Starting Chemo February 2009?

Hey Ladies... wow lots to read and catch up on.

Jamie- yeah for clear bone scan!!!
Michele-Now you need to go out shopping for some nice tops:-) So glad you are feeling better, it's all going to be worth it!!!

Cheryl-sorry you are still having problems. Hope they find out soon what is causing it.

Nancy-I know those "preps" all too well... and "yuk" is right!  Good luck with the tests.

Has anyone heard from Web? She had a strange post on facebook the other day and I got a little worried.  Hoping it was just a rant, but want to make sure. 

Started my 2nd cycle (4 treatments) of Abraxane/Avastin, so far no big s/e's... not as bad as the crap I was on 2 years ago.  Just chugging along cause that's what I do!!  Oh and for now still have my hair. It's gotten extremely thin, but I still have some:-)

Sue

Judy~ The mag-3 test is an injection of a tracier that they watch go thru your kidneys as they give you fluid in addition to giving you lasix and you have to hold it for 25 min. at the minimum.

So my surgery was done yesterday and I was discharged this morning.  I have been talking out of my head because of all the drugs that was given to me yesterday.  I had benedryl pills 2x, and injection once and finally some decadron...YUCK!!  I had more lypo done, fat injections, pulled more skin down in my abdomin and I just look more put together if there is such a thing.    I am sore but not to bad.  My one nipple was corrected so I am hopeful that all is going to look well.  I fly home tomorrow morning so I can not wait to get there.  I miss my babies.

Sue~ I hope you do not get any of the side effects.  {{hugs}}

Okay so I am home finally.  I flew in Friday and we went directly to the beach.  I was completely wiped out today by the time we got home and slept for 3 hours and then my belly was upset....NOT FUN I tell you.  I am on antibotics, am in a compression garment and was just SUPER uncomfortable....yuck, yuck, YUCK!!

 Michele~ How are you doing ??

Kerry~ Please forgive me for missing your birthday.  I hope it was AWESOME!!

Michele~lol....love the story about your hair.  It's the chemicals   I have holes from last week also and they gave me an antibiotic zosen (sp) too fast and if it is given too fast I have hives from it.  Well it was dripped too fast and I have hives so I got oral benedryl 2x, followed by IV benedryl, followed by decadron so I would go to start a conversation and then fall asleep.  I am so embarrassed because I did it to Dr. S mulitple times.  I woke up in recovery hearing about my catheter coming out and then yelling because it hurt....just wasn't a good drugged up time....  Sorry for the rant. 

I hope your short term memory improves and if you find a way let me know because I need all of the help that I can get. 

Kerry~ Glad to hear that the Zometa went well.  I hope the aches go away real soon.  So I have 3 days until I work and I am still sore but I gotta get back to work. 

So September hell is finished for me....wooohoooo...  The gyn was this morning and I even managed to send BCBS a farewell additional bill for the BRCA test.  I am evil but I am trying to get everything done.  I might be getting my eyes checked out this week also.....just in time....just in time.... 

I hope everyone is doing well. 

Nancy - glad all your "scopys" turned up nothing concerning, but I bet they were no fun!

Jaimie - glad to hear your September Hell is done! (maybe?) I still have an MRI on Monday to get through, ugg. With contrast, so I have another IV to stress about. But once that is over, I am done (hopefully) until March.

I'm on my big wek for my training, did 6 miles this morning, have 12 to do on Saturday. Whew. Then the taper-off starts, race is Oct 17th. 

Hi ladies!  Again sooo much to read!

Michele-purple hair, oh yeah old lady hair for sure. I remember my Grandma back in the day, would always come back from the hair dresser with purple hair... but it was all the time, like it was done on purpose!!

Kerry-why are you on Zometa? Isn't that a chemo? or I might be wrong.  Good luck with the MRI, I'm sure it'll be fine.

Jaime-good luck with the BRCA testing.  Are you having eyesight problems?  My eyesight used to be very, VERY good until I started chemo in '08.  Now I can't even see the food on my plate when I'm eating.  I went out and bought one of those cheap pair of reading glasses for $10, works like a charmer.  Beats paying the price of real glasses.

Nancy-try taking B12 for the neuropathy, I here that works. Or even ask if you can get shots of it.

I'm doing ok on the chemo ladies. Trucking right along.  Had my 5th one today, next week ends my 2nd cycle.  One more cycle then I go for scans which brings me to about end October/early November, and we all know how much I love those &^%$# things.

Apple - any news with you?!?!?

Judy- I sure hope things with Julia go well, she is being such a trooper.

Have a great weekend ladies!

Sue

Sue~ If we got together we would have one good eye set.  I can't see far away, it's horrible. 

Apple~ I hope all is okay. 

So I have worked 2 days this past week with one to go and I am doing okay if you count a newborn who didn't want to cooperate.  I am a little sore tonight but it is good for me.  I really need to get in shape. 

I am going to start walking this week and try to get it done 4x this week and slowly work back up to running.  I have got to get in shape, I am like a ball of mush.....

Kerry~ I hope all goes well tomorrow ((hugs)).  I hope they get the IV on the first time....

((Kerry))~ Sorry it was so horrible.  I hope it was all for no reason....

Okay I think we need a group update?? I know a lot of us have moved on but I want to know how everyone is doing ??? Yes I am nosey .

Michele~ Isn't it bad when you wish time away......roll on January.  Glad to hear you are exercising and are liking the squishy's better than the rocks. 

2 days until nipple stitches come out and I am scared but excited.  I also set up my tat's appt today.  I go Dec 3 at 2pm for my first tatoo's.  I am excited but scared becasue I am a big chicken these days.  I am also scared because I want them to look awesome and there is just that fear that something will go wrong.  I guess I should be more worried that they will look awesome and I will feel the need to flash everyone...lol... and I am only half joking.  I would NEVER show anyone my boobs in the past and now I am a flasher.

I'm waiting till Jan for my nips.  I've had enough *fun* for the time-being.

Pepperoni nips... now that's a concept! ;-)

Jaimie... did they get rid of the scars across your foobs?  I always wondered what happens to them when you get the nips done......

Judy and Julia are in my thoughts and prayers!

and Michele, I don't blame you for giving yourself a break right now.

Nancy, the ultram is working very well! I haven't needed the vicodin since I started taking 2 ultram at a time.

I went back to the gyn for follow-up from D&C. I told him again that I want a hysterectomy and he still doesn't agree. He mentioned uterine oblation and an IUD with low dose estrogen. I DON'T WANT THOSE! I think it's time to find another doctor!

 Susan, I am soo glad these chemo rounds are not kicking your butt as much as the last ones! Hang in there, sweetie!

I don't know if I mentioned it on this thread, but my aunt just died from cancer. I am actually writing this from a hotel room in Milwaukee. The funeral was in the upper peninsula of Michigan. I am visiting my cousin right now. She is the daughter of the aunt that passed away. Unbelievably, she and my aunt were dx with cancer a few months apart! My aunts cancer was so advanced there was nothing the docs could do. She lasted about 6 months post dx. My cousin had her spleen, gall bladder and most of her colon and stomach removed. She is attempting to gain weight so she will be strong enough for chemo. My cousin was too weak to make the drive up to the funeral, so I am visiting her now. Because of the newfound family hx of cancer, my doc wanted me to get the BRCA test done. I got a call today that the results are negative. Whew!

Jamieh, you sure are going through a lot! Your foobies will be fabulous, I'm sure! Pepperoni nipples and all!

Michele, my hair has purple in it, but I put it in on purpose! I dyed some of my highlights purple against a dark brown base color. I like it and get a lot of compliments on it! 

Kerry, that is so great about the running! I am so jealous! I wish I could have the energy to do that. Anything faster than a moderate walk and I am shaky and out of breath within 30 seconds! I was a runner before dx and, like Jamieh said, it is a great stress reliever.