Starting Chemo March 2015

SueH58

Oh, got it at health hut. Any health food store should have it. I'm looking for chick pea pasta, but haven't found it yet.

Jackbirdie

here is a 4th of July wish for my sisters here:

I made this 4 years ago. I screwed up and ran out of fabric for the back. A friend helped me turn a mistake into an asset. A popsicle on a stick!!!

pboi

Sue...looks delish!

Katy...what a talent you have. Beautiful!

Lee...thinking of you, I was feeling the exact same way one week ago. The anxiety of waiting is hard, but try to keep yourself busy/distracted. I just had surgery Tuesday and feeling a bit better every day.

PB

Jackbirdie

PB- glad you're experiencing some improvement. Have been thinking of you.

Sue- Home run on the dish! The photo could be a swishy good magazine cover

shaz101

wow katy, that looks amazing. You must be so pleased with it. Its such an achievement doing the things we love.

My arm and hand are swollen, please someone make it go away! 😢

pb you help me put it all in perspective. Words fail me, but know that we are here for you.

Oh and here's me today... still bald as. ..

mysunshine48

Shan.....I lurk around this site. I feel so bad your arm an hand are swollen. I had a blood clot and my arm was very swollen and painful so, even though it was a different reason, I understand how awful this is. I know two women with lymphodema and they wear their sleeves and go to a therapist trained in treating this. Darn! Why do things keep happening. Praying that it will get better. By the way, you are pretty even with no hair!

Katy, WOW.....you are one talented lady! I made my kids Halloween costumes when they were little.....that was the extent of my sewing ability. Now, it is sewing on a button! LOL hope you sre feeling better daily. Now, you just have to keep going......stronger every day. I have one more. Geezzzz....trying to get through number 3 and it is harder. But, gotta do it one day at a time and will be soooo happy when I can hold up that "finished chemo" sign! We are definitely strong women!

Happy Fourth of July everyone

shaz101

thanks for lurking mysunshine. I really appreciated your words. The lymphodema has really upset me. I was thinking I was heading out of the dark tunnel and back into the light. But the tunnel just got longer.

In a few days I'll absorb it all and come out fighting. I know so many people have it so much worse.

slothabouttown

Had a dream last night that my hair was suddenly shoulder-length (funny cause I've never had hair that long!) In the dream I couldn't wait to tell everyone on this forum. Then I woke up realizing I remain a fuzz dome, but I was still anxious to tell you all about my dream!

I finished 25 rads this week, and feel like a crispy critter- everyone says that area will keep cooking for about 12 more days. I'm sore and the summer heat seems to add to the discomfort, but it was definitely do able for those of you with rads on the menu.

I want some black bean pasta. Happy fourth to all, I'll be hunkering down with my PTSD border collie in her thunder shirt with all the fans on and the music up loud. fireworks are her version of hell so we've got a long weekend ahead of us. One benadryl for her, and a valium for me!

Jackbirdie

Sloth- I'm sorry it was just a dream, but flattered you wanted to share it with us!

And congrats 🎉🎉🎉🎉🔔🔔🔔🎉🎉🎉🔔😂😂😂😂😂🔔🎉🔔🎈🎈🎈🔔🎉🔔🎈🔔🎉😂😂🍸🍸👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

On getting those rads done. Time is just FLYING now it seems! You are truly, 100% finished now!

Your script for the weekend hell sounds perfect. Poor baby. Jack doesn't mind, but his best friend border collie Riley is very frightened of fireworks. So his mom is bringing him for a play date of distraction.

My goal is to eat red meat (have some flat iron steaks for the grill) and hang with my friend. Maybe if we laugh loud enough the dogs won't hear the noise

Jackbirdie

Shaz- that is really frustrating about the LE. I hope someone can help you learn a bit of self-treatment and trigger avoidance, if that's even possible. I wish I could make it go away. 😢😓😓

Hugs and mojo coming your way

DavisD

Katy-so beautiful!

Sharon-im so sorry you're experiencing lymphadema. You are strong and I know you will pull through this too. I'm here for you.

Beach. I hope it isn't shingles..I hear they usually appear on one side of the body and are painful. I'll send you my best vibes

PB- thinking of you and hoping for better days!

rleepac

My Border Collie is a freak...she tries to chase the fireworks!

Carrie37

Beautiful work Katy! So sorry about the lymph edema Shaz. Just not fair.

Happy 4th of July ladies!! Enjoy your weekend!

SueH58

Shaz, I know very little about lymph edema. Because my daughter is an OT, I know there are certified OTs who specialize in edema, and are very successful at treating it. I also remember, WAY before my dx, that I went to spinning one day and one of my daughter's teachers was wearing a sleeve on her arm. I asked her what she did to her arm (what a knucklehead). She told me she had lymph edema from breat surgery and needed to wear a sleeve when she exercised. Other than that, she was fine. So I'm hoping they will soon get yours under control and you'll just have to be careful when exercising and such.

Have a great weekend down under. Hug a koala for me!

Sue

SueH58

anyone awake? Been lying in bed for 2 hours counting sheep....

Italychick

SueH58, so sorry. Just getting ready to go to bed here in California.

Have you tried putting in headphones and listening to soothing music or something?

SueH58

no haven't tried that. Thinking of moving to the sofa and stopping got a snack. My Tummy is growling.

Italychick

yes, sometimes changing where you try to fall asleep helps. Bath maybe? With the lights off and a candle and some soothing music?

mysunshine48

Yep! 1:45 here in Florida. Up with a headache. A little coffee (caffine) helps. I do not like to take medicine so I frequently am up. Just get a little something to eat and a third cup of coffee. After an hour or so, headache goes away and I try to sleep some more. Nice to hsve a middle of the night friend. Hope you can get to sleep soon. I bet it is nice in Wisconsin in the summer. It is so hot here! I like it here in the winter. Fun to be sble to go kayaking or sit by the pool and read in Janusry.

SueH58

that does sound good. But I don't wNt to wake hubby

Hope you sleep well Theresa. Thanks for checking in.

SueH58

Yes that's the trade off. I hate the winters here but the summers are usually beautiful. Right around 80 this weekend. Sleeping (or trying to) with the windows open.

Hope you're off to Zland soon, my sunshine

Italychick

goodnight! Hope you get some sleep!

SueH58

Thanks Theresa. Moved to the sofa. Had some shrimp salad and a glass of water. Fingers crossed!

Sweet dreams.

mysunshine48

sounds good

Beachbum1023

Thank You Ladies for the good vibes, however I was the big winner, it's shingles. I feel like I am on fire, all itchy and burning. Lovely to look at too. Yuck! Has anyone had the shingles vaccine? My MO pushed the flu and pneumonia vaccines, but not shingles. However chemo/cancer patients are high risk for it. I had made a check up appointment with my PCP on the 23rd of July to try to clean up some lingering SE, and get the vaccine but I "won" shingles first. I'll let you know if I can still get the vaccine on the 23rd. But maybe a question for your MO just in case. I wouldn't wish this crap on anyone, except for people that say stupid stuff, and maybe my ex, and a few toxic friends. Yep it's that bad! Have a great 4th! Cheryl

KBeee

sorry you are dealing with shingles. Ouch!!!! I had a shingles vaccine series in 2013 before and during chemo, but it was as part of a clinical trial. Actually, I do not know if I got the vaccine or the placebo. I hope your shingles clear up soon.

SpecialK

beach - your rash must be gone before you are vaccinated, but otherwise there is no specific time limit that you have to wait after having had shingles.  The FDA approves the shingles vaccine in people over 60, but its efficacy in those younger in unproven even though cancer patients may have a compromised immune system at a younger age.  Also, it is a one-time vaccine but purportedly loses effectiveness after 5 years, so deciding when to get it is problematic - if you got it at 60, and potency is lost by 65, then you get shingles at say 67, you are no better off than if you never had the vaccine.

Beachbum1023

Thanks KBeee and Special, I am 58 so I guess I'll see what my PCP has to say about the vaccine. This is not so fun, anything that touches it feels like fire. And it really spread overnight, I hoped the drugs would make it better, not worse. I just hope to dodge being admitted for it. The ER was leaning that way so I guess I will just have to see what happens. Cheryl

Jackbirdie

here was my mom's (RIP) first take on a 4th of July themed quilt she designed.

slothabouttown

Katy that is so awesome! You inherited your mother's talent!!