Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Mel,  good to hear from you..what an ordeal.  Can you file a complaint against them.  We really need better help in the hospitals.  I hope you can manage okay by yourself but I know it's not easy having someone around you all of the time.

Rebecca, hugs to you too, poor girl.  Those drains are nasty but they serve a purpose.

Skye, hope you've kicked the virus.

Amera, congrats on the good report.

I might go to the dr for my leg where I fell on it.  It still has a big bump on it.  Trying to make myself go - I hate drs and taking the time to do it with all of the other necessary things to do...hugs, mer

Hello Tatas,

I went for the stress echo test today, and although the cardiologist won't read it until tomorrow, the tech. told me that my blood pressure is excellent, and my stamina was very good.  So I guess between all that and the fact that I didn't collapse at the end of it (it's a treadmill test, they go progressively faster and on a higher incline), I think I will be okay.

Melia, I am feeling better today.  I used the heating pad on my back/should/neck area last night, I think that helped.  I also think I am going to book a massage, my GP said my whole left side was very tense. (no kidding)

Mel, You definitely should report that nurse.  That whole scenario is disgusting.  I know people get bored at their jobs, but ICU nurses should not be in that category.  Also glad the MIL is making her exit tomorrow. Take it easy.

Rebecca - It sounds like your scar will be okay.  I know the drains are a pain, but better safe than sorry.  It's nice when the kids can really help out.  Before you turn around, Frances will be driving and you'll be sending her out to do the grocery shopping...

Viddie, I was born in Toronto, but I have a huge contingent of US cousins in the Detroit area, some in California.

Amera - Congrats on no more mullet.

Tina - congrats on Paul's 5th grade grad.  Jan and Rebecca - you too if you have any 5th grade graduates.   

My friend Marla from Dublin Ireland is flying in tonight to visit.  Remember when she came last year girls?  It will be great to have her.  We are having about 20 people over this Friday night to celebrate Amanda's University graduation, and it will be nice that she is here.

Oh Skye, Men and their toys... LOL

Hope you are feeling better.

xo

Caya

Oh Skye, Men and their toys... LOL

Hope you are feeling better.

xo

Caya

I stopped by to read everyone's updates. I hope the healing keeps up for those of you who've had surgery or are under the weather.

As for the weather, it is H-O-T here; I think the weather people on our TV stations put in slight chances of rain so we get our hopes up. We haven't had enough to even wet the sidewalk so far this month. 

Joni and Lynn, I liked the countdown to our meeting up in Vegas. I can't wait. I'm going to get my first real hair cut before I came on the trip. So far I've had the neckline trimmed twice to avoid that Mullet look. I have lots of gray, but there are a couple of spots with hardly any at all. I can't decide what to do with it, yet.

I had my check with the medical oncologist today. I think it went well, but when I mentioned how much my lower back down through my tailbone and hips has been hurting lately he poked and prodded me a bit and ordered a total bone scan. Since there weren't any sharp pains when he was tapping around, he doesn't think there's anything to worry about, but some of you know that story lots better than I do right now. I'd really like something for the pain. There are some days when taking extra Naproxen doesn't seem to put a dent in it and others when I just seem worn down by it even though it isn't hurting that much.

I go in on Friday the 27th at 9:45 AM for the injection and then return at 1 PM for the scan. The scheduler asked if I was clusterphobic. Just how tight is that machine, anyway? I guess if I can deal with the radiation machine almost touching me I can deal with this, too.

After my appointment today, I had lunch with my nieghbor. She recently dislocated her shoulder and chipped the bone, too, so she's in a sling. I buckled the seat belt for her and went I stopped the car at the resaurant I wondered why she wasn't getting out. She said she was waiting for me to unbuckle her. I forgot that she couldn't reach it herself. We had a very nice lunch and caught up on all our chatting since our last lunch was almost 2 months ago.

Anyway, she asked me to ask all of you if you've heard of a "Cancer Bra." Someone mentioned to her daughter how comfortable they are supposed to be, but she doesn't know where to buy or order them.

See you in about 5 weeks. What's the official countdown, Lynn?

Wow, I just posted my 1,000 message on this board.  here's our countdown bolded...I can't figure out how to make it bigger though.

It is 35 days, 15 hours, 47 minutes and 4 seconds until Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 10:00:00 AM (Las Vegas time)

Caya, mine is a tankini with a skirt!  There are tons of them in the stores!  Both of my mastecomy suits I wore last year were that style as well.

Mel, sorry you hit bottom but hope you still make it to LV.  How's your pain?  I can't say I look exactly great in a swimsuit but I don't really care.  My two have skirts but I might go shopping for a real mastectomy one at Sears - Lands End before I go.  They should be on sale in July.

Rebecca, sorry you are having such problems with your ps.  I definitely would not pay that amount.  I hope you are enjoying the farm.

Cindy, still worried about you there in Iowa...Please report in.

I had a great day off today.  Went to the gym, got my hair trimmed, went to the zoo with a friend (got in free because they were closing early) and went shopping ... a nice leisurely day.  I did make a dr. appt for Monday to have my leg checked out.  It is still giving out on me and I need to be able to walk in LV. 

Joni, how are you?

Hugs to all...see you soon.

Lynn,



Did he say he would charge you for the lipo? My appointment is next week. I also think I will need another fat graft to my left breast. It dents in a bit. He did a fat graft there in stage 2, but it went down some .Did he have another fellow there? Dr. Bar Meir graduated in June and after a road trip across the US with his family, he is going back to Israel to start the Diep surgery there.



Mel,

How are you feeling? I hope you are feeling better each day.I am glad you got your last drain out.



I am glad to hear a bunch of us will have flirty skirty bathing suits.



Love,

Viddie

Mel, here is to bouncing back. Don't feel self-conscious about being lop-sided, I'm about 2/3 of the size I used to be on my left side, and it makes so many of my shirts hang funny. Your body must be wanting that sleep in order for you to do it so easily. And hey sister, thanks for reporting that nurse on behalf of all the other patients she would otherwise have treated cruddily!



Lynn, you really did have a lovely day off. The lipo sounds very reasonable. Glad it's after our get together so you won't have to worry scheduling it.



Speaking of the get together, I wonder if we should keep the count-down and other specifics limited to our private e-group? On one of my work-related groups we just had terrible problems with a troll and these people are out there. I would just feel safer.



I had a good day too. Lunch in Madison with my publisher to discuss possible new projects, and then a little bit o'shopping. I didn't buy much but it was fun to be out. Tomorrow we have a guy coming to estimate new windows for our family room and Sunday dh and I are heading to a Brewer game so I'm looking forward to that. I feel 1000 percent better than I did this past Monday I must say. - Skye

Mary, I fell in love with Munich too.  Those castles along the Rhine River were fabulous too.  Looked like Cinderella's castle come to life.  Amazing.  I'd so love to go back.  I'd love to take my kids and I should.  We get one trip on this earth and I should see/do all I can...

Chico's is a nice store.  Most of their stuff is good for middle aged women, i.e. they have decent coverage vs. so much of the teenybopper stuff out there.  Good quality too.

Debbie, I was kind of surprised, why-I don't know, at your dr. ordering the bone scan so fast.  My back stuff has miraculously been a little better the last week, since I stopped effexor and ativan (for the most part).  I guess dr's don't order scans unless a patient complains of a symptom and when you do....look out:  scans ordered, anxiety begins.  I think this is partly why I am not in a big rush to see my onco. about the mystery spot under my arm.  Some days I'm convinced it's a lump, others I can't find it.  Ignoring it feels better.  I will get to it, before Vegas.

Skye, glad you're feeling better.  You seem to get more than your share of these flu bug type things.

Amera, I still laugh at the "mullet" description.  Thank God that when dx'd and told we'd lose our hair we weren't told we'd have to endure several months of a mullet.  The indignities never end.

Hey Ladies,

they are changing these boards up AGAIN? I do often get that irritating "Oh No!" page but it never means the board is down, I just go in the back way by hitting community and then discussion board tabs.



Tina and Mary I agree on Munich. I've been there twice and it's one of my fave cities anywhere. I love the whole Bavarian part of Germany, although all my German relations are from Poznan which is now part of Poland. I've been getting a yen to go there lately.



Tina that's very sad about the bff's mom. I'm not as familiar with what the stages mean for melanoma as breast cancer, hope they can surgically remove it all. My SIL in Virginia had a melanoma lump on her neck five or six years ago but I believe it was only stage one and she needed nothing but a little surgery and a band-aid, literally.



And you're right, I do seem to get more than my share of flu bug things. I have a feeling that it's the fibromyalgia now mutated by the chemo and radiation. This afternoon I slept for two hours and that was after a good night's sleep, and I'm still tired. All I did was grocery shop then make a bunch of pasta salad for a neighborhood party tonight. We did have the window guy come and it is going to cost a bundle but must be done.



Also, on the tamoxifen "wearing off," I suppose that happens to all the estrogen dampeners. But there are now a bunch to pick from, depending on your degree of menopause. The aromasin seems to be working for me, although maybe that's also what is making me tired. The doc on NPR's "To Your Health" again validated the vitamin D for anyone with breast cancer, it makes a huge difference in recurrence. He recommends 2000 IU or more per day. I'm already on that and honestly think it's as important as any prescribed meds.



Of course, the challenge this summer is not to get malaria...mosquitoes here are ferocious! I just killed one on my hand, and I'm indoors.



Cindy and Nancy please check in! - skye

Caya, how was Amanda's graduation party?  How long is your friend from Dublin staying?  I do remember you talking about her visit last year.  Isn't is crazy that we've been chatting that long?  Funny!

Lynn, your PS sounds like Dr. Rey on 90210...  mega perfectionist.  I am jealous of how much "fixing" they plan to do.  I got none of that.  I am a physical wreck w/out clothes.  Oh well....  I'm breathing.

At least my hair is cooperating (as much as it will) these days.  Last week I had TONS of layers cut into this mop and it's much more manageable.  I need one more color before my trip, but I'm holding out until then...

I'm watching the Today show right now and I didn't realize that the woman named Hoda had b/c.  She said she's 43 now and hadn't had a mammo. until age 42, so she must have undergone tx very recently, like us.  She looks great.  Anyone know anything about her situation?

Hi Mel, I'm so glad you are continuing to mend. I would have felt bad missing Lynn too, but I'm sure she understood as we all do in this situation. And you'll have fun this weekend, too. I need a Rosa! Hope you got that reservation made.



Tina I had forgotten about Hoda. I seldom see the morning shows so haven't kept up with her. Remember all those TV gals have rafts of cosmeticians, hairdressers, wardrobe help and more to make them look so great. I could use a few of those helpers myself. AND Rosa.



It has definitely been quiet on the posting front. I'm feeling "off" again. Yesterday I woke up dizzy, and it continued all day so I didn't go to the Brewers game, oldest ds met dh instead. Today the dizziness is mostly gone, thank goodness, since it's something I never get so it scares me. I'm just tired, but I still did the 2-mile walk with Grendel, then laid down for an hour. I'm also trying to work with my sisters to get my mom to a doctor, we got her an appt. for Wed. but one sis is being difficult, telling the nurses to talk only to her and not to me or the other sis. Family!!!



It's so beautiful here that I actually took a second walk with Grendel, now I'm lying down again. I did get some work done on my novel. Must get going on the other book that I actually have a contract for. That one seems more like work.



My DIL2b wants me to order earrings for the wedding from a special web site. I guess I had better get cracking on it. I know I wrote it down someplace...will post whenever I do find it.

Hope you all are lying in the sun and sipping fruit smoothies by the pool. :-) Skye