Stop Smoking Support Thread
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Rachelb274: Welcome to our forum. If your not nuts you will be it seemed to happen to me. On what Nancy wrote about smoking on the patches its not a good idea for sure. I did do that however years ago. Quitting is hard but that word I grew to hate during my chemo, it is doable.
Cheryl and Nancy, loved your pics....looking at the pics I am glad I am not eating Nancy's cooking...hahaha.
Man I sure wish I had a BC friend nearby. Drives me nuts with no one who can think like us.
Still not smoking...been thinking of taking up drinking instead....not really...joking on that.
I have been slacking major on reading postings and such...will try and do better. Could be while I am in a funk, not getting my fix of my BC friends.
I am going to Boise on Wednesday for 5 days and going to visit one of my daughters and her family. Going to believe it or not a grade school reunion. Now imagine this...Catholic school and I now have no hair and two tattoo's one which is visible. At least its a guardian angel. Due to the swelling and so forth the only thing that will look somewhat good is a sleeveless floor length dress...oh ya don't forget the sports bra because a regular bra won't work. Oh yes and they want us all to go to Mass together...
Janet, haven't forgot to call you...are you in a different time zone from me? PM me so I don't call to early or late. Did that to my sis in Alaska, thought I had it figured out on the time change and it was 5 in the morning, she wasn't very happy.
Well better try and get caught up on my emails...got to get my butt in gear and stop slacking on everything.
Love you all,
Nadine
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Welcome Rachelb274. So far, I have not been successful in giving up smoking but I sure as heck have made lots-o-friends here. Nadine is right though, stay here at your own risk. You could one day be deemed as certifiable. Most here are! And by way of introduction to me, I shall tell you ladies a most embarrassing thing that just happened to me on my visit to the breast surgeon the other day.
OK then, my DSO was (as usual) waiting in the car to take me to the appt. I had run out earlier to pick up coffee, some of which spilled on the passenger side as I rounded a turn. Forgot about that when I sat down and felt dampness. Thought it was from the sprinkler that he had turned on with the windows down. When I got out of the car, I quickly looked and didn't see anything on the back of my khaki skirt. He had dropped me off to park so he didn't even think to look. Soooo, here I am wandering the waiting room, looking at the mags and such. A women comes up to me and says: "I don't mean to embarrass you but you have a huge stain in the back of your skirt." At first, I thought it might have looked just a little damp, not STAINED. But noooooooooooo, by this time, he had come in and I asked him about it. He took a look and said "Oh my God, it looks AWFUL! Turns out, it was brown from the coffee and it absolutely looked like I pooped my skirt! Or at the very least, as my friend said, you "squarted." That's a fart with a squirt as her kids say! I had NO WAY of covering it. After the bc surgeon and the navigator had a very hearty laugh, they gave me a hospital gown to wear around my waist when I left. OMG...I was walking around totally ignorant to the squart like look on my butt! Not too gross!
So Rachel, you still wanna stay on this thread? And from the looks of your pix, a few of us are a lot older than you...but apparently very, very young at heart. Young at heart with squart!
Have a great Saturday everyone. Ellie...did you get some new duds?
xoEllen
So Rachel
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REKoz--great story. Yes, I did get new clothing. Retail therapy helped a LOT.
Rachel, welcome. I too have not quit yet, but I have cut it down to less than 1/2 pack a day. I go back to work on Monday, and I will NOT bring smokes with me, so hopefully I can cut it down more.
Nancy, I saw your dead pics on facebook and laughed my a$$ off. I am like Nadine, oh how I wish I had some of you BC sistahs close to me!
Nadine--oh how I would LOVE to see you at the grade school reunion. I too went to Catholic school, so I appreciate the humor. At least if I went back to my grade school, all the nuns that gave me guilt trips were all 100+ years old when I was there, so they are all dead now. NO MORE GUILT! YIPPEE!
Janzin, I am glad to hear that your innovative ideas are flowing. That is awesome about your sponsors. Call me anytime, if I am working and can't take the call, I will call you back!
Love to all! My chemo ladies---feel better!
Ellie
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Ellie - Thanks for asking where the temporarily "out" members are! Feels good to be remembered. It's a little scary when someone disappears.
Nancy - Yup, kept my onc up-to-date on the SE's and got run through a bunch of extra tests during this past week. Turns out to be just the chemo kicking butt as CBC, O2 (siting & walking), BP (sitting, standing, laying down), and heart rate were normal.
Rachel (Rachelb274) - Welcome! The wonderfully crazy women here will share their support, their laughs, and experience with you. It's a fun and pretty different (in a great way) kind of support group. To set up your diagnosis, click on the My Home tab, then answer the little questionaire being sure to check the box that says show my diagnosis.
Cheryl - Loved the newest Dead Pics! Very creative and the choice of pose definitely part of the "go for it" spirit. Thanks for making me laugh. It's a good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I scrolled down through the pics.
Janet - Congrats on the new sponsor for the charity launch!! You're a powerhouse, woman! I really admire your resilience after your tax news. In answer to your question, I'm just beginning my chemo. The plan was for 4 dose dense AC+Avastin/placebo (every other week) to be followed by 12 Taxol (weekly) with the Avastin/placebo (continuing every other week). So chemo would end sometime in December. Radiation (33 weeks) and Tamoxifen would start. However all that is subject to the BRCA results which if positive would mean a bilat Mx instead of the radiation. I've only finish my 2nd chemo. Next chemo is coming up this Wednesday!
Nadine - I sympathize and agree with you about it being nice to have a BCBK/F sister nearby to actually meet with. You're in Idaho... No one close enough to drive to? For sure my being in Hawaii means no currently active member of BCBK/F is near me. Maybe someone will come to our areas for a vacation?
Rachel (REZok) - Loved your story!! You wrote so well I could just picture the events as they unrolled and you had me laughing. Thank you for sharing.
Quitting: couldn't stand it anymore. I bought a box of the Patch and will start as soon as my current pack of cigs runs out. Why wait? They were so darn expensive that I can't bear to just throw them away.... Wish me luck!
DeniseM
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Thank you all for the welcomes. I have to say I started smoking to be with the cool kids so I think this group W/ dead pics and all is just a perfect the fit for mel After a PMS fit yesterday I explaned to my husband that this quitting smoking thing is cruel cruel cruel. Which brings me to another rant, I think that I should NOT have to have my period during all this crap! So I put a patch on today and I am not listening to the cigs calling me....hear them, there they are again! I had 4 yesterday and 2 today before the patch. I am so glad I found you all; my girls here at home are great but it is nice to be ablet talk to some ladies who get it! BTW, my arm pits are still very sore almost 3wks after surgery. Is this normal? I actually have a hard time shaving and i have to use aerosol deoderant (yuck). I did have lymphs removed, but they actually just feel reeally raw and sore too.
Thank you and so nice to meet you all!
BTW I am gong to change my pic B/C I finally showered ad can do so!
r
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Hello dear fiends!
Just wanted you to know I am thinking of everyone and let you know that you will have a respite from my mindless blathering. We are going to check on the house in NY again. DS and BIL will do some painting to get it ready to sell and I will be looking after Haney and Murphy and they take care of themselves. It will be nice to get out and have a change of scenery even though I love it here.
I wish you all well in whatever stage you are in. This will be a test because I will be in the car with a smoker for four hours at a stretch. We will see.....hmm!
I have been having so much farming at night with Janet and Michelle and Janet's friend juju. I'm going to have to cut down on my meds though because I end up getting s..t faced and can't plow or harvest but plod around cussing with my comments devolving until they belong in Playboy instead of Facebook. They put up with me as though I was their drunken Uncle Fred which shows me, they are true friends. I promise to shape up. Come and join us! Have a special Saturday and a peaceful Sunday.
Love and hugs,
Nancy
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OMG!!!!! HOT FLASHES!!!! I finally figured it out! I am having hot flashes!!!! This is so not fair! I am pissed! My poor bald head will suddenly flush with a wave of heat from my chest to top of my head then the wind/fan hits and I get a sudden chill! This has been going on all DAY and most of last night (yes! I will admit I am slow but I thought at 38 I would still have time before HOT FLASHES! or at least until AFTER I started Tamoxifen).
To add insult to injury...I cannot be more then 20 feet from the bathroom for fear of....well you know...I can never trust it is 'just' gas! and usually it isn't! Damn Chemo!
RachelB - what a beautiful family! I am in Northern AZ so we are only a couple of hours away from each other... the numb, burning, hypersensitive ache in your pit is normal...mine lasted for about 5-6 weeks and can get annoying but it does eventually go away (I do still feel some hyper-sensitivity every now and then, especially when I over do it).
I am so cranky today and probably should STAY AWAY from the computer and posting but this is the only place I can RANT!!!
Love you guys!
Michelle
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Hi o2b,
You have to come here when you feel like this because you can rant all you want. You won't hurt our feelings and we will still love you! Sorry you have to experience hot flashes as young as you are. I still get them at 55. I thought I was past it but my DS told me, no, I could still have them. It sure is hard in this heat. I can only imagine what it is like in AZ. I do remember loving to fry eggs on the sidewalk when I was a kid. Sure did get in trouble though. I think mum hated the stink more than losing the eggs. lol.
I know only too well about " the fart or not". I started wearing super huge panty shields when I disgraced myself while out with my DS. Luckily we were on our way home. There is nothing in the world like a sister whether she is blood or not. It will pass. I know you are probably tired of hearing that, but it will.
Rachel, did you have lymph nodes taken? Mine hurt for several months. It's from nerve damage. My bs said my brain thought the nerves were still being cut. It takes a while for your brain to figure out is doesn't need to hurt anymore. Good luck to you.
Hoping all the rest of my sisters are have a good weekend. I will miss you!
Nancy
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Ok, Love the pictures. your ladies are just too funny.
Rachel- welcome-so sorry you had to meet us this way. But these women are just great. YOu'll vent, cry, pray, laugh, pee your pants occasionally, and hopefully quit or cut way back on cigs too. But most importantly you will hear from women going thru BC, who understand when maybe someone else in your world doesn't.
Have a great night ladies and keep those funny stories coming. Stained pants....you poor thing.
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Good Sunday Morning Ladies-
RE: Hot flashes: I feel so bad for you younger women who under "normal" circumstances should not be experiencing hot flashes for another decade or so. You are right O2B, it isn't fair! But as we all know, there is NOTHING fair about this friggin disease! Anyway, I had just entered into that lovely hot flash stage when diagnosed. Textbook discomfort, waking up etc. Discussed it with my Onc. who put me on Effexor XR. It's an anti-depressant which sure didn't hurt to take for my mental state when told of this news. But it is nothing short of AMAZING as far as how it has diminshed my flashes. I basically had none at all UNTIL I began the dreaded Aromison last month. Now, I do get some but they are completely manageable. Seriously like night and day. I am not an advocate of taking pill after pill, particularly with all that we have to do now. But it was for me, a quality of life issue and Effexor has been a lifesaver. My breast surgeon said the other day, it doesn't work for everyone but for those that have success, she has found nothing but happy patients.
To you ladies on chemo: Sometimes I was so sick and fed up that when someone encouraged me here that I would get through it, it went in one ear and out the other. Actually, there was a multitude of things that went in one ear and out the other during chemo!! The bathroom issues were sometimes worse then the nausea and fatigue and you have my full empathy. Chemo is physically and emotionally difficult and there's just no getting around it. Though it seems as though it will never happen, it DOES come to an end. Try to keep your eye on that prize as best you can. There are many of us here who went through it and are here to help you do the same. Please vent and come here anytime you don't think you can get yourself to another tx...it's our honor to help you get thru.
Well, I'm off to my parents to visit today. For those of you that don't know, my Dad (81) had his left lung removed in May due to cancer. (And I am STILL friggin smoking...I am as SICK as they come!). He was practicing law right up to his surgery. The chance of that happening (at least going to the office) is slim to none at this point and he is NOT a happy camper. Lost tons of weight and is simply depressed (not that I blame him) and unmotivated to get better. My poor Mom...she's in that battle where she's of course happy he's alive but has become a slave to his physical needs and mental moods. I go visit now more for her cuz he really just sits like a bump on a log. She doesn't drive and is so stuck. She loves it when I show up for relief. And my girls are coming too so this morning she is a happy camper.
Pantufus...we WILL miss you terribly. I wish you were in Southern NY and not up north. I'd hunt you down like a wounded animal!
Janzin- CONGRATS on your sponsorship! You REALLy do need to give yourself more credit then you do. You absolutely ROCK girlfriend! Good luck in surgery tommorrow. I can't wait to get to the nip stage. Tommorrow I am hoping for my FIRST expander fill since I got them last NOVEMBER! I can't WAIT to look down and not see my feet!
Ellie- Best of luck on your first day of work tomorrow! I'll miss seeing your name on the IM on Facebook!! Knock 'em dead, I know you will! (And then take their dead pix!)
xoEllen
Blessings of the day everyone
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Aww REKoz, I am a wounded animal. lol. Would love to meet you too. Would love to meet ALL of you. I wonder now after reading your post that the reason I hardly had any hot flashes was because I took HRT and an antidepressant. All I know is I only had about three or four an that was about it. I'm having more now than then and even worse trouble with my memory and being able to type.
I am glad to know your DD made it through surgery. Mum always said men make worst patients though. I'm sure your mom appreciates every visit.
Janzin, dear fiend! Did you have a good nap? Remember, no going at it like a mad ape today. Don't wear yourself out before the surgery. Hope you will have help with the sausage Puffer. She will be good for your heart!
o2b, I have litterally never seen such a beautiful bald woman. You go wherever you like and don't worry about covering that head.
mb, malle, butterfly, Denise, cleo, nadine, miss you all and hope you are okay. I will be gone myself for eight days beginning Friday so I'll have to do a lot of catching up.
Love and hugs ladies,
Nancy, Pat, and a little of Susan
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Sorry Rachelb, not to include you. You are a recent memory and it will take a while for you to become firmly ensconced in my brain.
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Hi all!!! I am soo sorry about my little 'freak-out' yesterday! I think I can only handle three days of utter misery before I completely lose it...Feeling human today and my attitude reflects it as well! Thanks again for the space and freedom to vent...it helped!
Janzin - I LOVE YOU LOTS!!! No worries about cheering me up...I don't think winning the lotto would of worked at cheering me up yesterday
You just take care of yourself and rest up for surgery tomorrow...Yippee!!! Almost done!!! I'll be thinking and praying for you and your doc's!Pantufas - I am going to miss you while you are out of town...I hope all goes well, the right buyer 'just happens' by and the house is sold in no time...
REKoz - thank you for all the advice - Mentally I know I'll get through this - it just gets hard emotionally to believe it sometimes. I have always been Miss Suzy SunShine and it is hard to let others know that I am hurting both physically and emotionally...I will be seeing Onc nurse on Wed and will talk to her about hot flashes and emotional roller coaster (my poor family!)...
Ellie - have a great first day at work tomorrow!!! Cannot wait to hear about all the exciting 'museum stuff' you will get to learn and just think...you might be one of the few privileged that might get to TOUCH some pretty cool 'old' stuff
Sweet dreams to Everyone!!!
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Pantufas thanks for letting us know you will be away at the end of the week. Last time we got really worried. Enjoy
02bhealthy- It sounds like your handling the chemo like I did. It's certainly not easy. That word doable used to drive me up the wall. Hot Flashes and constipation than diar would always put me over the edge. By the 3rd chemo I told anyone who would listen ok days 5 thru 10 I will totally be out of comission and stay out of my way and don't ask me how I feel just be good to me. Phillip Milk of Magnesia and tea laxatives worked than imodium. Blueberry Juice also worked around TX4 thru 6 along with ex-gas (have no idea why it just worked) found the BBJuice at BJ's wholesale store. that with lots of water kept the constipation and hot flashes down but not gone. Lots and lots of water. OH the other thing was cranbury juice after the 10 day mark. I know it very hard and emotionally it does just kind of hit ya that OMG this is really my world and I have no control right now. but you can and will make it thru this S**T. And one day soon it will all be a memory albeit one you will want to forget.
Know that I will be saying prayers for you and we are always here.
Sending positive vibres for a great surgery for Janzin and Pantafus so happy you getting a change of scenery for a while. take it easy.
Wishing everyone a smokefree week filled with laughs and love.
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Hello all. Thanks for the kind words for my first day back at work. Everything went ok AND I went the whole day without smoking!! I don't smoke in my new car, so I didn't bring them with me, so for me that was great. I didn't miss them until I got in the car to go home. I have however had 3 since I have been home. :-(
I agree about the hot flashes. AND it is NOT FAIR that some of us still have to deal with our periods. I couldn't believe it when my oncologist told the side effects of Tamoxifen and then as I was leaving briefly mentioned that I would still get a period. GREAT!
Best wishes to all of you. I love you all!
Ellie
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Flfish! I am so glad that your first day of work went ok and better yet a whole day of not smoking while at work! I was pissed when I found out I could have all the SE's of menopause on Tamoxifen and STILL have a period...WTH!!!! So I asked about an ooph and my Onc won't even consider it at this time unless I have REALLY BAD SE's on Tamoxifen...of course I see the wisdom now, but damn, it's just not fair!
Malleme - thank you! I have been struggling with feeling like such a wimp about the whole chemo SE's and yes i hate the phrase 'DOABLE'. When I am right in the middle of it nothing seems 'doable'...I'll have to try some of the juices...it is so hard to stay hydrated when water tastes so yucky and food is like cardboard.
Lots of Love to Everyone!!!
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Hi o2b, so sorry you are having a hard time. Noting about chemo is easy and I would like send the one who coined the word doable to the same nun who repeatedly rapped the devil out of my brothers poor four year old knuckles, and then kick her ass on general principal. (the nun's) Now that I've finally gotten that off of my chest after all of there years, I feel better.
Try some orange or pink lemonade Koolaid. I was the only thing I could drink and at least I got my water. The juices even turned on me. Don't worry about the days to come. Just try to get through the day at hand. We all are so proud orf you. You've have handled every step with such grace and determination and still kept your sense of humor. Brava!
Love to all of the ladies. Please give a thought for Janzin. She is out of surgery and things went well.
Good night Irene. I'm about to fall over.
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Good Evening everyone! Crappy smoking day today, but oh well, tomorrow is another day. Went to my PS today to get my weekly saline fill and found out I had popped 2 sutures, so I couldn't get my fill . Also saw the scar for the first time with out the tape. My mass was right under my nipple so it now looks like a huge concave hole there. They really went to town on that nipple! I am trying to think of how a divit that big could come in handy. So far all I have come up with is its a good place to hold a gumball. I have my first oncology appointment tomorrow and I am a bit anxious...Pretty sure I will have to do hormone therapy, not sure about chemo. Thank you to all you wonderful ladies, i have learned so much by reading your posts! Nite nite and thank you all again for being here!
Rachel
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Welcome Rachel, you are funny, you will fit into this post perfectly. I don't know what you can hold in your concave hole....maybe a small thing of chapstick.....heehee.....
Drink your fluids Michelle. I know they taste like crap to you, but it is oh so important and you are over 1/2 way through....yippee!
Janzin, hope you are feeling better and taking it easy after your surgery.
Nancy, Pat, Susan, I heart you, you always make me laugh.
Love to all, I am off to work :-(....still not use to saying that!
Ellie
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Mornin All-
I only have a minute but I just wanted to respond to Rachel regarding possibility of chemo. If your HER2 positive status is correct, I'm afraid that will mean chemo for you. Like me and O2B, you are early stage BUT that HER factor in most cases means chemo, regardless of stage. That is because you will be needing Herceptin for a year and that is most effective when administered with chemo first. I was devastated when the surgeon told me that and was more upset about chemo then the bilateral mx! I finished in May and have Herceptin only until I think Dec.
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but I also know how shocked I was when told about chemo. I'm hoping that by knowing it's a probability for you now, you'll have some time to digest. Both O2B and I were perscribed 4 rounds and as you see, she is half way done already! Surely I won't say it's "DOABLE!" It is so mentally and physically challenging on bodies that are already stressed to the max from diagnosis and surgery. Everyone is different and I surely admire those that were able to "sail thru it." That was not my experience but it DID COME TO AN END.
I could be wrong here, however the large majority of HER2 pos do have chemo. I just wanted you as "armed" and prepared as one can be. I do hope it will soften the blow a bit. Let us know what the doc says will you?
Best of luck today!
Ellen
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Hi Ladies, tired and in pain. It's hard to sit still and I worry because of smoking. New nipple does not hurt much, not much nerves there but the skin by my groin area is really sore. As we were choosing out the skin to make the new nipple, Dr and I were talking about the area and I am like, "No, not there , too much hair." So I told the nurse, "Great!.... Hairy Franken tits!" He laughed so hard I thought to myself, wow, newbie. You know that your PS has probably heard every line, lol. I think the worse is no shower. Sponge bath doesn't seem to work as well when you have hot flashes all day and vicodin actually increase those flashes, glad I work at home! My little sausage is home, so cute and sleeping in my lap, my cat is a little jealous. Neighbors asked what's her name. I told them Taco 2, lol. ( Taco is the name of my black cat)
Denise, it sure is scary when one disappears, so please check in once in awhile event just to say I am here! That sucks about your chemo but radiation really scares me as it stays in your body forever. I hope better choices open up for you!!! Take care of your chemo and we will be here for you! Sending you positive vibes!!!
Nadine, sorry for your funk and that I didn't get back to you. Was so busy getting my home and last minute biz together. Should be caught up by tonight or tomorrow. But I will pm and then call you!!! I am in mountain times. I wish some of my BC sisters are close to me to!
REKoz, that is sooooooo phunny! Love that story and thanks for the laugh! It looks AWFUL killed me, lol. Your post on the It Will Pass on Chemo was excellent! Sometimes I don't know what to say as I have never been through it so I though it was awesome sharing your experience! Sorry to hear about your dad and mom, I hate cancer because it just tears up everyone. Let us know how that first fill goes!
Fifish, Retail therapy is awesome!!!! That is awesome on your not smoking and a huge step towards quitting! I really believe we will get there this year.Sorry I haven't called, hard to keep up with everything. Will call you soon. On...........will be thinking of you when I drink a Mikes Mango punch tonight after work!
Rachel, sounds like you are quitting down and that is awesome. So glad you found the dead pics funny, they totally crack me up. My pits were sore for a long time, and sometimes the nerves would hurt with certain movements. You are at the right place and will fall in love with the ladies like I have. They will offer great support and some laughs as we ride the rollercoaster of BC. Thanks for being here!
Pantufas, will miss you but I know you will have a happy trip as you spread joy everywhere you go. I might hit the farms today, will be thinking of you and hoping you will be able to join me. We all will miss your wit! Hugs and kisses!
O2Bhealthy, I hope you are feeling better. I am getting them too but the worse is I can't take a shower and after hot flashes, a sponge bath is not the same. I feel like going on a 30 minute rinse cycle. It's okay to have those bad days, we have to process and get out the anger, sadness, etc. I think I will try to put together 2- 30 bad word sentence that you can scream out when you have the need. It will make you feel better, maybe I should get Pantufas to help since she has the gift of gab. Actually Fifish and ReKoz could help too. Hmmmmmmmm... We could call it anger management through BCBF/K.
Malleme, so happy to see you post!!!!! Much love to you, you are awesome!
Nobleanna, will hunt you down in FB, lol.
XOXOXOX
Janet0 -
She is home, the little sausage. Still figuring a name. I thought about Jazz or Jazzi because it's one of my favorite flowers. Japanese name would be cool too.
Well, going to FB, see ya there.
Hugs,
Janet0 -
Hi Janzin,
So glad you are home and sorry you are hurting. If I could take it for you, I would. Don't forget to take your meds! It's easy to forget and then the pain gets on top of you. Happy, happy, happy, the sausage has come home! A name will come to you as you get to know her personality. How about Chimichanga? Chimi or Changa for short? Still shopping a name for you. She is so cute hugging her tiger! Marmi (shop cat) just decided to ralph near my feet. Did I say I love animals! Had to go clean that up. I can't understand why they eat grass and then come inside to barf. At least Murphbuckets acts ashamed when he does it. My Squeaker used to be solid black with green eyes. I had him 15 years. Man it hurts when you lose them. Do get well soon and I hope you have some help with the sausage for a few days.
Well, flfish, you'll have to laugh out of the other side of your mouth when I go to NY. I know someone will keep you laughing. I miss Nadine because she always made me laugh whether she intended to or not. How are the fossils....I mean the people you work with? I would be facinated!
REKoz, how is RI my dear? Where you blasted by Bill or did you escape? Too bad about those poor buggars in Maine. Didn't have a chance. Like mama said in MCO Benjamin Button. "You never know what's coming for you."
I would like to ask you and all who care to, to send prayer and special healing thoughts to Betsy whom I met at RMH in Harrisonburg today. I was there with my DS and BIL. He had to have emergency surgery on a nerve in his left elbow which was causing paralysis in his left arm. Everything went well and he is home under the care (ouch!) of my sister. I went to the 6th floor to visit my nurses from when I was a patient and one of my favorites told me I looked so well. She also told me of Betsy, a 27 year old Mennonite girl who is suffering from cancer and had such a severe reaction to her first chemo, she ended up in the hospital. Nicci said she was really depressed and I asked if I could go and talk to her not knowing the man in the hall was her dad. Nicci thought that was a good idea because of what I went through and she wanted Betsy to see a success story. Her dad had overheard and thought it was a good idea too. We entered Betsy's room and here lay the most beautiful petal that looked as though she had been blown in the wind. Nicci introduced us and left it to me. As I came close she held out her hand, so weak she could hardly whisper. She told me they had tried shrinking her cancer with chemo and she had a terrible reaction. I could see my own look of desperate futility from two months ago mirrored in her eyes. I told her I would start a prayer chain for her; that I had bc sisters who would pray for her and I believed in it because I was living proof. She smiled and I don't know how much that cost her but please pray for her recovery and keep her in your thoughts. I kissed her stubbled head and said my first prayer. Thank you. I know I have said enough and I will stay in touch with her. God bless you all.
Nadine, malle, mb, cleo, misty, Denise, still praying and wishing you well. Hope the emails have helped lift your spirits Nadine. I thank you for those you have sent me.
Michelle, still swelling with pride with your triumphs during chemo. To some it ain't "doable" but to others it's a necessary evil to fight this nasty beast. Good luck to all to are traveling that road. I believe mb is as well so we need to remember her too and any others I have missed.
I must close as everyone's eyeballs must be falling out.
Much love and hugs to all,
Nancy
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Hi Pantufs, Sausage had her first accident on the rug but so far doing pretty well with her training. Using the crate method and one of my neighbors let's me come when he walks his dog. Worked like a charm, Sausage did a 1 and 2 and followed the older dogs example. Hopefully her training will be under 6 months with his help.
Cleo, hope you are feeling well. Drop in a line and let us know how you are.
Candie, is the pain getting any better?
Nadine, come play farm with me. We will have a blast, it's a mood lifter for me.
Love you all,
Janet0 -
Hi Janzin,
Oh, the little sausage is learning from the big dogs! Remember, once is an accident, three times is a habit (as if you didn't know). I used to have three Weimaraners a Neufoundland, a Samoyed, a Rotty and a St. Bernard-Chow mix. I would love to have a dog now but I don't need to do that until I am settled permanently. Thanks for posting her pics regularly so we Aunties can watch her grow.
Nadine, I guarantee that if you farm it will take your mind off of things for a while. Janet is a great teacher! Hear that flfish and REKoz? Heh, heh.
Nitey nite buddies, unless someone posts something I have to flap my jaws about! Remember, love knows no bounds if you don't put boundries on it.
Your one and only looney tune!
Nancy, Pat, Susan
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REKoz thanks for posting the information about HER2 and chemo for Rachelb...I noticed her dx that right away today and it is true that HER2+ cancers are usually treated with chemo and adjuvant therapy of Herceptin. I know that was what was recommended for me...I bitch and moan when in the thick of it but it is manageable...
I WORKED 6 HOURS TODAY!!! My longest work day yet!! Left the office feeling a little bit like superwoman
It was sooo nice to be productive!I hope everyone has sweet dreams tonight!
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Michelle--so glad to hear that you have your strength. Good Lord, I am not even going through chemo, but I am starting to feel tired. I make it just fine through the day, but by 8:00, I am getting ready for bed. My dh has been helpful.....even cooking.....now if he would just learn how to clean the kitchen...heehee....
Janet, take some time and feel better. Let those hairy Frankenstein nipples heal...BAHAHAHAHA....I am sure that the people who heard that talked about that when they got home. In pain but still making people smile, very nice.
Nancy, I will pray for your friend. Bless her. I love your description of a flower petal in the wind, you are quite the poet!
Nadine, Malle, Rekoz, Denise---keep checking in. I love all your stories! I miss not being on line as much.
To everyone else, much love!
Ellie
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Janet- your sausage is PRECIOUS! I just love that pix. Those doggies really bring out our maternal nature don't they? I can't imagine my life without them! How about a name? You can't leave that baby nameless much longer. God forbid it ends up with an "identity crisis" and the next thing ya know, it's off to the doggie psychiatrist! RE: the nip surgery. I will be following your progress with keen interest as someday I will be faced with deciding whether or not to do that. My initial reaction is absolutely to complete the job but I do keep in mind that by that time, I may have just had enough of this and go with the 3D tatoos. Did you have a choice about where they took the skin from? It hurts just to think of the digging into the groin! I'm guessing you're all bandaged up now? Please do keep me informed.I will live vacariously through you for the next several months!
My first fill went well. They did 60 in the right and 90 in the left (since the right was 30cc's ahead). The area is sore but tolerable. Nice to see a little more in the chest area but still not enough to go without the fake boobs. I go back again in two weeks and maybe after that, it will be respectable enough.
O2B- you are TRULY doing so well during chemo. 6 hours is awesome and in a new job no less. You really, really need to understand that your attitude is so inspiring! You just plain ROCK!
Pantufus- I'm on LONG ISLAND, not Rhode Island. Aside from beaches being closed due to horrendous waves and rip tides, we were not effected by the Hurricane. Thanks for thinking of me though! That is truly such a sad story about that young girl. I know your presence lifted her spirit. As it does all of us here! I will add her onto my prayer list.
Gotta go but I wish you ALL (I can never address everyone...no short term memory!) many blessings of the day.
xo Ellen
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Making this quick as I need to work today. Lost my post last night, weird. But here is the picture I posted last night. Wanted to share my first new apartment in years. The great thing is that it is all me and my ex isn't anywhere. I have it decorated for the first time to make it cozy and homy to me, since I work and live here lol. Love candles, wish I could afford to light them everynight, but I have twinkle lights to make it look festival and happy.
I bought a mini bar couple days ago for $125 to section the dinning area off. Love that bar and I entertain quite a bit. My neighbor is on the floor with the new puupy. Finally decided her name will be Bella S. Baboo.
Good luck to all the chemo and fills! I think all of you are doing an amazing job with great altitiudes. OUr down days are not as bad as we have each other. Must love to you all, come on and farm sometime, it's awesome.
xoxoxoxo,
Janet0 -
Janet, your apartment is gorgeous and mysterious just like you. Love that you named the sausage Bella S. Baboo. She is on the way to making you a fine friend and companion. (know that wasn't correct grammar but went the way I like it, purely Southern today).
Gee whiz Irene! Give my poor post chemo brain a break. lol. Hope you are fine and doing well in Kentucky.
flfish, I think you need a B-12 shot. I think it should be required to all bc patients. You may need to check with your Dr. to see if you aren't anemic if you carry on being tired. Thank you and REKoz and all else for saying prayers for Betsy. We will go and see her after my onc appmt. tomorrow. If prayers aren't your thing then please send some positive energy her way. Again, my thanks. Will let you know how she is doing.
Nads, we are thinking of you. Thank you for the flowers!
Michelle, I had to tell my sis about you and your beautiful bald head. I wish Betsy could see you and your indomitable spirit.
For all who aren't present and accounted for, I'm gonna kick your a@@! GOOD GRAVY PAT! They have good reasons, just keep them in your thoughts. Sorry about that. She just jumps out some times. I think she needs her a@@ kicked! Consider it done.
Love you all!
Nancy, Pat, Susan
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