Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
-
And when is Rita back???? It's not the same without her!
0 -
Hi Everyone
This is Linda popping in from Naperville
Blackjack, if you go to Waikiki, stop to eat at the Yard House. My cousin is hosting there. Since I am raising her daughter, maybe she will give you a free drink or something! Her name is Suzie. Yes, I said I am raising her daughter, long story, but basically the schools there are really bad, unless you can do the private school thing, which she cannot, so her daughter is living with us and going to school here. Fortunately she is a good kid. Last night I was trying to help her dissect a Jimi Hendrix poem. I was never a fan, couldn't understand the hoopla over him, and still don't. I loved that amazing central Illinois boy, Dan Fogelberg, may he rest in peace. I kept telling her the reason that we could not understand what the heck Hendrix was talking about was because he was doing drugs. She just did not get it! Ah, the younger generation. They have such a glorified image of the 60's!
Have a great day!
Linda
0 -
Free at last, I'm free at last---well really, I'm just home from work. Everybody left me and I had to lock up by myself. We weren't pounded with snow yet....I think more is coming overnight, but there was rain/bits of sleet on the way home. Can it make up its mind.
Seemed like a long day....hmmmm, I'm very tired at work then pick up when I get home....probably a natural thing to have happen.
Hope you all stay warm and dry and don't tangle with any snow mens......
Jackie
0 -
Nicki - I had a peel to remove the top layers of skin, age spots, tan spots and fine wrinkles.. I asked the MD about the dark circles you posted about. She said that they can't touch the area around the eyes called the orbital section, for obvious reasons. I have the dark circles too. Have you tried any over the counter products?
Wendy - YAY! Your port is history! The web addy that I gave you for Dr. Gulcher - the skin care Dr is being re-vamped...so that's why there isn't a lot of info available. The photo you posted with the two girls walking reminded me of a photo of 2 of my nieces from my wedding.
blackjack - The decorating is going well. This weekend we're painting the dining room. All of the trim still needs to be painted though...a lot of work! I am so happy you went to a Dr for the lung issues...glad you're one step closer to having it under control. Hey...just think...there's NOTHING that a trip to Hawaii can't heal! LOL I leave for the Riviera Maya on Feb 23rd! WOO HOO - I can't wait. The resort we stay at is FAB...we're repeat offenders! LOL They always leave something in our room...t-shirts or champagne or whatever, because they know we go there so often.
Hi Linda! That is so nice of you to take care of your cousin's daughter! Wow...what a sacrifice! Susan - Hi there! RITA - Okay...you're probably walking on the beach...totally relaxed...totally blissful...you deserve it!
------------------------------------
Sooooooo...UPDATE: On Tuesday I had the first set of 4 Cutera Laser Genesis and LimeLight treatments to reduce the fine lines, age spots, etc. So far, I am real happy with the results. I had a big patch of light brown on my forehead (from taking birth control pills years ago) and even though it was just one treatment, it's almost completely zapped away. When I get back from MX I will have another set and then 2 weeks later another...etc. BUT THIS IS SO COOL! I have a 1" wide wrinkle line in the middle of my chin. My mom has the exact same thing! I asked the Dr about it and she said that Botox would get rid of it. AND THEN OMG...she said they are having a seminar and a Botox pro is flying in for it and they need a "model" to demonstrate on. She asked me if I want to do it! She said I would only have to pay her cost for the botox liquid which is only $40! BUT if I was to have it done on my own - the price would be $300! IT'S MY LUCKY DAY! Although I am going to be really embarrassed, but hey, I'll save a lot of $$$$. She probably figures, if it works on my chin, it will work on anyone, so I'm the perfect candidate! LOL LOL How embarrassing! They'll probably introduce me like this: "Here's Laura, such a shame, look at the huge wrinkle line in her chin." LOL
When I get back from MX I may also treat myself to botox - RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES! Wendy...maybe we can go together!
I hope you are all feeling okay. Please drive safely if you have to drive and stay warm...
0 -
And by the way...I have had horrible connectivity probs with my dsl line for the past 48 hours! I am ready to go balistic! I can only get an internet connection occassionally..and then I keep getting booted out! I'm ready to scream! I feel sorry for the A T & T dude that has to deal with me! LOL That's why I haven't "been here" lately! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...0
-
I am feeling a bit childish today.....could be a snowday!
The whole staff was suppose to bowl in lieu of a faculty (Wendy, ask your DH why our principal is trying to get us to bond in very strange ways). I told my kids who was on my league and one kid said, "They are either old, pregnant or 35 years younger than you." He was actually right. I think the prinicipal went through a list of all of us and then sorted it out so each had a fair team and we each had one "old" person (me), one very pregnant person, and one young and athletic newer teacher type. I sometimes feel like my school is like "The Office" and we should film or day-to-day dramas. Then the snow arrived and the whole plan went South.
Stay warm.
Susan
0 -
Boy do I wish I was on that beach. Blackjack...you lucky dog you!Just a quick "hello"...been up since 4am with this dang port-out pain. Gave up around 5 and took one vicodin. Much better now, and so is my mood! Well...at least I don't have to shovel/snow blow. Just have to listen to DH whine about it (he never learned how the blower works so he's pretty stuck). Oh well. Truthfully if I could pull the cord, blowing would be easy for me as it is a small blower. I have an electric start, but it has to be plugged it and the cord is only 6 feet long so I would have to actually hold it up to the stupid outlet while I hit the start button...this MUST have been designed by a man.
Just offered DH the SUV as with the vic. I won't be driving but of course....he said he knows how to drive and doesn't need it. Whatever. Men.
Will check back later....drive safe everybody!
0 -
Wow - lots of snow out there. Took me over 2 hours to get home last night and I left work at 3:30! Of course, school is closed today. I'm sure once it stops the kids will be out on the sled hill - it's right across the street from us which is nice! My job will be keeping the hot chocolate coming!
Susan, we did a bowling night at work once for our summer event - in lieu of a picnic. It actually turned out great. The best turn-out for an event yet. We had teams, pizza and karaoke!
Have fun in the snow today girls!
0 -
Wendy - I don't think you should shovel or snow blow after just having the port out. And don't lift anything heavy with that side/arm.
Yikes...there is ALOT OF SNOW...Rita picked a good week to go to FL...
0 -
Good Morning Everyone: Yep, Im doing a happy dance. Got to take the day off. Got 8 inches and still snowing here in Glendale Hts. No way I was driving all the way to Deerfild. So Im sitting here and beginning to enjoy a 3 day week-end. Superbowl week-end to boot.
Pretty much relaxing. Found a new pattern on the internet and making squares for the afghan project.
Connie: Im so excited to not have to drive in this stuff today. When it finially stops snowing I might go outside and make a snow angel.
Wendy: Im so happy that you got your port out. When I got my port out I felt like - its finially over. A new start. Silly girl. Dont wait till the pain gets bad. Take the Vicodin.
Susan: Me too feel like a kid today. Not very often I can take an unexpected day off just to relax and goof off. Most of my days were always cause I was sick from something. Bowling? Wouldnt be fun for me - cause I always get gutter balls.
Laura: I go bonkers when I dont have my computer. Hoping it gets fixed soon. DH and I were thinking about changing from Comcast to AT&T!
Jackie: Haha dont tangle with snowmen. Right about now I would like to dance with one though.
Linda: Hello to you from Glendale Hts. We are just about neighbors.
OK! Back to crocheting. Will check in later.
YaHoo-its superbowl week-end.
Nicki (aka chemosabi)
0 -
Hi Girls, Wow, look at all that snow...white and fluffy great for snowmobiling. I can't decide what to do snowmobile or lay on the beach...tough decision.. beach wins hands down. I hope I can get out tomorrow if the airports don't cancel the flights. So wish me luck...the beach is calling my name.
Wendy.. I never wore a sleeve as my lympoedema was not bad. I flew 3 weeks after surgery and one month after rad and have been flying a lot these past few months with no problems. So Hawaii is calling your name. So come and meet me on the beach.
Connie..hot chocolate sounds great today. I am sure the kids will have fun outside with all this snow. yeah!! no school !!
Jackie.. how are you doing? Do you have lots of snow by you and how are the animals doing?
Laura..I think I would like to investigate about peels. How does it look now. I bet you look sooo good.. Not that you needed any improvement. You looked good already. Ready for the MX beach yeah!! Fun in the sun as I say.
LindaMmm..how are you doing? I did get those books you told me about and they were very interesting. I do agree that hormones in our foods are bad for us positive girls. So now no dairy or meats for me. Only healthy foods.
Rita.. are you having fun in sunny Florida? Bring some sunshine back for the girls here in Illinois.
Well I have to go snow blow the driveway now..will check in later.
Be happy.. stay warm and drink lots of hot chocolate today.
Think spring soon!!!!
Blackjack
0 -
Morning Ladies,I'm smiling because our office is closed. We have about 10 inches and it is still coming down. I'm not off the hook though........DH and I have to drive farther out in the country and get my BIL and SIL as they have Dr. appt and their car is rear wheel drive. Dave will probably do something about that this year......he hates to depend on other people even if it is family....a matter of pride for him to be self sufficient.
May have to try and get out to check on the cats......but many have cubby holes to stay in......far away from the eating area.....so may not matter. They will just hold up til' it's a little more decent outside.
Baby Boss went out for 'normal' reasons and did fine. He in fact was loving it. Got his little nose down and used it like a snow shovel and plowed a path so he could do "things". What a clever little guy.
Well, wish me luck.....I'll be checking back in later.
Jackie
0 -
Hi there....
DH had to go to school as it was Institute Day (no kids) and district wouldn't call it off as it would count as a day off. Sorry Laura but you know me....saw all that snow out there and well...I figured if I was OK to unload the DW, fold laundry and change the sheets, snow blowing with my baby blower would be safer! I promised myself that if it would not start with 3 VERY GENTLE pulls on the cord (no yanking with this blower) I would give up. Started right up and it is so light I can push it with 1 finger. Did everything in about 1/2 hour. Funny...after I moved the arm a bit I noticed that the little bit of swelling I had went down and with it went the pain. So the area looks nice and flat but will probably bruise a bit. Surgery was 48 hrs ago so I think I was safe. Wouldn't of course have lifted ANYTHING that weighs more than a couple of pounds.
The temp. is really helping with all the salt on the streets...we are clear down to the pavement here. And I did put salt on the driveway so all snow is gone from there as well. Thank goodness we didn't get hit with zero temps too....then the snow could have sat out there until spring for all I care.
Well....dryer is dinging. Time to fold!
0 -
i also posted this on the ilc site....but wanted to say hi to the illinois ladies....
had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on wednesday. surgery went well. when i woke up i did not know where i was and i asked if i was in hawaii??? .... that must have been the morphine.... they asked if i was in pain and when i said yes within a minute the pain was gone....i asked if i could have some to go please ...sadly, they said no to the morphine but yes to some other pain meds. i took them wed and yesterday but stopped today as i do not want to become a drug addict.....once i beat this cancer thing i do not want to end up at the betty ford clinic with brittany for prescription drug abuse.....
i have been pretty much sleeping for the past two days but wanted to let everyone that i am ok....well, that is a matter of opinion....:) anyway, i will get the results of the lymph nodes and the tumors on tuesday and then hopefully all is well and then 6 week of radiation 5 days a week. preliminary, the lymph nodes look clear...so please keep up the praying .......i think it is working. thank you all for being there for me. my words can never fully describe how it has meant the world to me. 0 -
Graphics users:
I tried not to make this sound too negative!!!!!
there must still be dial up users out there (I have to resort to that when there is snow on my hughesnet dish), I had to wait a LONG time for all these graphics to come up just to make a comment...if you want to do graphics why don't you make them
very small
and later delete them after you think most have seen them.
(by editing your post).
Try dialup and see how frustrating it is to wait for all those photo bucket things to come up (it shows on bottom of screen what is taking so long)!
I'm sure most of us never thought about that...
.it used to drag down the email, too, but the forum got smart and doesnt include the graphics in emails anymore thankfully.
If i was new I'm not sure i'd wait around to read the forum if on dialup with all these graphics...
and they must have made it so we can read emails instead of logging into the forum, to help their site from being too busy, another great idea.
Personally, I love real photographs.
I am always in a hurry and trying to be more efficient with my time, and thus probably got cancer, not from what I ate or the environment so much! I never am done with work!
COMPRESSION SLEEVES
Blackjack commented she doesnt use them. Maybe she didn't have as extensive surgery in lymph node area?
If I fly I'm going to make sure I get my compression sleeve order filled. I'm not taking any chances. I hear Jan Clare talk and I think she is RIGHT to be concerned about lymphedema. Why take chances?
Also, are there hormones in all red meat? I have to educate my self more but I don't think 3 oz. a few times a week is bad..and from the local guy who sells black angus and processes it himself.
People who ate right got cancer, I think for me it's more I need to slow down, not let family make me crazy, drink more water and get more exercise. Walk the dogs more...boy I wish I could be better to my dogs! I walked them twice last year!
3 of them are more than 10 years old so they sleep a lot, like their Mom.
Kater
0 -
I read someone got lymphedema after a plane flight THREE OR FOUR YEARS after her surgery. No signs of it before.
0 -
You can buy milk without hormones. I think Oberweiss advertises that. My oncologist stressed that FOOD with calcium is much better than the pills.
I try to only have to take one pill a day.
REMINDER, CALCIUM VITAMIN D3!!
A repeat, but I heard Walmart is attempting to buy only hormone-less
milk from farmers. They will not package that in case they get short on such milk, however, according to a dairy farmer relative just a month or two ago.
0 -
Nancy
Glad to hear you are done with the operation. That was the worst part for me, waiting to get it over with. Like you, I didn't have much pain. I was just so glad to have the damn thing out! Three days later, I felt so good, I took a bike ride. I was just going to go a couple of miles, but I ended up doing 10 just to tell myself, cancer was not going to ruin my life. It felt great! Obviously, there wasn't 10 inches of snow on the ground! Anyway, I am surprised you have to wait so long for test results. I was told mine as soon as I go out of surgery. Thankfully, the margins were clear and no nodes. I could not have stood any more waiting! I'll be hoping you get the same good news.
Nicki. I just got back from Glen Ellyn this morning. I had to interview one of my families for the French exchange program I organize. The roads weren't bad, until I got to GE. I know they pay really high taxes, but none of the side streets were plowed. It was crazy!
Blackjack. Keep you eyes open for a scruffy looking 25 year old at OHare. My son is just coming back from a 2 week biking trip to central America. I will be so relieved when he gets home. Why he can't just go to someplace normal, is beyond me. I guess he has too much of me in him! ALOHA!
Tonight I am celebrating my BD. Just my hubby. We are going to have a nice dinner at this great fish place in town.I am so glad I finished all the treatments last week so I can really celebrate! Usually, I like to pretend I don't have birthdays, but now I am going to cherish every one. Too bad I gave up the vino though! But I am determined to attend to my health because I just cannot bring myself to go on that horrible Arimidex! I know I can do it! I feel so great right now. Why spoil it!
You should all come down to Naperville sometime and walk the river. It is so beautiful. There is also a Labryrinth. It has been my lifeline.
Linda
0 -
LindaMemm
enjoyed your post, and about your son. 8-)
why horrible arimidex....when it seems to lengthen recurrence time?
I think i've been on it half a month and few side effects so far. knock on wood
lots of times i think we cant really TELL what causes what, as i got super sore inmiddle of radiation...was it cause i played vball after 6 months off?
0 -
Hi all! I had that snow day and I had a very relaxing time of it.
Linda, like Kater, I am fine now on arimidex and it is the one pill I will not forget to take daily as so far it promises the best protection. I did have some odd pains on and off and they even gave me a scare or two, but I am fine now. Also like Kater, I have no idea what causes "issues" and so it can be age, meds, anxiety, weather, exercise, and any combination thereof...so please do not be afraid of arimidex...so many women with BC would love to be able to be a candidate for taking it.
Speaking of follow up to BC, I was contacted by LIFE, which is a follow up to treatment, connected to a Lance Armstrong grant awarded to the hospital where I was treat (Evanston or ENH). My oncologist referred me to the program. They monitor longer term survival, look at risk factors, check out anxiety issues, guide nutrition and exercise and even look at genetic counseling and all for FREE! I thought I would be silly not to do it. The Longrove restaurant women might recall that I was less than informed on my dx, so this program could be good for me. IT is not a support group (although they could guide me into one if I wanted, I guess) rather, it is program to kinda follow what happens to people when active treatment is over. I was such a "good " and "compliant" patient during treatment that maybe my onc is worried I was too good and too compliant and hiding all sorts of things. More likely, it is just a new program designed to meet the needs of the evergrowing number of people living with cancer. I will let you know how it goes. I have another interview to be sure this is a good fit for us both.
Linda, that labyrinth sounds fascinating. I would love to see it one day. Also, all you cat-lovers, my cat had a urinary tract infection and she is nw on medicine. Kater and Michele, this may explain why she was having those "hygiene" problems a month ago. She is fine now that she has her meds....but what a pain it is to get it down her throat twice a day.
Susan
PS: I still love my vino! I feel like it is going to be the next thing I will have to give up and that it is inevitable I do and I am sure this LIFE connection will tell me to err on the side of not drinking any! How sad! IT just makes dinner so much lovlier! My husband and I were planning a trip to California and we were going to take in a wine tour.....so maybe after that....
Dx 8/2006, IDC, 4cm, Stage IIa, Grade 2, 0/1 nodes, ER+0 -
Thanks, zapSusan, happy you had a snow day (but sob, snow meant my new infared sauna did not come in time for caregivers birthday tomorrow--they say Monday....)
and also...
re: feeling great, why spoil it:
did you ever notice, no one says they felt sick when they found the tumor???
Maybe TIRED, but not sick...and how many times have I heard, "oh i feel so great, how could i be sick?"
My Mom's ovarian cancer you might feel aches and pains, but I didn't think BC did that too much unless outside the area...?
Linda, just food for thought in case you had not had much time to read...that's why we're here to discuss all this...hope it's okay!
0 -
Good Evening all,
Nancy, congrads on getting through your surgery. I'm glad all seems well for the time being. I had no pain at all....got prescriptions filled that I did not need or use. Didn't know that the tight bra and bandage kept movement impossible. Nice to undergo all that and not have to medicate days and days for it.
I hear you too about the drugs. I do not like pills and have so many things in my side of the medicine cabinet right now.....even though some are stool softeners, laxatives, lotions, creams etc. I still feel there are way too many you hold in your hand and swallow with liquids. I'm looking for the day I can sweep them all into the waste basket.
Big Happy B-Day to you Linda. Hope you and hubby have a great time. Also glad that you can start to appreciate the passage of time a bit more. Time is a precious thing...and often we are old too soon, Smart too late and hopefully this cancer thing has given us an opportunity to think about life and what footprints and indentations we would like to claim as ours when we come to a long and happy end. I intend to be in my mid-nineties so I have a long time to go yet, but I know I've let many opportunites to do things differently sail right past so.....
Wendy....glad your 'wound' is much better. I've noticed before that only so much babying works....then a little exercise, not overdone seems to convince the body all is really well.
We are down to clen streets for the most part, but it's 6:30 p.m. and DH is just getting around to using the tractor ( thank god for lights ) with the snow blade for our drive and road out of the woods here. We didn't need to do the road, but he likes too. We have 4-wheel drive and go through pretty good. BIL is already talking SUV trade when he sees how nice it makes it.
Susan & Kater.........I'm thinking moderation in everything plus a couple of other factors like weight etc. would be what I would look at in staying 'healthier' after the really 'rough' part of treatment is over. I would try and lessen some hormone ingestion, but I think lots of exercise, stable wt. range, good veggies and fruits and less reliance on salt and sugar and flours would negate a few hormones here and there. Just my thoughts on it.
Susan.....don't know what meds your kitty has....but if ever the vet offers what she has in liquid....all you have to do with that is squirt it on the front of her legs. Cats don't like their hair spoiled or dirty and will lick it off. A great way to give medications I have found.
Ok, I've rambled enough.
Julie, hope you did not have too hard a week at school and all the rest that I haven't mentioned....get out from behind those snow plows and say hi..........see ya'll.
Jackie
0 -
Jackie: You are amazing. The suggestion of putting the meds on her fur is so clever. THANKS!
I have not been around pets since I was a kid and never had pet smarts, but I have fallen in love with this one. She came to me because my daughter had a baby and the cat just went neurotic. It was to be on a trial basis but I fell in love! I am going to try your technique as this cat spends half her day grooming herself. Thanks again!
Susan
Thanks!
Susan
0 -
Hello to everyone. Its the week-end and thought I would pop in and say hello. I couldnt believe that yesterday once this storm was over, the sun actually came out. It was great for me to have a 3 day week-end.
Susan: My female cat Leslie not only grooms herself all day. She also grooms my male cat and my dog. And when she is done with that she tries to give me a bath too. Thank goodness she is fixed as she is a born mother.
Jackie: Good morning to you. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Susan: I have heard alot of good things about the "LIFE" program at ENH. Im glad you are able to participate.
Linda: Im so glad I didnt have to go out driving in this stuff yesterday. I really needed a 3 day week-end, but not unplanned. Then I thought hey, you got a 3 day superbowl week-end. So I am a happy camper. I spent yesterday working on square for the afghan project. Many woman here are making afghans for those in need. So I felt good just sitting there and appreicated that i was given the time to do it.
Kater: Oberweiss is indeed hormone free milk. I have thought for a while now that hormones could be playing a part in bc. Its amazing to me how busty our younger children are now. I have a niece who is in 7th grade and looks big. I also wish they would stop feeding the animals antibiotics - as I think this is a big reason for MRSA and other bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics.
Sorry about the graphics. My pictures usually describe my personality. I will delete them. I had dial up and understand how frustrating it can be.
Hope you all have a great day.
Nicki
0 -
Morning! This one's for you, Linda! Hope you had a wonderful time last night. Rita....we miss you!
Laura....okay, once again you get lucky with freebies! Tell your doc if she needs a crater or 2 between the eyes, I am all hers.
Kater...I hear you about the graphics but if I do them too small, you can't read the words. Sometimes even with dsl it takes a while to get them to load and other times, say my dsl is out, and I do dial-up...everything pops right up. Go figure.
Susan....DH was a teacher for YEARS before becoming an administrator. Last thing he would ever do is to try to get his staff to "bond" over anything. He has a social committee which organizes some stuff thruout the year (showers, christmas party, bd's etc) but that is it. He knows that school is work and fun is off-time and he likes to keep it the way his staff likes it. It makes for a very happy staff and a very happy principal. Is your principal newer? Sometimes they like to do c**p like this, thinking it will make everybody one big happy family. Yeah...OK...that will work!
Nancy....glad this part is over for you! And we are all sending good vibes your way.....
As for diet/alcohol restrictions, this is just my opinion BUT I have always subscribed to "everything in moderation". I have always watched calories/fat as I am vain (yes..I admit it!), and I love fruits and vegetables. I drank, but not a great deal and almost always wine/beer with the rare 2-3 martinis a year. I have continued to have alcohol, probably once a week - a glass or 2 of wine or a couple of bud lights. I really don't feel that this contributed anything to bc. There are alcoholics who do not have bc and there are veg/teetotalers who are dx'd with stage IV. Alcohol does makes blood vessels grow which of course feed tumors but a couple of drinks every week, esp. coupled with my low fat diet - I think I am safe. Kater is right about Walmart - their dairy is going hormone-free. I still eat red meat occasionally as well. I feel that an overall healthly weight/lifestyle/attitude coupled with aerobic/weight training exercise is essential for all of us, irregardless of bc. So I am sticking with that and will hope for the best. I will get off my soapbox now...
Linda...don't think of it as "that horrible arimidex". Think of it as...."that wonderful drug that just may keep my bc from returning - ever!". I have been on it since 8/1 and I did get bad achy joints/muscles in the am. A hot shower/exercise and the addition of 500 mg of magnesium added to my calcium/d3 cocktail pretty much eliminated them. The mag. I learned about on here, under the hormone thread. I have night sweats, but I had them before the bc anyway. You could just give it a try and see what happens. It is true, some women have a horrible time. And some women - no side effects at all...none! Personally I would rather have a few sweats/achy joints than bc anyday. Ooops...I see I got back on my soapbox again. Jeesh...sorry!!!
Well...this is long enough and I don't want to put anyone to sleep. Off to shower and then to Jewel...DH took the SUV after all yesterday and driving the "Z" in all the snow would have been interesting! Just hate the grocery store on Sat am, esp day before the superbowl! Oh well...a girl's gotta eat! And if Tom goes to the store, it will be nothing but ice cream and donuts, with a frozen pizza or 2 thrown in for protein.
Have a good one!!!!!
0 -
Saturday morning here,
It's beautiful. The sun is out making everything glitter. I don't think we will have this very long....but long enough I will have to take the snow shovel with me to dig out a path to feed the feral kitties. Not looking forward to that with all the shoveling we have had to do here, but it's ok.
Hope you are all well and Nicki how wonderful to get that extra day. It is a rare treat isn't it???? DH and I spent the majority of the day with BIL and SIL which was nice as we haven't had much time with them lately. They still want us to come for Super Bowl but it won't happen. I'm definitely married to the wrong man sometimes...mention go to him and he's headed for the closet and his coat...he does not watch sports at home and never has, but ------ so I said no buts here....we spend so many other holidays etc. with your family that I'm sure they won't wilt and fade away if we miss this opportunity.
Anyhow, I'll be checking back later as I always do. See ya then.
Jackie
0 -
NNN:
Thanks for the feedback on LIFE. I am actually excited. I have been very afraid for about a year and I am looking to be in control again and this may do it for me. I know they can help me with diet and exercise goals and I need both. I know I am to eat better, but I just do not always do that. Wendy, what you are mentioning is what I need to do but I guess I need to lay out a goal for myself and get into a lifestyle. I need to lose 20 pounds. They do say that one can gain weight on the meds, yet I cannot just blame them. Teaching, like many jobs, means so many bagels, cream cheese, b-day cupcakes, etc. If you line up a celery stick next to a dunkin donot, the celery stick stands alone.
Yes, I miss Rita too. She is kinda the grande dame here...our fairy godmother.....our menche....although that is a lot to put on one woman. Rita is just a wonderful firend to us all.
Laura, is the peel something I should consider? What happens if something drastic happens and you are in the middle of the peel? Are you still presentable. Do you have to take time off for the peel and if so, how much. See, I do have major control issues. I know about those frown lines you mention. I am always pulling up at my temples to see how I would look without them and i look better! Let us know if you are happy with the results. Have you seen or spoken to Jan Clare? If so tell her I miss her posts. She is precious.
Susan
0 -
My surgeon just called. 6 lymph nodes tested....All Clear
2 tumors removed....ALL CLEAN MARGINS
Today is a GREAT DAY!!!
Thank you Illinois ladies for your prayers. God is good.
0 -
Wendv
Thanks for the cake. It was lo-cal, just the way I like it.
I especially appreciate the fact that you left off 50 candles! I guess you were afraid to burn up the internet!
I am so glad that many of you seem to be doing well on Arimidex. Believe me, it took me a lot of soul seaching to make my decision. I do not know what it was, but I was in a panic from the first moment I heard that I would have to take a drug for the next 5-10 years. The anger I felt was overwhelming. It was even worse than being told I had BC because I thought it would never be over for me. I started taking the drug when I started rads as my doctors said, and every time I swallowed that pill I had a meltdown. I finally could not do it anymore. I was losing too much sleep over it. It may seem irrational to you all, but to me I did not feel I was saving my life, I felt like I was ruining it. This was before I read much about the SE's. So I decided to look for alternatives. I started reading books on natural ways to prevent BC and they made sense to me. My bible was Dr. Christine Northrup's "The Wisdom of Menopause". Not only did she talk about SERM's she talked about how to prevent cancer and what really causes it. I thought she was writing about me. I came to realize that I was doing a lot of things that I could change. I felt so empowered-
like cancer did not have to control the rest of my life. I did have choices that I know will keep it from coming back. I had already made a committment to not take my health for granted as I had always done. I changed my diet completely and have exercised regularly. I know that weight control is a key and I am determined to continue to lose and get into shape. DR. N. said to listen to that little voice inside us that will tell us what to do. I felt so free. That little voice was telling me that there was another way for me to stay cancer free. It was the same little voice that I heard that told me to get to the doctor that made it possible for me to catch this BC early, before it had spread. I feel healthier than I have in years and I only finished rads a week ago. I want to continue to feel good. I have talked to long term survivors who have done it with diet and exercise. I know there are people who have not been so lucky, and my heart goes out to them, but I am confident that I will not be one of them. There is a mind over matter, a placebo effect, in everything we do. I would never try to convince someone else to take the same path that I have chosen, but I feel at peace that it is the right one for me.
This whole thing is a journey for all of us to do what we think is right. Just as each of us has had to come to terms with different stages of this damn disease, we all have to listen to our own hearts. After all, what is deep in our hearts, is who we really are. We have to be true to ourselves.
Thanks for respecting my choice!
Linda
0 -
PS to Nancy
I am so happy for you. I know just how you feel. The relief that margins are clear and no nodes is indescribable! Good luck to you on your recovery!
Linda
0
