Calling all TNs

tnbcRuth

I'm trying to find a job and I am so scared!  Will I space out as my blood pressure plummets during a interview? or have one of my nasty headaches?  Will they notice when I'm real slow to get up from my seat? When I get a job, can I keep up? Learn quickly? (not!) and have time to rub my achy feet and rest during lunch?  Can I take one day off every week because I'm just not feeling good at all?  Will they mind my dizzy spells and give me time to recouperate?  I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle on this front.  Thanks BC.  No wait, F*** BC.  Disability won't support me and no one else will either.  And that one job, the one we always fall back on, the Wal-Mart Greeter?  I'd rather play in traffic!  

My prior life was in the mortgage industry and there are a million details you have to be on top of at all times...I don't think I could keep up with that anymore, but there is not much out there I feel like I could do.  But I'll keep looking  

I do have the best private short term disability insurance with Mut. of Omaha. I would be on the street without them.  God bless my agent!  Amazing benefits, amazing company!

Babs37

Heidi- I just love your sense of humor. That is just too funny!

SusieSGB

tnbcRuth:  Good luck on that job interview.  You'll do great.  My chemo brain is getting better each day and work is easier each day, too.

MBJ

Ruth:  I so know how you feel.  I chose to try and work for myself to allow myself to set my own schedule but I know this isn't always an option.  I suffered a back injury many years ago and the state disability office sent me to a full service work program at the Goodwill.  They helped me brush up my resume, coached me for job interviews, bought me some "find a job" clothes.  There is also another newer state funded program here which helps place people in jobs.  Have you tried signing up for some temp work agencies just to get you going?  That used to be my fall back plan whenever the economy tanked and I was out of work.  Alot of companies use agencies when they are hesitant to hire full time employees.  I think once you get your work feet back, you will find it becomes easier.  I do, however, have to write everything down or I forget it.  Best of luck in your job search!  Hugs.

Suze35

MRI clear!!!  Yayy!!!!  I feel so stupid for getting these tests, but my doctor was very kind.  She said it is probably chemo, radiation, Ativan, and seasonal allergies.  I have been weaning off the Ativan for months and my body is extremely dependent on it.  I'm down to 0.5mg/day...but can't drop it.  So I vote for that.

Still - yayyyy!!!

Heidi - THAT was funny.  I showed it to my DH, he enjoyed it ;-).

tnbcRuth - I hope the job interview goes well!  It must be scary getting back out there.  I'm terrified of my mom going home because it means I do all the kid-work, so I can only imagine if I had to look for a job.  But I think it is wonderful - back to "normal" if we can ever say that.  Good luck!

MBJ - that must suck with your thumbs, is it from the Taxol do you think?  I ache in my joints every day, worse than I used to, but have never had anything lock.  Scary.

Sugar77

Suze - what great news you MRI is clear...it made my day!

Babs37

Suze- WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great news!!!!!!!!!!!!

bak94

Suze-yipeee!!!!!!! Never feel stupid for getting the test, it was a brave, smart thing to do and now you can relax!

MBJ

Suze:  I am so happy for you!!!!! Yippppeeee!!!!  I say test away then give me the good news !!!  My thumbs started locking just a couple of months ago, a year after TC ended.  The BS I was first going to ordered 6 x TC which my Onc thought was excessive, but he complied with my BS.  I had an alergic reaction on my last infusion and my Onc says many of my SE's are due to the extra chemo.  Just wish I would have changed dr's (BS) sooner-maybe I wouldn't have these issues!  Big hugs on your happy news!!! 

Kymn

hi ladies trying to recover from treatment number 4. not doing well sick to my stomach still doesnt seem to matter what I take nothing is working.overall just feeling like crap. am seriously thinking about pulling the pin on this chemo crap. i did 4 I just dont know if I can do 2 more.

ok going to go until i have a better outlook hope you are all doing better than me

hugs kymn

Babs37

((((((KYMN)))))) Hang in there. We know it's hard but you can do this. We are all here for support.

christina1961

Suze!!!  Sooooo happy for you!!!

Kymn,

Please hang in there - hit it with all you've got this go around - I just had #5 of TAC and am about to head down for my neulasta shot.  Don't worry about the next round right now - you are not feeling good - but by the time you feel better you'll be ok for the next.  I just told myself - this (5) is the next to the last - and then just one more.  So I know I can do one more. I've been taking zofran every 8 hrs plus supplementing with other anti nausea stuff as needed.

I'm starting to feel crappy now but I've got to go down to work for a little while.  It is so slow to work from my laptop doing remote desktop. Unfortunately I ended up having some "spillover' work for this week. Usually I try to avoid working the week after chemo. 

MBJ

Kymn:  Honey, hang in there and it will be over before you know it.  Are they still not giving you any neulasta shots?  That really should be a standard of care thing.  Big hugs-you can do it, I know you can!  

Teka

Suze35,

I see a fun family weekend coming up.

tracie23

Kymn, Ask for Emend... it was a miracle drug for nausea.... and I took zofran with it.  Emend you take the day of chemo , day after chemo and one more day. But it was great !!!! I also found zofran and Reglan were a great help. I hope you start feeling better.

Luah

Suze: So great to hear your news, very happy and relieved for you.

Kymn: Heck, I was hoping the taxotere would be easier on you, very unusual to have nausea with that, surely your onc can come up with something? You've been drinking lots of water, right? It really sucks, but if it's making you feel that awful, imagine what it's doing to any stray cancer cells (aiming for the silver lining here!)

TifJ

Suze- Wonderful news!!!! I would like to stop the Ativan too, but can't sleep without it!

Kymn- I don't know what you are getting for the nausea, but I was prescribed an Emend patch that I put on the day before chemo and wore for three days. I was never sick to my stomach, just a bit yucky feeling. I hope you feel better soon and please don't stop chemo!!

cmksocal

Suze -- good news and now have a great weekend!

Colleen

Babs37

Hi everyone. Just got back from rads and seeing my RO and I got his ok to put cream on, YEAH!!! So11/25 done. Good evening to you all.

Anonymous

Ponderisms

 

1. Ever wonder about those people who spend $2.00 a piece  on those little bottles of Evian water?

Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE

2. Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like  making a peeing section in a swimming pool? (My sentiments exactly!)

3.  OK.....so if the  Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the  'Jags' and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the 'Bucs,' what does that make the Tennessee   Titans?

 4. If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea, does that mean  that one enjoys it?

 5.There are three religious truths:

    a. Jews do not recognize  Jesus as the Messiah.

    b. Protestants do not recognize the  Pope as the leader of the Christian faith.

    c.Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or Hooters.

6. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes? 

7.If a pig loses its voice, is it  disgruntled?

8.Why do croutons come in airtight  packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with? 

9. Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a race car is not called a racist? 

10.Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

11.If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen  defrocked, doesn't it  follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians  denoted, cowboys deranged,  models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry  cleaners depressed?

12. If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they  call it Fed UP?

13.Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee  breaks?

14. What hair color do they put on the  driver's licenses of  bald men and women ? 

15. I was thinking about how people seem to read the  Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me .. they're  cramming for their final exam.

 16. I thought about how mothers feed their babies with  tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use?   Toothpicks?

 17. Why do they put pictures of criminals up  in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage  stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

 18. If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for? 

 19.  You never really learn to swear until  you learn to drive or play golf.

 20. Ever wonder what the speed of  lightning would be if it didn't zigzag?

 21. If a cow laughed, would she spew  milk out of her nose?

 22. Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?

 23. At income tax time, did you ever notice: When you put the two words 'The' and 'IRS' together  it spells,   'THEIRS'?

Suze35

Kymn - hang in there!!  It is so hard at the end, I was ready to dump my last chemos also (turns out I SHOULD have ), but you will get through this!  I ditto the Emend suggestion, it really makes a world of difference.  What is your steroid dosage?  I often think we are overdosed, and that can cause stomach issues as well.  Try and focus on that light at the end...it is there, just very very dim.

Heidi - LMFAO!  I can't pick a favorite, lol.

Babs - I'm so glad the RO okay'd cream.  I was scratching my head wondering why not?  I'm at #20, and my skin is holding up really well thanks to Jeans Cream.  Yay on getting to 11!!

Teka - I think we are going to a butterfly exhibit with the kids - definitely something fun! 

Have a great night everyone - I'm enjoying some red wine and good (light!) Italian food .

MBJ

Heidi:  Thank you for making me snort--yes, you heard it, like a horse I just sounded, LMAO!!!

Teka

Suze35,

Excellent choice for family fun time!

mccrimmon324

Christina1961 - My onco wants me to do 6 x TAC, hopefully, I will start in about 2 weeks, I am terrified to do this but I have to, would you be able to tell me a little bit of your SE's, what you did to help them, did you work at all during the treatments?

Titan

OMG..Heidi..I'm laughing my rear off...I'm glad I wasn't at work..my stomach hurts from laughing....hey how is Russ doing! He is prolly laughing his ** off too..living with you..ha ha.

Kymn..chemo sucks, it really sucks..but the cheerleader in me is coming out (many years ago)..please see if you can stick with it...everyone wants to freaking quit..we all did...just think to yourself..2 more times and you are  DONE..and besides that..COMPLAIN to your Onc about your SE"S and dont let them brush you off dang it..MAKE them help you..that is their job.

Yay Suze!  you go girl..party this weekend 4 sure! 

Babs..glad they ok'd the cream for you..but duh...did they ask you where you learned about using cream?  I remember asking questions about things I learned about on here and I think I kinda pissed them off...whatever....maybe they learned something...

Remember I talked to you guys about my uncle?  He starts chemo tomorrow..the freaking cancer is in his bone marrow and spleen..along with a bunch of lymph nodes.  He is having 4 cyles of chemo..every 3 weeks......I called him tonight...they have said his cancer is treatable..and I think it will be...I hope..

monisch

Hi there ladies,  I'm back after a long haul. I havent been on the site for a while and have been trying now to catch up on the postings. geez you guys are active   I'm all done with my Therapys.... Chemo in Nov 2010 and Radiation in Feb 2011.  I even had a 4 week rehabilitation.

rehab is  common here in Germany... it starts no later than 5 weeks after your last treatment. It did me some good to be away from home and to relax. I did alot of Sport Activities and some Physical therapy for my numb hands and feet.  My recent Gyno.exam was all clear and my Mammogram from last week was also good. I'm praying that the monster is gone.

Oh hey and even my hair is back.... it's dark and wavy.... I was a blond before I lost it to Chemo.

weird how somethings change ......

I hope all of you are doing well...I will try to get back here more often to keep in touch.

Suze35

Not a good morning guys.  Found another lymph node this AM in the shower, higher above the collar bone closer to my shoulder.  I'll be talking to my MO tonight (she returns calls in the evening so she has time to talk), and I am sure she will want it biopsied. 

It *could* be reactive - I took a tumble Monday and have a nasty bruise on that arm, plus I've been doing PT with LE massage - but my gut tells me it is cancer.

I am at day 21 of rads - I will be pushing to start more aggressive chemo asap, and I will also mention the twinges I get occasionally on my right side.  I have to face reality, this isn't good, but I still have a little hope.

I'll keep you all posted.

Fighter_34

Suze35 awwwwh hugs! It's not CANCER!!! Don't claim it.

When you say twinges what exactly do they feel like? Maybe the muscles are relaxing from the fall. Hang in there and relax.

Suze35

Thanks Fighter - I think I'm so used to bad news, I prepare myself for the worst.  I hope it isn't...but that hasn't been my luck so far.

I started feeling slight twinges under my right rib cage (where my breast used to be) about two weeks ago.  It could very well be my gall bladder, and it hasn't gotten worse, so I haven't said anything to my MO.  I think I will now, even just to rule it out.

MBJ

(((Suze))):  After all you have been through, I would be proactive and having everything checked out, too.  Better to stay on top of things and I am hoping for your sake that it's nothing but SE's.  Big hugs to you.