2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

RoseMarie

Cockroaches hmmm...in Florida we call those big flying suckers "Palmetto Bugs." Sounds so much better, doesn't it?
Deb, I've heard of using vinegar before too - we also had "fire ants" in Tallahassee and that was a drag because they bite - we usually only had to worry about them outside, though. Good luck Amy!!
MaryAnne - hope Patrick is feeling better today!
Laura - I love the pics with the car and the guys - you can tell everyone is having a good time!
V - sounds like you guys are starting to settle in! Saying a little prayer for your appt. today.
I must have the same stainless as Debbie - I love all my stainless stuff and it doesn't show fingerprints much. (I have a friend that cleans all of her stainless appliances with "Pam")I don't like my ceramic top stove top, though. Too hard to clean in my opinion!
Cathy - I hope you were able to really rest last night and hope you have a safe day of traveling today!!
Off to wake the kids!!

chumfry

Ravdeb, I'll be there for our weekend in August. Wouldn't miss it. We're close enough to drive to Chicago. DH is planning to come, too, but I'll probably put him on the train to downtown while we all gab.

cathy987

Just a quick post before I hit the road again. I made it as far as Madison, WI last night and once I hit the bed never left it again.

Tracy– I am wishing you a belated Happy Birthday. So glad you had a nice celebration and your move is finally accomplished.

Deb–when you said RoseMarie not only sounds sweet, she is sweet you were right on. Meeting her and her family was really special-only not nearly long enough. Her kids are great. If you give me permission, Ro, I’ll post pictures of them too when I get home. And her dh is a real gem too. These two are a great couple and really good parents.

Debbie–Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could meet everyone one at a time. It’s not my plan exactly but it could be a dream. England, Australia, Israel.

V–I have lot’s of time for praying today–for you and for others who need it.

Will try to catch up with the rest of you when I get home.

Have a great day sisters.

Much love

ake

good luck victoria!!!!

ravdeb

Well, Cathy..I'm jealous you got to meet all of Rose Marie's family! Rose Marie...we love you!!!

V...thinking of you today as you get your labs. Down with estrogen!

Cindy..I now remember you said you were driving. My brain is numb. Please just forget I ask and if I ask again, then just take it as a compliment that I want to meet you and remember that my brain doesn't function too well anymore!!!!

Paula..that's okay that you washed your hair with face wash. My dh years back when he was staying with his cousins, took a shower, washed his hair and then told his cousins that the shampoo was really good and smelled good, too. They just stared at him and asked..Shampoo?? There is NO shampoo in that shower where you showered..that is shampoo for the DOG!!!! He has yet to live this one down!

I'm so tired. I'm trying to stay focused and organized and so I typed up a list of all the stuff that I would need for our holiday, wrote some things in bold..great list. But the dang printer went nuts and only would print the second page! So, I copied some stuff and then just went out to do some shopping cuz i had to get something done. Bought a new food processor for half the price that my dh was going to buy one for. HA!

I think I need a nap.... I'll probably end up cleaning out the linen closet instead.

mary anne..hope your son is better now. That's awful!!! I now I said that before but it IS!

marymelodi

Hi, everyone:
Got sick during the night like Mary Anne's son and so I am at home from work this morning. I still have compazine left over from last year so I'm trying that to see if I can get to feeling better. I need to go into work today . . . but later.

Update on my young friend - she is doing better. Little by little she is gaining strength. She is still in the hospital and will be there for awhile longer. Yesterday at church they asked folks to not go see her. Sunday's have been a heavy visiting day and this weekend, her parents asked that she just be left alone to sleep and rest. I think everyone understand that is just what she needs now.

Yesterday I also got to talk to a woman from my congregation who was diagnosed with BC just as I was finishing treatment. I've mentioned her before. During Christmas she went to London to visit her children who live there and became very ill. When she returned, she was delirious and her husband got her right to the hospital. I haven't seen her for all these months. It turned out that she had 2 problems. First was lymphedema that got so bad it became cellulitis and her arm was severely infected. Then, she had an abcess at her incision site. It developed from damamge done by radiation. She had a wound approx. 3 inches deep, down to her chest wall. She is still having to pack the wound daily, see the surgeon weekly, and has many complications from this serious event. She has also lost alot of weight, due to lack of appetite and the energy used in fighting infection and healing. We commiserated with each other, although I am the picture of health compared to what she has been through. I felt bad for her, but she seems to be mending, if very slowly.

I am fine, well except for the midnight sickness I mentioned, but overall I'm fine.

I am so glad to hear of all your projects and adventures. I would like to respond individually to each but I cannot do that this morning. I hope you all will be well this day and find fulfillment in your life.

Mary

Anonymous

V-- they sell Platinum refrigerators and they don't show fingerprints and you can put magnets on it. That's what I have for my fridge, the rest of my appliances are stainless.

For my stainless appliances I use "Stainless Steel Magic" or plain old Windex. Anything else makes it streak.

RoseMarie

I just have a sec...Cathy, you most certainly have my permission to post any/all pics!!

Lots of love to all of you!!

TracyNY

Well thanks everyone for the birthday wishes but my birthday is in August. Bwahhh hahh, just kidding! From one Tracy to another, I hope you had a fabulous day!!

I am so exhausted, I ran the streets enough for everyone this weekend. I had a friend over for dinner (and dessert, wink, wink!!) on Saturday and on Sunday I left home at 8am and didn't get back until way past 8pm. I had no nap on either day so I am bushed.

Didn't get to water aerobics because the tankini was a little too revealing for all the moving and stretching I imagine we'd be doing, it'll be cute lying on the beach in St. Maarten though. I'm going on June 1 for a week.

I am chasing down the furniture man for two antique night stands. The ones I have are cherry and go with the sleigh bed but his are ornate and have more character. If I can ever get them in my house.

Then I had to come to work and fire someone this morning. I swear they're trying to kill me at this damn job!!

ravdeb

Dessert, Tracy??
Night stands now? WHEW!

I was given some special stuff to use on my stainless doors that are supposed to keep the fingerprints away. I'll try that. Not sure what it's called. Actually, just soapy water usually does it and wiping it dry right away. I had to put a bulletin board up because now I can't put notes up on the fridge door. Hadn't thought of that. I put my favorite magnets all over the side of the fridge, though.

Didn't nap. I couldn't settle down for a nap knowing that I had that time to clean out the linen closet. So, the closet looks great. It won't last. The kids make a mess out of it all the time.

maryannecb

Thanks for the commiseration on Patrick's puke. He( and I) are lucky as he went to sleep right after and awoke feeling fine.

I had ants in my house three times over the years. I usually buy ant-be-gone at Wal-Mart. It takes several weeks for them to go and in the meantime I TRY to enjoy them. They are fascinating marching in their neat little rows across the floor. They have never gotten into any food and mine do not bite. I have found though if you kill 5-6 and leave them for their buddies to find it disturbs them. They seem(I know I am anthropromorphising )to freak out when they find them and carry them sweetly away. See all you can do in your free time when your husband is away.LOL.

Glad you got the closet done Ravdeb. Come do mine next.

I have an appointment with the onc tomorrow. I was not scheduled until June but I have some concerns. The first is my arm. I think I have mild LE, it is swollen at the end of the day in my forearm. I can leave a thumb print which clears up after 30 seconds or so. I also have twitching of my biceps off and on and some swelling in my armpit.I am worried as it just happened over the last two weeks or so. I know LE can happen years later but also it can happen if something is going on in the axilla. I don't feel anything when I examine it but I think he should check.

My second problem is hip pain. I hope this will be your story all over again Ravdeb. I can walk fine, no limp but I can feel my right hip. It is a dull awareness. When I lift my leg to cross it it hurts. Yup hurts, not severely but enough that I want out of that position. Perhaps I have strained it at the Gym or something but I need his opinion.

Anyway I called this afternoon and he will see me tomorrow. So, not too long to wait. I hate thinking the worst when this is all probably nothing. Why can't I be more rational?

When my brother died( he was 25) ,Mary, it became too hard to accept visitors. Send a note or a card , they will read it when they can and will appreciate the effort. Sounds like your friend is having a rough go.

Fists up!

Anonymous

Mary-Anne, glad your son is feeling better. I told my onc of pain in my hip but it's only after I walk around my huge block so it has to be cartilage related or something like that. I hope you can get some answers and relief and find out that it's not mets!! Cuz it's not!

Anonymous

Mary-Anne:

Quote:

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Laura, a CHAIN SAW???? I let my DH do all that kind of work...be careful.

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We each have our own!...we're known as the Chainsaw Duo! Notice the head protection! LOL

Debbie -

Quote:

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Oh - I am impressed - you have your own chainsaw - hmmm, wonder why i am only allowed my own paint scraper!!

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All I can say is thank goodness, you are only allowed to have a paint scraper! OMG LOL
I love it...Lotus Sunbeam...hmmmmm, not too shabby...a very rare and sassy British car! That is so funny...piece by piece! LOL Tell Rog there's a Sunbeam owner's club. Here's the linkie: http://www.sunbeamlotus.com/



We take photos for our forest journal/scrapbook. Here's one we took yesterday. Yes...it's me...go ahead...laugh if you want! LOL We're still trying to name our property...have any ideas? So far: Rainbow's End, Marsh View, Oak Heaven, Mud, Sweat & Tears...

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Wow - Lots of bad tummy problems going 'round...hope it doesn't head my way and I hope everyone's on the mend by now.
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Mary-Anne -
I have hip pain too. On a CT mine was described as "uptake"...the Rad. said it was arthritis/inflammation. Let us know.
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I've had my nose to this computer screen all day - D-Zining! Must take a well earned break...night, night...

Graycie

Mary-Anne and Kelly I have the same thing with my hip after I walk. They did an X-ray of my hip it but it didn't show anything of concern. Now my hip feel's better but my back hurt's. I have been doing exercises so I am assuming that has something to do with it or I slept funny, not sure....I don't think we will every stop worrying over every ache and pain and now with Elizabeth Edwards having bone met's I think it is making us even more aware of thing's that don't feel right.

Graycie

Laura, There we go posting at the same time again. Mud, sweat and tears sound's good....lol..Actually I think I like Oak Heaven or Tree Haven. Oh that wasn't one of the option's......lol .. Be careful, I remember when my father set the chainsaw on his leg and it backfired and cut his leg open. We were at our cottage practically in the middle of nowhere and he had to stitch up his own leg....OUCH...

Anonymous

Yeah...so much for night, night! LOL

Graycie -
You are something else! I like Tree Haven...hmmmmmmm...will consider it. You won't charge me if we use it will you? LOL Ouchy, wow, wow...your Dad's leg...that's amazing. Wasn't he a Dr.? But still... OMG LOL

ake

thanks ladies for the suggestions to get rid of my ants. i used the vinegar idea and left the dead bodies for the others to find. maryanne...you make me smile. my husband gets scared when i find bugs in the house. i start screaming obscenities and trying to stomp on them, yelling, "ha ha! got you!" at the top of my lungs. all my aggression come out. i'll try to take your approach and enjoy their little line. i don't midn where they walk as long as they're not walking into my food cabinet. that doesn't fly with me! but, oh my, spraying that raid...all i thought was....this is how cancer happens. this is nothing but chemicals!

good luck with your doctor's appt, maryanne. you exercise a lot and maybe you pushed it a bit too hard? sending you good thoughts for tomorrow

love,
amy

Anonymous

Amy, you're probably right, all the chemicals we inhale: ant spray, 409, hairspray, air freshener, etc. I am going to really try to start using a wet washcloth or buy more of those masks. It won't help me now but maybe for Teryn she will see the importance of not inhaling! LOL ....... Not inhaling, she better never go down THAT road!!!!!

ravdeb

Maryanne..I'll pray for bursitis. That's what mine seems to be. If I cross my leg, I need to return my leg because I feel it there and into my leg. and I also agree that it's lymphadema and though that's not pleasant, it's something you can live with.

I haven't been walking and my back and aches and pains are better. Walking is probably bad for me. I haven't had time to get to the beach but will take it up again next week. I'm active now though with all the cleaning and Graycie said housework is good against bc so I'm doing well in that area!

Good luck V... I hope all is well. You do NOT have widespread mets. You don't HAVE mets! No Rocktober girl does. We are immune. Well, I'm sticking with that theory!

Mary..thinking of you..

Amy..you are toooooooooo funny with your bugs! I used to scream and not be able to get near them. Now I just kick them out the door.

Maryanne...I don't mind watching ants walk in a row and all that, but NOT in my house! I will watch them outside, though when I'm sitting on our curb drinking my coffee sometimes.

By the way...there's a thread on the boards about coffee and guess what...those who drink more than 2 or 3 cups a day have lower risk of bc! hmmmmmmmmmmmmm..I'll buy that since I love coffee. I'll now drink more...for my health!

Anonymous

Hmmmmmmm...no Scooby News last night...? Michele, are you okay?

Anonymous

Dry wall dudes are here!

Graycie

Coffee, Hmmmmmmmmm, better go get another cup.......

TracySeattle

Coffee...... Hmmmmm..... Haven't had my first cup yet and I need some!

MaryAnne - I bet you are having mild le symptoms. My armpit gets swollen there. The PT massages it and the swelling goes away. I have a lot of aches and pains and I notice it in my hip as well - I am blaming the Arimidex!

I spent most of the day yesterday on the phone with my health insurance co. trying to find an "In Network" provider for my Le sleeve and glove. ARGGHHH!!! They finally filed an exception so that I can go somewhere out of network. I did find out that the glove costs $377 (high end) and the sleeve $201 (high end). Tomorrow I go for my fitting....

I moved the VERY LAST load of stuff from my house last night!!!!! I hired Dave's daughter to clean and I will be TOTALLY DONE by the end of this week!!!! Wow - it feels good!

Mary - I am thinkng of you and your friend and saying a prayer.

Sorry I don't have more time to write, I had better get to work.

Love you all!

RoseMarie

Deb - that is GREAT news about drinking coffee! I love coffee...way too much...
MaryAnne - thinking/hoping/praying only the best today! I am so glad the doctor was able to get you in so quickly.
TracyNy - you're such a hoot!
TracyS - so happy for you!! What an awesome feeling to know it's DONE!! WOOHOO! Good luck with the insurance stuff. I am so OVER fighting with insurance companies! In the end it all turns out but it's the stress and aggravation that gets to me!
ok...off to the gym

ravdeb

I had to vinegar my counter again..but I think it scared the critters away. Had a honey jar out which I had to throw away. How are your critters doing, Amy?

I see I made some coffee drinkers here happy campers today!
I'm going to go get another medicinal cup of coffee and then do some more cleaning. I'm so sick of cleaning. I have a grocery list a mile long to take with me tomorrow and I hate when I have a ton of things to put in the cart and not everything fits. But, I must! There is whole wheat matzah again this year so I'm happy!

Michele has probably painted herself into a corner and can't get out!

Watch out with that saw. My father in law a few years ago was cutting something with a circular saw and he cut through his belly. He had/has a big belly so he didn't see how bad it was but when he saw tons of blood he finally called my dh (he's stubborn). My dh rushed him to the hospital after giving him something to put pressure on it. He said some "stuff" was hanging out. The doctors said he could have bled to death. They stuffed everything back in and he's just fine!

What saved him, the doctors said, was that he was fat and the saw had to get through the fat first. You, Laura, are not fat. You'd better be careful!

debbie444

Laura - i clicked th elink and it was so funny - thats the club that we are members off ( i have my own little card and everything!!) i actually preferred it when he rallied a MK1 Escort - i wind him up by telling him that the Lotus is a Grandad car.
Ants, we used to get them in the porch until i poured salt down the airbrick. My dad pours boiling water on them, but after watching Antz the movie i cant face doing that.

OK , gotta go. i have an interview on Fri, got to show willing and do some prep work before hand. I am going to go and do it outside in the sunshine - 18 degrees today

Debbie

ravdeb

What kind of interview, Debbie?

V..we don't have Starbucks here. They tried it and it failed because Israelis drink a different kind of coffee and think all American coffee is BAD! But, when I'm in Oak Park visiting at my girlfriend's I walk down the street to Starbucks every morning and have my coffee and sit in the sun...but only on days when my girlfriend is working cuz she doesn't like Starbucks (and she's not even Israeli!).

The problem with coffee is it gets me hyper. Two mugs of it today..hopefully it will not keep me up tonight. Had my dark chocolate, too. I should have my wine and then I'll be medicinally up to date.

Wow..how long will you be gone in Sept? That is really neat to go with them!

So, Debbie..the salt works. If the ants come back, I'll try the salt trick since I think I found their hole...

ake

no starbucks, deb!!! how do you make it through the day? i live for that stuff. decaf only since i get migraines, but it's tasty just the same thanks for asking about my critters....just some corspes on the floor reminding the rest of the gang to stay away!

victoria...what's up? i'll be around tonight if you need me sometimes it's best not to know about our pathology, surgery, etc. i read my surgery notes once during a boring chemo and got rattled when i saw how hard my surgeon had to work to get clear margins. sometimes ignorance is bliss!

it's so warm here today....85 degrees!!!!

debbie...what's your interview for? whatever it is....you'll nail it

debbie444

The interview is a bit strange - its for th eextra hours i am doing at school in the afternoon. Now that my little boys statement is through, it needs a permaenent member of staff - at the moment i am covering it on an emergency supply basis. In the past with other heads i would just automatically have been offered it, now being as we nearly failed our OFSTED inspection , our heads following th erule book to the letter and the job has been advertised externally. Its only fair but it seems strange, applying to people i already work with! I dont actually think i will get the job as there are bound to be people with far more experience with CP but its all experience for me - and i got as far as an interview !!

What peice of research was it about coffee? I am curently having to drink tea as Rog read it had better cancer fighting properties - i may be British but tea doesnt come naturally - believe me!!

maryannecb

Hi, saw the oncologist this morning. He said yes I have mild LE.He could not feel any new lumps or thickening in my axilla so feels there is no recurrence. If over the next while it progresses rapidly he would do a CT of the area. Le sleeve recommended for symptomatis relief and Le massage not required.

On my hip, he said the classic description is a dull aching pain which is worse at rest and at night. How would I know since I/ve been knocking myself out?LOL. He thinks I may have tendonitis from exercising. Bit.........just to be safe, bloods and Bone scan. Did bloods today, will get results tomorrow. No appt for bone scan yet. I feel better already.

Actually I feel like a woman who thought she was in labour but isn't.LOL. I have "false metastases". I am relieved but will follow through. Thanks for the thoughts today.

Now have to get good reports from V and K and we'll all be officially NED. That is until the rest of you achey people get paranoid and got off to the Onc.

Debbie, hard to believe you have to be rehired, how silly, what a waste of time. Of course they will get you back.

I am making Roast beef with parsnips, turnip and mashed potatoes, all this stress has made me hungry. Then off to work on the website for our DB team. It is looking pretty good, I'll post a link when we are done.

Good luck with labs V, hope all is stable.

Couldn't live without my morning coffee. In Canada we have Tim Hortons Coffee shops, also Starbucks but I think TH is better, cheaper and the lines are shorter.

Fists up!