Any Sister's from Minnesota here?

Parentof1

   I will start.  I am Peg.  I was diagnosed July 2009.  PR+, ER+, HER-, Stage 1, grade 2; Oncotype DX-8; On Femara.

   Other medical issues prior to diagnosis with BC:  Broke neck in 1983-C-3, C-4, C-5 vertebraes and had two cervical fusions; Osteoporosis stage 3...and Arthritis type stuff.  AKA (Also known as:)  I think I am aging!  Of course Femara, has helped this along the way-

  I live in Bloomington, MN.  I am married to my best friend of 27 years; we have a wonderful 20 year old daughter, and I thought it would be fun to see where everyone is from.

   I was hoping to go back to work, however I don't think this is going to happen due to various medical issues mentioned above.  I have worked for year's as a live-out nanny to various families and, absolutley loved it.  Kids have a way of helping you see the world from a totally different perspective most of the time!

   I recently joined a fitness type club/gym called Planet Fitness.  I use to belong to the YMCA prior to my DX of BC and shortly afterwards.  However after my BC diagnosis I didn't feel the YMCA to be the right fit anymore...to them strenth training exercises were:  Trying to bench press between 30-50 pounds- which, I could not do and I was told by my Oncologist:  "Do not lift anything over 15-30 pounds."  My Oncologist said she worked with a personal trainer and hurt herself, due to the personal trainer thinking she was going to be in the next body buidling competion...unbeknownst to my Oncologist...lol!  I like Planet Fitness because I can go at my own pace; it does not cater to body builders or people attempting to do this; They have trained folks that will help you design a program with your medical situation in mind, and there is no contract that can cost a lot of money.   Planet Fitness is month-month.

   Last night my daughter and I, used the gym for the first time.  I used the tread mill for 15 minutes and bike for another 15 minutes and did some arm exercises...and did thy bones know it afterwards...thats what I get for not exercising on a regular basis for awhile-.

   I have heard exercise helps with some of the SE's of the Femara I take-hot flashes, achy bones/joints ect.  So we will see now-. 

  I would love to get together with other's in this area if anyone would be interested, in doing something like this-.  If you would like to do something like this PM me please.

   I can only clean the house, do laundry, shopping ect just so much. Yes I know...I really need to get a life when I have to look for one more project to do at home!  And I will admit working outside the house kept me busy, and then I came home to doing things at home afterwards.  So not working, has been an adjustment in many ways.  My friends all work during the day, so I tend to go stir crazy per say after awhile....and this is when my mind works over-time and can at times become my worst enemy per say, and get the best of me sometimes.

   I do read various books, do some basic sewing and a few other crafts but, it's not the same as having another person to talk to, do things with ect.

    Maybe I am the only one that feels this way about going from working, being busy and involved to not working and the adjustment this has been.

   So if any of you beautiful ladies are in this area and would be open to meeting somewhere for coffee, tea, juice, water or doing something let me know.

   I have met many wonderful, supportive, encouraging friends here and hope to meet more-

  Have a wonderful night!  Peg

moyarscs

Peg it is nice to meet you.  I too am from MN however I live a little away from you I live in Tracy down by South Dakota

 I too am on Femara and I think somedays I am not going to make it I am not working cuz of the Femara and the joint pain and just pain everywhere ...lately my feet are bothering me so bad no one can touch them. 

I am was 34 when DX and have done everything possible to keep this cancer from coming back I would love to have you as a friend since no one knows what we are going thur except us.

Sue Ann

Parentof1

  Hi Sue Ann.  How are you?  It's been awhile since I have checked back here...lol!  I am hanging in there. 

  Your from Tracy, MN hey?  My hubby this is a long story but, his biological father was from there though, he has never met him.  My hubby and 3 of his brother's were given up for adoption. 

  I have had intestinal things going on.  GERD and my family doctor said, "Peptic Ulcer: though, no tests were done to diagnose this or rule it out.  I have been taking Ranitidine and Sucralfate 1GM, 4x per day for the GERD deal.  And this seems to have helped some.

  I didn't know what to think.  I had loose bowels 2-3x in the morning only; Could not burp so then was nauseated; had pain in front high up under left rib cage ect.  I only know it was miserable.

  Went to energency room one night because the pain was awful under rib area, and I was so nauseated.  They did labs, a CT scan of abdominal area, and took a urine culture.  They could not see a thing on the CT scan.  I then followed up with my family doctor.  He did more labs, asked if I had ever had Gastritis.  Yes, I had year's ago.  He then gave me a perscription for the Ranitidine and, Sucralfate and told me:  "Go home and take this you have GERD, also known as a peptic ulcer.  I was telling him how I had pain under left rib area, that went to my back just under left shoulder blade.  He said this can be from GERD too, quit worrying about Cancer" and he left.

  Well today I decided to find another doctor.  I was not comfortable with the way this was handled at all, at the doctor I was with.  I found a lady doctor that I believe is from Romania, but I told her office I am looking for someone that: 1.  Will listen to me, 2. Take the time needed and 3. Not just throw a bandaid per say over something before a diagnosis is made,4, And not treat me like I am some hyperchondriac (someone always looking for something wrong.)

  I don't see my knew family doctor until May 27th and then have my Oncology check up June 6th so I am hoping all goes well at my next check up.  I still get somewheat anxious before my check up's.  Someone once told me, this gets better but they just didn't say when-!

    I was also in today because I had such burning when I went to bathroom.  The doctor in Urgent Care did a UA, and pelvic.  I questioned him doing a Pelvic as I had a total hysyerectomy done 10 year's ago.  He was checking for a yeast issue.

   When he did the pelvic I about came off the table.  It smarted.  He said, "You are so dry and chafed up inside from the Femara and, usually we give you Premarin cream but, we can't give this to you with the Femara because it has estrogen in it." 

  So tonight I am on here researching what other's did to help with this issue of awful dryness, if anything.  I keep telling myself:  "Three more years, you can do this!" 

  I hope all is well with you and thanks for replying-  Peg

catbill

Hi,

My name is Cathie and I live in Prior Lake (within spitting distance of Mystic Lake casino).  I've been married to my best friend for 25 years last month...no kids, other than a fur kid who keeps us laughing.  You can see my stats listed below, and my oncotype was 8, too.  I am on Arimidex, and familiar with joint pain as well as fatigue, hot flashes and a tiny bit of nausea right after I take my pill before bed.  By morning, it's gone completely.

I had a checkup with my Onc today.  All labs normal (still waiting for Vit D test) so I'm okay for 4 months. I do work full-time, and although retirement can't happen soon enough, it's still years away.

Hope you're going good.

Parentof1

   Hi Cathie...we are almost next door to each other-!  I am glad to see you and am really glad your Onc appointment went well for you:)  I have one on June 6th and, I am not sure but I am hoping this 2 year mark moves my appointments up to every 6 months now. We will see I guess. Have a great day!  Peg

bingbing

Hi, I'm from a little town about 50 miles west of the twin cities. I am 5 years cancer free and hoping for a whole lot more. I'm 66 years old. I had a mastectomy on may 18th,2006, no chemo but was on arimidex for five years, actually 4 years and 10 months. My oncologist  made a mistake in renewing the prescription and my primary doctor said 2 months would not make a difference so I quit early. still waiting for my knees to get back to where they were before arimidex, so far no improvement, but I have to remember i'm 5 years older too, lol. Just thought I would pipe in on the minnesota thread. By the way my mother just celebrated 16 years as a bc survivor, hope I'm just as lucky as she is.   sharon   by the way Cathie I go to mystic lake casino a couple times a year.