Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[smiley_face2]

Thanks for the info, Janet. The mammo was fine, didn't even hurt! They just did the one side. Saw nothing of real concern. We'll see what comes up on the MRI Thursday. I'm betting at some time I will have the same problem on the left, as I have nipple retraction there, too. I have scar tissue there form the prior surgical biopsy, so they think that might be the cause, either that or another papilloma that hasn't grown enough yet to be seen, but we'll see.

that's so good you had no pain!! from my surgery, I had a really big seroma that had to be drained twice and is now an oil cyst. I also had 2 very big lumpectomies so there is a lot of scar tissue, probably why it's more uncomfortable for me. You will do fine in the MRI I bet! you don't have claustraphobia right? that's the only other thing is they have you strapped in like a mummy with headphones on and a buzzer in your hand in case you need them to stop. I just try to think about something really nice that takes me away. Haven't had to push the button yet, even when it was really painful because I knew I didn't want to have to start over! lol....

 

[smiley_face2]

Here are a couple of pics of the laundry room..... I still need to put the knobs on the cabinet, they are little crystal ones to match the one on the old door, which is also at least 50 years old! Don't mind the mess outside the door, that's where the construction zone is! On the bare wall by the back door, I am going to hang the old window that was in there, an old wood framed paned window...I did one other one in my kitchen, put a mirror in it, decorate it up a bit, I am sure you have seen them around. It will be a reminder of the old house as well

 

[smiley_face2]

Here's a pic of the mirror I did for the kitchen. I love having bits of the old house around, just not the cold draughty, rotten, leaky, hazardous parts!! the counter is the next thing to get done as soon as the range hood arrive on June 30th. I will post another pic then bathroom is nearing completion, new taps for the old cast iron claw foot tub (also original to the house) are on order. will post a pic of that when it's done too, hopefully very soon!

 

[Straitlover]

snappy, it was a six-month followup diagnostic, just on the side I had the biopsy. They also did an ultrasound to double check. I go back in October for a bilateral diagnostic to get me back on my annual schedule if nothing comes of the MRI.

Pea n me, thanks for the info. I don'; know if I will have to go every year for one or if it's a one time deal. I still haven't heard if my insurance is going to cover it. I hope so!

Janet, I'm not really claustrophobic, but I keep my eyes closed just in case. My bigger worry is keeping my arms over my head for so long. Also, when I did the wrist one, I was lying on my stomach and had to turn my head to the side so I could breathe. I still ended up getting all stuffed up and getting a runny nose, so I think I'm going to use some nose spray and take something to see if it will keep my sinuses open. I got to where I had to breathe through my mouth, and it made me move too much sometimes and get blurry pictures. I wish I could take something to relax me, but I don't have anyone who can drive me. Oh, well ...

Love the bathroom pics. I believe your floor vinyl is the same that's in my kitchen.

 

[smiley_face2]

snappy, it was a six-month followup diagnostic, just on the side I had the biopsy. They also did an ultrasound to double check. I go back in October for a bilateral diagnostic to get me back on my annual schedule if nothing comes of the MRI.

Pea n me, thanks for the info. I don'; know if I will have to go every year for one or if it's a one time deal. I still haven't heard if my insurance is going to cover it. I hope so!

Janet, I'm not really claustrophobic, but I keep my eyes closed just in case. My bigger worry is keeping my arms over my head for so long. Also, when I did the wrist one, I was lying on my stomach and had to turn my head to the side so I could breathe. I still ended up getting all stuffed up and getting a runny nose, so I think I'm going to use some nose spray and take something to see if it will keep my sinuses open. I got to where I had to breathe through my mouth, and it made me move too much sometimes and get blurry pictures. I wish I could take something to relax me, but I don't have anyone who can drive me. Oh, well ...

Love the bathroom pics. I believe your floor vinyl is the same that's in my kitchen.

I hope you can make it more comfortable! I know laying on my front for that long with that presure on my sturnum I kept having to take deep catch up breaths once in a while, a lot more often as time went on. One time I took a very strong pain killer, and because we have to travel to the city which requires getting up early, I was super tired and actually dosed off...that was perfect! The pics are laundry room.... bathroom is coming up!

 

[Dancind]

Jill, so sorry to hear about your DH. I can certainly understand your anger, and your worry about your daughter. More motivation to you to stay healthy for sure.

Cherinva, sorry you had to come look for us. What a shock. How old is your daughter? Do come back if you have any questions or just need a virtual hug.

MRI is not fun, but it wasn't painful for me. I counted the bongs to see how soon it would be over. They told me how long I would be in there. Helped, I think.

We had a lovely two weeks in wine country and bought more wine than you did, Smiley. Which wine country did you visit? We stayed 6 nights in Healdsburg at a Homeaway place, and 7 nights at our timeshare in Napa. We really do prefer Sonoma these days, and bought our quota of wine before we got to Napa.

Since I always favor my right side due to lymphedema issues, I hurt my left shoulder several months ago, hauling around heavy stuff before my daughter moved home. It's just gotten worse, guess it is an ACL separation. Found some exercises on the internet today. Now, why didn't I think of that before?

 

[smiley_face2]

Jill, so sorry to hear about your DH. I can certainly understand your anger, and your worry about your daughter. More motivation to you to stay healthy for sure.

Cherinva, sorry you had to come look for us. What a shock. How old is your daughter? Do come back if you have any questions or just need a virtual hug.

MRI is not fun, but it wasn't painful for me. I counted the bongs to see how soon it would be over. They told me how long I would be in there. Helped, I think.

We had a lovely two weeks in wine country and bought more wine than you did, Smiley. Which wine country did you visit? We stayed 6 nights in Healdsburg at a Homeaway place, and 7 nights at our timeshare in Napa. We really do prefer Sonoma these days, and bought our quota of wine before we got to Napa.

Since I always favor my right side due to lymphedema issues, I hurt my left shoulder several months ago, hauling around heavy stuff before my daughter moved home. It's just gotten worse, guess it is an ACL separation. Found some exercises on the internet today. Now, why didn't I think of that before?

We stayed up in Canada this time, visited the Okanagan Valley, Canada's wine country! it is the northern most tip of the Sonoran Desert which extends all the way up from Mexico through California, Oregon and Washington. When I get a chance I will upload some photos, I think most of you would be suprised to see what my part of Canada really looks like! for this area, think Central California But because it does get very cold in winter we are the wolds largest producer of icewine now! Have you tried icewine? makes my mouth water thinking about it!! lol.... I suggested on our visit to one winery, they should come up with a way to make icewine candies! lol.... it's so nice because while it is sweeter than wine, it is also tangy, makes a beautiful desert! a new one we tried one night for desert was a pinto blanc dessert wine like a Trockenbeerenauslese. It was like drinking an icecold very ripe sweet peach with a hint of licorice! just amazing!

 

[snappy]

Love the look of the laundry room, Smiley! I was so curious about the light fixture, glad you zoomed in on it. Love it!

I also like the natural light you have in there from both the window and the door to the outside with a window.

Nice!

and I like the light blue beaded board wall and the way you have the cabinet painted with it to.

Can't wait to see the kitchen!

Sorry to hear your daughter is having issues with her husband. I hope your son in law heeds what his son is saying and turns his life around before he loses his family. It sounds like a wake up call for him. He is lucky that you are there for his family and that you have not written him off.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Ooh that dessert sounds so good. Never heard of ice wine.

Get to work on the photos!

 

[snappy]

You guys have me thinking of California now. DD23 just texted me she wants to take a trip out west. I assume more to San Diego though since her boyfriend's older brother moved there last year.

Maybe next year. I don't think I can do it this year.

 

[CherylDan]

Smiley, love your colors in the laundry room! And I agree, the lights are super cute! I really like how everything is so "beachy" feeling. And what a fantastic idea to remake the window - you are very talented! I'm glad to hear you had a great time on your wine country trip, sounds very relaxing. Best wishes for your daughter and her husband to get the help he needs.

Laurie, I think planning a trip to San Diego sounds perfect! As you know, I am a huge fan of the area - especially Coronado! Wish I had another trip in the works!! Sounds like your WDW trip was wonderful. I'm sure your DD will always treasure the trips she was able to take with you.

Dancind, your trip also sounds like it was fantastic!

Jilly, how are you doing?

Cherinva, welcome to the tread, but sorry you needed to join us. It is an overwhelming time, for sure, when first diagnosed and waiting for all of the details and a plan to be put in place.

My ct scan last week showed no change.......so, at least things aren't any worse, would have been nice to have seen some shrinking of the mets, but we were not surprised by the results. Can only hope that the new chemo I will start on Thursday will give better results. Currently, besides the ongoing diarrhea, my biggest issue is the neurapathy pain in my feet. It has been just horrible. I also can not walk without the use of the walker as I have no balance in my feet.

Thanks for all the feedback regarding our baby party menu. I do tend to get over ambitious about these things, even though i am trying to reign it in! We are planning on about 25 people, so quite a few, but still probably too much food. Wish all of you ladies could join us, how fun would that be!! A lot of the food prep can be done the day before, but poor DD and DH will be very busy. I'm hoping I am feeling up to helping as much as possible. I'm really disappointed that I will be doing chemo when the baby is born.....I already feel like I am missing out. Only about a month to go before she is due. DD is getting quite big (she is normally on the small side, so it really shows!). She is feeling well apart from being tired, but nothing serious.

GAGWTA!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

cherina - welcome. Its good that you are there for your dd. That is the one thing in my cancer journey that I missed and wished my mom could have been there etc. She passed away quite a while ago.

straitlover - wishing you all the best with your mri

jilly b - thinking of you

Cheryl - so sorry that you are having to deal with the side effects. I know you all will enjoy the party. It sounds wonderful! Sending you my thoughts and prayers.

Laurie - glad you had a good time on the trip. Sounds good. Where was your fav meal? Calif. sounds like a nice trip too. We are thinking of going next May but earlier since ds3 will graduate again. and its the 3rd week of May I think.

smiley - love the update. I am sure you are happy to see the results. Your trip sounded like it was great.

Diana - sounds ilke you had a great trip too!

Peg - congrats on the 10 years. Saw your other thread

Linda - how is your ds and baseball going?

kofslinky - I am having a new appreciation for teachers like you. I am prepping my bible school stuff for the kids. Its only 1 week and so much prep work! Ds3 and I spent 3 hours together at the computer sat. just downloading and printing clip art for decorations

Well ds1 informed me today that his position at work is being terminated. How nice of them when they know he probably needs a hip replacement and now all the other college kids have graduated and probably have already been on all the interviews for all the available jobs etc. Since he is still in shock and awe I did a little online research for him. I found exactly one job he might like. He is spoiled with only working 1 town away. I dont think he will find that in the future for sure. Well it will be interesting around here for sure. I think its going to be a long summer. sigh.

I have 2 school meetings this week. Sadly I think it might be the last year for our little school.

GAGWTA

 

[jillyb]

Jill, so sorry to hear about your DH. I can certainly understand your anger, and your worry about your daughter. More motivation to you to stay healthy for sure.

Thank you. Most definitely is motivation to stay healthy!

Now if my boss would quit being a PITA about my weekly appointment. I know I told him this numerous times but he has forgotten that I told him I would be getting herceptin for a year (started December 2013 and ends December 2014). I guess he thought when I was done with radiation that things would go back to "normal". He doesn't understand that my life will never be "normal". So now he's giving me a hard time about missing one day a week for treatment because they are paying me for that day. Let him push this issue and I'll file a complaint under the ADA. I don't need his crap on top of everything else.

 

[jillyb]

Jilly, how are you doing?

My ct scan last week showed no change.......so, at least things aren't any worse, would have been nice to have seen some shrinking of the mets, but we were not surprised by the results. Can only hope that the new chemo I will start on Thursday will give better results. Currently, besides the ongoing diarrhea, my biggest issue is the neurapathy pain in my feet. It has been just horrible. I also can not walk without the use of the walker as I have no balance in my feet.

I'm kind of "blah" right now. Just putting one foot in front of the other.

I know how you feel about the neuropathy in your feet. It started in my hands first and then my feet. There was one night my hands were so stiff I couldn't open a Diet Coke and my friend's husband came over and opened it for me! The worst, though, was my feet. I didn't use a walker but I did have trouble walking. I was 52 years old and walking like I was 100! My hands are much better now and my feet are slowly getting there so just know that it will get better!

 

[Straitlover]

Can ya'll get some gabapentin for the neuropathy? That's what my mother takes for hers (chemo induced, she has multiple myeloma).

Jillyb, are you signed up for FMLA? If so, I don't think your boss can say a thing about the time off.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I had a lovely patient this week who is battling BC mets along with a cardiac issue on top of it. We hit it off right away, had lots in common. If anyone has any prayers to spare, I know she would appreciate it.

lmp, baseball is going well. DS had a good HS season and is starting two of his other teams this week and weekend. He just told me a few minutes ago he can't wait to play tonight, so he definitely still loves it. He has some new coaches on one of his teams and at his first practice, DH overheard one of them say to the other, "that kid's a vacum" at his base. He does make it look easy at times. I hope all the ds's are well - lol your stories about them crack me up at times.

We are having central air installed tomorrow, after all these years here without it. DS's seasonal allergies are awful, and he can't go another year with a window fan. I'm excited about it. Our window units were destroyed in the fire last year, and we got some new units afterward that didn't really cool the house. Smiley, I love your updates as well, and glad you are finding such enjoyment in doing the work around your house. You deserve it.

Straightlover, I remember my team saying that gabapentin does not really work very well for the type of neuropathy caused by chemo, so they don't generally prescribe it for that, and there are a lot of other issues with its use, so that's probably why they don't prescribe it more. But there's no harm in asking about it.

Jilly, all I can say is I hear you with the work issues.

My girl is still hanging in there but it's been hard managing her. She still has a zest for life, though, is not in pain, etc. Pup is doing awesome, and has brought us a lot of laughs.

Thinking of all of you and keeping you all in MY prayers.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Central air is IN!

I also wanted to show you our little guy.

He is a character!

 

[Straitlover]

Yay on the air!!! Could not live w/o central air, at least not here in NC, LOL. What a cutie pie doggie! I would love to have a doggie, but I'm not home long enough to deal with one.

I made it thru the MRI, barely. I'm a big girl, plus I had to have a pillow under my abdomen because of my back problems. That made a tight fit in the machine (my back and behind were touching the top of the tube), and I could not take good breaths, so I started to freak out. They had to pull me out (had not actually started the test yet. I got a little upset but was able to calm myself down. They adjusted my arms a little and did not push me quite so far in the second time, and it was easier to breathe (still couldn't take a deep breath, though). If I have to do this every year, hopefully next year I will have lost some more weight (trying hard!), plus I may take a pill and ask for the fat people's machine.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You will probably not have to do them every year unless you either have breast cancer or are at very high risk for it. I hear you on that, I dread it every year. I have to work REALLY HARD to put myself somewhere else in my mind, like I did with chemo, too. I try to go to sleep but that never happens. I'm glad it's over for you.

 

[robinb]

I made it thru the MRI, barely. I'm a big girl, plus I had to have a pillow under my abdomen because of my back problems. That made a tight fit in the machine (my back and behind were touching the top of the tube), and I could not take good breaths, so I started to freak out. They had to pull me out (had not actually started the test yet. I got a little upset but was able to calm myself down. They adjusted my arms a little and did not push me quite so far in the second time, and it was easier to breathe (still couldn't take a deep breath, though). If I have to do this every year, hopefully next year I will have lost some more weight (trying hard!), plus I may take a pill and ask for the fat people's machine.

I have to say that my MRI was probably the worst part of my entire treatment last year and the doctor I ended up choosing for my surgery doesn't even use them. Does your area have an open MRI?

 

[smiley_face2]

Pea n me..... my hubby is in love with your new dog!! lol.... he is very cute!!
Here are a couple of sneak peak photos of the progress on the bathroom. We are having a big old cast iron bath tub refinished so it won't be in for another couple of weeks, but I have the feet! lol....and the new taps will be here next week. I got my fancy knobs for the cabinet in the laundry room. I am in love with the beaded board wainscote, and the tile in my bathroom and I found the perfect lamps for our bedroom at Home Sense which is the Canadian version of TJ Maxx and an adorable door bell cover on Amazon....now I need to get the trim around the front door painted!!! I have to stop shopping....