thread for middle age to older Christian women.

bandwoman1234

Psalm 18:30 New International Version (NIV)

30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord's word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.

Let God be your refuge today dear ladies of faith. He is able.

Faith, I know this time you are in is so difficult. I continue to pray for Rosemary and for you and her family and friends. I remember when I was fervently praying for Kath to be healed and then I knew the time had come and I just asked that God would take her peacefully and it was shortly after that time that He did. I know that in my humanness I just couldn't help but think of the years of struggle that she had with serious health issues even besides two kinds of cancers and I think wrapping my head around her situation helped me to trust God more and more as there is so much we will NEVER understand until we get to heaven. He so carefully weaves every stitch of our lives into a beautiful tapestry that sometimes we can't see the proverbial forest for the trees in the process. I believe that every moment has a purpose and even in the times of sickness and challenge God uses those situations for His purpose in our lives. He doesn't ever cause sickness but He can certainly use it to our good and for the good of those around us. Our sufferings have a purpose and it is so hard to grasp that when we are in the middle of it all. It ultimately boils down to trusting God for every single thing in our lives. If we continue to seek Him we can have peace in that He will direct all of our steps and just as that wayward sheep He will brings us back to the fold if we stray.

I continue to pray for you dear sisters and know that so many are facing unbelievable challenges, some spoken and some not. I am feeling better today and hope I am seeing the end of this sickness. Thank you for your prayers.

Love,

Nancy

bandwoman1234

bandwoman1234

Ade

Nancy I'm thankful you're feeling a bit better - finally - hopefully as close to 100% as it gets soon!

Have been praying for you and all of the sisters. We all appreciate your words of wisdom and encouragement.

Blessings on your week, Ladies.

Ade

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bandwoman1234

Thank you Ade for your prayers. I do appreciate that. I am doing better and I made it to church yesterday. I hope to resume my swimming soon. How are you doing?

I have to confess that I am nervous about tomorrow. Tomorrow marks my third year out to the day. I have a mammogram and they said to allow time for an ultrasound if needed. In my ultrasound three years ago when they detected the tumor they damaged my rotator cuff in my shoulder during the procedure and I had to have PT along with rads, followed by months of pain. I am quite concerned about having another as this one arm will not go over my head without a lot of pain and that is the side where the cancer was. I would appreciate your prayers if anyone sees this.

Have a great day dear sisters. We finally have snow on the ground but so far not much.

Love,

Nancy

Lita57

Oh, Nancy, I'm dealing with rotator stuff, too. Once you injure your shoulder you're very much prone to re-injury, and I know that for a fact. Even hyper-extending your arm can reactivate the horrible pain and accompanying stiffness that lasts for weeks (if not months).

Prayers going out to you.

Ade

Nancy, the mammogram techs have provisions for folks who can't quite contort like regular folks so don't let them bend you more than necessary. Sorry two of you are dealing with rotator cuff damage. The VA put James on a cholesterol med that weakens muscles. He went to start the mower last summer and tore the shoulder (top of arm) muscle away from the bone. Now the muscle bulge has slid to mid arm instead of being high at the top and is weak (useless) and painful. They don't admit it was the meds of course but the evidence is clearly stated on internet reports. He will probably need surgery - IF that will even repair it. ( Anyway I pray the Lord will take away your pain and repair the damage. You surely don't need that on top of everything else. Nancy, may your mammogram be NORMAL, in Jesus' Name.

I just never feel good anymore - but God uses this to make character and it doesn't mean He has forgotten us or forsaken us. Our joy is in the Lord no matter what, even when it hurts. I know most of you ladies have it so much worse and am lifting you all up to the Lord for His grace, comfort and mercy. (Thank you Nancy, for asking)

Temps in the 80s the rest of the week! WooHOO!

Love-

Ade

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bandwoman1234

Thanks Lita and Ade for your prayers.

Lita, I hope your shoulder is much better after having to go to the ER. I continue to pray for your pain in general.

Ade, I am sorry to hear about your DH. Those lawn mowers are treacherous for shoulder injuries and any weaknesses already there. I hope he can find a solution other than surgery.

I am sorry you are not feeling well. Do you think it is due to your bc and your AI? I will pray that you can have much better days. I guess the temp in the 80's can't hurt. Hopefully we'll see that in a few months.

Thanks for your prayer and concern. I appreciate it.

Love

Nancy

magdalene51

Lita and Nancy, I also have extensive shoulder damage from arthritis. Nancy, you might remember when I was going through rads I had to have pain meds and lidocaine patches to move my arm into the right position. It's still my worst pain, and most of the time I just live with it. I had 2 surgeries in 2006 on my left shoulder, but the bone spurs kept coming back so I gave up. Shoulder replacements don't have a good success rate, and my cancer side is the worse one. So I definitely feel your pain.

My word of the day: When you feel alone, remember the teacher is always silent during the test

Faith-840

Nancy, I'm praying that your mamo is easy and has great results with no shoulder problems. Everyone, I'm keeping you all in prayers as well as my dear friend Rosemary. She is much weaker and nearing the end of her journey. Prayers for a peaceful passing and her family and friends are most welcome.

Thank you all, Faith

bandwoman1234

Mags, yes I remember all too well what you went through with rads and your shoulder. I am sure you understand my concern. I will definitely speak up this time if I have to have an ultrasound. I was in terrific pain during the procedure and didn't say one word. That was a very big mistake which I will not repeat. How are you doing?

Faith, thank you for your prayers. I do hope that Rosemary will not have a prolonged passing. I know that makes it so hard on everyone. Praying that she does not suffer as she fades out of this life and into the next. Praying for you too as I know how much she means to you and it is so hard in this situation to have to let go but not wanting to.

Have a good night dear sisters.

Love,

Nancy

bandwoman1234

Psalm 46:10New International Version (NIV)

10 He says, "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

bandwoman1234

Thank you for your prayers. Just got home from my mammogram and got the see you next year, followed by a very thankful sigh of relief. Thank you for your prayers. Apparently it is over zealous schedulers that are across the board scheduling extra time for an ultrasound when they are not supposed to apparently. At any rate I am so relieved and grateful.

Love

Nancy

Faith-840

Nancy, great news. What a relief for you. Praise God for all good things!

Faith

bandwoman1234

Thank you Faith. Yes, it is a huge relief and now can I fully concentrate on all the craziness going on at my home with getting ready for new drapery installation and switching out my music room into a photography room. You know that phase when you want to pull your hair out. That is where I am. LOL At the same time God allowed me to keep things in perspective today and I needed that. Sweating the small things that we allow to become LARGE is not what He wants for us.

I am trying to install a new program on a new laptop and the password things is just crazy but it will work out eventually.

How are you doing? How is Rosemary? Praying for all of you.

Love

Nancy

magdalene51

Hello ladies

Nancy, I'm doing ok today, not really looking forward to Thursday, the (hopefully) last chemo. But my sister and her granddaughter and her DGD's fiancé are coming over Saturday. Actually my sister will spend the whole weekend. Her DGD is 7 months pregnant, and although in my opinion it's the backwards way to do it, they are both very excited about the baby and very committed to each other. They are also both very smart, and DH enjoys his conversations with the fiancé very much. So I will be a great-great aunt in May.

You mentioned having a chance to see Sandi Patty on tour; she is coming on staff at our church when she finishes, her husband is already on staff, his son as well. It will be interesting to see what role they find for her. She and our senior pastor have known each other since he worked with the Gaithers right out of college. And her dad pastored a church here, don't know if he still does. So this is her hometown. I think they are on a working cruise this week.

Anyway, I'm going to have a couple of weeks to recuperate before I have scans, and we're going to Branson for the weekend at the end of this month.

Really good news on your mammo! Blessings

zjrosenthal

Mags it is so nice to hear you are having some enjoyable times. Nancy, congratulations on the clear mamo. I am sure the house stuff will all work out. Inconveniences not tragedy praise Gid. We had lots if snow here yesterday. About 3 feet blown against my deck door. A dear neighbor plowed us out already. Off to Florida tomorrow to see my grandson Bob pitchi for his college team at spring training. He didn't get the job in Boston so please keep him in prayer as he graduates in June and needs to find work. My great granddaughter Valentina will be there too! It is a blessing to be able to write about something other than cancer treatments. For the newbies hang in there..there is life after cancer. Ladies I pray you all have a blessed day. Love, Jean

bandwoman1234

Mags, will be praying for your last chemo on Thursday. It sounds like you will have plenty of pleasant distractions with family coming in and your trip to Branson. I am happy for you. I pray that you feel well enough to enjoy the family and your trip.

That will be amazing having Sandi Patty right there to enjoy her gifts. I loved her sense of ministry and I am sponsoring a little 10 year old girl in Ethiopia because of going to her concert where they had this ministry to feed the hungry. Even though she is definitely a performer she has a heart for God that was very real and touching.

Jean, I am sorry that your grandson didn't get the job but praying something even better will come about. That is nice that you are able to travel to see him pitch. I know he will appreciate that. Also a great time to be leaving the snow behind!

Joanne's granddaughter is having the last of the pretrials tomorrow regarding her children and custody. Please pray that God would move on the heart of this judge to see the truth and to rule for what is best for her children and in my opinion that is to stay with her full time.

Have a good day dear sisters.

Love,

Nancy

jrow7

I'm so sorry I don't comment much except to post about myself

Right now I'm feeling very overwhelmed. I will need to do 20 wks of chemo then radiation for knows how long. And Herceptin every 3 wks for a year. Then tamoxifen for who knows how long.

I have to have an echo next week and a nurse visit to discuss what will happen during my treatment. I need a port placed.

I was cleared for work but I haven't a clue when I'll be able to go back because of all this other stuff I have to get done.

Chemo starts either 4\5 or 4\6 - I'll call tomorrow and ask. The coordinator was not happy with me when I asked for a Wednesday or Thursday infusion day.

I am in the National Guard so I have time I need to make up for missing Drill.

Oh my gosh just make it stop.

I am remaining faithful but still feeling emotional about all this. Our eldest is so far away (he's in the Air Force) and I worry how this is affecting him. He says he's ok but does wish he as here to help.

Just feeling like I need to wallow in self pity and cry for a bit. I'm sorry for venting here. I pray you are all doing well. I pray for peace & comfort to us all.

Much love sisters....Jenn

bandwoman1234

Jenn,

You are experiencing very normal human reactions to a very traumatic life event. Every one of us here has experienced being overwhelmed by our diagnosis and the treatments that seem like they will never end. There is no getting around it that cancer completely pulls the rug out from under us and we are left trying to piece our life back together and trying to figure out how we are going to get things done. You will also find out that your cancer team no matter how sympathetic they are or not, they are concerned with one thing and that is to help us to live a longer life and hopefully treat this awful disease and beat it. When it comes to work schedules and all of that they just know that their number one priority is helping you to get better so I am not too surprised that you got the reaction you did in requesting certain days of treatment.

I can say that I found the Lord to be completely faithful when I was trying to figure out how I was going to continue to be caregiver to my mom and take care of myself. My radiologist who told me on the phone that I had cancer said that this would have to be a time that I put myself first. I was a few years out in my retirement so I didn't have to deal with a work schedule and I am sure that has got to be very stressful. I was alone with no family in the area and I live alone. I was so concerned about that but again God provided for me in miraculous ways and brought a whole community of support around me.

You are certainly allowed to cry and have a pity party. I have heard ladies on this forum say it is okay to have a pity party but just don't spend too much time there. I thought that was great advice. I had a friend say to me that you do not have to be strong all the time. God know our hearts and he knows our humanness. That is why Jesus who lived on this earth as a man can understand all that we go through. There is a great comfort in that.

I will pray that the Lord will let strength rise up in you as you go into battle mode. That is what I call it because I think many of us have realized that we go into this mode which I think allows us to forge through what ever we are called to go through.

You have to somehow allow your mind to concentrate on the present and not look too far out because you will get overwhelmed by doing so. I had a friend that kept telling me one day at a time. I am going to pray that God will give you the grace to face each and every day of your journey and that you will draw close to Him. You will find that He will not let you down. Give yourself time to be human and cry. I think it is important to release that emotion that builds up.

We will be praying for you as every one of us who has started the journey can understand where you are coming from.

Hang in there and YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH.

Love,

Nancy

Faith-840

Jenn, I'm so sorry for what you are going through right now, We've all been there too and it's all so very overwhelming. You are allowed to feel sorry for yourself and cry as much as you want for awhile, it sometimes does us good. I'm almost sure once you are actually having treatment you'll find it's not as bad as the anticipation. It's good that you are having a port put in, it's so much easier than an infusion in your hand, so look at that as a positive thing. I've heard that taxol is fairly well tolerated and I had a pretty easy time with tamoxifen. I don't know about Herceptin but I believe the targeted therapy drugs are easier than the Chemo. I'm on Ibrance right now which is a targeted therapy and tolerating it fairly well. I don't have any advice about the radiation as I had a mastectomy 25 years ago and my Chemo was so strong they didn't do rads also. Unfortunately, I did lose my hair and you may too but believe me it really does grow back. That was also one of the hardest things to go through but I did it and you will too.

My cancer is back now but I've had a really good life in the last 25 years. I was there for all four of our children's weddings and we have ten fantastic grandchildren. We have three graduations in three different cities this May and we are going to all of them. My oncologist says I can live a long time yet and new drugs are coming out all the time. When I told the doctor I didn't need to live to be 90, he said ask him again when I'm 89. I've decided I'm going to make the best of the time I have left and we are planning to travel again.

Come back here as often as you need to, we will all pray for you and you will get through this tough time, I promise. God really does give us the strength we need. He will carry you in His healing arms of love.

May the peace of Christ be with all of us.

Faith (in the future)

zjrosenthal

Jenn you have gotten a lot of good advice here so I won't repeat it. Just will say my Herceptin/perjeta was much easier than chemo and are miracle drugs. You can do this. I will be praying for you. Love, Jean

bandwoman1234

Philippians 4:13Amplified Bible (AMP)

13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]

jrow7

Sisters, thank you SO much for your support! Such a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders today...I honestly cannot begin to explain how much better I feel and how everything has just fallen into place! God has surely reminded me to stop relying on myself and lean HEAVILY on Him!

Faith ~ thank you for sharing your journey with me That is encouraging!

I don't have but a moment, children are beckoning...but thank you again for all your support and encouragement!

love ~ Jenn

Faith-840

Jenn, I'm glad if telling a bit of my story helped you. I was worried that it might be scary to hear but it has been a good life and it's not over yet.

Nancy, I love that verse from Philippians. It is so true for all of us.

Praying for everyone tonite. Rest well.

Faith (in the future)

bandwoman1234

Good evening dear ladies of faith,

I am glad that this thread is an encouragement and a place we can lift one another up.

Have a good night dear sisters.

Love

Nancy

Ade

Nancy - thankful your mammo is OVER!

Faith - May Rosemary's passing be sweet and gentle as she's received into Jesus' waiting arms and may He comfort your heart knowing she's soon to be at peace forever.

Happy Paddy's day to you all!

Ade

Faith-840

Ade, thank you for remembering my dear friend Rosemary. Yes, may her passing be sweet and very gentle. That is wonderful way to put it.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my Irish friends of which Rosemary is one.

Have a great day everyone!

Faith (in the future

bandwoman1234

Thanks Faith. That is one of my favorite verses.

Ade, thank you. A relief for sure.

Jenn, glad you are feeling much better about things.

For Rosemary and all who claim all who claim to be Irish today!

\

bandwoman1234

Here is to one of our dear sisters.