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  • CatWhispurrer
    CatWhispurrer Member Posts: 193
    edited October 2012

    Titan and NavyMom - My gyn ordered a vaginal ultrasound to check the uterus and overies.   All they found was some small cysts/fibroids.  I was also told that the lining of the uterus was thin like it should be so no trace of anything wrong.   That made me feel a lot better.     It was easy and painless.  Maybe you could go that route instead of prophyalatic surgery.

     I was told, though, that my bone density dropped a lot in the last couple of years.  I am a small, thin person, so may be prone to osteopororsis.   I don't know what to do about it except to increase exercise now that I am getting more energy back.  I am also starting to cut back on all the acid-reflux medicines I have been taking which was a lot to get me through chemo.   All the inserts say that those med's can reduce the amount of calcium absorbed.   I know I have enough calcium and vit D as I just had them checked and they were both on the high of normal range.    Just wondering if the bone loss could have been due to all the chemo and radiation??  Anyone else have this problem after treatments?

    Karen, I hope they hurry along with the biopsy and treatment.  It must be awful waiting to start.

  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 626
    edited October 2012

    Cat: Yes bone loss is common with chemo. Calcium and weight bearing exercise can help build it back up.

  • journey4life
    journey4life Member Posts: 223
    edited October 2012

    I was advised to have an ooph because of BRCA 1+ and the increased risk for ovarian cancer. Since there are no screening tests for ovarian cancer, often when its found, it is advanced and much more difficult to treat. I also had a vaginal US several months ago and everything looked good. I would rather not have that nagging fear so have opted for the ooph. Its scheduled for 11/20 and since I'm past childbearing, I say take the darned things out!

  • CatWhispurrer
    CatWhispurrer Member Posts: 193
    edited October 2012
    Journy - Yes, ooph is generally recommended for BRAC+, so was not suggesting otherwise in that situation.   I am BRAC neg.  I was just suggesting a vaginal US for those who just want it checked out for peace of mind and are BRAC neg.
  • DorMac
    DorMac Member Posts: 153
    edited October 2012
    There is a medical distinction between Guts and Balls. We've all heard about people having Guts or Balls. But do you really know the difference between them?

    In an effort to keep you informed, here are the definitions:

    GUTS - Is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being met by your wife with a broom, and having the Guts to ask: 'Are you still cleaning, or are you flying somewhere?'

    BALLS - Is coming home late after a night out with the guys, smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the ass and having the Balls to say: 'You're next, Chubby.'

    I hope this clears up any confusion on the definitions.

    Medically, speaking there is No difference in the outcome.

    Both result in death.

  • CatWhispurrer
    CatWhispurrer Member Posts: 193
    edited October 2012
    Luah - I am concerned because I have been taking calcium and vit D all along and my blood test showed high levels of both (calcium 10.3 when normal values 8.5-10.5; vit D 71.3), yet I still am losing a lot of bone.   I am trying to slowly increase my walking to 20-30 min 4-5 times a week.
  • journey4life
    journey4life Member Posts: 223
    edited October 2012

    Titan & NavyMom - are either of you BRCA +? If you've said before, forgive me...chemo brain at its finest!

  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 108
    edited October 2012

    Mags, Enjoy your girls trip!!  I need to plan something so I have something to look forward to after my exchange surgery..hopefully Feb or March!

    Ksmatthews, How wonderful, great picture!!  My son's football jersey in HS was 13 too!

    Titan, Due to my BRCA2 results I had prophylactic surgery Aug 20th.  I had everything taken out.  Good luck with your decision!

    OBXK, Thinking of you as you go to your onco appt.

    journey, Glad you have your surgery scheduled for Nov 20th, my recovery was very minimal!  I gave myself 3 weeks to heal, but really only needed one with a take it easy second week. 

  • OBXK
    OBXK Member Posts: 689
    edited October 2012

    Hello ladies!

    Onco is making an appointment to biopsy liver to make sure it hasn't morphed back to + and I have to get a port put in, then I start chemo... Again. See onco again on 2 weeks. Not looking forward to the biopsy. I saw it on YouTube - yikes!



    I'm doing really well emotionally. The minute I got in the house, I had 8 kids to feed! This weekend I will be busy with our town festival.

    I have a big brunch on the porch as the parade passes and dinner before the fireworks.



    Love K

  • TifJ
    TifJ Member Posts: 804
    edited October 2012

    OMG Dormac!! If my husband ever said "you're next chubby" he surely would be dead!!

    Karen- I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping all goes well!

    Ksmatthews- that is awesome!!

    Thinking of Hope an Inmate tonight!

  • navymom
    navymom Member Posts: 842
    edited October 2012

    OBXK, glad to read that you have a plan in place.  Wishing you comfort and safety for that liver BX.  Your days sound busy with family and friends.  Have fun.

    J4L, I am BRCA 1& 2 negative.  I have had uterine fibroids for the past 6+ years.  I had a vaginal ultrasound about a year ago.  Dr. said at that time that both ovaries looked small, as they should for a menopausal woman of 50+.  But I try to stay aware of what the latest research is uncovering...and I ask a ton of questions during my appts.  Ooph. will be added to my list.

    Not being unappreciative of the American democratic system,  but I am getting so tired of the nasty, political tv commercials and I am saturated with the automated phone calls.  Enough already!  And don't even get me started on how much money is spent on campaigns.

  • ksmatthews
    ksmatthews Member Posts: 743
    edited October 2012

    Thank you all for the kind comments.  It made me feel very special!

  • OBXK
    OBXK Member Posts: 689
    edited October 2012

    DorMac - thanks for the chuckle!



    Tina - I was told to take 2 cal + D a day. When my blood calcium started to climb, I added a serving of calcium to my diet, and cut out the extra D - and increased my fluids. Next test was back in normal range.



    Annie - hope your spirits are better.



    Thanks for being here for me. I feel the love!

  • Cocker_Spaniel
    Cocker_Spaniel Member Posts: 1,188
    edited October 2012

    Good evening ladies.

    Mags - have a really great girly break. Will miss your posts while you have gone.

    KS matthews - what an honour.  Good one.

    Titan - the thought of ovarian cancer scares me more than breast cancer as well. Maybe because I saw what my  mum went  through and saw how she suffered.

    Karen - I saw a real live liver biopsy today up at our general hospital.  The patient was very comfortable and the procedure took longer to set up than the actual biopsy which was about  20 secs.  You will sail through it. I took a particular interest in it because of you but the patient  said she didn't feel any pain at all. Hope you don't lose that lovely hair again with the chemo.

    Taz - you were quite right about rads. It took me 15 mins to get there and get undressed and the rads took about five mins.  You will breeze through it.  I didn't feel tired and had no problems whatsoever.    

    Catwhispurr - what a great idea you gave. I'm going to ask for a vaginal ultrasound next week at my appointment on the 16th. My BRAC came back as inconclusive.  Thanks heaps for that.

    DorMac - great joke. Thanks.  

    Thinking of you all especially Karen, Hope and Inmate.  Warm fuzzies to you ladies.  Annie 

  • Babs37
    Babs37 Member Posts: 320
    edited October 2012

    http://thekidsguidetocancer.com/

    Hope this site/book can help some mothers of young children...

  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 626
    edited October 2012

    Re ovarian risk, there is recent evidence that the most deadly forms of OC begin in the fallopian tubes (not ovaries): http://www.pnas.org/content/109/10/3921.full   So for those doing scans in the interest of early detection, it'd be important to make sure that area is covered too. 

    OBXK: Good to hear you're doing well. Sounds like an awesome porch party. We will join you, in spirit.

    Sending a big hug to Hope and Inmate....  

  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 652
    edited October 2012

    Sandlake-I may have asked before, but how was your recovery for hysterectomy? I am having it done on monday and am very nervous. They are doing it roboticly-da vinci I think. One night in the hospital. Is it painful? I am freaking out a bit, plus I have an accounting exam friday that I can not concentrate on studying for! I am taking 2 weeks off from my job, which I stand all day, is that enough time? Why am I freaking out so much? I guess it is in my personality.

  • OBXK
    OBXK Member Posts: 689
    edited October 2012

    Bak- wow, it sounds like your head is spinning! Try the group Hyster Sisters ( just google it) they look like they have some practical advice. I hope all goes well on your exam, and that you have a speedy recovery.



    For the ladies with the blues...





    http://boingboing.net/2012/10/10/1820-advice-on-how-to-beat-the.html



  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 1,313
    edited October 2012

    Wow..we all seems to be going through alot of crap lately....saw a couple of ladies on the beach with "new" hair...didn't have a chance to talk but the though goes through my mind that they may be on here..and walking right by me.

    also very weird but while I was frying in the sun a butterfly came right up to my face and I swear to God that she smiled at me...do ya think it was LJ or someone else?  Weird I know 

    Ah well..heading back to Ohio and real life tomorrow...blah.....

    Thinking about you all often..Inmate?  Hope..good to hear from you....OBX...ya that liver biopsy sounds crappy but hopefully you can get through it with minimal pain and discomfort..thinking of you!

  • OBXK
    OBXK Member Posts: 689
    edited October 2012

    Titan - I like to think it was LJ too. So glad you were able to get away and enjoy yourself.

    My girlfriend has had 3 liver biopsies - she says it's not as bad as I think.

  • Sandlake
    Sandlake Member Posts: 108
    edited October 2012

    bak, The unknown is always scary isn't it?  I had very minimal discomfort after my hysterectomy.  I took 3 weeks off just to be sure since my BMX was scheduled for the 3rd week after.  I was doing very good the second week, but wouldn't have wanted to work that week either. (I stand all day too!)  I'm glad you are taking two weeks off.  It is very easy to overdue when you start feeling better, but your body will let you know when it's time to rest! The worst part was the bloated gas feeling after surgery, it last a few days for me. 

    Good luck with your exam Friday!  

    Sending you peaceful thoughts for the weekend...you can do this!  

    Cyndi 

  • Cocker_Spaniel
    Cocker_Spaniel Member Posts: 1,188
    edited October 2012

    Titan have you been on the wine again, butterflys smiling at you lol.  And what are you doing frying in the sun you know about melanoma, of course.

    I might get my old fellar one of these to keep him warm!!

    s4s? 

      

  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 1,442
    edited October 2012
    Cocker (your name is suddenly appropriate for your poster ) that was hilarious... ha ha ha!!!

    Bak - good luck for your exam tomorrow.

    OBXK - loved your link - priceless advice.  

    Peace and gentle hugs to all xx

  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 1,313
    edited October 2012

    Hey Cocker..my old fellar wants one of those socks..but wonders if you have enough yarn..I'm sure you do..lol...and no  at the time of the butterfly I hadn't had any wine...yet...but IF it was LJ..she was probably wondering why I didn't have any wine...that girl knew how to live to be sure

  • browerl
    browerl Member Posts: 77
    edited October 2012

    Had chemo round 5 of 6 today.  The last one is scheduled for November 1st and total bmx on November 19th with reconstruction and it is a drive by with only a 23 hour hospital stay.  I was told the procedure should take around 4 hours.  Nothing like getting gutted like a fish and then kicked to the curb. Everyone around me says wow it sure is going fast (NOT) I think it is taking forever. I really want my life back and I am starting to run out of patients.  My mo told me on Tuesday to take a picture and look back 2 years from now, you will see that it was not as bad as you thought. IDK about all that!

  • Tammy2012
    Tammy2012 Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2012

    Today was day 6 of rads and i've been sick since yesterday.  Nausea and vomiting.  They tell me it's not a SE??  I don't know what to think.  I just know that i got very sick with chemo, had horrible SE's and had to have home health nurses come every other weekend for hydration.  

    Did anyone else experience nausea with rads?  

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited October 2012
    CS - you post is hiliarious and Tazzy, your comment has me in stitches. Speaking of stiches, I was trying to learn to crochet so I could make a chemo cap or two for the patients. Maybe I should practice making one of these little man stock scarves Laughing
  • Cocker_Spaniel
    Cocker_Spaniel Member Posts: 1,188
    edited October 2012

    Titan - I have enough yarn just tell me how many inches your old fellar would need!!!  And don't lie!.

    On the wine Laura Jane would probably have fluttered down and helped you sip it.  

    Taz - that was very good never thought of that when I typed it but very apt lol.   

    Sugar - good idea your old fellar (that's if he is an old fellar,. all the better if he isn't) will appreciate you putting it on when you have finished it!

    Tammy sounds like you may be allergic to some of the treatment.  Might pay to run it by your oncologist.  I feel so sorry for you I hate nausea and vomiting.  Could you be nervous about the treatment (just a thought).  A friend of mine was a very capable girl and could do any job assigned to her but whenever she went for an interview she would get diarrhoea and sickness all night every time.    I asked my oncologist about nausea side effects before I had rads and she said no none.  Hope you manage to get it sorted.     

    How are you today Karen.  Not overdoing it I hope with allyour visitors.

    Friday afternoon here so looking forward to a lie in, in the morning. Great. 

    Have a wonderful weekend ladies.  Thinking of you all especially Karen, Hope and Inmate. Annie       

  • sugar77
    sugar77 Member Posts: 1,328
    edited October 2012

    Mine is a "younger" fellar....well, he's younger than me (he's 44).

      

  • OBXK
    OBXK Member Posts: 689
    edited October 2012

    Loretta - I wish had awakened from surgery and been taken to my car! Make sure someone stays with you, hospitals seem to be self serve this days and one must bring along a personal handmaiden.



    Tammy - so sorry you are having such a difficult go! Do you have any phenagren? Sometimes having a small fan to blow in your face can make you feel better. I hope it goes awY soon.



    Annie - love your silly sock!