Starting Chemo March 2015

Ninja.. I was doing 75lb push press the morning of my last tx.... now I can't lift the garbage bag outta the can.....lol  Talk about a blow to the ole ego..... One step forward 2 steps back looks to be the theme for the next 6 months or so rt?

Traveler, you are my hero! I've been cautiously waiting to say this but now that it's been a week since my last treatment and NO SORE MOUTH I am ready to announce that it's a lysine miracle-hallelujah! Last 2 treatments my throat would get so raw I'd cough when I talked, and this time, nothing! Woot!

Also please meet William Wallace, the morbidly obese nurse cat. He earned his medical assistant certification in January and is a hard working snuggle monster. I'm pretty sure this BC thing seemed like winning the lottery to him, with me laid up, a new recliner in the tv room and lots of visitors!

I woke up this morning feeling like my tongue broke in the middle of the night. The edges look wrong. Feels almost burning, throat too. Not a fan.

I made this quilt for my older daughter. Unfortunately I don't seem to have a pic of it that is not covered by dog.

This is the one I hand stitched. It was made out of leftover fabric from when I used to make my girls clothes. And that is Sasha.

good morning my dahlings! I've just read through all the posts and have something I want to say to everyone!

I must be feeling better. I am actually, still have a bit of bone and lower back pain, and more very sore finger pads have developed open blisters, but not super bad. I got my coconut oil out and started slathering, thinking of Itakychick. Haha. My coffee tastes mediocre, but I'm having my morning ritual, which feels good. The fatigue has lifted significantly. And the sun is out. And the birds are tentatively checking the feeders. And Jack is under the covers, with his little warm body lined up against my leg. Life is good enough.

Thanks for all the compliments on the quilts. I wish I could send one to each of you today. Unfortunately, I've given away all but 3! Maybe if I started working now....by next year.... Whoa Nellie.. Better chill for now.

First, Sweethope, thanks for sharing the info on the low cost genetic testing- I must be a cynic- it seems almost too good to be true. Clearly, genetic testing is the path to the future. Thanks for taking the time to post in several groups that may not have seen it otherwise.

Angie- you have been so kind to me- I am wishing you a smooth day in the chair.

NinjaMary- it always brightens my day when I see you post. Glad you are feeling better! Normal even! Yay! I think there is a good possibility your sense of smell is affected by chemo. They (Drs., nurses, others) all say food will smell funny to you etc. but please don't do too much work yourself. Call a carpet cleaner with a big machine and have them do it. Please don't jeapordize your newfound normal by overdoing it! Reference Bekah and the lawnmower!

Neverthought- I certainly sympathize with you. It is a story for another day but I was terribly unhealthy and unfit before my dx. I had met my catastrophic oop last year to give an idea. So I am starting at zero trying to do even minimal exercise which I know will help my SEs and help my beloved Jack. The head onc nurse told me that even walking from the house to the street mail box 5-6 times a day will help. Baby steps. I wish you all the best this morning in the chair. Use the benzodiazepines without guilt. That's what they are there for. Thinking of you and concentrating some traveling mojo your way. Please check in if you need a lift. No throwing in the towel. We have your back. Close your eyes and feel us all around you. Feel our strength and take it in.

Arlene- feel you on the fingers. I'm not even doing chemo bunny right now. And you must wear gloves for gardening due to bacteria in the soil! My overzealous hand washing is no doubt making things worse, but I know this is a SE. Planning a dark taupe on my nails this afternoon. I've done my nails fewer than 5 times in 58 years. I'm sure it will be, as the English say, "a right cock-up". I never go a day without colace (3) and senekot (2). It's a constant battle since surgery and as I still take some pain meds....so..... I agree that exercise is so important for all the reasons you mention. It takes your mind off briefly. It does start a chain reaction of moving, excreting, hydrating. You are wise to get on that bike. Even 5 minutes here and there!

Indygal-you are doing all the right things. Sometimes we just have to wait for the body to heal. To catch up. I love the imagery of you wrapped up in one of the quilts. I am sending warm hugs and most positive energy that slowly you will begin to feel a bit better.

Leigh- am sorry you are not able to rely on your x fit as much. Everyone is different remember. You might surprise yourself and bounce back sooner than you think. You made me lol about the dose of wine. Cancer does take a lot of things away from us, including many of the absentminded stress relievers we didn't even realize we had, then makes us feel guilty and fearful about them. Leaving us a huddling mass with none of our old reliable "tools" dang. Sux, huh?

TerryMarie- I hope any day now your taste buds start to recover a bit. Mine usually do just before the next spa day. I hope you can take advantage and have some nice meals this week coming up. Looking forward to you posting your love of life pic!

Lynn- I am on the Southern Oregon Coast. Coos Bay Area. It is extremely lovely here. I've traveled the world and am hard pressed to find a memory that outmatches what I see here. Corvallis is about 3 hrs from me. Lincoln a City probably 4-5. If you ever do come, we will find a way to meet. Here is something to entice you :

The above is at Port Orford, a small working fishing port town of about 1,000.

Trvler- you have been so supportive and so relentless on the Lysine, I'd like to formally recognize you for making Sloth's mouth and throat better. yay! William Wallace has indeed hit the lottery. Glad this is nice for somebody, huh?

Really great news Sloth. Any victory over these nasty SEs is cause for celebration. I am 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 with you!

Maryellen- glad to see you back! And thanks. Hope things start getting better soon. Q: what's a 31 sling bag? Can you get that in a charm? Haha! Or did you ever find the shit sandwich? You are next. In a couple of weeks the magic will be encircling your wrist. For now, you eat anything that you can get down. Time later to refine our healthy habits.

Eileen, I give so much respect for the hand quilting. Such painstaking work and it is lovely. So sorry about your mouth and tongue. It is a known SE. Are you doing the Trvler treatment? Sasha is so pretty. Glad you have her. And I think a quilt with a dog on it is better than one without! I love that it was made from memories.

Sorry I have taken up your mornings with my endless prattle. Wishing you all the best possible days. Know you are special. Know you are loved

Katy

Just caught up with everyone-- whew! It sounds like a rough few weeks.

I'm due for my last (#4) AC treatment tomorrow-- woohoo!

I spoke with my MO today and she wants to talk with the Pathologist again regarding my HER2 status. Currently they have me as HER2 - , but actually I'm the rare case that I'm among those HER2 Equivicol where additional tests still leave me in equivicol status leaning towards negative but she's not 100% comfortable. The test scored at 1.7 but from my understanding other markers put me in equivicol status. The Oncologists have a weekly meeting where they discuss their cases with the other Oncologists and Pathologists to get their opinions on how best to proceed so Herceptin may be in my future Though based on what she's said, considering how well I've done on AC she doesn't think that Herceptin and Taxol would be so difficult on me.

On another note, my eyelashes have thinned out and my eyebrows are starting to go dramatically in patches. Fortunately it's not such a big deal since I've been able to fill it in and the wig I wear has bangs and covers them up a little.

For those ladies that have had issues getting your house cleaned, go to Cleaning For a Reason and apply. I submitted my application about a month ago, they asked me for a letter from my doctor -- I faxed them a copy of my appointments from my doctor's office that has my DX. A week later I received a call and I have a team coming in on Friday to clean. They do 4 cleanings for free.

On a different note, my son's behavior has improved dramatically. DH and I have been really focused on him even with all the crap that's going on.

Hopefully everyone will start feeling better as we near the other end of our treatments. Hugs and well wishes to all!

Joanna: Congrats on your last round of AC!! I am so glad your son is doing better. That has got to be a huge stressor off of you. (She says, as when her daughters came home and she told them she was resting and to be responsible, her second daughter started pitching a fit).

I love love love the kitty and dog pics! They are all beautiful and make me smile.

ThePrincess-I was told to take the Claritin just four days after the shot. Is it possible you have a kidney infection or something else? Hope you feel better soon. I use an ice pad for serious back pain.

Diane- that bed is THE BOMB!

The bracelet is rocking it. I feel so honored you wanted to add to it.

Sorry about the fatigue. No doubt you are experiencing that scientific phenomenon known as THE DOUBLE WHAMMY"

many gentle hugs

K

Sharon: I am glad you have your GP to advocate for you. Funny about your cat.

Oh, my gosh. Sharon!!! That is so sweet. I hope it helps!

Bekah: Is your dd on spring break? I know it is so hard to be away from them that long. My DD (9) is going to a 2 week summer camp (like 10 ) days this year and I am already thinking about how hard that will be. Well, I guess I will be in NOLA for 10 days in Sept, too. That will be hard on them.

Time for me to boo hoo then let it go. My kitty is dying, vet coming out Saturday and if he doesn't improve I'll have to have him put down. He is dragging his hind legs with his front but doesn't seem to be in pain. He's lost a lot of weight so we're going to do some labs as well.

Got an email from Cleaning for a Reason-no cleaners in my area.

No Looking Good classes in my area, nearest over an hour away.

I'm sorry I just had a bout with the blues. Glad to have all of you.

Sharon, that is so awesome! It sure does feel good to feel loved!

I wish I had energy to respond to all of you. I feel so blessed to have found such a unique group of women to chat with through all of this. I think of all of you often!

Good evening, ladies. I'm just starting to surface from 8 days of pretty severe nausea and acid tummy - I haven't been able to lie down flat since my 4th AC, so although I've been very fatigued, sleep has been elusive. The sleep I've managed has been in a recliner, so I wish Sharon all the best in her new furniture. I have been able to read through everyone's posts, but can't keep them all straight to reply individually.

Next week, my day at the spa will be for the second phase of my chemo treatments - 4 dose dense paclitaxel. My oncologist's nurse was very encouraging today, and I'm hopeful that the SEs will start to be more manageable. Like Italychick, I'm "not quite bald", but rather have a thin concentration camp fuzz all over my head. My eyebrows are getting much thinner, too, but I still have some eyelashes. The very tips of my fingers are starting to get rough and peel.

Haven't heard about a radiation consultation appointment yet. I do dread the possibility of having to do rads, but if that is what has to happen, I'll deal somehow.

It has been great to be able to read posts from those with enough energy to keep us floppy sisters updated. Assuming that I continue to improve, I'll do better.

Gentle hugs to all.