Canadians in British Columbia

runor

M.E., I will post a quick note on Micmel's thread saying you are needing down time to recover.

moth

" I think we should find a date in November to meet at Cactus Club on Broadway. The second week of November is booked solid for me from Nov 9-15, otherwise it's all good"

I can do Nov 16th or 23rd. Technically I can also make the 2nd but it's harder. I can make up a survey monkey if we want a poll? Or do we want to just pick a date and announce & just wing it?

moth

DearLife

Hi Moth. I could be there on Saturday Nov. 23. It would be nice to see everyone again. A potluck would be lovely but it is harder to organize.

moth

Let's go with the 23rd then!

Pots

Nov 23 works for me too. Looking forward to seeing folks again!

An

wrenn

There's a silent retreat at Callanish on the 23rd but if that changes I will be there for sure.

marianelizabeth

Thanks for the responses everyone. I am dictating here as no way I could type with what I have going on. Everything went sideways last week, Wednesday I suppose when nausea and vomiting took over. I let my medical people know and was told to take Zofran and take it easy, ha ha. Friday it Got worse and I was in ER Saturday and I’m still here now though waiting for a bed. I am in a small quieter area thank goodness as the noise in the main area made me crazy and I almost went home. CT scans that night Showed a sub dural haematoma first then Scans of my spine showed cerebral spinal leakage. This may have gone back to the first surgery even but Wednesday I will have what is called a blood patch which will try to stop the leak.

wrenn

Oh wow Marian. I can't believe what you have had to endure. it really seems endless for too damn long now. I would be cursing up a storm in your situation and to have to sleep in emerg this long just seems cruel. I am glad you went to emerg though. I hope they find you a bed very soon. And I hope the issue is resolved. Will be keeping you in my heart.

janky

Oh Marian! I will be praying and sending positive energy your way - unbelieveable what you are going through

Pots

Marian, thanks for sending us an update. I’m in your pockets to keep you company while you wait. OMG you have sure had one thing after the next. At least you’re being watched in the ER...But it certainly is not a calm relaxed space.

DearLife

Marian I am so sorry that you are having these complications. I hope they get everything under control soon and get you home again. We are all thinking of you!

❤️

Pearl

stellamaris

Sending positive, healing thoughts your way Marian. So sorry you have to deal with these complications.

adagio

Marian - thinking of you while you go through this incredibly difficult time.

runor

That is rotten news MarianE. I hope they get you straightened out quickly but man, you have got to be exhausted to the core from all of this. THinking of you and hoping for some improvement for you very soon!

Elderberry

Marian, I seldom go on the boards. I am so sorry you are in this situation. Getting the rug yanked out from under you. I am so hoping that you'll be posting soon saying "thumbs up -- I'm doing so much better" Hugs.

moth

Marian, hang in there. Hope they get the spinal fluid leaks under control asap and I hope your pain is being well managed. gentle hugs

BlueSky1969

Marian; I'm sorry to hear you are going through all this! I second Moth and hope your pain is being managed. And may this resolve quickly.

I've been off the boards trying to get my life in order (?) Moved my mom into a facility, got my eldest off to U - although he's returning this wknd, a false start.

Had an Onc appt the other morning. Was disappointed to learn they are now watching my L breast. Ugh.

Hi to all...

marianelizabeth

Thanks everyone. I got a bed Tuesday and had the blood patch Wednesday. Headache gone right away almost but blood transfusion needed by then along wit IV potassium etc. has set me back. I am drained but on the way back.

BlueSky, glad for the first things but not for the MO appointment with the watching/waiting again.

Good night all. Early but needed.

Marian

runor

Sending you strength and speedy recovery, MarianElizabeth.

velo

Thought I would say hi to the other BC women here. Waves! I am nervous right now as I go into a new and scary stage of my journey. CT scan appears to be mets to lung/bone. I get a lung biopsy this week and see my MO in Victoria Oct 25. Seems horribly too far away. Don't know what to expect at this stage and hope MO is on ball to latest/greatest/trials and everything. Hope not rushed, I hate feeling rushed through appt especially since its a few hours trip to come back.

moth

Hi velo, welcome. Sucky news; I'm hoping you get some good reports later this month & a solid treatment plan. Hang in there.

I do think that one really good thing about the BC Cancer Agency is that they do seem to be very evidence based and because it's a province wide program, you get the experience of the whole team behind your MO. They all seem to work collaboratively to arrive at treatment plans (or follow well established treatment protocols and clinical pathways).

marianelizabeth

Velo, I just wrote to you and everything started deleting. I want to welcome you here and know there are many with you. You and I were diagnosed in 2012 I see. I was in Vancouver them and move to Victoria in May 2017 just about when I found about my MBC. I really like the cancer team here and have a caring MO. Did you have your first treatments here in Victoria? Take lots of deep breaths and let's hope things move quickly so no long waiting games. The biopsy should tell the story but until then, there is no knowing.

I am at BCCA often so let me know if ever you would like to meet.

Hi Moth. How is it going now for you?

🙏Marian

moth

Marian - thx for asking, I am well. My MO agreed to put in a requisition for a breast MRI to do in between my annual mammograms. Apparently the BCCA changed some guidelines about who could qualify for them & now early stagers with certain density criteria may qualify. She initially wasn't sure it would get approved but it did & I'm scheduled for December.

I'm half way through semester 4 out of 9 of the nursing program. I'm on a surgical rotation right now. I'm feeling fine and mostly enjoying myself though occasionally I worry that I'm not eating or sleeping as well as I should; always trying to find that magical balance between studying & the rest of life

velo

Hi Moth and Marian -

Thanks for the welcome. Yes I had my previous tx in Victoria. MO not very emphathetic. But he does return calls if I have questions.

wrenn

Welcome back Velo and so sorry for your recent news. I am hoping for Dr. House diagnosis too. :-) Not funny though to have this worry. This is a great group to lean on.

Marian I hope things continue to improve for you. You are so damn strong.

Bluesky I hope the L breast is fine. What a worry. Feels like it never ends.

Moth, You are already just about half way through the nursing program. Time goes so fast.

Hi to everyone and I hope it is as sunny where you are. Kits is blue skies and leaves turning colour. Nirvana.

Take care everyone.

cathy67

Hi ladies!

I was referred by moth to this forum, so grateful we have this one in Vancouver.

I will spend time to go through all what you were discussing, but it is holiday now, busy around.

So, can anyone tell me your gathering details? Just in case, I don't have enough time to find it before the meeting time. By the way, I am in richmond BC,

Catherine

moth

Hi Catherine - yay you made it over!

We're looking at Saturday Nov 23 1 pm at Cactus Club, Broadway & Ash.

I'll be posting an RSVP surveymonkey in a second

moth

Can everyone pls RSVP by clicking here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z9N3LHQ

I'll make reservations in a couple weeks once we have some numbers.

cathy67

Hi moth,

I am preparing for chemo. Are we using port or picc for the chemo, if 8 rounds, do you pick up this option?

marianelizabeth

cathy67, I had a port for my round of 8 and loved it. I had a Bard Power port then (2012/13) and have now now. The Pics is more hassle though probably less costly. For showering, you have to cover or detach~~not sure as I never had one. The port can also be used for blood work, I have mine done through my port and am about to get that done. The lab tech leaves it accessed for my chemo tomorrow. Pokes are almost impossible so if your veins are also poor, then a port is a godsend.

Marian