Catholics
Comments
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Tori ~ I'm sorry to hear that you are having such symptoms and pray that you will be better quick. I think we all get fearful and worry as soon as something comes up. I can attest that I am like that right now. I think our journey has made us more aware of our bodies and we get very apprehensive. We are here and will lift you in prayers.
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Shalom ronq1 !! What a touching story. I'm sure St. Mary is smiling down at you. My very BEST friend in high school was Jewish and we loved sharing each other's religious observances - was always so honored to be invited to join some of the family dinners. And CONGRATs on your anniversary! Keep em comin. Visit us often
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Ronna ~ a warm welcome to you
I received a blessing at the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes when I was 9 years old, I will never forget that!
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Prayersareanswered. So happy that you are feeling the strength of god and all the prayers coming your way. I'll continue my rosary for you until we get the all clear after you come home. The Mass and annointing sound so peaceful and enveloping.
Tori ditto to what Theresa said re UTI's, also,chemo can predispose you to yeast infections. It is not a situation where you should take probiotics because with chemo they can cause trouble. Even though probiotics are good bacteria , they are still bacteria. You have already made an appointment with the onc to get checked. Yes? Ask your Doc about when it is safe to start yogurt or probiotics again --Let them guide you on this.
The Onc's office likely gave you a list of neutopenic precautions before you started. I posted them in each bathroom and the kitchen. It helps to periodically review them. Taking your temp daily and when you don't feel right is a good routine to get into. The oncs wants to know if your temp is 100.5 or greater. I found with Greg last year he could hit that number and not feel any symptoms at all. Not everyone is that way, but until you establish what your own body routine is, it only takes a couple of minutes.
When your going through chemo and something starts to change, the Oncs expect you to call. They are prepared for it.
I recommend buying several toothbrushes, use once then run through the dishwasher with your standard load. I posted an explanation on foobville months ago, and if you want the explanation , I will go back and find the page number- No problem. I will get to it asap. Your Onc also likely gave you a handout on mouthcare. My typo almost came out mothcare LOL
Love and prayers for all Sheila
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Welcome Ronna Thank you for sharing. Please join us. We are a group that not only prays together, we respect all faiths. Ditto on your cancerversary. Shalom Sheila
JanV Was too tired last evening to respond to your question on tamoxifen. Testing has been avaialble for a couple of years. It has to do with how TM is metabolized in the liver to endoxifen(sic maybe). It is great to know a drug is actually going to work. The future for chemotherapy is that this type of testing be avaiable for all chemo drugs. Also, ask your doc and pharmacist to run a drug interaction testing on the level of Genelex or Epocrates before you make a final decision. I was overdosed on my only chemo, Arimidex and Femara because of adverse drug interaction with Norvasc which was one of my antihypertensives. Namaste Sheila
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Hello sisters,
I gave a thorough account of what's transpired the past weekend. Friday's rad session had 5 zaps out of 12 (L angle) was painful. 2-3 zaps out of 12 (R angle) was painful [nurse said she's never heard of it and I have a heightened sensitivity, and I told her that I actually have high tolerance for pain]. L axilla is definitely swollen and warmer. Left inside elbow is also swollen, L arm feels like circulation is not good, little numby feeling at times. There's also some muscle pulling feeling on this arm. And this pull is radiated from the axilla towards the elbow (triceps, backside).
So I was told to call BS's office and I'm now awaiting for the nurse to call me back. Looks like I won't be getting any rad tx today until I get looked at by BS. (sigh!) Another bump!
I think I have a problem when I could feel pain during treatment and the med team telling me that I've got a heightened sensory issue which is almost like telling me, "since she's never heard of people telling her or she's never had it done, that means it is not valid."
I've also heard some doctors were more empathic to patients after they themselves went through a similar illness.
Theresa ~ how did your meeting go?
Traci ~ pray that you are getting over the flu shot SE quickly.
Tori ~ pray that you get over it quickly, please let us know what your doc said.
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Ronna... I went to school at Our Lady of Lourdes...
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Laura --how are you doing with the LE? AND Taylor? I wish LE wasn't in the picture. It Sucks.
I just went back to foobville to find the toothbrush story for Tori. What laughs in that time except for GREg and Taylor . I hadn't thought about UNTIED in ever so long.
I saw the post where you invited me here. It wasn't that long ago--- in july. Seems like centuries. Thanks for that invite. I can't tell you what it has done for me. It was the beginning of Greg's worst time. I don't know if you remember me telling the priest story. I see him now everyweek at Mass. You were part of those small miracles that I talked about. Thanks Untied/ Tough and Namaste
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Tori and anyone receiving Chemo. I posted on pg 31 of Foobville, a description of toothbrush care, it is useful for reducing bacteria. Nae also posted some info on it also.
Paula- hear anything yet? Sheila
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Sheila ~ I'm sitting in the BS's office right now. They're seeing me as a walk-in today.
Will let you all know what happens. I definitely skipped rad today.0 -
Check your pm I just sent you one Sheila
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Paula,
Well, at least we can be with you in your appointment. I am very glad you are there, really. And to me it's one thing to say that you have never heard of something regarding medical issues. She (your Rad Nurse) may not have, HOWEVER, that does NOT mean she can diagnose you with having a heightened sensitivity. So pppffftttt on that whole interaction. Yes, my endometriosis and many surgeries/hospital stays/going into shock taught me a lot about pain. And the lessons just keep coming. It does help in terms of compassion, absolutely, and I often would teach about not being judgemental of others pain, because it happened to me, and it was very hurtful.
I hope you get in the office soon, and let us know Paula
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Sheila,
Excellent teaching about the other things that may trip us up if our white blood cell counts are below normal, such as toothbrush care. One thing I did was clean my fish tank before I started chemo, then I stayed far away, unless to feed them. I am a big big fan of tea tree oil, as it is a natural antibiotic, and come in many forms. I used it in soap dispenser form to wash my hands,all through chemo, I have brushed my teeth with tea tree oil toothpaste for years, and there is soap and face cleanser too. There are even wipes to give your dog a cleaning, with tea tree oil in them. (No I don't get kickbacks for plugging it.)
Now Sheila, where did we meet? Was it here? I know I knew you before the Nurses thread. And so glad I did, as everyone else here.
Ronna, Welcome Welcome! I am the Presbyterian one in the group, and I have so enjoyed learning about Catholicism, and am interested in all Religions/Spirituality/Philosophy.
Michelle and All...Today I "schooled" my MD friend who I work with about our Novenas. He was very impressed, and we were talking about the changes to a person's spirit that come with diagnosis such as ours. He was atheist for two years, and I was sharing how I would get hung up on issues/politics of organized Religion, and use that as my reasons for staying away. A "self righteousness" that can exist, Religion or not. We talked about how we both had judgements (the sermon for his Mass on Sunday,) and that the true answers are in your heart. He told me for those two years, his heart was empty, and I knew exactly what he meant. Mine has plenty of room for it to be filled, but it is filling everyday. We also talked about Jesuits and Franciscans, and I was holding my own. We enjoyed talking, and I may stop by his Church, as well as my boss' Church (she is a Nun
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Ronna: Welcome! :-) I loved the story too. My confirmation name is Bernadette b/c of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Paula: Thanks for asking, but we didn't have the meeting today. Maybe tomorrow. You're probably in the doc's office now. Good luck! I hope everything is ok.
No allergy shots today either... they didn't have my serum ready. My arm is thankful.
Effexor is making me really tired. Not sure if I want to stay on it.
Traci: I haven't forgotten St. Francis and nature.....
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Theresa,
Take your time
Sorry you are having issues with the Effexor. How long have you been on it?0 -
Three of us sitting at the computer waiting for paula to get out of the docs office. She actually posted from the waiting room----Technology should be so fast on other things
Squid- thats going to take some thinking as to where we met, I do know we were talking about a nurses thread and you found it, then let me about it. Then I think I ket you know about here.
Theresa whatever you do decide on effexor wean very slow as Squid suggested sometime ago. There is a thing called serotonin discontinuation syndrome. Can have all kinds of nasty things happen if you do it to quickly. Once you decide to change make sure your doc has a good plan
submitting to see if paulas posted
She hasn't we pm'd each other exactly the same time. Squid did you read her post on symptoms. Theresa your an Lpn right.?
830 Theresa you are an LPN sorry you probably know about discontinuation syndrome
SAS
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Theresa - my confirmation name is Bernadette too!!! I used to love to read the stories about her. So...we've got one Our Lady Lourdes high school grad & 2 Bernadettes. Link for anyone else?
Traci - did you have a reaction to flu shot too? I think that's what was wrong w/me yesterday. The nurse told me this year's shot has several regular flu strains plus H1N1 and is supposed to last 12 mos. So maybe it's just stronger this year
Paula - hope it worked out for you today to get to bottom of the issues!!!
Sheila - great idea about toothbrush in dishwasher! I buy new ones every 2 months but also if I have been sick. People don't think about the ability to re-infect themselves. And, it sounds like you are feeling better these days. I hope so.
God bless & keep everyone.
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JV I am mentally and emotionally getting better, but I still am spending way to much time in bed. The flu shot put me down. Never had so many symptoms with it in the past. Prayer has kept me sane. Refinding my spiritual side has been the glue. Laura's the one that got me here. You probably saw the note above. She was part a of a whole series of events that convinced me there was only divine intervention that could have caused things to happen.
Paulas with the doc right now we've been waiting for her . How about a few Hail Mary's and an our Father Sheila
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I'm on it.
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Sheila: I'm not an LPN, but I've stayed at a Holiday Inn Express -- bad joke!
I have an office job - systems engineering and lifecycle support - exciting - not. But my family is heavily into the medical field - 0 doctors - 3 RNs - 1 technician - my Mom was a medical office manager forever - daughter is EMT now working at Red Cross.I've only been on Effexor for 3 days. I was going to try taking it at dinner tomorrow since it makes me so tired. But yes, Sheila and Traci, you both said the same thing as my doctor about going off it once I've been on it awhile.
Janet: WooHoo, we *are* sisters! I watched Song of Bernadette as a young girl and fell in love with Bernadette. Another simple, loving soul. I'd like to see a non-Hollywood movie about her though.
Ok, some Francis postings then I'm off for awhile... except I might check in on Paula before I go to bed.
Peace and all good to you all.
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Traci: I'm not sure if I can do Francis justice. He was just a multi-level, deep mystic. Only one part of him was the man everyone knows as the patron saint of animals and nature. That's because he was so close to God, the Creator, that animals recognized it in him. I posted the Canticle of Brother Sun awhile back in the thread.
Christians celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 by having their pets blessed.
Pope John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi the patron of ecology in 1979. The pope cited him for being "an example of genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation....
Excerpt from Catholic Encyclopedia
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06221a.htmThe very animals found in Francis a tender friend and protector; thus we find him pleading with the people of Gubbio to feed the fierce wolf that had ravished their flocks, because through hunger "Brother Wolf" had done this wrong. And the early legends have left us many an idyllic picture of how beasts and birds alike susceptible to the charm of Francis's gentle ways, entered into loving companionship with him; how the hunted leveret sought to attract his notice; how the half-frozen bees crawled towards him in the winter to be fed; how the wild falcon fluttered around him; how the nightingale sang with him in sweetest content in the ilex grove at the Carceri, and how his "little brethren the birds" listened so devoutly to his sermon by the roadside near Bevagna that Francis chided himself for not having thought of preaching to them before. Francis's love of nature also stands out in bold relief in the world he moved in. He delighted to commune with the wild flowers, the crystal spring, and the friendly fire, and to greet the sun as it rose upon the fair Umbrian vale. In this respect, indeed, St. Francis's "gift of sympathy" seems to have been wider even than St. Paul's, for we find no evidence in the great Apostle of a love for nature or for animals.
St. Francis invited all creation-animals, plants, natural forces to give honor and praise to God.
"Let the heavens and the earth praise Him, the Glorious, and every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth, in the seas and all that are in them. Let us praise and exalt Him above all forever." St. Francis"My little sisters, the birds, much bounden are ye unto God, your Creator, and always in every place ought ye to praise Him, for that He hath given you liberty to fly about everywhere, and hath also given you double and triple rainment; moreover He preserved your seed in the ark of Noah, that your race might not perish out of the world; still more are ye beholden to Him for the element of the air which He hath appointed for you; beyond all this, ye sow not, neither do you reap; and God feedeth you, and giveth you the streams and fountains for your drink; the mountains and valleys for your refuge and the high trees whereon to make your nests; and because ye know not how to spin or sow, God clotheth you, you and your children; wherefore your Creator loveth you much, seeing that He hath bestowed on you so many benefits; and therefore, my little sisters, beware of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praises unto God." Saint Francis of Assisi - c 1220
Here is a link to The Little Flowers of St. Francis - stories of Francis you can read at your leisure.
http://www.franciscanfriarstor.com/archive/stfrancis/Little_Flowers_St_Francis/index.htmHere's one of the stories:
HOW A LITTLE CHILD WHO HAD ENTERED THE ORDER SAW ST FRANCIS IN PRAYER ONE NIGHT, AND SAW ALSO THE SAVIOUR, THE VIRGIN MARY, AND MANY OTHER SAINTS TALK WITH HIM
A certain pure and innocent child was received into the Order during the lifetime of St Francis, and the convent in which he lived was so small that the monks were obliged to sleep on mats. It chanced that St Francis came one day to that convent, and in the evening, after Compline, he went to rest, so as to rise up early to pray, as was his custom, when all the other friars were still asleep. The said little child had made up his mind carefully to watch St Francis, to learn something of his sanctity, and find out more especially what he did in the night when he got up; and in order that he might not be overtaken by sleep, he laid him down by St Francis, tying the end of the cord he wore round his waist to the one which the saint wore, so that he was sure of being awakened when the latter got up in the night; and this he did so gently, that St Francis was not aware of his contrivance. When all the other friars were fast asleep, St Francis rose from sleep, and finding the child's cord tied to his own, he carefully untied it so as not to awake him and went alone into the wood which was near the convent. Entering into a little cell which was there, he began to pray. Shortly after, the child awoke, and finding St Francis gone, and the cord untied, he rose up quickly and went to seek him. Perceiving the door open which led to the wood, he thought St Francis had gone that way; and entering into the wood, and hurrying on to the little cell, he heard the sound of many voices. Approaching near to hear and see whence they came, he saw a great and wonderful light all round the saint, and in the light was Jesus Christ, with the Virgin Mary, St John the Baptist, St John the Evangelist, and a great multitude of angels, all talking with St Francis. On seeing this the child fell to the ground as if he had been dead. The miracle of this holy vision being ended, St Francis rose to return to the convent, and stumbling in the way against the child, who appeared to be dead, with great compassion he took him up in his arms and carried him in his bosom, as the good shepherd is wont to carry his lambs. Having learned from him how he had seen the vision, he forbade him to tell any man thereof so long as he, St Francis, lived. The little child grew up in the grace of God, and had a great devotion to St Francis. He became one of the most distinguished men of the Order. After the death of St Francis, he related the vision to the brethren.
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St. Francis meditation on the Our Father
Our Father, most holy, our Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter.
Who art in heaven, in the angels and in the saints illuminating them unto knowledge, for Thou, O Lord, art light; inflaming them unto love, for Thou, O Lord, art Love; dwelling in them and filling them with blessedness, for Thou, O Lord, art the highest Good, the eternal Good from whom is all good and without whom is no good.
Hallowed be Thy Name: may Thy knowledge shine in us that we may know the breadth of Thy benefits, the length of Thy promises, the height of Thy majesty, and the depth of Thy judgments.
Thy Kingdom come, that Thou mayest reign in us by grace and mayest make us come to Thy Kingdom, where there is the clear vision of Thee,the perfect love of Thee, the blessed company of Thee, the eternal enjoyment of Thee.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, that we may love Thee with the whole heart by always thinking of Thee; with the whole soul by always desiring Thee; with the whole mind by directing all our intentions to Thee and seeking Thy honor in all things and with all our strength, by spending all the powers and senses of body and soul in the service of Thy love and not in anything else; and that we may love our neighbors even as ourselves, drawing to the best of our power all to Thy love; rejoicing in the good of others as in our own and compassionating [them] in troubles and giving offence to no one.
Give us this day, through memory and understanding and reverence for the love which He had for us and for those things which He said, did, and suffered, for us,-our daily bread, Thy Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
And forgive us our trespasses, by Thy ineffable mercy in virtue of the Passion of Thy Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the merits and intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary and of all Thy elect.
As we forgive those that trespass against us, and what we do not fully forgive, do Thou, O Lord, make us fully forgive, that for Thy sake we may truly love our enemies and devoutly intercede for them with Thee; that we may render no evil for evil, but in Thee may strive to do good to all.
And lead us not into temptation, hidden or visible, sudden or continuous.
But deliver us from evil, past, present, and to come. Amen.
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Car broke down on the way home from work Again--yikes! no money for new one! I know in the scheme of things it isn't a big deal, but I am feeling so stressed about finances--I welcome youir prayers sisters! And I pray for all of you!
Ellie
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SAS>... I so do... I so do.... You made me smile just now. You loss was so.. sad to me, as I am very close to my dh.. I remember the letter.... you should post it here again sometime... Oh how time does just keep going.... no matter how hard and how long huh sweet sister. Taylor is being treated with Doxy for 4 weeks. Lymes... we'll see. I hope this is it. It has taken a toll... on this boy and me.( I am secondary)
Paula.... I am hoping you check in soon. You have me concerned.
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Ellie.........(((honey))))
I hate money. I pray you can get the car fixed.. I pray money comes your way this week in some form....
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In the words of Sheila: How about a few Hail Mary's and an our Father
for Ellie
You poor thing! Car problems make me feel so vulnerable.
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Dear Lord, please provide for Ellie & her family in a time of financial hardship & need. Amen.
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I have a new intention for prayers - maybe for Friday. My daughter just called. Lauren, one of her college roommates is BRCA positive. She is 31, married, with a one-year old baby. She was planning prophylactic double mastectomy & ovaries removed at 35. She wanted one more baby before the surgery. A lump was found last week on ultrasound and biopsy was done today. I said to tell Lauren that we would add her in prayer intentions. Lauren's father is a minister.
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Amen For Ellie and her family. Who needs the stress of financial problems during these times? My weekend with mom and sister was lovely - took me over an hour of reading (and reading Fast!) to catch up with y'all and I am so sorry I missed the prayers and posts. Mea culp!
Hugs to all who are having ongoing physical problems. BC is bad enough to cope with and having over physical issues seems to make it every worse. So sorry!
Love,
Pat
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Pat - how did the pumpkin carving go with your grandson? What is he going to be for Halloween? Sometimes a ton of kids trick or treat at my house and other years only a few (and I end up eating the candy). I still get out there and carve a pumpkin.
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