Starting Chemo May 2008
Comments
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OK...I was halfway intelligent enough to pull it over here
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I am grinning from ear to ear looking at these photos.
They're extraordinary. Beautiful.
Sun is coming up here in Cape Town. Sky is a beautiful pink. Thinking of you all, and smiling. Smiling my face off.
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Okay,
So I didn't even want to get on here tonight because I am still flying high from our visit today. Meeting Adrienne was like meeting a long lost sister. Sigh. I feel so full and not because of the food though that was good too. Adrienne, thanks for meeting up. You are as beautiful in person as I thought you might be. What a lovely, lovely, lovely day it was just hanging with you for lunch. And Ariane is nice. She is so lucky to have her family. You are a great mom. Now I want to meet Marissa and Connor. Someday. Meanwhile, thanks a ton for shlepping over on the ferry. Tell Ariane thanks for chaperoning us. Talk to you all soon. Gotta' go to bed. More later. Randie, keep sleeping...keep strengthening those lungs of your. Love to all of you. Indian summer? Seems like a dream. Tasmania, here we come and I don't even like eggs. BTW, I did homemade mac and cheese last night and a chocolate pie for my friend, Liza, tonight. I never make anything as my dh is an amazing cook, but all of your food chatter has gotten to me. Tomorrow, it's back to go you chicken fat go.
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First of all - wow. What awesome pictures! I love seeing the two of you and felt right there next to you.
I had my own wow moment today - right at the end of dinner the phone rings and it's...Randie!!! (Although I did have to ask her to call me back, dh was heading back to work and I had a 5 y.o. covered in play make-up and glitter - aaaaggghhh!) But we had a great conversation and it was so good to hear her voice (you sound like you look, Ran - strong). I think I've been grinning ever since we hung up.
So yesterday the gymnast daughter declared that I should start working out more and promptly devised a whole series of various push-up positions for me. If I did them all, my arms would fall off...lol...if she wasn't nine, it might not have been cute.
It's been a long yet interesting weekend that I get to cap off with an MRI in the morning. Then nothing else until April. Whew. Sending "good week" vibes out to everyone!
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Up at 5 am to have my devos, enjoy a cup of coffee, do my stretches before needing to leave at 6:30 to get to work.
Trusting each of you will have a good day and a peaceful week.
TTFN
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Good Morning Everyone!
Adriennne/Eddie--The two of you look so beautiful and your smiles are awesome! Makes me really look forward to a BIG slumber party!
Slow week here-finally. We have been doing a little spring cleaning. Stuff can really pile up in a years time. It feels good to have some energy. (Actually, I think that he is wanting to make room for a couple more aquariums!)
Everyone have a beautiful, glorious day!
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I just love how so many of us are managing to meet here and there. Eddie & Adrienne, the pics are wonderful--you do look like long-lost sisters! Even the spontaneous chats on FB have been great. I feel like I'm not keeping up my half of the conversation sometimes. Are y'all usually multi-tasking during a FB chat? Also, I don't know the etiquette concerning "hanging up" after a chat. Maybe there isn't any etiquette--maybe I should stop worrying about making someone feel bad if they start up a chat session and awhile later I have to go fix supper or help my dh with something. (?)
Gracie, I found some pics of a football game where UK was playing some team wearing orange-and-blue (and it wasn't Florida). I haven't been to a college football game since the fall of 2006. My dh wants to buy season tickets this year, but they're so darn expensive... Do you ever go to 'cats games, or do you just cheer really loudly?
Cristine, my dh is trying to accomplish the same thing as your daughter (i.e., get me to exercise more). Only, be careful about the push-ups--sometimes too much weight and force on your at-risk arm can trigger LE. I've been living dangerously lately--we've been cutting down small trees and hauling off the limbs and brush. So far, no LE swelling...
I am feeling a bit discouraged today. No, make that very discouraged. I've gained another 2 pounds (despite the lumberjack work), so I'm back to my worst-ever, all-time-high weight and even my comfy jeans are uncomfortable. My PCP tweaked my Synthroid dose last November because my TSH was on the low side and too much Synthroid can cause bone loss. The lower thyroxine dose could be too low, and that might be the reason why I've been gaining weight and feeling cold all the time. Now I need him to recheck my TSH to see if I should go back to the higher dose... <sigh>
On Wednesday, I have a series of appts. at the Osteoporosis Clinic at my cancer center. They're going to take a look at my DEXA results from last summer (= early osteopenia) and come up with a recommendation about this calcium balance thing. The good news is, I get a free lunch out of the deal. (Oh, JOY! See the previous paragraph.) The bad news is, they're probably going to want to do a bunch of tests to see if I'm still hypercalciuric ( = p**ing out too much calcium). Oh, more joy! At least it's not a MUGA or an MRI or a PET/CT, though, right?
Am I the only person who has a new reference point for "awful", since undergoing chemo? I'm finding that nearly everything happening to me gets compared to chemo; and chemo always wins, on the "awfulness" scale. Yet, we all got through chemo, and it wasn't as bad (mostly) as I feared it would be.
I am one year out from that limbo I was in last March while waiting for my Oncotype results. All healed up from surgery, but not knowing what was going to happen next. My "chemoversary" is actually in April, not May; but I'm sure glad I got adopted by this family of sisters.
Hugs...
otter
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Hey everyone....hugs to Christine for the MRI....you all know how I hate the needle part of all of this!!! Probably why I jumped at an oral chemo!
Whew, loved the pics of E & A...somehow I wish we could all meet, I think people would thnk that we all belong to some weird hair cult. Looks like most of us have even the same hair color! Guess we are all sisters.....
Thanks for the chat Christine, it was fun and my kids were rolling their eyes when they found out how many of you I plan on calling.....plus, I have penny talk which means its only 2 cents to call Kerry..........and a penny for canada..coolness, eh? I would call rock if she had a number.....hint hint hint
Otter, as far as fb chats...stop worrying and just tell me its dinner time and bu-bye...no worries!
As far as exercise, I was all happy that I walked out to the chicken coop and back and although I was winded,I was moving! Then went grocery shopping with dh and dd, actually I sat in the car and read while they shopped. He still hasn't quite figured out how to shop efficiently so it takes him a lot of time to just get a few things...lol..but hey, he's trying!
Just downed my morning eissac tea...now have to wait awhioe before I can eat...why am I always hungrier when I can't eat????????
later, ran
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Was going to call Kerry...but then I found out its only 3:30 am...lol...maybe she needs a wake-up call.
If anyone else wants to knwo what time it is there:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=396
and for rock:
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Otter,
tried to connect on fb and it told me that it wouldn;t go thru...then 30 minutes later, I see your comments...sorry....I hate fb sometimes!
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Goodness Otter, I sure hope there isn't some etiquette on FB regarding chat! I definitely multi-task and often walk away to do one thing or another.
I wonder if the weight gain is related to Arimidex? I've gained weight since I finished chemo...about 13 lbs!! I seem to get more of the munchies now than I ever did and wondered if it had anything to do with the Arimidex. I'm getting back on track today. I lost alot of weight on Weight Watchers and I WILL NOT gain it back.
YAY!! to Randie and Cristine getting to chat! I love it.
Hugs to everyone!!
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Adrienne, I haven't heard about any hanging-up etiquette, but I'm so clueless about FB... I have the same trouble politely exiting a phone or in-person conversation. BTW, ranD and I chatted on FB for quite awhile this morning, once we figured out that we were both on-line after all. Then I had to hang up to eat some lunch.
Yeah, I'm thinking Arimidex (or lack of estrogen) might have something to do with this most recent weight gain. I couldn't believe the change that occurred when I started menopause. It was like someone flipped a switch and suddenly my body developed this ability to gain weight on nothing but dry toast and well water. I swear, my exercise habits and eating habits had not changed a bit in 20+ years; but I reached menopause and suddenly my weight zoomed up. First it was +5 pounds (where did THAT come from???), then another +5 pounds (in 5-pound increments, I think!). And then another +5 pounds... I want to tell my PCP: It's my METABOLISM, stupid! (Not really. I mean I don't want to yell at him--it's not his fault.)
Anyway, I hate it. I've been on Arimidex since late June '08; the adjustment in my Synthroid dose is more recent (Nov.), as is this latest weight gain.
Plus, if it's the Arimidex, there's not much I can do about it (besides getting my butt outa this chair). If it's the Synthroid, and that ends up confirmed at my next re-check by my TSH being too high, then tweaking the dose again may do the trick. Don't want too much, don't want too little. Needs to be just right.
Speaking of going outside... talk to y'all later!
otter
(P.S.: My dh thought he saw an otter on our pond yesterday.)
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A&E I am so happy for both of you. A bit envious especially since my hook up with Rock and Noelle fell through. Thank you sooooooo much for taking and sharing the pictures. It brought us all a little bit closer and almost made it seem like we were there with you. I do hope that one day it will happen when we can ALL get together.
To ALL:
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Eddie and Adrienne, you two look fabulous! I sure look forward to when we can all meet up for that slumber party. I cheated and colored my hair. I love it! I was a bit worried but the shop owner went through BC 2 years ago and she's colored quite a few times. The wash in stuff worked okay for a while but it seemed to cast a purple hue over my crown.
Thinking of you Christine....
Rained all weekend in Wisconsin, better than snow though!
Love you all!
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Hi Everyone.
I am DAT after a weekend away- went down to Baylor to watch the Baylor/ University of Alabama Birmingham baseball game- I graduated from Baylor and my nephew plays for UAB so that was a fun game. DD went on a campus tour this morning which was cool for me to see all the old buildings and places and also all the new ones on campus-now I am home and exhausted but it was worth it!
More later!
Kristy
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tired, not much to say.. love to all.
Have a crazy week.. Herceptin and workout tomorrow. Dinner guests on Saturday, the first since I got "sick"
I guess I best get my torso (plaster cast of, for those who don't know/ recall) off of the dining room table once and for all.
Rock, can I get a TOOT! for that?
I am off to hang up a months worth of clothes.
I want late night tea and toast with honey, but I am on only 2 servings of bread/wheat products per day and already had 'em.
N
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Are any of you using any of the Power Juice products? I started with pure Acai berry juice (tastes nasty) and am currently using a product from Nature's Way that is a combo of 4 super fruits with high anti oxidant properties. The reason I mention this is I've lost 5 pounds since drinking only one ounce daily - well most days anyway. Another benefit is I'm not as DAT as before.
Otter, after beginning Femara in October I felt crappy on so many different levels but now feel as if I just may be able to take this stuff for 5 years. Guess I should mention that in addition to the Power Juice I get accupunture treatments, take Lexapro and Synthroid and some type of sleep aids nightly. Almost forgot, am in yoga classes too.
Ellenoire - how much longer do you have to take Herceptin?
FB chats - I agree with the others and don't think there are any particular rules. Guess people are fortunate if they can complete a chat without getting booted off the program.
Rock - how long will you be in South Africa?
Here's wishing you all a good night,
Robin
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Hey...it's been a full day. Nothing like starting out the day with your boobs hangin' out! Actually, the MRI wasn't bad, just very uncomfortable being in that position for 20 minutes. I don't remember it being that uncomfortable before - before surgery, chemo and rads. I should find out something in a day or two.
But, I did get some other good news today. My BRCA tests both came back negative!! Woo hoo!!! I was especially relieved for the girls - I know it doesn't mean they have less risk, just not more.
Otter - I hear you about the weight gain and I can't even blame it on Arimidex. I know I have gained about 10-12 pounds over the past 3 months. I guess that's why dd thought I needed an exercise program.
DAT today between the time change and dh turning on the computer (which happens to be in a room right off our bedroom) at an ungodly hour this morning because the laptop was not being his friend...grrrrrr...especially when I showed him in 2 clicks how to fix it...double grrrrrrr....
'Nighty-night...
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Randomly . . .
Exercise: I do pushups against a wall or a door frame. I can move "down" to make it harder, depending on how strong (or lazy) I feel. They can also be done by using a firm bed, or the arm of a couch. I find I'm MUCH more likely to do pushups (or any exercise) if I don't have to get on the floor.
Telephone: I've got to buy a microphone/headset so that I can make affordable phone calls from my computer using Skype. Because calls to my cellphone (I don't have a landline here) are crazy expensive. But the real reason I don't give out my phone number (much)? I am not such a fan of this thing they call telephone. I am ridiculously awkward on the phone. But!! Randie, if you send my your phone # via facebook, I'll send you my particulars! (Do you have a Skype account, perchance?) Perhaps I can make you my "maiden Skype-telephone voyage" when I finally get my microphone/headset! That woudl be cool. What are good times to reach you?
Cris -- negative BRCA? Fabulous. (Hmmm. My MRI lasted over an hour, I think. I wonder why.... And by the end, I was practically cross-eyed and in tears from having my arms above my head for so long.)
Adrienne + Eddie: That is just so darned cool. To be honest, when I met Linda and Noelle, I thought it was a little um, funny how happy you guys were about the meetings. But NOW I get why. Because it is the coolest. You guys seem even real-er. You are real, live, breathing human beings with hair that can be touched and laughs that can be heard and hands that can be squeezed. Oh, I am happy about this.
Def TOOT, Noelle. Most def, TOOT. Perhaps you have inspired me to remove the empty box from the seedless red grapes from my kitchen counter which is where it has resided since...well, a long time.
I've got to get a move on. xoxoxox
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▬▬▬▬▬▬Just a quick fly by to say HI!▬▬▬▬▬▬►
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A quick good morning! DH has doc appt this morning and it is youngest DD's birthday! I can't believe that MY baby is 25!
Otter-We watch the games on TV. I am finally "getting" football and actually enjoying it, but basketball is my passion. I get very excited during a game and our psycho dog usually runs to the other room and hides. We watched the Alabama/TN game the other day--was pulling for Alabama. Love March Madness!
Everyone have a great day!
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I almost don't even wanna ask this question.
Eyesotex -- does anyone know how she's doing? Has anyone heard from her? of her?
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Christine: yeah, mri done and no bad genes...who hooo..double header, right? Husbands, they bring so much to our lives....lol...ever wonder why you never see a woman with more then one? Big Love my ass....
Anyway, just filled out my SSI application and found out that I can get my student loans put off as well..maybe there is a silver lining. Plus, when I get NED the disability stays, so who hoo. Plus I can work as long as I don't make more then $900/month.
Back to the paperwork grind...getting ready to Turbotax...
randie
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Aw, rock. EyesOTex hasn't posted or even logged in since early October '08. She was just finished with chemo and preparing for rads. I went back through the thread and refreshed my memory: she had been dx'd and treated in 2006 but had a recurrence to her (deep?) nodes. That was what the new round of chemo + rads was supposed to treat.
I'd forgotten how many other women (besides the current 19 sisters) were on the May '08 thread last spring and summer.
Gracie, I don't ever cheer for that team from Tuscaloosa. It's a violation of the terms of my retirement contract.
Big cheers for BRCA negativity, and for healing juices, and outdoor activities, and face-to-face meetings, and hair color that you like, and a good night's sleep. I've had trouble falling asleep lately. I've been lying in bed wide awake for at least an hour, each of the past 3 nights. Hmmmm... didn't something funky happen to the time zones and clocks about 3 nights ago???
Tomorrow is my 3-appointment, all-day gig with the "Osteoporosis Treatment & Prevention Clinic" at UAB. I'm concerned that it will be a total waste of time. What can they say in a 2-hour "luncheon seminar/nutritional education session" or a "group session on physical therapy education" that we can't read ourselves?
Rock, my dh set up Skype on both our Mac laptops. Our daughter-in-law wanted to use it so we could see our granddaughter occasionally. We've used it once, and then they got too busy I guess. I don't even remember how it works. Plus, if we skyped, you would see me sitting in my recliner with my bathrobe and eyeglasses on but no make-up. Not a pleasant sight.
But, I'd make the sacrifice, to talk to you.
Hugs to all...
otter
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Otter,
I watched the UAB baseball game this weekend- dd and I are trying to find a time to go to Birmingham to see UAB and Samford for her- how close are you to Birmingham?
My new patio is being poured today - 2 years ago dh and I built a pergola-our first ever home project of any magnitude at all- its pretty basic but quite lovely and has hooks for hangin pots and hummingbird feeders all around it- we decided this summer to get patio poured under it so it will be more like an outdoor living area. Today is the pouring and stamping (its going to look like flagstone) and in 2 weeks or so they will come back and stain the new patio and the existing patio it connect too with a nice color to make it all kind of blend and look prettier than gray concrete. Now to dig out that old patio furniture my Mom gave us and see if there is enough to last until the clearance at the end of the summer........
Kristy
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Otter, speaking of sisters who haven't posted in a while - I saw on FB your pictures dedicated to Alaska Deb. When I first started on this thread I think I recall her moving on to rads but it sounds like she's moved on from this life. Is that correct?
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Never mind Otter, I found the answer when I looked her up on the member list. Thanks anyway.
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Ahhh another gorgeous day here in ohio.... too bad its gonna be cold again tomorrow :OP
Went and treated myself to a new foob and a bra today and ordered 2 more bras for later pickup. Found out the now have a foob that has the grooved in the back of it to promote lymphodema drainage.... I am so gonna get that one the next time. I went to a new store here locally and the lady was very nice even though my son was a real monster the entire time. Why do kids act up like that when you need them to behave????? I coulda strangled him.Just noticed.... new foob walks dang it. Maybe I shoulda add some velcro to the front of it so it will at least stay in one place.
Did everyone get their cards yet??? I know kerry's and rock's won't be there yet but I'm hoping everyone else got theirs by today. RanD watch your mailbox for the tea I am sending you :O).
Off to clean a bit more before I sit down and play my latest obsession.... sacred 2... LOVE IT!
All my love gals!
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Jen - my family is Columbus is thrilled with the warmers temps.
What is scared 2?
Good news for me from home - Mom came home from rehab today. She is a 3 year breast cancer survior, no rads or chemo but had 2 strokes in her immediate postoperative period. Anyway, she fell 4 weeks ago, fractured her hip, required surgery and some weeks in rehab. Way to go Mama!
Happy day from Colorado where it was 16 degrees any snowing this morning.
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Robin~ oh we are soaking in the warm air right now. People outside all over the place. I'm sure we will all be chased back in within the next few days lol. Hope your mom feels better soon!
sacred 2 is a RPG game..... kinda like warcraft or diablo. we call them monster hacking games here lol.
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