Starting Chemo February 2009?

living4today

Michelle,

OUCH!!!  Doesn't seem like you've been through enough!

You all are so funny, I am so jealose, I avoid mirrors as I go "topless" all  the time and I don't want to be reminded my hair is being really pokey about coming back.

Kerry have fun at the zoo!

 Jaimieh--oh how I would love to go on a boat today...Mr Abraxy (abraxene) has knocked me down, so the couch is the only place where I will be today.

Cheryl--I think I am going to need a 12 step program to stop checking out all the posts on this site.

 Have a great day everyone!

Jaimieh

Judy I stimulate mine also with a little tooth comb that is from my DH's shaver so you can shave a beard evenly.  Yeah right it's mine buddy and I sit there and look at all of the longer hair.  I haven't been doing it the last couple of days since my new no peeking rule.  So to stimulate my hair I sit and rub it....hehe..

apple

i'm a hair watcher

i inspect it all the time. 

MicheleS

Judy~ Tylox is codiene+tylenol.  I had been managing the taxol-pain with just tylenol 'till now... My mouth also hurts a lot with each treatment.  That's why I didn't realize that there was something *more* going on 'till too late.  <sigh>

Jaimie~ Did I read that right... you might have Lyme disease???  OK, so you win the prize, the locusts are coming to YOUR house.

Kerry~  The zoo sounds fun!!  Are you feeling "almost" normal yet??  Are you able to exercise?  I really miss being able to really *move*... I'm hoping that after next week (my LAST one!!!!) I can start easing back into exercise.

Living4~ I'm OCD about checking in today too.  Must be the crash...

We are off to the beach this afternoon.  I'm soooo tired and ready to crash but we got an invite to picnic at a friend's beach-house.  I know the kids will have fun so we're going.  I'm hoping the salt-air does me some good.

Jaimieh

Yup you read it right Michele.  The good part is that the treatment is an antibiotic for 3 weeks.  I learned on Friday that the lymes test are not always 100% so they will just treat me for it since I have a rash.  It's not a normal lymes rash but I am fine with them treating me.  I sure don't want to find out later that I was + and didn't get treated.   Oh we had locust a while ago and they are gross....ewwweee...  So next week is your last T do you still have avastin ??  Have fun at the beach. 

We are still trying to get everything ready for the boat ride.  Our first of the season always takes hours to get ready and this year is no different. 

Gramof3

Oh, I'm envious of those of you close to the beach/water.  It's a beautiful day here, and I'm landlocked!   Jaimieh, hope the only Lyme you see is in a margarita!   Michele, hope the antibiotics and pain meds. help out  (((hugs)))).  Kerry, the zoo sounds like a good time--what are your kiddos favorite animals?

Take care--Helen

apple

Michelle - enjoy your sea air... just rest

(Jamieh - i've a friend with Lyme;s disease.. it surely is good to catch it early... i hope you don't have it.. you'd think the cancer drugs would kill it. 

Artemis

(((Michele)))  Hope your abcess clears up soon; those things are not fun at all!

I'm a hair watcher, too.  I think it's finally beginning to sprout all over, but it's hard to see because the color is so light.

My cousin, his wife and their granddaughter brought Japanese food last night.  It was so good to see them; Mr. Artemis and I really enjoyed being with them.  I had a good bit of pain this morning from laughing so much last night, but it was darn well worth it!

Hugs to all,
Artemis

xpectmiracles

Jaimeih, my implants are much softer that the TE. My PS stopped filling the expander when I started chemo. I had no discomfort with my TE except a few days after the fills. Today is the last day of antibiotics for the post-surgery cellulitis. I think it did the trick. The area is not sore and barely pink. I am enjoying my new boobs!

Jaimieh

Excellent to here Cheryl

Thanks for all the well wishes.  I was told it "could be" lymes so now I get to deal with taking pills again for 3 weeks, 3 times a day.  Apple that's why I wasn't too concerned I kept thinking taxotere likes to kill things so why not a virus.  However after reading more about it I really don't think that is what it is and I would post a picture of the rash but it is in my growin area.  I pulled another tick off of my son this morning from T-ball.  It is a good thing the season ended yesterday. 

 Well we made it out in the boat....whoooo.... and I now am ready for a nap but I figured I would post a picture of me. 

Do you like my old lady hat ??  I got get one with a string underneath the chin so I don't have to wear scarfes on the boat when we go fast. 

xpectmiracles

Jaimieh, you are beautiful in that picture!

KerryMac

Hey everyone - Jaimie - lovely photo! Summer must really be here. I grew up boating, the only time i get onto the water now is in a lake and in a canoe.

Michele, hope your tooth gets better soon! I am back exercising every morning - I walk about 40 min, Monday to Friday. I really feel totally healthy again. I had stopped completely during my last couple of rounds, but now love getting out. It will be not that far off for you either. Hold tight.

Anyhow, here are a couple of photos from the Zoo. (my son looks odd eating a muffin, but it was a nice one of me!!)  Got to ride on a camel for the first time. We had a lovely day.

Jaimieh

Oh Kerry you look like you are having sooo much fun on the camel  

I figured I would post a picture of my son and daughter on the boat also.  I actually took my camera with me and had a blast with them.  They didn't want to swim they thought the water was too cold and I didn't swim.  I am not taking any chance before Wednesday. 

MicheleS

Helen~ It is really nice to be so close to the beach.  I just love going down for the afternoon.  However, hurricaine season is a real pain.

Kerry and Jaimie~ Ya'll look great!!

Cheryl~ So are you glad you went with expanders/implants?  I'm still trying to figure out what to do.  I know I'm getting a prophy to be symmetrical (and safe!) but I don't know about recon.  I *want* foobies but I don't know if I have it in me to go through all that is needed to get them.

The beach was fun.  I did a lot of sitting and watching but the kids had a ball.  It was well worth the effort.  Plus, I think the antibiotics are kicking in and helping my mouth.  

Jaimieh

Michele~ it's your choice but after all the puking and things you have been thru you have it in you to do the foobies.  Whoo for having fun at the beach and the antibotics working.  Gotta love when something works. 

Kerry~ I am jealous of the exercise you are getting in.  I need to start doing more and walking in the morning.  

Gramof3

Furies  I love seeing the pics you post!  Please keep it up...it makes the miles between us shorter as we walk this road.  Take care--Helen

KerryMac

Jaimie - I get up most mornings to walk at around 6:00am. Without fail I feel tired and want to stay in bed, but I am always glad I go! I have to go when my husband is home, so it is the only time I have. In September I will have my daughter at school all day (Grade 1) and my son half days (JK) so I will have a couple of hours to myself every afternoon, and won't have to do the 6:00am thing. Twice a week I go with a friend, which makes the time go faster! Pity you live all the way down South, we could be walking buddies. Studies say exercise lowers the risk of recurrence (by as much as 67%, chemo didn't even do that...), so that motivates me more.Love the photos of your kids too - how old are they??

Michele - I haven't had any recon at all. Don't think I will either. I am already used to my 1/2 boy chest! Still might change my mind at some point though. I am thinking in the back of my mind about getting the other boob off too though, nothing decided yet, I will need to get Rads and Ooph out of the way, and then a few months of a semi-normal life I make any decisions.....

We are getting our bathrooms redone though! We had planned to get them done over winter and my treatment put a big spanner in those works...but, my husband talked to the contractor tonight and he can start in a couple of weeks. Not looking forward to the mess though.

Jaimieh

Kerry~ She is 6 and he is 4 and they are a handful   These days they love to argue with each other and beat each other up.  I heard that about exercise and I am really looking forward to getting back into running.  I have ran 2 1/2 marathons and was planning on signing up for a couple this year to help keep me in shape and then I found the dreaded lump.  At that point everything changed and I can barely get out of my own way.  Since you are getting your bathrooms done does this mean you are getting you neighbors port-a-pot ?? hehe.....

apple

Jamieh..

i get all sorts of pimply rashy type things with this taxol.. many women seem to get 'shingles'  - could be a pmple/chemo/reaction/thing. 

Bethie1

Hey gang!!!!

Vacation was awesome!!!! LINDA You are done, AWESOME!!!!!

Webbie!!!! (HUGS)))))))

Terri-- Good Luck with recon!!!!

Night gang, my 4 legged daughter has wanted my attention all night

gcpommom

Wow, it looks like you all had such a nice day...great family pics of everyone!  Thanks for sharing your special days with us.  The beach and the zoo sound great....can't wait to go myself.

I haven't had any recon yet either....am rather afraid of the process, but will probably have it done eventually.  I have an appt with my PS in a couple of weeks, so we'll see.

I'm with you guys on getting into shape.....I gained over 10lbs on the Taxol, it's crazy.  But I wear out really quickly, so I'm hoping once I'm done with tx's, I'll have more energy to exercise.

Finally some good news.....my DH got a job tonight!!!!  So out of the blue....my BF calls me, and her brother, who owns his own company, is hiring.  So he starts tomorrow morning!  And we'll have medical benefits in 90 days, no more paying for our own!  YEAH!  It was nice that he was here to help me through all of this, but it's been kind of like having him retire....twice the husband, half the money  

I had a nice day gardening, then my DD came over for dinner.  She lives on fast food, so she always appreciates coming here for a home cooked meal.   

Hugs

Judy

apple

twice the husband, half the money

 

great kids Jamie... just a bit younger than mine.

omg - my boys are home.. they are like lumbering mess factories. 

Jaimieh

Apple~ Bye, bye clean and organized house, ugh ??  lol......

Juday~ I am thrilled for you and your DH

I am off to the Zoo today and then I gotta come home and clean.  The red devils are coming to clean tomorrow and my house is a disorganized mess. 

KerryMac

Lumbering Mess factories...I love that. I don't know why I bother cleaning either. 

Judy - wonderful news about your husbands job. Things are looking up!

Beautiful morning here. Am off for zap #9. So far, so good. 

xpectmiracles

Michelle, thank goodness the antibiotics are working! As far as implants, I don't regret it at all. The tightness I felt after tissue expander fills was not that bad. The exchange for the permanent implant was a breeze. I really had hardly any pain at all on in that breast. I think it's because the tissue was already stretched out and the implant that was placed is so much softer that the expander. I chose to have the new memory gel silicone implants. I went from a small B cup to a full C. If I say so myself, I look pretty darned good! My husband would wholeheartedly agree!

Judy, congratulations on DH landing a job with benefits! woohoo!

apple

as they say..

this thread is useless without pics 

xpectmiracles

Ok, here is my next worry. Today I was looking in the mirror and I saw a lump in the front of my armpit on the mastectomy side. I freaked! It is tender and I can feel swollen glands in the area. Maybe it's a reaction to my surgery, but that was 2 1/2 weeks ago! I don't know whether to call my onc or ps. I kind of don't want to call the ps because I've been calling him so much due to the worries about the cellulitis in the other breast. I value your opinions. What do you ladies think?

Update: Actually, I see the same lymph area swollen on the other side, too.

Jaimieh

I called my PS when I found my expander lump.  Just call either is the important thing. 

MicheleS

I second Jaimieh's vote.  You need to get it checked out by one of the 2 MDs.  2 1/2 weeks isn't a long time post-surgery so it could easily be secondary to your exchange.

So I saw my dentist today regarding my tooth.  Nothing showed up on the x-ray but the inside of my mouth is clearly inflammed...  He tells me that it is one of the following: infected tooth (but diffuse infection), osteonecrosis of my jaw, or mets.  I'm seeing an oral surgeon on Wed for a consult and x-ray of my whole jaw.  Obviously, I freaked out about mets being included on the list... I called my onc who assured me that he has never, ever seen BC mets to the jaw (esp in triple neg disease).  That helped some... However, he *is* worried about ONJ so off to the oral surgeon I go.  I was *so close* to being done without any *big* incidents... bummer.

living4today

Michele --lots of (((((((hugs))))))))....will be praying it is a simple infection!

Cheryl--ditto the calling someone and (((((hugs)))) to you to!