2010 Sisters
Comments
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Hi to all my sisters - I'm doing MUCH better today. No more nausea meds and my coffee even tasted better today. Still a bit sluggish and tiredness but I can handle this no problem. Day 5 today. Jag - I wish you luck with the port and the upcoming start of your chemo and thank you so much for your support. AmyJo- You sound like your doing pretty well, getting things in order and preparing for no hair as I have with learning to tie scarfs and yes the easy way. You go girl!
Cathy
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Oh I can't forget our dear sister Grannydukes - Thinking of you HON! Hope your resting comfortably and all is well.
Cathy
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lago, I bought a pump sprayer of Crystal deoderant. Works great. AmyJo0 on the road again! Good luck today. Big (((HUGS))) for you. Cathy, glad to see you feeling better. And GD - still praying for you. Let us know how you are doing.
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i saw all of u in the operating rm.thanks.typing w/1 hand.im fine but sore.thanks for the prayers.
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BarbaraA - thank you. I'm glad to see you are doing better too. The shrink appointment yet or just some helpful pills? Your one of your leaning posts hon so you must stay strong for us.
Yay -Grannydukes- glad you knew we were with you and glad your surgery is now behind you. Your oh so welcome my dear. Now you can move on with us. Cathy
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Grannydukes - Good to hear your voice!!0
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Yes, welcome back granny!
Cathy, I had the shrink today. I like her. She says that my whole body is in primal flight or fight mode and I am fighting and I can't stop for even a minute. She's right, you know. So she wants me to take the Ambien the onc Rx'd. Since I don't metabolize drugs well, she wants me to start w/an eighth of a pill then work up to a half. I need to get into delta level sleep and that isn't happening. Gonna try tonight.
If I can have even 4 days a week of 7-8 hours, man what a difference that would make for me.
Thanks, sistas, for listening to my ramblings.
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Hey Barbara - I hear ya on the sleep thing. I didn't sleep well for years, even though I stayed in bed for at least 8 hours a night, sleep apnea had me waking up every few minutes. I finally got diagnosed last year, got the CPAP machine, and now I sleep deep. It took a few months to notice a significant difference cognitively; if you've been deprived for awhile, it takes awhile to really catch up. Hope this is a good solution for you. SLEEP IS MANNA!!
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Barbara ~ so glad you like your shrink. Good luck to you, will be praying and standing by you!
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1 down 5 to go!
Woke up feeling great this morning - go figure, first day of chemo and I feel great! All the prayers and positive thoughts worked!
Went in with a great tude! My appointment started at 9 and didn't end until 5:30! A lot of monitoring during and after. Absolutely no SE during chemo! Felt great the whole time. I go for the Nuelsta shot tomorrow afternoon. I hope to wake up feeling well enough to put in some time at work.
I am taking one day at a time and I will worry about tomorrow, tomorrow!
Peace and love,
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So Glad it went well for you Jag!0
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Jag- That a girl! Prayers are answered. I am so very happy your first chemo was kind to you. Remember to DRINK those fluids.It's really important to flush the chemo out of your kidneys and liver. Eat your fruits and veggies to stay on top of the constipation. Even though you are feeling well, take the anti nausea meds just like prescribed. Don't be tempted to skip a dose.0
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Well, this day has been interesting. I thought I was going to get Taxol and Aredia today but when I got there they said I was only going to get the Aredia. They are keeping me on the Femara that I started in August before my surgery. They said if my cancer marker count goes up they will give me the Taxol. They did not give me a reason for not doing the Taxol, and so I don't know if I am glad about that or not. I did not have any problems with my port and was glad they did not have to stick me again for all the blood work and they the Aredia IV. I was expecting to be there until around 5 but was done at 1:30. This evening I have been very tired and my bones are aching, especially if I stay in one position very long. At least ES Tylenol is helping some. My DH as fixed me a cup of hot tea since he knows that always makes me feel better. I have an appointment with the dr that put in my port tomorrow morning to be sure everything is okay after the first treatment using it. Everything went fine with it and it still does not hurt so I am assuming everything will check out okay.
Jag- glad everything went well for you today. I knew you would do great. I hope the Nuelsta shot tomorrow afternoon does not make you sick. Since I did not get the Taxol, do not have to get the Nuelsta tomorrow.
I have to call back on Thursday to see what my marker count is and find out why the change in treatment. I can usually accept changes to plan as long as I know the reason. Not know why is making me a little nervous.
BarbaraA - glad you found someone you like that will help with sleep and hopefully that will let all the other things fall into a better perspective.
GD - glad your surgery is behind you and you are doing okay. Prayers are still with you as you heal.
Joy and blessings to all.
Amy Jo
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amyjo-glad your first chemo went smoothly. Sorry about the change in plans, that must be disconcerting. I would definitely have a heart to heart with your Onc and ask him to explain the plans thoroughly. Like you, I can deal with change, but it's really important I understand why. Remember to drink your fluids to flush the chemo. Good for DH to bring you a cup of tea, just the right thing! Sweet dreams.0
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BarbaraA - Hey if I'd had to guess... not being a shrink ... but yes she is right. This is the fight of your life and I can certainly understand that.. it makes sense for sure. Hopefully that will work for you - working up to the half pill. Good Luck our dear sister, you do need your rest regularly especially now.
AmyJo - Heres hoping the change was a good thing. Hope your SE's stay low. Let hubby spoil you all he can right now as you do deserve it. Hugs and best wishes for great results.
Cathy
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amyjo: didn't you see your oncologists when getting chemo? I was told (haven't started yet) that I would see my oncologist everytime… she would be the one to clear me for chemo. That's the reason why I won't be getting chemo the same time of day. It's all dependent on her schedule.
Jag: All I can say is awesome. Hope those SE never come your way.
Grannydukes: Glad to see your on the mend.
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Just a quick update on the sleep (or lack thereof): took a teeny tiny sliver of an ambien and slept deep for 3 hours. Tried to fall back asleep for 3 more hours then gave up. But, boy was I woozy. I mean I felt stoned out of my mind and not in a good way. It took 3-4 cups of strong coffee to get me functional. No breast cancer dreams or at least I don't remember them. Will try again tonight. I wonder if three hours of deep sleep is enough?
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Hello all-
Still feeling relatively well. I did encounter a SE at 1:35am last night - I woke up soaked in sweat! Needed to bathe and change of course. Happened again at about 4am not as bad but needed to change. Has this happened to anyone? I did work 6 hours today and feel a little tired but not bad. I went for my Neulesta shot today. If I experience the joint/bone pain I was told to take Tylenol. Has anyone taken Claritn and does it work?
Peace and Love,
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Jag, welcome to menopause (chemopause). Drenching night sweats are standard. I had finished with them 8 years ago but since I am suppressing my estrogen naturally with DIM, grape seed extract, etc, THEY"RE BAAAACK!!! I had forgotten how much I hated those. They don't happen to me often but when they do they are bed-soakers.
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AmyJo- How are you doing today? You have me so worried. All the ups and downs. I got a treatment plan right up front and I know if they changed it I would be crazy. Have you tried speaking to the Onc as to the change? Know I'm thinking and praying for you.
Love and peace,
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I went to the surgeon that put in m port today for a checkup and everything is healing fine and he won't need to see me again until it is time to take it out. I have had a few mild SE from the Aredia, but they are not too bad. Just feel ucky and ache all over, kind of like I am getting the flu. It should be over tomorrow. The nurse told me if I started to run a fever and it got to 101 to call and go to the hospital. So far it has stayed below 99.4 but was 100 at the last check a few minutes ago.
My DH and I have come up with some questions for the onco and I will be calling him tomorrow. I will email him if I can find his email address. From what I have been finding in my research online is that the blood test for the cancer marker is not really all that reliable. I don't believe most of what I read on the internet, but this has come up in enough different places that I am more than a little concerned. So it is time for me to take my own advice and ask questions until I get all the explanations so that I can understand what is going on.
Jag - the night sweats are completely normal and over time they will ease up. I used to have them during the day and I would look like I had just stepped out of a rain storm! I would be so drenched. Fortunately the company I worked for then had a workout room and showers so I would just go shower and change then go back to work. The men wondered why I always had an extra skirt and blouse in the office, I just let them assume I was a workout fiend.
BarbaraA - I don't think 3 hours is near enough uninterrupted sleep time. You really need 8 - 9,5 hours to really be restorative rest. Hope you can get more rest tonight and not feel like a space cadet tomorrow.
I think I am headed to bed. Hope everyone has a restful night.
Joy and blessings
Amy Jo
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Hi Everyone -
Have been busy these last few days and had not had a chance to see how everyone was doing. Good to read and catch up.
AmyJo - Your Onc should never have made changes without telling you. The only part of this whole process that has kept me somewhat calm is knowing the plan to reach the goal.
A note on Ambien. In 2001 my husband was really sick and spent 2 week in an Indianapolis Hospital then 2 weeks at Mayo Clinic. At Mayo they told him the Ambien is not a narcotic, not habit forming, and very reliable for a good night sleep and a good night sleep is the best medicine you can give yourself. I believe them and he & I both take Ambien each night. I sometimes will split mine in half.
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AmyJo, my onc does the TM tests but does not place a lot of stock in them as they are not accurate. In fact, if you Google TM you will see that their inaccuracy has some docs not even ordering them. So try not to fret.
LiliLou - I wish I could take ambien like you. If I took 1/2 a pill I would either sleep for 24 hours or walk around unconscious.
The reason I am here posting at 3:30 AM is the 1/8 ambien knocked me out from 9-2 then BAM. Here I am groggy but awake. Have one cup of java in me and starting to feel less stoned.
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BarbaraA- I agree 3 hours are NOT enough, but it is a start. Better than 0 hours for now and a benefit if they are 3 hours of not dreaming BC. Hopefully soon your body will adjust to the amount and then you will be able to move up on the amount and that will give you a longer time to sleep. It may take some time and some effort for it to work to its full potential but will sure be worth it in the end if it will work for you. Be patient, although I know that must be very difficult right now as you've certainly been though enough already but try to remember it may take time. Hoping better days are ahead for you. Your sista,
Cathy
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Grannydukes - How are you doing?0
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Omaz and all her Sistas: I just got an email from Granny. She said to tell you she still can't write because she still is in pain and on pain meds. She had a full auxilliary node disection and is waiting for the results. She thanks all of us for our prayers. She seems to be doing ok except she is "bored". I'm sure she knows our prayers are still with her for a complete recovery so she can return to us once her pain has subsided.
GET WELL SOON! GRANNY! YOUR SISTAS LUV YOU!
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granny is drugged,sore bored.luv my sistas.miss u too.xoxoxo
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Hello Granny- Don't do too much. I know the bordem stinks. You will be up and running soon enough, now is time to rest.
Love and Peace,
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Sistas, feel my big hugs for you all. Heading out to watch DH's band with a girlfriend. Won't get back until after midnight so if I take 4mg melatonin w/several beers in me....should work fine I hope. Sucks being me.
My Dad is dying now also. He had a stroke a year ago and one before that and has gotten prgressively weaker. But he could still get around. He pushes the wheelchair because the walker is too 'old-mannish'. But last Thur, he must have had a couple mini strokes and Friday he couldn't get out of bed. Hospice intook him Friday and today he is incontinent. I live 3 minutes away so that's good but it just depresses me even more.
Sorry to dump on you guys but it just really hurts.
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Barbara, it's ok to dump...that's why we are here. I will pray for you, your dad and your family.
Love and peace,
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