Starting Chemo May 2008

ellenoire

ok, so we are all done chemo.. rads... and post chemo scares right?

Oh hell, I know/ you know  I'll be here for all y'all even if we have to do this shite forever... but man.... I think we all need one fecking day or two when we 'ain't worryin' about ourselves, each other and our family members!!!!! 

 I is tirrrrred today....

 Rock.... luve you and your unknown belly mass. 

 Jacks? you getting some rest?

Cris? smear those burns baby! 

Tomorrow- while my kid is home on a "proffesional bullshit" day ( even though he has been home sick a lot this week) and I run the store and I deal with my mortgage crap, and I am all over town to east jesus and back  I have my next MUGA scan to find out for sure if my heart is crap from the herceptin or not since the drop in function from last months test. 

 I am child free for most of the weekend tho...he is at boy scout camp. So I will work super late tomorrow night, and all day Sat.... 

 Later ladies... the laundry beckons.

xoN

drcrisc

Rock - Yeeeeeeesssss!!!!!  So glad it's nuthin', kissy-face!!!

Now, per Noelle, I must shmear...

There's not much else to report today, which is very nice.

KristyAnn

Yeah for ROCK!

TGIF for all of us!

Kristy

Gracie713

Oh Rock, I am so glad that you got good news! 

Have slept most of the last 2 days-makes it easier to get through the side effects.  Keep telling myself that this is the last time I have to feel this way.  I have 5 fingernails that may decide to leave me.  I am learning to type without those fingers-the nails really hurt!

No Neulasta shot this time around, since my counts have been good with the Taxotere.  Kinda scary-so I am being very cautious for the next week or so.  Don't want to get sick right before Christmas.  Good side--no Neulasta pain--just the usual bone pain from the Tax......pain pills help. 

Goal for today---finish Christmas cards so can get them in the mail tomorrow.  I'm just about done!

Happy Friday!

ewesterman

I am just catching up here after many, many days of not checking in. WOW. If only I had read backwards instead of forward, I would have known that Rock's fucking adventure in the hospital ends well but what a hassle and scare and bummer.

Gracie, no chemo AND no neulasta...that is wonderful. You will NOT get sick before Christmas. You will feel better each day. You'll see. Noelle, happy belated birthday or as my dh would say, happy birthmonth. Kristy, Adrienne, Otter, et al....I actually love my foob. I think, though, it might be different for those who had rads at the beginning and I DO get it that it makes some uncomfortable but it really is fine to feel either way. I, too, think about recon. Kristy, my Adam who is 12 in January also nursed on my then-perky not missing and now not so perky breasts. Rock, I am so relieved for you and I hope you don't see the inside of another clinic or hospital for a very, very, very, very long time. And I hope no one sees the inside of you for a long time if they are part of a medical team. Cris, yahoo.

As for December being our month, what a great idea. Noelle, loved those positions. I am worried about RanD and miss Karin as well. Perhaps they will return when they get a chance? I know, for me, I only get on but once in a while now because work got so busy and everything else is taking over. Still...I love checking in and I really love seeing you on Facebook. Happy weekend to all. Jen, you can sleep through herceptin? Very impressive. Love your new photo. 

Sable

I think they knock me out during herceptin on purpose. LOL

Next week.... sheesh..... monday morning... 1st checkup with doc.. then mammo cause I am having odd pains on the other side occasionally. tuesday son out of school early. wednesday echocardio to check for heart function (I get winded coming up stairs... I think I am just out of shape, doc wants to make sure) thursday my son has 2 doc appts for his ears... I think friday is open... so far. AND I have a job that needs to get done right now and my computer is crapping out on me at work. I've had a day :OP

drcrisc

Going to a Christmas party tonight with friends from work and no kids!!  It's the first time dh and I have been "out" by ourselves since our anniversary in August.  Wow.  I can't believe how long that's been.  I also got to take him to a doctor's appointment this morning for a colonoscopy.  Don't worry, it came out alright in the end!  (Potty humor - I couldn't resist!)

I'm actually excited to get dressed up a bit...now if I could just find a bra that doesn't hurt the rads side and doesn't aggravate my pulled muscle, I'd be really good.

Back at you with a TGIF, Kristy!

KristyAnn

My Christmas cards are going out! I got them all done today and rushed to the post office but it closes at 4- why do they do that? Anyway, I am mailing them from Tyler tomorrow and the main post office- it has a self service postage machine thing that is pretty fun to use! I hope it can handle out of the US mailings!

I am so excited- I actually have some Christmas shopping done too!

I am putting together a finals survival package for college girl and roommate (my third daughter) tomorrow and will get that mailed to them this weekend! Then it is just a couple of weeks until she comes home for the holidays! We are cutting down a tree tomorrow- Larry wanted a fake one and Joe (youngest child) that a fake tree would "ruin his Christmas" so here we go to the tree farm again!

Have a great weekend!

Kristy

otter

Hi, everybody!  I'm just posting to bump our thread back to the first page again.

otter 

Sable

ow..... just finished up all my cmas cards and they are ready to go!!!!!!!!!! whew finally! I think this year is the most I have ever sent. One more thing down on the list to be done.

Hope everyone had a great day!

Karin, Randie..... we miss you!!

Gracie713

I guess that the "best" was saved for last--NOT!  Seems like this last treatment has really kicked my butt--been up since 5 am with diarrhea--have not had any bowel problems during the entire chemo.  Have taken Immodium and it has slowed down considerably. 

Christmas cards are ready to go.  Will put in the mail tomorrow.  Now, I have to think about getting some shopping done, but right now, I'm staying at home, close to the bathroom. 

PET/CT scan tomorrow, labs on Tues.  Hopefully will get appt set up with rads onc and with surgeon to have port removed. 

Missing Karin & Randie too.  Sending good vibes that all is well!

HAPPY SUNDAY LADIES!

Jeano77

Rock - Awesome news and what a huge relief!  What a great idea to celebrate our wonderfulness for a month!  Nice proclamation Kristy!

Jackie - Congrats on the last chemo!  Sorry to hear that the last one is giving a bit of trouble.  Remember that you are headed for better days, each day gaining a little more strength  . . . . no more chemo!!!  Loved the pole dance photo! 

Cris - Congrats on the last rads tx.  I followed Kristy's advice and continued to lather the lotion on for two solid weeks. 

Noelle - hoping you had a fantastic b-day!!

Adrienne - I had the reconstruction surgery (at the time of the mast) and have been questioning my decision along the way.  I will have to have the good side "adjusted" to match the mast side.  No breastfeeding, just years of gravity.  It just seems as though our decisions are never easy.

I missed all of you.  The past week was work (web monitoring there) followed by an evening activity, come home and go to bed.  I think of you all daily and miss you when I am limited with log in time.

MsD - COW

Jean

rock

CT scan was fine. Onco called Friday morning to say I need to have a colonoscopy. I do not have time for a colonoscopy. I am really not in the mood.

Last night, my stomach made it clear (pain) that there is something not right (though maybe it is just still annoyed at me for having the CT scan?). And there is the matter of the 20 lb weight loss (over 6 months; 10 lbs in last month) which I didn't really think much about before.

Jackie, I'm feeling for you, sister. Stay hydrated.  And resssssst.

kissy-kissy to all of you, from a cranky rock.

sueper13

Rock,

Colonoscopy.  Don't envy you. Sorry, but you really KNOW you have to get it taken care of, right? Hoping and praying with you it is NOTHING or just your belly being as cranky as you are due to chemo or no sugar or who knows what.

Love you.

COLONOSCOPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

Sue

MsKarin

Can't believe I finally got a chance to stop by and say hi. I have been busy, busy, busy. Not like chemo days when I had all the time in the world to get on the computer. So much is going on but no time to explain now. But I must share how I got the courage to go wigless at school.

We have a second grader in our school that has some form of lice that you can't get rid of. She's had it for at least 2 years that I know of. Don't know all the details but that her parents shaved her head bald to help control them. For a month or so she always wore a hat. Last Monday December 1^st, she came bearing her 1/8 of an inch head of hair. She was very subconscious of it and when walking in the hall would pull her shirt over her head to hide it. Her teacher made her pull her shirt down and you could see the embarrassment she felt as she walked by my class. I pulled her to the side and took my wig off to show her my hair. I told her I wouldn't wear my wig anymore and that we would get through this together. Fridays we always have a morning meeting in the gym with the whole school present. I invited her to sit with me if she wanted and we could show the whole school our new fashion trend in hair together. She chose to sit with me and the whole time I don't think she once thought of her hair.

I just had to share that with you. I had set Dec 1^st as my goal to go topless but didn't have the courage that morning. It took a second grader to give me the courage.

Sable

colonoscopy.... man that's a pain in the ass..... (har har pun instended)

Ok... next fall..... everyone is invited to my house for a chocolate covered cherry party. I have recipe and I am ready and willing! I love holiday baking... and sadly so does my thighs.

Got all my cmas shopping done today! YAY! and I even splurged on a few extras for hubby. It feels good to be all done ahhhhhhh. Now to send out my cards tomorrow. wooohooo!

warm fuzzies to each of you!

Sable

Oh Karin, that story is the best! I bet she nevers forgets that either. I'm glad to see you are doing ok. We missed you!!!

MsKarin

Jen - I missed all of you too. You have all been on my mind, just never found the time to check in. Has anyone heard from RanD? 

Speaking of colonoscopy, Rock you are not alone. I will have mine before the month is out. Otter glad yours is over and everything turned out fine. I saw my Onco on the 2^nd. He reminded me to get one done. At the end of the month Hubby's insurance changes and we will have a $1,500 deductible plus have to pay 20%. I need to have mine before the end of the month so that I pay nothing but Dr's. $15.00 co-pay. I have my consult on the 17^th; receptionist said colonoscopy would be scheduled for the following week.

Edited to say what a great Christmas present to myself, LOL

MsKarin

Forget to mention I didn't stop by during Thanksgiving but you ALL were in my prayer of things I was thankful for. You don't know how much you ALL mean to me. Thank you.

rock

Karin, I am so very very happy to see you posting again.  Your story . . .You are one kind person, you know? And, although it sounds sick, I am happy for your company in the colonoscopy "adventure."

Jen: I just feel a need to go like this:  )  

otter

rock, having already gone through what you and Karin are about to experience, I'm once again waiting on the other side of the river for you two to swim across.

What's the itinerary?

otter 

KristyAnn

My colonoscopy is scheduled for Tuesday December 16 - I just hope they put me to sleep so i can get a good nap during that thing.

Kristy

otter

Aw, Kristy too!

I had a really, really good nap during mine.  I fell asleep immediately when they started dripping the Versed/Demerol "twilight anesthetic."  Some twilight--I was out completely.

I woke up a millisecond later in the pre/post-op recovery cubicle where my dh had been waiting for me.  I can't remember anything (which is good).

otter 

ellenoire

Karin, you are awwwwwesome!!!

I did my heart test on Friday, should get results on Tuesday. Kristy, I get my mammo and next herceptin( assuming I am allowed, based on MUGA results) on the 16th... 

Lots of you seem to be getting colonoscopy's... why are your docs asking to get them? Just curious... don't wanna join that club unless I need to but... 

 I is dog. ass. tired. 

I can't believe youze guys have your Xmas cards done.. I so suck. Oh well... lots of people have lots of pretty smelling crap with pretty bows on it from my store to prove my exhaustion is worth it all. 

Night everyone! 

 xoN

familyroks

I wrote a big long message and poof....not writin it again :P

drcrisc

Karin - That is the BEST story.  And glad to see you around again!

Jean - I have a half dozen tiny tubes of Aquaphor and plan to use them all!  Although I will be glad when my bras do not feel like Vaseline.  Yuck.  I'm buying new ones when this is all done.

Noelle - Okay, even if I had put my name (which is why I didn't) on the Christmas card list, I still would not have them done.  I'm not sure anyone is getting Christmas cards this year...maybe New Year's cards...There was a time when I did cards and a letter - ha!

Wow, since when did December become colonoscopy month?  When I had one 3 years ago, it was in December and dh had one last Friday.  That's something I'd rather not repeat unless it's mandatory.  I am almost done shopping for the girls, now I have to shop for everyone else!

LorenaB

Hello May ladies, is it ok if I pop in to say HI?  The March and April chemo threads are very sporadic these days - how wonderful that all of you have stayed so close and connected.

Karin, I just read your post about what motivated you to take the wig off.  That little girl is lucky to have you! My son is in 2nd grade and went through the head lice thing a couple of months ago -- fortunately we got rid of them, but not before they decided to take up residence in my 2 inches of hair. Yuck.  Talk about bad timing -- why couldn't he have gotten lice when I was bald, I wouldn't have had to worry about it then. ;-)

Rock, I just read the last two pages and I'm glad that your scare was just a scare and that everything is fine. BTW I had a colonoscopy last year and it was not fun, of course, but not that horrible either. Just about anything is easier to deal with than chemo IMO.

Noelle, I was just on the Hair Hair Hair thread posting about my super-curly regrowth, and I thought about you and your store/products. Any advice for the transition from fuzzy tight curls (think Afro) to long curly locks (still only a dream for me...)?

KristyAnn, I just wanted to let you know that I had a reduction on the "good" side at the same time as my mast -- not sure if that's similar to a lift, but I have not lost any sensation at all.  It feels normal, just smaller and perkier. )

Even though I was never really a part of this group, I did a lot of lurking while I was finishing up tx -- and I am so happy to see most of you on the "other side." Big HUGS to you all!

Lauren

familyroks

OK...I lied

Noelle, you freaking rock.  You really do.  Many many good vibes being sent your way on the MUGA results.

Karin, you are my hero.  I love that story and I'm sure that precious baby LOVED you.  You are amazing.

What IS up with the colonoscopies?  My doctor didn't order one.  Now I'm going to worry.  Not that I want to join the party but (not butt ...hahaha)...what is the deal?  Rock...I hope really really hope, they figure out the stomach woes and that its something so minor Tums is the answer.  Or something similar. 

Jen - well I'm just not talking to you girl.  Done shopping, baking up a storm.  pffft  Whatev!

kerry_lamb

Rock, I just had a little cry AGAIN. Don't you be worrying us with that kind of thing EVER, EVER AGAIN!! And what have I told you about using unauthorised photos of me from my rugby-scrum days????!!!!   (In case you are wondering, girls, that is MY dog.ass.tired.ass on the far left. The move is mostly finished..we are at that point where the old house is empty apart from the miscellaneous CRAP that no-one will own up to..and the place is filthy. My goodness..who WERE the skanks who lived there???? The D.A.T. tiredness has assumed a whole new meaning over the last 4 days. Thank goodness for utterly reliable (and strong) help and for careful Removal Men. And NOT for crazy stepsons who have not lifted a finger. BUT the grumpy 15yo is so overjoyed to be living here that he has transformed himself overnight. They are now 615 steps from their school. Life is s-w-e-e-e-t. Femara is absolute shite. By 5pm I can hardly trust my feet to walk, the pain is so bad. WTF. I am going to fiddle with the tablet timing to see if that helps, but a gal like me cannot, simply CANNOT go through THIS year and STILL have health issues as bad as this. Noelle, your pre-Christmas feet must feel like this without femara..so, pet, I will stop whingeing and send you some lamby-love. Actually, lambylove to ALL my best girls from me in my nice (slightly disorderly) house. And I got a new ironing-board cover.

kerry_lamb

Go on..I know ya'll are envious of the new cover