Best Of

@shanagirl - Hi Shana, wanted to get back with you after you've made so many posts to me, but I have not messaged back. I am just so wiped out this fall/winter. Thank you for your sympathies re my sister and daughters; I'll never understand it, but I guess we all have these family dramas, at least from time to time. Like you have said, I think you and I often have similar side effect situations and I've noticed that our original diagnoses were also in the same ball park, except that yours was about 10 years before mine. My original diagnosis was in fall of 2018 and it was for left side Stage IIIB, Grade 2, ER+99%, PR+99%, HER-. It's changed some over time, and I became Stage 4 in January of 2023. We've had real similar drugs and I think that's probably some of the reason we've had some similar side effects too, with all the joint and muscle aches, especially with changes in the weather, etc. This fall though in particular has brought me some exceptional aches and pains. It started back in very late September or early October with the low magnesium that I didn't know about until November. So many muscle and nerve issues, along with starting to feel more and more down in the dumps and like something wasn't right. Some of that muscle stuff improved, when the magnesium problem was discovered and addressed, but then the weather effects kicked in with our successive rain storms, barometer changes, and actual humidity and warmer air. Now it's clear and cold and that has a whole new, but painful effect on a good part of my body. Lately I've been mainly dealing with a TMJ/osteoarthritis issue in my jaw that is making my whole head hurt; kind of like migraine, and then it also causes problems with my shoulders and upper back, most all day, every day. Scans from earlier this month did show some progression in my liver and bones, but the MO says the pace is still slow, so not an immediate emergency. I'm seeing him for follow-up and fulvestrant shots (yuck!) on Wednesday. I also now have something that I think might be skin mets? on my sternum (where I had radiation) and am going to show him that and see what he thinks. The scans didn't seem to mention anything like that and I don't even know if something like that would show on a scan. I've got my fingers crossed that it's not cancer on my sternum skin, but the way everything has been going downhill for me this fall, it wouldn't surprise me. All my general joint and muscle aches and pains seem to light up the bone scan machine, just as the cancer does, so it all looks even worse than it is, from what I could gather. The radiologist did note that some of what they saw was "likely benign", thank goodness. Anyway, this has all brought me down mood wise and I have just been all around bummed for the last couple/few months, in spite of the SAM-e I take and my happy light. I'm hoping that with spring now in sight, I can at least throw off some of this and focus on the really serious progression stuff. I'm not at all looking forward to a change in drugs, but it may well be in the cards, especially re the liver progression.

I just want to say, Shana, that I have been following your posts and have felt so badly for you with all that you've gone though these last few months too with your neck issues, etc. I can't believe how well you face and deal with all that comes your way. I'm just so glad that you are improving now and had a relatively nice Christmas with your family. I want to thank you too for remembering me and commenting on my stuff, when I have been so "absent" lately in more ways than one. I'm just finishing up some tea here, and am going to go out for a walk next. It still helps me feel better both physically and mentally to do that. I hope you have a really Happy New Year!!!

@cookie54 Yeah, I can store stuff til I can get it out safely. Got plenty of ice melter, planning to put some down as I will need things cleared up. The other consideration was all the rain we had yesterday as we were 10 degrees above freezing and now are frozen so there will be ice under the snow.

Nothing on agenda beyond getting through dishes, stowing garbage elsewhere, got the boxes they can go in til the next gargage pickup in two weeks. I also have a fair bit of laundry to get through. Debating on getting another humidifier, I had the one I have fall off the table it was stored on and spill the entire load of water, a piece broke off inside so the current one. Will not replace it at this point unless start coughing again which is unlikely.

No really weird food today, probably crisp up the lentils in fridge with a couple of eggs, Could also go down to one egg, heat up burrito, cut in half, crisp the outside a bit as well. I will see what I want to do. I do like taking shorter cycles now in the air fryer. Have the banana smoothie before supper and supper can be a simple tortilla with peanut butter. I have a lot of options. I am also going to put in small Walmart order to pick up some peanut butter granola bars to have after the CT.

I am getting closer to surgery day which is good, spend some days in hospital, I am guessing 5 due to the day of week surgery is. I will have staples to contend with as neurosurgeon tends to use those. Doubt I can wear wigs until staples are removed. That is OK. Once I am done with surgery at the other hospital and released, DB and SIL should have a break for a bit as appointments return to regular hospital.

I do hope all have a good day, in pockets for all as well, anyone who was affected by the freezing rain, stay safe as well.