Australian Sisters

Kate60

Óh Susie - want some extra dinner guests tonight???

racy

Hello to all you early birds. I have a terrible habit of not going to bed until midnight. My addictions to BCO and sudoku keep me up. I like to get 8 hours sleep but that doesn't always happen if I need to get up early. I usually have a siesta. All this will change shortly.



I have a different health issue and my mind always goes to the worst case scenario. Today's diagnosis best case is mild breast lymphedema. Anyone have this or know anything about compression bras?



Trish, when did you finish chemo? I've never seen you on the Hair thread. It's my favourite. Without measuring it, my hair is still about 2 inches long. I am 40.5 weeks PFC!

chrissyb

Well I eventually fel asleep and woke up about an hour ago........about midday.  I've been out in the courtyard restaking my tomatoes as they are going bunta and the stakes I had were no where near long enough........lol.......mind you, I was checking out how  many were almost ready for picking as well and I can't wait!  They are so big and so round they are beginning to look like round orbs of yumminess.......lol.  Some are now colouring and should be ready to pick in three or four days.

Awe Kate, sorry about the D, I'm not on chemo just Femara and have been for 15 months and until there was another med added to the mix, I had it B A D for the whole 15 months.  It got so whatever I ate went through the system in a matter of about three hours........yup, in one end and out the other!  Not sure why the other med should bind but thank goodness it does and I am now what I call 'normal'  ......lol........what a topic! 

Those blue nails are a bit concerning, do you have any numbness to accompany the blueness (word?)  is your arm or hand cold in comparison to the rest of your body?  or is that digit cold in comparison?  Most times the colour of your nails points to lack of oxygen but if you are not having any breathing problems at all and I mean at all, there are a couple of other things it could be but you really need to get it checked out by your doc or at least notify him/her of it's presence.

Wow Jenn!!!!  You are my hero!!!!  Partying only 3 days after chemo!!  WOW!!!  Even if it was only for an hour and a half that is an amazing feat.  I was lucky if I could move from the bed to the arm chair to the bathroom and back.  Just don't overdo what ever you do.

Trish, my hair, what I have left, has gone the other way, it was always baby soft and very fine but very thick now, other than falling out, it's a stronger texture and feels wiry and very thin...............now if somewhere along the line we could perhaps get to that happy medium I would have lovely hair!!!  If wishes could be pennies I'd be a very rich woman...hahahahahaha!  Do you know what is causing your constipation?  On the constipation thread I posted the recipe for some natural fruit balls that help in that department.  Lately with my new norm I have been a bit tight in that area and I have diverticulitis so I don't like to get too bound up and eating two of the fruit balls before going to bed makes things move right along usually first thing in the morning.

Sue, ooooo are you sure you don't want a heap of dinner guests?  I'm willing to travel.......lol......it sounds delicious!!!!

I think I have finally got my internet connection sorted....thank goodness!  I hate an unreliable connection as invariably I have written a long post and just as I would hit submit the connection would be lost and POOF!!!!   All my word are gone and I can never rewrite as to me, the though process changes and it's never quite right.....lol......hopefully now that is not and I repeat not going to happen anymore.....yahoooo!   I really gave it a good test out yesterday as downloaded about half dozen movies that I have been wanting to see.........now I just need to be in the mood to watch them.....lol.

Love n hugs all.  Chrissy

chrissyb

Racy, sorry I bumped you,  the commpression bra, what do you want to know about it?

racy

Chrissy, that was good advice you gave Kate about her nails. Better safe than sorry!



I read on the lymphedema thread people talking about compression bras. It's a new issue for me so I haven't researched yet. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience in the topic?

chrissyb

I don't wear one but probably should so I did a heap of research on them last year.  When I was in the USA and in Shell Knob, Kittycat wore one and showed me hers.  They are like a thick sports bra to look at but she swore to me that is was very comfortable.  I do know they are very expensive but if you have private health at the top level, you are cavered for two compression garments per year as long as you have a letter from your LE practitioner stating you need to wear one for medical reasons.........as if you'd wear one if you didn't need it.

Trisha-Anne

Racy - no I never think to go onto the hair thread.  I'm almost 52 weeks pfc.  My hair seems to be growing faster than yours!  Sorry :-(

Chrissy - my internet connection drops out all the time, I usually check that it's on and working before I press submit.  If I forget and it's off I press the backward arrow at the top of the screen (to go to the screen before) when it tells me I'm not connected, and I usually go back to the screen with all my typing on it.  That's once I've connected again.  It's usually worked so far anyway - might be worth a try.

I'm moving again now - lol took one of hubby's senacots and it worked a treat.  It was from the anaesthetic I think - and the panadeine they gave me.  Anyway - I'm working well now lol

I don't know anything about compression bras - I haven't had a problem so far.  I usually go without a bra at home, I hate wearing the things.

Well - I just made a huge pot of beetroot chutney (you should have seen the size of the beetroots - they were enormous!) and another huge pot of peach and brandy chutney.
We just picked 2 big buckets of peaches, and the two trees are still laden.  We have yummy peaches from here to Canberra lol

I'm jealous of your tomatoes Chrissy - ours are still green berries!  I think they'll take off after yesterday and today though - lots of sunshine for a change.

Trish

xoxo

suzieq60

Well, I wanted to nap but decided the downstairs floor was really disgusting, so I vacuumed it. Sweat dripping off - very hard work. My vacuum sucks like a demon which makes it a big effort. Had a couple of swims after. Also cleaned our handbasin and loo and folded the washing - I'm glad I did it.

Here's the recipe for that beurre noisette - it was from Ready Steady Cook it's totally delicious and that is coming from someone who would rather beer batter my fish.

Be warned - it's for one person, so I doubled everything

Pan fried barramundi with mash and beurre noisette recipe

22/05/2008

Jared Ingersoll

This recipe is listed under:
Seafood Recipes

Ingredients:
Olive oil
1 barramundi fillet
2 sebago potatoes, peeled and diced 
40g butter
¼ cup pouring cream
Beurre noisette
50g butter
1 tbs roasted hazelnuts, chopped
1 tbs sage leaves
1 tsp lemon juice

Method:
1 Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat, add barramundi and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Season with salt and pepper.
2 Boil, steam or microwave potatoes until tender.  Transfer to a bowl, add butter and cream and using a potato masher, mash the potatoes until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3 For the beurre noisette, melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat until it is foaming, as it starts to brown add the hazelnuts, sage leaves and lemon juice and remove from heat.
4 Spoon mash onto a plate, top with fish and pour over the beurre noisette to serve

Kate60

Hi Girls. Please pop over to our FB group. I've loaded some photos of my big day today.

xxxxx

Kate60

Thanks for your advice about my nails. It is growing darker from the nail moon, not all over the nail, so I don't think it's oxygen related. I'm sure I read somewhere that your nails can be affected by chemo and they can go black.  But I will show the MO on Friday when I see him before my chemo  just to be sure.

Jennt28

Yes, your nails can be affected. I read about it on here and then at my first appt my MO noticed that I had already painted my nails almost black (it protects them from the sun which can do some of the damage) and commented that I had obviously planned well and to keep them painted.



So if you have been out in the sun a bit it could be from that - probably not too late to varnish/paint them really dark now though Kate.



Saw your photos Kate :-) You look great.



I'm feeling very tired. Spent all day yesterday on the couch in front of the tv and sleeping. Fighting the tongue thrush still :-(



Jenn

Trisha-Anne

I painted my nails black - but that was for the Taxotere, I wasn't aware that FEC could cause discolouration of nails, but then I don't know everything lol

Jen - hope you are feeling better today?

Kate - haven't been able to see your photos yet - will look at fb this afternoon when I get home.

Can anyone tell me about disolvable stitches?  I vaguely remember the surgeon telling me he was going to put in disolveable stitches, and I assume that's what is under the "glad wrap" dressing on the port site.

How long to I leave the dressing on?  Can it get wet?  The dressing is starting to irritate me.

Trish

xoxo

Jennt28

If you've got the glad wrap dressing :-) you should be fine to shower.



I know some say just to leave that dressing on till it starts coming off itself, but I got my friend who is a nurse to change it for me so we could check everything was ok.



If it's really irritating, go to the chemist and buy a smaller different brand one and change it, especially if they've given you the one with the pink tape on the sides - that stuff is deadly to sensitive skin :-(



I spent all day yesterday sleeping or watching tv - so NOT me. I've done a bit of work this morning but am taking the rest of the day as sick leave. Not busy and not worth the tiredness... Still fighting off the mild nausea and the tongue thrush - that stuff does not want to go away...



Jenn

Trisha-Anne

Jenn - I'm sending you ((((hugs)))) you'll need them more and more over the coming treatments, sorry sweetie xoxo  Rest as much as you can.

I don't have the pink tape on the dressing, I know I'm very allergic to that.  So will just stay with what I have for now.  I do have some spare dressings (the glad wrappy thingys) from putting the emla cream on before infusions, so will change to those.  But how long do I do that for?  How long before the stiches dissolve?  A week?  Two weeks? I hate it when they give you instructions as you are coming out of an anaesthetic - how on earth are you supposed to remember?  Of course no written instructions coming home - and this was a private hospital!

Trish

xoxo

racy

Kate, maybe you can ice your nails during the infusion. At my hospital they had mits with ice in them that I could wear. I am sure they were special chemo mits.



Jenn, glad you are taking the rest of the day off. Try not to feel bad that you have to take things easy. It's temporary and you will get back to your normal level of activity soon.

vivvygirl

 Sisters, I need your help.

I am just so tired and sick of not sleeping well!  I did a search on melatonin and ended up here.

Unfortunately I am at work and cannot read through all the posts but plan to catch up when I get a day off later this week.

Can you let me know what dosages you take, when to take it and where can I get it?

Thanks

Jennt28

Hi vivvygirl,



Trish will be able to answer your question :-) She works so may not answer till later...



regards Jenn

racy

I think Sue and Chrissy use it too. Welcome vivvygirl, you will get good advice here soon.

suzieq60

Hi Vivvy - you can order form Biovea - it does come from overseas and can take up to 3 or 4 weeks

http://www.biovea-australia.com/category_dispatch.aspx?NAME=SLEEP&CID=7

I take a 3mg just before bed

Sue

vivvygirl

Thanks Sue,

Any dramas with taking them as I still regretfully take my tamoxifen and other medications.

Viv

Trisha-Anne

Hi Vivvygirl

I take melatonin - and was taking the 3mg time release capsules.  That worked ok for a little while, but then stopped.  Lately I've been taking 2 of them together and that helps.

I just ordered another lot - and ordered the 5mg ones.  My last lot arrived after only a week, and I ordered the second lot last week early, and on Friday got an email saying they were being shipped, so even though it's coming from overseas, the timeline is defenitely getting shorter.

There's no dramas with taking them - I did get a script from my doctor for melatonin before I started taking it, and he didn't have a problem with me taking them.  I'm not on tamoxifen though - I'm on Arimidex.  It's a natural substance, so shouldn't be a drama.

I take mine about an hour and a half before bed - that's what the directions say, and I think it takes a little while to get into your system - I see that Sue takes hers just before bed - that might work too - it didn't with me though.

Let us know if you have any other questions or problems - we are here to support eachother.
Trish

chrissyb

I second what the others say re Melatonin.  It doesn't interact with other meds as it is produced naturally in the brain.  With age and illness, the production tapers off and we get the sleep problems.  You can take up to 20mg without any problem but if I took that much I'd want to sleep all day as well as all night.  You can play with the dose to find out what works for you but most start with 3mg.  If it's just a problem falling asleep, then the ordinary pill is okay but if your problem is staying asleep as well, then the time release is better.  Good luck!!!

Oh, welcome to the Aussie girls!!!!!

Love n hugs.  Chrissy

Kate60

Yes, big welcome Vivvygirl.

Trisha or Chrissy - where do you order the Melatonin from? is there a website pls? I always wake up at about 3.00am for some reason, then it takes ages to go back to sleep. Sometimes I just don't bother with even trying.

suzieq60

Kate - the link is above

Kate60

Doh! thanks Susie.

suzieq60

Kate - you look fine - nice shaped head!!!

Jennt28

Struggling emotionally at the moment, especially after my BC breast started hurting and felt "lumpy" yesterday :-(



Wondering how I can survive this chemo until June! :-(.



I LOVED my job, and after just this second tx I now couldn't care less - so sad about this :-(



Also feeling a bit abandoned by the onc team. They really are just there to give the stuff but not there to follow up what happens after. If I have any problems they say go to my GP. I like my GP but he's not a cancer treatment expert...



Hoping the "sun" comes out tomorrow... Jenn

Trisha-Anne

Oh Jenn - I understand exactly how you feel.  Don't worry - you will survive, and although it doesn't seem like it at the moment, there is life after chemo.  Remember, this is a pretty tough road, and it isn't easy to follow, just an hour at a time - just an hour at a time.  You'll get there, we are there with you supporting you.

Lumpy feeling breast though - I can understand your fears.  When's your next onc appointment?  I used to go every three weeks during chemo - make sure you get it checked when you go again, you could probably also see your councillor again if you need it?

The sun probably won't come out tomorrow - you are less than a week into this cycle - give it a few days, it will come out again, I promise.  Just rest and go with what your body is telling you to do - if you are sad and scared and frustrated, cry - it really does help. 

Don't worry too much about your job at this stage either - think about it again next week.

Sending you lots and lots of (((((hugs))))))

Trish

xoxo

racy

Morning Jenn. Sorry you are feeling low at the moment. I know what you mean about the gaps in care. Just want to say that if I have a symptom that I am particularly worried about and can't get in to see my GP or think the problem is too specialised, I go to the ER at the hospital where my specialists are. The doctors there are used to seeing BC patients and they can call the specialist for advice etc and it works well because the docs are colleagues there. I go to a private hospital so am not sure if this would work as well in the public system where the care may not be as personalised.



Is it possible that your breast symptoms may be post surgical? You need to be careful in case it's an infection. Keep an eye on it and if it gets worse have it checked.

Kate60

Jenn - we are all here for you.

I am still having problems with my breasts. The are swollen, red and very tender. It is now just annoying the heck out of me. I don't think it is an infection - lord knows I've been on that many anti-biotics lately. I think it is post-operative fluid build up etc. The scars feel lumpy and especially tender. I spoke with a lady the other day who had had a double mast (not that that's what I had) and she said she still had soreness and pain 6 months after her surgery, so I think it is just early days for us and things will eventually settle down.

As an aside, since dx I feel pains and twinges all over now. I currently have this very strange dull ache at the base of my spine. It doesn't feel muscular. So I'm thinking mets to the spine! this is an over reaction as I had a CAT scan in December, and all clear. So logically Í've probably just pulled something out of line, but I think we are now acutely aware of our bodies in a way that we weren't prior to dx.

Anyway Jenn big Hugs to you. Love Kate xxx