Jan 2008--Ain't it Great?

CarolC · January 2008

Good morning, Jewels

Just a quick check in and observation before I leave for work. I felt a little spacy last night from the steroid but nothing really difficult before bedtime. The worst thing was that I was not able to sleep the entire night! Not a wink! I kept getting up to read, watch tv - nothing would help. I bought a product called Schiff's KnockOut that was recommended to me but I'm a little nervous about taking it without checking with my doc - it should be ok - Valerian and Melatonin and something else to help sleep.

Anyone else have that problem? I have to take 1 x a day today as well...wonder what that's going to do? Geesh.

So other SE's for me..

Julie, I hope we have a Wig Wednesday here - I saw the Raqu'reel Wigs and they're really nice. I found one I really liked by Noriko called Reese. The store was selling it for $199 and I found it online on sale for $88!!!

Juliek and Donna - thinking of you today.

JulieK_11_30_07 · January 2008

Hey Carol - try Tylenol PM for the insomnia. I heard that from several others who had gone through chemo before me and it did help me. Also, if you have to get the Neulasta shot, it helps with the bone pain from that as well. I took it for probably 4-5 days after chemo and haven't had to use it since.

Hope you do okay today at work - positive thoughts!!

Julie

vettegal · January 2008

Carol-i bought the same wig........i bought mine on line it is the reese in a deep rust color and it was 49.00..i figured what the hell for that price....acewigs.com had some nice inventory sales and that is how i found it...... Smile

Anonymous · January 2008

Maz, I just read recently that only about 33% of people have pain as a SE of Neulasta. That means you've got a 66% chance of no SEs !

I've had 2 of the shots now and can't identify any SEs from it. Once or twice, just a slight "twang" in a random bone, but really, that's it.

SISKimberly · January 2008

Good morning Jewels,

Again, for all of your wonderful comments about The Side Effects Circus...geez, my soon to be bald head might just be swelling. ;-)

WVgirl-Man, to make that choice...I can't even imagine. What can you say to someone whose stopped treatment and has decided to let his disease take him? I'm with ya on the hair change thing...getting course or something...and my scalp itches at times...I know it's coming.

Sista2-my chemo room is pretty 'cozy'- code for small. Not everyone has a recliner although all chairs are comfortable - at least the patient ones are. My treatment is done right in my oncologist's office. The staff is pretty darn cheery and then of course when Supergirl shows up with her chemotini glass everyone else perks right up, too. My port sticks out a bit, too. Mine has been in since 12/6, so give it time. The swelling will go down, and it will become just another part of you.

CarolC- I cannot believe you were emailing and stuff while at treatment...cool! Like real time play by play coverage. I did see GMA and was so thrilled for her. I don't really know much about her cancer...the stage or extent of what she had done...but dang she looked great with no hair.

Carol- I will bet your doctor so appreciated your thanks and really meant that hug. Good for you for thanking her...so many people in the service industry don't get the thanks they deserve...and doctors, nurses, teachers, librarians, etc...all serve our communities.

PALady- Sorry you had a rough day- there are positives to losing your hair. No shampooing, no blow drying and styling, no shaving, no expensive salon bills for cuts and color, you can put on a wig of any color and style and 'play' with new looks, you can wear beautiful scarves and be exotic... It is all a matter of how you look at it...but most important....it's all temporary. Hang in there sweetie.

Paula- I so love that you're teaching kids a career path. We so need more programs like that for kids who just aren't going to do the traditional college route right out of high school. As a teacher...I applaud you! And WOW, what great coworkers you have. I do as well. I'm pretty lucky.

Jenn51 - Thanks, I just have to find my new normal. I admire those already working out at the gym...I'll have to ask my ps today if I can get some PT...my left arm isn't recovering as well as my right...and I want to do more than just walk. I hear you on the caffeine...although I'm not a soda person...if it tastes good to you after chemo drink it. I'm thinking it won't be so good on the tummy by day 3...but after day 5 or so it might be good again. You'll just have to experiment.

LJ13- WHooHoo on the positive result.

CarolC-Kathy-and Maz- Congrats. One down!

Jenn51 and Carol...(did I miss anyone?) Good luck today!

Julie- So glad you're up and about...don't you mind those men of yours...if you like your wig and how it makes you look, then that's all that matters.

OK, off to the plastic surgeon for a fill up. One more after this one, and I'm done expanding....breasts....not my mind or my horizons. :-)

D1/OLE- So, how did it go?

SISKimberly

DianeB · January 2008

Hey All! I'm going in for my second treatment tomorrow. Last time I had the two seizures so please keep me in your thoughts and prayers! They will keep me in the hospital Friday and Saturday night for observation. Pretty anxious about it all. Hope all your txs are going well.

Cathy-CA · January 2008

Hi Diane -- Hope you have a much better experience this time. I can just imagine how anxious you must feel.

KathyL · January 2008

Good afternoon Jewels!

Hope Jenn51 is doing OK today with round one. And DianeB, sending good thoughts and vibes that tomorrow goes better for you this time around. Good luck to Paula tomorrow also on round 1. Hope I haven't missed anyone-- I don't have other people listed for surgeries or round 2s tomorrow. Let me know if I need to update! LJ13-- sign up for the year of herceptin now girl! Aren't you glad to have a port? But seriously, I hear it really is a good drug and is the HER+ girl's "miracle". So try to find some comfort in that.

Yes, I watched GMA also-- she looks amazing. But hey, wouldn't we all if we had our own make-up artists and the best wigs money can buy? Hahaha! NO seriously, she looked great and is an inspiration.

About the ports sticking out... mine does, too, but not too badly (and I'm really thin there, my clavicles stick out). It's still hard for me to say b/c it's so bruised that's all I notice right now. But the soreness is almost gone already and I can almost sleep on that side again. Yay! I still have to say it is so worth it having the port-- it's my new best bud-- to not have to get stuck all the time and no sensation at all with infusions. I love it!

So today I am still faring pretty well. My worst problem is constipation (sorry girls with the gross topic, but I know others have had this happen). It was like birthing a cinder block today! I have had really no nausea except when the stomach cramps hit me. I've been wearing Sea-Bands today mostly to ward off the waves as they hit. And my onc's office had me switch to just plain Colace today (instead of Senna-S). I might actually be overdoing the fiber intake too which my pharmacist said will make the stomach cramps worse. Lovely topic today, huh? So here's to hoping tomorrow will be a better poop day! My onc's nurse warned me tomorrow I could "hit the brick wall" with SEs-- gee thanks for the confidence. She said to expect lots of aches and pains from the TC-- anybody else have that with the TC combo on day 2-3 (I can't remember)??? Today I 've been eating small meals and snacks, loading up on water, and plan to go walk again on the treadmill after I type here. I actually feel good-- scary to say. I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. I've had a little bit of "nervous stomach" but haven't had to take any Zofran at all (and hope not to since that'll make the constipation worse). Did anyone have the nausea hit after the first 24 hrs.? I don't hear it happening too much but wanted to ask anyway. Everyone has told me if it happens, it happens within the first day. OK, I'm nervous...

Well, I'll try to check in later tonight and see how everybody's day went.

deb102307 · January 2008

Hey Jewels, just checking in. So much activity!

To those on the first Tx, I hope all goes well. Once the first is over at least some of the apprehension goes away.

I like the idea on the laptops. I am going to try taking mine next time so I can watch season 1 of the Tudors and get caught up before season 2 starts in March. It is supposed to be a really good series.

Kimberly - You sound like you are doing great! Glad to here it. Just remember, you are not your hair. It is only a temporary thing for you and some women actually look pretty good with no hair.

Diane - Will be thinking of your tomorrow and hoping that things go much better for you.

KathyL - you made me laugh so thank-you. I wasn't sure how to bring the subject up and no one has had a more apt description than the "cinder block". I am taking Colace but it is not working as well as I thought it should but is better than when I wasn't taking it. My treatment is AC so don't know if timing of side effects would be same. My worst days this go around were 3 and 4. It was all due to bone jarring fatigue, not much appetite and mouth soreness. I know what you mean about waiting for the shoe to drop.

Hope all went well for everyone today!

Will check in later.

sista2 · January 2008

this is all so crazy. i haven't had one drip of tx and i'm exhausted. was supposed to start treatment today (tch x 6 h for year) but my path is being redone. my onc called today and my er- pr- her2 borderline, being treated as positive has completely flipped. now i'm er+ pr+ and her2 - with FISH results to follow. holy crap. the original testing was done on my biopsy so i presume the actual tumor testing is more accurate. looks like i'll be joining the AC+T ladies, or maybe not.

to all having tx today, Jenn51, donna1955 and anyone i've missed -- good luck. D1, where are you? hope you're feeling ok.

Anonymous · January 2008

Well, they give us the best drugs for Days 1-3, which my onco nurse says is when we are most likely to be sick from SEs.

Personally, I feel worst on Days 3-6, and feel like if I didn't continue my Compazine and Ativan regularly on those days (but decreasingly) I would run a real risk of feeling pretty nauseated.

Sista, that's just crazy about flipping the path results. It's times like that that I feel that if you don't walk into a doctor's office with a broken leg, they're just guessing what it is and how to treat it. (good guesses, sometimes, but guesses nonetheless)

vettegal · January 2008

D1-just checking in to make sure you are ok with your treatment.......

everyone else...I hope you are all doing well... path results( i understand) waiting/more waiting.....FUBC (d1 created)

they just called my rx's in for my first treatment...good more drugs.... Smile xxooo

golfer779 · January 2008

Vettegal, hang in there gal, I'd say with what you've gone through, your chemo txt might seem like a walk in the park!!! I hope your intestines settle down.

Off for round two myself in a few minutes. Didn't think I would have the little nervous stomach this go around, hoping it goes away in the next hour or so.

As far as the Hawks, its funny the day of the game I was just thrilled to not be nauseated so the outcome really didn't bother me as much as it usually would. Amazing how our priorities change!!!

Carol

Cathy-CA · January 2008

Sista -- I asked the surgeon prior to surgery what the odds were of the information from the biopsy being different once the full tumor was examined. In my case, she said she'd guess about 50% because the biopsy sample ended up being smaller than average. My HER2- ultimately switched to + and the PR that had been slightly positive became negative. I don't think it's all that unusual for these things to change once they examine the tumor, so don't let it worry you. I do know it's very frustrating to think you're going down one path and then have it change on you.

Determined1 · January 2008

Okay, I've been MIA. It's been busy around here! I apologize up front for what is likely to be a very selfish post, but you all seem to be helping each other well and I'd just be another voice in the chorus... Do want to make a couple of shout outs:

KathyL--Colace. I start the night of my infusion and took it for 5-6 nights. Just one pill. Gave me the most God-awful gas, but I haven't been constipated. Took a huge dump today as a result. I feel great!

Yesterday's first-timers--you guys sound great! I can't tell you how happy that makes me. Hang in there.

CarolC--I echo Julie, try Tylenol PM. That stuff knocks me right out. I get my Neulasta on Friday and I take it Sat. and Sun. nights. I also lived on max strength tylenol Sunday--Thursday to fight off bone pain (I'm in that 33%, I guess) and then my back spasms (more on those later). Sweet dreams!

Okay, the shaving party. May I say, I TOTALLY rock the balditude! I have a teeny, weeny head, but nicely shaped. I've always had bangs, so the high forehead is taking some getting used to, but oh my gosh, you guys, this is okay. We drank some wine, the dh took some pics (I'll try to figure out how to post later--after I've looked at them!). We did some craziness on the way to total cueball--at one point I just had bangs! Too funny. The shaved head is not exactly what I imagined. Apparently, we are not to use razors for that close shave (not sure why), so there's a little stubble. I did notice that with vigorous rubbing with my towel this a.m. some of that came off. It'll take a while to get smooth, and may I never will, but I love the Balditude. I wash my head with liquid Neutrogena soap (same thing I use on my face) and then put a little conditioner in my hand and condition my scalp. The lady at the wig store also suggested Jergen's Healing Therapy lotion (I think that's what it's called--I'll have to check the next time I'm at Target) for the head. You do need to keep it moisturized so you don't get flakes. I'm totally into the doo-rag look and returned one of the two turbans I bought because I just can't see myself wearing them. I picked up my wig today and it's pretty good, but I want to see my normal hairdresser for some trim work because the 70 year old woman helping me at the wig store just didn't get me. It's not bad, it just needs a little work. Neither of my girls noticed that I had a wig on the first time they saw me, so I take that as a good sign. It's easier than you think, really. The worst of it is the anticipation (just like that first infusion), once it starts coming out, you'll want it off cause it gets real dull and damaged looking. But have fun with it. Yeah, you do look sick all of a sudden, but you're NOT--you're kicking cancer's ass and this is your badge of honor. Plus, it's one se that doesn't have pain or discomfort associated with it. Oh, my head itched in prep and felt kinda numb for about a week before, then when it started coming out, it felt like I'd had a too-tight pony tail that I just took out, but that was only when I touched my head--so don't touch! The hot water in the shower is weird/good--you can almost feel your follicles releasing the hair! Be ready to clean up a lot after yourself--you do make a mess. And using my brush after the shower was strange--I had to pull hair out of it at least 3 times just to get the darn thing over my head! Like I say, the shaving is good. I wish I hadn't had to wait so long for my hairdresser to get back to town or I'd have done it much sooner. It's all good. We are still Jewels!

Okay, infusion day. I arrived for my onc appointment 20 minutes late--traffic was a bear. Turned out, he was giving a presentation from 8-9am and didn't get to the hospital himself till 9:15, so I figure he was just getting his coffee and taking off his coat for that 5 minutes before I got there. I didn't sweat it. So they hurry me in to an exam room, telling me I'd do my bloodwork after seeing the doc. I was there for 40 minutes! Twice I opened the door and looked out, but no one was in the hallway (and I was dressed in one of those gowns, so I didn't want to run around too much, if you know what I mean). Finally, I left my door open. Soon, the doc comes rushing in saying he'd returned from his speech and got started on dictation and didn't know I was in the exam room till he started ordering chemo cocktails for the day and I popped up on his computer screen as in a room! Grr. Not a great start.

So he asks about my se's. I tell him about the minimal stuff first and explain that I didn't find any of them horrible and that they each only lasted a short time, so it was okay. He said, Hmm, I sure got hit with a lot of se's for the first time--that it was unusual. Yada. Then I told him about my back spasms. He listened, furrowed his brow, and told me that's not an se of anything I'm taking. WTF?? That was the worst thing that happened to me! I told him I wanted to try massage or physical therapy, because I don't want to live on muscle relaxants. He said, it's not an se, maybe I won't have it this time and I do have the relaxant and can use up my old percocets as a backup. I was not happy, but clearly he bristles at being told what to do by a patient. Not a good start.

Then to bloodwork. I was told everything would be done via fingerstick to accommodate my fear of needles. Well, they had orders to get more details from my blood yesterday and needed to do a regular draw. I was upset from my doc appointment and the fact that I was now 1/2 hour late to my chemo appointment, so I started with the big tears rolling down my cheeks. The tech was nice and waited for me to get my sh*t together, and I was kinda embarrassed (I'm not a crier, but it was too much already). I was a big girl and got the blood drawn and have a big ole bruise today that has me pissed off.

So up to the chemo lounge. Where my dh and I are told the computers are down, so we'll have to wait for my blood results before the chemotini could be ordered (if I'd known I was going to have the wait to see my doc, I could've gotten the blood drawn earlier, saved some tears, and the wait in the chemotini lounge, but NOOOOO). My chemotini was to start at 10:30 and I was finally hooked up at 12! Everything went swimmingly, till the Taxotere arrived. Last time, I sailed through the whole thing, so everyone was pretty loosy goosey with me, figuring I'd established myself as tolerating this stuff okay, so they left me. (Oh, and by the time I got placed for my chemotini, they were out of loungers, so I ended up taking it in a hospital bed--not the best, I didn't think.) So a few minutes into the T, I said to my dh, hey, if something goes wrong, please tell them that my hand started tingling this time. Moments later, I'm coughing these little coughs, kinda like throat clearing. Then I realize that my windpipe is tightening. I tell the dh to get someone right away. He goes down the hall and tells the nurse, I think my wife is having a bad reaction. Well, I had 8 nurses in my room faster than anything! By the time they got there (30 seconds after the dh left the room, maybe?), I was completely purple and getting no air, despite repeated attempts to gasp some in. One nurse hurdled my bed and pulled all my plugs, which brought immediate relief. Another hooked me up to get blood pressure (which wasn't too bad, considering) and checked other vitals. I was doing much better. Although I could see my 6'5" dh over the heads of the nurses and saw him with eyes wide open and hand covering open mouth--I'm sure it looked bad to him. They gave me benedryl and ativan, then some Pepcid to counteract heartburn se's. Then I waited for a half hour to get right again. Then they started my drip, but s-l-o-w-l-y. By now I'm happy to be in the bed as all that stuff made me sleepy and I dozed off for about two and a half hours while they dripped the Taxotere. After that, came the Cytoxan, which went fine. I was in the hospital for 9 hours yesterday! My poor dh had planned a retirement party for a friend that evening and totally missed it. I came home and drank 2 glasses of wine, ate dinner, and went to bed. Slept great! (Thank God for wine!)

Today I feel good (steroid high) so I did everything under the sun. Went to the gym, took my dog in for grooming (and picked her up in the afternoon, because I'm just a good dog owner that way), picked up my wig, and tried to see my surgeon to check my lump (the onc felt it yesterday and didn't like it, either. Helps with the confidence!). Surgeon was running behind and bumped up against my wig appointment, so I left without seeing him. (Waited for 45 minutes in his waiting room--the whole waiting thing is getting old!) His nurse rescheduled me for his first appointment tomorrow at 8:45, so hopefully I'll have some answers on the lump front soon. I think I'm going to see if I can get a massage therapy script out of him--worth a try!

So, in a nutshell, I like baldness, I don't like waiting for appointments, I'm not wild about bad Taxotere reactions, I like wine.

Hope everyone is still smiling. I am. (Till I get that f*cking Neulasta shot tomorrow!)

Onward, Jewels! We got cancer by the balls!

D1

sista2 · January 2008

D1 - you're the best!

Determined1 · January 2008

Okay, Ima try to post my pix. Hope this works!!!

My before chemo hair.

My Chucky hair--most def time for it to go!! Wine already half empty.

Clipped hair Cut hair shorter and already rockin' it!

Banging it!! Gotta love that look!

Now I'm rocking the Balditude!! Let's partay!!!

Okay, now I'm waiting for your pix, Jewels!

D1

vettegal · January 2008

Ok, i made my hubby read d1 post.....

all he could say is you got your self a great bunch of women...me giggling behind the computer saying...d1-she is our leader Smile

baldtitude-good name..i am actually getting my spirits back after being so sick..i almost, lost a lil faith( you know what i mean) felt like a bus hit me,,stayed in bed...now i am almost back to normal(cough will linger they said for 3 weeks) Cry reading the boards are so theraputic..i am lost with out these Jewels........xxxooo

sheshe48 · January 2008

Hi JJ,

D1 Sorry you went through that nightmare, glad our fearless leader is ok. I have cousins that live in Rochester Hills. I'm not that close to them. Glad you have MI ties. I had a oncol appointment today, he told me not to over due it that week after getting chemo and that will help the SE'S. Well it happened today, in the shower my hair came out by the handfulls. I bought this stainless steal mesh that fits in the drain of the bathtub and it catches all the hair. I bought it at ACO Hardware store, just thought I would pass that on. My wonderful angel sister bought me some bandanas and doo rags and brought them over to me. So I'm ready to do the bald thing now.

Paula, nice coworkers

DianeB you are in my prayers for your next treatment.

To everyone getting back path reports and healing from ports and doing chemo this week. Good Luck and I'm thinking about everyone

Kimberly, Good luck with your plastic surgeon visit, glad its the last one.

D1 Just seen your pics, bueatiful Party on!!!

Hugs, Sherry

JulieK_11_30_07 · January 2008

Holy crap, D1!! You had a h*ll of a day yesterday! So sorry -- you have such an AWESOME attitude about it all and are such an inspiration to those of us a little behind you in our schedules. LOVED the pics!!

Hope all of our other Jewels are doing okay today. Glad the se's haven't been too bad so far for those of you who've checked in.

Diane -- BIG HUGS for tomorrow!! We'll all be thinking about you and wishing for an uneventful tx! Check in with us as soon as you feel up to it.

golfer779 · January 2008

To Our Fearless Leader (D1), sorry you had to go through hell and back, but it sure made for a great story.

Love the pics, its funny how you have this picture of somebody in your mind and then you see the pics. Kinda like listening to a disc jockey for years and then seeing their pic. Your a beautiful baldy!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Carol

wvgirl · January 2008

Cool D1 -Sorry you had to go through what you did. Vettegal is right you are out leader you ROCK Cool The pics are great.

Kimberly glad you feeling better. I told my dh last night my hair is starting to fall out. His dumb come back was are you sure ?

I ran my fingers through it and several Pisces came out I held up my hand and I said YEA I am SURE.

Take care Jewles

golfer779 · January 2008

Hello Jewels, just a T-shirt update, I have the following sisters on my list ... let me know if I missed anyone ... some I have listed as screen names others their "real" name.

Kimberly

Donna

KathyL

CarolC

Deb

wvgirl

DanaC

Carol(Maz)

D1

Shari(sista2)

JulieK

Jenn51

RN2Teach (Paula)

vettegal(Patty)

Me Smile

I'll stop tomorrow late afternoon (pacific time 3:00ish), to place the order, let me know if you might be still interested in ordering one. We have a couple sister friends who have offered to help defer the cost if anybody is needing a little assistance.

Paula, hoping your txt tomorrow goes flawlessly!!!

I'll be checking back in tomorrow, I think I burn't a few extra "btu's" today, thought I'd go to txt today with no anxiety, it decided to set in about 2 hours prior to my appt. Nothing like a nervous stomach while getting your cocktail. After I got home I decided that those antsy feelings we're for not once again. Wish I could tell myself that before it sets in!!!!!

Happy thoughts to all,

Carol

golfer779 · January 2008

Me again, just a reminder to get your txt's done on your opposite side of any lymph surgeries. I forgot all about it today, just hit me as I jumped in the tub and my finger that was pricked today was sore which is on my "bad" side. Oops!!!

SISKimberly · January 2008

HI Jewels-

Diane B- I 'm sending out positive energy into the universe for you to grab hold of tomorrow. Here's to having NO bad reactions this time!!!! D1 already did that this week.

Kathy-Oh, you know I totally get your constipation vibe, girl!!! I am the Dame of Digestive Distress you know. I am so ready for next time. Glad you're fairing well so far. My SE's hit day 3 and 4 with 4 being the WORST...then 5 started feeling better...and each day better and better. My nose runs a bit...my soft palet is painful when I open my mouth wide enough to eat a sandwich, but no sores...and on top of it all hemoroids from hell. Oh, and I can't taste things very well. Some of my favorite things...can't taste them...Sigh;-(

AZDeb- Thanks for the pep talk, but I'm so not worried about my hair...I actually was giving PALady a pep talk about not worrying about losing her hair today...I did go get my wig today as I know it's getting close to the fall out...and I so want to have a shaving my head party!!!! YOU ROCK D1...I love your pictures!!!!! You are a beautiful baldascious babe.

Sista- Oh, how frustrating to have to wait for your treatments to start and to have your tumor typing change just as you were used to one idea...now you've got to wrap your head around another. Keep us posted....we're here.

vettegal-so glad you're feeling better...just in time for a chemotini...We should all buy pharmecuetical stocks with all the stuff we have to buy to fight the SE's not to mention the stuff we get infused.

D1/ OLE- OMG!!! I'm so glad you're OK...and second...OMG what a frustrating morning you had!!!! YOur poor DH must have been beside himself. No wonder you needed wine dinner. I can't taste so many things that I'm afraid to try wine for fear it will be bad and then it will ruin it for me. I think I'll just wait until the taste buds come back. Maybe I'll drink Pomegranite Martini's...if I ruin those...no big deal.

I got my wig today...my sister and I had a great time picking it out together. I wasn't happy with the turban thing either, but bought one to sleep in to keep my head warm...suggested by the shop gals.

My hubby just got back from Vegas, so I'm off to spend some time with my darling man.

Night all,

SIS KImberly

Determined1 · January 2008

Okay, time to focus on my friends here. Sorry if I struggle with sense, I had more wine tonight. I know it'll start tasting poorly soon, so I'm stocking up!

I want to shout out to Jenn51, who started with tx#1 today. Hope it went well for you, please let us know.

Also I think yuyubear, DianeB, and AZDonna had their 2nd tx's today. DianeB, I know you had a hard time with your first one, so I hope today was much better. Please let us know. And do any of you have hair?? (Post pix, c'mon, I did.)

What about LJ13--how's the hair loss? Is your experience vastly different being on a 2 week schedule? Hope you're well.

Good luck to Paula, starting tomorrow. Hope you're able to sleep tonight. Don't worry, infusion day isn't so bad--it's just the head part that gets to you. I trust you'll be as pleasantly surprised as the rest of us at how smoothly it really does go.

And good luck to Therese, with the 2nd tx tomorrow. We'll be thinking about you!

There are so many of us! I can't believe it! This must've been the new year's resolution of 2008! Good thing we're all up to the challenge.

Vettegal--you ARE NOT a Hank Moody fan!! We LOVE that show in our house! Never picked up on the quote. Can't wait for it to start up again. We were huge Weeds fans, but the plot went astray, so we were happy to have Californication come on the scene. Speaking of weeds, has anyone heard anything about medicinal marijuana for cancer? My family keeps asking me (I think they're more interested in sacrificing themselves for my betterment, but oh well--happens when you have teenagers, I guess. Better to get it from me than some street vendor.) I feel kinda awkward about asking about it, particularly since my onc already thinks I'm a little wacko with the back spasms (he should have some--then he'd feel differently). Anyway, thought I'd pass it by the group. Sorry, Vettegal, to tack it on your shout out, please don't take offense.

Sista--you okay with your delay? Sucks. I'm the queen of wait (guess I should've seen the waits in the doc's offices coming--you guys don't even know the HALF of my waiting game. Just remember, I was dx'd in mid-August, and I'm just now getting chemo!). Just know I really do feel your pain.

Carol--you be studly with the shirt order. You doing okay with se's? You NEVER complain and what are we here for, anyway??

Okay, getting tired. Guess I should call it a night. Particularly since I have to drag my sorry butt outta bed for an 8:45 appointment tomorrow and I'm finding morning to be a bit of a pain these days...

Later, Jewels.

D1

golfer779 · January 2008

D1 - just to let you know I was in the same boat with KathyL with the cinder block story. Having my Smooth Move as I type. Had myself in a hell of a situation earlier today until the cork popped!!!! I was getting nervous as I had an infusion today and a stomach full of prunes, SSofts and fiber bars.

Hey I'm jealous with the vino, my treatment plan recommends no alcohol, I guess the "M" part of my "CMF" is pretty hard on the liver, so I've been "good" for a whole 10 days now. Not that I'm counting but one week down and 23 to go. All is going better than I had expected and hopefully I'll get the pooper working properly this next week. I've talked more about my bowels in one week than I have in my lifetime (the guys at work said they'd be sure to keep the passageway to the bathroom unobstructed the last few days. No secrets there either.

Here's to Smooth Moves....

Carol

CarolC · January 2008

D1, let me start be by saying you are the bomb! And you're beautiful with or without hair. You're so blessed!

I'm going to be worried now when I have my next txt of Taxotere. My first one yesterday was so easy.

Julie & Veggegal - thanks for the Tylonal PM tip. I'll pick some up tomorrow. Funny too, that another Pittsburgh girl fell for the same wig that I did...? Pgh is my home town:)

Sending prayers to you DianeB, that this one is much easier. And also sending positive energy to everyone else.

I had a bad experience today; but not with SE's I was to begin taking my Xeloda orally today and I got a call from my doc's nurse that they couldn't get my insurance to pay for it since it was off protocol to give it in an adjuvant setting! Duh!They just find this out now?? Indeed It was originally used only for mets but is being prescribed in some trials for my kind of cancer.. Now my doc is the Chief of Medicine for the University of Nebraska Eppley Cancer Center and used to be the head of the breast cancer center of the NCI in Bethesda. He is very respected and actually our dear Constantine referred me to him. My doc responded to my fears of anything that could cause cardiotoxicity and also was aware of a few trials that had been done using XT (or Cap+Tax) for triple negs. Well, I was freaked out. Actually this nurse who was supposed to have had it authorized beforehand, was acting like a dolt. I told her I was going to call my insurance co myself and appeal it. Well, when I called my insurance co 2 minutes later, they insisted that it had *not* been denied, but that it just had to go before the review board. They said they had explained all of that to my nurse who was supposed to just have my doctor call over there or fax a letter and then their own review board of docs would decide.. I called her back to tell her this. But she acted like there was nothing odd about her misunderstanding their message and then calling to tell me it was denied. We left it that she would have Dr. Cowan call the insurance co. when he got out of some meetings he was involved with.

Next thing you know - nursy called me back mid afternoon to say that now it was definitly denied and that I would just stay on the Taxotere and nothing else. Finally, I decided to just accept that.

Don't you know that I stopped for groceries on the way home from work and when I got back to the car there was yet another message from her that Dr. Cowan had asked for it to be appealed and that now it was going through that process! Can you believe what a big clusterf**k this is! Anyone else have any problems like this?

Oh well, I'm going to take one of those Shiff's knockout pills w/melatonin. I'm so wide awake but exhausted too!

The fun begins - fighting the medical system is just another great big SE.

ng

vettegal · January 2008

D1-your pictures are frickin awesome!!! Cool you are our fearless leader..i can not wait to go home and show my hubby..he is becoming one of your biggest fans besides me.......

Yes, i am a HUGE Hank Moody fan..I love that show..David Duchovney is soooooooooooooooo hot in that show, i loved him in the x-files and when this show came up..OH MY!!! when i was home from the surgery, we did a all day on demand(comcast) and watched the show again in order to that great last episode....then we did Dexter after that!!

You Rock!!

golfer779 · January 2008

CarolC, had a similar experience the day before my mast. surgery. We're on our way to the hospital, (we were spending the night next door to it as its a ferry ride away), anyway get a call from the surgeon office that my surgery had been denied. Talk about going into hysterics. They too said that it had to go in front of a review board, yada,yada. Long story short, and alot of tears from me, my dh, refereral coord./ primary doc, surgeons office finally got it squared away. I guess the actual call from the surgeon office for approval was made to my dh when I was on the operating table.

We've had a few other issues with insurance related items (Group Health), right now thing are going smoother.

Hoping that you will also get somethings resolved, we don't need any added stress.

Carol

Jan 2008--Ain't it Great?

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