Australian Sisters
Comments
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How long will the straightening last Sue?
Good that Steve is going with you today.........sometimes I think it would be nice to have Arie with me but that is just not his bag. He does look after me though when I need it so I get that. The only visit he came with was the very first appointment with the BS and then the girls wanted to come as well. Now he just waits until I get home as then asks what went on............lol.
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They said it should last about 4 months - we'll see. It was $150 but worth every cent!! I love it!!
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Well if you get the four months from it the cost is not that bad. Here's hoping...........I can see why you are so happy with it, it takes years off your face and looks just fab!
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Yay Susie. YOu look fantastic!!!!! So happy for you xxxxxx
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Sue your hair looks fabulous! My hair also has a completely different texture now. It was always very thick and wiry, now it's quite soft, which is nice, but it's more fly-away than it was which is not. Funny how it grows differently after chemo, but all in all, I'm ok with how mine is.
Kate - I agree with Chrissy and Sue - you do not have enough meds. I also had Ondansetron as well as dexamethasone - so even if you didn't need it before, you probably need it now. Ring and get some. As Chrissy says, once you start being sick it's not as easy to control.
Trish
xoxo
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Yep, I'll pop across to the onc unit which is across the corridor from my BS this afternoon and ask them for something. It has got me this time, can't figure out why this one is so much worse but maybe because this is the first one with only 3 weeks between. I was 4 weeks between 1 & 2 due to the low blood cell count. Maybe that's it? Anyway I can't shake it. I think I will have to ask hubby to leave work early to drive me there instead of me driving myself.
Thanks for your advice girls. I'm over the emotional hiccup. Just sick and still very fed up. Oh well se' la vie. xxxx
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Perfectly normal Kate no need for apologies. These boards are meant for exactly that, somewhere where you can let it all hang out so to speak without fear. ((((((hugs))))))
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I am so excited, finally feeling better today. I went out for lunch with DD and my Mum today and lasted 2 hours before starting to wane.
Kate - I hope you got some meds for nausea. I was given emend, dex, pramin, somac and zofran and still wanted to curl up by the bucket. My onco said because I get shocking motion sickness I am prone, yay. I can relate to the feeling depressed and ugly, I am doing LGFB course on Tuesday: hoping for miracles.
Sue - your hair looks fantastic. It should be so much easier to manage too. It makes you look younger too.
The sparse amount of hair I have keeps growing. Is this normal? It is pure white and fluffy and I don't want to shave it in case it prickles.
Jenn - Hugs for your treatment this week.
Chrissy - I hope you are feeling okay.
Trish - hopefully you will get home soon. Who got to wash the car?? lol.
I have asked hubby to come to onco with me next week as I am telling him I don't want to use his radiologist. I am not very good at standing up for myself.
I have made appointments with the Canberra radiologist, and she comes to Goulburn to consult which is only 20mins away. So I just need a referal from onco, why are they so territorial? To me it is the difference between 3 hours travelling per day or 4.5hrs and/or staying away from home. Life is hard enough for an 11year old with all this, without him not seeing me for 6 weeks.
Sorry I know I have missed some messages to you all but hugs and thanks to everyone.
Kylie xxxxx
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Kylie it's great to hear that you are feeling much better! I'm glad your DH is going with you to your appointment as back up. Sometimes these docs use the people they know as they know what care will be given and also they like to stay within their 'group' as you say. Just give him the travelling and time thing and say he either gives you a referal to whom you want or you will speak to your other docs who will write the referal. As long as you get a referal, it doesn't matter who writes the jolly thing. Good luck!
Oh by the way, I'm feeling just fine and dandy........lol
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Kate, my GP was able to prescribe me a small supply of Zofran without a problem. Do go and get something...
Chrissy, good luck for the surgery!!!!!!!!
Susie, your hair looks great :-)
I'm off for my onc appt tomorrow morning. I have something pretty serious to report to her this time... Over the past couple of weeks I have been getting increasing pain in my lumpectomy breast and the pain is now almost constant and panadol didn't "cover" it this morning. My breast, in the area that is hurting (which is the upper quadrant - not near where my lump was removed which is not hurting at all) also seems to be lumpy as do my lymph nodes at the top of my breast.
I'm thinking this is either trunkal LE (the pain does seem to be eased by massage) or local recurrance already :-(
So, a serious chat with the onc is on the cards and I'm going to be asking about the possibility of ultrasound/scan now and maybe a mastectomy on at least that side after the Taxol and before radiotherapy...
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Hi everyone. I'm just catching up with all today's posts.
Kate, Chrissy and Trish gave you excellent advice. I do know how you feel with self pity and hope the cloud passes soon. Keep reminding yourself that by the end of the month, it will be over! That's what got me through. The fact that you are responsible for the wedding decorations means that you will get them done somehow. Maybe your husband? daughter or a friend could help you for a few hours. It could be nice, and motivating for you to have some company while you work.
Sue, I'm glad you are so happy with your hair do. I hope your onc appointment was ok and you told him about your pain. I know it's scary to mention but your onc is there to fix it. I hope the cause of the pain is nothing more than you've already been told and that it can be resolved quickly.
Jenn, I understand your concern about your breast pain and lumpiness and am glad that you will be seeing your onc tomorrow about it. I do hope you'll be ok.
Kylie, it's good that you are feeling better and that you have some hair growing! Enjoy your good days until next treatment.
I saw my GP today and had a breast exam which seemed to be ok. I will see the surgeon next week. I'm 'hoping' that mild lymphedema is the cause of the breast redness that I had.
Ladies, I know how frightening it can be when we have unexplained symptoms, and equally how it can sometimes be difficult to get what we need from communications with our doctors. I mentioned previously that I read an excellent piece from one of the 'ask the expert' online conferences here about how to cultivate a good relationship with your doctor. I'm on my phone so can't post a link but it's definitely worth searching for.
If you don't already get the monthly research news update emails I recommend registering to receive them.
Hi Chrissy and Trish.
BTW, I have my day off tomorrow then work again on Friday.0 -
Hi all
Kylie, so glad you have turned a corner and enjoyed feeling normal for a little while.
I am all set to get my port today fortnight and I'm so glad it's before the last chemo so no more horrible big fat needles! I also got the BS to prescribe something for the nausea, he gave me a script for Stemitil suppositories so hope this helps me. He didn't want to prescribe Maxalon in case I threw up, even though I told him I hadn't actually been sick, just felt really unwell all the time. Shmee, as long as it works, I'll take anything even if it is up the ****
!xxx
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Good news the onc thinks it's classic sciatica. He has given me an order for an MRI - said to have it after another month if it hasn't resolved. Him giving me the order means I can have it refunded by Medicare whereas the GP couldn't - but I have to go to an approved XRay place which will probably mean the Wesley. I do have to go there for breast screening next month, so I mgiht be able to kill 2 birds with the one stone.
I asked him if I should have 6 Zometa and he said no, so that's the last time I'll see him except for when Steve finally agrees to have his CT scan - well overdue, but the last one he needs to have. He is 5 years out from Stage IV bowel cancer (met in the lung which was removed by surgery). He looks really well, so there's not really any worry he is in trouble, just hates having scans.
Thanks for all of your compliments re my hair - hope it looks as good in the morning. I still totally love it!! All of the staff at the treatment centre thought it looked great too.
Hey my pain in minimal - love those steroids - they gave me cortisone before the Zometa.
Sue
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Sue, that's good news about your onc visit. But why won't you continue seeing him? You are still on Arimidex? I thought you would be followed for at least five years.
I intend continuing to see my onc until he retires, which will be many years I hope.0 -
I thought I would continue to see him too. I did discuss staying on Aromasin as I am better on it than on Arimidex and he said to stick with it. When I asked him about seeing him again, he said to just keep being reviewed by the breast surgeon which is fine with me - at least I don't have to wait as long
I did get some sad news there today - a lady who was a nurse at the rads clinic I went to, passed early this year. I last saw her in late September and she didn't look good - so sad. She got mets from bc 9 years after her first diagnosis. I think she was HER2+ve, so it just shows you what happens to patients who didn't get the benefit of herceptin.
One other weird thing - my blood sugar was really high today, but I had just polished off a packet of choc fudge before I went, so I'm not too worried. The onc was worried and he's writing to my GP, but he probably doesn't realise that fudge is almost 100% sugar. I really don't think a non fasting blood test is any good for blood sugar anyway.
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Sue, I'm still surprised about your onc dipensing with you after such a short follow up. I'd be upset if that happened to me as I LOVE my onc and look forward to seeing him. I can't even wait six months! I would rather see him than the surgeon. When I see him in June, I'll clarify the plan going forward but if he tells me at some point that we are through I will say I would miss him too much!
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Racy - I don't mind - there are heaps of sick people that are more important than me. Of course I could see him any time I want if I need to. I love Melinda Cook, so no probs on that front.
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Good for you Sue. Congratulations on reaching that milestone.
And you are right. Your onc has many, many other patients.
I'm glad your husband is doing so well.0 -
My hair made it through the night - still straight - I won't have to wash it for once.
Racy - are you happy with your hair now it's settled in?
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Morning all.
Your hair looks great Susie. I too am surprised that you are not seeing your onc. See mine every 6 months at present and presume I will go to yearly after this visit. Also see BS yearly now and could see the rads once if I wished but thats another story.
I have had sciatica and was worry, they did MRI but just showed symptoms that cause sciatica, arthritis and degeneration of the spine.
Big hugs to all especially those having treatment this week.
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Hello all, just catching up on posts this morning, I did get to go home last night yay! Road is semi fixed (mud hole is now full of rocks, but passable) our driveway is another matter though, still very wet and starting to resemble a bog ... oh dear
Jenn - I hope you get the all clear at the onc this morning, we'll all be waiting to hear what the outcome is. I'm hoping it's nothing serious please let us know as soon as you are able, I'm keeping everything crossed for you xoxo
Kate - good to hear you have some extra meds, hope they help you. Good news too about your port placement. Now you don't have to worry about finding veins. xoxo
Kylie - great to hear you are feeling better too. Good that you are taking DH with you - make sure he gets you what you want xoxo
Sue - great news about the sciatica - well not great news, but you know what I mean. I too am surprised that you don't see your onc any more, I'll be seeing mine every 3 months for a year then every six month for another couple of years after that. It's also great news about your DH - my brother was diagnosed with bowel cancer only a month after my bc dx, his was found very, very early and he's doing great now too.
Racy - enjoy your day off! :-)
Chrissy - good to hear you are doing fine, I am too - oh and I finally made my appointment with my dentist - I go today week, which was a shock, I expected to have to wait at least a month - I'm not sure if I told you, I'm hopeless with the dentist - throw up before I go I'm so scared, and chemo really knocked a couple of my teeth, so will have to have them out :-(
Hi Alyson - great to hear from you - did you guys survive the tail end of our rain?
Trish
xoxo
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Good morning all,
Forgot to mention that I picked up my pelvic ultrasound report yesterday and cracked open the sticker that said "only to be opened by the referring doctor" (yeah right!). Turns out my trusty uterus and ovaries are all normal normal normal
I do have a cyst on one ovary but looked up what type it is and about 50% of women having pelvic ultrasounds have one of these cysts.At work already and will get some work done before I wander up to the hospital for my appt this morning. Will let you all know how it goes - assuming I'll either come back with a referral to the LE specialist at my hospital or back to my surgeon.
Trish - happy to hear you made it home!
Kate - hope you feel better today. You got the one anti-nausea I don't have at home - stemetil (I do have maxalon). I gather that the suppositories do work very quickly so that's good.
Jenn
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Morning ladies. My plans for today are a trip to the gym for pilates, lunch with my best friend then a French movie this evening with my French teacher from my high school days. She is the one whom I posted about who has stage 4 gynaecological cancer, has not had chemo and is still going strong(ly). She was a mentor to me when I was young and spending time with her is an important experience to me.
Sue, yes I am still glad I had my hair straightened. I hope it continues to last until the natural curls stop.
Jenn, thinking of you as you go to your appointment.0 -
Morning all. Good to see some good news on these posts with positive test results coming back and Trisha able to get home again.
I'm trying not to be alarmed but I have woken up with a very painful headache, but it's more up my neck both sides and then into the head but it is quite strong and I have just had a blood nose out of the blue.
Is this a SE? I had a blood nose about a week ago as well. My blood pressure when I had chemo was normal. I have to go to the chemist this morning to get my script filled out so I will have BP checked there and if it's high I will go straight to Dr's - but maybe this is just a side effect. I don't want to be a worry wart or over-react at every little thing that is happening to me if it is just par for the course. Anyone else had this??
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Kate, yes any bleeding can be a side effect. Bleeding nose is not uncommon.
Take something strong for the head/neck pain and I'm sure you will get relief. Use a heat pack too.
It is good that you are vigilent about side effects. Check your temperature too, to be on the safe side.0 -
Thanks Racy, I just followed your advice and took temp which is resoundingly normal at 36.7. Seems this chemo can do so much to one's poor old body. I actually don't feel as sick today but I will still get the script filled out and insert as required
.Yes, enjoy your day off and the quality time with your valued friend. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time with her and it's good that she is doing so well with her own health issues.
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Racy - I'm glad you like your hair too. Trouble was with mine, the curls weren't going any where after nearly 2 years so what I've done is great - I no longer look like my mother
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Jenn - such good news about your uterus! lol Hope the rest of the news is good too
Kate - I'm not surprised about the headache - I get headaches a lot, and chemo just makes things worse, but mention to your onc when you see him next. As always though - if it lasts for more than a day or so (especially if you aren't prone to them) then see your gp. Make sure you take something for it though - don't suffer through it.
Trish
xoxo
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Morning all!
Trish good to hear that you were able to get home last night but oh! your poor drive way! I guess once it dries out you will have to re-grade..................the only question would be, is will it dry out enough to do something before more rain hits.
Kate so good that you got the prescription......yay!...........and good to hear that you feel a smidge better. The suppository will work wonders for you.
Yes, as Racy says, the bleeding can definitely be one of the SE's as the mucous membranes in your nose (and elswhere) are irritated by the chemo and they are full of tiny capillaries (very small blood vessels) and these capillaries break because of the irritation and you end up with the nose bleed. Just do what you normally do for a nose bleed and also do mention them to your onc when you next go for treatment. If they become very frequent and very heavy mention it earlier. Take a strong pain killer for your headache and try to rest. I know you have probably had enough of resting but it is the best when you are feeling like that. Checking your BP is a good idea but I think a lot of the headache is probably due to tension.
Racy, I've seen you post in French on Marie-Edith's thread. I wish I could remember more, I went to language school about nine years ago now when I started and I was only one level off getting my teachers certificate when I was Dx'd with the BC so never completed that (shame). Then of course I never used it and now have forgotted more so I don't feel comfortable writting or even speaking in French now. Strange thing is, I like to read Marie-Edith's thread and surprise, surprise I can translate a lot of it! I guess the lnowledge is still in my head somewhere amoungst the other crap that fills it and it wouldn't take much of a refresher to get it all filed correctly again..........lol. Enjoy you day!
Sue isn't it nice to wake up and realise that the hairdresser was telling the truth and your hair is still straight!..............lol..............Yes, it's easy to doubt that these products and treatments really work and oh so often we have to see it for ourselves. Glad you didn't need to wash it this morning in order to tame it!................lol
Yay Jenn!!! Great that your scans are all clear!!!! I always break that little seal and check out the films and reports!..............yeah I know we are not supposed to but hey, it's our bodies and our reports so why not? Good luck with your appointment!
Aly how is your back and shoulder doing now? has all the pain settled a bit for you? Sure hope so.
On the subject of seeing your onc.........I haven't seen mine at all since being dx'd stage IV. The only person I see other than my GP is the breast surgeon and to start with it was every three months and now, (as I'm behaving myself....lol) it every six months. My GP is my go to guy and I see him every six weeks..................if I complain about a certain pain or something not normal he is the one who usually orders xrays, scans etc. If anything is found that shouldn't be there, then I go back to the BS earlier than the appointed time.
Don't worry, I was really reading all the diplomas on the BS wall while I was waiting in his office one time and he is specialist surgeon specialising in breast and throat surgery as well as being trained in oncology so I have no worries with him. The only time he refers you on is when you need infused chemo. Been there, done that......lol.
Just going to do some washing today and then it's off to the city early in the morning as I have a 10.00am appointment with the anaethetist that will be looking after me for my knee op. I guess we will be discussing my options as to what type of anaesthesia he will use on me. I know they like to use the spinal block with twilight but the last time I had a spinal block I almost went into a panic attack so I'm not sure if I really want to go that way again. I know it would have the added benefit of really good pain relief straight after the op.............mmmm..........I think I'll have a chat to my sister who had her knees done last year before I see the anaethetist tomorrow.
I will be staying in town over night as tomorrow night my DD2's partner is playing in his band at the Town Hall as part of the Fringe Festival and I have tickets to go see...............I can't wait! They are a Pink Floyd cover band and are very good at what they do so looking forward to a good night out. I won't take the computer with me this time so I won't post until probably Saturday night so no one panic coz I'm not here.
Catch you all later!
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Hi Chrissy, always good to know your whereabouts, Yes we do worry when you (or anyone else for that matter) goes M.I.A. Sounds like you have a fun time coming up with your family.
I don't think I'd like anything other than a GA for any surgery. I'm really not brave enough to be awake for it, even if they say you don't remember it afterwards. Give me a good old sleep anytime.
Headache is nearly all gone and I'm feeling quite good (touch wood). Not 100% but nearly there. I definitly think I've turned the corner. I'm feeling quite energized and am about to tackle the tissue flowers today.
Love to everyone here. Me xxxxxx
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