My onc check-up today

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My onc check-up today
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  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    As if by plan, my poor empty mind brought me to my friend's house, today, instead of to my onc's office.Her road leads to the big avenue where his office is , and then goes way beyond, into a very rural place.

    So good.I could remember this example, and report it..

    And I told my onc's PA while she was "working me up".And she stopped prodding me, and said "Stop the drug!"

    And when I saw him & told HIM about my total cognitive difficulties, he said :"Stop the drug!"

    <sigh>

    They were also not pleased about the fact that both my hands AND my feet are crippled with arthritis pain, rendering me truely unable to walk well OR use a cane to help.(AND my left hip turnd osteopenic from the femara)

    And, of course, my onc has been party to my whole journey to hell these AI years.

    So apparantly he has learned something (which he's not sharing).Maybe the patient reaching empty-headed senility is the sign that AI has reached the point of doing more harm than good.

    I told him I will take a month vacation
    "more than a month!" he said,

    And then try Arimidex, because it seems stupid not to try the 3 AIs.

    "but if it isnt good for you, you STOP!"

    This is my  "perservere!" onc??

    I'm gasping, and giggling.

    More happy news, I "look wonderful"!(I've a short hair-cut, but the thing is all these walkees have lost me more than 5 lbs, and being out by light of day has made me...almost tan!)

    He didnt SAY the extra activity is better for me than finishing up 5 years ogf AI.But implied it.

    I asked him what "my# is."

    "85 % you'll never see that thing again."

    And if I finish the 5 years?"

    "90"

    But I didnt go into the fact that being inactive from pain gives me a higher risk percentage, which I can now lose,and my diet has been wonderfully honed by studying all these years.And I dont even drink the 2 glasses a week of vino Edge said I could have.

    But my onc knows, and nor did he have time to bandy suppositions.

    I'm psyched because nowI CAN get the femara-belly off!YAY!!

    HE was impressed at my labs from my primary--how I have lowered the bad labs with...SUPPLIMENTS, not drugs!Hello LARRY.

    And thank you Rosemary, Kris, Edge(whom I WISH were here), Susie, Shirley ( the grapeseed extract!), Calico, and all you other braniacs.I know I've forgoten people, but hey--my mind's a perfect blank.

    You guys ROCK!!

    I'll be around, and looking forward to being in a mUCH better mood as some of the pain lifts.

    BTW-my onc, when asked what we may safely take for pan said Tylenol.

    Duh?It destroys the liver?

    Only if you take more than 10 a day.

    I didnt go there to ask about Advil or Aleve.(Which DO something for inflamation, too.)

    hugs, j

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Joan, I am delighted that your onc thinks Femara is not your drug of choice.  Perhaps he has seen similarly "disabled" women hobbling in his office after being on these drugs for so long.

    Please, please continue to come here.  I want reports on how you are feeling down the road of recovery.  Wink  Hopefully, you will give us hope!  I haven't even gotten to my second year stint on Arimidex.  I am so darn confused as to what is causing ALL of my cognitive problems being that I have been dxd with the new wonderful disease.  I will be seeing my primary next month and perhaps then I get some answers.  I know he doesn't know crap about AIs.

    I hope you get feeling much better soon.  And GOOD FOR YOU that you have lost five pounds!  I betcha after getting off this drug you'll be able to lose pounds easier.  Good ole Woody....what a good exerciser and much cheaper than those darn machines. LOL  And you're getting vitamine D!

    Shirley

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Joan...I'm thrilled to hear that you're gonna be feeling much better (and skinnier!) soon! You've certainly given Femara more than a fair shot!

    ~Marin

  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited March 2008



    Ahhh, it's GREAT to read your post, Joan. I have come to understand how truly disabling that Femera was for you and you stuck by it as long as you could. Bravo!



    What a positive toned oncologist! It truly is wonderful to have an professional friend in this fight.



    Thank you for all of your thoughts over the months on these AI issues and SE's, and I second Shirley's urging that you post as your SE's regress.



    Wishing you all the best!

    Tender

  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited November 2007

    Good for you Joan.  You give me hope.

  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited November 2007

    Joan--

    Don't know whether "Congratulations" is the right word.

    I can say I am soooooooo envious.  Every time I've walked into my Oncologist's office and told him of my SE's he as asked me to hang in there and told me there is nothing else out there for me.

    Eleven months to go on Femara and counting down.  I've made accommodations for every SE.  They run my life-----but the worst is the cognitive dysfunction, as well as the insomnia and fatigue (guess all three effect each other)---

    The muscoloskeletal issues have heavily effected my life ----but the topper

    is my wits----I find that overwhelmingly depressing as well as frustrating.

    Great that you have an onc that allows vacations and realizes that at some point QOL has to be considered---and the negatives outweigh the diminishing risk.

    Be careful about the Tylenol--although your on says ten pills---that is assuming you are taking the old doses---since now a Tylenol can be as much as 750 mg a pill---its very easy to get to the maximum for a 24hr period---Thats the other thing --in a day means a 24 hour period.

    3 grams is the upper limit in a 24 hr period although the company says 4 grams.

    Also, some Geriatric specialists say the three gram amount in seniors is more like 2 to 2 1/2  grams.

    Looking forward to hearing good news from you!  Maybe you'll be able to drag out the pottery wheel.  Femara hands on a pottery wheel--what an incongruous thought.

    Since your brain has only recently left--maybe it will make a return appearance quickly----

    I'm looking forward to your updates, and hope that you are going to let us know that these SE's including the cognitive ones will dissipate when we

    are taken off these medications. 

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    Hello Susie,

    Thanks, Honey.I NEVER use Tylenol!Dislike it intensely--it's the only NSAID that doesnt reduce inflammation.I am actually a Bayer aspirin user.(Gasp?)

    Well it WAS the first miracle drug, I've taken it all my life.Never had bleding problems (never got reyes disease, nor did my kids)

    And now Bayer has put a lovely coating on the tabs, so they dont melt in the stomach.

    Plus, before our long walk, I like Bayer "for back and joint pain"--it has caffeine in it, which is so nice for pep and lifted mood.WHEN I remember.Duh.

    The two I take before sleep, I dole out with my night suppliments (along with a Mucinex tab, a large edible cal/mag wafer, and my GABA cap.)So this way I get at least 4 hours immediate, good sleep.When the Bayer wears off, pain WILL wake me.But I can usually get back to sleep quickly, on my other side, after a potty break.

    The thing that you  have to remember is what I've been ranting all along:I'm almost 10 years older than you.OK so I've naturally got that much less supplimental estrogen that has to be aromatased.

    All you guys.(as my mother used to say:"When you get to be MY age, then you can..whatever)

    When you guys are my age you will be LONG over your 5 years!

    The other thing that was always my thought on AIs is that when I was dx, at 62, I was 12 years post meno!And on HRT.So actually, I believed, just stopping the HRT took away a good enough block of estrogen.

    My onc did NOT want to talk this talk.So I put my head down and took the drug.But I truely felt it wasnt necessary for me.

    I'm now WAITING for the body to begin using the 9 mg of estrogen I have left..Silly, because it takes months for AI to get out of body.But my last vacation, last winter, the damn dizziness DID disappear by week 3.So I sincerely believe my mind will come back.Because it does fluctuate between being on EMPTY and being about 1/4 there anyway.Is it better on the days I only took half the femara?Maybe.

    Last night I took NO femara and today I put 3 hardish answers into my NYT sunday crossword.Ones I had no clue to all this week.Wow!

    I truely, truely believed that the drug was doing me more harm than good.For me, an older woman,it was in the dangerous drug category by now.And I could tell by my onc's reaction that I was right.

    Dont forget I wrote a letter to Artimis' "Ask the Expert"column over a year ago, describing my SEs (the COGNITIVE hadnt even kicked out then) and asking him what he felt I should do.If you're familiar w/the onc who writes it, you know he can be pretty snippy "Take the drug and consider yourself lucky" or  a simple "yes."

    So he said , based on my age and case that I needed to have a good talk with my onc about benefit V quality of life.

    I told this to my onc, and he said "So what's the answer?Come on, HE'S the EXPERT, what's the answer?"

    Sigh.

    But yesterday no question.

    I was trying to decide whether to switch to Arimidex.I Googled the SEs V Femara SEs.Go ahead..google Femara SEs.It's full of my ranting and whining, here.I was pretty amazed!Google sees everything!

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    Shirley, YOU come and tell us your progress stories!Right  primaries dont know crap about AIs, but Honey, neither do oncs!All they know is what they've seen, and they've NOT seen what long-term estrogen deprivation does to women!

    My primary was appalled at my bad labs, and said "And with all this, he STILL wants you to take the drug?"(She was more troubled that I refused tx for my lipids and my glucose.)But delighted when I improved them with my suppliments! And he himself copied my latest labs from her and was impressed.Especially that my "risk" percentage has been lowered from high to normal!Great work while ON AI.I'm sure the red yeast rice, the fish oil, the sundry "witches brews" my primary calls them, helped AND so did the extra moving about w/Woodyboy.When a person is hurtin, we DO tend to move as little as possible...

    I'm looking forward now to being able to walk a LITTLE faster anyway.Woody is very quick.He runs with all 4 feet off the ground, bounding like a gazelle.So now he has adjusted his walking gait to...almost a totter.I  hope it happens soon for us.When Rupert was young, I had SUCH a long stride!

    Thanks, Marin!!I'm very much looking forward to regaining some of my old atheletic ability!Wow! I used to do 2 miles in a half hour, with Rupert.Now--one mile in 45 minutes.That's a nasty decline.And bad for the body, I'm sure.Thank you for saying I gave Femara more than a fair shot.I did try to.

    Tender, I certainly will report.NOT to try to encourage anyone to "be bad", because I did say I get dispensation because of my age.But to encourage y'all  that there IS light at the end of the tunnel!!

    I'm actually going to stay here, because I've noticed some newbies at HT who are having bad times w/AI, and do not want to influence them with this.

    Shortbr, Hi City of Brotherly.Love your new mayor!

    There is definately hope.And the best hope is that most women do not have these extreme bad reactions to AI SEs. I think Susie and I are the poster girls for "losing our lives as we knew it" to AIs.

    So hopeis there  not only that it DOES end, but that your journey will probably be more bearable.

    Hugs to everyone! j

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Joan, I want you to know that I purposely came on here to see what you have further written.  It is so good to "hear" you sound so upbeat.

    I started Arimidex at age 60...YIKES! I'm getting so old!  I'm now  61 1/2...LOL.  I don't know that I can blame all my problems on Arimidex.  As I've said, I had some of the symptoms prior to Arimidex, but do think they're exaggerated.  I am sooooo fatigued right now and have to get this place cleaned up before T'giving....and do some cooking so I can freeze it so I won't have so much to cook on T'giving day!  I'm OVERWHELMED!

    Ya know, I'm wondering if my Synthroid is making me nervous (anxious) which in turn makes me depressed...and the AI, is it helping matters any?  Oh, and my crappy cognitive issues!  HATE IT!  I will have a talk with my primary next month about my thyroid levels.  I've griped enough about this to all of you (ya'll in southern lingo Laughing).

    Joan, I'm glad you're sticking around here to let us know how you are doing.  I think this thread is a good place to post since, like you said, you don't want to scare the newbies.  However, except for a few things about which I'm not sure is caused by the AI, I've had minimal SEs.  And the cognitive stuff could be further exasperated by anxiety and depression.   Cry

    Shirley 

  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 1,595
    edited November 2007

    I hope you start feeling better real soon Joan. 

    I went to my local support group tonight and listening to some newly diagnosed members, I was amazed at how much treatment protocol seems to have changed in just 2 years.  They were tossing around chemo chemical names I didn't know, just as an example. 

    I am grateful for all the research and improvements being made, which also makes it hard to buy into some of the 'current wisdom' regarding drugs with horrible side effects.  Just how many side effects are we supposed to endure?  And for how much benefit??  My 2 year anniversary of tamoxifen rolls around next week, and I'm ready to kick it to the curb right now.  The thought of taking something that causes side effects that are even worse than tamoxifen is a place I'm contemplating not going.  Who knows if they'll even be prescribing femara or arimidex in 5 years??   At least tamoxifen is still around after a couple of decades.  These pills aren't a guarantee of anything, and if you start feeling better from stopping them, you have my wholehearted enthusiasm and support.  

    btw, I'm an aspirin girl too.  Tylenol never did much for me when I have a headache.  And whatever that ingredient is that trashes the liver is also present in some cold medicines, so it's possible to overdose without being fully aware of the risk.  At least that's the foggy recollection I'm able to dredge from my partially absent brain.   

  • Jaybird627
    Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited November 2007

    YEA Joan! Enjoy your new found freedom! My onc was okay with me going off Tamoxifen due to QOL issues. Do I worry? Sure. But I worried on Tamoxifen so where's the difference? There are NO guarantees in life other than the fact that we're all going to die and I'm prepared to go my way. Until then I'm just going to hope for the best. And, all the best to you in having less pain and sleeping better!

  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited November 2007

    Joan,

    Since your mind goes blank, I hope you forget all about those SE's quickly.  January sounds like a good time to start Arimidex but it's better to let your body dictate the perfect time... then add a week to that.  Picture this, Christmas and no pain anywhere, you buzzing around in the kitchen, hopefully it will be my kitchen.  I can use all the help I can get. 

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    Rosemary, I will come and roast a goose for you on Christmas!!Hey, we can finish it w/pomegranate juice and arils!!

    You can make the cookies, how about?

    Yeah, January sounds about right.I cant tell you how UNimmediate my onc was about it.I may take Arimidex ONLY if the bad SE dont return.(THAT's a pipe dream!)

    Thanks for the wonderful wish of forgetting about the SEs with my empty head!

    Jaybird, I'm pretty happy.But of course, it will be a looong time before  feel much difference for being off Femara.

    Someone has a thread in HT called "How long does Femara stay in he body?"

    Hah! I cant go there, 'cause I'd write "Forever"Or it just feels that way.

    Hugs to you, j

    Althea, PLEASE do not trade in tamox for an AI!!Just dont do it!!!

    Tamox, yes, has been aroud forever.It's a good drug.These new ones--there is a LOT they dont know about them.I'm angry.Because they're good drugs, and in 20 years they will have all the kinks worked out of them.(Great, huh?)

    You are SO right! I just read that there is a limit of Tylenol beyond which is liver damage.My onc said 10 pills.But as you said, tylenol (acetyl whatever)is also in EVERYTHING, all combos for colds ,coughs etc etc.The limit can be reached SO easily and w/out a person even realizing!

    When I said my kids never got Reyes disease it isnt because I gave them aspirin regardless!It's because they are in their 40s, aspirin was all there was Reyes disease hadnt been "invented"

    But I'd venture to guess most here have been given St Joseph's Aspirin as kids.

    I wasnt--it wasnt invented!Parents had to break up an aspirin.

    Thanks for coming in!

    Shirley-know why I sound upbeat (usually) when I'm online?Cause I'm sitting down, my knees and back arent hurting...I try to stay online as long as I can.Now with Woodyboy it's harder--have to keep bobbing up for walkees.As well as doing the bare minimum of housework.Hurting really sucks.And funnily enough, just NOW they have DISCOVERED that EVERYTHING is bad for us, pain relief-wise.

    My poor friend, I'm so sorry! I hate that you have that other dx and are anxious and depressed.And of course there is ABSOLUTELY no doubt that the AI is NOT helping the other issues at ALL.If not causing them.

    I feel sure a good visit with your primary will set you up.For the thanksgiving thing, my one friend is 73.She has been cooking and freezing well in advance of holidays for 10 years now.It works wonderfully!I dont have a freezer, or I'd do it!

    Honey if you're really weary, I know your wonderful daughters will be happy to do the TG.Either at your house or at theirs.When you were their age, werent you making the TG dinner for your family?I was.My daughters have made the TG and Christmas dinners years ago (before they got too old!)

    Please dont rag yourself out.Nobody wants that.

    I'm thinking of one TG about 7 years ago.I was alone (with Rupert).This had grown to be my holiday of choice, and I encouraged my kids to go to husband's parents, or cook and have friends over.Actually, poor, they both work holidays for the overtime.

    There is nothing (IMHO) better than spending Christmas celebrating along, gently, with a beloved dog.They ALWAYS say the right thing, they never mind if you use canned gravy.And putting the little turkey up and then going for a nice walk---aaaaaahhhhh!The crisp air!The empty park!The smell of everyone's turkey!And then home to our own fragrant house.To make the vegs.

    So that year, the day before, I was inspired by a beautifulrecipe.I made a "pumpkn pi"out of a winter squash (which s what a pumpkin IS after al.There was fresh ginger, grated, in the pie.Cant recall what-all else.It was marvellous!

    So nxt day,TG, I was rambling around, getting the stuffing ready.When Rupert began to roar.He roared like a lion when anyone came to the door.Especally if there was FOOD to guard too!

    It was my next-door neighbors, a young couple.She came from Montana and had brught her horse.They were off to his folks.But felt bad leaving me.(They didnt know I LIKE being left!).

    So they gave me the apple pie they'd made, from apples they'd picked at a friend's orchard.The pie was mile high!

    They were going to bring it to their folks.

    And, heehee, I gave them the squash pie, which was mile high too.

    And we were all so O Henry-fied that we broke our concentration, got out the vanilla ice cream, sat down amid the cooking things, and ate each other's pie."TASTED" them, but in a pretty hearty way.Haha, it was a great apple pie!And they loved the squash.

    I HOPE they didnt have dinner for hours....Laughing

    Anyway, dear Shirley, please dont stress, just have fun!You can just make a beautiful pie and sit everyone down to eat it!

    And yes, cooking in advance is perfect.Then you can really enjoy the day.

    I will keep you informed, and please you keep me informed.

    I had a conversation with Edge about wine.I wanted to take up drinking a glass a day, for the health benefits.He convinced me it's too estrogenic.And allowed me a glass or two a week.

    So we can be sure to save our glass for the week for TG, and toast each other in absentia.

    love, j

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Awwwww, Joan, you're such a sweetie.  Now I've got tears in my eyes.

    My girls are not MAKING me cook.  It's one of those stupid "Mom things."  I'm trying to be the opposite of my mom. LOL 

    The girls, especially my middle daughter, always tells me she'll help and she does.  She's the one that gave us two grandbabies.  Laughing  But they won't get in until Wednesday around 11 am and my oldest even later.  So far I've got the mac and cheese in the freezer and just made a pecan pie to put in the freezer.  I will make a sweet potato casserole and homemade dressing that will go in the freezer.  All is very easy to cook, but it'll save time and energy.  My dh said, you think that pecan pie's gonna last until Thanksgiving.  I said, yes, it's going in the freezer.  Wink  But, I don't have to cook the turkey thus, will not stuff it.  DH and sil will be doing a honey brine and smoking it.  Of course we have to have veggies.  

    After Thanksgiving there  will be a definite diet going on around her.  My dh just got his blood work back.  His triglycerides were 414.  I think the highest is 149.  His total cholesterol was 234 and that's with being on cholesterol medicine.  His glucose level was high and his A1C was 6.8..I believe that's should be no higher than 7.0 in diabetics.  So, I sat his ass down and told him how it would be.  And one of his liver enzymes is slightly elevated..that's from drinking.  He will either eat what I cook or he can starve!  Okay, I'm done with my rant.  You think I scared my husband into doing the right thing?  LOL

    I loved the "pies story."  Sounds like a good idea.  To heck with all the fixin's and just eat dessert. Wink  I have a "pink ribbon cake" in my freezer (bought it..wasn't cheap) that will will eat to celebrate my upcoming three year anniversary of dx.  We'll have so much junk around here that we'll all be fighting due to sugar highs.  My grandbabies probably won't eat most of this stuff, so they'll be punishing us for fighting. LOL 

    Constantine always gave good advice.  Now we're told to not take any supplements.  I believe sometimes we have to be the judge of what we take.  Yes, there may be certain vitamins we know that can harm us especially in large amounts.  Same thing with supplements.

    Joan, I wonder if your ACV "supplement" has helped your blood levels?  I may have to try that.  How much do you take a day?  Perhaps I can even get my dh to take it...doubt it.  I do have in on CoQ10 and vitamin D.  He's so macho...he doesn't like to take meds.  I told him those were meds.  If we don't straighten up we'll be taking more crappy meds!

    Joan, I wish you a SPEEDY RECOVERY!

    Shirley

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    Dear Shirley, Did I say your lovely daughters make you cook?Please say I didnt!I would never think that!!Having 2 of my own I know how gladly daus will cook for us.The nice things is, when my grandkids were small, my grandson of 2 said "Emmy(me) you cook just like Mom!"

    I also see that I didnt give the apple cider credit.Yes I think it did help me a lot!

    I HAVE slipped from grace and forgotten a spoonful or 2 along the way, but that book said it lowers cholesterol and I believe it did!The "prescription" was a tblsp 2 (or 3?)X a day.The thing is you have to be careful not to get it on your teeth.It will take the enamel off, given enough use!Many drink it through a straw.Ruby Tuesday & I just do shots-down the hatch!

    (Somewhere Ruby reported recently that her femara-raised cholesterol value is now perfect again!I want to congratulate her but...empty head...I cant find the thread!)

    Edge advised me long ago that (cold-pressed) extra virgin olive oil is better for us, even, than fish oil.I told him I couldnt drink spoonfuls of olive oil,it doesnt come in capsules, and could I add vinegar?He said "Now you've got it!!"

    So for your husband, (and you) a little salad at lunch, and dinner, with 2 tblsp of olive oil and one tblsp of ACV?

    I actually mortar up some garlic, whisk in the olive oil and vinegar, throw in the salad and toss some bottled dressing on top, just a little, for variety!You could build one of your awesome "everything" salads on this!

    I agree you have to get your husband's #s down.I know how men are, but you DONT want him to learn the scarey way.

    My friend with the freezer who cooks and freezes WAY before holidays is Italian.One thing she does is saves all bones in the freezer for a long time.Then one day she puts them all in the stockpot, w/carrots and onions and herbs (and water) and simmers them all day, for the soups, sauces, gravys.She makes a soup so thick and flavorful that you can stand a spoon in the stock!!Freezers are great!

    BTW I feel as lousy as ever.Today I was walking hunched over with an unabashed limp.The Quasimoto walk.I'd use a cane , but it hurts the joints in my hand.

    Tonight I got some Chinese Food at a great restaurant and guess what?It wasnt as good as a lot of stuff I've been cooking lately.

    Whole Foods has a recipe for "better than Chicken Soup".It is for colds and etc, but contains some VERY good-for-you hings in general..I made it when I was having a cold, and it is AWESOME!It is built on chicken broth, with pieces of winter squash and ribbons of kale, for the A vitamins,it has garlic,cayenne, mushrooms, and minced ginger.What else?duh?I know it winds up getting a spoonful of miso paste diluted in a little water(probiotic), with a lemon'sworth of lemon juice squeezed in(Vitamin C).Did I say awesome?If interested I will PM you the recipe!

    And I've been loving cutting winter squash into cubes , sauteeing, adding the garlic, and making a tomato sauce on it.Over pasta it's really lovely.

    WHOLE WHEAT pasta, of course.

    Your husband will eat these, and the herbs & veggies are great for our lab numbers!

    hugs, j, I mean Quasi

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited November 2007

    Hi Joan,

    Glad you are on your way to a happy, pain-free life!  I also have NO relief whatsoever from Tylenol!  It is merely a PLACEBO!!!  I took aspirin with NO problems for YEARS!  But, now they are saying... NO ASPIRIN!  So, I am taking Motrin and that seems to work for most of my pains!  Sometimes, I even take 3 at a time... almost prescription strength!!

    Shirley,

    Sorry you are having so many problems with depression!  I have it also...  one symptom of thyroid disorder is depression also.  I am still taking my lower dose of Synthroid... my new primary has me taking .50mg instead of .88, but I know that there is a dose in between these...  .75!  I will be going back to my primary in early December. 

    I am feeling so much better a week and a half post surgery, and they are even starting to look a little like breasts now!  I went to an exclusive bra shop and the owner told me that the bras I bought at Belks were just as good as the ones she sells for (gasp!) $68.00!!

    I know you will get your dh back on the path to health...  he will have no other choice! 

    Congratulations on your 3 yr. bc dx, coming up soon!! 

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Enjoy visiting with your family!

    Hugs

    Harley

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Oh no, Joan.  You didn't say my kids MADE me cook. LOL  I said it.  I'm sitting here laughing.  Ya know what?  I MAKE ME COOK! 

    I also made a huge pot of veggies soup the other day.  Had to freeze much of it and it is like your friends as far as veggies...it doesn't have a lot of stock.  We could almost eat it as a side dish..veggie.  LOL 

    Yes, Joan.  Please PM me the recipe.  I eat whole wheat pasta.  My dh has to learn to eat it.  Or at least mix it with white pasta.  It's really good.  I don't know what his problem is.  Oh, yes I do.  HE'S A MAN!!!  Guess what he said the other day...something like he's eting more veggies than meat...almost like a craving.  I told him his body was telling him that he needed more veggies (and less meat Wink).

    Give yourself time to stop hurting.  You haven't been of Femara long enough yet to see what results you will be getting.  I know it's hard to be patient. 

    I was sorta cleaning out a cabinet (had to find some dishes in there and also there was junk that I hadn't used in a while).  I was going to get rid of the salad dressing "shaker," but now I'm not.  I thought like you said...make our own dressing and add a little bit of regular dressing...a very little bit.  DH is horrible about that.  He drowns his salad in dressing...full fat dressing!  I tell him he's defeating the whole purpose.  MEN!

    Enjoy you're quiet Thanksgiving.  I sort of envy you.  We would have stayed home for Christmas, but my oldest daughter lives in Charlotte along with my middle daughter.  My oldest said we may as well celebrate in Charlotte again.  We did that last year.  It was nice seeing the little ones open their presents although Grant was ill as a snake.  We have a picture of him in "time out." LOL  This year Holly, the middle daughter, and her family will be going to her in-laws for Christmas.  WE ARE NOT GOING.  I AM NOT COOKING!  WE WILL FIND A PLACE TO EAT! 

    Here's our little Grant in time out last year.  Poor baby.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Harley, glad to know your "girls" are looking like real boobs.  They ARE real boobs!  I'm also glad to hear you're feeling better.

    Those stupid mastectomy bras are $45 and are not made any better than other bras except they have a pocket for the prosthesis.  So, you are better off going to Belk's to get a bra.  And you can buy them on sale.  After all, you ARE starting over.  Wink

    Have a great Thanksgiving too.  Who's cooking?  MIL, DH or you or ALL of you?  DH and I will definitely start our diet.  But on T'giving we will have to eat whatever's here. LOL

    Shirley

  • rubytuesday
    rubytuesday Member Posts: 2,248
    edited November 2007

    HI Joan!!  Glad you had the appointment of your dreams!!!!!  Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving with many goodies to eat and painfree running about!  CHEERS!!!!!

    BTW, I'm an aspirin girl too.....raised on St. Joseph's without any problems....wellll....other than the obvious ones....LOL.  Sealed

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    RUBY, here you are!!My Dear, I wanted to thank you for your wonderful congratulations to my labs, when I went to my primary.And I was too brain-dead to remember where that was.And I never could find it, or you.What a horror!

    I have just "put" my best friend on ACV.Her cholesterol #s are getting high.She was very ready to use it after I told her about our good results!

    Did I tell you Edge recommended very virgin Olive Oil?He says it is better, even than fish oil for us.So I use a couple tsps of it, some smashed garlic, and some ACV to make salad dressing every night.It's like.."ooops! Too much dressing?Better throw in more lettuce!"You could do worse!

    I know you're doing wonderfully.

    Thanks for good wishes.This is the worst ever, and I cant WAIT till the pain lets up.Even a little.

    Yeah, I knew lots ofyou had St Joe's.

    My kids did.My little girl had to have the Ipecac drink once.I walked in after her nap once to find the bottle of St Joe's empty.

    Surprised

    Called pediatrician, who told me the bottles even full, dont hold enough to do damage.But to give Ipecac anyway, might as well.

    Poor baby.

    YEARS later, she told me she had emptied it into her vaporizer.Trying to atomize the aspirin into he air.

    Have a wonderful TG!!

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    Shirley, I will PM you the recipe.And I'm glad your husband is craving vegs!

    And I WISH I could see poor Grant.I know I will soon.

    I think I did too much "Mummy-mummy, Granny-Granny"ing in my time.I neer had a moments peace since I had my first daughter at 19.That's a li.My husband's mom made the Thanksgivings and Christmasses the whole three years we lived in Boston.

    My parents, though, traveled a lot, so NYC was the start of the endless holiday meal cooking.As a young friend remarked "I could cook a turkey in my sleep".

    And when my kids got big, the table grlaned really big-time since they always had their friends home.You know.

    Next they got married and so did I.Suddenly we were doubled.And I, so sophiticated n my "old age" began to roast a  goose for Christmas.Oh MMMM!

    My younger daughter once did a paper on regional TGs.Boston, for example, prefers mashed potatoes, for the most part.Gravy.My in-laws, Irish, always had cole slaw.

    Italians always serve a course of pasta.

    One friend from the South reported that her family self-bastes the turkey with bacon strips.(When the bacon is crisp, they all fight over it!)

    My mother's family (upstate NY, to NYC) always had mashed yams(with the marshmallows), creamed onions,(frozen) green peas, home-made cranberry sauce, w/orange slices, and mashed rutabegas.So this was the TG I made.Only I substituted cornbread stuffing w/jalapino bits for the sage stuffing.

    Holidays were fun, and voluminous, and delicious.There was the kitchen table made into the kids' table.

    But-you know--the good china and silverware wont go in he dw.Just when you need it.My twin grandsons began being pesty around 3.One refused to eat, the other was painfully shy and cried a lot.Things got a little..much.Then I got rid of my husband.And did not want to polish the silver, or wash the pots.I took to using "wax logs".My husband used to get up early and put the turkey in.<Sigh> I got rid of him...why?And the twins were still being pests, and my daughters were starting to work holidays.That was nice in a way.An evening dinner.In another way, everyone was tired.Getting up to go home was hard.

    So I began to encourage them to do their own things.Sometimes we'd have "the dinner" the day before, or after.No rule to have it only on TG.Then I could give them lots of leftovers so no one had to cook TG or all weekend.

    But best I enjoyed a quiet holiday, with my lovely old dog.And my kids were leaning towards the same.My grandkids are away now, to their father's family, upstate.

    I actually still make the whole dinner, only getting a large stuffed turkey breast instead of a whole bird.Because I like it!There is enough food to not have to cook until wednesday, if you count the turkey sannies on tuesday.

    Now I'm gonna go get that recipe!

    joan

  • PuppyFive
    PuppyFive Member Posts: 2,808
    edited November 2007

    HEHEHEHEHE {{{{JOAN}}}}

    I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

    Gods Speed, Puppy

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Actually, Joan, I'm ready for a quite holiday.  Once the "kids" get here I'm sure I'll be in the "mood."  And when they leave I'll crash! LOL

    I used to LOVE to decorate and cook at Christmas.  Of course I griped the whole time. LOL  The family would take turns at each other's houses.  I have some good videos I need to put on CD's of our family Christmases together.  My MIL and FIL are no longer with us.  I loved setting a pretty "Christmas" table.  I now have given all my Christmas dishes to one of my daughters and my other daughter will get the villages.  I'm no longer dragging all that stuff out...no way!  I'm not putting up a tree this year because we won't be here...we'll be with the girls.  Well, except for Sheri. Gosh, she and her dh will have been gone 2 years this January.

    Joan, you tell such lovely stories.  And, I feel less guilty for wanting to find out what a quiet holiday is like. LOL  My middle daughter gets SO excited when she comes home.  She would move back here if she could.  I don't know if that would be good or not, but I won't tell her that.  Sealed

    Well, I think I managed to ruin my sweet potato casserole.  So, I'll be making another one.  At least it's easy.  I forgot to put the flour in the topping and tried removing the toping after it strarted cooking...adding flour, but do not think it worked.  I'm such a dummy sometimes!

    Okay, I'm off to read your PM.  I see I have one in my inbox and am assuming it's from you.  Sometimes I get emails telling me I have a PM and other times I don't.

    Take care.

    Shirley

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2007

    Joan, just read your recipe.  Looks delish.  I love ANY kind of mushrooms.  And like you, I'll probably add more veggies.  I've copied and will fix it after the holidays when I get over my "crash." LOL

    Thanks bunches!!!

    Shirley

  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited November 2007



    Joan:



    Congrats on your move forward.. and



    have not read all posts here



    but.. will get some Aspirin now for arty

    I have Advil, but should not take

    with high BP>>



    do not like Ty #3 at all



    Happy Thanksgiving to all here!!!





    I have sent a pal of mine over here

    she is on Ariximedex .. (I believe)











    :)

  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited November 2007

    Just came back from my on check-up on Tuesday. Thank God everything is fine, BUT, my onc doc is moving to another location because she has been recruited. I cried like a baby when I received the letter. I have grown to love my oncologist because she is very caring and will fight for you. I thought I would have to choose my next onc doc, but she told me that my surg onc specifically wanted her patients to be seen by a particular breast cancer specialist. I trust her too and know that she has my best interests at heart. Also, my onc loves the new woman physician that was chosen for me, and I believe her because they actually trained together and my onc mentioned that she always looked up to her. So now I can relax, at least until I meet my new onc.

    Other than that...best of health to you ladies and take care.

    p.s. Joan...Since Michael Nutter was elected, did you hear about the new shootings that has occured :( He has his work cut out for him.

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    I feel certain Michael Nutter will clean up Phila.He will get that whole gang of thugs and crooks & sweep them away.(I mean the politicians!)

    CONGRATS on your great visit!!And I feel certain if your onc loves the new doc, trained with her, that things will be very good!

    I need to back up here.An ONCOLOGIST was RECRUITED???How can this be?That idiot has the whole National Guard in Iraq and now he is recruiting doctors???That is illegal!

    During wartime (WW2) they wouldnt recruit a doctor if he was declared essential to his hospital! (My dad was declared essential, so had to volunteer for the army, because he wanted to help the troops).

    But...an onclogist?Needed in  Iraq? I dont think CANCER is our troops' problem.And I DO think oncologists are essential here at home.

    <sigh>

  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited November 2007

    Oh Joan..rofl...I meant that she was recruited to another location in Scranton to an oncology position...

    On another note..is it normal to forget the names of people that you should know. My mom has alzheimer's disease and sometimes I feel like I am geting it too. Could it be from the Arimidex? It is really so frightening. And the pains in my wrists and right thumb are horrible. Or maybe I can blame it on chemo-brain. Oh boy...do I feel nuts. :(

  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited November 2007

    Shortbr, it is the Arimidex!!

    And--Blinded by Science has just started a thread sharing info from Edge, about a suppliment that helps alzheimer's AND alzenheimer-like cognitive difficulties!

    It's right above!!

    Glad to hear your onc wasnt recruited to the war!Surprised

    love, j

  • swinn
    swinn Member Posts: 125
    edited November 2007

    Hi Joan,

    Isn't one of the supplements you take D3? How do you get that? Do you need a prescription for it? I take just plain D.

    Glad to hear you've been given time off. You've suffered enough and made it 4 years. I just hope I make it as far as you did. I'm 63 and was diagnosed at 61. I'm tired just about all the time.

    Sally

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