September 2013 Chemo Group

Thank you everyone for your good wishes on my surgery tomorrow.

Betterday, that great that you have some more good news.  Good luck with your sugery on Friday!

Knightzoo, I'm sorry you have been dealing with so much pain.  I hope the exercise helps.

I am loving everyone's creative IMRT responses!

Oh my you all have been busy on here. I posted a lengthy post awhile back and then saw it didn't post. I was not happy at all. GRRRR! I have no idea now what I even said besides thanking you all for your input on the guy situation. It really helped me a whole lot. That is moving on really quite nicely. It has been great to have such a wonderful distraction. If not for him I think I would be riding the Xanax train right now lol. I'm really not sure what I did to deserve someone as great as him but I am not complaining. Now that my sister is here I have a babysitter too He is planning some elaborate romantic evening for Saturday. It will be nice to do something before surgery Monday because it is going to be awhile before I can again. I have asked him several times if he is aware that I have cancer and just flat out "are you f'n crazy?!" lol. I think you may have been right about the secret crush thing. It's funny how things work out sometimes. 

I have been crazy busy with trying to prepare for surgery. I just finished up my homework that is due tomorrow...so much for being two weeks ahead lol. There are more important things in life than a 4.0, though, I guess. We were supposed to get together with my other two sisters Saturday but the one (that has caused me so much grief through this) doesn't express much interest in getting together so I decided that they can come to MY house. I am not going to waste 4 hours of my day packing,getting loaded and driving. They can come to me Besides, I've got a date that night Then I can have that 4 hours to do homework, maybe. 

LHL: thanks for posting the exercises for Knightzoo. I copied them just in case I didn't get any given to me as well. 

And thanks everyone for the talk about lymphedema therapists. I didn't even know there was such a thing. I am wondering if I will need to see someone after surgery. I still don't have full range of motion back from my node removal and have quite a bit of pain at times. OH, and my hematoma! It was sooooo big! She took about 40cc of blood out altogether and there is at least another 20cc in there. Unreal! After getting drained yesterday it finally is feeling much better. I am hoping that I don't have a bleeding issue with my BMX. I have a cold....again...SERIOUSLY! I have until Friday to be mostly over it or they will re-schedule my surgery (NOT an option!) I managed to get on antibiotics though, so hopefully it will kick it to the curb. 

So that is the Reader's Digest of my life right now. I hope everyone is doing just great and I just want to say that I am thankful to have you all in my life. I talk about you all often and  I don't know what I would do without you. (((HUGS!)))

Simplelife, Thinking about you today and hoping all goes well!

Mama, So glad things are progressing so well with your man!  I am glad that you have a sister here to lend a hand as well.

Peacock, Amen on the insurance thing...wowzers when I look at these bills!

Knightzoo, Hope you are feeling better each day.  If you don't want PS to fill; just say so.  They will typically do it at your pace.  Or have them fill only a tiny bit.  I am the opposite with pain meds.  I hate how they make me feel, so I stop taking them the second I can sort of tolerate the pain without them.

LHL, Hope all goes well with your drive to the PS and your fill today.

I went to the store and to an appointment with just a ball cap on yesterday.  Before that, it was always either a stocking cap (winter hat) or my wig when I was in public.  Baby steps!

Good luck today surgery girls!  You will find it's way easier than the chemo and effects!  I think the exercises and lymphedema person is critical!  My BS and PS didn't really tell me anything about lymphedema except I wouldn't have it since they only removed my sentinel node...so some might not think they are important...

  I am seeing a Lymphedema specialist as I have 'congestion' in my back of axillary area and that foob goes numb back and forth...she said it's all fluid build up and needs re routed until it can figure out how to drain on it's own...so I'm going 3x/week and it is helping tremendously!  Plus just having her watch my exercises makes me do them..

Tired of my hair being gone too...it is growing but just too slow...when you're done with chemo and treatment I guess I'm ready to be me again and that means hair!  

Going to MO today for 4 week apt and guessing to get Tamoxifen...and blood work ugh...

Good luck with surgery today, SimpleLife and tomorrow, Better Day and the following day, MamaBear. I hope you all have an easy and painless recovery!

Kelly

you guys are so good with the IMRT Acronyms!!

3 down and 27 to go. 

Interesting Memories Rush Through as I lay there on the table listening to the buzz of the machine.  

Good luck and prayers for those with surgery this week. 

Knightzoo,

You are only 10 days post surgery, woman!!  Give yourself a break. ;-)

KJ  - - Only 10 hours left in this "bad day". Hold on, sister!!! You've finished 3 radiation treatments that you'll never have to go through again!

I LOVE " Interesting Memories Rush Through"!   I don't like tequila but I also love the concept of "I Might Require Tequila"!

I slid past an exit ramp on my way to work but got to work safely.  I was ahead of a 20-car pile up in a tunnel!   So that's something to be glad about, if one wants to play the GLAD game!   

But cancer does suck, and it sucks that we got it!  Some days we just need to acknowledge it and wallow in the suckiness!

Kbee - - OMG!!!! Your acronyms totally improved my day!!!!!  Thanks for the opportunity to laugh out loud!!

And Fuzzy Pumper Barbershop???  Great memory!!!! My sister and I loved to play with that. Wish I could turn the crank a bit.  My wig got way to itchy with my stubby hair, so I go around with the concentration camp look now... and put on a hat when my head gets cold!   

Feeling much better today, think I was having a pity party yesterday. Went to PS today and everything is healing nicely, she added 75cc to cancer side only to minimize the discomfort, we can do the other side during rads, so I'll just be lopsided! 

Hugs and prayers for everyone getting surgery today and tomorrow! And love to you ALL. I don't know what  I'd do without you!

it is hard to have a bad day when you all make me laugh!!  Thank you. :-)

better day: you made me chuckle," hello ladies & Art".

Simple life; good luck tomorrow.

Nat's pcp sent preclearance yesterday for surgery but BS office closed early due to snow today.

I'll nag them tomorrow for surgery date.

simplelife - Hope you are doing well after your surgery! Thinking of you...

mama - I was told that anyone who has lymph nodes removed should see a lymphedema specialist, but all doctors are different. Glad things are going well with your guy.

Betterday - Good luck tomorrow! {{Hugs}} a successful surgery and a comfortable recovery.

Runningfromcancer - I don't think there IS a "regular life" after cancer. We have to just find a new normal. Rant away!! That's what we're here for. "wallow in the suckiness" is GREAT.... I'm going to use that line. LOL

KJ - Four rads down now... woohoo! Hope you're feeling better.

Kbeee - I want play doh hair too!! I'm with you.... I want it to grow NOW. I know it's growing, but it's growing at a microscopic rate. I don't want to have "barely there" hair for months. I don't want to have a crew cut for months. I don't want to have short hair for years. <sigh>

Audra - {{{Hugs}}} Fear and sadness seem to go hand in hand with us on this journey. It stinks. I thank God for this group because it helps SO much to have you all to laugh with, cry with, complain to, etc.

Alfranco - 10 more... the countdown is on!! How is your skin holding up?

Saw my PS again today & got another fill.  Up to 200... really don't see how I could go to 500 (what my TEs will hold).  That will be too big for me I think.  Had a session with my lymphadema therapist, too.  She spent the entire hour working on and massaging the cording under my arm.  It hurt so bad but felt so good.  I'll go back to both of them same time next week.  I'm really sore tonight.... I feel some pressure from my fill and definitely feeling the pain from her massage, so I see pain meds in my future tonight.

Anybody have Valentine's Day plans?  Well, Betterday has surgery.... I think she deserves flowers more than anyone.  

I am 11 weeks PFC and have given up on all head gear. I have had many comments on my cool haircut. Going back to full time work has been very tiring. Does anyone else have problems with their memory post chemo? I am having embarrassing moments like not remembering people's names and also saying one thing and then doing the opposite. The Biotin seems to be helping with the hair growth and I am going to add Gingko Biloba to see if it improves my memory. 

To all suffering, tomorrow will bring sunshine!

surgery date is 3/13. That's like 8 weeks post chemo, is that too long? Plastic surgeon is away first week march:

hockeymommy - I loved seeing your pics on Facebook.  Looks like you did so many fun things, and enjoyed the warm weather!!!  Did you go with friends, or did you know someone down there?  LOL @ the scarf.  Love it!!

Art - My BS said she prefers to do surgery within 6 weeks of the end of chemo.  However, when you're having to coordinate schedules with more than one doctor, you can't always work it out.  Did your surgeon's office schedule it?  If so, I would say they're ok with it.  You can always call and talk with them to voice your concerns.