Illinois ladies facing bc
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Buddy, Try the aleve. You have to watch how many you take overall but my school nirse said you can start off with two. I also take the gel-caps.
Also, the dream was actually optimistic. I was happy to be in the canoe and I felt confident we would all come back.
Susan
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Buddy, Try the aleve. You have to watch how many you take overall but my school nirse said you can start off with two. I also take the gel-caps.
Also, the dream was actually optimistic. I was happy to be in the canoe and I felt confident we would all come back.
Susan
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Thanks again Zap I am sending DH to Walgreens right now to get some. I told him to get the Gel caps too. I think they are easier to swallow. Maybe I will get a full nights rest tonight.
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buddy.. Are you having issues with the exchanges? I missed something here. DO tae Aleve . works fast too, Watch how many you take or you may dream like susan..lolol!!Aren't dreams strange sometimes... hope it all goes well tonigjht!0
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I am having a bad time with my LE its so darn painfull I cant stand it. Also, I have really been feeling down because of it. That and of course loosing my job. I plan on going back to the cancer center. How are you this rainy day. Are the dogs tracking in enough mud for you. My big gorilla got a giant container of glitter this morning. He had it everywhere, I had to laugh it was all over the end of his nose. My entire house sparkles. Looks like fairy dust.
I remember dreaming my entire basement was filled with water and aligators and I sat on the steps watching them swim around. I know it's a little twisted. But what did you expect from Buddy???? Ha Ha.. Toodles
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Good evening everyone,
Looks like we have so much pain in knees, arms, legs. Side effects from txs do effect our joints so do be careful when taking Aleve or any other anti inflammatory med. Some people may be sensitive to ibuprofen. So do watch how much you are taking as it can upset your stomach. It is a good idea to have a little food in your tummy when taking meds.
Zap..have a great time in DC. I think it may be Cherry Blossom time out there. really need to think spring. Hoping for good weather for you. Be careful with your knee.
Buddy...sorry to hear about all your pain.I hope the cancer center can help you get back to your cheer self again. Sending you a big hug.
Laura..how is your LE doing. How was your therapy.
Wendy..trigger finger, splints, oh my. hope you hands are feeling better soon too.
Rita...glad to see that you had a wonderful Easter with your grand kids. Just hope for more sunny days and golf!!
Jackie...loved your words of inspiration this week. Your are so spiritual..thank you
Marina..how is your baby feeling and you too. are your colds all gone now. Hope you are germ free now.
Carolyn..how are you feeling. surgery is almost here so hang in there
Irene..are you feeling any better after your Zometa tx.
Well it has been an exhausting week for me. I brought my mom home from the hospital today, had to hire a caregiver for the daytime and set up home nursing care...just sooooo tired. So I am off for jammie and tea time. I wish everyone a wonderful and relaxing evening.
Ni night
BJ
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Hey ladies
I talked to the surgeon about a mastectomy--they typically don't do one if your cancer has already spread, but if you don't have a lot of cancer there can be some benefit. Anyhow, the surgeon had me get a mammogram on my "good" breast basically to confirm the need to do a single mastectomy.
On the one hand, having a mastectomy holds few surprises for me these days. After all, I already have Stage IV cancer. So really, in a sense, the worst has already happened. But I still found myself pretty keyed up.
Finally after sitting around in the "locker room" I got called. I didn't have a port when I had my last mammogram, so that was something different, not to get that mashed in the machine. The technician did three different views and then told me to go back to the locker room. Natually, everyone else got to leave right away after completing ther exams. I was stuck there like a kid in detention.
The technician came back and said the dr. wanted two more views. She did those and had me return to the holding area. Finally, a different technician came to the locker room and asked me to accompany her down the hall. I was afraid she was going to make me do an ultrasound, but we went to a little conference room. I think it so they are not blabbing your details to the other patients. She said (or I think she did) that things looked ok and the surgeon will call me later. Whew!
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Thanks everyone. I appear to have survived my first Zometa infusion just fine.
Really, it was only that 1st day after the infusion that was bad. The latest issue (and it seems like there's always one!) is this stupid cough/chest pain that I swear I've had off and on since December when the H1N1 ran through my entire family. I've had a chest x-ray, chest CT, endoscopy... you name it! So, I'm not thinking the big C, but maybe chronic bronchitis? Allergies (that I've never had before)? I guess I'll go back to my PC doc, AGAIN and see what he says. I'm getting so annoyed with this.
Laura - I'm so glad you got a diagnosis for your chest pain, and that it was a treatable muscle tear! I'm sure it's going to be sore for a while, but hey.. that's why anti-inflams are our friends!
B.J. - Sorry to hear about your mom, but it sounds like you are on top of the situation. Get some rest now, you deserve it! I haven't done anything with the painting yet. But, the paint swatches are still sitting there on the mantle. LOL! It's still on the agenda though, I just need some free time and no health issues.
Wendy - I think the first and worst area of pain I had back when I first started the Aromasin was my thumbs/wrists. I still have the splints I wore to bed for a while. I know I've told this before, but after a while, the pains in my joints from Aromasin became unbearable, so my onc. did have me go off of them for 2 weeks. In that interim he also had me take a Medrol pack (steroids) which was HEAVEN! Oh man..my body felt better than it had in years! LOL! After that though, I did start up on the Femara instead of the Aromasin. He told me not to worry at all about taking that 2 weeks off, and I honestly was in too much pain to care. I did have more pain on the Femara, but never to the extent that it was on the Aromasin, and what I have now is at a liveable level - worse at night when I'm sitting around, but significantly better when I'm up and moving during the day.
My thumbs still throb on occasion, and even feel like they're "loose" in their sockets sometimes, but again, entirely liveable.
I've read reports on this board from women who had the entirely opposite experience with Femara and Aromasin, so I do believe that the responses to these medications are very individualized.
Jackie - I really like that last quote of your about "Enjoy this Moment..." I try to remember and live that.
Susan - Enjoy D.C.! I love it there and never seem to have enough time to see all I want. My daughter is going to Ocean City, MD to work this summer, so we'll probably be visit her at least once. I hope to spend a day in D.C. if I can.
English Major - I didn't know that they didn't routinely offer a mastectomy in cases where mets is already present. These decisions about having a mast. vs. lumpectomy, unilateral vs. bilateral are all so individual. I think the best a person can do is to be fully educated on all the options and just go with the one that feels right to them. I did a mastectomy, although the lumpectomy is what my surgeon was recommending. To be honest, in hindsight, I wish I'd done a bilateral. But that's me and I tend to want to do more rather than less or just enough. I do think of how nice it would have been to be able to skip chemo (had I elected the lumpectomy), but at this point, I don't bother with having regrets. I did what I had to do for me and my own peace of mind at the time. It sounds to me like you are really doing a nice job educating yourself with information. I actually wish I'd done a bit more, but I think I was a bit too shell-shocked at the time. So, good for you. Also, congrats on the getting that mammo behind you. It's always so good to get through those things, especially with good results!
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Ladies, Please be careful with how much and how long you take aleve. I took it 3 years ago for some sciatica and ended up in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer and a blood count lower than a cancer patient they told me then (who knew I would know about that in a few years). I had to have 3 transfusions over 24 hours to get my blood count back up. before i could go home. Also had to have an endoscopy so they could check to see what was bleeding. I don't want any of you going down that road, so take it only as long as you need it and then switch to tylenol when it will take care of your pain. Asprin and ibuprofen are both hard on the stomach also, so gastro doc wants to stick to tylenol for regular pain relief. I do the hydrocodone if need extra pain relief like when recovering from port placement, etc. Taking the aleve with food is a good idea. I would also watch how much acidic food I ate while on the aleve (tomatoes, oranges, etc that would contribute to stomach lining irritation. I do need to say once I had the transfusions the only other treatment I had to continue when I got home was taking prilosec every day. Prilosec is over the counter so maybe you might think about taking it every day while you are doing the aleve. It stops the stomach acid production in you stomach so there is less acid to cause an ulcer and help one already there to heal up. Just want to make sure none of you and up with a bigger problem than what you are taking the aleve for. Hugs Annette
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Hi All,
For once I'm up early. I've been having a hard time getting up. Tuesday started out with a headache and when that was gone I slept all day. My doctor upped my dosage of meds for thyroid problem which has been very helpful so I'm not falling asleep at work. My manager was saying that it takes a lot of energy psychologically to keep up work and handle everything I'm going through - it's no wonder I slept all day Tuesday.
It's almost the end of another week and I'll be able to say two weeks down. One week to go! I resisted putting my bag together yet because I thought it was too early, but I'll definitely start this weekend. I'll have 2 bags - one to take to my sister's and one for the hospital.
Unfortuntely, my poor little cat will be left at home. (my sister will come back and look in on him) He's the kind of cat that follows you around everywhere and curls up next to you on the couch or bed. He's gonna be bummed! Oh well, it's either that or meet Ciara the giant dog at my sister's. (not gonna happen) LOL
Hope everyone has a great day.
Carolyn
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englishMajor...There will be peace in whatever you do and in this process we are always here for you!!!! Keep strong and keep pushing forward., I was not aware that MX;s are not offered regardless etc. Where are you goin for all ? Sending you good thoughts !!!!
Have a teeth cleaning appt today, Day three of my cleanse..will i survive this?
Stay warm today and all the best to those in TX and appt;s and tests!!!
Donna
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Off to work but had to drop in to say:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLACKJACK!! I hope it's a great one!
I gift/owe you a Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark!
((Hugs)) to everyone, and double ((hugs)) to those in treatment.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELE!
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Birthday Girl I hope you have a fantastic day. Hugs to ya
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Hope this birthday brings you everything you have been wishing for and many more.
Big Birthday Hugs.
Jackie
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If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give. ~George MacDonald
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Happy Birthday... and one day when I figure out how to past in pics I will do that too!! Hope this is a Great beautiful day for you!!
Marina
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Hi Ladies
Must prepare for work conference call.... Yep, with Stage IV, they figure the horse is already out of the barn. The majority of people arrive at this point via recurrence--only about 5% of people present with mets. (Why is it I can beat those odds, but not the Lotto's?) But as I said, most people with mets already had their primary tumor removed. If I had extensive mets, they wouldn't consider surgery, but I have a pretty low volume of disease which is currently stable.
It seems contradictory--if I didn't have the bone mets, I would had surgery and chemo. But since the cancer had already spread, I started with tamoxifen and zometa. Since metastatic breast cancer treatment is perpetual, they have you start with the least toxic ones first. Which is fine by me.
If I have a mx, they won't remove the lymph nodes (because the cancer already spread). So the recovery should be fast. Unless they see something concerning on the other side, it will be unilateral.
My breasts are as flat as the specialty of the house at Walker Bros. Pancakes. Since I have a big tumor and small breasts, a lumpectomy isn't an option. Surgery was first proposed when I was diagnosed last July (that was before they found the mets). So, at this point, it would be a relief to have it over with (or at least know the idea has been considered and dismissed).
Well, back to work!
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Hi Everyone!
Wow, there is so much going on here, and I'm way behind, but trying to catch up.
Jackie, thanks for the formatting tip. You have a good memory, because I was one having trouble with that. Much better now, that's for sure.
Laura, so sorry you have been in so much pain, and very glad you went in to see someone when you did. To all who have tough and lingering coughs, I feel for you! I've had severe bronchitis and/or pneumonia a couple of times, and my worst complication was a hernia for which I needed surgery to correct. I was coughing hard, and suddenly felt this tearing of groin tissue, and ouch! Now I have an expensive piece of goretex holding me together. Cost more than a nice goretex jacket.
Susan, you gave me a good laugh with your grandma story. We all know you, and you could never be offensive, but you do have a talent for storytelling that is very appreciated by your friends here. have a great time in DC.
The warning about Aleve and GI bleeding is a good one. I've had that experience with aspirin therapy to prevent heart attack and stroke. I was on one 325mg Ecotrin {coated aspirin} every other day for years, and just recently had a drop in blood count because of it. My family hx for heart disease is very strong, but now it's just Lipitor for me.
Hey Wendy, do you have an ortho? Maybe for your back surgery? Rads onc is a little out of his area of expertise with this one, and ortho would usually take care of it. I have not been on Arimidex, but have had various tendons in pain....tennis elbow, tendons in foot once, and both thumbs. Repetitive motion often the culprit, more common in women than men, etc. Why are we so lucky? Anyway, just a thought. Whenever I listen to my resident ortho, I do get better, but sometimes I don't listen.
Last but not least by any means.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLACKJACK!!!!! Hope you have a great one, and someone else cooks or takes you out tonight.
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Afternoon All....brrrrrrrrrr..that wind is cold!
First off......HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLACKJACK!!!!!!!! Have a fab day....celebrate this great life!
Budders....your dream was very interesting! I think we can all in some way understand the 'gators circling....hope you are feeling better, just talking to someone. Did the Aleeve work?
Laura....how's the arm/rib/cough etc? How did therapy go?
Smerf....I actually didn't go to the rad onc for my thumb/wrist. It was just my annual appt with him so I thought I would ask. A neuro did my back surgery so I wouldn't go to him. Right now...I don't need to see anyone but first I would probably see my PCP and see if I go to an ortho, or to the pain doc for a shot, or?????? I only took the one Aleeve, the one time...just to see if it would relieve any pain and I was amazed at how well it did work. I don't have any intentions of taking it again unless I would get a lot more pain and then I would be calling the PCP. And why are these things more common in women????? Cuz we do so much with our hands, arms etc on a daily basis....at work, at home, lifting kids, laundry, floors etc.
EnglishMajor...count me in as one who didn't know that they didn't do mx with a stage iv/mets dx. Leaving the lymph nodes does make some sense tho.....hang in there!
Carolyn....your date is coming up fast! Any idea what happens after that?
I still am puzzled over why I would start to get so many more bone/joint pain at going on 3 years of arimidex. Doesn't seem right. I did take some time and go over what I have been doing differently the last 6 weeks or so and finally I remembered what had changed. I started taking 50,000 U Vit D3 twice a week, in addition to what is in the calcium. I googled D toxicity and altho it sounds like I would have had to take MUCH more to reach a toxic level of D the symptoms are pretty much what I have been experiencing over the last 2 weeks.....joint/bone/muscle pain and cramping, excessive thirst, constipation, eye sensitivity to light. I had a complete px in late January and everything was pretty much perfect. So......I am stopping the additional D, just taking the D that I have been taking the last 2.5 years along with my calcium and see what happens. I was the one who didn't have any se's from chemo or Herceptin or rads so who's to say I couldn't be having se's from the D3? God knows....I am strange!!!!!!! Now, one thing may have nothing to do with another....but since all these symtoms have popped up in the last 10 days-2 weeks I figured I would start here. I do have access to the glucose test strips and that was perfectly normal. Yep....diabetes/excessive thirst was the first thing I thought of! OK....nuf about that. I will let you know what happens. I forgot to take the 50,000 D3 on Tuesday so I haven't had that pill since last Friday....and I do feel less pain. We shall see....
Rene....nice to know for us that if se's of these AI's does get too bad, taking a 2 week vacay from them, with our onc's permission....is safe. Thanks for chiming in about that.
Off to clean bath tubs....aren't you all jealous???
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Looking on the bright side...it's better than toilets! Some of those symptoms come with thyroid too, but I think I would do the same, and cut back the D3. I'm taking 2000u in addition to what I get in the Citracal and multivit, and I do wonder if it will get to be too much. Not so far, though. We sure aren't getting much sun for D! My DH keeps reminding me that I should expect a few more aches and pains as I get older, but that's annoying. I got my Medicare card in the mail, and that is enough reminding thank you very much! If DH keeps it up I may have to get the golf clubs out, and I don't know how to play golf!
Hope your pain clears up soon.
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Stopping in really quick to say hello. Life has gotten busy at Trader Joe's and at my husband's business! Thank goodness really.
Donna, just wanted to say that I think Laura and I are coming to your lunch on the 23rd. Can't wait to meet a lot of the "south side" girls!
Hugs and best wishes to all those in treatment! Well, really, hugs to everyone!
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Well I am in DC and sorry to tell you...itwas 75 today!
Happy Birthdear Dear Blackjack! Oh, I hope you had the very best day and that good things are still coming~
Marina, I have been on these threads for nearly three years and I still cannot post a picture ~
Rene, your daughter will love going to school here. I love DC. Tomorrow we go to Arlington Cemetery. I always find it so moving.
I have an icky computer and the keys stick and the words get stuck and so I am leaving you all.
Susan
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Just dropping in too to wish Blackjack a wonderful Birthday! Hope your day is great!
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HI ladies -
I haven't checked in in awhile and I come back to lots of new ladies and lots of people in pain! So sorry! I hope everyone is feeling better. Glad you figured out the problem Laura, but sorry about the LE.
I know this is an old topic, but I got my wig at Naturally Yours. I probably had the same gal as Lisamed as she was about a 5 year survivor. She was so kind and helpful.
I am back on the Actonel. I finally called my doc and he wanted me to try some reflux meds and antacids to see if that helped. I have to take Prilosec the night before I take the Actonel and then 2 Gaviston pills at the same time as the Actonel. I did this yesterday and so far so good. Haven't noticed anything strange but I felt like my side effects last time were kind of cumulative. We will see.
Mich101 - I found out from my mom that my oldest sister is on Folsomax (sp?). I am going to see her Sunday so I will ask her if she has any issues. Did you start taking it yet?
And last but not least - Happy Birthday Blackjack! I hope you have a wonderful day! You deserve it!
Hugs to everyone!
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Just wanted to stop in and wish Michelle a very Happy Birthday!!! Hope your day was great!
Carolyn
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Hi all,
Just wanted to wish Michele a Happy Birthday!!
Lisa
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Morning Girls,
I just wanted to stop by and thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes. Birthdays have a special place in my book. Celebrating my birthday and being almost 3 years out is a good feeling. So girls celebrate everyday, enjoy life, and have some crazy fun. Life is too short so in celebration I had a wonderful dinner with family and friends and my favorite cosmo!!
To all the girls having tx or who are waiting to start I am sending you big hugs. Remember to take one day at a time and take time for yourself. Spring is here, the flowers are blooming and the sun will be shining today maybe?? So on that note I hope you all have a wonderful, beautiful spring day today. It looks like it maybe a tops down fists up day !!
Remember to be healthy...be happy...enjoy life. Oh it's Friday and the weekend is here!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful day..
BJ
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To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being. - John Lubbock
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Good Morning. This week has been crazy. I have been taking Darvocet for the muscle tear, so that's under control/being managed. Although, certain "moves" equal WOW...pain. I had PT on Wednesday and again yesterday and will go today as well. On Wednesday...man of man - she "worked" on the cord that runs down my arm. Wow did it hurt. But I just kept telling myself that it's for the good and each appointment will bring me closer to winning this battle. It really is a race against the clock in an effort to contain it. Yesterday's appointment...she cut me some slack - 60 minutes of "nice" massage and then 30 minutes of wrapping my arm with compression bandages. The wrap is just like having a cast on, but without the plaster. It's quite cumbersome and really difficult to type, but hey...us IL girls are tough...we will either find a way, or make one! I have another 90 minute appt today. lol She will remove the "wrap", beat me up again and re-apply the wrap which I'll have to wear all weekend. As of yesterday my arm continued to swell. It's still huge and looks like a foreign object on my body. I miss my old arm. This all came on so quickly...I hope none of you ever experiences this. It's very painful. It just plain ol' SUCKS!
Binney- Thanks again for helping me and Budder through this nightmare!
Budder - Hope you're doing okay...gawd...I truly know now exactly how you feel! Hugs...
blackjack - Glad you had a nice b-day! Chick Nurse was queen for the day! lol
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After today I have two days off from PT (Pure Torture), and then next week I have it every day for 90 minutes.
My job training went well - hopefully I will start soon. Will know my schedule soon. It will be light, and that's a good thing based on this ARM NIGHTMARE.
Have a nice day...be well. For those of you have had Mast/node removal...please do everything possible to prevent LE...I never thought I'd get it.
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