Starting Chemo February 2009?

apple

just sharing this with my 2009 chemogals

'may you have a strong foundation when the winds of change shift'

this song is so nice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P22cMZFvJAs

Jaimieh

Kerry~ Where are you ??  I am used to at least having you to rattle to everyday.....

Glad to see that we are all getting busy...I hope it is with good things....

KerryMac

Me, I'm here!!! Rattle away.

gcpommom

Good Morning girls!  another snowy day here in Michigan, it looks like a picture out there...pretty, but ugh, it's still snow...

Jaimie:  wow, I wish I was brave enough to go through all that surgery, I really do.  I'm such a chicken.  Was it hard to get insurance to cover it, since you went out of state?  You sound very happy with your results, but I have another question:  is the tummy tuck and lipo related to the recon or just something you wanted to have done anyway?  You're going to be a hottie this summer, lol, I'm jealous!!!

Cheryl:  I hope your friend is doing better....scary stuff...I have daughters that age, and you hate to think of someone so young going through this crap.  What kind of pain are you having, do they know why you're having it?  I still get stiff if I sit too long and in the mornings...mostly in the ankles and lower back.  I see the doc again next month about going off coumadin.

Bev:  good to hear from you....thanks for the 'mom' support, it is very hard, I'm sorry you're dealing with this too.  Tomorrow is one year....I'm sure it will be a tough day.

So Julia is in the hospital again...she had trouble breathing/heart racing, and thought she would die...it was very hard to watch.  They are checking for PE, but I think it's mostly anxiety.  She is scared that it took too long to find out her diagnosis, and is afraid it is too late.  I don't know what to tell her, since I have no idea how things will go with the new surgeon.  I hope she gets through this, and thinks positive again, she has alot to endure the next few months as we try to fix the SMA.

I've gotta make an appt at the doc for myself, having abdominal pain, could be bladder infection, but also feels like cramps so who knows?  no period yet, but you never know.  I just scheduled my pap appt, can't believe I haven't had one since 5/08...with everything else going on, I just forgot.

Jaimieh

Judy~ I am a huge chicken but it was worth every little ache pain and pinch (from the silly drains).  The hardest part was showing up once you are there you KNOW that you are in the BEST hands possible.  I expected severe pain coming out of surgery and honestly my pain was maybe a 2-3 on the 1-10 pain scale.  I have had many, many other things that hurt worse than this.  The drain pain is where the pain comes from.   It is still I have over 18inches of scars and the silly drains hurt the most.  My insurance company I am sure is not happy with me but I have a PPO and they will get over it.  I still have to make payments but they are for sure worth each and every payment.  Honestly my pictures on timtam's site do not do it justice at how good they look.  I hope Julia feels better and that she starts to feel better everyday. 

Cheryl~ I am sure I am going to be stiff, stiff, stiff....  I have not done anything in the last 30 days besides a little bit of walking. 

Kerry~ Are you getting snow ??  We finally were missed this time....I am so grateful and I hope we do not get any more snow this year.  I am ready for spring and summer.... 

28 days until I run away to Florida...... can't wait to get to the beach.....go to the park and just be outside.  I feel like I have been stuck in the house for years and years.  Don't get me wrong I have been cooking up a storm which is not like me at all and my DH is loving it.

My hair honestly has a mind of it's own....I am getting a hair cut today and I hope my hairdresser can help.  I am hoping that it is long enough to highlight or do something with.  Has any of you ladies tried a straightener ??  I was tempted to buy one yesterday but I didn't want to waste money. 

Alright I rambled enough.......

apple

Jamie.. I cut my own hair like every day.. the ends are far curlier and I think you'll find that your hair will not only look longer (go figure) but be much more manageable.

prayers for Julia.

my own brother (41) has been diagnosed with stage III lymphoma.. bummer

Jaimieh

Oh Apple I am sorry to hear about you brother.  I hope chemo puts him into permanent remission. 

My hair is just fuzzy.....

gcpommom

Oh no Apple, that is just terrible to hear, I'm so sorry...is this the brother who looks like you on FB? 

Jaimie:  I was just curious about the insurance cause someone told me that if you can get a service done in your own state, they won't cover it if you go out of state.  I'll have to check into that.

I still haven't cut one hair on my head, lol...I'd have to chop alot of it off to get rid of the curl in the back.  I got so many compliments on my hair at my doctor's office today (bladder infection, fun), they really loved it. 

Artemis

Hi, Furies!   Dropping by to catch up with everyone.

Jamie ~ I'm so glad your recovery is going so well.  Hurrah, hurrah!!!

apple ~ I am so sorry about your brother's diagnosis.  Prayers are going up!

Judy ~ I surely hope Julia is better soon!  And you have a bladder infection?  Yikes!  I went to the doctor last week with bronchitis, but the antibiotics seem to be kicking in pretty well.

I haven't cut my hair either.  I've colored it twice, and I plan to put in some highlights in May to celebrate my end-of-chemoversary.

My four year old niece will be with me Saturday and Sunday.  She called and asked if we could have a sleep over; she's so sweet!!

Hugs and kisses to all of you!!
Artemis

KerryMac

Hey guys -

I haven't cut my hair either. Its curly, curly (anyone remember singer Cleo Laine??) But I can't bring myself to get it cut until it is at least shoulder length. Might put a colour in once hat season is over.

Snowy as anything here this morning.

Jaimie - so happy everything is going well. Is it weird to have boobies again? 

Judy - hows Julia doing?? Hope your bladder infection clears up - you are right - no fun at all! 

Artemis - enjoy the sleep-over! 

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

apple

mornin gals.. Scans today and a bone density test.

ich

KerryMac

Ohhhhh, good luck with it all. Let us know when you are done.

apple

if i have time to check in... heh

we've started working on the property

http://stevermercompanybuildingblog.blogspot.com/

Jaimieh

Judy~ Normally if there is someone in the area insurance will want you to go to that provider but you can make a case of why it would be better to go to NOLA.

Kerry~ It doesn't seem odd if feels wonderful.  They do not hurt, they jiggle (which sound funny but after having nothing it is the little things that make you happy), I look HOT if I do say so myself and they are just incredible. 

Apple~ Thinking about you today.  I hope everything goes very well.  We love boring.....

I got my hair cut and colored and you can tell from my smile.  I just LOVE it!!!  I still wish it was longer but I just LOVE it!!  Yesterday was a good day I honestly feel like I am one more step closer to feeling like the new me.  Now I just need to ditch the drains and then I will be one more step closer to me.  It's been a good week.  I hope to have MANY, MANY more!!

I have an Onc. appt. on Monday morning....I did start taking my baby aspirin.

KerryMac

Jaimie - you sound terrific! So happy for you (and your jiggly boobies!!)

Artemis

Kerry ~ Cleo Laine?  Wow, now that's some curly hair!

apple ~ Good luck!  Hoping for nothing but good news for you!  Thanks for the link to your blog, and good luck as you move forward with the remodel.

Jamie ~ I agree with Kerry; you sound WONDERFUL, and I'm so happy that you have some jiggley boobies.  Is your hair just colored, or did you have hilights/foils/something put in?

Jaimieh

Artemis thank you.  I had highlights put into it yesterday and I am beyond thrilled with the way they came out. 

I am supposed to pull my drains in a little bit and while I am excited I am scared to do it.    I know that I will feel so much better but just the thought of it has me scared.  I am such a sissy....

KerryMac

You gotta pull your own drains???

Ohh, I still remember getting mine pulled after my Mx, the thought was actually worse than the doing of it. 

Anyhow, hope you are now drainless....

xpectmiracles

Hi everyone! Today I started to go to a counceler at our local cancer center. I don't know how to peice.my life back together after chemo. I am floundering aimlessly, just getting by day to day.

KerryMac

Aw, Cheryl, sorry to hear that. I hope the counsellor helps you. I saw one during Chemo, and it was very helpful. ((((Hugs)))) to you.

Jaimieh

Cheryl I hope talking to someone helps. I know that it was very nice the little bit that I was able to talk to one.



I am drain free !!! The hardest part was taking out the stitch. I let my DH take one out so he was happy.

living4today

Hi everyone,

 Although I don't post as often as I would like, I do read your updates almost daily. 

Kerry--I see that you are on Zometa, my onco just suggested Zometa to me yesterday and I found out today my insurance will cover it--so now I am in the research mode (again)...any thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheryl--I applaud you for going to a counselor, this rejoining the world is something that we aren't really prepared for, it seems like there is so much written about the treatment journey, but I am having a hard time balancing it all.  I worked full time through treatment and continue to work full time and find myself so tired by the end of the week.  I struggle with wanting to pursue new interests and passions, yet between work, family and exercise there is so limited time.

Jaimieh--glad to share your experience with your new girls...I go in for my exchange this Wednesday and starting to get a bit anxious about the pain, drains, etc...I think I am getting a bit weary of this journey.  I jokingly told a friend that my only vacation is when I get to stay overnight at the hospital.

Thanks all and hope you have a great weekend!

KerryMac

Kim - there are a couple of threads on the Stage 3 boards about Zometa. Loads of info, research, etc. Personally, I have no regrets about taking it. I have had one infusion, next one is in March.

Jaimie - yah for being drain free! Your DH is a brave man! 

Jaimieh

L4T- do not be scared of the exchange you are going to do awesome. The new squishies will be enough that any pain will be forgotten quickly.

Jaimieh

L4T- do not be scared of the exchange you are going to do awesome. The new squishies will be enough that any pain will be forgotten quickly.

MicheleS

Hi Cheryl. Just wanted to tell you that I understand.

Jaimieh

Apple~ How was your appt. last week ???  I hope you are just to busy with your new house.

I had my onc. appt. this morning and I now do not have to go back until July.  I am so excited.  Today I also was able to get my onc.'s blessing on having my port removed in April.  So my security blanket will be removed during my stage 2.  I am excited and nervous. 

So since my drains are out and I have some fluid going on....yuck!  I am hoping that I do not need constant draining in the next couple of weeks but I really didn't have a choice.  I either removed the drains so my infection could heal or I kept the source of infection.....lose-lose situations   So I am hoping my body gets the drift and the fluid is absorbed. 

apple

i guess my app't was ok.  my onc. wanted to do a cat scan so she could order a pet scan.

she called and said excitedly .. there is some soft tissue.. which hopefully is just soft tissue and no complication.  I knew where she was coming from.  still, I'm going to be on pins and needles till the pet is finished.

(i'm going to be kind of busy they next few months)

Jaimieh

Wow Apple I can understand why you would be on pins and needles. 

Busy is good in my opinion....

Bethie1

 Hey gang!!!  Just checking in with my sisters!!!!!  What rant did I miss????  Let's be thankful we're all ALIVE!!!! Our families could've been planning our funerals for cryin' out loud!!! GEEZ!!!! OK, Get off the soapbox now!

Judy---School's going great!!!  In Microeconomics now--got an A in Macro last semester.  Has anyone taken an intro course to sociology?  I have to take that as well, and will in the fall.

Jamieh, Judy, Kerry, and all my sisters--you're looking awesome!!!  the hair is coming in great! I'm due to update you with a new photo.  My hair is even curlier than what you see on here.

Also, please keep me in your thoughts--I have my PET scan tomorrow morning!!! I'm nervous!!! Well, I'm off to get a good nights' sleep--have to get up the same time as I would for work and test  is 8:45, but got some good news!!! Left mammogram came back normal/negative so no cancer!!! 

Love ya gang!!!!