Motivation

Allie!  Cold and foggy still?  YUKKO!!!!!!!!!!!  Just had lunch with DD and sat outside, the place was packed!  Boudin, its new and its popular and it is HOT outside!!!  But didn't have a hot flash, which surprised me cause the heat seems to make them appear!  Great on the gym/yoga everyday commitment!!  Can you stick to it?? haha!!  

Spring, so are you able to try on your normal bra, same size, etc?  Poor thing, that must hurt so soon after surgery!!

Joy, awesome on the yoga, dog walks and working nights!!  Your schedule is always all over the place!  Neat about your hair!!

My DD said at lunch ' don't even think about cutting your hair or anything on your own, let me know, because I'm sending you to my girl and I'm paying for it!' - How lucky am I???  WOO HOO!!!!!!! 

Hi, all ~  After 2 days of limping around, I really needed to walk. so I popped an aspirin, put on my sneakers, and did 4.5 miles this morning.  My SUV has been in the shop for almost a week now (grrrr.... nightmare extended warranty saga -- even worse than a Homeowner's Warranty, if you've ever tried to use one of those to replace a high end appliance!) -- and I badly needed an outlet for all the built up stress!  So I was really glad I pushed myself to get out and move!

Spring ~  I'm surprised that you even tried to put on a bra already!  Are you sure your surgeons want something rubbing that transplant area yet?  Do you have to go back to NOLA for a followup?

Joy ~  Good to hear from you, and glad you're keeping up with yoga.

Where's everyone else?  Penny?  Val?  Mum?  Helena?  And others???  Hope everyone's okay and just busy!     Deanna

Hey Deanna - I am here lurking every day.  I reside on the "Bottle o Tamoxifen" thread which if you ever visit is soooo busy - takes all my effort to keep up (and post) there - just ask Kari and Allie.  I still have my squeaky implant and also had my "fipples" done on Monday so no exercise permitted for me at all till I get my stitches out next Monday.  All this stop starting with exercise because of surgeries is a real pain, but this too shall pass.

I had a whinge to my GP (that's what we call our doctors over here - general practitioners) and she suggested I pick up a 2nd hand exercise bike for those days when I can't run - can still build up a sweat and get the heart rate going and doesn't have all that jostling, squeaking and squishing. 

Love to read all your positive posts and great to read all your inspiring efforts to overcome pain, sickness, recovery and dreaded damn car problems stress!!!!!!!!

side hugs and handshakes

Helena

Hi All,

Big hi to all .Haven't been posting but lurking.

Had my total hysterectomy mid Aug, small speed bump after which put me back almost 2 weeks, doing great now. Needless to say not really been exercising, walking the dog lately but no "formal"exercise. See Dr today and hopefully will be cleared to exercise again.

I have been having a hard time with this forum lately, although not this thread.I will read this thread and the aww so cute one. I am finding some women acting almost like victims. Let me explain, we have all been given a raw deal here with the BC, but then you have those who constantly complain of the care they are given. "I had my mammogram and no one told me the results for 2 days and the technician (side note, we are technologists) hurt me or was rude, doesn't she realize how stressful this is! (another side note: yes she does!!) I didn't get my biopsy results for 3 days, I had to go see the dr to get them, no one would phone me!" Okay I am being whiny but really, one has to realize that there are policies and procedures and these things sometimes take time to get the diagnosis! But that is why I like this thread, you all have been given that raw deal, but you are not acting like "victims", yes you state what has been going on, we all want to know but on this thread no one is pointing the finger at there issues being someone elses fault. I like this thread because it concentrates on the healing. Sorry folks, I guess I just really needed to voice that.  I want to move beyong the BC and I truly feel this is one of about 2 threads I read that are doing that. Yes many still have issues but they are not dwelling on them, they are trying to rise above them.

I was going to just fade away and not come back to the forum but found I still needed the ladies on this thread. You are all still my inspiration and motivation. I am sorry for my rant, but sometimes once it is said, one can move on. I feel I still need this thread and you ladies, but I must refrain from other threads as they depress me. Thank you all for being you and being so supportive to each other. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone's feelings, I am not the greatest writer and things don't always come out the way they are intended, so one last kick at the cat so I am clear about my rant. I would like to thank you all for being a support system that doesn't dwell on what happened in the past but rather looking toward the future to better ourselves so we can lead healthy, happy lives, BC free!

Hoping you will still have me here.

Penny

I have been wondering about you everyday and hoped you were still around lurking or whatever. And you know what? I agree with you. I had to stop reading another thread when all I felt was negativity being tossed around and holier than thou attitudes. That's so NOT me! I find comfort on this thread and I look forward to the positive ladies and gracious at that. I also love the bottle of tamox thread, since I'm on the Tamoxi train too! Hi Helena & Allie & Meg!! I am trying to get back to a wonderful quality of life, and yes BC is a part of that, but I want the positive aspect of it all now! We have all suffered through DX and treatments, yes! And yes, some have it worse than others, NONE of us wanted SFBC (stupid fu**ing breast cancer) in the first place, and some of us are mad that our disease is more advanced, but stage is no guarantee and treatment, etc. I am going to fight this beast with dignity and pride and smiles and laughter, and be positive cause that's who I am. WOW....got off on my own little rant there...sorry folks!! LOL!!

With that being said, welcome back! And for all those lurkers of this thread, pop in and say hello, even if you aren't formally exercising, you have to walk somewhere don't you? Let us know how you're doing, cause we're all trying to achieve the same goal....LIVING!!! Welcome to anyone anyday who wants to share anything!!

Allie, at least the TV in the gym has something interesting to watch! That's funny...Barbarians II!! You are soooo going to learn stuff while exercising!!

Deanna, boy, I still don't get how you can walk that far, especially after limping around! And warranties are just a bust sometimes, what a pain! So did your toe hurt while you were walking your mini marathon?

Faythnme, Welcome! I can't help with your question but I'm sure some of the other gals may have some tips. I still notice now, every morning and evening when I lay down to do stretch my mast site it is still so tight, takes a while for it to stretch and relax. Guess it will always be like that?? Maybe PS has some advice? Gee, hope it gets better soon for you!

Helena, hope you're healing well my friend! Side hug!

Mandy, yippee!!! You are coming out to Cali!! Allie, lives in San Francisco! Is your DD going to school out here? Drive the coast down to Big Sur or Pismo/San Luis area, so beautiful. We were thinking of going down to Pismo or Tahoe tomorrow. I'm taking off work at 11am. and enjoying the last of our hot hot weather out of town! Try http://www.visitslo.com/ for some info and also www.bigsurcalifornia.org. We've stayed in Pismo and San Luis lots of times and you can't go wrong anywhere you go. My DD was just down there last weekend, and they stayed in San Luis and then went wine tasting and went to Hearst Castle (about 55 miles north) on a tour and said it was really worth going to. Another guy in my office, his wife is from Pismo Beach. I will ask for any suggestions and if he has any, I will let you know. Have fun!

So I did NO exercise yesterday, had lunch w/ DD and went over her house for dinner. She was making and decorating cookies for a friend's event so I helped her and made banana muffins, yummy whole grain! It was a late night for me! I was so tired, but didn't get to bed til 11pm, which I'm usually asleep at 9:30, but was up 3 times during the night and up at 5:30 for work. Feeling pretty good though!!

"United we stand. Divided we fall. We're tighter than pantyhose two sizes small!"
~Anonymous

Hi all!

I am happy to report I had a pretty good nights sleep last night, (maybe since both drains are now gone?) and today I took a 1 mile walk with DH! It took 23 minutes, but I am pleased. You should have seen me - keeping my upper half as still as possible (think STIFF!!) while moving my legs as fast as they could go. I must have looked a sight. But i did it! I hope I can do this again tomorrow.

I wore a bra for the walk, and whipped that thing off when at home. Just not ready yet for it!

Spring. 

Deanna, Kerri, Allie, Thanks for your suggestions.  I realized it was a bit off topic but I knew there were alot of Cali gals on this thread so I was hoping to get some good ideas.  And you did not let me down.  My daughter is a journalist hopeful.  She is a 2008 college graduate who moved to San Fran for a journalism fellowship.  That ended in June and she is looking for a journalism job and just got a free lance article published in Wired so that is a beginning!!!  She has fallen in love with San Francisco and I am afraid that this East Coast mom will be doing a couple of trips West every year.  This time we decided to take a short "road trip" in addition to my few days in San Fran.

And Penny, I agree--there are some threads that I avoid because they are so negative.  

But I also try not to be negative when I post.  All of us have been through alot and this thread is a great one because it is about taking what you've been given and doing the best you can.  Months ago when I just finished chemo and rads, I posted that I was just trying to start walking and got alot of support from you gals.  Thanks!!!

And anyone else with Northern Cali suggestions, feel free to send them to me!!! 

After what Penny just said I am outta here.

Appalling, 

Rachel--don't goooooooo.....hee hee!

Brenda--you inspired ME to start a daily exercise challenge for myself although I am only 4 out of 4! Going for all week. Mine is either to the gym for elliptical or to yoga. I don't know if I can keep that up for 21 days (my legs are sore!) but I want to go one week just to get in the habit and then figure out a schedule with walking interspersed....  

Penny, totally get you, I only have a couple of threads I'll look at too.  Yes we all need to vent,  and sometimes we need others to say, yes, that is crappy treatment you need to find another center doc etc.  And, when the rest of the world moves on, we need a place to come and find those that understand our world changed forever.  So, in some way, I think the negativity can be needed support.  However, I think it sometimes whips people up into unreal expectations, makes them high maintennance in a way, if that makes any sense.  I find days I spend looking or reading too much depressing.  I end up moping and thinking of my cancer.  Real woe is me days.  What the heck does that do to improve my life? Days I look at threads about recipes and this thread.  I put the computer down, get some reading done, think about how I can help someone else (instead of the someone else needing to make me feel better), do some good cooking, have fun with family, read for pleasure etc.  Much more upbeat.  DH notices the difference so much he really gets a frown on his face when I've been on this site for a long time--he knows the day won't go well.  So, Penny, I agree, what's here can be helpful or not depending on our stage of treatment, what we're going through.  All things in moderation, right? 

That said, my anniversay of diagnosis etc coming up, sensing some major board time coming on.  For today however, saying good day to all of you, make it a good one, I plan on going out and getting a huge backlog of work done, then coming home to spend some quality alone time with DH.  Hmmm, wait, maybe a little more time here, where is that mojo thread? 

Brenda and kmmd, that's what I was trying to say!  

Penny, its so hard to articulate the right words!!  But nice to know we can vent here and reunite!!  So happy that your path report was normal!  WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am so happy.

I got a some good news too, I posted on the Tamox thread...I had emailed my rad onc asking how much of my heart was hit during rads and he wrote back:

"Kari,
I reviewed your radiation treatment plans. Your heart received almost no radiation because I was able to arrange the beams that way. I am not aware of any heart monitoring tests for early detection of heart problems due to radiation. We have the standard heart tests that are performed when a patient is suspected of having angina or a heart attack. I think your risk for heart problems due to radiation therapy is exceedingly low.

Dr. Koo"

I am soooooooooo relieved!!!!!!!!!!!!  Got up at 5:15 this a.m. and hopped on the treadmill, I was sweating afterward!  So I am off at 11 today and DH and I are going out of town to play!  His idea!  WOW!!!  Oh....so when I got home yesterday he wanted to 'fool around'....I really need my MOJO back......total bummer on my part, but he was happy! haha!

Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat.
  ~ Anonymous 

Penny ~ For what it's worth, I'm not sure everyone here realizes that you're a mammographer, and that the only examples of whining you gave were ones involving test results, which I'm sure are especially frustrating and personal to you.  I just wanted to point that out to anyone who may have missed that subtlety because I think it's important.   Deanna

Hi, Faythnme ~ Not sure what to suggest for the tightness, but I know swimming has helped me to get rid of some post-rads tightness I'd suffered with for several months.  I know you mentioned stretching, but if you can swim at some point (maybe not quite yet), it's a nice, gentle way way to get a lot of stretching in.  I also had some healing touch massage sessions, and that also helped a lot.  As you may know, Healing Touch is an extremely gentle massage that focuses on tranferring energy to you, rather than manipulating muscles. 

Can you apply heat to the tight area?  That always seems to relax and relieve pain for me, but I don't know if you can use one of those microwavable heat things while you're still healing from surgery.     Deanna  

Vivre: love the positive attitude in your post, and love the thought of jumping for joy.  We have so much equipment now in our basement, don't want to put something else in unless I'm sure I'd use it a lot, but might try my sister's out for awhile and see if I'd like it enough to get one for myself.  How does it help the lymph system more then like rowing?  My LE therapist told me yesterday that some might think she's nuts, but since she has been doing the deep breathing exercises every day that she has her LE patients do, she hasn't gotten any colds or flu.  Thought that was interesting.  Since I have to do them anyway for my arm I'll hope that they have additional benefits too.  BTW: love my LE therapist because her attitude is life must go on, here's what we're going to do to keep you using that arm and moving, instead of giving me a list of things and exercises that I can't do.

Just passsing through. Had yesterday off and it rained!! So I didn't get to see the Embers last night. (outside concert) Overcast today too. I guess I now have to look forward to the pig pickin' in VA in two weeks. Didn't gt to walk the dog twice yesterday. She wouldn't even stick her nose out and then this morning I couldn't get her out of the pond. I guess it is just different "water". Have any of you watche Dr Oz or go to his website. He has exercises on it that are simple and fun. Even dance steps! It has been entertaining and keeping me moving on these rainy days. Night shift for the weekend again. Seafood festival is next weekend. Everyone keep moving!  Joy