Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

Sloth- her desire, maybe, but she was am amazing woman, with so much talent. In innumerable areas. I just try to channel her sometimes and remind myself that we aren't/weren't the same person.

I sought out a teacher in Oregon once I got here 5 years ago because I wanted to see if I could connect with her memory this way. It has worked out very well, and has provided me with different outlets than I had before, stress-wise and creativity-wise. Quilting makes me slow down. And I always feel she's somewhere nearby when I'm at my machine, calm, breathing.....ohm.........ohm........

SizzleStitch

Popping in to say Happy 4th to all. I have my son and grandson visiting from San Francisco...I am trying to adjust to life after chemo and trying really hard not to think about having BC all the time. It would be much easier if I had hair..and didn't look in the mirror.

Katy, your quilt is lovely and I also love the one your mom made. My mom taught me to crochet when my only brother was dying of cancer 32 years ago. It is my turn-to craft when I need to feel my mom close and to relax :-).

Beachbum, I am so sorry for your shingles. I had it several years ago and know it is difficult. I wish I could remember what they gave me to help with the discomfort.

Take care everyone. Wishing you all easier days ahead. 💖

SueH58

Katy, your and your mother's quilts and unbelievable!!!!

SpecialK, come on--how 'bout a booster....

wpmoon

saw this yesterday and thought I'd share. Exactly how I feel when people say "your eyebrows aren't that important. They'll grow back."

KBeee

I kept a brow pencil and eyeliner in my pocket. Drawing brows on is the first thing I do when I get up...even before I pee!!!! I do not mind myself bald,but I look creepy with no brows. I check every time I pass a mirror and touch up as needed throughout the day. I am really hoping mine come back. Last time they came back about half as thick as they were. If that happens again, they will be non existent!!!!!

mysunshine48

I did have a shingles shot about 3 years ago. My mom got them after she broke her hip. I did not know it was only good for 5 years.......have to remember that.

SueH58

Holy constipation!!! Haven't had this problem since treatment 1. I guess I didn't reaize how much protein I was pouring into myself, and an occasional banana. I'll probably live through it, but it won't be fun.....

SpecialK

SueH58 - from what I understand, boosters for the shingles vaccine are not recommended because they do not seem to provide additional immunity.  It is literally a one-shot deal.

mysunshine48

SpecialK, So you are saying if you get the shot at 60, getting it again after 65......it won't do any good?

BBwithBC45

Wpmoon, thanks for posting that eyebrow thing. I had a good laugh.

I still get startled when I look at myself in the mirror first thing in the morning. My brows started coming back, but mostly in the part closer to my nose. The outer parts are not there yet.

SpecialK

mysunshine - yes, that is what I am saying. 

slothabouttown

The eyebrows meme, hilarious! I think the no eyebrows makes me look "sicker" than the bald. I had seriously thick eyebrows BBC. Now I'm getting a 5 o'clock eyebrow shadow. Just got back from lunch with a friend I haven't seen in 20 years, I told her to just look for my dad in the hotel lobby. Between the bald head and Buddha belly there's a striking resemblance.

Jackbirdie

Sloth- stop! Made me pee myself. "Look for my father". Arrgghhhhhh

ksusan

Ha ha!

wpmoon

bb - I have the opposite problem. Near my nose is still sparse, but the rest is starting to fill in. Glad I could give you ladies a laugh!

molly1976

Sloth, I keep thinking I look like my dad, too! Especially because he died of cancer (metastasized melanoma) and was bald at the end from chemo and radiation.

My brows and lashes held on for five weeks PFC but they are almost completely gone now, all in a week or so. Very annoying.

rleepac

weekly hair update. I don't see much difference but everyone else says they can

ksusan

WPmoon--ha! Same here, though it's the hairs of my chinny-chin-chin.

I've told friends that when I catch sight of myself in the bathroom mirror at night, I think, "Oh, look! Somebody's great uncle has to pee again! Oy, my prostate!"

DavisD

Lookin good Bekah!

Jackbirdie

Lee- (Indygal) I just wanted to let you know I've been thinking of you all weekend, sending you positive and calming thoughts for Tuesday. This must have been a really long weekend for you. Please know that I am standing in a protective circle around you with your other bco sisters. You have got this, ok????

wpmoon

I'm feeling down in the dumps today. But wanted to say I'm so grateful for you ladies and for this board. It's helped immensely to have people understand the struggles.

Jackbirdie

Whitney- I'm grateful too, and wanted to say how inspiring you are to me. I love your writing; you have a true gift. I hope that when you are down on days like today a little writing in your journal helps.

If that doesn't work, try cake! Haha.

I will keep you in my thoughts today and hope a little directed mojo keeps you above ground. Beware the rabbit hole.

SueH58

As we've said before and will continue to say, "never trust a fart." Good thing I'm at home

IndyGal35

Whitney, that meme was amazing!

Bekah, that hair is coming in something fierce! Wow! It makes me hopeful!

Sue, I can't remember - are you in Milwaukee? (I had the best milkshake of my life there several years ago.)

Thanks so much for the warm thoughts, Katy. I'm trying very hard to keep the fear under control. If cancer is a crap sandwich, worry is certainly the bread.

Carrie37

I hope you all were able to enjoy the holiday weekend with your family. I had a good weekend but I am so tired! I noticed some hair coming in! Very exciting! Then today I realized that I need to shave my legs. Seriously, how is that fair?!?!?!! I try to smile and push through it. Telling myself that my hair will grow back. But I am with you Whitney, just feeling in the dumps. Cancer is such bullshit. I hate the way I look, thinning eye brows, etc. My nails are killing me. My legs hurt. I have a striking resemblance to my older brother. We share the same hair color. Ugh! Actually, I got to spend two days with my five month old nephew who has more hair then me. Kinda funny but I feel like he understands me. Here he is

Trvler

Carrie: Your nephew is adorable!

Italychick

Was it on this forum or another one that I read that chemo affects the leg muscles for a while after chemo ends?' I can't remember where I see things anymore. Reading that made me hopeful some of my "neuropathy issue" may actually be muscle related and will go away. I do know that my husband has been rubbing my leg muscles, particularly at the top of the calf behind the knee, and my legs have been feeling way better.

I rode 61 miles yesterday, shocked myself! Hope everybody had a great 4th of July weekend!

sueH58, I will never fart again without worry lol! My grandma (who lived to be 92 until she got killed by being over medicated after a surgery, her heart stopped in her sleep) got everything fixed. When she leaked pee, she went and got that sphincter muscle tightened up.

Bekah, the back of your head is coming in amazing! You probably don't think so because you can't see that part, but it is way thicker than anybody else's I have seen. Pretty soon you will be able to go without anything.

Whitney, hang in there. What's on your mind making you down in the dumps?

Carrie37

Thanks Allison!

Theresa, I sure hope these leg issues go away. I can't take this for the rest of my life! Good for you on the ride!

Jackbirdie

Carrie- he is adorable!!!

T- over a 100 miles! That is just so amazing. I realized I don't have the energy to drive 100 miles today! And I actually thought I was doing pretty good, considering. I guess it's all relative.

But your inspiration is not relative. It is absolute. Keep it up. Just knowing you and your astounding energy, physical and mental, are in my orbit, helps me immensely, every day.

Katy

Meme117

Nice hair stories, I hope mine grows in fast. I also have the fuzz. I'm now worried about my eyebrows and lashes, mine have only thinned. It's so not fair that they can fall out weeks PFC.

I didn't do any July 4th activities, doesn't feel like the fourth. I did rest watching Wild, America Sniper and Fifty Shades and the UsA women's soccer.

Sloth my one dog also wears the thunder shirt but he still is so nervous with the fireworks. Do you give a regular Benadryl?

I'm also feeling a bit down, thinking of chemo on Tuesday and then getting ready for surgery and rads while still doing the herceptin. I just feel so done already and there is so much more to do, it's exhausting. I truly hate the thought of driving to the MOs office anymore. My legs also hurt and my finger nails, I feel pain every time something touches them.