MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

elimar86861

Ya know, the person who brought my lunch today had just gone thru' a diverticulitis episode, which was perfect in a way, in that she also had to avoid bulky and irritating diet items.  I told her "just get me the same as what you can have."  She brought us white bread club sandwiches, and we both painstakingly picked the seeds off of our tomatos. 

Just in doing a little reading, as counterintuitive as it seems, it has been recently found that it is high fiber rather than low fiber that can lead to diverticulosis (the condition; diverticulitis is the flare-up.)  This is definitely a topic for the Mid-Age group...Wiki sez:  This is uncommon before the age of 40, and increases in incidence after that age.  Hello middies.

barsco1963

Geez - we middies get to have all the fun don't we?

macatacmv

Interesting about the high fiber versus low.I just left the docs last week with my handout for a high fiber diet.Seems like the medical profession should be called the medical confusion.I'm sure I'll hear all about what I"should" do from my pcp. Just another life style adjustment. Can I borrow George to peel me some grapes?

elimar86861

mac, When I had that first c-scope probe and had one single 3mm polyp removed (you know, when they were busy missing my 5cm lesion of CRC!!!) they found some minor diverticulosis and gave me the "high fiber handout" too.  It probably depends on the degree of diverticulosis you have and whether you have had flare ups because of it.  I really think this is another one that boils down to MODERATION with a twist of common sense, since we really don't know what the next study results will have in store for us, and so many things seems to be on the 3-5 year flip-flop.

macatacmv

Moderation plus common sense? Uh oh,I might be in trouble.

Momine

Eli, you are amazing. I am so scared of IVs, that I sat stock still with the IV hand resting on a pillow the whole time. If I have a needle in my arm, I do not move. This also meant that I did not eat during chemo.

barsco1963

Was reminded today that it is the 12th anniversary of my Mom's passing. I can't believe that I  hadn't thought of it yet, but kind of glad that I don't live my life remembering all of the sad days, but live in the now instead, remembering all of the good memories that keep lost loved ones alive.

Wishing all of my sisters a good day. Jumping in JoC's pocket today. I'm not going to miss two PP's!

elimar86861

Momine, My needle is firmly fastened in my protruding port, so after the first stick, it's just kind of there.  Don't forget, I have lots of exp. with the home pump, so moving around is what I do.

Barsco, We can remember our moms endlessly, but the grief must not go on.  Our moms would not want it that way.

Where is JoC off to today???  Is it a scan?  I'll come if it is a scan or radiation...so I can keep my glow on.

jocanuck1951

Soooooo funny! Ack...my last chemo for now, as wee speak...still hercepton every 3rd week to control the gang. I see my MO mid June....jeez...so many of those suckers can climb on board between now and mid June. Hope Ned visits....



Keep the glow...you can have all my glows Eli and my side effects as well lol!



Momine, don't you have a port? Xoxoxo Jo

Momine

Jo, no, I did not have a port. But I think that would have scared me even more. I can feel the thingy in my vein the whole time and it freaks me out even when it doesn't hurt. I am also terrified that there will be air in the tube, so I watch it like a hawk the whole time, then hysterically ring for the nurse when I see an air bubble. Yeah, the chemo nurses LOVED me, I tell you, ADORED me. :P

Tomboy

i love that you use the leonard cohen quote in your tag line. when i was first diagnosed, i got a binder that had a clear cover you could stick things in,photosnotes whatever. for my med records. so i had just gotten interested in his writing, and that particular part just really resonated with me and i got out my alphabet stamp pad and copied it and stuck it in the front of the binder. where i could see it everyday! he is amazing,and that quote seems so much about this journey we are all taking. Good for you, for noticing! it becomes more profound the more you think of it, at least for me. scarred,but no longer scared. love and healing to you.

elimar86861

Uh, hello, kathec...I don't see any Leonard Cohen quotes on this page.  Which page did you come in on?  In over 800 pages, I can vouch that we have a great many memorable quotes here, some even by the famous. 

staynsane

Don't know if this is the quote to which she refers, but I fell in love with:  "Ring the bells that still can ring.  Forget your perfect offering.  There is a crack in everything.  That's how the light gets in..."  L. Cohen.

Eph3_12

Hey gals, I went to a showing last night of "Girl Rising".  If you hear of it in your area, I strongly recommend it.  It is about young girls in developing areas and their pursuit of education. http://girlrising.com/   Takes the mind off the beast for awhile!

marlegal

SnS, I like that...a lot!



Work is dragging me down...not much spare time to write, but I'm reading all posts daily at least. Otherwise all is well with me.

barsco1963

marlegal - glad to hear that you are doing ok. I too am finding that work is really getting in the way of the social life that I had become accustomed to when I was off last year.

Had a dr appt today and asked for copies of recent mammo & US. I was previously told that both tests came back with nothing suspicious which made me wonder why my dr referred me to bs for follow up. I thought she was just being her thorough self and really didn't worry too much about it. Until I read the actual report - it states that basically the US correlates with the mammo but does not correlate with the clinical history of a palpable lump. Clinical reevaluation is required - biopsy may be required. CRAP! Trying not to over think it all - just had to come here to get it all out. Haven't even mentioned to anyone (other than DH) that I have felt a lump. Ever get that need to just tell someone? Thanks for "listening"

luvmygoats

Barsco - We're here for you to listen or just to be here. So when do you go to BS? Or was that the appt. you had today.

Eph3_12

As Fraiser said, " I'm Listening!" Barsco, keep us posted.  You are in my thoughts.  As my grandma used to say, "try not to borrow trouble."

Valjean

(( barsco ))

jocanuck1951

Barb, secrets are NOT healthy! We won't blab to anyone so keep yakking to us! Love you! xoxoxoxoxox Jo

barsco1963

Thanks girls. I know that I can come here any time to let it all out. I have never really been one to "complain" but find that, yeah, it is a good idea to share.

Luv - my bs appt is on May 14. So a wee wait yet.

Eph - your grandma was a wise woman. Wish she was around when I got married -borrowed a bit of trouble there - lol

Happy Thursday everyone!

elimar86861

Barsco, So sorry that you are saddled with something worrisome, and the suspense-filled waiting period that goes along with that.  I'm not exactly sure what your findings were?  Are you saying that the mammo and US were not showing the lump that you have felt?  Yes, they might have to come at you with a biopsy to get to the bottom of this.  As a wise friend of mine recently said:  CANCER IS A PAIN IN THE LIFE!

elimar86861

I love the Wax Lips ladies so much, I can't bear to part with them, so they are moving into the thread. 

                                                        

staynsane

Barsco- We all fear your sense of dread.  I hope that you are able to let your mind focus on positive things until your appointment, knowing that many times our brains (and where our thoughts take us) can be our worst enemy.  Our minds can be very keen when left to wander.  But in many, many cases, whether BC-related, work-related, child-related, etc., the actual outcome of things that consume my thoughts almost always turn out to be minor or much better than expected.  Please remind us of your appt date as it gets closer so we can be on-board for a PP!

heartnsoul76

Barsco, so sorry you have to worry about this now.  Does the 80% of lumps are benign still apply to BC patients?  I'm always happy when the doctors are thorough, though.

What went through my head was "ignorance is bliss" - if you never saw those reports you wouldn't have this on your mind the next 2 weeks.  Unfortunately, as cancer patients we are never allowed the luxury of "ignorance is bliss" again.  We have no choice but to keep up with every single thing because our lives really do depend on it.  Our non-BC friends, once again, have no idea what that's like.  And it's huge.

Something similar happened to me last summer.  The radiologist gave the suspicious area a Birads IVc or something.  I was freaking out.  But my BS was calm and said don't worry, I'm pretty sure I know what this is and it's nothing to worry about.  It didn't stop me from freaking out, of course, haha.  After all that fright, it was nothing and if this ever happens again I'm going to pay attention to what the BS says.

I hope you can find peace during your waiting period and that it all turns out to be your doctor just being extra cautious.

barsco1963

Eli - your friend is very wise indeed. The mammo & US did see the lump and both do state benign. However the US states that further clinical evaluation is needed. Just worries me a bit as it is very similar to how the lump in my other breast presented.

Staynsane - I am glad that I am working these days. It sure gives me something else to focus on. And my co-workers are a hoot! I will definitely let everyone know of the appt date as it draws near - It's always fun when y'all tag along!

HNS - Ignorance IS bliss. However, since my original dx I think I would rather have the heads up about what is going on rather than have it hit me like a ton of bricks. I will get through the next couple of weeks - lots to keep me busy and beautiful weather to enjoy.

TGTF - Thanks Goodness Tomorrow's Friday!

marlegal

Barsco, May 14 is a good day...my 36th wedding anniversary. I'll give up all my happy thoughts for you that day. Thank heavens we can be honest and vent in here. I felt a lump about a year ago and said nothing except in here. I had a scheduled appt with my breast surgeon a week or so later and she felt it too. Immediate ultrasound which thankfully showed just another cyst. Point is...we all get it. Once bitten twice shy and all that shit!



Eli, love the page topper, and glad you kept the waxed lips lovely ladies

luvmygoats

I copied the wax lips ladies into my Word files. Who knows when you might need such a thing.

Valjean

No activity for a while, Middies, hope everyone is doing well. Busy weekend on my end, as usual.

E ~ Hope this past weeks Tx didn't wear you down too much. ((( hugs )))

marlegal

Got together yesterday with my two daughters and two grandsons (they each have one) for our Mother's Day outing cause I won't be home next weekend. First year with the grandbabies. Had a really, really good day. I hope all my middie pals had a good weekend too.