Illinois ladies facing bc

Happy b-day to Kater!  I hope it is the best ever!

Susan

"Friendships begin because, even without words, we understand how someone feels."                                           [Joan Walsh Anglund]

Ok, I'm officially bummed.  We got a light dusting of snow last night.  Where o' where are the temperatures we use to have that gave us a foretaste of Spring.  Well,  ---  think we are going to have to hope for March now which is really close.  Otherwise -- nothing to really complain about but a little soreness.  Too much sweeping with heavy broom I guess made my upper arms a bit sore.  Sure it will be fine by tomorrow. 

Hope you are all planning on a nice day. 

Hugs, Jackie

Good afternoon, ladies~!  

Happy Birthday to Kater~!  I hope you had a wonderful day~! and more to come...

Marina- I am glad you feel better and got lots of compliments about your hair style too..   I had similar problem with port, my ten month old son wanted me to hold him but I just couldn't because it hurts and sometimes he just jumped on my chest and that hurts big time too...   hang in there and my thoughts are with you.. 

Jackie- I can't wait till spring too..   my muscle got tangle from shoveling the snow the other day, can't turn my head to the right, I have to move my whole upper body to see what's on the right side...   enuf of snow already... Even my older son said, "we cleaned the driveway yesterday and it's snowing again, what?? not again"   cute...

Well, sun is out~! that's good, it will melt the snow, yeah~   

I hope everyones having a good day and don't forget to smile~!

P.S- Donna and I, we're trying to figure out that when should we have lunch with south ladies..  and where should we go??   any idea,  Buddy, Navymom??  anyone??

Curly post chemo hair - here too.

Hi girls...quick driveby...hope you're all having a good day. More snow in the forecast...atleast up north here. Looking for an inexpensive pair of cross country skiis, boots and poles. Anyone have a pair you'd like to sell?

Busy, busy day!

Budder - Thanks - I did call them they have the skis but not the boots. But will call again - as they get "stuff" in everyday. I will also try Craig's list. Is the girls get together ONLY for southern IL girls? lol jk 

Jackie - That cake is gorgeous!

Kater - Hope you had a nice b-day!

Marina - My port hurt like he**. I hated it every hour of every day. Most of the girls here say the pain goes away and then you don't even know it's there. Hope that's the case for you. Two days after chemo ended (and that wasn't even soon enough for me), I was in surgery having it removed. Glad you had a good hair day for your debut. Hang in there!

Donna - Have you ever tried bitter melon?

Where's Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeendrew?

-------------------------

Hope you all have a nice evening. More snow headed our way - good gawd when will it end! lol I need skis! lol

Good information Laura.. I just had my BP taken and the nurse asked which arm.. and I never knew why they ask.. as I am not having the surgery until 6 weeks from now.. and I know I'll get lymph nodes taken as they already came back positive... Today's chemo went fine.. had my laptop and worked through it.. They changed some pre-meds, so I sure hope the side effects are better tomorrow... Reading this thread is so much fun!! I showed the nurses the website today..told them that's why I ask so many questions.. Can't believe they didn't know about it..

Just poppinng in to wish Kater a very Happy Birthday!

Try not to let the snow get you down everyone!  

 Carolyn

Good morning Friends,

Mich Try not to be bummed.  You can build that bone back up.  My friends DH has it severe and takes a shot everyday.  It can be built back up.

Laura are you thinking road trip to Orland.   COOL.....

Hi to all,

Back from CO where the weather was SNOWY, just in time to be felled by a terrible cold. Can't complain too much, because it is the first since chemo. I passed my 4 year mark since dx while in CO, so I'm not letting a mere cold get me down.

Mich...Sorry about the osteo, but it is treatable. Our biggest risk factor is just getting older, because it so often happens as we reach menopause. Cancer tx seems to make us even more vulnerable. Were you taking calcium supplements already? Vitamin D helps us absorb the calcium, so it is important. When your doc tells you the amount, be sure and get the D in gel cap form as that is easier to absorb. I like to take Citracal type rather than the carbonate form of calcium because you can take it with or without food. With carbonate forms you should take it with food, to help it absorb. We can only absorb about 500 to 600u of ca at a time, so we need to divide the dose and take 2 or three times a day. Pain in the neck for me to remember! Also, for some people the carbonate form causes constipation. I find generic ca and vit D at good prices at Walgreens. They frequently have a buy one get one free offer on the D, and also on multivitamins. I get one comparable to Centrum Silver as we shouldn't have any iron after menopause. I think Wendy prefers carbonate, and has no problems with it. I guess we just eat at all different times, especially dinner, so it is too hard to remember my evening dose of ca. Hope this is helpful, and not more confusing. Miss seeing you at lunchbunch, and hope those college kids are doing well! 

Good morning!

Laura, Paul and I are going cross-country skiing  this weekend if I can get my act together and get the hotel in Waupaca.  You are welcome to try my boots and skis to borrow.  I am not sure if your shoe size is the same as mine.  I have had my skis for umpteen years so they are dated.  I do not know if they change in styling.

I think I better get my bones checked again based on the news.  The biggest thing is taking still another pill.  My insurance now that I am retired for prescriptions is not so great and this is getting expensive.  Was told to try and get the  90 arimidex rather than what they are giving me as it is now $40.00/month just for that.  Of course I know it could be much more without insurance

That is it for me.  I am hoping all are well! Glad you got home safe and sound, Pat.  It sounds like it was a great trip.

Susan

Morning all....I actually do read a couple of times a day but on my iphone and I can't post from there...Kept forgetting to actually haul out the laptop!  So...no need for the searchlight but send a sled!

Smerf....sorry you are down with a cold.  I really haven't had one since chemo.  I too buy my stuff from Walgreens...watch in the Sunday papers for their buy one, get one free sale and stock up!  I take either form of Ca as it doesn't bother me.  I take the plain one and take my D3 sep.

Mich101...you are young so I am curious...does osteo run in your family?  Did you get a copy of your results?  What were your numbers?  Boy am I nosey!!!!  But it is treatable and Laura is sooo right...weight-bearing exercise will really help strengthen bones....very important.

Marina...glad you are doing well and don't worry about dieting right now.  Time enuf for all that later!  Glad too that everyone at work loves your new hairdo!  Really fast in the mornings isn't it...and never a bad hair day!  LOL

Susan....I bought the double pleated shades for all my windows (black outs in our bedroom) when we moved out here 9 yrs ago.  I just used scarf valances in most rooms but I am slowly putting up casual drapes as I have been told on HGTV that scarf valances are now out of date!  But I do love the shades....no taking down and washing in the bathtub like I had to with blinds...just vacuum away!

Kater...sorry I missed your BD...hope it was glorious!  Jackie's cake did look pretty good....

Laura....bikini season????  I saw that on your fb.....where the heck would I wear a bikini these days???  I can't seem to get out of my down coat!  Wait....maybe a down bikini?????  That would work! 

My dryer just dinged so I have to grab the stuff as I do not want to iron!!!!  Back later...have a great sunshiny day!

Julie. hang in there. I know exactly what you are feeling, though mine was two years ago. Of course it can be disc disease, but we always have that nagging fear, and I'm going to be thinking of you, and crossing everything hoping for good news. My onc just went right to the MRI for my lumbar regions, and it came back with disc disease and spinal stenosis. I had also known that I had disc disease, but like you, wanted to know if that was what I was having then. My DH could not understand why I was happy {you know, the ortho surgeon} because he said you have a serious back problem. I said I know, but it is not a tumor, and so it is still good news. I'll be hoping and praying for you to have good news too.

Do you have any ativan or something to help with the waiting? Don't know if you believe in the meds...but they do seem to help so many of us. It must be much more difficult when you have to hold it together for the kids...or maybe they are sometimes a good distraction.

You aren't a control freak, just a reasonable and intelligent woman doing the right thing. All of us here are holding onto you, and will do anything you need to help you through this. Just say it. 

Big hug, Pat

Julie - You're right...you will NEVER have to "explain" yourself to us. All of us here, can truly understand your concern, frustration and dismay. I am so happy you reached out...it goes without saying...we are here, primarily for support. Yes...fortunately, we stray by way of posts about family and kids, and fun and hobbies, but when it comes right down to it...we are here to help each other through the "hoops" of life, before, during and after a bc diagnosis. I have to start with the fact that I personally think of you as a very upbeat, FUNNY beyond words, an awesome Mom, a dedicated wife and a savvy career girl. You have been quite patient throughout your journey(s) and I am sorry you have to deal with more. The bone scan will provide some answers and hopefully give you some peace of mind. Try to remain hopeful and optimistic. Some of the aches can be related to age and the fact that our hormones are crazy and most likely not properly balanced. Ever since my dx, I have had burning pain in my right hip - some days less painful than others. CT's, x-rays, bone densities, etc., have all indicated it's "most likely" Arthritic based. But not one Dr has been able to verify this 100%. There's always hope. Hang in there, Julie. We're here for you...24/7!

Welcome Natalie!  I am going to google your town to see who might live near you.  I know I do not.  So glad you found us and I wish you well.  I do think most people would say that chemo is cumulative and that the crappy feeling lasts longer as you go on with the treatments.  I know you will be happy to get them over with.  Tell us a bit about yourself if you are up to it.

 Oh Julie, do I ever understand.  I especially get the "rigid with stress" feeling.  I get so I am like a stick and my mind just gets stuck so I cannot even track with what people are saying.  I feel like I am going to crack when I get so afraid.  Maybe your mind and body needs to rest and maybe Pat has an idea there that this calls for support meds.  I am thinking about you and wish I oculd carry some of that baggage for you for awhile.

Take care everyone else!

Susan