The Hermit Club

Jazzygirl

Happy November hermits. Like Cami says, Halloween now done, turkey day on the horizon. That will be here before you know it.

Lori- one of the worst things about the healthcare system, especially when you have cancer or a bunch of things going on, is the fact they don't work as a team even though they should. It can cause you to not have the right balance of care, or to not get the attention you need. They all look at you through their own silos of expertise. But our body is not made of silos, but one very big integrated complex system!

I am almost a year post surgery and six months post rad treatment and at this point, I pretty much deal with my PCP and med onc on a regular basis. Others like the breast surgeon I see every six months (she still wants to be involved in my post follow up care). My PCP handles everything except for the gyn and breast/cancer issues. She is acutely aware that the process I have gone through has thrown me into other problems like high BP and borderline diabetes.

You are still going through active treatment though, and think your surgery is your reconstruction surgery, yes? So you need your team working closely together with you.

If your pain is that bad, I would suggest you to your PCP who to me, is your best advocate. She/he may be able to help you with some of the things you are stuck with and/or can help to evaluate your pain.

And yes, the med oncs and others involved in your care do like to know if you have bone pain, as that can be a concern for bone mets. I asked my med onc this week a question about that too, given the side effects of AIs that make your bones ache sometimes and/or joints hurt. He said "you will know it" with respect to whether a bone problem is one of concern and yes, if it is, they want to know. He said the bone mets don't land in the joint areas commonly.

Maybe take someone with you to your next apt and see if they can help to advocate for you. When you are not feeling good, it is hard to push to get your needs met, but you need to. You need relief as well as answers. Let us know how else we can help?

Skittle

Camille... If it's A Long Way From Chicago, it's about a "crazy" grandma who at first scares the "city kids" who live with her for the first time.... since it's during the Depression and they leave the city. Some of it is hilarious. If he likes it, Richard Peck, the author, has written a whole series around her. And others, too. Like The Teacher's Funeral and Fair Weather. Glad the math was solved. Kind of funny it was two girls.

Jazzy... I love your wisdom. I share the feeling others express about not having a great relationship with my MO. I mean he's great at the science end, but not so warm and fuzzy in the concern department. (I have a bone density scan in a couple of weeks, so we'll see what he says then.)

Hugs to each. Happy weekend.

Jazzygirl

Skittle- good luck with scan. I hope there is no bone loss from the AI. I wanted to also tell you after going off the anastrazole, I already feel better three days later! You know how you just cope with the SEs, including the joint stiffness, foot pain, etc. The difference coming off of it is really amazing. I know I will have a hard time going back on it, but hopefully the SEs won't be as bad and/or we are going to move to Aromosin.

Kathyec- I am glad your man took you away for that much needed break to beautiful Utah. I had a friend last winter when I was in between rad treatments who made sure she got me out for things just to have a break from the grind of treatment, dealing with the fatigue, etc. One of my favorite things she did was to take me to a Carnival dance show in February featuring music and dance from Brazil. It was one of the few outings I had during everything and made me feel normal for just a bit. It is good when people can help us with these things.

Heading out of town for a few days, will be back on line next week hermits!

lizlori

Thanks everyone for your input...I did get some answers finally. The M.O wants me to see a Rheumatologist. He said he wants to rule out Rheumatoid Arthritis. I also asked the nurse who exactly am I suppose to call when having issues, and reminded her of her statement about calling my PCP...she assured me that is was fine to call the B.C triage line, and when things become stable, I can work with the PCP again. (Not sure why she even mentioned the PCP in the initial conversation) She definatly changed her tune, and was nice.....God its just so hard to feel trustful of people. I really am thankful that I could vent here, and not be judged....

Kath-yum trout and rice....could you pm your link of your art work? I am in the mood for retail therapy these days....Your DH is the bomb.....its good to hear you enjoy life...

Blondie, Lilly, Cami, teka, C.C...hope all is well with you...

Jazzy-I agree with Skittle, you are indeed a wise woman.....

Today has been Day 1 of being a hunters widow, its just me and Fritz.... Have a good night....

Skittle

Lori... did you manage to convince Fritz to wear a costume? I know my two would protest wildly. I hope the alone time is more of a peacefulness than loneliness. Do you make things like venison chili, or what is he hunting? (Here, it seems to be anything that moves, yet some travel west for bigger game like elk or buffalo.)

Tomorrow dh and our two dd's will be taking me out to dinner... (bday is Sunday.)

So glad for the weekend. Will be able to sleep past the usual 5:40... yay! Hugs to all. Safe journeys to those out and about.

Camille... did Joey go trick or treating? Dress up? Students here had lots of tales of frights and candy and delighting in scaring others. I never got into the scary side of it all.

Teka

Skittle, HB, and what better way to celebrate then with family!

Lori1020, I saw the specialist about bright red color in BM, the nurse said blood but the doctor said beet juice. I didn't rat her out to the doctor.

Jazzygirl, enjoy a safe trip!

Ready for a weekend with an extra hour of sleep ;o)

camillegal

Hi everyone---busy day here==Jazzy I'm glad u; told us u'll be off for a couple of days cuz u always post and then we'd have to worry.

Kath I'm so glad u got away and glad u enjoyed u'rself--u needed that.

Lori---When I read u'r second post I say u got taken care of. While I was going thru Chemo my Onc pretty much did everything, and during a break from chemo (operation) my surgeon took care of everything, in fact I called my Onc, about something, she helped me--but my surgeon was not happy and he said right now I was his patient and don't call her--(sensitive) then when I went back to chemo she was back in charge but I also saw other drs. she would have me see--I see my Onc every 3 months now and my rimary for everything else then she sends me to other specialists. And if she thinks I should see my onc soone then I'm with her. But she gives me my pain meds and some other my card gives me those meds and my onc the others, so all in all I take about 15 diff. meds a day---all from diff Drs. but they must go together or the pharmacist would know, I hope. LOL

Skittle that the name, now I have to tell him the other ones--he's enjoying it---and he was out in the rain for 3 hrs. last night with the kids and some parents too--this one fther takes them to an area where the homes are more expensive cuz they really give good candy and the dad likes it. My kids went right along with them.

Teka it's dark so early now it feels so late now--so Sunday the night will be so long, but the morning will be better----so spring ahead and fall backwards.we're falling now.

Teka

Fun to grow pumpkins!

Son & daughter gobbled up the roasted hull-less pumpkin seeds ;o)

Ready for weekend with an extra hour of sleep!

Teka

We dread the longer evenings in the winter.

camillegal

Good Mornin all---I was up most of the night so I'm hermitting a lot today but I did teach myself how to post-pics-or did I tell u already LOL see even my Avatar is Joey in his costume--it took me forever but I did it. The problem now is I kinda don't remember how but maybe it will come back to me oh I should try on my FB or did I already I don't remember chit. This stinks

Tomboy

i just cant figure out how to post a picture from my iphoto. it says there was an image there, but i dont see it.

camillegal

Kath I would help u but mind is still by chance, but see the fourth thingy from the smiley faces it has to do with that somehow, but u have to put the picture in the saving files??? see what I mean, I really can't help.

Tomboy

thank u sweet camille, i did try that. and it did say image and the number, so i thought it was saved, but no. and then i tried just the smiley or frowny, and it wouldnt do that either. so i dont know. ooops! it just did that!!!!

Tomboy

ok , i will try again with a pic

Tomboy

HEY!!! It did it! that's me! Happy! uh oh. now you guys will probably see too many pictures from me!!!

Tomboy

ok, just one more

Teka

Excellent photos, brighten up a rainy day in the North Country!

I wish to be as thin as you.

Tomboy

im actually 10 pounds up, all in my belly. i thought all the hiking we did would help, but no. i was reaaly really skinny, all my life. i think the ai's and tamox n chemo mess with metabolism. i am glad you like the photos. i had to put the camera away, cause every step i would be taking one! And i wish to have a cute kitty, like yours, Teka. out of the question, since we lost our cat, "Lumpy", and it broke our hearts, and i can't talk him into another, yet.

duckyb1

looking good Kath....

Gone down into the low 30's in the Philly suburbs tonight.......,2 blanket night........then back up yo 70 week.....nutty weather.......

Doing my IPad, and tv is on...love PBS, can't stand 😝Martha Stewart........just her voice annoys me......she reminds me of a milder form of Julia Child's......find' like her either.......change the channel you say.....can't...."Josh Groban is next, and can't miss him........love him......

Teka

Martha Stewart, perfect A-hole.

At least Julia Child's liked her wine.

Lily55

i am feeling sunken like my chest that hurts like mad tonight.......can feel myself sinking in to whats the point etc.....

Teka

Pain will drive away any good feelings.

Have you given any thought to seeing a pain management doctor?

Spookiesmom

She's sideways, this is THE ONE AND ONLY. SPOOKIE

Teka

Both dogs are cute!

Spookiesmom

now I need to figure out how to turn it around. The poodle is DHs boy, KrisKringle

Lily55

not seen paín specialist no , back to radiotherapy consult in two weeks and will really complain then.......but i logged on especially to post the following....

I really see no hope in my relationship if it can be called that, we had anither row, another one that never gets resolved, over nothing and ge yelled at ne just because he could not find what id asked him to read, all he had to do was scroll to the bottom of a page he was on, byt that was not enough for him he yelled there was nothing there then there was loads there, and i yelled at him for yelling and we ended up telling each other to f off........he banged around and i said go ahead indulge your bad temper, a regular statement of mine and he said i make him bad tempered, well everything makes him bad tempered, and truthfully i dont want to be with him anymore.....we are not married so i have no rights if we split up and i dont see how i can survive alone or with all my dogs as i font have the energy to work full time and there are no jobs here anyway i could not live on my part time income but also i would be. Choosing to be alone as no one would want whats left of me.....but i had to say it here as deep down i know i need to leave but feel trapped, and lonely......

grammaB

I've been lurking here a while, trying to read the whole thread, then just jumped to the end when I saw Spookiesmom had posted. We know each other from other threads and another forum. Spookie is absolutely gorgeous!! I'm so glad to see a pix of him!!

I am not only a hermit, but also a night owl. They actually kind of go well together because I sleep through the first half of the day!! DH died of leukemia in '97. My kids and grands all live in CA so I am pretty much on my own all the time. I have friends here (moved to MT in 2004) and we do all the holidays together, but mostly I am solitary. I am semi retired and sell online (ebay) to augment SS. Another solitary venture. LOL, that's a hermit for you.

kathec, I absolutely love Utah!! My DH and I did several vacations there hiking all over. That gorgeous red rock country is so special to me!! Your photos make me want to take a trip there!

Teka

grammaB, welcome cat lover!

Teka

Lily55, be careful he cannot read your post!

Sharing with others in cyber space could be the end.

Tomboy

lily55,! if your mind is there, then YOU are all there, and all you need! can you get short term disability, or unemployment, or something to help to tide you over for now? Can you find another woman to live and share expenses with? this could be an opportunity in disguise, for you to change up everything. sorry he is being such a buthead. i know that mine was too, but i think it was because he was scared, as we had just lost two good friends in the last two years, and were both sad & exhausted too. but it was like he was angry with me for getting sick, and not happy with having to hear all the details all the time. so i found other people to talk to. & here. with which even still i could not live happily without. pls take care of you right now, n i am sorry you have to deal with this on top of everything else.

Welcome grammab..... an spookie is so pretty!