Starting Chemo March 2015

Trvler

Just enjoying the heck out of watching a bird build a nest in this crabapple bush outside my kitchen window. He is a slow builder but he's been at it all day long.

lovlilynne

Jumping into this conversation, I have been fortunate so far that no one has said anything too stupid, but I live in a glass house, so I cannot throw stones.

Many years ago, my bf's mother got BC, and my bf was an oncology nurse - actually did trials/studies nursing. Anyway, I asked her how her mom was doing, and she said she had been through treatment and was cancer free, but, "you know what we say, if you have had cancer, you probably will die of cancer". It really struck me. So fast forward a decade and a friend who has been diagnosed with BC, and don't you know I tell her what my friend said. I mean, it was in context of a discussion on being vigilant or whatever, but WHY? Why did I have to say something so thoughtless and meaningless. Not to mention that, I'm not even sure if my nurse friend would even agree with that statement anymore. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I have thought of that many times since my diagnoses. I would agree that, in my case anyway, it was about me, not about my poor friend.

Jackbirdie

Sharon- Doing the happy dance for the minor but positive direction in the migraine pain. So glad to see you here!

Allison, what a sweet comment, thank you. I do feel much better today, red face fine, my heart is still racing, I know it's the DEX. But since I self medicated (on onc nurse advice) I only woke up once and didn't buy anything!

I'm thinking of taking Jack for an off leash run the beach since I feel ok now, and who knows when the fatigue truck will pull in.

Kbee, thanks for keeping tabs on us, I really appreciated your GREAT insights and comments. I hope I never have to use them but I have added them to my personal stupid comments arsenalwith your permission. Great stuff.

Can any of my gardening friends identify the following? Friend or foe? I know it's not a monarch, which would be lovely. I have planted many things that are supposed to attract butterflies, but I don't know. Could it be a cancer eating moth?

Have a great day, my Chemosabes

Jackbirdie

Allison, have you identified that hard worker in your crabapple tree?

ninjamary

Katy,

Isn't that a "fuzzy-wuzzy" Lol. That's what we called them as kids. AND that's what I still call them.

eheinrich

I also am growing peach fuzz. I was going to have my friend trim them down so everyone is even again, but I didn't want to scare them away or make them feel unwelcome. Saw my surgeon today. I have a PT referral for cording and early lymphodema. The fun keeps coming!

ksusan

I'm sure it's a cancer-eating moth. It's probably out because there isn't enough cancer to feed it, even at the cellular level.

Maybe yellow-tail moth (yellow-tail moth Euproctis similis)? If so, watch for this:

Jackbirdie

oh Ksusan how lovely! The thought AND the pic. That would be lovely to see.

Thanks everyone else for its new nickname. Fuzzy wuzzy he/she is!

Eileen so sorry about the possible LE. No fun at all. But best to get it looked at by someone who knows how to do it. Hopefully as has been suggested here by Sloth, MLD training is the ticket. And to have them dhow you how to treat yourself at home

Italychick

I ran into a lady at the chemo center yesterday. She was two months post chemo and had a short boy haircut, but all her hair was back, enough to look like she cut it that way on purpose. And she is doing Herceptin. I have hair growth, and in my empty hair follicles I am seeing little black hairs in there. Probably just means I will get folliculitis lol. And since I have two more rounds to go, not sure if those treatments will zap out my hair hair growth, so we will see. When it is long enough, I'm gonna do the boy cut and tell work it is easier for riding my bike.

I also decided I am not seeing the nurse practitioners anymore and have scheduled all my follow ups with the MO. They don't know their asses from a hole in the ground. Like on Wednesday, she nurse said, how are your mouth sores doing? I said I never had them. She said, oh the nurse last week wrote down you did, and I said no, I told her I had some thrush but was able to clear it up with coconut oil. Then she said, you can't clear it up on your own. I just rolled my eyes. Every meeting I have with them they talk about a side effect that I didn't even mention. I do still have prune fingers, and she said that could be the start of neuropathy and I looked at her like ok, then what. She had no suggestions. Totally worthless. And she keeps nagging me about how high my vitamin D level is, but I already talked to the Mo and she said fine, just don't go any higher. They always seem rushed, and if I say anything, they hear what they want and write down something incorrect.

And yesterday a poor woman came in for a biopsy, freaked out, crying, medicated. They said you were supposed to be here at three, not four, so we are not sure what we can do. She said I can't go through this again, you have to get me in. She said you told me four, I got no phone call until today at 3:40 saying you are late, you were supposed to be here at 3:00. Coincidentally the office manager came out to talk to the receptionist about how to handle phone calls from patients, like first call, get message to contact, second call, elevate to a supervisor. I walked up and said excuse me, every time I am supposed to get a return phone call nobody ever calls me. Like the nurse practitioner did blood work and said she would call me on Monday with results, and I finally had to call on Friday myself. That was not a receptionist issue. And behind me everybody in the waiting room said they are experiencing the same thing. It was a mutiny lol! So from now on, my only dealings are with the MO. If I am getting fingertip issues and have two chemo treatments left, I need answers. And only the Mo seems to have them.

Rant for the day lol.

Otherwise, feeling good, not taking any medications but the steroids and the Claritin, still no pain from bone shot thank goodness! Hope everybody else is feeling ok

ninjamary

Theresa - you are my hero! Glad you spoke up! You go girl!

Italychick

It actually ended up nice. All the women in the waiting room started hugging each other, and sharing stories. It was a great moment, and we all felt like we were supporting each other. I walked out feeling really upbeat.

Italychick

more hair is growing on the tops of my feet than anywhere else on my body lol. Sorry, steroid day, all this nervous energy

SueH58

Ok, so in reading one of the empathy cards from the cancer survivor that says something like "When life gives you lemons, I won't tell you about my friend who died from lemons." Reminds me of the day that I told my neighbor about my diagnosis. Within 4 or 5 sentences, she said "I just lost my niece last year from breast cancer." Now why would you say that? It didn't irritate me as much then as it does now. Maybe I'm just feeling cranky.

Hope everyone's having a good Friday. It is SOOOOOO humid in Wisconsin today. PLEASE let there be rain!

molly1976

I had one of those too, Sue. "My mother and aunt died from breast cancer." Great, thanks for sharing.

wpmoon

why do people need to share those stories?! Like gee thanks so you're saying I'm gonna die?

I went to Panera again today to attempt a Mac and cheese run. It was a success! I got a large, ate all of it, and don't feel an ounce of guilt! Also got a bagel and a cookie. I guess it was a carb day lol.

In other fun news, I pooped lettuce today. I ate a salad for dinner last night and I'm guessing my body just can't process the ruffage. That was a weird experience. Took Imodium and hoping that helps.

Trvler

Katy: There are two birds working. One is a robin. The other might be the member of the opposite sex? I can't get a good look at it.

Feel crappy today but I knew it was coming.

SueH58

So Theresa, did the woman get her biopsy? It would be cruel and inhumane to make her wait another day--THAT I know....

SC_Coqui

I've been lucky that all the stories people have shared have been positive ones.

I was able to go to work today. No issues except for feeling a little jittery from the steroids. if it continues like this seems like Taxol will be much easier. I'm sooooo glad that I don't need the Neulasta shot. I felt like that made me feel so much sicker. So far almost no nausea either.

Getting ready for mother's day weekend. My in laws are coming into town tomorrow so I need to do a little cleaning before they get here. Fortunately DH vacuumed and put away some of the laundry.

You ladies that are managing this on your own amaze me!

shaz101

I AM ALIVE!!!

Yay no migraine for me this morning. ... sorry for shouting but boy does this feel awesome!

shaz101

It still amazes me that some of you can work through this. I know my workplace are waiting for stuff from me but I just can't manage it. Hopefully if I don't migraine so much I will be able to log on and get some stuff done.

But today I'm going to just enjoy the day, I feel so upbeat because I don't have a headache!

slothabouttown

Sharon, SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe you've rounded the corner and those friggin headaches are a thing of the past! You so deserve a break, we've been waiting for this news! WOOO HOOO!

slothabouttown

Katy you've been quiet today. I hope you're either running along the beach with Jack or relaxing after yesterday's extended spa day. I wanted to send a pic of my feeder, I made the nectar to your specifications, now I wonder how long till word gets out! I felt the fatigue truck pulling in this afternoon so I left work early, then when I got home and realized what a beautiful afternoon it was I did a little gardening and pruning. Guess I had a second wind and a good excuse to leave work on a Friday!

Jackbirdie

Theresa- you remain my hero! You accomplished two very important things in your single civil act.

Sharon, I am shouting from the rooftop! SUCH FANTASTIC NEWS!

Allison, I think it is such an honor your birdies feel your space is where they want to give birth to and raise their children. There must be some wonderful energy there. Birds know these things.

I took Jack for his run on the beach. Sheer joy and speed demonstration. Then I had my Neulasta shot followed by PT. I'm done for the day. So is Jack.

Hope everyone who is a mother (or had one, or has one still) enjoys the holiday in the best way for YOU.

I would like to share something my brother and SIL excavated from their attic. Something my mother was working on when she died. It is an unfinished experimental 3-D quilt block of an amazing rooster. There are at least 9 fabrics I count in this single block. Notice the crafty use of chicken wire fabric.

There was no way to improve upon it, even in its unfinished state. No way to make it the centerpiece of something I would finish. I could only honor it by having it expertly matted and framed.. She was an amazing, beautiful, talented woman. Self taught. It hangs in my family rogues' gallery.

Alyce, I miss you so. RIP.

Jackbirdie

Sloth- we must have been writing at the same time! Do do do doo.

You are funny And prescient! Love your feeder. It could take a day up to 😢😞2-3 weeks. Keep me posted!

And so glad you also got outside. We had a great walk at the beach, and Jack is happily crashed out.

Italychick

Is anybody having any neuropathy issues? My fingers are still prune looking, but the only feet symptoms I seem to have are related to taking the steroids. When I take them the day before chemo, I feel some tingling, so I don't think it is related to chemo, but not sure. I am meeting with MO next Friday, and hopefully she will have some insight.

Katy, when that woman was standing there in tears, I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I wasn't mean or anything, just very matter of fact. After all, it is our lives at stake here. They didn't need to out that poor woman through that trauma.

SueH58

Katy, that quilt block is unbelievable!!! I know nothing about quilting, but that is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I'm so glad you framed it and enjoy it every day!

so-she-did

Sharon - I am so happy for you!!!!! I hope you spend some time just enjoying life before even thinking of digging back into work. You deserve a break!

Theresa - I have neuropathy issues for sure. I have had tingling and pain in my fingers and toes. My feet and hands get cold very easily and are super sensitive to heat and cold. I don't have any pruning but did have a thumb that peeled during my first round of chemo but haven't had issues since. My MO isn't overly concerned about it since they aren't numb and it seems to get better before each round starts again. I am glad you stepped up today and said something. It sounds like everyone is experiencing many of the same things so this could be the agent for change that is needed.

Love the quilt Katy! Your mom was very talented and I love that you framed it.

I'm going to have to fill up our hummingbird feeder tomorrow. My energy was spend on a hilly walk, grocery shopping, and laundry folding today and I have just enough energy to put our chickens to bed. Otherwise, I am hanging out on the couch watching TV and playing around on the computer. DH and the girls headed off to a place about an hour from here to spend the night in a tent and then check wood duck boxes tomorrow.

eheinrich

Yay Sharon!

Katy I can't even believe that quilt block! The 3d effect is amazing.

Fatigue truck barreled me down, laid down "for a sec" and wound up w a 3h nap. Woke up at 7:45. Don't even think it will effect my sleep tonight.

Happy weekend

rleepac

Wow...gone for a day and so much to catch up on!

I had a follow up with the BS at UCSF and she couldn't stop smiling at me and she told me twice how I was rockin the earrings I went commando because I figured nobody in S.F. cares if I have hair or not but I couldn't go without earrings!

Anyway...we are on track for me to finish the last 10 rounds of Taxol/Herceptin and then will repeat scans (chest CT, mammogram, breast MRI) and BMX will be scheduled for the week of Aug 17. She said she only sees a slim chance I'll need rads but she is going to take it to the tumor board after the repeat scans. She said probably an overnight hospital stay and then 3 weeks recovery.

Overall I was happy with the visit and the rest of 'the plan' is starting to take shape.

Bekah

shaz101

thankyou all.

I love the bird feeder Im sure they will come.

Katy, how beautiful. It must stir a lot of memories for you. Xxx

Theresa, I have pruning of my fingers and my little finger nail has lifted. Others are starting to lift, but I don't have ant pain or tingling.

Eileen, I'm glad you gave in and had a nap, your body just need it.