MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
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eli; I always have the fan blowing on me at night. I've have stopped the effexor today per y Dr., as it made it much worse. I haven't been on tamoxifen for almost two weeks as I was instructed to stop one week before my exchange and not restart until one week after... meanwhile my flashes grew significantly worse. oh joy!
luvmygoats; i envy you. with my Crohns I have a colonoscopy every year. I take ducolax and lots and lots of water. the golytly was the worst! this year I had the added pleasure of hurricane Sandy to make my prep in the cold/dark a frickin nightmare! the good news was that my Crohns didn't take the beating my gastroenterologist expected with the chemo.0 -
Eli, no I don't think it is corny at all. It feels good going for a walk with my dog in the sunshine. Sometimes I think we resist appreciating those simple pleasures, because we think itis corny or because we think we should be aiming for something else, or, or, or ...
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Chachamom--it's not unusual for a couple of lymph nodes to be caught up like that. When they open up the already mastectomied side to reconstruct it, they also have to go down toward the muscle some, and will sometimes find a lymph node that wasn't visible the first time around. They also look around a little more carefully on that side, and if they see a node take it for testing for the sake of being cautious. I had the same thing done, but reversed, right prophy mast, bilateral recon, and they didn't find any nodes on either side, but the PS did say he was going to take a "quick look" for some on the left.
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Eli, on your 5000+ posts....
Thank you for reaching out and connecting with so many of us. We , reluctant BC survivors (fighters!) need to share our thoughts and fears. You have handled them with your wisdom and humor!
Thank you,
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Juneaubugg, let me know how you do going off effexor ... I was told you would have to be weaned off.
I have a fan going in my bedroom all night and I do not think that they could possibly be making the flashes any better ...0 -
Join me in a pocket party tomorrow. I'm having my six month post surgery mammogram and appointment with the BS. I'll provide mimosas (for celebrating the results), you bring the cheetos.
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TAB55, We can easily do that, but I better not get my tubing jostled. My two-pound tyrant won't like that.
goatsy, Hooray for you! You get to join the 10-year-club now. It's unlikely that you got implanted with an alien baby, seeing as they didn't use the euphemism of "we removed a polyp" in your case. If you feel disappointed, their is always alien adoption, but most of those go to residents of New Mexico.
Here's the challenge I am already facing: My reaction to the CT contrast dye caused the skin right inside my lips to puff, peel and hurt a little for the last 10 days. Now, with the chemo kicking in, it is hurting more and worsening. This morning I woke up and my lips looked almost twice their size. I don't live in Hollywood, so scary-big lips are a problem. I know when the ladies get IV chemo they eat popsicles, but I have this infusion going 24/7 and how many popsicles can I eat in a day? Not enough.
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TAB55, I am in your pocket for sure --- I just had my six month post treatment and all is clear !!! I will bring the cheetos for sure.
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Tab55: me too! I lover some Cheetos!
Eli: thanks for the new burning man image. That's exactly how I feel!!! Although they might have gone down a little since I stopped the Effexor yesterday. I actually turned the fan off for a bit last night since I was too cold!0 -
Elimar, that picture is intense.
When I started chemo, it was suggested to me to eat ice chips during my infusion. Now, I realize you are receiving it 24/7 but perhaps you need to go to a little store near you, purchase a 20# bag of crushed cocktail ice & pop spoonfuls in you mouth all day; that will also help keep you hydrated. Plus, you know those gel ice masks you put in the freezer & then put on puffy eyes? Maybe you could get one of those & slip the mask on your mouth (put a hankie or something so you don't have actual direct skin contact) There would be an added benefit to that----you wouldn't have to respond to inane questions. I'm so sorry that you are having such a disconcerting start to all this. I hope things get better fast!
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Joanne: Congrats on your clear results! See you in my pocket tomorrow.
Eli: I won't jostle your tubes. I'm a bit afraid of your pocket dictator. I hear he uses chemical weapons...
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Stupid me Dept.: Today was my weekly visit with my RO doc, so even tho' it was a chemo thing, I told him about my sore mouth (refer to first post on this page) and he gave me an Rx for some oral lidocaine. He reminded me that I needed to alert all providers about my CT contrast allergy, and then he just happened to add, "You'll have to watch out now eating shrimp and shellfish from now on." Whoa! I had shrimp last night!!! I have pleasantly eaten succulent shrimp and lovely lobster my whole life to no ill effect. Now I don't know if I will have a permanent problem or if it was just that the shrimp boosted the effect that the CT dye had done to my mouth tissue. When this is all over, I'll have to run a performance check with a delicious lobster and hope I don't wind up in the emergency room. I know a lot of people are allergic to that, but what they are really allergic to is the iodine in those foods. Stupid me, I was not even thinking of it last night at dinner. No wonder I was double puffy this morning.
Where's Meece? Need to know if you are able to safely eat shellfish?
TAB, Yes, be afraid, very afraid. I got three pages on how to do chemical clean up if he should ever chance to wet himself.
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Eli: I'm rooting for a temporary allergy during chemo. Giving up lobster is too difficult! And yikes! I hope your pocket dictator doesn't have a bladder control problem. Might need dictator diapers...
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TAB, I'll bring another huge bag of Cheetos and some color-coordinated orange Gatorade to wash them down.
Eli, whoa, I hope your mouth settles down now that you know to avoid shellfish.
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so if I were to ever visit we can't go to Red Lobster (at least not until the hopefully potty-trained, with no backsliding) dictator is history!
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Ann: Thanks! Color coordination is good. I'll wear a matching top. Hope the pockets are big enough :-)
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TAB, Did you know that "Cheetos goes with everything except a white pantsuit?" Still, it is so great that you intuitively know to pick a shirt that will hide any unsightly Cheetos dust. We try to stay neat, but with the big crowd you will have in your pocket(s) it's almost impossible to eat them with wild abandon (the only way to eat them, really) and not leave a bit of evidence behind.
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Yep, they're finger licking good!
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I'm way behind again somehow. Eli love, I missed the first pocket party the other day, but I'll be right there under the pouch to help lighten the load from here on out, okay?
Diane, why were you so freaked about rads? I hope after the first few, you settle into the mainly boring routine and have few side effects - it IS possible to not suffer too much with rads.
Have to get things together for dd's baby shower Saturday so not much 'puter time the next few days. Hugs and love to all, especially those in the grips of treatment or side effects.
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It's that time of year again, the Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio is gearing up so keep an eye out for news stories in the next couple weeks for the latest B/C news and study findings.
Here's one with some good news for younger (premenopausal) Tamox. takers, but not a clear conclusion for the menopause set:
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I remember meeting a lady about 15 years ago who had breast cancer years earlier and was on Tamoxifen. I asked what that was. She told me it was to prevent her from getting breast cancer again. I remember asking her why we weren`t ALL given it!!! That stumped her.....
Now when I think of what I said....I dunno, was that so bad??
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I have lots to catch up on but the discussion of laser hair removal. I asked both my RO and MO about it and they gave their blessing. I have had two out of 6 sessions so far and am loving the results. Did it years ago on my bikini area and loved it then as well.
Eli looks like I missed your pocket party hope all went well for your first rads.
Had my follow up with my PS from my revision and he is happy with the results. I am just as pleased but this time around he has me on restrictions for two months. Bra 24/7 and lifting restrictions so I can't stress my pecs as well as nothing that would cause me to bounce. Did lot's of internal stitching and said if I fall this time the next time around will be stitching to my ribcage. OUCH no thank you I pray this one takes. He is a great guy but I think he and DH have man crushes on each other. hehe
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Ok so now I have caught up. Eli hate you are having puffy lips. I hope the shellfish thing is temporary and your lips feel better soon. I'm sure sleeping with the little monster is awfull.
Juneau and Ann welcome
The effexor worked for me for hot flashes. For me the longer I was on Tamox the worse the hot flashes got. Finally got unbearable and had to break down and take the effexor. I go tomorrow for my 6 month eye doctor appt. For some reason my MO wants me checked every 6 months while I am on tamoxifen. I think it is overkill but I'll go with the flow.
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Sherry, not overkill at all. T can cause your tear ducts to narrow. This makes the tears pool in your eyes, and as my optomologist says "you are underwater looking out" It's fixable, they can put tubes in your ducts to keep them open (if not dealt with the damage can be permanent and lead to eye infections, dry eye, and other problems) My procedure is scheduled for January. Grrr
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Cindy, in my case the runny eyes (and nose) cleared on their own. I think that for me it was some kind of allergy-like inflammation. It was extremely annoying and affected my throat as well.
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I waxed underarms before and still do now, but I immediately put tea tree oil on afterwards so no bugs have a chance......
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Welcome, Lily55!
I don't think it is a bad idea to get an eye exam or two while on Tamox. Wasn't blurry vision/changes in vision one of the side effects? Also, aren't we at increased risk for cataracts? I am off Tamox. now and maybe it is just coincidental but I think my vision has improved slightly. I found myself reading some very small print the other day (even tho' I needed a very bright room to do it.)
Marlegal, Meece, When you came off your anti-hormonals did your vision improve?
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Lily, it`s not bugs we have to be cautious about when shaving, it`s cutting ourselves! When we can`t feel where the blade is we could be pressing too hard into an area that skin could be caught in. I watch myself very, very carefully...
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Eli~, I can eat shrimp, crab and lobster. I don't eat them in masses, but have not had a problem.
Been working on Eph's idea for your dictator carrier:
Simple and sporty
This one has lots of room for your dictator and your Cheetos
But this one might be best for you, lots of room for the above mentioned items, a bit of bling on the straps, it can be taken anywhere beacause it doesn't screem Cheetos, and you can wipe your fingers on it before you touch anything.
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Meece - Those are hilarious. Cheetos Power!
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