MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

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  • fmakj
    fmakj Member Posts: 1,278
    edited April 2010

    Hi Everyone,  I have been following the following through the Triple Negative Forum.  I could only wish for my husband to try  to win ME a makeover.  I haven't been able to make it link (or have I??), but I'm hoping you can cut and paste to get to the site. She has recently fallen behind on votes and the contest ends on April 22nd. Sorry if any feel this is inappropriate. Embarassed

    http://mommag.com/local/mid-valley/mom-makeover-contest/nominee/Linda%

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited April 2010

    Barb, unless you know of a way to injest something and have it enter your brain, I don't think they would make you drink barrium for a brain CT.  Mine was all three areas at one fell swoop, so the barrium was for the pelvic CT.

    Mary Louise, welcome to the middles.  I will try to get the link going.  I voted this weekend.  I never checked to see what sort of women she was competing against.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited April 2010
    Quickly, a woman who had BC while pregnant has been nominated by her husband for a makeover from a local magazine.  He is asking for votes to help his wife win.  Here is the link for the thread.  You can find the link to the contest there:   http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/72/topic/751050
  • leisaparis
    leisaparis Member Posts: 587
    edited April 2010
    Hi everyone, Thanks for the info. I got the 2nd drain out today. OMG,Sealed hurt like hell when he pulled it out. He grabbed ahold of it, said,you will feel a little tug. Little tug my ass. Yell Curled my toes, then he said that's the worst part. He then proceeded to to pull out the 2nd 1/2. My legs came off the table, my back spasmed and twitched, I yelled, Then he said Well, I guess I lied. I think he thought it was funny. It hurt like hell. Thank God the pain only lasted as long as the tube was. So glad it's out. The first one didn't hurt that bad. I don't know if it had something to do with the leaking or not. He told me today we wouldn't start radiation until 3-6 weeks from now, until I was healed. I thought we would start next week, guess not. Now onto excercising (arms) to get back into shape so I'll be able to go back to work. Thanks all for your concern.
  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited April 2010

    Leisa, I hate to ask, but did he open the drain first??? My day nurse took my first one out and it hurt like hell at 10 days. Then the surgeon took out the second one at 2 1/2 weeks and I was really worried. I told him to tell me when he was going to start pulling and he said "It's out." That's when I found out about opening the drain to stop the suction.

    I'd like to think your doc knew that...but hey.

  • suzwes
    suzwes Member Posts: 1,740
    edited April 2010

    Leisa, so glad the drains are out.  Hate the thought that it hurt that much but glad they're out. 

    I didn't have to drink barium for my colonoscopy but did for some kind of CT scan I had in the past (so many tests that I can't keep up anymore).  I just had to drink 64 oz of liquid with tons of miralax in it last night in a four hour time period for the colonoscopy.  What fun to be up every hour last night running to the bathroom!!!  And thankfully everything was great and I don't need another for five years.  Phew, another worry off my mind.

  • carollynn79
    carollynn79 Member Posts: 654
    edited April 2010
    My doctor wants me to h ave a colonoscopy too.  He said I can wait a little while so wil probably schedule when I see the surgeon in June. Might as well stick with the same surgeon!
  • suzwes
    suzwes Member Posts: 1,740
    edited April 2010

    Ya, I don't like throwing new doctors in the mix anymore.  I have had enough new doctors in the last year for a while!  My GI dr. that did the procedure today is wonderful, I've been seeing her for other GI issues for about 4 years.  She got her BC diagnosis 2 months before me and went through the same treatment I did so we are survivor sisters. 

  • leisaparis
    leisaparis Member Posts: 587
    edited April 2010

    Don't know if he opened it or not.I did see him milk it first. Just glad that's over.

  • robinlbe
    robinlbe Member Posts: 585
    edited April 2010

    oh, Leisaparis, I'm glad you got your drains out, but I"m so sorry it hurt. I had four drains, and there was barely even a tickle when mine came out.  One of them did feel like a snake crawling through my chest as it was pulled out, but none of them hurt.  I actually had expected them to hurt, because I had read about others who had experienced some pain....When I mentioned that to him, he said, "well, I guess I wasn't their surgeon, was I?"  He said it with a grin and a wink....not a cocky attitude at all.  My surgeon has been doing breasts ONLY surgeries for over 20 years and I guess he knows what he's doing....

    Hope you'll be able to sleep MUCH better tonight without those drains :)

    blessings...robin

  • leisaparis
    leisaparis Member Posts: 587
    edited April 2010

    me too..this would be the first night without sitting up...maybe...hopefully

  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited April 2010

    hey all...just wanted to say hi and happy cheese-doodling.

    I officially have zometa in my future, and have had an AWFUL shoulder injury.

    Besides that life it ok.

     Hugs to all!

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited April 2010

    Cookie....what did you do????? 'Fess up!

  • MRDRN
    MRDRN Member Posts: 537
    edited April 2010

    Hi

    I got BC for my 49th Birthday but hopefully will be clear for my 50th! Is this reasonable? 

    This is a good thread to read for me.  My teen is about to drive and these years can be a challenge.

    Hugs,

    MRDRN

  • PauldingMom
    PauldingMom Member Posts: 927
    edited April 2010

    MRDRN- It's very doable!!! DXed in May 2009 and have completed treatment by Christmas. Of course it all depends on your treatment. Here's wishing you great success on your surgery and treatment. Do you know yet what you will be receiving?  Be sure to check out the link to abbreviations here. You will find lots of helpful advise here.

    As for a teen driver, besides driving school, make him/her your personal driver. It will drive you crazy for a while, slamming on the invisible brake pedal and clutching the door for dear life, but the experience they learn from their parent is better than anything else out there. I have three teens/young adults and, thank our Lord, no accidents.  

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited April 2010

    MRDRN, From dx to finishing surgery, chemo and rads...10 months.  You can do it!  Then you can really kick up your heals with a cancerversary/50th birthday whingding!  Welcome, and best of luck!

    Meece

    Sometime I'll tell the little story of my DS#3 and the car when I was going through chemo, and he was....14!

  • suzwes
    suzwes Member Posts: 1,740
    edited April 2010

    MRDRN - I was diagnosed two months before my 49th birthday, my 49th birthday gift was to have surgery to have a port placed.  My 50th is coming up on June 8th, I've been through surgeries, chemo and radation this year and I'm feeling so much better now a year later.  Your attitude was my attitude, I figured I'd have a good 50th birthday and think I will!

    Also, like Paulding Mom said, the teen driving will drive you crazy, clutching the door, pressing the break and grinding your teeth (and as my now 29 year old daughter used to say when she was 15 and practicing - "STOP BREATHING MOM" - to my exasparated breaths) but I have four very good drivers now!

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited April 2010

    Suz, looks like we've got a birthday party to plan for you in a few weeks, huh?

  • suzwes
    suzwes Member Posts: 1,740
    edited April 2010

    Ya, with cake and cheetos and chocolate and wine!!!  It will be heaven.  I hope the 50s are better than the 40s were!!!

  • Tarry1
    Tarry1 Member Posts: 85
    edited April 2010

    Hi everyone, I just found this thread yesterday.  I had been posting on the one for BC for older ladies then in one of the posts someone said  "since when did people in their 50's become old"? lol.  So I felt kind of funny posting there after that.  I'm 57 and I been thinking that I am old, now not so much.  I had a lumpectomy in Sept. 2009 went through chemo, and I'm going through radiation now. Chemo was bad and I'm not sure about the radiation yet, except that I'm sore and the techs keep saying that that is a side effect of the chemo.  I will talk to my rad onc on thursday about that.

    I also love cheetos and the nesltle dark chocolate mini eggs are my all time favorite!!!!!  I'm glad I found this thread.

  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited April 2010

    Tarry-feel free to tarry, linger & hang out with us "oldies".  We have fun here.  Sometime when you have extra time you should read back a ways.  The gals here are hilarious. Welcome (even tho it is a crappy club to join.) Joni

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited April 2010

    Tarry1, grab your bag of Cheetos, any variety will do, and sit back and read.  I think if you found November/December 2009 it might make you smile.  When I was dx'd I was 40, and thought I was young...now I know I'm a middle.

  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited April 2010

    Tarry1, welcome to the younger than old and older than young group.  For rads, I moisturized with the 100% aloe gel (Fruit of the Earth brand from Walmart.)   I got thru' rads with no blistering.  I wonder if the chemo women have more of a liklihood to blister, since they have already been chemically assaulted on the cellular level?  We have already debunked the myth that "fair skin" burns more easily.  Don't know who gets lucky with rads, really.  Drinking 4 oz. of red wine each day is supposed to help the skin not to break down.  (Washes down the Cheetos real good too!)  Hope you do well.

    Strictly in the name of science, MRDRN, I must point out there is empirical evidence that 4 oz. of red wine works wonders to make the teen driver experience infinitely more tolerable to the parental nervous system also. 

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited April 2010
    You still have it, Elimar. Laughing You must have had your 4 oz. each of wine and Cheetos today!  I have had my one "super vitamin iron suppliment" today, and clamped the bag bag up!  I am trying to be good.
  • suzwes
    suzwes Member Posts: 1,740
    edited April 2010

    Elimar, your knowledge of evidenced based medicine is absolutely astounding.  I think we can make a good case for empirical evidence as sound proof.  I am part of that empirical evidence. 

    Actually I drank at least 4oz of wine daily during radiation (after I had chemo) and the doctor was very impressed with my skin integrity throughout.  I told him about the study, he hadn't heard about it and I brought him a copy of the study.  I can't contibute this to the wine of course but I think it helped - at least it helped my mental state.   I also used the cream they prescribed religiously and used Aveeno sensitive skin body wash.  I think all of this helped.

    As far as the wine for parents of teen drivers, YES, it's a must have and some days 4 oz. just won't due!!!

  • OG56
    OG56 Member Posts: 897
    edited April 2010

    I remember when I had the feeling of belonging in NYC it was when someone asked me directions and I could finally give them. Last night at Walgreens pharmacy a young woman (under 40) said she only had 2 treatments left and then would start on Herceptin. I spoke to her and was able to actually talk intelligently to her about BC but mostly I listened and then I told her about this site because she had ?'s about reconstruction etc. I then walked out of the store and cried all the way home, because I belong and unlike Manhattan I don't want to!

    P.S. In my early 40's I had a colon resection due to some wierd anomally that gave me an absess that wouldn't go away and I had to drink that shit 3 times in 6 weeks...there is a place in Chicago that gives you some kind of enema while you are asleep and you don't have to  drink that "Go Lightly" at all before the colonoscopy.

    Welcome to all the new Middies (:

  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2010

    I went to get my port flushed this afternoon and met up with a lady who I know from a play group from when our kids were little (mine now 20 and 22). She was sitting there getting her chemo. We chatted and I quietly offered to get together for a cuppa and talk if she wanted. Yes, who wanted to belong to this club.

  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited April 2010

    Those are two GREAT stories of connecting, like only another B/C sister can!!!

  • PauldingMom
    PauldingMom Member Posts: 927
    edited April 2010

    Welcome Tarry1- For me at least the soreness during radiation was due to my body trying to heal and fluid retention. I've been done since Nov. and my bad boobie is now a little bit smaller than my good one. I had Lumpectomy, chemo. and rads too. I still have some sore spots but nothing in my mammogram shows any problem. Just scar tissue. But it always scares me and makes me wonder if IT is coming back. If I could I would purchase a ultrasound machine and check it daily. 

    I drank the red wine and used Silverdine on the rad. burns. Still burnt pretty badly. I think alot of it has to do with where the rads are directed and how many treatments you get. I had 35 with 3 boost.

    Finally!!! All the chocolate chip cookies are out of the house!! I refuse to but the giant bag of iron supplements with the powdery cheese coating. What I really miss is cereal. Boring I know, but I love me a big bowl of Special K with red berries. (Mouth watering)

    Okay off to catch up with the games forum. I really should be working but I know I've got an rough afternoon planned and may as well enjoy my morning.  

  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2010

    Lisa - I am right there with you. Lumpectomy, chemo and rads, and of course now nothing. My bad boob is smaller and the flesh is so different - kind of firmer, more dense. I too hate the scar tissue and touch it frequently to try and reassure myself nothing has changed - it is indeed scar tissue. My mammo in early March showed nothing new and last week I had a "well person" check up with CBE and pap etc and all is well. But at the back of my mind?????

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