MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Meece

I took the wig off as soon as I got home from work, but always wore a scarf.  As soon as my hair was 3/4 of an inch long I stopped wearing anything on my head.  I remember the first day I went wig-less at work and a friend of my boss stopped by my office and told me he tought I had cut my hair a little too short.  Boy did he shrink back when I told him that's what chemo will do to you.

reesie

Paula, I stopped wearing a scarf (never wore a wig) and started wearing a baseball cap - it was more comfortable for me (and I've always worn them out in the sun, so it was "normal").  I wear the cap at work and out of the house but mostly to make others more comfortable - it comes off as soon as I get in the car to drive home lol.

I'll be honest - if I wasn't comfortable in the cap I would say screw everyone else's comfort and go commando.  My hair is SLOWLY growing - even on Abraxane (if only it grew as fast as the hair on my legs) so I think I will be hatless soon.

cmbear

OOh something to look forward too!! Can't wait!!

Had a first last night. Woke up with a charley-horse--not a leg cramp(thanks to my 3am research on the www --I now know the difference!!) OMG, scared the crud out of me! And it still hurts. One more tick of the clock,reminding me my birthday is right around the corner.

 

Happy Second Day of summer!! Toast with a nice frozen lemonade--vodka optional (although I don't know why!!!!) 

barbe1958

So, what IS the difference between a charley horse and a leg cramp? The locatoin of the cramp?

cmbear

It's always location, location, location!! Basically a charley horse is a muscle cramp in your calf. OLD people, pregnant and people with fewer "reserves" are more likely to get them. But a charley horse comes on suddenly and painfully at night. Anything that wakes me up out of a dead sleep makes me nervous. I have often gotten foot cramps day or night, very painful, but nothing that woke me up so forcefully. I know I'm being a whiner right now, but its just one more stupid thing that says my body is changing and not the one I've known for the last 49 years.

jo1955

Claire - That drink looks so inviting.  It is really hot here and that would definitely cool me off.

jenn3

I've been away for a while.........I became so anemic I could hardly function, sleeping 16 -18 hours a day and unable to even bend over to pick up something without losing my breath and feeling like I've run 2 miles.  I had a blood transfusion last week and am feeling so much better, a lot like my "old" self. 

I am one of those that did everything I was told by the RO, moisturized with Miaderm and Aloe, except 2 hours before raditation, moisturized after each treatment.  A week after finishing my skin got bright red, blistered, oozed something I can't even describe and hurt like h#!!.  I went in daily for a week to get the area cleaned, in addition the daily cleaning I did in the evenings. My RO said that women who have had a masectomy usually have a harder time with rads because there isn't as much tissue in the area to absorb the radiation.  That was the case for me. 

Congrats on the wedding, the bride is beautiful!!!

I wore my scarf when I left the house.  However, after I had a small amount of hair, like you I got sick of the hot flashes and decided I had had enough and went commando.  The first day or two at work was the hardest, but we all got used to it and all was fine.  FYI - you may already know this, but Effexor works wonders for hotflashes.  It's in the antidepressent/anxiety family.  Some women don't like Effexor, but for me it worked wonders with viturally no other SE's except that I am "nicer" .

Jenn

barbe1958

Claire, you have to take Vit E!!! I remember those kinds of cramps when I was pregnant. I actually had a golf-ball-sized lump on the back of my calf. I had to get out of bed and stand up to try to stretch it out. Wowza!!!!! Vitamin E was recommended and it did work. Not an old wifes' tale.

walker2222

Claire - I was having chemo about this time last year, did wear my wig for about a month after I lost the hair, then I would wear hats or scarvs.  Mostly scarvs at work, went comando at home though, head gear was the first to come off.  I had to get my DS used to seeing his mom without hair.  It did not take too long.  He would rub it for good luck, gota love a 15 year old.  Just do what is comfortable to you.

I did not have problems with rads until the 5th week, started turning red/purplish by Thursday of that week.  RO came in to look and prerscribed the sliver cream.  By three weeks after last treatment, skin area just looked tan.  Depending on where radiation beam its, you may see some tanning on your back too.  Mine faded within a month.  The Maiderma worked great for me, just did not tell the RO, he was old school and just wanted me to aloe vera (but that burns more).

Kay_G

I wear a hat out, at home I'm topless (just the head lol).  My 13 yo daughter and my two sons, 19 and 22 are fine with it.  My DD does not want her school friends to see me that way.  She is actually obsessed with it.  But she has close friends who are over the house a lot, and she is fine with me being topless around them.  I agree with mjbmiller, do whatever is comfortable for you.

walker2222

Well tomorrow I am finally having my surgery done. Getting that last TE out and going without recon. Looking forward to getting on with life.

reesie

MJB I'll be praying for an easy surrgery and a quick recovery for you.

elimar86861

mjb, it is a shame that your original plan for recon did not work out, but I love your "get on with life" attitude.  Will be keeping you in my thoughts tomorrow, that all goes smoothly.  Once you recover a bit, let us know how it went.

jo1955

mjb - Love your positive attitude and will keep you in my thoughts that all goes well and that you have a speedy recovery.

barbe1958

Thank God it's finally happening MBJ!! Remember when you were given the date and it seemed SO far away? I think they did that, thinking that you'd change your mind. I've been chatting with someone else who had hers removed and she is SO, so very happy with her decision!!! I can't wait to hear how relieved you are, but remember, it too, is a surgery that you'll have to recover from. Good luck, sweetie!!!

reesie

Why do they keep remaking movies that came out when we were young. I just saw a commercial for the remake of Footloose. I don't want to feel old and everytime they remake one of "my" movies it reminds me of my age again lol.

elimar86861

reesie, you feel old?  What about poor Kevin Bacon?  Yeah, and only about 5% of the remakes are actually any good.  When my son was a pre-teen, he asked why everything was a remake, why they couldn't come up with some new ideas? 

OG56

MJB got my fingers crossed that surgery and recovery is a breeze!

EPH, where the hell have I been? I have never even heard of that shoThat man is extra delicious and he is 41 so still doable LOL,

I may have no estrogen and no mojo but my dirty little mind works just fine

Sherryc

mjbmiller good luck on your surgery tomorrow.  Hope you have an easy recovery

Paula66

Good luck with your surgery tommorrow mjbmiller.  I hope all goes well.

Eph3_12

OG56-Shemar got his start on a soap opera , Young & the Restless, but I'd be happy to have him on every show, every channel! 

sheila888

Oh Joni I love him and the Criminal Minds.

Thanks for sharing.

Hi Ladies

Paula66

LOL OG56, I know what you mean!  Thanks ladies on the topless help.  I went to work with a hat on and then I went ahead and took it off.  I was abit nervous at first, but after abit I was fine.  The ride home I also went topless.  It was a free feeling.  My cousin had fb me about how she went topless with no hair, so I got to thinking if she can do it then I will give it a whirl. Thanks for the help and courage to go topless out of the house.  BTW my son likes to rub my head also, lol.  He was always trying to get me to stop wear hats and scarves. 

K-Lo

Hey Ree, us jersey girls got hair on Abraxane. MO said only 5% get it back. High five.

elimar86861

K-Lo, we are pleased to meet you on this thread.  Feel free to flaunt your hair despite taking Abraxane, because anything that beats the odds is something to brag about. Now, are you saying you are a Jersey girl transplant to AL...oh my!!!

reesie

Well it's good to know we're special Kathy lol.



I was almost asleep enjoying my percoset (no electricity at work had to take steps - only 3 flights and it was only down but the leg was aching). Well my thoughtful son comes in and says "are you up?" Well I am NOW. He's going to the store because he's hungry and there's "nothing to eat" and he wanted to know if I needed anything.



Guess I can't be mad but....



Hmmm... shoulda asked for Tastycakes

cmbear

MJB-good luck today on your surgery today. Sending good thoughts your way!

Barbe-How much Vit E do you take, my multi is 100%, I already supplement with D and B complex. What's another vitamen to the mix!!

Reesie-- I saw a preview for Footloose last night during SYTYCD. What makes me feel old is knowing that none of the kids cast for that movie were ALIVE when the first movie came out. Plus Dennis Quaid is playing John Lithgow's part--a tad older----but that is OK by me!! 

 I'm not complaining!!!

annettek

holey moley- looks like i have not been on this thread in a month.....missed you all..been a little distracted hahahahaha make that a lot but like the phoenix, I am slowly finding my wings again

i can't read every single post that I have missed but let me welcome everyone new (and that ticks me off knowing there ARE new people- I wish one day nobody would have to join...

reesie

Claire, that's what I was watching too!  That is my absolute favorite reality show - there is some amazing dancing on it

BarbaraA

MBJ, good luck today. Sending up prayers for a speedy recovery!

cmblastic - now THAT's what I'm talking about!