For Older People with Sense

3jays(((HUG))) sorry you've have one of those days.  Lisa I think you missed your calling you are a world class photographer and you really have a fantastic eye for the beauty around you, I love your work and I have that exact pink/white rose in my garden, it's called "Lynne Anderson" who sang the song "Rose Garden".  SV I hope you get the problem worked out I would hate to think that someone is out to "get you" it just seems so cruel and I don't understand what kind of pleasure they get out of it.  Nite all.

I love your photos SoCalLisa..

Have you seen the DailyShoot photos club/contest?  I have friends who do the assignment every day.  They have a lot of fun.

http://www.flickr.com/

Hello to everyone.  Saw the oncologist today.  Starting chemo in 2 week.  She's a bit concerned that it could have mania side effects because i'm Bipolar.  Does anyone know anything about this.  Thanks

BernieEllen, I don't know for a fact whether the chemo regimen you'll be getting could have "mania" side effects.  It might depend on which chemo drugs you'll be given. 

But, I do know that my oncologist prescribed Ativan for me, to help me sleep on the night or two after each chemo infusion.  She said the Ativan would help counteract the insomnia that might be caused by the dexamethasone I would be taking.  I was getting dexamethasone to decrease the risks of fluid retention and allergic reactions to Taxotere, which was one of my chemo drugs.

But, my oncologist also said the Ativan would help to decrease "irritability".  I don't know if the irritability would have been due to the chemo drug(s) or the dexamethasone; but that might be what your oncologist was concerned about.  Fortunately, for most of us, the side effects of chemo are temporary.  I'm almost 3 years out now, and I think I'm back to normal (whatever that was!).

otter (older, but not necessarily with more sense)

I should have said, sunrise

Lisa .. love the rose.  The color and shape is amazing!

BernieEllen .. what Otter said makes sense.  Sounds like it is the steroids that could cause a manic episode. 

hugs,

Bren

Otter .. it's four years for me, and I haven't normalized yet.  I'm the same person, but since instant menopause and cancer, I've lost the pep in my step.  I just seem "older" now.  Maybe that happens when we find out we aren't invulnerable anymore.  Since getting cancer, I have more fears now too.

Bren

Alyson, so sorry about the new developments.  Hope everything is okay.  Lisa, enjoying the roses!  Wish mine were in bloom!

Hi everyone.  It's been a much better week around here than last week.  For one thing, DH and I are over the stomach bug and back to normal!  Goodness, that was rough, but it's over now.  After dreary days of cold rain the sun is finally out again too, and it's forecasted to be 80 degrees Monday!!

Went to a big farm in SC today and got absolutely wonderful vine-ripened strawberries!  Divine. 

Anybody ever heard of vitamin D depleting potassium?  My onc has told me to drastically decrease my vitamin D regimin and I've been put on a potassium supplement, HUGE horse pills which I can no more swallow than I could fly!   Fortunately they can be dissolved, so that's what I'm doing.  And I'm reducing vitamin D to 400 units.  We've been trying to get my level up for several months.

I've got to schedule mammogram (the first one "since") this month.  Like all of us, I'm very nervous about it, too.  I really just dread going to the radiology place at all.  I went for a bone density test my onco. ordered and had a total meltdown because this is where I had the nipple dye injections and the locator wire done.  I was supposed to be under anesthesia for that and my surgeon was going to do both.  I told them and told them and nobody would listen, and other than the emotional stress we all have, that was the worst part of the whole experience for me.  It wasn't like I could just leave either, since my breast was held down on the plate.  The hospital later sent me a letter of apology and a philodendron adorned with a pink ribbon, no less, but it just didn't quite make up for it!  The surgeon was furious, too, and I'm told she had an absolute fit about it.  I do plan to insist that the radiologist who did this will not ever touch me again!

We're going out to eat tonight with some friends, so must get ready.  Later, maybe, and hugs to all.

Lisa--beautiful, beautiful rose!

Kathy

Hi, Nico!  I'm so flippin' happy to see you again!  I'm not DAT so much anymore. I think being retired, and being able to sleep until 7:30 every morning, has helped with that. It's weird, though -- even though I'm on Arimidex (hi, JO!!!) and I'm having all its associated SE's, the SE I haven't had is difficulty sleeping.  I think most nights I sleep better now than I did pre-BC.  Barbara, one year is not enough.  I still felt shredded at the one-year point.  It does get better, really.  It's different -- the "normal" might not feel so familiar -- but things calm down.  At least I don't think of cancer all the time anymore.  (Sometimes it takes a completely different sort of family crisis to redirect your mind, though; and that's not necessarily what you want.)

Bren, I feel sort of lucky that I didn't end up in the midst of all this until several years after I'd gone through natural menopause.  I suspect it's a lot harder on pre-menopausal women, who experience "chemo-pause", and then go on tamoxifen or have Lupron shots or oophorectomies + AI's, etc.  Sheesh.  That would really suck.  You sure are right about the vulnerability.  I never was a great risk-taker, but now I am easily intimidated and fearful.  It's funny -- I marched through surgery and chemo with hardly a whimper (don't go back and read my 3-yr-old posts to verify that, please).  All my relatives thought I was so "strong"; so "brave".  But now, the idea of having to fill out a new and unfamiliar tax form makes me tremble.  Big city traffic?  Forget it.  I'll drive dozens of miles out of my way to avoid it.  I like staying home.

And, dear Alyson... cr*p.  I am going to hope that the thickened area is fibrosis from the lymphedema.  That can happen, apparently.  It's not a good thing, but it is considerably better than some of the alternatives.

Hugs...

otter

I keep waiting for the other foot to drop

Good afternoon - it's good to see so many joining, and the thoughtful discussion.  BarbA and I are 4/28 girls; and my 1-yr mammo is upcoming in 13 days.

First off, Alyson, I also hope that the area of concern is of no concern; and that there is another explanation. Prayers and hugs sent your way.

Lisa, the roses look good enough to eat, or marry.

Otter, your "after-cancer" thoughts are spot-on. Thanks for verbalizing it so well.

 The "after-cancer" - I thought I was the only one who just really hates cities, big crowds, too much noise and white noise.

Big crowds for me is more than 20 people.

QCA - Kathy ((((HUGS)))).  I'm so sorry about "them" not listening to you - I would have had an awful time forgiving them or trusting them again.  I asked if I could take some of my tranks before they did the prep for my lumpectomy and told them I would be keeping my eyes closed - the tranks helped me through the placing of the wire and the injection of the radiation dye.  Even with tranks, it certainly wasn't pleasant....  It's been 2 1/2 weeks since my lumpectomy - such a short time but the 3 weeks leading up to the lumpectomy felt like months and months of stress and worry.  It's such a relief to be feeling close to normal again.  Martha

Hi to everyone, thanks for the advice and info.  I think it's all just starting to hit home now.