MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Anonymous

mmmmmmm.....that cup of coffee looks very inviting Luvmygoats!

cakes

Dianarose - what lovely news! Beautiful pink diamonds.

NativeMainer

Luvmygoats--that is a great coffee mug!!!!!

elimar86861

Today I had some PT called Anodyne Therapy on my numb feet. It helps diabetics with their neuropathy, so maybe it will help me with my chemo neuropathy. It uses infrared energy to supposedly help with pain and healing. Beats taking a drug just meant to help with pain only, while I wait to see if time will heal me. I'll report on this again in a few weeks if it does me some good.

BTW, my taste for chocolate has returned. It was really dreadful (gak!) while on chemo.

barsco1963

Eli - sure hope the Anodyne therapy helps out with those poor feet of yours.

Here's something that might help make up for those times of lost taste buds....... enjoy

elimar86861

Interested in Chemo Brain? Medscape Oncology just released a special report, a compendium of recent articles about it:

Your Patient's Brain on Drugs -- Cancer Drugs

Chemo Brain: A Decade of Evidence

Cognitive Complaints After Breast Cancer Treatments

Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive Training Helps 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors

heartnsoul76

Happy to say chemo brain is one side effect I do not have. I got an excellent score on a memory test the other day, same score as my college son. My problem is that I have a wandering brain, which is fine by me. I want to do a PSA: "The less you know, the happier you'll be." Haha! I'm beginning to think that's true.

Well, I stiffened my spine and made a few necessary appointments today including an appointment to get my hair cut - finally! I think I'm dreading that more than the brain MRI!

Elimar - let us know how the anodyne therapy works. Even though I'm three years out sometimes my toes feel numb. I don't know if it can come back or not.

chacha - that giant pink skeleton for Dia de Muertos was made by some students in Mexico City, pretty awesome.

Eph3_12

I've got alcohol induced memory loss from almost 20 yrs of daily alcohol ingestion, chemo brain & a Dad with advanced Alzheimers. Ask me about my childhood, I can answer you almost anything. Ask me what I had for breakfast-um I don't know!

marlegal

I'm sorry Eph, what was the question?

GrammyR

Eliminar- I too suffer w/long time neuropathy after receiving Taxol chemo 7 years ago. Both my feet are effected and now my right hand d/t a new node near the collar bone. RADS reduced some of the pain but it is still there. I am very interested in this " Anodyne Therapy " and got a brochure. Please post as you go along. I know there is not much new therapy to offer for neuropathy. I have already done all the various meds and do not want to live on pain pills.

Eph3_12

Marle-what question?

Meece

I'm new to this thread, I think...

Nearly ten years out and I know my memory has been permanently affected by chemo. Like you, Eph, I can tell you about 45 years ago, but I can't remember recent details at all.

elimar86861

During chemo, I did experience the "brain fog" but my memory is still quite good. Sometimes the recall is a little slower, but I think the recall issues are age related. I noticed that before I ever did chemo. Now, when I struggle with something on the "tip of my mermory," I just quit pushing and, sure enough, a day later there it is. The brain is fascinating.

heartnsoul76

Ahh, memories…. oh, memory! Mine played a trick on me last night. I was playing a video game with my son and it played a short video. Two minutes later he asked me what I thought of it and I said, "What video?".

My brothers and I have been talking about my mother's recent memory problems (Is Ed dead?) and one of them sent me this test. Try to beat the monkey, haha:

http://games.lumosity.com/chimp.html

Eph3_12

the #s aren't on the screen long enough to even have a chance!

Momine

Eph, when I tried it, when I clicked the circle, some numbers flashed extremely briefly, but not in the circle. SO I could not even figure out what the game was supposed to be. I assume a number ought to appear in the circle, but I never saw one.

elimar86861

I've been doing Lumosity since summer, and one game on there is similar to this. The chimp still beat me. I had five correct, he got seven (or was it eight, I forget?) I hate some of the Lumosity games, but I play them anyway to challenge my brain pathways. The trouble is, one category is speed and my fingers can only go so fast.

I'm going to be slower than usual today. There was a two alarm fire down the street at a neighbors house around midnight (flames shooting up through the roof, but I don't think anyone was caught inside.) I wanted to go see, but was too lazy to change out of my jammies. An ember must have stayed alive because the sirens came down the street again at 6:30 a.m.

Had Anodyne treatment yesterday. It doesn't feel like anything when the paddles are on your feet (not because of numbness, but you just cannot feel the infrared energy.) Found out my ins. does NOT cover it, so have to play the game of getting 1/2 hour of "exercise" with PT to get "free" Anodyne therapy. What stupidity! The exercises are not going to be instrumental to nerve healing. I am walking all day long, and doing stairs, etc., and my feet do not have a lack of excercise or movement. However, I found our the Anodyne is $28 and my co-pay is $20 already, regardless. To me paying an extra $8 out of pocket is worth not having to go through a half hour of a senseless (and boring) exercise routine. I'm always trying to be responsible in not getting frivolous treatment. Why does the Ins. Co. have to be so wasteful with the money? It makes me mad. (Mini rant.)

elimar86861

Now I'm really going off (B/C)topic, but I would be letting the thread regulars down if I didn't post this...

New meaning for "dangerously cheesy." Stranger than fiction, people.

staynsane

Who knew Cheeto love could be that intense? Or maybe the attacker was going through withdrawal symptoms...Is there a treatment for Cheeto withdrawal? Eli, I understand that YOU may not know anything about that.

elimar86861

SnS, I can quit any time I want to.

marlegal

Eph, I was making a bad joke...realized afterward it probably wouldn't come off right!

Eli, i had zero memory issues before cancer/chemo and maybe I would have started with age related memory issues soon after, but chemo definitely threw me into the fire!

The Cheetos story is unbelievable...a warning to us all!

marlegal

Eph, I was making a bad joke...realized afterward it probably wouldn't come off right!

Eli, i had zero memory issues before cancer/chemo and maybe I would have started with age related memory issues soon after, but chemo definitely threw me into the fire!

The Cheetos story is unbelievable...a warning to us all!

TessaW

I'm a 43 yr old single mom of a 9 yr old boy. I thought working full time and being a single mom since my son's birth (and my husband of 10+ yrs deciding to aquire a mistress) was hard. Pfft.

This year I've lost a child to miscarriage, lost a relationship with the father after two years, then TWO WEEKS LATER I'm told I have IDC.

PFFT. Criminy. So THANK YOU for being here. I'm glad there's a place I can go where others understand just how sucky this is.

elimar86861

Hello, TessaW. As some of us know quite well, breast cancer can rear its ugly head with some of the very worst timing, when what you really need is a break. But, no, it does not work that way and it just adds to everything else life throws at us. As a single mom, you know how to step up and take care of business when you have to and that is the best approach in dealing with breast cancer, but you made your way here and so you don't have to go through it alone. We have info., and we are happy to lend any support we can. Just let us know. Have you had your surgery yet?

TessaW

Thanks elimar,

Not yet. It was originally for last Thursday but they said they found more cancer on the other side of the breast as well and had to reschedule to coordinate with a plastic surgeon who can put an expander in.

I wasn't even given any options. I was just tole the ps would be putting in the expander. DON'T I GET A SAY IN THIS??

Then my boss is only planning on me being gone for 3 weeks from what she read online. huh?

She said to ask about a fanny pack to wear and carry continuous meds in while I walked around so I could get back to working.

On FMLA it saves my job but gives no income. As a single mom, what can I do?

Should I let them lay me off so I can go on unemployment?

wyo

First thing- a virtual hug for all you are going through. I agree with elimar- you are good a keeping all the "balls in the air" with the priorities as a single mom but this is a large ball with whirly lights and noisemakers.

Now for your boss- this person sounds like a very insensitive person and a boss not considering the major life issue for an employee.

I don't know all ins and outs about unemployment but I do know the employer can contest it which could draw things out for benefits to you.

She can read all she wants online but your surgeon and oncologist are the ones to plan your length of recovery so tell her to forget the fanny pack til you know whats going on.

Here are some things I am thinking- not to be nosy just for you to consider yourself- Does the state you live in have disability pay you can apply for? Can your co-workers donate PTO time for you to use? Is there any option for working a reduced schedule or from home?

The american cancer society has a lot of information on resources like rides to treatment etc. and there may be a cancer center in your town with local resources so maybe check them out.

We are here for you- its a tough road but so much easier with others sharing the journey to listen and support.

Valjean

Hey everyone!

Nov 5th was my five-year mark........

Really don't know what to think about it........

Didn't say much about it to anybody. Went to Medical Records at the Hospital that morning & when I had to sign/date the release form, I realized the date at that time. Said it aloud to the gal there. And mentioned it to a casual acquaintance in WalMart, a gal that I only know by her first name. Crazy, huh?!? And, unfortunately, I had to remind my DH that night about it.... but, in his defense I must say..... he had taken a bad fall in the neighbor's muddy ditch while returning from hunting & was in extreme pain. (ended up being a long night & a long day the following day-he actually has a separated shoulder from it!!)

Five years.........ummm....... felt like any other day......

I do want to say that I am very, very thankful for each & every one of you.

Every single day.

 

wyo

Valjean

Congrats on your 5-year "anniversary" I hope to be where you are 5 years from now. If it was a day like any other for you I am encouraged that life in fact does go on!

Cheers

Valjean

Dianarose ~

A very special BEST WISHES to you for your upcoming nuptuals!

I am so very happy for you!

     Welcome to the newbies. I am glad you found us.

TessaW

Thanks wyo, I need all the hugs I can get right now.

Actually, I did check into short term disability. Even though I'm a 40 hr employee I don't qualify for disability unless I belong to their benefit program which is more expensive than what I'm paying now. Should I pay the extra for theirs if it gets me disability? When I'm off work I don't know how I'll pay for ANYTHING.

I'm a preschool teacher so I can't work from home for sure, but a reduced hour schedule ( no more 10 hr days!) would be nice if just to see my own little boy more. A co-worker of mine did say she would be willing to donate PTO if it was allowed. (One of the few actually helpful things someone has said. ) I don't know if that's allowed though.

I'll definitely check on whats available in town.

Thanks for being here.