Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Today is going a *whole lot* better than yesterday. Got a good night's sleep and the claritin is working just great. I take a whole big handful of pills now in the AM, after getting just down to one. Darn!!!

I was feeling just about perfect on the Prozac and Tamoxifen, but I knew I had to wean off the Prozac, so I've gone down to halves and am started to flash today. So today I bravely took half an Effexor (that's half of a 37.5 pill). So far no SEs. Effexor is supposed to help with HFs. I am now taking Tamoxifen, Prozac, Effexor, Caltrate, Keflex, Zantac, and a big vitamin pill every morning. What a handful!!!!

I was SOOOOO determined to lose weight yesterday, I went hungry all afternoon and then worked out at the gym (a pretty wimpy workout, but better than nothing) on empty and as a result my stomach filled with acid and I blew up like I was in my second trimester. I was having such a miserable day I rewarded myself with my dessert: Apricot Almond Cream, topped with toasted slivered almonds and a little more Disaronne. Oooo la la...divine!!!

Anybody who wants the recipe let me know.

My morning weight was at an all time high since chemo treatment. HELP!!!

xxoooo Mizsissy

(When I was pregnant he constantly compared me to stages of cow gestation.)

OH, SKYE, THOSE ARE FIGHTIN' WORDS!

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"My morning weight was at an all time high since chemo treatment. HELP!!!"
Mizsissy,
As a WW, I gotta tell you, as you I am sure know,it works best if you to eat 2- 3 meals a day, and eat in moderation. You cannot skip meals- it makes you hungrier. Eating fruit is healthy and not a lot of calories. Carrots and other vegetables can also make good snacks. We all go through eating too much and then regretting it. I have been there, done that too many times. Getting back on track the next day helps. Sorry if I sound like I am preaching, but you have to eat healthy to stay healthy.
Eating sweets is one thing, sometimes medicinal, and it is better than not eating. I am not saying to just eat sweets- moderation is the key.
Viddie

Viddie...I know I should be eating carrots and celery & I usually do. A dessert is a very rare event at my house, and I think it should be even rarer!!!

Thanx...I need some scolding!!!

xxxooo Mizsissy

Anyone want to meet Tuesday night around 8:30pm Eastern Time in the "staying connected" chat room? I'll be there and will hang out for as long as I can.

I wish skipping meals were my problem!!!! I never miss a meal!!!

We just went for a ten mile bike ride and got soaked in a thunderstorm. Does getting rained on wash away extra calories?

"Open mouth, insert foot."- That's me right now. Sorry, Mizsissy, if I am sounding too anxious. Sometimes I can't help myself.
Viddie

Ok, I may have to post more than once - I have a lot to say tonight. First of all, Rebecca, I also LOVE your glasses - they totally change your look, and while I liked your old look, these are new, fun, flattering, and make you look very cool. Maybe I will have the guts to change to something like that after all this is over. I've worn the rimless kind of glasses for years now - comfortable, but how safe and boring. Definitely keep the new ones, you look great!
Mellia, I had chemo first before surgery partly out of personal choice (I dreaded it more and wanted it out of the way), partly because I wanted to work longer and build up more sick days before I had to take off for surgery, and partly because I was a stage IIb and the oncologist and surgeon both recommended neo-adjuvant chemo. No, I won't have anyone here after surgery - I'm pre tty independent and think I'll be just fine - dh is staying home from work for a few days if I need him, of course. I'm not one to like people hovering around. I'll just be in the hospital overnight, if that. I'd rather come home. Good for you, standing up to the cat food lady! I agree wtih everyone else - you were totally right to put her in her place. If she has scientific evidence to back that up, I'll start eating cat food, but I imagine she was just talking off the top of her head and somebody needs to shut her up, so good for you. My sympathies to you in the loss of your kitty, and to Mizsissy, also. I've got a 17 year old cat, Ted, who is heading down that CRF road, so I can relate - also the 15-year old recently curedf of diabetes. My cats live long lives, but then it's even harder to get used to your life without them.
Jan, thanks for all the good tips! You all are so wonderful - ask for information, and it miraculously appears.
Mizsissy, send me your recipe. I just might try it - I'm in such a rut as far as cooking goes - it might be good to try something totally different.
Skye, your husband sounds like he's as much of a character as you are.
Viddie, are you the one who posted the WW tip about eating non-fat key lime yogurt with non-fat cool whip? If so thanks - I've been eating that ever since. Very deserty and satisfying.
Lynn, I am STILL taking the diuretics. I think I'm about ready to quit or at least cut back, but I quit once before and the swelling came back, just like yours did. So I'm going to taper off slowly and see if I can stop them now. I am definitely better. Even though my clothes don't fit right, I am down to about 10 lb. below my pre-chemo weight. I read today that because we lose muscle mass due to inactivity during chemo, we have this problem with needing bigger sizes, etc.
Ok, I'm going to post this, then I'll be back to give you an abbreviated version of the story of my day.

after starting Tamoxifen. My ankles and knees hurt within 48 hours. That seems to have subsided, though. I haven't noticed any other s/e.

Cindy

Melia-I also think you were absolutely right to put that cat food lady in her place. I also think it goes past this idea of cancer resulting from something that you did/ate and lands squarely inside the idea that it is completely cruel to give people false hope, or dangle false treatments in front of legitimate ones. As if things were not confusing enough! I think I would have been even harsher with her, and IN FACT I would have very likely complained to the store manager. She had no right to make those claims, and she should be ashamed. I hope she had nightmares after your encounter. Maybe she will mend her ways. In fact….you did her a favor!

Thanks everyone for the votes of confidence on my new glasses. I really think that it is symbolic…it is a big change to start my “new” life. My leopard scarf is one of my favorites…it is super soft an sooooo fun to wear. Matches my umbrella too, so I had to wear it today in the rain

Mizsissy…ditto on Viddie’s comments (and viddie you were not preachy at all…you have sound advice!). Do not starve yourself in penance for over-indulging. You must eat or you will be sending your body the message that there is a “famine” and then it actually becomes HARDER to lose weight.

I am feeling a bit funky today…not sure what set me off, but I think it might be a hormonal shift, only because I am noticing some acne which I have not seen since my periods went MIA in Feb. Spent the afternoon making a photo book for my husband…it is his birthday next week, so I decided to make him something special instead of just getting him ‘something”. I put a bunch of photos together with some sappy words. MUSH MUSH MUSH. I just hope that he does not think I plagiarized a greeting card.

Skye- moo?

I will be thinking of you tomorrow Mel…

Have to get the kids to bed….

Ok, so I began my morning frantically calling my disability ins. people trying to find out what they wanted in order not to cut off my money after tomorrow. Seems they wanted everything I had done in the past month, including lab, x-rays, test results, office notes, etc. From every possible doctor. Now, just try get THAT all together in one day and get it all faxed. I spent two hours on the phone with the surgeon's office and the medical records dept. in his clinic (big clinic, big bureaucracy) and all that happened was that one place would refer me to another, which would refer me back, until finally one woman said "it ain't gonna happen." That was the typical attitude I got from everyone there. Onc. office - no problem, they faxed within minutes. PCP, the same. Two hours later, I gave up on the big clinic and drove in there, even though it is 25-30 miles away. After spending an hour there, plus another hour while driving (horrors) calling and trying to connect with someone who would help, I still was at square one, and getting upset. So I called back disability ins., demanded to speak to the person in charge of my account who had made this ridiculous decision to cut me off the day of my surgery, and she apologized profusely. It seems that is their policy when surgery happens - they then call the surgeon the next day and if the surgery went on as scheduled, then the ins. continues to be paid. They didn't need ANYTHING from me at all!!!! After I had spent four hours and 50+ miles driving time and I don't know how much energy, they didn't need ANYTHING!!! But, it did keep me occupied.

Now let me back up a bit. I got up at 4:00 to go to the bathroom, and passed out. Bit my lip, bumped my nose, and bruised a few other things...like, everything? Low BP, probably from the diuretics, so no more of those until later. Scared dh to death - he may never let me come home from the hospital, now! Nothing seriously hurt, but boy, do I ache all over.

I saved the best for last, girls. On the way into Houston proper, I stopped at this little breast care boutique where I had ordered one of those camisoles everyone is talking about. It was supposed to have been in on Friday. The little old ladies that run it keep it locked, so you have to knock, then they let you in and lock up again. There were some ladies who came in right before me, so one lady was helping them in the back room and the other was helping another customer, and I waited patiently on the couch. Customer #1 comes out, pays and leaves, and the lady who was helping her walked back to the back room. Of course, I assumed she was coming right back, but she didn't. I was patient for a while longer, but I was really pressed for time, and after I had been there 30 min. or so I went to the back and started calling for help. Nobody came. I knocked on the door. Nobody came. I called them on my cell phone and I got voice mail! Then I lost it. I was ready to give up, but I couldn't get out. And I started just sobbing, and I couldn't stop, and I sat there and cried for 10 more minutes before anyone ever came out. I was ready to call the fire department, or the police, seriously. And then they couldn't find the camisole. They found it, but couldn't find the price. They gave up and said ok, just give us $40, and then I looked at it and it was the wrong thing anyway! Can you believe it? Held prisoner for 40 min. by two little old ladies in a breast boutique, and hysterical? I finally said just let me out, and don't reorder, because I'm never coming back here again.

With all the excitement, I forgot to call my HR dept and see where my paycheck went. Well, I did once, but I got voice mail there too. I hate voice mail.

Anyway, that was my day. That and taking lots of phone calls. I think I'm ready for tomorrow - as ready as I"m going to get. Thanks to all of you for your good wishes and support. It really does make all the difference. I told Larry how to post on here tomorrow night so he can update you all, and I'll be back asap. Love you all.

Jan,
I will try to log into that chat room tomorrow night - I had trouble last time, but hopefully I'll get on tom.
caya

After that day, you deserve two glasses of wine! Make sure they check your electrolytes before your surgery tomorrow. Diuretics, passing out, etc. Glad you weren't hurt any worse.

QUOTE: I was living a perfectly normal life, exercising four times a week, eating lowfat food, no family history

WHAT??!!! NO FAMILY HISTORY???? (Just kidding... couldn't resist.)

Quote:

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QUOTE: I was living a perfectly normal life, exercising four times a week, eating lowfat food, no family history

WHAT??!!! NO FAMILY HISTORY???? (Just kidding... couldn't resist.)

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Well you do have about 20 sisters........