Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part IV - GAGWTA

[tazdev3225]

Elmo9607 - I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

LMP - Hope your son gets the placement he wants. My DD starts nursing school in 2 weeks and she is very excited about it. Sorry about your aunt and uncle.

Smiley - I have had back issues for years from a bad car crash so I feel for you. When mine spasms I can't even walk. Hope it's nothing more than normal issues.

My dad broke my mom down and they got the kitten. They have had him for about a week and he cuddles up next to my dad to sleep. I told my mom I knew Dad would win. Dad is definitely doing better. The cardiologist changed his meds so his BP is staying up now. He even wanted to shovel some debris at church on Saturday when he was there with my mom for a meeting. Still waiting on appointments for my granddaughter but she is handling things fairly well with the restrictions we put on her. Of course the hits keep coming right now. My grandson had a cough and I thought it was just a summer cold. Nothing could be that easy for us. He has a viral infection in his lungs and may be developing asthma. He needs breathing treatments for now and to be followed closely. I am hoping that my SIL will finally stop smoking because of this. I know it's supposed to be hard but for his, and especially the kids, health he needs to do it.

I found out an interesting thing with my dad's treatments. My youngest brother has his PhD in nuclear biophysics or something like that which was why my mom wanted him at appointments. What I didn't know is that he is doing his post grad work in cancer research. Maybe one day he will help in finding the answer to a cure for all cancers.

 

[snappy]

Thanks for letting us know the sad news, Elmo9607. We will miss her greatly here. It is so good that your family was all there for her at the end, and that you are a close family. It felt like we knew her well, one thing I do know is that there is going to be a huge void in your family.

Good luck in the coming days while you grieve. Remember the good days, that is what will endure in the days and years to come.

Thanks again ever so much for letting us know so fast, I am sure it took a lot for you to do this for us. I am grateful for your thoughtfulness when you are missing her so much.

 

[snappy]

So much here that I have not responded to. . . glad your dad has that kitty, Tazdev3225.

Smiley, I hope your back pain subsides, and that the doctors have a good tretment plan.

I only have a minute since DD19's car won't start this morning. Mom moved into her place at the retirement community on Tuesday. We worked with a great company that oversaw the move, using a good moving company and actual crew they always work with, and 3 ladies who packed and unpacked. My brother in law had done a great floor plan with placement of all the furniture. Although it spanned 4 days (2 days of just a few hours packing and 2 days actually moving the packed boxes and furniture and unpacking in her new place). The goal was to get everything in place before she saw it. She's been so stressed anticipating it, so we tried to have it perfect.

Unfortunately she seems very confused yet, so maybe we tried to manage it too much. We think a few days may make a difference. The place is great, lovely environment, completely redone interior, and because we downsized and donated so much, everything is neat and uncluttered. There are many activities, a pool and a fitness center which she has been using since January actually.

The other good thing is her place is less than 10 minutes from my house and 5 minutes from where I work.

Gotta go.

Laurie

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am devastated hearing this news of Cheryl's passing. It comes on the heels of some other losses close to home. Cheryl was a beautiful person and I will miss her very much. My condolences to your family, Elmo. You will all be in my prayers.

It makes me happy to know that this thread helped Cheryl through some difficult times. We have a good group and it's very difficult for us when we lose one of own. We'll carry on but know Cheryl will always be in our hearts.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Elmo - I am so sorry to hear about your mom Cheryl's passing.

She was a beautiful person who had so much strength, dignity and such a zeal and zest for life and enjoying it to the fullest each and every day. She always inspired me with her strength and determination.

I felt I got to know her personally through all her posts and pictures of your family. I know she was so proud of all of you. I felt like I even got to know you when she posted the Victoria and Alberts picture.

Her love of travel was wonderful too and I enjoyed seeing places through her eyes. I loved seeing her California and Alaska adventures. I know you all had a wonderful family trip to California too and I think of the picture with all your feet in the sand. I love how much she enjoyed being with Zoe and I smile thinking of her amazingly fast ride in her new car.

I also hope your dad is healing and I will be praying for Gods peace and comfort for you all in the days ahead. She will certainly be missed by all of us.

 

[smiley_face2]

Hello everyone, I've never posted in this thread before but I have very sad news to report. I am Cheryl's daughter. She passed away last night in the ICU unit in the hospital. I don't really know what to say other than she was surrounded by our family the entire time she was there. I'm so sorry that you'll no longer have her here to talk to, I read her posts she made in this page quite often and I know how much she cared about you guys here.

You all offered her a kind of support and comfort that her family couldn't. I would like to thank all of you for helping her with her trip ideas and thank you for always being there for her and being so concerned about her and her family's well being. Zoe got to visit her in the hospital a couple days ago, (my sister snuck her in!!) and she also got to see the doggies.

We are all doing as well as we can...this is very hard and I don't think everything has quite set in yet. We are all close so we have each other for support. I really wish you all could have known her personally...you guys are all strong women but Mom was so wonderful. I miss her so!!!

I am just heart broken. Even though I never had the pleasure of meeting your mom in person, we had exchanged emails and messages, and had so much fun sharing ideas for trips up and down the California Coast. Our last stay in Cambria was made even more special knowing that your mom had stayed there because of my recommendation, and that she loved it so. I will really miss talking to her and planning trips..... the pictures she posted of you girls on the road trip with them a couple of years ago, was so sweet! I am so glad you got to do that with her!! I know little Zoe had become the light in her life as of late, I am so glad she had the joy of being a gramma. I know how you all must be suffering right now, and your poor dad, in the condition he is in. I will be praying hard for you all!! If you don't mind coming back in the future to say hello and let us know how your dad is doing that would be so nice! Thankyou so very much for letting us know. I wondered when I had not gotten a reply to my email.

 

[smiley_face2]

popping by to say hi to all.

 

[snappy]

Hi right back! DH and I have busy trying to fight (with a lot of neighbors and some local public officials) a DEQ permit from a company trying to build a barge washing facility that would have a tall incinerator to burn off chemicals off the river batture near a lot of neighborhoods and LSU students. Meetings, letters, calls. Having trouble balancing everything. Last meeting tonight.

 

[minkydog]

Hi, y'all. I'm new to this thread, but not new to the DIS. Just touching base with fellow BCers. I've known I had breast cancer for about a month now. I'm going for lumpectomy at 5:30am tomorrow and hoping the path report is good. DH is pretty upset, but I'm handling it pretty well. We've survived raising a son with bipolar, a son with severe autism, my own battle with depression, and DH nearly dying 3 times so far, so I think we can survive breast cancer. It's like I told my kids--I'm not gonna die. Things may be rough around here for a while, but in all the ways that matter everything will be okay.

 

[Dancind]

Elmo, prayers for your family. This is the saddest news. Your Mom was a lovely lady, and a fighter.

Minkydog, sorry you are here. Just went through the lumpectomy/radiation myself. You are right, just another bump in the road. You are already a warrior, and you will get through this just fine. Let us know about the report.

 

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA.....been a few months since I checked in.

So very sorry, and sad, to read of Cheryl's passing. Thanks for letting us know, Elmo. My thoughts and prayers for all her loved ones.

Minkydog, welcome! Sending you best wishes for a quick uncomplicated surgery, speedy pathology, clean margins, and whatever else follows! You have a great approach to all of life's challenges... and I LOVE this sentiment:

Things may be rough around here for a while, but in all the ways that matter everything will be okay.

Think of you all often. I am well, settling into early retirement, and enjoying what is left of summer!!

 

[smiley_face2]

Hi Minkydog.... yes, as you can see in my signature, we lost our son a few years ago, just 3 weeks after I had my surgery and right before starting chemo. With all the stress one of our daughters ended up having to be hospitalised for mental health issues and an addiction that came about. We are a tough bunch, and I think after surviving that first year, I can tolerate an awful lot! Best of luck with everything!!
Snappy.... something similar here.... they want to build a huge garbage incineration plant here, that would take garbage from everywhere including the US!! needless to say people who actually live here are fighting tooth and nail!! Good luck with your fight!
Ann I hope you are enjoying your early retirement and summer!!
Diana.... how are you doing? did you decide on a treatment plan?
GAGWTA

 

[luvmarypoppins]

minky - prayers that your surgery went well and wishing you all the best. You have been through so much already. You will get through this too. One day at a time. I dont have bc but thy cancer and the sweet ladies here let me hang with them. They are all inspiring and are a wealth of information and support. Its good you are here but sorry you have to be.

Diana - hope you are healing and getting stronger each day

Ann - glad to see you and that you are enjoying your retirement.

smiley - hope you enjoy your time with your dgds and that your esophagus problems subside

Peg - how are your feet

Laurie - hope the barge issue gets defeated and that your mom is adjusting at the assisted living

Well I had some side effect issue from the med again, sigh. I am tired of this. It was so good for a while. I didnt want to go back to the dr. or er. The symptoms have subsided for the most part and I also had some more pain in my leg and groin. I hope this is not a sign of things not going the way they should but with my body I could expect that I guess. 20 days before I see the vascular surgeon.

I have again planned our disney trip for Oct. and hope this one wont have to be cancelled either. So far its Oct. 20-27 at The Swan. Thats or free with dh ff miles so I am happy. Made alot of adrs too.

GAGWTA. Thinking of you all.

 

[smiley_face2]

Hey LMP.... trip planningn is an awesome way to take your mind off health issues isn't it?! Lot's of times when I am having my esophagus spasms, and feel like I am going to go crazy with pain, I will get on the lap top or the ipad and start looking at maps and hotels, restaurants etc. even going on google streetview and it helps a lot!! time passes quicker waiting for pain meds to kick in and it helps me relax so the spasms can stop. I will keep my fingers crossed for you for your October trip!! You keep yours crossed for me for our January trip! lol For us it is January 23 to Feb 6-13 2 or 3 weeks depending on our budget and what is going on at home. That is the one nice thing about driving is that we can decide to stay longer like we did this last January/February. We ended up staying longer because the weather was so good.
I hope you get some relief or answers anyway.
I sure miss Cheryl it makes me so so sad we will never see her here again. I still miss Lisa a lot too, she was my personal hero.
It was my birthday on thursday, and the girls did a family dinner for me, it was so nice, even though we couldn't have our sons 4 girls here. I had a gift from my son that day.... Back in the spring, I bought 4 dahlia bulbs and planted them. One of them was named Hailey, which is our first grand daughters name, our sons first and closest to him, daughter. We have a bad drought going on, and we are on severe water restrictions, so a lot of my plants have died back including the dahlias well thursday morning I went out on the deck, was enjoying the sunny morning but missing my dear son, I looked down into the garden and there was a beautiful dahlia blossom..... Hailey!! out of all 4 of them it was that one. Almost no leaves on the plant at all, but a big beautiful flower

 

[Feralpeg]

Elmo, I am so sorry to hear if Cheryl ' s passing. She will be missed.

Minky, as if you didn't have enough on your plate, we are here for you.

It's been a crazy few weeks. My arm healed from the cat bite just in time. My sister fell and broke her right wrist. This is the same wrist she broke about 25 years ago. She had surgery a week ago to have a plate screwed in place. I've been driving her every where and taking care of things at her house. Three days ago, she tripped and fell again! Fortunately, she didn't hit the broken wrist, but she scared me out of a year of my life!

Kendall has been interviewing for an internship to finish her degree in digital motion graphics. Unfortunately, there are more students seeking internships than positions available. It's been difficult. She did manage to find a position with a nonprofit group. It isn't ideal because they won't have any one to mentor here, but it will satisfy the requirement for her degree.

I go back to the doctor in two weeks. I'm dreading it. I got the results of my blood work. My sugar level is high. I am pretty sure this puts me in a pre diabetes state. I know he is going to give me grief about my weight, but I don't know what to do to improve it. I count calories and I exercise as much as I can considering the condition of my feet. Oh well.

I keep waiting for that peaceful period of my golden years. Haven't found it yet.

Ladies, as always, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Dancind]

Peg, are you taking hormonal pils? I'm looking at threads on breast cancer.org since my Onc has given me a choice of "this one or that one, pick one". From what I am hearing it's impossible to lose weight on them and most gain. Seems like the doctors should know this. And being heavier creates more estrogen for the drugs to try and suppress, such a vicious cycle. I don't like this ride.

Janet, your flower story is so sweet. What is the esophageal problem from? Is that a treatment side effect too?

 

[minkydog]

All I can say is owowowowowow. My breast is as big as my head, no exaggeration, and black & blue. they didn't tell me about this! Thankfully, they gave me good pain meds. Yesterday I tried to do too much and I've been paying for it today. I've laid here on the couch all day with ice packs on my chest. DH just told me that we are almost out of ice now.

 

[snappy]

Peggy, I am hoping you are wrong about the pre-diabetes. Did you fast for your blood work? Keep us posted. I only had success with losing weight once I went on low carb. It was the only way for me, had to give up a lot for a few months, and now just make good choices for my carbs. Limiting carbs for me helps make me feel better, which makes it easier to motivate myself. Less aches and pains and it ended seasonal allergies. I used Ideal Protein and a good coach that my internist recommended who she and her doctor husband had used.

MaryAnn, I hope you two are able to take this trip without having to cancel again. Keeping my fingers crossed for you. I love the Epcot resort area, as you know. I hope you get a renovated room, they look wonderful online.

Janet, the dahlia story was beautiful. I love that y'all named the plants. That is beautiful while bittersweet.

Minkydog, do you have the path results yet? I hope you are healing well.

I too am missing Cheryl. She was a fighter. A light has gone out. It's a bit darker in the world. I wish she could have had more days with Zoe, she loved her so very much.

Hi Ann! Awesome to "see" you. Jealous about the early retirement! I am so wanting to do same, although at my age, not sure how early it is. DD though still has 3 years undergrad, so I will take another look at things next year. I am going through something awful at work right involving a board member who has from my perspective anyway "harassed" me twice within in a ten day period, once at a meeting with one other board member, all my peers, and my supervisor and then then the second time at a board member with at least 10 board members, several calling in by phone, all my peers,my supervisor and even a brand new board member I had never met! I am not going to go all the gory details, but it is more of a professional affront kind of thing, picking at me repeatedly in an attempt to "get my goat" so to speak, and then branding me an "angry accountant." I also don't feel supported at all by my supervisor or the other in charge kind of person, one actually said she thought it was a sign he liked me since he was "picking on me." My direct supervisor actually said she thought he was trying to illustrate to the board that he was an insider. Maybe I am too old school but I can't tolerate it. Anyway, it is all documented now, and I insisted he also be advised to keep my formal complaint confidential. He is very cozy with a staff member who has a biggest mouth south of the Mason Dixon line, and I don't think he has enough common sense nor self control not to blab.

I have lost a lot of sleep being upset, and questioning myself whether what was making me crazy was more my mom's move (which actually went very smoothly) or the proposed barge cleaning operation, which actually appears to have resolved to our satisfaction by a last ditch rezoning measure that precludes this heavy industrial business near our neighborhoods.

I have never done a formal complaint like this before and am very upset it has come to this. My husband actually encouraged me to address it since he said the situation had created a hostile environment. I guess I feel a little bit like a sissy or something, but I realized Thursday I was totally unproductive work wise so I had to take some kind of action.

I am not looking forward to tomorrow. . .

 

[snappy]

Oh goodness, I just realized today is Saturday, not Sunday, I took my mom to church tonight and then we had dinner at the dining room at her retirement community (excellent gumbo!), so ether that threw me off or I am indeed really losing it.

So I am not looking forward to Monday. . .

 

[Feralpeg]

Dancid, I am on Tamoxifen. Unfortunately, one of the side effects is weight gain.

Snappy, my last blood work was not after fasting. I will be having more done in a couple of weeks and I will be fasting first. I'm hoping for better results. I will also be talking to the doctor about a diet plan. I will look into low carb. I would really like to lose weight. I think I would feel much better. The other side effects of the Tamoxifen are worse due to my weight. I think it might also help my feet.