anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

Please tell me if you think this is strange.

I finished Rads last Thursday. So to celebrate my life, and the end of this long journey, I called two of my girlfriends to have dinner and drinks.

They were all for it. The two of them had brought food and sent cards as well when I was at my worst in the very beginning. {Nov. 2005.} In fact one is my boss, and the other was my boss before her.

I have always shared everything with them. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Well, the night started off with one of them picking me up to go meet the other. We got to the restaurant, sat on the balcony and ordered our food and drinks.

They were uneasy because it was quiet, and they felt that the other people were listening to our conversation. I was just happy to be in the moment and feeling the celebration of life.

Then the drinks came, they didn't like theirs. More complaining. I had one drink, white russian, they complained about that.

Food came, and one was talking about her sister who had lost weight, 50 lbs on Weight Watchers. How she knew how many points everything had. I had been doing WW before my dx, and knew about points, so I responded that it just becomes a habit once you know what foods are what points.


One girl looked at me and my plate and said, "How many points in that". I was celebrating one of the most important times in my life, and now I feel guilty about what I'm eating. All I had eaten was eggbeaters that day, and said so. Then one says "WOW" eggbeaters, sounds good, and looked at each other and laughed.

I lost my appetite. Most of this time, one or the other was on the cell phone.

Then we returned to one of the girls house. She put on wrestling for us to watch. What!

Then there was more phone talk, and talk between them about life. I wanted to leave, but had no car!

Was being picked up by my husband after he got off from work. I felt so miss placed. Hello, this was to be MY night!

And the big thing of the night, was I shared a story of this journey, about telling my husband that now that I'm all talkative again, that he may want to put me back into the bed where I was anything but talkative.

And that he said, with tears in his eyes, no Mary, I never want to see you sick like that again. It is so good to hear you laugh , and talk. I got choked up, and as soon as I did, they jumped in and said lets talk about something not so depressing. I had not told them anything before about how I was feeling. So it wasn't like I was on that subject "again".

I have wanted to send an email, because I've been upset. Even now, and it's been 3 days. Should I? Or just let it go. I will return to work someday. So , I wanted her to know how I felt hurt. Please help me understand this. Gentle please. Did I over react?

Also said, I should leave my hair short and GRAY! Why? So I can feel even older. I can't move in the mornings as it is from treatments.

Do you have a similar story?

Odalys- Wow, the part about not knowing when to call. I said that my phone wouldn't ring for 3 weeks at a time from a friend.

And one of the girls said they didn't know when to call. Well, I didn't want to call them. My life was the same. Day after day.

I wish I could have worked all through my treatment. I would have been able to keep up with the loop. But these girls could have sent email, hmmmmmm. Something else to ponder.

Quote:

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Since dx I forgive most and ignore the rest. And it really makes me appreciate all the love and support from family and friends.

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I couldn't agree more. This experience matures us and changes our perspective in life forever. I think we become better human beings because of it.

MaryLou, I am sorry you didn't have a good night out celebrating. This was your night to celebrate and I am sorry your friends didn't see that. I bet talking about your bc journey was the last thing you wanted to talk about.
I have a friend who vanished from the face of the earth after she found out about my diag. I run into her at the store or mall and she says she is always thinking of me and praying but doesn't call because she doesn't know what to see. Arg, then send me an email saying you are thinking about me.
I asked my onc. today if I can color my hair and he said yes, but dh doens't want me to put chemicals on my head. Oh well.
We are all thinking about you Deb, can't wait to "see" you again on the boards.
Odalys, yes the kids are driving me crazy. We didn't put them in camp this summer. I've heard "I'm bored", lol!! They do keep us busy especially when soccer brings us out of the house 4 nights a week.
I have to tell you all that I am so glad that we are still posting on this thread especially since most of us have finished chemo. I couldn't see continuing this journey w/o you guys.

Hope you are all having a good week.
Kim

Quote:

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I have to tell you all that I am so glad that we are still posting on this thread especially since most of us have finished chemo. I couldn't see continuing this journey w/o you guys.

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Me too, I look forward to checking this board at least once a day. What a pleasure to share other aspects of our lives with you. Love you all!!!

Love ML

Looking good! I think it's a keeper.

And as for continuing to post: I feel very connected to everyone here and would like to continue hearing how things are going for each of us. We have been through some real bad stuff together, and when I talk to some of the women in my support group at the local hospital, I realize how helpful these threads have actually been. I learn so much from all of you, and all your stories have enriched me immeasurably.

So,

Can't wait till our Debbie comes back

and our Kaye, too.

Love to all,

Anna

I'm so glad I checked in here before going to bed. Margerie, there will be some thank you prayers said tonight!

Love, Anna

Margerie, congratulations!!!!!! We are all celebrating with you.
ML glad you had a great day yesterday. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Hope Kaye is doing ok.
Deb we miss you.
Would love to see some of the sisters that started this November journey with us post.

Kim

Margerie - I am so happy for you. I wish I could reach out and give you a big HUG!!!! So gratious of you to host our get together.

Yes, I would love to meet you all somewhere. It would be great if we could plan a weekend at some hotel (mid point) and just kick back and hang out together. Can you just picture us in a spa???? Ha, between the chemo jokes and the rads jokes they would probably kick us out.

On a more serious subject, has anyone traveled with their port? I am flying out on Sat and am so afraid of setting off the metal detector. Is that possible or is it just my paranoia?

Just want to share with you the feedback I've gotten about my hair. I had no idea the short hair would turn so many heads! The men are flocking to my office to tell me how hot I look. The majority didn't even know I had on a wig or that I was battling bc. They are in shock when I tell them. DH is so cute, he said he thinks he needs to join a gym because I am stopping traffic and there is just too much competition out there. Had I known I was going to get this much attention I would have cut my hair a long time ago.

You are all so great. Love you all.

Odalys

Margerie, Such wonderful news!!!!!!!!! Prayers do get answered.

And thanks for the invite, your the sweetest person:)

Odlays, we need a picture of the hair~~~~~~~~~~~ So glad you're having fun with the new do! LOL

Kim! You lucky dog About the port, can I swim? I 'm going to join the YMCA, but keep forgetting to ask about it.

Debbie
WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU , always in our prayers

Hey all, I finished regular rads today and will set up for the boosts on Monday and then boosts start on Tuesday. Still in lots of pain in the collarbone area. Creams and gel packs are helping, a little.
MaryLou that is such a wonderful idea. Can you forward that information once you have it all.

Deb, you know we are thinking of you.
Has anyone check out Kaye's website lately. I don't remember the address. Maybe I'll try and look back and find it. Maybe some info there about her.

hugs and prayers,
Kim

Starting to get nervous about my stage II revisions next week, especially about the whole IV-in-foot/no-BP-cuff-on-arm thing.

I'm seeing my lymphedema therapist today and on Thursday. She is going to give me compression garments to wear after the surgery. I am going to call PS office to ask if I may wear them during the surgery as well, that would keep people off my arms for sure.

I need to learn how to take my BP on my leg so I can teach my doctors/other medical personnel how to do that.

Herceptin is going well for me thus far. I really need to get out and exercise more, though. Are any of you doing that successfully? Have any of you re-joined your aerobic or other groups?

Are any of you still kind of wiped out? No motivation to do things?

Anna

Yes, Margerie, I am getting nipples and some "tweaks" it seems.

I don't have full-blown LE, but as my therapist says, "there's been some loud knocking at the door." I do MDM every day and now go in to see the therapist only once in a while to check my measurements and to make sure everything is under control. I should get my garments by Saturday, so will ask my PS if I may wear them during the surgery. I have looked online to find a leg BP cuff, but haven't had any succeess so far. Can you believe I haven't had my BP read accurately since the port surgery in October last year? Nobody seems to care too much, though. Trouble is they're sure to care in the OR.

Good luck with the porch staining. What color?

My PCP ordered a FSH test and it came back elevated, so it seems I am indeed finally menopausal. That in turn means I can get an AI after finishing Herceptin. My oncologist is talking about Femara. I don't know what difference there is between Femara and Arimidex.

Our summer has been ultra thunderstormy thus far. Lots of flooding in neighboring counties with people's houses being condemned due to flood damage. Yikes! It's still June, right?

Hugs to all,

Anna