In shock

still chuckling at Benny's pigeon novel. Would make a good made for tv movie!!!!

Websister....GOOD ON YOU! Thanks on behalf of all of us, for speaking up about the healthy lifestyle myth!!!!!!! Really gets me going when people "assume" you ate, worked, lived your way to a breast cancer diagnosis...hmpffff!

Traii....TimTam's have been sourced in Canada!!!! What's new in your part of the world????? Any snow there???? 

Dakota....seems like we're getting outnumbered in the hockey "pool"....we'll just have to sign up Traii!!!!!

Benny....any chance you could take this "opportunity" to source out a job you would be happier in???? Not good to be already stressing like that.....nightmares about work......there's some messages there!

Quick pop in  sun shining here on Merseyside for a little while at least.

Benny read pigeon story and soooo enjoyed it, how cruel are these pigeon racers ? He was meant to find you.When I hear John Denver on radio I just smile and think of you.
You hve come such a long way since last year, be proud of yourself !! I am so proud of you and you will still be here as a sweet old dear I am sure.
Back to work yuk but who knows Lotto etc give them all a go, that farm sounds wonderful.
All this talk of tim tams sending my glucose levels off the scale, going to hunt them down for the GD's then cadge a bite for Nana lol. xx

Nihahi, hope there is a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow, you deserve it. xx

Liefie, Will send some fairy sleep dust to you, gardening myself today xx

Movie, Don't you EVER sell yourself short, you have been through enough already, fairy dust on way to you too xx

Dakota, and for you ,hope concert was super xx

If it any concelation I AM sleeping properly again after 9 months of maybe 3 hours. Never expected to be anywhere near normal ever again. Rads fatigue also bit better, last longer each day before zzzzz hit.
Don't despair, we are all getting there.

Now rainclouds gathering  need to get laundry off line. Cows have appeared in the field over the back fence, will have to get them umbrellas. They are late this year have missed them so much.Such fun watching them trot in and out of their field looking for pastures new.

LOVE in buckets to ALL sisters.xxxx

xxxx

Morning everybody,

Nihahi, thanks, I slept till 9.30. You are so good at addressing everybody, and I'm beginning to think of you as Mom on this thread - always caring and concerned about everybody's wellbeing, always ready with good advice, and being firm/stern with us when necessary, and all done with a wonderful sense of humour. Love ya! Re daughter, hope you find nice stuff, that she will take pride in her own little nest, and take good care of it. That happened when my son, a total slob, moved out of my house last year into his own apartment. His sister reports that his place is always relatively neat and clean now -  miracles do happen!

Edi, the fairy dust did its work. Thanks! Glad you sleep well these days. Rest and sleep are so essential for us. It is so nice that you have cows in your backyard, so to speak. They always seem so peaceful, going about their business, and just doing what cows do. Last year at DD's farm wedding there were cows in the paddock right next to the ceremony site outside. They behaved so well - not one moo (or poo) out of them during the ceremony, and they were so curious about the strange goings-on - too cute. Happy gardening!

Scottiee, always a pleasure to hear from you! You certainly deserve the summer break, and we look forward to hearing more from you when you are more relaxed during summer.

Everybody else, hope you are having a wonderful day.

Hello Bellies......glad I checked in! So nice to hear from you! Edi! I have certainly missed your "voice" here on the thread when you are absent! Very happy for you that you are sleeping better.....isn't that just the best?

Ladies.....I must insist that you stop all talk of TimTams...........unless you are asking for my mailing address here in the states. I am just about beside myself trying to find a grocery store here in Oregon that carries them........no luck.....dammit!!! This is cruel and unusual punishment......waaaaaaaah! . My entire Japanese experience has been reduced to groveling and scrounging for that damn cookie!

Nihahi, I will be happy for you when DD is moved out......I am dealing with my DD and her surgery in scheduled July 23rd.......<<<sigh>>> it NEVER ends........

Scottiee, nice to hear your "voice" and glad you are well.....

Dakota, hope your concert was AWESOME......

Liefie, in bed yet, or still looking for the glowing boob from the DIEP thread?

To all, have a lovely day today/tomorrow-depending on where you are......sending love to you all!!

Namaste and God bless-Jackie

Hey Traii...great to hear you have been busy with FUN STUFF! That's one of the goals of getting through this isn't it! If you get a chance, I bet your son is blown away by snow. Too amazing how different our worlds are. Yep, I have no doubt you'll be rattling those doors at your appt, and I bet you get some action. I'd be asking for that spot to be checked out too, to put your mind at ease. So easy for thoughts to go "there", use every tool you have to stay away from "there".

OK Movie, no more t**t** talk, but I can't promise there won't be photos!!!!!!! July in Utah is gonna be successful, I just know it...your daughter needs to have some long term relief from all this, as do you.

Dakota...hope the concert was fun. These Bruins are killing me with this overtime time stuff, but....YEAH!!!!!

Edi..hope hubby put a smile on for Father's Day. If not, point to a chair in the corner, and tell him to sit there, face the wall, and don't come out until he's sorted!!!!! Gosh, what the heck is going on with your daughter's reno's..I thought that was long done?

Anyway....moving day here for daughter....I'm already exhausted!!!! But looking forward to an empty nest, and hopefully her first success at independence...sorry, to all those ladies who long to keep their kids close....I love mine (challenged to do so at times) but they need to be living their own lives at this point! 

Another cup of coffee...then I'm off. Have wonderful days.

omg......hubby and I are absolutely exhausted...but daughter is moved into her new place, frig is stocked enough to get her through the first week...! A few things still here, and of course, there is still the storage locker....but we have until the end of the month for that. Took two trips from our place to hers, which is about 45 minutes, one way, plus a long shop at the grocery store.....BUT IT'S DONE, AND WE'RE ALL STILL ON SPEAKING TERMS. Have good nights....I'm one tired old lady. 

Have good nights, all.

Nihahi, I am sure tonight is the night that you are going to sleep like a baby. You certainly deserve it after the hard work.

Websister, that DIEP thread is pretty hilarious some days, but now and then some good advice is exchanged too - lol. Maybe you must just pm me your DH's contact info - will appreciate it. I have a feeling that DS may need it sooner rather than later. He likes to tinker with the car himself, but some things may come up that he won't be able to do. Thanks for offering!

Good night everybody - hope you all sleep well!

Hi everybody,

On my second cup of coffee - nothing like it to wake me up.

Nihahi, so good to hear the move went well, and that you have a good feeling about DD in her own place. Yep, on my way to Victoria again for final post op check-up before PS goes on mat leave. DH coming with. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so the drive will not be as fun as always. Such quaint little towns and places to visit along the way with nice bakeries, wineries, bistros etc., so we always make a day of it. Takes us 6 hours there and back if we don't stop. Fortunately we can subtract all these medical trips and visits from tax - lol. Will try the Flapper pie when there are people to help us eat it. Made a wicked thing called 'Cuban Lunch' - lol - yesterday from an Alberta recipe book where you melt chocolate and butterscotch chips, peanut butter, add peanuts and a packet of crushed potato chips, then drop teaspoonsful on a cookie sheet to set. Sooo crunchy and delicious! Will take it down the street this morning to friends whose student children are visiting for summer. Just wanna get that temptation out of my house ASAP. The name cracked me up, and I just had to try it.

How is everybody else doing? This thread seems to get quieter by the day . . . come on ladies, let's hear from you!

Hi Everyone,

Started therapy for my LE love my therapist I hope I can keep this under control.  Went to my Oncologist on Friday blood work was good except my white count just isn't bouncing back. (It's been 7 weeks since last chemo). I asked him if I really had to wait 3 months to see him again and he said no I could come back in 6 to 8 weeks..  So I made an appt for 8 weeks then I should be ready to go the whole 3 months the next time.  I know it's just a sense of security for me. 

My hair is coming back but not as fast as I would like it!  

Traii- Try not to worry!  I would be just like you and want to get it checked out for a piece of mind.  I'm sending you a huge hug!!!

Caitlin- A three mile walk is great!  I'm off to yoga today then I will jump on the treadmill for awhile.. 

Edi- So nice to see you post again!

Benny- I hope you get in soon for your LE.  My therapist did say we will always have it but we can keep it under control with the right exercise and manual Lymph drainage.  Mike went with me on Friday and she taught him how to do the drainage also..  I think the thing that bothers me the most about the LE is just another daily reminder of our BC.

Jennie- Hope you start to feel better soon. How is your body handling the Tamoxifen?  Mine doesn't like it too much, but I'm hoping it will get used to it.

Dakota- Are you taking Tamoxifen?

Websister- Sounds like you are busy as ever, even with your back giving you fits.

Scottie- So nice to see your post..  I do keep up with you on some of the other threads.

Liefie, Nihahi, Movie and everyone else I didn't mention have a great day!!

Love you all,

Carla

Funny how the MOs are all different. Mine did blood work 4 weeks after last chemo, I felt like that was a waste of time. I mean the chemo was 3 weeks apart and all my counts kept going down, down, down each time, so obviously 3 weeks is not enough time to recover any, so why would 4 weeks be any better? Maybe they just want to be sure you aren't too low, beats me. Then they had me come back 3 months later, so 4 mo PFC, and they didn't even do any bloodwork then at all! I was surprised and a little disappointed, was curious to know if I was recovering, or how much. You'd think they would want to know.



Been on tamoxifen about 3.5 weeks, can't say I've noticed any SEs other than I've gained 5 lbs in that time without anything else being different - who knows - it does scare me a little! My weight stayed the same all through chemo and rads, now this?? :-(



But really my big problem now is the pain/tightness/cording in armpit from the lymph node removal. It's not getting better, have been to PT twice now, the 2nd time they massaged the area quite painfully and the next morning it was swollen and sore. I had never had any swelling there ever before! So now I'm freaking out about lymphedema, is that how it starts? I tell you what, if I knew then what I know now, I would have told the surgeon not to touch any lymph nodes!!! That is the source of all the issues I've had ever since surgery! The MX itself, no biggie. Chemo and rads, no fun but when it's over, it's over. But the pain, limited use of arm, and fear of lymphedema is FOREVER.



Sorry for the whine, but I know you all understand, and I have no one else to vent to.



Hugs to all!

Jennie, you can whine and vent here all you like without feeling bad. We understand. Can you maybe go to your family doc, tell him how you feel, and ask him to request the bloodwork? Then you will at least know where you stand. You are your own best advocate, and you know what you need.

My onc said good bye to me in August last year with no indication when/if I ever have to see him again. So I also don't know what's up with that, but I'm in Canada, and maybe I'm supposed to see my family doc for further follow-up. Who knows? Seems the cancer agency is all done with me.

I don't think the pain, tightness and cording mean that you will automatically get lymphedema. I had pain and tightness there after MX, no cording or lymphedema. At the moment I have the same again after DIEP surgery, and cannot lift my arm on the surgery side higher than a 45 degree angle above my shoulder. I know that they try to break those cords during massage. Hopefully your cording will be gone when the swelling goes down. Best wishes to you!

Benny......go to the clinic, regardless of what your arm is doing today. It won't be a bad thing to get sorted out, and maybe some "structured - progressive" type of arm rehab would be a good way to keep you on track?? Sorry to hear about benny's bum....not fun for either of you. Hope you don't get hit by the storm....the sky towards Calgary is starting to look pretty ominous!!!!!!

Carla...sounds like you've got things moving in the right direction...good for you. I do understand the "daily reminder" mindset issues though. Haven't got a solution, other than do the positive things you can do to keep things minimized. Lympadema is truly a crappy aftereffect of bc, I feel for the ladies who really get slammed with it.

Jennie, those "treatments over, now what, I still don't feel better, downer times" are unfortunately for many of us, part of the recovery. Venting how you feel on these threads, even when it feels too hard to do so, will truly help you. Remember......we GET IT. You are not bringing anyone down, you're filling your pockets with people who can support and guide you. Make sure you tell physio how the last treatment went for you. They might need to back off a little. Do you know if your therapist has experience dealing with your specific physical issues??? Don't be afraid to ask. 

Yoga was "ok" this morning, but physio after that truly unveiled the dirty secret that I had done more than I should have with the move yesterday. Got the lecture, got the treatments, got the lecture, (he knows me too well), got the revised home program, got the lecture......sigh.....remember ladies, we're all gonna get there, it just takes time. Advice is easy.....actually doing.....not so much. 

Edi..Traii....how's things?

Well, even though the Bruins are up by one I will remain loyal and say 'Go Hawks'



Nihahi - good thing your PT is keeping you honest . So happy for you that it seems DD is moved and in a good place



Liefie - I'm looking forward to you receiving a good report from your PS and I hope that you have a good drive there and back, maybe the rain will stay away for you. The Cuban Lunch sounds decadent I will send a PM to you as soon as I have finished this post



Jennie - hugs, hang in there and vent away



Benny - hope Benny the cat is feeling better very soon and I hope you managed to save the animal feed from the rain, we got quite a downpour at our house this afternoon but my husband was surprised it had rained, he didn't get any at his work. Glad the arm is looking/feeling better but agree that it won't hurt to keep the appointment



Carlads - glad you got on top of the LE right away, hope it stays away for you. I hope you will begin feeling better soon re: tamoxifen



Edi - wondering if you have started your volunteer shifts?



Dakota - Boston just scored again as I am posting 2 - 0 now. Hope this is a great week for you and the kids



I went into work this a.m. from 0830 to about 1 p.m., had lunch and a quick rest, then Kenny came to Costco with me and helped with groceries. Got home, put them away, did some chores like laundry and made supper and I am wiped now - tired, headache and backache. Hard to be patient.

Tomorrow I'll drive Kenny to his exam, then go to work again for an hour or two. I better get on the treadmill soon or it's not going to happen this evening.

Take care all

Caitlin...if you are working 8 hour days, AND having rads, AND gardening, etc. etc. How the heck do you figure you've got no stamina????? Go easy on yourself girl....I think you're amazing!

AHEM......Boston 2, Chicago zip!!!!!!

nite nite