Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Caya, thanks for asking about the grout!  No my back is not my problem, mostly my injured legs.  I scrubbed for 1-1/2 hours and finally decided the grout cleaner that I bought for "everyday use" was not strong enough so back to the store I go in the middle of the task ...don't you hate that...and bought the strong stuff.  What a difference that makes.  So I got half of my grout cleaned but not sealed.  Tomorrow I will try to get it sealed, together with dear hubby, and then next week get the next half done.  It is a good sense of accomplishment but it sure is hard work, but not worth spending $1000 for someone else to do it.

 DS called from Germany.  He moved into a cheaper hotel and walked an hour to get to it, carrying 2 suitcases...so he did get some exercise. LOL.  It sounds like quite an experience.  He says everyone should go to Europe once and thinks it's a good deal to backpack through Europe after college (we could all be so lucky).  Tomorrow he goes to Berlin.  He bought his train ticket from someone who spoke no English and he had to write everything down.  He's taking the slow train with several transfers as it is cheaper...let's hope he gets there and back.  Monday he flies home to Houston.  The priest who is marrying them called today with an offer to do some of their premarriage stuff by mail, so that was a great help.  Hope everyone is well.  Hugs.... 

I've used Lowes and Home Depot mannnnnnnnnnny times over the years for carpeting, window blinds and even a new kitchen installation at a condo I owned in Deerfield Beach, FL.  I had a good experience every time except for this last one w/the window blinds through Home Depot.  I finally had them installed last weekend.  They were ordered in April.  Last week they tried to tell me the installer couldn't come until June 29 or something.  I FLIPPED.  Called corporate and was raging.  I got them installed the next day.  Sometimes, I swear, you just get pushed to the point...  and I am so done taking s*it off people.  I've been through enough.  Speaking of which, we contracted with Owens Corning to do a basement...it's one of those cubicle style deals where you can remove the walls if need be...  my friend did it and it came out great.  Anyway, they tried to up my price by $2500 because THEY overlooked a code issue that needed to be addressed.  I was like abso-freaking-lutely NOT!  Boy, I am getting bitchy...must be the loss of the effexor.    I was more agreeable when I was on that and probably would have just said ok, whatever...  However, after taking a bath on the OH house due to overimprovements, I just will not do that again.  Who knows how long I'll be here...  As it is, the DH has heard of a very good job opp. that will be coming up in Boca Raton, FL, which I consider home...

Mel, I feel terrible for you. The infection would be too much to handle on its own, but add the lightening to it and you must be feeling like Job. What a horrifying experience it must have been to be in the house when it was hit, and how awful to have to deal with the infection. Oh Sweetie, I wish I could do more than sympathize.

 Joni, glad you were able to enjoy the weekend. Are you thinking about moving soon?  I know you had talked about it a bit earlier, in terms of having a house that is easier to manuever.

Tina, I am amazed you can even think about moving again!  You have the energy of an eight year old, I swear. I am sure the porch gang must be a challenge, but there are good things about being the center for the kids. Of course, it does sound like you need to set some limits so the other parents don't view you as the free neighborhood daycare center.

Hugs to all,

Melia

Mel, hugs for you!  I don't know much about wound vac's, but I hope it helps with your infection.  Here is a link to the compression garmet I got.  It zips on both sides which makes it so much easier to put on.  It also is totally open in the crotch so you don't have to take it off to pee.

http://www.contourmd.com/46_Mid_Thigh_Girdle_6in_Waist_by_Silhouette_p/46-mt6p.htm

If that one isn't right, there are tons of others on the site. 

We had lightning strike a couple years ago. It got our alarm system, our stereo, 2 phones, and a computer.  It was awful, must have come in through the cable and phone lines.  I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this while you aren't feeling well. 

Well, they cancelled the fireworks on Friday because both Saturday and Sunday (rain date) were forecast for thunderstorms.  We still had our party anyway, we already had all the food, beer, etc.  We still had a fabulous time.  I'm so glad it's over though, we've been non stop for weeks, now we can relax a bit.  Friends of our have their party on the 4th every year, so all we need to do is make a pasta salad and show up. YAY!

I have a busy week at work, we're still trying to close a sale and I have a meeting with the client at 11am tomorrow and tons of prep work.  I don't remember sales being in my job description..geesh!  Funny how if we get the sale, I'll get a pat on the back and David (the sales guy) who doesn't do anything but have me write the proposals and do all the talking will get a nice commission.

So I'm off the Effexor for a week now, my libodo is back  and so are my nasty hot flashes  I'll have to discuss with my onc next month when I see him.  Shelley and I watched 'PS, I love you' today...OMG! I cried and laughed and cried and laughed..what a girlie flick..WOW!  I think I'll have my mom and sister over for movie night and watch it again.

Viddie, have my next stage III in September, wanted to have the summer without dealing with surgery.  Also wanted to give George a break since we've been going for so long.  Let me know how your appt. w/ Dr. Lee goes.

Joni, hugs for you too.  Hang in there with the chemo and remember how it's killing those nasty cancer cells.

love and hugs,

Lynn

Mel, I'm sorry for all you are going through.  I am just glad you are safe from the lightening storm.  I really am going to tell my son to get some renter's insurance!

Joni, thinking of you every day.  Wish I could do the chemo for you.

 Tina, better sets some limits on those front porch kids or it will be a long long summer.  I too can't believe you would think of moving again - you are very adaptable.

I'm tired after a long weekend...turning in early.  Hugs

OK, lost a big post.. long story short...Rebecca, sounds like you had a fab day!  Mel, I just cannot believe your lightenign story!  Enuf's enuf!  And I have NEVER heard of a wound vacuum.  God, it's amazing the stuff you become aware of once you enter Cancerland.  Lynn, pasta salad only sounds great!  I've read that you guys have had crappy weather up there.  Melia, I know...I can't imagine moving again either, but...  Boca is so home for me.  I'm sure they'll be tons of loss prevention guys going for this job....

Hi, all. Well, I'm home from the PS, and it was kind of traumatic this morning, but I guess I'm glad I have the wound vac on now and the healing will be starting. My cultures came back showing not much of anything in the breast, so they cultured the abdominal wound. The best thing that happened was while I was lying there getting the wound vac applied, by abdominal wound got much less red, so she decided that it was a reaction to the girdle, so no more girdle! I just have to wear something like Spanx, so I stopped at Kohl's on the way home and got some hi cut panties which don't bind around my waist or legs, but are tight on my tummy, so I think that'll do. The bra was only to hold on the dressing, and now I don't have a dressing, just the sponge and film on the wound vac, so I don't need the bra either. I left there feeling so free! Dr. Spiegel still assures me that it will all heal right in the end. The wound vac really is a miraculous invention - I will try to concentrate on that and not on the fact that I have to carry this 15 lb. box around with me on a shoulder strap. I did ask about going to Vegas, and she said it should be ok, but probably no pool for me. I'll just enjoy the other times. I was so down this weekend about the state of my healing that I didn't even make my reservation - I was waiting for the miles to appear in my Southwest account, but also waiting to hear from her that it would be ok for me to go.

Skye, I hope you are recovered from the sewage incident. I'm sure that's what caused you to feel badly, breathing all those bleach fumes alone with the sewage.

Tina, you are so right about "be careful what you wish for! "Your porch sounds irresistible - I am guessing you will have to set some limits somewhere along the line, or you'll be feeding and babysitting the whole neighborhood.

Melia, so sorry to hear about the lymphedema, although I was surprised that you hadn't had issues already, because of the number of nodes removed. I don't know how I'd do with the concept of having to wear a sleep and glove forever....probably not very well.

Well, I'm falling asleep - will be back later.

Mel - I am sorry to hear about everything you have had to deal with... However I am glad that things seem better after today's visit with the PS - a wound vac?  Only in America - OY!! You'll still be able to sit with us at the pool, right, just not go in?  We'll fan you Melinda, and keep you full of pina colodas.

Melia - hopefully your lymphedema will be mild.  I had 16 nodes taken, and I also worry about it and try to be extra careful.  I will talk to my breast surgeon about what exercises I can do now(weights).  I have my mammo on Monday, already feeling a bit of scanxiety.  Then I see him the next week for the results..

Tina - your house sounds like Grand Central Station. I would control the meals - at lunch time, you could nicely say  about 20 minutes beforehand - "Hey guys, we're having lunch in about 20 minutes, I'm sure your moms will be wanting you home for lunch as well.  You're more than welcome to come back in the afternoon."   And then 20 minutes later call your kids in and close the door. 

My BIL Larry is in from San Francisco, he's always great to have here.  So I gotta go for now.

xo

I just wanted to check in with the results of the Bone Scan I had last Friday. I called the nurse this afternoon, and she told me the only thing that showed up was degeneration due to arthritis in my ankles, knees, wrists, and neck. OK, I knew I was getting old and creaky, but now I have the evidence to prove it. The nurse called in a prescription for when the pain in my back gets bad.

 I'll come back later and catch up on the posts I haven't read.

Quick check in for me too - I got the results back of the stress echocardiogram/ultrasound I had last week - my heart looks great.  The chest pains I was having in Detroit the dr. and I feel were muscular, and they have diminished greatly.  I have my yearly mammo on Monday, not looking forward to that, last year I had the callback to do the ultrasound, I had a couple of days of mild hysteria until that was done and the radiologist told me that there was absolutely 100% nothing to worry about. 

Today was Canada Day here - lovely weather, we had a barb-q at my brother's house. Very nice steaks on the grill, plus the usual side dishes. I did a fruit plate and brought some of my famous choc. chip cookies. It was a nice relaxing day, I took a 1 1/2 hour nap in the afternoon.  I had gone on an hour long walk with Cassie in the morning, then made a double batch of cookies, then I was whacked out - does anyone else find that you are suddenly exhausted, out of nowhere?  I'm nearly 2 months out from Herceptin, but I still have those days.

And Skye, my nails are better as well, not great, they never were, but not as weak and splitting all the time.

 Melia -you are fully entitled to a pity party, after all you and Steve have been through.  Hopefully you can manage with just wearing the sleeve when you sleep, I fully empathize with you.

Mel - how are you doing today?  I hope you are getting some relief.

Lynn - I have also thought of going off my Effexor, weaning from 75 g. to 37.5g to nothing, but I am afraid of the hot flashes returning, and I don't think I could stand that, especially the night sweats - i mean I would wake up 3 -4 times/night dripping... YUCH. So at least for the summer I am going to stay on it.  In the fall I might try to go down to the 37.5gm.

Joni - how are you?

Tina - things sure have been hopping at your place.  Those outifts you got for Jac sound really cute, and the price sure was right.  I hope Paul has fun at golf camp.  Have you ever thought about sending him to an overnight camp - Jac's too young, but I sent Cassie for 3 weeks when she was 8 (Amanda, at age 11, was at the same camp then too) - They had a great time, the DH and I had the house to ourselves - we loved it, they loved it.  Then we started sending them for the whole summer (7 weeks total) - we went up for Visitor's Day, and of course wrote lots of letters, sent packages... A great experience for them.  There are all different kinds of camps - sports, scouts etc. - and lots for just a week at a time. 

Well ladies - it's July 1, you know what that means... our big trip is really going to happen, just 3 weeks away.

Oh yes Caya I totally have those attacks of fatigue.  Comes on me swiftly, and is NOT to be resisted.  I have been pretty good these last few days, though.  I feel my energy coming back now that I seem to be FINALLY healed.  Oh, and lucky you with your nails...mine are still gross.  They peel at the tips, and they are bubbling like rusted paint on my big toe.  What a treat!  Luckily I was never a big "nail gal" so I just trim them short.  I wonder if mine are due to the tamoxifen.

Ding ding...TIMES UP!  Off to gymnastics....

xoxo 

Hi,

Skye,

The oncologist at Dana Farber told me not to bother taking the oncotype test because my score would be high due to my  her2+ status.  At least that explains our high score. 

Rebecca,

I am glad you are finally healing. That was a very long process.

 My nails are also gross. Today I went to the podiatrist to have a surgical procedure to end forever my ingrown toenail problem I have been having- compliments to the taxol. They made my toenails grow into my skin- and that hurts.

Caya,

I am glad you got  great results from your heart tests. 

I also loose energy much faster than before. I am also losing my ambition to start looking for a "real" job. I don't consider WW a real job- I don't work enough to make any real cash- just enough to go out for lunches with friends. 

 I thought my loss of energy was due to the effexor, but it is probably the after effects of all the chemo and hercepton. Will this ever end?? 

Debbie,

I am glad you got a great bone scan result. Now you know what is causing your back pain. It is certainly tough getting older.

Melia,

I am so sorry about your lymphedema. You have every right to feel sorry for yourself. You and Steve have been through so much this past year. We are always here for you.  

Mel,

I hope you are feeling better. I know what you mean about feeling free without the girdle and bra. I could probably go without a bra now except for my nipples. They are at attention all the time. I hope you are managing okay with your wound vac. I can imagine that can be quite cumbersome. 

How are you managing with your insurance and the lightening debacle? I hope they are nice to you. 

My back is still bothering me and I think I might have a UTI. I had a urinalysis today and I will see my gynocologist tomorrow. Caya, When you get a UTI, is your outside area also sore?  It feels like it has a cut or scrape. I had a little blood the other day, but that went away.

Between my toe and my back and my "other" area, I guess I earned the right to bitch. Hopefully tomorrow will be a whole lot better.

Love,

Viddie 

Hello Tatas,

Well the Stampede starts on Friday....with the parade in the morning.  I have lots of my girlfriends daughters and sons and grandchildren competing in the rodeo this year.  I'm going to try to make it down to the afternoon events a least one time.

On Friday, two of my best friends are coming down from Edmonton.  We are going to a big Stampede bash for our old company.  The count is currently at over 300 people so it will be fun to see some of my old friends.  The company that I worked for then was called Nova, and I was involved in the pipeline division.  I worked for them for 18 years both in Edmonton & Calgary.  I was the senior accountant for all of field services, so an old bean counter from way back.  I'm a little bit worried about the heat and wearing a wig, but c'est la vie.

Tina, I have to agree with Viddie, you seem to be a real pepperpot!!  Viddie, hope you are okay and that you don't have any UTI's.

Mel, I can't believe your bad luck lately, maybe it means you'll win in Vegas!!!  Hope you are feeling better.

Melia, just so you know, my oncologist told me to always fly with a sleeve on, as I had 15 nodes removed.

Sharon, are you around, check in to let us know how you are doing.

RobbinJaye, did you get moved back home?

Amera, have a great summer out in Maine.

Now that we have beautiful weather here in Alberta, it is almost a nightmare to go outside with all the mosquitos.  I bought myself an electric zapper for the little buggers....I sit out on the patio and zap away.

Hugs to all......Joni

Melia - Thanks for the information that if you had more than 15 nodes taken you should wear a sleeve when flying. I had 16 nodes taken, and although my breast surgeon says I do not have to wear one, I made an appointment with a prof. fitter at my hospital on Monday.  She told me that wearing one when flying can help prevent lymphodema, and it definitely can do no harm.  My flight to LV will be my first time flying since my dx, so I figure I might as well get one. The fitter said she will order me one with the lowest level of compression.

Joni - it sounds like you will be busy for Stampede, with lots of family of friends.  That will be great.  Enjoy yourself, and keep zapping those little buggers.

I'm sure all you Americans are looking forward to your big 4th of July celebration/long weekend.  Have fun and I hope you have good weather.

Well, last night I made myself stay up long enough to write a post, a long and thorough one, and I don't know what I did with it, because it sure isn't here, is it? Anyway, I am here, alive, and most important I have made my reservations! I will put my times in the spreadsheet if someone will PM me the link for that. Since I lost my big computer I have lost lots of my personal info. I mostly use my laptop, but keep everything on the desktop.

I got not the best times for my flights, but at least I got a flight on the correct day. I waited a few days longer than necessary - I was so discouraged and depressed that I was actually doubting whether I could/should go at all. But things are still getting just a little bit better every day, so I took the plunge. By the way, I confess to all the doubts you all have been talking about, about meeting all of you while in my current state of disrepair. Out of shape, overweight, bad hair, no suitable clothing, no energy to shop for any, yadayadayada. But I guess if you guys can stand it, I'll rise above it and come, barring any further complications. I've been wanting to meet you all for so long, I'd never forgive myself if I missed my chance.

I went to see the PS yesterday, after two days on the wound vac, and she was delighted at the progress even after just two days - it is definitely pinker and softer, and she didn't really expect much if any change by the second day. That is encouraging. Tomorrow I have the home health nurse coming to change the dressing, and I am having anxiety about that, now - ever since my bad experience with the nursing care in the ICU, I find I don't trust anybody. I'll be watching them like a hawk for any break in sterile technique, or any deviation from the procedure that the PS used. And I'll definitely be asking how much experience she has had with the wound vac.

I had a nice day at home with Harrison today - didn't have to go anywhere. Someone came to repair our security system, and managed to set off the panic alarm while he was here, so the police came. Just another day, right? It's always something around here, it seems. The insurance people have been very cooperative and very generous. It looks as though we may get our whole roof replaced, even, because of the big hole in it. Also, they told Larry to add in some hours of his time, since he spent quite a bit of time diagnosing the problems, which they would have had to do otherwise. Good old State Farm!

Melia, congrats on your first prof. color - glad it turned out well. I'm glad you've been talking about your lymphedema - reminds me to get my sleeve out and wear it on the plane. That's the only time I've worn mine so far. I wonder, though, if lymphedema is at the root of the problem I had with my radiated boob. Hmmm.... Oh, and I find myself playing the same game you play, sometimes - the not mentioning things if Larry doesn't specifically ask, thus cheating myself out of any support he would surely offer if only he knew. I am trying to be more aware of what I am doing, but I definitely have that tendency. It's funny that we are as old as we are and are still doing dumb stuff like that.

Joni, good to hear from you - sounds like you've got a fun weekend planned. I am so, so glad you'll be in Vegas with us!

Tina, I agree with everyone else - you are some kind of wonder woman. You seem to be able to take on so much, and do it well, even. You are young, but you're not THAT young! You just seem to have superpowers, that's all there is to it.

Skye, hope you are feeling better by now, and over your mental and physical trauma over the septic mess.

Hope everyone has a nice long weekend. Hugs all around.