2012 sisters

Miranda, I am sorry about your troubles, but your MO should be able to help.  Congrats on your last chemo.  I bet you are so glad you're done.  

Karen, thanks for your words of encouragement.  I figure I won't have to buy a Halloween mask.  I'm all set.  I am sorry for your friend.  Salivary gland cancer is terrible.  I'll keep your friend in my prayers.  Chandler is a nice city...we love it here and the weather is just perfect now.. Please stay safe in the storm. 

Chris renee77, The nerve of some people!  Glad you said something to help educate the ill-informed and stupid!  Hard to believe people can be so dumb. Hugs.

Ann, you cracked me up, but I can so relate.  Two caps of Milk of Mag almost set off the house alarm here!  Oh, the rumbling and loud booms could probably be heard 2 blocks away.  Lost 4 pounds that day.  Yeah you're right about the neck surgery in the middle of BC.  But life is getting good again.  My big problem now is deciding which body part to clutch when I sneeze!  Do I hold my boobs or try to keep the incision closed on my neck? LOL!

Welcome MEGROY!  You will find great comfort here.  These gals are so supportive.

LIEFIE, great news on your exercising.  Keep it up.  I can't wait to be cleared to get back  on my treadmill.  Maybe next week.

TAZZY, thanks for the giggles.  I see you have kept up with your sense of humor while I was gone.  Love Betty, she's hysterical. 

WEBSISTER, you look fabulous.  Hope you are doing better.  Hugs

HALFCAN, I'm glad you are now able to do the shots.  I'm sure it's frightening at first. Good job!

Best wishes to all.  It's so nice to be back with you again. Thanks for your support.

XOXOX

Hi, I'm Meg. Please tell your med onc about those TMI things. It could be a reaction to Neulasta, that is why they recommend taking something like Claritin for allergic reaction in addition to ibuprofen for bone pain. We're you able to keep any of that down since you we're nauseated that whole time. My first round was just like yours to the point of them putting more anti nausea meds in my port and fluids just for hydration I was so sick but I was thankful because they were eager to tweak my meds pre and post chemo this second time and I had no side effects at all! The Neulasta caused crazy bone pain and I'm early forties and very active but I found it hard to walk and play piano for almost five days... Crazy! Good luck and please take your care into your own ands asking your dr what can be done different next time to avoid that terrible episode again. There are many things they can do to tweak it for you, but you need to speak up.

Oh these lovely side effects! Now my boob hurts on the inside! I see my RO on Monday provided Sandy doesn't keep me house bound and will tell him about it. I'm sure it's the lovely rads just doing its job. Made me think back to before dx. I used to get an occasional burning pain where my tumor was and after dx I always wondered if I should've had it checked out sooner. Could that have been it? That and how many licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop are the things the world may never know.



Sometimes I have a warped sense of humor so I'll share this story. Last night I went to food store to get stuff for tomorrow. We are having friends over for the game (go Steelers!). Wasn't too crowded and just for giggles I went looking for water bottles. I already have since my daughter goes through it like water. Haha. There was none! The mgr said there was almost a fight over the last case. Reason it was funny to me is that it made me think of my dad who passed 25 years ago. Whenever a storm was coming he was at the store for bread milk and eggs! I just needed ingredients for my buffalo chicken dip!



Ok on a serious note all the east coasters be careful and make sure your sump pumps and back up batteries are working! DH is a plumber and said the supply house sold out of pumps on Thursday. Usually it's the day after storm. And make sure you have your favorites to get you through SE's. mine was always cold and sweet because if that lovely metal taste. Thank god for sherbert!

Mrscicd,  I can't believe they are letting your WBC go so low without nepogen or nuelasta.

My Chemo nurse gave me a stern but gentle lecture.  "You have no immune system.  You get a fever or cold and you end up in the hospital.  Nothing raw to eat.  Everything hot.  Be careful not to cut yourself.  No weeding without gloves, and better no weeding.

There were some studies on the internet showing that the nepogen and nuelasta reduced hospitalizatons enough to more than pay for the high drug costs.  Do be careful.  Avoid children and crowds.  No hugs or touching.  We are concerned.

When my WBC were that low even though I had the nuelasta after A/C chemo, I was given 5 days of nepogen shots and the oncologists reduced chemo by 20%.  Do be careful.

Thinking of everyone in Sandy's path, stay safe!



MsCich - your neutrophils should come up nicely before your next chemo if they are .8 now. Mine were .2 just before chemo and that's why I ended up getting the Neulasta shots 3 days after every chemo now. Do keep yourself away from germs though.



Digitalcowgirl - so nice to have you back



Ann - you made me smile with your post re: overdoing it trying to prevent the big C. I also overdid it a bit and had an uncomfortable day about two days ago, what a delicate balance



Liefie - you continue to inspire me



Meg - welcome



Chrisrenee - just realized I had meant to watch and forgot, hope I can go and catch the episode online



I have been watching the Parenthood show, seems almost too much like my life, I also have a teenager with Asperger's, when she found out she was HER2neu positive I felt like it was just a little too close to my life for comfort

I gave myself my Neulasta shot yesterday and I am definitely feeling it today, even with the Claritin. Currently sitting in my recliner watching the movie 'The Bucket List' and that seems a little ambitious .

Anyway, hugs to all - take care everyone

Digital Cowgirl, that was my first chemo...unfortunately not my last.

I only had 3 days of nausea so far and chemo was 8 days ago. It seems as if Im having more SE from the naulasta than from the chemo itself. I saw the PA about all my itchies.  She gave me Diflucan for the down below issues and it seems to be much better already. Even the itching down there.  I have a severe headache though as well as a severe low back ache.  Pain shoots from my head down my back if I bend a certain way.  Good thing my Percocet is entirely effective for that!

Chrisrenee, say yes to the cure was great. I laughed and cried as Lori told her story. If you missed it anyone, try and catch it.



NYCchutzpah, what a story ... I laughed ... I cannot even imagine what a mess that was. YUK.

MrsCich - sorry I missed that it was WBC and not ANC



Juneaubug - good to hear from you, wonderful to hear things are getting back to a little closer to normal for you. I will be thinking of you as you begin work.

Just want to send out a note and wish everyone well in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast for the Frankenstorm.  It will likely be an intensive rainy couple of days for we bosom buddies based in Manhattan, but I'm concerned about roads and property and water ways in the outer boroughs and points beyond.  Be safe everyone!

Scorch

stride - I hate this for you.  It is so unfair when you do all the treatments and &**(^ cancer doesn't have the good grace to shrink.

Hey are all you ladies in British Columbia ok?? Heard the earth rattled and rolled there earlier?

Juneau, no, I did not feel anything move under my feet. But then again I was very busy today cooking up a storm. Had a dinner party at my house tonight, and it was so nice to be able to work hard the whole day, entertain my friends, and still have enough energy to clean up - it felt so good. Wonderful to hear you are getting your strength back!

Stride, so sorry to hear this. I sincerely hope it turns out well for you.

Websister, I have sore leg muscles today, but I am determined. Hope you are having very good weekend! 

Ann, are you icing your fingers during Taxol infusions? It really helped me, and I had almost no numbness in my fingers. Some of my toes are still numb five months PFC, but it's not really bothering me. Hopefully the dark cloud will lift soon, and you will feel better. It is no fun to feel so down. (((HUGS!)))

To those of you waiting for Sandy, I hope she will behave like a lady, and not wreak the havoc that is predicted. It is very late, and I must go to bed. Best wishes to you all!

Stride I too am sorry and sending the white light your way.



Ramols I still have the numbness in my fingertips. Hate it especially when I have to apply lotion to my radiated area that is still numb from surgery. Feels creepy. I used to get my treatment on Fridays and neulasta shot on Saturday. I would feel good until Monday night then it would hit till Thursday morning. I didn't mind because then I could have happy weekend time with the family.



Be safe all us East Coasters! It's like Christy said "if it feels stupid it probably is"!



PS - please say a quick prayer for our good friends. Our neighbors 92 year old mom going to the BGC for bladder ca broke her hip yesterday. Sweet lady doesn't deserve this! Thanks

Marian, we did not feel the earthquake at all mid-island where we live. My two cats also had no reaction at all. It happened way north of us, but it is absolutely amazing to me that people have felt it as far as Edmonton, Alberta, while we who are much closer, did not feel anything. Tofino on the coast about an hour west of us, had a tsunami warning, but fortunately nothing came of that.

MIRANDA, I am sorry I misunderstood where you were in treatment.  I wish you the best as you travel down the road to restored health.  Hugs!

SCORCHY, I could not sleep last night so I got my tablet out and found your blog. Thank you for keeping me company last night.  I found your words insightful and witty and you are my hero.  Thank you for what you are doing. 

STRIDE, I am saddened to hear about your difficulties.  I hate that we are here having to deal with this insidious disease.  I go from anger to acceptance to anger almost every day.  When I'm angry I have no patience or tolerance for anything--especially trivial  stuff. This morning for instance I read a fluff piece in the paper about a woman going on and on about how her dishwasher broke in January and how she had to wash dishes by hand. I just wanted to knock her into next week! I think CA has turned me into a psycho. I am so thankful to come here and be able to vent.

JUNEAUBUG, It's nice to see you again.  It looks like you are kicking A on this journey.  I sure admire your spunk and determination. 

WEBSISTER, You always have such kind words to say.  You are such a help to many and I appreciate how you share and look out for others. Thank you.

RAMOLS and ANN, I feel so badly for you.  It just sucks to have all this numbness. 

LIEFIE, Good for you! It's great to have some 'normal' isn't it?  I'm really struggling to get back into the swing of things. We usually host a Halloween party, but not this year.  Besides being like a limp rag from my last surgery, my mom passed a year ago on Halloween so I'm not in the mood.

MRSCICH, glad to hear you are feeling better.

I hope all who are in the path of Sandy are safe.  Have a happy Sunday free from worries and side effects.. Hugs to all.