So...whats for dinner?

Nance, hope your anniversary was great! I extended wishes to you last night which evaporated along with my lost post. I particularly hate that happening when I decide to finish a post before heading to bed, and then lose it.....should be lesson learned! But by the AM I am apt to forget....which brings me to my MO and Tamox story....

I had my MO appt yesterday (dragged myself there despite waking up with a sore throat and mouth full of cankers...today a headache has joined them!)and we went through my symptom list and concerns about QOL since being on Tamox (mainly the sleep problems, ensuing fatigue...stabbing knuckle pain along with the cognitive "fog", poor memory, intermittent night leg cramps, and cosmetic issues like hair thinning and nails breaking). She was very sympathetic and suggested we tease out what is and is not related to Tamox by my taking a three week break (Yay!!) and journaling about those conditions. Monday I will start this little vacation and see how it goes. She is also not so concerned about the benedryl problem with Tamox and supports my using it as needed for allergic reactions. Her optimism about "our" being able to improve my QOL while taking meds was encouraging. So we will be dealing with this in small steps.

I appreciated that my MO spent a full hour with me going over my pathology findings to help me see why she recommends the hormonal therapy. I had actually conveniently forgotten that micro mets had entered a lymph node, bringing me to Grade 2 and closer to a 30 percent recurrence rate. My oncotype score was extremely low (4), but I had also forgotten that that low recurrence percentage rate was based on having 5 years of rx with Tamox or other hormonal rx.

This doc is so compassionate, bright, and reasonable that I do feel hopeful that we will work this out in a sensible way. Besides the fact that I so like and respect this woman, I may be feeling a bit of euphoria about the fact that I can say goodbye to Tamox for three weeks starting Monday! A true night of restorative sleep would be wonderful. She is also referring me to a stamina building class that the center offers, which I feel can be helpful....especially if I can start getting some sleep!

She also thought that trying biotin for the hair thinning was a good idea. So that's the lowdown for now....

Am hoping that this damn virus will pass quickly...had been so happy (smug?) that I escaped illness this whole winter...HA! Enjoyed it while I could.

Carole, I have to chuckle at your apologizing for your region's weather! If I were to apologize to everyone who had a cold or rainy day on a visit to Beantown, I'd be exhausted! On the other hand I never take credit for our beautiful weather either! I am surprised at the temp variations you have had this winter....unusual? 

Michelle, I had a note from a doc a couple of years ago to have a wheelchair in the airport due to a sprained foot.  I never had to use the note...just asked for it when making reservation, and easy as pie. They were very accommodating....only thing was that I was flagged for a whole body scan and pat down before my flight home. So I would suggest that you  leave your contraband at home.  I'm sure it will go fine....and I hope you have a great trip to AZ!

Having leftover lamb shank , brussells sprouts and salad tonight....if I close this down and get it going! Loved hearing about your duck drop off, Susan.

Lacey, I am favorably impressed with your MO based on your account of the appointment.  It will be interesting to see how you feel during this 3 wk hiatus.  Your oncotype number was even lower than mine.  I have not had any problem sleeping since I began taking arimidex.  I take it at night and also take a benedryl.  Then main difference I see is the aging of my skin.  But that could be...aging! 

This winter has been fairly typical except for getting more rain than we get some winters.  Our cold weather never lasts long, usually a couple of days and then we have a warming trend.  So winter temperatures range from 70's to 30's.  Next week looks really nice.  Spring usually arrives in March and the azaleas burst into bloom.  Spring has its miseries in the form of pollen.  The pine pollen is already starting to film everything with yellow coating. 

Rich will be 19 in June, I have no idea where he will be going next.  My Dad was in the Navy.

This picture is celebrating his 81st birthday, he passed in June 2012 at 84.

Lacey, Biotin worked kind of well for me.

Auntie No No  Hahahha  I am going with the dark blond streaks.  I am "returning my hair to it's natural color" today.

I found the greatest book I am going to make butter lettuce and clementine slad with brown butter vinaigrette.  I am addicted to clementines.

Bobogirl - tell me more about the coconut milk ice cream.  Last night I made 1/2 recipe of Coconut Pumpkin Bread Pudding.  It's something I would usually not make because not sure DH would eat it.  He loved it.  I'm very unhealthy and don't care.  Have either a cold or allergies.  Would guess allergies as the south wind is just howling.  Don't care what it is right now, if I want it I'll eat it.

Trader Joes was OUT OF the frozen leeks last week.  Tried 2 days in a row.  They were due in that evening.  Don't expect to back to Fort Worth this month at all which means thank goodness all my doc appts are done for a while.  Wish I knew of another frozen source.  Relish Mag has a recipe today for Caramelized Leek Bread Pudding.  I bought 2 humoungous (sp) heirloom tomatoes at Central Market last week.  I think I seen some sliced with some gorgonzola cheese and crackers.  More hot tea.

Worked in the garage all day yesterday, taking advantage of the cooler weather.  Everything is now looking a lot better and my car fits without a lot of manuvering...lol!  Ran across old photos that held lots of good memories!

Last night I watched an old movie, Peyton Place, and marvled that it was scandalous at the time it first came out...lol!  Not quite Fifty Shades!  Wow...I've seen and heard it all!

Last night's dinner was angel hair spagetti with tomato bits and eggplant stacks with tomato bits and parm cheese...delicious!  Sometimes its fun to just cook for yourself...anything you want!  My new sweetie will be returning to Florida later this week, but in the meantime, I have lots to keep me busy.

Happy Monday everyone!

Last night was a salmon with yogurt, bread crumbs and orange slices dish. It was very good.



Kara, your pasta dish sounds just like the dish Sharon loves and is going to cook tomorrow.



Eric

Having a "skinny" dinner tonight.  Pan seared catfish, steamed broccoli and chopped salad. 

Carrie, your pork loin sounds yummy. Love stuffed rolled meats. I know what you mean about the expanded eating habits we develop due to feeding others. I was just thinking about that today....that if DH didn't have to eat so well/much, (and he has a fast metabolism, damn!) I would, most nights, be satisfied with sparse meals....like years ago when I was much thinner!

Tonight we had an asparagus/red pepper/onion fritatta to go with some soup I wanted us to finish up.

Aside from food.....

Today is the day I was to start my Tamox holiday.....but not without issue. I made the mistake of telling my DDIL about my plan....bad idea! I received an alarmist phone call from DS1 last evening (they are both surgeons....not oncologists, tho they do see patients with cancer in their specialties) strongly suggesting that I was being foolhardy to go this route to try to deal with sorting out my symptoms. OY! He was unrelenting in his opinion that I was putting myself at unnecessary risk for recurrence...for taking this short break.....AND he figures (worries) that if the three week hiatus goes well, I will not return to my standard of care treatment. So today I emailed my MO just to be sure that I am not being foolish. She definitely supports this diagnostic hiatus for me and knows that while I expressed my wish to bag the hormone treatment, she has convinced me for the time being to work with her around making it work. Lord is she a lovely person and smart doc! She also offered to explain all of what we are doing to my "know it all" doc children, but I think we will just drop it until the next phone call comes rolling in. Interesting to have this familial role reversal. I am suddenly the naughty child....competing with Bedo perhaps!? Suffice it to say that I did NOT take Tamox today.



Back to food....I signed up for a chili cookoff on Saturday at the local Produce Market in our town. Now all I have to do is actually write up the recipe I put together(as well as make it and bring it!)....that will take some discipline that I have been lacking in recent months.



Maybe I'll get on the computer and start that recipe right now!

The health kick here is to prepare food that I will enjoy.  DH made a perfect burger patty with steamed green beans and 4 cheese mac&cheese (from a box).  I ate almost every bite - that patty was 5 ounces or so and he cooked it a perfect medium rare.  This is probably the biggest meal I've eaten in more than a week.  I think tomorrow night will be Chinese Pie.  Notice the pattern here - foods with lot of moisture. 

Lacey - you're going to have to keep a few secrets or those docs will be all over you!  It seems to me that a 3 week Tamox holiday shouldn't be that dangerous.

Bedo - LOL, your life with DD is always interesting!

Another lost post....damn! Giving up til tomorrow!

Lacey  I took a break from the Tamox when I was having those bad headaches.  Dr. suggested 3 week break but it turned out it wasnt necessary as we immediately figured out it wasnt the Tamox, but needed an adjustment to my BP med. Only had 1 week off.  I think I am handling the Tamox pretty well without too much grief, but after 2 years of being in chemo induced menopause, I got a period last week! Now wondering if the Tamox is doing its job....I will be 55 this year...WTH?

Kaara  You are an inspiration with the healthy eating. Cant wait for the summer veges here!

Last night pork roast was sooo good, the stuffing really made it moist.  this was a huge $10 roast that I cut in half upon purchase...good bargain as we have leftovers from this half and the other in the freezer for future.

Michelle  YAY on eating that yummy sounding meal.  Your husband is a gem!

Auntie  It would take me a long time to get to that saturation point with the seafood. But I hear ya on being in control of the meals.