Single life after a mastectomy

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  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    E- that course will be a good foundation one for you! Then you can move on to the macros! You go girl!

    Foot reflexology focuses on not only massage of the feet but "trigger points" to other parts of the body. You have them all over your feet that connect to things like the kidneys, colon, etc. I have been have some GI issues lately, including yesterday, and the areas of the feet tied to that really were sore yesterday. I could actually feel the tightness releasing as he worked on those areas. That was pretty cool. This type of treatment helps a lot of things. Some massage therapists have training this, but not all. There are things on YouTube about it so you can see what they do.

    The nice thing about finding someone at this spa is that I am less restricted about when I can get an apt. As much as I loved my massage therapist I went to for six years, she did her side business around two other jobs so unless I could go on a Friday, I was out of luck. Now I have more flexibility for when I can go, and my next apt will also be on a Saturday. I am not at my client site on Fridays, but it is my everything else day to get medical apts done, people to the house for services or repairs, etc. It is nice to not have to try to squeeze something that should ultimately be relaxing. And they have a nice outdoor hot tub I can soak in before hand, which is another nice benefit. Cost relatively the same too!

  • cubbie2015
    cubbie2015 Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2016

    Hi, singles! I went to trivia night on Saturday. Our table came in 3rd. Everyone was impressed when I knew Arnold's goldfish on Diff'rent Strokes was named Abraham. That fact had to come in handy someday, right?

    A foot massage sounds good, Jazzy, reflexology or not. There seem to be a lot of combination massage and nail salon places at the mall these days. There must be four of them. It must be a popular service.

    E, a course about macros sounds useful. I could use some refreshing on that subject myself, I haven't written a macro in years.

  • cubbie2015
    cubbie2015 Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2016

    BB, great! I was just wondering at lunch today how your interview process was going. I am so hoping you get this job.

  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited January 2016

    Evening ladies.

    Melp, be kind to yourself.

    Cubbie, I know all the lyrics to Fresh Prince of Bel Air haha

    E, you'll do ok. I am sure of it.

    BB We'll all be thinking of you tomorrow

    Jazz, hope the job is going okay despite that one person?

    Been busy here. College kids and adults came back on campus last week, combined with network changes and it has been crazy.

    Have been spending available time with E and enjoying his company :)

    Other than that, lots of joint pain, especially in my fingers. Legs sometimes (Arimidex), fatigue is still bad but my smoothies seem to help.

    Hope all have a great night! Good luck tomorrow BB!

    Apologies to anyone I missed and hope all are well

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    Hi ladies- hoping everyone has had a good start to the week!

    BB- yay for interview day! Sending you good vibes for a great conversation and awesome offer!

    Cubbie- I am impressed by those factoids you know (Simplicity too). It sounds like you had a fun time!

    We have tons of nail salons here too. I will have mani, pedi, and brow waxing done at them but nothing else. Because of my super sensitive feet, I had to shop around for a better salon for a pedicure and now going to this one I like for such services. Sometimes those folks can be rough!

    Simplicity- sounds like you are super busy at work. I remember coming out of treatment into a busy month at the project back then, and would work and then come home and collapse. That went on for a long time. So if that is happening, know that you are not alone with that experience. Takes awhile to get your energy back. It is something people have the least understanding around. I got far too many "you are done with treatment and done with that all that now, right?" comments for awhile. My response always was "I had cancer folks, not the flu" while thinking "bite me people." I was so tired for so long, but with time it just slowly gets better. But longer than you might expect.......

    That woman has not bothered me much since I now just ignore her. She is working remote this week so no passing her in the hall and listening to her snorting at me under her breath. My prediction is she is not going to last there. She has a history of loosing jobs, and has already been kicked out of another dept who said "we don't want her" per my client. As I tell myself, not there for her anyways, right? Another "bite me" goes out to her as well......

    Melp- hoping you are having a good visit with your mom.

    Life- we have not heard from you in awhile and hope you are okay.

    E- hope you have had a good start to the week

    I was pleased to find my first payment for consulting services yesterday in my PO box. Yay for cash flow!

    Time to get going to work, early meetings today and wishing you all a good day.



  • Enerva
    Enerva Member Posts: 2,985
    edited January 2016

    bb good luck !!!!

    Well I am glad is Wednesday tmw I am already tired lol

    Wishing u all a great week


  • melp27
    melp27 Member Posts: 295
    edited January 2016

    hi ladies

    Had a CT scan yesterday to check how the hormones are working on my tumours. Will get the results on the 29th.

    Visit with mum was great. She got a voucher for xmas for a spa visit also but she didn't bring it with her...she said next time she visits we will both use our vouchers. Anyway we did go for lunch and a movie to a local shopping centre. We saw the new movie 'Sisters' with tina fey that was so funny!!

  • Enerva
    Enerva Member Posts: 2,985
    edited January 2016

    Melb so glad you had a great visit with your mom. Yes I heard that movie is funny I must watch it soon. I watched the marcian with mat Damon and it was ok. I like him so I just wanted to see him ha ha ha but he went through a lot of weight lost for that role and Humm not so cute lol

    Wishing all the best for bb s interview

    Snding u all hugs


  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    Melp- so glad you had a nice visit with your mom. Fingers crossed the scans are good and the treatment is helping.

    I saw the movie, Sisters, over the holidays with my sister. It was super funny, I think both of those women are so funny.

  • Simplicity
    Simplicity Member Posts: 723
    edited January 2016

    Morning ladies.

    Thanks Jazzy. Yep. That's pretty much me. Nice to hear it's normal as there are some.....yea a lot of people think treatment is over, healing should be done once treatment is over. We should be fine. Frustrating.

    BB-How'd the interview go?

    Melp-Good to hear!

    Me too E. Hoping for snow here. Get another bit of a break. Of course, kids will be in and out, in and out haha

    Hope everyone enjoys their day!

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    BB- part of the interviewing process is to figure out if a job is the right fit. We were all trained to go into job interviews and sell ourselves. I ended up in a lot of bad jobs when I was younger by not seeing it as an exchange. It sounds like you found out a lot about the expectations for this position in this second interview.

    If you feel this is not the right job for you, it is okay to let them know. When I like an organization and would like to work for them, even now as a consultant, I tell them I don't the role may be the right fit. I also ask to be considered for future opportunities. You never know if they have something else there that could be a good fit and less pressure. I have gone in an interviewed for things and ended up with different work as a result that turned out to be much better.

    Wishing you the best here.


  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 1,748
    edited January 2016

    BB dont beat yourself up over it but instead decide if you want it and if you want the benefits and changes it will bring to your life.........you need to assess the opportunity as well.....it might be right job wrong time or it could be exactly the life up you need, you know best........

  • Enerva
    Enerva Member Posts: 2,985
    edited January 2016

    bb I am still happy you were brave to go to your interview. If this is not the right job it is still a great practice I remember how nervous I used to be for interviews lol till I did a few I gained some confidence and like jazz says this is an exchange so it needs to meet your needs too.

    Keep the positive and keep an eye open for the next oportunity

    Also remember how u even forgot about this job n only now they contacted you? That tells you , u need to keep the ball rolling keep applying and sending resumes or telling people even extrangers that u are in need of a job. You ll see one ll come along and u ll find the part time that ll fit your needs.

    Best of luck I am now on a buss going home

    Worked from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm :(

    Took a buss at 8pm cuz no trains left anyway

    Tired n cold n hoping me too I ll get a better oportunity soon

    Love u all

  • cubbie2015
    cubbie2015 Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2016

    BB, even if you decide this job isn't for you, I'm still glad you got the interviews. I hope you find something that fits your situation well.

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    TGIF ladies. I have started my six month follow up and so far so good. Have a few more apts to get through before I am done. Will let you know at the end of it all what all the doctors say. Glad to be through one of three apts around this between today and next Friday. I am less stressed than I used to be going through them, but still pretty much hold my breath and expect them to find something wrong every time.

    But here was a cool thought today. I get my follow ups every six months (some do them more often, all depends on your particular case). I realized after this one, I only have three left and by next summer, I will be done with follow ups. November of 2017 I will be to the five year mark. I remember thinking when I started the whole follow up thing, the idea of five years of being watched around bc felt so daunting. But the time really does go quickly. So I thought I would share that for the sisters who are just coming through treatment, in case you have that same daunting feeling. The first couple follow ups to me were the hardest, until I got used to the whole thing and got further out from the dx and treatment process. I know we all will never stop thinking it could come back, we live with that possibility always.


  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    BB- part time really sounds like a good thing for you and with the rest, may allow you to have enough. Living a stress free life is important.

    I have not finished my check up process quite yet, just did the mammo and ultrasound today, but will let you know what MO says about things. One of my appointments next week to do. I need to talk to him about a few things including my Prolia shots, etc. He did originally say he would not decide on doing 10 years until we get to the 5 because so much changes with what they know about benefits. If I continue to do the AIs, I will need to do the Prolia shots too for the bone health.

    Watching David Bowie's Labyrinth on TV tonight which I remember seeing in the 1980s. Made me like him that much more.

    Trying to get some things done around the house tonight too. It looks like a tornado came through here this week!

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    I am sorry about your son BB. I know you have had concerns about him before.

  • cubbie2015
    cubbie2015 Member Posts: 773
    edited January 2016

    Jazzy, glad to hear your checkups have been going well. Do you have the results from your mammo and ultrasound yet, or do you have to wait to talk to your MO for those results? I'm interested in what your MO thinks about continuing the AIs after the five year mark. I think it's such an individual decision, depending on each woman's diagnosis, tolerance for the AIs, and personal choice. I know my MO leans toward ten years of treatment if the patient can manage it.

    BB I'm sorry to hear about your son. Sending hope and healing to both of you.

  • grayeyes
    grayeyes Member Posts: 533
    edited January 2016

    Missed you all! I just went through and read every single message I missed here...

    Megan - Welcome! Thank you for posting here. Your post was very encouraging.

    Enerva - You did a great thing, helping your nephew and his GF, and also helping your friend's daughter. I'm sorry to hear about your other friend's DX with mets.

    Melp & BB - Jan. 19 was an important day for both of you - Melp with your CT scan and BB with your interview. Melp, I hope you receive good news on the 29th. Thank you for sharing your blog with us. Your photo is lovely. BB, congrats on scoring an interview and making it into the final interview process. That shows that employers are interested in hiring you. BB, what can be done for your son? Would counseling help him?

    Jazzy, Simplicity, Cubbie, Lily, and everyone - Happy Belated New Year! I hope this is a good year for all of us.

    As BB said above, we are snowed-in here. The snow has been building up since Friday at dinnertime. The wind has been howling all day. Flooding on the coastline. But I just noticed - it seems to have calmed down now, at least in my neck of the woods. Maybe the blizzard is reaching its end.

    Home alone for the weekend. 20yo is away at college. The other two are with ex for visitation. When I dropped them off, my middle son (18yo) was so sweet... He offered to stay with me; he was worried about my driving home alone in the snow. But I insisted he go with his younger brother to ex's. Then around 2:30 a.m., 18yo texted me to make sure I was all right. :-)

    This month, I was able to step back, take a different look at our "budget," and shift things around in a way that everything worked. It just took some creative thinking. Bottom line: We still have a house to live in. LOL. (Good thing I'm able to laugh about this stuff...) And now I'm insured (through the ACA - I had no other choice, but that's another story). I was long overdue for a blood test and very worried, so this month I had the bloodwork done, and everything looked fine.

    About bone health - I was on Tamox, then Arimidex, and now, for a long while, letrozole (a.k.a. Femara). Like the rest of you, my bones are so stiff in the morning that it's difficult to walk. I was worried that my bones were permanently shot. Well... the past couple of months, I couldn't afford the medicine, so I started skipping doses. And guess what - suddenly, I had no bone pain at all. So, the good news is that the bone pain seems to be a temporary side effect of the AI's.

    Sorry for this long post. I just wanted to catch up with all of you. Stay warm and safe!

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    Life- good to hear from you. I had bone pain when I started on the AIs. The whole bone pain thing is confusing to me because there are so many mixed messages about it and what causes it. Anyways, I am glad you are okay and got it figured out, as we usually do ourselves. Are you going to stay off the AIs? Glad your blood work is good. I will have mine this friday.

    Stay safe in the storm. Keep flash light handy just in case power goes out for awhile. I hope your boys are doing okay too.

    Melp- did you get your CT scan results and is the treatment helping?

  • grayeyes
    grayeyes Member Posts: 533
    edited January 2016

    Jazzy - I'm still on letrozole. I was skipping doses / days last month because I was running out of medicine. (My insurance kicked-in on Jan. 1.) This month, I've been trying to keep up with the doses. Come to think of it, I missed my dose tonight. LOL. Here I am, writing about the AI's, but completely forgetting to take a dose. Oh, brother...

    Btw, I saw your messages about trouble with a coworker, but it sounds as if you handled the situation perfectly. Have a good night.

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    Life- glad you are on the meds. I have to take daily bp meds so I take them together at night before bed. I finally had to put a reminder in my phone, so I don't forget to take them at the same time. I feel old!

    That woman at work was out of the office last week and could not help but notice it was less tense in the area. She is a chaos carrier and puts everyone on edge. Even some of the women in her area she works with that I know seem more relaxed. I will continue to ignore her.

    BB- does your son work and have insurance?

    And how is your mom doing too? Slowly recovering from everything?


  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    BB- I remember when I had loans in grad school a thousand years ago, they would only do so for FT students. I had to maintain 15 credit hours or more which was usually 5 classes for the most part. Those were the loans that were backed up by the Feds. Student loan thing seems different now, they are more interested to lend money.

    Young love not working out is particularly hard on a person. I remember breaking up with my boyfriend in college and it was a rough year for me. I wish your son better days BB.

  • grayeyes
    grayeyes Member Posts: 533
    edited January 2016

    BB - According to the prescription info the pharmacy gives me, letrozole (generic brand) has a retail price around $300 for 30 pills ($10 a pill). (Does anyone else here have a different price?) At my checkup at the Onc's office, I mentioned missing doses, and I was told that most women do miss doses. So, BB, we're not alone. Btw, I'd be happy to tell you which insurance plan I picked. (If you want to know, just PM me.) Sorry to hear about the woman you knew with stage 4 OC. How terrible that she could not afford to see a doctor. Sorry to hear about your son's breakup. I hope he can find help to get him through this period. He sounds like a young man with a good head on his shoulders, so to speak. Hope he finds a good therapist.

    Jazzy - I picture you as calm and cool at the office. :-) Ignoring the difficult coworker is a good idea.

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    Life- I never priced the meds, just pay attention to the co-pays. My new plan has a mail order plan so I have to get new scripts for that starting with my anastrozole. I loaded up with stuff end of the year so I had time to take care of that. That is expensive stuff.

    My Prolia shots twice a year cost around a grand, so I expect here in January with all my apts and check ups, I am going to be spending some money out of pocket. The Prolia shots last year only cost $30 for co-pay, but $150 this year with a similar plan. I am glad I am working again so I can afford to get the meds I need. The Prolia has been shown to help my bones. Did you ever get a bone density test or is that on the list to do when you can?

    BB- I asked my sister when we were both going through treatment together what happens to people who get a cancer dx and don't have insurance? We all know it is so incredibly expensive for cancer care. She said there are few if any safety nets for that. People either pay out of pocket and frequently go bankrupt or they don't get care. She knew someone in the same situation you did and she lost her battle very quickly with a late dx and no money to help her. We still have a broken system when people die or go bankrupt due to poor or no insurance coverage. Just sucks really.

  • grayeyes
    grayeyes Member Posts: 533
    edited January 2016

    Jazzy - I never had the bone density test. It's definitely on my to-do list this year. You were smart to load up with whatever you need at the end of last year.

  • melp27
    melp27 Member Posts: 295
    edited January 2016

    No jazzy I get the results this Friday. I'm feeling a bit better emotionally I guess adjusting to the mets diagnosis more.

    Hot flushes and night sweats are my only problem atm. Not on as much pain medication as when I first came out of hospital.

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,974
    edited January 2016

    Melp- glad you are feeling better and the pain is a bit less. Sending positive thoughts to you for your test results this friday. Hugs sister.

  • grayeyes
    grayeyes Member Posts: 533
    edited January 2016

    BB - I hear ya'. Never in my life did I ever receive any kind of gov't assistance. I always paid into the system, of course. But I did not want to sign up myself. BB, we have no other choice. Yes, it's all a trap, just as you pointed out. Now we have to play the game. I'm just over the limit so that I don't qualify for Medicaid. That's why I signed up for ACA. Now, if I end up earning more income than expected this year, I could end up owing thousands more for this ACA insurance (if I understand correctly). So, I too am in a spot where I'd actually lose money if I earn too much. I've only been in this position for less than a month, and already I hate it. BB, I hope that this next court battle works for you and that your son is doing well soon.

    Melp - You're in my thoughts and prayers this week.

  • grayeyes
    grayeyes Member Posts: 533
    edited January 2016

    It's all very tricky, isn't it? I'm sure we're all doing the same thing - I know I'm always playing with the numbers, too, wondering how everything would work if this or that happened. Good luck with that job opportunity.