MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
-
Thanks everyone for suggesting a few other protein options.
DONT FORGET: Part of my challenge is that the one chemo I get gives me cold-sensitive neuropathy, so all those chilled and ice-cold drinks will not go down well. (Actually, when I made the insure I mixed it with half milk and made it like a hot chocolate.)
NM, I, too, asked about Ensure during my chemo/rads combo time (and I think Vit. E was counterindicated with the chemo, particularly) and was told that it would be o.k. by the Nutritionist. I had to wonder about that too.
Kd5blk, I would think that anything that can cause tightening of the muscles (like surgery and scar tissue) can impact your shoulders. PT exercises and stretching and time should bring you improvement. My rads armpit is still just a bit tighter if I forget to stretch it for a few days. Didn't have Mx, DIEP so can't comment specifically.
0 -
Barsco-
Late as usual for PPs but jumping in anyway. Sorry ladies if I've stepped on any fingers or toes!
So my mast was a year ago, and it is time for my mammogram on my lifted side. I always assumed that I would just go, get it done and that would be it. Never thought I would be dragging my feet, but I am. I keep thinking about the article I referenced last week, among others. Don't feel any lumps, don't want to be squished, don't want to be called back. Don't want radiation build up, if it's not really necessary! I know many of you must be thinking, "what? Are you crazy?" afterall, my mammo a year ago found my cancer in the first place! There is just so much conflicting info out there, it gets frustrating. I'll probably go when I meet with my PS in two weeks, since it is a drop-in service and I will be there, but...
0 -
SnS, I keep thinking of something my doc, whom I really trust and love, said. It's like seatbelts...sometimes they can cause harm too, but ask any copy or fireman and they'll recommend them. That's the same with mammos...she felt they caught more cancer that might have gone unnoticed than damage by exposure to radiation. If you go to a center that uses digital mammos, the radiation dose is usually lower than traditional mammography too. Hugs...we all understand the fears.
0 -
Elimar - how about coffee and real cream with a vanilla Carnation Instant Breakfast? I can't think of any way the strawberry flavor could be good warm. But hot chocolate is definitely good, with cream again. Maybe you could bring out the blender and mix warm milk, chocolate flavor and peanut butter into a Starbucks-style warm nutritious drink? Really hard to think of stuff when it can't be cold! How about oatmeal with warm vanilla flavor and berries? Trying to think of delicious combinations is making me hungry, haha. I don't usually think so hard about food! I can't imagine warm food all summer - like soup in July, ugh!
SnS - my BS said he didn't want me to have too many mammograms because of my youthful age. Well, he didn't put it exactly that way, lol. He said, "We don't like to do too many mammograms on younger women because they have a whole lot more mammograms in their future than women, say in their 70's." So he has reduced me from every 6 months to annually now. And this time he requested an MRI because I have dense breasts (so what good is all that torture anyway?) so hopefully in August I'll have an MRI and alternate every other year with mammos. Damn, it's another one of those double-edged swords...
Barsco - we had quite the party in your pocket! My favorites - nachos and Margaritas!
I think I lost my morales in the back of a van.
0 -
Elimar: Several people have told me to drink all this stuff like Ensure or Boost through a straw and it was more acceptable. Something to do with further away from the nose?
0 -
More good suggestions, sister-lady-friends, and I thank you. HnS, oatmeal, which I do like, is too fiber-y for me and not on "the o.k. list" but I might try it one of these days. Every now and then I feel compelled to break the rules and go straight for something on the "no-no list." I survived a granola bar once and that is pretty much the same thing.
I don't know if it is the power of suggestion but when my mom was doing her chemo, she had certain foods that she asked me to get for her...like watermelon and avocados and a hot dog with mustard. I find myself wanting the same things now.
0 -
Ha ha HNS, front seat for me lol! I can drink coffee now and I daringly bought 10% cream, oh oh sooooo wonderful!
Eli, yes watermelons but forget the hotdogs, I'm a Burger gal..I like the mustard tho.
Question about mastectomy & mammograms....what will they do to lefty...she's gone...so hang on tight while they squeeze what's left?
Xoxoxo Jo0 -
Thanks for the support ladies. It's a good thing that one of the sisters had to back out - left room for Sns to jump in. However, it seemed to get just a bit rowdy - I didn't hear my pager when it was time for my appt. Also I think that someone might have gotten carried away with the dancing - my back is a wee bit sore today. But sure was fun!
Not much in the way of answers or suggestions for me except that they don't think it's cancer related, but probably the tamo causing issues.
You girls and your morales! I will always remember how to spell morels from now on - lol.
Eli - hope you are able to find some good options for protien that you can handle. It can be a challenge.
Happy Hump Day everyone!
0 -
Overall, that is good news, Barsco, but I'm sorry the Tamox. is causing trouble. Did they have any suggestions for you? Besides more drugs, I mean. (Don't like how we get into the daisy chain of drug+drug+drug and add a few more.)
That was me getting rowdy. I was kicking up my heels because I am at the place in my chemo cycle where I feel half way normal, and I still had energy to transplant some irises and ride my bike later, too.
0 -
Good to hear that you are feeling energetic Eli. I will deal with a bit of a bruise if it means that you are feeling well enough to be kicking up your heels! I haven't been in my gardens yet, but look at them almost daily and have noticed that the weeds are going to take over if something isn't done soon. Love irises - have some that my mom had in her garden.
The only suggestion from yesterday was to actually stop one of the drugs as it really doesn't appear to be doing any good. I am only to willing to cooperate.
0 -
Mar and HnS- thanks for your thoughts and reminders. At least when I have the mammo (and I reluctantly will, I suppose) I just have to have one side squished! Actually it concerned me more because after my lift, righty is like an overstuffed ottoman, and somewhat "tight," although she seems to be getting a bit softer and more "moveable" over time. Not looking forward to being sandwiched between plates of glass, but I will just buck up and git er done!
0 -
I forgot to mention Barsco, you throw the BEST PPs! I have never been involved in such rowdiness, and it wasn't even Friday!
0 -
you all crack me up.
I was in the back of a station wagon in a pear orchard on a warm summer night. That was the only romantic thing about it! Bye Bye morales!
0 -
Well - I guess I will have to look hard for some extra morales while I am out looking for morels this weekend. You girls are shameless - lol
0 -
except now that I look at it I think it's morals!
0 -
That's how all of this started Eph - a simple word innocently misspelled. Sure has been fun though.
0 -
Haha, all we need is an opening, Barsco, and we will misbehave
0 -
I'm still stuffed from all those Cheetos and tacos. Think I might just stick with bland food for a few days, at least till it's "anything goes" Friday
Eli, I'm glad you're getting to the better days part of the cycle. I swear, the memory of those good, sweet days never leaves your memory. Note to self...don't forget to be grateful for good days and give proper thanks.
Barsco, which drug are they thinking to drop?0 -
HNS - You are so right - that's why I love it here. You gals are all around fabulous!
marlegal - I am stopping the Dexilant which is really more for acid reflux and heartburn, not the nausea & fullness that I am experiencing. Also stopping the Pristiq (anti-depressant) as #1 - it gives me crazy vivid dreams all night long and #2 - found out yesterday that it may lessen the effects of tamoxifen! You'd think that either my PD or pharmacist might have picked up on that.
0 -
Barsco, First, I want to offer a suggestion about the stomach discomfort. It is something that sometimes helps me, and I get that "bubbled up" feeling of fullness without ever getting reflux. Sometimes, after I eat a meal, I feel like my stomach is working overtime. I know it is full of gas because a few burps later, I feel a bit better. What I do is take some Hcl (hydrocloric acid) for digestion. It is available at health and nutrition stores under various names. Sometimes, what we take as being too much stomach acid is really too little, so when I take this, the food starts getting digested and moves along instead of sitting in there fermenting or whatever it is doing. As we age, our bodies are less efficient about producing the Hcl that we need. That's the shpiel anyway. On top of that, we are doing all different chemo and pharmaceutical products that change our body chemistry. Our tummies don't always like that. Don't forget, if you do try this and it makes you less comfortable, you can always pop a few Tums if I am wrong about it (or the Zofran we all have laying around the house, haha.) Hope this might help you.
Second, Pristiq is almost the same as Effexor and they both get the o.k. for use with Tamox. It is true that they all are metabolized by the same liver enzyme, but those two don't get the same warning that other anti-depressants do. I don't know why. I go by what Drugs.com says most of the time (and I do hope they are accurate!) Check it: Pristiq/Tamox
0 -
I am getting a real chuckle out of the morals conversation.
0 -
Eli - Hydrochloric acid? Sounds scary, but I did the google thing and yes, found that it works well to help get things moving as they should. Will check into it further. As for the Pristiq/tamo - go figure that one dr tells you one thing, another tells you something different. I do feel better about it after reading your post - thanks for the link. No Zofran in my drug collection
Since Pristiq and Effexor are in the same family and are likely to have the same SEs - I think I may just go solo for a while and see how it goes.
Looking for some of you to help me out with a rain dance tonight so that I can get out to the bush and find some yummy, mushroom like fungi that are soooooo delicious fried up with some butter and garlic. Mmmmmmm - can't wait!
0 -
Barsco - I'll do a rain dance for you but mine are not very successful. Had a pittance of rain today. Maybe some little more tonight and then none until this time next week. Texas is going to dry up and blow away by midsummer. Everyone hold their ears as I don't sing or chant well. Morels, eh?
0 -
Yes, yes, yes, Barsco, a lot of the strange and scary stuff I post on here is the real deal.
Oh, if you Middie-readers only knew how many times the long-suffering Elimar has guinea-pigged herself just to be able to suggest something that could benefit others. Oh wait, Mother Theresa just called (from heaven) to tell me to shut up.
0 -
lol about Mother Teresa! Thanks Eli, on behalf of those of us who shy away from being human guinea pigs! Oh wait...I did two clinicals didn't I? Guess I missed the memo to fly under the radar! Brings back memories .. at the time, I almost felt privileged to have the opportunity to do trials. I was assured my standard of care would be at least that of existing protocol so I jumped at the chance.
Rain dance for yummy mushrooms going on here0 -
Ok, we'll have to give the dance a name Barsco...morals dance or mushroom dance?? I think if your gonna do this in the bush you should have your partner.....:))
I can tell your feeling better Eli!
Thanks for the reminder about being grateful for the good days marlegal.
Xoxox Jo0 -
Oh boy, I take off for a week and lots happens here.
The morals, morels, morales are all we're looking for!
I was talking to my PCPs office today,she gave me an appt and I was writing it down and I said, who did I call? She said do I have to check off another box on your dx?
So I was on vacation in Mexico. I had a blast! I was also on vaca from arimidex. Double the fun! I'll try to post a pic of how much fun it was. I know the docs keep saying to me "at your age", but I am refusing to buy into that mindset.
0 -
Oh boy Mac, good thing your back from vaca! Looks like you had a blast and from the picture there are quite a few bush possibilities there! Lol. Xoxo Jo
0 -
Jo, yes bush possiblities and cool pool boys. A real cutie did the stretching class in the am and also the water areobics class. He said to me, boy, it seems like you really like to work out! LOL
elimar, I ate a part of a bag of mexican cheetos for you. We got the poof kind.
0 -
Eli - You really are an angel on earth to receive a call from Mother Teresa! Even if it's to tell you to stop with the "mightier than thou" attitude. lol
Marlegal - your self-sacrifice is very much appreciated by all of those who will benefit from the trials that you went through. Thank you!
Mac - looks like you had a blast! I am not sure I could bring myself to go there. But I have been experiencing a lot of things lately that I never thought I would. Cute, cool pool boys AND Mexican Cheetos!! I am thinking that you may have also dropped your morales/morals/morels somewhere along that zipline! heehee
If you girls are wanting a second chance at getting your morales/morals back, then you better start shaking what your momma gave you just a little bit harder. Hasn't been near enough rain yet to make those babies pop out of the ground.
As for the name of the dance Jo............... how about the "Magic Morel Macarena"
0
