Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Chevyboy

ChiSandy.... I found these 2 links.... Maybe they will help?

http://www.theonc.org/author.asp?section_id=2368&d...

https://treato.com/Claritin,Bone+Pain/?a=s

Nanagirl

ChiSandy, I was taking Zyrtec daily for allergy relief- since this latest cancer I stopped taking it because of all the supplements and meds I'm taking now- got sick of downing so many pills so cut it out- when I took the Zyrtec I didn't have this arthritic pain- maybe that's why- I took the Claritan last night before I went to sleep and I'll let you know how it goes- one thing is certain- I woke up less congested! Thank you.

IllinoisLady

For all of you helper's out there:

"You are the answer to someone else's prayer."
- Betsy Muller

IllinoisLady

Good Sunny morning from Illinois,

These are the days ( yes, the sun is a large part ) that I so dearly love. I get to come to this place and listen ( read ) women helping each other through what are their trying times. Something we all need from time to time, and at really serious times, maybe every day. Some people have links or pharmaceutical information, and some people have stories of success with what they chose or did, and some are just good listeners offering a shoulder of support.

That said, good to see you Linda and I'm glad you checked in. I am also thinking still daily of Puffin and Mike and Sandra. It is a special thing when you lovely ladies put such a large amt. of care out in the world. We all need the sensation of light that comes when we have a place to gather in acceptance of each other's circumstances so care, help, and hope can come alive.

Going to work later today ( back to the hospital ) but going to love, love, love that pretty sun while it is out there. Could become cloudy though I sure hope if so, only muted. I need that sun. The next couple of days may be a mite cooler again, then back to warmth again -- not hot heat, just nice warmth. Everything is vibrant green outside -- a bit heavy on pollens, but this is how we get to Spring so I can do it. That is what Zyrtec and Claritin were made for, though like one of the ladies said --- I'd prefer often to take less pills rather than even one more, but you have to do what you have to do.

I'm hoping you all have a wonderful day with whatever and whomever pleases you.

Jackie

Anneb1149

Mornin,

I have lymphedema in my right arm. The strange thing aabout mine is it started after my biopsy, months before surgery, and it was my 11 yr old grandson who discovered it. I had no idea what LE was, nor did I have any idea what the symptoms were. I was Dx and treated at my daughter's house in Ga. I finished chemo right before Christmas but couldn't even attempt travel at that time. By the middle of Jan, I could not survive another day with out seeing my children or grandchildren baCk in Fl. I needed wheelchair assistance to and from the gates at the airports. I was only home for a week and really wanted to go to church that Sun. My DD and her son took me. While there, my grandson was holding my hand,then started to rub my arm. He leaned towards me and said "Look Grandma, your fingers on this hand are bigger than the other, and the inside of your arm is hard" Still having no idea what it was, I mentioned it to my Onc the following week. She, of course, knew exactly what it was, but didn't understand how I got it without surgery. She finally decided the biopsy haD somehow damaged enough lymph nodes to cause kthe LE. I have learned the hard way that I have to baby my right arm. No heavy lifting, which includes carry on luggage. As much as I travel between FL, GA, and SC, I keep clothes and essentials at all three homes, so my checked bag has shoes, bras, medicines and electronics in it. I have a sleeve and glove, but only use them for flying or long drives

Enjoy your Sunday

Anne

jnu3

I have been seeing a massage therapist who is educated in oncology massage. Oncology massage is the modification of existing massage therapy techniques in order to safely work with complications of cancer and cancer treatment. This also includes working with the lymph systems (swelling and promoting drainage). A good site to view www.S4OM.org which provides an overview of therapists throughout the country. It might provide some relieve.

Wren44

I think you can get LE after any surgery that messes with lymph nodes. And I think it's pretty hard not to mess with them because they're all over. But in a leg after hip surgery makes perfect sense. I'm glad the stocking seems to help.

Chevyboy

Yes, I wear them on both legs... Guess I don't have to....but at least I "match".... They always tell you not to get your BP checked on that side.... along with shots, etc... So yes, putting a rod down your femur, 2 incisions, and a couple screws counts as "trauma".... But I have it controlled.... Could always be worse....

ChiSandy

It’s been speculated that Hillary Clinton has LE after undergoing some unspecified abdominal or gynecological surgeries. Ever notice how baggy her jackets & tops seem to be now, especially from the bustline on down? She doesn’t otherwise look heavier than in her fitted pantsuit days. But nobody except Kathy Bates wants to go public about having LE (and good on KB for doing that).

IllinoisLady

All of nature offers lessons on living, free of charge. One morning I noticed a dead tree supporting many living things--fungus, vines, lichen--which taught me that even after death we can continue to support those who live on. Living trees on our property teach other lessons. One tree has grown around a barbed wire fence. Another has grown around a nail, and a third through a chain link fence. These trees teach me how to accept irritation, absorb the pain and grow around problems. Nature teaches me how to find my place, grow toward the sunlight and bypass obstacles. To survive, we must be able to change in response to whatever is required by the challenge of the moment. Our bodies know this, but our minds often rebel when change is necessary.

Bernie S. Siegel

IllinoisLady

Boo, it is likely to rain some more today, but guess I'll put on my happy face and be ok. As most here know, it is not really the rain that I dislike --- it is the gray coloring that comes along. I just don't bloom when there is so little 'happy' yellow coloring from the sky. We don't really need the water right now, but then our water table is soooo high that it takes a real drought to "need" it.

Chi -- that is amazing about Hillary Clinton. I had noticed ( but never questioned ) that her tops while just as nice, had ballooned out a bit more. Guess I put it down to older age in general and nothing related to possible health changes. That would or could be encouraging for anyone ( no matter what the reason ) who may find themselves with LE issues.

My little lady goes to the Manor ( nursing home/ rehab section ) today. Rather a surprise I think to everyone. I'll hear later what I will be doing. I know I'll go, but just don't know when. Well, here's hoping it all goes smoothly. These things seem to take hours to accomplish. I have a few things to handle so that will give me some time which is good.

See you all later.

Jackie

ritajean

Hello and welcome to the new girls on this thread. It's a good place to be. Last week I wrote a nice long post and then must have hit the wrong button because it all disappeared! UGH! I just shut off the computer in disgust and haven't even been back on the site since then.

Nanagirl, it is only normal to be scared. We were all scared and anxious when we were first diagnosed and I have to admit that there are still times that I'm scared when something just doesn't seem right. It helped me to educate myself on my type of cancer and the current treatments offered for it and to talk to others who had walked the same path. I spent alot of time on here and formed many good friendships. I guess we all helped each other through it. Come often and ask any questions that you have. We probably asked the same questions when we were going through the journey. Hugs to you, dear gal!

To top everything off, I just got a jury questionnaire in the mail on Friday. That means that I'll probably get called for jury duty in the near future. I have put off answering the questions and sending it back (although I know I have to do this.). I have served on several juries over the course of time and even enjoyed a few of them but now I just don't feel comfortable making a decision that affects the life of another person. I don't multitask well and take notes even when I'm reading a book on the characters so I can keep things straight. I am sure that there are many more candidates much better equipped to do this job than me but.............. Well, this will probably be my last time to have to serve because I think you can opt out once you hit 70.

Bonnets, I am glad to hear that the gluten free diet has helped to control your IBS. I also thank you for all the info that you gave me about gluten free products. I know it helps me too if I stick to it. I think I would think twice about the gall bladder surgery. I guess I just hate the thought of any surgery unless it is absolutely necessary and then that is a different thing. I know you will make the best choice for yourself. These decisions can drive us crazy.

Hi to all of you. It's cool and dreary here today but I am going to go out for about an hour and weed around my front walkway before they take over the walk!

More later......

Rita

Chevyboy

Rita! Aren't you old enough to get out of jury-duty? I used that excuse for both my Husband, and myself, just this last year! I told them things like I don't like to drive down-town, especially at rush-hour, and I am 78, and my Husband doesn't drive at ALL! I said I wouldn't mind serving on jury-duty, like I used to, if I were about 20 years younger.... Ha! She laughed, and said I was excused from jury-duty, and a couple months earlier my Husband was also! Anyway it's worth a try.....

Nanagirl

Hi Rita- I must say how nice everyone has been to me- last week I went for my first US and first mammo since my surgery- I left thinking everything was fine after talking to the doctor at the facility who read the results- today I got a call from my oncologist office saying that I need another mammo in 6 months- I'm concerned because my cancer didn't show on the US or mammo when dx- it only showed on the MRI- I had infiltrating lobular carcinoma -does this sound routine? Thank you all for your help getting through this

Chevyboy

I think it's common to have Mammogram's almost every DAY it seems like! Just kidding.... Every 6 months for sure!

Ask your Doc about your concerns.... she can reassure you!

ritajean

Chevy, I think you have to be 70 or older to get out of jury duty. I am not quite there yet but getting pretty close.

Nanagirl.....I would talk with your oncologist and ask if there is a specific reason for another mammo in 6 months. He or she can probably give you a good reason for it. I imagine they are probably just being precautious, which you want them to be. Like Chevy suggested, talking to them will give you some peace of mind. I had invasive ductile cancer instead of lobular. I did have mammos every 6 months for the first two years. Then it went to once a year. All oncologists have different ideas on this so just give the office a call.

Nanagirl

I spoke to the nurse in oncologist's office and she said that I should discuss it with Doctor my next appointment- just don't know why I take mammography since both times I was dx they never showed my cancers- at least I'm reassured that others have testing every 6 months and it's not unusual

ChiSandy

My BS and MO said I should get my followup mammo in Aug., one year after the routine one that first revealed that “focal asymmetry.” I’m surprised, since everyone seems to be getting their first followup imaging 6 mos. post-op (and I’m already past 7 mos.post-op and nearly 8 mos. since that first mammo).

Chevyboy

Hmmmm... I just thought that we all had a mammogram every 6 months after our surgery! I had "diagnostic" mammograms... but after 5 years, now I just get the annual mammogram. "Diagnostic" was read immediately by a technician, (radiologist?) and if there were questions they sent you right back in for another one... MAN I dreaded those! But never had a problem.

IllinoisLady

No one can get inner peace by pouncing on it, by vigorously

willing to have it. Peace is a margin of power around our

daily need. Peace is a consciousness of springs too deep

for earthly droughts to dry up. Peace is the gift not of

volitional struggle but of spiritual hospitality.

Harry Emerson Fosdick

2ND20

Hi there. I was diagnosed just after my 65 birthday. Happy Birthday! Had da 5cm tumor in my left breast. Surgery on March 4th but darn incision would not heal because it was under my nipple close to my chest wall and was moist all the time. So anyway finally incision is healed and I start chemo on Thursday Yikes! Have been given EMEND; PROCHLORAZINE and DEXAMETHASONE.

Sure is alot of drugs. I know some are for nausea but I looked up the dexamethasone and it said it was an anti-pshycotic drug? What?

IllinoisLady

I too had mammograms every 6 months for a time ??? but not sure as I think there was something else they couldn't get a clear picture of for some reason and eventually they determined that it was not an issue that one had to be concerned about. For many, mammograms don't always "see" the problem. Mine found the extremely slow growing cancer -- but only best seen by ultra-sound and completely missed the other cancer growing near which was much bigger and totally aggressive. Only during surgery ( lumpectomy ) was the second cancer discovered and removed at the same time as my slow growing ( papillary ) cancer. I was scheduled ( if reports on my condition had stayed the same ) for maybe a week of radiation and no chemo at all. Instead it became 6 months of chemo ( fairly heavy-duty ) and 7 full weeks of radiation --- but I'm here so it was the right thing to do. Well, the alternative you know --- so I never much batted any eye and said lets go for it.

It is a bright pretty day here, but cooler now we are apparently through the rain. A couple days of cool, 60's or so, and then back to nicely warmed. I won't say it has been a wild spring though it has for some people, but as seems normal now, things not really happening on time -- and being lighter than normal or harsher. We don't have the in-between that was there before. Sigh !!!

Hope you will all have a gorgeous day.

Jackie

lindab142

Waving hi to Jackie, nanagirl, Sandy, Rita and chevyboy and everyone I may have missed.

Rita, I usually get out of jury duty because I have a tremor and I shake when I get nervous. That, and, I can't wait for bathroom breaks.

Our toilet broke last night and a friend of mine just replaced it. So now I have to clean the bathroom floor and figure out where to put everything; I had a shelf on the back of the other one and I'm not sure it'll fit. So, I had to call off work today to deal with it. I slept downstairs (working toilet) and it's hard to sleep with a snoring husband and trying to fit 3 cats with me on a loveseat.

Sandy, you are so knowledgeable, it's a little over my head. I called the nurse navigator at my surgeon's office and she asked when's the last time I had a mammo, and I reminded her I just had surgery in Sept. and finished rads in Jan. She'll see the Dr. Wed. and call me back with what they want me to do. It does hurt a bit, so I'll just take some advil.

Today, I have a dexascan. I had one probably about 10 years ago and no one can find records. I'm sure it'll show some osteoarthritis and bone loss on my right side.

Being off schedule and being at home, I don't know what to do first: eat, take a nap or do the bathroom. I think the bathroom wins, so I hope you all have a great day.

Linda

IllinoisLady

No one can get inner peace by pouncing on it, by vigorously

willing to have it. Peace is a margin of power around our

daily need. Peace is a consciousness of springs too deep

for earthly droughts to dry up. Peace is the gift not of

volitional struggle but of spiritual hospitality.

Harry Emerson Fosdick

MinusTwo

2ND20 - the dexamethazone is a steroid. Usually given to prevent inflammation and combat allergies. Everyone I know who has had chemo takes this drug at least the day before, the day of and the day after. You're lucky you got the Emend for nausea. It's a "miracle drug". Good luck w/the chemo

Chevyboy

Oh thanks Minus2 for answering R2D2's question! I didn't have a clue about those drugs!

I took a couple antibiotics because I had the MammoSite device implanted, with all those tubes coming out.... Your body doesn't like anything foreign in there! But it all cleared up after they took the MammoSite device out.

Linda... Toilet problems? And our kitchen sink is running SO sloooooooly! Have to take pipes apart underneath.... Tried everything else to break up the clog or whatever....! We don't even use the disposal, because our pipes are so old....

I would LOVE to call in a Plumber, but of course, DH wants to try everything else first.... We'll see.....

Also had a Dexa-scan, after broken hip.... but that didn't show anything wrong with my bones! Falling as hard on cement as I did will SURELY break a bone! But no other problems....

carolehalston

I read on facebook that Puffin caught the same stomach virus that made dh and me so sick last week. She went to the ER. Hope you're feeling better, Puffin.

I visited my mother this afternoon at the nursing home where she's doing rehab. We went to the bingo game and she won two games. $1 for each win! She has been working hard and is making good progress. My younger sister and her dh are planning to transport my mother to her house (mother's house) on Sunday where we will have a family dinner.

More primary voting results tonight.

Di2012

Di2012 Pacific NW, USA Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 628

Haven't been here in ages....maybe a year?

Hubby and I have been married 47 1/2 years...we decided to take a trip to Tahiti before we were too old to do such a thing. We were in Papeete, Tahiti for 4 days, then boarded a cruise ship for a 16 day cruise from there, beautiful...the colors of the water was breath taking, visited Moorea and Bora Bora (my Favorite) too.....our cruise ship headed north to Hawaii and that is when hubby & I got sick with chills & fever and a hacking cough, honking cough....we only left our beds and our cabin to eat our 3 meals & 1 snack each day......we missed crossing the Equator ceremony because we were sleeping....5 days at sea and then the big island of Hawaii....saw the volcano and walked through the lava tubes. Honolulu raining and it is Thanksgiving( everything is closed).....road a tour bus around the island......then Lahina, Maui the next day......it was very hot and humid ....then 5 days crossing the Pacific before reaching San Pedro, CA......I remember nothing about those 5 days.....so so sick.... our large balcony at the aft of the ship went unused!

Flew home first class and slept the entire time.....gave hubby my lunch.

Next day went to the hospital for a Reclast infusion.....(I have had osteoporosis for 2 years)...my nurse said I should go the the ER to have my cough checked out.

I went to the ER the next day and was treated for bronchitis....I was sick until mid January and this cough started about the 20th of Nov.

Finally started to feel normal again, but weak and dizzy....kept telling hubby "my boat is rocking"

Feb 3 got diarrhea all night....all day & night on the 4th and by the 5th I was very weak and told my husband I was going to die....he took me to URGENT Care and they said I need fluid and wanted me transferred to a hospital. (the hospital I wanted to go to was on DIVERT, they were full)...took an ambulance ride to nearest hospital....test of all kinds, ct scan....at this "HOSPITAL" is only an ER....as the rest of the hospital was being built........another ambulance ride and a "pre-admit" arranged to another hospital. They were waiting when I arrived....there were I believe 3-4 doctors and about 5 nurses around my bed.....one doctor told me I was critical.....everyone was gowning and putting on gloves before entering my roomI had severe sepsis, c-diff, colitis, Acute Kidney Injury......12 days later I was discharged......I am still weak and dizzy....I walk funny, and many of my brain cells must have died..or they gave me STUPID pills.....severe sepsis keeps giving and giving. I lost my independence and hubby has become my "uber driver."

My liver was 20CM more than twice the size of normal woman.....I am worried about that.....I am worried about my my left kidney as I have pain, and I am worried about my andrenal gland as it showed thickening....I am worried about mets, I am worried about getting sepsis again as my odds of dying are higher.

My dizziness continues.....so my ENT did a CT scan and found my right maxillary sinus had a bacterial infection and he believes it is causing my dizziness.....but I cannot take antibiotics (thank you Severe Sepsis) A week and a half ago, I had my maxillary sinus opened and drained, while I was awake, talking to the doctor, the nurse and the tech that operated the "balloon" machine.....this was the BEST "surgery" as I went home wide awake as there were NO DRUGS involved, stopped at the drug store on the way home to get a sinus rinse kit. Feeling less dizzy, (can take up to 6 weeks) but I still walk unsteady, and my size 4P jeans are falling off my body as I have lost 20 lbs since our cruise, and only put back 3 lbs, even though eating 4 meals a day!

Hugs,

Di

IllinoisLady

Oh my goodness Di. Well welcome back to the Older Women. You know, I don't know where to start. Were you and hubby the only ones who were sick on the ship. Sure sounds like a number of people may have been. Maybe hard to know. Do you know if you had something germinating from the days you spent in Tahiti.

Was the second round of illness directly a part of the chills and fevers your had well before. Well, your in my prayers big time that you get a good handle through good Dr.'s on this and can soon start to relax and put the negative parts of your illness behind you. I so wish though ( if it had to happen at all ) that it hadn't come when you were doing a sort of marvelous bucket list sort of thing.

Sending lots of healthy hopes and healing energies. Give your hubby a big hug from me here and tell him what a great guy to take such good care of you.

Jackie

IllinoisLady

Puffin,

Wow -- glad you got to the ER and got some help as well. You have been under such stress --- so many of you women have and I am hoping that everyone can just un-wind ( where possible ) and get lots of sun, Vits C & D, lots of rest, plenty of exercise and a very good nights sleep, and know that you are being cared about so much. I feel almost guilty that I am always well ( as I furiously knock on wood ) and hope no one gets irritated with me for mild suggestions.

Jackie