Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi,



I just spoke to Lynn. She is recuperating and resting. Everything went as planned and her surgery was a success. She is having a rough day though- She is no longer on morphine and they took the catheter out. She is now on pills and that is a hard transition. She is not quite up to going online yet: still a little nauseous and is running a fever. I also had a fever in the hospital, so I think that is all part of the healing process. Twelve hours is a very long time to be in surgery, but that is how long the Diep surgery takes. I was planning to visit her tomorrow, but we are supposed to get snow and since I live almost two hours away, I regretfully will not be going. in fact, before I had the chance of talking about my visit, Lynn told me not to come because of the weather. She is such a sweetheart. I told her I would say hi to everyone for her.



I do feel a lot better. Shopping does help. I promised myself a while ago that I would not go into negative territory, so I am back on track trying to think positive thoughts. I just have to click that switch- I wish it were that easy. I read somewhere that if you smile, your brain cannot let you get sad. I tried it and it strangely works. Actually, my fake smile makes me start laughing.

Sharon,

I am so sorry about your fibroids, but I am glad it wasn't anything worse.

Mel,

I hope you can rest today and feeling better. It can't hurt to call your PCP.

Tina,

You must be exhausted. I am glad you had a great time at the concert.

Caya,

How are you feeling today?

Joni,

I hope you can get some meds to help you with your pain. How are you feeling today?

Caya,

I agree with you. People in New England are colder. I do not know if it is shyness or fear. When I lived in Colorado 25 years ago, I could not believe the difference in the friendliness of strangers. Everyone would say hi while passing them on the street, while here they tend to put their eyes down.

I know that we are very warm to our family and friends, but for whatever reason, they tend to be weary of strangers.

I hope everyone is having a good day.



Viddie ( Paula)

Hi Gals,

Jan, thanks for setting up the new chat! I received it tomorrow. I haven't been to the book discussion site yet because my big computer, which gets the private emails, couldn't handle the Google site it's on. Old browser. So I need to get that URL transferred to my laptop which should only take moments but I just haven't gotten there yet.



Tina, you did a LOT considering your recent situation. The concert sounds like a lot of fun.

And Mel, I do think you dodged an ice bullet by avoiding the Milwaukee concert. I did make it to the signing and back in the narrow window of good driving we had, thanks. John Prine is coming to Whitewater Feb. 9 and the dh and I are going to try to make that.



Caya is your breastbone tender by any chance too? Now that I know Herceptin can bring on costochondritis, which can hurt in chest, back and shoulders, I'm wondering if it might be affecting you too?



I did not get my mammo today! I went there and had exam and PAP but my obgyn had not set up the mammogram so now they are scrambling to try to get it in this week yet. I am still waiting to hear. She wants a bilateral diagnostic done. She also reminded me, although I had totally forgotten, that I had a d&c last year with my lumpectomy, and here I was worrying all year since about the thick uterine line, which has been gone all this time. Talk about losing it!



Now I have to go read the rest of the posts. - Skye

I am happy to report that next Wednesday I'll finally get that dreaded root canal. Saw my GP today and he wants me to discuss my lymph edema with my BS, whom I see next week. Are we passing the buck? HMMM???

I finally got my washer and have been busy catching up laundry. I guess I am terribly spoiled because when I don't have my appliances, I am virtually unable to function. 2 years ago it was my dishwasher and within 48 hours the new one in and running. LOL

Jan, I didn't get the new chatzy e-mail, I haven't been able to chat because I always always forget, but I'd like to have the link in case I do remember.

Taking tylenol 3 for my tooth pain right now and oooh I am nauseous. Went to Jeff's office and had lunch with him this afternoon and I didn't feel well at all. I ate a little soup, but that was about it. Came home and slept fitfully awhile, I am assuming it's the tylenol and not that tummy bug back for a second go round. EWWW. If my DD is ever home She has pics on her computer that I want to share. Maybe someday she'll stick around long enough to give them to me. But I'm not holding my breath. Well, back to laundry.

Tina, take it easy...listen to your body, ok!

Lynn, I hope the discomfort is not too hard on you, Take care!

Hi my sisters,

Quick check in...I all of a sudden seem to be feeling a bit better.  i've had the worst head-ache in my life for the past 2 days it was really bringing me down.  It was so bad I couldn't even drink water and I'd get nausous...hadn't eaten anything since Sunday.  My PS finally prescribed some wonder drug and it has made a huge difference, I had some pudding and mashed potatoes.  I liked having teh catheter in much better because now I have to get out of bed to pee..PS says there's a method to their madness. It's been pretty rough so far, but they say yeserday and today are probably the worst, so I'm looking forward to a better day tomorrow.  Eating is a good thing too!

Anyway, thanks for all your well wishes, that means the world to me.  I'll read the back 2 pages tomorrow. 

I love you all!

Lynn, there is a method. Out goes the catheter and it forces you to be up and moving which is good for you. Glad you're feeling much better.

Caya, I have just cringed reading about your  fall and then bumping your scar. OY indeed!!!!!!!!

Tomorrw is my appt. with the GYN. Oh yea, love that PAP and the speculum. I told my GYN that I thought some guy screwed together two shoe horns. "Could you use a smaller one, please?"

Hugs to all. I think I'll go soak in the tub awhile. It seems to be my favorite place these days.

Cindy 

Trying to catch up here on old posts...  Skye, very odd that you'd go from 70 to 55 but I did learn that echos (which are diff. than MUGA's..I've never had a MUGA.) are subject to interpretation.  My main cardio. and the fellow disagreed on what mine was when I left the hospital.  One said 30, the other said "I wouldn't be that generous...I'd say 25%."  What frightens me is that I was trusting that all was well due to my good scores, and it wasn't...  can you rely on anything in today's world?  God...

Joni, tomorrow's Friday...  your appts. are all set?  You are in western Canada, right?  I mean, left?  (Not very funny joke...   I'm hoping your weather will hold out so you can get there w/out any problems.  I know the NE of US is going to get slammed by snow today.

Melia, ambien is my lifesaver.  I actually ripped the DH two nights ago for not taking his as he tossed/turned ALL night long, which kept me up and I felt like crap yesterday.  I cannot afford that...the heart is drained enough, but add lack of sleep.  I am enforcing mandatory ambien for anyone over 18 in this household!

Boy, I am a super windbag this am!  One more thing.  I love my ambien to sleep but now I fear it'll chill me out so much, my heart will just quit.  Yet, many times at night I'll get the racy feeling and I am looking for ambien or ataman to chill me out.  On the flip side, if I'm sluggish, coffee sounds good...  but it isn't...so they say.  I feel like I'm doomed if I do anything relaxing wise or stimulant wise.  I am just not an even keel kind of girl!  I can't live that way. 

And Sharon, reading your post reminded me that I read in one of my reports that I have a uterine fibroid.  However, my 1st vag. ultra mentioned nothing of it.  Fibroid or not, I can't do much about that either because I can't have anesthesia.  I am betw. a rock and a hard place I think.  Sharon, what's w/the leg pain and fibroid connection?  Do they make you more suspectible to DVT or something?

P.S. A quick hair rant...I think my growth has come to a complete standstill. It looks just like the style of those Roman emperor statues with their little short bangs, and I SO want it to cover my forehead. But it doesn't seem to be growing at all. Every morning I have to make an effort to accept it, even though I'm grateful not to be bald. There. Thanks for listening - skye

Jan, I sent you a pm yesterday. Did you get it?

Melia

LOL'ng Caeser (Skye)!

Lynn, you are brave..hang in there.  Joni, I'll be praying for you tom.  Caya, hope you continue to get better. Skye, I think the hair grows slow in the winter - at least that is what I am telling myself but I believe it to be true.  I like my haircut but there is not much to do with it.  Cindy hope your appt went okay.  It's always good to get that over with for the year.  Mel, I hope you are feeling better too.  We seem to be struggling lately.  Well good news!  My MRI was clear but Breast Surgeon still wants to see me in Jan (like I would skip that appt? She has the best hands in town for finding stuff).  I called today my GP to get all of my referrals lined up.  I even scheduled an appt with the dermatologist to check all of my moles.  Then more goods news - my SIL had her kidney transplant yesterday and everything seems to be going well.  All 10 of her kids were there (actually one was donating a kidney so he had to be there!).  Back to my crocheting the afghan - what was I thinking?

Lynn, glad you are feeling some better.

 And Skye, I hear you on the hair. As I've mentioned, I am going to tough it out and let it grow for a while. It's so hit or miss. Sometimes I love it and other times it looks like my grandmother's wash and set hair do. I have taken to wearing really wide headbands to squash down the poof. Those seem to work fairly well but give me a headache. You just can't win.

Not sure about the Herceptin slowing the growth but mine seems to be coming in slowly too. Although it's so curly it's hard to tell. And my eyebrows continue to get thin every 5 weeks or so. I suppose it's just the cycle they're on but it's yet another reminder of things I'd rather not be reminded of.

Okay, off to bed. I have been hitting the sack at 8:30 these days so I am up late. We got a huge snow storm so I will be up early clearing the snow off the car. Blech!

Amera

Hi all,



Lynn,

I am glad you are feeling better. Everyday will be easier. The right pills do help. Can you see the snow falling from your window? It is very pretty, especially if you are safe and warm inside. I hope today you feel even better.



Cindy,

How did your appointment with your gyno go?

Skye,

My hair is the same as yours. Roman emperor statues is an excellent description. lol. I agree with Caya- I think it might be our herception that is slowing our hair growth.

Tina,

When I can't sleep, the Atiman works great. There is nothing like a good nights sleep.
Caya,

I am glad you had a positive visit with your oncologist. I agree about waiting until after the herceptin. I am going to wait to do stage 2 of the Diep until May, after my herceptin treatments. Are you feeling better?

Mel,

How are you feeling?

Mary,

That is great news about your MRI. I am so glad your SIL’s transplant went well.

Good for you Melia!

Skye, in a few days you will have your baby!! That's a neat Christmas present!

I wrapped some gifts last night until my arm felt heavy, then I quit. I don't know if I can get use to not finishing what I start. It's a tad bit puffy today just from wrapping. Jeez! I see the BS on Tuesday so hopefully she won't blow it off. I need some sort of help.

Had Jeff measure my hair it came in at 3 inches! I just have minor waves and curls though. They put straightener in my chemo, cost extra to get it with curls. LOL

Expecting the white stuff over the weekend, blech!

Have a great day and weekend everyone!

Hello everyone,

Well I went to Foothills today, and we went over my bone scan.  There is progression in my hip, and sacro iliac.  Not enough yet to warrant chemo, but if my hip keeps hurting they might try radiation in January.  I didn't want the percocet drugs, as I'm really kind of scared of heavy meds.  I'm on liquid gel advil, and it seems to be working pretty good.

All my blood work came back really good, so they are not going to do the MRI until February as planned.

So it might just be arthritis causing my problem (hoping anyway).

Had a horrible surprise when I got home, my walkout basement is flooding from the ceiling.  Looks like the line that makes the ice in our fridge has gone....anyways the plumber is coming at 6:00 tonite.

I have to quit my gurning....

Lynn, big hugs to you in your recovery.

Thanks for all the caring, it  is really appreciated. 

Tina, hope you are well.

Hugs to all....kind of in a tizzy today...Joni