CRAZY TOWN WAITING ROOM - TESTS coming up? All Stages Welcome.

Anonymous

Good Evening Crazies,

Smurf, It's great to see you. Welcome back! Thanks for sharing a bit of your story. I also have two adult children (daughter and son) but no grandchildren....yet!! Thank you so much for the good wishes. I'm glad you're here with us.

Molly, Giving you extra hugs. I hope Wyatt feels better soon. (((((((Molly))))))

Phoebe, Thank you for the good wishes and hugs!! Sending hugs to you too!!

Lori, Thanks for the pocket party and support!! Here is something you can print out and keep in your car. No speaking required. Just put this on their windshield

Poppy, Any news on the thyroid? They are sure taking their sweet time. No news is good news?! I'm in agreement about the F cancer. Dirty, rotten beast!!

QM, There ya go using those big words again....ABEYANCE. <getting my dictionary> I'm very happy to hear your nightmares have taken a vacation. I hope your future dreams are fun-filled, exciting and NOT scary!!

Iris, I will try to remember your mammo is at the end of the month so we can all be in your pocket. Please conk me over the head if I forget!!

Readytorock, I'm doing a special happy dance for you!!

That's awesome news. Now go do something fun and forget about this nonsense for awhile!! Opps....that is really big.

Bekah, I wish you didn't have to go through all this pain stuff. I was diagnosed with chemo induced fibromyalgia, but like you, I think it's just a name they give when they can't figure it out. The good news is most of that intense pain I was feeling has subsided. I hope that is the case for you as time goes by. I'm interested to hear what the Rheumatologist will say.

Octo, I hope your sister continues to improve. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Sending healing messages to your foot!! I will make sure to buy some stamps and send post cards!! I'm glad the MO appointment went well. What better place to go berserk than in CT? You're in the right place!!

Twinnie, Love you too!! I wish I could visit you while on my trip. I hope the twins birthday was lovely!!

Jackbirdie, I've been trying to get some trip planning done, but I think I'm running out of time. So much to do...so little time! Yikes!! Hugs to you!! I can't wait to see you!

Jan, Waving!!

Sandy, Any news on your pathology? I hope your next trip goes smoothly.

Di, Good to see you! I hope all is going well with you.

Shorfi, It's so nice to hear that you're feeling better!! YAY for armpit feeling coming back!! I hope you continue to feel good....you're long overdue.

Pennsygal, Great to see you! Happy Monday to you too!!

Ducky, Did I see you poke your head in??

GMA, Oh no!!! I'm not liking that blowing a hole business. Please let us know how it goes on Wednesday. Sending healing thoughts your way!! We will all be in your pocket.

Rainy, So wonderful to see you posting!! Love and hugs right back at you!!

Ok Crazies.....any of you in New York or Pennsylvania that want to get together for a meet and greet, please send me a PM. I'm trying to plan a lunch in PA and if we can't do a lunch in NY, maybe we can all meet for coffee or tea. The lunch will be in the Philly area and maybe the Brooklyn area in New York? ONLY FOUR DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE!!! I'm just a wee bit excited!!

Love to all....quiet crazies too.

M0mmyof3

Morning everyone and hugs to all who need one!

GmaFoley

Slow You have a wonderful and crazy time on your trip for me! I know it will be fun!

WenchLori

Thank you for the sign to print out Slow. I hope you have a wonder trip!

Here's what my DH gave me to put in both of our vehicles. Too funny!

octogirl

Hugs to all who need them, especially Gma and Molly and all of you dealing with ()%*()*!!!! Yes F that SFBC.

By the way, if you are in California, I found a helpful website that fits my current mood:

http://yourfuckingpollingplace.com/

Vote. It matters!

Slow, have a WONDERFUL time! Wish I could hitch a ride....

I LOVE the parking signs!

So yes, the MO visit went fine, but after listening to my complaints about the knee and thumb issues, he recommends I take a month vacation from the Femara, and then we will decide whether to stay on it or switch yet again, possibly to Tamoxifen. Sigh. Given the new study that just came out about the good impact of ten years of letrozole, I dipped into CT territory at the thought of even a month off, but going to try the 'vacation' because I really need to decide if I need to replace one or more knees. MO also gave me a referral to an orthopedist he likes, (Though if I did go for a replacement, I'd head straight to UCSF) AND i will be having a mammogram soon. at the same place i had the one that led to all this.

My sister is up and down right now. All of her tests show she is doing great, but she is experiencing some confusion that they can't explain, though they think it might be simple sleep deprivation. It isn't easy being hospitalized. I am heading back over to Stanford today, so I've arranged to have dinner with a good friend who lives nearby who I don't get to see often, as a bit of a self-care move (and we will be going for Vietnamese: I love Vietnamese food but there is no good place to get it in my small town).

And the Giants are back in town. A baseball game this weekend against the Dudgers (sic) might also help my mood....

xoxox

Octogirl

proudtospin

Back from visit to spine doc, told him my legs were in creasinglt weak and my neck hurts

He asked when did the weakness start, said it had been progressing.........I told him before when it started but he clearly did not not it on my chart

We are now going to do a new mri of neck

He mentioned the surgery word, yikes

queenmomcat

Beppy I expect travelogues. Just saying.

GmaFoley

Doctor finally was able to load the pictures I sent him.. I don't have to go see him tomorrow... thank goodness. I have a hematoma under the incision and it opened a little hole to drain. As long as the hole doesn't get larger or looks infected, I just do what I have been doing and should be ok.

WenchLori

Great news GmaFoley! I hope it heals without anyfurther problems :-)

ChiSandy

Yay, GmaFoley! Here’s to uneventful healing.

Got my path report today: pre-melanoma, but all margins clear. Have a suture-removal appt. for next Thurs. Meanwhile, it’s off to the doc-in-the-box around the corner so the nurse can change the dressing and slap one of my Tegaderms over it. Then, hoping I can get a shampoo-blow-dry-bang-trim; otherwise, I will have to make do with DIY blow-drying only the front because I still am not supposed to reach around to style the back. Then tomorrow, it’s off to the hand surgeon for my trigger-thumb cortisone shot. The ortho my LE specialist recommended is still not returning my calls, so I’m biting the bullet and driving down to Oak Lawn so the guy who did my L thumb shots & surgery can do the right thumb. (Because I have a show Fri. night, he may tell me to just continue with Celebrex and wait till next week if he doesn’t think 2 days is enough time to heal--last time, I had a shot on a Thurs. and had to record two days later, holding an ice-cold can of pop between takes).

M0mmyof3

Had a really crazy weekend. So glad itsfinally back to normal.

Charles_Pelkey

I posted this to the STFU forum, but folks say that many of you have moved over here:

A blast from the past?

Hello out there. Charles Pelkey here. I just realized it's been a long time since I've checked in. I've been thinking about this group, my cancer and all of you, because I am coming up on five years since my diagnosis. I am still alive and (knock on wood) I have not had a recurrence, although, because of my BRCA2 status, I am a regular visitor to my oncologist's office and am now on a high-risk pancreatic cancer screening protocol.

I am still practicing law and serving in the Wyoming House of Representatives and now added teaching duties at our law school to the list. As you can see, my hair grew back ... just a little grayer, that's all.

I hope everyone is doing well and I hope to stop by a little more often than I have in the past.

proudtospin

welcome charles, i do remember you, welcome to the land of crazies

Wow, feeling pretty good this morning

Sort of thinking that part of my weakness in my legs is due to not working out when my back was so funkiest

So.....I can change that so that is now my goal

Sandy, you have tons on your plate but hope all works out

Tommorrow i should get stitches out from mole thingie so really hoping to be cleared for pool on Friday

Enjoy the day

GmaFoley

See you came over Charles, Glad to see you in our Crazy room!!!

Ok Ladies, Here is what the doc wrote me after seeing my pictures of the leakage and putting a few more questions about the hematoma and the white discharge that is leaking:

"Yes, I think the white discharge is possibly the steroid flowing out in some capacity, it is an insoluable white substance, or it is a small amount of fat necrosis from the procedure. I do not think this represents purulent drainage or anything like that given the absence of redness or fever. Again, I would keep and eye on it and if it worsens please let us know and we will get you in sooner. As far as the hematoma goes, this should resolve in time. Again, if this worsens, please let us know."

He always answers my emails in a timely manner... I am so glad I didn't have a 7 hour drive to see him today...

PoppyK

Hi Charles. Glad to hear things are going well with you!

Gma, That is great news! Always good to not have to drive all the way for an appointment.

Iris, Glad you are feeling well today. I always feel better once the stiches are gone. Bet you will, too, especially if you can hit the pool.

I don't mean to brag, but I got to visit with Molly, Tomboy and Slow yesterday! It's so great to visit face-to-face... even if it's a quick visit. I'm glad Slow will get to see even more Crazy Town residents/visitors on her trip. Having all of you Crazies is wonderful... so much support, encouragement and understanding.

Last day of school for my boys! The two younger boys still have to play in the band for graduation/commencement tonight and tomorrow morning... but then we are free!!!

Hugs to all!

queenmomcat

Poppy: brag away! that's something to enjoy.

Charles: hello!

Molly50

I had the most wonderful time having lunch with mayor slow, Poppy and Tomboy! Tomboy is such a sweetheart. Thanks for brightening my day, ladies.

ChiSandy

Glad to meet you, Charles! Welcome. Any state capitol building is hands down the “Craziest Town" of all!

Good news, GmaFoley.

I canceled my cortisone shot appointment for today--there was too much traffic on I-55, according to the radio, my thumb is behaving itself (the triggering is painless right now), and the surgeon's nurse wasn't sure that I won't still have some stiffness & soreness from the shot by Fri. night. I have to play at least 8 songs (interspersed with skits improvised by my lyrics), jamming by improvising an “underscore" for one of their skits, and 2 more for an encore. It might be a challenge, too, to save my humor songs for the end, so as not to upstage the actors till after they've finished.

PoppyK

Sounds like a great plan, Chi. It would be amazing to see you perform in person!

Yesterday, one of the things we talked about is how other people think we are supposed to be back to "normal" when chemo and rads are over. But, that isn't what happens. Which makes everyone in Crazy Town so valuable and important to us. Since we hobble along with joint pains, trigger fingers, tests, appointments, hot flashes, weight gain....... it reminded me of this:

Tomboy

Right on, Pop, exactly. I had such a nice time yesterday, although it was waaaaaay to short! I was sad to see Poppy and SDB driving away.... and, MOLLY!! You give great hugs! And you are incredible kind and sweet, it was a very great pleasure to meet you too. I promise to not be a stranger. If there's anyone of you that can meet another one of you---GO FOR IT. There is a magic that happens when you get to see each other in real life. So happy!

Charles, welcome, got any good crazy town stories? Hope to see you here again.

Rleepak, I have been thinking of you a lot, and I know exactly what you mean about pain from the stupid pills... I have struggled with all of them, except exemestane, I haven't tried that one yet. I asked my pain management doc about how they report adverse events or side effects, and was shocked at his answer. He said they don't, except unless they are doing a clinical trial. That there is no way to know what else women might be doing that would cause problems. JEEEEESH! So yeah, pain and other problems must be severely under-reported... No help, I know. The other part of it is, don't they think if it was something else causing the pain, that we would stop it?!?!?! So we wouldn't have to hurt?!? Crap-heads. See Molly? I ain't that sweet!

Oh yea, Molly, The breast surgeon you mentioned? I really do think she would be a good fit for you, just not for me. And she wasn't the one who did my surgery, but she did put in my port, at which time my lung got a flat. Yeah. Happy DX day, to you and me! HAH!

Cubbie2015

Hi, everyone! I've been busy with end of the school year stuff, and enjoying an 8 week break from oncology appointments. I've been trying to stay in the suburbs of CrazyTown, but I can't say I haven't made a few trips downtown. My PCP has me on some anti-anxiety medications that seem to be helping me stay more in the moment. I've been thinking about you all often, and had to check in to catch up with how everyone is doing, and of course to see what's happening with Beppy's trip!

Molly50

Happy Dx day, Tomboy!

I think the best we can do with these gosh darn drugs is do the best we can to get through until we can't. I am on my second one and while so far it's way better than anastrozole, I still have SE's.

Di2012

HI Charles! I remember you from STFU....welcome

Gma....heal young lady! It is about time we have a NW meet-up again!

Poppy I loved your "pretent to feel well"....very cute!

ChiSandy, bet you will be happy thrilled elated to have you suture removed from yourback.

My pcp last week said to me, you shouldn't feel tired you over your sepsis (SEVERE sepsis)...my reply was I AM tired......then she said I should exercise........I can't now because of a bum knee.....I do lift weights for upper body...and have for years. Then she want to double the dosage for venlafaxine I take for hot flashes/night sweats.....she want to cure me of my depression....huh?...SHE had me go to the lab for a UA.....and I have a UTI that I tried to self cure since the holiday weekend......I found out it is a nasty bacteria, proteus mirabilus...busy little f**kers, hard to fix......all I know is I don't want SEPSIS again, as it will probably kill me.

I had bladder & kidneys ultasound today. No results until tomorrow......if I am lucky.....too busy to ever let me know results....unless I nag them.

Too tired. Good night!......Love to you all

Di

Anonymous

Evening Crazies,

M0mmy, Hugs back to you! How is your DH doing? Is he back to his normal schedule yet?

GMA, Thanks for the good trip wishes. I' m glad you didn't have to make that long trip to the doctor.

Lori, I love that parking sign too. Too funny. Don't you have a surgery coming up soon? Please let us know so we can all jump in your pocket.

Octo, That polling place link cracked me up!! Thinking of you and your sister. I hope you enjoy your vacation from Femara. QOL choices are always so difficult to make. Why can't we just feel good and be protected too? Dirty, stinkin' cancer.

Iris, I often wonder if the doctors listen to half of the things we tell them. Let us know when you have the MRI. I hope you don't need surgery.

QM, Travelogues you will get!!

Sandy, I don't know much about melanoma but I'm guessing PRE means it was caught in time? I sure hope so.

Charles, Welcome to Crazy Town!

Good to see you again. Congratulations on five years. That's awesome news!! Stop by anytime...it's always good to see you.

Poppy, Love the sign. You sure hit the nail on the head.

Cubbie, Welcome back!! I wondered how you were doing. I'm really glad you're enjoying your break from the MO. Also happy to hear the anxiety meds are working. I'm considering some myself. I leave on Friday and still have so much to do. My sister packs weeks before a trip. I pack as I'm on my way out the door. Funny how two sisters can be so different.

Di, You've been through so much already. I hope it's not sepsis again. Sending good thoughts your way. I hope the US results turn out well.

I had a wonderful time seeing Tomboy, Molly and Poppy. The time seemed to go by so quickly. I have a feeling we could talk all day long if we had the time. They are all such kind, beautiful women. I feel so fortunate to call them my friends.

Less than two days to go!!

Love to all...quiet crazies too.

ChiSandy

Beppy, enjoy NYC--my original home town (Brooklyn, to be exact).

“Pre-melanoma in-situ” was how my dermatologist described the “dysplastic nevus:’ it had most (irregular, asymmetrical, bi-color tan & golden brown, came out of nowhere) but not all the earmarks of a melanoma (only 4 x 2 mm, flat, smaller than a pencil eraser, no black, red or blue). But she and the pathologist thought that if left alone it would have morphed into melanoma and even started to take root. She took out a chunk about 4 mm deep (clear down to the sub-cuteaneous fat) and just under a cm in diameter. Clean margins, thank heaven. 2 dissolving sutures in the dermis; the 3 silk ones on the outside come out a week from tomorrow, and then she wants me using some kind of clear anti-scarring patches for awhile. And I go back in 6 months for more “mapping.” When it comes to cancer, I believe in "limit: one to a customer.” At least at any one time.

GmaFoley

I so feel like this orange today.....

pennsygal

Sandy - glad they got it early and glad for the clear margins. I'm with you - one cancer to a customer: PERIOD.

I learned yesterday that I will have gallbladder surgery next Friday - I've got a stone vs. polyp that is causing symptoms - so it needs to go. Ugh - the thought of more surgery does not make me happy.

queenmomcat

{{{Pennsygal}}}}-- That'd be my reaction too: "Sweet bleep, another surgery?" Is it just the stone that's being removed or all/part of your gallbladder itself?

GmaFoley

Pennsygal Hugs coming your way - I just finished my #8 surgery since my DX - Definitely Crazy...

ChiSandy

Pennsy, my gallbladder surgery was a snap: laparascopic cholecystectomy, no sutures, just four little band-aids over the holes. I was home the next day, having coffee out on my deck and went out for anniversary dinner four days later. Only thing I didn’t do was attend the World Cup soccer match (Bob took Gordy instead) because I figured there’d be too much walking involved.