Starting Chemo March 2015

slothabouttown

Exactly. I imagine the mail might have had the radiologists address, or the surgeon or the anesthesiologist, who knows? I was getting so many bills for a while the whole neighborhood probably ended up with something of mine! And I'm sure they all saw me walking the dog every day in my ski cap and hoodie looking like the Unibomber. Now I'm kind of glad I didn't talk to her about it, ill just be the mysterious cancer neighbor!!

And Sharon, you have a whole head of brand new hair! Congratulations!!!!!

slothabouttown

I brought treats to my rads team, having seen them daily for 5 weeks. We had joked about tattoos so I ordered some cool "knuckle tattoos" online and put them in a thank you card and took them a big bowl of Ranier cherries. At one time one of them mentioned how they got sweets almost every day from patients so I tried to bring something healthier that they might like. I think it's great to acknowledge the care they gave us, and celebrate the end of treatment at the same time. Congrats on finishing up!!

eheinrich

I am on top of the pain meds. It's weird most of the bad pain was/is in my hips and legs. The TE hurts but not as bad as I anticipated.

I only took one norco which is why it hurt so much, now I am all about 2. Every 4 h as will as the valium - I set an alarm.

Thanks for all the good wishes

: )

ninjamary

Allison - whew..I'm glad the situation worked out for you. I understand having a husband that is non-confrontational. I'm usually not, either. All bark and no bite, that's me.

Sloth - What the hell? Is she opening your mail? I get mail from my insurance company and sometimes from the hospital, but it could be anything. I see lots of women with short hair. The girl that did my pregnancy test yesterday (I know....right? What a joke) told me she does a buzz cut once a year because she loves the ease of it. Granted she was in her 20s and seemed a bit on the wild side, but I respected her for that. You go girl!

I didn't bring treats to the chemo ladies. I felt too crappy at the time. Maybe I'll drop some off to them after I complete rads.

Trvler

Wait, I am supposed to bring treats to the nurses? Is that a thing? Lol. I didn't know.

SpecialK

I think it is only a thing if you feel like doing it! I love my MO and everybody who works there, so I did bring treats - chocolate cupcakes, decidedly not healthy but easy to make a bunch of them. I go to a large practice, so at least two dozen peeps. I also bring them homemade caramel corn in individual bags every holiday season - my appointments with my MO coincide, but I also see them all the time and know them since I have had my port since Nov. of 2010 and go every six weeks to have it flushed.

Beachbum1023

I took a cake to my one year visit to share with the nurses and patients. I talked to the infusion patients and it made the day a little more festive for them. So a good thing to see the possible and what a difference a year can make for them. Cheryl

wpmoon

Stupidity must be in the air lately. Last week at a dinner with friends, one of them (a guy I briefly dated last summer), said "Well, you're a really strong woman. You're stronger than my grandma. She died from breast cancer." I held up my hand, told him to stop, and then told him that as a piece of advice, he should never, ever, ever tell someone actively going through cancer treatment, or someone who's made it through treatment, that he knows someone who died from it. My grandma unfortunately also passed to pancreatic cancer, but that's the LAST thing I would've told someone who told me they had cancer. Later, he apologized for putting his foot in his mouth.

pboi

Wow...so much going on this morning!

Eileen....good to hear from you. Hope the pain meds are doing their job and you are able to rest and recover.

Sharon...yay for more hair!

Allison...glad you got the childcare worked out.

Sloth...can't believe your neighbor! She really that nosy...what was she thinking?!

I'm finally recovering a bit from the fatigue 3 weeks post rads and iodine treatment. Finally starting to feel a little but more normal, but the fears are always on my mind, every little ache/pain/bump...sigh. I also need to schedule my last surgery prophylactic L mastectomy and oophorectomy. I'm dragging my feet in doing it...but I need to...but I just starting feeling a little better again...just don't want to go back to that place again. Need u suck it up and just get it done.

PB

pboi

What is with people and these insensitive comments? Good for you Whitney!

By the way are you still having trouble sleeping? Insomnia is the worst, not sure what to do about it. Trying to come off sleep aids but I need to sleep!

PB

wpmoon

Yeah, still not sleeping well. The past few nights have been slightly better, with only waking up once in the night to go to the bathroom. But that's still not ideal. I took an ativan the other night, but still woke up in the night. I'm not really sure what to do to make it better.

SpecialK

This may be a re-hashed suggestion, but it bears repeating. My BS thinks melatonin is the best sleep aid for breast cancer patients because it is a natural substance within the body, and those who are low in melatonin are thought to have higher rates of breast cancer. This is more apparent in people who work night shift, they have a higher incidence of breast cancer, which is thought to be related to lower levels of melatonin. Here is some info from U of MD, and NCI center:

https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/m...

My BS said to take an escalating dose up to 10mg. Some have vivid dreams so work your way up if needed.

BBwithBC45

My allergist told me to take melatonin too. Gradually, I started sleeping better. Not perfect yet, but didn't have to take Xanax for a couple of months now before bed.

Trvler

I am going to try melatonin. Thanks for the info, K!

PB: I completely understand your not wanting to schedule your surgeries.

ksusan

My ND has me on 20mg of melatonin. Since it doesn't improve my sleep, I asked if its benefit was in and of itself or related to improved sleep architecture. She said it was the melatonin level itself.

Jackbirdie

Sharon- so excited about your hair! You look cute! Your ravishingly long locks will be back!

Allison and Sloth- can't believe the unbelievable selfishness, rudeness, nosiness, and a number of other adjectives I'd like to use that you've had to out up with

But brava Allison for coming up with a solution that works so well. And I'm glad you overheard your husband's comments. At least you know he's on your side. It's a powerful conflict he's in the middle of, constantly, and as you said, not great with confrontation. But I like knowing he feels it.

Eileen, thinking of you, poor thing. Hope your BIL is taking good care.

Carrie- I hope you're getting better each day. Everyone heals at a different rate. Remember that and be kind to yourself.

Leigh- I did take a sheet cake in on the last day of chemo, and they really didn't respond much one way or the other. And they had no bell to ring. How could they not know about the bell!??? Only you would np know what to do, but I usually err on the side of doing it vs not. A plate of cookies from the market bakery? And a nice thank you note? I have found in my life that the guide I use in these cases is whether it will make ME feel better. Not them. Put another way, would I feel bad if I didn't?

For those that missed my crisis, I posted copiously in other threads for some reason, but not here. I was out of my mind. I was told by the hospital LE specialist (and I do have truncal LE) that my ahem....surgical outcome was the worst she'd EVER seen in her career, I Needed to see my shrink a lot more often because of my mental state, and possibly the pain I am still experiencing is in my head. Or due to said mental state. She said she didn't blame me for not wanting to look at or touch myself to participate in my after care. She said I should see a PS now. Most of this stuff (except her butting into my mental health and suggesting the pain was in my head....I can assure her it is fucking NOT in my head, it's where my boobs used to be) but it was shocking to be told the way I was, and I cried for hours and had trouble driving myself home (I'm always alone for these crises,except for all of you here) woke up crying in the night, and didn't get dressed for the next 36 hours. I have to go back for an actual treatment in an hour. I have worked hard on my "mental state" in the meantime, and will remain open to the physical ministrations, and closed to her negativity. Fuck that.

To all, hoping for a good day, thank you for being attentive and concerned. As always, your love and support is what saves me.

pboi

Katy...so sorry. Hope your treatment goes well today. Hugs...

Special...over time I have become dependent on Ativan to help me sleep, but it's time for those to go, so I have been gradually tapering it daily.

I'm concerned with starting the melatonin. Is it something used daily? Or just as needed. Wondering if it loses effectiveness over time?

I'm mad at myself for getting hooked on the Ativan, but was desperate to sleep and they worked so well. I'm hoping when I get off completely I won't need anything to help me sleep, but doubting that will happen since it seems all the hormonals have insomnia as a side effect.

What dose to start at 1mg? 3mg?

PB

Carrie37

Katy, I'm so sorry. Hang in there, we are all with you. What a shitty thing for that woman to do to you. seems like she needs to be reported, that is completely thoughtless and she needs to know the very least! Gentle hugs

lovlilynne

Hi there - I was aghast at Sloth's story about her neighbor, so I am butting in to share a tip I was given a long time ago when discussing how people - sometimes complete strangers - would ask you personal questions. In this case the women discussing were getting asked when they would be having children or 2nd children. Someone gave the advice to answer this question - or any that pried into personal business, "Why do you want to know?" as a retort.

I have only had to use it 2-3 times, but I can attest that it's very effective. It's not as angry as "none of your business", and has the same effect of stopping that person in their tracks. If they say anything at all, it's either the truth "I guess I'm just nosy" or possibly, "I am concerned for you/wanted to know if I could help", etc. To the first one, I just say, "oh", and the second one makes it easier to say things like "it's personal" or "I don't want to talk about it." or just "Thanks for your concern." Either way, the conversation is over, and you've made your point to the nosy, inappropriate person.

Lynne

Trvler

Katy: Have you seen that thread on post mastectomy pain syndrome?

ninjamary

Katy - OMG. I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through. That woman sounds like an idiot. She says one thing, then another, and they are opposite ends of the spectrum. What the hell?! You need to listen to the "Fuck That" meditation video. I'm telling you...it does help. Please keep us posted. Wish I was there.

Trvler

PB: I don't think you should be mad at yourself. I was taking .25 of Xanax pre BC as needed, mostly when we traveled because my husband snores now. (He never used to). At home I can move to the guest bedroom. I was taking it on the 2 nights after weekly Taxol because of the steroids. Those nights I upped it to .5mg. But I would then stop taking it. But with the stress, I have been taking it every night for about a month now. In the past, I have just sucked up a few nights of horrible sleep and gone cold turkey. I think if you know and accept a few nights of bad sleep, you will do better. I think it you taper down gradually and then have a few rough nights, you can do it. I am not sure what dose you are taking.

Also, exercise helps me sleep. I am hoping to get off it when I have my surgery for a while since I will be taking pain meds.

Jackbirdie

Ninja- Yes I do need a refresher fck that video!

Allison have not seen that thread. Can you point me?

Did I mention she wrapped things up by saying one of my legs is shorter than the other? Wtf? I left feeling like a total ogre.

Italychick

Katy for what it's worth a lot of people have one leg shorter than the other. My chiropractor adjusts me to help. He said it is related to pelvic tilt or something. And my neck is crooked. When he adjusts me I walk out of there feeling like my head is sideways.

As I said in the exercise forum, rat bastard fuck face fucker nut bitch for saying that to you

ksusan

^ THIS.

Trvler

I am sorry, Katy. Your ogre comment made me laugh.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/136/topic/747016?page=42#idx_1252

pboi

Allison...I too started with the Ativan during Taxol and the steroids. Wish I didn't. I'm on 1mg a night and tapering slowly. I'm increasing my exercise/intensity in hopes this will help my sleep during my taper. Unfortunately I think the Ativan helps mask.some of my night sweats at night, so will have to deal with that too...ugh!

PB

Msmath

PB.... I was taking Ativan during my Taxol treatments as well. My MO gave me Gabapentin for my night sweats. It really seems to help and it is not as habit forming. You may want to ask about it.

Rachael

Meme117

Sorry Katy that woman is an idiot! Big hugs to you!!

Look at this friend who has visited all day

Jackbirdie

Oh how I love them Maryellen! Thx!