anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

Hi to my beloved (and totally non-judgemental) sisters!

Sorry I haven't posted-I really wanted to. BTW-I LOVE the reminder thingy. It is SO much faster. I had no idea what that was for. Thanks, ML for the tip! Heck, if I had known that before, it would have saved me a lot of heartache from dealing with so much drama on posting about my speeding ticket in other forums!

That whole thing reminded me of a time when I first began to sell on Ebay. I posted a question about shipping on their forum, and some monster responded to me in such a way that I was hurt and seething for a week!

Anyway, we bought new furniture last week, and I have been trying to declutter the house before it gets delivered to us. I should be doing that right now.

Daniel is doing well! He stumbles around a bit, so we know he still hurts (did I mention he had surgery on both feet?). It's just good to know we got the procedures done and out of the way!
I'd better go!
Love and prayers, Debbie
PPS-still wanting to meet you guys! Odalys, I'm really bummed we won't be able to cross paths!

She's safe at home!

I am one happy mom. She had a terrrrrrrrible trip, just terrible, but she's home with her hubs and kitty and is whole. Her luggage is lost and she's unhappy about that, but she's home!

And just in time. Her husband found out yesterday morning that he will be having surgery on Friday and will be in the hospital for at least five days. Now she can be with him for that and not have to make an emergency trip. He explained to me that the ostomy risk is still there, but if indeed he has to wear a "bag," it would be temporary, for three months or so. I find that very reassuring. He doesn't, but I can understand his fear.

So I overnighted Belleruth Naparstek's preparing for surgery CD and some books to him. I guess my own surgical experience served me in that I can give him some support I wouldn't have known to give before I went through such a tough surgery myself. There are indeed good sides to everything....

When I saw the pictures of the Russian jet that crashed with 170 people aboard I cried and cried. I can't even imagine what all those family members are going through right now. My day will be full of prayers for them and of prayers of thanks for all I have.

All of you are part of those prayers. I am so thankful for your support and loving words. I am so lucky!

Mary Lou, please tell us about your impressions of your visit with the PS once you see her/him. I actually saw four PSs, can you believe how picky I must be? The first one was the PS from h***; he obviously thought he was a big fat gift to mankind. He kept us waiting for a full hour even though we were his first appointment of the day. I hated his attitude and told him so. He sent me to his associate, who was absolutely wonderful and I would have gone with her, except that she told me she had only done 7 reconstructions of the type I wanted. The third was more into cosmetic surgery, but the fourth was the right one, and I have only admiration for him. In addition to being a perfectionist and an "artist," he is kind and understanding. What a guy.

Debbie, it was so good to hear from you. I hope Daniel is feeling less discomfort. Isn't it awful to see little people experiencing pain? Decluttering, huh? We moved house two years ago and in May 2005 my brother and I moved our parents from their two-storey house into a condo in a retirement community and so I have known the decluttering experience. Let me tell you, it's no fun. I wish you courage and ruthlessness.

So, to all my dear friends, I hope you have a wonderful day full of only good things.

Hugs,

Anna

Yeah Anna- checked in this am just to see if she was safe and sound!

My surgery is in 20 days. We stayed one night at my sis' at the end of our trip last week. Good thing we did, because I will be staying at her house for a week after my surgery. We figured out she has absolutley NO FOOD in her house. So I guess we will be grocery shopping after my discharge. I guess she eats out a lot. But she has 2 great dogs and one cuddly cat that will keep me company

I also need to get everything together for the hospital and recovery phases. I will check the what to pack for the hospital thread.

I tried a yoga DVD at sis'- wow what a work out. So I just got my own mat, book and DVD. I read you really need to have a calm mind for optimal benefit. Well, that is not possible until the kids are all in school- but I can practice the poses I guess.

Glad to hear your pain is diminshing Odalys. I have faith that someday soon we may make it one whole day without thinking of bc. I almost did on our vacation!

Take care sweet friends,

Margerie

I may have to check into WW- almost 15 pounds TREMENDOUS work Mary Lou!

Odalys, is the improvement just due to your exercising or have you also stopped the AI? My oncologist isn't starting me on an AI till I finish with Herceptin. Most of the women who post on the Her2girl thread get AIs along with Herceptin. I'm not sure what to think....

Margerie, let me know if you need a PM about what to take to the hospital (very little, in fact) or what is helpful to have at home (or at your sister's) for when you come back. I look back on those first weeks with I'm not sure what emotion, is it wistfully? I was trying to express it to my husband tonight. I can't really find the right words. Not nostalgia, not wanting to have it all over again. Is it like childbirth? Not really. Maybe there's something about it that was so intense and it was an experience that I went through with my husband and where we were surprised by our own strength and power. I do not want to have it back, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but I also never want to forget it. I would rather not have done all I have had to do this past year, but I am okay with tucking it under my belt and saying this is part of my life.

The good thing about that surgical experience is that afterwards you can see your progress from one day to the next. You come home thinking you will never walk like a young woman again, you will never want to move your arms again. But then you see yourself get stronger each day and it starts to feel real good.

Tomorrow I am going to visit a friend in Maryland who has three year-old twin girls. That should be fun. We will have lunch together and a tea party, I hope. I haven't seen them since exactly one year ago!

That's why it's time to go to bed.

It's so nice to have the whole family on this side of the ocean again!

Good night, dear angels.

Anna

Anna,
It's probably the supplements that are kicking in as well as almost 3 weeks of Celebrex. Also, squeezing those stress balls have helped the stiffness in my hands. I can fully close them now, haven't been able to do that for almost two months. I'm so happy and almost back to my salsa-ness. This morning I played one of my favorite salsa CD's and was dancing away as I got dressed. I don't plan to stop the Femara unless SE's become too debilitating because the other AI's have similar, if not worse, SE's. Besides, Onc feels taking Femara is the most aggressive defense for me.

Wow, I think taking an AI with Herceptin has to be tough both physically and mentally. Glad your doc is going to wait. Do you know what AI you will be taking? Several ladies have told me, we need to push through the pain for a while until our bodies get used the new hormone levels. Maybe this is true for everyone.

Hope you have a good night and sleep like a baby now that your daughter is back home and safe. Love and hugs,
Odalys

Hello my beloved sisters,
I just truly love and adore you all. I was feeling melancholy about the fact that even though we have jumped the hurdle of chemo, we are all still having our own struggles. Be it the speeding tickets, the physical pain, additional surgeries, the fear of awaiting a beloved daughter's return home.

However, it seems that on top of it all, we still triumph! Yay to ML for getting skinnier by the second. I am SO ready to start our online WW club. I got weighed at the radiation office today and gained almost 2 pounds. I really like fitting into my pre-pregnancy size, and I NEVER want to go back. Please, my dear sisters, help me get skinnier! I have such issues....I eat mindlessly out of sheer boredom, or I snack when I am doing my decluttering (which is showing more and more progress, yet still just will never end!). I have to stop buying the junk. I can't pass up a good sale on anything, so when I see the peanut butter M&M's at a great price I get them and inhale them!

Anyway, I continue to hold you all in gentle and loving prayer. I so glad your daughter is safe, Anna. I am also so glad that you are on the upswing, Odalys! Margerie-keep us posted on your surgery stuff! Kim-I am praying for your surgery!
Love and prayers, Deb

(((HUGS))) Take it to the Lord in prayer Debbie. You know when you trust in him everything will work out.

Maybe you can get your husband to go and see a doctor too. Has he had a check up lately?

Another thing is you all have a small child. As much as you love and care for them the 2 and 3's are very hard stages too. Just stress in general can make you both feel down at times.

Have you thought of speaking to your pastor. I did that when I was your age. Wow, I 'm old enough to be your mother. Sorry if I sound like it too.

I just want to give you a hug and tell you it's okay. Be sure to vent here if you need to. I think we all would if we need to.

Have you guys been away alone? That may do wonders ....Just being a husband and wife.

ML

Just a quick note to share with you the good news, had yearly mammograms done and it is official...I'm dancing with NED!!!! Surgeon is very pleased at how both breasts have reacted to all the treatments.

Thank you very much dear sisters for all your love and support. I could not have done it without all of you standing by my side cheering me on and telling me to hold on when I felt such a need to stop and let go! So, rest assured I will continue on my Femara and will find ways to manage the pesky SE's. Thank you dear sisters for also allowing me to chat away on this board (compulsively by the looks at the number of posts) .

Kim - How are you doing? Hope surgery went well and you are not in pain.

Debbie - Do you think your DH would consider therapy? He is going through so much and your journey must be very difficult for him.

Anna - how is your SIL?

Margerie - 6 kids?? Wow...hope you have some help.


Love you all. Hope everyone is having a good night. I have to go no, Ambien is kicking in have a great night.
Odalys

What great news, Odalys! Dancing in all your salsa-ness, I love to think of you doing that.

The surgery went well with no complications, and he won't have to wear an ostomy bag at all. He reacted nastily to the anesthesia (such things happen), but that will pass. He has a few difficult days to get through, but that wife of his plans to be there from 7 am to 11 pm every day. She tells me he listened to the pre-surgery CD I sent four times before the surgery and that it helped him relax. I think there are some post-surgical affirmations and music on there as well, so maybe those'll help a little. Anyway, thank you all for your good wishes and support. I am so happy he's going to be okay! This young man has really become like a son to me this past year while my daughter was in France. We talked every single day.

I just finished doing a test. I wanted to see how long my house could survive without being cleaned. It would be embarassing to tell you how many weeks it actually withstood, but the number is up there. I figure you can't tell unless the afternoon sun slants in a certain way. I also figure it's just about time to put an end to the test. Ah well....

Yes, I hope we hear from you soon, Kim. I hope you are well and comfortable after your surgery.

Odalys, please keep us informed about your reactions to the Femara. My gyn tells me that most women don't keep having the initial SEs, but that we don't hear from them, only from the ones who can't go on with specific AIs.

Debbie, I'm sending healing vibes your way. I hope your husband finds some support he can trust in.

Mary Lou, I'm at 10 lbs now. My pants are sliding down off my tummy onto my hips. I feel like one of those teenage boys, wearing my pants down low. I might have to go back to my pre-bc size. I'll stop once I get down 10 more. Then I will learn to maintain, that's the important part. How was your meeting with the PS?

Happy weekend, angels!

Anna

Kim - glad to hear you are recovering well. Thnx for keeping us posted. Take good care of your self.

Anna - If doc places you on Femara take it. The SE's I experienced were rough at first (painful joints and stiffness specially in the morning) but they have gotten so much better. I think the supplements and stress balls have helped. Stress balls are available at any pharmacy. Glad your SIL is out of surgey and impoving daily.

Debbie - Ned is waiting to teach you how to dance; don't worry about having two left feet.

Margerie - Sending positive thoughts your way for a successful surgery.

NED is a great dancer and is waiting to dance with all of you too. We await the day when you all can join us on the dance floor. There is plenty of room for everyone. Meantime, I'm teaching NED some salsa moves.

Love and hugs,
Odalys

Deb I hope you and DH are doing well. Sometimes the time after rigourous treatment is harder than during it. Guys wall up, experience the Post- Traumatic Strees Syndrome. I agree with whoever said to have a date night/weekend to reconnect and see where to go from there. Guys can be stubborn, and they hate to admit they are not superman. If a job change is in the future- please make sure your health insurance will be safe! Your relationship just needs a little maintenance (it's been parked in the garage for awhile now) and best wishes for some great bonding!

My surgery is Sept. 12th. Yes, that is in 2 weeks! In some respects I can not wait. It is a PIA lugging this breast form in the pool, lake, when I work out, etc. Always doing fake boob checks. I feel the freedom of perky breasts and tank tops a coming!

Then again I hate the whole anticipation thing. My sx is not sweating it at all. Maybe I should take a cue from him.

Doing well and getting the kids ready to go back to school (one Wed., the other 2 in two weeks),

Eye surgery- all I can say Kim is I'm glad you are done with that! Kind of creepy to think about you poor girl!

And all you ladies make me smile with your posts- so thank you!

Take care,

Margerie

Just a drive by. Been on the go all day and out of state over the week end.

I hit the 15 pound mark tonight. I wanted to brag a little.

I only had a .4 loss, but I didn't eat much for about a week. (Not the right food while I was away.) And you have to eat to lose. So I was happy with that. Next Monday I don't have a meeting. So it will be two weeks till I weigh in again.

I will post again tomorrow.

Glad you all are my sisters. I'm so blessed to have found this board.

Mary Lou - Yeah,15 pounds...brag away! OK, time to do the dance....

Talked to SIL. He's been having a much better day today.

I am grateful.

Anna

Anna, that is wonderful news. Prayer is such a powerful thing.

Odlays- I looked at the # of post wrong LMAO
I can't even see anymore.

Kim , Marg & Deb thinking of you....(((((Hugs)))))

I have a recipe to share.

Oven Fried Chicken

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp table salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
3 oz buttermilk
3/4 cup cornflake crumbs
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, four 4-oz pieces


Instructions


Preheat oven to 365ºF. Lightly coat an 8 X 8 X 2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.


Combine flour, salt and cayenne pepper together in a medium-size bowl. Place buttermilk and corn flakes crumbs in 2 separate shallow bowls.


Roll chicken breast halves in flour mixture and evenly coat each side. Next dip chicken into buttermilk and then corn flakes crumbs.


Place coated chicken breasts in prepared baking dish. Bake until chicken is tender and no longer pink, about 20 minutes (there is no need to flip the chicken during baking). Yields 1 breast per serving

5 points Anna