Starting Chemo March 2015

ksusan

Good thoughts to those in the chair today, and hooray for those finishing!

Italychick

Allison, my daughter was a beast when she was young. One thing I found out that helped was strictly controlling her diet by limiting sugar, caffeine, etc., and making sure she ate enough protein and fat, and also ate regularly. She wasn't perfect, but was way better. Thankfully we never had to medicate her. I had to get her from school one day because she got out of control and flipped her 6th grade teacher off. Beat up a kid at school once, etc. The other thing we did was we got her into a lot of physical activities, swimming, softball, etc., and made sure she was physically worn out and ready for bed. My husband and I were completely sure we had a delinquent on our hands for life. She went on to University of Missouri at Columbia and was a star on their swim team. Now she is a responsible mother with a great job, so they do get better. So sorry you are dealing with this issue right now, of all times.

BBwithBC45

Allison, do you think that maybe your daughter is acting out, because she's scared and angry about you being sick? From what I heard, this is how kids sometimes react.

I'm no expert at all, and I apologize if I'm speaking out of line. Just another perspective.

molly1976

Theresa, I went to Mizzou too! (class of 1999)

Italychick

woohoo, Mizzou Tigers! I spent many vacations there at swim meets, cleaning my daughters house and buying groceries.

Also saw Matchbox Twenty there drunk as a skunk on tequila lol. Walked from daughters house to concert, peeing on trees the whole way. Ah, the good times

eheinrich

Allison, so sorry you are juggling so many emotional things at once. I have no advice, just virtual hugs and a huge amount of good mojo headed your way. Hang tight.

Trvler

Thanks to ALL of you, and thanks, Theresa!! Hearing stuff like that helps me have hope.

This is not new. It has nothing to do with me being sick. I just thought she would outgrow some of it. And I guess in some ways she has, but in some ways it is worse. We are out the door to see U2. I am going to try to just have a good time tonight.

Italychick

U2, omg, so jealous! Have the most wonderful time!

Jackbirdie

Here's me with all your help

Italychick

Yeehaw lady! Now a week or 10 days of icky, and you press on! Good job, way to hang in there, so proud of you!

Carrie37

Woot!!!! Yahoo!! Yippee!! Woo hoo!! Oh yea!!

🎉🔔🎊🔔🎉🎉🔔🎊🎊🔔🎉🎉🔔🎊🔔🎉

Ring that bell Katy!!!🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔😘😘😘😘😘😘

Congrats! You did it!!!

wpmoon

yay Katy!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎊🎊🎊🎉🎈🎈🎆🎆🎆🎆🎉🎉🎓🎓🎓

KBeee

Congrats Katy!!!!! So happy for you! You did it!!!!!

Jackbirdie

thank you everybody!

It feels great that it's finished.

Steroids will carry me through a few days, and I'm hoping this "glow" can take over from there. Even if I feel shitty physically, I have to believe in the force of the mind, knowing that the worst is over.

You guys have been great today. I especially appreciated Sharon waking up in the middle of the night to hold hands with us., everybody complimented me in the lovely scarf. Loved the story behind it too!

Done and dusted

pboi

Woohoo! Congrats Katy you did it!

Wishing for all in the chair today to have minimal SE in the coming days.

Allison - wish I had advice to give, but am learning from all of you in so many ways. I have daughters both about to turn 10 in a few weeks...and I think puberty is just around the corner. The fighting with each other, the attitude, the mood swings...I'm afraid it's just the beginning for us here...

PB

so-she-did

Whoop, there it is Katy! You kicked some chemo ass! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😂🎉🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓👍😎😎😎😎😎🎉🎉🎉🎉

avmom

Katy, congratulations! I have been out of the loop all day as I had to travel to the city clinic to meet with my MO. Actually, my "new" MO, as my original MO has moved away to be near his family. Two hours each way, plus I plan to arrive an hour early, plus, the clinic was running late by over an hour. You made it! Enjoy the steroid high, while you can, knowing that this is the last "dip". It's all up from here.

My new MO is a lovely woman who just came off maternity leave. I had an opportunity to review my various aches, pains and other complaints, and to discuss follow up. There was some good news, in that my gastro problems will likely resolve gradually over the next few weeks. The neuropathy, fatigue, and chemo fog, not so much. Although the neuropathy in my hands seems to be receding, my feet are not doing as well,,and she warned me that it could be a very long time, and that I might not get back to my "baseline" of pre-chemo functioning. Same with the chemo fog. The fatigue should resolve, but could take quite a while. My prophylactic mx and reconstruction is a go for the fall, likely the first week of September. No echocardiogram unless I have symptoms. Unless something comes up, I go back for examination in December. I will get fitted for a sleeve for air travel, and have nutritionist and exercise/fitness meetings.

Overall, she said nothing can make me low risk, given the fact that I am triple negative, and my tumour was grade 3, but I have made it through the most aggressive treatment they could do, so I have given myself the best chance possible. (I am, however, pretty much an unrecognizable wreck, at least to myself. People say I look great, .... considering.). Following up with diet changes (low fat, mostly plant based) and gradually increasing my activity level as I am able, is all that I can do. I'm trying hard, but suspect that it will be awhile before the fear of this awful disease seems manageable.

It is great to see us finishing up the chemo portion of the shit sandwich. For anyone with spa days still ahead, You Got This!

Healing thoughts to all.

slothabouttown

Katy you're the boss of chemo today and you rocked it! Beautiful photo finish! There is relief now in knowing every new day of side effects can be addressed by saying to yourself that this is the last time you'll have to go through the ringer of sore throat, bloody nose, any number of issues around the ass region, dry eyes, hell all that stuff in Kbee's chemo carol.

I'm off to see Macbeth in the Pioneer cemetery during an Oregon heatwave (95 here which is intolerable to us.) Anyway, not sure what to expect but I'm trying to get out more, it's just unfortunate that my first real invite was to see Shakespeare in a cemetery. Don't think morbid thoughts, don't think morbid thoughts, don't think morbid thoughts......

ThePrincess

yay Katy!!!!!! All done!!!!!!!

Jackbirdie

Thanks again, everybody for the wonderful support, which started months ago, but you all really came through for me this morning, when I never needed it more. You guys all, seriously rock as giving friends.

Sloth- I'm glad you're getting out. Very good. I love cemeteries and I love Shakespeare, but 95 no Bueno para mi. In a weighted average equation, that might be a deal breaker. Maybe you can keep cool somehow.....Portland does have a plethora of micro breweries! I'll bet you know that already! Have fun

Jackbirdie

Avmom-great report. Sooooo glad you like and respect your new MO. Your new life partner. You will know her and work with her for MANY YEARS. GOT THAT??

SC_Coqui

Today was #8 of Taxol. 4 more to go then on to the world of Herceptin! I can see the light!

SpecialK

jackbirdie - so happy for you!

Yay for everyone getting close to finishing - you guys rock!

IndyGal35

Allison, I can't wait to hear about the U2 concert! Let us know how the show goes!

Theresa, I'm notorious for using trees (and the men's restroom) too. Ha!

SueH58

Katy, so sorry I wasn't online earlier to hold your hand. But I am thrilled for you that YOU ARE DONE!!!!' What a tough road it was got you but you did it!!! Celebrate with Jack and Tutti tonight. You deserve it !

ninjamary

Katy - Yahoo, Yippie Kayee (sp) and all that! You are glowing and you're not even radiated! I'm enjoying the woman behind you in the chair. She looks like she is having a wonderful dream back there.

Jackbirdie

Sue- Thank you. And you didn't gave to logon and say so for me to know you cared and were holding my hand. I knew you were there.

And Ninja Mary, I thought that depicted the original and true meaning of "photobombing" hah!

Leighrh

YEA!! So glad you got that last treatment behind you Katy... I knew you would do great!

Congrats to all of you who have finished or are about to be finished,  that includes Bekah and Sc coqui.... with 3 or 4 more to go, that's considered almost done!!

Taxol #2 went well for me yesterday and I am so relieved!! They gave me pre meds then let me sit for 30 minutes before slowing dripping the Taxol and I had NO reaction.  Slept from 7pm last night to 6am this morning and besides a steroid flush in my face I am feeling pretty great today!

Carrie37

Yeah Leigh! That is great news!

AVmom, I'm glad you like your new MO! What a drive though! You are done with taxol, correct? Sorry if I missed that part. I've started looking at articles/research on the benefits of a plant based diet. Some serious food choices will need to be changed in my life after cancer. I so easily grab for processed food. Gotta stop that.

I'm so glad we are starting to "see the light" and a end to one chapter and the new beginning.

Jackbirdie

Thanks Leigh and Carrie- just had my last Neulasta shot. That's been as troublesome asthe Taxotere. Glad it's over. The fucking steroids kept me awake all night. But since I'm doing new beginnings, not a $ in shopping yay! Instead, not so Yay, I made healthy-ish oatmeal raisin with toasted organic walnuts, ate many to make sure they were ok, ( they were) and quilted, pretty much all night.

We are having s scorching 62 degrees today and little wind and it was just too much for a hat. Even a do rag. Went commando to library and Post office. They congratulated and argued Special's point that I'm not bald since I have a very nicely rounded soft peach fuzz. I really like this. I might shave every summer from now on. To commemorate. No commemorative port though. I did like the Joan Lunden look. But I'm sure that does require a legion of stylists. Not my style.

Anyway, they had all guesed it has been chemo for me these last 3 months. No 👀 and some genuine smiles and congratulations. Nice.

Have to stay busy today. I was so manic last night I quilted and baked right over a clonazepam and ambien. Scary

Hope everyone is doing ok. So exciting we are getting close to some of our finish lines, though I am painfully aware so many of us still have surgeries and years of HT to go. 😥

Love you all more than you will ever know. Then end of any treatments won't stop these friendships for me. It will take much much more to get rid of me!