March 2011 chemo-lounge
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Seems like several of us are having some shoulder pain...mine started on the BC side so I mentioned it to my ONC at my last checkup....I really thought I had just aggravated some muscles as the result of one of my NY resolutions (exercise) but he sent me to an Ortho....the MRI showed a bone spur !!!
The Ortho MD was all set to do steroid injections and/or surgery but I decided against it..kind of worried that it's on the BC side with no nodes....probably more prone to infections and maybe lymphedema. Guess I'll get the ovaries and tubes out next month instead !!!Jules, Lily and Kay...be strong
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Lol....we are sure casual about body parts now...i asked the urologist if i could have the kidney stone blown up at the same time i had lipo and fat grafting. Figured i might be miserable all at once. He looked at me like i had lost my mind and said absolutely not. I just laughed. Told hm people were having mx and hysterectomies at once...and that was way worse. Got me nowhere
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LOL Fluff! I feel the same way. I used to be such a wimp with anything medical. Now I'm like, just do it all at once and let me get on with it. Hard to believe this is me saying this.
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Has anybody heard from Kymn lately?
Jules-so glad you are doing the Vac. Results good or bad won;t be altered by 2 weeks. It sounds like a great time and stay busy enough to try not to think about it. What is your horse' name and what does he/she look like? I want to be thinking about you riding thru the forest on.....
DeeDee-so glad you have finished the H. Does that mean de-porting is in the near future? That would be a happy day.
Kristy-you have to be 2 years for no period to be offiicially menopausal according to my gyno. I was there shortly before this started. Had little or no signs. Never got the flashes or anything else with it either. If you go into chemopause does it mean it never comes back? How is little Gracie Lu?
Thanks all of you for keeping me in your thoughts. Today is my Cancerversary. Seems everybody marks the date in a different way. Today was the day they called me at work during lunch to tell me it was very very very bad-at which time I projectile vomited Taco Bell chunks all over the 2 guys sitting across the table from me. Good thing is I have never been able to eat Taco Bell again. What a long freaking year for all of us. It was my last day at work before being off for 2 knee surgeries-and I didn;t go back for 9 months. But thanks to having a great group to hang with we did get thru the year. It went both fast and slow if that makes any sense.
FOR THOSE WITH WEAK STOMACHS YOU CAN SKIP THE NEXT PART!! If SEs means it is working the Xeloda/Tykerb is kicking major butt--HaHa-Big D- the likes of which I never imagined. In case any of you ever get to this point Depends now comes in a lovely peach color. By friday it was just running down my leg-no stopping it. Anything I eat just runs right thru. Picking up script strength drug today to try to stop it. I do not want to lower the dose yet but I can't live like this either. I am on day 3 of my week off from the X and it hasn't gotten much better. I have to do 2 more cycles before we scan. You can adust the dosage to dial down the SEs but in my mind if it doesn;t work I will always wonder if it was because of that. Many of the ladies go 7 days on/7 days off. My guy isn;t big on that but would consider it. The other lovely SEs are roaring Acne (picking up a drug for that also) and something called Hand Foot Syndrome. For me the bottom of my feet have become hard as turtle shells and now have cracks running across them. So I walk on my heels all day. Had to get special permission to not wear steel toed boots-they suggested maybe I shouldn't be working. Got them talked around so I am in leather tennis shoes.
I am functioning and trying to get my head in a good place-and there are so many worse off than me. It is kind of like when we started the chemo. You have to feel your way thru and try to figure out how to get around the bad stuff. Thanks for listening-sorry if I grossed anybody out?
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Lily - you are amazing, pushing hard on this regardless of the SEs and to still be working. (I think we are all past being grossed out over anything).
Happy Cancerversary (don't celebrate with a Taco Bell
). The main thing is that we are all still here, and able to laugh and live life one day at a time. 0 -
Lily - I still have a picture in my mind of you vomiting Taco Bell all over 2 guys at work! I can't even imagine that! As far as your chemo SE's...I am so sorry. Yuck! I struggled with IBS for years and am very familiar with the big "D". I never had to wear depends but I know how awful it feels. I hope you get through these last two cycles OK. Please keep us posted.
I have not seen Kymn post in a long time. I hope she is well.
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Hi Ladies,
I had my appt with my Onc ( every 6 months ) yesterday, it lasted all of 3 minutes! I told him about the joint pain and shoulder pain. He shrugged and said it was a common side effect. He then asked it I was post menapausal, I said I didn't know. Honestly does the end of your periods due to chemo mean you're in menopause?? So, I said i hoped so because I have read ( on this board ) that women who tay in menopause "do" better.
WHat a freaking waste of a day, not mention then entire tank of gas. I'm so fed up with the medical system in Canada.
Maria, you mentioed Kymn. I often think of her as well.
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I 100% agree!!
I blew off my follow up with the breast surgeon-I have no breasts so whats the point?and she sent me a big ugly bill for all the follow up visits to drain the fliud-appts which lasted minutes and she got plenty of money from the insurance company. I also skipped the Rads follow-up. It offended me that the insurance ccompany paid him $500 for visits that never lasted longer than 5 minutes and he was dismissive of everything I asked or told him.
I did just see my PCP and got a shingles shot. I will leave her on the list and of course my Onc whom I love. The rest just seem like money grubbers-even if my co-pay isn;t that much-I would rather spend it on a new pair of sandals than give it to them!
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Maria - How are you? Are you still teaching aerobics occasionally? I'm trying to stay on my exercise routine. I attend a line dance class once a week and I workout with a personal trainer twice a week, but I don't seem to be losing any pounds. I'm hoping since I am done with Herceptin I will start seeing results SOON.
Timer - It wasn't a total wasted day, at least you found out you are doing well and you got good report from the your doctor since it only lasted about three minutes and I'm sure your doc got at least $500 for those three minutes he spent with you....Oh well what can we say.... I've wondered the same thing as you..does the end of your period due to chemo mean you are now menopausal? Because I haven't had a period since last April, but I don't have the menopausal
symptoms like...(hot flashes and night sweats. I do have warm flashes but they are not unbearable) I mentioned the joint pains and weight gain to my MO, he just smiled and said everyone experience different SE....REALLY. I've gained 18 lbs. since I started chemo. At first I wasn't gaining and about six months ago I started gaining.Lily - Congrats on your cancerversary. I hope your SE from the new meds are easing
up. Yep I'm done with the big "H"...16 treatments of that ol girl. I never had a port put in. They stuck my vein every time. Half way through I started to get worried that my vein might not hold up, but by the grace of God it did. I insisted they use the same vein every time because that seemed to be the good vein that cooperated. I wouldn't let them draw blood or put and IV in the "Herceptin" vein as I called it. Isn't it amazing how expensive these doctors are even with your insurance paying for most of the treatments. Seems like the doctors can find something to bill you for. I hope you do go out and buy you a new pair of shoes...you deserve it !!0 -
Lily: Agreed...docs get paid so much for doing so little. A few times I went to the PS office for follow up from my surgery and only saw the PA - didn't even see my PS. Nuts! My doc's often dismiss anything I bring up. They must all sit around a joke about it....they all seem to do it. I hate that. Really bugs me...
Dee Dee: I am still working out daily. I am back into running now too. I run 5-6 miles a few days a week. I still do the elliptical and started a yoga class once a week. I also encorporate yoga into my cool down/stretch time for every workout. I enjoy it a lot. I am still subbing an aerobics class on Tuesday mornings. I have enjoyed teaching again...I am only sad it's temporary. I still can't get hired anywhere regular to teach. It's so disappointing. I will hang up my teaching shoes
Saw my PS today for follow up from my last surgery....all I need to do now it tattoos! Can't wait to get that done in the next few months. I could use additional fat grafting on righty but I have to decide if I want to do it again.....I am kind of sick of surgery at this point.
I hope all of you fine ladies are doing well. Hugs to all!
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Greetings all my March 2011 chemo lounge girlfriends. DeeDee2 sent me a lovely little PM yesterday, so I thought I'd pop in to chat. It seems hard to believe it's been about a year since all of us did the chemo route. I went on to have two lumpectomies in the summer to get clean margins. Then 33 rads in the early fall. Currently am taking Arimidex. My most recent PET scan was just before Christmas. The onc said it was good. She doesn't use words like ned or regression or stable, but basically I'm stable for now.As I like to put it, I feel reasonably okay. Had a horrible bout with anxiety last summer after finishing chemo. There were a number of other things happening in my life, son getting ready for college, younger brother with emergency bipass surgery, dealing with menopause, ect. that caused it. After numerous tries with meds, I finally started on Buspar for the anxiety and it's been a wonder drug for me. I only wish I'd had it sooner.I have a lot of joint stiffness from the Arimidex. Also have intermitent numbness and tingling in my hands. Still working as an aide at school. It helps keep my mind distracted from too much overthinking my situation. How much longer I want to work is a continuous question I ask myself. Can't seem to decide.While I've taken a break from the chemo lounge, I've still been active on other threads. I recently checked in on the hair, hair, hair thread & saw Kymn had posted a lovely photo of herself last month. Here's an update on my hair progression. I started going topless in August, and the most recent pic was taken February 18.
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Lily, congrats on your cancerversary! I hope all is working. I actually forgot my actual diagnosis date after the biopsy on January 22 last year, however, my bmx date is what sticks in my head, so I use that. One year will be next Tuesday. I am celebrating by having herceptin and then going next door to the hospital for a kidney ston lithotripsy.
Figured I might as well keep the hospital party going. Not sure what I will do next year. Lol0 -
Hi All,
DeeDee, you are right. A 3 minute appt is far better then the 30 minutes one where they discuss your treatment options. I do consider myself very lucky, The arm ache is not unbearable, in fact I never even take an asprin for it. It is just "there" constant. I do admit I am horrible for pushing myself. Almost 50 and I still act like I'm in my 30's.
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Divine! SO glad you posted! You look wonderful. Glad you are feeling well and checked in. I was wondering about you.
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Divine, I concur with Maria, you look great! So good to hear from you. I also think about Kymn and hope she is doing well.
Timer, I guess I should be glad. My BS just dropped me. I saw her in the hospital twice after sx and she said no need to follow up with her, she turned me over to the PS. I am still following up with her until I finally get a nipple in June. Very short appointments every three months, does seem like a waste of time and copay, but none of my docs are dismissive with anything I say at least. Had a three month follow up with the RO about a week ago. Waste of time, yet I would not like there to be something wrong just so it wouldn't be a waste of time. I am supposed to see him again in six months. Am going to ask the onc if that's really necessary. Why do I need to follow up with him? I am never going to get radiation again.
Saw a new gyn. Had polyps on my cervix from tamoxifen. Biopsy was negative, but now have to get a vaginal US to see if there are any more on the uterus. I guess I wish that appointment had been a waste of time too. Oh well, it could have been worse. Only five more herceptins to go! Is anyone else still doing herceptin?
Enjoy your Sunday everyone. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers always.0 -
Divine: the hair looks great !!!..still struggling with mine...seems to have grown in faster in some areas than others so I guess I'll have to be patient.
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Thanks for the compliments, girls. Stilts, I did get a very slight trim to my hair about a month ago to give it some shape. From the middle of the back of my head down, the hair grows faster. I had that cut back to allow the top to grow out. These days I'm using Paul Mitchell hair wax and also Paul Mitchell freeze & shine hair spray to get it to lay down properly. It grows into a point from both sides of my head to the center of my head, giving me a "faux hawk" which looks great on someone like David Beckham, but ghastly on me!
here's a link to David's hair:
David Beckham Fauxhawk Hairstyle | Cool Men's Hairstyles Pictures & Styling Tips
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Hey ladies - I was just wondering if some of you would pop in the March 2012 chemo thread and offer encouagement. I feel like these girls are our "little sisters". They are all where we were a year ago....which is a shitty place. If anyone has a few minutes, pop in and offer some luck/encouragement or just a cyber hug. I am sure they will appreciate it.
I can't believe it has been a year since we started chemo. I am so greatful for all of you making that part of my treatment so much more fun and tolerable. A sincere thank you! Hugs to all my lounge lizards!
I am putting a song in the juke box "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!". We need something upbeat!
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Hey Maria - I'll pop in and say hello to our little sisters. I know they are terrified and confused. "Girls Just want to have fun"..sounds about right to me. Thanks for the song.
Mrs. M - You look good and your cheeks are so rosy...you look like the picture of health. I love your hair cut also.
Kay - Those five herceptin treatments will go by pretty quickly. can you believe it has almost been a year since you started your herceptin. I had my last treatment last week. The nurses kept reassuring me that the time will go by fast..and it did. I didn't celebrate much, I just said a silent prayer. Since I took a picture with the nurse who gave my first treatment, I only thought it fitting to take one with the nurse who administered my last one.
Lily - Congrats on your cancerversary!!!
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Looking great Mrs M! - I really must get my hair trimmed and give it a bit more style.
Nearly done Kay
Went on the March 2012 forum and it really took me back to the same time last year and how we were all feeling, you just want to hug them all and tell them they can do it.
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Thanks girls for taking care of our little sisters. So sweet.....
While I am glad we are all moving on with our lives and don't need to be focused on all of this at the same level as we did a year ago, I do miss chatting with all of you girls that had a cocktail with me a year ago.
I am making a toast "to all my fellow lounge lizards...may you be healthy and happy and enjoy every minute of every day. May you move on and forward with faith, confidence and grace. Always remember you are part of an amazing group of incredible ladies. Thank you for always being there whenever one of us needed a cyber hug or support. You are the BEST! Cheers!"0 -
I do not feel like I am moving on gracefully. Just found a lump of some kind next to the implant under arm on the non cancer side. Texted my PS who is going to check it out thursday morning to see if it is related to his stuff or something worrisome. It is not on the other side. He has surgery on Wednesdays but said if he has free time, he will call and get me over. He knows me well and knows I am totally stressed.
I am definately going back on anti anxiety drugs. And if it is a recurrence while I am still on herceptin, ill be upping the dosage.0 -
Don't panic fluffqueen - I have a hard lump of tissue in my armpit on the cancer side - they checked it and said it is scar tissue - we can apparently can expect to get alot of that. Always worth checking though
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Thanks Penny....I am taking all the positive thoughts I can get.
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Fluffqueen-Thinking positive thoughts for you!!!
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fluffqueen: I hope they get you in quickly so as to reassure you that it's nothing. Thinking of you.
DivineMrsM: You look fantastic! Really, you look healthy and beautiful. I haven't trimmed my hair yet, and I have these crazy chemo curls. I keep expecting my hair to lie down one of these days, but it just keeps getting poofier.
DeeDee: Congrats on your last herceptin! I had thought I would celebrate the end of chemo, but when it came time, it was like you...more a silent thank you for getting me through it.
mdg: I will definitely check in on our 'little sisters' You are so kind to think of that.
kay: sorry you are having to go through more docs. I dropped my RO after one follow-up. Long story, but I would be having further follow-up with a doc I had never even met. What's the point?
Are any of you ladies on zometa? I am going to ask my MO about it. Some study came out last year that women who used it had a signficantly decreased risk of bone mets. Since I am already suppressing my ovaries, I thought I might benefit...thought maybe some of you had some insight.
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I wish we would hear from Jules. I think she is till In florida but she did say she would post while she was down there.
DeeDee-congrats on finishing the H. It failed me but I was glad to get rid of the joint ache it caused me. It is still the wonder drug for us HER girls. I think it took about 5 weeks for it to get out of my system. I think you will probably notice feeling better even if you thought it wasn';t causing you any issues.
Fluff-I hope it is just scar tissue. It would be nice if he could figure out what's up at your appt so you don;t have to worry anymore.
Maxine-I have asked my onc about the Zometa and he doesn;t want me to do it right now. He has upped my calcium, magnesium and Vit D. He said strong bones are less likely to develop mets. My calcium level was really low which shocked me because I have been taking that forever.
I have just gotten my first ever in my life yeast infection-and it really blows. I am 2 years menopausal-thought any possibilty of that was long gone. New chemo kills everything in sight including the healthy bacteria. They just told me to use over the counter Monistat ($23) and some anti-itch cloths. Other lovely SE this week-my ears and face have started itching. My ears look like giant red cauliflowers-if I could tear them off the side of my head I would!! Lovely look especially with the short hair. Only suggestion is Bendaryl-double dose-no good because I would be comatose if I did that at work.
Heading into the weekend-big 80th B-day party for my dad. I will start cooking tonight when I get home from work. He has requested ribs-we are having 15-20 people. I am doing a huge salad and a baked potato bar. Also carrot cake, turtle cheeseake and lovely fresh lemon curd tart. My sis is in charge of appetizers and one brother is bringing soda(see how the division of labor is in my family??). The other 2 brothers are in charge of decorations (haha) and parking. WooHooo
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lilylady - hoping Jules is having so much fun she has forgotten everything else!
For yeast infections I wash the area with a solution of water with bicarb of soda (about 1/2 teaspoon in a pint) . It seems to help.
Hope the birthday party goes well - very selfish of you to be doing so little when your brothers have to handle complicated stuff like bringing soda.
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After seeing my PS, he sent me to the BS, who on Friday, ran me through an ultrasound and then an mri. Then, she and my PS called me from their surgery to tell me that the mri was all clear for cancer, so while they dont know what it is, it does not appear to be cancer. So relieved. They are going to monitor it and look again in four months.
I cant believe I found the lump on the anniversary of my bmx.
Deedee...congrats on the final herceptin. I have one to go. I had a big chemo party whrn I finished that, but think I will mark this one quietly. After this past four days, I need some calm lol0 -
so pleased fluffqueen - the worry just keep coming back to us doesn't it. You can have a rest from it now though
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