MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

barsco1963

marlegal - sounds like a wonderful weekend for you. I too quite enjoyed the weekend. Two great walks in the clear, fresh, warm air. One with my pup - well she is 8yrs but thinks she is a pup. Gotta love a lab! Another walk through the bush with DH to look for some yummy morales - no luck yet.

Wishing everyone a terrific week filled with good news, lots of laughs and plenty of love!

elimar86861

Barsco, I had to laugh about your quest for morel mushrooms (which are very yummy,) because you have used the Cinco de Mayo spelling on that. 

I almost felt like I had a virus this weekend, but its probably the chemo. 

Not too many posting on the weekend...a lot of the "regulars" off doing Spring stuff, Newbies that haven't checked back yet, and where has Barbe been lately?

lpc

Good morning came across this topic and laughed out loud. I am 49 and never felt middle aged til bc hit me! Reality bit me hard! I have perused some earlier posts ( not 800 pages lol) and this seems to be a wonderful place for the inspiration I need.

elimar86861

Welcome, lpc!  Good point.  Middle-age + cancer FEELS a lot more middle-aged, doesn't it?

One more thing...So for about three years now I have been encouraging others to drink Ensure (or the like) to boost their protein intakes for healing or weight gain purposes.  Well, I found out I don't like how the ensure tastes and what is worse is that I think the vitamine/minerals in the drink just upset my chemo stomach. 

luvmygoats

Eli- I admit I've suggested Ensure to many patients have never tasted it. Did you try different flavors or maybe mix it with something? I had a pt who mixed Boost and fruit juice, don't know what flavor. I think she was not a sweets eater so much. Maybe diluting with melty ice cream.

Welcome lpc. We are crazeeey here but lots of good support.  We have pocket parties for tests/appts/surgeries with Cheetos a must. Good to have you join the fun but a bummer you had to be here at all.

Busy Saturday. Took 3 goatie babies to vet for a playday. They were heavily loved on. Got to keep my vet happy. Little sunburn but more pollen/wind scorch. Made it to Sunday School yest. but skipped out on worship service. Lazy afternoon. Got to get crackin' on housework today. Off to optometrist tomorrow. At least he does not dilate my eyes but his numbing drops turn my eyes yellow. Look like I have a terminal case of jaundice - so after my late afternoon appt. guess I'm headed home. My glaucoma dr. uses a less yellow form, only minor jaundice. Means I need to get of house early is there is to be any retail therapy done. If I want something for Mother's Day will have to buy myself. Haven't spoken to DD in 2 weeks. Text last week that she was "busy" and would call me. Doubt she even knows M's D is this weekend. Know she's alive only because her work would have called me. Don't think I can get in her facebook though she says she doesn't hardly use it. But she is Independent so I can only blame myself (and DH too) LOL.

Momine

Lpc, I hear you, lol. I was just thinking this morning that I still think of myself as early 40s, and I will have to get used to the idea that I am actually on the verge of 50.

lpc

Imagine my surprise when I discovered my 50th will be spent in chemo chair! 25th anniversary two days before that and 1 day after I will miss sons graduation from nuke power school in Charleston! So many plans in the tank!

barsco1963

welcome lpc - sucks that you are going to be in the chemo chair on your 50th. You'll have to make it double celebration on your 25th anniversary.

Eli - never knew there was a Cinqo de Mayo spelling for morels. Just knew that I would find no "morals" out in the bush. Learn something new everyday.

Luv - Hope you won't be seeing red out of those yellow eyes. Kind of ironic that we teach our children to be independent and then it comes back to bite us in the butt huh? For Mother's Day my son has offered to take me to my MRI appt. I think I'll have him toss in lunch and he's got a deal - lol

Off to see the onc tomorrow if anyone wants to come along for the ride. You will have to deal with my two sisters as well, which is not as easy as it may seem! Actually they would fit into this group quite well. A little on the crazy side.

barsco1963

Oh yeah - just an FYI - saw Barbe over on the Canadian thread.

heartnsoul76

Elimar, vitamins can make me nauseous and those Ensures taste vitamin-y to me.  I remember my father shaking his head "no" when we tried to get him to drink them.  I tried to drink them during chemo but just couldn't so then I started drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast instead - yummy!  Maybe try those.  I got the packets that you mix in with milk.  I don't know if the cans taste good or not.

lpc - I felt like I was in my late 30's before I got diagnosed.  I definitely feel middle-aged now, but hopefully I can go back to De Nile soon!  Sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us.  We're pretty good at making all this not feel so bad.  And hey, that's no way to spend your 50th birthday!  Be sure to remind us when it's coming up - I'm sure we'll have a party!

Barsco - would love to ride along to the onc and meet your sisters! Will you find out about the lump tomorrow?  I think this calls for margaritas - it's close enough to Cinco de Mayo!

luvmygoats

Barsco - yes, along for the appt. tomorrow. Is this where you find out about your new lumpy friend? Crazy sisters sounds fine. I only have one brother whom I see once a year at Thanksgiving. Love him to death but we lead very different lives. Us low key, stay home. He and SIL off and going all the time, here, there. Not what I could do and DH would not do. in your pocket tomorrow. What snacks sound good?

OHH - see HNS has margos. How about nachos?

Eph3_12

Cheetos for Barsco's pockets.  May a few mangos, tacos, burritos, & switching ethnicities- some Ouzo!!! WooHoo!

Kd6blk

Question. I had my Diep flap last August and I am all done with surgery and nipple reconstruction. My question is has anyone else had really stiff and sore shoulders after this surgery? I am working out with a trainer and noticed a fair amount of pain and figured it had to be the surgeries.

barsco1963

Eph - Of course Cheetos must be present at any PP. Haven't had Ouzo in ages. Sounds like it's going to get a little wild in the pockets. Yeeeeehaw! You girls better make sure you have a DD to get you home safely.

HNS & Luv - margaritas and nachos would make great snacks to go along with everything Eph is bringing.

Tomorrow is appt with onc to see about the weight loss and nausea & early satiety. Find out about lumpy next week so save some energy for then!

jocanuck1951

That Barsco sent me looking for morales in my bushes and I couldn't find either over here @))



I'll come along for the ride Barsco but no Cheetos for me.....sugar...yep, sucre a creme...yum yum! Xoxox Jo

luvmygoats

I don't think morales are found in bushes only amorales.

OK, who's bringing the nice warmed finger wipes for our Cheeto/nacho/mang/buritto covered fingers?

Kd6blk - Good question about your shoulders. Have you asked on Diep thread? Maybe someone on here knows the answer as well.

marlegal

Welcome Ipc. I was dx'd three weeks after my 50th. I was all cocky...look at me! I'm 50 but still hip and super healthy. Then whoops...cancer? What? That was almost 8 yrs ago, after the same chemo mix as you, and Tamox after. Glad you found our whacky bunch to help as much as possible as you go through your treatments.



Barsco, I'll be there tomorrow too. Wear the baggy pants please, I hate when all the crumbs fall on me and I have nowhere to put them

MinusTwo

Eli:  A friend who's husband had pancreatic & esophageal cancer will NOT do Ensure but will do protein powder.  He adds it to Instant Breakfast and juices.  Not a commercial, but the brand he uses is Bene Protein.  She's bringing me some to try.

NativeMainer

Kd6blk--I had DIEP in 2010.  I had sore shoulders for while after that I figured was from the surgery and the hunched over position I was in for a while afterward. How long was your surgery?  Mine was 19 hours, and anybody's whole body would be stiff and sore after being in one position that long!   Keep working with your trainer, I'm sure it will get better!

A bit of trivia--Ensure and Carnation Instant Breakfast ( or store brand Instant Breakfast mixes)  are pretty much the same thing.  Compare the labels sometime, there is very little difference between the two when you mix the Instant Breakfast with whole milk.  The instant breakfast mixes are more versatile, taste better to most people, and are a LOT cheaper. 

I've also heard that Ensure, Boost, etc are easier to drink when really cold.  Most people I've worked with cannot drink those straight but have to dilute them with something. 

I was amused when my RO said NO to any vitamins, nutritional supplements, especially antioxidents during rads, but then suggested Ensure 3 times a day.  Ensure is FULL of all that stuff! Turns out the company that makes Ensure "donates" cases of the stuff to the rad center.  Makes me wonder what the real reason for the recommendation was. 

Momine

Mainer, that is quite hilarious about the Ensure. What can you do but roll your eyes.

elimar86861

Thanks everyone for suggesting a few other protein options.

DONT FORGET: Part of my challenge is that the one chemo I get gives me cold-sensitive neuropathy, so all those chilled and ice-cold drinks will not go down well.  (Actually, when I made the insure I mixed it with half milk and made it like a hot chocolate.)

NM, I, too, asked about Ensure during my chemo/rads combo time (and I think Vit. E was counterindicated with the chemo, particularly) and was told that it would be o.k. by the Nutritionist.  I had to wonder about that too.

Kd5blk, I would think that anything that can cause tightening of the muscles (like surgery and scar tissue) can impact your shoulders.  PT exercises and stretching and time should bring you improvement.   My rads armpit is still just a bit tighter if I forget to stretch it for a few days.  Didn't have Mx, DIEP so can't comment specifically.

staynsane

Barsco-

Late as usual for PPs but jumping in anyway.  Sorry ladies if I've stepped on any fingers or toes!

So my mast was a year ago, and it is time for my mammogram on my lifted side.  I always assumed that I would just go, get it done and that would be it.  Never thought I would be dragging my feet, but I am.  I keep thinking about the article I referenced last week, among others.  Don't feel any lumps, don't want to be squished, don't want to be called back.  Don't want radiation build up, if it's not really necessary!  I know many of you must be thinking, "what? Are you crazy?" afterall, my mammo a year ago found my cancer in the first place!  There is just so much conflicting info out there, it gets frustrating.  I'll probably go when I meet with my PS in two weeks, since it is a drop-in service and I will be there, but...

marlegal

SnS, I keep thinking of something my doc, whom I really trust and love, said. It's like seatbelts...sometimes they can cause harm too, but ask any copy or fireman and they'll recommend them. That's the same with mammos...she felt they caught more cancer that might have gone unnoticed than damage by exposure to radiation. If you go to a center that uses digital mammos, the radiation dose is usually lower than traditional mammography too. Hugs...we all understand the fears.

heartnsoul76

Elimar - how about coffee and real cream with a vanilla Carnation Instant Breakfast?  I can't think of any way the strawberry flavor could be good warm.  But hot chocolate is definitely good, with cream again.  Maybe you could bring out the blender and mix warm milk, chocolate flavor and peanut butter into a Starbucks-style warm nutritious drink?  Really hard to think of stuff when it can't be cold!  How about oatmeal with warm vanilla flavor and berries?  Trying to think of delicious combinations is making me hungry, haha.  I don't usually think so hard about food!  I can't imagine warm food all summer - like soup in July, ugh!

SnS - my BS said he didn't want me to have too many mammograms because of my youthful age.  Well, he didn't put it exactly that way, lol.  He said, "We don't like to do too many mammograms on younger women because they have a whole lot more mammograms in their future than women, say in their 70's."  So he has reduced me from every 6 months to annually now.  And this time he requested an MRI because I have dense breasts (so what good is all that torture anyway?) so hopefully in August I'll have an MRI and alternate every other year with mammos.  Damn, it's another one of those double-edged swords... 

Barsco - we had quite the party in your pocket!  My favorites - nachos and Margaritas! 

I think I lost my morales in the back of a van. 

MinusTwo

Elimar:  Several people have told me to drink all this stuff like Ensure or Boost through a straw and it was more acceptable.  Something to do with further away from the nose?

elimar86861

More good suggestions, sister-lady-friends, and I thank you.  HnS, oatmeal, which I do like, is too fiber-y for me and not on "the o.k. list" but I might try it one of these days.  Every now and then I feel compelled to break the rules and go straight for something on the "no-no list."  I survived a granola bar once and that is pretty much the same thing.

I don't know if it is the power of suggestion but when my mom was doing her chemo, she had certain foods that she asked me to get for her...like watermelon and avocados and a hot dog with mustard.  I find myself wanting the same things now. 

jocanuck1951

Ha ha HNS, front seat for me lol! I can drink coffee now and I daringly bought 10% cream, oh oh sooooo wonderful!



Eli, yes watermelons but forget the hotdogs, I'm a Burger gal..I like the mustard tho.



Question about mastectomy & mammograms....what will they do to lefty...she's gone...so hang on tight while they squeeze what's left?



Xoxoxo Jo

barsco1963

Thanks for the support ladies. It's a good thing that one of the sisters had to back out - left room for Sns to jump in. However, it seemed to get just a bit rowdy - I didn't hear my pager when it was time for my appt. Also I think that someone might have gotten carried away with the dancing - my back is a wee bit sore today. But sure was fun!

Not much in the way of answers or suggestions for me except that they don't think it's cancer related, but probably the tamo causing issues.

You girls and your morales! I will always remember how to spell morels from now on - lol.

Eli - hope you are able to find some good options for protien that you can handle. It can be a challenge.

Happy Hump Day everyone!

elimar86861

Overall, that is good news, Barsco, but I'm sorry the Tamox. is causing trouble.  Did they have any suggestions for you?  Besides more drugs, I mean.  (Don't like how we get into the daisy chain of drug+drug+drug and add a few more.) 

That was me getting rowdy.  I was kicking up my heels because I am at the place in my chemo cycle where I feel half way normal, and I still had energy to transplant some irises and ride my bike later, too.

barsco1963

Good to hear that you are feeling energetic Eli. I will deal with a bit of a bruise if it means that you are feeling well enough to be kicking up your heels! I haven't been in my gardens yet, but look at them almost daily and have noticed that the weeds are going to take over if something isn't done soon. Love irises - have some that my mom had in her garden.

 The only suggestion from yesterday was to actually stop one of the drugs as it really doesn't appear to be doing any good. I am only to willing to cooperate.