Starting Chemo in September?? where are you ladies

Howdy!

I have been lurking for a while and not posting much, but I'm doing great!  I have 14 more rads tx to go and so far, not much discomfort at all. I am getting a little sore, but trying to stay ahead of it with all the goop they tell me to put on it.  The hardest part is not wearing my support bras and having to wear camisoles with the little flimsy shelf cups.  Not very flattery for this "old" woman with big saggy boobs (yew what a picture!).  My back, neck, and shoulders are hurting and my bad posture is causing all kinds of aches and pains, due to not wearing my industrial strength Playtex 18-hour-bras that I am accustomed to.  Well, that's about it for my whining--- except that I'm dying to go fishing!!!!!  Hope to soon!

I hope everyone is doing well-- hang in there, we're almost done!

Mary Jo 

Hi Ladies ...,

I'm doing well -- finished my chemo -- didn't need radiation as I had a mastectomy with implant reconstruction.  I have to decide on whether I want to do a nipple ..... I am waiting on that decision because I am so sick of doctors and surgeries and .....

I have full body edema left my chemo which has been very aggravating -- I have to take a diuretic daily.  The doctors are hopeful that this will go away.

I have just begun taking tamoxifen -- so far so good (it has only been three days) .... I had a hard time deciding to take this.  I have had the prescription since January and just got around to taking it.

My hair has returned -- but curly and very gray.  I'm not complaining, though -- it is nice to have hair.

I am walking between 5 to 7 miles per day to get ready for the Boston 3 Day Walk.  It feels so good to have a focus other than being sick.

My best to you all.

Laurie

I threw my back out yesterday.    I hope I can still go on my trip to Florida.  I'm suppose to leave Tuesday. 

Hello all.  I had to give in and accept more drugs for the hot flashes.  Hate to take another drug but maybe the low dosage antidepressant will help.  Who else out there is on these?  Does it also help with the night flashes?  How long does it take to become effective?

Also, for those on Arimidex, is everybody still having aches and pains.  Have they gone away for anybody?

I will admit that the night sweats are easing off.  However, in the daytime all I want to do is either get naked or put a coat on.  Thanks for the idea about the carbs/sugar.  I never thought to eliminate those.

In a rush.. but wanted to say hi.. Pax came and visited with her mom ! We had a whole day together, it was so nice and cool to meet her in person (she is one awesome artsy gal !) I felt bad for her mom though since we were constantly blabbering about bc or the forums.

We have a picture together and I have been hunting for my camera thats why I did not post earlier.. oh well have to post our picture after the camera decides to appear from somewhere.

MJ congrats !!! you are a trooper .. going through all this with so much grace. SHOUT TO THE WORLD.. YOUR TREATMENT IS DONE, TODAY IS A BIG DAY FOR YOU !!!

I feel terribly emotional about my last session which will be on Monday and am trying to get 2 of my girl friends to come with me, they were with me the first night that I got back from that horrible mammogram ( gosh.. I do not recall how I even drove home I was like a zombie ! ) so have asked them to come with me to my last tx and we'd go to breakfast from there ( pax - to the briars patch that I showed you on Park Avenue).

have a great weekend everyone ! not looking forward to starting tamox, now how worse could the night sweats get, we'll see.

Aylin

Hey Stillkicking, I know what you mean about hot one minute and cold the next and every day is an adventure in ails!  Don't feel bad about "complaining"-- it's not as if there isn't darn good reasons!  I think I would have smack that nurse-- bet she's not been in our shoes and hopefully she never will be, but "other" people don't understand.  And you're not alone on the toenails and fingernails-- mine are getting worse instead of better!   I've resorted to some very dark fingernail polish on the nails I still do have

Hang in there- we're gonna make it!!!

Mary Jo

Congrats to all the ladies who are DONE or near done.  YOU ROCK!!!

Hey all.  I slept all night probably for the 1st time in months.  It felt great.

Just picked up my prescription for the antidepressant.  It is Venlafaxine, better known as Effexor.  Here's the problem, under side effects:  headache, drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss (hey!), blurred vision, tiredness, trouble sleeping, sweating or yawning may occur.

Geez, why does everything they prescribe to help one issue create more?  I thought this was going to make me feel better.  I'm now wondering if I can just live with the hot flashes.  We'll see.  I must admit that if it helps with weight loss I might be more receptive to the pill.  But constipation again!  I don't think so.

Pax .. see.. you have to move down to  sunny Florida . Glad that you felt good throughout your stay here.

GALS ARE YOU READYYYYYY !!!!!

I AM DONE WITH RADS.. I gave myself a huge tlc day yesterday. Took an 'impromptu' day off from work.

First went sculling and greeted the sun on the water with a spectacular view, then got my last rad session huggs/ kisses/ gifts.. the whole enchilada.

Then went to my power yoga class , dropped off my bike to service since I will be starting ramping up my riding.

Got a mani/pedi and a facial.. ahhhh...

Now I do not have any excuses to slack off from work .. hehe..

There is a wartlike formation on my chest on the rads side need to get that checked by a dermatologist, do not know what it is. I did not get any burn from the rads .. my skin darkened that was all.

LIFE IS GOOD !

Two week ago we got notice that our work contract was being cancelled as of August 31.  Needless to say my stress level went way up.

While cleaning up my desk, I found this in a folder.  Reading it just once made me feel better.  Hope it helps someone else.

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

  

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future.  If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain.  Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1.         Pray.

2.         Go to bed on time.

3.         Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4.         Say "No" to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5.         Delegate tasks to capable others.

6.         Simplify and unclutter your life.

7.         Less is more.  (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8.         Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9.         Pace yourself.  Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10.        Take one day at a time.

11.        Separate worries from concerns.  I f a situation is a concern, find out what God would

            Have you do and let go of the anxiety.  If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12.        Live within you budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13.        Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden,

extra stamps, etc.

14.        K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut).  This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount

of trouble.

15.        Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16.        Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17.        Get enough rest.

18.        Eat right.

19.        Get organized so everything has a place.

20.        Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21.        Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22.        Every day, find time to be alone.

23.        Having problems?  Talk to God on the spot.  Try to nip small problems in the bud.  Don't

wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24.        Make friends with Godly people.

25.        Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26.        Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a go "Thank you

            Jesus."

27.        Laugh.

28.        Laugh some more!

29.        Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30.        Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can.)

31.        Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

23.        Sit on your ego.

33.        Talk less; listen more.

34.        Slow down.

35.        Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36.        Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been

grateful for before.  GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.  "If

God is for us, who can be against us?"  (Romans 8:31)

Anonymous

(I also posted on the Humor Board - want as many as possible to see it.)

I personally like #35 about being the general manager of the universe.  People in general (self included) take ourselves too seriously sometimes and do kind of have this attitude that the world would collapse if we weren't on the sidelines worrying about things we can't do anything about and telling other people how things ought to be.  I haven't figured out a way to get my brain to understand that clenching my jaw doesn't make me hang onto control.  Maybe I should have a White Russian and chill until this crappy weather passes. 

Hey Paxton,

Congratulations on getting a new home!  That will be great not having to mess with the frozen pipes!  We live in a 1987 model single-wide manufactured home that suits us just fine, and we have it very well insulated and underpinned and even when it was 8 below zero this past winter, we had no problems at all.  Hubby has put in new windows, added beautiful decks on front and back, new flooring, wood-burning stove, etc., and it's very nice and paid for, thank goodness!  People around here in the South call them "trailers"-- not sure why because mine is never going anywhere! I actually raised my kids here after my ex and I split-- I bought the land and trailer with my part of the settlement after our house sold, and then moved hubby #2 (but he's really Number One! ) in and we're perfectly happy here.  So I am excited for you!  I wish the best for you on your ear surgery too-- I know that will be a relief to feel better and I hope it works for you!  It's cold here today-- probably a different cold than where you are, but after 70-75, it's 50 today and extreme high winds.  This year has been the Year of Weird Weather.

Still don't have my bow for bowfishing yet, but my birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, so maybe...

And congrats on Weight Watchers and those loose pants!  I am ready to get going on my weight loss, finally.  I think I had to cling to my comfort foods a little longer and realized beating myself up over the weight gain wasn't helping.  A friend is getting a free pass for me to a Curves workout center-- anyone ever tried them? 

Well take care, Paxton, and everyone!

Mary Jo

Well gals glad that I dropped in here.

Lets see .. after radiation I WENT BLONDE  yeahh.. ( now waiting to have more fun but not happening yet lol..)

Seems like everyone is moving we also made an offer today to a hosue and it got accepted. I am looking forward to moving out of this house even though I like it it reminds me of my bc days.

Lost about 10 pounds, started with weightwatchers but switched to a mostly veggie diet ( PH miracle book)

Did my first tri after bc. .yey.. I sucked.. I was soo slow but still I had a lot of fun.

Surprisingly I am feeling pretty good, mentally and physically except a poor thumb whohas trigger finger ( thanks taxol !!)