Chemo May 2013

Teresa really enjoyed the movie.  Loved the way everyone came together for the little girl.  I did a lot of Hallmark in December...In re to your date, hope he can break his childhood communication habit for you.  

Gosh Annie, bummer about your eyebrows falling out again  Glad your head hair is good.

Argynis.  You too.  Goodness Your eyebrows and eyelashes.  Ugh

Pat good luck on Monday....Funny Las Vegas story re your friend and your girls. 

Lori keeping my fingers crossed for Belize.  That would be fantastic. 

Made an appointment with my onc on Monday.  I had stopped taking anastrozole December 23rd and thought she should know. It really messed with my brain too much.   Will be interested to see what she will suggest that I take.  A big part of me tells me I don't need to take any inhibitor.   A struggle of sorts.  From what I understand estrogen is made through different parts of our body.  It all goes through the liver. The liver siphons it (not the right word) The estrogen is then eliminated through urination or poo. Whatever the liver can't handle becomes toxic and re circulates through the body.  Also, the more fat we have, the more estrogen. Estrogen loves fat.   Soooo, I've eliminated almost all my fat intake. Almost zero sugar that is not in fruit and vegetables.  Most of what I eat now is veggies and fruit.  Limited my RED wine intake to 5-8 ounces 2 to 4 x a week. I take probiotics every morning and exercise more ( still working on that).  Also still working on stress level.  Although am doing a lot better there too. I mean, I've really changed my lifestyle. Who's to say I haven't taken care of my estrogen problem naturally. Where's an estrogen test of sorts?  

Stepping down from the soapbox

A good weekend to all.

Carla

Pat... probably morefun with hmm you since wen I wouldnt have ro fake how I feeel... haha

pet scan was a breeze.  First they injected the radioactive isotope, then they had me in a nice recliner (orders to not walk/move around) and out some nice warm blankets and out the lights out for my one hour nap.  Then I to the pet scan machine, easy, room was cold, warm blankets again but my arms were over my head, so not covered, thankfully wore a thin sweater over my sleeveless top (I like my sleeveless tops!). And took another nap during the 20 minute scan.  

So next stop is the report.  No idea when I can expect to hear from the doctor, I imagine by Friday.

Pat

the new onc called me this am.

Sp the PET is all good it is for sure not cancer on the liver (which I knew already) and it is for sure not cancer on the thyroid...which was biopsied last June and I was told that by the ENT though it has grown, so that was a relief.

In regards to the lung nodule....she says it is so small and showed no uptake of the glucose stuff (which would indicate cancer)...will have to watch it with the CT to see if it gets bigger.  I should have asked her outright if it IS cancer as she had said it was too small to show on PET, but that doesn't mean it's nothing if we are going to followit!  On well, will take it for what it is worth at this time.  Hubby took me out to lunch today after I got home from the gym, then he plopped his a$$ I. A chair and I did housework.  I guess all is back to normal in the land of OZ!

Pat

Paranoid Pat I kind of like that.  Glad you have good results and yes it is back to our normal lives.

Yay Pat.  A weight has been lifted from your shoulders....mostly   ..

Kate you mentioned surgery.   What will the surgery be?  ....I've tried putting on fake eyelashes and failed at it completely.   Not as easy as it looks.  Are you enjoying your new job as much as you did in the beginning? 

Gotta say, we sure had it tough here in California today.  75 - 80 degrees where we live.  

Carla

twice this week I have been awoken with severe cramp in the calf , different leg each time.

Ugh!

Received my refill of Tamoxifen, I have to use mail order, Express Scripts.  Last prescription was for 90 days, TEVA brand, and cost $20.  This one is for 60 days, Watson brand and cost $50!  WTH,  I guess I will be spending this am on the phone trying to figure out what this crap is all about.

Pat

Gotcha Kate.  Hopefully this revision will do it for you and you won't have to go back for Revision #2.

Pat is the cramps due to tamoxifen?   Your prescription process sure is confusing. 

I have felt pretty darn good the last 2 to 3 days.  I think the anastrozole is out of my system. My onc wants me to start tamoxifen in a week or two.  Ugh.  Started physical therapy today because I have lymphedema due to radiation. Another ugh. Last but not least,  will do my FLAP reconstruction in February.   It's been approved by the insurance.  But before I do this surgery, I want my hubby's aortic anorism procedure completed and that will probably be in the beginning of February.   

Have a great weekend lovely ladies.

Carla

Thank you for the best wishes on the surgeries. I will be doing the TRAM.  The DIEP is certainly the best in my opinion but the TRAM it is...unless I chicken out  Also thank you for the idea of squats.  Will now start implementing them.  No hand held shower.  Will have to think on that one.

Started checking lymphedema info out.  It isn't curable The complications that could arise from it is worse than I thought. I just have to stay informed and be diligent on all aspects of management.  Fortunately, at least at this time, I believe it is somewhat mild and I caught it early.

Just trying to put this cancer crap behind me but it's impossible at this time.  It's more like how to live with being in remission and all the side effects of treatments and still enjoy life and being there for others. 

Blessings to all of us. 

Carla. )

Belize, what a nice thought.  I would love to go back there.  I was only there for a day, about 6-8 hours.  Belize was a stop on a cruise I was on.  If I wasn't still getting bills for surgeries I would say LET'S GO!!!!  Here is my explanation for that.....according to Blue Cross Value Care.  Since I will be 50 next month and colon cancer runs in my family I wanted to get a colonoscopy in 2013 so it would already be paid for while my deductible and out of pocket had been met. I called insurance just to check on it because I know they don't cover those until you are 50.  The person I spoke with told me since everything was already met I could basically do whatever I wanted no problem.  So I got my statement from Blue Cross for the colonoscopy and they are saying I owe $187 for the lab.  An out of network lab was used and this is why they are expecting me to pay that.  Like I choose what lab they used!!!  Then on my surgery in December they expect me to pay $3,800 for liposuction of my trunk, that's how it was coded.  So I messaged them back and told them that they used the fat (some) to put in my breast to make it closer in size to my real one.  I hate my breasts right now.  I hate that my real one was made smaller and my surgeon told me that they can only put so much fat in at a time and half of what they put in gets dissolved.  So in order to get my implant side the same size as my real one we would need to do the fat transfer most likely two more times and that is to get it to the size he reduced my real one to.  So irritating, why wasn't I told this before?  Maybe I would have went with one of the other proceedures.  I always thought my breasts/cleavage was my best assett......I like that I got a boob lift but I want more.  Anyway so basically I owe $4,000 more in medical bills from last year.  I am so MAD!!!!

Hey... havent checked in for a while, huh....

Pat YAY on your results!!!

Been busy..... too busy! Im doing way more now than before cancer, like I have limited time... haha...

Anyway, just want to throw out an idea..... maybe (if we save our pennies) we can plan a trip to meet & hang out somewhere warm & tropical. No spousesm, no kids... just us warriors....

Think about it? If we know how many are in & what our budget is... we can do this.... even if its for just a few days.....I think it would be a great time... laying on a beach... drinking.... eating....

My hair is still getting thicker, but not longer! Still sporting "the hat" ugh!

Hooe all are feeling well!

Lorrie, love the idea.....I'm doing that for my next surgery...a bunch of the girls going which reduces the cost of the room significantly!  Count me in!  I can also see if I can swing hubby's timeshare for a two or three bedroom if we can narrow down a location/time.

MomofSam, great to be hatless...my kids keep asking when my hair will be longer (I just had it cut! Lol they weren't happy).  I was looking over pictures of "beginning with hair" through now and I can see a significant amount of filling in.  I didn't thinki looked "that bad" back then...however I was VERY self conscious, and honestly it was a part of this sucky journey, I survived it thus far and I am putting that part behind me.  I have taken everyone's compliments (of those who don't know my status)  on the short hair without my explaining the "why" except to one person....in my head I always think...if you only knew!   Wishing you the best with WW. I have started going back to meetings too....only problem is I haven't been true to myself.  I shoveled twice yesterday so Twix candy and 2 pieces of banana bread were ok! Right?  I have also made a point to go to the gym...and actually try some classes.  So if anyone ever sees some really tall, overweight, short haired lady looking like a Zumba fool say hi to me!  

Got rid of hubby for 10 days to visit his mom in Florida.  So of course kids home from snow yesterday and a 3 hour delay today.  I can't get anything productive done.  Did shovel the driveway for over an hour this am, so at least I had my peace with nature....but now feel like I have an earache. Ugh!

Pat

oh god lorrie, count me in! Maine is so freaking cold right now!!! would love to meet everyone, you guys are the only people that dont think I am bat ass crazy! can you tell I have had a good day?

men, gotta love them because we would be in jail if we killed them.  I would try to defend that statement but all I got is "what was he thinking?"  Then, I remembered, he's a man, they don't think!

Hugs Lorrie.

Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus sure holds true.  Lorrie your husband probably ment well but.......

Kate, if it means anything,  I like your picture. 

O.k. Pat.  You may be tall with short hair HOWEVER you certainly are not over weight.   You  simply look marvelous.

MomofSam sounds like a few good things are a happening.  Excellent. 

Teresa good grief.  I would be mad too.  I mean really mad.  Glad you are going to Vegas with your daughter and son-in-law.  Hoping you can get rid of some that anger before then.  Wishing you good thoughts my dear. 

Gully I've heard how cold it is in Maine and New York. Brrrr.  I've never been in cold weather like that.  My daughter says it hurts to breathe. 

I would love to meet and hang  with you ladies.  Great idea.  Not sure if i can do it Greggs procedure and my surgery is coming up. 2 months recovery for me.  Then  New York with a friend in May. Still working on having enough money for that.  But who knows. Maybe the universe will line up and God will show a way. It really would be so so nice!!

 Carla