Topic: I know I can't be the only lesbian out here?

Nov 11, 2012 10:42 PM virginiab wrote:

Hi, Mountain Gem--

This list is not very active, but it's good to meet you. You live in a lovely place! I'm in the flatlands of the Midwest, myself.

Nov 14, 2012 02:35 AM Mountain_Gem wrote:

Hi Virginia & Donese. Thanks for the welcome. I'll check out the FB thread too. It's nice hearing from you both.

Mt_Gem

Nov 18, 2012 04:34 AM bookart wrote:

Nice to hear of the FB page.  Almost three years out from dx, I'm only dropping in to BCO occasionally.  I spend more time on FB, that's for sure.

Nov 25, 2012 05:08 AM Mountain_Gem wrote:

Thanks Virginia. Nice to meet you too. The only people I know in the Midwest are my sis and BIL. They live in Toledo. I visited them 2 yrs ago & really enjoyed the visit & all the nice people I met. It was sort of funny because I kept getting very subtle signals from lesbians. When I would mention it later to my sis & brother they hadn't noticed a thing. Here everyone is so out of the closet that it was like walking back in time.

Nov 28, 2012 12:10 AM Doufeu wrote:

I am completely furmischt over how difficult it has been to find any lesbian BC support groups - online or in-person.   I live in a very liberal town. I was the first out lesbian elected to our County Board...way back in 1982...and my state just sent the first out lesbian to the US Senate.   But the local Gilda's Club said they offered a lesbi group but nobody came so they stopped.   Well enough with the carping, thank you all for being here.  

I had a paaartial mast-ectomy on talk like a pirate day (9/19/12) and just completed 31 radiation sessions - burns were bad for 2 weeks but I only stayed home from work for 3 days in the last week. I demurred chemo.  After I meet with my med onc, I will begin Arrimidex - well actually generic anastrole.   I will meet with my medical onc in early December - though I know her well as she treated my estranged wife two years ago, for a Stage IIIb adenocarcinoma, with a huge tumor that had grown into her chest wall.  I will tell more about that experience...and why we remain estranged even as I go through the proximate experience without an intimate's support, on a later post.

My initial posting questions are:

1)   Does anyone know if generic anastrole is more likely to have side effects, especially bone pain, than trademarked Arrimidex?

2) When you underwent your surgery(s) did any MD or PA discuss the suspension of any Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)order you may or may not have had in effect during prep, surgery and recovery - at least until you were released to a general floor or from the ambulatory procedure clinic?

3)  Did anyone discuss your desired "Code Status"?

Nov 28, 2012 03:59 PM Lovegolf wrote:

Hi Sorry these boards have not active lately.  I can tell you there is life when you get to the other side of this...PM me if you have questions or need to talk

Nov 30, 2012 06:04 PM Mountain_Gem wrote:

Anne, thanks for the welcome. I'm struggling with wearing any brand because they rub at the top of my arm no matter how tight or loose. I have tried Mediven & had the same problem. My skin is just extremely sensitive & I swell badly. The sleeves I finally ended up with are Jobst Ready-to-Wear without the silicone beeds in 20-30 compression because that's all I can stand. If this doesn't come together I'm going to have to have a larger garment that has a foam core. Ugg!

My pump & night garment should be here early next week. I also have truncal LE so I have to get fitted for bras or vests too.

Dec 5, 2012 03:33 AM diana50 wrote:

Check out lesbians and caretakers with Breast cancer on Facebook

Dec 25, 2012 08:47 AM mutt1963 wrote:

Merry xmas Sisters. Its been a while since Iv'e posted here and for that I am sorry. This thread is a little more active than when I first joined BC.org but not much, seems odd since lesbians are more likely to be diagnosed with bc than the general population. Iv'e been out of active treatment for 10 months now, went through everything that they throw at early stages bilateral mastectomy, Chemo, Rads, hysterectomy, and now gen. arimidex. Lived by myself almost the entire time (my mother stayed a couple of weeks on 3 different occasions during the year and a half and had my dogs with me). It was difficult as hell but I made it through it. I will try to post here at least once a week from here on out. Cooka and Outfield gave me inspiration while I was going through what I now refer to as The Mess. Outfield for her time out of treatment and LE insight, and Cooka for steering me to reading material that helped me make sense of being a dyke with breastcancer. I hope the new year brings hope, less pain and love to all of you. I will be checking in and feel free to PM me even if its on a different subject (I'm currently getting ready to do winter maintenance on my motorcycle so if you want to talk bikes). I know how incredibly isolating this disease and treatment can be and don't want anyone to go through it alone even if the only thing I can do is give support from Kansas City. Being forced to be strong isn't easy and even the strong need support. Krista

Jan 1, 2013 12:33 AM mutt1963 wrote:

Wishing everyone a happier new year. Krista

Jan 2, 2013 04:16 AM JustJean wrote:

Is it possible to revive this thread and make it something that we check on a regular basis?

I would really like that.

I am 2+ years out now from the bilateral mastectomy. On Anastrazole with all kinds of side effects. My arthritis has gotten worse and my knees are so bad now that I find it difficult to get up from my couch.

And I hurt all the time. It's always a relief to go to bed at night because at least for a few hours I won't be in pain.

On the positive, I'm very very very much alive and planning on staying this way for a long time to come!

Jan 3, 2013 06:00 AM, edited Jan 3, 2013 06:01 AM by Mountain_Gem

Happy New Year all you beautiful lesbians! I've been off the Arimidex since Dec 13th. I sure have less pain, especially in my fingers and toes and the flashes and sweats are mostly gone. But I've been dealing with some wicked depression.

I've been really trying to get up the energy to look for a new place to live and think about actually moving. I lost my handy-person and it's just too much work for me up here and it's WAY too cold. I know I'm a wimp because I'm in California... But I'd love to get back closer to town again. I put off going out much because I feel just too lazy to take a shower and drive to town. I hope I would be able to socialize more with some of my old lesbian friends if I moved. Where I am now, no one wants to drive up here to see me. I've let myself become pretty much a hermit.

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Jan 4, 2013 08:57 AM mutt1963 wrote:

JJ, I'm sorry you are still feeling the love from chemo brain. Mine feels like I use to have a bunch of empty lockers to store stuff in and someone cleared out the lockers while I was in treatment. Mine is getting a bit better but names are still missing (to tell you the truth I wasn't real good about remembering names before this cr_p).  I haven't been out of treatment as long as you so I don't know the lows that you are dealing with, I do have them but right now I look back at this time last year (looked like Shrek and felt twice as bad as I looked) and I'm happy I'm not there. Have you talked to your primary care doc about maybe taking an over the counter med for the pain? I don't have much info on bras, I'm flying the flat. Fashion isn't my strong point. I do know that the sports bras that I wore before mastectomy cut into my armpits afterwards (was wearing them to try to control swelling in the area). Keep on trying things (I bet that can get expensive) because they are coming up with solutions for the stuff we have to go through all the time. I do remember some women on another thread talking about finding solutions with bras or camisoles(sp) from Wallyworld or Targ_t. I can't recall which thread it was but think they also had solutions for sewing pockets in the garments that were comfortable.  While your searching for the perfect bra you are helping to keep this thread active so other lesbians who have been searching the web for info or signs of life can find us and not feel like they are the only one in the world. Have a good friday whether that means you get to stay in bed longer tomorrow or your going out with friends friday night. Mutt

Jan 5, 2013 08:48 AM mutt1963 wrote:

Sorry your attempt at reconstruction failed. By all means get a referral to a Pain Management Doc. Ive already been to one and things are kind of under control for now. Sleep is still crazy and have alot of stress lately but not anywhere near what they were. If you want I'll PM what I know about it. Is there anything in your life that you do or would like to do that takes your head away from your current physical situation? If you can find something that lets your forget for a couple of minutes it helps. From going to your profile I saw that this is your second round with this cr_p, sorry about that too, its got to be hard to face this sh_t again. I give you credit for hanging in there through round 2 that didn't go too smoothly. Looks like you liked dancing with the stars? Are there other tv shows that might help you through this? Seems like that one was on everyday for months. Hope you have a better day with less pain.