Chemo May 2013
Comments
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Mom Of Sam - that's scary
Not what you wanted to hear at all - but sounds like they're being really pro-active... -
MomofSam sorry you have to deal with the ARC. 98% chance being benign sounds very encouraging.
Teresa thank you for the info on the oils. If I'm reading it right, the program is to take a few capsules a day of certain oils, then a certain amount of days later switch the capsules of oil that is to be taken. Is it a lifetime commitment or a few months or weeks here and there? Also I didn't notice the price of the capsules. Couple more questions, I saw the price of the oils, how long does a bottle last and how often and where does one apply it? Thank you again for the info. Checked frankincense and chemo on the internet. Sounds promising but couldn't find details on how to use it. Your product sounds like a very high quality which is important.
Carla
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Carla, the capsules are called veggie caps and you fill them yourself with whatever oils you want to take internally. They are $5.33 for 160 capsules. I haven't really don't the capsules. I have been using the oils topically. Depending on what I am using it for tells me where I want to put it. For instance when I have been around someone that is sick or if I feel a sore throat coming on I rub On Guard on my neck and chest. Sometimes I will do the same with Melaleuca but also put it behind my ears, because it also helps with ear infections. What I call happy smells (wild orange, elevation or balance) I put those on my wrist. One drop goes a long way with oils. So I put one drop on my wrist and rub them together or one drop on my finger and rub it into my neck and chest. If I don't want people to be smelling the oils on me then I will rub them into my feet. Your feet have the best pores and will carry the oil quickly to the part of your body that needs it. Aroma Touch and Deep Blue are what I use for aches and pains. The 15 ml bottles last me forever. The bottle of Frankincense I have is only a 5 ml because I got that when I first joined in the family physicians kit and I still have some in it.
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Hi all...
Been out of touch lately when I should have been here to vent a little...
I have my mamo on Monday with a follow up visit with my surgeon on Tuesday. I can't believe it's been a year. Last year seemed to go by so slow. I've been having really bad anxiety about my upcoming visits. Not eating, not sleeping well, picking arguments with my hubby (well, I'll blame that one on him)... She prescribed me an anti-dep/anti-anx med & says I should talk to someone about ptsd.. I've joked about it in the past, but have been slowly realizing over the last couple of months that my mood is much more down than up, I'm quick to get pissed off and every time EVERY TIME I think about what I went through last year, I start to tear up... I know I won't like group discussions, so hopefully i'll be able to find someone who has dealt with this sort of thing....
Sounds like everyone's doing well for the most part.
Take care
Lorrie
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Lorrie,
I understand and am sure that most of us here do as well. I am scared to go for my mammo. I should do that this month but my new insurance starts May 1st so I am going next month. My surgeon wants to see me first and I have seen him since June or July last year. I have been rather depressed and tired again this past week, not quite like what it sounds like you're going through though. Think happy thoughts and know that we are always here for you to vent to.
Teresa
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Lorrie. My onc told me a little while back that it is normal to be having tough emotional times right now. Reflecting back. We've been through a lot. And actually there's still things many of us are dealing with. Surgerys, medications, spots on lungs, etc. Often it's one day at a time. Maybe after your mammogram you'll feel a little better. I hope so. Take care kiddo.
Teresa thank you so much for the info. May try the frankincense some day. Right now going to conserve monetarily for another trip to New York. A friend bought a ticket for my birthday present and she and I will be going at the end of May.
For those who celebrate Easter have a Happy Blessed one. Those who don't, have a happy blessed Sunday.
Carla
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Lorrie,
I totally get that PTST thing - I feel way worse this year than last year. I've read lots about it too and it seems really normal - last year we had adrenaline pushing us through all the treatments etc and this year we are just shell shocked looking back on it all. I'm very weepy - I'll start crying at the drop of a hat. Also, I'm exhausted most of the time, if i have to have two nights out a week I just about lose it, and before BC I was such an active person - always busy doing something. Now I just want to come straight home after work and crawl into my PJ's. I probably could benefit from some kind of support group. I'm still taking the ativan to help me sleep through the night but that's it. And my favorite nurse practioner from my group practice, the one that encouraged me to get a 2nd opinion on my breast lump, has left the practice, so I don't even know who to go and see right now.
My mammo is May 8 with my first visit with my breast surgeon since last year. In an odd way I'm looking forward to it as I kind of "know" how it is to go through testing etc. I don't "know" how it is to just move on with life.....
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Had my mammo... and visit with my surgeon today...
I got a clean bill of health!!!!!!! I cant explain how it feels! Such a relief!
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Lorrie - Yay! Now for some nice relaxed deep breathes.
Carla
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Thanks all.... Yes I am breathing much easier today!!
Best wishes to those with upcoming mammograms... Mine was a little painful on my surgery boob, but doable.
Good Results to ALL!!!!
Happy thoughts!!
Lorrie
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Lorrie,
I just logged in to do my own little vent (or am I whining?!)
Today I picked up a bunch of luminary bags for my Girl Scouts to decorate for the local Relay for Life. The woman who was giving them to me is another Girl Scout leader, aware of what I went through. She asked if I had received my invitation to the Relay yet. No told her no, and then said I didn't know if I could handle it. Then I started to tear up. I went last year and felt so out of place, denial? Spectacle? I don't know. I was still in chemo. Now? I just do not feel like a role model, or a survivor, or anything "positive". I don't think I could "go through the motions" to sit through it again. So I won't.
My second vent is hubby. (Surprise! Lol). I overheard him telling a neighbor about my double mastectomy and how I now have a ZERO percent chance of recurrence. Is he really that naive?! Ugh!
Lorrie, glad you got your clean bill of health. Go celebrate!
Carla....NY in May? Hmmmm. Give me a ring if you want to get together. But I understand if you are busy.
Ukkate, I hear you about knowing about testing but not moving on! Unfortunately now that I know about testing I get all worked up over a stupid needle! I keep praying my vein will be good. Which it has been, but I'm so freaked out about it!
Teresa, good luck with your mammo. May 1 is right around the corner. I should look into the oils...one more thing on my growing list!
Pat
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Lorrie, great news for you!
I went back on the anastrozole for a week and on Sunday felt like crap, weak, headache and etc. So I called my Onc Monday and talked to him. He asked if my aches and pains had gone away while I was off the pills. I told him no but they had diminished and since I went back on them that now even my hands were aching. He told me that since they didn't go away it wasn't because of the anastrozole, hmmmm yeah whatever. Anyway he told me to go off of them again and to see my regular Dr to figure out what was going on. I got in to her yesterday after feeling like crap for three days. I left work early Monday and Tuesday because I just couldn't function any longer. Weak, head hurting, foggy and couldn't concentrate, stomach upset, hurting....well you get the picture. She told me the aches ARE from the anastrozole, duh! Anyway she took a bunch of blood to try to figure out what else is going on. I did start to feel better later yesterday and today. Not 100% but tons better and I can function again, I even worked an extra hour today!
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Lorie - congrats on the clean bill of health from the mammo - a big relief for another year!!!!
Patty - stupid husbands - they just don't get it.....My cousin's wife posted on FB something like "At least you were one of the lucky ones, my BF wasn't so fortunate" (in response to something i had posted about my final reconstruction process). And I wrote back "Yes, very lucky to live in fear of recurrance every time something hurts" stupid cow....
Anyway...I went for my nipple tattoo on Monday which was kinda wierd. He numbed it all up - which I couldn't feel anyway as there's very little feeling in that boob and then he just went to town with the tattoo. I took the bandage off yesterday and it looks okay - quite fake looking but I guess better than it did before. DH said that if I flashed someone from afar, they would never know the difference!!
I've been having a really rough time at work lately. You know I started this new job in November....well my boss seems to really not like me very much and finds ways to put me down, or criticize the job I"m doing - which is tough seeing as I've been given ZERO guidance since I got here. And the beloved Office Manager that I replaced, she is coming back here on Monday in a new role as HR Director so I'm sort of dreading that. So I've had lots of tears at work the past few weeks as I'm so emotionally unstable lately anyway....ughh......
In brighter news, I'm getting my hair done today! I'm so excited. Cut and color. It's still really short but it's so "mullety" and I know it could look cuter as it's growing out - and the home coloring I've done looks pretty bad now....it'll just be nice to sit and be pampered for a little while.
DH is off to NJ for a week tomorrow to work on our rental house and hopefully get it rented out ASAP! We can't afford to keep it empty for even one month. I'm not much looking forward to doing the single mom thing
And Saturday is exactly one year since I started this whole "thread"....I wonder how all those that have dropped off are doing.....
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Ukkate you have really had some tough things going there. Good for you on your FB response to your cousins wife, loved it! People just think that we are done with surgery, chemo, radiation (whatever treatments we have had) and now there is nothing wrong with us. People don't understand how depressing and hard all of this can be and it continues on sadly. I hope this week without your DH will go ok. Me, I've been snuggling with my dogs a lot.
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Kate I too wonder at times how those who have dropped out are doing. ...good luck with things start getting better at work. Just dealing with the ongoing bc crap is more than enough. Anything put on top of that is at times overwhelming. Getting your hair cut and getting pampered is just what you need.
Teresa the side effects from anastrozole is nasty nasty. Glad you're feeling a lot better.
Pat it would be great if we could get together in N.Y again. Will ask my friend her thoughts too. Since she paid for my airfare and will be paying for a couple of larger priced places we will be going to, I feel somewhat obligated to her. But if it doesn't work out, I am hopeful to come again in October or November for a few days by myself and if your available we can get together then. My treat this time either way.
Carla
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Carla,
No stress, my new mantra...don't put your friend out by asking, enjoy the trip. We can do the fall...if not, maybe I need to get on a a plane to your coast!, I've never been.
Ukkate. Nipples, yeah! I sure hope that the job gets better. Maybe approach the returning woman and say something like "I had no guidance when I took your job and "John" seems critical of my work, is there something I am missing?" If she is a good person she should guide you. All the best with the hair, it sounds like a great plan!
Teresa, I hope they can find an alternative medicine for you. Have you looked on the topics here? There seems to be so much info out there (or should I say on these boards!)
Woke up today thinking of LJager...we had never met, but she is in my neck of the woods. I me pray everyone is doing as well as can be expected. Ukkate, one year ago for these boards....wow, seems like a lifetime!
Pat
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So get this...
My Doc told me of "red leaf clover extract" to help with the hot flashes (from the tamoxifen)....
I googled it and you're not suppose to use it if you have a history of BREAST CANCER.... Why would the doc tell me to pick some up/that it will work wonders for the hot flashes. I swear, they don't pay any attention to anything.... We have to look things up?? Jeesh
Ukkate
I am so grateful that you started this thread! I don't know how I would have made it through everything without all of you awesome women!!
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haha... my sweetie tonight says. .."you haven't snored since u started taking your anti anxiety meds...."
I said "cuz I'm in a coma on them, stupid!" "At least they're helping one of us..."
Lol
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Happy anniversary!!!!!
Love you ladies. I'm getting ready to do this annual family fun day that I do at a preschool. Last year I was just 2 weeks post mastectomy at the gig and then in a chemo haze at the one in May at their 2nd location so it'll be nice to be back on my game this year
Lori. I sleep good with my Ativan each night!!!
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Lorrie - so glad about your clean bill of health! I got one too so pretty excited.Kate - tough about the work situation. No one should ever be that critical of someone at work. Sorry you are having to deal with all that. Congrats on the tattoo though. And, hope your hair appointment was good. Trying to grow it out is such a long process, but I'll take hair over no hair anyday
Everyone have a super week!
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Hello ladies,
Kate, I too am so glad you started this thread. It has helped me more than I can express. I have not posted for a while because I was busy trying to forget this whole trip. I am doing well but not without some bumps. I have had two clear CT scans in the last month, one for a weirdly shaped ascending aortic valve, doc said and I quote "it seems as though you are just weird" lol knew that one! Second was a CT for a kidney stone. Look out for these, yes you guessed it, another lovely side affect of chemo! Not fun, drink lots and lots of water. My hair has finally started to straighten out, but I still keep it super short in a pixie cut because it is just so easy! I still worry about recurrence but not every day. It seems life will continue even with the "Acme anvil" hanging over my head. I know you all understand.
My family has recently suffered a cancer set back so to speak. My Dad was diagnosed with stage IIIB lung cancer, so it seems I will be sucked back into Cancer land. Meeting with onc tomorrow, it seems they do radiation and chemo at the same time for lung cancer! SUCKS.
It seems you are all making your way through your milestones. I hope everyone has a great week, with thoughts not of cancer for a while.
Gully
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So the blood work showed that I am really low on iron, so I started on a prescription for iron Friday. Still have the aches and pains, but not back on anastrozole at this time. This morning my blood pressure was 125/105, probably not good. Tomorrow is one year since my mastectomy, what a journey we have all been through.
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Gully - so good to hear from you but so sorry to hear about your dad
I lost my mum to lung cancer back in 2001 and it was horrible. I miss her all the time. Even though I was 30, I still needed my mum - and she missed out on all her grandchildren Teresa, hope you feel some good effects from the iron..hope you just feel better in general..
So I have scheduled an appointment with a gastroentrologist (SP??). I'm having pooping issues and feel like I should go check it out. It felt really weird to fill out the health assessment and check the box for cancer.... I think it's a "health" couple of weeks as I have the dentist on Thursday and my mammo next Wednesday. Oh and my last herceptin treatment this Friday WOOHOOOO!!!
DH is still in NJ working on our house. I miss him
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Gully, I must have skipped over the part about your dad. So sorry. My prayers are with him and you and your family.
Ukkate, last herceptin! Woo hoo! Best of luck with your gastro, hopefully it is only a side effect from chemo.
Pat
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Kate 3 cheers for your last herceptin. That's got to feel fantastic.....How did your hair furn out?
Gully good to hear from you again. So sorry to hear about your dad. Radiation and chemo at the same time. That does suck. Glad you are there for him.....My husband has had his share of kidney stones and boy are they painful. No more, o.k.?! Hope to hear from you again.
Teresa it's been a week since taking iron. Do you feel a difference? How's your blood pressure now? Could that be a side effect from the anastrozole?
Wishing everyone a good weekend. It's been really hot here and is supposed to cool down this weekend. Hey Patty, my daughter told me it rained 5" in 24 hours a day or so ago. What was that like?
Carla
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Carla, the city was probably very different then my area in regards to the rain. I can honestly say I barely noticed it! Woo hoo....though I do wish it were snow! Lol
Pat
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Hey Guys.
Well, I got fired from my job on Friday. What a bummed
Although I was so unhappy there, I really wanted to leave on my own terms. I cried so many tears over that company - I cried more there than I ever did during the year of breast cancer. There's a part of me that just wants to say "Hey, I'm taking some weeks off and collecting unemployment" but theres another part of me that feels like I need to get back to work ASAP....ughh. I just don't want to rush into another crappy job. I was truly miserable there but I would've stayed because the money was good. Do you ever wonder how much more you can get kicked down in a year??I'm really nervous about my mammo etc on Thursday. I feel pain in my armpit and I'm thinking I can almost feel a lump
I don't know......I guess I'll find out.... -
aw Ukkate,
I hope you can find some sort of happiness out of being fired from a job you disliked.
Please take a little time for yourself these next few days and do a project, see a friend for coffee, visit an older relative...something that you didn't have time for while working.
I hope you can find an even better job when you are ready.
Hugs,
Pat
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Ukkate. So sorry that you are going through the pain of being fired. I'm with Pat, take some time for yourself. If you can afford some time off, take it. Make lemonade out of lemons. Get unemployment and take your time and get a job that you will enjoy. It's not healthy for you to be in a stressful environment all day, 5 days a week. Plus those times you may have taken it home with you. In re to your armpit pain. Is there a possibility of lymphedema?
Take care - Carla
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Pat. I asked my daughter, after I asked you, how it felt to have 5" of rain. She said she didn't really notice. She was indoors at work all day and went home in a car ( vs subway or bus). We are being blessed by her presence this weekend. She will be coming here for a few days .
)Ukkate I wanted to add one more thing. I got fired from a job once. I cried and cried. Must have drunk a half a bottle of tequila. Not only was I sad but I probably got sick. (I was about 22). Ended up to be a blessing that I got fired. I then landed a job that I loved more and made more money.
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