Radiation recovery
Comments
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Speaking of ducks. When I first moved home my fiance at the time had a house close to my parents. Three different springs he had two mallards...I think....that would come and land in the backyard pool and have babies in the bushes. He was not much of a nature lover but I kept him from bothering them till they were ready to leave. Then he would get the pool cleaned. They were really pretty and got to where I could go outside and sit in a chair while they were swimming and watch them. Noisy though.
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Hi y'all
(((Sew))) - my deepest sympathy on the passing of your brother. Our brothers are so special and so missed when they are gone. I love the thunder storm...yes a display to say I'm ok and here with you always.
Kate - leg doing better and are all crumbs everywhere:). Fight hard warrior!
Josie - luv the family pics and the fish! Beautiful
I'm way behind on this thread, but wishing y'all a great Tuesday evening.
We are home from the hospital...no more drama..put hubby's pills in pillbox...so no more over medicating...just spoke with his cardiologist in CA...will forward records to him.
Atrial fib is just something we live with...no longer option for cardio-versions...don't work...
Hubby is well hydrated well feed and tired from no sleep...who sleeps in hospital:(
Has a UTI so another med and tomorrow teeth cleaning ha! There is always something! Life!
I think he was just dehydrated confused and self medicated himself to the ER!
Too late for gym, but headed out later for a nice walk! You're all in my thoughts and prayers.
(((Hugs)))
Cindy0 -
Sew, I am so sorry for your loss. I don't know what you believe (I don't know what I believe either) but my BFF is a hopice nurse, and has eased many deaths. She told me to always believe that the spirit of our loved ones can communicate with us. She tells me she's seen it over and over again--positive messages to loved ones that take different forms, like the storm. I have experienced it myself, and believe it to be true.
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Thanks everybody for the likes for the pics.
My daughter wanted everyone to know that was her friend Ashley in the upside down fishing photo.She didn't want anyone to think that was her sis.Of course that was her sis in the graduation photos.
I've been catching up on reading everything I missed since I was at work all day.I just wanted to comment on the wonderful and caring comments and stories everyone has had for Sew.You ladies are so nice.I consider all of you my friends and think your great people.I'm sure your comments have brought Sew great comfort.It brought tears to my eyes as I read those stories.0 -
RunFree, that's so interesting about your friend's triangle mark from rads. Mine is a perfect rectangle on my back shoulder. Just goes to show how customized the docs design our rads!
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Sab and Cindy, thanks, and yes, I believe in signs.....they sooth us. Not sure my SIL believes it yet, she's just sorry he missed this storm of a lifetime but I think some day she'll realize he actually sent it to us. He had been talking about trying to get to Jackson Hole Wyoming for the storms this year (he really wasn't well enough to travel) but this one beat all of those.
Maakmezorga, I don't think RO's talk about BP cuffs and blood draws, but any LE avoidance literature you read it always mentions that. It's up to you to tell all your techs not to use that arm for anything. I thought it was going overboard being fussy, but it's a simple enough thing to do, so I do ask them to use the other arm. On the flying, I've heard it's just fine, but you should wear a compression sleeve. Insurance. Maybe overkill who knows, but can't hurt. Make sure you're stretching out that arm during and after the flight also. Again, insurance and feels good so I do it. Good luck.0 -
Josie, yes, yes, the stories are great and comforting. It's kind of like going thru BC, it totally sucks and you feel miserable but it's great to have comfort from those who've been thru it..... Ok, ignore me gals, I'm still fried......
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Very interesting Maakmezorgen. We have similar diagnoses except for the micrometastasis in my node. I only had one lymph node removed, but they said no needles, and no blood pressure cuff on that arm, because "why take the chance?" That spooked me a little--I mean, hasn't anyone researched this? My physical therapist said to wear a compression sleeve when I fly, but nobody else has said so. I'll be interested to hear what your doctor says. When is your radiation done? That's wonderful about your vacation--great idea!
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RunFree, I will finish rads on the 27th and fly out on the 30th, can't wait! Will let you know what my doc says, won't see him till next Monday though. I am going to ask about a compression sleeve today too. Don't want to leave that too late as I am not sure how long it will take to get one.
Sew, yes, from now on I will just tell everyone to use my other arm, easy enough and guess better safe than sorry!
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Mostly Sew, I am so very sorry about the loss of your beloved brother. It sounds like you have a wonderful family who were all there with him at the end. My own sweet brother died a few years ago-he was a james too, both ends of the candle sort of guy as well. I know u will miss him forever, but the pain will ease. My heart is in your pocket this week.
Kate, you sounds weary, and I can understand why. Though you keep up a positive front, I know the queasy feeling and the constipation must be wearing you down. There are better days ahead, and you are at least1/3 or better done!
Josie, loved the photos!
Bunkie, sorry about the headaches. I do find accupuncture helps a bit.
Cindy, glad you're back from hospital, must have been a scary time. Give your husband a big hug from me, really, I mean it.
Love to everyone else. A hard week at work.0 -
Maakmezorgan, my RO referred me to a lymphedema therapist. Clearly, you do not have that, and neither do I, but the theory is that these professionals can give you the education you need to avoid it. Also, they'll give you gentle stretches to treat any muscle tightness from surgery or rads, and teach you how to move fluid out of your limb, should that occur. You may or my not already know that you have to resume physical activity carefully--someone told me she never had lymphedema until she overdid it kayaking. Once you have it, as you know, you have it, and it comes with its own issues, so better safe than sorry. And yes, losing even one lymph node can cause problems for some people. I lost two, had cording, which feels like a tight muscle strand but is a blocked lymph vessel. Gentle stretches and a bit of care made that go away completley. You'll be fine, with or without PT, I just want to share the little bit I've learned about this stuff.
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Maakmezorgan I have never been told to wear a pressure sleeve after flying. I have not had a problem not doing so. However I have occasional rib pain and I get a small amount of fluid there. I also did not know we should not have a blood pressure cuff on that arm, and they have even done that at my breast clinic! However, I never have a needle stick and am very cautious about any cuts or heavy lifting. I made the mistake of doing too much with that arm now and again, and I had a frozen shoulder for awhile. I do qigong, so I just continued to do gentle exercise and stretching and it is gone. I never shave that armpit with a regular razor and I do my own manicures - although many get professional manis. If I ever had swelling of any kind on that arm however, I would get myself to a specialist.
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Thanks Susannah, that's so sweet of you and the support feels good. What's with these James's being candle type guys? Oh well, they both loved life and lived it to the fullest and that's a good thing. I'm hoping your tough week at work will actually ease up and get easier........ at least that's my wish for you this week. Take care
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Hi Gigil, I've been told to wear the sleeve during the flight and for just a bit after. Has to do with air pressure in the cabin? May also have to do with the length of the flight, and how cautious you want to be. I've never understood the no BP cuff rule either, but I'm happy to comply. I figure that who ever's drawing blood and taking my BP can't tell which side I've had BC on cause I look so good! And I'm beginning to feel like I'm speaking in acronyms......
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Suzannah, You are right I am a little weary. This time it has been 10 straight days of feeling a little yucky from chemo. Seems like it is worst than last month. On the upside, and most importantly my leg continues to improve, and I am very grateful about that. You are right I am a minimum of 1/3 done. I will either be finished August 12 or October 6, and I am praying for Aug 12. That seems like a long time too. Surely it is not long, but if you are not feeling well an hour seems like a day.` Monday I have chemo again, and later in the afternoon I have an appointment with my MO. He said he was going to schedule CT scans to find out how much progress the chemo has made of killing my ugle cancer cells. He also said he was going to schedule an appointment with my urologist to see what he sees. Eventually I am praying for surgery for a new bladder, but I am not sure if it is possible.
Thanks so much for your support
xoxo,
Kate
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Kate - yippee! The chemo is working and the leg is shrinking:). Sorry that it has delivered such a knock out punch..1-2! But know that #€%~^% is going down for the count!
Fingers&toes crossed for improved week and great test results next week and good visit to urologist ...neo bladder please! Hubby had his done a USC.
Rest up Kate then off to the donut shop you go:)
(((Hugs)))
Cindy0 -
Kate, hoping and praying for good CT results for you. Sorry you are feeling a bit depleted, but I think that is quite normal considering all of the warfare going on inside of your body. Ugly little c cells being snuffed out!! Keep up the good fight and get out for those donuts and that good company. Soak up some sun and lovely weather, and enjoy that Cali lifestyle.
Sew, my MO retired a short bit ago. She was an older lady who was very kind and reassuring. I think over the years she developed more of a laid back attitude about some things. I am sure her career spanned a time when lots of lymph nodes were removed, and now that they are doing sentinal lymph nodes, she probably didn't see it as such a serious insult to the body. Maybe she was a bit too laid back. I am on the hunt for an MO who is like her, but with an eye to complementary therapies as well. I am a firm believer in Integrative Medicine, which blends both eastern and western practices. It is extrememly difficult to find a doctor like that. I live with one, but he can't treat me, of course. Darn!! Oh well, he wouldn't want to anyway. You can never treat your own. They just don't comply for the most part. We have seen that over the years with other family members.
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Cindy and Gigil, Thanks so much for your support. Today i am taking it easy laying around and watching TV. Later this afternoon I will go to the donut shop.
xoxo,
Kate
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Ladies just stopping in to say hello. Much to catch up on.
Went to my PCP today for all my stomach issues and she referred me to a gastro specialist. I walked in the door and his office was calling to schedule my tests. Colonoscopy and scope same time. That way I dio not have to go under more than once. She agreed the GB removal can cause some stomach problems but just to be sure they will do a biopsy for celiac etc. It will be good to get to the root of all this distress. I tried to get out of the colonoscopy but no can do. They need to rule out Crohns. That scares me. I had a scope before but my steroid dependency was a lot less then and it makes it so hard now. For my lumpectomies they had to keep me overnight both times to monitor me so we will see how I do.
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Eeek, Bunkie, sounds sort of scary. but you do need to get to the "bottom" of this, and they do need to rule out everything all over again, so I like the sound of their approach. Plus they're getting right on it, instead of making you wait, so that's even better. Let us know when the test is, and we'll just scare up another party. What kind of music do you like? Not elevator music, I hope.....
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Bunkie, in your pocket for the ride too. What Sew said, ditto.
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Bunkie you have my support too
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BUNKIE,
That's the same test my hubby went through a few weeks ago.He did just fine good thing he went through it they found a benign polop and They found h pylori bacteria in his tummy.
WE will all be with you in your pocket.0 -
Hi y'all
Ladies y'all are much too busy! Yikers...sorry if I mss ya, but thinking of y'all))
Kate - yeah! Some resting some donut shop some girlie stuff ...pamper yourself and let the chemo kick ...:)
Bunkie - geezers no fun...more testing ugh:(. Wish there was an easier way to know who what s the culprit...all bad cells hands up and step forward! In your pocket!
Sew - heart aches...praying your family is coming together as you plan your brothers life celebration...yeah James:) a much loved brother:)
Susan - hubby liked the hug! He's to act normal for awhile!
Josie - more rain? Storms your way? Adjusted to the new teeth?
SAB or GiGil - reading AntiCancer and will soon have my new shopping list ...combo of nutrionalist, NP, MO, TCM, and this book. My hubby is like no more Costco pizza and hot dogs ...I said sure he could but I will not be held responsible ...long as there is no more drama:)
Janis & Brookside - we need to get that princess warrior coat cleaned out and restocked!
RunFree - how's the training going...pound pound pound down the pavement! Doing okay on tami?
Mac - where you flying off too after rads? Take your lube goop. Skin peels itches the first few weeks after rads. And hydrate! Can't imagine anything other than my compression sleeve dragon tattoo...no more needles on the left side...no le please.
Gemini - yeah, most of us did have tan spots and rad rash on the backside. My hubby wondered why he was dabbing emu oil that side and then he got it...rads cookin through...
Zip zap goes where it needs for the kill!
Today was easy...dds, lunch out, groceries, gym, just simple yeah!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
Ok got me some hair...now do I wear it out with girls for lunch or wait... maybe FaceTime and see if K is freaked out by it ha!
Looks real enough ha! Building up to exposure! Hair hair such a girl thing:)0 -
Cindy, test it out on your bc friends here. Post a pic let us cheer for the cuteness of it. Sounds like a great day for you. I was a complete and total slug today. Now my DH says he needs paperwork for tomorrow that I filed away months ago thinking he wouldn't need it. Now, where did I file it? There are four potential places to look and I don't want to!!!
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Hi GiGil - have not figured out how to pst, but will change the avatar over the next few days ha! I ordered online so the colors are all different...thought they were similar, but sat change...but it's hair. Hubby has not seen them yet. He may like or laugh at the change.
Paperwork ugh! I'm the organizer...gotta file. Like it neat and clean...hubby is artist it's everywhere oh my:(
But I like having options...it could be here or there or the best is ....it's at the other house 1225 miles away! Fun oh fun! Just put the new DMV tags in carry on for car in CA...lol!
Have fun:)0 -
Cindy, you're sweet and you're thorough! I'm running 2-3 miles three days a week and I've also done yoga and Zumba a couple of times. So far no side effects from Tami, but it's early days. This week is all about cleaning for my Thank You Party, which is Saturday. My study was the messiest room. I've cleared out a small mountain of old photos and other boxes, but I've gotten down to a pile that I just cannot figure out where to put, even for just a couple of days. Puzzler. Brookside, you called it--I probably will pull an all-nighter! But I'm hoping to get everything done by Friday night so I can take it a bit slower on Saturday.
My only real challenge at the moment is I occasionally get very sad, somber, and scared. Over the past couple of weeks, I've had four or five long weepy meltdowns lasting hours or overnight, triggered by something else and then I'm stuck in it. I'm worried about recurrence, especially (of course) distant recurrence. But most of the time, it's not even an organized thought, just an overall feeling of inevitable doom and sadness. I should have seen it coming. Now that I've been looking into it, apparently the weeks after finishing active treatment are prime time for the big fear to hit. I was such a happy girl all winter and spring, and I'm paying for that uncharacteristically upbeat coping mechanism now I guess. It's as if I'm finally realizing, OMG I HAD CANCER!!! I think this is what my new MO was alluding to last week when she said, "So how are you really doing?" I just ordered the book After Breast Cancer, because that's what I always do, throw books at the problem! I'm glad I didn't start Tami sooner, because I'd have to wonder if this was Tami-related mood changes or regular old fear. Veterans--did you have this syndrome after you finished active treatment, and how long did the fearful stage last?
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RunFree I have had times like that from time to time this past 21 months since my last rads treatment. It is so hard to be philosophical about one's own life and the possibility of recurrence. I think it hits especially hard right after active treatment is over. During treatment you are working hard to cope and survive and you were geared up for that. Now that is over and life is supposed to be settling into some sort of new normal. The part that sucks is that it is a new normal and not the normal we are all used to. The part that is hard to deal with is the thought that none of us can ever be told we are cured. This particular type of cancer has no guaranteed time periods. That part catches me right between the eyes at times. I am the worst worrier ever. Here is what I have figured out. Maybe some of it will work for you:
1. Make a date with yourself to worry. Promise yourself not to worry all of the time. Just let yourself worry right before a recheck, maybe just the day before, or if you can pull it off just the hour before. Any other time if it starts to creep in, tell yourself, "Nope, it is not the time to worry right now!"
2. Try as much as you can, to live in the moment. Don't worry about the past, don't worry about the future, because there is nothing we can do about either. Live in this moment and let yourself have every ounce of joy you can have in the present. We all deserve it, for all we have been through.
3. Don't do medical research at night or when you might be feeling weak. I have a bad habit of doing research on treatments, studies that have been done, survival statistics at night. I find myself burning the midnight oil, some nights until the wee hours and then it is very hard to calm down and sleep.
4. Excercise every day. You already have that one knocked. It has been proven by studies that regular exercise reduces risk of recurrence in some case by 1/2.
5. Eat the best diet you can most of the time, but give yourself a treat now and then.
6. Support groups help a lot of people. I find this group of women to be the best ever. I haven't reached out in my community yet, but I am thinking about it.
7. Meditate. Find a self healing meditation and practice it until it works to block out all fear and negativity and puts you on the same wave length as the divine. I have gotten pretty good at this one over time. Thank God. I use the Moses Code Meditation by Wayne Dyer. You can download it on Audible.com and use earphones in bed at night. I have gotten my husband using it too, and it really helps his atrial fibrillation situation and his mood.
Fear still comes and goes for me. It is lapping at my heels right now, since I have a mammogram and meeting with my breast surgeon on the 20th. I am trying to keep my date to worry when the time comes to have a worry session. I am trying very hard not to get ahead of myself and have a miserable week. I have been so busy with family matters lately, I scarcely have time for me.
8. Find something that fascinates and amuses you. I have started doing geneology studies on my family. I absolutely love it. I am hoping to write a book about it someday, since I have found some fascinating information.
9. If all else fails turn on your favorite music as loud as you can and just dance up a storm. It is amazing how worry gets chased out the window when one just lets go of all inhibition.
Hope this helps Run. I sometimes have to find a way to shut my busy mind out, and I am not much of a drinker. Sometimes I wish I were!! Ha! Ha!
10. P.S. If I just can't even dance, I take half of a low dose xanax and turn on one of my favorite romantic comedies. I usually drift off to sleep and when I wake up things don't look nearly as bad. Love and hugs. I know just what you are feeling. It comes and goes and it is less and less as time goes by. We do get used to this, somehow.
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I throw books at my problems too. I have read everything I have been able to find. I lost my mom during this time and I found the book Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, M.D. It gave me a lot of comfort in regard to my mom's death and death in general. He is a neurosurgeon who didn't believe in near death experiences until he had one. It is beautifully written and an easy read. It is somehow uplifting.
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Gigi, a great post. Perfect.
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