MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

ClaudiaMetz

You guys have made me hungry.  Had to skip lunch.  I would love to have the recipe for the strawberry shooters.  I started seeing a therapist this morning.  Between my medical conditions and family I need one.  I really liked her; however, strawberry shooters look live a solution as well!

Lezza13

Ladies, thanks for the warm welcome.  I have been recovery from removing my implants from my BMX last year. They were a pain and happy to have  them out.  I do need a "fix them" surgery next year but that is how it goes with PSs sometimes. Nice to be part of the group.

eli- glad you got good news.  I will put my DX back up no chest nodes, just 2 positive lymph nodes of 23.

Dianarose-congrats. hope it all goes well

chachamom- hope you get good news as well.

Best wishes to everyone else I forgot!

Anonymous

WOW that was some party! I was afraid I'd lose some of you when they had me gown up. Why do we have to take everything off when the procedure in just down the throat??? Well at least I was able to keep my pocketed pants on the gurney underneath me. Hope the ride wasnt too bumpy! Nice to know there are other eyes while I was out. The GI doc gave me the report but says the biopsies will take 7-10 days....BUT his impression is not concerning. They did find I have "at least one" stone in the gallbladder and a "mild" case of gastritis which they biopsied too. GI guy says sometimes these cysts can be precancerous in which case the surgeon may discuss pancreatic resection and they would likely take my spleen and gallbladder at the same time. Why not? What's another body part? I'm betting it will be B9 and I'll keep those parts at least for awhile.



Luvmygoats and Barsco, thanks for catering the party! I can't have any alcohol for 24 hours, so those virtual strawberry shooters REALLY soothe my sore throat! LOL!!

barsco1963

chacha - sounds like (unofficial) good news - we'll take it! Here's to keeping all of your body parts for a while longer. (one more shooter won't hurt right?)

Dianarose

We did 43 for lunch and got totally wiped out of pastries. My feet have a pulse of their own. I have to go back and prep and clean for tomorrow. I can't wait for Sunday. A day off !!!

luvmygoats

Chachamom - I'm with Barsco. Sounds like good news. I put the partay food in the fridge so you can partay when you feel like it.

Dianarose - sounds like a great opening week. Congratulations. When does your sous chef start?

Meece

Sounds like the word is out, Diana!  Good Stuff!

Lezza13

chachamom- glad you made it through the whole thing and its over. I have lived without my gallbladder for over 30 years, dare I say!  Haven't missed or needed it one bit.  Well, that's one less organ to not worry about.

Dianarose- when does this all begin?  I mean after the luncheon of course?

marlegal

Diana, you have to take a second and shoot a few pics to post on here. We're dying to see the shop!

Dianarose

Marlegal, I will get you some pictures on Monday. I am so looking forward to no alarm clock tomorrow. I do have a ton of paper work to do though.

Hope everyone is having a happy weekend.

elimar86861

Not too much thread activity this weekend.  My energy seems to have taken another hit.  Can't seem to get enough food in and I do feel hungry but food does not look or taste good for the most part.  Vitamins seem to upset my stomach a little.  I don't know if there is much I can do at this point, when the real problem is chemo and I have two more months of it.  Going to have to say no to the platinum drug again tomorrow.  I still have numb legs and even got a touch of the numbness in my hands now.  Just a little, but keep in mind that I skipped the platinum last time and still worsened.  These symptoms are not like the acute cold sensitivity, these are side effects that come with the cumulative dosing.  I think I must be close to my limit.  MY limit.  That's going by how I feel, individually, and not what shows up on paper.

I just hope that the information about getting the biggest bang out of the chemo occurs in the first few months.  Hopefully, I have received a large part of the benefit already.

Goatsy, Your thrilling life sounds a lot like mine.  Now that's scary!

heartnsoul76

barsco - I can't get those strawberry shooters out of my mind! They look soooo refreshing!

elimar - sometimes I wish fruit had as much protein as meat.  Fruit always hits the spot for me.  Meat, eh... not so much.  Of course, I'm sure I'll say the opposite thing in the cold of winter.  I'm glad you're skipping the platinum drug again tomorrow - I don't think I would take it again until I saw a decrease in my side effects, certainly not after an increase.

Dianarose - I know you must be worn out, or as we say in the south - plumb wore out. Or plumb tuckered out.  Anyway, I hope you were able to sleep late today!

Chacha - the biopsy sounds like good news to take with you on vacation!  Hope you have a great time!

luvmygoats - FUN, FUN, FUN! Oh, the joys of home ownership!

I'm supposed to have my first breast MRI on Tuesday and I just found out Friday, when I called to find out how much I owed, that they haven't even gotten it approved yet.  UGH! I've dealt with this woman before, when I had my PET/CT scan in January.  At that time, I tried for weeks to reach them to see how much I would have to pay up front.  She finally told me at 5:30 pm the day before the procedure that I had to pay $3600.  I laughed in her face! (well, on the phone...).  And she's the head of this department!  I think I've got some complainin' to do.

marlegal

Eli, I've said many times before but I'll say again how glad I am that you take charge of your course of treatment, and know yourself and your body so well that YOU decide when enough it enough with the heavy drugs.

HnS, good luck with the MRI ... wear the baggy pants with the big pockets

Had a really good weekend. Hub and I do a "birthday week" for each other, and this weekend is the end of mine (7/31 bday). We're at the campground and yesterday was cloudy and a bit of rain, so we did chores inside for a while, then sat on the back porch (enclosed/air conditioned) watching the bird feeders and the woods for the rest of the day. I can think of worse things to do! Today was picture perfect ... sunny and low 80's. Went down to the bay and sat there for a couple hours. Was actually too windy for our umbrellas - knocked them down! At our point of the Delaware Bay it's almost like an ocean ... water as far as you can see and when it's windy, like today, there are actual waves lapping the shore. Combine that with tons of shore birds and very few people and it's heaven! Came back and had a good dinner, then back to the bay for sunset. Was almost chilly! Got some great pics and just really nice to sit there for a while. We take Mondays off in August, so we're still at the trailer while people pack up to drive home in horrible traffic. I'm a happy girl

MinusTwo

Eli: interesting that you're going to skip the platinum.  I have one 4-ply chemo tx left.  All toes are dead, the balls of my feet are numb, and all fingers are 1/2 numb & tingling all the time.  The 3 weeks off between tx doesn't make any difference.  My doc swears that only 5% of neuropathy is permanent.  I checked my drugs & looks like the carboplatin, taxotere & perjeta can all cause neuropathy.  Well, I can't stop everything but the herceptin... but I find the neuropathy pretty daunting.  The same 3 cause low red blood cells & platelets so maybe I'll get another stay tomorrow.  Ugh

Good luck w/your tx tomorrow.

heartnsoul76

marlegal - While I was reading your post I swear I felt like I was there with you this weekend - what a great description of a terrific birthday weekend! I know I had a good time! And Happy Birthday!

MinusTwo - I know you'll be happy when your last treatment is over! I'm sorry the chemo is giving you such trouble. Has your MO said when the numbness and tingling should start to subside? 

Oh, elimar! You brought the mermaid back!! Love her!

Loral

Marlegal...Happy Birthday!!!

Elimar...My thoughts are with you today.

barsco1963

Happy Belated Marlegal! Sounds like a wonderful birthday week.

Eli - "Know your limit, stay within it" - seems to apply for more than just gambling huh? Self advocacy is so important and you are a great leader by example. I sure hope that the SEs start to ease for you soon. Thinking of you today.

MinusTwo - hoping that you also find that once tx ends that the tingling and numbness begins to subside also.

Holiday Monday here in Canada - not a lot of excitement at my household, but it sure is nice to have an extra day off from work!

elimar86861

Thanks for the vote of confidence for my self-advocacy.  As far as feeling confidence over skipping a drug, I don't ever feel confident about it.  Who knows how great the risk is that I am taking?  I might be the most foolhardy person on the planet.  Yet, I feel I can't keep poisoning myself over the "big question mark" of whether there is even any cancer left to poison or not.  If I "turn" Stage IV down the road, will I be kicking myself that I caused it?  Probably not.  If that does happen, I have a feeling it would have gone that way anyway.  Lots of people follow their chemo to the letter and there is still an unlucky percentage that get recurrence.  I just have to rely on luck at this point, even with chemo.

I have nerve damage already and hopefully it will reverse in some months.  Minus Two, this is what I hope for you as well.  It takes a long time for damaged nerves to heal.  Some are bothered for a couple of years before the tingling stops.  It is only a small segment who get permenent neuropathy.  I already have fibromyalgia (or something) related nerve damage, and it makes me feel like I could be one of the ones who gets permanent trouble.  I'm probably being over sensitive to this aspect, but it is something I worry about.  With you not knowing which of the platinum drugs is causing your side effects, you are right, you can't skip them all so hang in there and thank goodness you are on your last one now. 

Well, I'm off to my bi-weekly poisoning. 

p.s. Happy Birthday Week marlegal.  Remind me to look for a nice graphic when I get home.

                                                                 

jocanuck1951

Happy birthday week Marlegal! Xoxoxox. Jo

marlegal

Thanks buds. It really was one of my best in recent years. Capped off with dinner out tonight at a new restaurant to seal the deal. Just in a good place in my life right now, and I do not take that for granted, trust me. I wish nothing less for each and every one of you.

Valjean

Happy Birthday, marlegal!

Many blessings in the future!

gavinsgrandma

Hi Ladies, I think I may fit in here pretty good, I will make my story short and sweet, I turned 50 in January and in May I retired as a hairstylist after 25 years, thought I would find a nice little office job, something easier on the ole Body and off my feet for a few years. Well life had other plans on May 30th I had my Bx( also my grandsons 1st birthday)then the next day I found out it was malignant, on 7/18/13 I had BLM with delayed recon, PS wanted to wait on TE'S so as not to interfere with treatment. During surgery I had 2/2 positive nodes and at 1st f/u with BS found out 15/15 are bad so now we add rads to the mix. Saw MO and he ordered PET came back with more node involvement but no Mets anywhere else, so as far as we know good news there, fingers still crossed. I start my chemo Thursday 8/15 and I have to admit I am very nervous about it. I have really connected with some great ladies on this site but I came across this thread and I felt as though I should qualify😄



Shary🌞

Momine

Shary, welcome. This is a great group. I was scared out of my wits in anticipation of chemo, and then it just wasn't that bad. It wasn't fun, but it was doable. Exercise helps. Taking ALL the anti-nausea meds helps too. My onc had me on a schedule of anti-puke meds, with the idea of not allowing it to start. It never did. 

Oh, and take some kind of pro-biotics, loads and all the time. It helps against thrush and stomach issues.

barsco1963

Welcome Shary - you have landed at one of the best threads for support, encouragement, and knowledge. Wonderful women here who will share experiences. We like to laugh, vent, cry, yell and scream. There is no  such thing as a "dumb" question so ask away.

It is good to hear that your nodes are doing their job of catching any stray cells that have decided to wander. Best of luck with tx. Others who have "been there, done that" will be able to tell you what to expect as you go through tx.

Stick around so that we may get to know you better and keep us posted on how you are doing.

elimar86861

Hello, gavinsgrandma!  That is some terrible timing with getting the Dx just then, but I have said before, there is no good time to get a Dx of B/C.  We just have to roll with it.  I'm doing chemo right now and can say it is nasty, but in some ways, I thought it would really kick my butt and I have only had a couple days where I felt like it did.  I agree with trying to stay active, and one thing I have been doing for the past months is letting the family members do the tedious energy-sapping chores, so that I could use my energy to walk and ride my bike...things that took energy, but were beneficial for my body.  Let us know which chemo you will be doing.  Some here will have done the same and can comment more particularly about it.  The scariest part of chemo is all the aprehension before you actually start, when it is unknown.  Then, it becomes a somewhat boring routine.  IMHO.

Momine

"and one thing I have been doing for the past months is letting the family members do the tedious energy-sapping chores, so that I could use my energy to walk and ride my bike..."

Eli, very good point. First thing I did was to hire a cleaning lady. I saved my energy for exercise and for having fun. 

elimar86861

And it is amazing that something as simple as doing that might make a difference on how you get through the whole ordeal.

                                                 

Momine

Eli, absolutely! It is amazing what a nice time you can have, even during evil chemo, if you make having a nice time your top priority.

Sherryc

Hey ladies, I just realized I had so much fun with my BFF's that I never reported back in to tell ya'll my MO appt went very well. Don't have to see him again until December and then I'll have a bone density this time. I am 20 plus pages behind so I won't even try to catch up. I have been extremely busy at work and does not look like things are slowing down any.

Welcome to all the newbies that I have missed.

I hope everyones treatments are going OK.

HAPPY HUMP DAY!!!!!

gavinsgrandma

Momine, thank you for the tips I am going shopping today and I will get some pro-biotics, I have seen that idea else where. Our stats are very similar.

Barsco1963, thank you so much for replying, I never thought of it as my nodes are doing their job, I thought if as oh crap it's moving along.

Elmer, great ideas, I had not thought off having someone to clean for me but that is a great idea, and I can see the value in it for sure.

I love the cute signs you ladies put on here, how do you do it? Thank you all again for your warm welcomes and I look foreword to meeting everyone else😄



Shary🌞