Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi Ladies, just a few quick notes before I head out to Milwaukee again. Melia, do cut yourself plenty of slack, you still need it. I'm so glad you are back in the house and ok.

Lynn, sympathies on the head games they are forcing you to play, it just may be due to the complexity of your being a cancer survivor that they want you there in person.

Joni, happy Mastiversary and that spa trip sounds decadently delicious!

I had a ball at the museum, they sold a ton of books and I got to see hundreds of children (and adults) in fabulous costumes. But I was sooo tired after sitting there for 6 hours and an hour's drive each way plus stress of city traffic that I got them to let me off two hours sooner tonight. Cutting myself some slack! I have to leave for up north appearances early tomorrow morning and need the time and rest. But I did better than I thought I would yesterday stamina-wise. Hope everyone has a great weekend. - skye

Hi Ladies,

So I think there was around a 85 - 90% chance that the chemo would kick me into permanent menopause for someone my age (46).  Well, my ovaries didn't agree and are kicking out estrogen, I've reverted back to premenopause.  I knew it!   My hot flashes had really decreased and my libido came back. I think I even had a bit of PMS a couple weeks ago.  Since I had an endometrial ablation, I wouldn't get my period back.  My estradiol is 273 (ovulation range 86 - 498) and my FSH is 24.1 (25.8 and above is menopausal).  He wanted to talk to me about it since I won't have my period and under normal circumstances I would need to take progestrone if I didn't get my period to cut down on risk for precancer of the lining, but since I barely have a lining, my risk is much lower.  He said I need to really keep an eye for any bleeding and contact him right away if I do bleed.  I asked about removing ovaries and he's not a fan, as my Onc isn't a fan either.  I'm taking the tamoxifen which is supposed to suppress estrogen from helping any cancer grow.

Also, my blood glucose test came back with 'Impaired Glucose Tolerance'.  It's always come back just fine (I've been tested since I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with Ally).  The ranges are 50 - 139 is good, 140 - 199 is impaired and 200+ is diabetic.  Mine came in at 171.  Oh boy, I've been walking a thin line these 15 years that I am a high risk for diabetes.  Eating right and exercise is key.  he gave me the speech and sent me on my way, we'll recheck next year.  The funny thing is I HAVE been eating much better since August and exercising more than I have. 

So nothing earth shattering! WHEW!

I won't try to redo the post I lost, but thanks everyone for the birthday wishes.  As I said, I am celebrating all month, the real day is 11/11 *the big 50 * but my friend's husband is going to be out of town for three weeks so we went out early.  That was fun.  This weekend I'm cooking up a storm to take to my DS at college.  The older DS will be there too - apparently Halloween is a big holiday at college - any excuse to drink.  So I will get to see both of them on Sunday and go out to eat.  I definitely need to keep up my double workouts with this eating out.  I don't want to gain back the weight I lost over the last couple of years.  But I am really tired when I work out hard.  I start dozing off on the couch at about 8.  Now at work today they announced that we all must work until 5.  Before I was able to leave at 4 a couple of days and 4:30 for three days.  Leaving at 5 means a longer day and later getting home.  I told DH not to expect much for dinner.  They are also making me work 2-1/2 hours more per week like everyone else does.  They are paying me a little extra but it is not worth it.  I knew it was a losing argument so I just went along.  I told them I am not as productive later in the day so if they are trying to get more work out of me, it is going to backfire.  They are happy with my work, it's just others who slack off.  I was in shock first over this, now the anger is starting to seep in.  I guess I should be happy to have a job and lots of vacation time.  Luckily I have some personal hours left.  How do you get to the bank or doctor's appts or hair when you have to stay until 5?  Obviously this was made up by men who do not cook or do anything else.

Lynn, sorry to hear you're premenopausal but it's good the hot flashes have subsided a bit. 

Joni and Skye, have a good trip.

Amera, thinking about your father and Caya your MIL

Melia, try to rest this weekend.

Jan, I sent you a picture to post - thanks.  I am thinking of just coloring my hair and not getting it cut quite yet. 

Hugs to all.  Go Sox!

yes joni enjoy your trip take advantage of living by the rockies ! I use to live in Calgary as you know and worked at the Chateau Lake Louise when I was in Art school . My dear sis worked at the Banff Springs Hotel and so did my dear mum ...... I miss the mountains have fun Joni .... and oh Jan you would love to rockclimb where Joni is ! I was on a few hikes back in my freshman days and will never forget them .

Yep my left side aches too ! Funny cause my right side is where all the cancer was both bc and colon .... pretty sure its because it was taking over for the sick side and now is feeling it !

And miz , jan i get tired after a buzy day ..... but know to expect it and treat the day as a get back day ..... go a little slower and take power naps ..... an hour will revitalize me much better than last year when i would have to spend the whole day in bed ha ha ...

Well today I am going to plant some spring bulbs and carve pumikins ..... my dd 's still love halloween so i am off to plant ..... chatca later !

Amera, fabulous news about your Dad! YAY

I'm not really bummed about being premenopausal. In fact, I'm almost rejoicing because I feel like I beat the odds and my body (minus one boob) is back to what is was before the cancer.  I know the estrogen isn't doing me any good because my tumor was highly ER+, so I really have to hope the tamoxifen does it's job. 

Hope everyone is having a nice Saturday!

I am so glad the news was good Amera!  Ihear you on the "enough already!" 

Hope everyone is having a good weekend....off to make an anatomically correct jell-o brain for our girl scout halloween party....

From Mary:

Just lost my post - a long one of course! When will I ever learn?

Well, I will just hit the high points. Mary, I think you look great - glad you posted the picture. I'll try to get one up of me soon. Your hair is not as curly, and longer than mine - mine really is kind of the poodle look, which is not attractive in half gray half brown. Glad I have those wigs, still. You are looking quite nice, however. You probably could wait a while for a cut.

Amera, glad your dad got good news, and I hope that his PET scan comes back ok. That must be a huge relief for you. Lynn, glad you're still premenopausal - I'm sure you feel better that way, even though you don't need the estrogen. It shows your body is coming back from this, and that's great. Viddie, I hear you on not feeling like working! You are still getting over surgery, though, so don't push yourself. I should be ready to go back, but I'm just not! One more week, and I'll have to face it, but I just don't feel good at all if I don't get at least 10 hours of sleep, still, so it's going to be hard to adjust. It's too bad we can't just work when and if we want to...but finances just don't permit.

Skye, how close to Milwaukee are you? I'm toying with the idea of flying up there for a Lowen and Navarro concert in December...maybe I could talk you into going with me, if I get to go?

Joni, I hope you can light in one place long enough to give us some details and post some pics from your trip. Otherwise, just keep travelling - wish I could do that, too.

Well, I had to take Harrison to the vet this morning - he's had diarrhea for three days, poor guy. Afterward, we swung by the store where we found him, because they were having another pet adoption day today and I knew his old friends would love to see how he has blossomed since we got together. They were SO happy to see him - three people at least were in tears. They told me a story about how he escaped once, at another adoption site right near the freeway, and just would not be caught - he ran five miles on the freeway, had traffic stopped, and was pursued in cars - they finally herded him back, with the cars, to the store he escaped from, where he collapsed in exhaustion under a car, feet bleeding from all the running. It's a very busy stretch of road and it's a miracle he wasn't hit and killed. He really had an angel on his shoulder, guarding him I guess until we could come for him! He has added so much to our lives, and I think it goes both ways - he seems happy. So it really validated the work they do with this pet rescue, since they had almost given up hope that anyone would ever want this 10 year old dog. I don't know how we ever lived without him.

Well, love to everyone - hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Caya, we've had the Kenmore front loaders for a couple of years. I love them. Very user friendly and no real probs so far. You do have to occasionally wipe the washer window to prevent mildew.

And we nearly bought something at Jordans while the Red Sox promotion was going on. I really wish we had. They will be out a lot of money.

Yippee--go Sox. Although, it'd be more fun if they took the Series at Fenway. I'll take it though.

Morning!

I'm off to the spa to get a facial and a hot stone foot treatment/pedicure!  My oldest dd gave me the gift cert for my birthday, so it's about time I'm using it.  Getting ready for our trip to the Bahamas next weekend getting my toes done!

Three of our rooms in our house have furniture from Jordans.  It's one of the most popular furnture stores around, they just figured it out.  I think the guy took out an insurance policy should the Red Sox win!

YAY Red Sox!  Amera, I too would like them to win at Fenway, but I'd be fine with taking it tonight too!

Have a great day, us New Englanders are maniacs with sports today (Patriots and Red Sox).

Soooooo tired this morning. But happy! Wasn't that fun?

Amera--I really wish I could call in sick. I doubt I can funciton at work after being up so late.

Hi Ladies,

Mer you look fabulous, that hairdo really looks like you meant to do it! Again, like Caya, mine is much shorter, and I do think it's the Herceptin. Although all weekend people were telling me they like it better this way than long the way I have it in my author photos.

Mel I'm only half an hour from Milwaukee and would love to attend the concert with you! Please message me about the date, etc.

Thanks everyone for the concern about overdoing it, I have to say I made the 3-hour drive to Marshfield, did the signing, then another 2 hours to Eau Claire and I pretty much passed out on my motel bed, woke up just in time to get dressed and get myself and books to the conference. I had lots of help from the guys handling my books or could not have done it. We had 375 people attending and it went great, I again told everyone about the BC and got another round of applause over the clear scans which felt great. The next morning I let myself sleep in and then had no problem driving home. In fact, my best news of all, I found a Lhasa puppy on the way home! I was only about 40 minutes from home when I saw a sign by a farmhouse that said LHASA PUPPIES for sale so I turned into a cornfield and called from my cellphone then went to see them. Honest, when I saw the sign a little voice in my head said, "Your dog is there!" and I started crying. I was teary the whole time, the nice farm lady must have thought I was nuts. But I fell in love with a little white guy with a brown saddle, and put my money down. He's only 3 weeks old so i can't get him til December. I'm naming him Grendel after the monster in Beowulf. I'll stop there tomorrow on my way to speak at the librarian convention in Madison and take some pix. You wouldn't believe how cute!

Right now I have to run...I found out Friday they are cramming a MUGA in this morning before my Herceptin, those girls are not scheduling geniuses so must hustle.

Peace and joy and thoughts of tiny puppies to you all -- Skye

My MIL made it fine through the surgery - The gyn. said everything looks good - she took out one lymph node, which she said looked okay, but of course we won't know for sure until we get the path. report. So she's still in recovery but they will move her to a room later this afternoon.

So hopefully the cancer was contained to the uterus, if so, my MIL should be okay.

thanks for all your concern and good wishes.

Oh and to all you Red Sox fans, I guess congrats are in order!  I do not follow sports, but if it makes my sisters happy, then it makes me happy.

GO SOX

Hi Ladies,

Caya, a big "WHEW!" for your MIL's surgery. Sounds like she won't need further treatment?

Mel, I'm putting Dec. 7 on my calendar, let's work out the details! I actually was on NPR once last winter.

Nancy, Lhasas are hard to find here too, and I was afraid to go to the newspaper or even Internet for fear of getting a puppy mill. So it felt like a miracle. Hope that new patch works for the flashes.

Rebecca, you're right that it seems Grendel found me, LOL. Pulled me right in off the highway. I hope to have that same experience of watching the pups grow to adoption size that you did. That farm couple is going to get sick of seeing me.

I had a tough day, was supposed to get MUGA at 12:30, see doc at 1:30 and then Herceptin. Well, this time even the sonogram guy could not find a vein although he dug in twice. The first one rolled away and the second one burst. It was really bad pain, and I think I was close to being in shock. They finally decided to ask the surgeon and oncologist if they could use my port (duh!) and that worked. Although the nurse had never heard of the freezy stuff that numbs it first. Heck what was one more needle stick?

It was past 3:30 when I finally got done, and by the time I had blood tests and saw doc, it was too late to give me my Herceptin. So I get to go back Wednesday. I feel like I've been through the wringer, and my port hurts, besides. The good news was that my white cell counts are back to normal. But the only thing that got me through the ordeal was thinking about that puppy.

I'll miss chat tomorrow night due to final pre-Halloween appearance. And I still have to buy candy for Wed.! Those of you with children who trick-or-treat please share costume pix. - Skye