Thanks for the welcome, sas-schatzi!   I last posted on this thread on January 26 and didn't return to it until a few days ago (I've been taking a BC break - heh, as if THAT'S possible, what with a leaky left reconstructed breast and now, elevated liver enzymes.  Anyway, the irony is this:  my last post mentioned Doxycycline (I idly wondered if it caused insomnia).  The very next post (which I never saw until a few days ago) was from Chevyboy and she mentioned getting a rash from Doxycycline.  It turns out that by the end of March I had a horrific rash/skin itching (popping Benadryls like crazy on a daily basis) and now I'm wondering if it wasn't a reaction to either Doxycycline or Levaquin (thanks to lefty leaky I was on antibiotics from from mid-January through April 29).  I should have come back and read that next post from Chevyboy.  I think there's a moral to this story but it's too late for me to figure out what it is.  

And as far as insomnia goes - for the most part, I've lived with it since going through early menopause.  In retrospect, it seems like all my troubles started after I had my last period.  That sounds like the start of a country song.  Maybe because my husband has the Margaritaville channel on Apple TV and "Why don't we get drunk and screw" by Jimmy Buffett is playing.  Obviously, Jimmy hasn't had to deal with the Aromatase Inhibitor Blues.  

Beautiful photos.  It looks like a fairy tale kind of place. 

ps- best line in any song EVER   "blew out my flipflop, stepped on a pop top."  the man is a geneous! 

sas-schatzi, yes, yes, yes!  I'm in hearty agreement.  I keep thinking "one way or the other these breasts - fake or real - are determined to do me in."  I've been on Cipro, Doxycycline (more than you could shake a stick at - i.e. weeks and weeks) and Levaquin - plus Clindamycin (IV) and Clindamycin oral (just took the last foul-tasting one about an hour ago - taste is still on my tongue).  Levaquin has interactions with over 500 medications, including 81 mg aspirin.  With Levaquin, the joints start hurting so you take Aleve.  Aleve in combination with Levaquin can cause seizures.  The rocky road of reconstruction!  All of it (not just reconstruction) is a slippery slope of the highest order.  I call it The Other Shoe Waiting Room. 

Re: breaks - yes, eventually it's time to commiserate.  Does anyone who hasn't been through this ever really get it?  I know I didn't until it happened to me.  I probably thought I got it - but I didn't.   And another thing, this will sound weird (bear with me) but if 1 in 8 women get breast cancer why does it seem like I have to come here to meet/interact with any of them?  Maybe I should broaden my base and start interacting with guys who have prostate problems, I don't know (and I'm kidding).   Believe me, I don't want anyone else to ever get this dreadful disease but it's rare I meet anyone who has had it . . . but on the other hand, I met a saleswoman at Home Depot who said "oh yeah, I had that years ago" and another woman at a furniture store (salesperson) who said "I'm a 14 year survivor."  Okay.  Late night rant off.  I've met two women - nice strangers in retail establishments.

------

BTW, the yawning cat is hilarious.  I keep trying to zoom in to get a better look.

Agreed re: flip flop blow out. 

Within the last week I couldn't get this line out of my head: 

They got an apartment with deep
Pile carpet
And a couple of paintings from Sears

Morning gals!  Tang.... I didn't know what a T.a.Tstuff was either, but I figured I wouldn't understand the explanation anyway...Ha!  These women use abbreviations all the time, and my little brain can't put all those letters in order...

Okay, so now you'll all TELL us, and we will feel even worse!   Didn't Cammi even SEE that?

Nettie, I love your "Big Boy!"  Is he part Great Dane?  Or a mix?  Also, I remember you asking about that pain on your scalp....  AND WE DIDN'T ANSWER IT!  Sorry...! 

So I looked it up...

http://denise4health.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-hair-after-chemotherapy/

And I hope this will give you answers?  Just TELL me if I have steered SOMEone on the right path....  Ha, ha!

Hi JWow and Lee! 

Oh wait!  I just went back to 4444444444's Thin a Thigh to Build a Boob!  ...  T.a.T.tB.a.B.....    SHE just made that up!  Okay, now us denser people will know... I remember she SAID that, but I naturally just skimmed over it...  SHE was trying to trick us!   

It really IS an actual procedure....  ! 

44444444!  Yes... you ARE wonder woman!  I don't know how you do it...  You must be "driven!"....  Hope you are doing better this morning!

YOU have the best attitude... no matter what!

Geez Susan.... so sorry about all that is going on...You don't have anything to be happy about, right now...  And you don't always have to feel like you will worry us, even though you will, when things aren't going right...

And you don't have to listen to stuff that doesn't pertain to you, either.  Just look into your purse, get your little compact out with the mirror, and look into that, and sing..."La-la-la-LA-la" over and over again" and don't pay any attention the "them"...

When you don't feel good, just don't even go...   You can handle things on your own...   We're here.... that's all you need....  sort of...  !

Cammi is sooooo like me....  I felt the same when I saw your pictures littlepaws!  How IS Annie Mae?  Just always tell us she is doing fine... no matter what...   Yes... our fur-babies ARE better than some people.  Even relations!  We would rather be with THEM than ANYone sometimes.

Cammi, yes... I DID read that ... um, retorical, uh, retorinkle... wait... rehotorickle post about someone that "jumped!"   And I thought....  I can't DO that!  Who ARE these women who can "jump!"  I can fall... not jump... I can crawl, though..that should count for something!

It was SMARTY who said "I sneezed, jumped, or cough to hard. " 

See?  You guys thought I was making that up!

Okay Tang.... It is just a "given".... Even scraping the fork on your teeth, or letting food just come out of your mouth!  We should hand them a mirror, and prop it up on the table, and then say "SEE???  Now isn't THAT attractive??

Put up a big board up in the center of the table... Or a planter!   Yes, Susan has the plan.... 2 bedrooms.... just because we need that sometimes! 

Ah geez FBB!  Next time just pack a lunch and a thermos of Vodka.  That is the damndest thing I ever heard of!  And your DH said it best!  WTF???  All that worry, and then you scared the beegeezus out of whatever it was IN you, and it ran away!   You baffled them!  And whatever it was that was wrong, just healed up, and moved on!

There.... that's my honest medical opinion!

Yes.... okay, I'm back to Lee, and her saying she would have begged off to Susan... Me too!  Some people are just not "easy" to be around.  Especially some FAMILY....  It's easier to call off being around friends, than family.... but just do it!

Oh.... Blessings just named whatever it is you HAVE Tang!  What AM I?  I am just so behind all the posts!  I try and solve things, but I am always a dollar late, and 10 cents to short... or whatever....! 

Oh don't you hate when people crack their gum?  It drives me nuts!  You are soooooo funny Blessings...  you little "sensitive child!"  Ha, ha!

A "nose-whistle???"  Oh Damn!  That takes the cake!  Ewwww!

Ah Sass, that was sweet...  You said to Susan..."Close your eyes and feel are arms around you L&H&P's sassy".....  Oh wait, I have to correct "are" to OUR!  Sheesh.... nothing gets past me...  

222222222nd!  You are WHAT?  What is this..." Hell, no, I'm left to figure it out on my own, most time don't even know that I don't know something)"!!!!  Man, you sound more like me and Cammi every DAY!

Sass!  You are going to the Moffat Tunnel?  What is so urgent there, that you have to go?  And an "Alpha Doc"  Is that close to an "alpha male"??

You mean like an Alpha Doc that does it ALL?    You thought you could trick me.... but I got it covered babe!

I must be reading this wrong.... she said..."House plants in all the wrong places!'  And that causes some sort of problems! 

Cammi!!!!!!!!!!!  Did you see that?  It's been her plants all this time?  I am in a world of hurt!   And she was black and blue from WHAT?  Man, am I lost! 

I was black and blue... but it was that fall off that pole episode!  It even scared ME!

Oh wait!  LEE!!!  I mean did I help something?  Yes... Doxycycline  or even other meds will make me break out!  I don't know about a "moral story" but who knows?  Just be careful of what you take...  Even certain chemicals will make me break out, or wind up in the Emergency room!  Like paint-stripper!  Man, being around that stuff is deadly for me!  Not to mention Sulfa, or Penicillin..  .. 

And  ""Why don't we get drunk and screw" by Jimmy Buffett !!"  Did you guys see THAT?  Ha, ha!  I LOVED that song! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH-cPckntEY

Love your cats JWow! 

LilshitZiggy, so in other words, you like the scarf?  Ha, ha!  Yes, Pink is a magical color.  What are you ON?  Just thought I would ask...

And Sass...  I was just going to ask, what is "My angel whispered to me today Made riding the horse easier "..... Or should I even ask?

I thought EYE was the only one that said things like that! 

WHAT horse? 

Lee?  You are going to interact with "guys?"  Hah!   We don't know nothin' about prostate problems.... do we?   Go for it girl!

Oh?  So I see I have reached the end of your posts?  And Sass has had too much wine?  SHE said it... not me!    Whatever it takes! 

xoxoxoxoxo

Again OMG I can't keep up and I came on 2x this morning and my phone was going--WTF the "little" job has taken up my day more and more, Now I reread again I still forget all kinds of things. So here goes

Blessing u are so funny--I would never think of u like that, But it's fine with me. And eating with u'r mouth open is disgusting to me, I don't know why, it's just food but the thought grosses me out. Blah

Chevy u'r getting to be a genius, supassiing me--oh right is that a compliment or what-???? Figuring it out never did.'Good Luck 4--and u'd better slow down for a change.

ooooo I'll be back. chit

Teka, must have coffee before any singing!

Here's for tang and me: 

For everybody else that needs some cheering:

Hope everybody is doing better, fine, getting whatever is good for them.

Aly, love your new avatar. Nice hat.

So get to see the doc tonight with my weekly meetings on Opifast. Now having some intestinal issues. I know I have diverticulitis but it's never bothered me. Now I have pain in my lower intestines since Saturday. Was bad on Sunday and Monday but better now.  I googled Opitfast and diverticulitis and the drink is suppose to help with the problem! Schhh I have to be the opposite and get the big D instead. if nothing else I should have lost some more weight just from all the chitt$ng I've done!  Anyway, not feeling bad this morning so maybe it's going away on its own. I quit eating the celery to see if that helps.

I like Chevys summaries, keeps me up to date on what I can't remember! No excuse here, think I'm getting old. No, definitely getting old. Next year will be Medicare!  Funny how we think anyone over a certain age is old until we get there. 

4sew, hope you're home soon, got the impression this was in and out sx. Be smart and let someone else do all the cooking/serving. 

Tang, how did your sx go? Hope it helps. Love your pic. 

Ok, need to go get beautified, and then do some sewing. I have to teach a quilt class this Saturday, so need to get stuff prepared.

Oh, happy hump day!

Teka, don't come to California (and apparently parts of tx.)

I'm sitting here this morning in my home office literally pouring sweatdown my bald head. Can you believe my MO said she didnt know why I was having hot flashes....really??

Smarty-I didnt have surgery..is that what you asked me about?

I'm going to see my new PS Friday to see what he thinks about this seroma. I've got the drain going, but man o man I'm still having serious pain at times. He mentioned last time I saw him that surgery might be the solution.

I'm also about to go on short term leave at work, looks like the week of 6/2 I will start. I'm so ready, my last chemo will be that week and I am ready to just rest!

Susan-how was your get together last night that you had mentioned? Hope you are okay.

((hugs)) ya'll!

FiercestJayBird, stupendous story....great to hear that Dr. Are willing to pull back & rethink some decisions. 

Chevster, love the recap...we need someone that can follow this posse. I got to see Jimmy Buffet in Vegas years ago. Good time.

4sewwhat, hope it went well...How is the pain?

Nettie, cool dog, big dogs always look so regal.

My stinkin eyelashes fell out, AGAIN...I realize that it's not a big deal, but they came back in so thick, I should of known it was a cruel trick.  Last night of cancer survivor class. 

Hope we all have something to smile about today.....

yes, through the cancer center at my hospital. It's grant $ from the Susan Komen foundation. Seven weeks, there is a nutritionist, social worker & 2 oncology nurses, every week. They each teach a segment each week. ( Power point ) There is only 4 of us, that had bc. 2 of the ladies did not need chemo. We have received a pedometer, cookbook, lots of little gifts that are geared to eating healthy and exercising. Also, info on lymphdema. All good, but a lot of the info is stuff that should be taught before chemo. I felt like I needed to make the effort. I am getting a massage tomorrow at the cancer center. It is self pay, but cheaper than going elsewhere, and supposedly trained for cancer patients. I could of started last July getting massages through them but never felt up to it. I am ready now, if I like the gal, will try to go every other week. 

Also, have appt. with surgeon tomorrow, he will check me out & make a plan to yank the port. Maybe Friday, not sure..life goes on. 

In my case I married it... because, at least for now, my kids are on their own!

Nettie,