Illinois ladies facing bc
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Onward, the only insurance company that I know that accepts preexisting conditions is the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Program...ICHIP. It is not free, but they have different deductible levels and maybe there is one your friend can afford.
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chgogemini just sent you a PM. One node although not good news it's not as bad you as you might think. It all info for staging. Hey I had no nodes but I'm a stage IIB so technically that means my chances of recurrence is a little higher than yours. Just means we have to do treatment so they can kill any of those little cancer suckers that might have slipped away.
LoriBack/Onward Onwards friend is not eligible for CHIPS. Since she has Cobra as an option the CHIPS isn't. Once she has exhausted Cobra then she would be eligible for CHIPS. But she can call to see if things have changed. I was on CHIPS after Cobra ran out.
jzog71 Great news. I know when I tested negative I called my parents and let them know it wasn't their fault I got this.
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Spunky, that is interesting! The Ai's are so new!
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"Race and language makes no difference; the barriers are gone when persons can come together on high spiritual levels." -- Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE 0 -
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
- Lao Tzu0 -
I do not think they know about arimidex for five or more years. I was on it for 5 years plus six months (it was actually by error as I got lost in the woodwork and they forgot I was on it and kept refilling the prescription)) and then the oncologists said to stop that day. I feel exactly the same as I did when I was on it. I think I just have a weird body as I never had side effects.
I do want to pipe in on the person who had sleep issues and had restless legs when she took tylenol PM. I am sorry but I cannot recall who brought that up. Now my weird body REALLY got that and it was hell. I never had that before and then it set in. I cannot take any cold medication, benedryl, nighttime sleep stuff or I have that awful sensation at night. My doctor wanted me to go to a sleep clinic to sort that out, but my DH is sick and I do not want to be away from him at night, so I just don't take the meds that it. I do take klonopin before I go to sleep and it works, but warning....it can be habit forming.
Have a great weekend. May go see Parental Approval as it is very funny, I am told.
Susan
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zap, that was me on the restless legs and tylenol pm. I figured it might happen since the benadryl I had during chemo did the same thing. It can be very annoying, but for me it doesn't last all night. Even so, I only take the tylenol pm when I'm really desperate.
I met with my plastic surgeon yesterday, and he's going to re-do part of my surgery. In November, I had the exchange surgery for the left (mastectomy) side. At the time, he was supposed to do a lift on the right side to make the "girls" even. Well, in trying not to give me more scars, he just put in an implant to try lifting it that way. Now that everything has settled, the right side hangs way lower and is about a cup-size bigger than the left side. When he took a look yesterday, he immediately said, oh yeah, we can get this way better. It means another surgery for me, but he promised this one was way easier. He said it should take about 45 minutes and they do it at a surgery center in Lombard. I've scheduled it for Feb 1st. I also scheduled the MRI for the liver hemangioma for Monday. Then I have my first mammogram since dx next Wed and then meet with the breast surgeon a week after that. Appts, appts, and more appts. Oy.
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Hi chgogemini.....I can't help you with the doctors in the Chicago area because I am from central Illinois but I did want to welcome you to our thread. There are many ladies in your area who will be dropping in and giving you the info that you need. You are so young to have to be dealing with this and I'm sending hugs your way. You can get through that chemo....just taking it one day at a time......... The awesome ladies on this site will help you with your journey.
Sunshine and warmer temperatures here today! YEA! I ran out and did some errands. Tonight we're going to a movie and out to eat at a neat Mexican place. Life is good!
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Welcome Chgogemini-I sent you a PM. Never hesitate to ask this group anything-there's a wealth of knowledge among these incredible ladies. Good thoughts being sent your way.
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Spunky: Has your daughter made any college decisions?
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zap, when i first started taking arrimidex, after surgery, i felt exactly the same. in fact i asked my onco how we could tell if I was metabolizing it because I had zero side effects. He said they just assume you are metabolizing it.
Then I had 6 months of chemo. When I went back on the arrimidex, I started having joint pains. And crying. Constant crying. I wasn't sure if it was the chemo, life, or what. But after 7 months it was unbearable and they told me it was the arrimidex. It reaches it's worst at 6 months supposedly and then starts to ease. I made it to 7 months and switched to femara. That felt very similar. So now I'm on aromasin which doesn't seem quite as bad but boy does it feel good to be off of it. I'm going back on though, it's too scary not to be on it.
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Timbuktu I think once u have chemo everything is a chore to take with mor side effects.
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camil, have you found that to be true? I had no idea this would happen.
Truly, chemo has changed everything. My eyesight, my thinking, my ability to stay awake!
I just hope and pray that it changed the cancer and it's gone. Then it will all be worth it!
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Such truths can lie in such simple statements...obviously this one is really, really true for me:
"Each day I am thankful for nights that turned into mornings, friends that turned into family, dreams that turned into reality and likes that turned into love."Author Unknown
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Just letting everyone know it's going to rain or snow tomorrow. My weather heel is going numb (nueropathy) just like it did on Thursday evening. I actually thought it was all gone but I guess we haven't had too much damp weather.
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Beautiful quote, thank you.
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Hey one and all! You northern gals can keep that ice and snow up your way if you'd like. Unfortunately, I think some of it is headed for us, too!
Everyone have a good weekend.
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Illinois lady where do you find these wonderful quotes? I love them!
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For all the quote lovers......I have several quote newsletters sent daily and from a number of them I can tap into others by using subject. The ones I use are used on a random basis, and surprizingly often someone has just mentioned something a bit earlier that the quote seems to fit. I put the quote in before I start reading the latest entries.
Other times, I just try to find something that I think a number of people could eaisly relate too. It is something that speaks to me as well.
Under my avatar is my start date on BC. Org and it was only a short while after that when BJ ( who has been so busy lately ) suggested since so many people liked the few quotes I often used in my entires to IllinoisLadies, that I choose one every day for all to enjoy and hopefully start our day on a high note. That is how it all began and though I have slowed way down in entries since I'm now a bit over 5 yrs. out, I don't think I could come here and just read.......I still find great pleasure in finding a quote to cheer, encourage, soothe or in some way make this path a little less rocky.
Every day we have is a gift, and I hope the quote is a part of the ribbon on that gift.
Peave & love,
Jackie
spell checker busy....sorry if I have a lot of mistakes here.
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And we have indeed enjoyed these quotes over the years, Jackie! Keep them coming!
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Jackie we've all enjoyed u'r quotes over time--except I did tell u if author unknown it was probably ME who said that years ago. Just a little reminder
Timbuktu--I have read no studies on this I just have notced how people react and I do talk to alot of people in the Dr.s office when I'm waiting, plus my own family too. And it seems lke once chemo and rads are in the works u think when it's done it's done, then u take 1 tiny little pill after and it almost seems as thos things continue or newer things happen.I don't know if u got all the tests before chemo but when I did I was told everything was in good shappe with a little arthritis but hat was natural. When I was done and had the same tests I was told my body was loaded with arthritis, my liver needed more test cuz it disn't do well on the scan my one kidnew had moved and they had to watch it and other things. And I said whst happened no one said chemo so in my own head I figure it killed the ad cells it had to do something to some ood cells and parts of the body that it corrupted. I really never took pain pills n my life including opertions, now I take them daily--U know I have violent diarrhea since chemo, never stopped and this week I'm going for some of the same tests and new ones for it Drs. can't figure it out--It just makes me think chemo triggered something inside and now it just didn't stop. I'm not saying that all this happens to everyone--it can't I hope--but there are leftover things that seem to just stay with s and who knows how long? There is nothing (to me) that is usual, I think that's why I never read much about it-there are to many variables about it. You my aunt had cancer when she was older, had the operation and refused all chemo which the Drs. didn't approve, but that's what she wanted--she felt fine she died yrs later almost 90 not of cancer, so I always think about her--my mom was another with no chemo and felt fine for over 40 years and ded at 88. I'm not saying I don't believe in chemo really I just think about all that has happened just in my family and see how everyone has reacted. And again I think it just does different things to different people some of the things the Drs. see all the time but some have them just as confused as we are.. Hahaha I wrote a mini=novel here I'm sorry but do get carried away sometimes--so as u can see I'm no authority I just pay attention. hahaha
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Lago-does Tom Skilling know about your heel? He may be envious.
Kjiberty-my daughter is at DePaul, and my son (a high school junior) can't be bothered to think about colleges-much to his mother's chagrin. Bradley's on my list of places I want him to see though.
Jackie-love the quotes, and look forward to them every day. Thank you.
Hope the weather Lago's predicting is snow or rain and not that nasty ice. Stay warm and safe everyone.
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Please don't apologize for the post cami, I found it strangely reassuring. I'm tired of people telling me that I'm fine now that I'm done with chemo. My last chemistries showed I'd developed diabetes and other things are out of whack. And I feel it. The drs aren't concerned, I don't know why, other than it's probably so common.
I do keep thinking of my radiologist friend who had 3cm tumor and no chemo. I was surprised and asked her why.
She said "Do you know what that stuff is?" She is also doing well.
Hoda Kotb turned chemo down and as I watch her laughing and running around on her show I wonder if she could have been that way if she had had chemo. Cokie Roberts, oth, had bc and I'm sure had chemo because when she came back on tv she looked so out of it. I could be wrong.
Well, what's done is done and I suppose we have to bless every day as a gift. We have no idea what would have been.
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He is a wise man who does not grieve
for the things which he has not,
but rejoices for those which he has.
- Epictetus0 -
timbuktu, I have to admit I didn't quite get all of what you said in your first post. Some chemo's can be hard on you, but the thing with so much of it is that.....no one can predict just how your body will respond. Also, there are people ( I think this happened long time ago ) who were diagnosed -- accepted their"fate" and did absolutely nothing....went ahead and died of old age. Based of what your pathology report says, there are certain known regimens which most of the time will get you NED. It is a sad thing that no one knows who might possibly be able to do almost nothing and be all right.
There is also the viewpoints of others around who would encourage you to do all you could to rid yourself of this disease....so there is a lot of pressure in making choices. As for myself, I was so blind-sided that I felt I had few options, but trusted the medical personel as well as my family to help guide what I needed to do. I still worry about long range possibilities, but likely would not go back and change anything even if I could.
I hope you all have a good Sunday.
Peace & love,
Jackie
spell checker does not function all the time so please excuse the mistakes.
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Good Morning Ladies How's the weather there Jackie--it was icy here.???
Timbuktu--I didn't mean to scare u I was just telling u how I rhink and I had all rhe chemo different operations and rads and I'm sure I srill would have. But when other things go wrong we're supposed to know to see other Drs. Like u should see a Dr. for Diabets (sp) My sister and I were laughing cuz u can go see u're Onc. and unless u'r geting chemo and if u have a cold they'll tell u to see u'r primary--Duh I'm sitting right here. The way my sister and I have it figured out is they do what they do and that's it anything else oes to the other types of Drs. I see my Onc. tomorrow cuz she's checking in a lump on my rib so that her concern, nothing else is at this point. Then I sget a heart scan Wed.--he's not concerned about my lump but my heart after all the chemo and meds have done.Then Thirs I have my down the throat and up my ass test for my 5 yr Diarrhea and he's not concerned wth what the other Drs. find, but he's looking for his stuff only. Again it disrupts alot--all it is for some people is more years of different stuff--I love to hear when someone is done and they feel good.--Here I o again--but if u'r blood sugar is way off u should see another Dr. and get that straighten out--u'r kind of on u'r own--when u were etting chemo everything was being taken care of now it's different it's more Drs. and we get them from our primary. We're the hamsters on the wheel LOL This I have passion about (as u can see) cuz I didn't expect all this other stuff- I rhought I was going back to work hahahahaha and I wanted to for the $$$ not cuz I really wanted to. LOL
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Timbuktu There are people who chose to not do chemo and are fine. I know my onc told me in my case, after surgery there was a 40% chance I didn't need chemo, Herceptin or Hormone therapy. Those odds weren't good enough for me. Doing all the treatment bought my chances of NED for 10 years up to 86%. But we will never know if I needed it or not. My onc admitted that. She said if they knew who the 40% were they would not be treating them.
I can honestly say that it takes at least 1.5 years PFC to really start feeling like normal. It' starts a bit after a year but I think the true time is 2 years. For some reason this month I really don't feel like a cancer patient anymore. Lots of my aches are not as bad. Even my nueropathy is so much better this year. This Friday will be 2 years PFC. It might take even longer depending on what chemo you were on and how many rounds.
I'm not saying I feel like I did before but but I do feel normal, and good. I hope you can reach this point too.
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Yes, Illinois lady, blindsided is the right word for it. It's so odd how we're expected to make decisions when we're blindsided but it's good you had so much support. I never got the same advice twice for two different drs. One told me there would be no permanent side effects and the others told me there would be. Either way, the goal was to get the cancer so I have no regrets. I'm just surprised and a little confused by all of the changes. I guess it's natural to be worried about them. How can we tell what's happening because of the chemo, the cancer or the meds?
I just took my first aromasin in over a week. I'm going to add my meds one by one each week so that hopefully I can pinpoint the trouble makers.
Enjoy this sunday everyone and thanks for sharing. I think we understand each other in a special way that no one else can.
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I am glad to read that so many have SE like I have, I too am more concerned that the cancer may return which out weighs any side effects may linger (or stay forever). I hate the neuropathy in my feet and the limited use of my left arm and the sleeplessness and so many more but...
i try to look at all the graces I have gotten through the past ten months and they help outweigh the negatives.
Treasuring every day I wake up...
All the resparked friendships....
All the wonderful ladies I have met sharing this journey...
Being attentive to what I eat and eating healthier...
Beginning a more focused exercise routine for wellness...
I hope you also have experiences blessings through this crappy disease.
Have a beautiful Sunday!
Janet0 -
What a great post, grace/Janet! I think that many of us have long-lasting side effects. Now that I am off the Arimidex and finished with everything, the only remaining side effects that I have are the chemo brain, whiich at times does seem better and the insomnia issues. I can live with them and would probably make the same treatment choice again if I had it to do over.
I have learned alot after making this journey and have changed in many ways I love each day and try to live it to the fullest. I have much more compassion for people who are suffering with health or emotional issues and find myself volunteering to help when possible. I love the sunshine and the nature that lives around our house in the woods and I'm much more tuned into the little things in the world that I once took for granted. I have met MANY wonderul ladies who have (or are) faced with similar journeys to mine. I have learned that life is too short to surround yourself with those who are always negative or not kind to others. I've learned to overlook many faults in others and concentrate on the good. I smile and laugh more and try to eat a better diet. In short, I've learned that life is good and I'm so thankful that I'm still here to enjoy it.
I share the many concerns about what the chemo has done and will continue to do to us, but I'm also thankful that I had the opportunity to get the chemo. I try not to dwell on what might develop as a late result of the chemo because if I do that, I'm wasting some of the valuable time that I have been given.
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