please help

Just popping in before I head to bed to try and sleep.  I did go to DR today,  was feeling much better from the tummy thing.  But what a most awful visit,  completely frustrating ,  no one mentioned the blood work this  AM was to be a FASTING, so of coarse I had coffee and toast before going - UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I have to go back in the AM for that. 

After a good feel up - Gosh I am sick of people touching me, Once seems to think he feels an enlarged node under my left arm pit (original DX side in 06) so now before he will do ANYTHING I MUST have the PET SCAN,  of coarse that must be approved by insurance,  and that could take up to a week to get approved.  He did order me a new script called Gabapentin,  it is supposed to help more with the "nerve sensations" I am having, supossed to take it in addition to the pain med.  I don't like the sounds of it at all,  I hate meds, this one is used for seizure disorders and even Bipolar and comes with warnings about withdrawl and stopping the medication -  I scare myself silly reading warnings on meds.  I don't know why I do it,  I just do.  I didn't even fill it yet.

UGH - FRUSTRRATED AND TIRED.

I took Gabapentin for about 6 weeks following surgery to help with nerve pain and it worked well. No se's and after 6 weeks I went off with no problem.

Many, many, many months ago someone wrote that when you die with cancer you WIN your battle because you take the cancer with you..to death. I don't know who to credit with this thinking, but I like it!

Cathi, I am praying that your mets are contained and easily taken care of.

I got a call from my family doctors office today, I had my annual pap done last Nov and it was abnormal, he wanted it redone in 6 months. I had the test done again last Monday and they called and it is still abnormal and want to repeat the test in 6 months again. They are mailing me a copy of the report so I can research what is going on (they wouldn't fax it ). What I have seen so far is if it is low-grade dysplasia they will keep repeating the test every 6 months until they get 2 that are normal. Should I be freaking out about this test result? I know it isn't major like mets but it does have me worried. He did say that my blood work from November did show that I was in full menopause. And on top of that I am fighting a sinus infection that is settling in my chest and I can't stop coughing. And we are getting a heavy snow fall, it started snowing about 11:00 am and expected to snow for the next 8-10 hours with an accumulation of 2 inches, but I think we will get more than that.

Sheila

Hi everyone!  Sorry I've been MIA.  Things are pretty busy around here.  The house is just about done, so we have tons to do before we can move in.

Thank goodness you finally let the cat out of the bag, Cathi.  Now I don't feel like I'll slip up and say something I wasn't supposed to.  I'm so sorry for all you've been going through lately.  If you mentioned the ordeal with Landen on FB, I missed it.  How terrifying that must have been for you!  I'm so glad he's ok.  ((((((Cathi))))))

Hugs to all,

Karen

dink I work in the office of a furniture company, I started at this company 16 yrs ago in the sewing factory, sewing upholstery. While working full time and raising my son by myself (I married my hubby 13 yrs ago) I put myself through college for a 2 yr computer systems degree (5 yrs in school). 11 yrs ago I got transfered to the main office as the computer room operator - printing hard copies of reports, shipping documents, acknowledgements, invoices and such. My job has evolved in the 11 yrs to include the various jobs at different times, support desk, mail room, order imaging clerk, data entry, front desk (reception). you could say that I am a jack-of-all trades. When ever my boss has a small job he needs done he gets me to do it if I have time. I have worked the longest at this company. I told my boss that I will be there until they close the doors. 

Sheila

Shelia I know its so dam hard not to worry,  but try your best not to,  research the path report, but just remember for every positive thing you can find on the web you will find a negative (scary) thing, it can drive you nuts.

Karen you sure are busy with the house,  don't worry I would not have been mad if you had slipped, 

Well I started the Gabapertin yesturday so far so good,  of coarse I have only taken three,  he has me taking 300mg's 3 times a day along with the other pain meds.  I do think this AM the nasty leg sensations (like a weird kind of ache and numbness) is better. HOPING HOPING, no word on PET yet,  when I had my first one after DX in 06 it took BCBS almost 2.5wks to send the approval. Idiots.

Leeze thank you,  poor Landen is really hating DR's now,  when Amanda took him yesturday she said he is fine in the waiting room,  but as soon has he has to start walking down the hall to exam room -  well lets just say it is loud.  On Monday @ the neuroligist office guess they will be doing an EEG,  thta should be fun,  I am going with her then,  she is nervous to go alone,  scared. The peds Dr yesturday mentione to her that he might be having Absence Seizures used to be called Petit Mal,  he does this funny little quiver thing with his upper body for just a few seconds,  like he is having a cold chill,  anywway we all have thought he was doing it himself, like

trying to be silly,  frankly always brought a chuckle to everyone,  sooooooooooo who knows.

Leeza yes breast cancer does commonly spread to the bones,  but again try not to worry,  I guess one of the scariest things I have learned this year and again not wanting to worry anyone is that bone mets most commonly is caused (spread) through the blood not lymphatic system,  that was my first reaction to Onco  -  I HAD CLEAN NODES,  for me it didn't matter.  But I have also learned while it will/has effected my daily living to a certian degree (mainly the pain) and while I will need to make some adjustments if it stays contained and we can get pain control I very well can be around a good long while. I would much rather at this point control pain with meds (as long as I can function on them) than doing rads now,  but gotta get the stupid PET and see about the stupid enlarged nodes and we'll take it from there. I will share with the girls soon,  I just have to get the thoughts and words in order,  I recall after my MX, Jaclyn saying to Ed now shes is ok all the cancer is gone.

Happy HUMP DAY XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Cathi, You and your family are in my prayers. You sure have had more than your share of stressful situations lately.

Everyone else, you are also in my daily prayers for peace, health, and happiness.

Hugs,

~Wren

Brbe I agree with Judie  -  BE THE BOSS - BE THE BOSS.

Wren nice to here from you and Thanks for your kind thoughts. 

Had to pop in quick to say I am elated today so happy I got the Gabapentin, I know it's only been a day and a half and anything can change,  but I think that in combo with the lower dose  pain med has done wonders,  better than anything thus far,  I still can feel just a tad bit of break through pain in my back,  so so bearable haven't popped any extra Tylenol all day.  I AM SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY. I even did a bit of cleaning today some of the tile -  I know some one is going to say DON'T OVER DUE.  I won't just felt so good to feel almost no pain.  HAPPY-HAPPY-HAPPY.

I know my girls would step up to the plate I am not so worried about that as I am worried about how to convince them that I'll still be around for  a good time.  I am afraid that once they here the nasty C word again they will worry too much.  I know they have books and stuff about talking to younger kids,  not ssure if theres anything to help with grown children. 

Oh yes Nancy ,  I feel sorry for anyone who has come to the beach the past few months hoping for sunshine and warmer days. We have had a couple,  but sense right after Christmas it has been VERY ABNORMAL. We have pretty much had to have heat on (at least at night) for the past 2 1/2 months,  in my 11 years and Ed's 20+ neither of us has had to do that,  normally a cold day or 2 maybe three consecutive,  but not weeks/months on end.  Looks like maybe the end is in sight starting this weekend,  I love opening the doors and windows for a few         months and having the wonderful Gulf breeze and smells flow through the house. Hoping that happens before we are forced to turn on the A/C again.

Hi everyone, I woke up at 3.30 am and decided to get on the computer. I hate the way I wake up so early and start to worry about things that don't bother me as much during the day.

Cathi, I think about you each day. I'm so glad to hear that the new pain med is working well for you. I hope you get some warm weather soon. Also, hoping that the appointment for Landon goes well and that he is not too scared. Poor little guy. I had those absence seizures when I was a kid. My brother used to pick me up while I was having one and run with me to another room or area. When it was over (only a matter of seconds or minutes I think) I would be very confused as to how I got to where I was because I had no awareness during the seizure. My mother thought I was just a bit dreamy and it wasn't until a friend with medical training suggested that she take me to a specialist that she made an appointment for me. I had an ECG and was dx. I grew out of it by the time puberty started.

Sheila, I hope your experience and dedication in your job brings you something better. Also, I'm sorry to hear about your concerns re your cervix. I do know several people who have had abnormal pap tests and most were just inflammation.  I hope you get your path report soon and you will know just what you are dealing with.

I think I will try to go back to sleep now. Love to everyone here.

Jane xoxoxox

I'm so, so relieved for you, Sheila! 

Cathi, I'm glad that your new medication is helping control your pain.  Not even one extra Tylenol?  That is so great!!!!!!

Hugs to all,

Karen 

1Cathi, I'd like to pass along what I know from my experience with medications like Gabapertin. It's the generic name for Neurontin, which I took for probably 5 years or more for the same thing.

I have had neuropathy for years. Probably 10 or more. It was the result of some lower spine damage from an autoaccident.

The reason why those medications also show use for epilepsy and bi-polar is because they work in a different way than pain meds do.

Neuropathy affects nerve conduction. Medications like that directly address nerve conduction issues. They "calm" the "firings" which can result in the odd sensations, the pins and needles, "electric shocks." 

In many cases the doctors will start you out at the lowest level to see if that is effective. If it doesn't work, it doesn't mean that the medication itself isn't working, it just means your dosage may need to be adjusted up. And the doctor should do that incrementally.

My neuropathy was gradually progressive. Which meant that the dosage I was on needed to be adjust upwards from time to time. Sometimes when that happens people automatically think that they are building up a tolerance to the medication. But they are not. It just means that the neuropathy is progressing and requires a greater dosage.

But because it works on nerve conduction, it does not really affect your mind, like some pain medications can. 

I eventually started needing to reduce my dosage level and now I don't take any at all. I do get some periods of neuropathy back, but it's usually when I've been under a great deal of physical stress.

OH Girls I must complain and vent now that the cats out of the bag.  Having a most awful day, started about 6:30 this AM was awoke with a horrible pain in my hip/leg, and while the meds have relieved it some,  it is just awful, I can't sit,  walk, lay nothing amakes it better,  I guess I jumped for joy to soon. So upset and frustrated I just wanna cry.  Why can't they get the pain managable, this freakin sucks. I HATE IT.