Illinois ladies facing bc
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Oooops....forgot.....
Happy St. Patrick's Day .... may the luck of the Irish be with you all!
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Morning all -
Welcome Missy - so sorry you are here but this is a great group. I will second whoever said don't ever give up or give in. Just look at your sweet baby and you will gain the strength to continue on. There are lots of success stories out there!
Carol - I am stage IIIa and grade 3 like JanClare, but I was allowed to get my port out right away. I had my last chemo on 10/31 and got my port out about 3 weeks later. I agree - don't give it permission to come back!! Good luck with rads.
Jennifer - your post brought back memories - I forgot about sleeping in my recliner!! I would say it lasted a few weeks after surgery - certainly not 6 months. Each day would get a little better. I would try to lay in bed but it was just too painful and getting up out of bed was the worst. Hang in there!
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather! Thinking of all of you!
My son is doing better but still has this horrible cough that seems to only bother him when he eats. So, it is a bit better than last week, but not sure the antibiotics have helped it at all. The dr. and pharmacy did tell me to expect diarrhea with this one. It did stop after about 3 days so I think he just needed to get used to it. Thanks for the concerns!
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Jennifer glad to hear that your band is toning it down. That sounds like a great analogy to me and I bet a lot of the gals here can relate to it. So glad too you brought up the ACS program. It is a very good one...and I nearly missed mine.....and did not sign up either....but they welcomed me anyway and one of the ladies even stayed late to help me with make-up ( the segment I missed ) and it is where I got my wig ( free too ) and had so many compliments on. You don't have to take the wigs if you don't feel any look good on you. I had a friend who had given me one, but it did not look good on me....the one at ACS was so much better. After I came home boy was I mentally kicking myself for almost missing the whole thing.
Anything that can help the self esteem ( always thought before that was not and would not be a high priority thing for me but it later was ) is a good thing....so try not to let it pass by.
Going to be oh so glorious out today. I have errands which will be fun in the sun.
Also....Jennifer...I think most things in moderation will be ok--like sweet potatoes or a very occasional glass of wine, or a sugary treat now and then. We all would I think have been and be so much better if we could ascribe to the rule of everything in moderation. It is a very difficult one for me. I like my sweets and my coffee and will have to work on that. I also need more exercise and not in near the moderation I have been practicing lately Aaaaarrrrggg. As to the pain/recliner/sleeping flat.....ok gals....what did you do. I only had a lumpectomy so had few sleeping problems.
Hope you all have a gorgeous day.
Prayers and hugs
Jackie
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May God grant you many years to live,
For sure he must be knowing.
The earth has angels all too few.
And heaven is overflowing.
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Good afternoon ladies! What a beautiful day in central Illinois. WendyTY and I walked our 3 miles this morning and I just got home from playing 9 holes of golf with her this afternoon. Now to tackle the household chores that need to be completed.
Missy...I'm glad that you found us. Jennifer and Jackie will take good care of you down in southern Illinois and the rest of us are here to cheer you on and help in any way that we can. Eenjoy that baby. Believe me, they grow up too quickly and then you ask yourself where the years went! LOL
Jennifer, I thought the Woodlawn boys looked very impressive on the basketball court. I was cheering for the Lewistown team where I used to teach and they got third. I love the small schools and the small towns. They have such character.
Wendy, it was certainly a tops down day today, don't you think? :-) Jackie, do you have that deck furniture out and in use yet?
Laura, I will be thinking about you tomorrow. Hang in there.
Connie, glad your son is doing better. That dang cough just keeps hanging on. I am still not completely over mine.
Mary Jane, are you packed and ready to go?
Ginny, I haven't talked to you forever. Give me a call!
Hugs and good wishes to all of you. This spring winter and the sun has me energized. Isn't it great, Blackjack?
Rita
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Hi ladies:
You know I am ready to retire from teaching when I hope the weather turns bad again so the kids settle down. I am so ready for it. Certain things are happening and it is good that I am leaving at the end of the year. I am becoming impatient and I hate that trait.
Missy (name right?), thanks for stopping by. O my! You have a small baby and you are facing such fears and challenges. Tell us about your darling baby. I take it you are a stay at home mom. I am just hoping the news on the breast gets easier. It is hard for us"older women" to accept our news, but of course, as a mom myself, I feel worse when I hear of a young mom with this. JulieB, congrats on the little son who could! How cool that he won the derby. I loved the trophy story! Connie, you always give the best advice. Just solid, confident and realistic.
ElmSong, I am also thinking of you as you too are a young mom. Keep stepping in. I am stopping here as the pork chops are burning, yet know I am thinking (on and off) of all the ladies in Illinois fighting breast cancer.
Laura, I will be waiting (probably not patiently) to hear from you tomorrow. I doubt you will hear anything right away. In my heart I feel everything is fine.
The sweet potatoes were great and by golly, I feel healthier since I consumed them on Sunday!
Rita and WendyTY, so good that you walk together. I would love to see your neighborhhood. I live inthe burbs and so boring. I imagine you in a more country-like setting.
Wendy, sounds like you are happy.
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Hi Jennifer..
I am goin on 8 weeks post-op /reconstructive surgery and I was in a recliner for 2 weeks and few days longer than that! It was very difficult to be in a bed flat and it does get better!!! Probably like three to 4 weeks did i get more mobility and goin to Physical therapy helped alot. Started that 3 weeks in or so and has me where i need to be to get ready for chemo.
Be patient and know healing is occuring,, slowly and eah day it gets better. Took me this long to even lay on my tummy for sleeping too!!! Back to excercse in yoga and walking and just to start any tummy crunching.,, that will take time too. The redcliner became my little cave and could just melt into it and when it was over, i was glad to be in bed again..you will too!!!
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Hi Girls... Gawd... I feel like such an idiot! Last Wednesday my Onc suggested I do a 5 day regiman of anti-inflams to see if the pain in my Sternum was simply an inflammation issue. And of course, I did it... but today, my niece Nicole was here and I told her that I have been taking Aleeve for 5 days as a test. She picked up the bottle... and said - Hey Auntie... did you know this bottle expired in Jan of 2007! OMG - I was floored! So...my 5 day test is worthless... I am so pissed right now... DAMN... I am so freaked out about having the bone scan and xray tomorrow... I JUST HATE THIS CRAP! I don't want to go that hospital... I don't want to get the phone call from my Onc... with the results... I just want to hide. Who the frick knows what will show up... I hate this. Sorry... I just can't help it... WTF, WTH....
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I have had one of the worst days ever! It started off great by getting outside to enjoy the sunshine and then ended up with the tragic loss of my beautiful red setter. I loved that dog! It was a freaky accident where she accidentally hanged herself on the side of the pen. She never knew how to climb her pen before and I wondered how she kept getting out the past two days. Come to find out she learned a new trick of climbing the fence. David's dad came over to take his granddaughter fishing. I went along to soak up the sun and to get out of the house for awhile. We didn't go very far and for just a couple hours. I had to come back to the house for something and that is when I found her. I am just sick about it and have cried my eyes out over it. I feel so guilty. The dog just wanted to be with us - she was such a sweetie. I wasn't thinking - I should have taken her with us. What was I thinking!!!! Why did I not do that?!!!! She could have had the best day with us instead we had to bury her tonight. I cannot sleep I am so upset. I feel so terrible. It is horrible.
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Jennifer.....So sorry!!!!!!!!!!!I know how you are feeling.Years ago, our 9 month golden ran on to a busy road in front of us and was killed. The garage door was coming down and he flew out of out SUV at the time and still got under the door to chase a person across our busy street at the time.The vision of this still haunts me. Always, what if this or what if that?!!
DO NOT.. let the guilt get out of hand, as what I have learned about the what IF's. is we are powerless as there is always a greater plan that is much bigger than US. As bad and tragic as this is!!! The pain will get better and wish I COULD help you in person as I truly know how you are feeling. Give yourself time and keep talking on it as feelings stuffed is not the answer. IF you want to private message me, do so!!!! Will say a prayer for all of you as time is all that heals and you need help now!!! Be gentle on yourself.. try to.
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Jennifer, that is postively awful. I am so sorry. Do not be hard on yourself.
Laura, I am with you in spirit. I wish I could hde with you. Right now we need Wendy's fort. We could all hide together. I know exactly what you mean and what you need. I just wish I could do more than tell you I am thinking about you.
Susan
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Just a quick fly by today to say hi. Wanted to wish Laura good luck with her scans. That stinks about the Aleve - but look at it in a good way. If they didn't help, now you know why.
So sorry about your loss, Jennifer. I don't have pets, but I can understand how they become a part of the family and how difficult it is to lose one. You are in my thoughts.
Hope everyone had a great St. Patty's Day. It was so nice to come home from work last night and see all the neighborhood kids running around. Hopefully, they all wore themselves out for you Susan! I laughed at your wish for cold weather. Being a teacher is a tough job!
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Jennifer - OMG That is so horrible! What a tragic thing to happen. I'm sorry... I know exactly how sad you are. We had our little guy put to sleep in January...I am still upset about it. I still get teary eyes just thinking about the night we had to take him to be put to sleep. Gawd... it's so awful to lose a pet. Hang in there... time helps, but it will be a while b/4 the sadness goes away. (And...I hope you can sleep in your bed soon.)
Missy - Welcome...sorry you had to join us, but you could not have stumbled upon a better group of girls. You're way too young to be dealing with this.
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Thanks for listening to me whine.
So much cra* happening lately...have we been having full moons? I hate being such a chicken shi*... I have to be there at 11:30 - get injected with poisonous dye and then go back 3 hours later and lay there for 30 minutes while being exposed to more deadly radiation. lol Oh well... doesn't get more fun than this!
Susan you're right - I need Wendy's fort!
blackjack - Off to FL...sun, fun, sand, cosmos... FUN!
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Good morning
everyone. It may or may not ( I could not seem to concentrate on the weather report this a.m. ) rain later today or during the night hours, but wow.....is it ever pretty outside and the warmth ( so appreciated ) of summer is going to be in full swing this afternoon and even as we speak. Laura I will be thinking of you today for sure and hoping for an outcome that makes everyone pleased and happy.
Jennifer...I sent you a pm, and Donna gave you some very good advice-----don't stuff your feelings about all this. The more you are ABLE to ALLOW yourself to FEEL the quicker I think you will take the terrible sting of it all away. Wendy will tell you that my philosophy is the only way to get a monster to go away is to face it. Until you completely acknowledge the feelings you have, really claim them totally and throughly, you will suffer the shoulda, woulda, coulda syndrome and blame yourself and as long as you are doing that you will be slowing down the healing. It is difficult to face some of our monsters --- we feel like doing everything BUT, but the truth is....when we do face it and accept it...just like it is, warts and all, then we can change it and it loses the power to stop our growth and movement.
Ok, blabbermouth is going to be quiet.
Connie...hope your little guy is feeling chipper again.
I'll be checking in later.
Jackie
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On to the fort:
"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."
Denis Waitley
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Morning! Wasn't yesterday just a wonderful day!!!! And yes, Rita, the Z came out and the top went down. Just drove around, up and down the Fox River for about an hour. It was glorious....I thought of Fitzpatti and I yelled " woooooohoooooo" for her. (well...silently anyway)Laura.....Have been thinking about you since I woke up this morning. Don't know what else to say that everyone else hasn't already said....just know that I am here, if you need me...even if you don't, I'm still here. And so's the fort...I stocked it with wine and cheese last night, just in case you needed somewhere to hide away from the world for a bit...
Susan...yep...kids are going NUTS with the weather. Poor you! BUT....you get to escape next week, correct????? Just a couple more days...then....just a few months to go! You REALLY need to get that convertible.....
Jennifer.....I am with everybody else on this. I don't have pets so I don't really understand. But don't play the "what if" game. It solves nothing, and only makes for more misery. You cannot change what has gone before. Allow yourself the time to grieve tho...you have suffered a great loss. Hugs, honey. I wish there was something more I could say to you but nothing will heal your heart except time.
Donna....your appt. is the 24th, correct? That's when you find out re: what chemo????
JulieB...took me a bit with the new changes at facebook but I finally tracked down the picture...congrats to your son! It looked wonderful!
Connie....sounds like DS is fast on the road to a complete recovery. Glad he is feeling so much better. Whatever this virus is that has been making the rounds this winter has been the pits...lasts for weeks.
Have just seen the weather for here next week and I see sun for Mon and Tues with highs in the mid-60"s so that will be nice for DH if we don't go anywhere. I did stop the mail as we are seriously considering just hopping in my SUV and driving until it gets warm enuf for shorts. We have never done anything crazy like that...who know? It might be fun!
Gotta scoot and take DH's shirts out of the dryer...have a great day everyone!
Laura.....PLEASE let us know soonest. You are in my thoughts constantly, along with everyone else I am sure. Hugs!
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HI Laura,
I will be thinking of you while you receive your test and praying that you are just fine. Please let us know how it turns out.
Take care,
Nancy
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Jennifer, I'm so sorry to hear about you precious setter. As an avid pet lover myself, my heart aches along with yours!
Wendy, I loved the bunny cartoon...made me laugh out loud.
Hugs all,
Susan
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Oh Jennifer...my heart goes out to you. I'm a pet lover, too and I understand your grief. Hugs!
Laura....I've been thinking about you all day! Hope the scans were uneventful for you and that the results are A-O.K.
Jackie, today has been lovely here but it's clouding up right now. The weatherman said the storm should hit us about 4:00 and by the looks of the clouds, he may not be far off.
Susie...how are things up in the Rock Falls area? I'm due to come up and get my aunt and take her to the casino in Clinton. She loves the boat and I'm about the only one who takes her. We usually have a good day, but it's a long one for me.
Hey, Susan....just keep marking the days off your calendar. It won't be long now.
Well I have to get busy. I still have the youth group at church to teach tonight yet.
Take care everyone.
Rita
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Jennifer - I hope you're doing okay today... gawd... I can so umderstand how heart broken you must be. It's going to take time... hang in there.
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Well - I survived radiology land. Isn't it just so degrading - being shuffled around from room to room in a gawd awful hospital gown... I hate those gowns! lol The person who designed them should be shot! lol I got injected w/the dye at 11:30 - then went to my friend's house for lunch...had to be back at the hospital at 2:00 for the actual scan. It was difficult laying still for so long, but definately doable. I forgot to bring a Xanax, so they had to blindfold me so my claustrophobia wouldn't kick in...not being able to "see" something over my head - really helps. It took 45 minutes. Was then off to x-ray dept. Made the mistake of asking to see the computer screen with my x-rays on it. Couldn't see anything on the Sternum, but I saw a fuzzy dime sized "shadowy" circle at the bottom of my rib cage - looked like a small cotton ball... of course - now I'm freaking out... lol Will I ever learn? NO! And yes, of course as soon as I got home, I searched on the net for photos of abnormal chest x-rays. Had to stop... started to get a major anxiety attack! lol Onc should be calling tomorrow - he knows how I am, so I am sure he will call as soon as he can. Thanks for thinking about me. I really appreciate it.
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Laura, do you remember ever inhaling a cotton ball? Only kidding and I am probably taking a chance by kidding at all. Seriously, I am so happy that the hospital thing is over and hoping you get the news you want and we all want for you. I too get claustrophia. Are you closed in on the scanner?
Jennifer, you have been on my mind. That was a very traumatizing experience. I do not know you at all, but I do hope you recognize that the whole experience is extremely dreadful and you may need to work through your feelings of guilt. This was an accident and accidents unfortunately do occur.
Well, I am getting ready for my trip to Arizona. We are going to Scottsdale for a week.
My parents lived in Arizona before they died and I have some places I want to go to, to close on that whole thing. Mostly, however, I want to be in pool, catch some vitamin D through sun, sleep late, and be happy with my DH. I will not even miss the grandchildren as I recognize I need some time away in a different place. I will bring the laptop. I hear Arizona is very hot right now!
So I hope all have a good evening.
Susan
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Rita - My dear sister... thanks so much. And thanks for thinking about me and remembering my test date. You rock!
Oh SUSAN - I am absolutely cracking up... thank you... I needed a good laugh. NO - dear friend... I have never swallowed a cotton ball! The Bone Scan is not as closed in as an MRI or CT ... but there is a camera that lingers over your head... that's the part that freaks me out... I can't have anything over my head... But you are so funny! Have a wonderful vacation...
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EVERYONE - Thanks so much... I appreciate your concern, support, and encouragement. It means the world to me.. and it really helps me to sleep at night! Thanks neighbors!
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LOLOLOL Wendy!!! Love that cartoon!!!
Yes. My appt is on the 24th.. want it all out already,!Thanks for remebering!!
Hope all have a good and peaceful evening!!!
Hugs..Donna
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Jennifer - I am so sorry about your setter. These horrible random tragedies are just so hard to comprehend.
Julie B - I guess I need to check in on my facebook and check out your pictures, huh? I'm such a lame-o facebooker. :-/
Laura - Gosh... the long wait for results is so damn hard. I'm glad you finally got the tests done and behind you though. I also take Xanax for any closed or claustrophobic feeling procedures. Don't freak yourself out about the spot on your chest film, you'd be amazed at all the little scary looking but totally Normal things that can be seen. It sounds like you may have seen a bit of calcification or something - very commonly seen along the rib cartilage. I'll be sending good thoughts your way on your results.
I am still running around like a crazy lady (which some would say is the norm). It's just such a busy time for us this time of year. We are going away for spring break after all - which means I really need to get packing! We decided to drive down to Florida and take (yet) another cruise. My daughter is bringing a friend, and we'll pick up my son and his girlfriend in Champaign along the way. I can not WAIT to lay on the deck and read a book with a foofy drink in my hand.
I had my final stitches taken out last night. As pleased as I am with how the girls are looking now, I have to say that was the most painful suture removal I've ever experienced. I actually *cried*, and I've never done that before. I think a few of those stitches had become one with me!
Anyway...hugs to all. It's laundry time for me.
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Laura, thinking of you, and hoping you get good results, and quickly! Waiting is too hard. I think reading x-rays should have that warning....please don't try this at home. I know what I find online can freak me out, and i have to stop looking sometimes. Hang in there, friend, we are all with you.
Jennifer, I'm so sorry about your setter. Pets are just like family memebers, and so hard to lose.
Julie...loved your derby car story. brought back memeories of my now 30 year old son and his Dad working on that project. However, they did not win, so big congrats to your little guy!
Rene, gotta love spring break, and especially withoput stitches. Yea for you!
Donna, the best at your upcoming appointment.
Susan, you made me laugh with your cotton ball thing, and laughter is so good for us!
DH is hovering, wanting the computer, so I'll see you all later!
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Morning all!!!!Laura....any news? Cottonballitis???? Interesting.....
Rene...safe trip down to Fl! DH now wants to jump in the SUV tomorrow afternoon and drive there as well. He's nuts...certifiable. We'd kill each other by the time we got out of Illinois....
Blackjack...only a few more days until you are on that beach. Lucky girl. How are you feeling by the way? Mucho better I hope!
Hope everyone is doing OK for today.....take some time to smell the roses (ok...well...you know what I mean...they are not in bloom...BUT....I cut down my grasses and my lilies and little green thingies are shoosting out of the gorund...spring has sprung). Yes..I did say "shoosting"...remember Lisa from Green Acres?????
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Good morning gals!
Laura, You have the scan over and now the hard part begins. I hope you get news quickly so you don't have to wait too long. (actually, any waiting time is TOO LONG!) Hugs! Let us know as soon as you have the results.
Rene....wow, can I go along? I'd love to sit on the deck with you, read a book in the sunshine, and drink a foofy drink! Enjoy your vacation.
Wendy, you've motivated me. I need to get my grasses cut back and if the sun stays out it might be the perfect job for this afternoon. WendyTY and I have already walked our 3 miles and it's still a bit nippy for the golf course today. I know. We're pushing it but I have spring fever.
Hey smerf! It's always nice to see a post from you! Glad all is going well for you!
JulieB...How I remember those Pine Wood Derby races! My son is an Eagle Scout and we went through a lot of those competitions. He still has a few of his cars in a shoebox in my storage closet. It's just hard to part with some things!
Well, I have a landscaper coming in a few minutes so I need to get off here. Everyone have a good day. Do you want to be envious? Mary Jane is off to Italy! :-)
Catch you later.
Rita
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It's been a while since I posted. Thought I should take the time. Rita and I have been busy walking and golfing this week. I got my St. Patty's Day decorations taken down and replaced with Easter decor. I've been having some motivational issues since my grandmother passed away a couple of weeks ago. Guess I didn't and still don't know how I feel. Like anything, it will take some time. I head in tomorrow for another Herceptin treatment. I'm not expecting it to be eventful. Tonight I am going out to dinner again with a friend that is in town from Beecher. Until yesterday, I hadn't seen her for 12 years since I worked at Rich Township in Richton Park. It is amazing how so much time can pass but you start again right where you left off. Her Mom died of bc at 41 when she was only 12 years old. Her story makes me extremely thankful for all of the developments in treatment.
I've been thinking about all of you. Hugs!
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Hi all:
Yup, I am too looking for the good news from Laura. Doctors are so busy and "get" to these things later in the day. I guess we can expect to hear something tomorrow.
Sorry WendyTY about your grandmother's death. My girls felt so bad when their grandmother died. They just always remembered the good times with her when she was well and their grandma.
I think as BC survivors (let's not start on whether we approve of that term or not), we have so much compassion within us that we can give to another. Today a sub I like came to school for another teacher. We stopped and spoke as she had not been subbing recently. I asked her how things were and she told me that her best friend died of colon cancer and then she just started crying. I just waited for her to do what she needed to do. She was embarrassed. I told her I totally got it and just waited with her. If this had happened to me ten years ago with no brush with cancer, I would have rushed on. I would have been embarrassed for her or thought her unprofessional. I felt neither thing and I also felt very comfortable with her grief. So, I hate cancer. I do feel, however, that because of my experience I can be comfortable with people in pain who have experienced a loss because of cancer.
It is 40 here in Chicago and 80 in Scottsdale! I am ready! Have a good night!
Susan
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saying hi to Rene, Ill Nancy, Susie Swan and Donna Dio. Don't see too much of most of you. Jennifer.....you are still very much in our thoughts. It is difficult and painful. We are here for you.
WendyTY...I am so sorry your grandmother is gone....though I do think she knew where she was going and did not mind. It is always hard for those of us left behind----even knowing they are better where they are we still feel a huge gap and emptiness where they once used to be. It takes a little courage and time and also a little heartbreak and grief......but one day the positive memories start to outweigh the pain of loss. Don't be a rush about it....it takes as long as it takes.
Susan...hope you have a wonderful time in Arizona. I'll be thinking fun in the sun and glad that someone gets to go. Enjoy.
It's almost 9p.m. Left the house at 8:30 this morning. some of my days are long. Have to go press some slacks for work and then find my recliner. Hope you all had a good day today.
Prayers and hugs,
Jackie
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