Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

hey gals

Glad to hear that mel you are out of the way and trusting not too much damage is done in the wake of Ike

Skye phew getting the port out is a final goood bye to chemo done , gone over ..... hope your grendel is ok ! owuch !

caya sound like your b day was good ..... i have been in touch with a couple of our Canadian girls from the boards here . One of them Jackie , a girl i did chemo with at southlake is in pal care with lung mets , i went to see her yesterday and she is fighting all the way .....

 "dreamwriter 'a girl she met here i am picking up tomorrow in TO and going for a visit to see her . Another Canadian sister ..... What a small world and a small one of support , sisters in arms we will be tomorrow!

Well i got my test results and i am POSITIVE BCRA1 with an anomaly in the BCRA2 gene which they cannot identify yet . Sooooo I have a lot of decisions to make , it was a long meeting at Sunnybrook with the drs , lots of info and things to think about . I will need some input from you reconstruct gals as mastectomy is a definite , ovaries are more important now thats first . BUT this is preventative after surgery thats it , but i need 2 ........ here i go ......  

As I go along I will certainly be back here for a while ...... what a trip .... who would know how life would go ..... we may set a record here for all the ifs and maybe;s that could go on with this .

I am off Monday too for a followup colonoscopy ..... that i expect to show ok .... as my "poops " are regular ............ a glass of wine tonight for me !

And Joni ..... touch base ..... we love ya !  

Yes, Mel, your trip to Colorado couldn't have been timed more perfectly.  I'd love to see Breckenridge.  I'm not a skiier anymore, but even still.  Aspen too.  I hope your house is intact when you get back.  100 mph winds are not good.  Mary, does your son plan to relocate out of TX at a certain point?

Sharon, I don't know why I was kind of taken aback when you announced you were BRCA positive.  I guess it's because so much of the time the dr's seem to discount that you ever could be...  I think it's great that you know so you can do more to help yourself (ovaries).  You sound really good...sorry about your friend.  That's hard to see happen to someone....upsetting.

My parents just left.  They got here last Saturday...I think?  Can't even remember.  They were going to stay until Monday but it just got to be too much...  I really ran out of stuff to entertain them with.  After you do the DC thing, you've kid of been there/done that.  And out here in Loudoun County, there just isn't all that much going on, except for the usual stuff in every town...except it's a pain in the neck drive to everything.  Mall is ten miles away, etc.  I really miss the convenience of south Florida.  You could pop in/out of your house ten times a day.  Here, you minimize your trips out because of all the driving.  I hate being cooped up all day, so it's hard for me.

Soccer games for both kids today.  DH and I will have to split up as they are simultaneous.  I know effexor is supposed to take a while to feel the effect, but I swear, I felt it instantly.  As soon as I took my first dose, I felt alive/awake again...  I had been really lethargic.  I think it's due to hitting the wall relocation wise...  you go through so much stuff, buying the house, moving in, getting the kids settled in school, etc...  then boom.  It's done.  And now what...  well, I'lll be busy through Nov. w/soccer 4 nights a week and Saturdays.  Plus, I've volunteered at Paul's school.  The school is just kind of dropping the fight incident on the bus, thank God, as I'd be really bummed for him if he got suspended.  He was despondent..."Mom!  I'll never be able to get a good job!" (sounds funny, but he was really worked up.)

Hi gals,

Debbie I'm glad you're safe from Ike and Mel I'll be keeping fingers crossed for your house. At least YOU aren't there, the most important and irreplaceable thing. Mary, had to chuckle at your son's hurricane diet. I think if any young guy has pizza, coke and whiskey they can make it through any disaster.



Mel I bet you looked adorable in the headband. What a good idea!



Tina, you have been through the inlaw wringer, lately. I'll be in DC next Friday thru Monday, then flying home Tuesday. Perhaps we could squeeze in a meet up on Sun. afternoon. Monday DH and I are taking the train downtown to see the new Native American museum. And yay on the school dropping the bus issue. Poor Paul, thinking his future employment hopes were dashed!



Rebecca you're grading papers? I imagine you will have more unbelievable plagiary tales.



Sharon I think it's always good to know what we're actually dealing with. I know you'll get some good info from the gals here with experience.



I've had a yukkier day than expected. I got up fairly early and took "Conehead" Grendel outside, (LOL I'm glad I don't have to wear a cone, too) then had the worst case of constipation in my life followed by throwing up the glass or so of water I'd had to drink, accompanied by very bad cold sweats and headache. I called the doc on call, he thought it might have been the pain pills, tramadol, that I took the night before. No more pain pills for me! The incision didn't hurt so much today anyway but I still was in bed sleeping off anesthesia the whole day and will be again soon I can tell. I've been able to eat some soup and such so I do seem to be improving. It's much more of a recovery process than I expected, however.



Stay safe everyone who's anywhere near Ike! - Skye

Mary we are getting soaked here too but nothing like Ike. Hope your son's apartment survives! I think I felt that kind of panic back on 9-11 when my DS was somewhere in Europe and I didn't know where and nowhere to reach him, and we didn't really know how far the problem would reach yet.



I'm still feeling yuk, tomorrow I'm supposed to take my mom to her MRI and Friday we leave for VA for nephew's wedding.



One other thing I forgot to mention, while I was lying there waiting for my sedation in the day surgery room, I was listening to the nurses' chatter, and one of them said, "Hey, send this to Rebecca and Jan!" So I went under thinking of the Ta Ta's. - Skye

Hello TaTas,

Well we made it to Alaska.  I slept quite a bit of the trip.

I did make it on my Dog Sled Run....it was a blast.  They had 16 dog pulling our sled, and it was so much fun, and so fast.  Afterwards they let you hold the puppies...I was in heaven.

Sharon, sorry about the BRCA genes testing positive.  At least you can do  few things ab out it.

Skye, that wedding looked beautiful.

This week are all my scans and meeting with my oncologist.

Melia....congrats on the great news on your daughter.

hugs to alll......Joni

HI, ladies!

Joni, How cool you were able to make the trip and hang with the dogs! I would have been right there in heaven with you and the puppies.  Will be thinking calm thoughts for you this week as you  get through all the appointments.

 Ah Sharon, I'm so sorry that the BRCA testing is testing you now. Please know that we're here to be your sounding board if you need it. Blessings on you as you wade through all the decisions and information.

 Mary, I'm sure the whole family is nerve-wracked from waiting to see the true outcome of the hurricane. I hope Ike doesn't cause your son much long-term trouble.

 Tina, you wear me out reading about all your activity. Really, really wear me out. What a busy mom and wife you are. Don't forget the Tina in all of that. You've been through enough.

 Skye, the wedding photos are gorgeous. Truly beautiful.

 Debbie, I was done with my rad. onc 3 months after I finished treatment. You're still going???? Dr. M said unless I have a recurrence, he's done with me. 

 Mel, I'm so glad Colorado is being good for you. Enjoy those mountains for me.

   I got to attend the Nebraska-New Mexico football game last night in Lincoln. I love college football. What a party. It was awesome - me and almost 85,000 of my closest friends. A great day.

 I see my onc in two weeks. I think I'm okay but there are a couple of things to chat about.

 Wow, it's mid-September already. I'm sure we were just planning the trip to LV.

 Happy week, everyone!

 Cindy

Joni, so great to hear from you and that you had your trip and even got to hold puppies. It sounds like a fantabulous time, and something to think about while you're getting scanned and tested. Keep us up to date on all that.



Cindy, you and 85,000 of your closest friends, LOL! I hope you really partied hearty.



I, too, was done with the rads onc after my 3-month checkup. Never ceases to amaze me how differently various docs do things.



Finally quit raining here. I was supposed to take my mom for an MRI today but my niece can do it if I'm not up to it.



Marvelous Monday everyone! - skye

DS made it back to his apartment and it is intact but trees and fences down everywhere ... looks like a war zone.  They say 1 day to 3 weeks before the power comes back.  Mel, what is your plan?   They haven't called him back to work yet so he's talking about going and volunteering somewhere.  I hope this ends up being a good experience in meeting some other people there who care.  It's all I can think about.

Rebecca, I'm worrying along with you.

Joni, so glad you got to go on your trip.  Yes we'd love to see pics.

I saw my breast surgeon for my checkup today and everything is fine.  One appt down and 3 more to go in the next 2 weeks but then I'll be done for awhile.

Sharon sorry about your genetics.  I hope you get good decisions on what to do.  That's a hard one.

Cindy, that sounds like some party. 

Jan, glad you enjoyed the mountains.

Skye, hope you feel better soon.

Caya, how are the girls doing...are you lonely?

Rebecca,

Please give Frances lots of hugs from all of us. We are with both of you in spirit. I wish we all lived closer- then we could give her real hugs and also hold your hand. Please let us know how it goes. 

Mary,

I am glad your DS made it back safely. That's a relief.

Sharon,

I am sorry you are BRCA +. Do you have bc in your family? Jan, Mel, Lynn and I had diep reconstruction. I am very pleased with the results. If you need any information, please let us know, We have plenty to share.

Joni,

I am so happy you went on your cruise. Please let us know how it goes this week.

Skye,

Congrats on getting your port out. I hope you feel better soon. 

Love,

Viddie 

Both Lynn and I had Stage 3 of the Diep on Thursday. We were in the recovery room together- opposite each other so we got to talk a little- we were both very groggy. I feel that Stage 3 was harder than Stage 2. I thought I would feel better the next day, but I still am very tired. That's it for me- no more surgeries unless absolutely necessary.

Lynn became very anemic after the surgery. When she got home, she was very weak and couldn't walk. She was re-admitted to a hospital near her on Saturday. They had to give her a few blood transfusions. She said that she should be going home tomorrow. She should be getting another transfusion today. Poor Lynn.

Lynn,

Hugs to you. Hang in there. We are finally finished!!! I hope you feel better real soon.

Well, I just wrote a big long post and lost it.  It seems that I've missed a bunch of the emails or posts on this board.  Not sure what is going on with Frances, but I love her and her mom, and will dutifully worry until we hear she is ok. 

Joni, so glad you made it on the cruise!!  I've been thinking of you and so hoping you got to do your dog sled ride.  It sounds so wonderful - and especially with puppies at the end.  Please let us know how things go this week, and how you are feeling.  You rarely complain,  but I know you weren't feeling well before the cruise.  Hope you're feeling stronger now.  Hugs to you.

Mary, I've been thinking of your DS also - so glad his place is ok, and I'm sure he will also be back to work soon.  They are getting power up to the plants, etc. as quickly as possible, so hopefully he will get the call soon.  Meanwhile, what a great opportunity to volunteer to help out others.

Sharon, sorry about the BRCA results, but it is always better to know what you need to do.  I'm so glad that the colonoscopy turned out well.  Let us know what you decide to do - we'll be right there with you as always.

Melia, I totally understand and agree with your decision, especially with your grandchild coming.  It does take a lot of energy to worry about all this stuff, and if that can make it easier for you, then that is what you should do.  I think it's a good decision.  But remember, you will still have to have mammograms and/or mri's, or at least I do. 

Skye, hope you're feeling better.  How is Grendel doing - still in his collar!  Cindy, it's always good to hear from you - Hope you are enjoying your fall - or has it happened yet?

Well, we were abruptly yanked from our idyllic mountain vacation, right back into the land of stress, just as we were STARTING to relax.  Larry's boss called him yesterday morning and asked him to cut short his vacation and come home.  We did get them to spring for a plane ticket, so he is flying home right now.  I could have stayed in the cabin, but it would have been lonely without him, and it is very remote and at nearly 10,000 feet, so I decided I wasn't comfortable staying there by myself with no one around.  I cried halfway to Denver, then perked up - after all, I am staying here with my dear friends, with whom I never have enough time.  It is beautiful here, great places to walk Harrison, and I have a couple other friends in town I need to visit.  Then I will make my way to my Mom's in Kansas, stay a couple of days, and then come home.  As of last night, we do have power, so I could go any time, but I am going to take advantage of the time I have now.  I will miss Larry, but will make the most of it.

Our next door neighbor and another guy took care of all the downed branches and trees yesterday, and then our pet sitter went after them and collected 7-8 bags of smaller debris - they say we have the neatest yard in the neighborhood.  How lucky are we??  Christi cleaned out the regrigerator and freezer, and then yesterday our cleaning lady came and cleaned all the melty stuff up and cleaned up our floors.  I guess we're in good shape, and I do feel so grateful to have people like that pitch in.  Of course, that's kind of what you do in a disaster, but still....don't know how we will repay them.

I spoke with Viddie yesterday, which was wonderful - heard the news about Lynn, which is not wonderful, but Lynn, I hope you are feeling much better by now and get to go home.  Who would expect Stage 3 to take such a toll?  Viddie, hope you are feeling well, also, and it was sooooo good to hear your voice!

Jan, Caya, Deb, everyone else, thinking of you and sending hugs.

Hello dear Ta Tas,

DH and I made our third trip to Queen's U in 3 weeks yesterday - Amanda came home for the weekend for BFF's daughter's wedding (which was beautiful, the bride was gorgeous in a cream raw silk strapless gown).  We took an old kitchen table with 4 chairs for the apartment, along with some other assorted stuff - I think she's finally settled in now. Cassie is happy in her downtown apartment, and yes so we are empty-nesters again.  Mary you asked if I'm lonely - not really, because I talk to them every day, and we've seen them alot.  Also Amanda will be here at home for practically the whole month of October to do her first round of the practicum (student teaching).

Sharon - sorry about your BRCA 1+ results, but as everyone has said, better to know what you are dealing with. Glad that your colonoscopy was clear.  Did you find housing for your daughter?

Viddie - glad you are done with stage 3.  Try to rest, your body is tired, so listen to yourself!!

Lynn -  I hope you are recovering from your ordeal, it sounds very stressful.

Melia - I have thought about doing a prophylactic mast. - but my onc. and breast onc. have both talked me out of it.  I am being vigilant with exams, and also when I had my breast reduction the pathology on the left side came back perfectly clean, no sign of anything suspicious.  So I guess I feel somewhat reassured.  I may revisit that decision in the future, and if you feel it's right for you , then go ahead with it. I think when they do the prophylactic side they don't take any nodes, so there shouldn't be any weakness on the "good" side.

 Mel - Sorry you had to cut your trip short, but it sounds like you are having some quality visiting time with your Denver friends and then your mother in Kansas.

Joni - I am so glad you made the trip, the dog sled sounds like quite the experience.  Good luck with your scans and meeting with your onc.  We will all be routing for you.

Hugs to everyone else - Skye, Jan,Tina, Cindy, Debbie, Rebecca and Frances  (our honorary member) - anyone else I may have forgotten,

xo

Hi all,

We are driving down to visit Meri in Richmond, and stopping in Gettysburg tomorrow night at a very nice B & B. I am probably nuts for driving so far so soon after my stage 3, but this is the only weekend that we can go. We will be back on Tuesday.

I hope everyone has a fantastic week.

Love,

Viddie 

Hi Ladies,

I'm "chiming in", Caya, to keep us off page 2.   Not too much new here.  I just re-read the last weeks posts as I knew I was  missing stuff, such as Viddie and Lynn's simultaneous stage 3.  I am blown away that they were in the recovery room together.  How much of a coincidence is that?  Crazy!  Sorry to hear Lynn felt bad, but thank God she saw a dr. out in western Ma.  I'm not exactly sure what the stage 3 entailed, but it doesn't sound fun.  Viddie, you sound sworn off surgery for awhile, like me.

Jan, travel is feast or famine.  It's hard with young kids at home, for sure.  Viddie, enjoy Richmond.  Trees haven't really changed much, but weather has been great...it's cooling off into 70's, low 80's.  You'll have a nice weekend.  Take it easy...I'm sure you are tired from last week. 

Skye and I are hoping to connect this Sunday as she is in town for a wedding.  Other than that, crazy soccer week, as usual, but I am getting to know a few moms on Jaclyn's team that I like.  I'm volunteering at Paul's school again today, so that's good. 

Galveston looks just annihilated.  It really makes me rethink ever moving to the coast.  Miami and Ft. Laud. have been spared with the exception of Andrew, but just the flooding we got in a tropical storm ten years ago kept us from leaving the house for 3 days...  and if I moved back down there, how do you evacuate?  You can only go so far west before you're in the swamp...and traffic going up 95 would be at a crawl.  Deb, you do seem spared in Austin...like you said.  The weather never seems to make it that far in...  Cindy, glad you had so much fun at the game.  You sound like you are loving life.

Melia, on the possible prophylactic mastectomy, all I can say is that had I just had a mastectomy and not the TRAM flap, I think my recovery would have been much easier.  You really just don't have feeling there after, so the pain is kind of minimal.

Caya, I'm only taking 1/2 the effexor dose and I feel pretty good.  I'm thinking I may not up it to the two pills because why do it if not necessary?  Don't you just take one?  I'm also feeling better because it's killed my appetite and I'm down a couple pounds, which I needed desperately.  That, in itself, had me feeling bad.  Oh, also, I had my hair fixed after the lady dyed it jet black last week.  I swear, I looked goth.  It's back to medium brown w/some blond streaks.  More like Jan's color, which is similar to my natural color.  Note to file:  spend the extra money for the double processing so I look like me.

Melia - being at peace with your decision surely means that you've made the right choice.

Tina - I laughed so hard at your comment about paying more for the hair color. My DH complains each month about how much I spend on my hair. So I just say "OK, I'll just stop getting the highlights that you like, or maybe I'll save even more and just go with grey hair." This always stops the complaining.

Rebecca- the conference that I'm at is the annual conference for one of my clients. They are all college professors in a particular specialty area. 1,900 of them! It's an interesting group.

$70 ?!? Dont you dare let my husband find out about that!