Calling all TNs

Cocker_Spaniel

Ally if the pain starts during a meal I would take the Omeprazole one hour before dinner and start with the softer food on your plate and then the meat and watch out for spicy foods. Your doctor may order a gastroscopy to confirm gastritis or a small hiatus hernia both of which can be controlled with the Omeprazole. As you will know neither of these are cancer. Hopefully this will help you.

Mike if you have Barrett's Oesophagus you will need frequent monitoring (eg yearly or two yearly gastroscopies)regardless if you still have the heartburn or not. Do you have this follow up.

slv58

I really liked thunder ridge emu oil- you can get it on amazon.

Cocker_Spaniel

Shopgal another thing that may help with your rads is I was recommended to use simple soap in the shower. It is perfume and colour free and is called simply that - simple soap. Apparently it doesn't react with radiation to the skin like some soaps do and I found it of benefit during my rads. I got it in the supermarket but you can get it from pharmacies.

shorfi

Thanks Ally and Cocker. Now I am taking Lyrica and scheduled to have an injection on the 18th....did I mention this already? Just scrolled back and I see that I did. I am following up with a consult with a neurologist...yes, I am that desperate. This is no way to live

ALHusband

Cocker I do have it regularly monitored by my gastroenterologist. In fact, there is a CURE for it now! It's a radio frequency ablation, which is a simple outpatient procedure. BUT, insurance won't pay for it unless the cells in the affected area take another step toward being esophageal cancer! Ridiculous! Like Russian roulette!

Teka

MicheleS, Hi!

Shopgal2

thanks cocker I'll look for simple soap.

For ladies that finished chemo did you have diarrhea for a few weeks after? I am 4 weeks pfc and have a bout of diarrhea every morning. Should I be worried and call my mo or is it my stomach and digestive system still trying to get back to normal. I usually had crushing constipation during chemo and now I can't stop going. I don't want to use Imodium yet because the issue isn't at that point yet.

Allydp

Thanks Cocker, I'll definitely try that! I've been taking it in the morning but since I don't have pain then it makes more sense to wait like you suggested.

AL - how infuriating. I will never understand why insurance companies would rather risk paying for cancer treatments versus PREVENTION. This hits a nerve and reminds me of when my prophylactic BSO/hysterectomy due to being BRCA+ was denied. I wrote a 4 page letter citing every study which way to Sunday, and a cost analysis of each scenario. Grr is all I can say! I'm glad your acid is under control and you're keeping an eye on it. I'm sure this will help you avoid any further progression!

Cocker_Spaniel

In a Chicago hospital, a gentleman had made several attempts to get into the men's restroom, but it had always been occupied. A nurse noticed his predicament.

S...ir, she said "You may use the ladies room if you promise not to touch any of the buttons on the wall."

He did what he needed to, and as he sat there he noticed the buttons he had promised not to touch.

Each button was identified by letters: WW, WA, PP, and a red one labeled ATR.

Who would know if he touched them?

He couldn't resist.. He pushed WW. warm water was sprayed gently upon his bottom.

What a nice feeling, he thought. Men restrooms don't have nice things like this.

Anticipating greater pleasure, he pushed the WA button. Warm air replaced the warm water, gently drying his underside.

When this stopped, he pushed the PP button. A large powder puff caressed his bottom adding a fragile scent

of spring flower to this unbelievable pleasure.. The ladies restroom was more than a restroom, it is tender loving pleasure.

When the powder puff completed its pleasure, he couldn't wait to push the ATR button which he knew would be supreme ecstasy.

Next thing he knew he opened his eyes, he was in a hospital bed, and a nurse was staring down at him.

"What happened?" he exclaimed. The last thing I remember was pushing the ATR button.

"The button ATR is an Automatic Tampon Remover. Your penis is under your pillow."

"MEN NEVER LISTEN"

Just a little something to help make you laugh.

shorfi

Cocker....I love it...lololol

Cocker_Spaniel

Just something to brighten your Saturday.

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, 'Jesus knows you're here.' He near...ly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze. When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head and continued. Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard a voice....say, 'Jesus is watching you.' Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot. 'Did you say that?' he hissed at the parrot. 'Yep', the parrot confessed, then squawked, 'I'm just trying to warn you that he is watching you.' The burglar relaxed. 'Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?'
'I'm Moses.' replied the bird. 'Moses?' the burglar laughed. 'What kind of people would name a bird Moses?'
'The same kind of people that would name their Rottweiler Jesus.'

slv58

Cocker, I almost choked on my dinner! Love it! 

anotherNYCGirl

Shari and Cocker!!

thanks for the smiles!!

Teka

Yes, good ones!!

LifeAloft

I just found out yesterday that I'm joining your lil group here. This is all so overwhelming and scary. I have at least 5 appointments scheduled next week and likely starting chemo the following week followed by surgery. I have a large aggressive tumor with one lymph node involved that I'm hoping responds well to the chemo. 

I'm 45, just sent my youngest to college, this was supposed to be "my" time, instead I feel like this cancer is running my life, it's difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel. 

~ Kelly

Angtee15

Kelly! I'm so sorry you had to join us but you came to the right place for support and information. I am just two months ahead of you in this and when people say you start to feel better when you get settled into the routine of treatment, believe them! It's true. Chemo so far as been very tolerable for me. I'm 43 with no other health issues.

You can do this! I found a prescription for Xanax to be invaluable to get me through all that early chaos and helped me sleep. Ask for something if you need it.

Big hug!

Angie

LifeAloft

Thank you Angie, I appreciate it!! So much hurry up and wait. I just want to get treatment started. 

Meadow

Welcome Kelly! Hoping you find lots of info and support here.

Mamiya

kelly, I think you will feel welcome here, great people and so much to learn from each other. I second the Xanax for the first little while, it really helped me cope (I don't need it now but without it at first I might have gone insane). Good thoughts your way for coping skills and getting started and making it through this, you will

Shopgal2

hey Kelly I am also new to tn and just finished chemo. I start rads next week. I was dx at 44, two months before my 45th birthday. Like notdoneyet I also took Xanax. It helped me a lot. I only took it at nite to sleep. It seemed like I was ok keeping busy during the day but at nite my thoughts would keep me awake and I would get really scared. I will say the best thing I did was join bco and start to read about tn here. Google scared me. The ladies here are really great on this board.

SA8PG

Hi Kelly~

I'm so sorry that you are dealing with this. Please know that we are all here for you. The beginning is such a whirlwind and the mind is your biggest battle ground. Stay off Google! I learned early on that' it's nothing but doom & gloom. Please ask away, if someone can answer a question they will. One day at a time, one step at a time. You can do this!!!

Sending you prayers, love & hugs,

G

LifeAloft

Thank you so much ladies! I was given Ativan, it does work well at night, I'm a little nervous to take it during the day thinking it will knock me out. 

I think I'm still in the "I can't believe this is actually happening" stage. It's a roller coaster, one minute I'm confident and the next it's all gloom. Does that roller coaster start to even out a bit after a while? 

Mamiya

Kelly,

I am 6 months into this and I still have moments thinking how surreal it can be, and like almost out of body experiences where I am not convinced this is really happening to ME. But that's becoming more rare. I remember the first non-cancer dream I had after a couple of months of crazy all cancer all the time thinking, that was my sign that I was starting to even it out a bit. I now take effexor daily (nearly eliminated hot flashes and helps a lot with anxiety) and ativan at bedtime and that has helped a lot (it is also an anti-nausea so often is just the thing to get to sleep without feeling queasy). Hang in there! You can do this.

LoveMyVizsla

My head is filled with song lyrics. When I was diagnosed, I starting making a list of songs of the cancer patient. It is helping me keep my sense of humor. The first song lyric I listed was "What Have I Done to Deserve This" from the Pet Shop Boys, and "Why Me" from Planet P.

The coaster does even out, but I find my self freaking out before the next appointment or procedure.

Lou53

I don't have the nightmares that I used to but I still have some down days. I'm still coming to terms with this and some days I get really scared. Seeing myself in the mirror is going to take a bit getting used to. Bald and tired now when a few short months ago I looked happy and healthy. Guess I wasn't so healthy. I have been trying to work on having a better attitude and being more positive. It's hard sometimes

SA8PG

Lou it does get better. I know right now it feels like your in a time warp. To try and encourage you, This is a picture of me last year at this exact time and the picture below that is now. It doesn't seem possible honestly. I just finished stage 1 Diep so I still have stage 2 to do but after the year and a half I have had I can see the light at end of the tunnel. Praying cancer stays away for good for all of us & we regain our health. Hang in there. My prayers & love are with you.

*removed images after 1 week for privacy reasons. You can always pm me for questions. Thank you.

Shopgal2

LifeAloft the roller coaster does slow down, esp once you have a plan and begin treatment. It is hard to be the patient. I feel like the roller coaster does get rocky before appts and before each phase of treatment. I get scared not knowing what to expect. And I am 7 months from dx and still take Xanax at times for my bc anxiety. my mo nurse gave me the best piece of advice to take it 1 treatment at a time as not to get too overwhelmed.

And Lou53 I still feel Ike you; it is hard to see that person in the mirror that doesn't look like we did before. I look at myself and think is that me? But then I just smile and make a goofy face to know that I am more than my reflection. Be proud of your tough self. You are doing this.

SA8PG the pic of you and you little one is so sweet. It brought tears to my eyes. Truly beautiful.

anotherNYCGirl

SA8PG, - BEAUTIFUL photos, - both of them!

LifeAloft

Thank you all for your words, sorry we are all in the same boat, but it is good to know that much of what I'm feeling is normal. 

Hugs to you all!

Meadow

Oh my gosh SA8PG, you are gorgeous. The pic of you with the baby is beautiful. I have tears in my eyes. Thank you so much for posting these. I have been meaning to ask you how your recon is going, or rather the healing of the recon. Are you happy with the flap? Sending my love to you