Australian Sisters
Comments
-
Thanks for trying with the Buffs Susie. I found this clip on youtube, shows you heaps of ways to 'style' them and so simple and fast. I think I will be buying a few of these.
My daughter told me she can't stand seeing women in bandanas or turbans as to her nothing screams 'i've got cancer' more to her. She told me she wants me to wear a wig all the time I am around her.
Honey? I've got news for you.... my house, my choice. As it is so hot over here I can imagine that when I am at home I will go comando. She (daughter) is moving back up to Perth as she can't stand being around me at the moment. A very difficult pill for me to swallow (her attitude) I know there is no manual on how to handle when a parent gets sick, and people react differently, but I am very sad and disappointed that she isn't capable of being more resiliant. Heaven help her if she has a child with a serious medical condition - I can see I would be left holding that baby!
Anyway, here it the youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHgS2mxHBG4&feature=related0 -
Trisha - a get together post chemo sounds terrific and something to look forward to. Logistics for everyone could be tricky, but can I say count me in that I would try to meet up somewhere central for everyone (FIJI would be nice LOL - I could see us sitting around a nice tropical pool, cocktails in hand, shooting the breeze. I am a such a dreamer!!!) Seriously, Adelaide could be good for me in June.0
-
Oh Kate, so sorry to hear about your daughter's problem. Yes - it is her problem not yours. She may get better as time goes on though, you never know.
Trish
xoxo
0 -
Well - Adelaide is sort of central for us all - Brissy's a bit out of the loop though, Racy and Lyndal - can you get to Adelaide? lol
Trish
0 -
Well if it's not during peak holiday times, airfare deals can be pretty good that time of the year. I could try to travel to the east coast if you ladies can figure what's easiest for you.
0 -
Ladies, I will be OS between mid May and mid June. Otherwise my calendar is free at this stage. I don't mind travelling to Adelaide.
Kate, sorry about your daughter but I agree with Trish; it's her problem. I hope you have lots of other support. Don't waste your emotional energy on your daughter. You need it to get well.0 -
I like the idea of a get-together too...
Have to work out if June will work for rads having finished though. I've completely lost track of timing of everything. I have an appt with the RO on Tuesday this week to discuss. Have found that radiating the supra-clavicular fossa only gives a 3% extra protection against local recurrance so she's out of luck on that for me I'm afraid ;-) But will def have whole breast and axilla :-(
Did anyone, or anyone you know, have the dose dense, shorter rads?
Jenn from my position on the couch (showered, hair straightened, makeup on because my cousin is coming for afternoon tea - then after all that I needed a two hour nap...)0 -
Kate: sorry to hear about your daughter. How old is she?
My kids (20, 18, 16) have all just hibernated to their rooms and occassionally come out and glance at me... I guess I'm not much of a conversationalist at the moment though ;-)
When I got my wigs we all tried them on at dinner one night - hilarious!
Jenn0 -
Jenn - you have a 20 year old daughter?? You don't look old enough!!
I hope you can enjoy the afternoon tea with your cousin. Nap is a good idea - I'd nap every day - sometimes twice a day. Helped a lot.
Trish0 -
Trish: I had my 3 kids before I was 30 to avoid getting breast cancer (well, that was one of the reasons ;-))....
Actually my 16yr old was born the day after my 30th birthday...
I've always counted myself lucky that I look quite young for my age which has been an advantage over the past few years when I changed careers into one dominated by young women.
I'm told I have good skin so no wrinkles as yet but think the next few months may be changing that :-( Oh and I did say I picked my profile photo carefully...
Jenn, still on the couch0 -
Sarah is 24 - and training to be a nurse! I really don't want to paint an inaccurate picture. She says she is terrified for me (her too I suppose). So I know this is coming from fear and not from not careing about me.
Jenn - I've got to slot in rads once I get onto Hercepten. Maybe June might be too early for us both? Guess we'll have a better picture down the track. But I DO like the idea of catching up with everyone.
0 -
Kate: my Melissa is just starting her 3rd year of her Bach Medical Science degree. She's scared for me too but I see her trying to help. She came with me for my bone scan and then we Christmas shopped.
Three friends from her high schools mothers have had BC in the last 2yrs. One is doing ok. The other two died, both this year and one was just a couple of weeks ago and very unexpected.
My middle daughter has Down Syndrome so just knows mum is sick.
Our son's best friend was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma 18mths ago and went through 6mths of chemo and is now fine. My son is scared for me but knows that people survive.
Jenn0 -
I'm coming to Adelaide in June because it's expected of me - nasty mother I am. I was thinknig of waiting for a few weeks after the baby is born, so it could be closer to July.
Went out to the DFO near the airport to look for shoes - no luck.
Kate - the Buffs are great. To look at all the colours, you click on Original Buffs. I got one with geckos on it. Trouble is you'll need them soon, not really time to wait for US postage. I used to tie it in Pirate fashion - I really liked that way.
0 -
I've had enough of looking at my mugshot everytime I am on here, and you all know what I look like now, so I have replaced my pic, with one of Jilly my border collie who I love more than anything. She and I are just so in-synch. She follows me everywhere, even to the bathroom and sleeps right next to me on the floor of the bedroom. If I get up before she does and it is dark, I just call her name and she will thump her tail so that I can hear where she is laying so I don't step on her.
It's an interesting story how I got her. I was adopted and about 6 years ago I found out I had a birth sister. Her name is Jill and she lives in QLD. The first time I met Jill, her dog had just had pups and she asked me to choose one to have. I choose the runt of the litter, the only one with the white face. All the others had perfect markings. Jilly was flown down to me (when I lived in Canberra) when she was 12 weeks old and has been at my side ever since.
0 -
and something else. Sorry I must be bored today, so I'm sharing this with you guys...
Jill (who is slightly older than me) and myself were both born in Melbourne and we ended up living in Hobart at the same time, in streets parallel to each AND we went to the same school at the same time! We have only learn this decades later upon research and looking at our old school magazines. There she is in her year photo on one page, and me with my class on the adjacent page! We didn't even have an inkling back then. She and I are very close now so it has had a wonderful and happy ending.
0 -
Kate, what a wonderful outcome for you and your sister! I love it when things like that work out well as so often they don't. Your Jilly is beautiful! Just love her white face.....you can she she loves the person she's looking at.
I have been such a slacker today, I slept very late and then got up, tool meds, had brunch and turned the computer on to check out whats been happening........lol........my name is Chrissy and I'm addicted to BCO!....lol.
I think all the rushing around and dealing with the news of progression has really wiped me out! I slept twelve hours and I'm ready for bed again right now! What the? Hopefully it will pass as I have a whole lot of things to do tomorrow.
Kate, your daughter is terrified of loosing you hence her reaction to whats going on. Give her time, she will digest everything in her own time just give her the space to do so.
Jenn, you gorgeous girl you! Fancy getting all doled up when you feel so bad! Oh well if it helps it's a good thing. Hope you feel a whole lot better tomorrow.
Sure hope we can organise a get together! That sounds fabulous!!! I'll work with everyone else, just say the word!
Love n hugs. Chrissy
0 -
Jenn, everyone is different in how they handle this. I'm glad your daughter went with you for your bone scan and then retail therapy. Sarah has been with me twice. Unfortunately both times bad and unexpected news was given (first time, cancer, 2nd time chemo) she says she will come with me for the chemo education class on Monday. Although I don't know if she will handle it well, I think she needs to be real about this. I am more than likely going to be, and look, sick at times. No use trying to hide that under the carpet. She thinks I am going to die, even though I have told her all the positives about my diagnosis. My MO said with treatment, I have an excellent prognosis which I have relayed onto her. She is still scared though.
And I agree, you just don't look old enough to have a 20 year old!!!
0 -
My eldest is 41! I don't feel that old!
0 -
Yikes Chrissy - you must have been a teenager when you had that one
Kate - nice to hear you found your sister - lovely story and also an incredible coincidence you were at the same school.0 -
Sue, I married at 17 and had her ten months and two days later! We didn't mess around..........or maybe we did........lol
0 -
Chrissy - yep she was looking at me. She is right next to me now while I'm on the computer.
I'm so sorry you are having such a rough ride lately. I really do hope it is a temporary slump and you will feel better soon.
I too, would love a catch up. Funny. I've only been here for such a short while, but it feels like I''ve just put on a good old comfy pair of slippers every time I sit here.
I think we are all wonderful and special people.
xxxxxx
0 -
Kate my biggest bitch about all of this is the fatigue. I was always a go getter and always had a dozen projects on the go as well as raising a family and later helping to raise my grands and running a business but now I sometimes don't have the energy to do anything without a great deal of effort. Never mind, I will just have to adjust to the new me and I know that with time. I am going to slow down even more as I progress. If nothing else, I am a realist and know what I have to look forward to but try to live right now for that is the best place to be.
Love your concern, thanks.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
0 -
Hugs to you all. Adelaide sounds like fun and I'll be in so long as I can get my staff to cover for me (not easy to plan ahead when your a owner manager). I probably wont know till a week or two before knowing my track history of trying to get time off.
Chrissy, I know what you mean. I find myself with a body that just doesnt work like it used to and having to adjust to being probably less than half as active as I used to be is very difficult. Only thing that helps is going to bed early and I find that very hard personally. Ahh well its a small price we pay I guess. Would be nice to time travel back to being 25 for a day though so I could get all the housework up to date lol.
I too think we are all special people, and strong, very very strong.
0 -
Lynda, I tried the early to bed thing but then was awake at 3am!....ugh.....apparently I only need so many hours of sleep normaly so that's what I get regardless of time I go to bed. This fatigue is partly due to the Femara and as long as I'm on that, it's not going to go.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
0 -
Chrissy - the fatigue would be awful. I know when you are used to doing a hundred things at once, having to take it easy isn't ... well easy. But - you are a grandmother - so you've earned it lol, that's why they call them Nana Naps! Seriously - I hear you and know that you are thought of often.
Kate - what a lovely story. And to get a gorgeous dog as well - Jilly looks so adoring. I have two rough collies - one is the traditional lassie colour and the other is a tri - black, white and tan. They follow me everywhere. When I was going through chemo they were amazing - one would be on the lounge or in bed with me and the other would be laying across the doorway as if he were guarding it. And they swapped with each other regularly. They are amazing creatures, life would be not as joyful without a dog in - for me anyway.
Jenn - hope your day was great and you didn't feel too bad.
Well - I've been a very productive girl, weeded the veggie patch as well as deadheading the roses and dahlias. Pulled up a crop of beetroot and slowly roasted them in the oven with a little bit of suger, red wine vinegar and olive oil - yum yum. Had them with a salad for dinner. Finished off a book, did some washing and then picked about 15 kilos of necterarines off our tree before the birds got to them. They are still sitting in buckets though - I don't have the energy to do anything with them yet lol. They aren't quite ripe yet anyway, so during the week I'll be making necterarine jam, stewed nectarines, nectarine chutney ummm... and I'll think of more things too I'm sure.
I'm off to bed shortly - nighty night girls hope you all sleep well.
Trish
xoxo
0 -
Trisha - ha, I'd love to give Jilly credit for being super-intuned to my needs but alas, she made me break my ankle badly a few years back. Whilst I was recovering in a soft cast she would be on the bed next to me, but a noise would startle her, and she would 'jump' right on my break.... I never cried so much in my life!!! and she did that about 3 times until I got the hard cast on!
Good for you having a productive day. I have done nothing. Well that's a lie. I was on the phone to a Canberra friend for nearly 2 hours! Ah, friends are so sweet and so therapeutic - the best medicine indeed.
Jenn - how are you feeling today? did you have a nice afternoon visit? or has it drained you?
Tomorrow is the start of another week for us all. So glad to be here with you guys.
Love Kate xxxx
0 -
Chrissy, my mum is like you in that regard. Poor thing cant get more than 5 hours sleep no matter what. You have my complete sympathy. I find it hard to get to sleep but once sleeping it takes a lot to wake me (usually the alarm clock going off for work).
Im exhausted and hungry from reading all that Trish did today lol. Good onya Trish.
Jenn, hope your feeling well. With luck the worst is over by now and you can recover for a few weeks.
Kate, my mum had a similar reaction as your daughter. Is your daughter a pessimist in life? My mum is and she had me dead and buried the instant the C word was mentioned. She had to be my carer through the treatment and half way through it all she broke down and had to stay away till prozac and other meds got her back to being herself, more or less. I wasnt a very demanding patient either I promise lol. She just couldn't stand seeing me on the iv and then so sick as she loved me so much. I admit to feeling very let down at the time as I really did need someone to just make me a little meal now and then. Also I was so worried about her the stress levels rose dramatically. I know its selfish, but when your going through it all, just once it would be nice if the world resolved around you, do you know what I mean?
I hope your daughter copes better than my mum did.
Btw mum had a relapse when I had another C scare just before xmas, so its just one of those things that she cant help and there's no point in losing patience with her. She has always been a pessimist. Good thing Im a supreme optimist.I truly have never cried about getting BC or losing the breast, though i admit the zoledronic acid they gave me a few months back brought me to tears. Most painful thing Ive ever had. Felt like I was having a heart attack for 18 hours. Gonna get some tests done before I let them put that crap in me again let me tell you.
0 -
Lyndal - the day after my first Zometa infusion I had terrible chest pains like you - 1 dexamethasone tablet fixed it. I've had 2 more since and no problems - they have to deliver it slowly. I didn't know what to do, I went home from work but didn't call the onc until the next morning. My husband was away in Tassie and I thought if I drove myself to the doctor they might send me to hospital and what would happen to my car - those sought of crazy thoughts. So I just put up with it. The onc said antiinflammataries would work, well I already take them, so I suggested a dex and he said go for it.
Just skyped with our son in London and saw Alexander - he's gorgeous. For some reason they can't hear us, will have to look into that one. We just called on the phone - that works.
0 -
Lynda, I think as we age the body needs less and less sleep to function well. Most older people only sleep about six hours but of course eight hours are optimum. Sometimes it happens but mostly it doesn't....lol We all deal with this dx in different ways but eventually we all arrive at the same place, the knowledge that there is nothing we can do about it other than follow the protocols and hope it is enough and if it isn't? Well it is what it is. I am a realist with optimistic tendancies........lol
I sure hope you mum learns to deal with it all a little better or she will end up ill as well.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
0 -
Chrissy - I read somewhere recently that said that when you hit middle age, you go back to the same bed time as you had as a 10 year old and it just gets worse - oh joy something else about old age to look forward too. I can relate though. I'm usually in bed by 9.00 or 9.30 at the latest but I get up anywhere from 4.30 to 5.30am including Sundays! Grrrrrrr.
Lyndal - I am the classic optimist like you. I do think Sarah is a lot more of a pessimist by nature, hence I just can't get my point of view or perspective across to her, no matter how hard I try. I am just letting it go. It is easier for me to have a productive relationship with her even if she is up in Perth away from it all, than if she was here, just dragging me down.
I have to admit to everyone that I have chemo school tomorrow and I am scared. I think scared really for the first time since all of the BC business began for me. It is going to be very confronting. I hate to think of those toxic poisons being dripped into my arm on Friday and the effects it will cause. I don't do sick well. I am usually very hale and hearty, but when I am sick, I curl up and think I am going to die. What the hell will I think when I really AM feeling sick and miserable after chemo. I am trying hard not to preempt anything as I know we are each individual and react differently, but I am so scared..... the cancer hasn't frightened me (yet) but the thought of being sick really does.
0
