The Hermit Club

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  • markat
    markat Member Posts: 909
    edited April 2013

    Ugh, that's my biggest pet peeve, Grover. The "I know someone who did it so you should too."



    You just do things how it feels right for you and your family! It doesn't matter if you're a professional mattress tester (wouldn't that be nice!!!) if you want to take the time off, then do it. Everyone goes through this differently, so what's right for one person could be horrible for the next.



    I'm currently sabotaging that 10lb loss by stress eating Reese Eggs. Oh and I also use real antipersperant and mainline sugar filled coffee. I live on the wild side :p



    I need to take up yoga again. My 8yo is fantastic at it. She looks like a little ballerina. I look like a big sweaty, Richard Simmons. While trying to not break my lamps by flailing and falling, and telling the beautiful person on the TV where she can stick her downward facing dog... but I hear it is fabulous exercise :)

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 16,882
    edited April 2013

    Mrkat Richrd Simmons is thin so good for u

    Jazzy It's god to feel good--it'll all come and before u know it u'r legs will be behind u'r head--I have to know when u can do that.

    Grover whatever u need or want to do --dombut it's a good idea not to work--kids, germs plus energy level of brain, everything u said--I think to it depends on u'r job sometimes--Imean if u'r a teach on top of it u must take home work--for grading or prepping whatever and patience that wears thin sometimes-- so as long as u'r able take it off and u can rest whenever u feel like it and if u'r having a good day do something fun. So don't feel like u have to do what anyone else is doing--it's for u no one else.

  • Jinkala
    Jinkala Member Posts: 193
    edited April 2013

    I was taking one week off work out of every three weeks when I was on chemo.  I also missed a scattering of days during my good weeks for various appointments.  I was lucky that I'd been working here so long without using my sick time that I had a lot of it saved up.  I'm having to be more careful now about my sick time usage since I don't have a big surplus anymore but I haven't really needed to use a lot since I finished chemo.

    There are a lot of different chemos and everyone reacts differently to the ones they get.  There's no way to really predict how much you can work through it or even if you can work at all.  Even after you've been through one cycle, the later cycles might seem a little harder or a little easier - or even both. Heheh   Just don't be afraid to focus mainly on yourself and on getting through it.  Keep up with your eating and keeping hydrated because that will help you stay healthier and stronger which does help in dealing with side effects.

  • grover
    grover Member Posts: 44
    edited April 2013

    Thanks, again, all! I am definitely in a funk, but it's nice to know that's normal for this "new normal." Also kinda depressing...I'm just going to try not to think too much about chemo anymore, beyond the "shopping list" posted in the chemo thread. Prepare for the worst & hope for the best...

    Markat, What's the deal w/ deodorant, anyway? My med. onc. said no, but that won't work for me!

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 16,882
    edited April 2013

    Grover I dn't know much so my words aren't gospel but I think deordorant (most) have aluminum in them that some studies had shown it was not good so go natural with them. There are a few companies that do make natural, but I don't know how true this is. I know my niece has gone natural but I haven't nor my sister or cousin so I wouldn't put this on my worry list, that's for sure.

    As far as chemo like Jinkala said everyone is different so try not to fear it--it's time consuming we all know that--other than that we've all pretty much have different reactions, but tell usu'r and someone will say Oh I had that--so don't worry about that either. We're here for u.

  • Skittle
    Skittle Member Posts: 400
    edited April 2013

    Markat--flailing is my yoga style as well.  Love your humor as you rise above all you've been through lately.  So glad your little ballerina has you as such a great mom.

    Jazzy--wow.  Great teacher to be so watchful.  Glad she's on the lookout for your well being, so you aren't likely to injure yourself, getting back into it.  Sounds wonderful.  (My only workout lately is vigorous tummy scratching for our new family member.  He's so sweet and gentle for his size.)  And I'd love to trade weather for a while.  We'll be in drought soon enough.  Springs are squishy and summers are crunchy...

    Camille--Did Joey choose a project?  He sounds like so much fun and a great source of unconditional love. 

    grover--sixth grade language arts here.  You're right about the energy and focus.  It gets rough sometimes.  As an echo, do what's best for you.  Your strength and core being are what need protecting right now.  Sometimes we each do the best we can to just breathe deeply without an inner voice saying, "oww.  did you have to do that?"

    teka--Sealed  be safe.  Hope you are having good days.

    bgirl, fl, blondie, jinkala, all...  have a happy Thursday ahead.  Glad, always, to be among you.  Before this forum, I never had any idea there were so many sweet hermits out and about.  I guess I thought my tendency to withdraw/hide/turn inward was an oddity, and felt all the more awkward because of it.  I'm glad to have learned differently.  Not the circumstance, of course, but glad to get to know each among us...  if that makes any sense at all.  (apologies...  suffering brain fuzz.   Next week is state testing and we're all a bit wacky with stress.)

  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 3,040
    edited April 2013

    @grover, It sounds nuts but you may really be able to just skip the deodorant, at least during chemo. I didn't smell, even though I sometimes woke up twice or three times during the night soaked with sweat.

    Then when I finished chemo, my smell came back with a vengeance. Surprised I'm avoiding commercial deodorants because of the parabens which most of them contain--they are suspected of promoting ER+ cancer. Since finishing chemo I've been using rubbing alcohol, an idea I saw on another thread in bco. I add cornstarch baby powder for a nice fragrance. Works OK so far.

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited October 2013

    grover,

    I stopped shaving and only wash in the armpits.   I found a tiny lump in the BC side armpit which went away overtime.

  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited April 2013

    I use aluminium and paraben free deodorants - Dr. Organics is one brand

  • placid44
    placid44 Member Posts: 497
    edited April 2013

    Grover,



    My advice with chemo would be: be proactive about reporting any troubling side effects to your oncologist so that he/she can manage them and you can stay on schedule with the chemo (not skip or reduce doses) so you get maximum benefit. Best of luck with everything!

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited October 2013

    I just scared a frog in our pond!

  • FLwarrior
    FLwarrior Member Posts: 977
    edited April 2013

    Hi Hermits!!!  My you are busy posting away!  I had 3 pages to read! 

    Work is kickin' my a$$!  I go to work, come home, eat, fall asleep sitting up. Get up and do it all over again. My job is way to intense for a hermit recovering from bc hell.  I am looking for a new job, something less intense! I do not want this kind of stress anymore!

    curveball, the rubbing alcohol - to kill bacteria (that causes the smell in the first place) and corn starch to stay dry, I assume.  Do you do this in the morning and stay good for the day or do you have to repeat through-out the day?  I have tried the natural deodorants, but I have not found one that "works".

    I used to enjoy yoga.  umm uumm Sadly, I have no motivation to begin practicing again. I think about it and wish I could, but I can't seem to DO it!  I am also scared to begin practicing again because I have axillary webbing syndrome and I am afraid it would turn into full blown LE.

    Markat hope you get great scan results!

    Welcome to the new ladies joining us.

    ((Hugs)) to all and HAPPY WEEKEND!

  • FLwarrior
    FLwarrior Member Posts: 977
    edited April 2013

    Speaking of deodorant...you might find this thread of interest.  

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/7/topic/800333?page=1#idx_24

    All Topics           →           Forum: Moving Beyond Cancer           →           Topic: What kind of deodorant do people use?????       

    Topic: What kind of deodorant do people use?????

    Forum: Moving Beyond Cancer

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 16,882
    edited April 2013

    U know I was thinking I really didn't need deordorant while doing chemo, or maybe I didn't care, but herceptin was a different matter. It was like a family of skunk got mad at me and my Onc. said well no one explained it that way, but that was a common SE--It's balanced out more but perfume dosn't smell the way it used to on me at all. 
    Fl u'r job sounds so difficult I mean stress wise, if u can find another job that would be better.

    Teka hahahahahahahaha

    Markat---nothing yet?????

  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 3,040
    edited April 2013

    @FLwarrior, so far once a day does the trick but that may only be because it has been cool weather ever since I finished chemo. It wouldn't surprise me if I need to re-apply during the day in the summertime.

  • LaurieParr
    LaurieParr Member Posts: 270
    edited April 2013

    Sissydi,



    You have described me to a "T!" I can SO relate right now. It has all become very overwhelming and I just want to crawl back into my shell and sleep the days away. The waiting games that happen in between tests and procedures are so very hard. We are forced to continue with day to day life, but have the BC hanging over our heads.



    God bless you and thank you,

    Laurie

  • bgirl
    bgirl Member Posts: 538
    edited April 2013

    Laurie, the Hermit are a great, non-judgemental bunch.

    Finished everything to go to the accountant's for our business.  Happy dance time.  Although I should be looking for a real job too!Frown

    Happy Friday's hermits.  Flwarrior ... hope you find a less stressful job With Benefits!

  • Jazzygirl
    Jazzygirl Member Posts: 12,533
    edited April 2013

    Hi fellow hermits- getting ready to head into my big conversion weekend (again) and system launch on monday for my client. I stayed home this morning to work remotely and plant some pansies and johnney jump ups that I picked up last night. Wanted to get a bit of color into my yard, although it is still too early to plant much of anything else, as we can get a freeze here for a couple more weeks. 

    Laurie-welcome. As stated by the other hermits, we are safe place for you to share. It is all very overwhelming and good to have others who are or have come through it to talk to here.

    Teka- I hope the frog recovered from the big scare this week! Ribbit!

    FL Warrior- I am in the same boat with you. This contract I took is way harder than I should be doing, too much stress post bc treatment. I am thinking of ways to opt out but have a feeling something else may happen before then. They are already starting to let consultants go, blaming them for things the management put into motion a year ago. I know there is more reasonable work for both of us out there.

    Cami- I hope you are doing okay as the week ends.

    To the rest, wishing you a good weekend and hoping you are getting some more spring your way.

  • markat
    markat Member Posts: 909
    edited April 2013

    Hey all! I haven't heard anything and I didn't feel like calling. I have a "lets go over your scans" appointment monday so it could go either way.



    I smell and sweat like a lot. My girls use Toms and I tried it, but I just smell like a stinky flower then. My ER+ was 50% but my K (bunch of numbers) was really high. Like 70 or something.



    I'm feeling yucky! Been doing some DIY projects are the house then get all the supplies and realize I have zero strength and my hands go numb lol. Poor DH. I did fix 2 toilets and spray painted an old light fixture.



    My college advising session was kind of disappointing. I have a lot of petitioning and hurdles if I want to get back into Speech Path. Apparently my grades are way too high to try and wipe out my semester that I didn't withdrawal properly. But not high enough in 2 classes to be competitive for grad school. Dumb!!!



    Hugs to all. Have a fabulous day!

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 16,882
    edited April 2013

    Oh Markat I hate when they do that everything sounds like a mystery---that happened to me and what they had to explainwas a whole bunch of shit--no cancer and I said u couldn't just tell me--well welike to explain it. Blah And I kinda of understand what u'r talk9ng about for school but that stuff never makes sense cua again if u are oder they give u credits for life experiences??? Well u've hadd a lot of experience in life that's for sure.  OK now we wait.

    FL and Jazzy u both seem like u have similiar jobs in a way --both to much pressure.

    Laurie excuse me but I can ask u the same thing a number of times--brain clog---so don't feel like I didn't read what u said, it just doesn't stay in the top of my brain--it kind of melts away.

  • whaevah
    whaevah Member Posts: 354
    edited April 2013

    teka...only washing your armpits, that would scare the frog Tongue OutLaughing

    *waves* to skittle, flwarrier. camillegal, bgirl, jazzy,blondie and all the peeps I missed, hope everyone is ok

    *hugs* to all the newbies, sorry you have to be here but welcome

    markat...I read your posts and still laugh, well most of the time, not on the scans though:(

    I do think they will be all clear, it is just normal for us to worry...~big hugs to you~

    Have a great weekend all!

  • Skittle
    Skittle Member Posts: 400
    edited April 2013

    whaevah--so true!  Normal for us to worry.  We probably all do more than we even realize. (I always think of a sign years ago outside a church--worry is the darkroom where negatives are developed.)

    Markat--sorry to hear the complications with your education goals... but even more, hoping you get reassuring news soon.  Waiting is hard and stressful.  But, wow.  two fixed toilets.  I feel successful sometimes just hanging a picture straight. 

    Laurie--welcome to a safe nest.  Say anything and it will be understood. 

    camille--take care.  Hope you're feeling ok.

    Jazzy--I hope the stress won't be continual.  Your plantings will bring a great stress release when they bloom.  It's supposed to be a pretty weekend.  I hope to put in some lilies of the valley.  Don't know why, but I've always loved them.

    curve, bgirl, FL--happy weekend.  April should bring pretty days.

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited October 2013

    whaevah,

    But no scary lump in the armpit.Tongue OutWink

  • markat
    markat Member Posts: 909
    edited April 2013

    Teka, the frog whisperer Wink

    FL, oh my goodness, you need a new job. Are you a nurse, I can't remember. We can go back to school together lol! Thank you for the kind words. Sending you hugs and good thoughts for a relaxing weekend.

    Camille, they just love to confuse us (doctors). I have something like Cervical Stenosis, but I think it is a little different. Something from my brain stem. I'm sure that is what is causing my pain. I really don't want another surgery though. I hate hate hate anesthia. I know one of my blood test counts was high though, so that is a little nerve wracking.

    Whaevah!!! Thank you! Miss you! Hope you are doing fun things and watching lots of TV and eating pizza :)

    Skittle, thank you! You are so kind. Hanging pictures is hard work. I don't have the patience to do things the "correct" way, so mine are usually crooked lol. Those new 3M hangers are wonderful for me lol. I'm currently depressed because I should call an electrician about the wiring in my house if I want to hang new light fixtures because you aren't supposed to use the new ones with a house built before 1985. DH is rolling his eyes at me and wishing Spring Break never happened hahaha.

    Bgirl, hope the accounting is kind. Real jobs are overrated ;) I would like to become independently wealthy and lay on my butt or do volunteer work with children for the rest of my life. Keep those bees alive, we need them!

    Sending all our new faces a big hug. These lovely hermits are the best around!

  • Skittle
    Skittle Member Posts: 400
    edited April 2013

    Frog whisperer!  Love it!  Laughing

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited April 2013

    agree jazzy what works for some won't for others, we are individuals...

    Skittle, just said that I am so happy I don't have to go out tomorrow, then remembered library called but that is nothing....

    Everyone have a wonderful, painfree weekend, and have either a drink (don't drink but I know some do) or a bowl of your favorite ice cream, pie, cake or all of it.....I eat what I want, drink or not what I want...cause i can.....

    luv all of you guys!!!

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited October 2013

    Really!   What mushroom are you all nibbling?Surprised

  • markat
    markat Member Posts: 909
    edited April 2013

    Lol Teka! I was just kidding. But if you have any... ;)



    Blondie, sorry you have to go out tomorrow!

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 16,882
    edited April 2013

    Teka===hahahahahahaha

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited October 2013

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