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MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

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Comments

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Member Posts: 14,084


    Chachamom, thanks for the beautiful photo! Hope you're enjoying your time there.

  • chachamom
    chachamom Member Posts: 410


    it IS indeed a small world Maddy!


    I'm sure you have beautiful sunsets too Barsco...but I've never found a place with prettier skies (sunrises, sunsets, and moon/stars over the water) as San Felipe! I missed it so much when I was in Rancho Cucamonga, although I like living there too. In San Felipe, I can walk my dogs to the Sea every morning (approx 1 mile to the water)....watch them run on the beach and walk back for breakfast. Here's a shot of the sunrise.I'll miss that when we go back to Rancho at the end of the month


    image

  • Katlebbie
    Katlebbie Member Posts: 722


    Chacha thanks for the great sunset, I miss it! Enjoy your time in Mexico~ (((hugs))) to you and prayers coming your way that all goes well for you and your surgery.

  • marlegal
    marlegal Member Posts: 1,482


    far behind but checking in to say welcome to newbies and glad for lots of good news (Eli, HnS, etc.)


    All is well in my world except way too busy in work. Doing stuff at home nights and weekends. Should let up soon, but not soon enough!

  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,200


    chacha, those pics are beautiful. Sounds like paradise. I had missed your post before.

  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,200


    image

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 2,845


    Mac, Bwa! I stole that cartoon.

  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 879


    chacha - Thank you for the beautiful morning sky. I am up before dawn this morning, but listening to the wind howl and the rain, I don't think we will have a visible sunrise today.


    mac - too funny! Sounds like Escher might be in trouble.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618


    image


  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 10,618


    I can't see a way to center the photos, Eli~.

  • Dharani
    Dharani Member Posts: 1


    you said it. Raised a son and a daughter. Thought it is our time. I am 57, he is 58. Now with this breast cancer so much ha changed. Breast cancer stage 1. Mastectomy done,treated with 4 doses of Cytoxcan and Textere. Fourth Chemo was very brutal. slept in the room 4 days straight! No energy to talk, to energy to watch tv or communicate.No hair. Looking at yourself is depressing. Will i feel normal again. Plan to work 3 more years . Will it be possible.having a target to retire at 60. Work is not a piece of cake either. i am a nurse.One thing I am believeing that the go is watching me may be my plan is registering in his request log. Or who knows he will have a better one for me. My husband some lottos! What a waiste. But we are al human and can not deny all the earthly urges. Any advice from any one out there who are brave and have done this circle?? Help me.


    I tired. What to do. can not retire yet! Also am scared if things gets worse to each one of us. Kids are kids. It is not so simple.

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,885


    Welcome, Dharani! Sounds like you made it through your active treatment. Good for you, because that part is hard. That usually is the worst of it, but it is true that some us us do have serious lingering side effects. Since you are brand new here, I would say take some time to look over the many threads. Check out the threads on mastectomy (and maybe lymphedema, just in case, because it is good to watch out for that even if it is not apparent now); also you might even want to read through the hair loss threads. Just search for them using the key words for what you are interested in. Have you started on any drug therapy yet...Tamoxifen, Arimidex, Herceptin?


    I can tell you that it definitely does get better, a little at a time. You might not have any energy right now, but it does return as you heal. You have to help by eating and sleeping well. It is very possible to continue working some more years, but don't rush back until you feel the energy to do it. I think every woman here was thrown for a loop when they got their B/C diagnosis, and there is no one way to get through it, no right or wrong way. As long as you get info. and support along the way, you can make it through. We are happy to help in any way we can. Hope you feel a bit better to know you are not alone in this.

  • staynsane
    staynsane Member Posts: 196


    Dharani- I did not have to suffer chemo se's, but I think a bc diagnosis is traumatic for all of us. Just know that as you navigate through this and get past each stage, it should get better. Try to stay in the moment if you can; worry about the future, while natural to do, creates negativity and fear that may not pan out to be what you actually have to deal with. In the beginning I was my own worst enemy and my mind took me to horrible places and the "what ifs" had me spinning. Then as I progressed through each stage of recovery, I discovered that bc no longer had control of my life. Once the poison that is chemo is no longer lingering in your body, you should start feeling a bit better and may find that your outlook changes. You've likely gotten through the worst of it. Be gentle and give yourself time.

  • northwindsgs
    northwindsgs Member Posts: 41


    Looks like I belong here!


    Diagnosed on my 45th birthday. Starting chemo this Wednesday. Gonna be fun making the Turkey for family this year,lol. Hubby and I have our youngest son here at home with us. He is 17 and very self sufficient, thank god. However we do have a 4 year old Granddaughter who spends a lot of her time with us. I hope I can keep up with her and my job, work as a CNA. So far I believe my diagnosis has brought my hubby and I closer together. We had so many plans for our future, have always had children since we have been together and were just starting to enjoy time on our own occasionally. Hope we get the chance to enjoy our independence in the future.

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,885


    Welcome, NorthwindsGS! My youngest boy was 17 when I went through my lumpectomy + rads. I am assuming rads in in your future, once you get chemo out of the way. Prepare yourself for some fatigue but, honestly, there are quite a few here who worked thru' both chemo and rads with very little time off, so it just depends on your individual reaction, and it is not a competition. You can read accounts of others, but you will get through it in your own way, remember that!


    The chemo tends to be cumulative. Since you are having just one round before Thanksgiving, there is a good possibility that you will not be feeling too bad at all on the holiday. Also, for most, the chemo kicks in within a few days of getting the dose and then it backs of slightly until you get the next round. If you usually do most of the work for Thanksgiving, take the oppty. to ask for some help this year. I'm not saying to "play the cancer card" really...o.k., yes I am! What good is cancer if you can't get out of a chore or two, right?

  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 879


    Welcome Dharani - As Eli mentioned, you might find it helpful to check out some other threads which relate to your circumstances. I hope that you find that you feel better every day and that you can carry out your work and retirement plans. But do listen to your body and give it the rest it needs.


    Hi NorthwindsGS - what a crappy b-day present. Wishing you all the best as you move forward with tx. Keep those plans for the future on your "to do" list. A bc dx may change some things initially, but there is plenty of reason to believe that you and your DH will enjoy many years together.


    I am glad that you both have found the "middies". Here you will find a fantastic group of women who are here for each other no matter what. We do not judge. We support and encourage, we laugh and we cry, we share and we listen. I hope you come by often.

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,885


    I got read the riot act. Finally, after not being able to have it for over a year, I ate some popcorn. Trouble is, it was microwave popcorn. When my son heard that, he was all, "wrnh, wrnh, wrnh...give yourself some more cancer, wrnh, wrnh," because, besides all the fake-y butter stuff that has got to be bad for your health, the microwave bag has a coating that is a suspected carcinogen. That really burst my enjoyment balloon. Shocked


    I don't get onto the alternative threads very much, so I can't keep track of ALL the bad stuff, but here is an article about the popcorn, so you know what I am referring to:


    http://www.motherearthliving.com/natural-health/microwave-popcorn-pfoa.aspx#axzz2l7PIXc00

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,484


    Elimar - we had a discussion on "what's for dinner" about popcorn. It was suggested by a member to pour kernels into a Pyrex bowl, cover with a plate (writer used a microwave cover), cook on high while listening for popping to stop. Yes you read it right, no oil. Carefully remove from oven. Can repop any unpopped kernels. I bought the popcorn but have not tried it yet. Then you have the option to spray with butter spray, melt the real stuff or sprinkle on the dry stuff. Gots to be better than the microwave packaged stuff. Sounds foolproof even for me.


    Do I see a different alignment in the pictures?


    Welcome to Dharani and Northwinds. I don't have any answers to you chemo ? but sure am here to support you. If there is anything us Middies can do just ask away.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,316


    Elimar: I haven't tried the bowl yet, but I have been popping in a paper lunch bag for years. Approx 3 to 3-1/2 minutes, but since my microwave has a "popcorn" button it's even easier. Again, no oil or seasonings before popping. "Dress" after it's finished. I use LOTS of real melted butter.

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,885


    There's an old air popper around here too. Will have to put that back into service if I want to be "good."

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,484


    Elimar - good is relative. There is good and good enjoyable. I would do the air pop and dress up with whatever I wanted. Keep on doing good you little over achiever you.Winking I remember and have made good old fashioned in the pan with oil shake shake shake popcorn. Don't know my shoulders would handle it now but maybe DH's would.

  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 879


    Mmmmmmmm - I love a good feed of microwave popcorn. I don't eat it much because I have heard of the carcinogenic contents. Also DH hates the smell of it. I am looking into buying an air popper, but will do it the old fashioned way (just like luv) till then. Brings back memories of when I was young and mom would make it on a Saturday night!

  • marlegal
    marlegal Member Posts: 1,482


    Hub makes the old fashioned kind on the stove with Smart Balance and a little oil as the fat. Haven't had for a while now that I think of it!

  • macatacmv
    macatacmv Member Posts: 1,200


    Ha, Ha, since when have our kids starting calling the shots. My DD has me drinking coconut milk and creamer and tofuy "ice cream". No more of that dairy fat for me. We also make our popcorn the old way. Heavy pan and a little olive oil, not much shaking, then dressed with the shaker stuff (she likes cheddar cheese, me butter burst) But I have to remind her it was me that made her eat her vegetables, and I do know how to eat, I know that they know everything now, because we taught them it all!!!!!!! But couldn't they have a better attitude?


    hello newbies, hang in there, it does get better! But it is a big adjustment and life rearranger!

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Member Posts: 14,084


    welcome to the newbies! Lately, I've been doing the pop corn in a large Pyrex measuring cup with a plate and it works really well. I have an air popper but am planning to get rid of it next time I drop off my contributions to the local homeless shelter. I'll admit, the oil-popped is much better, so I lightly spray olive oil on (from a mister) with finely grated parm. Delish!


    I'm trying to go back several pages and read to catch up, I'm not getting very far

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 2,845


    Stop talking pop corn already ;) Some of us are trying to stay relatively low-carb.

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Member Posts: 14,084


    sorry... Tail tucked between my legs, slinking off....

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Member Posts: 14,084


    Elimar, how often do you change the thread headings? What am I looking at, please?

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 2,845


    2nd time, just kidding, although I am serious about the low-carb thing. It is working too, I have to say. My fasting sugar is down about 15 points.

  • elimar
    elimar Member Posts: 5,885


    2TA, I change them as often and as capriciously as I like. Sometimes they have a story, sometimes me just likey the colors. The latest is just some guy's art, I forgot his name already. It's for those who like their ink blot tests in more than plain old black and white. It vaguely reminded me of boobs, and the yellow definitely has a nipple-y look. Now don't try to analyze me, based on that interpretation.


    Just remember the guy who went to his psych. appt. naked, wrapped only in Saran Wrap. "Clearly," remarked the analyst, "I can see your nuts."