For those starting chemo in June

Sounds like everyone had a fun filled weekend.
We took a ride to the Devils Lake State Park, walked around a bit- kicking leaves like little kids! I was pretty tired after that. I had to take a warm relaxing bath Sunday to rest my weary joints and muscles. My right hand has some tingling from the index finger thru my wrist.. It's is such a weird feeling and makes it hard to type.
It's chilly again, so I will curl up on the sofa today and rest some more.
I have to miss a confernece in Pittsburgh this weekend so I am bummed I won't get to see my friends from around the country, but I didnt' want to take a chance on infection or illness with my last chemo so near. I don't want any delays.
2 of the guys came home for a meal and to do their laundry this weekend- actually took them out to eat since I haven't cooked in a while. Our Friday night Fish Fry is the best here in Wisconsin. Resturants are packed. I couldn't taste much, but what's new!
Only 1 to go! Yippee! Then on to rads with PJB- though you'll be done with that soon too!!!
Have a great day ladies.
Renee

Well good morning girs,Sounds like we all had fun and busy and exausting wk. ends.The guys caught some good sized blue gill. They fish for keeps. They are cleaned and in the frig. in salt water. I've got to freeze them today. Gee, I would like to retire soon but that just isn't going to happen. I told my husband yeaterday I probably wont live to retire. I hope so but in reality whats the odds? I live just this side of reality. I hope to get at least 10 years maybe 15 but I could get 2 or 5. Its kinda like the lottery. I just wait for my number to come up. I am not scared at least not yet. If it comes back yea, it will be then but so many keep going with treatment. I am just going foward and not thinking about it; yet thinking about it a lot. Does that make sense? I am not worring or getting depressed lets put it that way. I know it will eventually come back and probably be my downfall but till then I won't dwell on it. It will just be in the back of my head sitting there starring at me. Boy, enjoy those days of the kids needing a good meal and moms smile. Soon they have their own lives and gee, its lonesome until theres grandkids. Then you run and babysit and go and do all over again. It takes parents and grandparents to raise kids now. It keeps us on our toes and thats a good thing until the grandkids have to help you spell or remind you where you parked. I always tell mine where would I be if you weren't here to help me? ( help me to a breakdown when the boys decide to fight) They have been better since I have been sick from the chemo. They help a lot (between fights).Hows the rads. PJB? getting any fatigue yet? Well better go. Hey Renee, do they serve real walleye up there? We have fish here on Fri. too but no real walleye, they serve Pollach and call it walleye. I talk way too much. My pain is better as long as I don't sit or lay for more than 3 mins. Warm Hugs, Mary

Mary,
Most of the all you can eat Fish Fry is a deep fried cod-yummy, but we also have -depending on the season- perch or walleye.
My son makes a delicous blue gill too! Renee

Janie, I think it'd look great with a cowgirl hat! I have some of those bang things, but they're kinda weirdly constructed, so it just ends up looking wrong somehow.

Hey, so I really need to shave my legs. But I decided I kind of like the thought of having hair on my legs, so I'm not gonna do it. Unless it's 90 degrees still this weekend....

Mary, I read another post that was talking about teeth problems. She said her dentist said chemo eats away at them. My caps feel loose or something. I'm glad I did not have the major dental work done that I was planning before dx. I am sure there is lot of that coming my way later.

Number 8 coming up tomorrow. The blister on the tip of my tongue is still there. It usually disappears a day or two before treatment. No respite this time. Tomorrow is just a routine port access / chemo session. Should be no hassle, if I can keep the leg from dancing.

I'm back, Haven't ran to Wally yet. May not, at work. I have my C.T. scan tomorrow and the mammo and surg. apt. I have to leave work at 7:30. Gosh I still am ragging on my teeth, I just can't get over it. I called my sister today and complained to her. I just hate thinking about it. I ran into a childhood friend today and she is a 6 year surviver. Don't know what kind just that it was est. receptive. We were talking about b.c. in line at the grocery store and there were 3 men behind me. They are a lot smarter than when they went in if thats possible. Ah; they are men they weren't listening. Hey I am up to 137 lbs. Now thats more than I have ever weighed. I never get past 132 in the winter which is when I gain a little. Summer I am at 126 always. I am going to have to do something. I am eating sweets, now thats not me. I have a big ol stomach, I look pregnant. My leg muscles are good and firm again but my butt looks like two cats fighting in a plastic bag when I run. No jogging for me! If your brain controls your body then if I mentally exercise will it work the lbs. off? I just did a new exercise called oreo dip. I worked the muscle that waves when your hand waves. I reached and dipped my oreo in my milk. I did two cookies so thats about 6 reps. total, should help huh? PJB, you keep an eye on your teeth. Hope your heart holds up good. I had some chest pain with the Taxol and I think the A/C caused it but it seems to be gone now. I think it stressed my heart. You take care of yourself and take it easy. If you get any pain that doesn't feel normal you get checked. Please be observant. Everyone sleep well off and on. Someday we too shall become normal again and actually sleep through the night. Sleepy hugs, Mary

Getting ready to go out the door. I'm one to kid you about Chemo Brain. I've forgotten my headgear a couple times. That's understandable....but I just noticed my pants still laid out....forgot I didn't have them on. Glad I saw them before going out the door. Have a good one ladies!

Renee, Hope the acupuncture works. Let me know. I'm thinking of going for my foot junk. So when's the last chemo for you?

Janie, Hope you're well. I've only forgotten my "headgear" once. It was during our brief cool snap, and boy did I miss it.

Mary, prayers on that CT scan and mammo. Let us know how it turns out. I don't guess they'll let you know today, huh? I'm with you on the Oreo train, altho my fat delivery system of choice is the Milano cookie. I get the mini ones just to make myself feel better. Of courese, then I eat 8 of them instead of one regular size cookie.

You guys take care and have a good one. Gotta go to work. And I actually have to do some today...

Hi Girls,Well start rads tomorrow and have to keep tape and b-b's on until Mon. or Tue. Couldn't get mammo cause of b-b's and tape. I have a great road map on my chest in case I get lost. Thats possible anymore. My Surg. put tracers in my boop so it didn't take long, about a half hour to map it out. Boy I bet I will set off the metal detector at the airport for sure. I went shopping and picked up a few x-mas things so didn't get home until 6 or so. Met my daughter and had lunch with her.My tongue is really getting bad so if its no better tomorrow gonna see the onky.Broke my cell, it just popped and now I have to hold it together to talk. Thats convenient, its a flip. I will go tomorrow and see if I can find a way to get a phone cheap.I won't but I will try. Well I did the Wendys work out tonight. I used my calf muscle to work the gas peddle to drive to Wendys and I did range-of-motion while stearing (lot of turns). I also did the pay to walk today. I walked around the Mall and paid for things I don't really need. I think I have had a good work out.I bet those lbs. are just melting. Boy those new Hershey's kisses with carmel are freeking good. I have to limit myself. And I wonder why I am blowing up? With my memory lately I'll hopefully forget I have gained. Hope we all can dress and remember our hair tomorrow. I forgot my mother-in-law was having a stint put in yesterday(heart). Shes fine but I feel kinda bad. I always take her and this is the first time I didn't so she should of reminded me. Its an easy process and seldom any complications.(out pt.) Hope you all find relief from your side affects for a while. I too never slept all night I was up to pee and get a drink or watch some t.v. but slept more than now. I use to sleep all night until the change knocked at my door. I have my Do-Rag under my ball cap so I stay warm and it hides the gap in the back and hangs down so you can't see any stubble. Well I have to be at work at 9 and its 9:02 later Hugs, Mary.

Mary, I hope you DO call your onky donkey tomorrow about your tongue. That's awful. Maybe you need something antibiotic for it. I don't guess you've tried Neosporin? (kidding) I spent a bunch of money today, too. At work they sell all the junk people send into the newspaper (book, movies, etc) and all the free stuff salesmen dole out and a bunch of other stuff. Then we bid on it. The money goes to the children's literacy thing the paper does. So, naturally, I bought a bunch of stuff for Nathan that will just end up strewn around my house. You'd think I'd learn.

So exactly what did they leave on you? I got tattoos and nothing else left on me before rads. I hope things go quickly and easily. My guess is they will. What time of day will you be going?

After I got done dressing today, I looked behind mystery door No. 1 at the hospital and asked what that weird machine was that was in there. Turns out it was the old simulator they used for radiation. So I said, well, I was glad I was getting MY treatment from the cutting edge equipment. The techs laughed. They said what I was using was cutting edge about 12 years ago and the hospital just GOT the machine 2 years ago. Said they didn't have anything remotely new until my rad onc came on board and started pushing for newer equipment. So I told them I really wish they'd get some more cutting edge gowns with velcro or something so I didn't look like I was a dog chasing my tail because I have to twist around so much to try to tie the dang string things sometimes.

Renee, does your insurance cover the acupuncture? Mine doesn't. First visit is 65 bucks and then 45 for every one thereafter. I haven't bothered trying because I didn't want to spend that kind of money on something that might not work. But if you've had luck with yours, maybe I'll give it a shot for a treatment or 2.

Be well, guys.

Another lady who has fluid posted on another thread. The word "seroma" was mentioned. I did a serach on this board and found:

Following lumpectomy, a space remains in the breast that was previously occupied by breast tissue. It is natural for spaces such as this to fill with fluid as the body responds normally to this missing tissue. The term "seroma" is the name for clear fluid buildup; the word "hematoma" is used to describe a blood collection. Finding fluid in the lumpectomy space is in no way abnormal. In most instances the body will reabsorb the fluid within a year after surgery, and longer periods of time are not rare. On occasion, the fluid formation may be uncomfortable and may even protrude from the breast. In these instances, your surgeon may elect to aspirate some of the fluid. Remember, there is no cause for concern. It is best, however, if you allow your doctor to recheck this area to make sure that you are healing properly.

Well hello girls, Got my first rad. and drove up there and home.(45 min. drive one way) I hope we don't get snowy bad weather I hate driving in bad snow or on icy roads. I do it a lot so I am well qualified but don't like it. PJB, I called my onky and he called in mouth rinse. Its much better this afternoon, I guess the call helped.Haven't picked up meds. yet. At work hafta go for now babysitting of all things. Mary

PJB, I am soo sorry to hear about your sister. My thoughts and prayers are with both of you. It's bad enough to have this freakin' disease without finding out a loved one has it.

My grandmother had it, now me, and I am so worried about my daughter.

Mary, I've done that several times [posts didn't show up]. It's this new fangled board.

Well, I think I may have a boob infection. It is extremely red and another pocket has formed with gook coming out of it. There is more rather than the predicted less. I hope this doesn't slow things down.