Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

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  • busqueen
    busqueen Member Posts: 176
    edited November 2010

    Do we all still have a turkey hangover?

    Believe it or not, my daughter actually convinced me to take her and her friend to the Mall of America yesterday for Black Friday.  And I survived.  I will probably need a week to recover from the last couple days, I'm so worn out.

    Bonnie, what a bummer about your son's truck. Hope he gets a new one soon so you can get your wheels back.

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited November 2010

    Wow Carie--you braved the mall on Black Friday!  Must be your "turkey hangover" that made you do it!  Actually that is terrific that you felt up to it.

    Caroline: Good job cooking the turkey ahead of time. And your tried and true pie crust recipe is mine. Crisco really does make a nice flaky crust.

    Bonnie: That is awful about your son's truck. Hope he is able to replace it soon.

    Firni: Your cranberry sauce recipe sounds great. My hubby likes cranberry sauce year round and with almost any meal, so I will make some soon

    Texas: How are you doing?

    Everyone I haven't mentioned: Hope Thanksgiving was grand.

    I have a plumber and tile men invading my house on Monday for "demolition.:" What started out as an I need a new bath-tub has turned into I am getting new tile and new floors plus the bath tub.  They will be in the house for a week---but I live in a rather small town house so I am not sure where the sink and toilet will be stored while they work on the floor.  And my 3 elderly cats will not be happy because this is the bathroom where I keep their kitty litter and extra drinking water.  I figure they can stay in one of the bedrooms while they work on the bathroom---I was told that they would be able to roam the house in the evenings.  Wish me luck!

    Take care w=everyone.

    Many hugs

    Mandy

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  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 655
    edited November 2010

    Mandy -- I hope your bathroom demolition and remodel goes well and stays on schedule.  The cats will probably be freaked out, but they'll find a place to hide when the workers are there.  (We have 2 young cats and one elderly cat and they are really good at finding hiding places.

    My son got a call from the police just as we were finishing Thanksgiving dinner -- his truck was found in a mall parking lot and it was not much the worse for wear.  It smelled like cigarette smoke and there were a couple of McDonald's wrappers in the cab and some change was missing.  There was even gas in the tank, so he just got in and drove it home.  Talk about a wonderful ending to a very nice Thanksgiving Day!

    Hope everyone is having a good weekend.  The steri-strip finally came off my incision yesterday and I'm healing pretty well but still have a little pocket of fluid that has me a bit worried. 

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited November 2010

    Blech, renovating a bathroom is the worst.  Worse I think than doing the kitchen.  Good luck with it all Mandy.  I hope it won't take them the whole week.  I'm sure your kitties won't be happy.

    I went to a Peruvian friend's house for her "Giving Thanks Dinner" tonight.  She made all classic Peruvian food.  Oh man, was everything ever good!!  I can't pronounce anything I ate, but she had dishes with turkey, chicken, rice, noodles, beef, pork, potatoes, fish, yams, and some stuff I don't know what it was.  Some Peruvian spirits too.  She made a toast to me, her "Angel" for helping her get thru her BC, surgery and treatment.  She made me cry a little.  Now she has to teach me to make a few of those fantastic dishes!

    Carie, I'm so impressed that you made it thru Mall of America.  I could barely make it thru that mall even before I had cancer.  My hat is off to you!  Did you get some good deals?

    Bonnie, that seems like such a violation to have the truck stolen from in front of the house.  I'm glad the police found it tho and it was not damaged.  I'm surprised it wasn't stripped.  Maybe it was just some kids out for a joyride.  At any rate, getting the truck back on Thanksgiving was kind of cool.

    Now, does anyone have any good turkey left over recipes? 

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited November 2010

    I agree it sounds like joy riders! So glad you son got his truck back!

    Firni, that meal sounds awesome! I have a good friend who I met through this website. Turns out we live 10 minutes away from one another, and it's been so good to have that one-on-one support.

    I have my do-over nipple reconstruction surgery on the rads side tomorrow. Fingers crossed that it's my last surgery. I developed that lump, which is large and painful, but the doctor hopes will go away on its own since she thinks it's either a hematoma, seroma or lipoma.

    Lord, I'll be happy to see the end to these surgeries! Maybe my system will finally start recovering. 24 months of anesthesia and antibiotics on top of the Femara, chemo and rads: I've forgotten what "normal" feels like!

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited November 2010

    Good luck tomorrow, Texas.  My heart goes out to you.  I have another surgery in Jan.  No wonder my hair won't come back!  I think this one will make 8.  Is the lump on the side you're having surgery on?  Hopefully she'll be able to see what it really is.  Prayers for you and a speedy recovery.

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited November 2010

    Texas, good luck with your surgery.  Sending love and prayers.

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited November 2010

    Bonnie, what a great Thanksgiving!

    Firni, my sister lives in Peru. Very yummy food, we have a small local restaurant that is Peruvian & Dominican food, so good. When you learn how to make it, you will have to come here and share :)

    We had a great Thanksgiving, no drama :) Last year my SIL left slamming the door before dinner! And on Black Friday, we have friends from out-of-state that came for the weekend. Heating the turkey in gravy turned out GREAT but... I did miss the smell of the cooking turkey through the day, so next year (Yes, I'm already there!), I will be cooking it on Thanksgiving but earlier in the day so that I don't stress about it being ready on time, then smother in gravy and in the oven to get hot. In a few years, I'll have it down!

    Texas, good luck on the surgery today.

    And Carie, get some extra rest to be strong for this next round.

    And believe it or not, leftovers are ALL gone! Having guests this weekend helped.

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  • busqueen
    busqueen Member Posts: 176
    edited December 2010

    Hi everybody!:-)

    Texas~ how are you doing? I hope things went well.

    I had chemo yesterday, everything went ok.  Only got about 3 hours of sleep last night thanks to the decadron.  Blah.  Onc said I will have scans probably the week after Christmas.  If things are stable, we will continue the chemo we're doing, if there's any progression we will change to something else.

    We had a doozy of a snowstorm that started at about 1pm yesterday and ended at about 5 this morning. I think we got 6-8 inches out there.  Its really pretty.  Of course it happened on a night that my kids were going to a youth event with our church youth group, so I spent a lot of time worrying about them being out and about with other people driving.

    Tomorrow we are planning to go cut down our Christmas tree if it's not too cold. Tonight I think we will be baking cookies to send to the guys in my husband's national guard squadron over in Iraq.  He actually was supposed to be over their with them, but his commander held him back when we found out about my bone mets.  He will be getting deployed sometime next year, and since he missed this round to Iraq, he will end up going to Afghanistan.  Somebody in his unit sponsored our family for Christmas, so we all got to fill out a Christmas list, even my dad's dog!  What a blessing!:-)  It's been really tough for us the last couple months, so I'm really grateful that I will FINALLY start receiving my disability benefits this month.  

    I hope y'all are enjoying your weekend.  Blessings and hugs to everybody.:-)

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited December 2010

    Hi Carie,  I'm so glad you're able to get into the holiday spirit.  And it is awesome what your DH's unit is doing for you.  I'm sorry he'll have to go to Afghanistan next year.  I'm praying that your chemo is working for you.

    We haven't really had any snow to speak of here and none in the forecast.  I'm ok with that tho.  We have lights on the house and the tree up.  Now I just have to put some of the regular do dahs away and put some of the Christmas do dahs up. We'll get some gifts for the grandkids this year, but that's it.  They're still young enough that an inexpensive toy is just as good as a pricey one. Things are so tight that our children and each other will just have to be happy with each other's company, again this year.  I really thought we'd be back on our feet by now.  This is my 3rd Christmas since diagnosis and we're still just struggling to pay the bills and keep the house.  Next year will be better, yes??   

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited December 2010

    Well I am probably repeating myself (do that alot these days) but it is official. The plane ticket is purchased and my older daughter is flying home from the West Coast for Christmas. So hubby, my two DDs and I will be together on Christmas joined by my sister in law. The whole family together--it couldn't be better than that.

    Carie and Firni--sorry that it has been tight for both of your families. This stupid disease affects everything, doesn't it.  And Carie, I will check in here even on Christmas to see how you are doing.

    Sending prayers and love to all my sisters on this thread.

    Mandy

    PS If any of you have facebooks, message me how to friend you (if you want).  I don't want to put my facebook info right here for everyone to see.

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  • busqueen
    busqueen Member Posts: 176
    edited December 2010

    Hellloooooo.......anybody home? 

    Texas ~ where are you and how did your procedure go?

    We had an insane amount of snow here over the weekend.  I honestly don't remember having this much snow on the ground any time in the last 10 years.  On Saturday evening my DH and DS had to shovel individual tire tracks for about a half a block so we could get our car to the church parking lot that is across the alley from us.  They actually pulled the city buses off the street, which had never been done during the 11 years I was driving bus. And that meant having to make my way downtown where DH was stranded trying to get home from his national guard duty.  Sheesh!!  I ate a lot of chocolate this weekend.:-)

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited December 2010

    Carie,

    You are up early or are you just up late? .  How many inches did you get?   Last year we had record snows for Philadelphia with the December 20 storm leaving us with over 23 inches.   I am one of those people who loves snow and since I live right down town, I can walk to most places. I would not like to drive in deep snow and in fact, with the first flake, I figure the car belongs in the garage---never would have been able to drive a bus like you did!  My daughter who lives in California is coming in to Philly for a week on Saturday. She hasn't seen snow since she moved out there (for work) so we are hoping for a "white" Christmas, but maybe not as white as what you are having right now. I hope you are feeling good and that you get a chance to enjoy the beauty of the season.

    Hugs to all my December 2008 gals!

    Mandy

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited December 2010

    Carie, chocolate is a good thing :)

    I sae on the weather website the other day that they were calling for a white Christmas on half the US, so Mandy, your daughter might very well see some snow. Snowing here in MD as I type. Snow makes me smile :)

    Everyone ready for Christmas? I have a few stocking stuffers to pick for the kids & hubby, other we're ready. Food is cooked and frozen. Christmas food is the BEST :)

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited December 2010

    Hi ladies,  It's been a while since I've had a chance to write.  Work has gone insane and I have a couple of real trouble makers on my staff.  Two of them went to my boss and complained about things two weeks ago.  Last Tues. I had a 3 HOUR meeting with my boss!!!!!  All last week I've been working 10-12 hour days (some of those hours in the middle of the night) having individual meetings with all of my staff going over their grievances and reviewing their job descriptions. Yesterday, one of my little lovelies just walked off the job.  So now I'm scrambling to hire someone to get her shifts filled.  Yesterday I worked 15 hours.  The next two weeks don't look much better.  Too bad I'm salaried!  

    I'm not quite done getting ready for Christmas.  The house is decorated inside and out but I haven't baked or shopped.  My son works Christmas day (I might have to now too), so he and his family will be here Christmas Eve.  And that is fine with me.  I've always been more partial to  Christmas Eve.  

    Carie, I was talking to my brother when the snow started in the Cities.  It was just 5 after 10 and he was saying how the snow was supposed to start after 10:00.  Then he says,  Oh no, it's snowing.  How's that for accurate weather prediction?  I did see on the news that you got 20 some inches.  We still have no snow.  It's supposed to be 65 here today.  How is your chemo going?  Don't you have a scan coming up?

    Mandy, I'm so glad your family will all be together for Christmas.  I know it's so hard when kids move so far away.  For many years, my DS was in Florida and my DD was in California.  My DS is back in Denver but my DD is still on the west coast.  She won't be able to get home for Christmas this year.

    Caroline, can you come to my house and finish up the Christmas preparations?  LOL 

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited December 2010

    Hey all! I'm here! I'm here! I just needed to take a break from the site for a while.

    Busqueen: Chocolate is Medicinal! Just remember that! Wink 

    Surgery went well, and is healing nicely,although my PS didn't want touch the lump and it's still there. It's distorting the shape of the breast, but she feels that anything she does could compromise the entire reconstruction because the tissues have been subjected to so much surgery.

    Anyone heard of Restoration Pilates classes? I've been attending to try to get the LE to go down in my left arm. It has been stubbornly present since the Lat Flap surgery in August. This Restoration Pilates is strictly for BC ladies,and the instructor knows just how much to push each of us to help restore range of motion and open up the lymphatic pathways. Plus there's a lot of laughter among the group!

    This is the first Christmas since 2008 that I've actually had the energy to celebrate, and I'm trying to make the most of it. 

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited December 2010

    Yay!!!! Texas.  It's good to feel good enough to enjoy the holidays.  Sorry she couldn't do anything about that lump.  What did she say it is?  I'm glad that everything went well tho and you sound like you're feeling pretty good.  The Restoration Pilates class sounds fantastic.  I wiah I had the motivation to join some kind of exercise program.  But alas.  I don't. 

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited December 2010

    PS said the lump was "hopefully" a hematoma or lipoma. Or maybe scar tissue. She just didn't want to mess with it, and "hopes" it goes away on its own. Meanwhile, parts of the incision from the Lat Flap surgery keep opening, which she also says is normal as some of the internal stitches pop through. So I'm dealing with tiny open wounds.

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited December 2010

    Texas, glad to hear surgery went well. I think we all need a break from this site every once in a while! Can you check your messages on the top right corner, I sent you a PM.

    BonnieK, I also sent you a message a couple of days ago, just making sure that you see it :)

    Last day of school for the kiddos tomorrow, pfff, not even a full day! While they're sugaring up at their Christmas party, I'm getting haircut #2 since chemo. I'm so excited :) I straightened my hair the other, only to find out that after 20 months of hairgrowth, my roots are DEAD! She barely cut any last may when I went for the first time.

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited December 2010

    Texas: hope this is the end of surgery for you.  It sounds as if it went pretty well.

    Caroline: Congrats on haircut #2.  Just be patient and it will keep growing.  

    Everyone, have a wonderful day!

    xoxo

    Mandy

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited December 2010

    Texas, I hope whatever the lump is does go away.  It's not right that after all you've been thru there should be anything else distorting the shape of your breast.  

    Caroline, how can your roots be dead?  Wouldn't your hair just fall out?  I've been getting my boy cut trimmed up every 6 weeks or so for the past year.  Without full coverage on my head, there is no point in even thinking I can let it grow out.  Makes me sad. 

    Hope your day was fantastic, Mandy. 

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  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited December 2010

    Oops! I meant tips! With english not being my first language, I something "speak" too fast and don't say the right thing.

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited December 2010

    Well, that makes much more sense.

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  • busqueen
    busqueen Member Posts: 176
    edited December 2010

    LOL.  If we're going to get technical about this, then we have to acknowledge the fact that our hair is pretty much all dead to begin with.:-)  We can try to stimulate growth from the root, and slather on a bunch of stuff to make it "look" healthy and alive, but, alas, it really is just a bunch of dead stuff laying on our head.:-)  {I was a hairdresser in another lifetime......} 

    Texas ~ I will keep you and your foobs in my prayers.:-)  The day will come that you will realize you hadn't thought about your lumps or wounds in a couple days.  I believe it.

    Yay!  Got my first Disability benefits yesterday!!  And yes, it's all gone.:-)  Paid the whole rent, all at one time, much to my landlord's surprise, and got the car fixed.  Doing the "Happy heat dance"!  Driving around in Minnesota in the winter without a defroster is definitely a religious experience.:-)

    Gotta go, hubby's kicking me off the computer.....hehehe.  Take care.

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited December 2010

    busqueen: You take care in that icy weather. I understand Minnesota has gotten hammered by snow lately! It's been all over the news.

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited December 2010

    We had our first snow of the season today....just a coating but still, everything looks so pretty. It started just as I was leaving the train station with my daughter (who had just arrived from school) so I did not have to deal with driving in it.  I suspect it will melt tomorrow but I did enjoy it.

    (((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))

    I

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited December 2010

    We had a dusting last night too.  I was driving to the hospital to do my volunteer work and every one was driving like we had 3 inches of ice.  Most of the road wasn't even wet.  Now by late afternoon, it's all gone.

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  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited December 2010

    Sending my sisters on the December 2008 thread my love for the holidays. May we celebrate many many many holidays together.  

    Happy holidays to you and your families.

    Love,

    Mandy

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited December 2010

    Happy Holidays to you too, Mandy and to every one on this thread.  May everyone prosper in the New Year and remain stable or NED.

    I love you all!

    Firni 

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited December 2010

    Merry Christmas to all! Celebrate each day with joy!

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