Illinois ladies facing bc
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Hi all
I'm home ( a little early this time ) from Marion and rads. I had the first boost today and will go back for 5 more this coming week and then I am done, done, done. Funny, I thought I would only get 3 boosts as my V.A. oncologist told me I'd have 30 rads. That what happens when you assume---the rads oncologist said 33. So, instead of 4 more days I have five---not a big deal but a little surprise.
I have lots to catch up with this week-end...nothing changed there, but sure nice to know I'm almost done. Except for once or twice and then only for short periods I have not noticed any real fatigue. Unless it comes from the boosts, I think I had a lot more going on when I was doing the chemo. That's interesting to me.....I expected to be wiped out a lot through this period....great to have something go much better than I expected.
Well, I'm onward to my catching up but great to be home and reaching all of you from my home computer.
Jackie
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"If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time - not tomorrow, nor next year, nor in some future life after we have died. The best preparation for a better life next year is a full, complete, harmonious, joyous life this year. Our beliefs in a rich future life are of little importance unless we coin them into a rich present life. Today should always be our most wonderful day."
Thomas Dreier
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I keep my friends as misers do their treasures, because, of all things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship. - Pietro Aretino
You will make more friends in a week by getting yourself interested in other people than you can in a year by trying to get other people interested in you. - Arnold Bennett
We would rather be in the company of somebody we like than in the company of the most superior being of our acquaintance. - Frank Swinnerton
One discovers a friend by chance, and cannot but feel regret that 20 or 30 years of life may have been spent without the least knowledge of him. - Charles Dudley Warner
What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other? - George Eliot0 -
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum (I think that I think, therefore I think that I am.)
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Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary 0 -
Good morning everyone.....that is everyone who is not on vacation this a.m. It will be hot here in southern Illinois today with a few showers later perhaps. I won't mind too much if I can get out and get the feral cats taken care of in-between. I have a raccoon coming to the IGA grocery now. I chase him ( or her ) away till the cats have all they want. I'm a push over for anything hungry---but Rocky the Raccoon is just being an opportunist. The food is there and even a water bowl to wet his food and paws. He makes a mess of the dishes and I have to wash them before next use. Well, we actually do this anyway---but don't have to work as hard at it if Rocky hasn't been there.
One of our screen room kitties got out but is hanging around our yard.So I'm feeding him outside. Hoping that he gets tired of being alone and will let me pick him up and put him back in the room. So far, nothing doing. May have to trap him.....I just didn't want to have too.
Lots to do today as usual. My week-ends are always pretty busy. Even have to take the Jones soda I got in Marion to my girl-friend Gloria this week-end. They do not stock enough in our local Wal-Mart. I think I mentioned.....for anyone who drinks soda, it is sweetened with pure cane sugar and therefore much better than all the soda which is now sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. That stuff goes around your middle and just sticks there. Gloria ( nutritionist by trade ) was so surprised and very happy to find this Jones brand. She had been sending to Canada for soda.
Hope you all had a great Saturday. I need to get our dogs fed and a little happier this morning.
Jackie
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Hi gals!
I never thought I'd say it, but it's SO NICE to have nothing to do this morning. We have been gone the past two weekends and had so much fun on these weekend trips, but I'm really enjoying the free day today. Dave is helping his former construction partner put up a shed in Springfield. It's raining here right now and it's just me and the cats! I finally had time to catch up on all the posts. Wow! It appears that everyone has been busy!
Laura..is the GOAT fixed and ready to run today? If so, I hope the weather is a bit better there than it is here. I know you're ready to go! Also, I'm assuming that your foot is better if you're sporting classy shoes again! That's good news!
Jackie, I had 33 rads (5 boosts), too. I just thought that was the standard. I'm so glad you're about done. Hey, you'd better keep an eye on Rocky the Raccoon. The raccoons around here even steal the cats' dishes every once in a while. We find them with holes in them down by the creek or in the woods. I've learned to bring in the dishes when it starts to get dark if there is still any food in them.
Connie...I hope your son's birthday party went well. How well I remember and cherish those days! I loved doing the birthday parties!
Karin, I have you in my thoughts and prayers. Is your appointment this Friday? How are the nerves holding out?
Ginny, so glad that you got a good report from Dr. M. I have my labwork done on the 31st and see him on Aug. 7th. I can't help but get a little nervous before. I wonder if I'll ever get over this anxious feeling as the appointments roll around.
Miss you, Kater! Hope all is going well in your neck of the woods and that you enjoyed visiting with your cousins, even if it was under such stressful and sad conditions.
Adrienne...how'd your appointment go? Anything set up yet?
Jule...Isn't it funny how we feel we need to reassure others that we are doing fine when we really are feeling crappy???? I was the same way. I seldom asked for help from others either when I really needed it at times. Looking back, I wish I would have accepted some of their offers and would have just told them how rotten I really felt. I don't think that there's ever been another time in my life when I really needed the support of my family and friends as much and yet I didn't take what they offered. Did you have your 4th treatment on the 16th? If so, how did it go and how are you feeling now?
Mary Jane...hope the rain is contained in Illinois so that you can have a good weekend at the lake.
Blackjack...so how are the golf lessons going? Are you ready to hit the links in your cute little golfing attire??? LOL
Smerf...Susan is right! You look stunning in that hot pink color.
HensonChi...the hair issue is such a hard thing to deal with! As I suggested earlier, try the Look Good, Feel Good program. It might be just what you need to perk you up! Hang in there, hon.
Susan...You are so bubbly and seem so happy now! I know that the summer is so revitalizing for teachers, but you have so many different interests that are poking through now. Good for you!
I go to the cancer center on Thursday night for my training for the Reach to Recovery Program. I'll let you all know what it involves! I'm really looking forward to it...in hopes that I can help somebody else get through this journey.
Wendy....by now you're probably basking in sunny Florida. Enjoy your trip! I'm thinking about you and hoping that you'll find lots of fun things to do!
Michele...been to any craft shows yet this summer? We've found a few small ones but I didn't discover any new ideas that I just couldn't live without!
Well...Hello to everyone! Our group is getting so large (which is good) that it's impossible to mention everyone each time. Do you realize that we've had over 5,200 posts since this was started? That's lots of interaction. I don't know about the rest of you, but it's certainly helped me!
Have a great weekend.
Rita
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Happy Rainy Saturday everyone!
What did you all do for a bad throat? I feel like I can't swallow and have a constricting throat...any solutions for this?
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Don't take life so seriously.. It isn't permanent. Happy face/Angel Misc I've got an achy breaky everything. 0 -
Henson Chi...I need to go back and read your posts. Are you doing chemo right now with your throat feeling like that. You could have some thrush problems.....it happened to me and if that were the case you need antibiotics from your Oncologist. Anyway for some calarification....I didn't think of this ( I think either Susan or Pat did ) because I thought thrush was white patches which were thick on your tongue.....you can get it in your esophagus/throat area and see very little on your tongue.
Jackie
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Thanks for the response. I am in chemo now....just had my second one. I don't see any white patches, but I guess I should call my onc. Thanks for the heads up....these side effects are the pits. Hopefully they will get better with time!
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Hi Everyone,
We are leaving today for two weeks, first to our condo at the lake and then to Colorado for a college reunion. I'll check back in when we get back.
Everyone in treatment, keep your spirits up. It will end before you know it. Welcome, Adrienne.
Jackie, I'm taking your recipes with me to the lake!
Mary Jane
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"I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than
to have things I am not able to appreciate."
-- Elbert Hubbard0 -
Boy oh Boy! I was without a phone since Thursday and because I have DSL I also had no computer. So...I had a lot of reading to do here! AT&T finally came out today...and fixed it! Yikes...it was awful being without both!
I got an e-mail from our dear, dear, Wendrew...she can't log on from where she is...but sent me a message via her IPod...she wanted me to let you know the following:
"if u could please tell the gals going thru chemo that it does end...and life on the other side while forever changed, it is good and they will smile and laugh and love...and will find that life over here on this side....not bad!"
she also wrote:
"Tell Jan her boobs are quite stunning"
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Well...our car wasn't ready for today...and the rain report wasn't good, so another weekend goes by and we don't have the Goat to enjoy! I'm pretty bummed...but I will let you all know the next time we go to either Byron or GLD...
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Jule, Juliechicago, WendyTY, Henson, Little C, Carol...all those going through treatment...hang in there...be well soon.
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Jackie - You're almost done...woo-hoo!
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JulieR, Adrienne, Leesa,...those recovering....hope you're better with each day!
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Rita - You?...a morning with nothing to do! I'm shocked! LOL Hope you enjoyed it!
Michele, Connie - Hi there!
EVERYONE - Have a great weekend...have to check in with my Rocktober Sisters...
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Jackie, my boss should be home this week, 2 minor TIA and 1 major. But she will recover fully the Dr's say. Any advice as to how I can help her cope w/ limited use of left side? Talked to her today she sounded OK, but was a little slow. She will have at least 6 mos of PT. I'm not sure if I should just take over all her duties until she is ready to try? Since you've "been there done that" you have a better idea than any of us!
short stop have to get back to work......a womens work is never done!
Check in when I have time!
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Jackie, my boss should be home this week, 2 minor TIA and 1 major. But she will recover fully the Dr's say. Any advice as to how I can help her cope w/ limited use of left side? Talked to her today she sounded OK, but was a little slow. She will have at least 6 mos of PT. I'm not sure if I should just take over all her duties until she is ready to try? Since you've "been there done that" you have a better idea than any of us!
short stop have to get back to work......a womens work is never done!
Check in when I have time!
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Good morning
everyone. It is going to be quite hot here today, but that is what air-conditioning is for and we will sure appreciate it. Can't believe last year we did not need our air conditioner until first week of August.Karin............good question. Hopefully you can do as much as you and she can be comfortable about. A lot depends on where the stroke originated. Mine was in my brain stem ( no wonder I have such problems now and then ) and I am about 98 % recovered. My left side stayed somewhat weak to this day and when tired I can easily stumble---but it's not about me but your boss. The PT is what will get her there as she will have the left side weakness too. Speech is slow at first as well......again it's the weakness. Your mouth has to gain strength as you re-learn how to form sounds and words.
I will say this, and your boss will probably go through this at some point, the frustration level ( stress ) can get high at times. Mentally you well understand where you were pre-stroke and sometimes it's just grueling trying to re-establish your capabilities and being a little afraid about what you get back. It took me quite awhile to accept my new imperfections.....and it probably is a key. You have to reach a point where you are able to HAVE possible imperfections and go on willing to do the best you can.....even if you think you did it a lot better before.
I still have mental as well as physical challenges but nearly three years ago I was able to take and pass a 3 hour exam to get a Realtor's license ( I shocked myself ) so you can do ( if your tx comes in time ) quite a lot mentally with practice and re-training your mental processes. To this day I do crossword puzzles and on my computer ( I have Vista on this new one ) I use Google as the homepage and you can add things on the home page. One of the ones I have is Match-Up. It's 2 sets of words....one the word and the second the meaning. They are tricky but I do them everyday.
I do lots of physical things now---like mowing the lawn with a regular gasoline push mower---for the exercise and we use our side door so every time I go in and out I'm using stairs. True they are gentle....but better for me to do it than not. She will get most of her strength through the PT. Those gals know which muscles to focus on as far as getting you back to your optimum level. Still.....when your boss is tired, she may have some problems. I drag my left foot...just a little. Usually only nurses pick up on that and even then I don't realize it. I still fall now and then and it's still one of my greatest fears. I stumble because I think I'm picking up my foot and I guess it doesn't come up far enough. When a person that is 5'8" goes down it's a long way down and it is never gentle and graceful.
Don't know if any of this helps you at all----the whole problem with a 'stroke' patient is that in a short while they LOOK so good, but still have major hurdles. Too, I think your own personal drive to overcome what has happened to you is a very key element. So, guess I'm still saying you may just have to play it by ear. Hopefully your boss will let you accommodate her while she works back UP to her abilities and she is in my thoughts and prayers for a strong recovery.
Hope the rest of you ladies out there are doing ok and having a wonderful Sunday. Your in my thoughts always.
Jackie
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I have my last Tx Wednesday 23rd, and I'm going to take your advise Wendy and try to feel better by the 9th. Lakemoor has their fireworks then (my mother used to work there & she really boosted that firework show to Grade A a few years back - like a mini Chicago). Hopefully my counts will be good by then. I don't get out much at all. I think I've only been 2 places other then doctors & hospitals since March, so fireworks will be such a treat for me & I even want to cry thinking about it now, because it will be a personal celebration that chemo is done! I just hope I can stay awake for them! I'm usually pooped by 7 pm.
LauraGTO - I don't remember how long the season goes for GLD, but hopefully I can catch you at least once this year w/ the goat & that you can get it up & hauling. (I used to hang out with my uncle and he was always out there with his Challenger. When he wasn't there, we'd be racing up & down 12 in it, back when no one wore seat belts & there was only 1 stoplight. I always slid off the vinyl seat because the back end was jacked up so dang high.)
dang, veggies & fruit sound really good about now! Dare I say watermelon is awesome the days following tx, but I keep it away from the DSH. Or the DHH (horn^...husband)
HensonChi - I have something similar to what you mentioned with the throat. Nurses were wondering if it was thrush, and I didn't see white patches either, but it feels almost like from my mouth all the way down to my stomach it's like swollen yet "stuck open". Water feels icky going down, but when swallowing food it felt better for that moment, like it got smaller & more normal for that second but then goes right back to feeling ‘open" or swollen.
Ok... can't hold... it in....anymore... "YO Adrienne" (oh I know, that is so bad)
Hello Adrienne. Happy, yet at the same time sorry, to meet you. Everyone is right. This is THE place to be for support.
I also want to say thank you, forgot the couple of you that said it, but mentioned hang in there it's almost over, there is life "after". Those words touched me deeply as I near my last chemo tx.
Now I have to scamper around for a new ob/gyn to get ovaries out, get tumor markers done & start rads.... They aren't moving fast enough scheduling this stuff for me. I'm a control freak and so need my ducks in a row!
"Weird... the new normal" hmmmmmm I don't know if I've ever BEEN normal and now I'll be more weird and even less normal? Ha ha ha ha
Oh, hey, you guys all look great in that picture!
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posted a picture on my profile, but it's too small to see.... I'm on left, daughter on right, horse isn't ours. My mom paid for my daughter to take lessons for 2 weeks so her summer sitting around in the house sucks a little less.
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Happy Sunday lovely IL ladies...
I'm having a good couple of hours so after a quick walk around the yard for some fresh air, here I am on the PC.. haha.
I think I'm pretty caught up on most things around here, though I am not talented enough to respond to everyone individually; I don't know how some of you do it...
I want to say thanks, again, I recvd a couple more nice cards in the mail over the past couple of days - you guys are so sweet, and so thoughtful!!
And the Bat Mitvah card was really funny (you know who you are!) - at first I thought you made a mailing boo-boo, but then saw your comment
Made me LOL. I'm not sleeping much at all, the pain/pressure of these expanders is nuts, and my drains - well, I hate them. I'm feeling like a big fat moose because I'm not getting much exercise at all, and I'm eating a lot (people keep bringing over delicious foods - not complaining about that one bit!) OK - that was my vent for today.
The non-bc drain comes out tomorrow - YAHOOO! The other will be with me for a while, I have named it Albert. (Notice how I name everything? My tumor was Arnold, now we have Albert....)
LauraGTO - when is your get-together? Is that August 9th? My sis will be here from California & she leaves on that day, so I'm not sure what will be happening... but I REALLY want to see you guys... I miss you & haven't seen you since I was gumming gnocci at Maggianos!!
Hugs to everyone - JulieR
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Little C.....yah, whoopee, way to go....your last tx. That is music to the ears is it not !!!!! I could barely wait for my last tx and then got really annoyed that the se's were there---like somehow in honor of it's being the last tx they shouldn't have showed up. Lets hope it all goes smooth and that you are in the pink quickly and almost effortlessly. I'll be away doing rads so just in case I forget......congradulations.
I know Wendy was one of the gals that keep reminding about having a life after chemo and since I only finished mine on April 30th. I can attest to that. My 6 mos. of chemo turned into one long bout of endurance---and even being convinced and knowing it needed to be done, there were times when it seemed the "doing" was going on a long time and dragging me down.
I met my friend Kay today at Wal-Marts ( this is what is so wonderful about these small towns ) and she was telling me abolut two other people who have bc. We all live close to one another and at least three of us are fairly close to same age. Now....this is all in the space of 9 months. I think we are going to chew on that a little more.
Anyway....sounds like rain is predicted for at least the first three days in Marion....not sure about the last two. I'll be doing boosts all week and my last week away from home. I'll have to start producing after that....and even going back to work. Ok with me....it's time for a paycheck.
Talk to ya'll later.
Jackie
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LittleC - You are too funny with the YO ADRIENNE! I loved it! Glad you're on the heels of your last tx...yay...you! Hang in there...We race at GLD all the way through October...in fact the Goat performs even better in the chillier weather. That is so funny about your uncle's car! Believe it or not...even with all the stop lights...I still race up and down 12! LOL
JulieR - Yes, our get-together is the 9th...feel free to bring your sis along! Glad you got out a little today...
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It's so nice to have a phone ANDa computer! LOL...ahhhhh...the simple pleasures of life! As usual I've had a very productive day...while it rained, I cleaned inside...while the sun shined, I cleaned outside...all in prep for next Saturday's niece party! Almost 35 people are coming so far...yikes...
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Wendrew sent me the link to her resort...IT'S A BEAUTY! I bet she's having a great time!-
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Oh AND BTW...tomorrow is the 3 year anniversary of my diagnosis! I can't believe all that has happened since I picked up the phone that day...and heard those 3 little words...YOU HAVE CANCER! I'm still kickin' and so will you! It's amazing how resilient us gals are! Be well...have a great evening!
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Congratulations Laura. What a great milestone...I wish you a millennium of NED to look back on and feel good about and celebrate.
All the Best.
Love, Jackie
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Laura....congratulations on 3 years of cancer free days! That's so wonderful and something we really need to celebrate! From the bottom of my heart..........I wish you many, many, many more years to celebrate!
You go, girl..........sending hugs your way!
Love, Rita
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Geesh...I just thought I'd check in b/4 bathtime...and I'm welled up with tears...Jackie and Rita...thank you so much...You girls have been such an important part of my "recovery"...getting and giving back is so rewarding...Rita...you started this thread and I am so thankful for that. Thanks Rita...keep smiling that beautiful smile of yours...and thank you all for helping me to keep smiling!
Jackie...I didn't know you had suffered a stroke...you are one even-more-amazing-Illinois-gal...Be well!
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kater - come in, KATER!
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Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
- Berthold Auerbach0 -
Just checking in for a moment before I leave for Marion. Hope you all had a stunning week-end. Very hot temps here...98 which means with heat index it's about 105. I can feel it pretty good. Being outside is like walking around in a giant oven---then stick a little humidity with it and it's downright un-pleasant. Same way today....hopefully by the time I get home Friday it may be nicer.
Ah yes....I spent 4 days in intensive care with my stroke....several years earlier I had a bad thyroid crash---was hyperactive for 7 years and no one caught it. Most of the time until the end it was intermittent so I was able to carry on everyday life, but often felt rotten.
Then the cancer which I have defeated.....so what do they say about three times being a charm. I figure I'm going to get through the rest of my life ( mid-90's when I have my leave-taking ) w/o any other major problems.
That's my story in a few words and I'm sticking to it.
Talk to ya'll in Marion.
Jackie
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Dear LAURA!
Yes, congratulations on your three years being cancer free. Keep going strong. I know it is still something you think about, maybe still daily. Is it lifting a bit? I met up with a cancer survivor in the grocery store yesterday and she is five years out. She told me she still thinks about it but not daily. She asked me if I still thought about it. I was embarrassed to tell her how much I do think about it as she is a School Board Member at my school and I would not want her to think I was morbidly caught up
! I told her "on occassion" which is so vaguely ridiculous. We were, after all, in the grocery store! I have my two-year anniversary on August 14. Oh boy! Also, Laura, thanks for calling me and leaving a message about Byron. I know you are frustrated with the car situation. To all of you, keep your head above water. Man, this rain is relentless. I had a great weekend. My grand daughter had her one-year old birthday party and my daughter and her husband just put together a great event. It was fun being with the young couples, both with and without babies. I marvel at how devoted young parents are today and how equally involved the father is. My husband was always great with our kids, yet this is really a different time for all young dads. All of my daughter's friends, including my daughter and son-in-law, are soooooo environmentally conscious. A few years back young couples seemed more materialistic....maybe I am wrong. Anyway we had a great time.
I am going walking with a teacher friend in a few minutes. She is a P.E. teacher and will be kind, but frustrated, with my pacing! I know she is a power-walker, yet she knows I am not.
To all you girls in active treatment, I am thinking about you. And do not worry that after two years I think about this BC thing daily. I tend to be a bit obsessional. I actually do not totally recall the chemo experience that clearly.
Love to all,
Susan
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Hi for tonight
,I'm back in Marion. Stopped in at the hospital to pick up my motel voucher and they had me down for two days....hope they have it right and faxed the extension to the motel here. Another scorcher today--about 101% shortly after we arrived---not too much humidity, but still brutal if you ask me. Could rain all week, but sounds like any real expectation is more like a long pop-up shower. I'm not too fond of that......I'll not know whether to wear my hair or not--unless it's raining when the taxi-cab comes.
Susan I think to one degree or other we will all think about cancer---even more so when strange aches and pains show up. I've certainly thought ( translates into getting real nervous ) when things I didn't expect happened and I was having my treatment--and what more could you even do then. In my minds eye ( don't know if it will happen that way or not ) I am assuming right now that I won't think any more about it than I do the stroke---which like cancer came w/o warning and no family history--at least none that I knew about. After that I worried for a long time....thinking every time I worked hard and got over-heated or forgot a Plavix ( super fancy aspirin for stroke prevention ) that I could have another one....but I don't think much about it now. Figure I do what I can to prevent these things and leave it in the hands of the Universe.
Now some will perhaps get agitated with me but I pray to the Universe because we have many there who help us. Whether anyone believes or not, most of us have several angels that watch over us as well as a Guardian spirit which we have for life. We have never been alone although a lot of times ( especially when we sink into times of despair ) we feel and are almost sure we are. And the nice part is....they are there even if you don't believe in them. At any rate I write to the Universe asking that my needs be met and asking for help for others. I'm sure when the right time comes I will receive lots of comfort in learning to let go of fear and live in the present w/o fear lurking in every twinge and creak my body makes. I'm not there yet, but I sure intend to be.
Well my friends time to get settled down for the night. Hope you have all had a wonderful and not too warm day.......unless you might have been golfing. I think it must be cooler on the golf course as so many people are there.....in all sorts of weather.
Jackie
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