The Hermit Club

Skittle

So very sad to lose more among us.

Jazzy, I loved your little picture (was it an ant?) so sweet. (Tried your yoga moves. Feet still angry. Have mo appt on Tuesday. Wonder what he'll say. Have a bone scan, too, so maybe will learn something?) DH is convinced being on my feet all day is too much. He may be right.

Gramma, What is a salt lamp? Sounds gentle somehow.

Beautiful picture of trees--would make a gorgeous painting.

Sally, hoping for good news of resting well. Soft hug your way.

Blondie, strength and good thoughts your way. Hoping for solutions for you.

Happy weekend. Have to go hunt down a plump tofurky!

Jazzygirl

Hi hermits- thanks for all your kind words and good wishes today. In many ways, I felt off today but think that comes with another anniversary and thinking about where I was last year. And what life might be like a year from now. Who knows, right?

I had a nice massage tonight and talked to my therapist about the anniversary today. She was a huge help to me through everything I went through last year. I came across some little gifts recently that she brought me last year before my surgery and it reminded me of her consistent love and support. She was so sweet tonight, and told me it was our five year anniversary together and gave me a $50 discount on my massage tonight. Although I had not thought about it when I made the apt with her for tonight, I felt very glad I had her to talk to this evening on this particular day. Life often has a way of being sure you have what you need when you need it most.

I came home in a nice steady rain. I hope it rains all night long.

Wish you all sweet dreams. Thank you for being here with me today.

Teka

Sweet Dreams!!

duckyb1

jazzy."big hugs".........

camillegal

Skittle I'm sure Gramma will explain much better but a salt lamp is a lamp that brings out soothing relaxing Aura into the room and it glows has some type of mineral of salt that emits the relaxation methid or it's a lamp that looks like a box of salt, I always get that confused. Skittle it could very well b u'r feet, I mean they have feet massages for pressure points for relaxation just for feet so if u are on them all day that is very stressful for u'r body. maybe

Jazzy u'r massage came at the perfect time for u and u had such a nice talk. And what a wonderful gift she gave u besides being so nice

Rest well.

Jazzygirl

Good morning hermits- I slept well last night! Into the weekend I go, and off for lunch today with a friend I have not seen in awhile.

Wishing you all a good Saturday!

SallyS70

Good morning hermits. Jazzygirl, hope you will see a beautiful sunrise and enjoy your lunch. blondiex, am sending you hugs for a good lung biopsy.

SallyS70

Skittle, hope your feet will get a rest this week end and feel better.

duckyb1

Skittle....have the same foot problems, plus legs.....I told my kids...if I could replace from the waist down with new parts, I would be great....although for some reason today the upper back is acting up......but I have arthritis, so expect discomfort at times........

Everyone have a great day.....warmer here in the Philly suburbs after a couple days of very cold weather....but rain is coming.....hugs Hermies

Jazzygirl

For Teka.

Teka

Teka

This face has an arrow for dead not z's for sleeping.

We need the old faces back!

grammaB

Camille, I feel so bad for him that there is nothing else to do for him but give him shots when he has a flare up.

Skittle, Camille is absolutely correct in her description of the salt lamp! It is a large chunk of natural Pink Himalayan salt. The core is drilled out and a night light sized bulb is inserted. The bulb heats the salt which releases negative ions which purify the air by attracting the positive ions in the room. The salt is antimicrobial so so never needs any cleaning. According to an article I found online: "The crystal salt lamp can enhance goodwill, lighten ones aura, eliminate mood swings, and diminish negativity. It can stimulate the acupuncture and acupressure meridians. Crystal salt also acts as a catalyst to meditation. Beside the color energy properties, it opens and clears the heart chakra, assists in regenerative growth, and dispels depression." I find them (I have 2 lamps and a tea candle holder) very soothing and comforting. Google salt lamp and you'll get pix of what they look like.

Cold and windy here today with spits of snow. More snow predicted for the weekend. Sitting in recliner, cat on lap, enjoying the warmth from the fireplace.

duckyb1

gram......I need one for every friggin room.....

grammaB

LOL Ducky! They aren't that expensive, it is doable.

duckyb1

you kidding I already Googled it.....lol

Skittle

Ok, there's going to be a run on salt lamps!! Mood swings? Blue? You got me! (I agree with Teka. I want the old faces back. There was a little blushing one that would fit perfectly. I don't like admitting my moodiness... Used to be reliable and easy-going and fun... now not so much. Drug induced gloominess!) Seriously, I may have to see if Amazon has 'em. Thank you for heading me in the right direction.

Sally, Camille, thank you for the sweet well wishes. I should not complain so much.

Ducky... sorry to hear you're a partner in pain. Isn't this a roller coaster? (Hi, I'm a veteran of bc... My feet hurt! sounds pretty silly 'til you've been there...)

Jazzy... DH and I were at Whole Foods today, and when I saw the masseuse I thought of you. DH loves massage... I head the other way. (Saw a necklace of all things, felt a little in love with it, but managed to walk away. Didn't need it, of course, and think I'll give what I would've spent to the Red Cross for the Philippine disaster aid. I know we should all try to do something, but I don't know what... but I still have that lingering gee-it-was-pretty in my head.)

Good wishes to Markat, Laurie, Lori, Lily, FLwarrior, bgirl and all... Can you believe Thanksgiving is nearly upon us? Christmas carols are on the radio already!!

duckyb1

Skittle.....you are so right....that is why here is so comforting.....outsiders (family included) do not understand, and do not want to hear another complaint from your mouth.......so you suck it up, and in holding it in it becomes depressing, thus we come here where no one judges, and everyone listens.......and your right..............anyone who has not walked in our shoes has no friggin idea, and eventually I really think they become distant and avoid us......

Oh well shit does happen... Just another story in the life of.............anyone of us.......hugs, and thanks for being a shoulder when we all need one.....

camillegal

Hi everyone---U are right about everything LOL so complain all u want we all get it here. I call it all aftershock and just stays. BTW those lamps are very affordable, I don't have one but I see them in my mags a lot, They are even soothing to look at actually.

I thought I'd pop in since I haven't been on as much lately since I'm a business woman now---hahahahahahaha----we'll see. I know monkey business is about all I can do. OK something stupid-------

I always have the TV on for yrs, it goes on as soon as I walk into a room until I leave, 24 hrs most of the time and I tape programs a lot could do it in my sleep, literally, my GS has my bad habit--I wonder why_ and he sleeps with the remote in his hand, my point is I know a remote and know how to use it for my purposes, well I went to tape a program and I couldn't remember how to do it--for about 30 seconds to a minute I stared at the remote and I really couldn't figure it out--then it came back but it scared me--Oh I forget a lot and have brain fog a lot and I'm not sure if I said or saw something before, my sister and I do it all the time--but this was something I always know and my brain really froze and I thought this damn BC because ever since chemo my brain has fogged and just does not go away--I make fun of it but for some reason I froze myself. Then I try to rationalize everything like well I just started this job, haven't worked in yrs. learning all this new stuff (for me) different programs on computer--and I have never been on the internet til just a couple of years ago so computers are not really my thing and yet my computer got a virus and I fixed it myself somehow which I was amazed--so my brain seems to vary more than ever and altho it's not serious and doesn't hurt that was the first time I froze literally. OK I got that out cuz it sounds silly. Whew I feel better. hahaha

Teka I thought that was sleeping OMG.

Anonymous

jazzy girl, one if my cats looks very similar. A white Siamese, (flame point), was abused when we rescued her.

I finally got of the house and attended a non-health-care-related event. Went a baby shower, then spending the night at my parents nearby.. Maybe there's some hope for me yet.

Teka

No camillegal, not z's.

blondiex46

Cammie my tv goes on also, just to have something in the room...although in the car I tend to turn off the radio....

congrats on the anniversary!!

Jazzy you are such an inspiration to alot of the people that come on here with your kind words......so excited you are doing something nice for yourself....

To all others {{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Happy Sunday!!

Jazzygirl

Hi hermits- I am in the throes of wrapping Xmas presents to ship later today and also putting a whole big pile together to take to consignment in a few weeks. Made an apt yesterday with the store, and getting some things out of the house (and I hope she will take most of it too!) I need to get the gifts in the mail now as my big system go live is coming up in early December, and I just won't have time much longer to do the holiday prep things. I also have a crock pot of turkey noodle soup with the turkey I made last Sunday.

I went to lunch with a friend/supporter yesterday and we visited about a number of things. Judy has been a good friend and supporter to me during my medical issues the past year and through the years in general. But I think I was reminded once again that now that I am through treatment, folks sort of think I am done with the whole thing.

I had two major things happen last year with my health, one which was the more acute at the time (appendicitis), but of course I am through that and recovered now. And of course, the bc. She made a comment that the appendix was the much more serious of the two (and based on the way things played out, yes, it could have been the end for me). Although that was true then, the acute appendicitis is over and now it is the bc follow ups and AIs that are what I continue to deal with in the present and in the future.

I was not upset about the conversation (which has been the case in the past), but tried to just help her understand where things are today with me. I think it may have helped to bridge a gap in her understanding my current process, and think I just need to remember I need tell folks life is just not the same for me. I realize I cannot expect people to get it who have not been through it. I think I am learning some new skills for how to talk to folks about this whole journey (although I will admit I don't like explaining myself in general). I still have a very small community who know about this, so it is not something I have to do all the time. We had a very nice lunch together in the end.

Teka

Thank You, I would love a bowl of turkey noodle soup!

I now say "so far so good, no recurrence or metastasis" or "still above the sod".

duckyb1

Wow Jazz.....true tough once treatment ends...........everyone thinks ...ok, it over, let's move on......of course we have to move on, but for us it is not that easy........whether it is the missing breast, the implant, the lumpectomy and SNB scars, or what about LE for those who get it........and also the SE's for estrogen positive cancers from the AL's, or still some burning even after rads are done, and the fatigue finally sets in......

No it is not over even when treatment is done....not by far....not for us .and that is what most don't get, so we just put on that "Smiley" face and say "oh well".........I can't expect them to understand it.......how could they, they have not walked in my shoes.......cancer is cancer.........and only we know what it does to your life......and for us...it is what it is..

Jazzygirl

Teka and Ducky- thanks for your words of wisdom. I had to say Teka's one liners are very good, but the one about "still above the sod" cracked me up! Good way to keep things lite.....

Soup is done and cooling. Packages ready to go and now washing and vacuuming my cars. Where did the burst of energy come from? I don't know, but I will take it!

grammaB

Jazzygirl, I wish I could get that burst of energy! I have been feeling very lethargic for the past couple of weeks. I don't want to do anything.... I need to work, but I just can't seem to get to it. I don't know if this is depression rearing its ugly head again, or the general numbness from all that I have been through these past few months. I sure hopes it passes soon, I am going to miss any Christmas business on eBay that might come my way......

Jazzygirl

Gramma B- You did not have surgery all that long ago (8/13). Plus, you had the major surgery too, bmx. It may just be residual fatigue from your surgery/treatment. I had that off and on for months, sometimes still do have periods of very low energy post treatment. I can last up to a year or longer. If you are taking any of the aromatase inhibitors, they wear you out too.

And emotionally, it sort does sort of hit you after the fact when you are through treatment, exactly what all went on. No time to think about it when you are diagnosed, dragged through all those tests, and then sent straight into surgery/treatment. Maybe your MO can help evaluate your fatigue? There may be something he/she can do to help you if this persists. I can tell you are looking forward to a little shopping for the holidays, you need some energy for that.

Jazzygirl

Sorry I could not resist this one, seems very appropriate for us hermits.

grammaB

Thanks Jazzy, no, no AI's here. I dodged the whole chemo, rads, & hormone part of this journey. I have probably been way over doing all along and maybe it is all catching up with me now. I see my MO the 26th of this month so will talk to him about it. Thanks for suggesting that, I probably wouldn't have thought to bring it up with him.

Hugs