Any Northern Virginia ladies on this discussion board?

placid44

Great! My sister went to Chapel Hill for grad school and I loved visiting her. she doesn't live there anymore. Will think about a trip

odie16

Good to hear from you Relocatedtarheel and glad you are happier at home.


Still plugging along here and just had my 4 year checkup. We are still trying to get together for lunch as often as schedules allow.


Speaking of lunch, is anyone interested in meeting at Jackson's in Reston on August 29th? I am suggesting that weekend since the first Saturday of September is Labor Day weekend. Or any other restaurant suggestions?

mary625

That sounds good to me. I will come.

PeggySull

Oh my BC lunch and other No VA sisters, oh do I miss you! I am suffering terrible homesickness for the people and area I have been connected with for all of my 64 years. I am pretty much a wreck and wish we hadn't had to move due to financial realities of our meager retirement income. However, I am so glad my husband is retired now at 71 and can tend to his own health. I want him to be around a long time.

There is such a culture shock living in a semi-rural area. I am shy (you wouldn't know that for how much I talk) and haven't met a soul since I moved here June 9. Since I am retired, there is no work environment to anchor me and I really don't want to go back to work. My husband couldn't move here until mid-July and that "me" that was so strong, competent, and happy getting the house ready for sale with major repairs/replacements/staging is now a me struggling to get to the grocery store.

I finally got an appointment with a counselor who I hope can help me with adjustment issues short term and a psychiatrist that I hope will agree to keep me on my antidepressant combo. I hope I like them! (I have medication-treatment-resistant depression/PTSD but this combo is the best my Northern VA psychiatrist and I found helped shorten the frequency and duration of my depressive episodes.) I know this relocation is the reason I catapulted into another depressive episode.

Outgoing people have such an advantage in this area, I think, even though major relocation is likely hard for everyone. It would help to here from shy or introverted people about homesickness and relocation related issues and suggestions. I really need not to feel alone in having struggles with this move emotionally and socially!!!

In the meantime I am researching oncologists for follow up care (I'll be 3 years out in December!!!). I will probably need to go to UNC Chapel Hill since no one here specializes in breast cancer. However, that kind of trip with my husband every 6 months or so should be doable.

Thanks for listening and any feedback from shy folks like me!

Hugs,

Peggy

dessert1st

Hi All!!

Sorry I have been missing the lunches, they are always on weekends i cant make  

Hope everyone is well!  I can't make August 29th , but maybe will see you in October.  

Peggy, Sorry you are finding this move so challenging.  Have you searched this site to see if there is a group near you ?  How about local recreation centers? We are always here for you!

I am never sure which board to post on so I will post this on the other No Va board too so it keeps active!

I miss seeing you all!

judy

mary625

Hi, Peggy! I miss you! I really don't know what exists in a smaller town like Wilmington, NC, but I thought perhaps you could try some Meetup groups if they have them there. Sometimes, they're for dating but not always. Another thing that they probably have there would be a book club. I've just joined one in my new neighborhood, and it's been a lot of fun. It's easier to talk when there's something that everyone's prepared to talk about. Maybe there's some sort of retiree group there as well. I hope these ideas help.

Cuetang

I'm good for the 29th and for Jackson's.

Peggy-- we miss you too! hang in there! Tackle it like you do with every new adventure. Like Mary says, look at meetups to see if there are any of the quilting clubs or your favorite hobbies. We're all giving you virtual hugs! Maybe you can exchange some patterns with local ladies! Or better yet, send me a nice quilt for the winter (haha). Maybe check with relocatedtarheel to see if she knows of anything in that area as well?

relocatedtarheel

Peggy,

I private messaged you....

placid44

I have a conflict on the 29th. I'll catch you next time.

odie16

««« Reminder -- Our next luncheon is Saturday August 29th at Jackson's in Reston at noon. Everyone is welcome and hope to see everyone there!!

edwsmom

Hi everyone,

Just came across this thread. I am in Arlington.

It's been a week and a half since I received the news - biopsy on a axillary lymph node (left side, 1.9 cm) was malignant. The enlarged lymph node was visible on my mammogram, nothing else was seen in the mammogram.

Since then I have met with a BS and oncologist and found out that I am triple positive. I had an MRI (didn't find a primary, but they saw something small on the right side).

Last Thursday morning, I had a PET scan and still have not heard anything back on the results of that.

Today I go back in so they can do an MRI guided biopsy on whatever it is that they saw on the right side. They also will compare this MRI to the first MRI since it's being done at a different point in my cycle.

I'm a nervous wreck struggling with waiting to learn what I'm dealing with, what stage and what the treatment will be.

My doctors are all at Georgetown. Anyone else have treatment/surgery there?

MomMom

Edwsmom,

Welcome to the thread. I think there may be a separate triple positive thread as well that you may want to join. I know there is a triple negative one that I'm on. Sorry for your recent diagnosis. First finding out is by far the scariest time of the whole process. Once you meet with your team of doctors and have a treatment plan in place you will feel much more at ease and confident that you are doing everything in your power to beat it! I promise.

I'm in Alexandria and have a wonderful team - MO is Mary Wilkinson; RO is Jane Grayson; and breast surgeon is Kirsten Edmiston - all top notch docs. You should feel very confident in your team, and if you don't, there are great docs in this area, so get recommendations and always feel free to get a second opinion if there is anything you have even the tiniest doubt about.

Feel free to PM me. Will be keeping you in my thoughts. Take care

Paula

mary625

Edwsmom--I was treated at Georgetown for diagnosis, chemo and surgery. I did radiation at Inova Fairfax just due to the daily schedule. The team at Georgetown is great, and they will take the time to talk among each other thoroughly for the best possible result. I also had MRI assisted biopsy there, and they got me through that procedure well. Their radiologists are great. I'd be happy to talk to you anytime--just PM me and I'll give you my phone number or we can just message as you prefer. I'm a trained survivor offering support for Georgetown patients.

Cuetang

edwsmom-- sorry that you've had to join the sisterhood but glad you've found us! If you can, feel free to join us for our lunch tomorrow if you can. Hugs.

PeggySull

thanks to all of you for the support. I am doing much better at 3 months here. DH has been great but a week trip to our new home by my daughter and grandson got me out of the house doing fun things and I'm continuing to do them after they left a week ago.

Still, I wish I could come to your luncheon again! I may try to time my November Virginia trip to see my grandson with the group's schedule.

Hugs,

Peggy

odie16

PeggySull,

So glad to hear that you are doing better and settling in. We miss you and would love to have you join us whenever you are coming up for a visit. Just let us know and we can arrange it around your schedule.

PeggySull

Thanks so much, Odie. I will let you know when I am coming to Northern Virginia. I miss the lunches. Looking for some survivors here to maybe getting together once a month for lunch but first I have to find my new oncologist!

Are you still working out so vigorously?

Hugs,

Peggy

relocatedtarheel

Peggy,

I will be in Wilmington on Sept 15...maybe we could grab coffee?

PeggySull

relocated--I would love to have coffee on the 15th. Could you PM me re time place. Hugs, Peggy

odie16

Sending love to PeggySull and Relocatedtarheel. Still exercising regularly and doing well.

Our next luncheon is going to be the first Saturday of October. Any suggestions on location?

Have a great weekend everyone!

mary625

One of the Great American restaurants is always a hit.

Fixmyradboob

Hi ladies - would love to jump in and ask if anyone knows of reconstruction surgeons in our area (I'll take anywhere in DC region) that does reconstruction with fat transfer on the scale or reputation of Dr. Khouri in Miami or Dr. Ahn in NYC? I am 1 year post lumpectomy and radiation and it seems like everyone in our area will only treat radiated breast with the more traditional protocols of flaps and the implied "why didn't you get a mastectomy to begin with?" Recommendations appreciated! I have consultations with Dr. Gloria Duda and Dr. Davison based on recommendations but I don't know (yet) if they include that in their protocols. I am also going to Miami in Oct for a consultation with Dr. Khouri. But if there is someone local it will not only save a lot of time and money but would have the plus of having someone close by if I need them. TIA!

odie16

Hello all!! I was going to suggest Coyote Grill for our luncheon next Saturday (for Judy) however sadly they closed. Anyone interested in California Pizza Kitchen in Fairfax Corner?

dessert1st

hi all !  Coyote is open in Fairfax city if you want that.  California pizza is great too! I hope to be able to join you all this month!

judy

odie16

So who's up for California Pizza Kitchen in Fairfax Corner on Saturday at noon???

odie16

In light of the crappy weather forecast, I am thinking we may want to push the luncheon to the following Saturday.

mary625

Sounds like a good idea.

dessert1st

Sounds like a plan. stay warm and dry this weekend!

odie16

Anyone interested in meeting for lunch this weekend?

Cuetang

I guess we are skipping October? Hope everyone is doing well!