Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

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  • Lynn12
    Lynn12 Member Posts: 1,008
    edited May 2007

    Joni, I forgot to comment on your SE on Tamoxofin. I got my 90 supply in the mail and Onc said to start in a couple weeks or so. Glad to hear you don't have any SE yet. When do you take the pill, am or pm? I think I tolerated chemo ok and hope my body takes to the Tamoxofin as well. Dar, you are on it too, right? How are you tolerating it?

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  • mer1957
    mer1957 Member Posts: 534
    edited May 2007

    I'm with you guys on Lost -- a little too strange for me but I keep watching

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  • Rebecca
    Rebecca Member Posts: 971
    edited May 2007
    I got my 90 day supply as well. I am to start taking it when I start Rads, which is next week. Lynn you asked when to take the pill AM or PM...I am confused because I am supposed to take it TWICE a day

    'sup with that?

    How many milligrams are you guys taking...I got 10Mg pills, and twice a day means 20mg/day. I too am hoping that I will tolerate it well. I suppose that the hot flashes can not be much worse

    I went today for my second Rads setup where they line me up using the marks and then take pics to make sure that I am lined up in the REAL machine the same way as I was in the simulator. Boy that was fun Anyway, I was told (finally) that I have 28 treatments total, and that every OTHER treatment they will lay a rubbery thing called a bolus over my chest. The tech could not give me a satisfactory answer as to what it was for, but as far as I can tell it is to focus the radiation on my skin surface rather than just beneath (resulting, according to the article I read, in an almost certain burn on my skin) Anyone else have any experience with one of these things? Sounds yucky...I hope the reality is not worse than my imagination!

    In other news, Owen was cruising around the cul-de-sac on his (pink) bike today. Still laughing like a crazed lunatic and running into the curb, but now I think he is doing it on purpose. Now that he is more stable I will try to take some pics for everyone's viewing enjoyment. Off to pick up DH (that is "devoted husband" for me, today) at the train.
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  • mer1957
    mer1957 Member Posts: 534
    edited May 2007
    Robertin, good to hear from you. Keep us update on your liver. My friend too has Hepatitis C (no bc) and has never wanted to do the treatment.
    I go to the bc surgeon tom for another recheck. I think I overdid it (what me?). I seem to be swollen and it hurts after I have worn a bra with a softie in it. Hopefully I do not have fluid accumulating. My bc surgeon said she had one patient that she had to drain each week before radiation. I am suppose to go for my radiation simulation Fri and hope I can still do that. I am tired after going back to work and going to the gym. I was pretty crabby today. I'm looking forward to the weekend. Have fun,
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  • mer1957
    mer1957 Member Posts: 534
    edited May 2007
    Lynn, glad you enjoyed Florida - was the Cirque with water or without? Re swimsuits - I bought swim gel inserts at a fabric store and sewed them into the lining of my swimsuits. It was a cheap fix. I'm not sure if it will work yet but it looks okay dry. I am not very big (B cup) so one did the job, you might need to double them up for a bigger size. I sewed them by hand by cutting into the lining of the suit.

    Lynn, have fun at the Red Sox game! Tiger tickets are getting hard to get too but not that hard!
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  • mer1957
    mer1957 Member Posts: 534
    edited May 2007

    What's with the 90 day supply on Tamoxifen - insurance? I think I will start on it mid June after I go see the oncologist.

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  • Caya
    Caya Member Posts: 971
    edited May 2007
    Lynn,

    I am also 2 weeks out from my last chemo (Taxotere) and I also have my feet swelling on and off.
    Today I woke up with a terrible headache and had to take 2 Tylenol 3's to make it go away . I am prone to barometer change headaches, and today was the first really humid/hot day we've had - also had some Taxotere muscle twitches...
    Oy, will this never end?

    So girls I need some advice - I have one SIL (my DH's twin brother's wife) who phones every couple of weeks to see how I am doing and "do you need anything, just let me know" - I have to tell you all that this BIL and SIL are so not into family, unless they need something. Last year when DH had his brain aneurysm, his darling brother ( a twin yet, but not identical) did not visit my DH once at home, came once with his darling wife to the hospital. So since I have been home from my mastectomy - Dec. 18, 2006 - SIL came once (the I have to be able to tell people I visited visit), BIL not once - not like I need them here, phonies that they are, but really - so she calls tonight during dinner and DH starts to hand me the phone - I just shook my head NO - do not want to talk to her. So DH tells me to be sure to call her back - well ya know what - I just don't feel like it - old Caryn would have, but BC Caryn is a bit more selfish - I think maybe I'll call tomorrow when I know they'll be at work...
    I think Skye mentioned something about getting rid of toxic people, I can't really get rid of them, because of the family connection, but I think I can have as little contact as possible.
    I have to tell you that when we first married, I was the one making all the Mother's Day brunches, inviting them for Passover seders, etc. and even when my own darling father died when I was 33 I still made Father's Day BBQ's ( and invited them, they would pass by on their way home from their cottage for the free dinner) - you all get the idea.
    So I think I shall not call tonight ..
    Robertin, glad you checked in. Mary I hope your rads appointment goes on as scheduled. Rebecca your Owen sounds adorable.
    caya
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  • MelodyinMN-2006Oct29
    MelodyinMN-2006Oct29 Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2007
    RSheehy.

    I also take Tamoxifen twice a day. 10mg in the am and 10mg in the pm.

    Melody
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  • viddie
    viddie Member Posts: 547
    edited May 2007
    Hi all,
    Tina,
    My oncologist was the one who said she did not keep up with the plastic surgery aspect of BC. What a shame! Diep is like trans flap except they leave the muscle intact. As a result there is a shorter recovery
    time. Here is a great site that explains the whole procedure: http://www.diepflap.com/

    Jan and Skye & Mel,
    I am also hooked on “Lost.” It will be interesting to see how they end it tonight.
    Melia,
    How did taxol tx today go? The BS just came back from a maternity leave, and this nurse is her old nurse of 5 years returning to her. I guess that the BS has had temporaries in her office while she was on leave, and they obviously were not too good and gave out wrong information. The nurse told me she had to put out quite a few fires since her return on Friday. Not my problem, but she feels that it is not her fault either. We talked quite a while, and while I could not budge her, she promised that she would call if she had any cancellations. I understand she needs all my films and slides read before she sees me, but it is frustrating nevertheless.
    Moving near your grown children seems like a great retirement plan. I would like to do the same, but I will have to wait a while since neither of my kids are settled yet.
    Robertin,
    It is good to hear from you.
    I hope your liver results are good.
    Mel,
    Thanks for sharing about your other friend’s success story with Diep. I am glad you are feeling a little better today.
    Goldnmom,
    Consider your self added. Ah, retirement with DH’s home round the clock! Tick tock- tick tock- The jury is still out on that one!! Just joking, I think. All kidding aside, my dh has been a great help. He has done all the supermarket shopping for me for the first few months and has accompanied me to all my chemo tx's. Even though his retirement has been an adjustment for me, I do appreciate him being able to be there for me.
    Lynn,
    Wow! Box seat Red Sox tickets in September! It doesn’t get any better than that!!! Really cool gift. You have a great boss. I love Charleston- much more civilized and friendly than our New England. Have Fun tonight!
    Viddie
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  • viddie
    viddie Member Posts: 547
    edited May 2007
    Caya,
    I hope you are feeling better tonight. You are doing the right thing. We have to protect ourselves from "toxic" people. They do sound very self centered. Maybe when you call her back tomorrow, you can leave a message saying that since she asked if you needed anything, you could use a weekend or week alone with your dh at their cottage- That might keep her from calling you back. Gosh it is annoying when people call just to say they called.
    Viddie
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  • Nancyab
    Nancyab Member Posts: 276
    edited May 2007

    Hi Gals, I awoke this morning not as foggy and went ahead to work, as the day progress I started to get that fuzzy feeling again. I called my nurse and we discussed my symptoms, the conclusion is I have a really bad sinus infection, problem is I have been so use to having that stuffy, headachy feeling and bleeding nose, I could'nt even tell how bad it had gotten. I had a migraine headache on Sunday and your right I was over fatigued from the Relay and sleeping in a cold tent! I took some advil cold and sinus (after spending 20 minutes just trying to buy the stuff, Thanks to the meth weirdos) I felt better and was actually able to work. I do book keeping, AP & AR taxes and payroll for a heating and cooling company. That is not fun on a fuzzy foggy lifeless brain! Melia, I have 2 more taxols left! Almost done yippee. My hair is gray and growing!

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  • luckymel
    luckymel Member Posts: 643
    edited May 2007
    Lynn, I think my swelling started about the time of my last chemo, but it hit it's peak about two weeks after. I can't remember exactly - I wish I had kept a journal. You really do have a wonderful boss, don't you. The Red Sox tickets are a wonderful gift, but the support she has given you is really priceless. That makes all the difference.

    Caya, great idea to wait and call tomorrow when SIL and BIL are at work. Tell me about the Taxotere muscle twitches - what are they like? I have something, and it really bothers me. It's kind of between shakiness and a tremor, only maybe a little more twitchy. It bothers me, and I wondered if it ws related to something I'm taking now. Didn't occur to me that it might be due to chemo.

    Robertin, good to hear from you, and hope your liver tests come back ok. Sorry you're losing toenails - I am too. How are your fingernails? Mine aren't looking so good but they don't seem to be loose.

    Dar, celebrate like crazy this weekend. I'll have a glass of wine in honor of your birthday.

    Rebecca, I'm looking forward to those pictures of Owen. He sounds like such a fun kid.

    Nancy, glad you figured out what was wrong and are feeling better.

    I talked to Joyce this afternoon. She's feeling good, having some soreness but it is easily controlled with the occasional Vicodin. She said her pain level is about 2-3 on a 1-10 scale, so not bad. She also said that everything on the front of her is REALLY tight and firm, from the swelling. The BS called her today and told her they had found cancer in her other breast also, so we are very thankful she opted for a bilateral. I'm doing that also, and that reinforces my decision.

    This evening, DH is out in the other room cleaning up and sort of making a lot of noise about it - I get the feeling he's feeling sorry for himself for having to do "everything." I hate this - it's so much easier to just do it myself than to put up with him being a martyr about it. What he doesn't realize is that I do all that stuff all the time - and what he also doesn't realize is that it's going to get much worse after I have my surgery. And no, Melia, I haven't hired the maid yet. Soon, very soon. This is so frustrating.
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  • meliaanne
    meliaanne Member Posts: 682
    edited May 2007
    just back from sixth taxol. Went fine but my vein, which they love and have used almost everytime, hurt, so the nurse slowed down the infusion and it was better. It's a little achy now. I am going to tell the nurse next week to use a diff vein; I think this one has had it. I will go to bed very early tonight, always am so groggy afterwards. My son, thankfully, is out tonight, so he doesn't have to see me so drugged.

    I agree with what everyone is saying about toxic people. I think I have really learned who I can and cannot count on during this past six months. I have no time/patience for people who clearly do not care and just want the horror stories.

    Mel, get some help. It's expensive but worth it. Even having someone once every two weeks, like I do, makes it very manageable to keep up, esp if there are only the two of you. Rebecca, with five, how in the world do you keep up?

    My husband is very introverted and hasn't been demonstrative or esp warm during all of this, consistent with his pattern of behaviour for all these years. I have wished for more hugs but know that is just not him. Anyway, he is at a stage in his life where he hates to do yard work. I love it but can't do too much now. I had asked him to dig a couple of holes for tomato plants. He told me tonight that he is going to put in a raised veggie garden for me this weekend while our son is here to help him move some logs for it. He has great plans. He said that I could have some herbs that way, and anything else I want. Now this is something I have rarely mentioned but have wanted for the 20 years we have lived in this house. This means so much to me. I think he is trying to tell me that he loves me and wants to do something concrete. So sweet of him, and I will really enjoy it. I love fresh veggies and love fresh herbs, and will get a great deal of pleasure from this. He is bunny proofing it and putting in water too. We live in a rural area and the bunnies just love new plants. I can't believe he is doing this.

    Ok, six down, six to go. Six weeks from tomorrow is my last one. I can make it. Six months yesterday was the biopsy. What a ride!
    Melia
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  • Amera
    Amera Member Posts: 452
    edited May 2007

    Rebecca, I have a bolus thingy. They are only using it during my boosts. I also heard the dr say it protects my lungs. I have 8 boosts and had #3 today. My skin is pretty irritated from my regular treatments. It itches and is flaking. You can also see a sqaure of red where the rays hit it. The boosts are to the scar/tumor area and so far, nothing really going on.

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  • Lynn12
    Lynn12 Member Posts: 1,008
    edited May 2007
    Argh , just lost my post (the one time I didn't copy or write in word first...(grumble)...shortened version.

    Rebecca, I will have the bolus thing as well. Rad onc said because I had mastectomy and no boob, this makes sure the radiation goes to the skin..so in agreement with you. I'm scared of the burns as well.

    Mel, my feet are really really badly swollen tonight. I think I'll need to call the onc on Friday if it doesn't get better. I can't put any shoes on at all. I'm a bit worried about the plane ride home as well. It's been 2 weeks and 1 day since my last tx. These SE's are supposed to be getting better, not worse...very frustrating! I have the muscle twitches from taxotere as well. I mostly get them near my eyes and on my hands. Occasionally I'll randomly get them on my back, legs and arms. YOu can actually see them when it happens, your muscle just goes into a spasm. There's no pain involved, just bothersome.

    Melia, congrats on the halfway point on the taxol.

    Nancy, hope you feel better after finaly figuring out what the problem is. I hate having to go through all the crap to get the good cold drugs.

    Mary, the 90 supply is from mail pharmacy through my insurance. I only have to pay one copayment for 90 days, so they cost me $10 instead of $30 for 90 pills.

    Rebecca, they come in 2 doses, 10mg and 20mg. If I don't tolerate the 20mg, I'll ask onc to switch me to 10mg twice per day.

    We might get out early tomorrow, so I'm off to see if I can get an earlier flight home. Have a great night!
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  • Rebecca
    Rebecca Member Posts: 971
    edited May 2007
    Quote:

    This evening, DH is out in the other room cleaning up and sort of making a lot of noise about it - I get the feeling he's feeling sorry for himself for having to do "everything." I hate this - it's so much easier to just do it myself than to put up with him being a martyr about it.


    UGH MEN!!!!

    My DH is exactly the same way (that is "dratted human" in this context). It is a small portion of my normal responsibilities that he picks up now, but the least he can do is smile I think! Luckily I am usually dozing when he is doing it, so the scowl does not bother me so much. Three weeks out and I am still sleepy at 8PM....when does it end?!?!

    Melia-i am so glad that things went well yesterday with your treatment. Hang in there almost done! Sucks about your vein, though. They had a favorite vein on me too...right in the crook of my arm. It held up well but I now I have an aversion to anyone sticking me with needles there (shudder)

    Quote:

    Rebecca, with five, how in the world do you keep up?



    Well Melia, I do is slowly but surely through the day. We have MANY cobwebs and lots of dust. I start with the necessary things like dishes, laundry and shopping and then if I have extra juice I clean a room. Yesterday I did the bathroom. Probably why I pass out at 8...it was either that or running after my son on his bike yesterday. I think I need to break out the roller-blades or something

    Lynn, I am glad you are having a good time on your trip, but that sucks about your feet. maybe you should call before you get on the plane...call me a nervous nellie, but I am worried about the change in pressure and the swelling. He might have some suggestions to keep it from getting worse (pressure hose? diuretics?). Hate those muscle twitches too, and I hear you about the SE. My eyebrows and eyelashes are vanishing at an accelerating rate. They were pretty ratty to start with but now they are a total disgrace.

    Robertin-nice to hear from you! I think I read an article in Science News a few months back that referred to work done in your lab. Very exciting stuff!

    Nancy-I think that not being able to recognize a "normal" sickness is probably an undocumented SE of this experience. We spent so much time deathly ill that even when we feel sick we feel well by comparison. Hopefully time will grant back some perspective. Take it easy!

    Thanks for the responses about the bolus. Amera, glad to hear that you are having minimal discomfort. it sounds like I am going to get 14 shots with the bolus (shudder). I have relatively fair skin, but do not get sunburns easily so I have no clue how bad I will burn.

    Well that is some serious babble at 7AM

    I had a very down day yesterday. Now that I am physically starting to feel a bit better I am starting to freak a bit emotionally. I had a very bad body image day yesterday. It looks like my plastic surgeon is pushing my breast size up a full cup from what we discussed and I am very unhappy with it. In consultation we discussed a Full B or small C, and now he is saying "very full C", which translates to me as a D. I was a D cup when I was younger and i absolutely hated it. I spent the first 25 years of my life struggling to find clothing that fit properly, and feeling self conscious. I wore a lot of very baggy clothing and so on. I have no interest AT ALL in returning to that state....and in fact that is what I feel like NOW. My tissue expander is blown up to about a D right now and it is absolutely grotesque and I hate it. I am planning to have (another) talk with my PS and try to be more forceful about this, but he has a "daddy" complex, and has basically just been telling me to trust him, he will make me gorgeous. I think that what he doesn't realize is that not all women want to have big bouncy boobies! I spent all morning yesterday crying about this, and wondering if reconstruction was right for me at all. hopefully today will be better. UGH Thanks ladies...just needed to get that out there.
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  • sharon56
    sharon56 Member Posts: 220
    edited May 2007
    wow lots of posts to read gotta go check and read them all
    catch ya back here in about an hour
    I start my rads tomorrow !
    beautiful sunny day here today
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  • meliaanne
    meliaanne Member Posts: 682
    edited May 2007
    Rebecca, I am sorry about the hassles re the ps. I hope you get it all resolved. I have heard that the implant procedure is kind of tough. And dust bunnies don't matter, watching Owen careen around on his pink bike does. I remember lots of negotiating among my girls and boy re what they would play next; one hour of dolls, one hour of pirates, etc. The girls grew up and still are very fit and physical, and he grew up knowing how to listen, so I think their years of compromise may have turned out well.

    Lynn, I hope your trip home goes ok and your feet get resolved. Poor baby.

    Robertin, thanks for posting. Glad you are well.

    All the rads stuff will be interesting to follow. I hope that you all weather it well with minimal fatigue and burning. Those are the side effects that I have mostly read about.

    Have a good day all.

    Melia
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  • Amera
    Amera Member Posts: 452
    edited May 2007
    Quote:

    My tissue expander is blown up to about a D right now and it is absolutely grotesque and I hate it. I am planning to have (another) talk with my PS and try to be more forceful about this, but he has a "daddy" complex, and has basically just been telling me to trust him, he will make me gorgeous. I think that what he doesn't realize is that not all women want to have big bouncy boobies!



    Rebecca, I wonder if this is because most PS's spend a lot of time with women who *want* bigger boobs. I think most of us just want to look like we did pre BC.

    And friends I know who have gone to PS's for cosmetic things end up feeling terrible about themselves. They go in for one thing and end up hearing about how this dr can improve this or that. Things they haven't even noticed.

    I am focused on the fact that my breasts are now (very slightly) lopsided from my lumpectomy. I'm sure I'm the only one who notices but it does sorta bother me.
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  • sharon56
    sharon56 Member Posts: 220
    edited May 2007
    well i got through all the posts we are a busy bunch we are
    now .... with all this i am getting my keyboarding skills upgraded , I flunked typing in high school and still have a hard time typing on a computer ha ha .

    Dar1 50 years congrats , i found out I had BC in Sept the month I turned 50 but managed to get in a celebrating on Labor Day before the DX was "announced" it was a good party just me dh and 2 other couples at his best friends house in the country . We stayed up all night reminiscing and drinking wine .
    Skye : I luv your sense of humor every time i read your posts you make me laugh . Whats the name of that town Oconomowoc and how the heck do you pronounce it ? you do have funny name for towns there ! and godot ????
    Caya : ah SIL's yes they are "family " but toxic can drag you down sometimes if you do not need help just say so be frank , one thing I am leaning is to be honest and open and tell people up front things Get it over with and done, make it short and sweet and get it over with . If you are out of the "club" things are different they do not mean the same . We are in so much of a fishbowl sometimes , our thinking patterns have changed drastically and our outlooks . Who know she may not take it like you thinks she will .
    Viddie / Lynne :
    Plastic surgery and breast reconstruction i had a lumpectomy and still have my boobs , its hard for me to imagine BR and the surgeries . Sometimes i wonder if i should have had a mastectomy , i check my breast for lumps and wonder if they missed anything , I have advanced fybrocystic breast disease and my breast gets sore and lumpy l . It is now and scares me a bit How the heck do you tell if its a fibroid or a tumor ? Going to check with the DR when I go to get my rads , the next Dr on my team . At least where I am getting my rads its at one of the biggest cancer centers in Canada all the best equipment is available to me . Hope that the swimsuit issues work themselves out gals .
    I was told not to swim in chlorinated pools while on rads it will irritate the area . I also have my rads on my left side ,my heart is there and am expecting some kind of thingy to protect my heart and lungs . Will find that out tomorrow .
    Nancy : Glad you found out what was causing your troubles , I am almost 6 weeks out of my last chemo and still have bad days I get really tired and my head still gets fuzzy . The weather here does not help me either , smog alerts , humidity i just cannot take it like I used to and I am an outdoorsy type . Weird stuff .....
    Mel : DH's well could we say more , its funny how they all react and cope with all thats going on . They are a bit helpless in some ways and how they cope with it another .Want to help but can't , think they know but don't , but want to too . Or just plain cannot handle it and go into their caves . Mine had been here feeling guiltily at first , crying and saying he is sorry for being such an AH at times then not talking to me for a while and working on his airplanes ,he builds model airplanes and has a shop in the basement . The other thing is when he says "they got it all do not worry " (well maybe ) All in all though he had been my best bud , we were friends at work before we got married and still are , we work together and do the same shifts . We catch upon company gossip every day when he gets home form work . Sleeping is his main issue has hard time , the family Dr has been great ,, given him some sleeping pills ( I get the sleep in the house
    Robertin : you must have an interesting job , and quite the prof . Hope you liver issues work themselves out, yes it is nice not t have to go back to chemo !
    Melia : Get feeling better ..... take your naps , take care of yourself .
    Amera : sounds like you are almost done rads ..... did it make you sleepy or did it just cause skin irritation ? I am expecting to get back into my regular routine when i start rads as it will almost be like getting up and driving to work everyday . Prepares me for Sept when I do go back as the drive is 2 times the distance I drive to work everyday . Commuting here is ugly ...... at least its not winter ........
    Well gotta go hope everyone enjoys their day .... if I missed anyone hugs to ya
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  • skyedivine
    skyedivine Member Posts: 839
    edited May 2007
    Hey ladies,
    Wow, a lot of posts! I'll start off with my "spaced opera" saga of Waiting for Rads Onc. I FINALLY got a call this morning from Oconomowoc (yes it's a crazy name, Shorti, but wait til you hear the next one) ONLY to get shifted to yet another place, Mukwonago (muk-WON-ago). And my doctor's name is...Wingate Clapper! All I can think of is those commercials for the Clapper, Clap on, clap off, etc. The good news is that this cancer center is only a 15-minute drive, by far the shortest of any possibilities so far. And I have an initial consultation scheduled for next week Friday, June 1. Thought I'd be done with rads by end of June but now will go halfway through July, or more. But at least I have a place. What craziness!

    Caya, if I said "get rid of" toxic people that was probably too strong. Limit or eliminate contact during treatment and recovery is probably better. I love the suggestion of asking to use the cottage.

    Rebecca, your little Owen sounds so exuberant. Yes, kids over dust bunnies any day. I have always said that the last thing I wanted written on my tombstone would be, "She was a very good housekeeper." Although if it gets too bad I become depressed, and dh is vehemently against hiring housekeeper help. And he isn't here to help most of the time. On the pink bike, it reminds me of when my youngest was about 3 and I found a great fleece sleeper on sale...but it was pink. I sewed a Star Trek decal on it and told him space ship pilots wore pink and he sort of bought it. However last year his grandparents pulled out a photo they had taken of him in it and I had to suffer great recrimination for dressing him in pink. I just laughed and laughed and made a giant copy of the photo.

    Rebecca the bolus thing is new to me. I will ask about that next week in my consult.

    Amera I am also lopsided, one cup size gone on the left. Still using the old foam shoulder pad, and also found a couple of bras that are SO padded a bazooka couldn't dent them. Don't know what I'll do when rads starts if I can't wear them. Just look lopsided I guess.

    And Viddie, Jan and Mel, what did you think of the Lost finale? The ending was a shocker, I don't know how that will affect next season. And I really didn't want Charlie to die...or did he? I knew the other three were not really shot. I will watch again next year i'm sure.

    Melia, I almost cried to read about your raised garden beds. I am sure you are right that is your husband's way of showing you how much he cares. I've been begging my dh to do raised garden beds for years but he just doesn't have time and I'm not good at constructing things. Maybe if you send a pic I can show it to mine and inspire him.

    Also, I'm thinking of going to the Nebraska wedding anyway. They canceled all the airline tickets and decided to drive because my MIL was whining constantly about the flight, and with rads postponed there is no reason why I can't go. Have to figure it out yet but I just may do it.

    Robertin glad to hear from you, and Lynn, congrats on the super Sox tix!
    Cheers to all - Skye
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  • Rebecca
    Rebecca Member Posts: 971
    edited May 2007
    Quote:

    On the pink bike, it reminds me of when my youngest was about 3 and I found a great fleece sleeper on sale...but it was pink. I sewed a Star Trek decal on it and told him space ship pilots wore pink and he sort of bought it.



    OMG Skye LOL!!!!

    Maybe I should just put a Harley Davidson sticker on the "Fairy Flyer" and be done with it
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007
    Don't read this if you haven't already watched the last LOST episode

    LOST - I loved the look at life after rescue. So I think we know that they do get off the island, but were they rescued by the bad guys as Ben said? Why does Jack want to go back? What they heck was so bad that he's become an addict? Who was the funeral for that only Jack went to and that he was so upset over? Sawyer? Locke? (but Locke would have stayed on the island right?) I think Charlie must be dead. Well, as usual I'm left with more questions than they answered. Here's my #1 question - what the heck ever happened to Michael and his son Walt? It annoys me to no end that they have never shown us that. Except for Walt's brief mystery appearance last night. The producers of the show say that life on the island for the plane crash survivors is all about finding redemption - but I'm not sure that's what we saw last night re Jack.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007

    Anyone found a good cold sore remedy? I have a bad one.

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  • luckymel
    luckymel Member Posts: 643
    edited May 2007
    DIEP girls, I just found the best thing on another thread: http://www.assistwear.com/ It's called a transition gown and is perfect to wear after surgery with all the drains (Joyce has six). I've been looking for something to make do, but this is just what I need, and will probably end up saving me money.
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  • meliaanne
    meliaanne Member Posts: 682
    edited May 2007
    Yes, the raised beds are a very big deal. You may all remember my hurt when my dh wouldn't go with me for a few days to celebrate my end of chemo, felt he couldn't break his marathon training. I think the irony of this is that now he has hurt his ankle, can't run, and it is now doubtful that he can even do the marathon at the end of July. Not that I believe in divine judgement, but still ...kind of funny in a twisted way. He came back a week or so later and asked if he could come, said he didn't realize how hurt I was. I told him no, I didn't want gifts with price tags. We really get along very well on a daily basis; I think I so rarely ask for anything, am very independent generally, have done 99% of all the bc stuff alone, that he isn't used to listening to me when I do ask. So the garden is a huge thing for me.

    I listen to all of you with recon and am still thinking not for me. The dr asked me yesterday to keep an open mind, I may decide in a couple of years to do it. But I am 58, the scar doesn't bother me at all. If I were younger and still wearing tank tops and bathing suits, sure. But now, just don't want more surgery. You gals are doing the right thing though, I just wish it were easier for all of you.

    Skye, go to Nebraska. We should all go everywhere!

    Melia
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  • meliaanne
    meliaanne Member Posts: 682
    edited May 2007

    Jan, when I had mouth sores with ac, I used the oil from inside the vit E capsules. Worked like a charm. Did NOT clear it with the dr, though. I didn't want to hear him say no. I think I read about it on chemocare, but not sure.

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  • Amera
    Amera Member Posts: 452
    edited May 2007
    Quote:

    Anyone found a good cold sore remedy? I have a bad one.



    Jan, I have a script for Valtrex. I use to get terrible cold sores and I use it the minute I feel one coming on. It never gets that bad.I know you already have one, but you may want to ask for a scrip in case you get more.

    In the meantime, just keep it moist with petrolium jelly. Those things can be so uncomfortable.

    Okay, off to rads. Only 5 left! And honestly, I am not any more tired than usual. My skin doesn't feel burned, just itchy and red. Nothing really. I think that's pretty typical. I am pretty fair skinned and generally burn then tan. They said that has nothing to do with how your skin will react.
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  • Caya
    Caya Member Posts: 971
    edited May 2007
    Hi all,

    Had a headache again this morning now with really stuffed up nose and sore throat, so I am thinking like Nancy I have a sinus infection. Called the onc. and they said to go to my GP - so I am going tomorrow am. - took two more Tylenol 3's , helped the headache..

    Robertin - hope your liver is okay.
    Dar - Happy 50th, celebrate and enjoy your day with your family.
    Viddie - thanks for the diepflapl.com website - it really is great. I am really inclined to do it now after seeing some of those pix - amazing. LOL when I read your advice to mention to dear SIl to have them lend me their cottage - I wouldn't dream of asking them for this - I don't want to owe them ANYTHING.
    Nancy - I hope you feel better today.
    Mel - the twitches for me are more like a muscle ache - for a few seconds, come and go - but I do have those eye twitches. My DH will also announce " I washed the pots" when he has done this - well DUH - I do this all the time - gee dear, did I mention how I did the laundry, the cooking, etc. But he really does help out in general, so I can't complain.
    Rebecca, I also had big boobs ( like 34DDDD) and that's why I had the breast reduction to bring them down to a D - sorry you had to aggravated about this, but try to be more precise and firm when you next see your PS - don't settle for what you don't want...
    Skye - love that name - Wingate Clapper - sounds like a B movie star from the 40's - And I agree with Melia - go to Nebraska and enjoy. There is a Yiddish expression - Run to a simcha (celebration), walk to a funeral.
    Shorti - hope your rads go well, and the traffic isn't too bad -
    Feeling kind of tired and a bit depressed today, it's 2 weeks since my chemo - hopefully I'll perk up next week. I have my pre-Hercetpin MUGA scan nest Tuesday - oh more fun at the hospital.
    have a good day everyone
    I'm going to try to grab a nap today
    caya
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  • jonimb
    jonimb Member Posts: 900
    edited May 2007
    Hello all:

    Well I just got off the phone with my radiation oncologist. He has conferred with my medical oncologist, and they both believe because I responded so well to chemo on my liver met, that we should do the radiation to make sure it does not come back locally in the breast. He feels strongly that they can maintain my metastatic issues with either Tamoxifen, or in future with AI’s. If that doesn’t work, they know that the chemo shrinks them, so here we go with radiation. He was so positive, telling me that they are looking at this as a chronic disease, that I started crying.

    I already had the tattoos done, so I start on Monday. Now do I sound crazy or what, but I’m looking forward to it. A little bit of HOPE goes a long way.

    Melia, yes Dan & I had planned on going on a Mediterranean cruise from Oct 4-16, and we are STILL going.

    Mary, now it’s your turn to root for the Ottawa Senators!!

    Hugs to all…Joni
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