Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[snappy]

Feralpeg, have the symptoms subsided some?

PrincessKsmom, good luck with your visit Monday. Please let us know how it goes.

Cheryl, it sounds like your trip was wonderful. Glad you enjoyed it so much.

Patsmom, I hope your trip to China is everything you have dreamed of. Who are you going with again? My memory is terrible.

Smilie_face2, how you get that giant redwood home, girl?

LMP, maybe we will get to meet up in Disney? I will send you a pm. I am taking DD17 and her girl friend to tea one day. I thought about how much fun we had when we celebrated your birthday with the tea 2 years ago. You should join us. I will try and find my reservation and figure out what day it is. We are staying at the Boardwalk again. I love the Boardwalk view.

I am sorry you are having second thoughts about the aquarium. Is it a large tank? Hard to move these guys, even without the water they are just plain heavy. But the bigger the tank, the easier to keep it clean once the natural environment is established. Is there a reputable local fish keeping store there? One thing you don't want is to get stuck with it when your DS move out. Don't make the mistake I made when DS 22 got her half chow puppy in the spring of her HS senior year. Now she is "our" dog.

We are barbecuing steaks tomorrow for a family Easter get together. Nice weather, have to make the most of it before it gets too hot hot hot.

I have had to replace pretty much my entire wardrobe with my weight
loss. After 3 months on it, I have a different "foot print." Unfortunately my cholesterol only went dow 3 points. I pushed off my next doctor appointment to late June. I am staying on the diet about another month, then continue exercising, maybe the doc will be satisfied with my cholesterol then.

It is hard to keep on this diet with all the food choices here. I am plugging along though. It helps that I have to include 4 cups of low carb veggies a day, and I can have 8 ounces of meat and seafood per day. I make that 8 ounces count with steak, really good fish, shrimp and crawfish. Nothing friend, but then I am not a big fried food person anyway.

I am going to a wedding tonight though. Food at wedding receptions in New Orleans is usually quite good and over the top rich. I will spend my time visiting the relatives I guess.

Easter candy I navigated by buying a lot and mailing most of it off to DD22 and her boyfriend's mom. Sprung for the "good stuff" and enclosed a whole lot of gold brick Easter eggs that I think is only available in south Louisiana. Just kept a few for DD17 and DS24 who came in last night. DD17 won't eat much (she is officially a vegan, but those gold bricks are very tempting).

Can't have Easter without chocolate, but I won't have any this year. I am thinking about squirreling away some in the freezer but I will have to hide wisely. I tried to deep six a box of girl scout cookies but they were discovered.

Saved me I guess.

GAGWTA!

 

[Feralpeg]

Hi, everyone! The past couple of weeks have been crazy. A friend Kendall met in the UK came to stay with us for two weeks. Any other time, that would have been great. It was difficult. He came in the day I had my last infusion. It was kind of hard being pleasant when I really didn't feel that well. He left on Wednesday, so I'm taking advantage of the peace and quiet to just veg!

My stomach is still giving me fits. I'll go for a day or so with no problem and then it really acts up. I'm seeing the oncologist on Tuesday, so I'll talk to him about it.

The weather here has been all over the place. Last week it was really chilly. Today, it is almost 80. These changes are not good for my sinus! It looks like the chilly weather will soon be a thing of the past and I'll be complaining about the heat. Not that it makes a whole lot of difference. I'm not getting out that much anyway!

Hope you all have a terrific Easter!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Nothing new to report. Met with the oncologist/breast doctor today. He read the report which contradicted itself and said right side AND left side. Nice to know people aren't paying attention. I reassured him it was the left side. He said he didn't think it was anything to be concerned with, but agreed a sonogram guided biopsy was the best choice. I asked about the asymmetry. He said he didn't feel anything during the exam, and said maybe after the biopsy he'll recommend and MRI just to have another look at it. Next step I call on Wed to schedule the biopsy. Not looking forward to it but will be happy when I have a definite answer. Any idea how long it usually takes to get the biopsy results back?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Any idea how long it usually takes to get the biopsy results back?

Usually a couple of days. Hope you get some answers soon!

 

[CherylDan]

PatsMom, your trip sounds amazing, I hope you are having a great time!

Smiley, did you get your tree planted yet? That sounds like such an interesting thing to find, so unusual! Are they fast or slow growing trees?

LMP, have you finalized your dates for Disney yet? Sounds like your DH is always so busy, it must be hard to make plans too far into the future.

Snappy, congrats on the new wardrobe! You have some amazing willpower to pass up chocolate......good for you!

Peg, sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your stomach. I did too, there just didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason. Hang in there, it will get better.

PrincessK, that's good that you are going ahead with the biopsy - always best to know for sure! And keep in mind that most biopsies (80%, I think) come back negative.

I hope everyone had a nice Easter. We returned home from our vacation about 3am on Sunday morning....it was a late flight to begin with, but then of course it got delayed! Oh well, no matter, we had a great time at Disneyland, and San Diego was awesome! Busy, busy, busy! I have a million pictures to go through, will try to post some with more details in a few days.

I went for my two month CT scan right before we left, and go to the oncologist tomorrow for the results. At my last two month check up, my tumor marker numbers had gone up quite a bit more, so I'm prepared to hear bad news. Seems like I've been getting lucky for quite awhile now......just waiting for the other shoe to fall.

 

[snappy]

Usually a couple of days. Hope you get some answers soon!

the timing of my biopsies varied. The results from the stereotactic needle biopsy done in the radiology department of Woman's Hospital were available the next. day. The surgeon called me with the results the next day. However, the regular needle biopsy done in a different surgeon's in the adjoining physician's tower took 6 days!

I asked in both cases how long it would take. You may also think about whether you want the results over the phone or face to face with the doctor. I am not sure if all doctors give you the choice, but in my opinion, they should.

Good luck!

 

[snappy]

Cheryl, your trip sounds like it was amazingly wonderful. Can't wait to see some pictures. We can live vicariously. I don't know whether I will ever make it back to Disneyland again.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Peg - I hope your stomach issues are bearable and that the onc. can give you some insight on Tues

Cheryl - thinking of you and your onc. visit tomm too

Princess K mom - I hope you will be able to get an appt. soon when you call on wed. I am sure you will be glad when this is all behind you

Laurie - congrats on the weight loss. Hope the bbq turned out well. I have never heard of that candy. Must be something special. Is it dark, milk, sweet chocolate etc? Tea sounds great if I ever get there, lol!

Linda and fortwilderness is home - guess my yankees ar not going to do well this year. So bad in fact the local sports reporter wrote in the paper he expects them to be in last place in the division!

Well ds had his lst psych rotation today. It was um, interesting. I am most concerned about his safety.

He also got his lst choice rotation for next semester, the university hosp. where I go, my um, home away from home. He is really happy and hopes to learn a lot. He wants to be in the er.

Ds1 won his basketball tournament that he coached and was very happy.

Well there was a wonderful article in the paper sun. about how they might close dh division at work. Dh boss is quiet about this, but is not denying it and he seems to not want dh to travel. So we shall see. The project money may go into dh old dept. and he has basically burned his bridges there and his horrible old boss is one of the reason why he left, so we know he would never hire him back into that dept. Well I guess we will do a lot of praying and see what God has in store for us. I really dont feel like moving at this age in life if need be. I did it before but I was much younger and not sick like I am now etc.

GAGWTA

 

[Dancind]

LMP, silver linings says at least your DH might be home more. Hope everything works out.

PrincessK and Cheryl, PPD for both of you.

I have my first annual mammo on Thursday, since diagnosis and surgery. Trying not to think about it but I have that sick stomach feeling. Everything seems normal, but will breath easier when I get the ok.

 

[snappy]

LMP, silver linings says at least your DH might be home more. Hope everything works out.

PrincessK and Cheryl, PPD for both of you.

I have my first annual mammo on Thursday, since diagnosis and surgery. Trying not to think about it but I have that sick stomach feeling. Everything seems normal, but will breath easier when I get the ok.

I am right there with you. My annual is Friday. It does get easier (9 years for me), but I still have a few unsettling thoughts.

Good luck!

 

[snappy]

LMP, I hope things go well for your family with the job uncertainty. We lived through that with my DH over the past few years. He started a new job just after turning 60. He amazes me.

Found out earlier today that the DH's brother who was scheduled for having stents placed today is scheduled for bypass surgery tomorrow. It is kind of confusing since my sister in law (his wife) told us Saturday night at a family wedding in New Orleans that the surgeon took a look at his general health (uncontrolled diabetes, seriously obese, blood clot in his leg, severe sleep apnea) and said he was a poor candidate for open heart surgery and would not make it though the surgery. Now suddenly, its on.

Needless to say we are going to the hospital tomorrow.

We are not sure what to think. Only know to pray. DH is extremely close to his siblings, especially this brother who was the best man at our wedding.

Anyone heard of a situation like this?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LMP, I hope things go well for your family with the job uncertainty. We lived through that with my DH over the past few years. He started a new job just after turning 60. He amazes me.

Found out earlier today that the DH's brother who was scheduled for having stents placed today is scheduled for bypass surgery tomorrow. It is kind of confusing since my sister in law (his wife) told us Saturday night at a family wedding in New Orleans that the surgeon took a look at his general health (uncontrolled diabetes, seriously obese, blood clot in his leg, severe sleep apnea) and said he was a poor candidate for open heart surgery and would not make it though the surgery. Now suddenly, its on.

Needless to say we are going to the hospital tomorrow.

We are not sure what to think. Only know to pray. DH is extremely close to his siblings, especially this brother who was the best man at our wedding.

Anyone heard of a situation like this?

They must feel the benefits outweigh the risks. Sometimes the blockages are difficult to get at, or there are too many to do at once, etc. Many patients undergoing bypass surgery aren't in the best of shape. I hope he's at the best hospital he could possibly be at.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

lmp, it's sad your ds is not doing baseball anymore. I'm glad ds got the rotations he wants. Hope things work out with your Dh's job.

DD and I froze our butts off at DSs first game today. I am still chilled to the bone!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and prayers. I'm getting antsy waiting for everything to happen. Let's just get going. Once the biopsy is behind me the doctor said he might recommend an MRI for the asymmetry, so I still won't have complete answers. Not sure if ignorance is bliss or not.

Please know that I'm praying for each and every one of you, particularly those will upcoming mammos and tests. I hope everyone gets good news. But most of all, I wish you all peace with whatever lies ahead.

 

[CherylDan]

good news for me today! Scan is still not showing any change.....doc said tumor markers were up over 100 the last time so something is "brewing" but I'm just going to concentrate on the next two months before getting scanned again.

Snappy, lots of good thoughts for your BIL tomorrow.

LMP, hope everything works out ok for your DH.

Dancind, good luck to you on Thursday

GAGWTA

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That's great, Cheryl.

 

[snappy]

Thanks Linda. BIL is not at Ochsner which I have always considered the best for cardiology in New Orleans, but he is probably at the second best.

Their dad died while being cared for after a heart attack ( and for many years previously since his 1st one) at Ochsner.

Ochsner has a bad connotation for the family.

Thanks for the info.

Good luck with the biopsy and further testing, Princess K.

Cheryl, great to hear the scans were good.

LMP, you son must be doing something right bigtime to get his first choice rotation. Congrats to him and you! And congrats to you DS1 for winning the tournament.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Good news. Biopsy is Monday and I should have results by Thursday.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Laurie - hope your bil is doing well post surgery. Sending prayers

Diana - wishing you all the best with the mammo today

Cheryl - for good test results

Princess K mom - glad you got an appt. for mon. Wishing you all the best

Peg - hope your stomach issues are bearable

Rememberhow I asked you to pray for C. the teen girl with the brain tumor. Well now her new slides are at Sloan Kettering and they are looking at them. They already told her mom last time the tumor is "atypical". the regular type of this tumor is rare, and whatever she has is even rarer. My heart goes out to them.

Got our taxes done yest and I am Our tax lady has lung cancer and told us her last chemo is tomm. I think, then pet scans every 3 months. She is so sweet. Last year she looked so weak and tired, but seems much better now.

Now dh is going to China in May and wants to know when we are going to disney? I guess he just expects me to pull a trip out of the hat in a matter of minutes, ok I can, but I hate the last minute stuff, like probably no adrs of good places will be left etc. Gotta get on the planning band wagon with a couple and run then by dh. He is talking of a split stay with the Grand Floridian (I am not to thrilled with that place) and the Beach Club.

GAGWTA

 

[snappy]

I like the Beach Club better too, MaryAnn.

My BIL made it through the surgery, a good 6 hour operation, 4 bypasses, and there one other blockage that I am not sure what happened about it.

Turns out the extent of the blockages were much more apparent when they prepped him for the stents, I guess more areas lit up. They must put in contrast first. It was clear that placing stents was too risky, so surgery was decided on. Not sure if it was a different surgeon or not. I still don't have the details on that. However, he came through the surgery better than was expected, still in recovery today, but at least they removed the vent this afternoon. I did not get to see him, but DH did for just a minute. DH actually thought he looked better than he anticipated.

His blood sugars were crazy high yesterday so his endo is adjusting meds.

DH thinks a couple of his blockages were at 90% so it sounds like he dodged a bullet.

Thanks for the concern.

Having my diagnostic mammogram tomorrow. Nine years and counting. I am wondering if my weight loss will impact the results. I have a lot less to "slap down on the plate" tomorrow so to speak.

Not sure why I needed to lose weight in the breast area, but I sure did. It is a good thing I went with the tissue reconstruction rather than the silicone implant. I would have been quite out of sync.

GAGWTA!