2012 sisters

luvmygoats

Hey PAEaglesFan  - I haven't done any in years. Vision not that great and just don't want to invest in magnifying/lighting for it. Hope maybe to quit working in Dec and might get back to it. Loved to cross stitch when DD was in school. No time at present. BUT - what else do you do besides hang it on the wall? I did do several waste canvas pieces years ago. Where do you get patterns/supplies now?  Michaels and Hobby Lobby have almost nothing. I made collage of teddy bears, old house fully furnished, ABC for DD's room (she's 25 now, LOL), Old Sampler, Jacobean Flowers,  DD's name in big block alphabet and others that I gave away. Would love to redo her room as my Raggedy Ann room.  Now that might get me started. Unfortunately don't think DH will let me paint it RA Red. I think part of my deprived (not LOL) childhood I never had a Raggedy Ann. So I made up for it for several years and collected lots of things. Slowed down last 6-7 years, no place for it and really what did I really need it for. Haven't bought a piece in I bet 5 years. My mom was in the antique business b4 she died 9 years ago so she regularly added to them.

As far as other hobbies, hope also I can milk for real one of my goats next spring. It will be quite an adventure. Or more like a rodeo! Never done any real milking only just a little to bottle a baby or relieve mama soreness. Hope DH will like it. NOT, I'm expecting. And in Texas illegal to sell/give away unless you jump through hoops for a grade A dairy which is not happening. Not the physical set up for it.

I think that fall TV show is on Lifetime "The Week the Women Went". Quick Google found it.

It was in the 60's this morning, I live outside the metroplex, country. Thursday we had a record high of 108. Almost, HA HA, felt like fall coming. Not, back into triples today.

Hope those who had chemo this week are on the recovering end. Juneau - hope that's you. Tazzy - hope your issue is resolving and your mind has been eased. I NEED retail therapy. Just can't drag myself back into the city after driving there all week. Actually went to a different Wally World yesterday that had some cute things. Might need a revisit this next week. Need something cute to wear out to eat next Sat. That's the trouble with wearing scrubs. My play wardrobe is miserable. TTYL.

juneaubugg

JP... I made it... Barely!



Port insertion at 9 was supposed to be while I was unconscious but GUESS WHAT?! I was! Ouch. So after copious amounts of fentynol they were maxed out so they have me a local shot!! FUCK ME.... No no, FUCK YOU!!!! 2nd trip and still it's fucked up! I could have stayed awakes and done it Thursday. WTF PEOPLE!!!!



So now I'm in pain all on my left side and look like a cyborg and go to the cafeteria to hydrate and eat and then up to chemo. 5 hours post chemo it hit me worst. I had a big dinner of 3 slices of sacillian (the square kind for you non New York/Chicago people ;-) pizza before that... Oh had taken a 30 min walk AS SOON AS I GOT HOME.



Between the pain on the right side from nerves reawakening/cording PT exercising/TE/etc I can't really sleep on that side without my wedge and pillow to raise my breast above the bed to the TE doesn't touch and push pressure back.



The port took the left off the table so it felt like post op day one. High on the Wedge and pillows propping each arm.



The only difference was an extra TV Tray table placed bedside by my DH. All in separate containers as needed.

PB on saltines

Sliced apples with PB PILE

Banana

WATER bottles

Water cup with lid and bendy straw! :-)

SMTWTFS pill bottle with zofran, decadron, ativan and ambian placed I them for total prescribed per day. Mine is empty by Monday. There is a little note-decradron green, zofran yellow, ativan white.

He's the best.



I set an alarm on my phone. Every two hours water and a snack medication if due.



Still feel out of it.... Didn't sleep well at all. Need to sleep. Friend or husband are going to maker tale a walk later.

liefie

Oh my goodness, Juneaubugg, I can't believe those people have bungled your port insertion like that! What? So sorry that you are having such a bad time, but you have to be commended for that walk you took. It always brings some sanity into this whole crazy business. You DH is a darling - hold on to him. There are not many such considerate men around.

My onc told me it was okay to take something to be able to sleep. You are tired and stressed enough as it is, and really need that sleep. It is the Decadron/Dexamethazone steroid) that you take to prevent an allergic reaction to the chemo drugs that keeps you awake. With every cycle I was sleepless for the first seven to ten days, and I took half an Immovane every night which gave me about five hours sleep. You don't have to suffer without sleep. I can't tell you how good it felt every night when I could take that pill, wait for the sleep to come and just blissfully forget about chemo and cancer for a few hours. A few times I just took a whole pill and knocked myself out for ten or more hours just to escape from everything. I did not become addicted, and only used it the first few nights of every cycle. After that my sleep pattern would go back to normal again.

Best wishes to you - it will get better, I promise.

juneaubugg

Back from our walk today and went a bIt further then yesterday; ate some food, gave myself my shot took my Clartian and Aleave per Dr recommendation (take those for NINE days to reduce bone pain).



Im just so tired but when I sleep I wake up feeling queasy. :-(

Moonflwr912

Juneaubug, all that is normal, so just keep on the way you are. ((((Hugs))))

juneaubugg

Thanks moonflwr; I just want a softer easier way. What day does the neaseau stop?!



Wanna cry today. Don't want to move, can't sleep!! I hate having such nausea!

whaevah

juneaubug, I too had a wicked port insertion so I do understand your pain and frustration

sending {{{hugs}}}

juneaubugg

Thanks moonflwr; I just want a softer easier way. What day does the neaseau stop?!



Wanna cry today. Don't want to move, can't sleep!! I hate having such nausea!

juneaubugg

Now I'm nauseous and I have no idea what is safe to eat!

mcook301

Juneaubugg - sorry to hear about the nausea and port! I hope it gets better! I ate a lot of soup and crackers but also any type of potatoes helped me to get food down. I handed ac much better than taxol as far as se or maybe I just don't remember them. i got emend orally for two days and that most likely helped a lot. Gargle w salt water and baking soda as it helps w mouth sores. W ac my feet started getting really hard callouses and it was sore to walk on them so I keeped them lubbed w aquaphor all the time. They peeled after chemo so now I no longer have rough tootsies.



I read the stories and comments about the topic of sex! agreed that I am glad that subject came up as with Chemo my bf and I had sex but not as much as bf BC. I have been in a relationship w him for a year and god knows why he has not ran yet but whatever happens with us I am so concerned I will never feel comfortable to meet someone again after surgery and have an intimate relationship. Silly I know but I think about it. Oh well I am sure I will get over this too.





Jpmom3 - I hear you on the man thing as they have a really hard time showing emotion and communicating when it comes to this from what I have experienced.



Tazzy - love the picture. My sister bought me a T shirt that said cancer sucks on the front but on the back it says, " but it will be ok" some days I feel like the pic and some days I feel like the saying on the tshirt.



only 10 days till surgery and since I can't run away and hide I need to keep myself busy so I do not go crazy!



Hugs to All!

liefie

Eat crackers, toast, joghurt, mashed potatoes, cool rather than hot food. Google 'what to eat when you're naueous' - there's lots of good advice.

Moonflwr912

Juneau, if you are having this much trouble call the doc, there may be something else they can give you. Mashed potatos are usually ok, plain noodles, rice, bananas. I personally could not stand the taste of applesauce, but a lot of people liked it. So, in other words, white food, that is bad for diabetics s what usually helps with tummy troubles. I had nausea the first two times, and bad diarrhea, ended up in the hospital. Don't do that,.try go stay hydrated, its hard, I know.

mcook301

Tazzy did you say you did not get expanders? I was considering it because I am getting rad and was told if I wanted reconstruction that TE and implants might not look too good because of rads so I am thinking of tram surgery six months after rad ends.



Anyone else has opinions or thoughts on this?

juneaubugg

mcook301... Your boyfriend is staying maybe....because he loves you. If not, then he will help you through and prepare you for a better man. Trying to be intimate when sick ( I've been married 2 years and together almost 5) is a sthengthening of the comminment to the relationship.



As for your situation surgically I knew after rads reconstruction choices are very limited. At my age it really mattered. I'm 44. I med PS first and she covered my options for reconstruction possibilities if I got rads.



I went away where I would not get rads and reconcstruction will be easier. Talk to a Ps would be my suggestion.

mcook301

Thanks juneuabugg I did meet w ps last week but now need to make decisions bf bf surgery. I thought I had a game plan but now w more info I am rethinking everything. It is going to be a stressful week ahead for me. Hoping talking w my therapist will help to calm me down a bit Monday:)

Anonymous

mcook - I got TEs and my understanding is that you have to have permanent implants before rads. So I keep my TEs through chemo. Recoup for 3 weeks, have the replacement surgery, then recoup for another 3 weeks and then start rads. My PS said that rads will take my satisfaction level with my final implants on that side down one notch. So if you are at a 9 satisfaction-wise after the replacement surgery - then after rads,  you'll be at an 8. Hope that helps.

Juneau - hang in there. Sounds like you're doing all the right things. And you are gathering an arsenal of info for me when I start later this month!

Just a quick pop-in to say hi and check in on all of you. Hugs to all. Off to have a relaxing evening with my hubby now that the little guys are off to bed. We are in good moods after reconnecting a bit during nap time today... wink wink...

Soyaandpepper

juneaubugg-Oh you poor thing! Hope that your SEs pass soon and you feel better from there. Sending you BIG (((((huhhhhuuuugggggsss))))))))))).

ramols-I heard the opposite thing to you, my doctor told me that if I was to have radiation for sure on my breast then he would not do direct to implants (which is what I did), he would do TEs and then wait another 9 months after radiation for the skin to heal and then do exchange. I think they want to however finish the fill before the start of radiation since the skin doesn't stretch as it should when doing radiation and thus will have problems later down the line. I would've need radiation to my nodes if my SNB had cancer which it didn't, so doing implants before radiation didn't change my outcome.  

mcook301

Thanks Ramols I needed to do some shopping for post surgery items this week but don't want to do what I did bf chemo and buy stuff I never used.



Lots of work this dam cancer is!

Anonymous

Juneau...I had my first chemo last week too. Sorry to be gross and bring this up but zofran made me constipated which added to my tummy aches and nausea. Don't forget to stay on top of that so you don't have other complications.



Ladies...just feeling sad today. I want to say 'fuck you cancer' but I'm so overwhelmed and scared. I've felt so sick all week. How will I get through seven more cycles...

Anonymous

Soyandpepper - maybe it depends on the TEs. Mine have metal in the port part where they do the fills and metal is a no no during rads.



Mcook - I keep telling folks this cancer shot is a full time job. And its a lot if hurry up and wait... Good luck!

Soyaandpepper

Tpolychron-Oh so sorry you're scared and overwhelmed, but its OK to say FUCK YOU cancer anytime you want. You've got this, in your mind you need to tell the cancer cells to die while doing the chemo and feel the med in your veins working for you. The mind is a very powerful thing, if you think positive thoughts then it is most likely that your outcome will be positive, be strong and fight the battle! We're all here for each other!

juneaubugg

Soyaandpepper... THANK YOU FOR RHE HUGS...kepp them coming.



Mcook: every dr. Has different ideas. Mine said she won't do straight to imams regardless on need for rads. They usually require second dollop surgery and she wants to be perfect the first time. (note: I ONLY se female drs for everything!). She said ounces rads burns and shrinks the skin reconstruction is very difficult. That's why a lump and rads with reconstructin wasn't going to work for my 44 yr old body.



Tolpolychron: I have Crohns disease. Hoping it will come in handy for a change and kepp everything flowing ok. We shall see. I feel like shit too. My poor DH is trying to help, but is helpless. I did find a local support group that meets Wednesday evening and I'm going to check it out thus week.



I will fight, I will cry and I will win. Remind me of that in two hours please?



Here's to a night of sleep!! With minimum SEs...for us all!

teeballmom

tolpolychron:  We will all help you get through those 7 cycles!  The women here have been helping me through this and much more.  It's o.k. to be sad, scared and overwhelmed.  Breast cancer is a horrible disease but we will all fight and come out winning.  Stay strong.  I wish I lived closer to you (used to live near Westminster) so I could drive over and give you a big hug!

For everyone feeling down today (me included - my family sucks) I hope we all are feeling better tomorrow!

Take care

 

Soyaandpepper

juneaubugg-Yes, you will fight and cry and win this damn fight against thst DAMN CANCER!!!!! We're with you all the way!!!!!

juneaubugg

I only have three treatments if AC left but at this moment sleepless, and queasy and feeling shit isn't helping. OK thats it goes stay positive and tomorrow will be a better day.



Tazzy/ twofried / JP...where are you with your positive vibes?

I take surgery over chemo any day! so when does my head go bald ladies? Sould I start buzzing it next week?

Anonymous

Did someone on this thread post a link about treating cording? I thought I saw one and can't find it now. Think I have discovered the beginning of it on my left side. Argh... Thanks!

Aruba

Hi Ramols,

I sent you a PM with info I got from the lymphedema boards with response to my questions on cording. 

Anonymous

Thanks much aruba. I'll go check it out.

juneaubugg

Forgotten the Internet. Call you BS and get a script to start PT Right Away. It's not petmanent but over use hurts it. really is magable. Internet stuff may exaceracte it in your mind. Mine is heaps better already.



Omg. Chemo brain. Is it real? I can type, Im bouncing off of walls no equilibrium, headaches, foggy.... Grammar problems. Help where are you all!

liefie

Ramols,

I have a TE which was placed during my mastectomy and SNB. Nobody suspected it beforehand, but I then had one positive lymph node when the path report came after the surgery. So there was no other way but to do rads with the TE.

Here in Canada for early stage cancer the protocol is 16 rads. Because of the TE, the rad oncs prescribed that same dosage administered over 28 fractions, as they call it. For personal reasons I needed to be done with rads in 25 treatments, so the dosage was recalculated into 25 rads. As for the small metal disc part of the TE, the rad onc told me that it was taken into consideration, and that it was no big deal.

My TE had been fully expanded( for almost 3 months) before the rads started, which is what my plastic surgeon wanted. She wants to wait with the exchange surgery until next year May/June when she will be better able to assess what the radiation has done to my breast, and to give it a chance to 'settle'. I tolerated the rads really well, and I can't see or feel any change in the breast, but I guess it is a different story on the inside. Hopefully it won't be too bad. Just wanted to give you a different perspective. It seems that there are many different opinions among the drs about this issue.