Illinois ladies facing bc
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Hi all......my my....it is nice that the quotes get around. Can't remember how long (before I started putting them up here ) I had been starting my day with something that SPOKE to me. No matter what I feel like ( sometimes a little droopy and poopy ) when I get up they have always just set me to rights and helped me be ok about moving out and creating my day.
Tomorrow some fun...shopping ( not too much though ) with a friend. Dh and I went out this afternoon in search of tires for my car but did not find anything that he felt would be suitable -- many on the market are mainly for interstate/highway driving and I need them for blacktop and town gad-abouting as well. It makes you wonder sometimes doesn't it......I can't believe just because I don't shop for tires that they might have always had such specific classifications. I don't ever remember hearing "tire talk" before that was so specific to what sort of driving --- are we all going to need three or four different cars one of these days.
Yes, Rita....I am loving the weather right now -- although if it were just heat I would not have too much of a problem. It is heat WITH drippy humidity that I find so hard to take -- especially after chemo. I never did sweat much before.....after chemo, I might as well be a sumo wrestler or something. It just pours from me it seems....and even my hair nearly drips liquid as though I had just washed it. It is not too comfortable and not very attractive either I don't think.....though in truth I am probably bothered by it more than anyone around me.
Well, anyway, I had a great day and I'm sure tomorrow will be nice too. See you all then.
Hugs, Jackie
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Hi: Just got back from the city. We went to a play and dinner at a Peruvian restaurant. The Peruvian restaurant served like tapas style so DH and I shared out orders. Good idea for a couple as you get to share and compare.
Rita, you have to keep moving with the back and get your confidence back. Back trouble wears down the confidence as you realize how vulnerable you are. I pull my lower back out (due to bad discs) two-three times a year. I have been on steroids, muscle relaxants and vicodan and I hated them all. I may be simplifying things (Wendy tell me if I am) but I now have my routine and it is
ICE, REST, ALLEVE and STRETCHES Rest should be for a very short time. Even when resting, do the leg stretches in the bed. Ice every few hours. Take more alleve than what it says on the bottle (check with your doc on this). Within 48-72 hours the pain is manageable. I stay with the Alleve and go about my life but I do wear those thermo belts that they sell at the drug store. They are expensive and weird looking, but they relax the muscles. Relaxed muscles translate to mind-body connection...no pain. Pain is a terrible thing. Pain begets pain. You need to break the pain cycle. For what it is worth, this is what has worked for me..
Susan
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Morning and a Very Happy Birthday to Queen Rita!!!! I hope your day is filled with much joy and laughter and love....many, many more to you as well!Brrrrr.....49 on the deck this am at 5:30, but it should warm up quickly with all the sunshine. But still....49 in August????? Yuck.
Laura....I'm not sure about next week as it's kinda quick but the Oct 2nd I can do. Just remind me....chemobrain, ya know!
Blackjack....glad that your week went well. Will you be boating over the Labor Day weekend?
Susan....yep, I always took about double the amount of aleeve as that was what was recommended to me. BUT....make sure the doc says it's ok for you to take that much. Stretching out the back first thing in the am is a must, must, must. And moving is much better for muscles than keeping them immobile. But...slowly, very slowly!
Jackie....I too am not crazy about the heat and humidity (unless of course it is Fl and I have a pool/ocean!) and I do admit that these cool nights are fab for sleeping but the thought of snow/ice/zero temps is not making me a happy camper. Seems like I just put the snowblower away.....
Well, got my burger and beer yesterday and our waitress turned out to be one of DH's former students! But she was never in trouble so he didn't remember her...what a sweet girl! I got home and I couldn't stand looking at it so I mowed...took me a long time as there was so much of it and I bag it. Been up since 4:30am as DH was complaining about how cold it was in the house (ot was 68) and I finally had had it with the whining so I turned on the heat, closed the window and threw the down comforter over his head to shut him up. Of course, after all that, I was wide awake! I think there may be a nap in my future today....
Time to grab the sheets outta the dryer.....have a great Sunday everyone!
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Good morning gang. Happy Sunday to you all. I am chugging right along. I do have a question for you??? From the beginning or radiation I have had back pain on one side. I thought it was from holding my arm up and holding the handle over my head. Did anyone else have this pain from laying in that position or is it somthing else?
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO QUEEN RITA!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY RITA..MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY FULL OF FUN AND LAUGHTER....SENDING YOU BIG BIRTHDAY HUGS!!!!!! ENJOY
BJ
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Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don't have any problems, you don't get any seeds.
Norman Vincent Peale0 -
Happy, Happy to Rita....Hope you have a beautiful day spent with those you love. And many, many more.
Jackie
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Happy Birthday Rita! May you have a great birthday. It's also my baby girls birthday. So now I know two strong women born on this day.
Jo
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Happy Birthday Dear Rita!
I cannot offer lovely graphics, so how about a kareoke to celebrate Rita!
http://www.danapannell.com/beatles/rita.htm
Susan
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Happy Birthday you, Rita.
May your day be filled with love, laughter and happiness. Enjoy whatever you do today and celebrate all week.0 -
Good afternoon, ladies~!~!
Happy Birthday to Rita~!~!~! Have a wonderful and greatest birthday ever~!~! with lots of fun and loving~!~!
Navy- OMG~! I knew it~! We are going to same place for the treatment.. Now, I wonder if we saw each other without knowing who we are.??
Wendy- Nice new picture of you~!
Gotta go... enjoy your rest of the day~!
EJ
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Happy Birthday to you, Rita! It looks like the weather fairy showed up for your special day, and I hope you are able to be outside enjoying it.
Pat
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Rita - Happy Birthday!!!!
Buddy - I did have soreness the first few days. They told me the muscles in neck & shoulder tighten up due to the rads and position. You tend to compensate for that so back and neck can hurt. I did not take too long for it to go away. I have finished 25 and am starting on the 12 boosts tomorrow. Good luck with the rest of your rads.
Hugs to all you ladies. Hope you all had a great weekend. Annette
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Good morning gals! Thanks to all of you for the Happy Birthday Wishes!! It was a good day complete wih church, a breakfast cooked by Dave, a few hours alone while he viisted his Mom (as I wasn't sure the ride would help my back), a phone serenade from my little grandsons, 9 holes of golf (played poorly but at least I was swinging the club again) and dinner out! Who could ask for more????
Burr.....it's cold in the house this morning and I'm still waiting for summer to appear. Looks like I've got a LONG wait now! LOL I'm truly not ready for Fall and definitely not ready for Winter.
Today I'm meeting with another newly diagnosed gal through the Reach to Recovery program. We've chatted on the phone and she seems so nice. It's amazing but she lives close enough that I could even walk to her place. I hope I'll be able to say something that will make this diagnosis and the upcoming journey easier for her.
This afternoon I'm back to the chiropractor. Thanks for all your suggestions, Susan. Believe me, I am ready to try anything. I am doing a little better, though., It didn't hurt to swing the golf club yesterday and he assures me that the exercise is not making it worse (and supposedly getting the blood flowing to the inflamed area) but my back did tighten up again after the exercise. At least there appears to be some hope now.
Annette...you are just chugging right through those rads. I'm so glad that you're doing well with them!
Hugs to all of you! You're all such special people!
Rita0 -
"The true essence of humankind is kindness. There are other qualities which come from education or knowledge, but it is essential, if one wishes to be a genuine human being and impart satisfying meaning to one's existence, to have a good heart."
-Tenzin Gyatso,
The 14th Dalai Lama0 -
Brrr....even this is a bit much for me. I have talked to a couple of people lately ( used to leaving their windows open at night ) who have said they were so un-comfortable they put on the heat for a short while. I really can't recall in the 12 years we have been back an August where anyone....for any reason had to use their HEAT of all things. Sure makes you wonder how Fall and Winter will really be. Rita.....I am not ready yet for those things either.
I'll be checking in later. Got to run do a bunch of things right now. Hi to all of course.
Hugs, Jackie
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Morning......41 on the deck this am....heat on in house and car....
And...instead of buying foods to grill, I bought stuff to make soup and chili!!!
Rita...glad your BD was so special! You will be wonderful for your Reach for Recovery get-together...look what you did for all of us. Jackie is so right...we are fast approaching 10,000 posts here...did you EVER think it would get this big?
Will check back later as it is almost time for my guilty pleasure, the only one I seem to have left...Y & R!
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Hi everyone!
Have a question-but apologize first as I think it's probably ground previously well covered....
As many of you in the group know, this is my second diagnosis with bc-the first one 8 years ago. Back then, post lumpectomy/chemo/rads, I had a 3 month schedule of checkups, rotating btw surgeon, oncologist and radiation oncologist. I graduated to every 6/mo and then once a year- just seeing the onc once a year. So now, after last year's new diagnosis (new primary- not a reoccurrence), I'm supposedly to be back on a 3 month schedule. But am a bit flummoxed as to whom I should see and for what. I emailed my onc asking what his recommendation would be. His reply was brief, but didn't really answer what I had asked. Yes, you should be seen every 3 months and you can see me or the surgeon. I'd be happy to see you if you would like. Okay. I guess I knew that-but-what it the point of seeing the surgeon at this point, after the mast. Everything has healed okay for the moment (though may have another revision procedure later- talked with plastic surgeon about this last week. Minor outpatient stuff) and I'm not due for tests for a bit. Does it even make sense? Onc appts for me usually just consist of bloodwork and a tactile "feel-up." My onc has always leaned more on the side of not searching for anything if there are no presenting, concerning symptoms. I'd be interested in knowing what others' experiences are- how often they are seen and what their protocol is. A lot has changed in the past 8 years and there are many new tests/ options available.
On the lighter side, both kids are back in school and my little one started kindergarten! Am back to managing who has what activity/needs to bring what/wear what/what night is scouts/ who has a bday party/what do I have to bake and someone please tell me WHY there are socks in the dishwasher!!
(seriously. My son's socks were in the dishwasher this am. this ought to be good)
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Hi - I am a 4+ year survivor, Triple negative, no nodes 1.5 cm and live near Chicago in Harwood Heights, IL. Does any one live near there? Are there any groups that get together? I was just curious, I am coming upon my 5 year mark next year and it might be a nice thing to meet others in whatever stage.
Best to everyone!
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Hi Gorilla12,
Some of us get together fairly regularly near Woodfield Mall. I don't know just where Harwood Heights is, but maybe you know Woodfield? We'd love to have you come to one of our lunches or dinneres. I'm a 64 year old triple neg, and there are some younger ones in the group. Had AC and taxol, and rads of course, and I'm 3 and a half years out.
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I am only 20 minutes from Woodfield Mall and would love to get together with others! When will you be meeting again? I am right off of 90 at the Cumberland exit if that helps with location.
Thanks!
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Have had no time to post lately, or even to read posts, but thinking of you all every day. You may remember my DH had decided to retire, and he has been working hard on getting that done. I've been offering moral support, and sometimes physical efforts to help him. Like packing and moving boxes of stuff and more stuff! Turns out we need to keep 10 years of records, and a bunch of other things, so it has been a big job. He locks the door tomorrow for the last time, and I think it will be emotional for both of us, but we are ready.
JulieC, I am complaining about seeing my docs every 6 months at this point. My rads onc opted out after my first six week check. He said he trusted I would know if I needed to see him, and I could call anytime as long as my med onc was seeing me regularly. Both the surgeon and med onc want to continue every six months until five year mark, and then yearly. It is important to have the clinical exam, even with a mast. I have been seeing the surgeon every six months for 3 and a half years now, and I saw the med onc every three, then every four, and now promoted to every six months at three years out. I'm getting impatient with all these checkups, but trying to be cooperative! Being triple neg, I know we probably are better off with close monitoring, but I wonder if anyone else just feels sick and tired of doctor's appointments? I
Sorry for the rant, but I've had three breast exams this month, and I see the med onc next month.
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Had to drop in quickly to say Happy (belated) Birthday to Rita!!!!!! Your day sounded wonderful and I hope your back is getting better everyday too.
Hi to everyone else!
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Nana Oh Thank you so much . Its good to know that its common muscle pain. Do you have to hold a handle bar over your head keeping your arm in a up position? Also what are boosts.?? Was it in your lymphnodes? I am being told as of now..........I will need 6 1/2 weeks. I hear they often add on a week or so at the end. There has been no mention of a boost. Thanks for your help. Love Buddy
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Hi all:
Oh Pat, that is big that your DH is retiring! I know you realize it will be a challenge in some ways. I'm happy I m retired after 20 plus years, but I am going through a period of adjustment. I wouldn't be honest if I said I was not. I was ready to retire, yet I am sad my career is over and that brings a flood of emotions. Retiring entails some losses (social, self-esteem, and career).Do you have any plans for things you have waited to do? My DH does not wish to retire and will just lessens his hours as he ages. The marriage is probably better that way! Two of us home is one too many, although I love him dearly and so enjoy his company.
I have always been sheepish about how often I see my doctors as it appears all of you see yours so much more than I do. My oncologist just came out and said to come only if I have symptoms and to see my primary first for those (and I do), so I haven't seen him for over two years! I see my breast cancer surgeon every six months and I rotate a visit based on a mammogram (6 months) and an MRI (12 months). The last time I saw the Breast Cancer surgeon was after she called that the mri was okay and she was surprised I even showed up for a "routine" visit. My oncologist does not do the blood tests that show cancer activity as he doesn't believe they are reliable; thus there is no reason (in his book) to see me. Anyway, Julie, thanks for bring the topic up......and just why girl are there socks in your dishwasher?
Gorilla (that is a different name) I live close to you in Northbrook. I hope we meet up some day.
Susan
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Hi all:
Oh Pat, that is big that your DH is retiring! I know you realize it will be a challenge in some ways. I'm happy I m retired after 20 plus years, but I am going through a period of adjustment. I wouldn't be honest if I said I was not. I was ready to retire, yet I am sad my career is over and that brings a flood of emotions. Retiring entails some losses (social, self-esteem, and career).Do you have any plans for things you have waited to do? My DH does not wish to retire and will just lessens his hours as he ages. The marriage is probably better that way! Two of us home is one too many, although I love him dearly and so enjoy his company.
I have always been sheepish about how often I see my doctors as it appears all of you see yours so much more than I do. My oncologist just came out and said to come only if I have symptoms and to see my primary first for those (and I do), so I haven't seen him for over two years! I see my breast cancer surgeon every six months and I rotate a visit based on a mammogram (6 months) and an MRI (12 months). The last time I saw the Breast Cancer surgeon was after she called that the mri was okay and she was surprised I even showed up for a "routine" visit. My oncologist does not do the blood tests that show cancer activity as he doesn't believe they are reliable; thus there is no reason (in his book) to see me. Anyway, Julie, thanks for bring the topic up......and just why girl are there socks in your dishwasher?
Gorilla (that is a different name) I live close to you in Northbrook. I hope we meet up some day.
Susan
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JulieChicago.....I see my oncologist every 6 months and my breast surgeon every 6 months. They have it scheduled so I see the onc. in August and the breast surgeon in November or December and they keep alternating so that I see one or the other every 3 months. Although it makes me a nervous wreck, I like this arrangement as they both approach these visits differently. I get the bloodwork from the onc and the mammos and super good breast checks from the breast surgeon.
Welcome Gorilla. There are several gals in your area who will take you in with open arms! I'm glad you found us.
Wendy, I never dreamed that this thread would ever get that many posts when I made that initial "cry for help." What an amazing thing we have here.....such a close-knit sisterhood and how very much we've helped each other! I love each and every one of the gals on here and it's become a part of my daily life.
Smerf....so good to hear from you. Your husband's retirement will make a big change in your life and all changes bring a little anxiety with them. It won't be long and you'll be enjoying all the things that you can now do together. Hugs to both of you as you work through this transition time.
Michele101....it's also good to hear from you. Thanks for the birthday thoughts. I think of you often....and always have a smile on my face when I do! I hope all is going well for yiou and your family.
Well, I've gone past my sitting time so I need to move. Catch you tomorrow.
Rita0 -
Hi again,
Mystery solved.
The socks were in the dishwasher "because they were dirty." My 7 year old ran out into the backyard with only his socks and found it still soggy from the deluge a few days ago. The socks were literally black on the bottoms. He thought that if he put them in the dishwasher, I wouldn't notice and that they would (miraculously?) get cleaned!! Too funny!!
Anyway- glad to offer up my kids for the occasional giggle.
-julie b
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Hello Ladies,
I am a newbie - dx beginning of July. DCIS, LCIS, IDC Stage I, grade 2, 1.5 cm, ER/PR +, HER2-, 0/4 nodes. I had a lumpectomy on 8/10. We just met with the onc. and have sent out for the Oncotype test. I know for sure there is radiation & tamoxifen in my future. The tamox scares me but it's best for pre menapausal women (47 and peri-menapausal). I've been reading for about a month now and have learned tons from all you. It's amazing the strength, knowledge and compassion that comes from these boards. You all are truly inspiring.
Babs
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