Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Mary,

My experience with my mastectomy was not too bad at all. I had it on a Monday, went home Tuesday by noon, was out to dinner on Sunday night. I had one of those softee camisoles with the velcro drain pouches, and just wore a big zipup hoodie sweatshirt over it.
I agree about the pain meds - take them regularly those first days, and rest...
Good luck, we'll all be thinking good thoughts for you
Caya

Best of luck, Mary. Just think, after Tuesday, you're that much further done w/this whole process. I was very glad to have that part behind me.

Don't worry about the drains. They are so nothing...you'll be used to them in two days. Don't worry about being a rocket scientist, measuring the exact exact amt... it's kind of like when you have a newborn and you freak out with the first one...did I pour exactly five ounces into that bottle, etc. After a while you just kind of wing it and you get through...

I'll be thinking of you!

Mary, I had my mastectomy on a Monday, had the drain out on Friday of that same week. The worse part of it was taking a shower. Good luck on Tuesday, we'll be thinking of you!

Tina, yes, that shower scene was so gross..yuck!

Joni, great pic of the linx, I have pictures of 2 bobcats playing in my backyard. I named them Bob and Katy! I guess I should check out those website where you can put pictures, that's how you can post them here, right?

Jan, which Cirque's did you see?

Amera and Viddie, see you tomorrow!

TPP - I can relate to that analogy about the newborn. I was really scared bringing that baby home!
Lynn - re the shower, my surgeon suggest using the oxygen tubing to put in the shower to rest your drains on. Not sure exactly how that works but I guess I will find out.

I didn't sleep great last night and I'm sure tonight will be worse. I guess I'll stay up late for that Red Wings game.

Thanks for all of your wishes. I agree, I'll be glad to get this part over with. Of all my drs, I have the most confidence in my surgeon. SHE is the greatest.

Mary - good luck tomorrow, you will be fine. I had a female surgeon too, very kind, and I felt very safe with her. Makes a big difference.
Jan - congratulations on your "cancer-free" moments! They are priceless.
We are headed to the coast tomorrow for 5 days. We'll walk and eat and shop and hopefully see some dolphins.
Went shopping on the weekend for carpet and a sectional sofa for the basement. DH has it just about done - we've been in the house 10 years and it's small on the main floor, so this is very exciting!
Went out for lunch with dh's sister and husband yesterday. She cares, but seems to always say something! This time we were talking about work, and I commented on how stressfull my previous job was - she says, yes, it gave you cancer! She also commented that my daughter (a single mom) is SO lucky that Lilly's dad is so involved with her - they trade off child care so as to not need day care etc. I said, well he is her Dad, but she wouldn't leave it - said, yes but many guys would just walk away. Not sure what her point was. Oh well, have to let it go. I feel that it lets me know what she really thinks though.
Anyway, we're off. The hair is growing daily, I now have a "cap" of hair, but it still lays flat. Curious to see how curly it will be.
Hope all have a great week!

Mary good luck you will be fine . I had a woman surgeon too and she was great . I was just back from the OR when she gave the nurses heck because i had a liquid dinner tray . "you get my patient some FOOD this will not do !" Se needs to eat ! ..... now how are you dear ? I had my drain in for abut 10 days and a home care nurse took it out .
I am finally starting to come around had a rough weekend seems the taxotere does add up each time . My fingernails are very brittle and hurt ,typing carefully . Also my mouth looks like a fish , wavy on the edges , pasty , i could not taste much . yuck . Fatigue set in big time and the fog was dense beddy byes for me all day Sunday . No more though hope this doesn't last too much longer ..... need my brain back .
Off to get checked up for menopause today make sure that I am actually done and get tested , check in with my family doctor and go over all my past results . Now I am going to have to get blood drawn from my veins as only special chemo nurses can draw blood from my port , expecting to keep that in for a year and have to get it flushed every 5 weeks .
Good going gals on the shopping looks like we are all getting new furniture , rooms , and stuff .
Have a great day everyone .

Feel better Shorti! My nails are a mess too from the taxotere....black splotches, red lines, ridges and PAIN. yuck. I just hope they do not fall off...one of them looks pretty iffy...I am crossing my fingers.

In in the meantime I just got an envelope from motor vehicles...my driver's lic is due for renewal this summer. AAARRRGGGHHH a picture of me in a scarf on my drivers lic for the next fouryears. Just when i thought I would be able to move past it I will have a reminder in my pocket at all times. Ah well.

Hope you are all ahving a good day!

QUOTE: I may even take my hex off the Red Wings for you tonite.

LOL!

Good evening ladies -
We had lovely weather here yestereday, DH and I went tree shopping and bought and then planted some evergreens and a weeping mulberry tree in our front garden - too cold here to plant annual flowers yet, usually we wait until around May 10 - 15th. I'm looking forward to having some pretty colourful flowers soon.
DD #1 is writing her last exam for the school year as I write and will be home later this evening... really looking forward to seeing her.
A dear friend is stopping by to see me tomorrow for lunch. Every year she does the Relay for Life Cancer run, and this year she is honoring me. It is a night long relay run that she does with a team of about 10 people, they do a survivor's lap first. My friends and family have been donating money online - Debbie (my friend) posted that she wanted to raise $800, she's way over that already. She's coming by tomorrow to take my picture so she can wear it on her T-shirt- I am going to pose bald.

Robertin - congrats on the weight loss - you've inspired me to get cracking and lose it too - I've gained about 10 lbs. since dx -

Mizsissy - how's your nephew doing, the one that was hurt?

Skye - how was your trip to New Glaus- sounds like a real cute town...

Jan - glad you are feeling better.

Rebecca - I wasn't allowed to shower either with my drains ins - like it was 2 frigging weeks of sponge bathing.. I also did my exercises religiously and had pretty well full mobility by around 5 weeks.

Dar - ah , the inlaws, what can I say? it's always something -

Shorti, Rebecca - my nails have not been too bad yet on Taxotere - I've been putting on clear nail hardener, maybe this is helping.

Joni - good luck on your MRI and rad simulation.

Lynn, Amera,Viddie,- okay, we're all waiting for those pictures.
The taxman cometh - but he owes me - we are all getting refunds. YIPPEE!! Some retail therapy is definitely in order.

And finally, good luck Mary - you'll do great.

hugs to all
caya

Hey ladies,
Mary, I'll be waiting with everyone else to hear how things go tomorrow. Sounds like you've had lots of good advice from everyone who has been there.
Caya, I am also planning to put a weeping mulberry in the front yard. I LOVE those! Although like TPPJ we are looking at condos. Both the dh and I are feeling kind of vulnerable after our dx's, and thinking of taking care of an acre lot and a house that we close four rooms off in winter just seems like so much right now. But first we need a new roof.
Also, that is really special that your friend is honoring you in the walk. There is one in Milwaukee next Saturday and the dh and I are thinking of going just to hang around "our people."
Dar, sympathy on the in-laws. Family members are always the ones who know how to get to us best, God love 'em.
We had a great day in New Glarus, it's a totally Swiss-themed town, complete with people in Swiss folk dress walking around. Of course we ate fried brick cheese curds at the outdoor Swiss beer garden, it's mandatory. I know I gained a pound from that. Sitting there, I said to the dh that I felt almost normal. He said, "You LOOK almost normal." :-) I did find out that my wig is pretty comfortable in 80-degree weather.
I had my Herceptin today and did not get a rash or reaction, even without Benadryl. I did get increased bone pain, and found out I had low rbc but had Aranesp last week so couldn't get one today. All seems minor though compared to chemo.
The sad thing today was finding out a young woman I've gotten to know in the chemo room (the one whose sister does the imitations of turtle faces) is going to have to undergo a second round of chemo and this time she'll lose her hair. She doesn't know yet because she doesn't want to; her sister told me. She's a single mom with a six-year old and a 12-year old and has mets from cervical cancer first dx when she was 23. Anyway, I think Taffy could use prayers if anyone is willing. - Skye

good on joni go for it gal
Caya the nails just started on my last treatment Dr says they can get worse depending on how much dope you get thank god i am done . Going commando hey ..... great bunch of friends to do that for you . nice day today too .
Dr appointment was good , they got blood outa my veins no problems , had to get my thyroid counts tested and my hormones to see if i am really menopausal . My oncologist does all my cancer related stuff the one i saw today physicals . So many Dr's getting me dizzy i still have to see m radiologist and genetics counselor ....yikes ..... and we have a shortage of Dr's here .

Hi everyone,
Amera, Lynn and I had a great time at lunch today. We met at california pizza. We found each other rather easily- with our scarves of course. It was lots of fun and laughs. I took one picture and since I am technically challenged, perhaps I can e-mail Joni, and if she does not mind, she can post it.

Mary, good luck tomorrow with your surgery.
Jan & Shorti, I am glad you are feeling better.
Dar, have a great time at the coast.
Rebecca, In Mass, we can renew once on the web and they will use our old picture. Is there a possibility you can do that?
Catch you all later,
Viddie

Guys,

I showered w/my drains in the hospital. How odd that we all get diff. info. I wore a long necklace and there was a little tab on the bulb part of each drain. I'd stick a safety pin through the tabs and hang them from the long necklace. That way they wouldn't hang/drag in the shower and the weight of them hanging wouldn't be pleasant either. It was a convenient way to get around w/the drains. Like a big, ugly necklace. By day, I'd usually wear hoodies and put the bulbs of each drain in my pockets. If out, I'd have a coat on because it was cool weather. Harder to disguise in summer.

Viddie, are all three of you in Western Mass?

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