MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Valjean

Late Thursday night a semi was tipped onto its side on to the railing on the Mackinaw Bridge going north to the Upper Peninsula. Freak accident due to high winds & gusts up to 79 mph!! I crossed that bridge on my return trip home on Monday afternoon. I have been in traffic that has had a speed limit of only 20 mph because of high winds.... very spooky to cross that bridge when you can feel your car move slightly sideways.

Good night everybody!

And, yes, E~, I am still recovering from the kiddies!

Dianarose

Native Mainer- I have a CT on Monday and the dreaded FU with MO is on Wednesday.

I had to go to a paper supply store yesterday on the other side of Portland. I got lost and was so stressed. I am a country girl and not used to city driving with all the traffic and not a clue where I was going. I was so hot even with the a/c on in the car.

Val- One of my biggest fears is driving over bridges. I would have had a melt down.

barsco1963

dianarose - I am with you on the city driving thing. Being a small town girl, I don't often have reason to go to the big cities. Anytime I do, there is usually someone else driving. I will drive to my MO appts but I don't have to go through the city, I can go around which isn't too bad.

I was on the underside of the bridges yesterday as we had our annual Family Float/Paddle down the river. It was a beautiful sunny day, however the wind was pretty defiant and was determined to take us back to the starting point. But after much perseverance, and a few rest stops we all made it safely to our destination with the only casualties being burned knee caps, tired arms and sore butts and sore backs.

NativeMainer

Dianarose--Praying for good CT results.  I don't like driving in Portland either, or any other city for that matter.  It's better with GPS, but I much prefer someone else drive. 

Barsco--congrats, sounds like a fun time! 

elimar86861

My son was on a float trip yesterday, but I've never gone on one.  Will have to try it some time, Barsco, with SPF for the knees!

Dianarose, Mon. & Weds. are my days to go to the chemo center, but I'd much rather go along with you.  Heck, I'd be your driver.  City driving is my second nature, as I was thrown into it at the tender age of 16.  (Ironically, my city now is small, and with no place that exciting to have to drive fast for, yet we still have the speeders and the tailgaters.  It's insane!  One time, someone was driving pretty fast on the freeway and weaving in and out.  I thought to myself, they are either going to get off at the next exit (hospital) or they are the worst drivers ever.  It actually was a hospital run.) 

20130502

When I had my biopsy they told me that the lump would have to come out even if the biopsy was benign.  The biopsy can only sample a small part of the lump and when they take it out they check the whole thing again to be extra sure it really is benign.  At least that is what the told me.  Of course the irony is that my biopsy was not benign, I was scheduled for surgery and during the workup they discovered that I have bone mets all over -- so no removal of the lump and I still have my lump....  all in all - probably better to get it out so your friend does not have to worry about what it is.

Dianarose

20130502- I still don't see the logic in leaving the lump and not removing it. Even if there are mets to me leaving the lump is more cancer to become mets. Did you get an explaination of why to leave the dam lump there/

Eli- my ex-husband has been legally blind since he was 5 so I was always the driver. I think I am just burnt out from all the driving. Maybe a really fun car would change my mind.

marlegal

I live outside Phila but occasionally have to drive into work (usually I take the train) so I am a pretty good city driver. Totally understand not liking it...definitely an acquired skill!



Also curious why you would ever leave a lump that was shown to be malignant. 20130502 I don't see your location, so I'm wondering if you live in a country where surgical protocols might vary?



Diana, what's the countdown to opening day?

20130502

Dianarose and Marlegal,

I agree, it seems crazy to me to leave the lump.  However, this is what they said.  1.  The lump is not my biggest problem and the biggest priority was to get control of the metastatic disease rather than having me go through surgery and waiting until I recover from that to start the next phase of therapy.  2.  They can use the shrinking (or not) of the lump as an indicator of whether the therapy is working.  3.  They said that if I want the lump out, they will eventually take it out - but that it is not time yet.  There is a study to determine if people do better taking the lump out or not but because nobody wants to be randomized (we all want our lumps out), there is not "hard data" to show whether it helps or not.  The breast surgeon who did my biopsy told me that anecdotally, she has heard that people who have the lump out do better in the long run.  So, I am planning to have my lump out as soon as they are ready to do it.  I live in the Philadelphia area.

Dianarose

I am opening a week from tomorrow.  I am sitting here trying to choke down the 2nd bottle of barium sulfate or should I say my Mochaccino smoothie. Nasty stuff!!! Just love the picture on the bottle with a cup of coffee with chocolates on the side. Right....

It was much cooler today. It was nice to have relief from all that heat we have been having.

Well I took a big step today and called my mother. I haven't done that in 9 yrs. We are not close at all and I have some really bad memories as a child after she and my dad got divorced. My mother was into prescription drugs for many yrs. That's probably why I never take the pain meds they prescribe. I will admit it was quite stressful even though it was only a 20 minute phone call. She had been given incorrect info about my health. Things get really distorted in large families by the time information gets passed down about 10 times.

Feel free to jump in my pockets for my ct scan. I didn't do well with it the last time. I had a melt down right on the table. I hope that doesn't happen tomorrow.

luvmygoats

Dianarose - I'm with you tomorrow. And here's to no meltdowns.

For pocket party tomorrow.

macatacmv

whew, lmgoats, that's enough food for all of us. I'll bring drinks, but not smoothies. I got a juicer and can whip up some yummy juice. Pineapple, strawberry, and maybe some peaches? oh yeah and cucumber!

I have been catching up with all the news here. I won't comment on it all, but you have all been in my thoughts.

 I am not suppose to be using my hands much. I am sneaking onto the computer. I've been having a devil of a time with nerve pain. Now seeing a hand therapist. I have to use a heating pad, then do a massage to work the fluid back up to my elbows, then the exercises (nerve gliding and tendon gliding) then sit with an ice pack for at least 10 minutes. And no repetitive motions. WTH, everything is repetitive. Also I get to wear some lovely compression gloves to bed at night. 

the good news is I get to stop taking the AI again. That stuff makes me so tired, I can take a 2 hour nap everyday. I see my MO on friday so we can have a "chat" Her word not mine.

Sounds to me like a trip to ME should be coming up in a couple of weeks. LOL

I went to a conference with some girlfriends last weekend. Why they let me drive I am not sure? But we were in a pretty small city (Providence, RI) and they were back seat driving and I was trying listening to the GPS, well, I took a right turn onto a one way street going the wrong way. Whoowee there were 4 lanes of traffic coming toward us. That was one real quick u turn. Someone up above must have been looking out for us.

Oh yeah, eli, I get a call from a case manager from my insurance co. every month or so. She is a RN and very helpful. In MA they just passed a law that there be no copays on cancer drugs. I was still getting a charge on my AI, I mentioned it to her and the next time I refilled the script no copay. She and I usually have some laughs during our conversations.

anyhow, time for my ice. I'll be reading but trying to keep my fingers from typing. 

NativeMainer

Parying for you today, Dianarose.

barsco1963

Dianarose - must have taken some doing to make that phone call to your mom. But again you have done the right thing in order to get things straightened out. Many would just not bother reaching out to someone with whom their relationship has been soured.  Will be in your pocket today for sure. luv has enough treats for everyone on the board so you might want to throw an extra jacket with lots of pockets over your arm to accomodate the masses.

mac - I'll help you with those drinks - you shouldn't be doing all of that cutting peeling blending by yourself. I hope your therapy works to lessen the pain in your hands. And I think I might jump in YOUR pocket for that trip to ME!

20130502

Hi Dianarose,

I don't know how to do a pocket party but I sure am thinking of you and I have my fingers AND my toes crossed for you

barsco1963

20130502 - welcome to the middies! Lots of wonderful and wacky women here to share experiences and provide support and encouragement here.

One of the ways to provide that support is to have a pocket party (PP). Whenever someone has a scan, test, appt or just needs someone to be there with them - we all jump into the pockets of the host to make it a little less stressful knowing that we are all there with her. Treats and drinks are always provided by the attendees. So jump on in and join the fun!

Meece

Marlegal, yesterday I tried my 31 yr old pressure cooker on ribs.  I used my normal recipe, and they were awesome!! DH said they were the best I've ever made.  So glad you posted about it and so glad I read and followed your instructions.  Thanks!!!!

Beatmon

Dianarose: we are all in ur pocket, we will keep U on the table and get that test completed! Best of luck....cause we want u to get that bakery open..yumm. Beatmon

Loral

Diana I brought enough for all of us because we might have to wait awhile. Praying for an A+++ on your test. 

Dianarose

Well I made it through the CT scan with only one minor freaked out moment from the injection. I couldn't swallow for a bit. The tech was really great. Thanks for being in my pockets and the treats were great.

My daughter is calling today about her genet testing results. I hope everything is negative. She is in such denial that this could happen to her. It has been 3 weeks that she had the testing.

luvmygoats

Dianarose - so glad it's over. One minor meltdown doesn't even count. Fingers/toes crossed for good results for both you and your daughter.

elimar86861

I see that Dianarose made it back about the same time I did.  I had such an early chemo day today (8:30) that I missed all those luscious pocket treats.   Dianarose, did the tech say what cause the swallow reaction?  I don't think I have heard of that happening with the CT contrast before.  I got itchy, hivey mouth, but it did not affect swallowing at all.  Will be waiting for some great news that daughter is negative for the cancer genes.  One of these centuries, I bet all women get the test done at puberty (and maybe they will even be able to alter the gene to "fix" it.  Hurry up, research slowpokes!

Beatmon, you are looking very colorful today!

Once again, I decided to skip the platinum component of my chemo.  Although I feel o.k. overall, a new, nasty S/E popped up, a nerve tingle going up my legs, sometimes shin, sometimes calf.  With every new oxaliplatin dosage, I seem to get yet another nerve thing added to my extensive list of S/Es.  I AM reaching my personal limit with that drug, but I might squeeze one or two more doses in.  I usually wait until the day before to really evaluate how the side effects are lingering with me.  I started out more nerve sensitive than some and I think it is because I am already bothered with fibromyalgia neuropathy.  This was my 8/12 chemos.  Two thirds done!!!  Some doctors only make their patients do 8 if they had neoadjuvant chemo like I did, but my doc doesn't give "credit for time served" on that.  I shouldn't say "make" because there is no gun to my head to do anything the doc says.  I can, at any time, "just day no" to the drugs and that's it.  My plan has always been to give myself this extra insurance policy BUT always keeping in mind that there is only a 15% window that the drugs will do anything at all to change the outcome.  There's a 65% chance I didn't need chemo.  There's a 20% chance that I do the chemo and still get mets later.  So, statistically, I would more be more likely to fall into either of those other groups than to fall into the small group that chemo does make the difference for.  It's so crazy living a question mark life like this.

                                                                   

Dianarose

Eli- so glad you are on the other side of the midway hump. You are edging the chemo finish line. I too hate the dam statistic odds game. I went into chemo knowing I had a 6% chance of it doing anything, but also had an 8% chance of recurrence and look where I am know. I don't bother with the numbers anymore.

Not sure about the swallowing thing, just glad it's over. I did say if the MO thinks I am doing these scans every 3 months he's crazy. Blood work, ok, but scans only if my tumor markers keep going up.

Eli-after you are done with chemo what is the plan of action to see if it worked? How will they monitor you? How was your mammogram? If you already posted about that, sorry I am behind.

elimar86861

D, I will get a CT in the Fall, once the chemo is over.  It's going to look for mets locations (better be none!) and also take a look at my franken= colon to see if that checks out as well.  Then I should get cleared for reversal surgery, probably in early Nov.  The mammo?  In my confusion, I thought that was last Weds., but my apt. is actually on the 31st.  Who can keep all the appts. straight.  To add to the confusion, most of mine are in the same building.  One time, I had an appt. elsewhere, but I pulled into the parking structure for the usual place, just automatically.

When will you get your scan results?   In a perfect world, nothing else shows up and you can focus your attention on the big opening day!!!   Let's hope for that!  WE are all excited AND DROOLING.  The drooling might just be me, tho'.

luvmygoats

No, I'm drooling too.

Dianarose

Eli- I get my results Wednesday afternoon. I don't think I can handle anymore bad news. I don't even want to go. I like staying in my secure world of denial. I want to go out with NED again, but don't we all.  I hope your reversal surgery is quick and painfree as possible.

elimar86861

Without De Nile, who could even function?  (Actual women in De actual Nile, below.)

                                                          

Beatmon

Well those gals look great!

barsco1963

Dianarose - glad that you made it through the scan with minimal freak out. Have everything crossed (and I mean everything) hoping for good results on Wed. and for your DD as well. 

Eli - I hope that the last two thirds of your chemo treat you kindly and that the SEs maybe even start to back off for you.

And yes, the drooling continues...............

Dianarose

I am crying tears of happiness for the first time in so long. I just got an email from my MO and he said both scans look good and he didn't want me to worry between now and Wednesday when I have my appointment.