MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish
Comments
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welcome cat, glad you decided to jump in the pool.
Val...yayyyyyy!
Eli, how are you feeling these days? Hope you're getting a little stronger each day, but don't rush yourself too much.
Diana, how're you doing? Does cool weather help your business? Are you dating the new guy?0 -
Happy B-lated Birthday Barsco!!!
Sorry I missed it but here's some roses for you!
Eli: re the "suprise" guest in your room, I think they ABSOLUTELY should have checked with you to make sure it was okay with you....I don't know that I would have objected if I was asked....but I certainly would have been put off by not being asked!
BTW: My new avatar is in honor of the Halloween spirit and my Frankenboobs! LOL!.....litte did I know in 2010 that I would be living out the fantasy!0 -
NativeMainer...thanks for your input. I think my MO is really good....but lacks the warm fuzzy tactful side of her personality. Since I have Kaiser (HMO), I know she doesn't get any benefit from me going to the referral she made (other than possible her sense of pride).
All of the reasons that I was leaning towards the 2nd surgeon (laproscopic type and gallbladder saving) seem to be hinging on the fact that with the DIEP surgery that I had, the incision location options are limited.....and if thats the case, do I really want to take a chance on saving the gallbladder if I eventually DO need the surgery, it can't be laproscopic (or thats what I need to clear up with the surgeon consult on Wed).
In any case....none of the doctors involved get any kind of benefit from me choosing one surgeon over the other....so that's not a factor. In reading about the type of surgery also....it appears that there is no appreciable difference in the hospital stay and/or recovery time in laproscopic vs. open surger of this type (pancreatic resection). So, I'm less motivated to avoid the open surgery.0 -
marlegal - yes, we did not put ketchup on our meatloaf and since my mother used the same pan well, after sitting in the refrigerator for a few days wrapped in aluminum foil, banana bread and meatloaf looked the same. And if it was older, they smelled the same. If you wouldn't mind sharing the recipe I would love to try your turkey meatloaf. Haha, I haven't traumatized anyone with turkey meatloaf yet but sausage balls, that's another story.
All this talk about meat has me craving fruit now... or beef cake... something. Okay, Halloween candy will have to do.
Ugh, tomorrow is my brain MRI if any of you ladies would like to hop in my pockets. They didn't say no food or alcohol beforehand, so I guess that means it's okay!
Well, these smilies make me smile - they're kind of funny-looking.
Aww, how cute! I just heard some noise outside my french doors and I raised the blinds and two raccoons came up to the window to look at me!0 -
Welcome Cateyz2 !!
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Heartnsoul, good luck with your MRI..........
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Oh! The smileys are back. I feel so much better now.
HnS, Good Luck on you brain MRI today. I'm sure they'll find nothing. Ahahaha!
(Where's the angel smiley when I need it?)
cateyz2, I seem to remember you posting something here, maybe a few weeks ago???? Or I could just have a bad brain.
Definitely going into smiley overuse mode...
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HNS - In your pocket for your MRI today. What suits your mood?0 -
HNS - I'm all for them finding nothing with the brain scan Wish I could have made the PP but just read about it. Will try to track you down to see if I might catch the tail end.
Luv - didn't you have an appt yesterday? Or was it today? Sorry - my mind is gone to bed already. Up way too early this morning.0 -
Yes, thanks Barsco for remembering. I just dashed that quick note to HNS b4 running to Bible study this am.
Orthopedist just had to Xray shoulder. I bet I glow in the dark. Tada - says it's not metastasis. Well, golly gee (in my best Gomer Pyle voice) I didn't think it was after a negative bone scan and a CT. Sending me off to PT. I am beginning to feel like a football being punted around. Says you've been on 3 NSAIDS - just keep taking the Advil. So I'm off to PT on Friday morn. At least it's only 10 miles down the road and not the 45 minute drive into big town. Then revisit with him in 3 weeks. I beginning to not like many docs. I hope this is not a foretelling of the future of medical care. I've known the CEO of this group since college. Four of my docs are in it which I do like for the record sharing aspect but I think I could have done better going out on my own.
Rant for a minute - don't know if my PCP loaded the copies of scans or not but I came with another copy in hand to be safe. IF the doc knows I'm coming from a group partner do they not even bother to look at the records ahead of time. How long does it take to read over 2 scans??? (that is of course if office dingbat on Thursday bothered to upload them).
Dianarose - How's business both personal and professional?0 -
Thought I'd get them all up there so we can see how they look!0 -
Well, I rescheduled the MRI. DON'T HATE ME!!! lol, I am the Queen of Procrastination.
I don't know why I didn't want to do it. I was all psyched up for it - now I'm going to have to do it again in two weeks. Plus, they have me scheduled for three things in one day - the MRI, a chest x-ray and a mammogram. I think I'm going to break it down into three different days. I think three tests all at once is overwhelming me.
luv - how funny! You put the smiley in your signature? I don't suppose I can still have some of that chocolate?0 -
HNS - I think because I went rogue and pasted it in and it just fell in that place. I've done that b4 somehow. I love all the cute smileys out there. I like the "winky" ones.
I was dreading that ortho was going to ask for MRI of shoulder. I think there is an open MRI in the vicinity so was going to ask for that. Again it was not like I was expecting very bad things from it. Pretty sure they were already ruled out. Need to call insurance and see what coverage for PT is. On 80% insurance at present. Interesting thing with DH's insurance that I don't think has been true. His insurance booklet says copays will county towards deduc. next year. Also I think RX copays but I don't see how that's gonna work with a Flex account.0 -
HnS, we are on to you now, your ploy to get extra pocket treats that is. I'd say get all the scans done in one day, but is there any way you could lure a friend into going with you for all the boring wait time while not actually getting the scans?
Luv, Not sure, because so many different plans. This year, I was a little excited because I maxed out on my out-of-pocket expenses in January, and figured everything would be covered at 100% after that. Oh, no! I still had co-pays for OVs and for PT. I think my co-pay did go toward my deductible, and pretty sure it went into the out-of-pocket total also, but at $40 per OV with a specialist, I probably racked up a $K just on co-pays. Sheesh! Also, thank goodness no mets were found in you!
The two smileys that are funny to me are: & , because they have tiny things coming out of their heads. I had to put on some reading glasses to see what they really are, but I like my first impressions better, that one had a double-helix strand of DNA coming out (and I don't know what that would mean) and the other had a fork stuck in his head, which I took to mean comatose or brain dead. Smile, smiley, smile.0 -
Stick a fork in me I'm done??? Notice the eyes are closed. Maybe going to bed?0 -
HnS hope things went ok today, sorry about the crumbs and the wine stain. Everyone else, don't worry, I'll be more careful next time
Chacha, so what is the plan and when?
And yes, I too am enjoying the return of our smiley friends0 -
Maybe I did , My brain dosent always work properly after being hit with bC!!!!0 -
Elimar, I just noticed the pumpkins up top ... They're awesome!0 -
Love the topper and the little explanation.
No worries about the reschedule, hns, the virtual snacks were just as tasty. We'll have to make lots for the 3 scan day.
luv, Glad the ortho has suggested PT. I like PT. I was just at my hand person today, she said It is so easy to make me happy. First it feels good to put my hands in the paraffin and then it is great when we ice them at the end. I almost start purring.
So I saw my PCP today, too. She wants me to do a sleep study. I am really looking forward to that. Like I don't have enough trouble sleeping. And I get to spend the night in a hospital, whoo. I was telling the doc, I already look wonderful when I am going to sleep, mouth guard, compression gloves and wrist splints. Sure let's add some wires and one of those cpac machines.0 -
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luv - so glad no mets was confirmed. Best of luck with physio
HNS - do what you have to do within your comfort level. More PPs = more treats indeed. Plus it's always fun to get together with you ladies
Happy Hump Day!0 -
Seriously??? I say that all the time that the cancer took some of my brain cells ALL THE TIME!0 -
Hi ladies! I'm new to this thread : )
valjean...I found it looking for info about tumor markers and came across your post. I just got a ca 27/29 and it was 9. I'd like to keep thing of myself as cancer free. Does that number mean there are still cells floating around producing that antigen? I am several years out from treatment! I didn't even know my onc checked it and the nurse called me today with labs. It was 10 last time. It completely freaks me out! Any insight?0 -
Geewhiz, no, I don't think it means that. Truth be told, I don't actually know exactly what those stupid TMs measure, but my doc said that the results fall on a bell curve and the normal range is set at where most people fall, i.e. 5th to 95th percentile. The main thing they look for is a staple number. There will be minor variation, but as long as there are no major swings, they consider it good.0 -
Welcome geewhiz, I believe getting a "9" on your CA27-29 could be cause for celebration add to the fact that it was stable from last year's "10"...virtually no change. Back when I read about all things B/C, I believe the normal range is a number under 40, so your number would not be considered elevated at all. (This would be particularly good news if you DID have elevation at time of Dx. This would be because then it would be known that your tumor did cause the antigen to be made in the first place. On the other hand, lacking an initial elevation, it may not be possible to tell if the antigen was ever produced by your tumor. I think this is why some doctors feel the tumor marker tests are not "reliable." Reliable is not really the right word, let's say effective. It can be very effective for some, and not effective for others.)
Welcome myers421! Are you finished with reconstruction already?0 -
I have always pondered TMs. I had a biopsy on the day lesion was found so there was no opportunity to measure anything b4 there was some "cell damage" albeit only with the biopsy. I would have to find my files but I think mine are 19 or so. Wonder if they would have been higher if they measured them when 1st diagnosed. The 1st time they were measured was a year ago December. I know they measure "inflammation" so recovery from surg/rads can elevate them. Just one of the great mysteries of life that Frankenstein's bride sang about. Though must admit does not even register on the scale at present compared to devising a good gravy for my turkey salisbury steaks.
Welcome Geewhiz and Myers. Oodles of support on here with frequent good times also.0 -
Wow, thanks ladies that helps. Elimar, that makes sense to me about there even being an antigen at all.
That part was bothering me the most...I want NO antigens. I guess I missed that boat with a bc diagnosis however.
Luvmygoats I should put that Frankenstein bride as my avatar...I have never posted one of myself in 4 years, lol!0 -
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geewhiz--keep in mind that the antigens the tumor markers measure are also caused by non-cancer things. For instance, the PSA done on men to screen for prostate cancer is also elevated after a prostate exam and sexual activity. Any kind of inflammation, even a common cold, can make some of the other markers elevate temporarily. If your number hasn't changed (and 9 and 10 are so close as to say it hasn't changed) then you may well be cancer free and the antigen is being triggered by some normal physiological functioning.0 -
Thanks NativeMainer...I had minor knee surgery 3 weeks ago, so maybe if its picking up inflammation of some sort...that might be a bit of it.
Happy Halloween everyone! I had my MX just before Halloween 4 years ago and spent it cooped up in my bedroom listening to the doorbell ring with the trick or treaters. I dont even know what my kids dressed as that year. Miserable. The next year, I invited all my friends and family over. broke sticks off dead trees..spraypainted black and stuck in flower pots draped with spider webby stuff and placed all over the house. Cooked vats of chili and made apple cider. Then we all go out trick or treating. My 90 year old mom in law parks herself on the porch to pass out candy...she talks about it all year. It's become a wonderful tradition. Turned that bad Halloween association right on its ear.
I am staring down piles of onions and tomatoes and my house is a bit of a mess so time to get busy!
Enjoy ladies! And thank you sincerely for the advice. : )0
Heartnsoul, good luck with your MRI..........
