Illinois ladies facing bc
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Donna, very sad about the Arizona situation. I have a friend from junior high/high school who lives there. She actually hates it. Say the people are all backward thinking, teabagging and religious extremists. Granted I think she lives a bit too far from civilization . I find that hard to believe that all of AZ is that way I. I'm sure you will be fine in AZ. Just stay away from her hood ;-)
and we need to get together before you move away. When do you plan on moving?
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Morning all.....cold on the old deck this am, 9.3 but feeling grateful that we did not get the 36" of snow that South Bend did.....yuck!
Welcome to all the new girls here.....we've been around for 4 years now and I like to think that we are a pretty great group. So sorry you had to join our little club but hopefully you have found a safe place to land.
Carolyn....thank you so much for the huge laugh this morning! Play-date with your parents! Too funny! You must be feeling so much better - your wicked side is coming out!!!! And I am glad to see it.....play-date indeed! Funny stuff....
Wigs.....I got all of mine from wigs.com and I loved them all. If you find one you like and want to order first check out the return policy and if you are ok with it, join the "club" there...it is free and you get pretty nice discounts. And Laura told you about Paula Young...those wigs are nice! Also....I think it is Raquel Welch who has a new line, sold on wigs.com - combo of human/synthetic that can be curled/styled....don't know the price tho.
Nausea....always been my impression that it is much easier to prevent nausea than treat it so my recommendation has ALWAYS been to take the anti-nausea pills even if you think you don't need them. Ginger is wonderful too....I had ginger gum that I ordered from someplace which I had, but didn't need during chemo as I was extremely lucky and never had nausea. I did try the gum months later for stomach flu and it was great. If you google ginger gum I am sure you could find it.
Chemo.....anything with citrus flavor in it was more than welcome. I especially loved crystal lite lemonade. Frozen fruit pops were great too.
JulieB...so glad that your scan was clear. How's the antivert working for you?
BJ....ready for spring break yet??? I've been checking airfares for someplace warm but wanted to try for somewhere other than FL....any suggestions?
Laura....have you tried your new skies yet? Probably not as we have no snow!
Rita.....how's the tummy?
Jackie.....is that big snow expected for tomorrow/Tuesday gonna hit you? Looks like it could be a bad one....hopefully it will miss you, or at least not cause you or your ferals too much trouble.
Connie....good to hear from you! Did you get that S. King book? I really liked his latest - very dark stuff!
Donna.....gotta keep away from that Germ Factory! Hope you are feeling better!
Lago....not sure how to keep the snowball fight going and I don't want to! I WANT SPRING!!!!! I WANT SUNSHINE AND 60'S!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!! How are your nails BTW?
Not much going on here today...DH will most probably be watching football, I will be reading my Nook....got a few new books for 99cents on it so will check them out. If anyone else has a Nook (I know JulieB does) we can lend books to each other. I don't know how to do this but it shouldn't be too hard. Whatever you do, make it a wonderful day! This is the only 1/9/2011 you will have so make it count! Bugs to everyone!
And Carolyn.....keep us laughing, girlfriend! Waving at you.....
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Another Sunrise, Another New Beginning.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
Good Morning Ladies - it look like a nice sunny day.
Carolyn - I love your post. It definitely shows that you are feeling better. Glad to hear that the rads helped. I understand the freedom thing and know exactly how you feel when the folks are "baby sitting" :-)
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Carolyn....I'm just thinking how special you are.....to feel such deep concern for your niece with all you are going through at the moment, so I chose the above quote for you.
Brr, the cold is coming and yep Wendy, the snow too. Well, I can't say I don't like the snow because I do. It seems so white and pure when it falls from the sky, and I have grown accustomed to driving in it fairly easy as long as no ice is underneath. For anyone new....I learned to drive on the California freeways, not here, so my first few years at home were a thrill a minute in the winter time. I'm still so thrilled to be home. I missed the seasons, but as well we lived in such a populated area in southern California that we seldom saw stars. I look up at night on these crispy nights we are having and feel I can almost touch the stars they are so bright. For anyone contemplating a move to warmer climates....hope you will go out at night and see if you will have stars because it is funny what you miss later on.
I had a wig from Look Good-Feel Better but pretty much stuck with scarves. Didn't think I could tie them well so got some that were more or less pre-tied. I am challenged by such things obviously.
Hoping for a fairly quiet day here as I need to make some in-roads into getting some organizational progress here and lots of book-work. See you all later.
Hugs, Jackie
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Hey wendy, my thumb is starting to stink less! Finger are just a little sore but really not too bad. My nails look pretty disgusting though. When chemo is over I will be polishing them with dark nail polish.
and here is a small flower garden for you:
~❀~✿~❁~✾~✽~❃~❋
❋~❃~✽~✾~❁~✿~❀~
~❀~✿~❁~✾~✽~❃~❋
❋~❃~✽~✾~❁~✿~❀~0 -
BTW if anyone wants to read that article in Chicago Magazine Chicago Top Doctors For Women issue "Breakthroughs for Women's Health," online go to the link below and click on the cover. You will get a pop up that allows you to turn pages or view in a grid. Free flash plug-in required:
http://www.zinio.com/browse/publications/?productId=500328597&offer=500157047&bd=1&pss=10 -
Wigs - I remember going for an original visit, a fitting visit, and then a final pick-up visit - and Skokie is a HIKE for me! My son went with for the final visit though, and we had a wonderful lunch afterwards. I did get a wig made from natural hair and it was expensive, but I wore this wig every single day at work, and it was important to me that it looked completely natural. Maybe it sounds odd, but I didn't want to work with patients while looking like a patient. I needed my focus to be work, and not on myself. When I was at work, I could (almost) forget about my cancer for a few hours. Besides, we have a lot of patients that I know and talk to, especially OB patients. Having to explain or answer well-meaning questions all day just wasn't something I could do. If that makes any sense to anyone but me!
I also do still have a free wig that I got from the ACS. The office was near mine and before I got the other wig, I decided to drop in and see what they had to offer. The woman was very nice, but I was still pretty emotional and started crying. All the wigs she had at that time looked terrible on me. I ended up with one that basically looked like Cher from the 1960's hair. LOL, I can laugh now, but at the time I was pretty devastated at how silly I looked. This is a good reminder to me that I need to return that wig to them. I'll never give away my good one, but someone else might be able to use the Cher one.
Lago - I know what you mean about the PS docs. The PS who did my TE's at the time of my mast. was a good doc and his office was very near where I work. But, I ended up getting a second opinion from someone out of Delnor, who I liked a lot, and went with him. Long story short, I ended up not being very satisfied with the results and having things redone by another PS out of HP hospital. Before that though, I did get a consult from a PS out of NW who I've heard other people mention as having really liked - I thought he was a pompous jerk! LOL... so yes, picking a doc of any kind is a pretty subjective thing.
Wendy - A few co-workers and I are getting the short cruise itch.... I'm deep into research since they know travel plans are my obsession. You're welcome to join us.
Bj- How's the apartment search going? My DS is in NYC for work trip this week, but I mentioned that your DD is searching for a place downtown. I know he wants to do the same, and I'm totally supportive of that, but I will be so sad when he moves out. He's my "easy" one.
Carolyn - The lack of independence must be so difficult for you. But, it sounds like you are steadily getting more and more strength back. Hopefully, you'll be able to get out there on your own again sometime soon. I loved reading how your niece is so concerned for you. Perhaps you and your sister can both talk to her if you really think she's stressed. She obviously loves you a lot, and must be a wonderful source of support for you emotionally.
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Rene if I hadn't lost my job I would have definitely gone and spent the money for an all natural wig.
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Wow! Lots of chit chat.
Carolyn, you "sound" wonderful!
Went to see Sweet Bird of Youth (the play) last night. Wendy, I am sure you have seen the film with Liz taylor and Paul Newman and his unbelievable body!
One thing on wigs that came up here before. I paid for mine because it was rejected by insurance. I have been told that I should have fought it as others received reimbursement when they pushed it. The one I chose was expensive because it is hard to get good gray wigs. I had a love/hate relationship with it. It got me back into teaching and I know it helped others who felt funny about me being bald. I am not pretty bald like so many of you and wrapping a scarf around my head just frustrated me as I am not clever at doing things like that.
Have a happy day!
Susan
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Susan, I was thinking about the same insurance issue. I got declined my first wig, even when I tried to fight it.. I didn't like it.. I went to Jerome Kraus based on Susan's recommendation and loved what I got.. I had BC/BS PPO and the issue was that of course they were not in-network and the deductible for out of network was separate.. and I didn't fulfill it.. SO, you can call your insurance if you have a PPO and ask for a waiver of out of network for a particular provider..and the waiver is good for 1 month. They only covered up to $300.. and I made that clear to the owner.. They do want to sell you more and that was the one negative.. But I stood my ground and also bought another wig that I liked there.. Blond.. but online.. I wasn't going to spend that much on a 'fun wig'. I did the liner and freehand penciled in my brows.. My eyelashes are going AGAIN!! I lost count how many times I've lost and gotten them back!!
Seattle tomorrow for me.. hoping for on-time flights and quick treatment as otherwise I will miss my flight home which is at 1 PM!!
Hope you are all enjoying a nice and sunny Sunday!!
OH.. and Charlyn.. Loved your post about your diet.. as most of the ladies who know me here would say, it could have just as well been written by me!!
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Hi girls! Hope you all had a nice weekend.
Carolyn - Thanks for the inspiring update...hang in there girl. I will call you this week to set up a lunch date.
mak - Best wishes with your trip. Have you considered using Vit E oil on your "eyelashes"? Just a thought.
And for those of you with coughs, I received this e-mail from my very healthy 74 year old friend. Thought I'd share:
SUBJECT: VICKS VAPOR RUB - INTERESTING
During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 Minutes you can 'taste' it.
Some of us have used Vicks VapoRub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why.
To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks VapoRub generously on the soles of your feet, cover with socks, and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely Soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.
Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemicals in them This method of using Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet was found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bed time. In addition it seems to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.
My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes. So she went from; every few seconds uncontrollable coughing, she slept cough-free for hours every night she used it.
If you have grandchildren, pass this on.
If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be amazed at how it works.0 -
Oh...@Wendy - Nope, not enough snow yet. Sniff, sniff...maybe on Tuesday! You'll be joining me, right? lol0
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Laura..feet are powerful as that is why reflexology is so effective! I know the Essential oils areused bymy yoga instructor and used the oils on my feet to open up my liver and help detox!!!! GOOd info!!!
lago ..;.went to Univ of AZ.. i found back then, people where mainly transplants from the East and Midwest and some of course from California. It is all a perspective and i look at life so differently today. It is all about peace and contentment and more of a lifestyle!!!Love the AZ air, sky color and all year good temps.
Be well all.. long day and hope to lay on floor with my golden and listen to her snore!!!
Donna
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Donna - If you move to AZ, I want to visit you! I want to meet my hero - Joe Arpaio!
And yes...I also believe in reflexology. I am a sucker for a foot massage! lol0 -
Great to hear from you Carolyn - you sound good. Keep up the fighting spirit! Sorry that you cannot get on the clinical trial.
I got my wig from Naturally Yours too. I found them so helpful. I had my insurance deny it and I never fought it either.
I didn't get that book yet, Wendy. I don't read much until the summer.
Charlyn - I liked your post. I think you provide so much hope to all of us. I find juicing interesting but I guess I would have to actually buy a juicer to try it. Laura - are you still using yours?
Cold is better. Spent the weekend watching my DD swim. She did good!
Have a good night everyone!
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Just a comment on Arizona. Donna, my parents lived in Phoenix for twenty years and loved it. They met all sorts of people all from all over the US and found a great niche. My dad lived in a different time (died in the 90s) and loved the mix in Arizona, including the Mexican influence. In Illinois he was an a CEO with People's Gas and in Phoenix (retirement) he built doll houses for the Mexican community to teach Mexican kids the English words for rooms and things within the house. I have pictures of Mexican kids playing with his houses, You will love Arizona for the reasons you point out. I hope on some level you will also love it for the reasons my dad loved it....the mix of people.
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Webu... good luck staring chemo this week. The first one is daunting because you have no idea how your body is going to react, but you will get the hand of it soon enough. I was very happy with the wig that I got from Kathleen's Creative Expressions in McHenry. She was wonderful at helping me find the right one. It had to be ordered in my color and she styled it to fit my face, etc. She even shaved my head for me when it was time for that. I didn't wear it much while I was going through chemo last summer as it was too darn hot. But I wore it quite a bit the past few months. However, as of today, I am officially goign "au natural". Tomorrow I am going to pack up all my scarves and hats and put them away in a box somewhere and hope that I will never see them again.
One thing that I found so helpful during chemo (besides lots of cold fruits, chocolate pudding and ice cream), was a guided imagery CD called "Chemotherapy" that I purchased from my Reiki therapist. You can also order one online. I listened to it often during those bad days after each chemo to help me relax. My Reiki therapist also does Reflexology and I love that as well. Both Reiki and Reflexology were a big step outside of the box for me, but then so was chemo so I went with it.
Carolyn,,,, you sound like you feel so much better and we are all so happy to see you posting and making fewer typos than some of the rest of us! My 7-year old granddaughter worried about me also. She was worried about me losing my hair more than anything, I think. Then it was funny how she was much more comfortable around me if I left the wig OFF!
Charlyn...I have been on Femara for only about 7 weeks. No panic attacks, just stiff joints but that seems to be subsiding
Makmak... good luck on your journey to Seattle tomorrow. Hope the sun shines! Speaking of sun...NavyMom went off to sunny Florida. Sounds like it could be a little chilly in Florida. I guess that is better than "frigid" in Chicago. Laura... I hope you get your snow this week. If I still had my XC skiis, I'd go with you. But then, I think this past year has turned me into a bit of a "wuss". Ooops, I know, "Illinois girls are tough". And when the going gets tough....
Can't wait to hear Wendy Skilling's weather update in the morning. Brrrr!
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Good morning! Rise and shine! lol Hope you all make the most of this cold and blustery day. Snow tonight and tomorrow. By Wednesday, there should be enough to hit the ski trails. Yay!
I still do "juice"...not as often as I should. Although, I am going to mix in some smoothies and balance it a bit. I don't have a Vitamix (maybe someday soon), but I have a very powerful bar blender that should suffice.
webu - Best wishes as you start chemo this week. The first one is tough, but you'll be surprised how routine it will soon become.
Wishing all of you the best possible day.
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Vicks Vapor rub is also supposed to cure foot fungus. I have actually used Listerine for nail fungus and it works too.0
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Goodness is the only investment that never fails.
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Hi Gals! Yep I am here in Florida. Northern part for now and it is cold here. I insisted on wearing shorts yesterday and had to laugh when I passed by ladies in their winter coats and gloves. I guess it is a matter of where you come from. But still made me laugh and then turn on the seat heaters when I got back in the car.
Carolyn you sound wonderful. It is so good to see you post.
Laura, I hope you get to use your skis this week. Cross country skiing seems like it would be a great workout and so peaceful too. I live by the I & M trails and have only been on them on a bicycle. but I know people get on there with their skis. I am sure the wildlife sites would be impressive.
Welcome to the new ladies. This is a great thread with alot of info being shared.
Have a good day everybody.
Navy
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Happy morning to everyone. Nothing much to report other than the snow which is actually not slated to do much until after dark. Will be Dh's second day back to work -- late shift. He has a cataract and has found it problematic to see during snow and rain at night. Going to the eye Dr. on Friday to see " if it's time now ".
Joan....congrats on going " au' natural' ". That was a huge marker to me that I was well on the way to moving past this life-changing event to getting on with life no matter what it held. I've never been very vain but my bald head was a constant reminder -- even when I felt well, and once I could move around freely w/o need of wigs or scarves I truly felt I was "free" of the disease and the only way was up.
Laura...I would come play with you, but with our forecast I think I will be playing here. Much to do today.....it is always that way....and I try for the most part to remember the thrill of being able to. One of these days...just for fun....I'm going to sit down in the afternoon and do nothing. Have to put that thought out there because that is what energizes me.
Lago & Laura.......we do have wonderful 'home' remedies but get so caught up in feeling only the Dr. can "give" us something we forget. Good reminder for us.
Hope you all have a fantastic day.
Hugs, Jackie
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I love home remedies but when on is on chemo and there is a concern of infection I don't mess around. Also if it involves injesting something I need to check with my onc so it doesn't interact badly with the chemo.0
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Good morning ladies!
Marina..........good luck on your travel and treatment. I hope all goes smoothly. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
I have been busy and haven't gotten on for a couple of days. Wow! One misses alot when they stay away for a few days. I've been furniture hunting with my niece who has an eye for decorating and design. Me? I can't think outside the box or visual what something will look like so I feel fortunate to have her help me. I think we've finally found furniture for the little TV room and for the A-Frame. Now we're matching paints and looking for the accessories.
I also wanted to telll you that I asked my son to get me the book Promise Me by Nancy Brinker for Christmas. This is the story of Susan G. Komen, written by her sister, and about the Susan G. Komen foundation that Nancy started in Susan's memory. It is simply fascinating, but of course has a sad element to it, too, because we all know that Susan died at the age of 36. I am about half way through and am just getting to the part where Nancy starts contemplating the foundation.
I love the Vicks Vapor Rub tip. I'm filing that one away as something good to try!
I think the flu has finally left this house. Wow! That was wicked stuff and I hope all of you escape it!
Well, I need to get to work and write some questions so that I have spending money for my Florida trip! NavyMom.....bring that cold air in FL back with you when you come!
Off to work! Everyone have a good day.
Rita
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Just finished making the most delicious New England fish/clam chowder. Husband is going to be a happy camper when he comes home for dinner.
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Lago, that soup sounds yummy and perfect for the cold snowy weather. Could use a cup of that down here in rainy, cold Florida!
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Vicks VapoRub cured my son's plantar wart on the bottom of his foot a few years ago. It truly is a multi-purpose balm that I keep in my cupboard all the time.
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Thank you everyone for the wig advice. I spoke to two women in my neighborhood who have also been through cancer, and they both went to Jerome Krause, too, so I think I'll start there, because it is the closest.
I just saw my onc and I am starting chemo on Friday. My DS is leaving Saturday to go back to school and he wanted to be able to bring me one time. I guess he wants to feel like he is helping. I tear up just thinking about it. He is a great kid, and I'll miss him a lot, but I'm kind of glad he won't be around for the worst of it.
MakMak - That is a great idea about calling your insurance company for a waiver for out of network for the wig shop. It can't hurt to try.
Joan - The Reiki CD sounds like a good idea. So does the chocolate pudding and ice cream!
lago - I was reading that issue of Chicago magazine in the doctor's office this morning, and there was Dr. Cobleigh! Clam chowder sounds really good right now. Do you actually make it from scratch? I'm impressed. Except for my once a year matzo ball soup, the soup in this house comes either from a can or a take-out carton.
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Webu Yes I make my chowder from scratch… I grew up 1 hour from Hyannis (Cape Cod) 25 minutes SE of Boston. Chowder in a can is crap.
I make chicken soup all the time but ditch the matzo ball and add mushrooms, carrots, leeks, broccoli, red potatoes and bok choy. The only thing that slightly resembles traditional chicken soup is I do use the parsnip and onion.
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