MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited December 2012

    Firework, I feel sick for those families and their little friends ... So innocent and scarred for life. I know you can kill with a knife but guns are weapons ... Hand guns ... Canada has very tight gun control and I hate to make this into something but I do believe that the US needs to look at your right to bear arms... Why does someone really need a hand gun? Hunters need rifles ..

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2012

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  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 2,119
    edited December 2012

    Truly a sad day - thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those innocent victims.

    I agree with JoCanuck that mental illness is still hidden away - no one likes to talk about it and those affected are hesitant to seek treatment.

    I agree there needs to be more gun control, however, there also needs to be less of a stigma attached to mental illness so that it is not considered to be "taboo" I have seen too many teens and young adults suffer in silence only to find out too late that they were struggling.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2012

    What I like about this thread is the wide range of sentiments.  If you get all the way to middle age, you don't have nothin' if you don't have an opinion.  Just so long as we realize there is no way to debate the issue of gun control and gun ownership so that we will all come to an agreement. 

    When my family started to talk about those shootings and watch the news of it, I had to leave the room, the horror of it was making me cry.  I'm not in a place to dwell on the thought of it for more than a moment without losing the upbeat frame of mind I need for my latest cancer drama.  I have some half formed opinions, but I am keeping my brain out of that arena right now.

    ----------------

    Just had some milk oatmeal.  Had to leave half the cup for later.  It was stinging too much, but still it is an improvement because two days ago, I could not have even gotten it down.  Plus, I had it without using lidocaine first.  I had to eat all my meals preceded by lidocaine yesterday.  I had hoped to be more healed by the weekend and eating solids...I mean normal meals.  Not sure if I will be ready to go by Monday.  I still have all the blistery sores, but they are smaller, and the center of my soft palate feels much better although the sides still have a few razorblades.

    I have had 10/28 rads now.  Time flies when you're having rads, eh?

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited December 2012

    Hello to all: I would like to add something that has worked for me concerning canker sores in the mouth......or canker craters! Unbelievably after years of avoidance of tomatoes, oranges, pecans, grapes, pineapple,pizza and salsa, etc and trying all sorts of cures including lysine, I have found that Crest toothpaste for kids has cut my breakouts to almost zero! I can't explain it and I still only have the foods very sparingly due to the fact I am so afraid of not being able to swallow my spit again. Worth a try for only 3 bucks. It is somewhat hard to find. I keep the rx for the outer herpes on hand at all times because anytime I am even a little sick or over tired, out comes a blister. Give the crest for kids a try and see if it helps and good luck.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2012

    Hi, Beatmon, and thanks for the tip.  Do you mean Crest "Sparkle Fun" for kids or is the other one that is a white paste?

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited December 2012

    Hi, elimar: it's the sparkle. Can't believe it has helped so much and also teeth sensitivity that none of the other speciality paste touched.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2012

    elimar, it just hit me that you are having rads and chemo at the same time! Kind of brilliant really, if you think about it...and if you didn't have the mouth issuesss....so when you are done, you are done! Isn't it an awful lot for your body to handle at once, though? I know you have the mouth issues (damn CT contrast!!!) but otherwise you're handling it pretty good, aren't you? Don't know why I just figured all that out now. doi! Do they really think you'd be ALL healed by Monday?

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  • Ossa
    Ossa Member Posts: 919
    edited December 2012

    Hi everyone, have not been here for a while.

    Elimar.. ouch.. I can relate. Had the mouthsores after Taxotere.. Got so bad I ended up in the hospital for 5 days.. MO prescribed me anti-viral and antibiotics that I was on for 31/2 months.. They were Apo-sulfatrim ds (antibiotic) had to take monday wednesday and friday,,Pms-valacyclovir one tab daily until 4 weeks after chemo ends.. This plus the "magic" mouthwash worked wonders for me.. Best part is I can now eat pears, apples, oranges and berries... could not for years as I would have a reaction getting blisters in my mouth from them.. Now I have two apples a day and enjoy themSmile

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2012

    Barbe,  Both together gets optimum shrinkage and when people got rads after surgery they had "poorer function."  We can all imagine what that disgustingly implies.  However,  I think with my nodes being involved, I might be on the ticket for post surgery chemo too, but it might depend on the surgical pathology.  I should be looking ahead to the light at the end of the tunnel, but I am taking a more step-by-step approach this time around.  After all this pre-treating, I will get about 6 weeks to heal and study for the next phase.  I want to be ready to go on Mon., but I think it may get delayed a couple more days.

    I had a lot of pain-induced fatigue this week, but got all my Christmas cards done.  Right now, I am hoping I can go out and shop tomorrow for a couple gift items, before I get ol' "Hitler in a handbag" back.

    p.s.  Hey, Ossa.  We picked up a few more Canadians while you were out.  I have one mouth rinse now that is a steroid, an antibiotic, an antifungal and Benadryl.  Since using that, I have improved at a snail's pace.

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  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,577
    edited December 2012

    Some of my grandkids were over a couple of days ago to help me decorate for Christmas - they all wanted to be someone famous, one wanted to be Tessla, another Edison, and the 4 year old wanted to be Hitler, because then he could just stand there and boss everyone else around - here's hoping your Hitler in a handbag doesn't get to be the boss this time Cool

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  • marlegal
    marlegal Member Posts: 2,264
    edited December 2012

    Eli, I haven't been able to really watch a news story about Newton, CT either. I've said many prayers and I hope that's enough, because I truly have no desire whatsoever to watch the story. Not sure there's anything there I really need to know that could help me or more importantly help those involved. If that horror makes us a little kinder for a little while, that would be a good thing. I hope your healing continues and speeds up for you hon.

    Happy Saturday to all ... off to finish my Christmas shopping, I hope!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2012

    Marlegal, I couldn't have said it better myself! I have NO interest in reading in-depth about this crime. Just knowing something happened is more than I need to know.

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  • jocanuck1951
    jocanuck1951 Member Posts: 1,003
    edited December 2012

    Jeez Elimar....lol...what is...I know I'm gonna be sorry for asking..."hitler in a handbag"

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2012

    JoC,  That is my take home pouch containing chemo and the porta-pump.  It goes by many names, all signifying badness.  Besides coming with its own list of dos and don'ts, once I got hooked up it was dominating my life with how long I could sleep (before the tube fell across my face) and what kind of jammies I could wear (because a long gown is too troublesome) and the like.  I expect I have another 3-4 weeks of that coming up, but if possible I wonder if I can persuade them to leave me unhooked on Xmas Day (since I won't actually get rads on that day either.) 

    I was chewing some cottage cheese for lunch.  Then, slithered some ramen noodles down.  I had a tiny piece of pumpkin cake with milk (but needed the lidocaine help with that one.  It was worth it.)

    p.s.  I have written my actual meals a couple different times.  It's one thing to say I am sore, but it's another to just tell you what food I can even tolerate.  That gives the best idea, I think.

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  • jocanuck1951
    jocanuck1951 Member Posts: 1,003
    edited December 2012

    I'm so happy something is slithering down your throat! I didn't realize that we take it home! I though you go to the clinic get chemo then the treatment is over, recoup from horrible side effects then do it again next week.....I didn't know we took it home!!!! Crap!



    I have no bleeping idea of what's coming down the tubes for me....well I got the liver thing so....I have to wait for the 20th for my awakening....



    This is crap on crackers!

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  • marlegal
    marlegal Member Posts: 2,264
    edited December 2012

    Jo, the type chemo Eli is having is not the norm. I've heard of it before, but most of us who did or are doing chemo follow your outline - go to the hospital or clinic, have our treatment, and go home for 7 to 14 days. Only very very special people get to take the chemo home with them :)

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2012

    JoC,  I don't think you mentioned your liver involvement on this thread before.  Sometimes the liver gets a very good response with chemo.  If it is just in your liver and just one lesion, or very minor, I believe surgery can even be an option.  Do let us know what your treatment will include.  You'll not be saddled with a chemo carry-out like me.  (Sent you a PM.)

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  • jocanuck1951
    jocanuck1951 Member Posts: 1,003
    edited December 2012

    Thank you mar...not to bright over here!



    Got it Eli, thanks! Um no surgery, I have too many lesions I'm told, both sides. I'm hoping it gets better when I see the onco & rad docs on the 20th. I can hardly wait.....



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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited December 2012

    Glad you can get some variety into your diet, Ei~, even if it was ramen.  

    I've only met one person who had the take home chemo for BC.

    When I had AC, they had me eat popcicles while they infused me, it was to prevent mouth sores.  Unfortunately if you are carrying your chemo 24/7 I guess that's impossible, but I wonder if you ate cold stuff throughout the day if it would help at all.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2012

    Thanks everyone, for feeling my pain.  I am quite a bit better today.  I think I could eat almost any solid food as long as it was not very dry and scratchy, and I still can't eat anything very acidic but would dearly love to try a slice of pizza tonight.  So, maybe they'll strap the bag on me tomorrow.  That cancer has had enough of a break.

    I've had 10/28 rads now and I don't even see a tan line yet.  Could I possible sail through this with minimal burning, or is a burning butt-crack looming in the near future just in time for the holidays?  Stay tuned.  (I made that crack about my crack because just like the under-crease of the breast, that is where the burn builds up.  As annoying as the brest crease is, at least we don't have to sit on that!)

    Dianarose, how are your rads coming along?

    My port has finally settled down, with me only being restricted from more extreme arm movements, not the everyday ones, and I can sleep right on my port now without it feeling too weird.  Good times.

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  • jocanuck1951
    jocanuck1951 Member Posts: 1,003
    edited December 2012

    Really gals, this is like Saturday nite live on tv only better! LOLOL! Wouldn't we just roll over and dry up if we couldn't laugh! Xoxoxo

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  • heartnsoul76
    heartnsoul76 Member Posts: 1,648
    edited December 2012

    Jo, you're right!  I get more laughs here than SNL!  Although maybe the general public wouldn't get our sense of humor.  Oh, well, at least we amuse ourselves!

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  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 2,407
    edited December 2012

    Elimar- you are one rad ahead of me. I am tired now. Not that I wasn't tired before rads though. My skin looks the same so far. I have had some trouble with my shoulder, but it is better today. We are having one dam storm after the other this week here in Maine. I have to keep changing my times for radiation to go around them. I do not like driving in snow. The cancer center is 45 minutes away so I don't want to do it in bad weather.

    My daughter is an RN and she said you can make your own mouth rinse for the sores by mixing 1 teaspoon of Maalox and one teaspoon of Benadryl. She said it is ok if you swallow it. She said it might help you sleep if you do.

    I hope things get back on track for you so you can put this behind you. How long does your radiation take? Mine takes about 15 minutes because they have to reposition me 5 times.

    Have a better week, Diana

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  • TAB55
    TAB55 Member Posts: 198
    edited December 2012

    Damn these hot flashes!  I hate breaking into a sweat with no warning.  It's not comfortable and I haven't heard of anything that helps except antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs, which I'm not interested in taking.  I miss my HRT!  Waaah!  OK, I'm done whining now.  Hope all had a good weekend. 

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  • marlegal
    marlegal Member Posts: 2,264
    edited December 2012

    Eli, I had 35 rads to breast and asked hub if I was delusional and no memory, or if I really didn't have probs like I seem to recall! (It was 7 yrs ago after all, and I have a hard time remembering this morning) I had minor areas of breast that burned, never peeled. I used 100% aloe gel after each tx, cheap and effective. I hope like hell that you have no butt crack issues .. not sure I could deal with the descriptions of that!!!  LOL

    JoCanuck, I love the SatNLive comparison - we are definitely our own comic troupe!!! Like who could make up this shit?

    Tab, I had the chemo/tamox flashes for yrs - surprisingly I got used to it, though never enjoyed! But man, when I stopped tamox (moved to aromasin once post-men) the effects slowed wayyy down, and then when I stopped after 5+ yrs on that regimen, almost disappeared. I still get the occasional hot flash, and I still wake up a couple times during the night and throw covers off, but the sheets stay dry. I am amazingly grateful for that. Who knew the things we'd be thankful for, huh? No hot flashes for an hour - wooo hoo!!!! Don't have to change nightgown during the night? Yowsers!!

    Love and hugs for a good week middies.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2012

    I'M having bad night sweats lately and that really annoys me. I sleep on a bath towel over my pillow and everything and I'm still waking up with a soaked head. Getting pretty tired of this. My nightgown is soaked as well so I just take that off, but when I turn the towel over to use the dry side, there isn't one! How much DO we sweat??? I've heard of "Chillows" but don't know if sleeping on a cold pillow would be a good thing.... Any tips on head sweating would be greatly appreciated.

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2012

    I remember this thread in December from previous years...I seem to be a bit lax with the holiday spirit this year, and that has got to change.  While I really don't want to put in the energy of decking my actual halls...come on...how hard is it to virtually spruce this place up?  I will try and get more festive this week, which I will not be able to do if my only accessory is a chemo pouch.  I was thinking this outfit would work a lit better for me:

                                                                        

                                                                                           Don't hate me 'cause I'm evergreen!

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  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited December 2012

    Here's my outfit

    LET'S PARTY!!!!

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited December 2012

    Lookin' good, Meece!

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