thread for middle age to older Christian women.

IntoLight

Nancy and Jo, I went to the Dr and she suspected a blood clot so she sent me for a DVT test. It was negative (my numbers were low) and I have no fever. If it is lymphedema, it is not a result of surgery since I have not had any. I don't have a lot of faith in the DR who saw me today as my own Dr is away on vacation, and she clearly had no idea about my regimen or the potential ses since she is not on my team. So I am watching it closely ready to call my onc if necessary, again. One possibility is that It could be a cancer tumor blocking the lymph since my cancer was originally found in the lymph nodes in the same arm. At any rate, I have a PET scan already scheduled in 3 weeks so we will see then. In the meantime, I plan on taking a road trip with my family and to Colorado for 10 days and I pray this will not interrupt my trip, but I do appreciate the prayers.

Lita57

Praying that you have great trip, Into.

Faith-840

Nancy, praying your doctor visit is a good one and this is the end of your AB. They really are tough to deal with. I'm not sure if they are helping me or not, maybe it's not an infection after all. So, I'm still dealing with sinus issues and now to add insult to injury, I woke up with a very sore back yesterday . Using ice and seeing the back doc tomorrow.

Into, have a good trip and keep an eye on that possible lymphedema as Nancy said. It can be tricky, you never know when things will flare.

Keeping all of you in prayer and praying for better days for all of us.

Love and prayers, Faith

bandwoman1234

Dear ladies of faith,

I will be leaving for my doctor shortly so need to type fast.

Chris, praying this concern will be nothing serious and that you can have a wonderful time on your road trip to CO and that it will be a very pleasant distraction and that you will have energy and that the joy of the Lord will be your strength.

Faith, I sure hope you can get some sinus relief. I do your your AB will knock out what ever is causing so much problem for you.

Ade, are you okay? We've missed your beautiful pics. Hope you are feeling good.

Take care dear sisters.

Love

Nancy

bandwoman1234

As I was sitting in the waiting room today my back started hurting. Faith, i realized then you had mentioned seeing a doctor tomorrow for your back and that jostled my memory. I am sure I will be fine. I sure hope yours will be.

My surgeon said that he really believed that this is the end of my incision troubles. I figured he would say that. I am trusting that this time he is right!

Love,

Nancy

bandwoman1234

Dear sisters,

I am praying for all of you. Praying those in active treatments are managing SE's.

Faith, I hope you get some relief from your back and the doctor will have some solutions. Praying your sinuses improve after the AB.

Weather is hot and rainy here and I suspect it is hot where many of you are as well. Day to stay inside and do some cleaning.

Love,
Nancy

IntoLight

Nancy, yay...I hope! So glad you are healing.

After seeing 2 different doctors, (neither of which was my original) having a dvt test, an arm xray, and an ultrasound, they still are not sure why my arm is swollen and hurting. The best guess from the Drs is cellulitis so they have put me on antibiotics. It is good to rule out a blood clot anyway! I have a PET scan scheduled in 3 weeks so that should help if I am still having trouble. In the meantime, they all told me to go on my trip and see a Dr in Colorado if I need to since they have Kaiser there. I plan on leaving all of this mess behind and enjoying the time with family. Talk to you all when I return.

Blessings,

Chris

bandwoman1234

Praying for a great trip Chris.

Faith, how did you make out at the doctor regarding your sore back?

Aurora, have you got any more info on your CPAP device and when you will start that? Praying for your SE.

Hershey, how are you doing?

Lohoff, how are you?

Have a great day dear sisters. Our hope is in the Lord.

Love,

Nancy

zjrosenthal

This is not breast cancer related but I am asking for prayer for Mark's family. He is a sweet young man who is a member of my church. He was tragically killed in the Marine Corp air crash in Mississippi this week. He leaves a wife and three children. Also for our pastor John who is Chaplin at Stewart Air National Guard base. They lost 9 of the 16 men killed. Love, Jean

auroaya200882

Jean sorry to hear that loss came so close to you. Will pray for the families and for your pastor.

Nancy I'm glad your incision is basically healed. Praise God! As for the CPAP. Medicare only pays 80% and I have to pay the difference which in this case is 82.70 but I can't afford it so the company sent me a waver form to fill out. I filled it out and sending it back today.

I saw my oncologist Friday and the blood analysis shows the tumor markers going down so chemo is working yeah! The se's (nausea, vomit, mouth sores, thrush) I consider them mild and worth the effort if it keeps the cancer at bay. Thank you for asking.

Praying that everyone on this thread is blessed beyond your dreams and finds peace and for God to pour out His Spirit.

Aurora

bandwoman1234

Jean, I have prayed for Mark's family and friends. That crash was such a terrible thing affecting so many. It is always hard when that person is someone we know. Praying for all the families involved.

Aurora, I am so thrilled to hear your chemo is working. I continue to pray for your SE and I know you just had a treatment on the 7th if I am tracking your treatments correctly. I am glad that you will get your CPAP device paid for eventually.

I would appreciate your continued prayers for complete healing of the incision. I am not completely convinced yet that I am completely out of the woods. I took my last AB this morning and I think the next couple of days will be the test. I had some stinging and a little pain from it today and that is has happened in this whole continuing process when it started opening up and bleeding.

Love,

Nancy

auroaya200882

Nancy, regarding the healing of your incision. I would recommend that in this critical point you rest twice as much as you usual do. Sleeping/napping gives the body a chance to recover. I know you like to keep busy and I'm glad you can but like I said sometimes we have to slow down in order to heal completely. Praying the all mighty God pours his healing balm on you.

Aurora

bandwoman1234

Aurora, I will try to do just that. I am not planning any strenuous yard work and have been doing indoor cleaning. Thanks for the advice. I know my diet is critical as well.

Have a good night.

Love

Nancy

Faith-840

Nancy, I pray you continue to heal with no further complications. Thank you for asking about my back, it looks like I have a sciatica problem. I'm trying to take it easy and ice it several times a day, It's wearing me out. When the pain is better I can start to exercise. I don't think I have a sinus infection as the AB hasn't made much difference in how I feel. I see my MO next week, maybe he will have an answer.

I've been reading and praying for everyone's needs.

Hope all of you have a restful night.

Love and prayers,

Faith

bandwoman1234

Faith, I am so sorry to hear you are dealing with another issue. I will add that to my prayers for you. I know when you are hit with so many things it can seem overwhelming and discouraging. Prayers that you will see a break through in these issues.

Have a good day dear sisters. Praying that pain and fatigue which has been many of your constant companions will be diminished and that you can enjoy the weekend.

Love,

Nancy

Faith-840

Thank you Nancy, prayers for healing for many things are most welcome and I will continue to pray for all needs here for everyone.

Love and prayers,

Faith

Lita57

Let's continue to keep our eyes fixed toward the Lord, ladies. Snuck away with my husband to Napa for his away golf tournament. This shot was taken outside our ground floor hotel room under the California redwoods. While he's golfing, I will try to work on my third novel. It's been hard for me because the chemo affects my eyesight and I'm always fatigued.

I pray we all have either a restful weekend, if we need it, or a productive one (keep focused, Lita, and keep writing!).

Blessings to you all!

Ade

No, I have not fallen off the planet - but I did nearly lose my husband. On the 30th he had a heart attack. He just said he wasn't feeling well and would call the doctor the following Monday. He called ELEVEN TIMES and couldn't get through.

As the Lord would have it our doctor neighbor was walking his dog right when James was watering the garden. He asked how James was and he told him. Dr. Smith said to get to the Odessa ER immediately. (It is 3 hours away but our local "hospital" careflights anyone there who has a hangnail and the copter has to come from El Paso (3 hours away) anyway - so we called our son and hit the road. Our son is a federal agent and he put on his flashers, put the pedal to the medal and we got there in 1 hr. 45 minutes!

James was admitted when they saw his EKG. This was the 3rd of July. An angiogram heart cath showed extensive blockage and he had a quadruple bypass on the 5th. He was discharged on the 10th (!!!) with NO PAIN MED SCRIPT. and we came home. We did get pain meds from his local doctor thank the Lord.

Our daughter flew in from Ohio and has been my rock and SUCH a help. When we picked Maggie up from our son's SHE was sick!

It has been a VERY hard week. I was terribly fatigued BEFORE this. Now, having to bathe him, keep him comfortable, give meds, and sleep on the couch as he has to be in his recliner to sleep I can't even think straight. I get to have Emily's help until the 26th and am TRULY thankful. After that I have to drive him to appointments in a rather big city which terrifies me. I have had increasing chest pain myself but we need to get James back on his feet right now. I will trust in the Lord.

Thank you for your prayers!

Ade

bandwoman1234

Ade, I wondered what happened to you as you had just disappeared. I am so sorry to hear about James but very thankful you had this neighbor that realized what was going on. Glad your son could drive you to the hospital so fast.

How is James doing now? I am sure you must feel like you have been wrung through the ringer at this point. I am glad you have Emily there to help out. That is surely a blessing during times like this.

We will be praying for James and for you to get through this tough time. Le us know how things are going when you are up to it.

Lita, I am glad you got to have a little get away to Napa. Sounds wonderful. I am so glad you are feeling up to working on another novel. You go girl!

Have a good night dear sisters.

Love,

Nancy

bandwoman1234

No matter what the enemy shall throw at all of us who know the Lord WE WILL NOT BE SHAKEN!!!!!!

Faith, I had to have an ultrasound the day before my surgery because they thought I had a blot clot in my leg but I didn't. I have still been having some issues. I had muscle therapy for years and know lots of tricks which help me a great deal now at home. I use a tennis ball and I do this in bed so it is not so forceful. I lay the tennis ball under my rear end. (don't know how to gracefully say this). When I find a really sore spot then roll back and forth over it. It is a type of trigger point therapy which in therapy the therapist would do with their elbow. It works amazing results. I understand that sciatica is a nerve issue but you may be surprised if maybe there is a muscle issue going on as well.

Joanne, glad to see you posting. You know I am praying for you and your family.

I am doing better and feeling better. I think maybe this is the end of the cyst saga. PTL. Thank you all for your prayers.

Love,

Nancy

Almer

Following this thread. New here! It's been helpful reading other's questions and journeys. I, too, love the Lord and rely on Him in all things, especially now in this event in my life! I have an amazing church who supports and loves me, but it's nice to converse with others who are going through similar trials.

My series of events as follows:

5/16/2017--annual screening mammogram

5/18/17--diagnostic MGM and ultrasound for left breast lesion/mass

5/22/17--met with breast specialist/surgeon

5/26/17--core biopsy

6/5/17 consult with surgeon due to positive cancer dx (ILC) recommend lumpectomy/lymph node biopsy followed by radiation

6/8/17 MRI of breast--no lymph node issues ID'd and no cancer detected in Right breast

6/28/17 lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy

7/28/17 will be my first meeting with oncologist at a local cancer center. Time seems to crawl while you wait! I'm sure they'll recommend chemo.

bandwoman1234

Almer, I am glad you found our thread. I am sorry for what you are going through. We have all been there and can sympathize with you especially about the waiting. I think that may be the hardest part of not knowing what your treatments will be. I know for myself and others that I have heard say this is that once you have a treatment plan in place some of the anxiety is lifted just knowing what you will face. I think we go into a sort of battle mode and with the strength that the Lord gives us we can face what will come. We will pray for you and feel free to post as often as you like. We have powerful prayer warriors here and some that may not post but do read and pray. I have added you to my prayer list. You will get through this!!!!!

Love,

Nancy

Almer

Nancy thank you so much! Right now the "joy of the Lord is my strength" and I am encouraged to patiently go through each step. Knowing the waiting is not uncommon helps

Ade

Almer, as you trust in the Lord (like you're doing now) He will grant you the strength and peace for whatever lies ahead and He is with you every step of the way. Welcome, and know we are all praying for you.

Hugs,

Ade

Lita57

Thanks for your prayers today. I whacked out almost an entire chapter.

I knew a few years ago when I started the third book in my "trilogy" that the protagonist's mother would get SOME form of cancer. I didn't know which one at the time, but I sure do now. The character's experience will somewhat mirror my own, with a bit of poetic license. (Write what you KNOW, as they say.) She also has to go thru this in the late 70s. I had to do quite a bit of research on C Tx of that era. Absolute savagery: slash, burn, poison, and if you were St 4, they pretty much told you to get your affairs in order pronto. Her MO is something of a maverick. He puts the patient's needs and comfort first. The story is being told from the daughter's perspective, and I will use my own experience (my mom actually died in the 70s from soft tissue sarcoma) as well as my dd's.

Satan will not be victorious. He has kept me from writing for so long. The Lord is my strength, and He will get the glory when this book is done. My dd may have to do the final editing and get it to the publisher, but I'm not thinking that far ahead.

One day at a time...

bandwoman1234

HersheyKiss

Hello dear ladies,

Although I have not posted here for awhile, I do read all your messages and pray that God meets all needs and fills your hearts with His peace.

This last week was somewhat problematic. Chemo has really messed up my bone marrow and clotting factors, and I ended up in the ER last Thursday night with a DVT in my calf. My doctor has since placed me on heparin and warfarin for the duration of my treatments. On a more positive note, my last DD AC is less than 2 weeks out. I will move on to Taxol in August.

Wishing you all a Blessed Sunday.

Almer

The additional things on my biopsy include pleomorphic features (which I understand is not as significant as it used to be), extranodal extension, macrometastases, and lymphovascular invasion all which concern me. However, I am grateful to God that I can also say that this is man's report of my condition and only He (God) knows the final outcome and will be faithfully present. I also thank God that my husband and daughter are believers. I say this with my whole heart: if my illness and earthly trial serve to bring my loved ones to Jesus then it's all worth it

bandwoman1234

Lita, good for you on a whole chapter!

Hershey, I'm sorry to hear about the blood clot but glad you have a treatment in place now for that. I hope that you can finish this leg of treatment without any more problems. You WILL get through this.

Almer, amen to what you said. God can do anything despite what the doctors say. There has been a new person in the last couple months that mentioned some of those same things that you did like the extra nodal extension. Unfortunately I don't think this is someone that has posted alot so I can't remember who mentioned that. You said very strong and positive so that is a great way to approach this challenge.

Have a great night dear sisters.

Love,

Nancy

Almer

Thank you for your encouragement, Nancy!