how about drinking?
Comments
-
Good morning ladies, sorry I thave been MIA for awhile, I have been in a slump, hating the job. Well I applied for a few jobs back in the mortgage industry and had an interview a week ago Monkeydey. I was giving up on hearing from them and walaa, yesturdey whilst mese was nappying, I got a voice message stating that the company had an offer for me. I am so dern furcited and hope that re-entering the mortgage world will not be a mistake. Hell, I did it for 15 years so one would think that I am comfortable in that field of work. I have to call back dis eye em to find out what the offer is for. If it is acceptable, I will be starting on Jan 15th. Then mese must find some clean pee pee for the drug test.
Do re mi, who do I see? Cyndie Lou, Lucy, yippee, you are back on the thread. So nice to see your face. A big congrats again on setting the date. I am so furcited for you and D! Lubs ya.
Sue, one pointed on having the MX, this one was passed to me from sumbuddy here in the lounge, use a robe tie around your neck to tie your drains onto while you shower. It takes the pressure of the wounds from the drains. Coming up soon for you, wihsing you all de best. Sending you hugs and lots and lots of lub lub lub.
Lori, you poor dear, those feet and hands look so so sore. Prayers for your fingers and toes to feel better along with the rest of your skin to feel sofliest. Love you goil, sending you a big hug and sending up extra prayers to you.
Welcome Bella! Like Cyn Cyn, I never altered by drinking due to the rat bastard aka BC. I said eff it, it is quality over quantity of life for dis loungette.
Cam, how is Leslie doing? I will try to read back and see if I can find an update. Pls tell her, Marty and Joey that I send my love and tell them that I hope they have a beautiful Christmas.
To everyone else, here, hailo and how de ef are you all doing? I have missed you goils but been hanging out down in the rabbit hole lately. I have never not logged onto here for such a long period, shame on mese. I am berry furshamed I am.
Time for my morning jack n coke, gonna fly off now. To one and all loungesttes, cheerS and lots of love from NJ.
More chEErs to all!
and titty;s up, if ya got em :-)
0 -
Good morning and thank you for your comments. I've searched for stats on the likelihood of reoccurrence with alcohol consumption and found it to be very vague. I needed to talk to real women who felt the conflicts I do. I know I'm new to this; hopefully it gets better. I hope my body gets used to anastozole. I lost my mother and sister very early to lung cancer. The last couple years have been rough. At any rate, on with the day! Happy holidays everyone!!!
Bell
0 -
Good morning all!
Bella, I cut back on drinking after diagnosis, partly due to onc’s recommendation and also to be kind to my liver during chemo, which was weekly for me. Now, I limit it to social occasions (I host dinner and tv with friends every Sunday night) and/or when the mood hits me, generally no more that 3-4 glasses per week, I’m used to it now and don’t feel like I’m given anything up.
0 -
NM OMG on the office worker, finding out what her husband was doing to her daughter. That 7 Swans sure looks inviting. I don't know when the last time we had any precipitation, be rain or snow. It's so dry out here. Funny that Sadie likes the snow but not the cold. My mom's GS dog just loves this cold weather. In the summer, you have to practically push him out to go to the bathroom.
Cyn, you have an early start for sure. I'm up early, by choice, but don't want to have to work that early. Are you and Donese goin to continue to live apart? I'm laffing at Donese thinking she wouldn't be welcome, of course she is! She goes by Boomer? Yay for vacations!
Sandy, I have so many other creams and ointments, I'll just use something else. I put antibiotic ointment on it yesterday. Glad you have found a way to preserve some of your "too good" wines!
Awwww Karen, her hair looks so cute and her dress…again so cute. Don't worry about catching up, just jump in. Nothing earth shattering has happened. Was that round 4 you just finished?
Hi Bella and welcome to our lounge. We have gals here that don't drink at all and others that do. I think you have to do what you are comfortable with. Cancer can come back whether you drink or not. And visa versa. I did 5 years on Arimidex, had some issues but mostly found it rather doable. I think we are all different on what SE's we get.
Holy Moly, look what the cat drug in! Wow, I thought you liked your new job…guess not! You still have to test clean even with a card? Hoping you get the new job and it's a good offer and that you like it!
Good morning Illona!
My DH is going in for de-cancering. They are removing a spot on his back that came back positive and then he has a spot just to the right of his right eye that he has to have MOS surgery on.
0 -
Welcome to our thread Bella- I am sorry you are suffering so on the AI drugs. My first six months on them were REALLY hard, all kinds of SEs and busy working on a contract for my client. I did not experience any problems until about two months on them, as they are "cumulative" to your system, as my MO explained to me. I did get to a point where I thought I could not continue (especially for the five years), and talked to other women on these threads. Several recommended talking to my MO about taking a short break on them after awhile, and restarting them. I took a break after about 8 months for a month with my MO's approval, and that actually worked for me. And changing the particular drug can help too, your system may not be tolerating the current one well based on what you shared. My MO changed mine half way through my five years (from generic version of arimidex to the generic of aromosin) and have less joint stiffness. I still deal with joint stiffness (which I manage with exercise, big swimmer, do yoga, etc.) and have foot stiffness but get regular massages on my feet. This honestly has been the hardest part of treatment for me. I too had lumpectomies and rads. So talk to your MO that you are not tolerating this protocol as they really want you to stay with this vs. opting to not continue (and some women don't).
I will throw in my two cents worth here on alcohol for those of us with a bc dx. There is research about an increase of cancer risk with bc, but I don't think you are going to find any stats on line that say drinking x amount of alcohol increases your chances of re-occurrence. It is a personal choice whether to continue drinking at all, limiting it, or not changing anything you are doing. I think you have to find a comfortable balance for you in the new normal after cancer and treatment. I have always enjoyed my alcohol, especially fine wine like ChiSandy, but did change my behaviors.
I was diagnosed over five years ago and saw two different MOs during that time (including the one I still see here now). The first MO told me to stick to 2-3 glasses of wine a week max. My current MO does not think it impacts things that much, but I have always stuck to the 2-3 glasses a week. There has been newer info again to say, best to not drink too much. When I am on vacation or a trip, sometimes I will do more but it is rare. Most of the time, my alcohol consumption comes when out with friends, holiday diner, at a biz dinner with a client, etc. When I don't choose to drink socially, I actually enjoy sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime. That is my Plan B and enjoy a good water, which is good anyways living her in the desert. We cannot ever drink enough water! Many of my friends now get it that I don't drink that much (some know of my cancer, and others don't). I just tell people I don't drink that much these days for health reasons. I am 57 and most people around me just get that.
Now let's talk about social pressure and drinking, because it is sometimes there no matter what age we are. Certainly true for younger folks, but I did tell my inner circle I was limiting my drinking per my MO. There were two people (a friend and a family member) who were sort of freaked out by it. What, you are not drinking that much anymore?? I explained that there was an increased risk for re-occurrence for me with alcohol, so I was limiting it to 2-3 drinks a week per the first MO recommendation. I reminded them that THEY did not have to limit their drinking, the recommendation was for me. The family member, with some explanation of the why, finally got it and leaves me alone about it now when I am visiting them. The friend never coped well with my dx news in general, and with time, just fell away (okay with that too). I have other networks of people in my community who like to drink a lot and just don't go out with them to happy hours, parties, etc. too much- I keep myself out of those high pressure drinking situations. I mention this because you have a nice network of friends you mention you spend time with, and may have some of the same reactions by some of your friends, IF you choose to scale back or stop. So be ready for that. I always tell people my health comes first these days, and no one argues with me about that?
Hope this helps. We have all had to adjust a lot in the post treatment world, and it takes some time, so be patient with yourself. All still pretty new to you.
Questions? Ask away....
0 -
Frustrating...trying to post on my phone but it just wont take it....grrrrr.
Anyhows....I'm half way thru the second half of my split shift....I think I will make it. NM, We have a shift bid twice a year. This time I got my third choice which is 5am-1pm with Fri/Sat off and a split on Thursday..I prefer to work double weekends due to the 50 percent differential but there were none to choose from that had hours I was willing to work. Maybe I'll get it the next time around.
Goldielocks, the living situation will remain the same at last until she retires our forcast is 4-6 years time . We are looking to purchase a home in Florida near where I live now. A duplex would be ideal as we would be able to use it for supplemental income during season and for family in the summer.
Dorkey, Dara, I was wondering when I would see your beautiful face. I have missed you. BTW your grandson is adorable. He looks just like his mama who looks just like you.
Well, off to slay theweary travelers of IBM. Then its truly V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N.
Toodles
0 -
Big hello from this guy
0 -
Bella, not to be a contrarian here, but ALL the doctors I asked told me to cut back on alcohol: the MO & FP (primary) said no more than 3 glasses (5 oz. ea) per week; the BS said 2; and my son's shrink (who is a serious wine collector) said that he bets research would eventually show that NO alcohol consumption is safe for women with ER+ tumors. (The BS' first NP said "moderation in all things;" my husband the cardiologist first said "not my wheelhouse, but don't go nuts." He has 3 drinks a DAY)!
Why is there a growing consensus to limit alcohol for ER+ patients? First, new research shows that more than 7 drinks a week for ANY woman, not just breast cancer patients, is considered "heavy" drinking. (It's not fair, but men can have 14 drinks a week and still be called "social" drinkers). Our systems, particularly our livers, can't process & excrete it as well as men's can. (Also unfair is that they can lose weight more easily than women, even those not on endocrine therapy). So instead of enough of it going into our urine or getting burned off, it goes into our bloodstream and stays much longer. We metabolize it more slowly and absorb it more fully.
Second, the theory is that since aromatase is made by the liver, alcohol could increase production of it or alter it to make it more potent than AI drugs can inhibit. Also, some speculate that it can cause random mutations--one of which might be responsible for recurrence or new primary tumors.
Finally (and this really bites), though ER+ tumors have the highest 5-yr survival rate and lowest 5-yr recurrence risk, after 5 years the recurrence rate goes up. (For triple-negative women who make it to 5--or even 3--years, the recurrence risk goes down to the "population" level, i.e., the risk of developing breast cancer in the first place). Given enough time (20-30 years), ER+ invasive tumors, even if caught at stage IA, will recur (either locally, regionally, or metastatic). But the flip side of that is that recurrence is unlikely to kill us--the overall (all-cause mortality) survival rate is exactly the same as for all women our age. If we get a recurrence in our late 70s or 80s, we are likely to die with breast cancer, but not from it.
So if alcohol increases recurrence risk, it doesn't necessarily shorten our lives (unless we drink enough to ruin our livers or die from drunk driving accidents). As Jazzy said, a "few" glasses when out to dinner with friends "occasionally" is okay--but not if we do that every day or even several days a week. How often do you care to dine out and drink, and how many glasses (how big, too)? I might have overestimated based on your original post.
0 -
Chi- great information here. I learn so much from you friend. Diet, exercise, family history, environmental factors, and more all contribute. I remember in the 1980s the initial reports about an increased chance of breast cancer with drinking. It registered, but as a 20 something woman who was quite the party-er in grad school, did not change my behaviors. A lot of that slowed down in my 30s though. I was not drinking that much when cancer came along, and found scaling back was not too difficult.
Your point about some cancers having a longer term reoccurrence risk is an important discussion. Another set of data to help with reoccurrence risk overall is the OncoType DX test. I had the oncotype test that said with five years on the AIs, I have a 15% re-occurrence risk based on my genetics. I interpret that as an 85% chance I won't have it. But lifestyle is important on top of that and I have changed a lot since then. Reduced stress, exercise, better sleep, food choices, etc.
When I talked to my MO about coming up to my five year mark he said "this is important milestone for you, but I need you to understand your type of cancer (ER positive Luminal A) does have a risk of re-occurrence 10-30 years after the fact." I said I remembered that based on the early discussions of re-occurence risk based on Oncotype (which is overall risk through time). No denial here. The five year mark is when my AIs end. That was sort of my focus for the conversation at the time.
Bella- here is another article from BCO that talks a bit about breast cancer risk and alchohol.
http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/asco-sta...
I sort of think with time, I am going to give it up entirely but not there yet.....
0 -
My MO might keep me on AIs indefinitely, even though my OncotypeDX results (16) showed an 11% recurrence risk with tamoxifen and an 8% risk with AIs. And letrozole is considered the strongest. So far so good, but if the side effects intensify I might rethink things after 5 years--by then I'll be almost 70.
0 -
Chi- do you know if you have Luminal A or B ? It has to do with that K167 number that indicates how fast the tumor is growing. My MO said those with As are usually five years on the AIs as they are slower growing, those with B (faster growing ER positive) often go longer on them. Women with ILC as I understand it can be on them longer, if not forever. One ILC sister shared that with me.
Your dx and mine look similar (treatment as well) so I wonder if your MO has shared which molecular subtype you are with with you yet? I only started hearing the term "luminal A" the past few visits. The latest discussion about the five years was as of our last visit in July.
Will see what they have to say at the Jan visit. I am due to come off the AIs 3/22/18 (countdown is under way....)
Bella- did we answer everything for you for now that we could? Anything else you need our help with?
0 -
Thanks ChiSandy for your advice. I've been a heavy social drinker since I was 19. My husband and I limited it to weekends. He died after 38 years of marriage and I got into the habit of sipping wine every night, several glasses. He's gone 5 yrs now. We had a wine tasting group for three yrs., him and I took classes for several years; he started collecting wine and I've continued. Two years ago I dated a man who was on the Board of Directors for the American Wine Society. So wine had been in my life forever. At first I was resistant to change. Just recouperating from bilateral knee surgery in March, then June get the BC diagnosis. I was really looking forward to summer and my new knees. Spent the summer dealing with BC. I cut back somewhat but still drink 9-10 glasses a week. I'm always guilty, plus tons of SE from anastrozole. My radiation oncologist was my age and I related to her - she said cutting back is a step in the right direction, but I think after the holidays I'll try for 4-6 a week.im hoping my body is more tolerant since I drank my whole life. Lots and lots of changes these last 5 years!!!
0 -
Jazzy, great advice for Bella, well said. When are you taking off?
Lucy, you and Donese do well with this long distance relationship stuff. But manage to see each other, what…about every few months? Glad you can just take your work with you. Will you be waiting that time to look for a house? What a crazy shift. Awwwww, look at sweet Reese. Did he go to TX with you?
Kim, I know you had your family Xmas already, so do you have plans otherwise for Xmas?
Cami, I know this is a hard time for you and your family. Always thinking of you guys. Just want this to hurry and be over with for Les.
Sue, you too hon. Thinking of you.
Excision went well for DH. Our family doc, as he said, is cousins with DH derm, they are LDS. When we were in UT this past summer, we visited a place called Pipe Springs, part of the history in that area. Anyways, main person there, Jacob Hamblin, was related to the doctors. I though as great grandfather (would need to look into this more). But anyways, derm doc was telling us how he has baby 9 on the way and how his "cousin", our family doc, was born to Jacobs wife #1 and he was born to wife #4. Makes me wonder now if he doesn't have more than one wife with all those kids! But I don't think he does.
0 -
Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy TGIF day! Cold start this ayem, current temp right around zero, going to go up gradually during the day, snow starting this afternoon, then tomorrow things get messy, snow changing to icy mix with up to a quarter inch ice buildup. Looks Like Christmas traveling is going to be problematic for some people. Glad I won't be out in it. Going to be work enough keeping up with the clearing off that I'll need to do. I'd rather have just snow, much easier to deal with, but since I don't get to choose, I guess I'll have to deal.
I'd like to ask for prayers and good wishes for some friends of mine. Doug and Heather run a dairy farm, and this last year expanded from organic cheeses and yogurts to include a Farm House store and café, featuring farm to table foods and also selling other locally raised/produced products. They were planning to expand next year to include a bed and breakfast in the Farm House. Earlier this week there was a fire in the barn attached to the Farm House kitchen and café. The barn is totaled, the kitchen is totaled, the Farm House store/dining room has some smoke and water damage. All the livestock are housed in a different barn and none were affected. They lost 2 commercial freezers full of organically raised chicken they were planning to sell through the winter. Another 2 freezers full of various meats (their chicken, and beef, pork, sausage from other farms)was saved and a neighboring farm gave them freezer space for temporary storage. That farm has purchased that meat at cost, and is distributing it to the community today for donations that will go back to Doug and Heather to help with rebuilding. Earlier this year they completed construction of a small house on the property where they live (closer to the livestock barns than the Farm House is) but a lot of their belongings were in the barn attic and were lost. I've been getting my milk, cream, half and half from their Farm Store for several months now, and have come to look forward to the weekly trip and seeing what breads and other baked goods I could pick up, have gotten some fantastic bacon and jams, occasionally having lunch in the café, but mostly visiting with Heather and the other staff for a few minutes. I can get everything they sell at other places, but I really like going there, and hope they can rebuild and reopen quickly. What's really sad is that Heather had just finished wrapping Christmas gifts, then took lunch from the Farm House to Doug in one of the livestock barns, and they saw the flames from there, not very long after she had left the building. The Christmas gifts were all lost. Fortunately the community is supporting them, someone already started a GoFundMe page, and other benefits are being planned.
Before:
Far left is the barn. The wood shingles is the commercial kitchen. The white house on the far right is the cafe and farm store and where the B&B was planned.
AFTER:
Dara--hard being in a slump, and so exciting to hear from a company you'd given up on! I hope the offer is a good one. No need to be furshamed of not pooping in, just don't go that long again! You know we can help, and if not help at least keep you company whilst you dwinkies!
Bell--Yup, the stats are very vague and the conflicting feelings can be very strong. In the end everyone has to do what is best for herself, and then continue to live life. So sorry about the loss of your mom and sister, so not fair. It does get better with time.
Illi--glad you found a balance that works for you!
Goldie--It's been quite a year for the office worker and her family. Fortunately she is doing very well and so are the kids. Snookie was the same way, loved the cold and would lie on the deck in a snow storm and turn into a snow dog. Love the way you say DH is going for de-cancering! Quite the turn of phrase!
Jazzy--great advice for Bella!
Cyncyn--those sound like crazy hours to me, but if they work for you, so be it! I can see wanting the weekend hours if they pay so much more. The duplex idea sound perfect for you two.
Awww!
Goldie--no particular plans for Christmas Day at this point, if the weather is good I may go to Mom and Dick's. Mom and I used to watch White Christmas every year, haven't for many years but she bought a DVD recently so we're going to resurrect the tradition. White Christmas, popcorn and hot chocolate!
Lit Teetolar's DOTD:
0 -
Good morning friends- my last day in town before I head to the hot springs, then will be back down on Xmas day to spend time with friends for the holiday. Been a busy week with three outings with friends, a client and my yoga community. Looking forward to some downtime and spa treatments this weekend.
Goldie- I leave tomorrow morning. I hope you enjoy your trip and have a good time this weekend! Thank you for the kind words too. I figure sharing some of our journey around similar struggles is what we can all do here for our sisters in treatment or coming through it?
Bella- it sounds like you have a plan to scale back on alcohol, which will be better for your overall health. I remember when I came out of bc and so much changed for me. Cutting back on drinking, giving up sugar (my blood sugar went high on the AIs, etc.), changes to my relationships, lack of energy for awhile, etc. made me feel like I was loosing so much or having to give things up all the time. I was not very happy about any of it, but took it as it for what it is and here is what I found out. There is better health on the other side of some of these changes. Giving up sugar was the hardest thing for me, but now I don't miss it. I have found better food to enjoy, can find some sugar free things when needed to not feel so deprived. Perhaps scaling back on drinking will be the hardest thing for you and think it is good you are gathering an understanding of how these changes will help you. Once I had my 2-3 drinks a week, anything after that needed to be seltzer, etc. Holidays are a time of extra food and drink so be patient with yourself and the new year may be a better opportunity to begin your new regimen. Wishing you a good holiday sister!
NM- the news here this morning is saying the flu shot is not every effective this year and you have been telling us. Sounds like the flu is hitting NM now. I will be ready for the possibility of the flu, and with working in consulting for hospitals, know the risk is higher for me anyways.
So sorry to hear about your friends farm. Fires are so terrible and at this time of the year too. I hope you have a peaceful holiday whether you stay at home with Miss Sadie or spend time with your mom and Dick. Maybe a drive by visit to check in on them and time at home for you girls to relax in your home. You have had an amazing year of transformation sister with your new work changes and
Dara- well, you gave the new work a try and not something for you and hope the work in the old industry comes to fruition for you. New year and new opps on the horizon. Blessings to you and your family this holiday season.
Karen- I know this holiday will be a challenge for you and your family with your brother gone this year and now you in cancer treatment. Hope you are able to keep things simple and enjoy Xmas with your little one. She is such a cutie.
Mema- this is a hard time for you as well with all you are preparing for. Hoping you are taking things easy and know you are free to lurk and post also as you are wishing. I know 2018 will have more changes for you and we will be here to see you through those sister. Sending you much love this holiday season.
Chi- I know this weekend is not your holiday and hope your celebrations for Hannukah have been good. So glad you got to meet Gordie's new girlfriend this month too.
Many other sisters here like Hsant, Genny, CelciaC and others we don't hear from as much. Thinking of you all.
Giving myself the gift of NO SOCIAL MEDIA including BCO this weekend. Will be back on line with you by next Tuesday or so.
0 -
Actually, we celebrate both holidays--Bob is Catholic. So we do the menorah and the tree, the fruitcake and the latkes. Gordy saw Leslie off to the airport this morning, and he's already missing her terribly. He's flying down to Houston next Fri. and will stay with her parents (whom he's never met).
My tumor was Luminal A. Ki67 wasn't reported--my MO says with Luminal A cancer it's not really predictive. I was actually more highly PR+ (97%) than ER+ (75%).
Kim, so sorry about your friends' barn. Hope they are able to rebuild.
Tonight we went to see The Darkest Hour, about the beginning of Churchill's tenure during the bleakest part of early WWII and how his enemies in his own party were pressuring him to negotiate with Hitler (with Mussolini's foreign minister as "intermediary"--as if). It ended with his changing Parliament's (and King George's) minds and the start of the civilian-boat-aided rescue of most of the British forces from Dunkirk. It put the movie Dunkirk, which we saw this summer, into greater perspective. Performances were marvelous. Afterward we went next door to Terra & Vine, where we had a lovely 2016 Vermentino (white) from Tuscany along with our very late dinner.
0 -
Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Saturday! I got an inch and half of new snow, none of the dreaded rain/freezing rain/sleet stuff. I'm feeling really sad for my friends with the farm today. The insurance adjuster has declared the still-standing farm house to be a total loss. To reopen the farm store and café they will have to tear down the old Farm House and rebuild everything that's on that spot. The buildings are insured but the commercial kitchen equipment is not. Heather feels like her dream of opening a Bed and Breakfast is very far away right now when it was so close. She is really grateful the new, smaller house was finished and they could move in last spring.
Jazzy--the reality about the flu shots has been immerging of the last few years. Remember when flu shots were first introduced? They were only for the over 65 crowd, to reduce the chances of being hospitalized for flu and flu complications. Now you can be fired if you work in a hospital or nursing home and refuse the flu shot, even though wearing a mask and really good hand washing is a more reliable method of preventing transmission. The world is becoming a very strange place. Have a good time at the hot springs and with your friends. It has been an eventful year, and I am looking forward to a quiet weekend.
Chi-It amazes me how much bc tumor testing has evolved over the years. In 2007 all I got was ER/PR, Her2 testing. No oncotype, no Ki67, no luminal. Sometimes I wonder if I missed out on some important info not getting those tests. But, I didn't know anything about testing beyond ER/PR and Her2, so I didn't know to ask for anything else. Ah, well, I can't go back and change anything, so no use going down that road.
Lit Teetotaler's DOTD:
0 -
NM, how devastating for your friends. Glad nobody was hurt and hopefully they can rebuild. Do they know what started the fire? Such a beautiful farm. I totally disagree with places such as hospitals and what not are demanding you get a flu shot. NOBODY should be demanded to do such a thing. And if you don't, you lose your job. I could see a law suit over that one. I am also with you on all the testing. I don't recall getting any of those. I did ask about the BRCA, but they said I was too old. It was more for younger women. And there was no cancer history in my family. And like you said, can't go back.
Jazzy, enjoy your "ME" time away, which we know you will! And no flu! Don't blame you for taking the social media break. If I don't have time while away, I don't worry about it. But if I find I have some extra time, if nothing else I will at least read.
Will be planting tomato seeds today and packing for our little get away on Monday. Hoping to go by one of the houses that was on "The Great Christmas Light Fight" and won, in Scottsdale AZ. And I think I told already, seeing Star Wars at Imax in 3d on Monday when we get there. Gonna shop for a desk for in the house.
0 -
Hello everyone! Been a long time since I posted. Thanks, Jazzy for thinking of me. Lots of crazy busy times at the office since mid November. Two weeks of 7am starts to the day just ended on 12/15 (& I am a staunch supporter of a a 9am start) and on my feet all day doing inventory counts. Had a lovely Thanksgiving with cousins in Providence, RI area, good times, good food, good wines and wonderful TG dinner at their friend's house (friend, friend's mom and friend's sister all BC survivors). Trying to catch up on posts during this long holiday weekend.
NM - Interesting about the flu vaccine. Never had one. Primary Care Dr pushing me to have one, along with pneumonia and "shingles" vaccines - will be asking ask MO's opinion at MO visit on 1/12/18. Dr maintains that since I had BC and radiation treatments, my immune system is "compromised". Very skeptical about the flu vaccine - will wait to see what the MO says.
Goldie - Just went for a "waterless" pedicure yesterday and pointed out my probs with "cracked" heels in the winter months. I see a Medical Nail Tech - her salon is called Sole Purpose Footcare (website: www.solepurposefootcare.com) - she explained how creams do not work for this as do not penetrate skin - I picked up a product made by Footlogix Pediceuticals called Very Dry Skin Formula Mousse to use to prevent cracked heels. Maybe you can find this product in your area. I am using it in am and pm. Please PM me if you want more info. We could also arrange to send you some, if you wish.
Welcome to Bella. Sending lots of moral support vibes to you as you navigate trying to taper off the alcohol and continue your BC journey.
Looking forward to a quiet CM dinner at home with DH. Will be drinking a lovely Gavi wine with dinner. Merry Holiday Thoughts and Wishes to All!
0 -
DOTD: with eggplant Parm over linguine at Cellars, a 2014 Jovino (Willamette Valley, OR) Pinot Noir.
Lazy day today...well, not that lazy even though I stayed in till dinnertime. Slept till past 11am because I not only went to bed late (almost 4am) but was awakened several times during the night: first a calf cramp in my L leg; then two excruciating dystonia attacks in my R--from the bottom of the quad, down the shin to the foot to the toes--splaying and the big toe dorsiflexed. All I could do (besides whimper) was walk around cursing, and take a Lyrica--since it's a nerve problem causing those muscles to contract spontaneously and repeatedly--I could see them twitching. Before the Lyrica kicked in I had the second attack. When it subsided I went back to bed--it was past 6am. Would have slept till 1pm but the kitties needed their wet food, Bob had gone to work, & Gordy was asleep.
After brunch (an egg Benedict with low-carb toast instead of English muffin and prosciutto instead of back bacon, I went down into the basement to try, per Bob's request, to find some white wines I felt were okay for him to drink in quantity. Well, I discovered to my chagrin that except for a couple of bottles, most whites on hand are either sparklers (waist-deep in bubblies), a bit past prime, or waaaay past prime.
However, we are swimming in reds--high-end 1980s Bordeaux that will mature long after we're dead; various Italians; and mostly upscale California Cabernets & blends. Couple of RIojas; and an array of California, L.I., MI & Washington Pinots, Zins, Sangioveses, and blends. Not to mention dozens of excellent "one-offs" bought at tastings & wine dinners at Cellars, including the mixed case we brought home tonight.
Then there are the um, "alternative" wines I picked up in my travels through the Midwest & mid-South: a few pretty good bottles bought after dinners at branches of Cooper's Hawk Winery (a chain of IL restaurants with wineries in their basements, making decent stuff from regional hybrids and excellent stuff from grapes purchased from OR & CA); a couple of "guilty-conscience/polite-visitor" purchases from IN and MO vineyard/wineries after visiting their tasting rooms; the outstanding Jean Farris (Lexington, KY) estate-grown Pinot Noir for which I'm kicking myself for buying only one bottle. (Pontiac Peggy, if you're reading this, the two bottles I bought at our BCO gathering at Sandhill Crane Winery in MI didn't make it through the following week--but they were delicious).
Then there are the Crown Winery (Humboldt, TN) wines bought the morning after a 2013 winery-sponsored guitar festival that booked us to play on Yom Kippur: I sang & played all day on nothing but water and the prime rib dinner I'd had before services at a lovely little local temple the night before; and at sunset after the daytime concerts I was invited up to the VIP tent for hors d'oeuvres and a tasting of locally-made wines. On an empty stomach (the pass-around nibbles hadn't "registered" yet) and after a few very generous tasting pours, it's easy to be impressed by wines one didn't think could be made in TN.
Next morning before leaving for my next tour stop I bought some of what I'd tasted the night before: Sangiovese (pretty good, actually grown on-site) to the what-was-I-thinking hybrid "Chardonelle" and tank-fermented quasi-"champagne" made from who-knows-what (and in retrospect, I'd rather not know) grapes. Next stop was a recording session in downstate IL where I stayed with my friends the engineer & his wife (vegan teetotalers), so I didn't get to taste any of it till I got home The Chardonelle was bizarre and the "champagne" (of which I have one bottle remaining) had oozed around the cork in transit--when I removed the foil capsule, the cork shot to the ceiling before I could even attempt to pull it. Its twin sits in the basement, daring me to open it. Maybe during a guilty moment as an alternative to self-flagellation.
I bet you're envisioning a beautiful well-organized wine cellar. Bwahahaha...more like three or four rickety wine racks (wood & plastic, one full-height and others half-height perched on every flat surface not occupied by spare empty instrument cases, sports equipment, old toys, retired cookware, gift wrap, and obsolete small kitchen appliances). We have two "drink 'em now" racks in the dining room. The rest of the bottles are still in boxes, boxes everywhere. There is an old fridge sitting in the back of the basement, which was there when we bought the place. Unfortunately, it's defunct, not plugged in, and full of cans of old paint illegal to discard.
So once I get the boxes consolidated and everything organized (in a manner of speaking), for my 67th birthday next month I want a wine fridge. Big enough to hold everything that needs more precise climate control than just a deep cool humid basement. Calling a moratorium on wine buying for now (unless Bob brings home some "guzzling wines" bought en route from work--he likes to keep a bottle of red, a corkscrew and a plastic glass in his overnight bag so he doesn't have to pay hotel prices when he stays over the night before an early echo-reading morning at the hospital). But this is also the week that wines arrive from various doctors' offices as thank-you-for-referral gifts.
Yikes--1 am already? Gotta gift-wrap Gordy's books and Bob's Scotch before they discover them!
0 -
Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Christmas Eve Day! We have survived the ice storm nicely, lots of clean up to do but otherwise no problems. Another storm coming in tomorrow should be all snow. We've got a good quarter inch of ice layered over almost everything, very pretty but making for some slippery conditions. Glad Sadie and I don't have to go anywhere today. Got the scanner on and there are cars off the road and collisions and crashes everywhere. Going to be a long day for the road crews and first responders, I'm afraid.
Goldie--My friends are talking about rebuilding. The Fire Marshall determined the cause was electrical and accidental, starting in the old barn. That barn and the Farm House were original buildings on the property. I didn't hear about BRCA testing until I was getting info about reconstruction and had an out of state consult. At my age at the time it should have been automatic, but Maine docs weren't yet up to speed on that. So I got it done in Boston during the recon adventure. Came back negative, but I've always wondered why no one in Maine ever brought the subject up. Star Wars at an Imax/3D sounds like a lot of fun.
Celia--wow, that's a long time to be starting work at 7 ayem! I'm guessing you weren't getting done at 3 peeyem. Good idea to check with the MO on the vaccinations.
Chi--OUCH is all I can say to the cramps and dystonia attacks! What a way to spend the night! I love your descriptions of "alternative" wines, and "guilty-conscience/polite-visitor" purchases. I did picture a relatively neat and organized wine cellar, but it sounds more like mine. I, too, inherited a defunct fridge when I bought the house, and use it for storage of paint cans and other flammables.
Lit Teetotaler's DOTD:
0 -
Celia, I'm the same as you in regards to flu shot. I have never had one. As for my skin, it's a chemical reaction from the chemo drug I am on.
Sandy, I feel ya on those leg cramps.
Kim, glad you don't have to go anywhere and I hope it clears up if you plan to go and see your mom and Dick.
We are leaving tomorrow morning, movie is around noonish, 4 hours to get there.
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!
0 -
merry Christmas Eve ladies!
0 -
Merry Xmas from the hot springs
0 -
cheerS!
0 -
Merry Christmas, all! Was up very late last night (almost to 5 a.m., while Bob was burning through a slew of shows to free up space on the DVR), gift-wrapping and writing out cards to accompany them. (Sadly, I fell down on the job of sending out actual cards, so I will be e-mailing animated ones and making phone calls instead). Woke briefly about 10 am, turned over, and next I knew it was 1:45 pm! Bob had gotten up at noon to watch the Bears game (sorry, Heidi, for Da Bears not giving your Browns their first win for Christmas). Looked out the window. No wonder I had slept like a baby--wasn't just the earplugs and the lights off, but 3" of snow on the ground, with more still falling! Fortunately, a neighbor snow-blowered our sidewalk so we wouldn't get fined; and a local landscaper posted on the neighborhood blog that he was making the rounds with his shovel. Texted him, and he did the gangway, deck, stairs (front & back) and alley "apron" behind the garage. Salted, too.
We had planned to take the train up to Evanston for dinner at Chef's Station, but weren't too keen on the 1/4 mi. walk on slippery sidewalks in 20-degree weather to the Granville Ave. CTA station. (The restaurant is in a little roundabout between the Davis St. CTA and commuter-rail stations, so no hike at that end). Bob had just downloaded Uber on his phone and set up his acct., and was eager to try it out. (No way were we going to drink & drive even on bare dry pavement). The driver showed up in an older Prius. Uh-oh. The interior dome light didn't work, so Bob couldn't see where the seat belt receptacle was, and my flashlight app was no help because the receptacle had sunk down into the crevice between the seat and back--the driver had to get out and fasten his belt for him. We were crawling because of the snow--and as soon as we crossed the city line the car fishtailed alarmingly at every intersection. The driver apologized for our slow progress, "because this is a very light car." (Which begs the question--why drive one on such a snowy Christmas Eve)?
Dinner was delightful (see "what's for dinner?" thread for the menu). So here I'll just mention the wines: DeLoach 2014 Pinot Noir with the app, and Duckhorn "Decoy" (Cab. Sauv.-Merlot blend) with the entree. Both were marvelous. No wine with dessert, since those were big honkin' glasses we drank and still had glogg planned for gift-opening at home. And the first dinner out in days that yielded no leftovers--not that the portions were small but because we'd intentionally had nothing to eat since very light brunch.
Said glogg was Lynfred Cellars (suburban Roselle, IL) spiced Christmas red (which had added cherry, strawberry & raspberry juices plus sweet spices). Had planned to add a little vodka in lieu of akavit (though the neighborhood "Hans' Andersonville Glogg" now uses Everclear instead). But we were already pretty loaded from the dinner wines. We opened gifts while Gordy fired up his holiday playlist. Then I nuked a mini plum pudding (the mini fed the three of us easily, as it had 350 cals. for a scant 3/4 cupful), heated a little Cointreau, lit it and (lights off) poured the flaming booze over the pudding. We had fewer gifts to open this year, as Bob's patient base is either dying off or moving away--to suburbs, warmer climes, in with their kids or into nursing homes. So we had less detritus of which to dispose. But the ones we gave each other were major. I'm about to turn in and attempt to sleep off all that wine (sadly, a week's worth in only two days...and then there's dinner at our BFFs' house tomorrow). Snow falling at night makes one want to hibernate. I've been up only 12 hrs. and I'm already yawning!
Hope your Christmas is as nice as our Eve has been!
0 -
HO HO HO WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND JUST PLAIN FUN CHRISTMAS, U ALL DESERVE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.
0 -
Doing Toxo and Herceptin. Is it ok to drink wine every night?
0 -
Good Morning Ladies----Again Merry Christmas, I can't even tell u how many times I've come here only to have my phone ringing and doing work, never ever been this busy and emergencies like crazy ll thru the nite. I'm actually turning jobs down <never did tht> even with more men on the payroll---in way it's good for me it really keeps me busy, but I'm really tired, Oh well I hope his business just keeps on going up, of course I'll be out of a job, but I wish it for Dan.
OK now.
Jazzy must be having wonderful time, she knows how to.
Sandy I missed ur broadcast, I fell asleep, I was so mad at myself, then I remember u said they didn't rebroadcast it. That's a shame, and of course I wasn't thinking bout listening to it on the puter---U've been so busy but sounds like good times except for those leg cramps--Ugh thse are hurting things like bad.
My Dr. didn't push the flu shot t me at all this year, but I did get the pn shot <can't spell it>, I've never had either one before but she just gave me that one with no discussion.
Celia it's good to see u back hope all is going well.
nd Cyn I follow u on FB, but it's great that ur here again, u r so colorful.
Karen this is a hard time for u, u are so blessed to have a wonderful fiance and a beautiful DD who I know keeps u happy and she's a doll.---that is so important for recovery, being in good place for feelings.
Bella these gals know so very much bout cancer and drinking and so much more, I know nothing, but I do know over the years so many women I know have had this and their lifestyle was very good nd some not so good. I took the BRCA, but couldn't even tell u what she said about it. All I know is that the older generation in my family 3 women hd it and never changed their lifestyle or did chemo and all lived well into their 80's, so many years after , all in my generation have all had chemo and the next Gen. all chemo, that's probably why I just think it's a coin toss. Just hoping u feel well.
Oh Kim ur poor friends, what a beautiful place they had, but hearing all animals were OK too. I hope they decide to rebuild everything, I'm sure it would make so many people happy. Well we both had snow, but ours is OK today <so far> and it would be nice to go to ur Moms today, so I hope u get to go.All I know is 3 channels are showing A Christmas Story today, all day, tho a cute movie, but not for 24 hours to me anyway.
Lori u'll be leaving soon stay safe and happy. Cuz that's just you.
SusyQ and Dara get out of that rabbit hole, I can't see u from here and that's an awful place, not enough carrots for my taste.
Leslie went to her in-laws for a couple of hours last nite, when she got home she went straight to bed, but said she was all right, so I hope she has a decent day to go to my nieces today, oh and me too. That seems to always be n if too. Now tomorrow my GF's <sister and cousin and friends> are supposed to go to lunch---now the stupid part of this is my sister, cousin and I are usually not 2 days partying anymore, but my cousin <yes the crazy one> made it for Tuesday and when I talked to her last nite I finally remembered to ask her why she thought this was a good idea. Her answer, "Oh I forgot we were older and sick now", Well we'll feel it after today so now we'll see who can go tomorrow. I washed my hair last nite nd washed what I am going to wear for both days--so at least I got started.
So I'll check back here tonite to see how everyone's day hs gone and truly wish a good one for everyone.
LUBS U ALL
0 -
Good Morning, Loungettes!Merry Christmas!Sadie and I are staying home to watch the snow and sleet come down and drink Christmas spiced coffee and then mulled wine. And read books and maybe watch a movie. In other words, not gonna do much today.Hoping everyone here has as happy a Christmas day as Sadie and I will.
Listening to the scanner this ayem, lots of cars of the road and I just heard one dispatcher say that a caller said AAA isn't taking calls right now! Not sure if that is really true or not. Also lots of calls going out for people who have fallen and need help getting up and at least one person who has fallen and broken a leg. And I've heard at least 4 calls for ambulances to go to nursing homes to transport people to the ER for evaluation of chest pain or altered level of consciousness. Talk about a busy day for the first responders!
Goldie--safe travels, and have good time at the movie.
CynCyn--Merry Christmas to you and Donese!
Jazzy--WOW!What a nice place to spend Christmas!
Teka-beautiful pic, and Merry Christmas!
Dara--Merry Christmas, and my you get health, happiness and joy, too!
Chi--Except for the Uber ride, what a wonderful Christmas Eve you had! There is nothing like the quiet of falling snow, is there? So kind of your neighbor to take care of your sidewalk, and so nice for entrepreneurial local business people. I made a mulled wine yesterday, didn't turn out very well, going to try again today with a different bottle of wine.
Cammy--Merry Christmas to you and your family!
11Patricia11--Welcome to the Hot Tatties Lounge! The drink/not drink/how much to drink question is a complex one. Your best source of info is your Oncologist. Things to consider are the work load on the liver from the chemo drugs and from alcohol, studies that indicate a link between alcohol use and primary bc or recurrent bc, ER/PR status of the tumor, and quality of life. My personal opinion is that life is for living, and for me that means having a drink with dinner or in the evening or when out with friends. I am also done with treatment. Other Loungettes take a more calculated approach, some by taking a certain number of drinks or number of ounces of wine per week, some by having a glass only during certain portions of their treatment cycle, some by not drinking during treatment. We all come from slightly different points of view. Would you feel comfortable sharing more about your diagnosis and treatment plan? That would give us more to consider that is directly related to your individual situation.
Cammy--I am so sorry for folks with heating emergencies on Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter. And there is more work that your company can do? That is pretty sad, too! Good for business, but sad for everyone else. I think my friends will rebuild, I really hope they will. I loved going there every week to get milk and cream and half and half that I knew was local, and loved their cheeses, and was really getting to like seeing what locally raised meats they had for sale, was starting to get my bacon there once a month. Was planning on some chicken from them, too. And then the baked goods--I usually went in the afternoon so I didn't have a big choice of items but the breads and muffins were so good. I know it cost more than at the big chain grocery store, but it all tasted so much better, and I like knowing where the food is coming from.And to be able to get it all from one place where I know the people and could visit for a minute or two, it was the highlight of my day. I hope Leslie had a good time, and I hope you and your GFs have a good time, even if it is a two day in a row thing! You'll have plenty of time to recuperate after!
Lit Teetotaler's DOTD:
0
