MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Eph3_12

Van, there is LOTS to look forward to.  Treatment is just a short blink in comparison to the rest of your life.  Sure, there are possible side effects, etc.  but just by aging we are prone to "side effects".  Even 3 years ago I wasn't ever feeling hopeless; I was just waiting to get that season done & over with.  And here I am 3 years later, still onery as ever! And glad & happy to be alive.  

_Ann_

Juneabugg, for what it's worth I weaned off Effexor with no problems whatsoever.   I think I just abrubptly quit taking it!  This was some years ago before it had such a reputation for being hard to discontinue.  

I am taking it again (37.5 mg) for hot flashes and it seems to be helping, although I'm not sure if passage of time or end of hot summer weather was the real factor.  Prior to that I spent months sweating several times an hour!  Now it's just an occasional warm flush, no more dripping sweat.

Anonymous

Juneabugg, I started getting terrible.flashes after I started the Tamoxifen. Miserable .....but the slowly lessened and I just realized in reading these last posts that I haven't had one in maybe 2 months!!! Hallelujah! .....so don't despair!



LOL! From the evil dictator to the evil papoose!......oh Eli! I wish we lived closer so I could just soak you up!!! You make me smile every day!

Anonymous

Question: I just got my pathology report from the DIEP (proph left mx and reconstruction of both)

The report indicated 2 benign nodes from the right mammary excision......where I didn't think I had any mammary left after my mx in April!



No lymph nodes were found or addressed in the left prophylactic mx.

Does this sound weird to anyone else or is this normal, that my BC side would have additional nodes taken when they opened for the DIEP.



Hmmm...???

Cindyl

As annoying as the hot flashes and night sweats are, if they are the worst I've got to deal with, I'll rejoice.  I'm tired because I don't sleep well, but even that has an upside.  I don't lay away trying to fall asleep anymore.  I fall into bed and drop of.  I wake often, but not for long usually.  I have some LE and have changed my mode of dress to accommodate my sleeve and foundation garments, but I was never a fashion plate so that's OK too.

Tried one of my pre lx bras on this morning.  Fits great.  Wow.  So after having a 5 cm wad of tissue removed and losing 38 lbs I'm finally back to being the size I was before surgery... and the mo doesn't think there's much truncal swelling?  But again, I can live with it...

elimar86861

LindaKR,  Maybe Santa will bring me a recliner for Xmas.  Comfy as they are, I do not have one.

Welcome _Ann_, Low dose Effexor did help with my flashes, as did the cooler, drier air of the Winter mos.  Have to say that Effexor withdrawl gave me the "brian shivvers" for about a month, so the withdrawl stories are not all myth.

vans, This may sound corny but if I was down there right now, I'd be getting excited to be heading into the summer months.  I could look at a blue sky with a white cloud, or a leaf on a tree and feel like it was a pretty good day.  When I think of the times in my life when I felt the least happy and the most hopeless, it was the times I lost sight of the small beauties that are around me every day.  Try to direct your mind to the goodness of everyday things and you can't go wrong.  If that doesn't work, might I suggest putting on some music and just rocking out?  (I find The Rolling Stones' Exile On Mainstreet particularly therapeutic, but it can be anything really.)

If anyone thinks I am joking about that last part, then you did not fully investigate my third micro-tattoo posted a couple pages ago.

                                                                                

Eph3_12

E-your most recent post says it's your 5,000!  Can we have a party?

elimar86861

My 5,000 post?  Holy Cow!!!  Now commemorated forever with The Rolling Stones lips and tongue logo.  Aww-yeeeah!

I was already celebrating with some Cheetos IRL, Eph!  Guess what, even with a slight chemo taste in my mouth, they still taste YUMMY!!!

Eph3_12

well as you know I'm picture posting impaired so I am virtual hoisting a glass of Mirror Pond Ale, scarfing down some Cheetos, & cutting up some elk jalapeno sausage to nibble on!  Happy 5000th! And here's to many more.... 

elimar86861

                                                      

Eph3_12

WOW we all look pretty damn hot today!!

Eph3_12

now it says it was 5004 !?!?!?!?!?!  Have I too much fun already?

elimar86861

Gee, I don't know, Eph.  We might have to see if you can walk a straight line.

                                                                            

Did you say elk jalapeno sausage?  Oh my!  It could be my chemo, but I think I got a tummy flip on that.  Scared of the gamier flavors.

Eph3_12

It's FABULOUS!

LindaKR

Elk is great, venison not so much, at least for me, unless it's made in to jerky , maybe it's an Oregon thing!

Elimar - so who do I have to contact to make sure you get that recliner for Christmas?  I couldn't have made it through my treatments without the handy, dandy recliner!!!!!

PS - I think that the # changes on all of our posts each time we post - I'll test it out and let you know for sure!

Modified Radical MX w/axillary dissection; 6xTCH, Hercpetin for a year, Rads, trying 3rd AI Aromasin. No Reconstruction. Lymphedema.
Dx 3/19/2010, IDC, 4cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 2, 5/18 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+Surgery 04/02/2010 Mastectomy (Left); Lymph Node Removal: Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (Left)Chemotherapy 05/15/2010 carboplatin, TaxotereTargeted Therapy 05/15/2010 HerceptinHormonal Therapy 09/15/2010 AromasinRadiation Therapy 09/25/2010 External

LindaKR

My last post said 524, so testing, 1,2,3, testing - if that's right they should both say 525 - have a great evening!

and yup - that's how it works!

Eph3_12

That's bizarre.  Don't quote me on that but I don't think it used to do it that way.

So for those of you not on FB with me (which is probably most of you) today a person posted a picture & recipe for HOT COCOA COOKIES.  The recipe is in Rachael Ray's "Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine".  Look it up; the pictures are to die for!!! Perfect for E's 5000+post party.

Cindyl

omg eph!

luvmygoats

Colonoscopy done. No problems. On the 10 year plan now. DH gets his in January. Felt like I could eat the whole kitchen but didn't.  Propofol is the best.

Eph - Bookmarked those cookies.

Elimar - I would love a recliner, no room though.  But if I ever have major surgery will definitely at least rent one.  Have you thought of that?  Also watch how legs are elevated.  Handles are hard to manage esp. if you have any hand weakness which most of us have even on our best days.  Hoping for better sleep for you tonight.

_Ann_

Elimar, thanks for the welcome and happy 5000th post!  I'm a fan of Exile on Main Street as well.  

Didn't realize I was posting in a new thread.  Anyway, I favorited this when I saw it and have been lurking ever since.  So "Hi" all, I'm 49, no kids, was discussing early retirement with the mate when BC came along.  Now I'm not thinking much beyond finishing treatment.

juneaubugg

eli; I always have the fan blowing on me at night. I've have stopped the effexor today per y Dr., as it made it much worse. I haven't been on tamoxifen for almost two weeks as I was instructed to stop one week before my exchange and not restart until one week after... meanwhile my flashes grew significantly worse. oh joy!



luvmygoats; i envy you. with my Crohns I have a colonoscopy every year. I take ducolax and lots and lots of water. the golytly was the worst! this year I had the added pleasure of hurricane Sandy to make my prep in the cold/dark a frickin nightmare! the good news was that my Crohns didn't take the beating my gastroenterologist expected with the chemo.

Momine

Eli, no I don't think it is corny at all. It feels good going for a walk with my dog in the sunshine. Sometimes I think we resist appreciating those simple pleasures, because we think itis corny or because we think we should be aiming for something else, or, or, or ...

NativeMainer

Chachamom--it's not unusual for a couple of lymph nodes to be caught up like that.  When they open up the already mastectomied side to reconstruct it, they also have to go down toward the muscle some, and will sometimes find a lymph node that wasn't visible the first time around.  They also look around a little more carefully on that side, and if they see a node take it for testing for the sake of being cautious.  I had the same thing done, but reversed, right prophy mast, bilateral recon, and they didn't find any nodes on either side, but the PS did say he was going to take a "quick look" for some on the left. 

firework1068

Eli, on your 5000+ posts....



Thank you for reaching out and connecting with so many of us. We , reluctant BC survivors (fighters!) need to share our thoughts and fears. You have handled them with your wisdom and humor!



Thank you,

Lorraine

Joanne_53

Juneaubugg, let me know how you do going off effexor ... I was told you would have to be weaned off.

I have a fan going in my bedroom all night and I do not think that they could possibly be making the flashes any better ...

TAB55

Join me in a pocket party tomorrow.  I'm having my six month post surgery mammogram and appointment with the BS.  I'll provide mimosas (for celebrating the results), you bring the cheetos.

elimar86861

TAB55,  We can easily do that, but I better not get my tubing jostled.  My two-pound tyrant won't like that.

goatsy,  Hooray for you!  You get to join the 10-year-club now.  It's unlikely that you got implanted with an alien baby, seeing as they didn't use the euphemism of "we removed a polyp" in your case.   If you feel disappointed, their is always alien adoption, but most of those go to residents of New Mexico.

Here's the challenge I am already facing:  My reaction to the CT contrast dye caused the skin right inside my lips to puff, peel and hurt a little for the last 10 days.  Now, with the chemo kicking in, it is hurting more and worsening.  This morning I woke up and my lips looked almost twice their size.  I don't live in Hollywood, so scary-big lips are a problem.  I know when the ladies get IV chemo they eat popsicles, but I have this infusion going 24/7 and how many popsicles can I eat in a day?  Not enough.

Joanne_53

TAB55, I am in your pocket for sure --- I just had my six month post treatment and all is clear !!! I will bring the cheetos for sure.

juneaubugg

Tab55: me too! I lover some Cheetos!



Eli: thanks for the new burning man image. That's exactly how I feel!!! Although they might have gone down a little since I stopped the Effexor yesterday. I actually turned the fan off for a bit last night since I was too cold!

Eph3_12

Elimar, that picture is intense. 

When I started chemo, it was suggested to me to eat ice chips during my infusion.  Now, I realize you are receiving it 24/7 but perhaps you need to go to a little store near you, purchase a 20# bag of crushed cocktail ice & pop spoonfuls in you mouth all day; that will also help keep you hydrated.  Plus, you know those gel ice masks you put in the freezer & then put on puffy eyes? Maybe you could get one of those & slip the mask on your mouth (put a hankie or something so you don't have actual direct skin contact) There would be an added benefit to that----you wouldn't have to respond to inane questions.   I'm so sorry that you are having such a disconcerting start to all this.  I hope things get better fast!