Radiation recovery
Comments
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RunFree, yes I told the lady at the temp agency I was interested in the full time position that includes a few evenings but never heard back from her on it yet.
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Janis, I hoping for hemorrhoids! You know what I mean.
Joan, it's so hard to be away from our kids. I truly hope all is well with Dd.
Waiting for word from you guys and also lemon, Cindy, Josie, who else? So many of us struggling right now. Many hugs.
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SAB, I know what you mean, and all the news we got yesterday was GOOD! Thanks everyone for all the positive energy, prayers, everything. It helped me a lot. He saw a PA, they did stomach and abdominal x-rays which revealed nothing more scary then some possible hard stool. No masses, and all of his blood work came out perfect. She even mentioned that his numbers were beautiful. Talk about music to my ears, of course! She did the evil rectal exam and other than an enlarged prostate found nothing scary. I was in the room and talked to her and liked her a lot. She did schedule a colonoscopy for him since it has been over ten years. He has to go see his regular doctor for follow up, but other than prescribing a stool softener no other action was required. I was overjoyed and he still seemed so down. I asked him what was wrong and he said it was all great news, but did not explain the bad pain in his left side. He felt like that was not addressed, and said he is not making it up. Of course not, and I do understand his frustration. I guess I was so relieved to not hear bad news that I didn't think about that. Like my neck, they try to treat the pain but still are never sure of the cause. So other than that....it was all good. She was trying to explain that sometimes hard stool can cause pain. He didn't buy it, but will try the stool softener just to say he did!Off and running, taking the dogs for a nice long walk on this cool crisp morning. Thank you all again for thinking of us!
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Janis, thank goodness all was ok.But your husband should listen to his instincts.If it continues he could ask for a MRI.
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Josie I will be praying that things at work get better for you. It is tough to be in a job like that.
Good morning everyone. Had a very rough day yesterday. After my re-excision while in recovery I had some really bad seizures. They had to give me 5mg Versed twice, Ativan and Topamax to get it under control according to my DH. I was surprised they didnt keep me after that. Then on the way home I had to have my DH pull over because I got sick.. not fun period but even worse in the rain. This am I am pretty sore still.
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Good news Janis. I agree with Josie though maybe he should get a MRI just to allay his fears and be on the safe side.
I have 3 dogs at home now 2 pups and a 5 year old. We take the 5 year old for walks - wont be long for the little guys - they are barely 2 months. Adorable but wow I am exhausted by their energy sometimes. Raining non-stop here so I'm sure the porch will be "covered" but hey at least not in the house.
Diane
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Oh and don't know if any of you guys were caught up in the Home Depot breach - supposed to be more widespread than Target's - we were of course. Target, Michael's and now Home Depot. I have had to change my debit card 3x this year already. DH twice and son twice - from different places. May be time to use other means of paying for things. Too bad it's so convenient but not worth all this stress and aggravation.
Diane
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I was diagnosed with IDC, grade 3 and was told I would have to have radiation and chemo. I was also told that radiation was done on an outpatient basis, that you go about your daily routine. Is this the case? You don't miss work? Also, I have rheumatoid arthritis and had both knees replaced in 2008 amd a hip replaced in 2012. They want me to get a breast MRI. Does anyone know if the MRI is doable?0 -
Hi johnboy88,
I worked through my rads but I did a clinical trial of dose dense rads, only to lumpectomy site and I did 2x a day, for 5 days. Since one of our offices was 5 minutes from Yale where I had my rads, I was able to work there that week. I went to my first session at 7:30am and then went to the office from 8am to 1pm and then went to my second session for 1:30pm (had to be 6 hours from the first session) and then went home for the day. I was a bit tired, but it was doable. If you do the long session of 33 treatments (or whatever your RO gives you) I would think you could work as well, but it depends on you and how you react to the rads. I think most of us worked but some may have taken time off for this treatment..not sure. As for breast MRI, I never had one, but some here have and I will let them comment on this.
Best of luck to you!0 -
Johnboy, I asked my radiation oncologist to put me on disability throughout rads, and for a couple of months thereafter. My hospital is a two-hour drive for me, and I could not imagine dealing with that plus rads plus fatigue. I doubt you will need to do the same thing; I mention this only so you will be aware that an excused absence, so to speak, is possible.
My only problem with the MRI was that you are positioned on your stomach with a rather hard support under your breastbone. My poor tech had to sort through several pillow options to find the right combination, as this is one test where you really cannot move around.
Does your MRI question concern the metal in your new and improved joints? While I'd hope the medical whizzes would install non-magnetic materials, I have no idea whether they do or not. Your orthopedic doc can send all that info to your RO.
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Josie, I love your FIL's website. Thank you so much for posting it. I have been keeping right up with his progress, if you can call this particular stage "progress." Michelle and Courtney are great reporters!
Well, Janis, I'm so glad the workup your husband had showed nothing alarming. Don't much like that left side thing, however. It's probably nothing of any significance, of course, but wouldn't it be nice for them to figure out exactly which nothing is causing the problem! I guess between his PCP and the gastroenterologist, all will be revealed in due time.
Ncollett: Seriously? You had seizures and they sent you home? Huh? I hope all is well and this was just a little glitch that is now firmly in your past.
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Johnboy, welcome. I'm sorry your going through this .As long as your not claustrophobic the MRI should be no problem.But as far as the artificial joints not sure about that. I'm sure the MRI tech or scheduler could tell you if that's possible.
I questioned my Radiation oncologists about a breast MRI. He said my stage 0 it wouldn't be warranted and the insurance might deny it. But be lucky you get to have one I've heard of women finding out they missed something on the mammogram but found it on the MRI. I worked full time all the way through Rads. It was at the hospital I work at and They were kind enough to let me have the 8:00 slot since I worked at 8:30 am. I really had very little skin issues.But found myself nauseous on the weekend and very thirsty daily. Eat lots of protein and drink lots of water. Listen to your body but try a light walk daily.
Brookside, I'm glad you like the website. It's great to be able to keep up with him on a daily basis.I haven't seen him since the weekend. But talk to my mother in law daily for an update. Yesterday my mother in law had to leave him and go babysit her great grandson. Apparently the babysitters son ended up at children's hospital with that bad respiratory virus. I just hope the baby doesn't come down with it. Especially with her watching him yesterday.
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Welcome john boy- I had 33 Rads treatments and it was outpatient. I didn't work during my treatments. My drive to work is long and very high pressure so I took medical leave. I didn't have a lot of burning but the fatigue was tough about halfway through. Didn't have a MRI. Have had one before and it was tough - very claustrophobic.
Diane
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ncollett, what a rough day indeed! I'm a fainter and often convulse when I faint, which seems awful but I've been told such seizures aren't actually a big deal, though they look dramatic. But it sounds as though yours were pretty vigorous. I hope you are feeling better today. As I understand it, it's normal to be extra tired after something like that, not to mention the surgery itself.
johnboy, sorry about your diagnosis. Yes, radiation (rads) is ordinarily on an outpatient basis for breast cancer. Once they figure out all their settings, which takes an hour or so on one day, the whole appointment is 10 minutes, five days a week for about six weeks. If your hospital participates in the "Canadian protocol" and you meet the criteria, you can do a shorter one, a bit longer each day for three weeks. April had an experimental one-week kind, as she said, but I'm not sure it was a great bargain. I kept working but reduced my schedule somewhat just to accommodate driving to the appointment. I had a different driver every day, which made it actually fun and not a slog. That was mostly for companionship but also because I was afraid I'd get fatigued and be in danger behind the wheel. In fact, I never got fatigued, maybe fell asleep an hour early a few evenings. My skin, which is quite pale, got a bit pink but never burned. I did not have chemo, but from what I've seen, that does warrant some reduction in work. My colleague who is undergoing chemo right now, and having a rough time of it (due to factors that are individual to her), is glad to be working part-time. Full-time would be too much, but not working at all would allow her to think about cancer too much. I did have a breast MRI but I don't know the implications of your prior surgeries.
Janis, hooray for great news about your husband! I hope the pain in his left side turns out to be from some impacted stool that just needs to clear. If not, of course he needs to go back.
Josie, I wouldn't give up hope on that job with the evening hours. So often, people just get busy and postpone moving ahead on a hiring process. Meanwhile you are building cred with the employment agency and maybe something else will come along. Hope your FIL is doing well.
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Janis--good luck with hubby---I had dark (black stools) and my doc said if it was black it was most likely upper GI and if it was red, lower GI-prob. "roids" (I can't spell it either)
Josie-Hang tough. Just saw your F
in law is doing ok. My computer doen'st always display most current message posts---Probably an operator error
Big D---still thinking of you and praying for your healing, I know God is holding you close even if you lose that feeling of his presence--( I know I did during illnessess). --HE is there. And so are all of us.
Today is my MRI of my head and neck at 8:00 a.m. Will be dropping 2 valium and 2 Benadryl and the final steroid down my throat in 15 minutes. Didn't sleep at all--had to take the last steroid at 1:00 a.m. so I slept from 1-3 AM, woke up with leg cramps and night sweats. Went back to sleep and woke up at 10 to 5. Was up at 5a.m the day before too. Ate a banana this a.m. to ward off the leg cramps. Whenver I skip my trazadone, I get leg cramps, but I knew I probably would not wake up at 1:00 if I took the trazadone at 10, and if I took it at 1 AM, I wouldn't wake up to get ready for the test..... Hope you are all in pockets keeping me calm and relaxed and comfortable. Otherise I will be screaming abort and pulling myself out!
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Home from MRI---YIPPEE it is over. Valium on a empty tummy really does the trick, plus all my pocket people and the prayers. I highly recommend Advanced MRI facilities if one is near you. For my head and neck, my legs from waist down was out of machine. Took 45 minutes and they pulled out to put in the contrast for final 3 scans. Talked to me between each set of pics.0 -
Red Glad that is over for you!
Welcome Johnboy
Josie, Hope FIL infection under control.
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Redheaded, glad it's over hope your results are good.Remind me again why they did the MRI ?
Fran, thanks for asking about FIL, yes his infection is gone.
Much better day today thank God.Only 6 or7 bone densities.
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Hi everyone, just a quick update:
First, thank you for all your very nice comments. Love you all.
I had my colonoscopy today. Even the prep was not all that bad. My doc started to do something different because she said she had tried the prescription mediation she used to give and when she could not get it down, she figured she would create something for her patients that would work and would not be so awful to ingest. So I mixed up a bottle of MiraLax and put half into one 32 oz bottle of Gatorade and the other half into another 32 oz bottle of Gatorade. Drank that last night. Kept me up most of the night but was very tolerable.
Procedure itself was easy as I was completely asleep after they got me into position. The good news is she is pretty sure no cancer. There was one polyp which was removed and some tissue that was inflamed that she took samples of along with some diverticula which was mild and not bleeding. Path report should be back in a week or two. Seems like a long time but she is pretty sure we are in the clear. She wants to see me in five years. I hope I am still here in five years!
So now will have another infusion of Zometa next Friday and we will try to get me back on the Revlimid at half dose and see how I do. Have to do it, no choice.
Redheaded, glad your MRI went well. Thank you for thinking of me. I feel it, really do.
Josie, I am praying for your FIL and following his website. Glad he is hanging in there and hope that he will be feeling so much better after this weekend!
Cindy, thinking of you and your DH, hope all is well with you.
Janis, glad you posted! I think of you a lot, too. Hope all is well with your DH too.
RunFree, SAB, Diane, Bunkie, Brookside, 70's, and all I am forgetting, sending you all big hugs and a big welcome to johnboy as well.
Going to catch up on some sleep now. Hope you all have a blessed weekend.
Big D/Joan
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Big D/Joan, I'm glad all went well for you Today .Good for you.I hope your path results come out negative too.
I'm glad your keeping up with my father in law. I thought I'd post the link just in case anyone wanted to know how he was doing.
Good luck on the infusion.I hope it goes better for you.We will be here for you if it doesn't go well.
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Josie- the MRI is because 1) I have funny sensations around my ear on Right side, but a little on left now too. Saw the ENT and he did hearing test, pressure test, stuck a damn scope through my nose to look around inside my head (couldn't find thing, saw no tumors) Its a cold numb feeling, or started that way, now it is more like your ear is closing off but not enough that you can yawn and stop the sensation...So he wanted me to see my TMJ Doctor who is a facial nerve specialist. Suggested MRI if TMJ doctor didn't know what it was. He kind of blew me off about any link to medication ans said I was describing nerve pain. It started about the time I started my Arimidex, and I had a Onc appointment coming up but my MO researched the week before I saw him and so did I and the only ear issue we could pinpoint in any studies was Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) in less that 1%. I have NO ringing. My MO said--get your scans--I don't think its the drug, but you can stop the drug for up to 4 weeks if you want. he was just concerned it might be a little bleed, or a aneurism, or a lesion that might be putting pressure in that area. LETS ERROR ON CAUTION. Saw the TMJ doctor and he wants me wearing my TMJ appliance 2-4 hours a day besides at night and will see me in three weeks. Funny thing is, the pain hits me almost every time I am at the computer--that's where I first noticed it. And when I wear the appliance, it doesn't happen at the computer. But now it happens other times too. I was a the Quilt Guild meeting and a great lady was talking tips on stuff, and I was just sitting in the audience and my ear acts up and I didn't learn one thing because it totally disrupts my concentration. My big fear is my late mother had an acoustical neuroma that left her disabled for 20 years after the surgery to remove it. So, to alleviate fears, rule out any snarky stuff that could be deadly and see if we can determine anything, I did the MRI. (And lived to tell about it.) One of the nuns that is on campus asked my friend, who was telling her about my fears, "Is she afraid of dying" and I told my friend when she sees Sister Ana again to tell her no--she's afraid of having a stroke and NOT dying....HA. So now you all know my fears.... I'd just as soon get hit by the bus as die any other way.......But when I am suffering I just tell myself I am being drawn closer to the Cross and being made more Christ like as a result of it.0 -
Oh wow Redheaded. I guess I didn't realize you were having those problems. Your much braver than I .I'm too claustrophobic to have an MRI. 45 min in that thing?
They would of had to sedate me.
I hope they find the problem.
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I hope so too, Red. As someone who has not been able to find the solution to my dizziness and lack of balance, I know how frustrating it is not to have an answer. Hang in there. Am praying for you always.
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Big D! So nice of u to give an update. So glad things went well for you. Fingers crossed for results & next infusion.
Red sorry you are having such problems, hope they find the answers soon for you.
Josie Sounds like you had a good day
How's everyones hubbies doing?
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Glad to hear your procedure went well, BigD. After all you've been through, it must feel really nice to have something go so nice and normally, and such a relief that you don't have to worry about that intestinal blip that showed up on your previous scan.
Redheaded, I guess I get that thing with the ears from time to time. I've had Meniere's Disease (inner ear fluid thing that creates vertigo) for years and years, and have learned the hard way that all the inner ear symptoms are peculiar and difficult to identify. Even ENT's seem to be little help with the more subtle vestibular things. I find my symptoms get more noticeable when I'm under stress or when I've been moving my head around more (sitting in the middle of a group, swivelling my head back and forth as different people speak). In my case, my main symptom is vertigo, but when things are ramping up, there are a number of barely noticeable head and ear things going on, including that ear closing thing and pressure in the back of my head.
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Redhead - right there with Josie on 45 min MRI. I've only had 1 and it was awful. They talked to me at first and them stopped. I let them have it when I came out. If I ever have to do it again I'm getting heavily sedated. You have been through a lot.
Josie - we are all tracking your FIL's progress. Hope he is doing better. Good fewer bone densities. I have to have another one next year. Tamoxifen has made a difference in my bone numbers.
Joan - so glad you checked in. Colonoscopy isn't fun but its the prep that is the pits. I should have tried Gatorade. You have so much to deal with too. I know it seems never ending.
Weather has turned cool! Yea! 70s today. Hey that's cool for we southern folks! I just love Fall like weather!
Enjoy the weekend everyone!
Diane
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Diane, yes it was nice to have a light day.I think I have like13 or 14 Monday.
My father in law isn't doing to great right now. He was very nauseous yesterday and the had to give him compazine.The Zofran wasn't cutting it.But somehow he has gained 5 # . They swear he's not retaining fluid but he's not eating much either.
His platelets were 9 yesterday.I think they gave him something to help that.
He was pretty much out of it with the compazine.
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OK, Just in case anyone wants to hear a cute heartwarming story then I will share.
My youngest DD and her friend won a goldfish at our church carnival today.First Claire won her' s.Then her friend was hurt she wanted one too.So Claire won her a fish too. Well here I am leaving the carnival with two goldfish thinking what now?
So I insisted we leave the fish at home on top of the entertainment center instead of bringing the poor fish with us.I figured they'd been jostled enough on their trip home from the carnival. I did think for a second a split second that maybe I should of put the cat away or put them in the other room away from the cats.But I didn't listen to my instincts. After spending $41 on all the stuff for this free fish. We get home and I didn't even get the door unlocked the girls were telling me one of the fish bags was missing off the entertainment center. Well the fish bag was empty with the cat just sitting there.Or was it empty? No by the grace of God this little goldfish was still alive in the empty bag surviving on a few drops of water. Of course the girls and I were frantic.We couldn't get that declorinator in that cup off water quick enough.
Do you know that fish is now just fine? And those girls are so happy.
Morale of the story" put the cat away in the bedroom before leaving 2 goldfish in a bag on top of the TV". Well Duh!!!! I guess it was a miracle though.
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Just stopping in. Read to page 385 and had to stop. We all have a lot going on. Need to read some more.
BT is still here and staying another month. Might stay through early winter. His dog is adjusting to the house finally and we are still watching her close for little accidents in my living room. We put down the puppy pads and she missed them. I give up. Just keep the Spot Bot handy. Having BT here has been an eye opener as far as the house and repairs. I have a new contractor. It seems that the other one I have had for 5 years has been playing on my lack of house knowledge and doing unnecessary repairs to make money. Because he was a highschool friend that grew up in my neighborhood I did not pay attention. Because I have never owned a home I did not really know what to look out for. Because I was grieving loosing both parents and having BC I was a sitting duck for that sort of thing. He and his wife only live 3 blocks from me so I assumed I was safe. Turns out he has been telling people that I was his other woman...I can not believe it and that he was running my house and his. I have never even looked in his direction. Lesson learned. I did give him a piece of my mind and told him that if he was the last man on earth I would do without. I noticed he was acting a bit off after BT got here but he was still doing the lawn etc. So one day I was talking to my old neighbor (90) and he brought it up. I mean really. You have to laugh. So we have figured out I do not need a new roof. The issue is the door going out on the flatroof in the master bedroom. When my fired contractor replaced the old one he neglected to mention I needed a screen door up there also. All the water has been running down into my kitchen archway because of that. NOT a new roof as suggested. Enough about that but just felt like sharing because you all have been going through the old house stuff with me.
I still have a brain MRI coming up end of the month and my return mammogram. After that I am done with tests for the winter I hope. I am still dizzy every day but it looks like that is going to be with me the rest of my life because PT failed. Unless they find an answer during my brain MRI I am done being looked at and poked. Not to mention my medical bills this years are already topping 2500 and I am still sick so.....
Josie - How is you FIL?
Cindy - Your hubby?
Janis - What is going on with your hubby?
Ok I am going to go back and read some more. maybe I will get those questions answered. Will check back in soon.
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Bunkie, wow....what a loser that contractor was. Thats really a shame he would take advantage of you like that and spreading lies about you and him. Good riddance. I am glad you discovered he was just taking your money. Im sorry the PT didnt work. Hope the MRI comes out good. Nice hearing from you. My father in law is holding his own. Of course every Sunday I end up babysitting so my MIL can go visit him. I havent been getting much done at home but I know she needs me. Yesterday my MIL left the key on in the parking garage and ran her battery down.She also locked the keys in the car. So DH who promised to babysit for only a few hours was gone all day. He missed the church carnival. My DD was so dissapointed. The sad thing is sometimes were used to doing things without him. He ended up having to go get her vehicle from the hospital and bring it back to her. So actually we saw him when we got home from the carnival for about 5 min before he had to leave for work.
I know it wasnt his fault. And the babysitting thing wont be permanent either. I shouldnt sound so selfish. Sorry.
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