**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

crusader1

HI all,

Today I am a little stiffer but still do not have much pain. Getting in and out of bad does remain a challenge. I have decided at this point not to take any narcotic  pain killers at this point. I have so many from my previous surgeries..Vicodin, Percoset, and Lortab. Last night I took a Lortab and for some reason I slept very poorly. Tonight I think I will take a Percoset. Thaks for all of your good wishes. Tomorrow I can shower and remove bandages. Something exciting to look forward to.

Sakura- Thanks for your insights into tumor markers.

Beth..Zometa is a biophosphate that was originally given only to women with bone mets. Recently they discovered that it strenghens the bones of women taking Arimidex. So as a number of women on this board have been given it if your bone density is not good.

Last night my best friend( from HS) and her husband came over and we ordered in Chinese food . It was a nice way to take my mind of my body.She brought four incredible french pastries which I served for dessert with my apple tea from Turkey.

Today I will go for tea, out to lunch with my husband and then rest the rest of the day.

Thanks for all of your good vibes.

Hugs,

Francine

ccbaby

Crusader...I hope you continue to heal and try to get some rest. You have been through a lot.

ChrisC433

Francine...great news...take it easy, though.  Don't do too much too soon...give that body time to heal!  Glad things went well...

Deb:  Sorry to hear you are on standby.  This time off will give your body some extra time to repair and to prepare for your last 3 treatments.  Thinking of you...all Warrior Princesses need to get off this train soon!

ChrisC433

Oh..forgot.  Saw GYN this morning.  I have some raw (granulated) areas that have not healed from my hysterctomy.  He did Pap, tested some tissue around that area, and then caulderized it.  OUCH!!  Don't remember the last time a pap hurt so bad.  He apologized for being rough...yeah, that helps.  He didn't think it looked suspicious, but wanted to check anyway.

I have a break between parent/teacher conferences so I am trying to catch up on the posts!!! 

Take care...

pickle

Francine: get plenty of R & R. Wishing you a most comfortable day.

Chris:  Fingers crossed that all is well and I think it's great that the doc is being diligent. Sorry that your pap hurt so much. At least he said he was sorry. I heard on another thread that their gyn answered his cell phone in the middle of a pap. Seiously WTH was he thinking...lol

crusader1

Hi

I had a  rough nite and thus I was exhausted during the day. I slept a few hours but now I have a slight fever. I am concerned and will call the doctor tomorrow if the fever persists. I do hope this is not a bad omen.

Chris- do hope all goes well with your pap. I had one recently and it also hurt. My gyno does not do it yearly if he gets positives so I hadn't had one for a few years.

Francine

ChrisC433

Francine...do you have antiobiotics to take.  Maybe you should start one to nip this in the bud!  I have some all the time, ready and waiting, due to axillary dissection.  Doc wants me to have them ready if I need them.  This might be my last PAP for awhile!!!

crusader1

Chris,Thks for your imput..

I happen to be on strong antibiotics due to Mrsa infection after last TE. I called the doctor and he said to come in to see him tomorrow. He said I should take deep breaths as this might be giving me the fever ..He said often women with breast surgery have this problem. Lets hope it is a minor problem.

Hugs,

Francine

Mom_of_boys

Francine... Hope you have a much better night!

Chris... Please continue to keep us informed on your pap results.  I go tomorrow for my annual visit.  Blah and double blah!

Dawnmrn1

francine!  Walk around alot and breathe deeply and cough as much as you can!  Drink plenty of fluids!  this will keep everything moving and hopefully ward off any infection!  Hope you are staying comfortable!

Chris!  Wishing you well with the papa, it sounds minor!!!!!

Deb!  hope the chemo, starts up so you can get it behind you!!

All!  Thanks for the kind thoughts !  I am so happy to be doing well, my DX is not a great one, and I will spend the rest of my life worrying!  these tumor markers, definately can give someone like me some peace of mind!  fight the fight!  Love, Dawn

ChrisC433

Thanks for the well wishes!

 Mom of Boys:  Wishing you the easiest annual physical possible...warm, gentle hands with lots of compassion!

crusader1

Hi Ladies,

Thks for the  comments..Chris, Dawn..Jan.

I am feeling better today. I will continue taking deep breaths as that is also what the doctor told me.

Chris..I love the new Avatar.

Hugs ,

Francine

ChrisC433

Francine...thanks.  I finally had pics on my computer (from the wedding) so I could paste one.  That is my %^(* wig!  I will have to add one without too!

Mom_of_boys

Chris... Take it off, take it off, take it off!!! <the wig that is>

crusader1

Have any of you read on the BC .org site about wigdar. The women said it was the ability to spot wigs at any time, anyplace. I definitely have it ..Chris...  I knew you were wearing your wig but you still look good. I love my new hair but when I wore my wig all my friends said I never looked better..always neat , shiny etc.

When you feel comfortable go for it.

Hugs,

Francine

ChrisC433

Mom of Boys and Francine....actually, I haven't worn the wig since the day of the wedding...October 3rd!  I just don't have a pic without the wig yet!  I love not wearing it and I was more paranoid about what people would think than was necessary.  Kids never said anything, except they like my new haircut!  It was very liberating to go naked!!!

nasharayne

Hi Ladies,

I guess I missed a bit while I was away.

NYDEB - I hope you get to start soon....Isn't that weird, we actually want you to start chemo again...the things we wish for.

Sakura - No one can tell you what's best for you.  You know your heart and I say go with it.

Well I went to LA and San DIego for about a week.  I've been to both before but, I think it's a little different when you are with someone special.  We had a great time but a few days in to it, I got a surprise visitor...Aunt Flow.  All we could do was laugh.  I wanted it sooooooo bad and it just shows up right in the middle of everything.  Last month I spotted once and got excited but, there was nothing after that. This time it was the real thing. Cramps and all.  Hopefully Sakura, Dayla, and jdeking will be soon, if it hasn't already happened!!!

 Have a great weekend!!!!!!!

crusader1

Chris,

Nice to hear from another liberated women..enjoy your new found freedom...Going wigless.

Nasharayne = I guess you were happy with Aunt Flo but were not that happy with it's timing. Anyways great that you enjoyed your time away.

Hugs,

Francine

sakura73

nasharayne I am so thrilled to hear about Aunt Flow! That is fabulous news. No sign for me yet, alas, but you give me hope.

Francine I am thinking of you. 

Well, I went wigless all this weekend, including to church today. Am about to update my avatar to show you my hair. It is still really grey on top, but at other places looks a bit lighter than my old hair was. I actually had someone who doesn't know me say they liked my hair cut! I will still wear the wig for work for another week or so, and then be naked for good. It does feel so good to be free of the scarves and wig.

I've had a glorious weekend with DBF and am feeling wonderful. I hope you are all feeling so too.

crusader1

Sakura,

Sakura,Nice hair ! ! !

Glad you are enjoying your time with Damien.

Thanks for thinking of me. Keeping my fingers crossed that all will stay well.

Hugs,

Francine

ccbaby

Crusader....LOL at the wig-dar!!! I always had an eye for it before since I am a hairstylist, but now I can really spot one!

bwbly

bwbly

crap, having problems uploading fotos of my HAIR!!!!

bwbly

Doing well. No time any more. Working 6 days a week, hyperbaric chamber every day, Herceptin every 3 weeks.

Lat flap got infected (of course), but after 27 hyperbaric treatments, it's finally started healing.

ChrisC433

Nice to hear from your Bwbly! Sorry to hear you have had such problems, but looks like you are getting on the other side of it now.  Good things from here on out!

PattiB

RAchel - your hair looks great, I saw your picture on facebook too!  You really don't need the wig, but it is all about your comfort level.

crusader1

Bwbly,  Glad your incision is healing.

Tomorrow I go to the PS to check out my incisions from last weeks tissue expander surgery. I am a little apprehensive as I do see some red there.I have spoken with the doctor this weekend a few times ..The good part is that I do not have any fever. That is a good sign. Hopefully.

Hugs,

Francine

Alyad

Hi Everyone, I thought I would upload a new avatar too- my hair is going crazy. I think its thicker than before but no changes other than that. Christy cleaned up the chemo ends for me last week. I feel like I have a fro.

No Aunt Flo for me yet, a couple times I thought I felt cramps but nothing yet. I started Tamoxifen about 6 weeks ago. I have some hot flashes-and I feel VERY irritable at times. I have started takeing potassium iodine too- it has been hypothesied iodine deficency contributes to breast cancer. Once I finish this bottle I will likely take a different form called IC3.

My mojo is kinda hit and miss- I had a weekend in mid september where  I felt REALLY good , then nothing for awhile.  My overall energy is still lagging too- I had a couple crazy weeks at work where I was out in the field collecting data and stressed, let the workout routine I had started a few weeks prior lapse- now I am having a hard time getting back in the groove.

Tomorrow, I am going to quit drinking soda for the umpteenth time in my life.

kim40

Hi Ladies

I've been AWOL for a while now.  I read the board mostly everyday, but don't post often.  I think about you guys all the time.

Francine - Get some well deserved rest.  Glad the fever has disappeared.

Rachel - I am so happy for you!  If you are happy with Damien back in your lie, then that is what truly counts!  I love you FB pic - your hair is growing nicely!  You look terrific!!

Chris - OUCH is right!  I go for mine in January - NOT looking forward to it!

Bwbly - Sorry to hear about your problems.  Glad you are healing.

Dayla - You have so much hair!  It looks great!

Is anyone else still waiting on their brows?  OMG - 4 months PFC and still only a few hairs here and there - I am still drawing them on my face!

Some of  you were talking about trouble with your veins.  The time before last that I went into the hospital for the Herceptin, the nurse had a lot of trouble finding my vein even after soaking my hand in hot water.  They poked me 3 times before they finally got one.  I was getting really upset about it.  Anyway, they told me to drink a lot of water before coming in, it would make a huge difference as the water will pop your veins.  So I tried it.  Last week when I went in, I drank a bottle on the way, and a bottle while I waited and it worked like a charm!  No extra poking - just extra trips to the bathroom!! 

I will have to update my pic too!  I love the feeling of going outside with no hat or wig!  Makes me feel so free and back to normal!!!   

crusader1

Dayla Love the new Avatar. Your hair looks real cute. Mine is also coming in very curly. So easy maintain . I am thinking about getting it trimmed tomorrow. Only the back of my head appears to be baby hair.You look so happy...Great ..I do hope your energy comes back soon as well as some other things.

Kim- I too was wondering about the eyebrows and had not seen anyone talk about it till you. I never lost them completely during chemo as they were very thick and bushy prior.But after I finished chemo during the summer I went to have then waxed and shaped. Well they look exactly the same as that day in the summer. I put eyebrow pencil on them now. I know well the feeling of free and back to normal. Good suggestion about being well hydrated. I must drink more water before my next IV.

Going this afternoon to the PS. I spoke with him yesterday as I was worried over a red band on my mound .I had no fever  which was a good sign. I really had a miserable day worrying that I would loose yet another implant. But then last night a real funny thing happened ..I went into the Bathroom to look at the incisions and the red band and saw that it was really the mark made by the tape. I saw little adhesive lines on the sides of it. So I worried for nothing.

Hugs,

Francine