MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

lhuntzinger4131

Thanks, everyone, for the encouraging words and info! 

Gillyone: I am very fair skinned/auburn haired so I will make sure that I will ask the onc for a creme to help with possible burning.

Elimar: Thanks for all the detailed information!  Sorry to hear about all the stress in your life. I can totally relate to wanting even a moment in the day that I don't have to think about cancer; those moments are rare. <sending a big hug your way!>

Regina: Hope all went well with your surgery. Rest well!

cookiegal

so I went to a new support group tonight, and to make a long story short, my oncologist did a presentation to that organization and said he leaves patients on AI's forever!!!!

Forever!!!!

karen1956

Thats pretty much what I am feeling from my oncologist.....but you know, I have a say in this matter and the way I feel right now, I want my life back and want to feel good....I'm tired of feeling like cr**!!!!  I've been on AI's for 3 1/2 years and not sure I want to go to 5 years....

Going to go get in my jammies and enjoy a glass of red wine (or two).......

Kleenex

cookiegal - congrats on being done with radiation! Be aware that you will likely still feel tired for a WHILE. AI's FOREVER? Wow... I'm still being Tamoxified, 1 year down, 4 to go, with the specter of AI's after that...

I LOVE Hoarders on TLC. My mom and I both watch and then discuss the shows - a bonding activity. Occasionally I get worried - chronic disorganization can lead to hoarding, as can a tendency toward perfectionism. I can be sort of a "disgruntled perfectionist," where some things are amazingly organized in my world and other things are just a random mess because I can't do it the way I want to or I see the "big picture" - every little detail in the situation at the same time...

I also like Clean House and Clean Sweep. VERY motivational for de-cluttering AND certainly great for building one's self esteem. Peter Walsh, who is usually the organizer on Clean Sweep, wrote a wonderful book a couple of years ago: "It's All Too Much." His follow-up, "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" I didn't like as well. I would love to have him in my house for an afternoon to call me out on some of the things I'm keeping and the way I'm keeping them.

elimar86861

Ezscriiibe, thanks for sharing your info.  I started on black tea about 25 years ago, before the green tea rage.  When the popularity increased and the anti-oxident properties came to light, I gave green tea a try and it tasted, well, too green for my liking.  What's the word on DDT & black tea?

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I hope I never have to take AIs 'cause I fear the joint pain side effect from those.  I already have mystery joint pain that has stumped a half dozen doctors. Plus, last month's bone density test results showed a little osteopenia, another reason I, personally, hope to avoid AIs.  I can't afford to lose more bone.  I'm liking my Tamox. a bit more these days, and it's ability to increase bone mineral density a little (and the percentage I have seen is 4%.)   Have to be more faithful in taking my calcium supplements.  Also, I may as well add that my Vit. D test results were 46.  That's in normal clinical range, but all the women on the Vit. D threads around here are trying to get their levels up around 100, so I'm trying for an increase there also.  Peer pressure, ya know.  If they all jumped off a bridge, so might I.  Just kidding, it's not peer pressure.  Really.

                                   

carolinachick

I'm also a huge tea drinker, since I never acquired a taste for coffee.  I tried green tea, but didn't really like it so I stick mainly to black tea like Lipton.  I'm going to have to see where it's grown now so that I can be sure there isn't DDT in it.  I have a friend who is fanatical about not buying items from China, since their quality control and food safety isn't like it is here in the U.S.  I always thought that was a little over-the-top, but maybe it's not a bad idea!

Eph3_12

My sister refuses to buy anything Chinese because of labor issues with the children, food safety and a host of other reasons.  My daughter is from China & we sometimes talk about what her life would be like if she were a 15 yr old orphan girl still there-it's shudder material.

On a happier note, NM, I'd be very happy to have a male friend with lasagna benefits.  That sounds marvelous to me.  I solmenly swear if I EVER have another male in my life, he will be a handy fixer-upper guy.  My house is sooooooooo deferred maintainence, especially now that all my money goes to pay doctor bills and meds, when it's not being spent on the 15 yr old.

Joni

PS-I am having a very difficult time with teaching her to drive.  My control freak issue is rearing it's ugly head and I am just about ready to have a coronary everytime I let her drive.  Driver's ed class can't be scheduled for her till summer due to school & sports schedules.  Any advise on how to relax while she's behind the wheel other than taking mega doses of drugs? (I want to be lucid and aware, but relaxed)    

barbe1958

I hope you're starting her off in an empty parking lot first??? That takes a LOT of pressure off...both of you.

Eph3_12

Yes, we still go do the empty parking lot, but just recently have ventured onto city streets (in quiet neighborhoods mostly, but still very nerve-wracking!) 

OG56

Just a quick FYI, my bipsy report is B9 for anything invasive!

Now I can get a good nights sleep Thanks for all the good wishes, sometimes they come true.

barbe1958

Phew! You dodged that bullet. You done good!

elimar86861

OmahaGirl, That's absolutely wonderful!  So happy the news was good.

                                   

Meece

Good news, Omahagirl!  Go out and celebrate!

Eph3_12

Hey Omahagirl-the map of Nebraska on computer is jumping up & down!  Must be you.  Congratulations!

Ezscriiibe

First, OmahaGirl, great news! Such a weight off!

Next, I'm not sure about black teas from China or India. Up until now I special ordered my teas from India, my favorite (outside of the green tea range) is Assam tea. I am just now starting to investigate that. I would hate to have to give up my teas altogether simply because I have no consistent way of knowing where they were grown!

Regarding teaching a daughter to drive. O-- My-- Gawd. I did not (could not) do it. But fortunately I had a close male friend who was able to do that. There is less pressure from both sides. She did confess to me one day when she was in her early 20s that it took her almost 2 years before she could get into a car and drive without her butt clenching up! I laughed for days on that one, picturing her all "butt clenched" clinging to the steering wheel for dear life!

barbe1958

When I took my daughter out for her first drive with her temporary license (and her at the wheel on a REAL road) we were in my DH's Lincoln. We took off into the sunset (literally) and she had to put her visor down. Well....my DH is a paper-pack-rat. There we were, all windows down, shooting off into the sunset and all these PAPERS flew from behind the visor and all over her face and mine, front seat, back seat, and I'm sure some out the window.

She made it through that. I knew she'd be good!

Eph3_12

Ezsciiibe-it's MY butt that's clenched in this case, altho her's probably is too as my stress is extremely evident! & Barbe-too funny.  I just have to let go and let God I guess!

Kleenex

Joni - think of how AMAZING your glutes will be after this experience! And perhaps it even counts as "Kegels" to keep that pelvic floor lifted!

A girl we carpool with is just learning to drive. She went out with a family friend and it was MUCH less stressful for her AND her family then going out with either of her parents. Do you have anyone you'd trust to do this with her? We unintentionally bring so much BAGGAGE into our conversations with our daughters.

Meanwhile, I'm trying not to think about how my oldest can get her permit in April. Oh, sure, last summer on that day when I drove round-trip to the high school SIX times due to her marching band needs, I briefly thought that it might have been nice if she could've done the driving herself, but in reality... Some days, she's SO grown up and capable. But then we have days like today, when she decided to coat her head (and bathroom) with glitter hair spray... Perhaps we never outgrow our princess moments, hmmmm?

Yay, OmahaGirl!!! Not having a biopsy is the BEST, but once you've had one, B9 is FABULOUS!

NativeMainer

Yeah, Omahagirl!

ReginaR

Hello, well survived the Rt Mastectomy, lymph nodes removal & reconstrution Jan 29, worst part was stayingat hospital for 2 night. I had to get home to rest. all Incision were open to air? I have 2 drains , they are a pain ,but getting use to them. I follow up with Plastic surgeron Monday, hope to get tubes out & maybe 1st filler in expander? Maybe you guys can answer some ? for me. I did get my path back & hallelujah my lymph nodes were negative,but breast tissue show grade 3 DCIS & Estrogen receptor postive.They are telling me I will be on Hormone thearpy 5 years. I wanted to just follow up with my plastic surgeon & internal med doctor ,because My Breast Surgeon has not returning call & never visited at Hopsital she just sent her resdients. So I wondering if another  MD can RX Hormone thearpy. My Plastic surgeon & internal medcine MD  have been so support & came both days & visited . I am jsut a little confused & fustrated with my Breast Surgeon.

Does any one have advice!

Thnaks you!  Hugs Gina Robinson

cookiegal

yea for OG!!!

Meece

Regina, glad you mad it through alright.  I have no advice for you on this, as my TX was different.  Maybe someone can straighten me out, but wuoldn't an oncologist be a good one to be under the care of during HT?  I would want an onc following me no matter, but I am just that way.  Good luck, hopefully someone else will chime in and let us both know who could follow you.

Kleenex

Gina - glad everything went well! I only had a lumpectomy, but pretty much after we made sure I was healing okay (maybe a 2 and then 6 week checkup?), I haven't really seen the breast surgeon again. I needed radiation, so I spend some quality time with the radiologist and her staff, and then after that I was handed completely over to the oncologist and her staff. The oncologist is the one who prescribed the Tamoxifen (a type of hormonal therapy usually used if you're premenopausal) and she is the one who coordinates my follow-up as I take that and continue to be scanned every 6 months. I am thinking you will likely continue reconstruction follow-up with the plastic surgeon, and then an oncologist will be the one through whom you receive hormonal therapy. Bummer about the poor communication with the breast surgeon, but on the good side, you might be pretty much done with that doctor! My breast surgeon's office (she was part of a "breast center") had an advocate type of person who coordinated initial appointments and testing with the assorted doctors. Perhaps there's someone like that you could speak with???

Coleen

OG56

Elimar, how did you find that picture of me?

Thanks so much ladies for everything. My Dr. called again to tell me that I am going to be her show and tell at a conference, I wanted to be famous but not from BC (:

Gina, I concur that you should see an Oncologist as part of your follow-up care.

My daughter was a huge pain in the ass about learning to drive (must have been the clenching) but I managed to teach her without either of us killing the other, but if you have anyone else who can do it I would highly recommend it as most of us know relationships between teens and their parents are difficult enough without adding driving to the list. Good luck EPH 3

faithandfifty

Wow. Had I fallen behind, middies.

Lots going on here!!

Kicking up my heels for Omaha-GAL!!! Oooooooo-la-la-la-la-la!!!!

Party, party, party, party!!!!!

And Cookie-gal is done & on to real life!!!

xx00xx00xx00xx

greetings to all

we should all have a friend who does the heavy lifting for lasagna-benefits: LOL

Meece

I married my friend who had lasagna benefits.  Remember I grow my own lasagna.

OG56

HaaaaaaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaa Meece! My husband is looking at me like I'm crazy because I was laughing out loud.. Does that mean you have a cow for meat and cheese? How do you grow the noodles?

LauraM

Gina - my initial diagnosis was the same, grade 3 DCIS, my BS told me that just means that you have a more agressive form of DCIS and agressive forms they treat with Hormone thearpy.  I am having a bmx in the end of the month, but may still need to take the Hormone thearpy because I too was estrogen positive.  I also had about 1 cm of ICD that was found in the middle of the DCIS during my lumpectomy so I will have to wait until after they take out my Sentinal Node and do the dmx until I know what further treatment I will get.  But I think Hormone therapy is normal for DCIS grade 3.  Good luck with your treatment!

LauraM

I know this has probably been asked before, but what type of Cami's do you all recommend when you come from a dmx?  Thanks, I figured I would try and get some recent opinions.

Kim09

The cami I got zipped up the front and had removable pockets for the drains.