For those starting chemo in June

PJB

Janie, how are you today? What time do you see doc tomorrow?

janie44

Hi,

I am much better. A little nauseous and still have some neuropathy, but no where near what was going on Sunday and Monday.

My appointment is around 11:00, but it is an hour away from here. I will report in when I get back.

PJB

Yea! Glad you're feeling much better. We'll be waiting to celebrate the news with you. Hope you sleep well.

Paula

mary1220

We are all waiting Janie but I am thinking its better so thats good. P.J., you the bar tender today? Better get the good stuff out. Make sure you got salt for the rim on my glass please. I'll bring the nachos and we will celebrate Janies good news. My dog is still queezy from our last "girls day out" but she says como estas el drinkos!!!! What ever dawg. She gets so excited about alcohol. I think she has a bit of a problem but I don't mention it around her cause she gets defensive in Spanish and shew! It is not pretty when she gets upset. The fur flies around here. We may have to look into dog-a-non. Later, hey don't mention this to dog today because I may have to have an intervention soon. Hugs and good vibs Janie, Mary

janie44

Hi Girls,

Good news! The scan was normal. The oncologist is sending me to a neurologist because he thinks the symptoms may be something like migraine related. He has wanted me to see another neurologist for a while now anyway because he feels there may be more significance to my tremor. I have always felt like the tremor is the result of the necessary extensive surgery I had. I in no way blame my surgeon, who is regarded as one of the best, if not the best in the field. I had 20 lymph nodes removed and 7 were positive. One positive node under the arm was as large as the tumor itself and there were two positive supraclavicle nodes wrapped around a vein, so I do realize he had his work cut out for him. I am now on a double dosage of Inderal that is doing very little or perhaps nothing for the tremor. It does not impede my functioning at all, and I forget about it most of the time.

Make my margarita a frozen raspberry-mango with salt please.

mary1220

Great News Janie!!!! . We shall celebrate and a-knee-bree-ate!!!!! I can't spend time worring about spelling or I will get cut off and my post will be gone. I am so very happy Janie. Big ol hugs girlfriend. Mary

PJB

GREAT news! But I'm sorry this means you have yet another doctor to see. Blech. Have a merry weekend!

Paula

janie44

Oh well, as long as the new doc is not associated in any way with the big C. At least this time, mets was not my first thought. It actually took a couple of days for me to start listing the symptoms in my mind and thinking "Oh, maybe I should call the onc and see what he says."

rlswkndr

Make mine a plain old regular margarita on the rocks- salted rim please.
I raise my glass to Janie - May all our scans be clear!
Renee

janie44

Thanks everybody. Ya'll are the best.

Mary, I have idea. Go to Word or whatever word processor you have and type your message. Highlight it. Press Control C for copy. Minimize the note. Come here and into this little box for messages and push control V to paste. Then you will not have to hurry because of the time factor.

Hope you all are enjoying the weekend. La Fiesta!

NancyLee13

Great news Janie--Glad to hear it. I did a speed typing course one time, Mary, but I did poorly in it because my fingers just couldn't find the right keys quickly. If I go back to look at something now, this board erases my post and I have to start over. It's annoying. It didn't used to do that before they "Fixed" it a few months ago. I wonder what that was all about anyway. I'm watching Bee Season because I read the book and liked it a lot. Movies made from good books usually disappoint me so we shall see about this one. I'm going to Glendive tomorrow to have the orthopedic surgeon work on my wrist again. It's been really hurting for the past few weeks so I finally broke down and got an appointment. I'm also meeting my PCP to talk about going to Billings soon for a sterotactic biopsy of my "whatever it is" in lefty. Since it's not palpable, my doctor in Glendive can't do the biopsy so I have to drive to Billings. That's okay with me because I can go to the bookstores again. Well, hope everyone is having a blessed Sabbath. Life is Good-- Smiles NancyLee

janie44

I posted this once today and it did not show up! Sooooo. I have posted a poll on the Beyond forum for HER2 positives who are stage III or less. SO, my HER2 buddies please go over and give input. I think the results will be very encouraging. JF

NancyLee13

Janie--I'll go answer your post after I get my answers from Billings and then I guess we'll see if Herceptin did the job in my case. I sure hope so after all the grief it caused me!! Life is Good-- Smiles NancyLee

janie44

Nancy Lee,

I pray all goes well. We will defeat this thing together!

Hugs, Janie

PJB

Nancy, echoing Janie on hoping everything goes well for you.

You guys are gonna be jealous: I'm driving about an hour and a half down to a little Texas town to visit the Blue Bell ice cream factory....

I've eaten SO much crap this weekend. Thought of you guys when I drank 2 ritas on Saturday night and was just about wasted....

Paula

janie44

Margaritas AND ice cream? I AM jealous. I love the singing cow.

mary1220

Evening Girls, A singing cow???? No more ritas for you my friend. I hope you have a designated driver? I would guess the cow and the ice cream go together? Blue Bell ice cream must not be a Yankee thing. I have heard of Blue Bunnie but not Blue Bell. Hey Nancy, Good Luck. We will be pulling for ya. I better get I am tired. I took 3 grandkids to the Park to feed the ducks old bread. One nipped my 4 year old grandson on the butt. We went to another park and played then returned to the first park. We got McDonalds for lunch and ate on my patio and they played for a while and I worked in the yard then they went home so I am tired. I have Nick, Bailey, Peyton(girl) and Kaden(boy). I saw a comerical on T.V. today for some dog food and it shows a blue bag with a dog looking out of it and then it shows the same dog at the end and it is my Phoenix the drunkin dog. It looks just like her even with the hair spiking off the ears. I thought she was just wierd with that hair but I guess not. Shes getting way too spoiled. I gotta get to bed. It is really cool this eve after the rain. Good sleeping weather. Later, Nity-nite, Mary

janie44

Hey all,

Nancy, When is that apt again? Thinking of you and praying.

Mary, Yes Blue Bell is an ice cream and the commercial features Bell, the singing cow, who has a beautiful operatic voice. I love cows with their big ol eyes anyway. I try not to think of those when scarfing down a steak.

I finally finished up at my school office yesterday, about one month afte "quittin time" for the year. Now I only have a few weeks left until the new year starts.

My insurance finally came through for my reconstructive surgery, but the ps cannot do it this summer bc he is booked, so I will have to take time off in the Fall. Bummer.

Janie

PJB

Mary, when we went to San Antonio last year, Nathan's favorite part was feeding the pigeons. Not the Alamo, Six Flags, Seaworld. Birds. Crazy kids. Actually, I didn't much care for those other things either, but I'm old.

Janie, sorry you can't get your surgery done over the summer. How long will you be out then in the fall? And glad you're done for the summer.

Just a couple days left til vacation. Renee, I'll be up your way soon. I'll call when I'm up there.

Paula

janie44

PJ, When I saw the PS, he said recovery would only take a week. I am going to try to get October 18. That way I will only have to take 3 days because intersession is the next week -- an off week for me. So, I would have plenty of recovery time. Then we will be off for Thanksgiving a few weeks after that.

The kids -- kind of reminds you of when they open Christmas presents and decide to play with box instead of gift.

NancyLee13

Hi Janie--I've never heard of Blue Bell ice cream. We don't have singing cows in Montana I guess. My appointments were yesterday. I have a partial cast on my left wrist now and it makes typing slow!! I guess I reinjured it lifting up babies or something. At least that's what the othopedic surgeon told me. He told me to knock that activity off for awhile. Yah, like that's going to happen. Now that I have this cast thingy, I can do all the lifting I want--right???? My other doctor sent my "films" up to Billings and he is going to get back to me with a date for my biopsy. He told me that it probably won't be until next week and I should try not to worry. Yah, right to that too!!! He said he knows that it's easy for them to all tell me to relax when it's not their body that's potentially "growing bad things" again and he understands my unease. Well, he has gotten me this far and I'm still alive and kickin' so I'll just wait and see where this little side trip on the adventure takes me. I didn't go to work today. Just sat around the house and read and did crossword puzzles. It was very relaxing and I enjoyed my mini vacation. I might do some hay swathing for my renter tomorrow if I feel like it. Hi to Mary, Renee & PJ. Thanks for the good wishes. I've put them in my heart and I'll take them with me to my tests. Life is Good-- Smiles NancyLee

janie44

We are still with you Nancy. You will kick the big C once again! I do hope you get to relax some while waiting on all this.

I understand about the wrist and lifting. I was told not to lift over 5 pounds with my lymphedemic arm. I soon learned that you do not get through the day without lifting at least that much. By now, I have pretty gone on to business as usual and so far, nothing drastic has happened. You know, you just get tired of it all after a while.

Everybody have a good day! Janie

PJB

Janie, how are you feeling? Have your symptoms pretty much gone away? And I hear you on the lymph. You know, mine is just pretty minor swelling, and I've worn this sleeve most of the day most days since I got it. But I can't NOT live my regular life.

Nancy, I hope they find nothing in the biopsy. Enjoy your beautiful weather out there. I'm sure it's gorgeous this time of year out your way.

Mary, still wrangling grandkids?

Talk to you later. Got out of having to get my port flushed tomorrow, so that's a good thing.

Paula

NancyLee13

Hi Junies--I swathed hay from 9:30 to 3:30 today and then quit because I was getting too far ahead of the raker and the baler. I had a really calming and enjoyable 6 hours. I think I'll do that tomorrow too if it doesn't rain. I haven't swathed hay for 2 summers now because of chemo and things in general so I didn't know how much I missed that aspect of my former life. Gettin' it back--every day--gettin' it back!!!!!! I went to the daycare at 5 and worked til 6:30 and then Stacy, one of my staff members and I went to the local bar/restaurant with her 2 munchkins--ages 5 and 7. We had a very nice supper and talked about a zillion things. I haven't had a good gossip session for a whole month so I had to catch up on all the Baker goings-on. It was interesting to say the least. Well, I'm off to bed. I forgot to tell you that I kicked my AmbienCR habit while I was in Oregon. Yay!! Natural sleep again after 2 years. It's sweet!!!!! Life is Good-- Smiles NancyLee

mary1220

Hey Girls, Yea P.J. I still have grandkids, one went home and I have 2 others and a friend of my grandaughters. We went to the lake park and played and I thought they would be tired after WE ran our butts off and "I" was. They watched movies until 11p.m. I was resting my eyes off and on. Today they all go home. My sister-in-law (hubby's sister) owns a bar and she wanted me to make some red, white and blue bracelets for the 4th. to give to some ladies that their hubbies are in Iraq. Well I have made about 50 now because everyone likes them. I put white hearts on them so they just loved them. I really need to find a market because I have thousands of bracelets. I am going to make anklets now. Well Nancy, you wear me out. I am glad you are getting back to normal. I still have a lot of muscle pain and foot pain. It seems worse than a few months ago but it is not getting worse now just not going away. I get muscle spasms a lot and they hurt in my back but they are not severe just bothersome off and on. I had that flu that makes you feel bad and dizzy and now I hear everyone seems to be getting it. My brother called and thought he was going to die but I told him be patient it takes a while to get over, like a wk. Well I better get going. Glad everyones doing great. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Nancy, I have to ask. What is swathing hay? You can tell I was not raised on a farm or ranch. Still thinking of you awaiting results.

Mary, that flu may be what I had with the dizziess etc. Did you have blurred vision?

A friend of mine from grad school is in town and we are doing lunch etc. today. Should be a blast.

Later

Janie

PJB

Sounds like a fun time had by all (well, i wouldn't think the hay thing was fun, but i'm glad you do, Nancy)

Sent a very "honest" email to my mom this morning about some of her manipulative shenanigans. should make it for a more interesting trip.

Paula

janie44

Hey everybody,

It looks like everybody is really burning rubber this week from one end of the 48 contiguous states to the other. Have fun and be careful out there girls.

NancyLee13

Janie, a swather is like a HUGE lawnmower but instead of strewing the grass out the side like a mower or mulching it up underneath--it makes a big fat 'wind row' behind it. These teeth pull the grass into the swather where it hits this blade that goes back and forth really fast. Then after the hay lays in these wind rows for a day or two--someone rakes two wind rows into one nice big fat one and someone else comes along and either makes little square bales with a baler or giant round ones with another kind of baler. I had to run some stuff into the daycare this morning so I called a friend that I haven't talked to for a long time and "woke her up" and took her to breakfast at one of the local "where all the old guys meet in the morning for coffee" restaurants. It was fun. I caught up on tons of gossip from the past few months that I've totally missed. Then I came home and cut another 40 acres but then I had to quit and go to the courthouse and get some paperwork notarized. I'd have much rather stayed out here and swathed. Mary, I still have the neuropathy in the feet and sometimes fingers thing in my life. They alternately hurt like he-- or just are numb little useless appendages. I think I like it better when they hurt because at least I can feel them. A couple of times today I completely missed the clutch pedal on the tractor because they're in one of their numb phases. Good thing I'm out in the middle of my own field of grass and there's really nothing that I can run into except myself. I kept dodging around this little deer today. His momma had left him in a little patch of alfalfa down below my dug out dam and he just did not want to move, but the sound of the tractor and swather scared him pretty badly. I left this whole patch of grass that he was in uncut--Don't know what the baler man will think of that, but OH WELL. I'm gonna quit and watch "So you think you can dance". I like to watch the dancers. They're so graceful--something I have never been. It was 99 degrees and muggy here today. Hope you all had a great Thursday--tomorrow's TGIF. Life is Good-- Smiles NancyLee

mary1220

Hey you little fire crackers, I however am indeed a cracker. Wow; P.J. every time I send my youngest daughter a really honest e-mail we argue. I lie, I lie out my a*s to her. Its the honest way to keep from an honest arguement. She and I have not been getting along real well and I am affraid she is affraid of something happening to me and she wants to keep her distance or she is truley embarressed of me because I am forgetful and not as "useful" as I was 2 and a half years ago. I don't know whats wrong but the past few months she asks how I am and I say great, she doesn't want to hear anything else. If I say I am not up to my usual she brings up another subject real quick like and says how she has people come in the Pharm. and they are doing herceptin and they are fine or they went through treatment and they are just great now. I am not great and I don't think I will ever be. I am better than 2 years ago but I still hurt and am not myself. I will never be myself. I guess I just have a different outlook on life and whats important now. Maybe we just don't know each other anymore since she has been in Phoenix for the last 6 or 7 years. We were always very close because she was the baby but thats gone now. Oh well, it seems we hardly talk anymore. I don't know how or when this all happened but it did. Hey Janie, I had blurry vision with my flu. I kept thinking something was wrong with my eyes or brain. I get blurry eyes when my blood sugar gets too low and I get dizzy and spacey. I thought the sugar was low because I was nauseated and just did not have an appatite at all for 3 days. I actually lost 2 pounds. I was real dizzy. I felt like I was seriously sick but couldn't really put a finger on why or what it was. I just felt like I was bad sick. I was really jittery too like my nerves were really bad. My head felt like I was not all here, O.K. I know thats normal for me but it was worse than usual(if thats possible). Nancy, we have hey, alfala, corn, soy beans, and wheat.We mostly have corn and beans. We have cows and big ones, and big pigs(In Illinois.) We have a lot of Deer. Ahhh, the town gossip. We have that here too. 99.9% isn't true but it all makes for a good story. The restaurants here are private owned small places and all you here is the clinking of coffee cups and chatter of "you know what?" from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. My Mom-in-law gets all the scoops for me. Well I better get. I hope everyone has a great wk. end. Hubby isn't making it home until next wk. end. Hugs, Mary