Is there a July 2011 group?

bcisnofun: No restrictions except Sushi and undercooked meat.  But the guidelines they gave me in writing did say to avoid spicy foods and things that would irritate the mouth like spicy foods, pizza, and pretzels (pretzels? Really?)

Ana: Yeah I'm on the 'roids big time.  Had to take another 20 tonight. I've almost finished a hat I started today, and I can't sleep so I'm posting here and watching TV.  I figure eventually I'll pass out somewhere in the house and my kids can find me and haul me into my room.   Good that they're all grown up and can do that without needing additional psychiatric counseling.   

And I'm going to get my nursing team matching SWAT team sweatshirts -- they are all over me when I get a reaction.  It's really quite amazing that they can coordinate doing four or five things and not fall all over each other.  I told them to think of a spiffy name and I'll get the T-Shirts. Something pink of course.  But a feisty name. Any ideas anyone? They welcome suggestions.

Well, I figure I can finish this hat before passing out, so I'm back to being the happy hooker (this hat is crocheted not knit)

Have a good day all (I can see we're into tomorrow already...that snuck up on me...)

Rabbit- sorry for the typo... Oct 5 and 26th. Thanks for getting the list together, it will really help. I haven't played on line poker since black Friday. I am not sure I want to get involved until they iron out the new laws. I was never really good with the online cash, but did ok with the tourneys. If they get things settled, I will check and see what deals you have to get on again.

Cathy- surprisingly I am ok with my buzz/ near baldness too. I think I am more concerned about other people's comfort and I probably shouldn't.

Jbug- I am sort if in your situation in that I have no disability nor extended leave. I used all my sick and vacation time for the year already. The rest of my treatments are off without pay. Money was tight before this so the stress of keeping up and working as much as I can is tough. Going to work sick/nauseated really stinks. Being a single mother of two young ones keeps the pressure on. But I don't have the deadline demands that you do which I am grateful for and feel bad that you do. I am exhausted just getting to work and handling the day to day with my kids. But we just need to keep our eye on the prize.... Finishing tx and well being.

BCisnofun:  My energy is all chemically induced -- overdosing on steroids yesterday with treatment. I expect a full blown crash by tomorrow when my ass will by glued to the couch as I sleep in the middle of  my house with dog yapping, cats chasing each other and the dog, my grown sons running around and slamming doors (without being aware that they are indeed slamming and not closing the doors. I think there is some gorilla hidden in their genetic code...).  I will demand to be waited on and see if that works.   And if not, I'll just sleep it off.

Izzy I said the same thing to my hairdresser. I'm comfortable (remarkably so, it's physically liberating to not have hair and very nice in this hot weather) going topless but I can see it makes people (other than my close friends and family who think I look cool and have a nice shaped head) weird.  Plus at work, I really think it sends an "I am sick and you might believe I can't do my job" vibe which in the toxic education environment that surrounds my cocoon of an office where everyone supports everyone else that could be fatal- career-wise.  Especially since I can do my work, even while in the The Chair -- I have wifi and electric so I'm all set to Skype, video conference and do all the stuff I do to work online on a regular basis. I just adjust my travel schedule to accommodate my chemo schedule. It cuts one travel day from my week.  And that's the day I do paperwork and planning anyways.  

It would be nice if we didn't have to be concerned about the aesthetic willies of the others.

Luebbsgirl:  Sounds like you had a lovely outing! I'm happy for you! Do more of those!

And I know I forget to put my hat on when I walk the dog - so now I leave my dog hat with her leash to remind me. LOL And thanks for the book recommendation. Going to hunt for it on Amazine and BN right now. Then give it to my son who loves to cook and say "cook this for your mother!" 

Still got the steroids flowing today -- but I expect I'll slow down later today.  So now  doing laundry, paying bills (ouch!) and finishing knitting projects and starting new ones.  I made a list of gifts I need for the holidays so I figure I'll use the Roid Rush to get a jump start on them.  HOpefully I won' t make too many drug induced mistakes!  Oh Well...

Good day to all. See you later. 

Shoot. How do I get an image in. I have the URL for the image but the link is broken!

Tech support anyone? I also resized it to 300x200 pixels to keep it small.

Any tricks? 

Never mind. Figured it out. This is me topless.

Now this is me with the wig everyone likes:

Me with the Punk wig that stills needs to be thinned and brought lower to my head. Too much hair! Jeez, I look like I'm on drugs in this one. And this was the day  BEFORE Roid Friday.

In preparation for the fall, when I'll wear these babies to work and occasionlly out when it gets cold again.  I also bought a halo from TLCdirect.org.  Great for under a hat when you want a little bit of hair to show but still keep an open top for air to circulate.  And they are cheap. Under $30 

I haven't had too many restrictions. I did make sure my daily dark chocolate fix was still in.  It is. Thank goodness! That IS my drug of choice.

I eat salads all the time -- didn't think there was a problem.  I don't eat sushi anymore which I miss but I can have the cooked rolls.  I don't eat broccoli raw,and I think I can have it cooked. I'll ask next week about the veggies. I know everything has to be washed and I tend to avoid public salad bars anyways.  At home I can soak the veggies before I use them.

I do notice with the steroids that my face is puffier (the dimple test-- it is getting shallower and I lost 8 pounds so far so I'm blaming it on the roids. )

We used to drink soy milk (we don't use regular milk) but ditched it over a year ago in favor of the almond milk. The soy has estrogen, and that's why I avoid it now and ditched it before my diagnosis simply because it dawned on my that my mother had BC and I might get it.  Prophetic? Maybe. I wasn't really surprised when my tiny little blip on the radar was malignant.  I think I expected it living where I do (On Long Island).  That actually made dealing with this easier.  

Just another blip on the radar of life to work through the best way I can with my family, friends and communities like this great group to get me through. 

Susan: Re posting pictures. 
Figured it out finally.

I use Imageshack.com to reduce the size of my images to about 400-300 pixels maximum for this space.  It's a free service and generates a direct URL to your picture.

When you post here just click on the image icon (little tree) and insert the direct URL and check the size below.  It will show up. If it is huge, you want to scale it down. But keep the aspect ratio accurage or you will squish and squash your photo and distort it.

Works easily.  Really.  Even if this comes to you from a geek.  I screwed it up with the wrong URL so use the DIRECT url. The other one just links to your imageshack account.

Hope that helped.

Ellen 

Really enjoy looking at all the pictures. 

J-Bug: You are so close to being done with the Chemo, I am jealous.

ellenquilt: of the two wigs I like the "punk" not as conservative, which I am not. Never been a girly girl. All though after looking at your pics, I think I might need to start wearing some lipstick and maybe a little eye color. We will see and I hate my pictures so I have never let any be taken, but maybe it's time.

Izzy325: I too am concerned about others seeing me and them being uncomfortble. I must have asked my DH (Dear Husband, today) and my son (15 y.o.) 25 times if they were ok with me going topless of coarse they are not going to say no. Everyone keeps telling me the T is easier, but I have been much more fortunate with the AC than others here on this board, so I am very nervous.

My DH and son are the kind of people who keep everything in. Last week when I took my son for a haircut our hairdresser said something and my son went with it and took a jab at my baldness. Of coarse she got after him and I had to stop her, because it told me he was ok with it. Finally. 

bcisnofun: if you have a Hobby Lobby or something similar check them out for banadans. My store must have selection of 50 different styles including solids. Even Wal-mart has some, but mostly the traditional styles.

 My MO said no fresh Salads/Vegetables/Fruit period unless I wash them and they want me to use soap. I was told there is a fruit and veggie wash, but haven't looked for it yet. I did have watermelon that I just used regular soap and rinsed well. My MO said it's the dirt and pesticides. 

ellenquilt: Not to much hair on top at all.I filled out some papers at the Onc office and one of the options was for Look Good Feel Better class, but they have not called. Guess I will have to do the calling.

The Look Good Feel Good class is awesome, I have never worn makepup really, just powder foundation, mascara and very rarely some eyeliner or eye shadow. I LOVED the class and like the other awesome Ellen I highly recommend it. I gave the eyeshadow (wasn't my colors) and a few things to my bestie Lynne that went with me. But otherwise, will use everything else, some great cleanser, moisturizer, powder foundation, lip stuff ( I wear it now take away from the bald head and some goodies like concealer and body oil..sunscreen. They say they throw in goodies sometimes, I got lots! Oh and a cool little red bag that actually is perfect size to hold my new found hobbie, drugs LOL. 

Cathy_C...I just joined Gilda's Club http://www.gildasclub.org/findaclubhouse.asp The closest I see to you is Cathedral City, CA, no clue the distance but if it's not too far, you should try try to do a day trip there and check it out, They have the best support groups, I am sure if you could talk you DH and son into it, they would benefit from it in a great way. I am trying to get my nephew to go with me on one of the family nights for dinner (everything is free, donated or volunteered) and they they split into support groups, separated by ages, it's AWESOME

If Gilda's is too far, I'm sure there are other similar places, but I recommend everyone to find a Gilda's and at least just walk in and see it, I can't describe the one here but it's amazing. 

Off to dinner with my family tonight, feeling really good day 11 for me,  normally my bp is dropping now and I'm feeling drained, but total opposite the last few days, strange and not complaining!

hugs all 

misswim sorry you are having such horrible S/E I hope you feel better soon.I have not been posting as I am day 6 of Chemo # 2 and its been horrible been in bed all week.I will check in when feeling better hope everyone else is doing good.

ELLENQUILT ..THANK YOU FOR THE PHOTO AND OTHER ADVICE...I like both you do's..

Everyone...I thought the Look good Feel Good program was great. There was one unhappy woman there who came 1/2 hour late and complained she was a light but she had signed up for a medium. The cosmotologist tried so hard to help her but she refused to put on any makeup.. Some of us offered to trade with her but  she didn't want to. In the end the cosmotologist recommended she see if she could exchange anything at a local store...the rst of us there were able to laugh it off and encourage her to try it lite...but no doing for her..

misswim..so sorry for the Se's..I go int he chair Monday and always seem to have a hell of a ride. I at least got the onc to go up to 85% so I am going to do my best to fight those mouth sores.

Rabbit...I will check with my periodontist about what you use, but my stuff seems to help...I have to get a flashlight and really check out my mouth..AM and PM...I am ready to hit this mouth stuff with everything. How did the miracle mouthwash work for you?

Thanks for the recommendation of gildasplace...I am going to look it up...having opne studios now..just giving my feet a few minute rest...

Happy sunny fun day to all..at least enjoy the love that spreads from this group..Women...we are amazing!

Rabbit:  glad you're having such a good day! Enjoy every minute!  There is a Gilda's Club on Houston Street in NYC -- so I'd probably have to drive and park somewhere (not an easy task downtown NY) or take the train (not a good option with the crowds and delays) but I'm going to try and check them out. It sounds terrific!

I never wore much makeup either.  Lipstick and powder to take shine off the nose.  Now I lay out all my goodies in them morning and paint my face. My MIL may she rest in peace (at 96!) used to quote Dorothy Parker, for whom she once worked "A little powder, a little paint makes you look like what you ain't"  I love that.  I think of it every time I put on concealer under my baggy eyes. LOL

 Misswimm: You hang in there! Sucks that you're having such a lousy week with SE and other problems  {{{{{{{{{{{hugs to you}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Feel better!

Sandy, You too! Last week was my awful week and I think so for a bunch of others. It is truly a rollercoaster ride and you never know when the dips are coming to drop the bottom out. Rule of thumb is don't stand when you're dipping.  Just rest as much as possible. ON the coaster if you stand in a dip you'll fall off!

Susan: Glad your onc is cooperating with you -- and you attack those mouthsores with both barrels! They are the pits! Literally.  Glad you liked both looks -- my kids are not hot on the punk.  I think it scares them (they are both in their 20's and while they think Mom looks cool bald, something about punk is off-putting for them.  Too bad!   And I just ordered another inexpensive wig to play with in a really light color.  I'm going to try being blonde-ish too.  I think I'm becoming a cranial decorator in a big way!   Might as well have fun with it.  I want one too that I can spray hot pink into in a strand.  I think it would be a good look when I meet with principals in the middle schools?  Dont' you think?

Rabbit: Fingers crossed that the Mary's Magical Mouthwash does the trick for you. Mouth pain is awful.  I hope you get relief!

My steroids are wearing off and I can feel the fatigue creeping in but I got so much done today. Four loads of laundry (my boys carried it up and down for me), supermarket trip, two long dog walks, cleaned the kitchen and part of my room and tried (unsuccessfully) to organize my growing yarn stash (12 "body bag" Ziplocks full of yarn stacked against one wall in my bedroom -- it really is obscene, but it makes me happy to  go into my own store of stuff and pick out what I want on impulse. --I'm a pack rat by nature but not quite a hoarder. LOL)  Now feet up and finishing the last of that hat that I put aside at 4 a.m. this morning.  Want to move onto to painted kelly green wool to make a hat for my cancierge friend who likes to come with me to chemo when she can to keep my company and knit with me. 

There are lots of tiny little pieces of silver lining hidden in this incredibly sucky illness. I'm going to find them all. 

Great news Misswim!