MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

macatacmv

Thanks for the laughs ladies. I had sunk into a low space last night and couldn't dig myself out. But the broccoli with the Cheetos made me laugh! It is the beginning of a new year and today the sun is shining and I can take the dog for a walk on the beach and my son is off watching the Patriots play ball so I have the house to myself and can listen to music and eat what I want. So try to keep me down BC, I am coming out swinging and dancing and singing.

justmejanis

Macatacmv...Good for you!  Enjoy the beautiful day, the peace and quiet and all the wonderful food you can snag.  I was down yesterday too but feeling better today.  I hope the singing and dancing continues for you! 

Eli, we need to make a fabulous dip for the broccoli/Cheeto tree!

Eph3_12

oooooo-I have this dry package of dill dip, just add mayo & sour cream--it is awesome.  Y'all can have it for the broccli/cheeto tree, I'll use it on the carrot sticks!

Eph3_12

Eli, what's with the blue extraterrestrial jelly fish?  Did you get beamed up by one last night?

mumito

LOL Eli

theBCavenger

Guess I fit in this category since I am 42! I am still shocked from hearing that I am pre-menopausal! Before all this hit, I was feeling like I was still in early 30's...LOL

catbill

             May 2012 be the year of miracles.

Sherryc

Welcome DM13 this is a great place to hang.

Janis I'll be in your pocket on the 4th and the 10th

Ceeztheday

Welcome DM13. This is a great place to celebrate or to gripe. No judgments. Lots of support.

elimar86861

Welcome, DM13!  You sure have been thru' a lot in the past couple months.  Are you doing chemo now (which one?)   I feel like I should point you toward the LYMPHEDEMA thread (just search with that as keyword) because it is something to be watchful for with BiMx and all those nodes out.  Lymphadema can come weeks after surgery or months later.   If you do notice fluid swelling in your arms, or chest and back of your trunk, let the docs know and ask for PT to get manual lymph drainage.  Maybe you have heard all this already, but MANY women post on here that the doctors really don't give lymphadema much priority.  I had less invasive surgery, but I did not hear one word about the possibility of lymphadema (and yes, women w/lumpectomies and only a node or two out can get it too, plus our radiation does not help.)  Not trying to scare you about it...just putting out a "caution alert" since the earlier you get help, the less likely for it to become a severe condition.

Other than that, hats off to you for owning your middle-agedness at only 42.  You can be our kid sister here.

Eph,  What jellyfish?  Oh!  Those extraterrestrials in the top picture?  It looked to me like they were packing up their cold-fusion ornaments for next year.  I know I was working on un-decorating MY tree today too.  For some reason, I don't think the alien sensibilities are that far from my own.

Bad day to begin a diet dept...

The broccoli was a good intention, and I really did have brussels sprouts at dinner, but today was the day I unveiled my rum cake.  It looked so good popping out of the fluted bundt pan with a sugary walnut glaze on the top.  It tasted so good everyone wanted seconds.  It was only A MILLION calories. 

Eph3_12

I would rather have been undecorating; instead I have been working on the FAFSA for DD!Ugggggggggh-I'm so poor but on paper I'm afraid it doesn't look it - where does that money go? Oh right, 17 year old who eats the equivelent of her own body weight daily!

jo1955

DM13 - Welcome to a great group of ladies - sorry we had to meet like this.  You will find lots of support and caring here.  Also, we do like to party once in awhile but can get serious when we need to.  Come hang out with us as much as you like.

Kay_G

Welcome DM13! Please don't feel old at 42. You will really make me feel old at 48. I may be wrong, but I think everyone is premenopausal until they are actually menopausal, even if you're only 25. You have found a good place to get info or just let off some steam or worries.



What's with all the talk about laughing? The broccoli and cheetos has me drooling!

SAB

Oh Eph I HATE those Fafsa forms.  They should have a page for debt load, especially medical bills.  

odie16

Welcome DM13... Don't look now but I am right behind you (age 41 in a few weeks).  Sorry you have to join us but glad you did.  This is an amazing group of women. Just remember to bob & weave on Friday nites when the pillow feathers start flying......

madpeacock

It's 11:40 p.m. New Year's Day, but still wanted to wish everyone a healthy, happy, hopeful, harmonious, hell-raisin' New Year! 

barbe1958

DM13 I am 53 and don't feel a day over 23!!! It's all in the 'tude, baby!! When I was 51, a guy at work told me he thought I was 35!!! His jaw hit the lunchroom table when I told him my real age!! ehehehehehe!! I have even had doctors take a second look. I love it!! I never want to ACT my age. Maybe that is why they call it acting!!!

macatacmv

Ohh those FASA forms. There's something to be grateful for today, I don't have to fill those out anymore! My son was in the Marines for 4 years, one tour overseas so he gets the GI bill, he is a senior (at 26) at a State U. now. My daughter (24) is taking a "break" from school and living in CO. I did get my health insurance yearly review form last week and had to get all my 2010 tax stuff together for that. Thankfully there is a wonderful woman at the health care access office that helped  me fill out the form online. That's all I would need to be dropped from my insurance now. 

elimar86861

Eph, and anyone having to deal with FAFSA:  I pushed that task onto my husband and it drove him crazy.  He winded up getting locked out somewhere between completing the info. and going back to do the electronic signatures before submitting.  My tip would be print a hard copy of the info. before you have to do the signature, just in case.

theBCavenger

Thank you all for the warm welcome. After reading several entries, I see I am missing some funnies, and must read more!

 I will visit here often and hope you all had a wonderful New Year

justmejanis

Welcome DM 13.  You landed in a great place and you will get tons of support here.  Not to mention we do like to laugh here...a lot.  Plus of course all the pocket parties.  I have another one for me tomorrow for my spinal MRI.  Come on over, 12:30 Mountain Time.  Lots of good snacks, drinks, and of course, Cheetos!

Barbe I totally agree, I never want to grow up.  Peter Pan Syndrome?  Nah, I just like to laugh a lot!  Acting goofy is great for the spirit. 

Raj20

Hi! DM13! How can feel old at 42? I am running 53 feeling quite young. If you feel like that then how should we feel at 53. You know we woman has hectic lifetime from 20-40yrs. in bringing up our children and watching them to settle their life & career. We should feel young for keeping our body & mind  healthy in spirit from 50  till end of life as this time is the best time for woman. So life is too short , you should boost it with positive thinking.

This 2012 is really going to be a brightess year for all of us. So enjoy life like a young girl guys!

I wish you all once again  A VERY HAPPY WONDERFUL AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR ! Let us think and create constructive things by looking forward to a blissful life. Warm hugs to you all!

justmejanis

rajkumari.........I like the postivie cheerleading.  It helps so much.  I was diagnosed in July and have yet to shed a tear over this cancer.  Maybe I am just holding it in, but really, I feel good.  I have had a few scares and that definitely can rattle my cage for a few days.  I just don't allow the worry to consume me.  I read somewhere that 90% of the things we worry about never happen.  That is a lot of unnecessary worry!

Happy New Year to you as well.  To each and everyone, many blessings and lots of good news for 2012.

Paula66

Hi DM13.  The gals around here are great.  If you have any issues just post and Im sure someone will be able to help.  They are a great group around here!

Layla2525

I have read so much on this board and it looks like everyone is a little different circum...I am 59 but I had my sons young and breastfed them.  I didnt smoke hardly drank, tried so hard to live healthy but I dot bc anyway and its invasive so I just gotta do the best I can and tell myself that I can do it...but someitmes I dont believe myself..one day I feel optimistic and the next day I feel depressed. I have become very moody over this.

Maya2

I'm 59 and feel quite young. I exercise, eat well (maybe fries once a month). I feel strong, flexible and have good balance. There's nothing I did at 20 that I can't do now--and I've added skiing and long-distance walking since 40 and 50.

While I don't really make an effort to think positively (and sometimes I can be negative), I mostly just try to cope with whatever comes up--really, what else can you do? We can't get a loner while our body's being fixed.

Layla, I too led a healthy life, followed the entire doctor's litany, had no family history of BC, but I got it anyway. I believe mine was caused by a neighour's lawn chemicals. I was diagnosed with BC exactly 7 years after the chemical exposure. We can't control everything. What you're feeling is normal, up one day, down the next. It will get better. You do eventually get through it all.

KatMac626

Hi ladies.  I have been enjoying your posts and feel a little comforted knowing that some of these feelings I still have are normal -- hopefully one day they wont take up so many of my thoughts.  It will be 3 years this march since my dx (@47), only 9 months after my sister lost her battle to this horrible disease.  She had IBC and fought a tough battle, so my dx rattled me to the core.  Fortunately, I guess, mine was stage 1 IDC.  This year I had a small growth on my left arm (same side as my bc), turned out to be melanoma.  Wow, strike two. 

I have to say, I do feel blessed that both were found early and small, treatable with surgery and radiation...but geez, how do we deal with this 'waiting for the shoe to drop' feeling??  I find that most of the people in my life either ignore what's happened to me or feel that it was found early and small so I'm cured, let's move on.... I would love to! I'm trying! I don't let it consume me, but I feel like there are so many things I want to do -- soon.  I might be driving my poor dh a little nutty.  Do any of you feel an urgency to travel, remodel, see all 7 wonders of the world; go to Venice, Italy, the Highlands of Scotland, buy and RV and visit all the National Parks in the US???  Is it me???  Any fans of the movie Moonstruck out there??  Are you familiar with the dad who says he doesn't sleep because it's too much like death; here I sit at 2:15 am...not sleeping...to many things to plan.

is it me??

mostlymom

honey - it's the bc.

Momine

No Kat, it isn't just you, lol. I also feel like I want to cram as much life as possible into the time I have left. Cancer puts a whole new spin on the concept of the bucket list.

barsco1963

I have always lived with an "enjoy the moment" attitude. It certainly has come into play in the last few months of my life. Every day I try to keep my head up and not let cancer take up space in my head. Some days are easier than others, for sure.