Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?

Glad to see you Catherine....must get a card in the mail.

Love,

Catherine,

Hope this Tuesday finds you much better and starting to heal. Gas gone??

Everyone else doing ok? 

Catherine, so glad to hear all went well with your surgery!  Yummy, home made smoothies!  You rest up and heal and heres hoping that gas moves on.............. haha

Twink, as a realtor, I wish all my listings would keep their house clean!!  Geez, how do they expect it to sell with underwear all over the place?  LOL  Didn't you plan to come to Orlando sometime soon?

Melanie, have you sold your condo in Hawaii yet?  I had my first haircut a few weeks ago.  It sure is growing fast now.

Leah, fly fishing?????  Yes definately want to see a pic of that!  I love all the new avatars!  You look great.

Sammie Kay you are beautiful!

Catherine;  You are so welcome.  I think you are right about the Aromasin.  I have not read much about it.  Is it part of a clinical trial?

Marsha;  Funny thing is that I finally got around to filling out the listing agreement just yesterday.  I really don't expect it to sell quickly as it is one of the highest priced units listed right now.  We'll see...

I had a really nice evening with friends last night.  Everyone has been so busy that we have not gotten together nearly as much as normal.  I feel horrible today though.  I think the combination of allergy medicines and alcohol just did not mix.  Lesson learned. 

I hope the weather wherever you all are is as beautiful as it is here today!

OMG OMG OMG.................

My phone rings last night and it is our Executive Director at the theatre.  The theatre takes a group of about 60 to NYC twice a year and she usually takes an employee with her to help her, but this time she asked me to go and help!  FREE trip to NYC, 4 nights/5 days, THREE Broadway shows and OMG I am sooooooo excited!!!  We leave Wed, May 28 and come back Sunday, June 1!!  Now I have to pick 3 shows of the 20+ shows that are currently running.  I'm leaning towards "November" starring Nathan Lane and "Curtains" starring David Hyde Pierce and maybe Young Frankenstein just because I love Mel Brooks.  haha

Great, Marsha... what fun... and what a nice time of the year to be in NYC... I have no difficulty imagining how thrilled you are... I believe, it is yet another way to thank you for your great performance in Patsy Kline...  Plenty of time to get ready... enjoy the excitement.... hugs,

Catherine

Oh Marsha, what a fantastic gift.  You are so blessed.  I know you .will have a wonderful time.  It couldn't happen to a more deserving person.  The months anticipation is a real boost, isn't it?  I always enjoy the getting ready and anticipation.  What a spirit booster!!

Just "skyped" with Catherine.  So much fun speaking with you Catherine.  You sound awesome.  So many answered prayers with you girl.  Continue to heal well.  Gosh, it's only been a week and you have walking more than I do.  You inspire me.  I must get out the door and walk.

I am so confused about my recon.  I am not happy at all with the results.  I feel ungrateful when I say that.  When I lie on my back, the right one falls onto the side under my armpit.  The left one, which has no projection sits right on top of my chest.  Doesn't move at all.  My chest muscles are flexing with every move.  I can see them moving the girls when I vacuum, looks gross.  I feel like I have bands around my chest.  I don't know.  Maybe this is just reconstruction.  I even have thoughts of just removing the implants and forgetting the whole deal.  I have an appt. with PS on Tues.  But the issue is, he will do more surgery and try to fix things, but will it actually work.  Should I go see another PS?  A friend from church did that, and she ended up with another PS here in Victoria and she says her boobs don't look anything alike and both are pretty yuk,  but she is 76 and says, "thank God I don't run around nude:. LOL.  But that is a sad commentary.  I am going to go post on "Recon" thread and see if anyone else has had similar experiences.

Well, that is my whine for the day.  Thanks for listening.

Hugs to all....Carynn,Melanie,Leah,Twyla,Hillary,Pat,Phyl,Terry,Catherine,Marsha,and all my fellow FCCers.  Sammie Kay

Good afternoon all!

I sure have missed you! I'm sorry that I've been MIA. Been in a bit of a funk - I know you all know what I mean - kind of a "waiting for the other shoe to drop" mood.

We have been pretty busy here as well. I think I told you my 100 year old MIL was in the hospital for a week. She's much better now. It turned out to be diverticulitus, but she was bleeding internally. She was on major antibiotics, which is difficult for her as she is allergic to almost all meds. But she's back in her group home now and doing much better. Also, a very dear friend of DH and mine is currently in the hospital. His legs are severely swollen with fluids. They believe it may be the result of a heart problem. They are taking good care of him and he seems to be on the mend now.

Work is still busier than all get out and all the airline merger talks add to the craziness. Add to that some interesting issues with our extended family and you get the picture. WAAAA! Anyway, DH took me out for some major retail therapy yesterday (or should I say economic stimulus?) and I think perhaps my good mood is returning.

Catherine - How are you feeling? Better I hope. Have you resumed (short) walks? Hugs to you my friend, I hope you feel great soon!

Marsha - Your trip sounds fabulous! Cant wait to hear all about it on your return.

Hillary - I smile everytime you talk about sleeping. I'm still right there with ya girlfriend! I do some marathon sleeping on my days off.

SammieKay - I'm so sorry to hear that your having some issues. Please let us know what the PS says.

Melanie - Any more exciting world travels on the horizon?

Twink - Hope you are well. Any news on the Dallas front?

I promise to stop moping and come back to see you all real soon! Take care and have a great Sunday!

(((Hugs))) 

Hi Ladies,

Well I see life is still as changeable as ever. Catherine I am so pleased for you:)  What great news and I hope that you are recovering well from your surgery. You know I question how much of an influence Tamoxifen has on these issues? I question, because i now have a complex cyst on my right ovary that is not going away and is quite painful. So I need to have the ovary removed on 5/22.  I guess with every benefit of the drug there is a side effect.

Marsha, so glad you have been selected for the free trip to NY. What a great trip for you.  Have a wonderful time.

So sorry to hear that some are in a funk. I know I have been there. It is like a rollercoaster..... You seem fine and then all of a suddent- WHAM! Please try to find some outlet or thing that will get you refocused and concentrating on something else. I found it helps.

My two boys are doing well and keeping busy with sports as usual. I am thankful every day that I am here with them. Their hugs and kisses are my strength some days.

I am back working as a project manager, contract, but finish up for the summer the beginning of June.

I am looking forward to being with the boys to enjoy lots of summer activities.

Best wishes to you all....What a great group of ladies. I feel blessed to know you.... Even though I don't get to post often. I think of you.

Cheers for now.

GI Jel

Ok so I went to my surgeon and he thinks like I do that I have costochondritis or inflamed cartilage between the ribs and sternum. MAN does it hurt!! I've had it for now 4 weeks and although it is FINALLY decreasing in severity it still hurts to cough,sneeze or laugh hard. Trying to sleep at night is fitfull because I can't turn from side to side and even lying on my back it aches. I've had to go to taking percocet for the pain just to get to sleep.  The surgeon also said scar tissue could be the culprit but more likely the costo because it hurts all around my chest, back and sides.

  Anyway, this too shall pass.

Hi all,

Whoa Pat, sounds like a very painful condition.  Are they giving you any anti-inflammatory drugs.  Hope it resolves itself soon.

Saw PS today and I will go for chest xray on Thurs. He will be able to tell if that implant has flipped or is incapsulated by xray.  That way, he will be there at my hospital doing surgery and can run over to radiology and look at the films.  I have a weird hole and flap where the axillary dissection and biopsies were done.  He didn't do this, but he wants to fix it.  Maybe that will help the lymphedema and muscles spasms, as the tissue at the site is "stuck" to the chest wall and makes a hole.  Anyway, it bothers the PS more than it bothers me.

Will let you know after the xrays, what the next step is.  He brought up doing a latissmus flap, but I do not want to go through a big surgery like that.  The expander/implant route is not as pretty as the DIEP or the Tramflap, but it is less invasive.

Wow Jan, what a beautiful picture.  You are becoming quite the photog.  Congratulations on the talent.

Catherine, hugs and healing.  I will try to Skype you tomorrow.

Hugs and love to all, Sammie Kay

Good morning all,

Catherine...I have my lettuce in and tomatoes are started.  Tulips are blooming and are beautiful this year, since it has been on the cool side.

Work is still a pain...another incident this week. 

My surgery is tomorrow.  They will call me today with a time to be in Pittsburgh.   Really looking forward to having the port out!  And be the same size on both sides.   Wore a blouse last week that was twisted all day.

Been busy with baseball and sewing.  The prom dress is mostly done.  Just some fitting and hemming and button sewing left.  The next few weeks will be really hectic.  

Will be home from the hospital on Saturday.  Not sure if I come home with the drain in or not. 

Will keep you posted.  

Catherine, I am so glad you are doing well.

Sammie, I can't believe you are still having problems.  Hope the PS can fix you up and make you comfortable.

Jan, You picture is beautiful.  How relaxing to be able to watch those sunsets etc.

Wayover20, I hope you find releif...is that a side effect of radiation?  Seems like I might have read that somewhere.

Carynn, Hope the RA has settled down.  Sounds like you had the same funk I have been having.  I am starting to snap out of it...hope you do too...I know you will, especially once summer gets going!

Marsha, sounds like you are going to have the time of your life in New York...have a wonderful trip!

Everyone else,  GI Jel, Melanie, Twila, Leah, Love you all....Happy weekend!

Ditto Marsha, Where is Twyla? 

Had xrays today, but didn't stick around to talk to PS.  He was in the OR and could have been in there for hours and I wanted to go and eat with DH, so I left.  I will call him tomorrow and see what he thinks.

Terry, sending prayers your way.  Hope your surgery goes well and you are good as new soon with a matching set.

I saw a cute TeeShirt with this on it":  "yes they are fake.  The first set almost killed me"  LOL  and Amen.

Catherine, hope you continue to heal and the awareness is just nerves waking up. Do take care and rest.

Hugs to all.  Gotta go to bed.  Really tired and sleepy.  I will catch up this weekend.  Love you all, Sammie Kay

Terry, let us know how you are as soon as you can!

Great Terry,  so glad that is all behind  you now.  Hope your headache is gone by now.  Quite a few patients complain  of that post-operatively.

Still waiting for results of xrays.  Should be in PS hands sometime Monday. 

Hope everyone is doing well.

I painted all day today.  Just touching up the sage green where it touches the white ceilings.  I did hire a painter today.  He will start next Sat.  He works for the school district during the week and "free-lances" on the weekend.  He will finish all the painting I have left. Hallelujah!!!!

Real sleepy here, so better go to bed.

Hugs to all, ''''''''''''''''''''''Sammie Kay