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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2011

    Lilah - Snow, WOW I can't believe it.  You're on the east coast, New York area???

    I did the radiation and it did help the area that was radiated, but above the spine is now painful, as are my ribs and a lot of muscle spasms.  I was taking regular pain medicine to be taken every 4 - 6 hours, I was taking them every 3 hours and still couldn't find relief.  This new 12 hour medicine really works well.  I also took some time off from work to get a handle on the pain and my emotional self.  So far, so good. 

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    So glad it's working.  Yes, near NY.

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2011

    Jenn - so glad you  have found some relief from the pain. I know you are posting info elsewhere (of course I see you on the TN thread) but please post here too - this is "home", right?

    We have had a little snow this week too. But on Friday it got to 60 degrees!!!! All the students were out in shorts and T shirts etc. I'm not ready for that, but it did feel good to have a little warmth and sunshine.

    I am very domesticated this morning. I started some no-knead bread last night and it's about to go into the oven and I'm going to make soup as soon as I get off the computer.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    Enjoy the nesting Gilly :)

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited April 2011

    Jenn - I'm so glad the new med is helping with the pain.  And I think you are wise to take some time off too.  I've been told that sometimes when pain grabs hold it is harder to get rid of it..so changing things up may make a difference.   I honestly can't imagine what you are going through emotionally trying to cope with mets and more treatment.  ((((JENN))))

    Patty

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited April 2011

    Glad to see everyone posting.  I totally agree that this thread is always "home"

    Gilly!  Home made bread in the oven.  Oh, that sounds wonderful.  I wish you were my neighbor, cuz I would come over just to get a free smell!

    Just a bit more colonoscopy chat.......I got through mine just fine.  I also had an upper endoscopy due to family hx of Barretts esophagus.  One polyp removed from my stomach lining and all else looked fine.  Monday is my 6 mo PET scan with An Onc appt as a chaser on Tuesday.  BUT Friday I am outta here.......going to see my grandbaby!!

    Take care everyone.  Spring is coming(well, eventually it has to)

    Navy

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited April 2011

    Hello everyone my email notification is still not working! So I just came in to read about the pain your having Jenn..I'm so sorry and hope they get it under control soon! As far as not talking about the pain so much in here, I know it's got to get old typing and re-typing your updates in all of you groups so maybe try a copy and paste, I know I wouldn't mind!

    @Navy I'll be thinking about you today and your PET scan, I wish I could get one every 6 months, I swear it's the only thing that sees everything! Of course my insurance won't pay for it so I have to rely on feelings, blood counts, and mammos. Grunt!

    I can't believe all of you and your snow...I have had the air on for over a month now! It was 89 yesturday!

    {{{HUGS}}} D

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2011

    Thanks to all of you for the support. YES, this is home and I will keep you updated. 

    Gill - the bread and soup sound wonderful.  What time should we be there?

    Navy - Hoping that the final testing is done and you're on the way to see NavyBaby. 

    Lilah - Wow, I can't believe you're having snow.  Like Donna, we've been using the air now for a month or more.  What a difference a few states make.

    Patty - thank you!

    Well, ya' know how it is. The pain meds are working and I over did it, ended up on the sofa this afternoon.  But.........my garden looks wonderful!!! I planted pink petunias with a white rim along the front area of what is shaped like the top of the "L", then I planted african daisies along the bottom "L" in the front of of the petunia and african dasies I lined with sweet alysum (a pretty small white flower).  In the corner of the "L" is a holly tree and I planted some gerber daisies in the area too.  The perinials that I have behind all of this are indian hawthorne, plum something or another (puple bush)box wood hedges, day liliies, agapanthis, and knockout roses. In the back yard I planted a hybiscus in the area that I am trying to get back to the "controlled" over grown look and some wild flower stuff that butterflies like.  I also planted a tomato bush and some potted plants to sit on the table near the front door and to hang around in the front and back.  I am finished for the spring and summer.  DH and DD I don't think will let me get back out there later in the summer.  I LOVE to work in the garden, I find it peaceful and theraputic.  It does sadden me that I will no longer be able to do what I used to because of the spine mets.  I only got away with doing what I did because DD and DH helped and I was sneaky and did some of it when they weren't here (got in trouble with them).  Oh well, my time with family is much more important than the garden.  I'll have to find something else I enjoy.

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  • NavyMom
    NavyMom Member Posts: 1,099
    edited April 2011

    Jenn,  your flowers sound amazing.  I am anxious to get started, too.  My DH is the primary yard worker here but I do get to put in some annuals every year along with a small veggie plot.  I bought a compost bin last fall and we have been added "stff" to it all winter long.  I am hoping the soil that somes from it will give my tomatoe and peppers a real boost this year.  I love making and eating homemade salsa and the last several years I haven't canned anything.  So hopping this summer will be different.  Now if we could get some sun and heat our way here in the midwest, that might help too!

    Had my PET scan yesterday and going for my Onc appt this afternoon.

    Navy

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    Jenn -- that sounds like a simply gorgeous garden!  Enjoy it!  I never seem to have time to garden but I do so love flowers.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    Donna - just noticed a thread in Active Topics about the broken email notifications.  TODAY they wrote "not sure what happened.  we're all over this one" -- wow.  Can't believe they are only now realizing it's a problem.  Hopefully they will fix it.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2011

    The updates they did this time seem to be causing more problems than improvements this time around........I wonder what they were trying to do.

    Navy - My daughter loves to grow veggies of all sorts. I haven't been too successful in that area yet, but still trying.  My DD is growing a variety of lettuce that is cool, when you're ready to eat some, cut it off, eat and enjoy.  A few weeks later the lettuce pops up in the garden again.....Yum.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited April 2011

    I just love puttering around in the garden as well.  It is so relaxing and time passes so quickly.  But, it is easy to over do and end up sore and hobbling around...even without spine mets.   Take it easy Jenn!  Or...at least appoint yourself the supervisor and have DD and DH do the labor.  HA!

    Patty

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2011

    My co-worker just brought me some Lily of the Nile/Agapanthas that she dug up and thinned out.  I told DH about an hour ago "we" have some more planting to do........he had to laugh, because he will be planting and I will be watching.

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2011

    We are so far away from doing anything in the garden. We awoke yesterday to a light covering of snow. The crocuses are struggling valiantly and the daffodils look like they've a week to go before they flower. And everything is so wet. My eldest son is interested in gardening and we usually do a vegetable patch. Our aim is always to get things planted late May/early June. We can't be confident of being frost-free till then - and then we not REALLY sure!! But I love having the tomatoes. I'm down to 4 containers of tomato sauce left in the freezer from last year.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    OK I've got a movie recommendation: SOURCE CODE.  It was great!  A sort of thriller/alternate reality movie that we saw tonight and really loved.

    Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2011

    I so want to see Source Code, thank you for the recommendation.

    Gill- By June, our beautiful spring flowers are at the end of their happy blooms and we either have to go into heat tolerate plants, pull of the spring flowers or spend a lot of time and work helping the poor plants make it through the summer. 

    I went to the French Quarter Festival and I knew it was a huge thing, but WOW I did not realize how BIG it was.  I think it is equally or bigger than Jazz Fest.  We had so much fun and I hope to go next year.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    Oh I love the French Quarter Jenn -- what fun!

    We saw WIN WIN today -- a lovely movie that stars Paul Giamatti (who always does such thoughtful movies).  Really great film.  What a fun weekend we had -- two good movies!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2011

    I saw an ad for WIN WIN in the paper, it was small, but I saw Paul Giamatti's picture on the ad.  I love Paul Giamatti and wondered if it was a good movie. Thanks for the info.

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2011

    Big medical day tomorrow - mammo and u/s in the morning then 3 monthly onc visit in the afternoon.

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited April 2011

    gillyone (or anyone else), what does your onc typically do on your 3 month visits?  I'm just curious b/c mine is on Friday.  Yuck.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    Best of luck Gilly!

    I have my annual mammo next week.  Oh joy.  Your docs do U/s too?  Interesting... so far I'm only being required to do a mammo once a year (on my remaining breast).

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  • buccaneersdj
    buccaneersdj Member Posts: 241
    edited April 2011

    Gilly....I'm hoping for an uneventful Mammo and Onc visit for you! I go next week for my yearly Mammo!

    Weety...I am on 6 month check-ups and all they do is check my blood levels and examine me!

    Lilah...I too don't get an ultrasound, but because my leftover boob is so dense from rads they do require I get a digital mammo instead of the traditional film type mammo, I guess they are clearer.

    My onc at my 6 month check a couple of weeks ago told me I should have had a new baseline mammo after the biopsy I had last November for a scar line lump (negative). My primary dr. and my surgeon neglected to inform me I should have a new baseline! I never told my onc about the biopsy because it was negative, so I figured I could wait to tell her about it till my 6 month check up....next time I'll know better!

    Jenn....Glad to see you had fun at the French Quarter Festival, I love NOLA and plan on coming back for a visit soon. I lived in NOLA when I was little for a few years and have alot of good memories of my parents and riding bikes to the park and the zoo!

    {{{HUGS}}} D

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2011

    Weety - I go for a blood draw the day before my onc visit.(no tumor markers) At the appointment, the nurse does the usual weigh in, blood pressure, temp etc. The onc checks my boobs and nodes underarm and in groin area - just a quick poke. Checks heart and lungs with stethoscope and feels around neck looks at my fingers eyes and in mouth. Then just talk.

    Lilah - I am having mammos every 6 months and the u/s is because of the staph infection I got last summer in th scar tissue area of my bad boob. Checking on the new normal.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2011

    Prior to my mets, during my 3 month check up the onc would check along the scar tissue of the BMX area, under my arms, neck and stomach area.  He would then talk to me about various issues to see if anything sounded unusual or needed to be followed up with a test.

    Gill- I know you'll be fine, but the follow up appts are nerve racking so I'm sending you a big cyber (((hug))).

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited April 2011

    Thanks for all of your answers.  It doesn't seem like much of a "check-up" but I guess they know exactly what they are looking for.

    LOL--I love the term "leftover boob!"  I'll have to use that one with my family. 

    Kind of a funny story--The other day, my husband took my  7 year old and the little one (2yrs old) with him to my son's baseball game and asked one of the other moms there to watch her till I got there after work.  A few minutes after I got there and was talking to the mom who had been watching her, my 2 yr old went up to her and squeezed both of her boobs about 5 times like she was milking them. . . I was so embarrassed.  But to top that off, my older daughter said, "That's because my mom only has one boob!" in a loud voice.  Oh gee.  Kids and their honesty.  Hee-hee!

    Jenn, I hope you are feeling better now.  Have you started the xeloda yet?

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    Weety -- oh dear!  But, as they say, out of the mouths of babes...

    Gilly -- ah, thank you for that!  I was going to start worrying obessively :)  I think that sounds like they are being extra careful and that is a good thing.  As Jenn said, I am sure you will be fine but here's another hug till you get past it.

    I have my annual mammo on my leftover boob (that IS a great expression) tomorrow... wish me luck!

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited April 2011

    Everything fine today.

    Lilah - thinking of you tomorrow.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    Thanks Gilly!  I'll report in later :)

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited April 2011

    I passed!  All is normal - yay!

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