Illinois ladies facing bc

Bustersmom - Thinking about you - check in when you can.

Afternoon!  Drip, drip, drip, blowing winds...yuck.  I know I should be glad it's not snow but c'mon....a little sun on the weekend would be nice!  But I went to the library and got a stack of books so I am set.

Jackie...save me a prozac!

Laura...AriAna is soooo cute!  And you are right.....pinchable cheeks...wow!

Smerf.....are you  still in NOLA?  Did you have beignets?  That without a doubt is my favorite food...just don't inhale!!!!!  Love those things.....

Blackjack....check in!  How were your tests?  Results should be back by now....

Rita....I took the Z out yesterday to charge up it's battery and to fill it up but the top stayed up as it was 47 and cloudy!  I was passed tho by a convertible with the top down.  I think he was crazy personally.....

Carolyn....bx is on Tuesday so your wait is FINALLY coming to an end!  Yay!

Juliette....where for art thou???  Hope you are ok...

Mich101...you went to FL early!  How were the temps down there?  Hopefully your dizzy spells will not reoccur.

Not much going on again this weekend but we are trying a new little Italian place that just opened here in Elgin...sounds good.  And then tomorrow we set the clocks ahead so we will have more daylight - to watch the rain falling!  Have a great Saturday all....

Laura, so great about your anniversary.  I know I will be happy to get to five years and then move on a bit.

Yes, it is very dismal here.  The lights have been on in the house all day.  DH and I are preparing this St. Patrick's feast for tomorrow.  Yes, we early.  We are making this biscuits with parsley on top that looks like a shamrock.  So cute.  Here is the link:

http://www.backofthebox.com/recipes/breads/one-bowl-cheddar-biscuits-g.html

My foot is just fine but I am keeping my doctor's appointment on Tuesday.  I am loving the cherry juice and will try it on my kids and my grandchildren tomorrow.  I love the idea of no added sugar. although I know the fruit has its own sugar.

 Say hi to Mary Jane.  I love her facebook entries. 

 Jackie, maybe you should get one of those sunlamps that lifts bad moods in bad weather.  How do the Swedes do this?

 Tomorrow we have breakfast with the apes.  I hope they remember to set their clocks forwward.  Wouldn't want them sleeping when we come.  I hope I do too.

Take care. Susan

Hi everybody.  Just checking in to let you know that I had my exchange surgery on March 11.  I had to stay the night in the hospital due to nausea.  Surgery took a little longer than expected because my PS found that my right side needed some extra work.  I will get the details when I see her next week.  I am still not feeling quite right but I take a zofran left over from chemo and then feel better.  Got my port out by my BS but she could not find the enlarged axillary lymph node that was there just one week before.  I'll find out the scoop on that next week too.

Thanks for all of your well wishes.  I am glad to be one more step forward in the BC journey. 

Navy

Hi all, another long day and my long post just went by-by, who knows where so will try one more time.

Very interesting day.  Met Maggie for breakfast.  I already had to go to Mt. Vernon for a follow-up to my trip last week to the ER at Marion for the flu-like symptoms that did not seem to want to abate -- nor actually make me truly sick. 

Maggie came in telling me her microwave the night before just up and died.  Just blinked a couple of times and that was it.  The engineer walked out and never came back to run the turn-table....not so much as a nasty growl left. 

Told her to come on along with me as the V.A. office is right behind Sears.  Got there and picked out a really nice unit.  We went and scanned and Maggie stood in the hall while I got the car to the loading dock.  I then rushed back in and whew.....Maggie's name is still on the ready list....but just then a strange thing happened----her name disappeared.  A guy came walking past and asked me if I needed something.....and I said....as a matter of fact, a microwave.  He said, oh, I just loaded that into your blue van.  I told him you are a wonderful guy for that but I hate to tell you......I don't have a blue van.  I have a gray Blazer out at the loading dock.  He went running out......but lo and behold, the blue van was gone. 

As I was now late for my appt. at V.A., I waited for the couple of  very quick calls he needed to make and then told him I had to try and save this appt. but would be back immediately after.  More about that later, but as I walked out of the Hub I looked back and this poor guy was holding his head in his hands.

Had my appt and returned.  People in blue van apparently chose ( all very legal since they were "given" the boxed mocrowave loaded into their van with a smile ) to keep the microwave since it was a better slightly more expensive one than they had actually chosen.  This then meant, since that apparently was the last one the store had, that Maggie was in fact moved up to the next higher model than she had chosen.  That certainly was a win-win situation I guess for both parties.  I still feel sorry for the guy --- but he was in charge of delivering from the back warehouse and nothing to do with any one else.  Honestly, had it been me.....I would have returned the "wrong" microwave I think....but it is just a matter of personal ethics.....if the store gives you something better --- even though its a mistake....you are not required to bring it back and can keep what you are sent home with at that time. 

Alls well that ends well I guess....made for a long day for me.  Just before 9p.m. by the time I got home and I left home at 10a.m. this morning.

Anyhow, I did find during my medical visit that for some strange reason no one can quite figure out....the ER Dr. at Marion D/Ced my Arimidex when I was there.  The only thing any one can come up with is that my white blood count was a bit on the low side --- but a very little which might have all been just due to the viral thingy going on.  I would think....no ER Dr. without really GOOD cause would not D/C a cancer med w/o first checking with the Oncologist on the case.  This really makes very little sense to me.  Maybe a couple of you nurses can throw out a thought or two on this.  I'm not at all upset...just surprised....but had I turned up this information in a couple of months when I went to "refill" my Arimidex....I might have felt a little anger.  As is I have plenty of time to do some checking around and get the record straight as to just what is going on and why. 

Also,I will go in on Tuesday and have full labs done again including for the first time a Vit.
D test.  That should be quite interesting.  I feel like I could not possibly be deficient.....but who knows...I think Wendy got a surprise with her level.  Anyway.....I said a lot more things to Buddy, Marina, Rita, Mary Jane.....but I'm hoping this post gets through so just know that I was thinking positive things.....but I'm bushed now and Dh will be home soon and I have to go to another part of the blog yet.............so will see you all in the morning.

Hugs, Jackie

All religions must be tolerated... for... every man must get to heaven his own way.  ~Frederick the Great


This is my simple religion.  There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.  Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.  ~Dalai Lama

Morning....I am up and alive though it is definitely an hour later than my clock says.  DST is always exciting around here.  Dh is a former horologist ( watchmaker ) and we have clocks all over the place.  The one by my bed never got changed so it was the right time when I woke up tis morning but the rest of the house is a crap shoot.  Grey matter gets a workout anyway.

Gloomy again here today.  At least, I think the temps. while not fantastic are going to stay passable for this time of year and no surprizes like S. Elgin.....at least I hope not. 

I too am anxious to find out why the Arimidex "needed" to go.  I''m pretty sure that order will be **corrected** soon enough once the Oncologist gets wind of it. I even wondered if some other med was thought not needed and the A was a mistake, but everything I take -- I need.  I get super heavy duty aspirin for stroke, Levothroxin for thyroid, pill for blood pressure along with water pill to enhance that...calcium,& D-3 and Claritin when seasons change big time.  `

Well, better get a start on the day before it gets away from me.  I'll be checking back.

Hugs, Jackie

Thank you Zap  that really means alot to me.  How was the breakfast with the Apes?  Your daughter is so lucky to have such an incredibley thoughfull mom.

Rita  where in KY  that is where my family is....

some OFF topic

Well Laura, i had to log in to see you with red hair...it doesn't show in the avatar you used. smile.

To the others not on the addy list...i had thyroid nodules, pre diabetic but they said they doubted that since I'm slender...so I had biopsy, okay, but I have hashimoto but my thyroid levels are normal (losing hair when I dry hair it's all over sink)...just a head's up, I had some antibody test that was elevated...

What else? Oh, I had the two hour glucose test and it was okay BUT the A1c test, with 6.0 and under being NON diabetic, it was 6.1 in November reportedly and now it's 6.6.

Also my cholesterol was 255 and it was 209 in November (due to juicing veggies and fruit almost daily no doubt and ginger, too)...so the specialist wants me back for meds for both. I will not take cholesterol meds however. I play low key volleyball 2 nights and 3 hours of wallyball a week and that does not help my cholesterol, it's all diet for me...I've pretty much been 244 no matter what for at least 10 years....unless i Juice a lot. For those that don't know me, I've been preoccupied with my Mom's health since April...so making healthy for her helps me, too...She has had ovarian cancer since 1998 and was down to 90 lbs in April 09.

I'm reading Dr. Block's Life over cancer book and called for apptmts but they have not called back yet...I am convinced now I have to watch what I eat...I'm 52...dx was when I was almost 49.

I got thyroid, diabetes and osteoporosis specialist name from Chicago Magazine, Dr. Wm. Bayer is on their list two years now. I also have osteopenia and am waiting for my Vit. D. levels, finally someone suggested getting them, yeah. I do NOT take calcium...just cant get in the groove when you dont dare have too much or get painful kidney stones...and you must take them with food, but not with other calcium so, that's my excuse and for now i'm sticking to it. 8-)

Kater

And yes, cancer markers are the norm, I also have a CA 125 in addition to CA 2729 annually I think the bc one is called 2729. I use www.Canadadrugs.com for most meds for 1/3 cost compared to sams club which is usually very reasonable.

The addy list is our emails and addresses you can send to Laura to go 

I mean gto, 8-)

if you want to be on that list. I only skim the daily emails via my email, usually the first couple sentences so please keep newspaper writing in mind, first sentence is most important part of the story! smile. I usually only "post" to the addy list.

I rarely log in unless someone needs something and I notice the in middle of the night or something...like a new person coming here.

Good luck to all and thanks to all for the birthday wishes. I got all my pets moved to the new garage before my birthday so that was heaven. We are working on the inside now (using all those doors and windows and cabinets I got from the huge www.restoreelgin.org store,

and the cats will have awesome digs...including 3 levels with sun roof (dormer loft) accommodations. I read "die broke" i think the book was called. smile.

PS my cousin is in a study with LOW SODIUM diet through NIU and he said he feels great..also..five diabetics, four of them are not diabetic now due to watching sodium levels study.

And my bc arm has a swollen finger, radiation Dr. B says I need to get that checked as it might be infected and if I get lymphedema it's bye bye volleyball. GARGHhhhhhh

My joints pop all over like i'm cracking my knuckles or something...knees, elbows...and no I dont take supplements, was hoping this endocrinologist would get me in line but I think It might have to be block center to get that job done.

I am on arimidex, since about Jan. 2008. It's 2030 a year from Canada Drugs.

I work at a library part time now and I get dvds all the time for my Mom's amusement...You can get just about anything from library loan from the mccoys, 90210 7 or 8 seasons? to up in the air and precious...an ovarian cancer survivor was so excited her son helped direct and she got to go on the red carpet with him and Geo. Clooney kissed her on the cheek after she told him she loved him. smile. boy, i guess all this was building up for awhile to tell you all!! 

I need your opinions/help!!  I've had this cold since Wed.. now it's just congestion, where I blow my nose every 5-10 min... I am supposed to go to the Look Good Feel Better today and I'm struggling with whether I should go or not??  I really want to go.. but am torn with showing up and making others uncomfortable??  

Second issue - I'm freaking that I won't be able to get treated this Wed!!  No fever or anything other than the congestion and runny nose.. Has anyone here had this experience?  I've been trying to search for other posts and nothing much about this.. I've left a message for my nurse.. but it takes a while sometimes to hear back and you ladies are the best at replying and calming my nerves....

I'm with Laura and Susan on this.. I could NEVER go through this without these boards!!

Marina

Laura:  I like the new you -- I always wished I were a redhead, but only a few natural highlights when I was younger.  Good for you.

Kater:  Always enjoy hearing from you.  You are such a researcher.  I will pm you something later. 

Tomorrow I have to fast and go for blood work again --- not sure what all will be done for sure -- I think ( just don't know ) all the usual -- maybe CA markers -- and the Vit D test was ordered as well.  So, I will have some answers.  Will start attempting to get an appt. at V.A. with Oncologist or someone.  They had a temporary Oncologist filling in......the one that saw me through all my chemo transferred out and they have not had one since.  The last time I saw a P.A. there.  She seemed fine, but I did not need much --  really only breast exam and tests ordered.  So, will have to see.  Last two appts. made were canceled.  Good Oncologists are hard to come by it would seem.  Also in truth, I do know that the V.A. gets a bad rap for some behaviors that have caused a black eye and that often puts them in the role of erring on the side of caution I think when looking for someone to fill the empty positions.  We shall see. 

Onward for the day.  Coffee is late today.  Dh forget to put in the filter basket when he got it ready last night....so of course, un-drinkable this a.m. and he had a major cleaning chore --- running plain water through to get all the grounds out.  I got up then and showed him the easy way....of course, I did the same thing once, but I'm not going to tell him that --- I knew right away how to fix it unlike Dh. 

I'll be checking back in later.

Till then, hugs,  Jackie

Marina - I am still fighting the same thing. Runny nose, cough. It started with a 103 temp for 3 nights and horrible body aches and now - 10 days later - it's still lingering. I am blowing gobs of crap and my cough is really bad. BUT - 8 days ago my Dr prescribed Levoquin (sp?) - a VERY potent anti-biotic. Thank goodness - it took away my flu symptoms. In addition, I have been taking a nasal and chest decongestant (over the counter pill). Have you called your Dr? Hope you feel better soon.

Edited to add: If you get a cough medicine, make sure it has Quefenisin in it. During chemo, I had a cough and that's what my Onc suggested. And, squeeze lemon in your water or tea - it's a good immune system booster.

South side girls.. How about April 23rd  ... any of the dates mentioned would work that Elfsong mentioned.. but i do not think Lisamed  can do anything at a lunch hour other than the week we had planned on. ??

This is a drive by and will write when i can catch up on all here!!!!Laura....YOU LOOK great in your new avatar!!

See you soon here...Donna