In shock

Nihahi, I will defo walk today after that bread fest yesterday-lol - walked yesterday too. Will give hubby the message re garden.

Hi Ladies,

I'm keeping this short..  Just checking in and only saw a little about Tamoxifen..  Liefie- I hate it I have only been on it for two weeks going on three my muscles and bones hurt! worse than with Neulasta..  I was thinking it was still the Taxotere effects but two hours after I take it I feel the effects.  I go to my Oncologist on Friday, go tomorrow to have blood drawn the big one after Chemo.. check tumor markers ect....  If he assures me again I will benefit from it of course I will be more than happy to continue.  I'm hoping my body will just adjust to it..  Just when I was starting to feel normal again...

Oh and I haven't told you guys yet but I have trunkle LE!!  Meeting the a Lymph-edema therapist on Wed..I may have to put reconstruction on hold..

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!  Loving spending time with Matt..  He leaves on Wed it is always so so hard to say goodbye!

Love you all,

Carla

Benny, good to hear you will be working on that arm - you won't be sorry.

Awwww Carla, sorry to hear about the Tamoxifen having that effect on you. We finish all these surgeries and treatments, and then the Tamoxifen hurdle waits for us at the end when we are already so worn out, and really don't need more pain and SE's! Can you try a different brand of Tamoxifen? I've read on the Tamo threads here that different manufacturers of this pill use different 'fillers' etc. that also cause SE's. Many women who switch to a different brand do much better, and some become SE free - just a possibility, but worth exploring. Sorry about the truncal edema too, but hopefully the therapist will be able to help. In the meantime, enjoy your boy! Big hugs to you, Carla!

Maria.....nothing wrong with snoozing when the need hits! Some of us have a wee touch of envy of those who can actually sleep! Rest is obviously what your body needs, so go with it!

The Look Good, Feel Better program is such a wonderful thing....hope you really enjoy it, and I bet you do make some good connections. 

Benny....coffee making issues.....defo time for rehab!

Traii......I (unfortunately)located TimTams here in the states.....I have eaten 3 (three) packages already, I am very ashamed to say.......needless to state I WILL be hitting the gym tomorrow, FOR SURE!



Jackie

ooh...Traii's up, someone to play with!

Ok, I am obviously going to have to source out some of these timtams.....except, I don't have much of an appetite yet, still eating way less since my recon. Maybe I could choke one down, take one for the team attitude?

Sorry we missed each other Traii, oh well, enjoy the timtam.

Finally got some sleep, but feel pretty tired this morning. Off soon to a gentle yoga class.....I'll be the one snoring in the corner! Trying to get as much play in as I can before Wednesday, cause then, exercise, activity will be off limits again for about a week. CRAP! Just when I'm getting back into it!!!!

Daughter might have found an apartment to move into....of course, she wants to move this weekend, when I'm not supposed to lift things, and hubby's back is acting up again....sound familiar?????

Edi.....(((((X)))))

Benny......go to physio ((((((X)))))

Websister.....kind of quiet, everything ok?

Movie, I've been equally bad this weekend with that addictive Nihahi bread. Now (trying to!) restrict myself to one slice per day. Going out for a long walk with the dog now in an effort to mitigate the damage on my hips and backside . . . At this rate I will have to put liposuction of mentioned areas on the agenda for when I see my PS again - LOL! Want to look half decent at my son's wedding - pure vanity - I plead guity.

Dakota, congrats on your son's achievement!

Benny, we have the same weaknesses - lol. If you pm me with your e-mail address I will send you the recipe if that is okay with you, Nihahi? I believe it will be. It is very good bread. Enjoy the sunshine!

Maria, it is wonderful to be able to list sleep as an SE - embrace it, girl!

Nihahi, I bet you're out walking/biking/eating ice-cream/whatever - no staying inside if there's sunshine! I'm counting the days until I can go to yoga again. My arm can go up in a 'Heil Hitler' salute, but that's it. Hope that ROM will get better soon, otherwise yoga won't be possible.

Movie, have to tell you that I admire your Stairmaster workouts. Wow! That machine is my absolute nemesis, and makes me very tired within a few minutes. Have not done it in a long time, but if I ever want to go hiking with you and Nihahi, I will have to get on that Stairmaster. I am more of a flat surface running kind of gal - lol! Hope you'll get over the jetlag soon. The older I get, the longer it takes.

 Took a long walk with my senior dog this morning. After 45 minutes the old boy was so tired, and we were still far from home. Normally he would pull and help me up the hills, but no more of that. He can just barely keep up, and I'm not exactly going fast yet - lol. Too bad that they have to get old. Somebody is bringing over a cooked meal for us later today. Feel a bit guilty/embarrassed, because I've been cooking no problem for the last week and a half, even had a guest for dinner last night. Certainly not a patient anymore. Oh well, will graciously accept the gift, and be grateful - don't want to hurt people's feelings. But it feels weird.

Websister, Edi, Alive and all the others, how are you?

Oh Edi, soooo good to hear from you! We sorely missed you, genuinely. Sounds like you had a wonderful, interesting time on the cruise, and even enjoyed all the food - no Johnny Cash or burning pipes - way to go! For some stupid reason I thought you were cruising to Norway - where would I have gotten that idea from? My mind is playing tricks on me - lol.

Happy about your good news re checkup, as well as the volunteer thing - yayyyy!!!! What does it entail? Will you be working every day? You were put there to ease that woman's mind, and obviously made a huge impression on her. Good for you even though you were unaware of the positive impact you had. So glad to have you back, dear Edi!

Hi ladies - have been reading but not posting - still feeling quite tired most of the time. No stamina yet.



Well, I've embarked on the next chapter - radiation. As of today, 4 treatments down and 29 to go. Not the biggest fan of radiation so far. Even though I'm there for less than 30 minutes, except on the days when I see RO, it seems to be driving my whole schedule. Have to get up early so I can get to work early, so that I can leave in time for my 3:45 PM appt - then work some more when I get home if I didn't manage to get in early enough. At least I asked DH to make dinner tonight, and he complied.



Jennie and Benny, I saw a PT/LE specialist for about 6 weeks (starting maybe 6 weeks post-surgery) and I think it really helped. In addition to giving me exercises, she worked on my arm to reduce possible chording and spent a lot of time massaging the skin and tissue around my scar to limber it up (have to say, that part hurt like hell). Trying to do better with the exercises now that I'm in radiation - she said there was a good chance I'd tighten up during radiation and have to go back for more sessions. Most of the initial tingling I had post-surgery is gone, and when I was measured at the end of March, the ROM in my left (affected) arm was better than that in my right!



Carla and Traii (and anyone experiencing neuropathy), RO said today that acupuncture may help. I put sessions with DO who was giving me acupuncture treatments on hold while in radiation, but maybe I should go back.



Edi, so good to have you back. I'm sure you'll make a fantastic volunteer - they will be very lucky to have you on their roster!



Movie, glad you're getting over your jet lag. Would like to hear more details of your trip.



Nihahi, hope your DD's move goes smoothly.



Traii, surely to goodness you'll hear something about your surgery this week! I agree with others - might be time to rattle their chain.



Dakota, don't know how you keep up with all those sports activities - congrats to your son!



Ok, now I'm getting sleepy again. Love to everybody else!

Caitlin, you are doing well to be working during rads! That stamina thing just takes its own time. It's more a question of months rather than weeks, as I found out.

Websister, wonderful thing you guys did for your MIL, and so sad that she is getting weaker, but at her age it was probably the right decision not to have any treatment, and to just enjoy the rest of her life. DH's mom had surgery for colon cancer at 71, was never the same afterwards, and passed away a few months later. Congrats on Kenny's graduation too - guess you have mixed feelings about the youngest being done with high school, eh?

That first f/u mammogram is soooo scary! I had those same anxious moments when the tech had to go and ask the radiologist if he wanted more photos, but so happy for you it was all good - phew!!! The wait times for surgery in Calgary seem to be longer than here in BC, but that will give you the opportunity to get your strength and health back after Herceptin, and decide about reconstruction. Lots to ponder!

Friend brought the meal over - 3 different dishes, salad and dessert - it was delicious, and a real treat on a Monday night. Feel truly humbled by the goodness of these people.

Caitlin , never had accupuncture, perhaps I should look into that. I don't wake up as often anymore with the neuropathy thank goodness. But when it does come, it hurts ! I could be putting my make up on and need to stop because I can't feel my fingers putting my eyeliner on !! (now I wouldn't want to go out with crooked eye makeup now !!)

Edi, your cruise sounded so refreshing. I went on a cruise for my honeymoon. We plan to do the cruise for our 10 year honeymoon, but I want to do it for our 5 which would be this year so anywhere between 5 and 10 would be good maybe like NOW!! My parents put off going when i was diagnosed they were booked and had their deposit and all. I want them to go this year....but again, everything is on hold until I find out surgery date!

Websister, saw pics of your MIL. she looks GREAT for 87 ! good on her and god bless. Looked like the sun was shining too, wish it was here !! Hope everything is ok with you and that the combination of things is not too stressful or bad !

Liefie, Think nihahi is still busy baking her bread for us !

Movie, I had a tim tam for you today. Ok 2, but only 2 not 2 packets, I promise. You would love living here, they are at every supermarket and convenience store...lol

My Goodness....cannot keep up!!!

EDI'S BAAAACKKKK!!!!!!! Gosh, it felt like a long overdue reunion, reading your post!!! Like all the others have said, you help all of us, more than we could ever explain, so it is NO surprise to hear what one woman you helped "in person" had to say to you. You were born to be an awesome volunteer.....fate is putting you in a position to help so, so many more people. Good on you!!!!! Remember, though, when you add something to a busy life, you should consider dropping something less "necessary"......maybe you could lay down the ground rules at home, and do a little less, or get a little more help????? Just a suggestion! Thank you for coming back to us !

Websister....energizer bunny, you....congrats on the first "post mammo"....they will likely always have a little more drama than before, but the first one is defo the hardest. The family celebrations sound wonderful and so "you". Is your new grad heading off this fall to somewhere else, or will he still be at home? Yeah, the wait times for recon are almost "unbearably" long here, but, McKenzie/deHass are wonderfully skilled surgeons and "good guys", so that is a tradeoff that I can handle. Use the wait time to get as healthy as you can...it'll pay off. How's the back? Best to get that sorted out anyway, pre-recon. The woman I met with who had questions, has just seen McKenzie, and was told, next year is the earliest booking. They told me that initially too, not sure what part of "next year" she was told.

At this point, I can't wait for daughter to "head off".....I did my yoga class yesterday morning, came back at 11.....got her out of bed(!!!!!!) and asked her to get started on what she had promised to do for the past 8 weeks, which is to sort through her stuff so we wouldn't have as many boxes to haul around. (she never purged for the first move, and has readily admitted much of her stuff is unwanted junk, that she wants to throw out.....except contrary to her promise.....we were hauling all that unwanted crap into our place a couple days pre-surgery for me)...anyway..I digress). I went out to do a couple errands, came back about an hour later.....she's sitting in her pjs....doesn't feel like doing any sorting today!!!!! I decided the better path for me was to leave before I lost it....so was gone for most of the day. Walked so far, by the time I got home, I was so tired I made supper and went to bed. She's gonna do it to us again, I just know it.....we'll spend hours and hours and hours, moving her crap from one place to another, then it'll just sit there, unused and unwanted.....but at least it'll be sitting in her place this time. PHEW....vent over, thanks guys!

acupuncture for neuropahy....interesting.....boy, I'd sure give it a try. It has helped me at different times, for different reasons...western medicine certainly isn't the only path to health, IMHO!

Ladies who are just post treatment......it takes time!!!!!!! You didn't "instantly" get to the state of tiredness, weakness, stiffness, etc. ....you won't instantly recover either. You were also "put in those symptoms by tx's!) Now, however is when you can put yourself in the drivers seat, instead of being the "receiver of debilitating treatment". Do the exercises (ahem, Benny!!!!), do the healthy eating, do the healthy lifestyle, physically and emotionally....you'll get there!!!!!

Traii....go rattle those doors again!!!! Honestly.....I'd be arrested for harassment by now!!!!!

Dakota....your son is a star, just like MOM!

Liefie....hmmm....better lock away the bread, girl, especially if your PS won't let you exercise yet!!! 

Have wonderful days.....catch you later.