Starting Chemo March 2015

Italychick

Allison, best of luck next week - update us if you can! I will be thinking about you.

19 miles hiking this weekend in the beautiful Big Bear area, and practicing being in the moment. Now home, and unpacked, shower next. We are dirty pigs lol. I even have dirt ankle rings.

Regarding lymphedema, my breast surgeon showed me how to check for it. So far, she said she sees no sign of it in me. Her advice to all women - go buy a ring to reward yourself for getting through treatment, wear it on your lymphedema hand as a quick measure of any swelling. i told her I would think about that once I lose my chemo fat

ksusan

Good strategy. I use my wedding ring and another ring my lovely wife gave me on the other hand. Be aware that hands can swell a little for other reasons, too, so a person shouldn't flip out if it gets tighter.

Meme117

Ggreat news Carrie !

Allison best wishes, thinking of you.

I think I have cording as I can see it especially when I first wake up, I've stretched it all weekend tomorrow meet with PT so will know for sure. I just watched the Tig Notaro special on HBO, she's so amazing sharing her story and even taking her shirt off, I couldn't see any scars plus she was pretty funny😄

Theresa did you camp?

Italychick

No camping, stayed in a cabin walking distance to the main downtown area. I love it up there, so peaceful.

It's so interesting how we all get followed up by different doctors. I'm still kind of surprised my MO said my breast doctor would do all my monitoring. Has anybody else been told this?

SueH58

Count me in as one with a shorter leg. Never felt like a cripple...

So this weekend was my daughter's bridal shower. One of the first guests to arrive told me she was sorry to hear of my dx, and said that she knew someone who had chemo and rads years ago and is now in a wheel chair. Wonderful start to the party.

Re: Drs, my last gynocologist always nagged me for my weight and for consuming alcoholic beverages (which I understand she should relay to me). But then I asked her about taking meds for hot flashes and asked if they were dangerous. She said, "well, so is being overweight and consuming alcohol, so do what you have to do I guess." I couldn't belive how insensitive she was. I've not been back to her, and need to find another Dr. for my paps.

ksusan

I'm taking a new GYN for a spin tomorrow. My MO has kicked general coordination to my current PCP, but she's a nurse, so I may see if my naturopath would like to become my PCP. The issue may include how much my insurance covers for an out of network ND.

Jackbirdie

in my case, T, the surgeon fired me as a patient (sent his intern in to see me the last time to say goodbye) and the MO has taken the quarterback position. the rest of my care team defers to him. I requested the surgeon's PA deport me because I like him and I really didn't need to be in that surgeon's presence again.

SueH58

Still no word from Bekah?????

shaz101

Theresa, my mo said he doesnt want to see me again and that the breast surgeon would monitor me from now on. I thought it was because of my complaint. My Dr said that it was a good sign! So I'm going with that.

Sue how can Dr's be so insensitive. And as for that comment during a bridal shower, omg, people are just so stupid.

Italychick

Thanks Sharon. I still have Herceptin so I will be monitored for that by the MO, but I am actually really happy to have ongoing monitoring done by my breast surgeon. She is a warm, empathetic person and is looking at me as a person, not a statistic. How are you doing?

I too wish we knew how Bekah is doing, but I understand her silence. Some of the forum posts are scary. I'm still hoping she will pop back in or post on Facebook to let us know her surgery went well. Whether we hear from her or not, she is in my thoughts, as are all of you.

Italychick

I did some snooping on Facebook, and Bekah shared a post a few hours ago, so hope that means she is well.

shaz101

I'm going OK. The radiation burn is settling. I still can't get on top of the joint pain though. I'm on an anti inflammatory drug meloxicam but it doesn't seem to be helping much. Even trying to move my fingers is painful. My hips,knees and ankles seem to be causing the most pain. Katy gave me some suggestions to try. Hopefully they will help.

shaz101

katy I bought some bio-curcumin I'll let you know how it goes.

Jackbirdie

Sharon, I am also on Meloxicam. I had stopped it during chemo but now back in it along with the glucosamine-chondroitin and curcurin (and fish oil) supplements. And the lemon water every morning. It didn't help right away. I think it could have taken 3 weeks for me to feel less pain in my joints. Don't give up. Give yourself time. I know you are going back to work soon. Perhaps the more constant activity will help a bit. I know any time I was sitting for more than 30 minutes I could barely stand. At work, if you try to get up and stretch every so often perhaps your joints wil stay looser and warmer.

Sending joint warming mojo. When does the shit ever stop???

eheinrich

Just checking in. BIL is here until Saturday. He's absolutely one of my favorite people very lucky to have him. Pain ism't as bad today - cut back on the norco but am ready to crank it back up if need be.

Jackbirdie

E- glad you checked in. Have been thinking of you. Good that the pain is more manageable.

NinjaMary- you start rads today? Good luck GF. Keep a cool head and a slathered breast area (after Tx). Thinking of you today and the next weeks. Hope it is a tolerable experience. Are you going to Christiana?

IndyGal35

Carrie and Eileen, it sounds like you are making great progress!!!

K, thanks for posting the pic of your cording. Mine looked exactly like that, but it was in my elbow.

For those of you that are done with rads, how long did it take for the fatigue to waver? I start 25 rounds on Thursday, but we have a trip planned shortly after my end date. I wonder if I'll be too sore and exhausted to enjoy it.

Special K, if I'm still having TE pain after radiation and decide I just want to go flat instead of waiting 6 months for the exchange, how long do you think the surgeon would make me wait to do surgery and return me to flat?

ninjamary

Katy - Yes. Rads start at 4:15 and I'm in the Helen Graham Cancer Center @ Christiana. I have my Formula II (https://www.formula2skincare.com) ready to slather on. It's a fantastic lotion. It's made up the street from me and sold at our local Walgreens. Feel like I'm buying local.

ksusan

Lee, my fatigue was worst in radiation week 2. I finished last Tuesday, and I could go on a trip now (as long as I had some down time during the trip).

Trvler

Just want to say hi. I am in NOLA, had all my pre op stuff and have a big magic marker "NNS" on my soon to be former boobs. NNS stands for no nipple sparing. I had to decide if I wanted to keep my other one and for symmetry I said no. I didn't have a complete response to chemo, but he said it would be unusual if I had given I was a grade 2. But he was optimistic so that was good. I was totally freaked about the hot flash during the CT scan and it wasn't nearly as awful as I imagined.

So the hubby and I were in Walgreens last night looking at magazines and we came across a local mag that had a cover story saying the best doctors in Louisiana. We read through the big list and finally found my doctors and I looked at him and said 'phew'. If they weren't on there, I was leaving town right then.

SpecialK

Indy - I think that will depend on your skin integrity after completing rads. Infection risk is greater with installation of a foreign body than with removal, and I have had surgery with some pretty gnarly looking skin issues - so, it is hard to say right now. I would ask your PS what the timeframe might be if you have an "average" rads experience

molly1976

Lee, I didn't have any fatigue with rads at all.

pboi

Thinking of you Allison.

Lee...Everyone is different with the rads and fatigue. I had 25 treatments, and the fatigue came on slowly, getting worse as time went on. The worst of it came in the 2 weeks post rads, then heading towards 3 weeks post rads it started to get better.

PB

Italychick

Allison, make sure to eat some yummy food there! Will be thinking about you, and glad you found your surgeon in the magazine as a person of note!

IndyGal35

Thanks for the rads info. I get 25 doses and 50 Greys total. (The RO says that the average is 45-60.) 50 Shades of Radiation Greys.

I've had crosses and stickers all over my chest, sides, and torso since last week. I look like I went through a cult initiation. Ha!

My counselor told me that I'm a "worst case scenario" thinker today. I pointed to my foobs and said, "Uh...Can you blame me at this point?" Maybe we can work on that. I have 3 sessions left with her through EAP.

Good luck to our surgery gals!

slothabouttown

Lee I went tent camping a week after rads and felt fine. Like folks have said, everyone is different so I hope you are on the easy end and can make your trip.

Good mojo to those facing surgery, starting rads and recovering from all of the above. Warriors all of you.

I know I say it all the time but it always hits me when I change the calendar to a new month, Now most of us are 9 months into this #!@ sandwich buffet and still dealing with the process. I think we are an intrepid bunch. Funny, supportive, inspiring and special.

IndyGal35

I've posted a lot today, but I think I'm extra needy right now. I'm not a big crier. I may cry a few times a year, but I've been bawling at the drop of a hat lately. I've cried more in the past 3 weeks than I have in the past 3 years. No lie.

Tonight's meltdown was inspired by this pic on my FB memories from 2 years ago on our Labor Day getaway. We drove 1690 miles in 44 hours, and that was only the halfway point of our trip. It was one of the best trips that DH and I have ever had because it was just pure freedom on 4 wheels. I can't wait to return to our travels.

I miss the healthy girl in that picture very much tonight.

Italychick

Lee, totally get it. You will get back there, just have to get through this crap process first. Where are you in the process?

IndyGal35

Chemo ended in June, and I'll be on Herceptin until March. I'm still having lots of issues and pain with my TE's, and I'm close to 2 months post bmx/snlb. PT is helping, but I don't know if I'll be able to handle 6 more months before the exchange. (If things aren't better by the time rads are done, I'm getting them out and staying flat.) I start rads on Thursday. There'll probably be an oophetectomy or hysterectomy at some point, but it's not urgent since I'm BRCA neg.

Wish I knew what caused the waterworks lately. I started crying over a song that was playing in a restaurant during dinner on Saturday! I haven't cried in public since 1999. Happy Hour? More like Unhappy Hour. Sheesh

Italychick

are they filling you too fast? Or is it that the TE's hurt?

I have Herceptin until March too, wish that was over, ugh!

Maybe you are having an after chemo let down. It's okay to cry, it is great stress relief and maybe you just need it right now.