Brain Mets Sisters

Gratitude list...

I am so thankful.  

My marriage would have to be #1.  My husband is the best thing that ever happened to me.  He seriously is the best friend I ever had.  He is beyond good to look at.  His humor is unparalleled, if not wildy inappropriate.  No one has ever made me laugh as hard.  He is loyal. He holds my youth in his heart and memory.  He has never waivered in his love and committment to me, and our bratty children.  We were ridiculous when they were young and we were always an arrival.  We thought they were the cutest, most adorable.....Everyone else did not have the same eyes!!!  I have so enjoyed this ride with my partner in crime.  Everyone should have one!!!

I have 4 healthy children who have life by the tail!!!  They love their family, especially daddy, and they cannot live without their siblings.  They keep incredibles secrets for each other!

I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in Sonoma County.  I seriously am surrounded by beauty and animals (same thing).

To be continued... 

Jodi,

I love your love! Your feelings come across in your writing. To cool, thank GOD for our blessings!

Apple,

I just caught up on your reply to my roid rage post. Thank you. The info you gave me was so valuable. They make me feel good and look like crappolla. But who gives a shit about the crappolla at this point.  On another vain note, I have an amazing "radiation" tan.

Hop,

I really do think they are using these technolgies to "control" this damn disease. Which is a good thing, why zap it if it WBRT does the trick and then use it when need be, makes sense to stupid ole me.

Tracy

How you doing? Where ru being treated in the UK (just me being nosy - I'm in Northants but go to the Marsden)

Stroids are the absolute pits and I hate them more than chemo. Without sleeping tabs, I average around 2-3 hours a night, usually falling asleep around 4am.

I'm only taking 4mg Dexamethasone in the am (should be twice per day - but I'm hanging off taking more than I need to until I see the radio-onc tomorrow). Spend the day buzzing which isn't too pleasant as it makes me a bit speedy and I manically rush around doing stuff when I figure I would be better lying down. ALso my concentration isn't too good which is a real fag as I have 30+ 5000 word essays to mark in the next couple of weeks (sigh!)

Haven't done the WBR yet (and Renee - I don't know why there is a difference in the no of treatments - guess if it works, it works!) but I know others have complained of nose / taste / hearing issues (as wll as the attractive burned-forehead look...)

Jodi - Lovely post about your darling man and family.

Kathy - One of the UK women had eye mets which I know didn't cause her too many problems. Hope you're coping with yours.

Hop - hope you can use the energy productively!

Laurie x 

I'm in Germany and I had 21 consecutive weekday treatments.

When they 1st told me about the treatment, they said as the max, it was 25. Interesting.

I'd had two surgeries and that was my only experience with steroids until they recently found some radiation necrosis.  They didn't put me on steroids as a matter of course, and I woulda pushed back pretty hard on that.  I see the point in taking them when I need them, but not just because!  And not long term if I can help it.  It definitely affects my sleep and my appetite!

And Kathy, I see people and try not to wonder why I'm not one of "them" more than I care to admit.  I just try not to think about it and focus on the fact that maybe this is affecting someone...or several..that we'll never know about.  I've seen that happen with others.  And, as I've told my boys when a friends dad died for no good reason one afternoon...sometimes S**T just happens and we won't "get it."

Hey guys!!

Tracy nothing running from your nose or mouth is out of the normal.  My nose runs the first few hours I am out of bed.  I have spoken about my copious amounts of saliva.  So gross.  It's been 3 months since WBR (10) sessions.  I haven't done those dreaded steroids since 3 days after my treatments.  They made me that whackie.   Miserable really.  My doc thought I should go back on a very low dose for nausea, appetite, better mood, energy etc.  Per usual I said absolutely not.  The side effects are not worth it for me.  Insomnia?  20 pound weight gain, when I already have difficulty moving this body the way I want to.  First and  foremost, make sure you take them to prevent seizures, and make sure you're on the lowest dose reasonable.  It so sucks in the beginning.  I always pray to just feel normal.  This feeling blechy has got to stop.  I already walk like a drunk, I shoudn't feel like I have a hangover everyday. 

PBJ, have a fabulous time with your sister.  Nothing is better than spending time with someone who knows you like no other!!!  I heart sisters!!

K-Lo,

There was a wonderful sister here named Saint. I think she had eye mets for 6 yrs. Maybe you could look up some of her older posts. She was very active about writing about it.