please help

Shirlann, don't worry about your son's grey hair, it is a sign of dignity and maturity.  My hair is getting really grey also but my beautician won't color it, she said that women would pay dearly to get the frosting effect that I have naturally in my hair. I just call them my platinum highlights. When I wore my Genie costume to the church fall festival (with the dark brown braid) one of the young girls actually asked me if the braid was my own hair! There wasn't a grey strand in it and I wear my hair normally very short. I don't know what she was thinking. 

Sheila

Hi Shirlann! Awww , Shirlann , I wish I could give you a BIG hug , and then take you out for a "joy ride". Remember when we were younger , we would just go riding around in our cars just to talk and see who else was riding around!? And we could talk about the good old days when we were young and naive and all the hearts we broke , and all the times our hearts were broke. And all the silly things we did growing up. I tell ya Shirlann , nothing makes me feel good about the age I am right now , except knowing the knowledge I have and remembering all the stupid and "drama" times in my oh , so younger days! The only time I would like to go back , is to do a "do over" because of the knowledge I have now! I wouldn't have made the "mistakes" that I did. But then again , I wouldn't have gain the knowledge and compassion if I didn't. I think the hardest part for me , is the changes my body is going through with aging. I do miss a younger appearance. Its funny how your mind can feel "25" but your body sure doesn't! And I know what you mean about your "boys getting Grey". And how you miss the young , blonde boys. I miss my boy when he was younger and life was simpler. But , I do love relating to him as an adult. Sharing his dreams and hope of his future. And I love the fact that he calls and actually asks for my opinion about things!lol I remember when he didn't think I knew squat. You know what Shirlann , I have known you since 2007. And in that amount of time , you have been places and have done more things than I have all my life!!!! And I simply love to see your pics and listen to you stories. And I don't care what your age is. Its all about the person that you are. You my dear , are my number one angel here. If it wasn't for you when I first came here , I would have lost it. I tear up Shirlann when I think of you. Because you gave me hope. You helped me believe when I didn't think I would. And even though you are feeling your age and wishing for younger times , I am sooooo glad you are who you are , where you are in life , and will be right here for me and everyone else.

Yes Shirlann , if I was there , I'd pick you up , stop at the local 7/11 , or here its the dairymart, pick up a couple of mood rings , and peace necklaces , head down to the beach and sit in the sand and talk , and talk , and talk. And then , as the sun was going down , we would help each other up , cause our butts fell asleep from sitting so long!lol And we would feel so much better. Not because we are younger. Not because our boys are little again. And certainly not because we could jump up and run down the beach again. But because we have done all those things. And we have gain so much knowledge and insight. And we can be there for one another.

And remember , even though our children are all grown up , and some Grey , they will always be our little babies. And we have all the memories to prove it! Love you Shirlann, Melody xxxxx

Sue, I do hope they have the pain under control now. With all the different pain meds that are available, there should be SOMETHING that does the trick.

And now I'm going to give you a pep talk. Thank goodness you aren't in traction!  Then you would be immobilized in bed with your leg hanging from a frame from the ceiling or some other confining contraption. A wheelchair lets you move around, and when you're strong enough, the walker will let you get up and at some things. It also sounds like you are mobile enough to use the commode (portable though it may be). Better than having to wear a diaper and be changed like a baby.

So, if the pain is under control and you have some mobility, your next worst problem is boredom! Time to have someone pull out the clothes that need mending...sew on buttons and mend seams that have started to unravel. Darn a few socks. LOL. I'm only half serious. But I'm trying to think of things you can do from a sitting position besides watch TV and play on the computer. How about doing your Christmas shopping online? Get all your shopping done now!

Will you need any rehab? If so, will you have a choice of where to go? You could start researching the different places nearby.

Six weeks will bring you right up to Christmas. Will the cast be on longer than that? 

Sue!

Get well soon!!! What a scary accident!

I hope you are pampered at home for a while too.

Hugs!

Wren

Holy Moly Sue! Hoping for a quick and uneventful recovery!

A quick pop in for me sisters. I miss ALL OF YOU!!  I have been working many, many hours. And now that I work 12 hour days, and stand all day long...when I get home...I am in bed very soon.

Sue..so sorry about your broken leg. Why were you laying there so long?? you poor thing.

Mel, great to see you. I will try and go back and catch up on the posts.

Leaving work in 2 hours and heading to the theater to see the production of mamma mia!! Very excited. I work tomorrow and then I leave after work for  Arizona. I will be there till Sunday! Very happy to go visit my sweet sister and her family........and RELAX!!!!!!!!

bbl...love and hugs and prayers for all of you!

 xoxo

Lisa

Oh, Sue!!! I can't believe your story...how awful. You are the worst person in the world to expect to sit quietly for a long recovery. You must have the jitters something awful. Deep breath, my love, and oodles of calming serenity streaming to you. How 'bout you knit me a scarf...it could snow around here, you know! (((((((Sue)))))))  And listen to your Auntie Nancy!

Great to see you and get an update, Nettie. Hunners right back to you!!!

Wren, it is a delight when you fly in. Thanks.

Lisa, you are working too hard! How will you find time to have fun? You keep me on the edge of my seat with your adventures. Mama Mia....I'm Jealous!!!

Jane, I am always touched by your selfless kindness. You lift my soul more than you know.

Loved your story, Sheila.

Mel, how uplifting and beautiful you are. Your spirit lights up every post you make. Thanks for being you.

Nancy, you have such wisdom grounded in reality. I love your advice.

Tender, you are so sweet...good to see you and feel your tenderness.

That's all I can remember right now. I read every day and love each of you!

Judie

Judie - I checked out the pics of the stage and am so impressed! What a talented family you have! I love the wonderful cut out shapes in the walls - really beautiful!

(((((Nettie))))) - I am thrilled that chemo has finished for you but so sorry you are still weak and having a sore backside is sheer h*%#. I had a similar problem during pregnancy and I could not bear to walk around - it hurt so badly. Praying that you start to feel better soon. Is there any chance your poor wee bum will get better by itself or will you definitely be having surgery? I just want it to be fixed so you can be pain free.

Lisa - when can you have a holiday? I worry about you working such long, hard hours. 

Tender, Elaine, Wren, Barbe, Nancy, hrf, Meg, Mel, Sue, Sheila, Cathi, Shirlann, Karen and everyone -

Love

Jane xxx

sue, so sorry to hear about your broken leg. I know it is miserable to not be able to move around without assistance. Now is a good time to have someone bring you a book you have wanted to read and get immersed in the characters as you read.

I got a letter this weekend from the doctor's office, all my blood work was boringly normal. Although the FSH test wasn't mentioned in the letter and I will call today about that test.

My hubby didn't make it home again this weekend but he was going to be 120 miles away Saturday night and he was running out of his blood pressure med, so Saturday afternoon I took a road trip and met him at a hotel next to the truck stop. His load didn't deliver until this morning so we had plenty of time to be together and relax. We managed a late nite run to Walmart to get his supplies for this week in the truck and got his laundry done in the truck stop laundromat ($2.00 to wash and $2.00 to dry). I forgot to tell John that I wasn't going to be home Saturday night and he called at 12:30 asking where was I. He was just getting in from Buffalo Wild Wings and was worried about me. He thought I was just driving up and back - not spending the night.

Judi I can't look at facebook but I know that you are proud of your son's accomplishments.

I do need to get back to work.

Sheila

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to pop in quickly to say hello and wish you all a great week!  It's Chase's 7th birthday and I've got baking and wrapping to do! 

Sue, I was waiting for details about your fall too.  Ouch!!!!  It sounds awful!  I hope the pain is under control.  You poor thing!

Judie, your son's set looks great!  He's very talented--just like his mom!

Lisa, how was Arizona?  I'm glad you were able to get away and have some good R&R time!

Hugs to all,

Karen

Progress has been at a standstill for about a month or so now, due to problems getting power to the house.  Hopefully, I'll have new pics to post by next week, Barbe.

OK...

I'm smashing plates... How can 'they' possibly think that changing the mammography guidelines is a good idea???  For whom??? I swear if I'd have had to follow the proposed new screening guidelines I would NOT be here to sign the petition. I was diagnosed at age 45... on a 'routine' mammo... NO symptoms... just there it was one year and it wasn't the previous year.

I'm furious that anyone would think a few false positives would be worth missing all the positives for the rest of the forty-somethings...

OK, end of rant--please sign the petition.

 And, more plate smashing... my DD found out today that a polyp removed from her colon was 'pre-cancerous'... so she's off for genetic testing.... She is only 23--but there is so much cancer on both sides of the family for her--and now this...  I'm smashing a few plates for her. She is fine; young, strong, resilient; and equipped with more knowledge than most about her colon and breast cancer potentials so she will fight the good fight and be fine.

However, again, I'm angry to think that someone would try to rob her of her 'early detection'.... Luckily? for her, our history of cancer entitles her to a mammogram at age 35... I pray that she doesn't find something sooner, but thank God that she won't fall into the crappy new recommended screening guidelines... Who'd a thunk I'd be so glad that I have had cancer so she qualifies for a mammogram at a younger age than what is now suggested?  Oh the insanity.

Hugs to you all...

Wren, your daughter is high risk. She will be handled differently. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. I'm not going to get on a bandwagon one way or the other. We have been sold the BSE and mammogram apporach and accepted it. No one was brave or honest enough to tell us it wasn't working very well. Instead of defending something that has proven not very effective, why not jump on the bandwagon of finding a better way to prevent, detect, and treat BC? On the other hand, if there truly is nothing to be found, we need to hang on to what we have. I'm taking a deep breath and a wait-and-see attitude.

We tend to react according to our own experience and apply it to the general population. I had yearly mammos and did religious BSEs. Everything was clear. 10 months after a clear mammo, I noticed an odd place on my breast, realized it might be a lump, and the rest is history. It was not discovered by routine mammo or during a BSE. It was a 2.9 cm IDC. Go figger. Routine mammos and BSEs did me not a whit of good. Thus my calmness in the eye of the storm. I want something better.

Dink, I did recon after my bilat mast in 2007. do you currently have expanders or permanent implants?

I am torn on both sides of the fence about the change to the guidlines. My mom (at age 60) had a clear mammo in April but by June she had a sore spot on her breast. When she went to the doctor and she ordered a diagnostic, the radiologist said that it looked the same but when mom showed her what had changed she did more picts and found the cancer (this was before digital). I started my mammos around 41, at 44, had an abnormal mammo with calcifications in the left (film mammo), biopsy showed ADH. Just before my 46th birthday mammo (digital) showed calcifications in the right breast, biopsy again showed ADH. 6 months later digital mammo showed more calcifications in the right breast, biopsy showed DCIS. I had no lumps or external symptoms to indicate that there was a problem. If I had not gotten the early mammograms, my cancer wouldn't have been found until a later stage, making a different course of treatment than I did with the early stage diagnosis.

Sheila