Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

TPPJ

QUOTE: Ladies, I've had a revelation. We should report right away that there may be a strong correlation between women with do it yourself or karate expert husbands and breast cancer!

Too funny, Skye! And Rebecca, I love "let's take her down" re: Viddie's SIL. I have to laugh, thinking she just goes about running at the mouth, CLUELESS to the fact that an entire group of women would like to slap her. Ignorance is bliss, I guess, huh?

Melia, I didn't lose all lashes/brows until after taxol was over. In fact, I recall feeling so lucky I got out of it "unscathed"...only to lose them almost fully two weeks later. They are back 100% but my brows aren't as dark as they used to be. I am contemplating having some of the lighter ones plucked and hoping they don't return, but I'm almost afraid to get a wax...afraid they'll take too much.

Skye, good luck on the MRI. Mine is in August. Hoping for all good news on "lefty" so I can begin to think about symmetry. And yes, Rebecca, I too have misgivings about cutting into healthy tissue (ha-ha! I just accidentally typed tittue). Mel, can't believe the CT scanner was down. You have had more problems you should never have to have...btw. getting locked in the lingerie store, etc... you could write a book!

Nancy, glad to hear you are rebounding and Goldnmom, so glad to hear you are doing so well and TYPING on a laptop IN THE HOSPITAL! You rock!

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING

Hello, Hope everybody is feeling as good today as I am!!!

Whew, what a blow out last night! Yesterday was Puppy's surgery day and I was supposed to get a call from her dh as soon as it was over and we waited until 2:30 pm!! The surgery took five hours, but she is OK.

There were many bleak scenarios for this surgery, including removal of skull, hair loss, brain damage and worse, but we got the best possible outcome...the surgery was noninvasive and performed by insert wires into her veins, her main aneursym was repaired successfully, and recovery should be fast.

We got a cyber party going for her last night; of course, she couldn't be there but she can read all the funny posts when she gets well. It was a lot of fun...I really feel like I went to a bash last night....maybe we should do this sometime...

http://community.breastcancer.org/ubbthr...&PHPSESSID=

Now that we are out of the woods with the Life or Death issues I can't sit back a little and relax and catch up over here...

I've been doing some sewing--lingerie this time--and will send you pix as soon as I can get Gina to do some more modeling.

xxxoooo Mizsissy

mer1957

Last day of rads and I'm sick. I thought yesterday it was just a cold but just took my temp and it's 100.4. Sinus infection? My gland behind my ear kills! Luckily I have some leftover antibiotic. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. Guess I'll have to call my internist if it's not getting better. So my nice day of finishing rads is somewhat a downer. Girls at work brought dessert, balloons, nice card, flowers, but I went home at 1 -- too sick to even eat cake! My bosses sent me a gardenia. Can those be planted outside? Back to bed...keep me in your thoughts. At least it's not next weekend when my son comes to visit. Oh and also the dr. hasn't called me back yet about Tamox. I've only called there four times. There's some stress for you.

Rebecca

Well folks, here she is! Tina sent me this photo and asked me to post it. They are having brunch in the American Girl store in Chicago. I think she looks gawgeous!!!

skyedivine

Lovely Tina is right! Tina you look very cute in that hairstyle, like you meant to do it! I have much too high a forehead to look that nice. Looks like you have some curls going on, too. You must have had a lovely time there.
Mizsissy, that is great news about Puppy, especially considering what might have been. I'm so happy for her and all her friends and fam. Can't wait to see the new lingerie you are making.
Mary, hope you are feeling better. Too sick for cake...I take that as serious. Maybe a restful weekend will help. You can always celebrate later.
My own weekend is all too cut out for me. Sea Monsters is going very slowly, and I now have TWO previous manuscripts for different books that arrived this week. They are in the pre-press stage sitting and waiting for me to do final proofs. I feel like I'm slipping back into the back-to-the-wall-deadline lifestyle that I think contributed to my immune system crashing last summer and my subsequently getting you know what. Once I'm done with this pile of stuff I have to figure out how to stay out of such messes.
DH called me from the campground, getting ready for a round of evening fishing and happy as a clam. At least one of us is having fun!
Anyway, I don't mean to complain, and I'm not in as rotten a mood as that sounded. It's summer, and I just ate a dish of cookie dough ice cream. Life is still good! - Skye

TPPJ

Thanks, Skye. The do could prob. be mistaken as deliberate. It's just not a style I've ever worn and I feel really weird in it. It is coming in curly, which it was before. I may just let it grow chin length curly bob and keep it brown so it looks healthier than before. Thanks, Rebecca, for posting.

For those of you wondering, the big white patch on my mothers ear is a bandage from some skin cancer surgery. Not melanoma, thank God, but the one up from that..the middle one. Boy, did that wound look NASTY. Repulsive, in fact.

I have a boys sleepover going on here. Paul has his 4th grade buddy and his 1st grade brother. I just made popcorn and put in Karate Kid. Paul is SUPER overtired because he spent last night there, the last two full days playing and now he is Mr. Moody. Driving me nuts. Bitchin' about my movie choice, etc. &^%$! I made spaghetti/meatballs/garlic bread, brownies, pudding w/whip creme, now popcorn. I can't win w/him tonight. I should have known better than to allow him to continue this almost 48 hour play marathon.... meanwhile, Jaclyn is on her first sleepover at another girls house here in the 'hood. Hope that goes well. I don't want any 3 am phone calls. If so, the DH will need to handle it.

Funny... I so want to write DH in my emails to my Boston non BC friends I talk w/everyday. Makes it so much easier. However... we'd have other acronyms.

Rebecca

Tina, I too hope that you do not get the dreaded 3AM call. Sounds like you have your hands full with those boys! Girly sleepovers are hard enough, I can not even imagine what a boy one will be like. Ah the joys my future will hold!

Speaking of the karate kid, in a strange coincidence, Ralph Macchio (the kid who plays the karate kid) and I grew up on the same street (not quite at the same time but close!) How odd.

Anyway...hope you all are having a good friday evening...DH and I are sharing a bottle of wine. Tasty and giggle inducing

luckymel

Tina, you look great! I agree about the hair - it totally looks deliberate. Doesn't look like chemo hair at all. I don't remember that your hair was curly before - were you like me, fighting it and making it look straight your whole life? I would love to give up that nonsense, but it depends on what it looks like when it comes in. I saw a poor lady at radiation today who had fairly long hairs - an inch or two anyway - but she only had about ten of them. So I don't feel so bad - at least mine is thickening up some. On the other hand, she is probably a lot cooler!

Mary, so sorry you're sick and can't even enjoy your end of rads celebration. Hope the antibiotics kick in...although if they do, you know you need to call your doc and get enough to really do the job. I always hate to admit I've been self-medicating, even if it did work. Sounds like you have some really good work friends.

Mizsissy, hope you can relax some now that Puppy's out of the woods. I'll be looking forward to seeing what your lingerie sewing produces.

Skye, I feel for you with all your deadlines. There has to be some way to make a living without all this stress! I was thinking about that today - I feel like my immune system was compromised by chronic sleep-deprivation from having to be at work at 5:30. I never, ever, ever got enough sleep. But when I go back....it's going to be the same. Wish I could just work a couple of days a week.

Well, I did get my simulation today, but not (of course) without mishap. The CT scanner was fixed, but after they made the mold and before they got the scanning done, the computers went down!!! I had to lie there for I don't know how long - maybe 45 minutes or so - being perfectly still because they had started already, so if I moved we'd have to start the whole thing over. I managed to get through it, but it wasn't easy. And then, they drew all over me! I look like a two-year-old has been at me with a couple of magic markers - is this normal procedure? At the other place (the "old-time radiation" place) they just made three very nice little + marks on me. M.D.Anderson has the brand new, highest tech machine and all the good recommendations, and they just scribble all over my chest - it isn't even neat! The worst thing is, all I can wear now is crew neck t-shirts because the marks come up to my collarbone. I think they're going to stay there, too - he said something about they would be touching up those marks from time to time. I don't understand all this - maybe by the time it's over I will.

Rebecca, sounds like you are having a good Friday evening. I think I'll go do the same thing - my dh is always ready to share a bottle of wine.

Everybody have a good weekend.

Caya

Viddie - How did your pre-op appointment go for your DIEP? Glad you are standing your ground with your nephew - especially at this time,you do not need to be worrying about this spoiled brat with all his antics - Your SIL has a lot of chutzpah (major nerve) to resent you for not taking him in...
Ellie- glad to hear you are doing well. Sounds like you are coming along great - glad the girls are gorgeous.
Tina - I also lost my eyelashes about 2 weeks after my last Taxotere, and they're still pretty sparse. My brows however have come in really nice - thick and with a nice arch. The family picture looks great, your hair looks very natural. I hope your mom is okay.

Mizsissy - glad Puppy's aneurysm procedure went well. Sounds like what my DH had last year for his - platinum coils were pushed up through his groin to the brain and were stuffed into the aneurysm. He had his year followup MRI about a month ago and it was perfect.

Mary - sorry to hear you aren't feeling that well. Try some chamomile tea with some honey - it's very soothing.
Rebecca - glad you and DH are relaxing with some wine.
Mel - what next for you? The computers went down? OY!!

Skye - don't worry, I've seen the shoes - we have about 200 pair of Spring 2008 samples here at the house - and they are gorgeous.

I didn't sleep well again last night - got up at 4:30 a.m. and was "up" - so I came down to my office and did some computer work, filing etc. Had to go to a lunch business meeting with the DH (it was stressful), and by the time we got back at 3:00 p.m. I was exhausted. So I slept from 3:00 until nearly 6:00p.m. - Of course it's a vicious circle because tonight I will probably have trouble falling asleep - oh well, thank G-d for Imovane and Ativan.
On a sad note, I got a letter from my amazing GP today - she had a heart attack 2 weeks ago, and is closing her practice. Of course the most important thing is that she will recover, but this woman has been a rock for me and my girls throughout many years. So I've started looking around for another female GP in the area that is accepting new patients, but no matter who I get, it will never be the same. I was hoping she would eventually go back to her practice, even in a year, but I guess she cannot commit to it.

good night ladies
caya

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING

Thanks for the kind words about the surgery...we were really worried. In fact I was so stressed it reminded of all the stress I went through about my mother last summer, and like you Skye, I don't think stress is good for BC!!!

Caya, I didn't know about your husband's anuerysm...you know, I think I knew about it at some point but I forgot. Puppy's procedure was just like your husband's, except they used titanium. One thing we are very worried about is the pain; she was in quite a bit of pain before the procedure and the doctors say this may not change, because the bulge will still be there. She also has three other aneurysms, smaller and not quite so serious, in other parts of her brain that they'll get to later.

Caya, like you I'm up tonight ...but I think I'll be able to get back to sleep. That's very freaky news about your GP. Now back to sleep I hope!

Mizsissy

mer1957

Mel, I think you can wash that stuff off. Its' the tatoos that stay permanently. I had both the axillary radiation and chest wall. For the axiallary radiation they always used magic marker and drew a dotted line at the top of the radiation area but it washed off...day after day...mark and wash.. The good news is I never had to use any creme or anything on the area. I guess I was really blessed. Now that I am done they just said to keep it moist with moisturizer. It's strange how skin reacts differently on different people. I am one who always gets sunburned and has rashes but nothing from this. I am feeling much better today. I think I have enough antibiotic to kick this or maybe it was just a virus but it was nasty. I sat on my new patio last night and watched my DH put together our new patio set. What a job! But the chairs are really nice. I'll take a picture as soon as it's done. Our backyard has about 10 hugh oak trees so it's nice and shaded. It will be a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine when I'm better. The patio table he picked out matches the colored cement patio perfectly. I guess he has a pretty good eye. Next is planting flowers around the patio. I'm thinking hostas, daylillies, ferns...any other suggestions for partial shade?

Mizsissy, glad to hear Puppy is doing well. You are a good friend to her.

I remember those sleepover nights! OY. Now that my DS is home for collge occasionally someone stays over but they are much quieter or is it my new house which has a master bedroom on the first floor and the other bedrooms 15 stairs up and to the right? Have a good day!

viddie

Hi all,
My pre op went very smoothly. It was very quick. They tested my blood and did an EKG. I had to sign some forms and answer some heath questions. It seems that over the past 8 months, I have answered the same questions a million times. I then saw my PS and he reassured my that everything was going to be fine. All in all, I had a very nice successful day.
Oh, I forgot one tiny thing. A man crashed into me. No damage to my car and little damage to his. He lost a headlight. I had my DD and mother in the car, but everyone was fine. It was totally his fault and he was blaming me because I did not honk him in time so he would see me. I did honk, but he kept driving. I was making a right turn into a parking lot and he was making a left turn out of the parking lot. He was on my side of the road looking the other way as he was moving into me. He even had a stop sign and did not stop. He was a very big man and very intimidating. The police came but since they did not see what happened, they just acknowledged that we had an accident. I am not worried, because it was his fault and I had my mother and dd as witnesses.
Mary,
I am glad you are feeling much better. Those summer colds are a nuisance. It is so nice to have brand new patio furniture. Enjoy!
Caya,
Sorry about your GP. Hopefully you will find a nice kind GP to replace her, even if she is irreplaceable. Maybe your neighbors can recommend one that they love. I know it is hard to change doctors that you have always had and love. They become friends. There is a good chance that she might return when she feels better and stronger even if she will not commit now. In the meantime, good luck searching for the right match for you.
Mel,
I am glad you finally got your simulation today, even though there were a few mishaps.
Tina,
You look great in your picture and your hair looks so chic. I wish mine looks that good in time.
I hope Paul had a good time last night and I hope Jaclyn did not call you at 3 AM. Did you survive?? LOL
Mizsissy,
I am so happy Puppy’s operation was successful and she is out of the woods. That IS cause for celebration.
Skye,
Cookie dough ice cream sounds delicious. You do have a lot of work and deadlines, so ice cream breaks are the perfect thing.
Ellie,
I am glad you are feeling better. Thanks for answering my questions about “hospital attire.” Hopefully you are home now and are comfortable in your own environment.
Have a nice day,
Viddie

sharon56

hey there gals !
I am home for good now and just catching up and reading all the posts . I have 2 more rad treatments to go , boosts and then thats it ! No hormone therapy for me , I have an appt. with the onc on Monday for follow up . Got to have another ct scan at Sunnybrook as I have been getting dizzy , trouble standing up (i keep falling backwards , like a tree swaying in the breeze ) I do not think its anything bad but its better checking now . My sinuses are stuffed so maybe its them or my inner ear . I also am getting bone and joint pain again ,ouch ..... has the taxotere hit me again ????? Another ? for the onc Monday .
One more week and we are off camping ..... family fun needed here in our house man ... can't wait !
Viddie best of luck with your surgery
Skye prepress and proofs eh ? I work for a printing company so I know what you are up against . Fun huh ?
Caya good luck with finding a new gp not a fun job and a shortage of dr's does not help .
Tina you look great my hair is coming in straight not as curly as yours
Mary looks like you are done rads and breezed through congrats !
Mel gotcha on the machines going down , my rad appts were late 80% of the time , very sensitive machines and they have 35 to 40 patients / day on the one I was on . I also met alot of people in the waiting area , we chatted alot . One guy was there that I did my chemo with , a few others from my home town and many who had the same surgeon as I did . Small world and sad too that so many of us have cancer . But we are all walking and talking ! and hangin in !
Mizsissy here are pics of a bag i did at the lodge some think I should sell them I might ! Canvas bag wih craft acrylic paints



oh and i almost forgot my sisters are doing the breast cancer walk in Calgary this weekend check out thetwo of them
http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR?team_id=...p;s_tafId=32010
Joni if you are home hope the weather holds out for them if you are in Vancouver have fun what a great place to visit ! Also this very specal poem that my younger stster wrote for our sister that lost her battle .... 5 girls in our family fightig for the cure !!!!!
http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR?pg=perso...&px=1248598

TPPJ

Great bags, Sharon! Welcome home and enjoy your vaca!

Viddie, glad your accident wasn't worse. Didn't realize honking was mandatory. Maybe just in Boston?

Mary, glad you are feeling better and enjoy that patio set. I love that stuff. So wish my yard looked better. But every year it's the same deal: I do all these container gardens and then I leave town. Some day...

Caya, sorry about your GP. Sounds like she's putting her life first now, understandably... thx, everyone, for the kind words about the pic Rebecca posted for me... I suppose I would look normal to those who didn't see me before... I just can't wait for enough hair to do a tiny ponytail in which I can stick in one of those "Soho" fake ponies they sell at the mall. I had been wearing those for two years before BC. I'd slick my hair back straight w/gel and pop that in...good to go. Very real looking.

luckymel

Tina...you've got me to thinking. I'm wondering if there is any way I can get my hair to stay slicked back with gel, once it gets long enough, so I can do the fake pony thing. I'm desperately trying to think of a low maintenance hairstyle. I spent way too much time on my hair, back when I had it. Or would I just like a dork? I might be too old. I had Larry take some pictures of me topless today - will post one if it isn't too embarrassing.

I also had him take a picture of the mess on my chest - the red and blue hash marks, I mean. My high-tech M. D. Anderson scribbling. Mary, I think that unlike yours, they are permanent. Not sure, but that's what I think. They didn't wash off last night, and the nurse cautioned me about not trying to wash them off. I may just post that picture, too, who knows? I just had to have a picture - it's such a mess.

Sharon, I'd buy one of your bags! I think you could sell them, for sure. I enjoyed the photo of your sisters, and can see the resemblance. They really raised a lot of money, didn't they - I'm very impressed. I hope you have a wonderful time camping - I know you've been looking forward to this for so long - seems like when you first started posting you were talking about this trip. So have a wonderful time. Wish I could be up there with you. I'm definitely ready for a camping trip. Congrats on being all but done with treatment.

Viddie, I'm glad you stood up to the bully who ran into you. That has happened to me twice. The first time, I was young, had just paid off my first car the day before, and a guy ran into it in the grocery store parking lot. I was in the car, but it wasn't even running yet, I had just got in. And he tried to tell me I ran into him! I was young, as I said, didn't know what to do, was upset, so I called a friend who came and said he was my lawyer and shut the guy up. The next time it happened was the same story as yours, basically. I stood up to the bully that time, and got my money to repair the damages - 30 years makes a difference.

Mary, the first time through I read your posting to say that the master bedroom was on the first floor and the other 15 bedrooms were upstairs. I was REAL impressed - and ready to come visit, since you had so many bedrooms! Your backyard sounds lovely - 10 big oak trees. I would love that. I really, really miss the trees from the midwest. I love them in the summer, and I love them in the winter when they're bare, too. It's just different down here. Palm trees don't do it for me, and although there are oak trees, it's just different somehow. We planted giant timber bamboo in our little bitty patio home backyard. It's grown to probably 35-40 feet already, and promises to get to 50 feet or so. I finally gave up trying to make my yard look like my old yard did - might as well just be tropical.

Caya, I just thought of something. Do you get to wear, or at least try on, the sample shoes? Do they come in your size, or are they all impossibly small sizes like some samples are? Sorry about your GP, that's really a shame. How old is she? I hope she decides to resume her practice. On the other hand, maybe she is just realizing that life is short, and wants to enjoy it instead of working herself to death. There is that side of it, as we can all appreciate. Hope you get some sleep tonight. You and Mizsissy, both.

Well, we got a dog today! My dh has been wanting one as long as I've known him. I've been saying no puppy, because with two geriatric cats, that is the last thing we need. Not fair to them at all. I have no objection to a grown, housebroken dog, and he knows that. Besides, everyone wants a puppy, and there are so many wonderful dogs out there who need homes, and may not get them because they're NOT puppies. (Puppies are adorable, but I think they're highly over-rated.) Anyway, a couple of weeks ago he found a dog at the Second Chance Pets adoption day at the pet store - a 10-year old lab mix who had lived with a couple for 8 years, then they decided to travel and turned him in. How could you? Anyway, he's been thinking about him for two weeks, and yesterday happened to mention him, as in "I saw this really nice dog, but he was too old." So I give him a big speech about how COULD he reject a dog just because he was old, old dogs need homes too, etc. - and of course, the first thing he did this morning is go see if that dog was still available. His name is Harrison, and I met him - very nice, well-behaved, good with cats, couch potato....couldn't ask for a nicer guy. So he's ours - we get him on Friday. I haven't had a dog since I lived with my parents! But he'll be nice, and Larry will be happy. And I'll have somebody to walk with - good timing!

luckymel

Almost forgot...Nancy, how are the hot flashes, now that you're taking the Effexor? You are taking the Effexor, aren't you?

goldnmom

Mel, you write the best posts, very story like and so entertaining. I feel as if we are actually having a conversation.

I would love to see pictures of your hair if you are comfortable posting them. I am just now beginning to think mine might look as if this short do was planned. I'm gelling into a whatever curly do and leaving it with the gel look. It has almost stopped the standing up straight thing it was doing. When I get back to Charlotte, I'll try to post a picture.

Now that I've had time to catch my breath and take some close and critical looks, I see that there are revisions to be done on the girls. My right girl is a little bigger and up a bit higher that the left. I'm assuming all that can be fixed with stage 2 in October. Monday will be the day to find out when I see the doctor before going home.

I'm so happy you have a dog! This is the main reason I just had to respond. I miss my dogs like crazy!!! Just can't say that strongly enough. They are perfectly fine at home with our son sitting with them, but I miss them so. Both are Golden Retrievers, Sarah is 11 and my special friend joined at the hip, and bud is 7 and the best boy. Sarah is very intuitive to my moods and was my best nurse after breast surgery. They are such good company and you will enjoy Harrison so much. The senior dogs are extra special and such easy keepers.

My dream is to have a retirement home for senior goldens, maybe 5 or 6 at a time. Just to give them love and care for their time left. Enjoy!

Rebecca

Oy Viddie what a fiasco with your crash. That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard! Some people will just do ANYTHING to keep from taking responsibility for their actions! Anyway, no real harm done I guess with nobody hurt...sounds like the kind of thing that I would weave into a funny story to tell at a dinner party

Caya I too am sorry about your GP. There is nothing more annoying than finding a new Dr, particularly if you have a complex medical history. I am sort of in the same boat in that I have to find a new family Dr...but I have to do it because I HATE MINE!!!! I think it will all have to wait until after surgery...I need a GYN as well. I have had some recommendations, so now it is just a matter of calling and making appointments. Needless to say calling to make more medical appointments is rather low on my list of things I want to do.

Sharon, LOVE the bags. Your style is VERY funky. Have you thought about making Tshirts?

Mel Congrats on your dog...and kudos for adopting an adult dog instead of a puppy. I agree, they are totally overrated. I like puppies just fine, but I like them BETTER when they belong to someone else! that stinks about your radiation marks...I had head that sometimes they use marker instead of tattoos. the plus side is that they will fade away over time, unlike the tats but on the other hand, how unsightly and what a pain. Ah well. This too shall pass.

Ellie I am sure that they will fix up your gals just fine....just concentrate on healing up now!

Well, we got a sitter tonight (yay!) and finally went to see Harry Potter. Loved it, of course. Spent the ride home filling DH in on the stuff that got left out. I also passsed a milestone today...NO SCARF! I just decided heck with it because Matt kept telling me that I look fine, and in fact that it looks good. I look like GI Jane, but so what! my head was not sweating (although I did get cold during the movie, and had to put up my sweatshirt hood). Ah well....life moves on!

Tomorrow we are having a half-birthday for Ana who got gipped at her real birthday because i was too sick to do a party for her (January was not a good month ). we baked her cake today, and we will decorate it tomorrow....she wants her name, but i think I am going to just put a big 7.5 on it. It is going to be very low key, but I think it will be fun! I may allow DH to take a picture of me, and if I do, I will post for a hair inspection.

have a good night!

skyedivine

Hey Ladies,
Mel, congrats on the nice older dog! Love the name Harrison. He s ounds like a great companion.
Caya, 200 pairs of shoes in the house? Heaven! There's just something about shoes that is so wonderful. I wear a 5 and ahalf and lots of stores don't even carry them any more. Sorry to hear about your G.P. It's always hard to lose a good doctor for whatever reason.
Viddie, I'm glad the pre-op went well and that you are safe after the crash!
Sharon, the bags look fab and I am also sure you could sell them. Lovely!
Mel, they drew on me too but never said I couldn't wash the marks. And then they gave me "my" marker as a present on my last day. 45 minutes is a very long time to lie there!
I took a break day, had breakfast with my girlfriends Lynn and Julie, we had our semiannual white elephant exchange where we each bring a bunch of things we don't want, and give them to each other. It's always funny. Then I went home and took a nap, then drove to Janesville and went with my mom, sis and baby bro (he's 41) to see other sister's house she's building, then all went out to eat. It was fun, I was able to gross mom and sis out showing them my radiated armpit incision which looks awful but has stopped hurting. I've also solved my sleep problem by taking Advil PM, it seems much more potent than tylenol pm and keeps my shoulder from hurting too.
I discovered a new nighttime hot flash remedy. Yesterday I stubbed my pinky toe and sprained it and needed ice on it so I took one of those gel freezer paks and wrapped a towel around it and put it in bed between the sheets to rest my foot on. I discovered it felt great to have that cold pak there for both feet and kept me from flashing pretty much all night.
Mizsissy, I tried making a homemade Chillow by putting two gel packs under my foam pillow but it didn't work. But I highly recommend the frozen foot pack. My toe is purple now but feels better, I still walked 2 miles tonight.
Rebecca, few things beat wine and giggles.

luckymel

Oh, Ellie, I knew you would be happy about the dog! I'll post a pic of him when we get him - he's just a little gray in the face, but a nice looking boy. And I know we will enjoy him. I have to admit, I'm excited about getting him. I hope someday you can have your retirement home for goldens...what a great thing to do. Why stop at 6, though - the more, the merrier!

I think there are always revisions to be done, that's why they have stage 2 procedures. It still sounds like you have excellent results, overall. I hope you don't have problems with your donor site.

Will post a hair picture tomorrow, if not later tonight. I will be glad if I ever get to the "standing up straight" phase. Mine is pretty pitiful right now - my hair is fine, and it is just lying there passively on my head right now, doing nothing at all.

Take care.

skyedivine

Ellie and Rebecca you both posted while I was writing that last epistle. I agree with Rebecca, the girls will be fine once you heal.
I'm still looking forward to the H.P. movie. Have fun at Ana's party! - Skye

skyedivine

Mel my hair is just lying there too. I'm going topless but it isn't pretty. It is getting thicker however. My BIL called me Sinead today. I said no, GI Jane. I challenged my long haired sis to a hair-tossing contest, LOL. - Skye

Nancyab

Yes Mel, I am taking the effexor, although I haven't notice a difference yet. Seems I've been getting them more in the daytime now and I sweat like never before. It's not fun. My hair is at a stage now when I comb it, it sticks straight up. I always look like I have "bed head". It is maybe 1/2 to 3/4 inches long. Don't notice any potential curliness either. I have a lovely cowlick in front on the right side and the swirly thing on the crown. Just like a boy.
My rad marks are from a marker too, but they covered the marks with tape, so now that I am getting boosts, I am getting blisters under the tape. Today I took some of the tape off because it hurt so much, I don't care if they get mad. I am also burned in the crease of my neck, and using aquaphor, that stuff is great!
I worked hard today, did laundry and completely tore my bed apart, washed everything, flipped the mattress, swept under the bed, wiped down the headboard and rails. I have a feather bed topper and shook that out real good with help of DD. So I feel accomplished!! 7 weeks ago I would of never attempted such a feat. We are getting stronger!YEA

sharon56

mel my boobs are full of marks from rads , I had to have the dr come in for the techs to check me when started my boosts . They told me not to wash them off as there was some talk of a "splash" onto my other boob so they marked me to make sure that they did not radiate they other one!
Baby oil should take off the marks when you are done . Also my "undershirts"get full of the blue dye . More reason for me to go shopping when I am done rads !
Oh and gals my hair is yep GI jane , my eyebrows and eyelashers are back and i am wearing mascara again , another good step towards "normal"
Sunday has startd off good its not too hot and I have to drive my daughter to work , she has a PT job at Wendy's and is making all kinds of money . Now she is wanting to spend it on new clothes ..... we went to one of our biggest malls yesterday and I bought a Tilly Hat nice hat .... need one to keep me outa the sun when camping .
Rebecca and Jan ..... feels good to not have to worry about treatments and spend more time with the kids , Caya too ..... teenagers are worth it , I am finding that they are not that bad ..... my 2 girls are the best ....
DH's too ..... cannot forget about them as it get tough on them too ...... Viddie all mine wants to do its to get out fishing , he deserves it man .
Here's to all the support I am getting to all .....
Its the end of July already .... holy cow man and we are all still here . That says alot .....

sharon56

oh and for you Joni and any one else thats into the outdoors this is where I am going on holidays , not with this place but right across the lake from it . The reason I am posting it is because I am seriously thinking of going on their womans spa retreats . Check it out ....
http://www.smoothwater.com/

luckymel

Sharon, what a great place! It is definitely now on my list of MUST DO things. The woman's spa retreat sounds so great - really everything about it sounds good. Wish we could all get together there somehow....would be perfect.

Rebecca

Oh Sharon....what a wonderful place. I agree with mel...I wish we could meet there!

skyedivine

Sharon, looks great to me too. Spa retreat sounds heavenly.
I've had a nice quiet Sunday, both men out of the house so I could get things done. Went to church by myself, still getting turtle faces but I just say I'm great. Nancy you are right that we are getting strength back, I finally had energy to tackle sorting things, moving stuff around that has needed to be done for months. My left shoulder has stopped hurting, I really think it was the rads irritating the damaged nerves on that side. I may question getting that MRI Wed., I think it's probably needless.I'm sorry for those of you having to suffer marker ink all over everything. It amazes me how differently things are done in different places. Happy remaining bit of the weekend - Skye

mer1957

My hair is getting hard to gel down. It is like having a million cowlicks (sp?) but it isn't long enough to spike so I look like I just got out of bed. My virus seems to be sloooowwwly going away. I can see now that rads really wears you down the last week or so.

I can't wait to post the pics of the patio. DH put all 6 chairs together Fri and Sat and today we went plant shopping at three different nurseries. I got daylillies, hostas with purple flowers, yellow yews, blue chp bellflowers, and a purple mum. Tonight we went to church and ran into a singer that I want to get for my DS wedding. So it was a good day. Now if the Tiger would only win!

I had a lot of night sweats and sleeplessness last night and I haven't even gotten the prescription yet for Tamox. The doctor's office finally called back to figure out that they were mixing me up with someone else and that yes I did need the Tamox. I knew that! I have a little less confidence in that onc now. He gets one more chance. Before he thought I was a patient who needed more chemo after my surgery. Apparently there are two of us who are quite similar. Skye, I hope you go ahead with that MRI. I am dreading my CT scan in Sept but it is better to know. Back to work tomorrow!

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING

Hi Gals,

Thought it might to jump in here and sneak in a post...I've been trying to catch up but it's probably hopeless. It looks like everybody is either done or doing rads...and Mel you're just getting starting. We're most of us starting tamo or other antihormonals soon, and we're all having hot flashes and our hair is growing out.

Mary, I know what you mean about bad hair. My hair is now about 1 inch long (I measured it with a ruler) and it doesn't want to lie straight. Wigs and even scarves are uncomfortable, but the hair itself doesn't look very good, in fact in looks awful. In fact, I keep having to resist this urge to SHAVE IT ALL OFF ...but where would that get me?!!!!

It's uncomfortable. I'm sitting here now with a slather of kolestrol cream on my head, trying to soften up my scalp a bit. My scalp doesn't seem entirely happy about having to host a new crop of unruly hair.

Sharon...congratulations on your lovely artwork, the drawings & bags. I can see you are getting your head together, even if you can't stand up straight!!! And I love your retreat. Just took a quick glance. I wonder if it's something I can afford.

I've been doing a lot of sewing. Just made a pretty little bed jacket for puppy and a very lacy victorian style nightgown..will post some pix when I get around to it.

Painting...I've painted a few really horrible watercolors. Yesterday I finally bit the bullet and pulled out my pochade kit, set it up in front of the beautiful lilies that just sprouted in our front garden, and started painting...in oils. The lilies were spectular, shades of pale peach, deep peach, yellow, chartruese, green, all on one blossom, and the oil paints were intoxicating...georgeous cadmium yellows and oranges, delicate greens. I enjoyed myself despite the fact that it was horribly hot and sweat was poring down my scalp.

I had gotten a little annoyed with dh earlier in the weekend because I got an impulsive idea to grab the camper and spend the night at a nearby lake, and we got the entire thing packed and ready to got, and then he announces he's not going 'cause he's too tired to set up the camper. OK fine...but why didn't you tell me before we packed!!! And before I was on the phone with someone who had to overhear the argument?!!! ARgggh..

Our arguments are rare but productive. The next day he was so penitent that he actually got out the Weed & Feed that has been sitting in the garage since June 7 and put in in the spreader and walked it around the entire yard. Wow!! While I painted!!! He explained he had done the entire yard except where I was standing, and made quite a point of this, repeating himself. (I refused to move, egads, I was painting my first masterpiece in over a year! Would you put weeds before art!!!)

The painting wasn't exactly a masterpiece, but it was a start and I had some great ideas about starting it over and changing my approach. Tomorrow. Well later that evening I went out to sketch the lilies on a new canvas and OMG what had happened??!! They were all shriveled and brown and smelly....!!! Gone were those beautiful peach and yellow tones, everything was ugly! He had sprayed them with deer repellent!!!

Do you know how awful deer repellent is? Anybody?...it is a mixture of blood and urine and smells like death & sex. So much for the redo!!! But I luv oil paints and I have decided never to go back to watercolor.

We are heading into a real intense heat wave this week. I am not looking forward to it. Sleeping has been difficult as our bedroom is on the second floor, and A/C just doesn't seem to work well up here. We might want to pull a mattress down to the basement or first floor before the week is over.

The chillow pillows help a lot...but I've been so stressed lately with family issues and friends who are sick...I am back to not sleeping...I think I'm going to start taking Ativans again.

This is turning out to be a book...!!