2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

linny

Okay, ladies, this is the first time this happened to me - I typed a long post with the chocolate cake recipe and the muffins - it took me 15 minutes or more - then poof!! when I pressed "continue" - very annoying!!

Anyway, off to New York tomorrow, I'll try again when I come back. I'm so upset!!

Love to all
Linda

Anonymous

RoseMarie, I had my expander put in at the time of mast so I never started out with 0 .... This time was the first time I felt the prick of the needle. I have gotten sensation back but during the year previous, I had no feeling in the breast so every injection was "nothing" except for the filling up part. I could feel the muscle expanding but not the needle. The needle is definitely painful now!! But I only have one more to go.

He filled me up every Friday for weeks ........

ravdeb

Linda..hope you have a safe trip to NY and enjoy your family!How frustrating when posts go POOF! If you work on one for a long time be sure to copy it. Then you won't really lose it..you can just paste it back in.

Michele..I love your posts. You always sound so happy and your pictures show the smile I read through your words. Your Valentines sounded nice. Valentines isn't one of our holidays but has become one as we slowly bring in more of the commercializaton from America. So..my son told my dh and they brought me home chocolates in a really pretty wooden box...dark chocolate!

RoseMarie..it took about 3 weeks to get the test back. It's just a blood test. I had it done when I was doing chemo so they took the blood after they stuck me for the chemo... chemo nurse was not a happy camper..she said she hates when she gets that order to do that..but oh well!!!! I was called in to discuss it with the genetic counselor. I don't have BRCA 1 or 2. After that they called me and talked to me on the phone for an hour...did a survey type thing with me as part of a study. I did the test free because I was part of this study.

Michele..forgot..sorry you have to be at the chemo clinic..I know what you mean.. my dh likes to go and visit there when I have my follow ups and I just say no way. Did it once and it was okay cuz I saw a friend there by chance. But..I won't even sit and have coffee in the cancer center lobby anymore. It's nice and all..but I don't want to be a part of it anymore. I go straight up to the office and then right back to the elevator.

I don't know if Mary Anne left yet...

Am having a bad day and I don't want to spread it...just that I'm mad that I did chemo. I wouldn't want any newbie to NOT do chemo if they need to do it..but I'm mad that there was/is no target treatment for us triple negs and so I had to do the aggressive route that threatened my life (remember..I got deathly ill). I was in the midst of the battle against cancer at the time and did not take it seriously. But today...I really think that the chemo did a number on me and my quality of life has gone downhill fast. If I knew that the chemo I did WAS the correct route to go (oh I guess nobody really knows this but let me wallow in pity for the moment) then I would probably not feel so angry. But, I'm angry right now and I don't feel like the onc office I am in is supporting me. She just tossed me off to an unknown onc for my last follow up and well...as I sit and think about my bone scan and all my aches and pains...I find that unfair. She KNOWS I was complaining of pains in Oct, that I'm fatigued, that I was in a life-threatening situation aside from the cancer threat...and she left me.

I'm just venting. Am in a bad mood...
sorry..

ravdeb

Graycie Gail... Good luck with the port removal today. Geeeeeeeeeez..sounds like there will be no place to put the boats or something! Well, in your case, that will be a good thing!

V...you are right...there was always a one-size for all whether it fit or not for bc. I know that. None of it has changed. I see what my girlfriend took 7 years ago..same as me..just that she did it every 3 weeks and I practically killed myself on the dd. Whatever... She is okay. She's er pos, and stopped taking tamoxifin after a very short time because of se and she is fine. At least so far so good. I'm sure she is. She doesn't know about the her2.

Good luck when you go to do your studio renting. I often think that I'd do more work if I had a studio outside of my house. Then I'd get up in the morning and leave the house and do the work. At home I find myself doing house work and getting interupted by my dh and so on. And feeling guilty if I don't do the house work while feeling guilty if I don't do my art work and get my business going!

You are right. I need my beach. Have no time to get there today. Must finish cooking and if the weather stays okay, will go to services tonight.

Maybe tomorrow I'll catch the beach...

Casey is going to get an ID chip put in. What do they do for that? It's a new regulation so when she goes for her shots on Monday morning she will get this, too. She will not be happy. She gets mad whenever we go in the direction of where she gets her shots..she always turns around! How does she know????? I used to pick her up and carry her there but I can't anymore..she is too heavy for me and my back. Last time my dh took her. I don't think he'll be home to do that this time.

Anonymous

Good morning all ... played Bunko last night, so I up a bit later than usual. Still have to come home and pack for the weekend. Dave and I are going up to the Central Coast this weekend. Will be back on Sunday .... very excited about having 3 days off! Teryn is not so excited to be spending our time apart ... I don't blame her. We will miss each other

TracySeattle

Ravdeb - I think they place the chip with an injection. Shoudn't be too bad for Casey....

Gail - Thinking of you, my port removal wasn't that bad and I was certainly glad to have it GONE!

I hate visiting the cancer center too. When they took me back for my appt. this week we walked past all of the chemo rooms - I hate that. Brings back a lot of the memories. While I was waiting, I was talking with the lady sitting next to me. She had no hair and was wearing a hat so I inquired how far along she was with her chemo. She said that she had chemo and then surgery and was now back for a second round of chemo after the surgery. There are so many women these days with BC that I just assumed that is the type of cancer she had. But come to find out, she has Stomach Cancer and she had just had her stomach removed. Oh My! She was doing well and said that she can still eat, the food just goes right into the intestine. I guess I felt lucky that my experience did not seem nearly as tramatic as hers must be.

Today Dave is picking up my Mom and they are meeting me at the Convention Center here in Seattle for the Garden Show. They are both into Gardening - I'm not. Oh well, they will have fun.

Tomorrow Dave and I are headed out for the weekend to San Juan Island. We get there by Ferry (takes a couple hours) and we are staying at Dave's very favorite place on the Island - Roche Harbor. It should be a nice getaway filled with water views, beaches and boats. I am hoping for some relaxation!!!

debbie444

Good luck on the port removal - another thing over and done with.
Sam is micro chipped , we had him done when he was tiny and i am glad now because he cant wear a proper collar . He wears a loose one withhis name tag on but it wouldnt take many brain cells for him to get it off.

We are sat in now waiting for the police to come - someone attempted to brake in last night and has smashed my front door. The first thing i knew was when i opened the first door to collect the post from the porch, and was faced with a hole rather that a glass panelled door!! Well done Sam ( who sleeps next to the inside door) guard dog duties well and truly done there!!

Deb

TracySeattle

Debbie - WOW, how scary! My friend got up in the night to get a drink of water and found a guy in her kitchen! He had broken in and was collecting stuff to take back out with him! How can people be so unafraid to try to get into a home where the people are at home???? I am glad all is OK and GOOD JOB to Sam!

ravdeb

Kelly and Tracy..enjoy your weekends away!
Poor Teryn..she will survive and will learn to enjoy time away from Mommy. But..will Mommy survive??? LOL I bet you will!!!

Tracy..now, ya wanna come on over and explain all that to Casey? I think she already knows something is up!!! Not sure what is going on with her but she came in the house all wet. I thought maybe she fell into her water bowl outside but my daughter said it doesn't look like it. hmmmmmmmmm...wonder where she was... she's been in the yard the whole time. This dog is nuts!!!!!

Ya know..when you see people with other cancers...I know that bc CAN be a true beast..but I have a chemo buddy with lung cancer in both lungs so no surgery, a neighbor who had one lung removed but now they found cancer on the the other one, too...I mean...They can't always remove the cancer..they totally rely on chemo and rads. At least I know I got it out..or as much as was humanly possible.

I read recently and I can't remember where..but they were saying that bc gets way too much publicity and there are other cancers out there that need funding, etc. They said it's because bc supporters/survivors are out there raising funds and awareness. I know why this is..it is dominately women and WOMEN ROCK!

TracySeattle

That is why I have decided to focus my volunteer efforts toward the American Cancer Society. They fund research and support for all types of cancer. I still support the BC groups too, but the ACS helps provide assistance to those with the less publicized types of cancer.

Poor Casey - we all hate going to the Dr. too..... Give her a treat from us!

ravdeb

yes, Tracy..the ACS is a good place to focus. I think that's wonderful. I just have no energy to do anything.

I will tell her the treat is from the Rocktober Girls but she's a bit hard of hearing so not sure she'll hear me while she's crunching!

TracyNY

I have a question that came out of a conversation Laura and I were having last night. Am I the only person who still sees their breast surgeon? I go once a quarter, anyone else?

Holiday weekend coming up, I have no idea what I'm going to do, I may stay in bed and sleep all day. I'm debating giving up tv watching for Lent so I may practice on Monday to see if I can hack it for 40 days and 40 nights!!

Graycie

Well, I made it after a very nervous morning. not to mention my BP, it was 156/116 a little high .......I must have gone to the bathroom 4 times waiting for the doctor to get there. How did I ever make it through surgery? Boy, that was a BIG sucker too.....I had him show it to me....I also met another girl that was having her port out too but she got called in when I came out. I should have given her my phone # so we could compare notes.....haaa

Anybody have the peanut butter they are recalling? It just so happens I found a jar in my cupboard, unopened. Thank goodness we don't eat a lot of peanut butter. I had the jar a long time so why did it take them this long to realize it was making people sick?

Linny, I hope you made it to NY alright. My son just flew in this morning because his flight was canceled last night. He said he had a long wait at the airport the lines were terrible. You are such a good Grandma, I am glad Isaac is doing better.

Debbie, I hope your Dad is feeling better and how frightening that someone was trying to break into your house. I hope they catch who it was. How is Catherine doing? Did they figure out what was causing her temperature to be so high?

TracyNY, I like the picture of your chairs. Are those from the drunkard? I wouldn't deal with him anymore since you can't count on him although he does have some nice stuff. And in answer to your question, I still see my BS. Actually I saw him today since he removed my port. Actually I see him every six months when I have my mammogram. I go for the mammo and then I go over to his office afterwards so he can examine me and go over the results.

Laura, Buddy Love looks adorable as usual.

Michele, I am glad you and dh are feeling better. That is so nice that you and your sister get along so well. I always feel bad for my daughter not having a sister.

Mary, How is your weather? Probably like our's. The wind is really whipping today and my son went skiing......I bet he is freezing his butt off.

Amy, Miss you.

Maryanne, I hope you are with your husband in Sweden.

Victoria, Did I miss something. Did you sell your house?

Ravdeb, I hope you are feeling better. We are close in age and I know what you mean about not feeling like we did before. I can't help wondering if it is more the age than the chemo. I am also tired all the time too.......

Tracy and Kelly, Have a FUN weekend.

Rosemarie, Cathy, Paula, and anyone else I missed......Hi

ravdeb

Yikes..I must have missed your post, Debbie! How awful that your house got broken into! And to think that you were home. That is scary. We have an alarm system but can't turn it on while we are in the house. Well..we could turn it off on the second floor but my kids are coming in and out at all hours of the night. And Casey..she is NOT a good guard dog. She invited the burglars into our house the last time!

Gail..so..wait...how was the port removal. I see you are home and posting but..how did it really go?
We are close in age..true...do you get so fatigued in the evening that you get achey and feel like you have the flu? That is how I feel. I hurt everywhere and by evening it's awful. I'm not just tired. I feel like I'm sick all the time. And I ache..I told this to my girlfriend who is my age and she said that isn't normal. I don't even know what normal is!

Which peanut butter did they recall? I didn't read about that..think I'll check on the internet...

Graycie

Ravdeb. It was Peter Pan peanut butter. I get really tired at night and then I feel a little nauseated too.......

RoseMarie

Oh NO! We have a half eaten jar of the recalled Peanut Butter in our pantry!!!! I just bought it last week - so a week of PB & J sandwiches have been downed at my house using contaminated PB!! Ick!!

Ravdeb - it's Peter Pan pb with numbers starting with 2111 on the lid. I think it's also Sam's/Walmart brand pb that's packaged at that same plant - I knew I had Peter Pan so I stopped reading and ran to get the jar. My kids are all ok so I guess it didn't affect us.

If you google it you also get an address where you can send the lid for a refund.

Will hopefully write more later!!

RoseMarie

We were posting at the same time Gail!

ravdeb

Thanks for the Peter Pan update. I don't think we get Peter Pan peanut butter here. Only..Skippy which we have. That's why I wondered!

Tracy NY..forgot to mention that I see my surgeon every 4-6 months. He asked me to get a mammogram and ultrasound again even though I had one in Sept. I am doing that next month and will see him next month as well. I love my surgeon!

Gail..so you feel nauseated? I sometimes feel that way..but mostly just get really achey like flu symptoms and just really, really tired, which is how I feel now and I have a ton of dishes to get washed.

I can't even drink my wine anymore..I had a half a cup of wine the other night and my arm started really hurting!!

I still don't think this is normal. It's definitely fatigue but it's not normal aging. It's because of the chemo, I'm sure of it.

Anonymous

Gotta pack but wanted to tell Debbie that I would be frightened if that happened to me!! You should also get an alarm. I have one with motion detectors. All my doors and windows are armed!

Gail, glad you are safe at home, hope you can rest and feel better!

dEB, try some more chocolate, that should help. If not, it sure tastes good.

TracyNY, no tv? OM ... not me, I love my shows too much!!

RoseMarie, we use Jif, no recall, glad you all didn't get sick!

Gotta pack, love you all of you!

marymelodi

Greetings to all:

Glad you are all safe from break-ins and tainted PB.

Tracy and Kelly - your weekend plans sound wonderful. Hope you have a happy experience with your guys.

Re: snow - Yes, we have alot of it. Yes, the wind and cold are here. Yes, I'm wearing 3 pair of pants when I leave to walk out to the parking lot in a few minutes.

Now, I want to brag a little. I have a friend here at work who is a nurse practitioner. She and I are of an age . . . mid-50s. We both need more exercise. So, we made a pact to go together to the fitness center we have here in the hospital. We've been doing it right after work for 2 weeks now. However, tonight was the first time I went without her. She had to go somewhere else. But, I didn't want to break my new habit. So, I went by myself. All I'm doing now is treadmill or elliptical for 20 to 30 minutes. I talked to the trainer and he advised that I just get used to continuous motion for longer periods of time. Usually the longest I move is the 10 minutes from the parking lot. So, that's what I'm doing. Walking moderately fast for longer and longer.

Tonight is the first time I feel the pleasure of a good workout. I hope to see it making a difference in sleep, stamina, and weight. My friend has lost 4 pounds in 2 weeks. I think I may have lost a little also, although I don't have an accurate scale. I'll have to get a baseline on a good scale and then go from there. Anyway, my real measure is to see how I feel. Tonight I feel tired but very satisfied. Does that make sense?

Okay, got to put on 2 more layers of clothes and then out the door to home.

Be well.
Mary

Graycie

Mary, Good for you......I used to belong to a gym and it really does make you feel better. It help's relieve stress too. Actually I think you are doing very good if you are doing 30 min already on the treadmill. The instructor I had said not to do over an hour because after that you won't benefit. Also, I am impressed if you are doing the elliptical, that is hard.

Ravdeb, maybe that would help us with our fatigue and our aches and pains. I have all the equipment in our basement now if I would just use it......

ravdeb

Well..my dh said he'd get me stationery bike. And, I do walk most days for an hour on the beach. I now have a pedometer so I can really keep track of how long I walk, how many steps, how far and how many calories I burn. Every day I do a bit more. I'm getting closer to 7,000 steps in an hour. Today I walked 5 km and burned over 200 calories. My goal would be 10,000 steps but my back wouldn't take that much I don't think. But, I've gone up from 5000 steps and am walking one more km (if this dang thing is correct!).

But, I still feel lousy... however..after I get the results of the bone scan, I will see what I can do about the aches and pains... thought to get a personal trainer..not that I can afford one at this point since I'm not working but maybe my insurance would cover it if my doctor wrote a nice love letter to them!

That's great Mary! It's hard to get the motivation but now you seem to be on a roll. Once I get on a roll I feel guilty stopping. It's good you go with a friend most of the times cuz then you HAVE to go and she feels the same way. It's good for both of you.

Some friends are stopping by in a bit. I have nothing to serve them! I didn't bake yesterday..all I did was buy a little cake which my kids gobbled up last night.

Oh well..they will need to be happy with pretzels, and raisins mixed with chocolate chips.

Anonymous

Hi Girls -
Have any of you keyed in your travel dates, locations, etc. at Expedia or Travelocity, keying in both hotels - to get an idea of what your individual trip would cost?

The Marriott cld. me back and said they will guarantee a $114 per night rate - based on a minimum of 10 rooms - but they will only hold this price until next Wednesday. Since everyone isn't ready to book - I really think you should key in your info (like I explained above).

In the meantime: I tried to add a poll here to vote on the location - but I don't know how to do this?

Can one of you let me know how?

Laura

Curlylocks

Laura,

Not sure how to do a poll, but I sure one of our sisters will know how. I am getting excited to meet everyone.

Just bought tickets this morning for "The Police" who are coming to Toronto for two shows now on July 22, 23. The tickets were pricy, but hubby said go for it, so I did!

Have a super day!

Michele Wenz

marymelodi

Laura:
Is that $114 double-occupancy? If so, I think that is an excellent rate.

So, we are probably going to book separately and not get a group rate? No matter which hotel we decide upon?

I'm very much a travel novice and do not understand how some of this works. Sorry.

Mary

debbie444

Michelle - sure i ghave some old Police tapes somewhere you could have had !! There is a peice in my paper today saying that they have only reformed as Stings wife spends so much - you go girl!!

The commeny about Sam made me laugh - I was being sarcastic. He was asleep about 5 ft from the door - and stayed asleep! Not sure how as he usually barks at leaves and shadows, but he had snuggled own on his duvet for the night and didnt hear anything!!
P. Butter - think it is all poisonous probably!!
Feeling very cosmopolitan, sat here typing to you all inth US and texting my brother in Milan at the same time. They have gone for a match - this too was cancelled due to the violence and they got a refund when they arrived, but today it is back on so they have bought some tickets from a tout and are in the stadium waiting. They had to provide some photo ID to get the tickets changed into their names. All they had was my nephews half afre bus pass , but owing to the official not being able to read English, he didnt know what it was so accepted it!!

Just back from visiting Dad, he is off of oxygen and doing good. They are reassessing him Monday to come home.

Cant find the hotel info - can someone tell me again?? Sorry! Not sure whether we will be wending our way slowly across from Pitts, or dashing madly from Washington as we have decided to get that in after you all approved it!! Now just got to stop Rog doing a Forrest Gump when we get there!!
Deb

Anonymous

Girls -
Refer back to my initial post on page # 220 - post #517892

and then

refer back to my second post on page # 229 - post # 529168.

If you have any questions - feel free to call me.

Laura

ravdeb

I don't know how to do the polls either, but...

That is a good price. What happened with the Hyatt? Is the Hyatt the one downtown Chicago? I don't really care. I'd like a good price as I'm sure we all would soooo... we should quickly decide and see if we can get 10 rooms.

The question is..how many per room and if that is for 2 people or if we could put 4 people in a room for the same price? In which case..we need to know how many rooms we need.

I am definitely going to be there. Well..never say "definitely" but...as far as I know I can come. I mean..it is on my calendar. The ONLY reason that I would not be able to come would be if my son's army date gets changed to that weekend. I truly hope that doesn't happen. I'll be very upset!

Well...tomorrow is my bone scan. I am feeling so bad today that I actually took two Tylenol. I never take Tylenol. The last time I did that was when I was sick and on chemo. Doesn't seem to be working though. I ache all over My dh said that maybe I have the flu. I highly doubt that.

I'm concerned. I don't think the doctors are taking me seriously. I really am wondering why I feel so bad and it's getting worse instead of better. I do feel that I have to diagnose myself. I did that with my other illnesses. It gives my doctors direction.

G'nite.

RoseMarie

Deb - I hope you are able to get down to the bottom of all of this!! I remember how sick you where during chemo and then the itching that was misdiagnosed - ugh!! I'm wishing all the best for you!!
Debbie - so glad your dad is doing better! How absolutely terrifying about the near break-in!! so glad you are all ok!
Michele - how cool - very happy for you - the concert will be fun!
Laura - love the little heart breaker! Too cute!!
TracyNy - did I already compliment you on your beautiful furniture??!! VERY nice!! Btw, my first surgeon (the really young moron with the cell phone) told me we would see a lot of each other...since I changed surgeons and then moved I only see my onc now...
Mary - good for you!! That's wonderful!
V & TracyS - I finally bought Pomegranate (sp?)juice. It looks gross - brown and thick - but it was actually pretty good. AND the FIRST ingredient was actually Pomegranate juice!!
Hope that everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!

Love you all,

debbie444

Ok, i guess I am going to have to go with the majority, i have looked on Expedia and thehotels that Laura is talking about come in at £260 for 2 nights for the 4 of us - thats around $450 - am i looking in the right place?? Surely not!! Also cant remember which dates - plus can anyone rccommend a car hire firm from Cleveland Airport?? The ones we used last time seem a little on th esteep side to me - looking for local knowledge here!!

Debbie