Australian Sisters
Comments
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Still here ladies,
Last rad yesterday and no side effects. The balance issues are gone so they reckon it worked at shrinking those peanuts in my brain. Will see rad onc in 3 weeks then brain MRI 6 weeks after that so a long time before we know anything.
Restart Abraxane Monday, full steam ahead. That's all the good news.
Unfortunately they gave me so many steroids I have severe muscle wastage in my legs. I am using a walking frame and about to hire a wheelchair. ( I am 49 and used to ride my bike everywhere) So depressing. Severe pain also with muscles so I have been out of contact with anyone. Steroids are finished and I am now pumping down the protein shakes and trying to strengthen and rebuild these legs. Don't know how long this will take and am scared I'll never get walking properly again. Just got to keep doing what is best I guess.
I read the boards most days. Will hopefully be more upbeat next time I post.
Love to all
Angela0 -
So sorry Angela to hear about the horrible side effects, so hope they are all temporary.
It must be quite late in Melbourne, I am away at present and unable to sleep.
Hope you can get some sleep and feel better in the morning.
Hugs Lola.
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Hi Angela,
Sounds like the rads have turned out as well as they should, which is good news :-) Assuming you did not have too much trouble with burns or anything? At least I hope so since you ended up with the leg problems, and both wouldn't be fair!
I had no idea that steroids could affect someone like that. Hope that the exercises (did you get a referral for physio?) will work quickly.
Jenn0 -
Hi all, all is well with me. Had hip pain for 8 days so finally saw a dr and am on voltarin for a suspected pinched nerve/sciatica (lol havent even googled it) but its not severe, just impacts on my work, but hopefully the worst is over and I can resume normal duties on Sunday.
Angela, I have no idea if this will help or not, cause clearly your muscle wastage has been severe, but after I finished chemo I was having major trouble walking and I went to the local gym and went on one of those low exercise bikes, the one where your feet are out in front of you and not underneath you. Vaguely remember only cycling a couple of hundred meters the first time and never spent more than 10 - 15 minutes there but it helped get the full range of movement and some strength back into the legs without hurting my back, bottom or any other part of me. I needed to do that to accelerate the healing as I was needed back at work faster then what nature would have enabled. Anyway just thought that trying a few minutes on one to see if it helps might be worth a try.
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Easter is approaching fast....I am really looking forward to the time off work and just relaxing.....I hope it is good for everyone
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Hi Linda, I always wonder why staff in shops can't sit on stools. I would not like to have to stand at work all day. Is sitting an option for you?
Angela, I also attended physio at my hospital during and after chemo to help with muscle wastage. It sounds like physio could help you. Please talk with your onc about getting a referral. Thinking of you.0 -
Lyndal - you need my physio - fixes sciatica in 2 treatments. Unfortunately he's in the city and Toowong and you have to work. Taking tablets won't fix it - you need to see someone. Why my guy is so good is that he is a manipulative physio - better than a chiro IMHO.
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Thanks for the ideas guys. I will get onto it,
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Gosh Angela, you have been through a minefield. I hope you can get your muscle strength back, I also had no idea steroids could do that to you. I sincerely hope the treatment works really successfully for you.
I am on day 3 of abraxane and so far feeling good except knees are very sore for some reason but could be from last night lol. Hosted sons 21st birthday and we had a wonderful night with the Rolling Stones tribute band playing (looked like Jagger and Richards!) up and down all night burning up with continuous hot flushes but got through and managed to dance. One important milestone achieved, so happy about that! Keep pain free everyone and send my hugs to those suffering and hope it gets better very soon. Love Gail0 -
I could be nominated for most embarassed woman of the year, i was in the little superette this arvo, next door to laundry where i do my washing and the worst possible thing happened, its funny now, but at the time, i did not know which way to look and luck it was only me and girl at the counter, well i heading to the counter, my pants fell down, both of them, they used to fit me well. i had both hands full, so had no way of stopping them, she turned around and loked away so i pulled them up, but the poor girl, that would make her day memorable. she said, you need some more clothes, she was lovely and made it that it was not so embarassing for me. ( thank God it was not the guy behind the counter) i would of crawled into a hole and hid. oh dear i do get into some situations at times. my sister is still laughing. My mum is coming down in two weeks, she said, please don't let that happen while she is there. she won't get over it. hubby said, he would of tried to sheild me, even though he was almost doubled up laughing. i thinki have a cuppa tea now. and a girl guide biscuit or two. lol, just had this terrible thought, hope i was not too near any seciuity camera footage, catch you cheers and hugs.
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That's so funny Midnight, sorry but I had to laugh, when I was in hospital 1 pair of knickers that I took in fell off me. I had to keep wearing them all day ( luckily in bed ) as I hadn't taken enough knickers with me. I don't think that I left the hospital room that day as I thought they might fall off like yours did.
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Oh Annette! How embarrassing for you!.......but still funny when you think on it......lol. I'm so glad the lass behind the checkout was nice and that you were the only two there. Time for some new elastic or even better some new clothes that fit you well.
Angela so glad to hear that you are through with the radiotherapy but sorry to hear that it has left you with that horrible SE. Have you thought of consulting a physio? At least to get assessed and some exercises that will help strengthen you legs without wiping you out.
Ooo Linda! Sciatic pain is the worst and the girls are right when they say you need to see a manipulative physio to get you out of pain and able to do what you must. Hoping it eases soon.
Ggail, its good to hear that you managed to havae fun celebrating your son's 21st.....it is indeed a milestone. Hoping the abraxane doesn't give you too many SE's and it does good things for you.
Was chatting with DD2 about her birthday in a few weeks and trying to work out what she wants to do.......as usual she wan't sure so I think we are all just going out to dinner to celebrate her 40th. I can't believe the years have gone so fast......lol......I guess that's who that old woman is who looks at me in the mirror each morning!
Hoping your wekend has been as you want it.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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This was our lunch treat today.
I hope every one had a great Sunday.
Annette that must have been quite funny. My best was almost loosing my knickers walking down the streat in Melbourne - had to rush back to the hotel and change.
Hope people are getting relief from pain - sciatica is the worst.
Big hugs to all.
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Oh Annette,
Thank you for the story, so embarrassing for you I'm sure but every now and then I burst out laughing again, sorry. You have made my day
Thanks for the lovely support girls, should see physio tomorrow. Will keep u informed.
Angela xxx0 -
I think i will be getting some new clothes, before mother arrives, she is into flashey things, so will also get my hair done, she is here 12th April for two days stop over, we are going to stay at a motel as our house is packed ready to move when the time comes, plus she will relax and not want to do things. But i will concentrate on me, so i look the part. lol. She into wearing make up, i only do when i go out. i will wait til the thursday before she gets here on the friday, do these things. She is lovely, but can be critical, and hurtful at times with her comments. I am quite nervous actually as she will have somethings to say about my weight for sure. But looks like i am loosing some, i have not been dieting. but my pants are looser lol hence the loosing of them in the shop. lol. oh well, we have to have something to be amused by when we have to go through so much other trauma. I think it is funny now, but at the time my cheeks were burning with embarrassment, lol, i was lucky it happened then, as four guys walked into shop, while i was at the counter, so they missed out on the excitement,,THANK GOD. well i must be away, have a few things to accomplish today. hugs.
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Hi girls
Annette.....your stories are so funny & sure do make me laugh
It's such a shame your mum can be rather critical & make you nervous.....the best thing you can do is just be who you want to be.....seriously, I've been there & it's not til you accept who you are that you will feel comfortable around your mum. Who cares if you're not as glamorous or thin as her.....it's her problem, not yours! Try not to bite back at her comments, just laugh at her.....& most of all, relax & enjoy. (((Hugs)))
Angela......big (((hugs))) You've been going through so much & I honestly do think of you often. I too, didn't realize steroids could be so harmful, hopefully some physio will be helpful......x
Alyson......your grand kids are gorgeous, hope the cake was yummy....:)
Chrissy......a 40 year old daughter!! You don't look old enough.....
Is she the gorgeous girl that was on facebook not long ago? If so, she must have her mums good genes, coz she sure doesn't look 40!!!
Gail.....so glad your sons 21st was such a success & you were able to enjoy it.....here's to many more milestones xxxxx
Hope you are feeling ok (apart from the aches & pains from too much dancing!) & the side effects aren't too bad....
Well, I've had another 3 days of lunches! Since I retired from work, I've turned into one of those ladies we all laugh about......all I do is shop, have facials & do lunch. Lol
I've been quite emotional the last few days actually (despite all the lovely
Iunches!!). My sister told me that after my daughters birthday lunch last Wednesday, Amy (my daughter) sent a heart wrenching message to Claire (my sister) telling her how much she loves me, can't stand the thought of losing me & how she desperately wants more time with me
It's gut wrenching stuff.....I've woken in the middle of the night in tears....
Cancer sucks!!!!!
Anyway, off to get my first facial waxing since starting chemo last November (my hair is growing on Xeloda, but not too impressed by the facial hair!!!!) & also having a mani & pedi (the Xeloda screws around with the hands & feet) before we head off on holiday on Wednesday. Off to Cairns/Port Douglas for a week with our kids & my sister & then hubby & I are going to Sydney for a few days & then Lithgow for a weekend to see his family & our old school buddies.....leaving will be another emotional experience....sigh!
Hugs to everyone.
Karen x0 -
Karen, thank you, yes she has been like that most of her life. one time when she came down and we were living somewhere else, and honestly, DH was ready to send her to a motel, she was just plain Naughty all the time, rude to hubby, cried all the time, as she didn't like the animals we had, just generally played up. we tried to include her in things, feed the donkey, the attitude just reeked all week, she was told, if she wants to come back, she had better change her attitude, or don't bother, that was from Hubby, well after that i was dx with Bco about 6 months later and when she came down for that, we stayed in motel then as Hubby did not want to have the animals jump all over me after surgery, she brought my friend with her, and they stayed her cousins, much better trip and time. but that other time was awful. I believed she was told off from my eldest sister as well about her behaviour. lol usually it is the mother telling off the kids. now its the kids telling off the mother. I was very stressed and distraught from that visit, took me ages to settle down.
I am sorry you have been emotional, yes it is an emotional time when we see family and having to say good bye, but Karen you are survivor, ther will be heaps of times to see them, glad you going and having breaks and living your life. We thinking of you often.
Alyson, lovely kids and the cake looks gorgeous. what sort of cake was it. looks yum. i am glad you did not loose yr nickers in melbourne lol.
Aussie, i think i would have stayed in my room too, if my nickers were loose, i am actually having a good laugh today about my experience. well i am famished and going to get a bite to eat as the acid is stating to make me feel off. i don't want reflux. will go and get a sammy. catch yous.
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Oh Aly I can't believe he is two already! When I saw him he wasn't even crawling a lot! Where does the time go?
Annette it's very hard to hear the criticisms from our mothers regardless of the fact we know its just their nature to be critical. It's also annoying to think that they need to be that way when all we want to do is love them. Hope your visit this time goes better.
Karen I understand how you are feeling re your DDs conversation with your sister. Every time I go to the docs my girls are on the edge of their seats waiting for me to report back to them and if the report is not a good one they seem to go to pieces........it ends up me trying to calm them........lol. Either way, it's hard to hear their despair at the thought of losing us. ((((((Hugs))))))). Thanks for the compliment and yes, the DD I'm talking about is the one on FB. She is my younger DD, her older sister is about to turn 43........she'll kill me for telling you but there you go.......lol. I must admit I started my family young, I married at seventeen and had my eldest DD ten months later at eighteen. Oh! And yes, there were many people counting the months between......I gues it was just the times......lol.
Having lunches is not so bad....actually it's a good thing and being pampered is another good thing so enjoy all that you can get!.......lol.
Love n hugs. Chrissy0 -
Annette, your story made me giggle but I hope you haven't lost too much weight being unwell. I do hope you get sorted soon.
Karen I can relate to the facial hair, I sometimes think I look like a billy goat. Grrrr.
I went to get a massage because I have been having bad neck, shoulder pain, headaches and lack of arm strength for months. Not my BC arm. I have tried drugs and physio to no avail. The little Chinese lady who I haven't seen for two years said I didn't need a massage I needed accupuncture. 20 minutes later I had no pain, 3 days later I still have no pain and I have arm strength again. I am so happy. x
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Kylie, great to hear the acupuncture worked
Annette, another great story....
To all you lovely ladies, I hope you enjoy a wonderful Easter with family and friends...0 -
Morning all
I did post this elsewhere but thought I would share it with you.
Dear Cats,
I know it was my birthday but I didn't need the RAT. Luckily the man about the house was first to see it and removed the remains. Despite that I had to clean the carpet. I don't know which one of you brought it in, next time leave it outside please.I should have realised something was up because they kept coming and going from the bed. Though usually they call to tell us they have presents. Its great they catch them but I don't like disposing of them, luckily DH found it. He thought the old cat had been sick then realised what it was. Think I have got it all off the carpet. I still love them though.
Off out soon with DD and the little ones. They couldn't do anything yesterday so we are out today. I had DGS in the morning then went out for luch with a friend. So it was a lovely day.
Annette the birthday cake was a banana cake I think from Edmonds recipe book. OK you Aussies she will know what I am talking about.
I had better move and get ready for my expedition.
Big hugs to all.
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Aly - had to buy some cornflakes for Steve to eat while on a low residue diet - very tempted to make Afghans. I treasure my Edmonds cookbook
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Hello lovely ladies
Ally and Annette - your stories made me laugh :-) Ally we used to have a cat that would bring in bats!! And she had three bells on her collar lol
Kylie - great that the accupuncture worked. I used to get accupuncture for my neck, and was going to a great person who helped a lot, then they left the area and her replacement wasn't so good. Last time I went to him, he forgot about me and the needles were in for far too long, so I never went back.
Angela, I can't begin to understand how your family (and you) are coping with this, all I can do is send you gentle ((((hugs)))) and tell you I think of you everyday. Everyday I'm sending you warm positive thoughts and hope that some of the glow gets to you and makes your day just a little bit better. I was shocked to read about the steroids too, I didn't realise they could do that to you. I hope you are getting over that now?
Karen - the same goes for you, I think of you everyday and hope each day is a good one for you. Sending you gentle (((hugs)))) too.
Everything is going well with me girls. My bruises are almost gone, although the back of my head is still tender. Went to the dentist yesterday for my three monthly clean and wonder of wonders, one of my teeth is actually better than it was last time. I actually like going to the dentist these days (apart from the cost that is) I have my clean and have gas for it lol - yes I'm a big wimp, but you all knew that :-) My teeth are so sensitive that even cleaning can be quite painful, so I put my iPod on and settle back with the gas and have a great time lol.
Another busy day about to start, so better get at it.
Love to you allTrish
xoxo
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Yep i know the the old edmonds alright, lol i love Banana cake. i have also made a fijoa cake with that recipe, it is very moist Alyson, i normally put a lemon frostimg or icing on that one, though ok with chocalate as well. lol i dont eat spag bol, so it was not familar to me. my sister did though. I loved that cat story Alyson.
Kylie, my hubby, mentioned the same thing you said. i hope you not loosing weight for un healthy reasons, yea it may be good, but if you loosing it because you not well lately, then its not good and its worrying. I used to eat 3 slices of toast for brecky, but now can hardly get two down, i have cottage cheese and marmite, get full quick, tho i ate a good tea last night. yummy fishcakes with tatea sauce, new potatoes and frozen peas and corn. the fish cakes were yummy as. Thanks Kylie, but it was funny, lucky it was a little shop and not the main supermarket, OMG lol.
i am going to eat now, may have some noodles with the rest of the peas and corn in it from last night.. so catch you later.
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mmmm, banana cake made the right way!!!!!!!
Jenn0 -
Hi all
I went back to the hospital today for my checkup after my mammo last Friday. The Doctor said that everything was okay, he also checked me and couldn't find any lumps in right breast. I don't need to go back for another year now, although I've just had my expander put in I go to see the Plastic Surgery Doctors not the Breast Centre Doctors. I don't go back now until the 4th April for my first fill so that should be interesting.
I love cake but as I live by myself if I make one I end up eating it all !!! Not good for the diet.
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Great news Aussie, so you only have the fills now until exchange. What kind of time frame are they anticipating for that?
Talking about cake I quite like the Japanese cheesecake, so light and creamy, mmm haven't had that in ages, you are whetting my appetite now!
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Gosh so many posts to reply to on an I pad with one finger lol!
Very funny Annette losing undies and pants! What are the chances, obviously you are not wearing a thong like Jennifer Hawkins lol! My dear mum used to criticize myself and 2 sisters weight and it was so annoying, it's a wonder we didn't have eating issues! The funny thing is now I am fat I look back on old photos and think I looked great, what was I thinking!
I can't believe your kids are in their 40's Chrissy!! But then I had my son on ivf when I was 38, so that's why my son s young!
Thanks for asking Karen, this morning is the first morning I have slept through and not been in pain with aching legs , I hope the chemo is doing its job.
Alyson, your children are beautiful and I feel for you with battling this damn disease with a young family.
Karen, that is so sad to hear of your daughters worry, sending you a big hug, makes me feel emotional when I think of the thoughts our children have. So unfair for them. Love to all Gail0 -
Hello Ladies, Hope all are ok, and those with treatment ok. lol Gail i am just glad it happened in a small shop, not the main supermarket with alot of people around.
Lola, what does Japanese cheese cake consist of, sounds yummy all ready. I bet the taste would be awesome.
Last night i had the most awful pains that went across under my breast bone and into the middle of my back, Ow, got DH to rub my back for abit, was soothing, but the pain was very uncomfortable, took two nurofen and two panadol and it knocked it back and then eventually went, but for about half an hour it give me gip. and sort of sudden too. if it happens today, i will be going to Doc even if i am not their problem as they say, they will be getting a new one and they can sort it properly, even if i have to go for scan or something. i don't want a repeat of that.
Well i am going to do my dishes and tidy house abit, and poor water on my step, lazy dog, peed on it, so better go and wash off and spray the flyspray, we have special stuff made up, works well. hope everybody has a good day.
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Hi girls
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to Cairns we go! Heading off for 2 weeks holiday today, 1 week with the kids & sister & 1 week just hubby & I.....:)
Gail, glad you're feeling better from all that dancing & partying..& yes, fingers crossed the chemo is working.
I think the hardest thing about knowing you're gonna die is knowing how much pain it's going to cause your loved ones......I know you know how I feel, especially as you have such a close relationship with your son. (((Hugs))
Annette....hope you get your pain sorted, you've been having a bit of a rough trot of late.
Trish.....glad you're feeling better....:)
Chrissy....I too had my first child early, got married & had him when I was 18! Let's just say it was less than 9 months after the wedding when he was born....lol. He would be 34 this year but we lost him when he was 23....:( I met my hubby when I was 15, so life without me will be a bit tough on him....he doesn't know any other way......
Anyway, off to finalize the packing.....might post a few pics on the Facebook site (can't figure out how to get them on here even though Chrissy gave me instructions!!)
Have a lovely Easter ladies.
Karen xox0
