Radiation recovery
Comments
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Sew your nails look fantastic! You have beautifully shaped nails. I love the green, such a bold choice but I like it a lot.
GigiL same to you, I love the sparkles. Your grandchildren are gorgeous, their little ones are so cute. Their sunny faces just shine. Do you have all of them living close? My only grandchild is in Wyoming. I adore Wesley and miss him so much. You are so lucky to have any of them nearby. I bet they adore you back.
Josie you have a double lucky day tomorrow. How special that your son was born around Mother's Day. What a joy. I hope both of you find a way to celebrate each event and yet share both together. Have a great time both of you!
Kate I hope the swelling and the pain go down soon. Drink plenty of water, it does help. Hoping getting out and looking for some long skirts will be a nice adveture for you today. Just be careful and don't wait too long to elevate it. I understand your need to be out and busy, but your body is sending a different message. Please remember not to overdo it and elevate it when you can. It is tough when you want to go and do, but it is not a sign of weakness at all to come home and listen to your body. You will heal quicker too.
Bunkie I am sorry the air is so bad there with the pollen. Between that and the odors from the basement it sounds miserable. I truly hope you find some relief soon.
Cindy I can imagine how thrilled you are to have your DH home. Bless his heart....healing hugs to you both.
I am having a quiet day resting my knee. It is not happy today, but I do have a brace on and am doing odds and ends around the house. Plus taking the dogs out for plenty of running out front. We live on a very large corner lot and they can run out front across the lawn at warp speed. They love that. The injection in my neck did nothing to help so I am done. I know I have arthritis in my neck and will keep doing the exercises and hoping to improve the muscle strength. No more injections. Done!
Everyone enjoy whatever activities you have planned for this weekend. Enjoy every precious minute you have with family. I hope everyone gets to do something special. Happy Mother's Day to all. Hugs, hugs, and many more!
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Hi Gemni,
Yes they do have some skirts like that. I'd like to get one like that, and another one. Yes they are perfect for the summer and they will hide my swelling.
xoxo.
Kate
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Hi Janis,
I am glad you will be resting your knee today. Sorry about your arthritis. Is it your dh that is going to cook for you tomorrow? If so tell us about the menu tomorrow.
I will try and not overdo it today. The place that I want to go shopping is called the Promenad. it is outdoors and 3 blocks long. Walking is a problem, but I will take it slow. After that my donut shop, and I will elevate it there.
Thanks for your concern and continued support
Hugs,
Kate0 -
Janis, I hope the knee brace is giving you some relief. As for the neck, I can so relate. I find that the Qigong exercises for the neck are especially helpful to me. My neck is a chronic situation. (I am getting too many). The other day when I was sitting on the couch, I raised myself up to sit more upright and I felt a loud crack in my neck. It scared me a bit, but didn't seem to affect anything. I try to stretch it daily when I wake up and sit up in bed, I cross my arms in front of my chest and put my pointer and indec fingers into the slots just below my collar bone. Tnen I slowly bend my neck forward, then backward, then to the right, then to the left. I repeat this at least five times and I do it again during the day. Also when I am at the computer and my neck starts to feel the strain, I do the sun salute. I do it seated. I bring my arms and hands out to my side and then slowly up until they meet over my head. I tip my head up slightly to look at my touching hands then I lower them slowly. I repeat that one about 10 times. After that I reach out with both
hands to the sides and make small circles and increasingly big circles. I try to keep it up for a minute. Lastly I raise my shoulders as far as I can toward my ears, roll them backward and then repeat at least 15 times. I have to keep the old neck loose all day long. Recliner chairs irritate it worse, so I bought a straight back leather winged chair that is not too heaveily padded but comfy. The legs will raise in a hidden recliner and it will recline back, but I rarely recline back in it. I do raise the legs if I am sitting there for a long time, however. But I can't sit that way too long. I can't sit in any position too long or the old neck starts to hurt. Worse case scenario when it is really hurting, I make some turmeric tea (which relieves pain) and then I alternate icing it and putting heat on it. Sometimes I put heat on my lower back and ice on my neck. That is especially soothing.
My grandkids do all live in Minnesota, which keeps me living here too. I hate to be too far away from them. I am thinking of finding a place to rent in the south in the winter though. I am getting so tired of these winters. It is cold enough today to wear a fleece and have the fireplace going to take the chill off the house.
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Kate, you have fun shopping. Bring home something pretty to show us.
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Kate I am not sure what he is cooking tomorrow. It depends on what is in the freezer! I am guessing something with chicken. I might just ask for breakfast instead, although he would fix both meals. I would love pancakes and bacon. We don't have any bacon though. We'll see. We eat oatmeal pretty much 5 days a week, and allow a splurge on weekends. We rarely eat bacon or sausage so don't keep any on hand. Today I have a nice corned beef in the crockpot. We both love it and love the cabbage and red potatoes to go with it. Tomorrow I would be perfectly happy with corned beef sandwiches for dinner.
I know how frustrating it is Kate to be laid up by anything. Go and shop if you can, but try hard not to overdo it. Even strong resiliant people have to listen to their bodies. I know you hate it, but it is far from giving in. You do need to rest and elevate and this will help in the long run. I am not happy about the knee keeping me from normal activities, but I view it as temporary and that helps. Yesterday we went to a couple of stores and just wandered for awhile as it felt good to get out of the house. We stopped at a few garage sales. I am paying now of course, my knee is miserable. Still I had such a nice day yesterday, so today I look at this light activity as part of healing. I know this will get better and so will your leg. Just be careful, please?
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Gigil you must have posted at the same time I was typing...I did not see your post. I know how important the neck exercises are. i went to PT after my fusion surgery. Honestly it did not help, but it felt so good, especially the end when I got a massage. I could do that all day. I did download the neck exercise from my PT's website and they are easy to do. It does help some, but my neck is strange. Some days not so bad and others just terrible. My orthopedic surgeon said the MRI did show a significant amount of arthritis in my neck and he assumes that is my knee problem as well. I go back to see the pain specialist on May 22, so I am going to have something done then. I really am reluctant to jsut get an injection in this knee without first having a diagnosis. The presumtion of arthritis is fine but something popped in my knee while we were walking. We walk very fast and to me it felt like when you change gears on a bicycle and something slips. That describes it better than a pop actually. It will be two weeks tomorrow since it happened. Despite all the elevation and ice and keeping quiet as much as possible there has been no improvement. Last night the pain was so bad it kept me up until nearly 4:00. I did use a soft pillow under the knee but if I moved a twitch the burning/shooting pain came back. I am frustrated, I want to clean believe it or not! DH is a doll and tries so hard, but man clean and woman clean are not the same! I absolutely hate clutter and when anything piles up on the kitchen counter makes me nuts. Like mail. When I get the mail all the junk goes to the shredder and bills go somewhere else. Plus I like the fronts of appliances cleaned with window cleaner and rubbed with a soft cloth until streak free. I really am not neurotic, just prefer neat. Nobody has ever had to take shoes off to be in my house. We are very casual. Plus with three cats and two large dogs pristine is pretty tough. DH does vacuum a lot. Dusting...not so much!
You are so lucky to have your grandchildren live nearby. My sister and her family live in the Denver area, so does my youngest son and DIL. My oldest son lives in Wyoming. He is divorced and doesn't see Wesley much but his ex at least sends me his school pics, etc. I hate having him grow up without me. Unfortunately we are stuck here in Idaho. We moved here 3 years ago. I HAVE to win the lottery so I can get back to where my heart is. I miss my family so much.
Sorry didn't mean to whine! I just want all of you who live close to family to know how lucky you are. It is a gift to be cherished. Kate, I know your family is all far away as well. I don't dwell on it, but holidays especially I miss being closer. Kate you get that leg well. I am sure your phone will be very busy tomorrow with your family wishing you a Happy Mother's Day. Always so sweet to get a call. You enjoy your day. You know you and your family will all be together in spirit tomorrow. Extra hugs from me as well!
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Janis, Glad you had a nice day yesterday, but sorry you are hurting because of it today. I will try and not overdo it.
Gigil, I am hoping to buy some cute stuff, but I don't have a smart phone to take photos. I will just have to describe what I get
It is a perfectly gorgeous day here today, sunny and 72. I just finished washing clothes, and I am going to leave in about a half hour to go shopping. Then the donut shop. I will post from there.
Hugs,
kate
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Well just when I thought I was past all the mom stuff I got hit with a Mothers Day pity party. I was minding my own business and a Hallmark movie came on and I lost it. Must have cried for an hour. Could not stop. It just sneaks up on you sometimes.
Doing better now. Guess you just have to go with it. Missing my mom a lot this Mothers Day.
On the health front my head hurts, my tinnitus is whistling load and I feel like I am getting a UTI. Going to eat some yogurt and drink some cranberry juice. I was low on drinking water yesterday and sometimes that will set me off. Doubling up today.
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(((,hugs))) BUNKIE and Janis.Hope your neck and knee find some relief soon.
I just woke up from a nap.
I never take naps but can't find much energy today either.I went to a yard sale with my youngest daughter this morning and ended up going to the car to sit because I couldn't stand anymore.What the heck??What is wrong with me?
My daughter wanted me to help her clean her room and I finally had to convince her Mom needed a break.Just set the timer for 30 min and let me be I said.That's the only way to get them to leave me alone.Hey ...guess what?It worked!!!
After all Their 15 and 10 .My hubby had to work today.My neck is killing me today too.I pulled a muscle when I was throwing recycling in the container this morning.
Sorry didn't mean to carry on.0 -
Dang! We are ailing today. BUNKIE you and I are really twins separated at birth. I am feeling a UTI coming on too, and have started drinking blueberry and cranberry juice in my water, tons of water and taking everything else that is supposed to help. Wow!
Janis, I feel for you with that knee. Maybe you snapped a tendon. The way you describe it, sounds like something I've heard from someone else who tore a tendon in the knee and had to have a small surgical repair. I hope you can get to the bottom of it. I think arthritis is maybe a partial explanation, but there was something else going on with your knee. I have arthritic problems in my neck too. I am afraid to have them diagnosed. I think a neck and spine doc would want to do surgery. Mine hurts sometimes and other times, if I lay off the sugar it is better.
Josie, I remember that kind of fatigue. Just go with it, and rest when you need to. The hardest thing any of us do is say no to our family when they want us to do something with them or for them. This is time for you to take care of you. Sleep, sleep and rest whenever you can.
BUNKIE, I am staying away from Hallmark Channel this weekend. Thanks for the warning. Janis, I am taking your words to heart. My son called and invited me over for dinner. He is grilling steaks, and I am driving the 30 miles to be with them for awhile. Other family members are coming to hang out too. I am not going to pass up any chances. I wish you could find a way to move closer to your family. Sometimes my family can be pretty occupied with their own lives, so times together become rare.
Kate enjoy getting out and then come home and elevate your leg and write to us to tell us what you found.
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Josie, the fatigue will decrease over time. When you are that tired then simply take a nap, lie down, or do whatever it takes to make you feel better. It is frustrating of course but this will get better. I promise.
Bunkie I am sorry you are feeling the loss of you Mom so much. I miss mine too and she died in 1999. I think there is a part of us that never fully recovers. It is such a profound loss. I adored my mom and wish I could talk to her about so many things. Sorry about the headaches. Drinking extra water will help and I do hope you can find some relief. Sending hugs to you.
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Josie, try alternating heat and ice on your neck and beg someone for a light massage. I've been told to massage above where the pain is.
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My SIL tells me that every time our loved ones who passed away pop into our mind it is a whisper of their spirit hovering near us. I just loved that, and it has comforted me so many times.
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Thanks for the great tips.My hubby just called and he is on his way home he expects to go shopping for my son's B day.I'm just chilling in the recliner.not dressed to go or anything.Wish me luck.I can't believe it but Claire(my10yr old daughter) baked me a cake while I took my nap earlier.She iced it and everything.Isn't that sweet?It's strawberry flavored.Yum.I actually got a surge of energy earlier and played a little basketball with her.We had a great time and I'm sure made some memories.They grow up too quick.Well I better go and get dressed now.Have s great evening everyone.
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GiGil - My cranberry juice was past dated so I just drank a lot of water. I will pick up some tomorrow. I have had this happen so many times when I feel like it is starting and then I run to the Dr and they do a test and it comes back negative but it still feels like I have one. So now I try some cran juice and a lot of water for a few days. If that knocks it out great.
Janis - Thanks. She just went so fast. I am thankful I got the time with her but two years just was so short because of that dementia. Can't go back so forward we go. I miss her so much. Doing better now but it creeps up on me. That is another reason to sell this house. We moved here when I was 8 or 9. Time to go.
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Bunkie, I find the same, that the sadness of loss creeps up on me. It seems like a good idea to sell the house. But I live in a house now that neither my briother nor mother will ever see, and that's a little hard too, but not so hard as going back to my mom's apartment.
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Went out for a mo ther's day dinner with my dear husband and sweet son, and it was lovely. But after a salad and bread I was full, ate most of my entree anyway...., now feel sick.I miss being hungry and eating a big meal. Restaurant food is so rich, maybe the answer is tomhave a salad and an appetizer.
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I had a nice day today. The weather here was gorgeous, 72 and sunny. I went shopping at the promenade and Santa Monica Place mall. It is all outdoor shopping, so I got to enjoy the weather. I went to the kiosk and bought two long skirts. Both are similar colors, but completely different styles. One is teal with a black design and the other is black with a teal design. The teal with a black design is a long full skirt. The black with the teal design can be worn all long, or you can tie up the sides, and they are shorter with the rest of the skirt longer, and it looks more stylish that way. Then I went to an inexpensive store in the mall and they had 2 cute tee's marked down to $2.75, OMG I couldn't believe it ,and I also bought a cute blouse there too. All 3 tops go with the skirts I bought. My foot was ok, but I had a problem with cramps from constipation. Finally I did #2 lol, and I felt better. The mall is great, because the food court has outdoor seating with views of the pacific ocean. I sat outside with a plate of black pepper chicken and vegetables from Manchu Wok. Now I am at the donut shop. I had a little tear in my eye when I went shopping there today. The last time I went I hadn't started chemo yet, and I felt good like I always did. I was a little sad today, because I had trouble walking. I quickly said to myself stay positive, keep enjoying the day, and the swelling will go down by the end of June, and I did enjoy myself.
xoxo,
kate
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Kelly at my donut shop has started cooking for the mothers day lunch tomorrow.
She just brought me some soup to try, and it is the most delicious bowl of soup I've ever had. I like spicy, and she made it spicy. She said it is a recipe from Hong Kong. It has rice, pork, green onion, chile pepper, and chinese vegetables. mmmm good Cambells sure never tasted as good as this I love hot n sour soup, and this is much better.
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Bunkie, sorry about your Mom and a sad movie. I am also sorry that you are experiencing a headache. I hope you feel better now.
xoxo,
Kate
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Josie I am so sorry you were tired today, and your neck hurt. You truly need a break, and I hope you feel better soon.
Hugs,
Kate
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Kate, so glad to hear about the pretty skirts, and your ability to keep your spirits up. You set a great example of positive thinking. It seems that your leg and for are a little better? Maybe elevation is the key right now. And it sounds like your constipation, although still problematic, is improving too. You remind me not to get ahead of myself, and not to dwell in the past.
A happy Mother's Day to all!0 -
Gigigl,
Sorry you are ailing today, but glad you are going to be with family for dinner. Grilled steaks sound fabulous, enjoy!
xoxo,
Kate
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Hi Josie,
Your 10 year old daughter baking a cake for you is wonderful. I can feel the love. Enjoy! Enjoy! enjoy! You so much deserve good times,
Hugs,
Kate
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Suzannah, Glad you went out to dinner with your family, but sad that you are feeling sick. Ihope you feel better soon.
Hugs,
Kate
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Hi Suzannah,
Thank you for the wonderful compliments. I do keep my spirits up. I want to be brave and strong for my children, so I do everything I can to think positive. I am not saying that every once in a while I don't get down, but honestly I think about something darling one of my grandchildren does, and that lifts my spirits again.
My leg was much better today than yesterday. My constipation is much better than last week. I had a great time shopping. Girlie- girl me could shop till I drop every day if I could afford it. I love retail therapy.
I am thrilled that I have an influence on you not looking back, and not looking forward, and experiencing today. I used to look back, and I used to look forward, but now I am experiencing the day only. I take pleasure in the smallest things. All of the support makes me feel wonderful.
I told my darling 26 year old neighbor about my cancer, and she sent me a message, on facebook, that was so nice it made me cry. She told me I was a tough cookie, and the most resilient person she knows. She also said that she would be happy to do me any favor I need. OMG how nice is that. She is a doll.
Today Kelly made me the most delicious soup, and that touched me too. How nice of her to cook for me. I am still at the donut shop. I will leave in an hour they close at 8. Then I will go home and play with my new clothes, trying everything on again, and seeing what other tops I have, besides the three I bought, that will go with my skirts. At the kiosk today I also saw a long burnt orange skirt and purple skirt I like, and will go back and get them in June for a birthday present for me. Also J crew had some cute tops I liked, but they weren't on sale. They were $40, but I know they will mark them down to
$25, and that is when I will buy them.
Hugs,
Kate
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Hi Ladies
I have spent alot of time catching up..again.
Kate- I am glad the eye thing wasnt serious. I hope the swelling and discomfort you are having goes away quick. Love that you were able to get out and do some shopping.
Cindy- Hope DH is doing well. My dad had bladder cancer twice and is now 80 and doing great.
I love the Green and Gold speckled nails! Mine are currently silver, I will try to figure out how to post.
I am so sorry some of you dont have your moms. Mine is 70 and in good health for the most part, she has tremors but overall she has been healthy. I know how blessed I am to have her in my life. We have a annual shopping event for Mothers day but tomorrow it is to be 48 and raining so we are postponing. We shop outside for all our flowers togethor, not so nice in mittens and under the rain. Not sure what my boys have planned for me. DH got me flowers on Friday, multi color carnations, they are beautiful.
Kate you brought up the age thing. Its funny because I am the opposite. I am 44, my friends are all older than me. Most at least 10-15 yrs older. I dont think age is factor either, I learn so much from them and I usually forget they are older than me. Me getting BC was so hard on all of them. I always knew I would deal with health issues as I aged I didnt think at 43 I would have BC, I guess none of us would think that, but why not me?
I havent been posting much as I am in a flunk, honestly I feel lousy. Josie, I am tired almost lethargic. 1 month post rads. I feel like doing nothing and I sleep but wake up still tired, no motivation to do anything. Feel like I am on the verge of tears all the time. Just doing lousy. I did start the tamoxifen and its upsetting my stomache. All the things I like to do dont sound good to me. I miss my old self and just cant seem to get me back. I was doing fine, not sure what is bringing this on but I cant continue like this much longer. The past 9 days have really been bad.
Please know that even if I am not posting I am reading and cherish all of your posts.
XO
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Lemon,not to trivialize what you're going through, but I felt much the same one month post rads. The fatigue seems to be at is worst then, and nothing looks good, like it used to. This phase will pass. Sme people do bounce back quickly, but I wasn't one of them, but I did get better, you will too.
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Hi Lemon!
Glad to see your post and understand the PTSD from the past can't be real 6 months!
Test, wait, tests, wait, choices, appointments, surgery, tests, appointments, rads, RX, wait, SEs, waiting for the 6 month all clear...10 year all clear, yeah it makes sense. Shell-shock by BC. My MO said I could take my HT 4 weeks after last rad so I could have a break. And I admit I'm afraid if I do and afraid if I don't.
Tears of joy, fear, grief, relief, and joy all over again.
Trying to stay focus on today...grateful for today.
Slip into the boys room tonight or early morning and look at their precious faces...so sweet:) and spoon with hubby:). It is gonna get better it is gonna get easier and you are safe and so loved (((hugs)))
Cindy0
