Illinois ladies facing bc
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Everyone posting pictures, THANKS!
And thanks for mentioning that you are posting photos, I only read this forum on email unless someone says they posted a photo, then I try to log on.
Hugs to your pets, Jackie!
Kater
(Because pictures and graphics don't come through on email version)
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We always buy Benjamin Moore paint.
Consumer reports does a thorough picture of paint, also.
Today Mom was much much better after Tuesday's chemo and having a bad cold. I'm on my last antibiotic and I stayed up til 3 am cleaning so I KNOW i'm feeling better! I slept ALL week! I think!
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Thank you all for thinking of me. I just got back from church and lunch with some friends. Believe it or not, I am feeling pretty good actually I am feeling at peace. I prayed to God and asked him to give me strength, courage and peace, and he answered my prayer.
Thank you God! I will pray again tomorrow as I know I will be nervous before I get my results.
I must say one positive thing this "cancer" has done for me is to strengthen my faith. I have never felt so close to God.
Thank you again and have a great rest of the weekend.
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HI Girls, I see everyone is very busy this weekend with projects to do.
Jackie..your doggies are soooo cute. Is Ratley a baby and is Reggie a lab?. I have a black lab/golden mix at home. He is the sweetest dog. He follows me everywhere and has to be in the same room as me at all times. He is my guardian angle dog.
Laura.. what color did you paint your rooms? I bet they look nice. Time for the new furniture too. How is the beauty tx doing? Is it getting better. How long did your md say it will take to heal completely?.
Wendy...ok since I suggested Carmel highlights we need a cute pic so we can see how good you look.
Julie..you have a wonderful family and it shows in your pics. Thanks so much for sharing. Beauty comes from the inside and it shows in your smile....so keep smiling
Nancy.. good luck this week hope you get your tx plan soon..then on the road to recovery.
Nikki..hope all is going well. I love your pics. You and Wendy have the best pics to keep us smiling all day. Thank you.
To all I hope everyone is having a great weekend
Later,
Blackjack
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Good early evening,
Ok, if my brain is not on overload yet as it so often is I will try and answer a couple of questions. As well, thank you all for mentioning how I look.....I don't have a bald picture as I seldom allow anyone to take a picture of me......usually I'm "trying" too hard because I know in advance that trying to "look" decent I tend to pose and ruin the picture. The only time I look half natural is when an animal is connected to it......boy, I might really look good if I can find a hippo or something huh!!!!
So, Connie, Wendy,Laura, Susan.........thank you. I can give up some of my self conscious now maybe.
Laura.....the big yellow dog is a Golden Retriever. Sir Reggie came to me as a puppy....right after I had my stroke and before I was walking or using my hands well. We went into a training group called Extreme K-9. Behesha Grist trains police dogs all over the world, and in her spare time held classes for people with pets. I got to hand it to her........taking me on in my condition must have been one heck of a challenge. Anyway to make a long story short, Reggie was such a good dog....he learned so quickly---in spite of my handling, that he made me look good....even when I stumbled and nearly fell. After a year we graduated, but the truth was........Reggie was too good for me. Retrievers are part of the working class and they want and need to work. I never realized how good he would be.........so I cried for a month and than gave him up to Behesha and he is still happy in New York and works nearly every day. He is either at airports sniffing for drugs, or out looking for lost people or bodies, or at nursing homes. I know he is happy but even after all this time I still miss him.
The other dog belongs to my girlfriend. Her name is Ratley and she is a miniature rat terrier. She was about 2 months old there and probably had 3 or 4 more pounds to gain as yet. She is a little sweetie.
I have been an animal person since I was a small child...it's just there. The happiest times of my life usually include animals....and one of the best jobs I ever did was stay with Alzheimer's patients while the family took a break. I thought I would hate it, but I found these people would often display abilities to hold great conversations and they were always easy to please. I quit doing this after my stroke because I didn't not feel I could properly care for people when I sometimes struggled to care for myself. That eventually translated into a realtor's license---talk about wild career changes. Don't do that anymore......Centralia is full of Realtors and they don't need more.
Well, keep it cool. Maybe I'll check in later before I say good night.
Love, Jackie
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blackjack - My sitting room is a light chocolate brown...kind of like hot cocoa. The dining room, which will hopefully be done next weekend will be barn red. The remainder of the first floor, excluding my master bedroom and bath will be a shade of gold (NOT metallic! LOL). I'm sticking to folk art colors...my house is somewhat rustic. As for the face...it's almost back to normal. The peeling stopped and the new skin is really smooth. I've been putting on lots of moisturizer. I'm happy with the results and would recommend it to anyone who wants a fresh layer of facial skin. But plan it when you have a weekend free of social events or get-togethers. And definately not right before a HS reunion! LOL
jackie - Oh cripe that little one is just too cute! Can you borrow him, prn? That's so sad about your golden, but what you did was SO unselfish! I can understand how you would still miss him. Have you thought about getting a little lap dog of your own?
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Hi Gals,
Laura, you are the sweet one I think. You are good around the edges as well as everywhere else along with most of the ladies here, and I am rough, but yes.....I did give Reggie up because I knew he would be bored and probably depressed half the time. It was an accidental mating......though both parents were purebred and I never expected to "see" the quality and championship personality. Reggie would often walk under my hand and never look ahead...just wait for my commands. That is one of the signs of a 'good' dog who will trust you. He was so cool.....I took him to an auction once and we walked all over the grounds and he behaved as if he and I were the only two people there.
Anyway, Baby Boss is small enough to be a lap dog and is......almost a pest.
He sits in my recliner with me and gets up in my bed as well, but I put an old sheet on the bed.......he has to sleep on that like it or not. We are getting to be pretty close.
One of these days when I switch computers I'll get some more pics. This computer is so old and so full it won't recognize things I try to put in it. SIGH....it's alot like me.
I'm a real left fielder.....I re-read my last post and went from talking about animals to caring for Alzheimer's people----not much comparison there......I think the stroke really did leave me brain challenged. Sometimes I connect the dots........other times they are all over the page connected to nothing more than my whimsy. Oh well, I'm lucky you gals will put up with this old broad. Anyway....I'm going to close shop for the night I think... Going to order a couple chemo scarves and let Dh have my computer for a bit. His is in the shop. Probably come back one more time just to see who is still here later.
Your all very special people and in addition, very special to me. My life continues to be full of wonderful loving souls and I'm thankful every day for that.
Talk to ya'll later.
Jackie
p.s.
forgot to say, Baby Boss is a Pomeranian--3 years old. Mainly red with white fan of hair on back legs and behind and huge tail over the back. He looks like a little red fox.....he is about 8 lbs. He is a happy little boy who will soon get a belated neutering...We are not breeders here.
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Jackie and others
CAT TALK
ACTOR
TALK
DESP HOUSEWIVES TALK
any ideas on feline leukemia cat, he is meowing as i type from upstairs...
I found him in the cold yard at my Mom's Nov. 4th, kept him in cage and when i found out he had the virus, I put him in upstairs bathroom.
I keep telling myself it's better than the cages at the animal shelters...and I make myself go up there 2 times a day and pet him..he is so lovable!
I have two possible homes but have not advertised more extensively to find if i can find his owner, as he was neutered at a young age,
he seems 1.5 years old at the oldest, male...i mentioned him before..
someone said they had a feline leukemia cat with their other two cats but i just dont want to take the chance, i have so many cats.
it's a virus...and i read it dissipates in two days, which makes it sound less threatening.
I have a cathedral ceiling with open stair case landing and am thinking about letting him out of the bathroom, and in the hallway, he is getting so FAT i know it's killing him, i have cut down his food but he's still so FAT!!!
I dont think he could get his wet stuff to the other cats (3 in the main level, others are mostly in the basement and in the outside playhouse through tunnel)..
i feel so guilty!
he crawls up my leg now when i go in there and also love bites me. he is such a cutie. My old division chair is moving but has not bought house yet, i hope she takes him, i had taken her country cat years ago at age 8 and kept him till he was 17....this one is similiar in disposition and she acted interested. The other possible home is my dentist friend in Iowa but if it doesnt work out it's a long drive to Davenport.
I thought about posting a photo, will check if it is easy.
Can someone tell me what exactly is going on with desperate housewives and greys anatomy, fridays now? reruns because of strike? what gives?
and who is the guy two people said died, i was going to google him but then i forgot.
kater
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ALL OFF TOPIC WILL DELETE LATER
other wrinkle with "bull" dozer (my even dozen cat)...
he had fleas when he came, blood all over the floor in little pieces with flea dirt, never saw a flea, used that stuff you put on their spine.
i have to flea dip or shampoo him before i can let him onto my carpet i figured, another stall thing, i've done so little all week being sick i keep putting it off. Tank, the dog was sick and that took a lot of time this week, he keeps wetting in bad spots, I've done tons of laundry this weekend!
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USUALLY when you insert images it lets you browse your computer, how does this system work, it asks for URL....
?
Do you have to upload it to a website first?
kater
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Thanks for the inspirational mention. Good luck tomorrow.
We do what we _have_ to do!
I was doubting my faith a little this time last year....and I am pretty sure I asked for a "sign" to make my faith stronger.
I had been photographing my radiation every day in the bathroom. One day I didnt have the vent on and there was a CROSS in fog in the bottom half of my door mirror.
It has never appeared since.
With My chemo brain, I remember thinking I should photograph the cross.
I thought I did.
Sigh....then I got big on Ebay selling things for my uncle, and I was reminded about all the religious apparitions (like Mother Mary in someone's grilled cheese sandwich) and so forth, I thought I'd share the jpg for like 25 cents a shot on bay..to give People more faith....I was researching that...but would you think I could find the photo on my digital memory cards?!! I have not been through them all, but I fear that i did NOT photograph it that day, yet I was almost sure I did!
It reminds me of when I photographed my uncle at his funeral (my sister had to miss it), knowing he would not like it, as he did not like his picture taken...all the photos, vertical or horizontal, had black spots on his face area!! You know how the old 35mm if you didnt synch the flash at the right speed you got a part black photo. EEERRRIIEEE>.
Luckily I had taken a photo the night before of him which I cherish, we were celebrating my Mom's birthday. The next day he had a coronary in a farm building. '78 He was only in his 60s, a bachelor.
Jackie, you made me want to give you something to read i guess!
We certainly have a lot to think about, I still think we are blessed to get that wake up call so we get more accomplished in what hours minutes days years we may have left. Otherwise we just assume all is well like always, right? Franklin Covey seminars from work had me pretty set on goals years ago...and what is important, but I still had things to do of course, legal wise. No plans on living to 104.75 like my Grandma!
Take care everyone, I have to wait till Wendy explains the HELP on how to upload an image. They ask for a URL, surely you dont have to upload it to a website before you insert it? I'm really stumped! The help section is very unhelpful!
Kater
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Kater,
Don't know a lot about feline leukemia, but generally.....it won't spread too easy unless cats fight I think....that is what I was told. Also, I think it takes in the neighborhood of about five years from diagnosis for it to become fatal to the cat. They become lethargic for a couple days....and act sick...Then perk up for a couple of weeks and then the second time they go lethargic is usually the end. They lay around til' they are comatose.
You may be able to let it roam in selected areas. But, I would help it avoid the others just for safety sake. We had one around lots of our cats and they were fine--even slept together and we never knew til' he got sick what was wrong with Tommy. Hope this helps.
Jackie
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Good Morning Illinois Friends: Popping in to say hello. I just cant believe the weather we are having. Heard on the news its gonna get up to 40 degrees today. After all the cold weather its gonna feel like Spring. My poor car is sooooo dirty. I have to wash it today, even though I know its gonna get dirty quickly cause of all the snow that will be melting now.
Kater: Such a sweet post. I have had things like that happen to me also. I have learned many things since I was diagnosed with bc. I think the biggest is dont sweat the small things. Enjoy each day and try to find kindness and love in everyone we meet.
NancyLA: Wishing you good luck at your appointment today and know in your heart we will all be there with you in spirit.
OK- I know this is a short post. Couldnt say hello to everyone. Thats what happens when Monday come and I have to return to work. Never can find enough computer time. I hope you all have a wonderful day and Im sending you some sunshine to brighten up your day.
Nicki (aka chemosabi)
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Still laughing, Nutty Nicki! "A day without sunshine is well...like night"!
I'm running late this am so will write later. Kater...I sent you an e-mail and if you need help, let me know!
Later.....(Kater???)...oooh..so funny this early!
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Donna:
You are a very strong woman and giving me inspiration. I'm a newbie to this site (DX, November, 2007) and I'm overwhelmed by you and others who I've encountered on this site. My journey with BC, although overwhelming for me, is nothing as compared with yours. Your love for your kids will certainly get you through this.
I go for a Muga test next week and start Taxol/Hercpetin very soon (12 wks, then 6 weeks of rads). Was numbness in your feet your biggest complaint of the Taxol? Overall, sounds like you are in very good hands. I'll be thinking of you...you give me courage.
Connie:
We probably drive past each other as we are going to or from work as I pass Howard and Caldwell every day. A big virtual hug to you.
To all of you:
The personal stories of each and everyone of you touch my heart. Reading your messages ensures me that I am not alone. Where the family may fall short in full understading, you are all there to ease the way.
I'm glad I found you!
~Joan
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Hi Joan - my biggest complaint with Taxol was bone pain. The first tx. was the worst and then it got a little better each time - or maybe I just learned how to deal with it better. I would be fine for 2 days after chemo. Then the third day I would feel achy all over (mostly upper body) - this is supposedly from the Neulasta. Then the 4th day my legs/knees would be in pain. It would last about 2-3 days and then I felt perfectly fine. I could manage during the day with Ibuprofen but at night I took Vicodin because it was hard to sleep. Good luck to you!
Kater- I don't watch Desperate Housewives, but I do watch Greys. And yes, the goofy schedule and reruns are because of the strike. I know they have no more new episodes of Greys so until the strike is over....
Sorry I can't join in on all this animal talk. DH is allergic to dogs and I am allegic to cats! Figures. We do have a couple of hermit crabs!
Have a great day all!
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Good Morning Everyone,
Got my livestock ( outdoor dogs ) taken care of and can chat a bit. Joan, Nancy, Donna.....this is a wonderful place to be. Little did I know back on December 1st. how much checking in here every day would mean to me. I feel certain it is very much the sharing of a disease that forever changes you in so many ways. It's about love, bravery, caring, and holding strangers up in the beginning who become so near and dear and necessary to our personal well-being. I think all of our friends and family for the most part are beyond belief, but they don't have what we have and so don't completely share the reality we deal with every second after our diagnosis. You can laugh a lot or cry a lot or be mad a lot.......makes no difference. You will find sympathy and understanding and lots of helping hands to hold you up til' you can do it better for yourself. We are all glad your here.
My gripe for the day.....anyone having chemo through I.V.........does your I.V. arm veins get sore and stay that way. I've noticed it more and more and try to ignore it. It's not bad....but I have five more "sticks" to go. While I had only the 3 Sentinel nodes removed........I'm sure they won't do anything on my left arm. They don't even take blood pressure there. I'm hoping it's tolerable and if there is something to 'make' it better....what would that be.
I'll be checking back most of the day as I usually do.
Jackie
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Morning again....keep watching the picture...you'll LOVE it!!!Well...did my gym-thing and the Jewel-thing. Gosh....feels like spring outside. Really nice.
You girls and your animals! You are all so sweet. I admit it...I am not an animal person but I don't like to see them out and about in this weather either. It's really sad.
Jackie....I think you are fast becoming our philosopher!
Joan....we're glad we can help you thru this time. Anything we can do, we will. Just ask...anytime...day or night.
Nancy....faith can work wonders, and it seems to be doing exactly that for you.
Laura...your colors sound great. The more I think about that little botox, the more interested I am. Does your doc. have a website?
Kater...do you have comcast on demand? They have Desp. Housewives, but not Grey's. Sure hope this strike gets settled soon, but I have to admit I have been doing a lot more reading so maybe that is a good thing. Did you do photobucket.com yet?
Blackjack....I think I might just have to buy you lunch next time! The caramel 'lites are very subtle until I get some sun on them and then they just pop! When my bangs grow a bit more I will do the pic...still looks like I added 3 feet to my forehead!!!!!
OK...enuf fun and games. Time to do the laundry and get started with my housecleaning. Laura...take your calcium!
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Jackie I too had pain @ IV site. I made my own mini ice packs. ( about the size of a matchbook) Took an old ace bandage, sewed a pocket in it(for the ice pack) dressed it up w/ribbon. The ice pack helped the pain and the ribbon helped me feel like it wasn't another bandage! I know the thought of an ice pack in this weather......
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Happy Monday Ladies!!!Julie, I had to shave my head I just couldn't stand it falling out!! I wore a wig to work every day but it was the first thing to come off when I got home! And I didn't bother w/it on my days off. Just hats & scarfs. You won't beleive how soft it is when it comes back in!!
Laura, does the peel hurt? Seen it done on TV looked like a sunburn.
something else I was going to post......chemo brain strikes again!
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Hi again,
TBEAR....thank you. I'm going to try the ice.........but much later. It's 41 outside but with the major wind we are having today it seems incredibly cold. We/I have to go out two or three more times today so I'm going to not to anything if I can help it which might have the possibility of getting me colder.
Not sure, but I think my temperature lowered ( maybe right after the first chemo ) and has never come back up so I am a bit on the chilly side almost all the time. Some of you will feel like strangling me, but a hot flash would probably feel good to me right now. Sorry Connie....forgive me.
Laura....your colors do sound fantastic. When watching HGTV it's always fairly obvious that the colors they choose just make their rooms come alive.
Anyway, till later,
Jackie
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Hi Everyone...
Went to the surgeon today and he drained some fluid from the left breast. He thought that was strange since he did most of the work on the right side. I reminded him that we had a drainage problem with it when I had a lumpectomy the year before. He still thinks it is weird. He says I am healing nicely and in 3 months everything will smooth out. I sure hope so cuz right now it looks pretty bad.
Julie.....love your pics. I had my dh shave my head and my 10 year old take pics. I have them still and maybe will post them later. I hated wearing my wig. Once I got home it came off. I waited a while til I would just wear a hat. I looked horrendous in a scarf. My husband was more againist me not wearing my wig when we went out. He thought I was drawing attention to myself, which I wasn't it was more comfortable to me. I had no problem taking my wig off to show someone. I think the worst part of the hair loss was it really hit home that you have cancer.
Well, I start work tomorrow and of course my youngest has strep. I told my dh that he had to stay home with him tomorrow.
I'll let you all know how my first day at work went...
Later,
Ginny
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Wendy - Their website is http://www.advancedmedicalaesthetics.ws/
Jackie - Why don't you have a port? I'm just curious.
Ginny - I bet you feel quite a bit of relief after having it drained. Glad everything else is healing well.
kater - OMG - That flea story gave me the whillies! What would they do without you? Have you found homes for any of the neglected dogs?
HI GIRLS - Hope you're all doing well...for a Monday that is! I've been very tired lately. But still keeping very busy. I can't wait for Spring! Have a nice evening...
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A big hello to everyone. Had a crazy day and home late. Just wanted to say hello to everyone. I will try to keep up I promise!
Wishing everyone a wonderful evening.
Nicki (aka chemosabi)
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Ok, so I just got my 2nd biopsy results. Second lesion 1.0x.06cm invasive breast cancer. My surgeon says it is small and he can remove both lumps in one lumpectomy. From the first MRI, my first lesion is ILC and is 1.7 x 1.4 cm. He did say I will loose my nipple, but I should be able to keep my breasts, as long as margins and lymph nodes are clear. I will be having my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy this Wednesday January 30. I have to go to see my GP in the morning to get surgical clearance. Yikes....the train has left the station......
Thank you all for your prayers and support.
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Nancy,
Yes, the train has left the station. This may seem a bit too intimate for some, but then again....Illinois Women are STRONG so let's talk nipples tonight!
I had the Pagets (nipple/skin involvement with IDC beneath it) and I knew I would lose it (nipple) with surgery. My breasts are large. My cancer was 4 cm. Your cancer is so tiny as compared to mine. They did the first surgery and I had bad margins so they went in again. I now have a 5-inch scar across my breast where my nipple/breast was. To be perfectly honest, my breast now looks like a football. I was told I could have had the breast tattooed so it looked like I had a nipple. I decided against it as I hate medical procedures.
I do have to tell you, that very time I look at that scar, I am reminded about cancer....but I would guess the same is true for every woman who has been cut up because of breast cancer. Also, one needs to be careful about what one wears as my right can show a nipple, while my left does not (obviously).
Stay in touch.
Susan
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NancyLa we are all thinking of you as we read about you, even though we don't all write. GOOD LUCK, take care and hang in there. At least time does not stand still and you'll have Wednesday over with soon.
off topic animals.------------------------------------------------------
Laura: Dont know about the dogs that needed help from Aurora's H.E.L.P. ...sometimes I pass something on if I think someone might know someone looking....but I do not hear results.
I spent the afternoon washing the stray cat and getting it dry while i cleaned the floor....with heater that he did not like, then i surprised him and let him into the hallway. he sat on my lap after the first exploration down the hallway....then mad money came on and i was listening, he was still on my lap, then i had fallen asleep, i woke up and he was, this is like a 20 pound cat, was teetering on the top of the banister/side rail of the open stair case. Geez louise. I screamed and he looked and I grabbed him I guess. I will never leave them there when I'm not home!
Kater
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Karin - I just now noticed your question...No, the peel doesn't hurt...the first day it felt a little "raw", but not really painful.
Nancy - That's great that you will spared a Mast. You're fortunate...most ILC dx's require Mast. It's still scary though...hang in there...and fasten that seat belt. Although the ride will be over before you know it! And then you can move on to the next chapter.
RITA - I hope you're having lots of fun...this site is not the same without you! But I know you needed to get away...
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Good Evening;
Nancy, it's good that you finally know now and no more suspense that way. Not knowing leaves so many questions to ponder. Like the rest, I think Wednesday will come soon and then onward and upward.
Laura: I didn't have a port because I was never offered one. I don't know but I suspicion the V.A. probably wouldn't bother with my only needing 6 months of chemo. In truth, I doubt I would have wanted them to put it in. Mainly the less I go under the knife, the more I like it.
Deep, fast depression hit me this afternoon. Don't know why, but I have been crying since about 4 o'clock. Oh well, I probably needed a good eye-washing and now I'm getting it. Only trouble is....I don't look like those gals in the movies when they cry....my nose runs, my eyes get red, and I stuff up. Sigh!!!! Hmmm....good reason to get over it, wouldn't you say?
Susan...good for you with the advice. I would not have known how to ask. Your a real problem solver. Thank God for you.
Talk to ya'll later.
Jackie
P.S. Ginny, I forgot to say hang in there, ok. Like Laura, I think it's always something and hopefully it will, even if it takes extra time, get where it needs to, to resolve for you.
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