2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

ravdeb

But RoseMarie..I mean a prick on the finger tip and then the squeeze. That's how they took my blood before each chemo treatment. That doesn't hurt! Not a needle silly! Just a prick..like Snow White.

chumfry

I am so squeamish (and always have been) about blood draws that I had to put my head between my knees after a finger prick once. (The tech was "milking" my finger, though, so that made it worse.) Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!

I have *finally* figured out how to get the techs to take my squeamishness seriously. I'm 5'10" and well over 200 pounds, so I'm a big lady. When I faint, I wake up really scared and have been known to scream and kick. When I share that piece of info, they usually disappear to find the old lady tech who's been doing it the longest and is the best!

That backfired on me once, though, in the emergency room. The tech just brought in an aide to hold me down if necessary! Shriek!!

chumfry

Oh heck! It's making my finger hurt just to remember that!!

Thank goodness for the port I had for chemo!!

linny

Cindy, you made me laugh. It is important to find out who is the best person in the lab, if I ask, they usually will tell me.

My 21 year old son is coming home from college (in New York) today - I made brownies, chocolate chip squares, and I have a cinammon cake in the oven. HELP!! I am trying to lose weight - my daughter calls this "self sabotaging", an expression I like a lot.

Linda

debbie444

Did i tell you what happened when i went for blood taken before my oophrectomy???
Well, i have always been scared of needles ( when i had an ectopic pregnancy they kept taking blood every day for 3 weeks and it took 3 of them , 1 to hold my arm still, one to hold my head still and 1 to take the blood!!)
Well i went up for my prelim and they sent me to have some blood taken. They sent me to maternity as they had the shortest queues and soon i was at in this room with Roger and this lovely tech thinking i was doing well as they had found blood on only the second attempt. The next thing i know i am flat on my back on a trolley looking up at the crash team!!! By all accounts i had started to pass out but had told the tech to carry on so she didnt have to stab me again, then i started to fit. The tech panicked and pressed the emergency button and because i was in the maternity wing they had sent everyone they could find ! To say i felt foolish was an understatement. The poor tech was as white as a sheet and all i could hear was Rogers voice telling her that it was alright - this wasnt the first time!!
Youd think we would be immune to it now!!
Debbie

Graycie

Happy New Year everyone and Happy Sylvester to Ravdeb...I know I am a little late but I toasted everyone at midnight on New Years Eve. .I finally got a day off. I had Mon off but felt like a waste product. I think I have the nasty cold that everyone is talking about.

Debbie, Funny about pushing Roger out the door........ Your stories never cease to amaze me. You are so funny. I can just picture you on the trolley. My BIL is like you. Passes out at the site of blood.

Laura, I love the pictures of you in your pj's. Glad to see you are feeling better and after your path report knowing you made the right decision....Now you don't have to worry. About your Tamoxifen report. That was very interesting and I didn't want to say anything but since you mentioned it, I know someone who had a reoccurence in her good breast which was hormone pos. and she was on Tamoxifen so go figure......I guess you just never know. What did your BS say about the incision opening up? I remember mine opening up a little bit too but it healed fine......

Kelly, I wish your daughter belonged to me..lol.. She is just too cute as usual.......I love your house. We have the same taste. Do you mind me asking what color paint you used on your wall's? I want to paint and I am so bad at picking paint out from a tiny paint chip. I have to see it on the wall and your wall's look like the color I have been looking for. I either get it too light or too dark. I hope you and Teryn are feeling better

TracyNy...Your dining room looks like you are waiting for that special someone....Is there something you aren't telling us? It looks very pretty.

Victoria, I have seen NM on the news. I hope your weather is better. I can't believe all the snow you have gotten. You are getting the weather we usually get.

Maryanne, The dragon boat pictures and all the girls are incredible.....

Cathy, Thanks. My husband probably won't be back to work until spring. This is something we are used to since he is in road construction.....seasonal work. I actually like having him around even though sometime's he drives me crazy....lol...just kidding.........I love my hubby.

Rosemarie, I will PM you my #.

Michele, Your Smiling New Years Eve picture is great as usual.....Look's like you had fun. I never got any pictures of my night out. I always forget my camera. We had a great time too.

Amy, Love your pictures as well....I hope you and your dh are both recovering from your colds

Ravdeb, I hope your leg pain is better...Is all your company gone?

Linda, Hi, How long will your husband be gone? I wish little Isaac the best with his implant surgery. You are having the same weather as us..Isn't it weird?

Brenda and Maryanne, I love your quotes...

Mary, I hope you are feeling better and things aren't too tense around your house. If you ever need to talk, you know my #.

All you girls that hate BW, I agree. I still have the port so it has been easy up until now. I finally got the go ahead to have it out and am scared to death for some reason. Do you believe I think I am going to miss it. My biggest fear is if I ever have to have it put back in. I really don't want to go through that again. It wasn't pleasant for me. I know, NO negative thoughts.....

Off for my walk,

Gail

Graycie

I just have a hair question..Do you think it is OK to have my hair colored? Actually hi-lighted. Just wondered about the chemical's.

Graycie

Another quick thing.......I better do a little more cleaning...Here is what my daughter found on the internet.

Housework reduces risk of breast cancer
Posted: Jan 1st 2007 10:14AM by Jonathon Morgan
Filed under: Alternative Therapies, General Health, Women's Health

A new study of more than 200,000 women suggests that doing household chores like dusting, mopping and vacuuming was significantly more cancer protective than playings sports, or having a physical job.

While it's long been known that physical exercise lowers the risk of breast cancer -- most likely due to the resultant hormonal and metabolic changes -- housework is the only physical activity that's been shown to have positive effects on both pre- and post-menopausal woman.

This isn't to say that there's something inherently cancer protective about the act of mopping itself, but rather that moderate physical activity, like housework, may be more effective in reducing a woman's risk of breast cancer than more rigorous, but less frequent exercise.

ake

remember our conversation about how our lovely hubbies and significant others don't always get that we still get upset about cancer? last night, my husband and i saw rocky. you find out in the first couple of minutes of the film that his wife has died of cancer....and there is so much doom and gloom about it. naturally, i came home upset and when i started to cry about still getting scared about recurrence, etc. (i also have a doctor's appt. on monday for follow up with my surgeon) my husband actually said, "oh, you're crying because you're PMSing." I almost shot him. So, sometimes they get it and sometimes, not even close!

Anonymous

Gail, I am very bad at picking out paint from a swatch. I have painted whole rooms and then go OOPS! And sometimes I do it again!! So, what I normally do, when my mind is sound..... is buy several small paint cans. Lowes now has something smaller than a pint. I paint a one foot by one foot section on each wall! That way I can see how the light effects the paint.

Teryns room had 16 different colors on her wall before I moved her in. I was testing my room colors and her room colors. Looked a little like a sick Cheetah!!

Teryn and I are probably staying home today again ...... she had a fever last night and I am so congested!!

Anonymous

Birthday's this month

marymelodi's is 1/19
sherryhaire's is 1/26

Anonymous

Graycie -
Hi! I was wondering where you were! My BS said the opening in the incision will close up, and it actually has. I go back this afternoon to have the staples out, but since he took the drain out on Tuesday, I've noticed the area is really puffy - so I'm wondering in there's more fluid building up in there? The timing of today's appt is good, he'll be able to check this out as well. It's always something! Arghhhhhhhhhhh...I didn't hesitate to have the port out! I absolutely hated it! But on the other hand I can understand your fear and hesitation. I was sedated for both procedures (putting it in and taking it out). Maybe you can request this? Hang in there...try not to whip yourself in a frenzy...although it's easier said than done! I guess I should start cleaning the house! LOL

Maryanne-
I LOVE the dragon boats! They are so beautiful...it's great you took advantage of the opportunity to be a part of a team. You seem to be a true nature/outdoor lover!

debbie -
Next time you have blood taken, I suggest you wear your crash helmut!

Laura

Anonymous

Gail, here is Teryn's room. I painted it, I made her shelves (painted them and bejeweled them). My mom made her quilt and pillowshams and I made her wall decoration above her bed and my mom made the one over the rocking chair. That was actually my mother's rocking chair when I was a baby.





Teryn has already learned to paint ...... her room and my bathroom

Anonymous

Kelly -
Teryn's room is adorable...fit for a princess! The jeweled shelves...great idea and I love the rocking chair.

Question: I don't know what the weather is in CA at this time of the year...so I'm not sure what to pack. Will it be warm enough for sleeveless tops? And, should I bring a lightweight jacket or sweatshirt?

Thanks -
Laura

Has anyone heard from Sherry?

Anonymous

The lows can be very cold ........ it's in the 40's at night now, not tooooo cold but it was in the low 30's and hi 20's at NIGHT. Then we were having 70-80º in the day!! It's only going to be 62º today in Corona.

I would bring long sleeved t's, a lightweight overcoat and then bring gloves and a scarf in case it's really cold. You should be fine with that. I wear a leather coat with gloves, hat and scarf and jeans .... That way you won't have to pack a lot. Wear your coat and pack the protection.

TracyNY

I just love Teryn's red hair!! She's such a cutie.

Graycie: The special person expected at my house is ME!! I love to stage my table with all my pretty bits. I do entertain often, I have friends who love to hear that I'm cooking for them. My house is empty at the moment, I just came back from storage where I put that dining set in anticipation of this weekend's delivery!

Yes, Dev, for the minute. I can't give up shopping forever. One of the pluses of being childfree is that I get to spend all my money on myself!!

I plan to be in England from March 15th to 26th or thereabouts. My goddaughter wants me to go to her 11th birthday party.

debbie444

Do you not have tester pots out there of paint?? I but loads of those , they are usually about 70p - £1 and they stand about 2 inches high, usually with a brush in the lid. Now Catherine has started decorating her dolls house she has only had to but the wallpaper, i have testers in every hue you could imagine!!
Tracey NY - that doesnt fall into half term here but if you fancied meeting up at a weekend pm me and i will arrange getting "Darn Sarf" We could even drag Jill down from way up north!! If you are too busy with visiting while you are over here, or even value your personal safety too much i understand!!

First day back at work with the kids today. Everything aches head, back, you name it, going for a long soak

Debbie

ravdeb

Kelly..Teryn's room is so cozy and pretty! You did a good job!

Sure do have a lot of scaredy cats here with the blood draws! I'm glad! I would just CRY my eyes out when they came to draw blood when I was in the hospital. The pain was unbearable!

I will never look when they take the blood. There is one tech here who can take from my finger, hold my finger in a certain waya and I feel NOTHING! She deserves a medal. I went in there when I could barely walk last year, pain was so bad I couldn't sit, either, and she was superb!

I'm sad today because I learned last night that my aunt and uncle will be moving to a nursing home and an assisted living home. My uncle is already in the nursing home. This is all in Omaha. I saw them in the summer and though they are not healthy, they were not in such bad condition that they would have to move out of their home and now live separately.

I'm afraid that their daughters have exaggerated but there is nothing I can do.

So, I'm cooking and easing the pain with my 3rd glass of wine. It's medicinal...dry red wine.

TRacyNY..I've been quoting your signature a lot. I wish that my cousins would allow my aunt and uncle to live until they die...

Anonymous

Debbie, yes we have tester cans now. Before you had to buy a pint of paint and try it. But sometimes, I would not do that and just buy a gallon, try it, it looked good until it was on the huge wall ....... then it was too much. I did the living room wall and ooooooooo it was too yellow instead of nice warm tone. I finally got it right after testing on several walls not just one!!

Anonymous

Dev, we posted at the same time. Sorry to hear about your aunt and uncle. That's just too sad that elderly people have to be separated like that. Their bodies may be getting old but their minds still want to be together. How sad to live your life for so many years only to be separated at the end.

If Teryn weren't sick and needing me, I'd be putting Bailey's in my coffee!! You go ahead with that red wine!! I love her room, too. When I knew I was going to have to do chemo, I wanted to paint my room the same color but everyone loves my room with it's brown wall and warm walls. Her room is both cheery and warm ..... comforting to me.

ravdeb

We don't have tester cans. A couple of years ago we all decided we wanted to paint our bedrooms. The boys insisted on this fairly deep, but bright blue and they wanted the entire room that color. So, that's what they go. I would not do it again, but they love it.

My daughter was not so brave. She wanted yellow. So we painted one wall a sunflower yellow and the rest white. We put up the same color curtains and it turned out really pretty. Our room was painted a light green (dh says it's hospital green) but I really like it. We put white window dressings on the windows..looks light and bright. It was supposed to have wood stained trimmings along the ceiling where ceiling and wall meet..but we never did it. I still want to, though.

Wine has gone to my head..better check on the stew that is cooking and then go to bed!

G'nite all..

TracyNY

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities aren't all that bad. That's one of the minuses of having no children, my old ass will be living in one when I can't take of myself anymore.

As much as we would like for our elderly to age in place, the reality is that children move away and families spread out and are sometimes unavailable to take care of our old folks. Its better that they can be supervised and cared for by someone if we can't do it. Chin up, Dev. Are the nursing home and ALF attached? Some of them are. That would be an awful shame if they can't be together.

Debbie: My visit is not during half term. My best friend Susan who lives in Purley comes over here for half term and I go to stay with her in March. We'll see if we can arrange to get together. She just got a new Rover for Xmas and may want to take a road trip!

Anonymous

There's my daughter in her Cheetah robe!

Can anybody tell I am staying home all day? Teryn is cat-napping as I type. My little kitten is tired from her cold.

scottishlass

Hello everyone,
Have just managed a quick visit to the computer. The kids are still off school and they are stuck to it like limpets sometimes. I have spend about an hour catching up with everything and now cannot remember what I was going to say to everyone.
New Year here was cancelled due to storms. Well if you believe the TV reports that was what happened. Actually everyone just "hunkered down" and went first footing. We had a great time at a friends house with what seemed like dozens of kids. That is what happens when one of the kids has ADHD and the ritilin has run out (approx 9.00pm!!!)He was up on the ceiling by midnight. The people at the castle did manage to set off some fireworks - they were good - but with the wind blowing so much they did not go up very far and were blown away from our viewpoint.
We made my youngest Robert first foot - he is only 11 so not very tall but he is male and has the darkest hair. We took tablet and shortbread round which is a very Scottish tradition. Coal has become very hard to get in these days of central heating.

Anyway - Laura-I am glad to hear you are recovering well.
To the general discussion of getting pissed off with BC and how it makes you feel - I think like everyone else I have my days of that.
Debbie/TracyNY - have I missed something? Are there several people coming to London soon? Keep me informed and I will see what I can do.
My best wishes to you all Jill

Anonymous

Kelly -
The cheetah print continues! I love it. How adorable!

Jill -
Thanks!

Laura

Laura

RoseMarie

Ravdeb - whew!! I could just imagine a torture chamber with needles in your fingers. Never heard of it but...ok, the finger prick makes more sense. (I really am a brunette, I promise...or at least I USED to be)
Kelly - love the pics! Teryn's room is so pretty! Since moving here a year ago I've done nothing to Kiersten's room. She was promised green walls - I'm feeling a little motivated now!
Gail - I've been coloring my hair since July with no problems. I did read somewhere - and my hairdresser confirmed - to stay away from red hues as chemo hair seems to really pick up the red. My hairdresser was telling me about a lady whose hair turned magenta!
Ok...I'm going to pour myself a glass of medicinal red wine too and finish cooking dinner. (I can't keep up with ya Ravdeb - if I drink more than one glass I'm a goner!!)
Have a great night, ladies!!

linny

Kelly, Teryn's room is lovely, such a perfect little girl's room, and the quilt is magnificent. When we moved to this house 5 years ago, I hired a decorator (someone I knew casually) to help me out. It was the most aggravating experience - we did not get along at all (and I am mild mannered!) - she was so opinionated and abrupt and I did not love the end product at all and we did not even finish. In retrospect, I should have stopped using her, so in a way it is my fault. Also she is a talented artist (paintings) and I think that makes her high strung. We did not end on such good terms and I feel very bad.

My husband is having a very nice visit in Israel, he is coming home Sunday morning.

Speaking about blood work, my 24 yr old daughter in law (who has Crohn's disease) has to have frequent blood tests, to moniter her medication levels. She hates them, and sometimes faints! Recently, she called me, she had a bad nosebleed and was bleeding, my son was not home, her parents were out (she lives in New York) and she felt she was going to faint (she was home alone with the baby). From Toronto, I called 911 in New York! They came immediately, she was fine, although they wanted to take her to hospital because her blood pressure was high.

I went to visit an acquaintance today who is being treated for BC (she was diagnosed in the summer, and called me, and we have been speaking regularly since) - she has two treatments left, and then starts a new job. She is very concerned that chemo brain and tamoxifen (which she will start after chemo)will affect her in her new position, which is managerial. Any opinions?

Linda

maryannecb

Hi all, I have been reading but not posting to you for the past few days.

I am enjoying the thoughts of finishing my treatment but finding it hard to truly believe I am done with this. I am saving space in my brain for a relapse. I think I do this so I will not be surprised if it happens. At the same time I am allowing those around me to forget about the issue. I rarely bring it up and find that in conversation with others they seem to have put it all on the back burner too.

My DH is supportive and lets me worry when I need to but overall thinks I should carry on like I will live a full life. My Mom is the same. My kids have pretty much dismissed cancer from their thoughts and I do not like to tell them the truth that I am still walking a slippery slope.

It is a really hard head space to be in. Superficially I look fine and do all I did before but in my mind I am scared and uncertain. I worry about each ache, and when I am tired I think OK, this is it, instead of thinking that I am just tired and need to rest.

During my last visit to the chemo room I ran in to a couple I know. I served on a board with him and knew his wife socially from that. I did not know she had BC. Anyway while I was cheerfully sitting for my last treatment she was in for her 10th Tax treatment for mets to liver and lungs(after 9 years).. She looked dreadful...It threw me for a loop. Her story is the reason we can not live in peace. We all have met someone or know someone or loved someone who has succumbed after treatment. My problem now is getting my heart to believe it will not be back or getting my brain to not worry that I will not be able to handle it if it does.


I am rambling, I know. Just my thoughts...

Fists up!

maryannecb

Ok, now that I have all that off my chest...

Tracy NY, since you have a flair for cooking I nominate you in charge of at least one meal next November. How is your drunken upholsterer getting along? I agree, you made the whole recon stuff look like a party.

Kelly, you have been busy with all the painting. I must do a few rooms this winter. I really need to update my kids bathroom. Ineed to pretty much start from scratch as the tub and sink is now 20 years old. Hope the two of you turn the corner on your colds, although a few couch days are kkind of nice.

Linda, 911 from Canada, didn't think that would work! Amazing. Nova Scotia is getting by with very little winter so far too. I would rather snow than rain so I miss it. I don't miss the warm clothes and boots.

Ravdeb, assisted living can be like a hotel! Sometimes I wish I had that. LOL.

Rosemarie, 2 glasses of red wine for me.

Laura, I will post my cheetah print PJ"s too. Have to take the pic first. I hope you are coming to terms with your new look. I imagine you will wear protheses, won't you? Then you won't have to feel so flat.

Debbie, you do have a way with stories. Have you considered writing?

Mary, take each day as it comes. The flowers are for the now, not to get you to forget what has happened. By the way I take my coffee black.

Hey to Brenda and Cathy and Victoria and Paula, and Tracy and Sherry and Chunfry and Michelle and Amy.

Fists up!

ravdeb

Kelly..Teryn is a great match for Laura! Very cute! Hope you are both feeling better.

Jill..your post made me laugh! New Years cancelled, a kid on the ceiling!!!OMG!

Gail..I think many women have their hair colored after chemo. There is a thread here about that, I think. I've just decided to stay natural for a while. I feel free this way..don't have to supervise my roots anymore!

I know that assisted living is a good thing for my aunt. My mom said it's not exactly assisted living..something more independent than that..forgot what she called it. Her new home and the nursing home are NOT attached. My aunt still drives. Her biggest problem is her oxygen tanks and not being able to cook in the kitchen because of them. This is a major thing for her because she was always a housewife, a wonderful cook, worked in the garden, volunteered, played golf..you got the picture..and now she will need to be on her own more or less.

One of their daughters lives near where they will each be. She will be available but has a life of her own, is president of their congregation (that is like a full time job) and has two kids (twins) who are pre-teens so she is very busy.

I just wish they could have found a way to keep them together...til death do us part. I can understand that he needs to be in a nursing home..it just makes it more difficult because she also needs to move out of their home and into a new place. So they will both be adjusting.

When my grandfather had to be put into a nursing home because my grandmother just couldn't care for him anymore, she continued to live in their apartment and she walked to the nursing home from there with food for him. For some reason, this seems to be easier to adjust to. She was still caring for him and she was still at home. So much easier.

maryanne and Victoria..I also save a spot in my mind for recurrence. I have always been one to be prepared so that I can deal with whatever there is to deal with. I practice my reactions even. I can't remember the name of the book, but when I was in college, I read this book about how you can practice things in your mind..even guitar playing..and it helps. I used to practice guitar in my mind when I was in a boring class because I performed when I was in college...it really does work!

I design things in my mind too. So, I also have a space where I have scripts ready just in case I get mets or recurrence. I like to be ready.

But, I look okay on the outside and prefer my non-cancer friends to allow me to fit into the "norm" and to stop asking me about my follow ups. I don't ask them about their doctor appointments!

Linda..stormy today in Israel. Well, as I write the sun has just come up but 10 minutes ago it was dark and dreary and pouring. Typical. They are expecting snow in the mountains in the north which is a good thing. It will melt and drain down into the Kinneret where the water for the country lies...

Have a good day!
Laura..hope all is well!
RoseMarie..that's okay if you had a "blonde moment"!!!!
Mary..thinking of you...
And all the rest of you, too!
Love you all.