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

proudtospin

wow, morning spent on mri table is.....NOT FUN

but done and thanks for the pocket party

Still have brain scans on Thursday but day of rest till that one

Yeap ice cream ready for tonight but may have to run out for wine yet

Man but that is tiring but you all know that

Valstim52

Need help? Is it possible to have lymphedema in your leg area? I was tested at the hospital for a possible blood clot, and they said it's lymphadema and have referred me to a lymphadema specialist? I thought it only occurred in your arm or trunk area?

GmaFoley

Yes Valstim - you can have lymphedema in the legs too.. There are many ladies that have it. You have lymph nodes throughout your body including your groin area. This is where they might be compromised. Also any injuries or surgeries in that area can cause it.

A good page here to get help is https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/64/topics.... Ask and someone will help you with questions.

Tomboy

wow, Val. I have heard that it is possible, especially when women have nodes removed on the left side. Because the way the lymphatic system is set up, the right side lymph nodes mostly take care of just the right upper quadrant, (trunk, back, arm, and neck), and the left side nodes are more closely involved with both legs and the rest of your body. If you look at a map of the lymph system, there are also more nodes on that side of your body to take care of the added work. But glennie knows way more about the lymph system than I do, and binney, too. I haven't heard of this happening to anybody here on BCO, just that it would be possible. I am just shocked that a hospital has even HEARD of LE!!! Women with ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancers, or any cancers below the belt, with or without nodes removed, can get leg lymphedema. One unfortunate woman here was diagnosed with face and neck LE, till they found she had bladder cancer. A symptom. Thats funny you mention that, because I have been wondering myself at having some weird tingling and sharp pains on my LEFT unaffected side, and also have stopped wearing my rings, because they are getting stuck, even though I have lost weight. Maybe it could just be the heat?

Apologies and hello's to everyone, I have been having a lot of family of origin stuff, dealing with that, but I do check up and read what you all are up to, almost every night, I just don't post, cause tiredness and posting don't mix! (for me). This un- air conditioned heat is wearing me down.

Special hugs for Molly, and where is Ducky? Shorfi, I am sorry but understanding at taking a break. Iris, gosh, that is a LOT of testing, what the heck! I always think you are in better shape than most of us,with all your activities! Here's to them finding you are just fine.

Poppy, if it's not too late, I do hope you are able to convince your son to go! I finished chemo two days after Christmas in 2012, and my man thought it was a good idea to go to Utah, to see the parks. So, it was november of 2013 when we went, during the government shut-down, when all national parks were closed. Luckily for us, Utah decided to take the chance, and opened the parks. I was living through the non too fresh hell of LE, and was overly concerned with it, and possible cellulitis. For a serious tomboy, who loved the outdoors, I was worried. I was worried about sunburn, and dust, and scorpions, all kinds stuff, and I just didn't think I could do it. OH MY! It was so unbelievably beautiful, I wanted to move to Utah! Close to a spiritual experience, to go up the switchback in Zion, untouched by time, it looked pre-historic. Then Bryce,and Arches, and I LOVE HooDoos!!! I have never been happier since BC, with anything else I have done or seen,, and looking back, I was still very strong. When I next saw my oncologist, when I told him what I had done, he took a double-take at me, and asked if I had gone to the very top. I did, except for angels walk. He was impressed, and it was the best moment I ever had with him, and he said it was his favorite spot on the planet. So it was great when I handed him a shaman stone that I was carrying in my pocket. A stone found in the Colorado river, that natives believed had special healing properties. I still have another one, one that is pretty round, but has a prominence like a nipple, I am sure you can understand the significence of that one for me! I wish I was as still as strong as I was then, because the freakin stupid pills took away my endurance and strength and joy and balance and & & &..... idiot that I am, I wish I'd stopped sooner. Working on all that.

But I think you will find that you can walk further, and do more than you think you can! And I do hope he goes with you guys, he just might really love it!

ChiSandy

Got my mani and my keratin straightening done today (it’s forecast to be clear & dry till tom’w aft, and I have to keep my hair dry and straight (well, as dry as possible, given letrozole’s lovely neck sweats) for the next 72 hrs. Takes that long for the protein to fully penetrate the hair shaft an the cuticle stay closed & smooth--and the salt in one’s sweat can compromise that. Can’t put it up, can’t tie it back. If when I get up in the morning I find any part of my hair has kinked, waved or curled (or I accidentally get it wet) I have to flatiron it straight ASAP. Friday night I can finally wash it & blow it dry, and that will be it’s final condition till it grows out.

So I got home and read my e-mail while in my “porcelain office.” Got up after a satisfying poop and....red water in the bowl, but no pain. Ugh. (I had a clear colonoscopy in 2011, except for hemorrhoids--which I pretty much already knew I had). Royally pissed off...ergo, “rhoid rage.” I’ll ask Bob tonight if I should see a gastro, or let it “pass" (it happens about once or twice a year). Will definitely double up on the Colace and water. Unless I am in danger of bleeding out or infection, I don’t want to add to the menu of surgeries (two cataract, one thumb tendon release) already facing me this fall. (Unless, of course, I get a bulk-buying discount).

Tomboy

Yikes Sandy!! Hope it's alright down there!!

ChiSandy

So far so good tonight. I think I may have been straining early this afternoon, which may have caused the bleeding.

Tomboy

I hope so! I would be scared out of my wits!

GmaFoley

That would have put me in a panic! Oh My..

You remember about 10 months ago I was in a diet study and lost 12 pounds (20 lbs total).... Well I rebelled last month and I have gained all the 12 lbs back... I am sooooooooooo depressed today... I buck up and start again. It is so about food choices and rebelling just doesn't help matters. Started back on measuring and weighing my food choices once again.

proudtospin

Sorry Gm, hate when diets go off but give your self a break

We'll back is a tad stiff today after all those mris yesterday so just relaxing plan on early dinner with a pal, course got a brain scan tomorrow but only that

Watching olympics. Yahoo for our local gal who got a silver in individual gymnastics as well Being part of the team. Jersey tough,

octogirl

Proud, in your pocket for the scan!

Octogirl

duckyb1

I think about the LE going into the legs all the time......I have to say my legs have swollen, along with my feet and ankles to the point of uncomfortable...................I often wonder if that could be a result of the arm LE too...........have asked many LE specialists and no one has ever given me a straight answer.....it's always "probably not, but then again I can't say for sure".............well thanks for nothing.............

I want to have knee replacement, but I am so friggin scared of getting LE as a result of the surgery I have kept putting it off.......that would be all I need........that happens I wi ll cash in my chips, and say f--k it all................so I can clearly understand anyone's concern...........I keep showing it to my cardio, thinking maybe it could be heart related.............he says....."well you do have a full leg ".................I feel like saying......"I know that dip shit", but not this f/n big...........and you don't know swollen from just plain fat............ugh..............and no one can give me an answer..........Yea, I'm on a water pill............doesn't do shit................OK, was I just whining........LOL......hugs ladies and have a great day all of you.............

Suladog

just checking in sitting in the docs office at UCSF here to talk about ovary removal

proudtospin

hmm, good luck

Tomboy

I hope you find out all you need, Sula, and enjoy a great meal or two while there, AND the weather!

ChiSandy

LE goes into the legs either when groin lymph nodes are disturbed (as they would NOT be during knee replacement surgery) or, more rarely but still possibly, after left-sided lymph axillary or SNB node removal as part of bc surgery. That’s because the R armpit drains only within the R upper quadrant (above the navel) whereas the L drains down to both legs. Ducky, if your feet & legs are swollen, that’s either inflammation from arthritis or soft-tissue injuries or age-related cardiovascular or renal edema at work. (If your legs & feet aren’t “pitting” when pressed then the cause is most likely inflammatory). I’d listen to the cardiologist--but ask for blood work to rule out cardiovascular or renal causes. (Lasix took very quick care of my foot & leg edema after my Italy trip last month--the cause was physical stress from a sudden major increase in exercise, excess sodium in my food, and a 10+ hr flight with little opportunity to get up & walk around the cabin).

Tomboy

Yeah, Chi. That's the same thing I told Valstim up there above your keratin post. Because Val did have left nodes removed.

ChiSandy

My LE PT taught me to do MLD by (in sequence) massaging first the supraclavicular nodes, then the R axillary, then the L axillary, then gently stroke the thoracic/subclavicular pathway leftward. Then massage the inguinal nodes on both sides, then stroke each quadrant of my R breast, then down my R side from axilla to inguinal. Only then do I do the affected R arm. I had always wondered why the L axillary and thoracic pathway were included but not the abdominal pathway--now I know, thanks to Tomboy.

Molly50

In your pocket for tomorrow, Iris. Duckyb, I can hear your frustration. It does seem like often doctors brush off what they see as common minor ailments of the older population. You are a very active woman. You need someone to listen to you.

Di2012

Okay...I am crazy,and I belong here....I am in a "pissy" mood....I am having my every other month UTI....had to go to urgent care on the weekend, as my primary doc is just tooooooo busy......the same nasty bladder bug Proteus Mirabilis, I have to be very careful with antibiotics since I had severe sepsis......I was to follow up with mrs busy doc....called this moring and they said they could get me in the second week of Sept......In the mean time I had my 3 month check with my oncologist. today.....he said the antibiotics should take care of it. I am still anemic (for years.)...suggested iron infusion, said he still thinks I have MDS, myelodysplastic syndrome, and wants to do another bone marrow harvest.

When I get home from onco I have a message from mrs busy doctor wants to see me.......The best part of my day was to call her office and say that I am okay and I am NOT coming in for my UTI as my oncologist took care of me and I am cancelling my yearly physical in Oct.....SHE IS FIRED....mrs busy bitch doctor.

Thanks to severe sepsis:

Done with my PT for my knee....PT gave me a LOT of Pain! .....stopped wearing my leg brace as my foot was going numb.....next MRI, end of month.

Hubby and went a week cruise first week in August on an Alaska cruise to Glacier Bay and College Fjord, ending in Whittier/Anchorage....I was in a wheelchair the entire trip, a whole new perspective, although I did my Interrior Design independent study thesis on Designing for the Handicap (before it was the law).

ChiSandy I have been told if it is RED it is close to the "Exit"....fissure, H-roids...if it looks like coffee ground call your doctor!

Good night everyone!

Di....the crazy, tired one

Celebrated our 48th anniversary on the 16th

ChiSandy

Definitely was bright red, "out the back door" (and didn’t look anemic, either). But definitely discrete--not mixed with the stool, so it was “right by the exit." Fine today--drinking enough water, taking my Colace, eating my fruit & veg., and being patient rather than straining. I know the coffee-grounds stuff means higher up the pipeline, perhaps even bleeding ulcer. Hope I never see that.

TMI !!!!

Valstim52

Thanks so much ChiSandy ahd Tomboy. I idefinitely have stage 1 LE (learned a lot yesterday, didn't know there are stages? ) set up for massaging and at home exercises and will see therapist at least twice weekly for now. . I have it in my left arm/hand/fingers etc, The jury is still out on my left leg, I see my ortho today, because I broke my knee cap 3 years ago, and it could be a flare.

Molly50

Di, you have so much going on!! Is atrophy the reason for the chronic UTI's or the sepsis? I'm so glad you got to do that cruise. That's the only cruise I have any desire to go on. It's on my bucket list.

GmaFoley

Wow - I missed a whole lot in the last couple of days. Ladies that need prayer - this whole group is on my list every morning. Praying for you all.

The next few days are HOT - going to be 111 in town tomorrow, which means 116 at our house. So brown outs and power outages are in the future. I don't like the idea of power outage - no air conditioning or fans that way .. Hubby has a little power generator that will keep the freezer and refrigerator going but nothing else.

proudtospin

ok back from today's mri, this one of my brain, dandy

I used to get a ton of uti, they showed up every time I took an antibiotic for sinus infection....it was just a given that I would end up with a uti

Then one of my docs told me to take a probiotic, bingo, big change and much less often course my sinus infections were also resolved with sinus surgery a few years ago

We'll, ready for a nap!

Lucy55

ugh.. What a week..I had my yearly screening tests , and ( of course) they found a lump !! 😞 I had to have it biopsied , and then the awful hideous wait for results... Luckily it turned out to be a fibroademona.. but I've been having the biggest anxiety attack ever.!!!

GmaFoley

Oh no Lucy.... hugs for you... Glad it turned out for you but that is scary..

octogirl

Lucy, that is so scary. I am very sorry :-( but yay for good results! (((Lucy)))

proudtospin

hate false alarms but glad it was only a false alarm

Sleep tonight all, no appts tomorrow

Yahoo I think

Molly50

Hugs, Lucy!! That must have been a terrible wait. Iris, praying for good results.