Calling all TNs

JazzyJ

Would love to! Meeting up would be great!

Tazzy

Tifj... that is the most 'real' saying regarding chemo I think I have heard - thank you for sharing.   I just couldn't agree with you more.

Thinking of you all wherever you are whatever you are doing.   Hmmm..... almost one week PFC and I am getting very emotional thinking of all our different struggles with bc.   The difference between now and before my dx I will share with you all what I am thinking

Lovelyface

Heather - Have a great time with your hubby and babies.  I love those cookies from TJ as well, they are awesome, good choice of gift!

Melissa - I shall send a prayer for you tomorrow, everything will be just fine.  They used to say in the old days when one got sick, to take "bitter" medicine.  Chemo is just a bitter medicine, that's all, nothing else.

Kathyrnn - Kayak run on Saturday sounds fabulous!

Fighter - I want an omelette too!  I'm gonna go make myself one right now, yummy!

Hope everyone has a peaceful evening!  I feel very fatigued, it must be the darn menopause! hormones up and hormones down!

Cocker_Spaniel

Good Evening ladies. Hopefully you had  good day.

Lovelyface - not sure it was god calling more like coincidence with Riley being there at the right place, right time, and the fact that she is a lovely lady ready to help anyone at any time. 

Tazzy - sorry you got SE's, been there done that, it will pass soon and you will be back to you old self.

I too cracked up at the bollocks rolling off the tongue.  actually I think bollocks is a mild word really just one of those (Oh damn it words when things are not going right).  I remember when I was young and I said blimey one day. My mother in a stern voice said do you know what that word means, no mum, well it means God blind me.  I thought about it and thought that must be why I wear glasses lol.

Heather - enjoy your weekend. Bet you can't wait to see those babies.  Don't forget to take 50 shades of grey with you!!!

Melissa - as usual the girls have come up with wonderful advice.  I was the biggest worrier and all for nothing.  I just read a book when the chemo was going in, so unconcerned.  As for the side effects hopefully you may not have any. I had no meds beforehand either. They gave them to me in with the IV.  I had no vomiting which I was concerned about and the ladies on here told me I wouldn't, they were right as usual.  I agree with them hydrate as much as you can.  We are all with you holding your hand so  just think of that if you feel worried.  As for the port I am so glad I have one.  I see the other ladies wincing when the needle goes in whereas I don't feel anything at all.  So much more convenient.  Yes a little sore when it is put in but that doesn't last long. Thinking of you and sending my hand. 

Karen - hope your knee is better today and you are resting.  Did you say bollocks when you fell. I would have and a  few more words probably.  Nothing like a good swear to get out frustration.  Get Carson to bring you a nice cuppa.           

Well today I had so much  typing but my little finger kept pressing the bloody caps lock. Nearly drove me crazy keep going back and putting it right.  Oh well, hopefully it will improve,                          

Kathyrnn - kayak run.  Do you need us to clap our thighs!!.  Don't suppose that lovely chap just across from you is going as well??

Well ladies time for bed. Have  good day/night.  Thinking of you all.  Annie

         

Cocker_Spaniel

borntosurvive

Wow.....so much to catch up on.  I have been away a few days from my computer.  My baby turned 2, my mom's birthday was yesterday and my son has his preschool graduation today.  I dropped the boys at daycare this morning and there were little gowns hanging in the office!!!!  SO cute.  I will need my kleenex forsure this afternoon. 

Fighter - I am also doing a Metformin study.  I am only about 6 weeks in and just started taking 2 a day.  Having lots  of side effects so thinking I got the Metformin.  Here's hoping this is the breakthru we're waiting for.  

Melissa - Good luck with your first chemo.  I never had a port and the nurses would give me a warm blanket to wrap my arm in pre-IV.  I to HATE needles so I would just close my eyes and go to my happy place while they did it.  My DH was always there to hold my other hand.  Just breathe and know each needle is one step closer to the last.  And YES hydrate and bring a bottle for water and keep drinking while in chemo.  Flush that out of your system.  You'll be okay and we're all here for you xo

Love the jokes ladies.  They make my morning.  Thank you for bringing us humour when we need it most.  What an amazing group of ladies.  xoxoxoxo

Tazzy

cocker... love the dog poster - too cute.   Thank goodness the SE's pass.. and they do.  

Just a thought and this may be totally off the wall and really not relate to chemo SE's, but its regarding your fat little fingers.  When I lived in the UK I pretty much typed for 8 hours per day and ended up with RSI (repetitive strain injury).   So much so that my fingers would swell up like fat little chipolatas and boy was it painful.   I was recommened to take a ginger supplement - it worked.  Can also be used in tea.  Did not heal but certainly reduced the swelling and burning sensation.   If you think its worth it, check with your MO before taking as ginger also has anti-coagulant properties.

Hope you can get some respite.

kathyrnn

McCrimmon - have a wonderful visit.



Tifj - great advice



Lovely -get some rest and feel better.



Tazzy - great tip on the ginger.


Geez, just found out if your phone rings it automatically submits your post.


Cocker - love the dogs! No new fella, but if I'm unlucky and ex-fella may be
there. Sadly it's really hard to tip kayaks and drown someone.
This trip is bittersweet, as it may be my only chance this summer. Went to the foot doctor yesterday. Good news is that what I thought were baby
bunionettes starting are actually bursa, and can be treated with a shot of cortisone. Bad news in my foot is not something like plantar fasciitis, it's my leg beginning to fail again from the back injury. (right now, just like walking on a toothache, but I know where it's going as it progresses.) I would seriously rather go thru chemo, surgery and radiation, than another go round with this level of pain that is heading my way. I'm seeing the Neurosurgeon in August and am praying he comes up with a solution. Don't know what I'm going to do if they say it's permanent with no solution.

Tazzy

kathyrnn.... I am so sorry to hear about your leg - just awful for you.  And the fact you would prefer to go through cancer treatment sums up just how bad it must be.   Sending positive thoughts your way for a solution.  Thinking of you Hon.

JazzyJ

Hello - Hope you are all having a good day! This post is to any of you who I may have offended with bravery comments on earlier postings.... offending you was certainly not my intent.

We all have stories to tell and history, and in my life I can say that I have experienced fears on deeper emotional levels than this, and this is freakin scary in itself. I had to dig deep into myself to manage through those fears. The courage to carry on living life without fearing the future does take courage along with a whole lot of other things. So for me, being brave helps me through the horrific fears. I get your point about bravery, and agree 100% that we are doing what we need to do to survive, whatever it takes.

So sorry to those who I unintentionally offended.......



Melissa - Looking forward to hearing from you!

melissa119

Hi ladies. Well one down...3 AC to go, then taxol but I'll cross that when I get to it. Like you all said I think I made it much worse in my head than it actually was. They did a finger prick for labs first. Then I saw my MO. Then to the chair... The nurse found a good vein right away thank god and it did not hurt yeah. Then I got all the premeds before the AC. From start to finish 2 1/2 hours. I felt normal thru infusions. I feel fine now just maybe a little "foggy" if u know what I mean. But we'll see what the next days bring. I chewed on ice and frozen grapes that I brought suing the A portion hopefully to ward off those mouth sores. I will constantly rinse too!

So thank you for all the advice and encouragement. I got thru it. Hope the next ones go the same! Hope everyone's having a good day with minimal SE's!

Tazzy

jazzy... I do not believe you offended me - least I dont remember if you did (chemo brain)

melissa - yay #1 down.  Remember to keep hydrating - flushes it around and out of your body.    Great idea with frozen grapes - how refreshing.

linali

Hi 

I'm usually on uk tn but saw melissa's posts.

Wonderful that no 1 done.

I travelled for about an hour to chemo and was advised to wrap a warm wheat bag or hot water bottle in a pillow case and place it on my arm for the journey. It helped to keep my veins warm.

I also got nausea meds in an iv before the chemo.

Good luck

JazzyJ

Melissa - Great to hear you went through it so well! Love the frozen grape idea. Will use it for my next treatment on Tuesday. Will you get Neulasta tomorrow too or are they skipping that treatment?

mags20487

Melissa...so happy it went ok for you...now you are a chemo pro

Maggie

kathyrnn

*waves Pom-Poms* for Melissa.



Jazzy - no offence taken here.



Ladies, please forgive me for posting this, but I just couldn't resist. It is written the way it is, because it is to be read or told with a Mexican accent.



The Bacon Tree



Two Mexicans are stuck in

the desert after crossing into the United States , wandering

aimlessly and starving. They are about to just lie down and

wait for death, when all of a sudden Luis says.......

"Hey Pepe, do you smell what I smell.  Ees bacon,

I theenk."

"Si, Luis, eet sure smells like bacon.

 "

With renewed hope they struggle up the next sand dune,

& there, in the distance, is a tree loaded with

bacon.

There's raw bacon, there's fried bacon, back bacon,

double smoked bacon ... every imaginable kind of cured

pork.

"Pepe, Pepe, we ees saved.  Ees a bacon

tree."

"Luis, maybe ees a meerage?  We ees in the desert

don't  forget."

"Pepe, since when deed you ever hear of  a

meerage that smell like bacon...ees no meerage, ees a bacon

tree."

And with that, Luis staggers towards the tree.  He

gets to within 5 metres, Pepe crawling close behind, when

suddenly a machine gun opens up, and Luis drops like a wet

sock.  Mortally wounded, he warns Pepe with his dying

breath,

"Pepe... go back man, you was right, ees not a bacon

tree!"

"Luis, Luis mi amigo... what ees it? "

"Pepe.. ees

not a bacon tree.  Ees

Ees

Ees

Ees

  

  

  

Ees

 a ham bush...."

riley702

Cocker, I said I believed it was God as well. I hope you don't mind that Lovelyface and I believe in the providence of God? You are certainly free to say you think it was a coincidence, but don't tell us we're wrong to believe it was God. Friends?

PS - I had NO idea that was what blimey meant! I thought it was a nonsense 'dang it!' type expression. From reading historical fiction, I DID know that "Zounds!"  came from "God's wounds!"

PPS - Annie, I truly am not offended, just trying to set some boundaries. I don't think I'm a prude, either, because I laugh at most of the off-color jokes and can ignore the rest. And I'm not trying to proselytize, either, I'm truly not. Peace?

Cocker_Spaniel

Riley702 - I believe in God as well.  Just could not carry on if I did not have Him in my life. I did not mean any offence,  I just meant what ever the situation you would be there to help because you are a lovely lady.  He has been with me through every trial and every happiness in my life that is why I wear my cross proudly.  Obviously my words offended you and I apologise for that but never believe I don't believe in God becuase I do.    

Not only do I wear my cross necklace I also wear a gold heart with Footprints on it.  I am sure you have heard of Footprints it is  a beautiful poem about a man and God walking on the beach.  If you  haven't heard of it please look it up or I can put it on here.  I never take these off. To me it means God is always with me.  I might say bloody etc but he accepts me for what I am and loves me anyway.          

riley702

Thanks, Cocker_Spaniel. I do try to be a nice and helpful person, but my point was that I wouldn't have been there to help them if I hadn't been inexplicably delayed over and over again during what should have been a very short office visit. That's all.

Also, the reason I have jumper cables is because my Daddy taught me to. And I started carrying a fire extinguisher after my little brother told me a horrifying story about coming upon an accident scene that caught fire and even though there were about a dozen cars stopped, NO ONE had a fire extinguisher. And one woman who had survived impact but was trapped, died before rescue got there. The thing that haunted him was how small the fire started; it could have easily been put out with a fire extinguisher, but they couldn't reach it because it was deep between the two car engines in the crash. They couldn't even get a door open and the dash was trapping her legs as well. They were afraid that breaking the glass would just fan the fire. When he realized what was going to happen, he went back to his car so he wouldn't have to hear her screaming anymore - he was already gutted. It haunts him still.

So... back to stocking my trunk. Working in a hospital, I have access to Ambus (those plastic bags to breathe for someone else) that have been put into a pt's room, but never used. We have to throw them away between patients. Also have several size face masks that go with them. I have those tucked away in the trunk, as well. I would have made a good Girl Scout - can you believe I'm a Brownie (pre-GS) drop-out? LOL

Tazzy

kathyrnn... that was a groaner of a joke - and yes I said every part of it in a Mexican accent.

riley702

I looked up the origin of 'bloody' and found this on

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/12/messages/674.html

Here's what the Oxford English Dictionary says:
"The origin is not quite certain; but there is good reason to think that it was at first a reference to the habits of the 'bloods' or aristocratic rowdies of the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th c. The phrase 'bloody drunk' was apparently = 'as drunk as a blood' (cf. 'as drunk as a lord'); thence it was extended to kindred expressions, and at length to others; probably, in later times, its associations with bloodshed and murder (cf. a bloody battle, a bloody butcher) have recommended it to the rough classes as a word that appeals to their imagination. ... There is no ground for the notion that 'bloody' ... contains any profane allusion or has connexion with the oath 'God's blood!' "

TifJ

Jazzyj- don't ever be afraid to post your opinions, thoughts or feelings here. You certainly did not offend anyone here. What I posted was a quote given to me by someone else, but I do believe what I said about bravery and I'm sure not everyone agrees with me and that is okay!

Melissa- glad today was uneventful and went well!

JazzyJ

Hello All, hope you are well. Really tired today but I have a quick question please. I picked up the mouthwash prescription and it's called "Ron's Rum". It's in a plain container with a very generic label. Is this the Magic Mouthwash you referred to or some crazy named off brand?

Titan

Melissa..glad that things went ok for you today...first one is the hardest...you will do this!

Love the jokes...you guys keep me laughing!

No jogging for me today...it is bloody 100 degrees...bollocks to the f'ing weather.!  Did I do well speaking here...it sure felt good.

Riley..impressed with you and the jumper cables..it does feel good to do good doesn't it...

TifJ

Jazzy- I've never heard it referred to as Ron's Rum. Is that the pharmacist's name by any chance? LOL!! I know the pharmacist has to mix it together.

melissa119

Jazzy.. I am going for the neulasta shot tomorrow afternoon. Gonna take the Claritin Aleve before to hopefully help with bone aches! I am feeling a little lightheaded now is that one of the side effects? I think I am go to bed now!

borntosurvive

Melissa:  I took the claritin an hour before my shot and for 3 days after.  It really did help me a lot.  Yes, feeling light headed is part of the SE's of the chemo.  Just be sure to drink lots and take a Tylenol if you feel dizzy.  For whatever reason Tylenol helped me with the "spins".  I was told not to take Advil as it can interfere with the blood counts.  Remember to take your temp daily or a couple times a day too.  Hang in.  You're doing GREAT!!

Best thing that happened today:  I now have a preschool graduate in my house!!!  He even had a cap and gown and they all walked in together.  SO cute.  They sang a little song and got a diploma and a flower.  Then we had cake and juice out on the playground and took pics of he and all his buddies and teachers.  I had a few tears.  I am VERY proud of my preschooler.  Off to "big boy school" in September.  

LuvRVing

Melissa - lightheaded is exactly how I felt the evening of my AC treatment.  I said I would never want to drive home after treatment because I was "off" just enough to feel unsafe.  If they gave you Emend to take for a couple days, be sure and just take it regardless of how "good" you feel.  It stays in your system for a few days and you want to stay ahead of the nausea.  I hope you get a good night's rest.

Tazzy

Ron's Rum sounds way better than Magic Mouthwash

Melissa... as everyone else has confirmed, light headedness is part of A/C - like all other SE's, it does pass.  Get some rest and keep hydrating.

Titan....spoke like a true Brit or NZ'er.

bornto... how cute - you sound so proud.

riley702

Titan, it was scorching here in Indy - officially 104°, which is hotter than it's been here (any day of the year) for 60 years! They're predicting 102° tomorrow. It's 10:30 pm here and it's 85° in my apt. My "A/C" and floor fans have been running full-blast non-stop for a month now. I have most of the lights off, the curtains shut and try to cook or run the dryer as little as possible. It's going to be a VERY long summer. My landlady seems to think that as long as her POS air-conditioning is functioning, her obligation to me is done. How about getting something actually capable of cooling an apt my size (1 BR)? Oh, right; she'd actually have to splash out some money.

Thanks for letting me bitch. Sorry about killing the thread earlier.