November 2009-Starting Chemo

The new do is ok - very blonde and very short. It was nice though - DH said "I've got my Susie back". I thought he'd complain about the length being too short.

 My back is feeling better. Got the physio to crack my neck yesterday - feels so good. It was really tight so he'll do it again next week.

 Work was ok today - didn't do much. I do have some code to write, so I'll get stuck in to it on Monday.

Going to rad onc and bs next Wed. I'm waiting to see what the bs says when I tell her I don't want any mammos etc until late September. Nothing is interferring in our trip!!!

Saw the geneticist yesterday. He wants me to have the gene testing owing to the high incidence of cancer in my father's family. It costs $1,600, so I told him no - we can't afford it. He's going to refer me to the local public hospital and see if they will do it for free. They have some points system that gives you a score for risk and if you get enough points they'll test you.

Hugs to all of my sisters - I love you!!!

Sue

Oh geez, I love a big, fat, extra-crispy breast with mashed potatoes with gravy and cole slaw. And don't forget the biscuit and a large sweet tea! Yumm-O

@Brenda... We will live the chickies alone!!!!

Ok, don't forget the fries...here in Canada you get fries, not potatoes.  I remember the first time I had KFC in the states I thought I would cry when they gave me the potatoes...I wanted french fries....yum.

Just curious Sue...are you a vegetarian, or do you just not like KFC?

I'm not the biggest fan of the fries at our KFCs. They are more like potato wedges...too big for me. But I do love french fries with brown gravy.

Linda - I'm so far from being a vego it's not funny - just don't like all of the coating they put on KFC - been seeing too many ads for it lately. I like my chicken skinless.

Hope you all like the new hair do

Sue

Sue ~ looking good !!!

I had a bit of a scare yesterday girls.  I spent several hours in the ER.  I had a stressful week, my daughters SAT scores came in not sooo great (1546)  then she is making me crazy with her failing her roadtest, retaking it on Wenesday.  (she will fail again)  And stressing me with what color she wants to dye her hair.  I can't take it all ~ and think I just kicked  myself into a panic attack.  I couldn't breathe, heart racing, felt faint.  Hubby took me to the ER.  They did a EKG, Chest XRAy and full bloodwork.  Everything checked out fine.  So they gave me a few ativan for the weekend and told me to follow up with my physician for anxiety.  When they did my chest xray I almost passed out thinking they were looking for lung cancer.  I feel better today just exhausted from the 5 hours in the hospital.  I am going to take it easy today....

Hope everyone has a great day.

Alicia

Wow, Sue!  Great hair!  It looks fabulous!

Alicia:  So sorry to hear you had to spend time in the ER.  That is def. not the place you want to hang out.  Hopefully they took you back quickly.  I went several years ago and when you mention heart, they are pretty good about taking you immediately.  Glad it wasn't something "serious."  Ya know, very few colleges even look at the Writing score on the SAT.  If she had decent scores on the Reading and Math, that's where the emphasis is.  Also, you know that if she takes it again, they take the highest score of the 2 attempts for each subject.

Michele:  Def. take the Ativan.  It has been a life saver for me in anxiety-ridden situations.  However, do not take more than one!   I find that for me, the 1 mg. (2 of the .5 mg.) is way too much and I feel really drugged up.  One should do the trick.  Have a great trip!!!!!  I'll watch for pics on fb.  

I had bloodwork this past week:  fasting cholesterol and general work-up (Vit. D, liver, etc.). Cholesterol levels were great, but I now have hypothyroism, though it is only in the early stage, so prim. care doc wants me to be retested in 3 mo. to see if it has progressed.  No need for medication yet, but it is def. just a matter of time.    Apparently what is considered the range for normal levels of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) varies from doc to doc and my doc has a very narrow range.  I can't help but wonder if it is at all related to the radiation and/or the Arimidex or Femara.  I'm going to call my med. onc on Monday and see what she says.  So, now I take osteoporsis med,, high cholesterol med., breast cancer med, and will end up on thyroid med.  I was really bummed after finding out, but it could be so much worse.  And so far, the choles. and osteop. are being held in check by the meds. so at least they are working.  I figure I can still get out of bed in the mornings, still go to work, and still have a normal life.  Yep.  Could be so much worse.

On a very happy note...my DD surprised us by coming home yesterday for the weekend!   Unfortunately, I had to take her to the Urgent Care clinic today because she woke up feeling really bad, but dr. put her on antibiotics.  WE think it might be strep, so the antiob. should help a lot. 

Happy Saturday/Sunday!  Nette  

Girls - you need to relax - think about the wonderful holiday and not the flight getting there.

 I've noticed occasional palpitations from the Arimidex - I did ask big onc about it and he said it was side effect.

Had a great morning - went to the markets at 7 am and got lots of goodies - more than I usually buy.

I've got bs and rad onc appts this week on Wednesday and after that I DO NOT want to see a doctor for months - I've had enough!!!!

Sue

Sue, you look awesome...so healthy and alive You are beautiful!

Nette, I'm glad you had a nice surpirse prom your daughter.

(((Alicia))) Are you feeling any better. Ativan didn't always work best for me. I'm a Xanax girl. That's my meds of choice when I have scans. Geez, we sound like a bunch of druggies!

Melinda, do you mind if I ask how long you went without a period? It's been 15 months for me.

Geez, I do not want to go back to having a cycle! Just when I'm adjusting to chemopause! Ergh!!

I'm glad the whole period thing was over years ago - don't miss it at all!!!

((((((((((HUGS)))))))

I expect that my period will return on Friday this week  After all I am going on vacation...I have never had a vacation with out it...and since it is a romantic getaway, fo sure it will be there for me..

I just came from my primary care DR.  I told him I think I am feeling anxious as all my tests are next month.  He said cancer changes you for sure.  NO SHIT !?  I told him I hate the tamoxifen and don't want to take it.  He said I have to !  So I will re-visit that with my onc in May but am sure she will tell me the same thing.  He gave me diflucan as I think I have something brewing down yonder, he said stress and tamoxifen can do that and recommended I eat probiotics yogurt often.  He gave me some ativan to have on hand for anxiety times.  He also did a caratoid artery US and a echo of my heart.  I will have those results next week.  He said all my testing done in the hospital was perfect, heart, bloodwork, cholesterol, chest xray, thyroid, and liver tests all great.  So I guess I need to stop worrying about every little thing ! 

Michele hope your period stays away for your vacation.  Where are you going?  ENJOY!!  We leave for our cruise on 4/16.  I cannot wait !

Alicia

No more doctors for months!!! I said a permanent goodbye to the rad onc today. The surgeon was fine with me leaving any mammos etc until late September. Also saw the physio today - we're leaving it to see how I go. Now I can relax and get on with life

Sue