Best Of
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@tanya_djamila Thank you for sharing your Japan pictures, very nice outdoor and outside of building and those vehicles you were driving looked fun as well.
@irishlove Thank you for sharing about your mom as well, it warms the heart how much we love and miss moms.
I am debating a shop from the Costco instacart store, would not mind some M&Ms in the jar and a couple of cooked rotisserie chickens. Could do so very much with them and since it is pricier, would use the card that collects the rewards on it that will cut the payment down to nothing. Got two rotisserie chickens and the bucket of M&Ms I would get when used to go with brother. 60 bucks but enough chicken to satisfy. There really was not anything else I needed so stopped there. Apply the credit I get for paying rent, internet and mobile and and the order becomes 25 to 30 and that is fine by me as I will not need another shop for a couple of weeks at least. Fees are pricier but if I limited Costco to once a month, not so bad. Order will be here shortly, dang that is fast.
In the meantime goals are to keep sink clear, get bathtub clear of dirty clothes efficiently. Found the 3rd lid for the smallest washers, might use those on my tshirts so if need be can do 3 things at the same time, I put those on the floor since they have handles and wash the stuff needing the biggest washer.
Not sure what to have today, My chicken will be on its way, can chop into beans and cheese to add an extra layer of flavour to stuff or make an egg and chicken with cheese something else. Depending on how much it is used, will decide after it goes to full price if I need it.Walmart delivery does not have as many fees as instacart does but also do not need anything from Walmart at this point and their website is messed up. Costco already is on its way, 2 chickens and the container of M&Ms. Will have to process the chicken first and then incorporate into a meal. Got the chicken so will process it a bit at a time and add some to a bean and chicken type meal, chop beans and chicken with some shredded cheese. I was very hungry so ate some chicken right away and chewed it off the bone, it was very good. Other chicken is in the freezer.
EDIT I did actually drop the membership for the regular instacart because overall, I do not need to shop at all the different stores. Between Walmart and sometime Amazon, it is cheaper instead of the extra fees and such. I also do not need costco because though rotisserie chicken is cheap, I dislike the taking it apart step in the progress. Better off ordering the 4 tubes of ground chicken for 10 bucks, 4 lbs in all OR the 3 tubes of ground beef, each weighing a bit less tuan a pound.
Tonight am planning a similar meal to yesterday but with chicken meat added. Taking some chicken, beans and shredded cheese, chop it all together, put in a sprayed frypan with some canola spray, plant butter and garlic spread. Dump the chicken, cheese and bean mix into the pan with some queso and give a stir around. Turn off the heat, add a lid and let it all cool gradually. When time to plate, just dump on the plate and add some binders, a blob of chipotle, capful of the sourcream and lime and whatever else comes to mind. Cannot have M&M tonight, do not need to be up all night.
I hope everyone has a good day and in pockets as needed.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@irishlove - I was really moved when I read all the missing Mom stories, and I have my own, even after 17 years, but I cried when I read your story. So very sad and touching. Hugs.
@tanya_djamila - Thanks so much for posting the pictures. They are wonderful and you all look so very happy.😊
Has anyone had or known anyone who got a bad reaction like Guillain-Barre syndrome after getting a flu shot? It's apparently rare but possible. I got my shot on the 15th and about a week later started getting pins and needles that seem to get worse, then better, then worse. At first I didn't think too much about it, as I have long standing peripheral neuropathy in my feet, and low estrogen can do this too. Then reading around I saw where it can be a post flu shot thing and can be anywhere from mild and transient to severe and long lasting requiring serious hospitalization. I'm seeing my oncologist for routine visit on Wednesday and am trying to wait until then to ask about it, but in the meantime I'm wondering if anyone here has had or has known anyone who's had this problem. I remember before I got the shot, they asked me as a routine question if I'd ever gotten this before after a flu shot and I said no.
(Sorry, I'm having to type on my phone, something I don't do well, but sitting at the computer is aggravating the pins y needles and joint pain.)
Re: how about drinking?
Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Saturday! Movind day for Mom was long and exhausting, but actually went pretty well. She has way too much stuff for the new apartment, and the unpacking, which is going to be all up to me I've discovered, is going to be a massive job. For the foreseable future, I will be driving an hour and a half to her place to work on unpacking and then an hour and a half home to take care of the puppers on a daily basis. The old landlord is being a bastard, hounding for November rent and for me to get the place cleaned up as soon as possible so he can find another tenant and "not lose any rent income". Like he can't figure out that we've figured out he's going to get rent twice for November, plus he will find some reason to keep the security deposit. This feeling of needing to be in 3 places at once is getting to me, hopefully I can get the apartment cleaned today and then only need to be in 2 places at once for a while. I did not anticipate how overwhelming this was going to turn out to be, I keep reminding myself it will settle down as Mom adjusts. She's already made a couple of friends, she loves the ocean view she has, things will smooth out as she learns how to get around the building and I get stuff put away and the piles of boxed out. But dear God, how I wish I had some help with this.
Well, I've got to get moving, plan is to clean the old apartment as much as I can in a few hours, give up on the rest, and turn in the keys, then go to Mom's and work on more unpacking. At least it isn't snowing or bitterly cold here, which would make things so much worse.
DOTD—your favorite, doubled!
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Sandy, what would cause his legs to become weak when he bent over? Sounds like a balance issue.
Yestermorning, I discovered that my gabapentin was missing, and panicked. Tried to make a request on the pharmacy's computer, but there was a problem. What? I distinctly remember picking up a prescription early last week. There were a lot of possibilities, since I am lax about such things. Called the police. He visited with papers, His eyes opened wide when I told him how much I take. We discussed my laxity. I had just taken a look at med safes at Amazon. And the emergency key i leave with a neighbor who I don't completely trust.
Called the pharmacy, and there was something wrong with the computer. Went over, picked up the prescription, and realized that what I got early last week was my three-month refill of others.
mcbaker
CA27-29 elevation
I am 11 year survivor and just has an elevation to 42 from 30 on the CA 27-29. I have to wait 4 weeks for new bloodwork. I am so nervous. Anyone have a similar experience.
alice57
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
hey ladies such touching mom stories. Wow. That’s the kind of love that takes you through life.
grateful I was able to do it.
my cousin Nola and husband.
Tanya
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
@norah2024 my CA 15-3 went from 38 in July to 63 in October. I’m going for another tumor marker test next week. CEA marker is normal. The Caris test is like the guardiant test. Just a different company
aj
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
You and I have two current issues in common - not very well defined skull mets and diverticulitis. Glad we can compare notes. I meet with my RO on 11/4 to discuss radiating the small rib met that was found and also the best way to flush those skull mets out of hiding. I have a brain/skull MRI scheduled for 11/29 (couldn't find an earlier appointment). My MO is leaning toward radiating these areas and keeping me on Kisqali if we can resolve the diverticulitis.
I noted that you have had several bouts of diverticulitis and recovered from each. I have had one continuous bout since June which was calmed down several times by augmentin, but never actually healed. Finally decided I needed a new gastroenterologist, and she sent me to an infectious disease doctor. He prescribed 14 IV infusions of ertapenem. I have #11 this morning. I have a midline port in my right arm and it's much nicer than suffering someone trying to find my tiny, uncooperative veins 14 days in a row! Concerned about whether it will come roaring back once the infusions are done.
Fingers crossed that we both find good solutions for the latest problems that have been thrown at us.
eleanora
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Chris, "Waiting in the Wing-Tips?" "You're My Sole and My Instep-ration?"
Well, when it rais, it pours. Bob went to work today (covering for his colleague who with 6 kids is always on vacation to Disney World). He came home, I was tired from sorting through stuff and cat care. I fell asleep in front of the TV about 6pm; he awakened me at 6:45 from the little brewpub/bakery next to Walgreen's up the street—he asked me what I wanted him to bring home and I told him.
Not half an hour later the phone rang—his name on the caller ID. But it wasn't him—it was a neighbor in front of whose house he'd fallen. He was bleeding pretty badly. so I ran out (in my PJs & a hoodie) and the neighbors were walking him toward me.. I called 911. He'd been pulling his house keys out of his pocket but the car key fob fell out. When he bent down to pick it up, his legs got weak and he face-planted. He insisted he was okay (he is stubbornly stoic), but his nose was streaming blood, he had abrasions all over his cheekbone and a growing "goose egg" on his upper forehead. The paramedics & I convinced him to go to the ER to rule out fractures, a concussion or a brain bleed. I followed about 10 minutes behind (had to make sure the cats hadn't escaped. When I got to the hospital. they were backed up outrageously—even though I arrived after they did, they still hadn't assigned him a room. It looked a lot worse than it was: nose laceration didn't need suturing, abrasions & contusions weren't bleeding, and imaging was normal. He was cleared to drive to work tomorrow (covering for that colleague) and panicked at the suggestion that if he didn't have a colleague to cover him, had he taken tomorrow off he would (at 76) be forced into retirement. And with all the non-covered fire-aftermath expenses and having to help Gordy through the split, cashflow would be threatened. Besides, he loves his job.
Speaking of Gordy, we co-signed his lease on a below-market rate 1 BR in a midrise luxury remtal apt. in a new building that ocupies what had been the parking lot of a moribund hospital. Unassisted, he could afford only a studio—and a 41-rear old with a dog and a large collection of music & books would look in a studio like Andre the Giant in a Smart Car.
No fractures or sutures necessary. X-ray Negative for everything but cervical spine OA (he knew that). And CT scan negative for concussion. I will stop tempting God by saying "well, it could be worse…"
chisandy
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Oh how wonderful we get another hour of sleep. Haha, bet everyone is up and at it same time. Poor dogs wouldn't understand not going for walk and pee if we changed schedules. Not to mention @mara51506 kitties. They will certainly meow up a storm if you try to take advantage of that extra hour sleep. Personally I dislike daylight savings time.
I caught up on what's going on with my sweet friends. Oh how I love that @tanya_djamila had the thrill of visiting Japan. Wishing you great memories to keep for a lifetime.
Results on nuclear bone scan from portal today. SKULL: faint osteoblastic focus left posterior calvarium likely reflecting a metastatic focus. Patchy sclerosis seen in region on prior ct of head. RESPONSE: Well last trip to MO he was studying that prior ct of head and patchy b.s. I asked straight out if it could be the occipital bone from when I was first diagnosed with MBC. He said possibly. So I'm not too upset about this, plus I did read differential diagnosis could be Multiple Sclerosis. It's running rampant thru my body as I am not on any meds for it. Neuro said Ibrance will do a fine job, only problem is I've been off Ibrance since Oct. 6. Also mentioned prior childhood trauma that could have been found incidentally. I fit that profile to a T.
Next was Multifocal osseous blastic metastatic disease involving proximal femurs and pelvis. Response: Yeah I know, been diagnosed since MBC of 2023. I just complained that my right femur is very painful. Maybe time to radiate it?? No big surprises here, just more pain. Any guesses if I stay on Ibrance or no?? I'm not sure any of this is considered major progression or not. @eleanora It sounds like we both are dealing with skull mets here. In your pocket for a quick resolution.
What beautiful memories you all shared about your Mama's. It warmed my heart greatly. I lost my Mama in 1992 to breast cancer. She was 55. I recall lying in a fetal position crying that I needed her one last time. Then I was able to regain that strength that we all need to carry on.
Here's to a cool, crisp November. Loving tea and biscuits and pumpkin pie and bright red apples.
In pockets my dear friends, for all your needs.
Irishlove