Chemo June 2010

Happy Birthday Liz!!!!  Celebrate every birthday and to Bon's point - celebrate that you made it to your birthday.  I hope you can find comfort and some celebration.  You clearly earned it!!!

I did see my rheumatoid Dr yesterday - good news - no lupus, no sclerderma and he doesn't think I have RA either.  The markers were too low.  He thinks I am having symptoms that may be a combo of chemo effect & Arimidex.  So he is changing up the anti inflammatory to one that doesn't cause fluid retention and see where we go from there.  He wants me to get back to excercising even if it is only 20 minutes a day.  He talked to me a lot about the fact that with no excercise (because it hurts) I am not getting the right lubrication to my joints.  He asked me if I was having lubrication problems elsewhere which made me roll my eyes but I told him yes.  He said it is the same dynamic with my joints.  So.....bottom line I am going to try to make myself do at least 20 minutes of walking or elliptical a day and take the new drug.  I will see how it goes from there. 

Lizzyanne-  Many, many happy healthy returns!!  I know this will be a year you will never forget.  Celebrate how brave and determined you were to get through those treatments.

Best Wishes on your Birthday Lizzyanne !  Latte I will be thinking of you this week.  I hope all goes well !  Grneyd-  Glad the pain is not a "major" disease.  You need some good news !  I made it through my ultra sound with no "leakage".  I had an eclair to make me feel better.  Eclairs work almost as well as champagne !  Kitty- I'm glad there is no sign of mestasis. I hope you get relief soon.

Jackie - I know what you mean.  I tried to stay positive and upbeat so as not to worry my children and husband so much.  That is until I started chemo!  And we all know how that story went!  I had some down days but not really any that were really cathartic.  I don't think I mourned the loss of "me" in the beginning either.  But I will tell you that I have had two distinct moments where I was on the verge of a breakdown and I felt like if I allowed myself to fall into that dark pit, I was afraid I might not make it out again.  That's when I would come to this forum - this safe and wonderful place where I have met the most amazing, brave, heroic, caring, sensitive women and I would find rest and peace of mind.  So, just let yourself go where you need to go.  You know you always have us here to lift you up, pray for you, make you laugh and hold you dear!

Latte - thinking positive thoughts for you starting now.  Are you having yours done vaginally or will you have a scar?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LIZZY who is an awesome 6-0!  What a milestone.  Hope you feel great and have a terrific day!

Joan - "uterus" is nothing.  I can't believe you typed TRANSVAGINAL! ! ! !  Oh my STARS!

Kitty - I hope you get all you "stuff" figured out and taken care of soon, so you can go back to being your beautiful self.  

Happy birthday Lizzy!  I don't dread birthdays anymore--I'm just happy to have another one!  But they do make me emotional--when we think back on the past year and all we've been through.

Latte-  I think your surgery is done now?  Hope it all went well!  Hope to hear from you soon.

Sherry--I agree about what Joan wrote!!  I thought the same thing--uterus isn't any big deal.  I had the same ultrasound, but no way could I type out that word--LOL!

grneyd--hope the exercise works for you.  I'm trying to get back to it also, but am finding it hard to find the time (and I don't even work!).

Kitty-hope you get your answers soon. And relief from the pain.

Don't know who else I am missing--I can hardly remember what I just read!  My gs is sleeping, so I finally have time to catch up a bit--but I'm so tired!  He is doing well, and we are having fun, but there are times he really misses his parents.  Then I feel sad for him.  We were able to skype with his mom (my dd) earlier today, and he's not too sure what to think of that.  He was a little sad for awhile after.  His aunt is going to take him for awhile tomorrow, so I can get my Herceptin.

Have a good evening everyone!

Latte - Good luck tomorrow.

Lizzy - Happy birthday!

Tina - so glad to know that your dignification (is that a word) would not allow you to type those words!  LOLOLOL!

I'm sorry the little guy is missing his parents.  That makes it hard on both of you.  When both of my granddaughters were little, they stayed with us quite a bit without their parents.  Fortunately for us, they never seemed to mind that their mommy wasn't around.  Now that they are 5 and 8, they would live with us and never go home if it were up to them!  Funny how kids are.

Latte - one more send off before tomorrow - or is it already tomorrow over there?  {{{HUGS}}}

Bon - we don't have to wear heels when we come to Florida, do we?  I'm afraid I would fall right off of mine.  The bottoms of my feet are still numb!

Attended a funeral this morning for one of the teachers at the school where I work.  She had breast cancer a few years ago and then had a recurrence last fall that went to her liver.  She also developed an allergy to chemo and wasn't able to have any tx this time.  She was only a year older than me.  Makes me very aware of my own mortality.

Hello all!!!  Just stopping by to say Hi and Happy Hump day.

Lizzyanne.. Happy Happy B-Day to you...  Hope it was a wonderful one.

Latte...Hope your surgery is over and you are back home in your own bed.  Nothing like your own stuff

Sherry sooo sorry to hear about your friend...  Maybe some day.. in our life time they will find a cure for this beast...

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks I have been on Arimidex.  I must say this little pill is about to get the best of me...Last week broke out crying in the grocery store and today for no reason laid on my bed and cried and cried and cried, till it was time for DH to come home, then got up washed face and went to kitchen to make supper...  I did not want to answer phone or anything and THAT IS NOT ME... Man I love to talk...LOL   Think I should ask for something or will this pass...  I can just tell I am not me...  Is or have anyone went through this or is it just me.. PLEASE help...   I am still taking ambien cr  and have been since dx... is this to long or can I take it longer...cause right now it is by best friend... but if it is messing with my head I will let it go...

I know you ladies can guide me in the right direction.  I have my port flush the end of this month may be I should ask to onc also...

Sorry I have to see what you ladies think.  I have more info from here then my drs.  Carzy huh...

Thanks so much!!!

Latte - good luck and I hope you have very little symptoms. You'll have to let me know how it goes. I'm having the same surgery in May. I'm having it done laporoscopically.

Sandiddstn, I have been taking Femara, much like Arimidex for 3 1/2 months.  I do remember crying more, feeling not "like myself", and wanting to hide away and not see or talk to anybody.  I also had nausea for the first 2 months.  That has all gone away.  I think it is the drastic drop in estrogen from this pill.  Your body will adjust and these side effects will get better.  Hang in there friend.

Joan, wow, eclairs and champagne together.  I think we found a menu for our get together.

Love and Hugs, Mimi

LOL Joan!  Who knew silicone was toxic to snakes.  Good thing to know I guess!  Don't you just hate it when people keep asking what kind of test you are having?  When I was having my hysterectomy years ago, several of the attorneys would ask what kind of surgery I was having.  I guess since I was only 32, it didn't dawn on them it would be female related.  I have instructed my husband that if a female co-worker says she doesn't feel well or is having a test or surgery NOT to ask any questions.  Just tell her you will be thinking of her!

Called RA doc today to see if my ortho had found my lab tests from a week ago and sent them over.  They did and they have so I will be keeping my appointment for tomorrow afternoon.  Will let you know the results.  My sister is also coming tomorrow to hang out with me through the weekend. That will be fun.

Wow, I have not been on in several days and you ladies have been naughty.  I, too, am looking forward to our get together next year.   Please lets start planning early and maybe we can find ways to help financially.  I am thinking of a collection jar with a picture of my bald head asking for any donations to send this poor BC Survivor to meet with her support group in Florida.   Think anyone will want to help her get there???   Well, we can try.  We will get a little money back from taxes this year so just might put some of that away in a "VACATION ACCOUNT". 

LizzyAnne,  Happy happy Birthday.   I just had my 57th on Mar 6 but did not get too excited about it this year.  Am hoping this year will beat the hell out of last year!!!!!!

Jackie,  I was thrilled to hear you do not have RA.   BC is enough to have to deal with.   I hope your pet scan goes well and you get the all clear.  

I went to my BS this past week and she told me I still have a lot of swelling and inflammation from rads on my cancer mast side and that is why it is still sore to palpate and to sleep on that side without my little surgery pillow.    That whole side is the color of a latte coffee still and is very tender.  I finished Rads mid Nov. but I guess it is similar to third degree burns and takes a long time to heal.

Must go to bed now because I have a hard day ahead of me tomorrow at work, but did want to drop in with my two cents worth.   Love and hugs to all,  Ginny  

Someone just started a thread reminding us that this is a public forum.  I guess when you google our names, our posts all come up?  I am not a techno geek.  However!  I don't believe it is anyone's business but ours!  So I am going back to my ruby slipper persona.  That way I can freely join in with the racy conversations.

I say we keep talking, wishing and believing that we can all get together and we will make our dream come true.  I also think champagne and eclairs are a great start to the menu.  I will add shrimp (are the shrimp safe now?).  And of course I will be wearing pearls!

Bon-  I agree that it feels creepy to have "outsiders" read our posts, not BCO members, but googlers.  I heard that is why the MX photo threads have a password, because weirdos were going there to look at photos.  There are sick people out there.  At this point I don't really give a rats A$$ what my medical practitioners read.  I have told them the same things, good and bad. I will always be grateful to BCO for introducing us and will continue posting here.  I just think we should all remember it is a public forum.  If any of you want more private conversations, PM me anytime and I will get you my e-mail.

Yeah it can be creepy to think about people cyber stalking! Frankly, I dont care if someone reads that I'm having a hysterectomy. I have conversations about it at work! When I talk to me men, I tell them that I'm having female parts removed. LOL!



I'm going in this morning for my lower back MRI. Wish me luck. I hope they don't find anything!



Happy St Patrick's Day everyone!