Post Chemo Spa & Shape Up

Hi Everybody!

Cathy, Good luck on Wednesday! I agree with everybody else-B9!!!

I feel like a wimp next to you all! Am I the only one with very stiff muscles? I guess it is a side effect of Taxotere, but I can hardly touch my knees, let alone my toes! I rode my bike about 2.5 miles last Monday, and I wanted to get off and push the bike home in tears, but I plugged away and made it around the stupid lake. My husband was there riding in circles around me cheering me on. I also walked 3 days last week, about 2.5 miles each day. And I got a pedometer (?) to count my steps.

Tomorrow I am having surgery to remove the passport from my arm and to swap out my expanders for nice, squishy implants! Can't wait! (Except for the part where I'm in pain!) My doctor said I'll have to take it easy for 3 weeks, but I plan to resume weight training asap.

Mzsissy, I guess I want to lose the 5 pounds I put on for two reasons--first my clothes feel kind of tight, and second, I want to be like I was pre-BC! I gave this disease enough already!

Hope everybody has a great week! To my December Chemo buddies--do you guys have hair yet? I am still just looking at peach fuzz! Argh!

Mary

Hi Ladies:

Mary: GOod luck tomorrow with the exchange surgery....Hope all goes well. Let us know.. I have 35 days till my exchange...can't wait to get these expanders out! I too am waiting for hair. I have a little crew cut going but it's WHITE!!!! The wig is getting uncomfortable lately as the weather is getting warmer.

Stefanie: I get tired just listening to your exercize routine. I can relate with the no white flour/no sugar thing. After this diagnosis everything I buy (pretty much) is organic. Maybe it'll ward off the "beast".

Carol: If my crew cut continues to be "white" I will cry and then I will dye it. There are natural dyes out there, I've seen them in health food stores but God only knows what color I'll end up with.

I've lost a couple of pounds. Was going good for a week or so with the walking regimen but have been slacking. Back at it tomorrow for sure!!
Hang in there everyone, and let's keep Cathy in our thoughts for BENIGN!!!!

Oh Cathy!! That is so wonderful to hear!!!!! Great news.

Thanks for updating us!!!!

xoxoxo!!!!
Raye

This is kind of a repeat of a post I put on the December thread, but I'll repeat myself here in case you all who've moved over aren't checking it anymore.

Cathy, Yeah! I am so relieved and happy for you!

Maureen, I had the swap surgery on Tuesday, and after the double mast, this was a breeze! I got to the hospital at 11:30, and I was back home at 2:00. I was a little sore that night, took a pain pill, but by Wednesday morning I felt good, and I went back to work on Thursday. And they look really pretty! I can't seem to get the betadine off. Any suggestions?

Mzsissy, hang in there! Three weeks!

I'll be in Dallas all next week for a conference. If the hotel has a gym, I'll do some walking, but that's all I can do for three weeks! I did lose a pound fasting before the surgery! (Not my favorite way to lose weight!)
Anybody have any tips for what to do in Dallas? I'll be alone for 4 nights! Mary

acgw- congratulations on your race and for putting up your personal best time! That's awesome! I am participating in a race in October - never been a runner but I'll see what I can do. It's only a 5 K but I guess you have to start somewhere.
MizSissy- I am starting week 4 of rads on Monday - starting to feel a bit tired too. I hope it doesn't take long to recover when we are done with rads, I am also taking Tamoxifen and worried about weight gain.
Cathy - Congrats again on the good results.

acgw - That is tremendous! What a great time. Good for you!!! We've got our female Lance Armstrong here ladies! great job.

Mizsissy - three more weeks! not bad. The time will go by quickly!!! Thanks for the compliment on my avatar. I look rather new wave in real life as well with my sticking up in the back!!!

I am going to try to run that 5K Memorial Day weekend. I don't know. I am going to run every night during the week if I can. I was depressed last week and couldn't do it.

Raye

Mizsissy,

Thanks for the PM!!! I understand how you feel; I'm having a tough time getting back to where I was prior to bc. Also, I have no motivation to go out and run, even with the 5K looming before me - Memorial Day. I had to force myself yesterday to go to the gym and run on the treadmill. Was tough, but I did it. 3.5 miles...very slowly.

Mizsissy, how long do you have to cut down on the exercise? Just until you are finished with rads (congrats on almost being finished). I was thinking once you get back to your workout program, you may be able to sleep throughout the night. I am sorry you are having difficulty getting up in the am - I was like that for a while after radiation - I am now starting to have more energy.

I notice my jeans are snug on me now, grrrr. Didn't gain weight through chemo or rads, but now I think I've gained 3 lbs. I haven't been so diligent with my calories. Get so tired of counting them! ha.

Carol, you are almost done with radiation! That is great. Such a long journey, but you're almost there. I hope you don't have to take a break either and can finish on time. How is the skin looking today?

Take care all.
Raye

Mizsissy - thank you. I am actually in a coworker's office looking down at a camera phone, but love the metaphor of being in the pool. Your dilemma of what to have last night? I would have gone for the beer! ha. Very filling and nice after a stressful day.

I did not make it to the gym last night. It was so cold and rainy, I worked late and went straight home. Had grilled chicken and veggies and this tiny little Smart Ones sundae - and I mean tiny. But satisfied that craving for something sweet I had at only 170 calories.

Mary - I wish I loved to lift! I used to use machines when I was in my early 20's and had a rock hard body, if I must say so myself. Unfortunately, I now find it boring. I love cardio - especially running. Love to be moving and I feel terrific afterwards. But I don't see the results as I did with the weights. Is that how you stay model thin?

Carol - I finished rads March 16. The fatigue hit hard,but as I mentioned yesterday, it has subsided and feel much more energetic. Today it was a bit tough getting out of bed, but I think that has more to do with this weather. Very bleak outside. Looking back, Carol, I too was living a pretty hedonistic lifestyle. Drinking quite a bit (not to drunkeness, but often) and smoking when I was out with the girls. I was good about healthy eating and running every day, but after some of my runs I would come home and pop upon a beer! When I found my lump, I had a feeling that it was cancer, so I kind of went crazy with the smoking, and smoked even when I wasn't with the girls, knowing soon I'd never be able to do it again. And I haven't. And I really try to limit my alcohol intake - maybe drinking once every two weeks. Not too bad.

OK ladies. Have a wonderful Thursday. I hope the weather is nicer where you ladies are. Today, the high is going to be in the mid 50's. brrrr.

Raye

Hello!

I was in Chicago at a food show the past 5 days. I LOVE Chicago. I ate, drank, and walked myself silly, and I saw Wicked, which was very, very good! And now I weigh 128! That puts me up a pound since I started the great shape up! I think I need to cut out happy hour and lay off the refined sugar! Now that I'm back home I need to get an exercise routine going. The kids will start swimming lessons in about a week, so that'll give me a chance to swim four days a week, and then I'll need add weights after my doc says its ok. I feel really good and energetic, but I AM STILL HAIRLESS! And it's been almost 8 weeks. WTF? I go to the hair growth pictures, and I am way behind those girls!

Hope you all are having a good week. How about we try to post more often?

Mary

Hey Ladies,
Where is everyone? Is so easy not to come here and talk about the weight we haven't lost isn't it? Let's get back into it! How are you all doing? Carol

MIzsissy - You can win that bet! and shoes are a great way to splurge. Carol - Glad WW is working - their program is really good - I have done it before. Can't seem to get motivated lately. Cathy - I just colored my hair yesterday too - it was a dull gray and white. Now a light brown. Trying to get it blonde but it may take a few tries. I have to wait to go back to my hairdresser until I have a bit more. It is really growing so slowly!

Good Morning Ladies!

Having been posting much, as I've been working 10-12 hour days, very busy at work lately! Not complaining, however.

Cathy - Three days a week is great! Those shorts will be loose in no time. I had a bit of fatigue after chemo, but now - at almost 6 months post, I am feeling great.

MizSissy- Congrats on finishing rads. Quite an accomplishment, isn't it. Now you can get back to your routine. June is your month!! Although, 134 lbs isn't very big, I know how you feel when you want to be a certain weight! I just feel better when I am at my favorite weight of 120, although at times I feel like I must starve myself to stay that way (ha, 1200 calories a day isn't EXACTLY starving, but you get the picture...). Win that bet! You can do it.

Mary - ha, my favorite acronym! Be patient, it will come back in. Sometimes it takes some longer than others; I hear some girls take Biotin to help with the hair growth?

Carol - I am sure WW will work wonders. I did Jenny Craig and dropped 21 pounds last year before my diagnosis. Was also in Cancun last year before my diagnosis. Had a great time! I love the weather and the people. They are so nice.

Carol - you get that blonde, girl! I dyed my hair as well when it started coming in a icky leadish, undescribable color - I used a temp rinse. Now it's back to its dark brown and I am happy with it.

acgw - Listen to you, out there deep sea fishing - that is great. You hauled that dolphin fish in! wow. I don't think you are crazy at all for doing the trialathon. We need these type of activities to motivate us and they are so fun!

Yes, I ran the 5K Memorial Day weekend. Ran it in a slow 37. something minutes. Not too shabby for a post chemo and rads patients who didn't really train for it! ha. My brother, sister-in-law and I were some of the last to finish, but hey, we finished! I just love those type of activities - the excitement before the race, the cheering - very very fun. I want to do the Koman race in Cleveland in October, but think that I might be having my surgery then - booo.

My hair is curly! Well curlier than it used to be. Used to be wavy, but I know have curls. Very short ones and hardly any bangs! Oh well, I am certainly not complaining, it is hair!

Have a great day all!
Raye