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  • Ainm
    Ainm Member Posts: 781
    edited November 2011
  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited November 2011

    Thanks Anim!

    30 minute Yoga stretching and 50 minute bike ride! Hope you all are well...

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited November 2011

    Joy,

    I heard that he was going to be an internal medicine specialist, but he was afraid of AIDS...  years ago...

    Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Harley

  • Survivorwoman
    Survivorwoman Member Posts: 620
    edited November 2011

    How can someone who is afraid of AIDS become a doctor ? That kind of explains why he is "cold" with his patients. Sad. Very sad indeed. I understand your frustration Harley.

    I had a great walk yesterday. 45 minutes. And this morning I had a 3 mile bike ride. I am unexpectedly off today -usually I work on Sunday-but not today. So I am going to the city to You Can Thrive - a holistic center where women with breast cancer can get acupuncture and massage, aromatherapy and such. I love it there. And they helped me tremendously while I was doing chemo and at the beginning of my bc journey. Check it out. Maybe one of you can set up a place like that in "your" town too. Luana - the founder who is also a survivor - is open to other places too. Here is the link:

    http://youcanthrive.org/

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited November 2011

    Survivor, have a good time today.

    I don't know if that is true, I just heard it from someone who went to high school with him.    I know that we were getting closer, but now I think I messed up, by asking to go to once a year appts...  it would make ME feel more...  NORMAL...  like I am not scared that every new pain is ca....

    Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!  We did... it's still moderately warm today, so my hubby and I went for a walk today.  

    Harley

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited November 2011

    50 minute bike ride today. Tomorrow back to work.... :(((  .... It was fun while it lasted!!

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited November 2011

    Hi guys, sorry for the posts I will have missed.   I don't check in as often as I would like to, but I think of all of you even if I'm not posting.  Workouts are still going well.  I'm busy at work and it is making my LE worse.  Going to have to make some decisions there soon I guess.  But, overall life is good, had a bunch of scans recently and they were all good.  I'm working out hard and feel like I've made up for what I lost with the surgery. 

    Hugs to everyone, sorry for what I've missed and should have given support for, I do think of you often. 

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited November 2011

    Harley, I did the same thing recently.  I'm finding scans, doctors appts etc. just make me feel sick.  I do much better emotionally when I distance myself from it so I'm trying to minimize appts and spread them out.  Luckily I have an understanding Onc working with me and letting me do it.

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2011

    Well, I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving and a nice long weekend.   We did, except that I've been dealing with some excruciating tooth pain that started Thursday night, and it's been impossible to get an emergency app't over the holiday weekend.  Thankfully, my neighbor told me to try peppermint on it, and that's helped a lot.  

    I managed to get in an hour walk just as it was getting dark tonight.   

    Too bad you can't find an onc you like, Harley.  How far would you have to go to find someone else?

    Ainm, so good to see you!  How're you doing?  Fill us in!

    Youcanthrive sounds incredible, survivor!  I'm really impressed with their mission and website! I've casually thought about trying to provide a network of those kinds of services to bc survivors, but I'd never envisioned it under one roof.  Very interesting!    

  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited November 2011

    I remember asking my onc over a year ago (after finding out from another bc sister that she sees her onc every 6 mos) if I could go from every 3 mos to 6 mos and she said "how about every 4 mos" and I said ok.  I figured she knows best, but I like her and trust her.  I can't imagine being treated as if I didn't matter...just awful.

    kmmd, sorry to hear about your LE getting worse. Is it your more intense workouts do you think?

    Deanna, your shoe story made me chuckle, I've done the SAME thing before!  AND I can't blame it on chemo brain, this was many years ago.  lol

    You can thrive sounds wonderful!  

    Hi to everyone else.  I'm back at work from being off last week (babysat most of it)...let me tell ya, jumping around the living room with my GDD on my back pretending I'm a horsey is a lot of work!! LOL!  Lots and lots to be grateful for indeed! 

  • kelleysgroi
    kelleysgroi Member Posts: 227
    edited November 2011

    start slow and be kind to yourself..you have been through alot and deserve to be treated kindly..

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited November 2011

    I am having a day of rest today. Back to work, had appt with my osteopath, and our doggie had cataract surgery, (he's doing well) - but man that was making me a bit nervous, he's so innocent! 

    Osteapath said she is happy with my Vit D levels!! 67 something. She said aim between 60-70 and for now to stay on 10K per day. She kept looking at me and told me I looked really good. Made me feel good!!

  • Survivorwoman
    Survivorwoman Member Posts: 620
    edited November 2011

    Ladies - I wish you all had a You Can Thrive center in your hometowns. You would love it. I really love going to mine when I get the chance. I had acupuncture and energy healing on Sunday. During the energy healing session the lady reminded me to do the "tapping" method when I am overwhelmed or feeling down. Even when I can't sleep, I am to try "tapping". And let me tell you, it works. I woke up last night and after I did the "tapping" I fell back to sleep. OK, by now you are wondering what tapping is. It is basically tapping on different meridian points of the body to let go of negative emotions. Check it out. (Emotional Freedom Techniques) I was told to do it every day in the morning and evening  for 3 minutes.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQp0kA5a5OI&feature=related

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I54BRKQ2po&feature=related

    If any of you are interested in it I can share more and there are other really good videos out there, I just can't find them right now. Maybe later.

    Spring- How long did it take for you to get your Vitamin D level up so high? You really take 10K Vit D every day?

    Kari -Thank you for making me smile. I totally saw you horseying around with GDD. So cute.

    Deanna- I am certain that Luana - the founder of You Can Thrive - would very much be willing to share her knowledge as to how to set up a center. I can always put you in touch with her if you are thinking about doing something like You Can Thrive in your area. This place is a Lifeline to a lot of women here. I go there as often as I can, but others go regularly.

    Kate kmmd- so nice to hear from you.

    Ainm- Nice to "meet" you at last. Thank you for the holiday greetings.

    I biked today for about 20 minutes. 

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited November 2011

    Hi everyone.  Haven't had a chance to read all the posts.  thanks for all the kind, supportive comments about my situation with my onc.  I had re-scheduled for FRIDAY, Dec. 2...  guess what?  They called me at 9:30 and CANCELLED, for the THIRD time!  But, I know why he keeps cancelling me....   he is having terrible back pain, so I guess by FRIDAY, he is toast!  He is having surgery  and will be out for THREE weeks!  They re-scheduled me for MONDAY, Dec. 20th....    SO it just goes to show that it's not ALWAYS about ME...

    I have a sore throat, and feel crumby today...   

    Harley

  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited November 2011

    Spring, thinking of your doggy, they are so innocent aren't they...Congrats on your Vit. D levels, awesome!  What else does your osteopath check you for??  I'm so curious as you can tell.

    Survivor, you always make me smile too!  You are such a positive person and I look forward to your posts.  I am going to check out your info on tapping (sounds intriguing) and videos now. 

    Harley, hang in there, sore throats are to be tended to!!  So now your appt. is 12/20...hope that one sticks, bummer that your doc is having pain and surgery too, but you would think that would put him a better position to see things from the patient's perspective.

    I had lunch with a coworker yesterday and was pretty pooped out after work, but I made myself a healthy dinner with quinoa, kale, spinach, cauliflower and chicken (all organic) and then did a quick mile on the treadmill and then went to yoga class.  So happy I did, rejuvenated me and helped me sleep pretty well.  A big problem for me and has been for years is going to the bathroom so many times during the night, geez, but I did drink a lot of water yesterday and had some green tea yesterday morning.

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited November 2011

    Kari,

    Thanks.  I am wondering what happens if he can't practice any more??  I guess I could see one of his partners.  Believe me, the 1st onc. I saw was WAY worse than he is.  He would leave the room when I was in mid-sentence about a problem or question I was having.

    WOW!  You are working out even after working all day!!  You inspire me!

    Harley

  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited November 2011

    I'm concerend about your choice of dreary doctors Harley!  How close is the next available town with an Onc?  Just wondering if the drive, even if a couple of times a year is worth some peace of mind with a good onc that you like.  I had to see one of the other onc's while going thru chemo, and he sucked in my opinion.  He didn't listen to me either and dismissed me I felt rather abruptly.  You shouldn't have to put up with mediocrity at best.

    And believe me, it was the guilt that made me work out last night, all you girlies were in my head chanting "DO IT DO IT, COME ON GIRL YOU REMEMBER THE 10 MINUTE RULE"!  LOL  really, I'm not kidding Tongue out 

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited November 2011

    About the Vit D. I took 10K for a whole year to get from 54.4 to 67.6, and she told me to stay there for now, not to increase it. Says they "aim" for between 60-70 and she was really happy where I was. 

    Kari, she tests lots of things, CBC, stress levels, C reactive protein (could indicate heart distress, I have none! NONE!!) and I am hypothyroid, so she checks my T3 T4 and TSH. Iron serum? and a slew of other things. She highlights was she is concerned about and tells me what to do if anything. Some stress hormone is high and she told me to do yoga 3x a week last time I was there. It's still high. I think it's called working for a living? ha. 

    Tonight is 45 on the elliptical....that's the plan!! 

  • cdairth
    cdairth Member Posts: 176
    edited November 2011

    Hi Everyone,



    The exercise has been going really well. I alternate between bike and walking and do Pilates 3 days a week. I haven't exactly got the diet under control though. Today I watched one of the "Twighlight" movies while on the treadmill. There's an hour and a half I will never get back.



    Cath

  • Survivorwoman
    Survivorwoman Member Posts: 620
    edited November 2011

    Good workouts Ladies! Great to hear you are all abiding by Kari's 10 minute rule.

    However, I gave myself a day off today. It is such a dreary day here: rain and just yucky. Tomorrow, I have to get my 4th Herceptin. I need to rest up.Let's pray that I won't have too many side-effects. Most importantly, I don't want to get cold sores. People are looking funny at me at work. (They don't know what an ordeal I am enduring).

  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited November 2011

    Spring, thanks for the info, I've jotted down notes!  Interesting on the yoga advice for 3 x's per week, in a perfect world, YES!

    Cath, I've never watched any of the Twilight movies, I take it you didn't enjoy it?  Great job on the exercise!

    Survivor, dreary days are the pits.  We are having VERY HIGH WIND GUSTS today, thank goodness that it finally blew the awful fog out of here!!  I'm praying that your 4th Herceptin is gentle on you.  I don't what getting Herceptin in like so I can only imagine....hugs.  Do you have anyone at work you can confide in or you are very private.  My office knew of my treatments and were very supportive.  Made a big difference for me.  Oh the 10 minute rule belongs to miss kmmd!

    Fast walk at lunch yesterday at the mall.  In fact, there was a booth there for a local gym and one of the guys commended me for walking so fast on my lunch break!  atta girl and all that stuff, heehee

    Met a coworker from our Sacramento office for lunch, but we were bad, went to In n Out for a burger/fries...blushing now...uh ohEmbarassed 

  • Survivorwoman
    Survivorwoman Member Posts: 620
    edited November 2011

    Thank you Kari - I am feeling all right at the moment. Hope it continues tonight. And thanks for asking. I do have a few people at work who I confided. I suspect, however,  that a lot more people know it by now (office gossip), but they don't say anything. Anyway, those who know are supportive and I am very thankful for it.

    I am reading a book and would like to recommend it to you Ladies: When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron. She is a Buddhist monk. And this book of hers in particular is right on target about what happened to us with bc. I highly recommend it. Harley- there is a section about fear that I think you will find interesting.

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited December 2011

    So last night 45 elliptical and 30 yoga. Tonight 90 yoga class. Too cold to bike! Too cold wahhhh. totally spoiled by the warm Thanksgiving week!!!

    Cdairth - I just started using myfitnesspal.com to track what i eat. It is so easy with this tool. Every food known to mankind is already entered and easy to find. I want to get off some lbs I put on over Thanksgiving and before actually. It is helping me! Just FYI! 

  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited December 2011

    Did an hour of yoga stretches that I recorded.  I did some move that got me though and my left upper leg is pretty darn sore today. Will walk at lunch still to work it out, hope that helps.  Still super windy, supposed to last thru tomorrow.  Its knocked a lot of leaves of trees and knocked trees down everywhere!  yikes.

    Oh our little GDD took 2 steps on her own today, my DD called me to tell me!  Life goes on...and I continue to move!!!!! 

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited December 2011

    Awww, Kari, how exciting about your GDD's first steps!  Remind us what month she was born. She's not even close to a year yet, is she?

    Just returned from doing 4 miles in extremely windy conditions, which felt really invigorating.  I can't believe the temp today is more than 50 degrees cooler than it was less than 3 mos. ago. But I'll take 58 over 108 any day!

    Thanks for the book recommendation, survivor.  It sounds really good. I learned yesterday that a dear cousin of mine was dx'd with a bc recurrence -- 10 years after her initial dx.  So hard to wrap our heads around these things...    Deanna

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited December 2011

    Kari,

    No, there aren't really any oncologists in my area.  The thing is...  I live 3 miles from the NC/SC state line, but my insurance won't let  me go over that line, into South Carolina!  Stupid!

    It is ok.  He is nice, really...  most of the time.  I think most of my feelings are because of the fear of recurrence.  Sometimes I think we should be doing MORE to make sure it never comes back...  or more tests to make sure we find it, IF it comes back.   

    I have actually gotten better, as I approach the 5 year mark.  EVEN though, we ladies know that 5 years mean NOTHING with breast cancer.  I will still celebrate the 5 year cancerversary, in March.

    Hope everyone is doing great.

    Hugs

    Harley

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited December 2011

    45 on the elliptical tonight, after dinner, before a meeting at church, but I fit it in!!!

    Kari, very cool on the "first steps"!!!

    Deanna, I saw today that it was windy on the west coast! Glad you didn't blow away! 

    Hey Harley, I thnk the further out we get, the better. I think I remember seeing a chart somewhere that you're less and less likey to get a recurrence the further out you get. Anyway, to day was one more day of life! yes!

  • Survivorwoman
    Survivorwoman Member Posts: 620
    edited December 2011

    Happy to hear that you all are doing well and keeping up the positive spirits.

    I was feeling well today too given that I got Herceptin yesterday. Maybe my body is getting the 'hang" of it? Or perhaps, your good thoughts and prayers helped. Thank you! I am just so happy that this time it did not knock me off my feet. Since I was feeling fine, I did a bike ride for about twenty minutes.I was going to do a full work out too, but was invited to a choir concert, so I went and and had fun. It was one of those concerts where you can sing along. I loved it.

    Kari - congrats to little GDD for reaching a major miles stone. How exciting! Wow! But now comes the fun part: chasing after her. Soon she'll be all over the place and that will be great workout for you and DH.

    Deanna - I am  really sorry to hear about your cousin's recurrence. Hope it was caught early and that she has good doctors. I myself have to go for more genetic testing. My onc thinks that based on my family's history (too many men in my family had colon cancer that is somehow linked to breast cancer) I should be tested for Lynch Syndrome. So it never ends, really.

    Harley - you should definitely celebrate your cancervesary. Five years of being healthy is great ! There are no guarantees in life. We can only hope and try to do the best we can to fight it, so that it does not return: eating right, exercising, getting regular checkups and believing that we are healed. I love my onc: she always says that we are doing a "curative" treatment. The energy healer I saw this past weekend at You Can Thrive also told me that when I go to bed I should say it out loud that I am healed. Not that I am going to be healed, but that "I am healed". You could try it, too.

    Spring - Amen to "one more day of life! "

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited December 2011

    Just returned from walking approx. 4 miles.  The wind has stopped, but it's still unseasonably cool.

    Interesting about Lynch Syndrome, survivor.  My Dad also had colon cancer.  Please keep us updated on anything you find out.  And glad this Herceptin infusion was easier than some have been.  As you said, maybe your body is getting used to it.

    Well, we're off to LV on Sunday.  Diane, if you're still reading, I've thought about calling you, but I've come to the conclusion that GF meet ups are too hard when DHs & other family are involved, so probably won't even try this time.  But I'll think of you while I'm there!      Deanna

  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited December 2011

    Little baby GDD was born on Jan. 20th, so she's just over 10 months now.  What a treasure she is to me.  You know I was young when I had my girls, we were young, broke, he was in the Army and we were 3,000 miles from our families.  I cherish my time with our GDD, as I am more apt to "enjoy" her!!  So grateful!!

    That leg muscle I pulled didn't allow me to walk, I tried yesterday, but my bone kept popping it felt like and it really hurt to walk, so I took the day off. Still hurts, but the pain has moved over a bit so its mending.  I will do some stretches tonight and will have to lay off the walking until its fully healed.  You know how impatient I get and make things worse!!

    Deanna, weren't those winds crazy?  We are finally breezy instead of super duper windy.  A big Eucalyptus tree caved in a house overnight here.  Enjoy LV!

    Harley, that's a drag about not being able to use S.C. facilities, not fair not fair not fair! Congrats on your 5 year coming up, FANTASTIC news!!

    My onc's office called yesterday, my onc wants to see me in January (instead of Dec.) after taking another bone density scan, to see how the Arimidex is wearing on my bones.  Last year's scan had my spine at -2.1 (osteoporosis is -2.5), so we'll see next month.

    Survivor, so so so happy that Herceptin was kinder to you this go around.  Can picture you singing along at the concert.  Sounds wonderful! I told my sister about you (similar stories) and she said you are a trooper and sound like a strong, lovely lady.

    Spring, love the "Today was one more day of life"  That's how I roll these days!  

    Love you ladies  Kiss 

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