Starting Chemo March 2015

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2016

    pboi - it has to be hard to have been diagnosed with girls at that point in their lives. A lot for you to process and a lot for them, all the while you are actively parenting. My DD was 21 when I was diagnosed, in college locally. I was afraid she would derail, but she was strong and my DH - with whom she has an awesome relationship - really stepped in and gave her a safe place to express her fears. She was reluctant to show me how scared she was, she only wanted to show me support and love. She spent the night with me in the hospital after BMX so DH could get some sleep, and took me to post-ops (and there have been a lot of those!) when she was not in class. She was fortunate to discover that two of her good friends had moms who had been through this and they were a great source of peer advice and support in a way we couldn't be. I think there is real value in having kids talk to other kids who share this experience. I felt it was important to show my daughter, and my son who was away at college, that I could weather this storm and come through it - different, but still me. Learning to reframe your viewpoint is adaptation and growth - it takes time and perspective, but when you get there it is a great lesson for your children too

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited March 2016

    lol, Bekah.

    Thanks, everyone. Right now it is not my DD with ADD. It is the OTHER one. It's like one of them will be easier, then the other….on the plus side, I do not have a favorite. They both drive me crazy about equally. :)


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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited March 2016

    lol….just went to school to have DD's conference. She is doing great at school. So there's that.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016

    Allison- guess they save the really special stuff for you at hone! But glad to hear she's doing well in school

    I just returned from my monthly MO.which would be quarterly or semi annual by now if it were not for my fussy liver.

    had my usual meltdown, but they are always very kind to me there. I appear to be tolerating the AI pretty well.

    And though the liver enzymes are still not in normal range, they came down a bit (about 20% and are now at high end of 2X/double high normal) and are trending in the right direction so back in a month again. So mostly good news and I'm cautiously optomistic. It's weird how the Tamox and the AIs operate on entirely different processes. And different bodies react differently. I think my body really didn't like the big T. And it's taking its time getting back to normal. Thanks again for all the support.


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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited March 2016

    Great news, Katy! What a relief!

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  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited March 2016

    Great news, Katy.

    I'm in a very weird place lately. I moved through dx, chemo and rads with a pretty optimistic outlook. I was glad to move into 2016 and even felt a bit joyous for a couple of weeks. But I'm feeling like a little lost sheep lately. My heart is so not into work, and I've been to a financial advisor to talk about retiring. But work has always been such a big part of me. I don't know what the next chapter will bring. I feel lately that I need you all more than ever--that my connection to you is more meaningful than other connections. It feels like I'm taking a step back rather than moving forward.

    Anyone else feel like this (I hope not!)? Anyway, thanks for letting me express myself.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016

    Sue- unfortunately yes. To all of that. Just hang on. I think it takes more time to grieve and heal than anybodyever imagined.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2016

    Sue, I have felt that way at times. When I do, I pick a really short term goal to give me some focus. For me lately....redecorating one of the rooms in my house which involves some crafts, etc. Sounds crazy....probably just diverts me from dealing with what's bugging me...nevertheless, it gives me energy, focus, and allows me to focus on something other than cancer. I also tend to set short term physical goals (I will walk/run XX miles this week). Not sure if those will help, but thought I'd share what's helped me.

    Katy, So glad your numbers are headed in the right direction.

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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited March 2016

    Allison: even though it sucks for us I was always glad that my daughters behaved like rational beings in public & at school.

    Sue: we are all here for you. It's a tricky thing - the what now. xo

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited March 2016

    Katy...glad to hear things are going well and that you're doing well with the AI

    Sue...I feel the same way...lost...not sure where to go from here. I too focus on short term goals to try to move forward, but it's hard. I find comfort coming here where everyone understands.

    I know chemo and active treatment is over for many of us, but I appreciate all of you for still coming back here. The support during treatment was so helpful, and I'm finding that now even after treatment I'm not moving forward/feeling better as fast as I thought I would. It encourages me to see how well many of you are doing. Your support here helps so much.

    PB

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited March 2016

    Love these: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2015/05/06/empathy_cards_by_emily_mcdowell_are_greeting_cards_designed_for_cancer_patients.html?utm_content=inf_10_2641_2&wpsrc=socialedge&tse_id=INF_1fb8b8f12a4548259d3d6ea58a3586ca

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016

    her cards are great. I have a couple on hand which I hope I never have to use. But if I do, I won't be "that person" who says stupid stuff to someone else.

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited March 2016

    I think I've seen a few of those before, but those cards are great. Wonder where they're sold? Did you have to special order them Katy?Thx for sharing Allison!

    PB

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016

    PB- yes she has her own website with a discount if you buy 4 or 5 I think. I'm on my phone, but I think there is a link to her site in the article Allison posted.

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited March 2016

    Katy...I didn't see it before but do now, she sells them on her website. 6 cards are 25% off. In case anyone's interested the cards were $4.50 each. Thx!

    PB

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited March 2016

    Powell's Books in Oregon has some of them.

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  • isnogard
    isnogard Member Posts: 34
    edited March 2016

    Ok, checking in. Started chemo March 1st. Had a bad nausea experience the first night. EAT LIGHT! Even with meds I had some nausea. So, it's day 4 and I'm feeling better. More chippy and able to do chores around the house and not feel like crap on he way to school. On to the next 4 days! Stay positive and listen to your body ya'll !!

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016

    just reporting in- these two characters are real people and most importantly, not axe murderers....

    The great 2016 spring cleanup with Sloth and Ksusan. And tea.

    image

    image

    image

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016

    just reporting in- these two characters are real people and most importantly, not axe murderers....

    The great 2016 spring cleanup with Sloth and Ksusan. And tea.

    image

    image

    image

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited March 2016

    Happy to be here visiting with you, Katy!

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016

    image

    image

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited March 2016

    awesome! Hope you guys are having or had a great time together! Still hoping we are going to all do our June get together

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2016

    love, love, love those happy faces!!!!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited March 2016

    We are enjoying champagne, limoncello, a fire, Scrabble, and Jack's company. Tutti is curled up somewhere.

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited March 2016

    Damn, that sounds awesome! What's for dinner? Details please

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2016

    Just because I wanted to just a 2 am fart contest- we had chili served 3 ways:

    Red hot beef chili

    White chicken chili with cannelini beans

    Mexican posole (pork, hominy, beans etc)

    Homemade cornbread, pumpkin nut bread and rolls

    A salad of butter lettuce, arugula (fresh from the garden) and spinach, with apple, walnuts, cranberries and goat cheese with a poppy seed dressing.

    Wonderful conversation on so many topics, and these girls worked their fannies off in the rain and got so much garden cleanup done. It looks 100% better! Ksusan made a fire, Sloth took me DOWN in Scrabble. And these two did all of the serving and cleanup.

    Here are some pics from dinner. Toots and Jack love their new aunties too!

    image

    image

    It was so amazing to behold these friends in person. We are havingsome great laughs. Maybe a few tears. They've been so good to me to come and offer me help in the garden. I was beyond panicked and overwhelmed. I think I can see a path forward now.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited March 2016

    Three kinds of chili, cornbread, and salad. Rolls and pumpkin bread. Katy did the cooking. Lots of fun!

    Tutti says good night!

    image

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  • isnogard
    isnogard Member Posts: 34
    edited March 2016

    NancyHB, So I was wondering since everyone experiences side effects differently, do the chemo infusions get more ramped up each time? Meaning do they add on to the first one to where the side effects become worse? Don't care about hair loss. I have trouble with nausea and I absolutely hate it. Just wondering. It took me about four days from the first infusion to feel a little normal without having to take the "as needed" meds for nausea. Day 5 I feel pretty good and can go out and do errands. A little weak but that's okay too.

    :)))

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  • molly1976
    molly1976 Member Posts: 403
    edited March 2016

    I love this meetup!! Made my weekend

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited March 2016

    Looks like you ladies are having a great time ...love the pic of the 3 of you together!

    PB

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