out.

Got the results from my latest CT scan at chemo yesterday, and they were not quite what we had hoped for. There is a small increase in cancer activity in my peritoneal mets and lymph nodes. Also a small increase in tumor markers. Oncologist said he is not overly concerned at this point, and he felt that we would not change chemo treatment just yet. So, not too bad I guess, but could have been better, for sure. And so it goes.

Ok, enough of my problems, how's everybody else doing???

MarryAnn, have fun at the pumpkin patch! I guess the reason that pumpkins are sooooo much less expensive here is that because Illinois is one of the top producing states in the country........so there ya go, some useless trivia! LOL!

Jill, glad to hear that your DDs are doing well. I hope the fatigue improves soon.

Barbara, that sounds really scary, I'm hope you are doing ok now. Sorry about you trip plans, I'm sure that was very disappointing. Hopefully you are on the mend, and will be able to make new plans soon.

I hope you all have a great weekend! GAGWTA!!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Cheryl - have a wonderful time babysitting Zoe this week end! I hope your plans for Disneyland and Disney World are coming along.
When is your trip dates for DisneyWorld in December?
Did you get to see the eye specialist yet?

Laurie - how is your mom?

Peg - how was MNSSHP?

Well Cheryl you inspired me to get on the ball and plan our december trip. I just started last night. So I went online at like 1 am and what else pops up but Be Our Guest! I am always so lucky like that. So we are going there on our last night for dinner. Yay! So far its probably going to be the Swan with some of it free with dh ff miles and we will pay the rest. The disney resorts are priced out of this world. Too much for my wallet. We are going to probably be going December 9-16 and today I just booked the Candlelight Processional dinner at Rose and Crown because I wanted to see Levar Burton.

Ds3 just got his first rejection from Florida Hospital System so far and he did go for some interview for a substitute school nurse.

We are going tv shopping this week end.

GAGWTA. Have a great week end everyone.

 

[Feralpeg]

Hi, Ladies! Stopping by to say hello!

We attending MNSSHP on 9/28. It was rainy, but we still had a good time. Disney continues to cut back. Not as many decorations as prior years. No candy passed out during the parade, which seemed shorter than other years. Spending time with Kendall...priceless!

Speaking of spending time with Kendall, we went to Food and Wine last Monday. We saw Richard Marx. He was wonderful! Crowds weren't bad. Food booth lines relatively short and there was a lovely breeze. It was a very nice evening. If only my feet didn't bother me so much, it would have been great!

Finally, starting to recover from the bug I've been fighting for three weeks. Still have a cough, but feeling much better.

Hope things are going well for all of you! As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers!

 

[Straitlover]

Just checking in. Had my first fill in my expanders last Wed afternoon. PS filled pretty good during placement, so I've not been flat until this fill. Oh mylanta - not fun! Went right home and took pain meds and a valium before bed. I got to work at 10:30 Thurs morning (reg time is 8:30), then we left at 11:20 and was gone for 2 hrs for a going away lunch. By 3:30, I had to leave because I was hurting so bad. Went home, took a norco, took a 2 hr nap, and took another valium before bed. I was able to make it in by 9:15 Friday . I'm OK now, just have to be careful bending over leading w/ my right side because it causes a stabbing pain in (under???) my rt expander. I go back 10/30 for my next fill. Might be the last one depending on how much there's already in there (forgot to ask him).


Hope all y'all w/ Disney trips coming up have a great time. Don't know when i will make it back. My exchange surgery will hopefully be in Dec, plus my mother is not doing well, so so I can't really make any kind of plans or go too far away. Her treatments left are jsut blood and/or platelet transfusions, and I believe they are starting her back on aranesp shots. She is not strong enough blood wise for any other meds (Revlimid or Vidaza). Don't recall if I mentioned it, but she has multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome (got that from the melphelan she took for myeloma).

CherylDan - home the babysitting went OK! Hope they can do something about your vision.

LMP - what kind of work does your DH do that he has to travel all over? A friend's DH is currently in Taiwan, has been there for about a year I believe. He's supposed to be coming home soon. Not exactly sure what he does, either. I know when he was in the Navy, he did something w/ aircraft maintenance (retired as a master chief), and the company he works for now has something to do w/ aircraft. Their next contract once this one ends is w/ Greece, but as of right now, he's not scheduled to go there.

leebee, I know I'm late in answering your post. I had a bilateral mx on 7/30. My sis came up here. I got out of the hosp 7/31, we stayed at my house that night because it was so late, then we went to her house on Fri. She brought me back Sunday afternoon to my house. I was alone, but I folks form work bringing me stuff, taking out the trash, that kind of thing. I did Ok, but I am 49, not 82. I did get an infection and end up in the hospital 8/15-21 on IV antibiotics (plus on the at home until 9/19), but that could happen to anyone. How is she doing? Today should be day 6 after for her.

 

[smiley_face2]

I can't believe how busy everyone is! our oldest daughter and her husband bought a house, they can start moving in on tuesday, but will be doing a bit of reno first, painting etc. they have to be out of their rental by nov 1 so they have 10 days. lucky for them it is our youngest daughter and her fiance that are going to be taking over the rental! lol! we have been doing a lot of babysitting while they are packing, she is nearly 5 months along now, and gets tired easily, poor thing I had my annual MRI last tuesday, should hear tomorrow what the results are. My tumor marker went up again so that really sucks! it has been between 21 and 26 all along, it had gone down from 26 to 21 in april, now it's back up to 26 again. hubby ended up breaking 2 more teeth because of grinding them so badly at night....he literally chews up night gaurds. so that is 5 crowns he needs now. I can't see how we will be able to go anywhere this january, so that has me pretty down. but then I see all the new orphans in Africa, and I feel bad for feeling bad....
I am continuing to plan anyway just in case
Cheryl, we decided we are going to just drive our new Jeep down to California, spend as much time as possible along the Big Sur hwy. the weather won't be as good as Hawaii, but will be a lot better than here! lol... We might not even make it all the way to Disneyland, it's only another 250 miles from where we will be, literally a 4 hour drive, but a whole lot more money on the very tight vacation budget!! I can't wait to see pics from the trip you will be making!! have you got a place picked out to stay?

 

[Dancind]

No trips planned for me either, until April 2016! It's starting to get to me.

But I have issues to work on. Frozen shoulder is not fun. Told the ortho I was a little worried about bone mets, since I read about someone whose symptoms were just like my shoulder. He offered me an MRI, so i guess should do that. Do not like MRI's.

Gosh, it has slowed me down. Feel like an old lady.

Very freaky thing, my husband's SIL (youngest brother's wife, only 51) recently died from an infection. Sounds to me like the flesh eating kind, it shut down her kidneys. They don't know how she got it but it took her in three days. We went to the service Saturday.

Still reading, seeing how you all are doing.

 

[CherylDan]

Hi ladies, just checking in for a quick hello!

Been having computer issues, especially with my internet connection coming and going. Mostly going. Making it hard to finish up planning for our trip next week!

Babysitting Zoe last weekend was great! I'll have to get a current pic posted soon. She is adorable.......and really fat! LOL! only 3.5 months old and already over 16 pounds!

Smiley, a driving trip down to Big Sir sounds wonderful........we really loved that area on our trip last year - sooooo glad you suggested it!!

Dancind, I hope your shoulder starts feeling better soon.

Straitlover, sorry to hear you are having a hard time with the expanders, hopefully the next fill will not be as bad

Peg, nice that you got to spend some quality time with your DD even if the party itself wasn't so great.

LMP, how are your Christmas trip plans coming along?

Laurie, how is your mom doing?

GAGWTA!!!!

 

[Caropooh]

Hi...
I'm hoping someone can explain this to me in English, please. First a bit of back ground. I'm a 53yo mom of 2 daughters. My mom was a 10 year survivor of breast cancer before she passed away 7 years ago (on Monday) of lung cancer. It had been dx'd 3 weeks before. She was 65 (I believe) when dx'd. My sister is also a 3 time cancer survivor. 2 brain tumors back in the 80’s, breast cancer 10 years ago and then endometrial cancer in May. They both had mastectomies and my sister also had a hysterectomy (ovaries left). I had a total hysterectomy 9 years ago due to adenomyosis and have been on hormones since.
I have mammograms every year since around 45. And they always come back fine. After my sisters cancer in May, I was approved by insurance to have the BRCA testing. It came back negative for the gene mutation. That was a weight off my shoulders! I had my annual mammogram last Friday (10/17) and received the letter in the mail on Wednesday saying everything looked good. Yesterday I received a message in my online electronic medical chart
(MyChart) that there’s an addendum to my results.


Narrative
MAM ADDENDUM

Findings: Current study of 10/16/2014 is now compared to the prior
examinations of 9/10/2013, 9/11/2012, 9/12/2011, and 9/2/2009. There are
grouped microcalcifications in the upper outer right breast at
mid-posterior depth.
Impression
Impression: Grouped microcalcifications in the upper outer right breast.

Recommend spot magnification craniocaudal and true lateral mammographic
projections for further evaluation.

The patient will be contacted by the imaging center for additional
imaging.

Final Assessment:
BI-RADS 0: Incomplete - Need additional imaging evaluation.



Per National MQSA guidelines, a breast imaging result letter will be
provided to your patient.
.......And just to add more worries to my life, DD15 had a brain MRI yesterday. She passed out 3 times in 5 days and has been having headaches. We should get those results sometime next week. She’s also been referred to a Pediatric Neuroligist.

 

[Feralpeg]

Caropooh, my heart goes out to you. You've certainly had your share of heartbreak.

Don't fret too much over your test results. It sounds like a little calcium build up. This is very common. Over the years, I had several biopsies only to find out if was calcium and not a problem. Your doctor may want to do a biopsy to be sure, or he may want to wait and just check later to make sure there are no significant changes.

I will be thinking of you!

 

[snappy]

Caropooh, with the improvements in mammography, more of the micro calcifications can be seen. Micro calcifications result naturally as we age. Only The ones that might trigger further imagining are usually tiny, irregular in shape and clustered. A magnified mammogram should give the radiologist further info.

With the history of your mom and sister, it is possible that they are looking at you a little closer. I can certainly understand your concern though. I also commend you for getting the genetic testing.

I hope you get good news quickly about your daughter's results.

Please let us know how that goes, and also the result of your further testing.

Good luck.

 

[snappy]

My mm is recovering nicely, thank all of you for inquiring. On the last followup visit with the surgeon 2 days ago, he finally cleared her for a regular diet, just cutting up meat etc in small chunks.

Unfortunately she also has another area of squamous cell cancer on the leg where she had it before, but this time higher up on the inside of her knee.

She's scheduled to have the area removed in a couple of weeks.

She actually went swimming again this week. She is a survivor.

I am helping her clear out closets and cabinets and drawers. She lost a lot of weight not being able to eat solid food. My siblings and I think she needs to prepare to move into an independent living environment at some point.

We are moving towards that. She has collected so many treasures at 84 years of age.

It has inspired me to clear the decks too. No move for me but I want to free myself of things I don't need.

It feels good.

I am looking at a disney trip sometime, perhaps mid November of after the 6th of January, everything is indefinite. DH is going duck hunting so I think I can justify a trip.

Hope everyone is well.

GAGWTA!

 

[smiley_face2]

Hi ladies, just checking in for a quick hello!

Been having computer issues, especially with my internet connection coming and going. Mostly going. Making it hard to finish up planning for our trip next week!

Babysitting Zoe last weekend was great! I'll have to get a current pic posted soon. She is adorable.......and really fat! LOL! only 3.5 months old and already over 16 pounds!

Smiley, a driving trip down to Big Sir sounds wonderful........we really loved that area on our trip last year - sooooo glad you suggested it!!

Dancind, I hope your shoulder starts feeling better soon.

Straitlover, sorry to hear you are having a hard time with the expanders, hopefully the next fill will not be as bad

Peg, nice that you got to spend some quality time with your DD even if the party itself wasn't so great.

LMP, how are your Christmas trip plans coming along?

Laurie, how is your mom doing?

GAGWTA!!!!

When are you away on your trip? I want to think about you being there soaking up the sun and fun!!
Still no MRI results!! dr said they were having some issues with the reports getting done up, said almost certainly, if there were anything wrong, they would have pulled it to be done sooner. So I am trying not to worry, but you all know how that is!! I see my oncologist on thursday so if it's still not there maybe he can just phone and get a verbal result.

 

[Caropooh]

Caropooh, my heart goes out to you. You've certainly had your share of heartbreak.

Don't fret too much over your test results. It sounds like a little calcium build up. This is very common. Over the years, I had several biopsies only to find out if was calcium and not a problem. Your doctor may want to do a biopsy to be sure, or he may want to wait and just check later to make sure there are no significant changes.

I will be thinking of you!

Caropooh, with the improvements in mammography, more of the micro calcifications can be seen. Micro calcifications result naturally as we age. Only The ones that might trigger further imagining are usually tiny, irregular in shape and clustered. A magnified mammogram should give the radiologist further info.

With the history of your mom and sister, it is possible that they are looking at you a little closer. I can certainly understand your concern though. I also commend you for getting the genetic testing.

I hope you get good news quickly about your daughter's results.

Please let us know how that goes, and also the result of your further testing.

Good luck.

Thanks to both of you for your information and good thoughts. It's greatly appreciated!
I go this afternoon for the 2nd mammogram. Hopefully it will go well. I'm still worried and a bit scared, especially with both my daughter and I both having medical testing done.
I'll let you all know the results as soon as i know something.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

caropooh - wishing you all the best with the testing today

smiley - hope your onc. visit goes well and that you get great test results.

Dianna - hope the shoulder pt is helping.I tried it for a while but didnt have great results. My nerve had to be cut because the cancer was going through it the surgeon said, so hence my frozen shoulder. The nerve pain is gone but my rom is horrible.

Laurie - your trip sounds great. If you go in Nov you would maybe see some christmas decorations? After New years should be slow. I know they do alot of rehabs then for rides. Glad your mom is recovering post op. Bet she is glad to ear more normal food.

Cheryl - I hope you have a wonderful trip. I am sure by the time you get back you will be planning that Dec. trip. I am sure you are bringing back Zoe some nice Disney souveniers.

Wel lDh is off to Wash and Calif. today. Ds2 is going with him to Wash. He gets lonely and wants some company he said.
Ds3 is going for orientation tomm. to be a school nurse. If they like him they will put him on the perm sub. list. Its for our local district.

I am in the process of our trip planning. So far its going to be Dec. 9-16 at The Swan. Its going to be 3 days of dh ff miles and then we will pay the rest. The YC and BC are just too expensive, almost $450 a night and up. Ridiculous. I made alot of the adrs. We are seeing LeVar Burton for the CP and eating at Rose and Crown. I need to buy the MVMCP tickets and book the flights. So far we are eating at Be Our Guest, Yachtsman (for DH), Cape May (for you know how, the Crab Leg King, lol), Hollywood and Vine (yuck, I want to change this to the Brown Derby if something opens up because I dont want to leave the park) and I have 2 more days, I am thinking either LTT or the Plaza before the party and maybe Citricos.

GAGWTA. Its going to be cold here, so I dont know how many trick or treaters we will get but since its Friday I am going to make up about 60 candy bags. Have fun everyone!

 

[Dancind]

Maryann, do you mind the DVC rooms? If you plan ahead, it's a pretty good deal to rent from a member. I have some regular renters, we have really slowed down on trips to Orlando the last few years. Just haven't been able to give up our points yet. Hope to make a big trip in 2017! Even if I am a ECV person by then.

Have not gone back to PT yet. The pain has calmed down, which makes me think it is the regular kind of frozen shoulder, and I am enjoying the pain break, and getting more sleep. Pt hurts! When it starts loosening up again, I guess it will start hurting again. I so enjoy those days when nothing hurts.

This disease is insidious. A friend's SIL and her husband are both recently diagnosed Stage 4. He has pancreatic and she has lung. Don't know how you cope with that.

And I see posts from our nieces about the amount of work it is taking to clean up their Mom's stuff. I am a long time EBay/ETsy seller and Estate Sale attender, and used to have a collecting problem. I need to get cracking on this. So we can move eventually, if nothing else! I have a horrible amount of Disney pins, and so many vintage doll clothes! It is easy to sell the dolls, but the clothes are so much work! OH, and people vintage clothes too. They are just hanging out, because I am not able to dress a mannequin and take photos these days. Maybe I should hire someone.

 

[CherylDan]

Waving hello from Disneyland! Got here last night, having a great time.......will report back when we get home!

GAGWTA!!!!!