Starting chemo September 2014

Menopause, again???  I don't think my DH would make it through menopause the second time.  LOL!!!!

Toby, you can do that fundraiser with no problem.  I'm hoping your SEs are gone by then.

Rose be careful with that port.  I bumped mine and after that it kept shooting pains down my arm and out my fingers.  Luckily I didn't have very long to go until I was done with chemo, but it was painful when the nurses accessed it for chemo.  My surgeon took it out two weeks after I was done with it, thankfully. 

Checking in from the big girl chair. So far, so good. Getting premeds and picc line is working as it should.

Was a little bit worried about how I would be feeling, as many others have mentioned the last one being emotionally challenging. I'm feeling great! So proud of myself for getting through this, even if I wasn't always at my best. I feel like a bad ass, cancer kicking wonder woman today. I'm going to be the most thankful person at the table tomorrow, even if I can't taste the food, because I did it!!!! I'm so proud of myself, which seems a little braggy, but this has been the harshest and hardest thing I have ever done, and being on the last leg of the race feels awesome. It seemed like it would never come, yet here I am.

I'm so thankful for each of you- for "getting it", being supportive, answering questions, and inspiring me to keep fighting the good fight. You are all such blessings to this group, and I am so grateful to have found this space and your friendships. God bless us all with a wonderful thanksgiving day with our loved ones. May our pains be minor, our taste buds functional, and our families healthy and well behaved! (And may none of the kiddos have coughs and runny noses to share with us!)

Feeling a little yucky today but on the whole not too bad. Snow is coming down in buckets. Hope we can all get to my dear daughters tomorrow. Going to try to make some pies later if I am up to it. Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving with few SE'S. Love, Jean

LA.....what an incredible surprise!!!!!!,our twins are home now.....sophomores in different colleges.

So thankful for all of you here!

Toby, I have three more taxotere to go, I go every three weeks, so next treatment is December 2. My legs started with edema today, if no better by Friday I'll call MO, I'm sure not much can be done besides diuretics, but I'm going to push fluids in the mean time to see if it flushes out. I've been using Benadryl cream on the really itchy areas and it helps.

Poppy, I got Percocet for the pain, used it when I had to, but it messes with my GI tract so I'm being careful not to over do it. Don't know if the taxotere or herceptin caused the pain, doesn't matter, as long as I can medicate myself. : ) I've been putting ointment inside my nose at bedtime to keep it moist.

I was able to make pumpkin pies today, felt good to do something holiday-ish. Not really in the holiday mood, going thru the motions so to speak.

Just checking in to wish all of you the most wonderful of Thanksgiving Days. Please enjoy your families and your feasts! Hope we all have a pleasant side effect free day. We have earned it. I counted each of you amongst my blessings today. I'm sorry we are on this journey together, but so glad we have each other for support and compassion. Prayers to each of you and your loved ones for safe travels and a beautiful, festive day.

If I may request some prayers, my dear father in law had to be admitted to the hospital last night, due to some breathing issues and Afib. He has been a better dad to me than my own, and I am so worried about him. He is also Little E's best buddy in the world. Please send some healing prayers and thoughts our way!

Off to slice the pumpkin roll and get rolling on this holiday fun. Love to you all!

We got down our driveway and to my daughter for Thanksgiving. My 2 sons, grandson, very pregnant granddaughter, son in law, sister, her hubby and mine had a blessed day. I couldnt taste much but being with family was wonderful. Tomorrow is my grandaughter's baby shower! It is hard to wrap my mind around my daughter becoming a grandmother. Wow, time flies. Trying to find out what the plan is for the rest of my life when this treatment is over. This will be the last part of life's journey and I don't want to waste it on trivia. I will be 72 in April! Love, Jean

Managed to have a nice Thanksgiving. My taste buds cooperated, and I enjoyed my dinner and time with loved ones.

Friday, I went in for IV meds and fluids, then had the picc line removed. What a relief!

Have pretty much spent the weekend sleeping. Woke up Saturday with a stye in my eye and a huge painful cold sore on my lip! Like I didn't have enough to deal with! Feel like I got hit by a truck, but so grateful to be done with chemo.

Lots of appointments coming up: PS, RO, MO, GYN. Overwhelming amount of decisions in the next few weeks. I wish I felt a bit stronger mentally and physically and emotionally. I feel like a hot mess, and I have to be clear headed in order to figure out my plan of action.

My father in law was released from the hospital on Saturday. He gave us quite a scare. Has to follow up on blood pressure issues and fluid retention. I will be keeping a very close eye on him!

Just finished my fourth treatment. Woohoo! Let's hope for minimal SEs this time around. :-)

LARock, congrats to you!

Poppy, I know what you mean about this last one kicking your butt. I have never slept so much, yet been so tired, in my life. Trying to be gentle with myself, but life goes on and stuff needs doing. I'm kind of a mess emotionally right now--Weds is my birthday, plus I have a court hearing for the divorce I never wanted on the 18th, the holidays, etc. Add to that the whole cancer thing; making decisions about rads, a hysterectomy, and reconstruction, and I just feel like I have been buried alive. At this point, I am just trying to summon enough energy to get a tree up for Little E.

The frosting on the $h!t cupcake? All of my bottom eyelashes fell out this weekend. Just adds insult to injury!

LARock, Congratulations! You did it! Hoping your SE are minimal!

Badhairday, Cute pictures! I'm sure Little E is great motivation for everything you do. You've got a lot on your plate. One day and decision at a time!

tobycc- why do you have so many different chemos that you are taking? Did you have problems with them?

Nomatterwhat, I have two more treatments. No bell ringing just yet Tobycc.

Badhairday, keep up the strength. You're amazing and will come out of all of this with a new appreciation of what you're capable of. Self-doubt does not equal weakness. It just means you're thoughtful as you proceed anyway!

After my granddaughter's amazing baby shower on Saturday, somehow God changed my attitude and I am now back on track that I will beat this thing. God promised to restore my health and heal my wounds and I have chosen to believe Him. Worry is just a waste of time and energy and fear is False Evidence Appearing Real.

I had my 5th Taxol Monday and it went perfectly. Other than some D that was manageable, a bit of finger numbness and palm and tongue burning sensations not too bad at all. Love, Jean