Calling all TNs

JAN69

Annie, Annie, Annie, where oh where do you get your stories?  Love, love, love them.  This one I'm going to have to share, especially with my cat-loving friends.  You always brighten my day.  I so hope your hands let up and you can get back to doing what you want and need to do.

Wishing everyone a "safe and sane" evening of beautiful fireworks.  I'm so worried about fire, as many of you are too.  Even a causually tossed cigarette can cause an inferno here in the mountains of Western USA.

borntosurvive

Babs and NavyMom: Thanks for the info.  It's good to know that I'm not the only one with tummy issues on the metformin.  Well I am assuming I have the metformin given my SE's.  I am scheduled to call my trial nurse this Friday so I will see what she says.  It seems like it's worse with anything super sugary, alcohol, coffee or a lot of milk products.  So trying to stay away from all that.  I am not a big drinker but would have the odd glass of wine with a nice meal and that just sets me right off.  Anything with a higher sugar content seems to set me off.  

Here's my funny story of the day......when I was putting my oldest son to bed tonight he said, "Mommy when I am big and strong like Daddy I can drink beer".  I said, "well Daddy doesn't really drink beer".  He said, "I know but I will drink beer but if I drink to much beer, I'll poop my pants".  I laughed out loud.  He's a funny kid!!!  

Happy 4th.  I hope you're enjoying time with friends and family.  And I hope you can have some fireworks tonight.  Our Canada Day fireworks were awesome.

OBXK

Annie - love it!



Bornto - what fun he must be.

Lovelyface

Happy 4th, everyone!  I have to go back and read all the ones I have missed the last couple days.  So many wonderful posts, wonderful conversations!  For now, I will reply to those who addressed me.

Titan - I am sorry the eyelash thing is happening to you too, but am glad to hear that I am not alone in this.  This is definitely a chemo after-effect.  I really love it when all the lashes grow up nice and long.  Right now, they are uneven and are falling off.

Annie - you keep that one lash, girl, no need to pull it out.  You know they will all grow back gorgeous pretty soon.  I had no eyeslashes during chemo, looked like an alien, even went and bought some to paste on, but couldn't do it, not so smart in those sort of things.

Christina - thanks for explaining the clean up thing.  It sounds great!  I am so thankful they have these drugs out there.  I am sure there will be better ones in 10 - 15 years.

I will go read the rest of your posts now!  

BernieEllen

brilliant annie

naan1004

Hope u all had a great 4th!

mccrimmon324

Tifj, think I woke my neighbors up laughing at your poor neighbor.  I wonder if she changed doctors after that?

Cocker_Spaniel

Come on everyone rise and shine. Show a leg. Time to get up.

I'm off to Whitianga (about four hours drive) today with the old fellar to get his new coffee machine. So I'm playing hookey from work for a change to give me old fingers a rest.

Borntosurv - your son is just gorgeous. If you get fed up with him pass him my way. I'll have him with pleasure.  

Lovelyface - yep I will hang on to that eyelash I just might not get any more.  I can't wait until my hair comes back and I see what color it is.

Heather - did you mange to get your insurance sorted out with your boss.  I hope you don't have to go back to Florida now that you have your new job and have settled in.

Well have a great day ladies.  I'm going to enjoy my time off for once. Annie     

   

onvacation

Good morning ladies!  Hope everyone had a lovely 4th of July!

 Off to my LAST chemo this morning!  WOOHOO!  Will be ringing that bell and doing a little happy dance!

Should find out about my radiation schedule today, I am ready to move on to the next phase!

Have a wonderful day! 

onvacation

Good morning ladies!  Hope everyone had a lovely 4th of July!

 Off to my LAST chemo this morning!  WOOHOO!  Will be ringing that bell and doing a little happy dance!

Should find out about my radiation schedule today, I am ready to move on to the next phase!

Have a wonderful day! 

Sugar77

onvacation - congratulations on finishing chemo...yay!!

TifJ

Onvacation- WOO HOO!!! Ring that bell with pride!!

Heather- I never asked if she changed doctor's, but if I did that I would not only change doctors, but never go to a doctor in the same building again- word gets around!!

Annie- be safe! I kept my lashes all through chemo, then they fell out 2 weeks later. I was down to 2 on one side and 1 on the other. I did look like an alien. They came back quickly, but have never been as long or full as they were.

Jan- We bought a few fireworks for the kids, but had the hose and a fire extinguisher handy! We have not had rain in over 3 weeks now and 100+ temps. Thankfully we had no fires! Hope you had a great 4th!

Tazzy

Ring that bell loud onvacation - wooo hoo !!

Have a great day out with the old feller Annie - and good on giving the fingers a rest.   Plus nice to have a day with your best friend.

Tifj... hope you and all the others in that part of the States can get some relief from the heat - phew !!

To everyone else out there take care and hope you have good days.

TifJ

Thanks Tazzy- we sure could use some relief!!

kathyrnn

OBXK - don't be egging me on! My poor NP can't take any more shocks after she did my gyn after one of my New Year's pranks. Dyed the lady fur neon pink! Took her 5 min before she could stop laughing. Nobody expects that from the old broad.



Borntosurvive - I had problems in the beginning but it didn't seem to have anything to do with what I ate. Would have explosive diarrhea about an hour after I ate. It finally seems to have settled down.



Tifj- let me know when Auntie needs another checkup, I like to keep my NP well amused. I'l do a rain dance for you!



Catwhispurrer - never thought about it, I'm on strong reflux medication, so maybe that's why I had minimal problems with the Metformin.



Onvacation - YAY! *waves Pom-Poms*



Cocker - enjoy your day with old fella and DON'T send him in to get the cat!

OBXK

Oh Kathy - what a hoot!

Annie - Have a great trip! My favorite coffee machine, was one that took liquid concentrate. Came frozen - I think from Sweden. No filters, or old coffee and tasted great. With the filtered machines - it's very important to train everyone to remove grinds after brewing, to reduce bitter oils dripping down. Still trying to train DH - but as he brings me my first cup in bed, I'll let it slide

Back to dusting... where the hell does it all come from?

OBXK

Opps...

Woo Hoo OnVaca - so glad you get the check off that box! Doing a little happy dusting dance for you!

Lovelyface

Tifj - it seems like in your case it is the eye lashes which never came back the way they were before.  In my case, my lovely hair never came back.  Yesterday as I was organizing my pics and videos on my computer, I saw some pictures from before chemo, and was astounded, just shocked at how I looked then, versus now, my hair has thinned out tremendously after chemo.  I had taped myself on video one day as my hairs were coming out.  I was so sad looking at that video.

But you know what I kept on thinking about how this was the worst experience of my life, having no hair, being bald. Then my thoughts went to my many trips to India where I had witnessed beautiful bald village women walking around with children in their laps and not hiding their baldness at all.  They put dark black natural stuff to highlight their beautiful eyes, having natural beauty without makeup and they take baldness as something natural to them.  It is religious or some belief system sacrifices that they do, giving up their hair. 

Whenever I have a difficult issue in life, no matter how big it is, in order to solve it internally, I go to India.  I always get my answer there and then I look at my problem differently.  Due to the large population there, the circumstances people face, it seems like the villagers are always attuned to nature for solving their problems, somehow their perspective on life gives me strength and a renewed sense of appreciation of all situations.  Even thinking about them made me feel better.  Check out some videos of bald Indian women on utube.  They do it so willingly, giving up their long beautiful natural hair, which they adorn with scented flowers.

I no longer feel like hiding those videos and pictures from anyone and will show them off as a time when I had the strength to fight something.

Tazzy

Lovely - you are bald and just as beautiful because you are fighting the biggest battle of your life and winning.  

Spica16

Been thinking about the "brave" issue, and the ever-present hair issues...

I stopped at the chemo suite to say "Hello" to my chemo nurses after my 3 month MO check. I was told that I am "an inspiration", that I am "so brave", that I "Rock!!!" - chemo nurses are the best cheerleaders!!!

Yes, I did have a good attitude throughout chemo, and I pretty much smile all the time (that's just goofy me). Living with a chronic disease, MS, and it's treatment regimen, I think I was more resigned to BC treatment, than actually brave about it. You do what you have to do to get well. Losing my hair was just part of that process. Oh yeah, I cried and cried and cried some more - I just did it at home where they couldn't see me. No bravery involved.

Luckily, I heal quickly and I grow hair fast. I still don't feel comfortable or attractive with this short 'do, but hey, I'm not bald anymore! And with eyebrows and eyelashes now, I'm no longer a "blank canvas".

Now the true "brave" part of this story...

During the local Relay for Life, one of my chemo nurses had her long, dark beautiful hair cut and donated, and her head buzzed for the cause. She was working in the chemo suite that day with shorter hair than mine! Last year, another chemo nurse did the same thing. Now these gals are young (in their 30s) with young children, and very social lives (in contrast to me...much older, empty nest, and my social life consists of my family and my dog - hair or no hair, I'm accepted). Showing up with a buzz cut "on purpose", and not just "because it's a consequence" of chemo treatment, seems awfully brave to me! 

Oh heck, we're all brave, but some go above and beyond that description. I just wanted to give them an appreciative shout out.

Chemo nurses... you are inspirational, help us to stay brave, and YOU ROCK!!! 

Thanks ~ Shar 

onvacation

I rang that bell LOUD today and did a little dance!  Everyone clapped and the chemo nurses gave me hugs - I agree they are the best!

6 weeks of radiation are up next, not looking forward to it, but it will be ok!  

Hope everyone is having a good day! 

JAN69

Spica16---I found chemo nurses far more compassionate and full of helpful information than those cranky doctors.  Double bless those chemo nurses who buzz their hair at Relay for Life.  Love them to pieces.  I didn't have a bell to ring, but I brought boxes of cookies from the bakery and we had a happy dance in celebration of my last chemo.  I didn't think of it until your message, but survivors are an inspiration to those still in treatment.  I don't know about being brave;   I just got on the "treadmill" and went through all things necessary to kill the beast.

Onvacation---Hip hip hooray.  I hope you can celebrate this major milestone!

Eyelashes? 0  Arm hair 0  Lady fur 50%  Leg hair 75%  Chin whiskers 150% at least!

We made it through the 4th with no problems.  Still staying home away from town and irritating tourists.

Here's wishing all in treatment and dealing with SEs easy days with bright outlooks.  

And a nice cooling rain to those suffering in the heat, and especially those where the storm knocked out your power. 

Jan

Luah

Onvacation: Congrats on being done with chemo. That is an awesome milestone, and I trust you're celebrating in style. Rads are tedious (being every day), and you have to watch your skin and energy levels, but most women find it a relief after chemo. I'm sure you'll sail through. 

Sugar: Good news, bad news, eh? Lots of diabetes in my family but so far my sugar levels are fine, so no metformin for me either.  

Ladies, I went for a follow-up with my onc today, no issues thankfully. I've now graduated to a new "annual" schedule of follow-up, not sure how I feel about that... good but anxious, kind of like when they cut you loose after rads. (One good thing, I'll see my BS in 6 months and she rocks.)   

Thinking of you ladies without power... I know Ontario's Hydro sent crews down there to help. The heat has been oppressive even here. Set a record yesterday dating back to 1955... heck that's before I was born!!  

Tazzy

Congrats onvacation - another chemo grad in our midst.   Isn't it aook wonderful feeling not to have to go back for another tx.  I have to admit, with all the hugs from the chemo nurses and other patients clapping I had tears rolling down my face.   Gotta love those nurses.  

Talking of inspiration: a close work colleague of mine went through bc 2 years ago and we were all doing the Walk for the Cure and survivors get to wear the pink t-shirts and she was having a bit of a hissy fit saying she didn't want to wear it and have people pointing to her and knowing she had cancer.  Her 12 year old daughter took her hands and in a very stern adult voice said "MUM, MAYBE YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO THOSE JUST STARTING THAT CRAPPY JOURNEY - WEAR IT FOR ME"... well we all clapped and cried and she wore the t-shirt.

Sugar77

Luah is it your medical onc who you will now see once a year?  I'm still seeing mine every six months and go to my GP the months in between for a clinical breast exam so I'm being seen every three months. I don't see my breast surgeon or rads onc anymore.

Luah

Sugar: My medical onc said that at 3 years (which I'm almost at, touch wood), she sees patients annually. So that's my new schedule with her. I see my BS in 6 months, and I think she will put me on an annual schedule too after that, until year 5. So between them I'll be seen every 6 months... plus I see my GP once a year too. (I've never been followed by the RO.) So, I guess I'm covered...

Babs37

onvacation- Yeah for finishing chemo!!!! You did it!!!!

Spica16

There was no bell-ringing at my last chemo tx. Instead, the nurses and staff presented me with a graduation diploma, a small pillow signed by them all, and the best part...played "Celebration" by Cool and the Gang. Everybody able danced!

I couldn't get that song out of my head for a week!!!    !!!

~ Shar

onvacation

Spica - that is so cool!

JazzyJ

.onvacation- Yeah!!!!! WooooooHooooo. You made it! Congrats!!! :-)