Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Yikes- I do not like this!!!!

I am on my way to chat- see you there.

OH darn, I missed chat!!

 I'm not liking this new look..I think it's harder to maneuver and find things.  I hate how it doesn't bring you to the most recent unread post, I had to click to the end, then go back a couple pages...argh!  And now I have to figure out how to do the avatar thing again...double argh!

Guys, this stinks!  Why reinvent the wheel?  We don't need add'l foolishness in our lives!  This is VERY user unfriendly.

Hi Ladies,

I second all your comments. MODERATORS: If you are listening, we hate it! Why lose all our avatars and signatures? It's very hard to find our way around. Jerking bc survivors around is not nice. We are very dependent on one another and it's traumatic to have yet one more rug yanked from under us.



I was on chat last night but my internet connection was so slow I finally gave up on it, making it a totally tech-challenged day. I had done my first book signing since dx for a little history club in a nearby town, 20 elderly ladies who bought a bunch of books, and was already exhausted so all this was the last straw. I suppose we will eventually get used to it, though.



Hope everyone is doing fine otherwise. - Skye

Hi ladies,

If you are unhappy with the look of the new boards, (and I think we all are), please post your complaints on the Comments thread - it's the first thread on the Community Knowledge Exchange board.

Very upsetting for all of us. However I think we should all try to post again here on our Jan. 2007 Chemo Sisters thread, and stay in touch.

Very busy day here. Friday is a big deadline day for ordering shoes for the next shipping season, and DH and I have been very busy.  One customer in particular is being a real pain the ass - DH saw him 6 weeks ago with the Spring 2008 line, told him to get his order in right away for early delivery, reminded this customer 2 weeks ago, and now this goof is complaining that the delivery is too late - hello - you're not my sole customer. Oy!!

Looking forward to a quieter weekend. A good friend of ours father passed away and we were at the funeral and back at the house yesterday. Tomorrow night our family is sending in a shiva meal for dinner, so we will be back there.  For those of you who don't know what shiva is, after a Jewish person passes away, the family sits "shiva" for seven days, not working, and people visit them to pay their condolences.  Meals are sent in and served by extended family and close friends.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

FYI - if you need to post a picture click ont eh little "tree" symbol beside the smiley face above the box where you type your post.

I won't tell you how long it took me to figure that out!

well i did my test today and they had to take some biopsies ..... here i go again ...... but with a level head . I have had ct scans , ultrasounds and a second surgery . So my hope is that the suspected abnomalities are benign . They are putting a rush on the path report so i should know whats up in the next few weeks . My colon cancer was stage 2 and has not spread to my lymph nodes or other parts of me body . I have been looked after pretty good i think also my blood tests are done every 3 months ...

but the thoughts are there and the wondering has begun .... i needed to vent here and know that all understand the stupid things that hit every once in a while i am NOT going to get upset i believe i have done everything i could f*&^k disease and its ugly head  Now I think what about the BC too mamo's in a month ....

 I also post about the new format a few things are wacky . still trying to post some pics here wacky too

check in later gals i am off to make dinner . hope all is well with everyone and that all going through reconstruction are doing ok

love ya all i do not know where i would be without you gals i know you understand

Shorti, I'll be praying for you.  Hope all turns out okay.  You've been through alot.

 Jan, I did know to spread the Calcium out but how many hours in between?  I usually forget until late in the day and then I'm trying to get it in before I go to bed.  I think the amount you can absorb is 600 mg because that is the dose most of the supplements come in.  So are we suppose to take 2 a day (1200?). 

Hey girls,  things have calmed down somewhat here.  After my enraged email to her and her false apology back, that's been it.  And will be.  Jaclyn fully realizes it's finished.  We did her b'day party invites tonight and she's excited.  Poor Paul...he has been having bloody noses for years now, off and on, and I had him to the ENT twice this week for cauterization and again three weeks ago.  It's not working.  He had four bloody noses at school today, is missing all kinds of classtime.  I had to dismiss both kids today and yesterday to see the ENT.  The ENT really worked the hell out of his nose tonight...he was in pain.  He tentatively set a date in the OR for next Wed. in the event he had another bleed....which he did, tonight at 8.  He's afraid, but I've effectively calmed him down.  So Tues. I'll go to the gyno and figure out what I'm gonna do about the D and C, the hemmorhagic ovarian cysts. and Wed. am early, I'll take Pauly in for surgery.  He's such a good, happy kid...  I just want this over for him.

 Joni, enjoy that trip.  I'm sure you'll have more great pics.  Jan, great shirt.  Caya, too bad about your friend.  How do they schedule the shiva meals or do you just kind of drop things off that can be frozen?  They cover all mirrors in the house too, during shiva, correct?  Was your friend young/old?  I must say, you sound back into the action, shoe wise.  I'm glad for you.  Melia, I read in Carolyn Kaelins book that on chemo we lose body mass at a rate of 10 years in just one...something like that.  Or, what you'd normally lose, tone-wise, over ten years just goes in a year of chemo.  So that could account for the change in the feeling of clothes.  I feel different too, girl, so I hear ya.  Thank God long tops are in style now.  Sharon, if they are pushing your path reports, I'd haunt them for them after 3 days...and then another 2, until you get them.  Waiting is so hard.  You seem to be in a good frame of mind though, so keep that up.  We're help you through.

 Mary, I read the CA125 test isn't accurate in us because we have BC and that can skew it.  Liver issues can too.

Pauly can't play his soccer game tomorrow due to his nose, so...  but it's Jaclyn's first game.  She's a riot.  A little midget flying under everyone in her bright rasberry shirt and silver sequin headband.  She was told to lose the earrings. 

Hi all,

Jan,

Love the t-shirt! LOL

Shorti,

Sending you hugs. Hopefully you will get good results.

Melia,

I hope you feel better real soon.

Tina,

I am glad things have calmed down a bit at your house. What type of surgery does Pauly need? Will it be day surgery? Nose bleeds for an active boy are tough. Hopefully the surgery will end it for once and for all.

I went to the PS today and he lanced my breasts. Yeah!! So much blood came out. Apparently I had a minor complication- a hematoma that did not resolve. It kept filling up with blood- hence all that bleeding through my clothes. With an electric straw or some doohickey he got the blood out. Then he stitched it back and told me it was all fixed and I should stop bleeding. I am so excited and relieved. I did not feel a thing because they are still numb. .The other breast was not as bad, but still had to be lanced to get out some necrosis. One breast needs to be bandaged and covered with that silver stuff for a week. The other worse one just needs to be covered dry. They look so much better and not swollen anymore. This complication is not too common, but s**t happens. It could have been a whole lot worse and now it is fixed. I would do it again in a minute.

Back to my vicodin- now I will need it after today for a few days. He gave me a new script without a problem.

Nights everyone.

Viddie

Sharon, I can't believe you'll have to wait weeks for your results - I wouldn't let them make you wait longer than a week.  Until you hear, though, we'll all be waiting with you and praying for you and hoping for the best possible results.  I'm sure you're fine, but definitely understand the worry.  Just bug the hell out of them until they give you the all clear!

Viddie, I'm glad you finallyh found out where your pain and bleeding was coming from - hopefully now you'll have a smooth recovery.  Your attitude is great. 

 Lynn, sounds like you're in good hands, and glad you got the script for Ativan.    Sorry you're still losing nails.   I lost one last week, too, much to my surprise - however, there was a new one underneath. 

Tina, so sorry Paul has to have surgery, but I'm sure he'll be glad to get rid of the nosebleeds, and I'm sure he'll do fine. 

I'm exhausted - will catch up with everybody else tomorrow.  Has been a stressful week here.  Finally sort of hit the wall as far as radiation is concerned, kind of like I did at the end of chemo.  I can hardly move I'm so tired - that coincided with the three day seminar I signed up to take that I'm really too tired for now, and it's clear across town, like 45 miles each way.  DH got backed into and it totalled his car, but it was my turn for a new car, so he went out and bought me a new car - not one hour after I told him PLEASE not to do anything without my approval.  It is ok, but probably wasn't the best decision, and it will never be the one I chose, because I didn't choose it.    Anyway, I love you all.  Have a great weekend.

Hi,

It looks like they acted on a few of the comments/complaints about the changes. I can actually see what I typing. This font should be big enough for almost everyone. Of course I still need my glasses to make clear.

I'm glad that nearly everyone has checked in, and is getting their avatar pictures installed again. Wow! Skye your hair is really filling in. Is it getting any longer? Or are you still going with the Arty, Short Hairdo? 

Sorry to hear about the troubles and sad events. I hope things get better soon.

Well, I'm off to have lunch with the hubby for his Birthday. His BD isn't until Monday, but he likes the Dim Sum this one restaurant serves on Weekends.

Until later.

Jan-love the tshirt.  Hilarious!

Caya, sorry to hear about your friend's father....and the annoying customer.  I hope you are having a quiet weekend as you wished!

Tina I am glad that things are settled with that nasty mom.  WHO NEEDS IT!  That is what I always say.  Kid politics are more distressing for the parents than for the kids sometimes.....Ana has been coming home complaining of belly aches since the first day of school.  At first we just thought that it was a normal stress reaction to the new year/new teacher etc but today she melted down and it turns out that she has been seated next to a little boy who has been calling her names and kicking her under the table during class.  AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH  my poor little Ana is very sweet but not always very assertive so she has had a problem letting the teacher know this was going on.  She is sooooooo upset because she normally gets along with everyone, and is very sensitive to negative dynamics like this.  I have emailed her teacher already and we will see what she does.  I will say that if the teacher does not at least move her seat this situation is going to get VERY ugly VERY fast because I will not tolerate one of my kids being treated that way.  If the little bully can not keep his mouth shut and his hands to himself he should not be sitting close enough to another child to do them harm.

That stinks about Paul and his nose.  I hope the surgery  helps him.  What is it that they are going to do for him?

Joni, have fun on your trip!

Sharon I am thinking about you....what a bummer to have to wait so long for test results.  If a "rush" is a few weeks I can not imagine waiting for ordinary path results!

Mary I have been taking calcium since I started taking my Tamoxifen...I take 500 mg 2 times a day, along with extra vitamin D.  I put it right in my pillbox with my Tamo so I do not forget.  I have been very good with my meds....even though I am RAGING mad every time I have to open that box and take that teeeeny pill.  I am very resentful of it, even as I am thankful that such a thing exists for me to take.

Melia- hang in there.  I hope the Ativan helped you last night!  I am also sure that you will look fine in your dress.  I am going dress shopping tomorrow with my sister.  I also feel like I am a bit flabbier than I used to be.  I have started to try and work out again a little, but I am so afraid of doing "something" to my boobs that I am going very easy at first....not much more than riding my stationary bike and "thinking about" my abs as I do it to try and firm them up a bit.

Viddie that is great news from the PS for you!  I am so glad that he was able to give you some answers as well as some relief.  I suspect it will be quickly back uphill for you from here on out!

Lynn it sounds like things are moving along nicely with your surgery plans.  I am glad you have a surgeon you like.  Stinks about your toenail.

Well anyway, so far having a regular Saturday.  DH just went off to the gym, and I am here with the two little ones.  We are going to have a big girly sleepover tonight....should be fun.

I had a bit of a breakthrough the other morning...I woke up SLEEPING ON MY BELLY!!!!  I thought I would never be able to do THAT again!  I am still a little sore, and my right boob is a bit higher and less natural looking than my left, but I guess it is to be expected since it is NOT natural .  The raw spot is still raw, but it is not getting worse or looking infected so I guess that is good.  I am going back to the PS on Tuesday and he will get to see it. 

On the negative side, my insurance company is busy denying all my surgery charges, so I have some unpleasant phone calls to make on Monday.  They are treating it like it is cosmetic surgery, and denying it because I am not  covered for that.  DUH...all they have to do is look at my medical history, or even MY  LAST SURGERY which was intended to set up for THIS one!  I swear our medical system is in such need of reform.   It is a bit scary, though, because if they wind up NOT paying for whatever reason, then we are basically bankrupt.  Sigh.

Well, on that cheery note I should get away from the computer for a bit.  Hope you are all having a good weekend

Happy early birthday, Caya! Wish I'd known in time to mail you a card.

Lynn and Mel, I'm upset for both of you over the nail loss. Lynn did you have a new one growing already too? Mine were feeling a little sore last week but that seems to have stopped.

Tina I think we can all sympathize with your Paul on the nosebleeds. ;-) It is so nice now to be able to blow my nose and not worry it will be bloody. Hope that clears up for him.

Rebecca you have a total right to expect that Ana will be protected from kicking in the classroom. There are plenty of little bullies who have to be reigned in, and teachers have ways of doing that. But they do need to be told of what's going on...this kid sounds very sneaky and probably gets away with a lot. Good of you to nip things in the bud.

We did get to the farmer's market and I came home with organic veggies, special popcorn, and a huge bouquet with sunflowers that only cost $5.00. I love Madison, it boosts my spirits just to go there.

Rebecca good luck with that insurance company, we do need reform in that industry. We've been going through the same thing with ours.

Debbie happy birthday to the DH! - Skye