MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

heartnsoul76

So happy for you, Diana! I can't imagine all the hoops you had to go through to get your bakery up and running, but awesome push-through-it-all/in-your-face-cancer attitude! Looking forward to some pictures and the day you start mailing your delicacies, LOL!

Well, I would be happy to help test this phlebotomy robot. It's not the needle I'm worried about - it's the phlebotomist! Here's the article:

Robot Barber of York

jlbloom

I've been away for a while and will never get caught up. Dianarose sounds like you have double congrats coming your way! I don't think middle age comes with that much energy. Way to go, girl!



Hope you are all doing well! ...Julie

Jeannie57

Diana, kudos and congrats to you! You're showing cancer who is boss! I would love to taste your yummy treats. I hope you can find a balance of work/rest soon but know it takes awhile. Good luck and Godspeed!

ClaudiaMetz

I a new here.  I noticed some of you took Methotrexate during chemotherapy.  I did not have to have chemotherapy; however, I also have an autoimmune condition called dermatomyositis that causes skin rashes and muscle problems.  I have been put on Methotrexate and just wanted to see if there was anything I should know.  Just started taking it and right now it is at a low dose. I am taking Arimidex.

marlegal

Diana, if you need a lift, hop on my shoulders...take a load off your feet

elimar86861

Hmmm, I personally don't have the Methotrexate experience, Claudia Metz, but welcome.  I think some of the others can share what they know with you.

elimar86861

I'm up early and going for mammo.  I think I must be the first one today, so let's see if I can get out of there in less than three hours?  Get the wager pool going and we'll see who the big winner is when I get back.  If you guess within 5 minutes of my actual time spent there today, you might get a "prize."

I mean like total time spent there.

barsco1963

I'm in Eli - guessing total time "in and out" is 52 minutes - I'm an optomist   Hope it's quick so you can get on with your day.

Welcome Claudia - you've landed in one of the best threads for fun, support, encouragement and entertainment. Come by often - hope to get to know you better.

Dianarose - hope you aren't wearing yourself out with everything that is going on. You are likely still running on adreneline, but remember to take 5 every now and then.

Meece

My guess is 40 minutes.

I have the worst luck waiting for doctors, The receptionist at the chiro Monday forgot to sign me in and when I waited 45 minutes.  She didn't even appologize!

Loral

I'm guessing total time 32 minutes...Good Luck.

ClaudiaMetz

If they make a mistake, they don't feel like they have to say anything.  If you make a mistake, you will hear it.  I had an apt with my oncologist and then thought I had to cancel it due to an appointment that was a conflict.  I went online and cancelled it.  Five minutes later I realized my mistake.  I called the office and told them what I had done and I could keep the apt.  The lady said no problem it is still open.  I again said "please make sure they don't cancel me".  When I got to the apt you can guess they said I wasn't in the apt book.  They checked to see if the doctor was still there. She was and she saw me.  She asked if I had cancelled and I said yes and told her what happened.  She said "hold on a minute I need to go talk to them about this".  She did.  She also got on the computer and updated my meds (I have told them every time I go in that I wasn't taking certain meds and they never got changed).  If you are going to become computerized, then update your files.

luvmygoats

Eli - I'm the pessimist. I say 1 hour 45 minutes. Not what you wanted to hear but better than 3 hours. Hoping for great results. I did lefty on Monday and got results when I was there. Nothing to report. Love my radiologist.

I went with DD to a work in appt with a fill in doctor early July. 4 hours!! And nothing to read in the waiting room. I heard them discussing me and who I was. Recept. finally made pretense to rearrange mags and throw away used McDonalds cup and ask if I was waiting for an appt. Don't think I've been to an office where they didn't close the glass window if they wanted to carry on loud conversations. Not DD's usual office thank goodness but must admit doc was thorough and assured her she was not dying - not that mom the RN could not do that.

Claudia - there is a note on one of my doc's computer screen that at least one field must be updated and I assume (maybe wrongly) that doesn't just mean vitals/weight. I go to 3 docs - BS, PCP and gyn in 3 diff. offices but same group (150 docs spread all over the metroplex). They are very diligent about updating meds. PCP is the head of their EMR (electronic med. record) conversion so I would expect them to be and gyn. is the CEO. I never leave for sure the PCP and gyn without a current copy of my treatment plan. New Medicare laws for EMR going into effect 2014 and offices will receive decreased payments for not implementing. Just interesting info. that I like reading about. My MO/RO are both part of a huge statewide group Texas Oncology so EMR is a given there. They also update with every visit. Last visit I was reading meds over shoulder of nurse on her screen. She had no problem with that; in fact I think it is prob. easier for her. 'Course if I were old and babbling, no way. OHH wait, DH says I do babble.

elimar86861

I don't know what hopeful insanity possessed three of you to guess under an hour, but I did hint that my usual time was three hours, so your optimism was far from reality.  Goatsy, you are closest but my actual time from walking in their door to skipping out was 2:10.  I did have a little skip-fest past the others still waiting, announcing that "my news was all good" and wishing them all good luck.  I might have been able to cut the time down, but I'm a talker and I also do love my radiologist, so we had to have a 15 min. chat all about possible MRI next year when I reach my 5-year mark, why they disappointingly did not get the ultrasound screening machines that I was really excited about, and how I was a 2-time loser in getting CRC since I had last been in.  (I never miss an opportunity to berate the two providers who failed to use a simple diagnostic tool to have spotted my CRC six months earlier.) 

Sorry, I cannot award the prize for guessing within five minutes of my total clinic time.  I know you will all shed tears not to have won because look what you missed:

                                                    

                                                     Adorable wedgie sandals fashioned from cantaloupes!!!

They are all the rage this season, and now you will just have to make yourself a pair.  (Meece, you probably already have a pair.)

elimar86861

Oh, I did forget to say my Breast Center did get new mammo machines since last year, and the squishing seemed to be less than the old ones.  Will have to see if any new broken blood vessels pop up in the next week or so to really know if I got off easier this time.  Many of you might be going to these newer machines, and wondering why I would complain but the old ones seemed to have a very tight compression, similar to "Theodoric of York" getting your boob between two anvils.  Maybe I've moved from the dark ages into the renaissance of mammo screening now.

Anonymous

Oooohhhh......sorry I didn't get up this am to get in on the contest! I LOVE the cantaloupe sandals! .....don't love and won't miss the torturous quashing mammograms!



I have a endoscopic ultrasound/biopsy scheduled tomorrow for my pancreas. Any pocket company would be welcome!

Loral

Wishful thinking I guess, I remember having my mammo and being in an out within a half hour. The center where I go has new machines, it's the tech that hurts me by twisting the damn boob...

Nice shoes I think I'll eat them as a snack, walking in them would be impossible...

luvmygoats

Mine too got new machines in February; I was there in January. I think I got tech who was "Theodoric of York" for torture and not one that I recognized. But seems she got good pics. I was only there about 45 minutes and the most time I spent was in the registering. Geesh! An old friend from wayyy back 30+ years is always the clerk on duty but computer went on fritz in the middle. Also appreciate which I did not know was that my radiologist has to go to case conference about her more obscure BC kinds. One more reason I go there and not to an alternate my BS/gyn/MO might prefer. That's the place that did my wire loc and tech proceeded to tell me if I'd been 10 minutes later they would have had to postpone. Like I'm out galavanting around hosp. waiting for surgery. Radiologist was the pits for bedside manner (wham, bam, thank you mam wire loc) and I reported both to my BS who literally is around the corner.

Gosh - Chachamom - will be in your pocket tomorrow. What are your preferred snacks? I think this bunch can whip up just about anything. Right??

Yum Elimar. Have your shoes and eat them too. Who needs fast food?

Anonymous

Thanks Luvmygoats! I'm vegan, so the cantaloupe sandals looked pretty tasty! I love Indian, Thai, Italian, Mexican...it all! And I'm vegan for my health, not necessarily political reasons, so animal products are welcome for my carnivore friends.......and of course I like my wine! Guess I'm not THAT healthy! :-)

Lezza13

chachamom- you are in my pocket for tomorrow. 

luvmygoats- i think I like it here better.  Nice to see you here.  

elimar- love the sandals.  I won't wear them but those look great to eat and they are nice to look at.

luvmygoats

Chachamom - Here's food for your pocket partay.

Did you say you like wine?

Lezza, welcome to this equally crazee thread (at times). Witness the 25,000 post partay this past Friday. Elimar - BTW DH wanted to know what all the laughing was about that day.

elimar86861

Lezza13, welcome!  You don't list a Dx line, but I looked in your profile...your Dx was back in 2011, but it said you had recurrence in the chest nodes?  How much later was that found?  Did you not have any nodes out at first, but then had to go back for node removal?  What point of treatment are you at now, taking an anti-hormonal?   And when it comes to virtual footwear, you will be surprised what you can wear...online is the only place I can wear five inch heels!

luv, I'm sorry but that plate of food looked so good, I had it for dinner.  Do you think you can bring something else for Chach tomorrow?

chachamom, hoping your biopsy goes well tomorrow.  I'll try to join the pocket party just to make sure there's no funny business with that endoscope, or are you awake during the procedure?

Anonymous

Thanks Luvmygoats! I'm starting on the wine now.....and drinking until midnight when I can't have any food/ drink until after...so the rest of you ladies dig in!

Eli, I'll be out for the procedure....supposed to be about 45 minutes.

I'll check in afterwards to clean up post party.....

I don't get to see the surgeon until the 22nd for the results....but that's partly because I'm cutting and running to Cancún and Cozumel for 10 days on the 7th. If I don't get a call before then, I'm going to assume (hmm) it's not important enough to keep me here!



Welcome Lezza13!!! You'll love these ladies! Fun, knowledgable, caring and.....did I mention FUN!!

Dianarose

Eli- I am glad you got good news !!!! The tech knew better than to hurt you this time. Too many of us and she knew she was out numbered.

Marlegal- how did you know my feet hurt? I am trying to work on a plan so I will work smarter and not harder.

Any tips on how to get rid of the menopause belly??? I have always been proud of my flat tummy and now this.

marlegal

Chacha, I'm in for the party.



Timing for mammos..I believe Eli's center is like mine - for bc patients, they read results while you're there. That makes a huge difference in time spent at center. I know whenever I have mammo that I need to allow two hours. I am generally one of first appts,so might only wait a few minutes before going back for test, but then will wait a while for radiologist to review, then have meeting with rad. I'm happy to spend the time

barsco1963

Eli - hooray for good results! Kinda glad I didn't win though as I don't have room in my fridge to keep the shoes even though they are adorable.

Chacha - jumpin in for the PP - I have some extra strawberry shooters to bring - fresh fruit & liquour. Does it get any better?

I'll have to catch up later - off for a mani/pedi this morning.

Welcome Leeza!

Loral

Yep Dianarose, from muffin top to 3 tiered cake...lovely!!!!

elimar86861

OMG!  Barsco, those look GOOD.  I am not much of a drinker, but I would down one of those in a quick second.  They look tasty and refreshing!

I know everyone who has had chemo probably had their favorite things that still tasted good to eat/drink.  Well, I have been liking limeade a lot, and melons taste fairly normal to me too.  So many foods have a chemo-altered taste, it is hard to enjoy them.  It's always a nice surprise when something tastes good.

elimar86861

Dianarose, I've been plagued with middle-aged belly fat for about three years now.  Even with losing 15 lbs., I notice that my shape has just changed, with a thicker midsection regardless.  I don't know the answer to getting rid of it.  Those of us whose estrogen tried to kill us definitely cannot consider hormone replacement.

luvmygoats

Elimar - Love the new page topper. Smiley faces never fail to cheer me up. I've been making ginger lemon green tea. But have to keep on top of the ice cube trays. Have an ice maker but DH refuses to have to hooked up. With just the 2 of us you'd think we could remember to fill them up. Glad you have found things that taste good. Perfect time of year to enjoy melons. I had been looking for one of those heavy duty lime squeezers and found one at Ross the other day. Who knew? WallyWorld sure didn't have one. Never got to Bed,Bath,Beyond to check there. Oh and I drove past the very exclusive Williams-Sonoma on Mon. Actually drove thru the shopping center and drove out. Good thing because . . .

Our treat for the month is - Wait For It - NEW TOILETS. Yes, DH scared the **** out of me yest. His was acting up so he was replacing the innards last night which he has done many times b4. He managed to unscrew the inlet hose from the wall and water was pouring out. Ya think he shoulda shut water off? I'm mopping with towels, wringing, and he's running out to shut the water off - 9:15 at night. God knows what could have been out there (like snakes) - it's a hike and in the dark. He did grab the flashlight. Got it off, mopped up and that's when he discovered he had NOT broken it but backed it out too far. Hooked back up, walked out on the phone with me to turn it back on and no leaking. But I said this is a sign we need these replaced with new hoses. We've been here 15 years and they were not new then. So off to Lowe's on Sat. Whoopee!

Chachamom - I made extras since Eli ate the previous plate. They'll be ready when you wake up or for later this evening. Praying for good results from your biopsy. Hot food and Barsco's cool strawberry shooters. Must be some giant breed of strawberries.

Barsco - I'm jealous of your mani/pedi. Esp. the pedi part. The only one I've had was after surgery - prob. already told this - since I forgot to cut my toenails and could not reach them. Still having problems reaching them. Oh, know about middle age spread. My beauty shop does nails but pedi's not so much. I'm kinda a chicken about those things. Oh I did have a pedi 26 years ago when pregnant. DH can actually polish toenails but not too good with quik dry polish. I told him it was just like painting model airplane parts.

Marlegal - I always make my appt. on days radiologist is there (she goes 2 days to alternate site). But maybe that's why I get invited back to see my pics - never thought of that because it never happened b4 DX. But she also puts on an office charge for that, too. Oh well, the price to pay for immediate worry relief. I did not realize until I got my mammo films for BS how many diff. radiologists had read them in the past. I hope this one NEVER leaves.

Eph3_12

Yes Barsco, those look delish! I'll take a couple dozen please.