Starting Chemo March 2015

eheinrich

Aww gee, I didn't tell you guys about my family. Alan & I met in college, got married soon after graduation (in 1990) and 6 mos later found out we were having a baby. 16 months later along came #2. Alan was working on his PhD in classics in Buffalo, NY. I was at home w/ the girls. We were struggling financially (living on $10k per year) but made it work. When the girls were 3&4 I went back to work teaching 4yr old pre-school. Loved it. We moved to LA after Alan finished his PhD. He got a gig at USC. I was teaching in a school with kids with family members in jail, lots of parents who didn't speak English, some gang affiliation. Hard work but I liked it. Then on a whim Alan took the LSAT and scored high enough to get a free ride through law school. He is now an intellectual property attorney in LA, made partner in 2007. We've been married 24 years, separated since last July. Still best friends etc, not likely to reunite though.

My girls are 23 (Kelli) and 22 (Shana). Kelli just finished her second year of medical school (Loyola in Chicago) & takes step 1 of the medical boards in June. She is very passionate about women's health and is probably going the OB/GYN route. Shana is graduating college (Univ of San Fran) this month with a degree in hospitality & hotel mgmt. She will start working at Saison in SF in June. It's one of only 12 restaurants in the US with a 3 star Michelin rating. Super proud Mama!

Trvler

just checking in from er. Had a ct scan. Might have a pulmonary embolism and have to stay overnight.

eheinrich

Allison, hang in there. Sending you all of my leftover good mojo.

Italychick

Allison, so sorry. Hugs, all my energy, whatever you need, coming your way.

Italychick

And you knew something was wrong. Those stupid son of a bitches for not listening to you. I could strangle them for you.

ThePrincess

Oh Allison, I hope they get you figured out quickly!!

Jackbirdie

there in spirit with you, Allison.

Hope it's all figured out soon and home in your own bed shortly

SC_Coqui

Maryellen, to answer your question about height requirements for the Tall Club, it's 5' 10" for women and 6' 2" for men. It's an international club with chapters throughout the US and the world. http://tall.org/

I joke now that my son owes his existance to them!

so-she-did

Allison - hope that all turns out okay. I've got you in my thoughts

slothabouttown

our thoughts are with you Allison, you've got this.

IndyGal35

Allison,

Sending love. Hoping the CT shows no clots and that you head home soon with no delays in treatment.

Update when you can.

shaz101

sueh yes its zofran. They have harved the dose and are giving it via IV rather than tablet form and extending Dex. So far its much better.

I'm trying to catch up but you guys are so chatty. I read for about an hour last night. I think with the time distance I'm always playing catch up. I went to a cancer center yesterday that offer complementary treatment. I am hoping to take charge of my life again now I'm not crippled by migraines. 😁 I'll soon be building muscle again.

I love the idea about getting to know each other. It reminds me that we have lives to get back to!

OK, time to read a bit more. Im hoping Katy is feeling a bit better now, that Theresa has been back on her bike and everyone is in better spirits.

shaz101

Allison, that's not a good way to spend your birthday week. I'm hoping you get some good news soon. Its so scary waiting, waiting, waiting!

shaz101

Eileen loved reading about you and your lovely family. How are you holding up with the separation? I separated from my husband after 20 years. Its a hard road, but well worth traveling. I cant even imagine how hard it must be coping with that and cancer at the same time. Big hugs to you.

eheinrich

Sharon: It's actually maybe better to be separated now. That may seem weird, but we put a lot of our bs on hold even a bit before the cancer. It's a separation with no bad guy, we have just hit a place where we want/expect diff things. He has been having a hard time w my mental illness (and dealing w/ it for a zillion years). We hit a major cycle of resentment. Dealing w that right now would be hard. He's here for me because he wants to be, not because he has to, and vice versa. Aside from the cancer, I'm happy now. But I'll totally take hugs of support - thanks.

DavisD

Allison, I will be thinking of you tonight. It must be so scary.

I loved reading about your lives. I will post my summary soon. Went to bed at 6pm after work and just got up for some saltines and a quick check-in. You are all still important to me and to my recovery. Chat away!

Meme117

Allison hugs to you, hope your ok this am.

E your daughters sound amazing. Did you get out for another bike ride? Gonna be since day in zpA I may have to get my bike ready.

Theresa to be so close to your kids and grandmas what a blessing.

ninjamary

Allison,

Hope it's good news. Thinking about you.

Carrie37

I hope you are doing okay Allison. Please keep us posted when you can. It's back to the chair for me today. I really don't want to go. Did I mentioned that my lump is suddenly gone? Think that means I am done? Ugh.

molly1976

Thinking of you, Allison! And that's great news, Carrie! At least you know this is all worth it if it's working!

Are anyone's hands swollen? I took my rings off this morning because they're feeling too tight and I'm worried about them getting stuck. I googled this morning and every single one of the drugs they give me (taxol, herceptin, and decadron) can cause swollen hands, so I don't know what the culprit is.

shaz101

Molly my hands and ankles/feet have been swelling up. I've stopped putting rings on too. One was really hard to get off and it scared me.

SueH58

I'm wondering why chemo is sometimes done before surgery, and sometimes after. I know that in the case where it is a large tumor they do chemo first to shrink the tumor. Are there other reasons?

slothabouttown

Indygal, my flower shop was in Carmel, at 116th and Keystone. I was born and raised on the Southside though.

Allison, ill be thinking good thoughts for you today. Also thinking we could all band together and start an Etsy shop sellling repurposed thrift store charm bracelets to fund a new bike for each of us and our upcoming beach house retreat. Hmm? Seriously though it's been so much fun reading about everyone, was I the only one who suspected that our Katy had a fascinating past?

Also, I can't remember who was asking but "midcentury" is what they call stuff that was made in the fifties and sixties, and that's what I'm attracted to when I'm thrift shopping.

Jackbirdie

Allison- thinking about you. Worrying until you check in. I know you will when you can.

Carrie- that's about the best news you could get right now! So happy for you.

Life not too exciting right now as I start my 4th day in bed with this crud fully taken up residence in my chest. I can't breathe without a constant death rattle and every once in awhile just choke on it altogether to get rid of it. I get 20 seconds of relief after.

I've called the MO office every day. Treating symptoms and it just gets worse. I go in for blood work today and they have said they will examine me. I'm one week out from #4. The only good news is I have a shot at getting better by #5. I don't want delays or reductions in dose. This is the first time I've ever allowed myself the thought that I've done 4 now. Most people only do 4. My MO wanted 6 if I could tolerate. I wonder. I could just say that's it. I'm done.

BBwithBC45

I'm worried about Allison (Trvler), I wish she checked in by now. Hoping we hear from her soon.

I've just had a little cry. I'm having a CT scan with contrast of neck and brain tomorrow afternoon and I'm having a lot of anxiety. Not about the test itself, just about the results. I've been having painful, swollen node in my neck for three weeks now. They want to check my brain too, because of my blurry vision and nearly constant nausea. I think my brain is fine, I believe that the vision and nausea are SEs of chemo. But the neck worries me. The anxiety is taking my breath away. I could take a Xanax, but I'll get very sleepy and I'm working from home now. Although, I'm obsessing more than actually working.

neverthought

So nice to hear everyone's story outside of bc.  Mine is pretty boring, I am just a secretary in health care but I love where I work and who I work with.  I led quite a wild life when I was younger and didn't invest in my education/career like I could have.  So I don't have a lot of $$$s but I have more than enough and am happy.  I live in an apartment and my landlord allows me to have a garden which I can't wait to get to, it looks awful except there are lots of perennial and bulbs.  But weeds are taking over!  I have a small parrot who has been adopted out for the duration of treatment on advice of the vet, but he is being spoiled rotten and seems to be very happy with his adoptive family.  Miss him though, I've had him since he was a baby, over 20 years. I have been blessed with great co-workers, family and neighbors.

I had a left mastectomy but am now wishing I had both done just so I wouldn't have to go through more mammograms/biopsies/MRIs, etc and treatment if something pops up.  Would prefer never to go through chemo ever again. But living alone I just didn't see how I could have both done at same time and still care for myself. I guess advantage of being a highly paid celebrity is that you have resources like live in help or at least a dishwasher.  I am the dishwasher and laundry is down 3 flights of stairs, plus car is a standard shift!  But much more than a lot of people have and bc not as bad as a lot of people's.  Only one more treatment left!  Hopefully recovery won't be too long as many people seem to think after last treatment I'll be good to go!  They think spa days are the worst, little do they know. I must admit I had no idea what it was like myself and hope I will be kinder to people going forward, not knowing what they may be going through.  I have been working as much as I can but go to work walking and six hours later end up limping out.  Legs are not in very good shape and MO trying to figure out why they are swollen and hard.  Going up stairs is getting a little scary, but still able to get around more or less if I don't overdo it.  Off for neulasta shot this afternoon and then real misery may begin.

Looking forward to better days ahead for us all.

Wondering if anyone has been in contact with Reach for Recovery?  Worth it?

 

SueH58

BB, prayers and hugs to you. I'm sure the anxiety is overwhelming. Most likely results will be fine, but the waiting is horrendous.

BBwithBC45

Now I moved on from a little cry to complete breakdown. They just called me from the hospital's scheduling wanting to cancel my CT scans for tomorrow, because they have not received the approval from my insurance yet. This completely tipped me over. Feeling very low now. I just e-mailed my boss than I'm not feeling well and need to take a break. I think it's time for Xanax.

SueH58

Oh that's just cruel. I remember in a couple of cases my Dr. would follow up and tell them it's imperative they have an answer today. Or perhaps you can call? No reason this needs to wait til Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SueH58

BB, I'm no doctor, but looking at your stats it would seem it's VERY unlikely your cancer has metastacized. In fact I'm surprised they're even giving you chemo. Did you have a high Oncotype score? Anyway, easy for me to say, but PLEASE try not to worry since your cancer was very early stage with no lymph node involvement and you are on chemo. I would try to stay positive (again, easy for me to say).