Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

viddie

Tina,

I am going for 2 1/2 weeks. We are returning on the 28th. I googled tea tree oil and lavender and estrogen. OY!! Even NIH agrees that they mimic estrogen. There are tons of articles in major newspapers that reported that study. When the NIH gets involved and supports that theory, that means something. Thanks a million. I do not want to take any chances- I will stop using it. Once again, what would I do without all of you. Your combined care, support, love, and knowledge is overwhelming.

I will miss all of you.

Love,

Viddie

Caya

Yes Tina thanks for that info about Tea Tree oil/products and estrogen.  Who Knew? Cross that off the list...

TPPJ

Isn't it interesting that the lavendar/tea tree oil thing isn't more widely publicized?

While I'm on my information dispensing kick, you have all heard not to drink grapefruit juice as it interacts negatively with meds, right?  There is something up with pomegranate juice too, but I can't remember what...

99% done with peeling Jaclyn's wallpaper down.  Hallelujah!  Did I mention yesterday that I sold her bedroom set in 3 hours on Craig's List?  I was thrilled.  A couple came and moved the whole thing out in fifteen minutes and paid me $150.  I decided that unless something is in A-1, top condition, I am not paying to ship it to the next location.  I have a brand new guest bedroom set that Jaclyn can use.  She was kind of growing out of the white one anyway...youth sized drawers.

Totally bitter cold here today.  Sunny, though, which makes ALL the difference.  Finally heading out to Carraba's tonight for our celebration.

Robbin65

Thanks for all your advice my sistas!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh how I wish there was just a natural herb or tea that could block our estrogen.  Wouldn't that be nice.

Anyway, were snowed in, but this week is like spring fever and the snow is melting drop by drop taking forever.

I WANNA' GO CAMPING....

Where has MzSissy been.  I miss her....

I'm on my way to my bible study.  You all have an awesome rest of the weekend.

TPPJ,  I LOVE CRAIGSLIST!

RobbinJaye

Amera

Wowwie, you guys have been busy. Just spent the better part of an hour reading the posts since Thurs. I just got back from a visit with my parents in Maine. I left the kids with dh and had a nice visit all by myself. My dad feels some better but looks dreadful. His appetite has come back but he's very thin. It's hard to see him like this. No word on a prognosis. I am hesitant to ask. I just wanted to enjoy the weekend without thinking too much about it.

Anyhow, I wish I could respond to all the posts but I cannot keep them straight and am afraid to leave anyone out. Chemo brain hits at the most inopportune times. I am finding I still have a hard time finding words or remembering names. I really have a hard time keeping track of more than a few things at once.

I am thinking of you all. I told my parents over and over what a wonderful group this is and how much easier this whole process was not having to go through it alone. I realize I keep saying that but it's so true.

I need to put the kids to bed. Hugs to everyone.

Amera

luckymel

Amera, I've been wondering about your dad. It is so important to visit - your presence is the best medicine, and I'm sure it meant the world to him. Glad you were able to take the time to go visit your parents, and I hope he gets better. It's not your chemo brain - there are just a lot of us, and we talk a lot, and we all have stuff going on...I've overwhelmed if I don't read for half a day, even.

Tina, thanks for the info on the lavendar/tea tree oil stuff. I had no idea.

I had an amazing day today. Larry went to ride bikes with some friends of ours, but since I am under orders not to repetitively bend my knee, that was out, so I had a day to myself. I slept in, then talked two hours with a friend that I haven't talked to for a long time, and we chatted for two hours. After that, I took Harrison for a short walk, and then another friend, with whom I have been out of touch for ten years (!) called me, and we talked for almost 3 hours. During all this time, I managed to cook for the week. And tomorrow morning, my cleaning lady is coming - lucky me!

Joni, Skye, hope you guys are doing ok. I'll be thinking about you on Tuesday, Skye, and on Thursday, Joni. It's time foar some action, for both of you.

Viddie, bon voyage - hope you have a wonderful, relaxing 2 1/2 weeks. Please check in if you can. It's not the same around here without you.

dkmaustx

I didn't know that Tea Tree oil products interfered with meds, either. When I was on Hormone Replacement, I remember a warning about Grapefruit reducing it's effectiveness, but I didn't realize it was bad for the hormone blocking stuff, too.

Viddie, I hope you enjoy your trip. I'm leaving on Tuesday for 2½ weeks in California. We'll be sight seeing in San Francisco and Monterey as well as visiting my Parents in Santa Barbara County and my Brother in SLO County. Towards the end of the trip we'll take a hop over to Sacramento to visit my nephew, his wife, and baby girl. The baby just turned one last week, and we've only seen her in pictures, so far.

I probably won't get much of a chance to check in, but I'll try if I can. Good luck with your tests and whatever. Stay safe and warm while I'm away.

TPPJ

Debbie, sounds like a fantastic trip.  Enjoy!  I lovvvvve California.  So pretty!

7 degrees here this am.  They called a two hour delay for schools due to cold.  They call off for fog around here.  It's very strange.  I'm not moving too fast this am anyway...didn't sleep that well..had funky dreams, felt like I was running around all night.  In one, I was working at Kohls (hello?  I've never worked there and I rarely shop there) and they told me to put away the clothes in the fitting room and I was baffled...could not figure out what went where.  I woke up exhausted.  LOL!

Rebecca

strange dreams must have been in the air last night...I had odd ones as well!  We are in the process of changing Frances's gym (her current gym has had a huge turnover of coaching staff, and the new coaches are nasty and unsupportive).  So I dreamed that I was sneaking into her old gym to clean out her locker, and had to dodge the owner and her husband who kept on trying to talk to me....not about us leaving, but about nonsense...which fits because they are TOTALLY clueless.  In fact (in real life) Frances has not been to practice in a week and we have not even gotten so much as a phone call to see if she is ok....she has been going there for 5 years and has won them MANY medals.  sheesh.

Anonymous

Rebecca - you rock!!! Thank you so much!!!!

(You guys will figure out what I'm referring to soon if you haven't already)

Amera

So cool Rebecca. Thanks !!!!!

XXOO Amera

mer1957

Yes I third the thank you Rebecca, this is a wonderful group.

Tomorrow I go to my asthma dr (GP - haven't seen her since the diagnosis) and I am going to mention my hip.  I think I have bursitis (could it be from exercising so much?)  Anyway I am trying to put out of my mind the dark thoughts and fears.  Hopefully she will put my mind at rest.  Icing it seems to help but boy it is so cold here I don't need ice in my pants! 

Back to cleaning the house.  Thoughts and prayers with all of you.

luckymel

Rebecca, you absolutely DO rock!!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  You made me cry (happy tears, of course).  You made my day.   What a privilege it is to be part of this group.  

TPPJ

OK....sleep poorly one night and like a rock the next.  Explains me being brighteyed and bushytailed at 4 am.  Dilemma now is should I take an ativan and get back to sleep for another two hours or risk feeling beat by noon because I got up too early?  Hmmmm...

The other beautiful part of this board:  we can talk 24/7, whenever it's convenient.  I love it.

Rebecca, I am apalled at Frances's coaches!  That is terrible.  I hate to say this, but when I was her age and skating the coaches would damn well know when I wasn't there because they'd be missing their coaching check.  It's all about the green, baby.  And not in the earthy crunchy way.

Yes, big TY to Rebecca.  I say a kickline is in order!

Mary, sorry your hips bugging you.  You have a good handle on your fears, it sounds.  Let's remember, it is COLD, DAMP and gross this time of year....the perfect recipe for joint aches.

We got about 2" of snow overnight.  Enough to call off school here.  Anyway, the kids around here are funny: they wear their pj's backwards, put two ice cubes in the toilet and a spoon under their pillow, which is supposed to ensure them a snow day off school.  Never heard of this system prior to Ohio.  Anyone else?  The ice cubes in the toilet cracked me up.

Supposedly going to get another 5-8" of snow over the course of the day which is making me think they'll close down my cardio rehab.    I hope not.  I like the break out of here.  I'm used to driving in a little snow so that doesn't bother me.  It's a little worse here because their plowing is terrible compared to Boston.  In Boston they get it up off the ground almost as soon as it hits...and they get waaaaaaay more.  Personally, I think they only have x amount budgeted for snow removal around here so they only want to make one pass through.  Well, thank God it's not cleaning day.  Nothings worse than messing w/Mary coming.  Mel, are you in a state of euphoria after Rosa this week?

Rebecca

Tina, my kids do the backwards PJs, but I never heard of those other charms….I will have to be sure to hide your post from my kids or I will be finding silverware in their beds and ice in the toilet! We still have not had any snow to speak of here…it snowed over the weekend, and we got a dusting but it was gone by the end of the day.  The kids promptly ran outside and made snow angels, though, although I think they did it just so that they could come in and demand hot chocolate.

The gymnastics thing that has been going on here for the last few days has been very all consuming for me, and quite distressing.  As you guys have probably realized, gymnastics is a big part of ALL of our lives simply because of the time investment and sacrifice required for Frances to be able to do it.  Yesterday I went to our old gym during what I knew was an “off” time and cleaned out Frances’s locker which did not have much inside other than her grips, a pair of shorts and several gross, sweaty mismatched socks.  As I predicted, nobody noticed me, or cared…and I even spoke to the receptionist who was very blasé and did not ask where we have been.  Last night I took Frances and Ana to a NEW gym to be evaluated.  This gym is very well regarded, and they churn out some awesome gymnasts.  The coach that evaluated my girls was ALL OVER them…she said that Frances would be perfect for their team and was very impressed with her strength, skill level and personality (believe it or not, gymnastics is as much about personality as anything else…the kids have to be able to take corrections and act on them immediately).  She was shocked by my little Ana…because she is also very strong and flexible, and she also easily takes correction and is highly motivated besides but yet her skills are underdeveloped NOT because of a lack of ability but because her coaches were not working on certain skills with her.  To this point, Ana has been languishing in a pre-team group despite me begging to place her on the team and give her more practice hours (not because I am pushy, mind you….this is what ANA wants!).  This gym wants to place her immediately on the level 4 team with the idea that she will rapidly catch up on the skills she has missed.  We were all thrilled with the outcome.  The downside to this place is that it is in the middle of nowhere, which is a problem for me since I usually wait around locally (with Owen) during practice.  If there is nowhere to go and nothing to do this is a serious problem for me.  The other issue is that Frances’s closest friend who is also leaving our old gym this week was rejected from this new gym.  We are going to try another gym later this week,  along with this girl, and hopefully we will settle this before the weekend. 

Mary I hope your hip feels better…I agree icing in the cold does not sound appetizing to me either.

Debbie and Viddie hope you guys are having a good trip.

Glad that your knee is starting to mend Mel…keep on taking it easy.

Skye where are you?!?!  Today is the big day…do NOT leave that place without talking to the radiologist…see if you can get at least some preliminary answers.  Crossing my fingers and all my toes for you.

Joni I hope you are feeling well…

Hugs to everyone else…and a big “you are soooooooooo welcome” to you all.  It was my pleasure and brought me more joy that you know to put those little packages into the mail.  I have been smiling for a week holding back my little secret from you guys….good thing you can not see me when I talk to you because I am a terrible liar.  Love you all!

meliaanne

Rebecca, you really do rock!  I got such joy out of visualizing all of us, all over the country and Canada, opening our packages. And Tina, you make me laugh ... a kickline!  Great mental photo.

All is well in Southern Cal. Winding down at work from the Valentine's nuttiness, warm and sunny outside. We have an  appt with the radiologist on Friday and hopefully Steve will decide then which course of action to take. I think he has decided on surgery, but he needs to gather all the info first. There is such a different feel to this than when I was diagnosed. I had the mastectomy three weeks after they found the lump. There is no such rush with prostate cancer. It's useless to look back, and I don't really think I made any bad decisions, but I do wish I had known more at the time. My only minor regret is that no one suggested a bilateral, and knowing myself, I doubt I will schedule another mastectomy unless I have to. There are many days when I wish they were both off. Oh well, no point in even thinking about it. But with prostate cancer, they don't want the patient to have surgery until six wks post biopsy, so it gives us time to absorb everything and think it through. Very different feel.

Rebecca, the gym issue sounds frustrating. I well remember waiting with a child or two while someone had a lesson or practice .... it is nice to have a park or cafe or something close by. I am glad your girls have options though. And I think you said Owen is interested as well?  Seems like an excellent sport to me.

Skye, keep us posted. Joni and Jan, how are you feeling?

Stay well all.

Melia

skyedivine

Hi Ladies,

Rebecca, you really know how to "sock" it to us in a most wonderful way! ! Thank you, what a lift when I needed it most. How do you ever find time, with all the gymnastics running and your teaching and everything else? The old hippie in me will always love tie-dye in any form.



Viddie, I had just bought myself a big bottle of tea-tree shampoo. Rats! Guess I will give it to DH, as I'd be afraid of 27-year old DS growing the man-boobs.



Everyone else, thank so much for your heartfelt expressions of support. I got so teary-eyed reading them I couldn't even reply. I was verklempt! What would I do without you all?



Today I did indeed get the PET scan although I had to ask DH to drive me there with 4-wheel drive since it is snowing again. Injection took two sticks, first guy was inept. This was in a portable PET scan office that pulls up in a semi-trailer. It took less time than I thought, and they burned a CD for me to take home before I left. Another goes to my doc. So of course first thing I did was put it in my laptop and view. It's interesting, I found a comparable scan online so I knew the heart and bladder would both show up. The good news is there is absolutely nothing that lit up in the spine or any other bones I could see. The bad news is there is definitely something in my right kidney, about an inch in size I would estimate, in what I think is the cortex. No mistaking it. The left one looks fine. I read that early kidney tumors cause no symptoms. Yikes! I couldn't see a radiologist while I was there, and I thought that the tech guy had a funny look on his face when he handed me the disk. So I am calling the office to see what they have to say about it. No way am I waiting til Thursday.



So who knows, maybe I'll be having kidney surgery soon! But I'm not getting upset til I know for sure.



The dumbest thing is, I was using the PET image of my body to critique my figure just as much as look at the organs. :-) Woman, thy name IS vanity. - snow blessings to all -- skye

skyedivine

PS I have other, better news..DS got a job as a school photographer! He is already working! Woohoo!

meliaanne

Um Skye, you know we all love you, and we all think you are brilliant. But Sweetie, please don't jump to conclusions about the kidney. It may well be nothing significant, it may be a stone, it may be  .... I dunno what it is. And neither, our dear Skye, do you. So please do bug your dr and insist on an answer, but do NOT self diagnose.  You are going to be fine.

And great news about your son!!!!

Keep us posted.

skyedivine

Melia, LOL, you are very right about self-diagnosing. I did call the office and they are checking it and will call back so will post that once I know any more. Thanks for the apt reminder! -Skye

Rebecca

yes Skye....and you  better stay AWAY from google!  we can not have you coming down with a bad case of google-itis. 

Lynn12

Skye, I don't ever remember seeing 'Dr.' in your salutation!!! You are a lot of wonderful things, however a Dr. is not one of them...bless your heart!  And like Rebecca says: no googling allowed! 

Congrats on your DS getting the job!

hugs,

Lynn

Caya

Skye -  I agree - it could be nothing at all - I once had a routine pelvic ultrasound, and they found a cyst on my gallbladder - no symptoms whatsoever.  Totally B9 - they measure it every couple of years to make sure it has not grown (it hasn't).

Yes we do love you and are praying for the good report.

xoxo Caya

TPPJ

Yes, they say all kinds of benign things light up in those scans.  It may look like a kidney but could be an ingrown toenail!  (Well, not that outrageous, but you get the point).  Skye, even just hearing "two sticks" made me cringe.  Only now do I realize how fabulous it is being done w/herceptin and not having to put up w/that crap anymore.  That really did suck.  I swear, we must go on autopilot to get through it.

I know what you mean, Melia, about PC having a different feel to it.  There doesn't seem to be the sense of urgency.  You don't seem to see guys panic either, the way women do when they hear BC.

Rebecca, I stopped Jaclyn's sessions at the local gym because at her age group, it really was play time.  They didn't learn anything of value.  She did enjoy it and I do need to get her back involved in something besides Girl Scouts.  She is doing spring soccer and she was pretty good at that.  I'll be on my own for both of their soccer shuffling as Paul will be gone by March 1.

Skye, congrats to the DS on the school photog. job.  That will probably be a lot of laughs.

Snow day here today.  I did get back to sleep on my own, thankfully.  I had cardio rehab and was so glad to be able to leave for the 2 hours and not supervise the circus.  DH was on edge when I got home.  Welcome to my world.

I'm beginning to try to clean up my master bedroom closet.  A big chore and not fun.  Need to neaten it up for going on the market.  Got a quote from a painter today and he was outrageous.  My usual guy is MIA.  I've got a wallpaper guy coming tomorrow to take paper off the guest room walls.  No way am I taking on that job.  I'm out of that business.

skyedivine

Yes sisters, I admit I forgot to get my physician's license somewhere on the way thru college. :-) I blame the technician for sending me home with my own CD. The nurse told me when I called that they don't get that same CD, they get the bigger more detailed shots so I am sure they can tell more. I also heard the tech calling St. Luke's to get my PET from last year sent over asap for comparisons so that should help diagnostically too.



It is almost 3:30 here and I still haven't heard back but they tend to call later in the day. I'm fine but unable to focus on anything. So I took a nap. And of coursed I already googled options for kidney tumors. Somehow I find that easier to deal with than spinal things.



Tina, I'm worn out just thinking about all you have to do. I don't know how I'd ever get this place ready if we needed to sell. Removing wallpaper is such a chore...I had papered my kitchen when we moved in here and already removed it a few years ago...just about did me in. The only room papered now is the downstairs bath but I love it (jungle with monkeys) and it wouldn't be a big deal to take down. Closets, though...oh Lordy what that would take.



Anyway, I will check back in if I hear anything. - Skye

skyedivine

Hi Ladies,

B-9! They finally did call back, and the radiologists said they saw NO abnormality in the kidney, and no evidence of metastatic disease, even in the spine! They were at a loss as to what that blotch is that shows up on my CD but maybe will figure out by Thursday. Yahoo, I'm taking it and running with it! As long as I know that 1.5 cm in my spine is b-9, I can live with it. Or maybe there is other treatment. Anyway, I feel bad having put you all through this drawn-out thing. But now I can go ahead and make plane reservations and other plans I've been putting off. I'm just so extremely grateful I can hardly stand it. And yet, I know we all still must be vigilant. It feels like such a roller coaster, I hope things are not often this way for any of us. Again I thank you all for standing by and fretting. It's been a long six weeks or so!

Love to all - Skye

Rebecca

hallelujah.

I think we will all sleep better tonight.

Hugs for you!!!! 

luckymel

I agree with Rebecca - we'll all sleep better tonight!  Am writing this through tears of relief and happiness for you, Skye.  Now you can start living again, instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop.  You didn't put us through anything - we were all on this ride with you out of love and friendship, and wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  But benign is such a beautiful word!      It won't be the last time, I know - it will happen again, to others of us, but what a gift to know we have the support of our sisters while we go through the waiting and worrying process (which will always, hopefully, lead to a verdict of "benign").  Now you just have to figure out what it is that is causing the spot, and the pain - maybe it will turn out to be something simple and ordinary, now that malignancy is out of the question.  Your oncologist always seems to look on the dark side - I guess he is used to looking at cancer, so he sees cancer.  That isn't necessarily bad, but is something to keep in mind in the future so you don't worry unnecessarily. 

Anyway, the point is, you're ok, and this has turned into a really great day. 

Caya

Skye - I am so happy for you - see B9 it is... I am thrilled for you.

And I am going to ask my brother the chiropractor what that thing pressing on your spine could be - maybe he'll have an idea.

And Rebecca - thank you so much for the lovely gift, and your eloquent letter. 

xoxo

caya

TPPJ

Skye!  FABULOUS NEWS!!!  I can only imagine how relieved you are.  And us!  Congrats!  XOXO