Starting Chemo March 2015

Trvler

I noticed my tongue looks a little yellowy. Is that a SE? I seem to remember thrush as a SE? It's not yeasty smelling or anything. It also has this weird white thing on it. Sorry to be gross. Do they treat this at all?

Meme117

Love your deck Sharon! So spacious and what a view.

Congrats Katy how nice they left the outside furniture and your friends soubd wonderful.

I use the phone call date as my dx date but prob should change to a few weeks before when I read the ultrasound report and knew it would be cancer. It'll be about 7 weeks between MO appt, but then I'm having surgery during that time.

Spent weekend outside watching son play in soccer tourney and then yesterday at pool with friends. So nice to be outside enjoying the nice weather as I feel like I've missed most of the summer. I looked in the mirror this am and still can't believe I have cancer, anyone else feel that way sometimes? Oh and chemo brain is still lingering, it is really pissing me off, can't remember words and say the wrong words. How long till drugs out of my system?

Thinking of you all - have an awesome day

Jackbirdie

Allison- the little while specks could be a sign of thrush. They can treat it. I would call them. It is fungal and you don't want that with all else you are dealing with and a surgery coming up.

Meme/Maryellen- I have you down for surgery tomorrow. I don't know if you'll check in here again today, but I wish you a smooth surgery and a quick recovery and a positive pathreport! I will be thinking of you tomorrow! Please know we are all with you. Let us know how you're doing when you can..

eheinrich

So glad for all of the help you're getting, Katy.

My sister left yesterday. I made a pact of sorts with her and my friend Kate to check in on each other daily regarding exercise and other healthy habits (I get to ask Kate every day if she smoked the day before, she gets to ask me if I exercised, etc). I guess an accountability/nagging chain. I also just ordered a juicer. I'm not really a juice drinker, but I know I don't eat enough fruits/veggies and that needs to change.

Jackbirdie

Eileen-Thank you ! I think accountability is a big help. Good for you!

I got my juicer also because I wasn't eating enough fresh food. It's been lots of fun. I always start with carrots and green apples, because they have somewhat less sugar. You can sneak a lot of stuff into your juice with that as a base: kale, beets celery, .....good luck! Add the veg over time slowly for two reasons...it does go easier if you acquire the veg taste slowly, and beware, even though it's juice, most modern juicers salvage a lot of pulp, and your body may have to adjust to all that ....or you could have a bout with your old friend, D!

Good luck!

Trvler

My husband made swiss chard last night and it was really good. Milder than kale so you don't get that bitterness. Let me know if anyone is interested in the prep method.

Trvler

I will mention the tongue thing. I think if it is thrush, it's pretty mild. The white towards the tip is creeping me out more than anything. I can't find anything on google that really resembles it. It could be a pimple. Not really sure.

SueH58

Allison - I'll take the recipe. I LOVE swiss chard, in fact have some growing in the back yard that's about ready to pick.

Katy - thanks for the kind words. I can't be happier for you and your new abode, your babies, your flowers. You have wonderful times ahead of you.

On Sharon's subject of wine, are you guys still abstaining from the yummy juice or enjoying it again? I've been enjoying some throughout chemo. Still tastes good to me and I enjoy a glass with hubby watching the birds. I can't find any info that says its counteractive to chemo, but it is certainly helping with the psychological angle :-)

Have a great day, all. It's a beautiful one here in Wisconsin.

pboi

Eileen...I have a pact like that with my cousin. We check in at the end of every day to see if we excercised. Between that and the exercise forum here...I'm staying accountable. I've never been so consistent before...feel good about it!

Allison ... Since you mentioned the kale and its bitterness, have you tried making kale chips. Just a little salt and oil, toss, in oven about 350 for about 15 min. My kids can't get enough of them, it's like I'm offering them a whole bowl of chips. They don't even seem to notice the slight bitterness.

PB

SpecialK

I have only been eating kale for about a year or so but my DH and I both like this recipe - I sometimes put pulled roasted chicken breast on top for a main dish salad. Quarter a handful of ripe strawberries and smash them with a slotted spoon and then mix them with an olive oil vinaigrette to make a strawberry dressing. Tear up some kale and add half the dressing and toss it pretty aggressively to bruise the kale a bit. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, then add in more strawberries, blackberries, avocado and slivered almonds. Toss with the remaining dressing.

ninjamary

This is the hair I'm going for. It's Carol from the Walking Dead (a bad ass who makes the best cookies) AKA Melissa McBride. I'm not nearly as pretty, but I'm feeling a bit bad ass anymore. I'm sticking with salt and pepper for awhile also. I hear there are some terrific toners and rinses out there.

molly1976

This is a really delicious recipe for greens (kale or collards) with lots of superfoods!

Black-Eyed Peas and Greens with Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Apples

pboi

I'm not in a very good place today...just want to cry, and not quite sure why, feel like I'm overreacting maybe.

The plan is to start Arimidex tomorrow morning, and I am thankful I have this option but terrified. Perhaps I have read too much about it. I'm trying to go into it thinking positive, that I can be one of the ones to do well on it...but I can't convince my head to believe me!

This Friday I will take my radioactive iodine pill to kill any remaining thyroid cancer/cells after surgery. The thought of being radioactive is not fun, but what I'm having a harder time with is being in isolation and away from my kids for a week. My parents are moving into my home and I am going to isolate myself at theirs. What gets me through many days are the hugs and kisses from my kids, the thought of not being able to is so hard. Feel like I'm being too emotional over this, maybe it's not me and it's the Lupron I had last week, that has put me into instant menopause?! If you've gotten this far ...thanks for listening and letting me vent.

PB

ksusan

Pboi, so sorry. Rant all you like, take deep breaths, and know we're all wishing you well.

Trvler

PB: I am sorry you are having a bad time. Hugs.

Jackbirdie

Awww PB- a gentle hug coming your way. given what's on your plate, alittle cry might not be a bad thing. We are all there with you. Ok?

Trvler

I have to ask my husband for the swiss chard recipe. He isn't home.

Italychick

A juice drink I love is celery, kale, parsley and lemon juice. Tastes like a V-8 if you put the right amount of lemon in it.

I'm with ya, ninjamary. Carol is bad ass.

Maryellen, every day when I see myself in the mirror I'm like who is that, and where did I go? I have a picture of me from right before chemo started on the desktop on my computer and when I open it to look at it, I think, who is that young person? Cuz it isn't me anymore.

When my hair grows back I am never gonna take it for granted again. Lack of hair is the thing keeping me feeling like a cancer person. Who the f*&k would do this intentionally? I have a friend with a sister that buzzes her hair like this on purpose, she is like 58. WTF, is she nuts?

pboi, so sorry, I know how important kid cuddles and snuggles are. Maybe do something extra special for yourself during this forced exile period. The time will pass, and man, that first kid hug after will be very sweet.

Italychick

ksusan, sneaky change of avatar. I was like isn't that a post from the lady with the feather thing on her head? I can't remember what it's called. Are you now using a Shaun the Sheep avatar? Warn us, haha! I might not remember who you are, chemo brain and all!

eheinrich

PB - we are always here for you. ((hug))

Sue - I also have had some wine through chemo.

Can't remember who asked but my first follow up is 3 months pfc. I have to get a whole big blood panel done prior to that.

I have a recon follow up tomorrow with a surgeon I had met with a few months ago who is not part of my HMO. My insurance has been fabulous, but they don't have many PS because they don't do any cosmetic surgery. Can't fit me in until Nov. This Dr has an opening 8/27. I really need to be done with the poking/prodding/peeking/cutting & get back to real life....

ksusan

Theresa, I'm easily bored, and easily amused. The sheep is jonesing for tomacco.

Jackbirdie

a truly obscure 21st century reference underscoring how very SQUARE I am.

Craving a product sold by an imaginary TV family which is a cross between tomatoes and tobacco?

Help me Spock

so-she-did

My 8 yo DD broke her arm in two places today. She is still in MN visiting family so they are taking good care of her. She'll see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow since the bones are out of alignment. I can't just hop on a plane and be there because I am still doing rads. Did I mention cancer sucks!

ksusan

So sorry about your daughter! I hope she's holding up okay. What a hard thing for you, too!

Katy, help at this time would be illogical.

Jackbirdie

druther jones for tomaccijuana. Just sayin'.

so-she-did

tomacco! I remember seeing that episode - lol!

so-she-did

Thanks KSusan. She is one tough kid so I know she'll be fine. She is getting spoiled like crazy right now by her grandparents and aunt and uncle and isn't in pain so I'm good with that. Tomorrow we will know more. I will probably be a nut case if/when she has surgery.

so-she-did

Pboi - hugs to you!

shaz101

Maryellen I still can't believe that I have cancer! Every now and then it dawns on me. I'm not sure it'll ever sink in.

I was told and even encouraged to have a glass of wine. I think the trick is to stick at 1 or 2. I've had a glass when I feel like it all the way through. I've never been a drinker so it's a rare event.

Pb So sorry that you have to be away from your family. Hugs to you xxx

I just had a love chat with katy. Made my day x

Trvler

Amy: I am sorry about your daughter. That must be hard but it sounds like she is in great hands.

That's the part I hate most. Saying to myself "I have cancer'. Being the one who has cancer….the way people act like they are scared to say the wrong thing…so they say nothing.

Dentist says weird tongue thing isn't anything to worry about but will have to have it removed it I don't like it. I don't like it. Either a virus or a tastebud gone haywire. But NOT cancer. Key being NOT cancer. lol