MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

elimar86861

I've shared enough bad news lately, well, I wouldn't want you all to think my life is devoid of joy and happiness, and a great source of that is my two (former demon-spawn) boys turning into outstanding young men.  Earlier this week (after about three long months of suspense) my older son got acceptance into a funded doctoral program for Philosophy.  I said funded, people.  Not quite Ivy League, but within spittin' distance.  Our family is over the moon for him!

Maybe the tables have turned here and the rest of the year will be nothing but good news.  Oh, if only!

staynsane

Eli-

Just when I was going to comment on the beautiful cherry (?) blossoms, up goes the hand.  I'll bet many of us here have related to that picture!  Almost like drowning but still praying for someone/something to provide rescue.  Very impactful!

elimar86861

That's my interpretation too.  Also, "talk to the hand"...but in a GOOD way.

Sherryc

Allie we all have to do what is best for us.  I was also very small (AA)had two lumpectomies on one side and one on the other and then decided to move forward with BMX with immediate reconstruction.  I am very active and even though it has slowed me down during my reconstruction I am now back at my activies. I had the best PS in San Antonio, Dr. Ledoux with PRMA they are one of the best groups in the country if you are ever interested in a consult with them.  Where are you located in Texas?  I am an hour from Austin and San Antonio.

Momine

Eli, that is fabulous news, congrats to him!

heartnsoul76

Eli - isn't it nice to see that all of our hard work on our kids wasn't for naught?  Sometimes along the way you wonder if you're even getting through to them.  I'm so happy for him (and you)!  Good job, mom!

You're right about the Grade 3 pesky detail, of course.  I like Marlegal's path better, though. I'm going to at least ask if I can get out of the every 3-month rotation.  It may be like Sherry said - as long as I act like I'm happy with it, they'll keep doing it.  I wouldn't be surprised if my MO said no, but it's worth a try.

After I made that post I started counting approximately how many appointments I've had that were breast cancer related.  Including surgery, chemo, biopsies, radiation, follow-up (ugh), scans, etc. it comes to about 80 in 3 years.  80 appointments - that's a lot of waiting!  And our friends wonder why we aren't doing all the same stuff we used to do - we're sitting in doctor's offices.

My BS did let me switch to annual mammograms because I'm young (haha, relatively speaking) and he said I have a lot of years ahead of me and they don't want to over-expose us younger women.  I still see him every 6 months for a manual exam - which are better on dense breasts anyway.  I do feel a tiny, tiny bit uncomfortable with that, but I feel like I need to learn to live with that feeling if I'm going to get off the medical merry-go-round. I don't care what they say about 10 years on Tamoxifen - I'm doing 5 years and calling it good.

Sherryc

Eli congrats on your son.  I know you are one proud mamma.

Loral

Eli...Our Helping Hand, there to hold if needed.....

washingtonwoman

Jo, I'm so happy that it turned out to be side effects and nothing more. What a relief!!

Wishing for sunnier days for all of us on the barren island of bc:-)

jocanuck1951

Eli, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! So happy for you and him! Xoxo

barsco1963

Good news Eli - may just be the start of something! Here's to a great weekend for everyone!

luvmygoats

Eli - Sending congrats to your son.  Know you are one proud mama!!!

Eph3_12

Welcome Allie, this is a great place to land.

E-the hand is rather creepy but I thought it was a real rock formation somewhere at 1st.

So happy to hear about the demon spawn!  What a coup!  How's the traveling boy doing?

Sad day tomorrow-taking my Ruby-doo for her final walk in the AM & then to the vet we go.  She has tumors everywhere now & it hurts her to walk but she absolutely wants to go, and then limps most the way.  I can't take it anymore.

AllieM

TGIF everyone!

Sherry - Believe it or not, I used to joke and say at least if I got breast cancer I could finally get some boobs! (Some things you really wish you could take back)  I live in between Dallas and Fort Worth.

Eli - Man boobs...ha, I love it!  Congrats on your son. I have three and I am still quite amazed sometimes that they actually lived to be grown-ups.

Everyone else - I am so glad I found this site and the amazing people on it. No matter how much people try to understand and help, no one knows exactly what it's like that hasn't been through it. Have a great weekend y'all! Going for my second chemo on Monday.

jocanuck1951

Dear Eph3, we've walked that road 3 times with our beloved pets, it's still fresh although the last one was 12 years ago. We talk about adopting another but one of us backs out.

To old I guess to handle the inevitable again. Thinking of you. Xoxoxox

Loral

Eph..Sorry about your dog, mine is 14 years old and needs help up the steps, that day will be coming soon for me too.

barsco1963

Eph - sorry that you will have to be saying goodbye to your Ruby today. Thinking of you.

luvmygoats

Eph - My heart goes out to you today.  Be thinking of you and your Ruby.

barbe1958

Oh Joni, my heart aches for you and your babies (fur and DD)!!! What a loss.....so very, very sad.

OMG elimar!!! You must be BUSTING with pride!!! What a coup for your son both academically and financially!!!

TAB you are doing the right thing by wearing the sleeve AND the gauntlet!! Good for you!

Info is all on the other page, I think Barsco is in the discussion on Pantoloc. I take 40 mg twice a day and STILL suffer from very bad indigestion. I've been scoped too. Does another drug work better? I saw a couple of names.....

I took Remeron for a short time for a "mental" emergency. It's a very serious drug as is Seroquil. Psychiatrists HAVE to be involved with the dosing, so that's why one had to see your Mom elimar.

Jo, congrats on the liver!! You've had enough crap for a while, about time you heard good news!!

barsco1963

Interesting on the Remeron Barbe - no one has mentioned that a psychiatrist would be involved. Just mentioned that it could be one to try.

luvmygoats

Barsco - Have you tried ginger, like candies or ginger tea?  Forgot that one.

elimar86861

Thanks all for letting me brag on my son a bit.  Two of you Texas gals said I must be "one proud mama" so that must be a popular Texas phrase.  I like it; and yes, I am.  Since you asked, Eph, my other boy has one more month of study away in Greece.  Some countries have providers that block Skype and I have not been able call with that since before my surgery, but it seems to be back and working so we are going to try today again.

Eph, I am sorry that the time has come for that dread trip to the vet for Ruby.  Usually, because we all know and love our pets so well, we are able to KNOW when it is time.  When I took my old girl at Thanksgiving time, her lifelong vet told me, "You gave her a good life and this is your final way to give to her as a loving pet owner."  It is not right that they suffer.  Even tho' our experience had lots of tears, I was actually shocked at how peaceful it was.  I hope it is a gentle passing for Ruby too.

Ossa

Barsco.. DH has been on remeron for depression for years  (no phsychiatrist involved) it has worked wonders for him,, but also made him gain quite a bit of weight.. My GP gave me seroquil a month ago.. very small dose, (again no phsychiatrist involved) He did tell me this was used for bi-polar as well as phsycosis (SP?) in large doses, but is also used for depression in small doses. This was the best option for me as it interfeered the least with Tamoxifen.. I know I already feel much better, I was in a dark place for awhile and finally asked for help.. Should have done it long ago..

Jo.. yay for your good news, now go spend your DD's inheritance

Eli.. Congrats, my devilspawn  also grew up to be outstanding young men,

elimar86861

I'm not a fan of Seroquel or Remeron, but it all stems from my mom being over-medicated from everything while in an ICU, and then step-down setting.  She was a 98-lb. weakling being most likely being given the 200-lb. man dose.  O.K., probably not, but she must not have been metabolising well and stuff would build up in her.  I was always demanding a scale-back on the drugs for her.

A lot of the drugs we are given are for some major, heavy conditions; but used "off-label" we get just small doses for things like pain and depression.  If they work, great, because no one needs to be worn down by pain or depresion.  Since all things do not work for all people, we have to guinea pig ourselves with some of that stuff to find out if it does any good or not, and then there is the trick of getting just the right dosage too.

All you other moms who went through TEEN WARS:  Who'd have thought after losing so many battles, we could still win the war?

Barbe1958,  Hello, there you are!  They may do those drugs differently in Canada?????

And now, we need to hear from Meece...seems she has a fabulous announcement of her own to make (and I should not have to go lurking around to find out about it either.)   Come on Meece, let's hear the details.  Can I be the first to call you "one proud Grandma?"

Eph3_12

Thanks everyone.  On our walk this AM Ruby used 3 legs most of the way, so I knew it was time.  It was very peaceful & the vet's office was extremely kind.  It's a rough day here tho'; can't stop crying.

raehyg

Jo so happy for you!!!!!Great news!!I am sorry your having pain though

Rachel

raehyg

Elimar congrats!

raehyg

Eph...sorry about your Ruby. Its so hard

Marple

Eph, I'm sorry too. 

barsco1963

Thanks to everyone for there comments, thoughts and experiences with various anti-depressants, anti-nausea meds etc. I appreciate all of it and will do my homework.

Luv - have some ginger tea in my cupboard. I really prefer the peppermint but have tried the ginger.

Eph - ((hugs))