Illinois ladies facing bc

ritajean

Good morning everyone!  It's a dreary Friday morning in central Illinois.  I was quite interested in your flu and shingles conversation.  I guess I need to ask also.  A few years ago, I was told not to get the shingles vaccine.  I wonder if that changes as we get farther out from treatment.  I'm so glad you brought this up!

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

ritajean

Good morning everyone!  It's a dreary Friday morning in central Illinois.  I was quite interested in your flu and shingles conversation.  I guess I need to ask also.  A few years ago, I was told not to get the shingles vaccine.  I wonder if that changes as we get farther out from treatment.  I'm so glad you brought this up!

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

ritajean

Good morning everyone!  It's a dreary Friday morning in central Illinois.  I was quite interested in your flu and shingles conversation.  I guess I need to ask also.  A few years ago, I was told not to get the shingles vaccine.  I wonder if that changes as we get farther out from treatment.  I'm so glad you brought this up!

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

ritajean

Good morning everyone!  It's a dreary Friday morning in central Illinois.  I was quite interested in your flu and shingles conversation.  I guess I need to ask also.  A few years ago, I was told not to get the shingles vaccine.  I wonder if that changes as we get farther out from treatment.  I'm so glad you brought this up!

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

ritajean

I don't know what is wrong with this site today!  I posted once and it just kept reposting the same thing!  Sorry for all the deletes.............just frustrating duplicates!

lago

The site has been wonky for 2 days now. When you post give it 30 seconds then assume your post is posted. Copy it before you close the window. If it didn't post then you can just paste and try again.

dltnhm

Saw my oncologist on Wednesday.

Flu Shot:  She said it would be a good idea to get one this year since I did have chemo.

Shingles Vaccine: She said they are not routinely given to someone my age ... although there are those who do get shingles before they turn 50 or 60. It would be entirely up to me, but I am not going to get one. 

Tamoxifen prescription is waiting at Walgreens. I'm supposed to start this 2 weeks post rads. That would be next Thursday. 

I am accompanying my husband on a business trip to FL next week and returning on Saturday. I think I'll wait to start the T until that Saturday night.

Hope everyone is doing well! What a crisp cool day we are having in Gurnee!

camillegal

camillegal

hopefulhealing

camillegal I can relate to the rooster! Had to have the skin graft for the areola debrided on one side.  So now healing secondarily will take a month or more and pushes back the next fat injection and tatoos.  So will be over 3 years in the recon process when all is said and done. So far 17 incisions related to all of it, but who is counting       But I am very grateful I did not lose all of it.  But it put me in a very dark place for awhile.  Keep getting knocked down and it is getting more challenging to get back up. But because of my hero husband and the support from some other discussion boards I do and I am grateful.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

dltnhm

hopefulhealing -

I am so sorry to hear about  your latest setback (I know that's an understatement, but can't think of an appropriate word). You have really been through it. Hope you can have a peaceful, restful weekend. Thankful for you husband :-) Mine is my hero too!

hopefulhealing

dltnhm isn't it amazing about our husbands! I told him I knew he was a good guy when I married him but I didn't know he was a hero.  I can't imagine this journey without him by my side every step of the way. I am glad you have a hero too!

mdg

camillegal - my skin grafts took a long time to heal.  Hang in there.....

joan888

HI Ladies.  Just checking in.  Sounds like so much going on.  Sorry about the setback, hopeful.  Sometimes this journey just seems to go on and on...  I am two and half years out now, and I still have to finish up my reconstruction project, but I am in no hurry to revisit it just yet.  Unfortuantely, our health insurance may be changing soon so my DH is sort of encouraging me to move ahead and take care of it sooner rather than later.  I see my PS next month so will see what he has to say. 

I had an event filled week as well.  Had my 4-month ONC follow-up which was all very good and included a flu shot.  Also had a follow-up with my spine surgeon who is very happy with my progress and ordered up more agressive PT to start strengthening my core muscles which have gone to mush.  So, on to twice weekly PT for the next 12 weeks.  That is keeping me busy.  Good thing that I like my PT.  She is actually a good friend of mine.  And I can wean off my brace.  Today was so exciting as my PT put me on the recumbent bike.... first time these legs have gone round and round in several months.  I am just feeling so much more energized now that I can start getting this body back in shape. I keep hopping on and off my recumbent at home.  My thighs are going to be aching tomorrow!

Rain, rain, rain today.  I won't complain as we need it so bad. But I hope that those of you dealing with treatments and surgeries find some sunshine in your weekend.  Have patience, it does get better.

kjiberty

Camilegal:  I love your posts and pics.  You crack me up about your experience with the flu shot.  I need to check with my MO when I see her in a few weeks about the shingles vaccine.  

I had a great time at the Heartland Spa.  Worked my tail off, but felt good about it.  Got lots of services, and feel it's just what "the doctor" ordered.  Loved it.  

hopeful:  Sorry to hear you have had a setback.  ((hugs)) 

camillegal

Hopeful u'r having so m

uch trouble I'm so sorry for u--it shouldn't have to be this awful, but I know it's no picnic--sucks--I don't know what I do on this computer--anyway I wish all of us could hae met not from this horrible disease--but it has brought me nice people-but I don't want this disease LOL

Kj--well I already forgot what I was going to say to you but whatever it was I'm sure it was nice.

Oh I had a good time with my family tonite--soup and dinner salad is all I could find that I liked. But we had some good laughs and tat's all that matters and we talked about our parents who my dad was hysterically funn, never knowing it tho so we were really laughing at him. So it was good.

camillegal

tlangston07

camille..I love your posts..thanks for making me laugh!!

Terry 

IllinoisLady

Our opportunity is always to make the choice for Joy.
To see the world with new eyes - open eyes - loving eyes.
To choose compassion and understanding -
for ourselves, our family, our friends,
our community, for the whole world.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

camillegal

Oh how nice......

camillegal

 

Adey

Another Illinois gal is going to Galena for Oktoberfest this weekend..... and apparently they have weenie dog races!  I found that hilarious.  The reason I have my little fuzz butt is I decided I wanted a pig after seeing the baby pig races at the county fair.  But, they don't stay small so I found a dog that does.  Anyhoo, have a great weekend everyone.

camillegal

camillegal

beata44

Hi everyone,

I normally don't post much, but I can't sleep.  I started chemo a week and a half ago.  It wasn't too bad, but I still get tired.  I felt a sore throat a couple of nights ago so I am trying to get rest.  And now I can't sleep because of my jackass husband.  He met old high school friends for dinner 9 hours ago.  When I texted, he's at a biker bar in the city.  He is not a biker.  Most likely, all that's left of his dinner posse are the 2 single girls who can stay out all night.  Apparantly, jackass forget his chemo filled wife and 3 young children at home.

I'm crabby.  He works 6 days a week, and now day 7 will be slept napping because "he's tired."  Ugggh.  I'm supposed to be sleeping and can't because I'm mad.  Maybe this vent will get it out of my system.  Thanks for listening, and I hope it at least gives you a laugh.

doxie

beata44- So sorry you have to deal with this now, or EVER!  I wish it would give me a laugh, but it cuts too close to the bone.  Is this new behavior because of  bc or has this been going on for years?  Counseling can help if one or both of the parties goes.  At the least do it for yourself.  

Hang in there with the chemo.  I too had TC.  It can get tough, but I'm sure you'll manage.  

Do everything you can to keep your stress level down.  Hard to do if your spouse is not on your side, but counseling can help you build stress reducing skills that will carry through the rest of your life.  You'll come out of this stronger.  My misbehaving "spouse" (I'd already left the real one behind.) was my stressful job and a DD who was acting out.  I now have a wonderful relationship with my DD and apply the stress reduction skills to my job.  Good luck.

lago

beata44 I think I just missed you last night. I too had a sleepless night (jobless stress not DH). To bad we could have been chatting. Doxie gives good advice. But if this behavior is not the norm then maybe DH just need a break. I know it was hard on my DH to see me go through this. I think the most important thing you 2 can do is talk about how both of you feel when you are not mad. Let him know how his behavior made you feel. He may not know. But at the same time listen to him. You may not know how your diagnosis is effecting him. He just may not know what to do to support you adding more stress to seeing his wife ill and working the long hours.

beata44

Lago - I think you hit it. Last time he came home at 4 am was when we were 27 and both did this. Pre-marriage, pre-kids. I think he is stressed and blowing off steam. Normally, I wouldn't care because I trust him and he doesn't ever do it. But I woke at 3 am, he wasn't home, I started to worry, couldn't fall back asleep, knew sleep was important right now, got mad, etc. He's apologetic but I figure I'll milk the guilt all day . But I know he has his own issues with my diagnosis. We just have to make it through.

IllinoisLady

Joy blooms where minds and hearts are open.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

IllinoisLady

beata....so glad you dropped in.  These gals are wonderful at hand holding and getting some light and perspective on things.  This is a difficult journey to be on....and many people ( including dh's ) and in fact very sometimes well meaning ones, tend to let us down a little or a lot.  BC almost ensures you may be up and down the emotional tone scale.  Hats off for all the sanity you present. 

Gorgeous if cool day here.  Hard to see Fall arriving but did I mention all the drought busting rain and warmth have caused some of our trees to think it is  Spring and they have re-bloomed or re-budded.  Sigh....where is normal. 

Ok...hope your Sunday is great. 

Hugs, Jackie