Kiwi ladies who need encouragment, but all welcome.
Comments
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Mmm me too, today.
Yesterday I was in a bit of a funk becos the section we like has all these silly covenants on it so you can't do much at all with it. Not that we want anything ridiculous- a nice small house, a barn and the possibility of a secondary dwelling for elderly parents....and lots of garden
Looks like we'll stay here at least till next spring/summer as there's nothing out there that we like. Oh well. I do love it here, it's just a bit too big for our changing circumstances.
Hope everyone's enjoying the weekend. I've just had brekkie in bed
(made by myself) and enjoying a nice slow start to the day.0 -
Hi all,
I am way behind in reading, but just a quick note to say Happy Monday! We've finished moving (finally) and have the final inspection at 11. The place is certainly cleaner than when we moved in, so they'd best refund our bond!
We have no internet at our place except when I use my phone as a hot spot. Technician is supposed to come today. Fingers crossed.
Sending hugs to all!
Terre
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KT hope your Onc appointment goes well and your scan results are all good. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Terre moving is so exhausting. Hope you get The Internet sorted soon.
I had such a lazy weekend myself, quite enjoyed it. But have to get myself back into work mode soon.
Hope everyone else had a great weekend
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Thanks, Shazza. Lazy weekends are great aren't they
Sometimes they're just what the dr ordered. Mine was pretty lazy too, apart from house work & a bit of gardening. I'm glad you're all moved, Terre. I hope the Internet is sorted for you today. Enjoy the new house.
Have a good day all
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Hi all, sounds like every one is doing okay. I love that kitten picture Alyson, that's definately me in the weekend, I try not to get out of bed until 10am, lazy aren't I? I just sewed all weekend and watched my new Outlander DVD's - twice - I'm a bit obsessed and if any of you haven't read the Outlander or Cross Stitch series by Diana Gabaldon, you really don't know what you are missing. I am pleased to say the much awaited TV series is just as good as I had hoped. I am going to watch it again next weekend as well, haha, my life is so boring!!! Hope you all have a nice week, Donna xxxxx
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Hi, I got mostly good news today. I seem to be mainly stable. (Apart from tumour markers slightly up, slightly larger lung nodule & slightly worse pleural effusion- not enough for onc to mention to me, but were in the report which I got a copy of). So I'll keep on keeping on on my current regimen, which is great. I don't want to go on to IV chemo just yet
It's been a bit cold today. Worse further South of course. Hope you've all managed to keep warm, night...
kt
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KT I've been thinking about you all day. Mostly stable is great in a stage 4 sort of way. I agree the longer you can stay away from the IV chemos the better especially when it's long term thing.
Hasn't the weather turned to custard, It's suddenly very wintery and cold. I'm snuggled up under a blanket waiting for Game of Thrones to start.
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hey Donna I'm just rereading the while series and downloeded the series recently - and yes it is good looking forward to the second season!
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Hey, Woody, haven't seen you for a while
I haven't read the books you & Fizzdon are talking about. I'm reading heaps lately- really enjoyed Anthony Doerrs 'All the Light We Cannot See'. At least you could snuggle up & watch telly in that awful weather, Shazza. We lost power at 8:30pm, just in time to not see The Blacklist. And we had no running water, so we chatted in the candlelight for a bit, then gave up and went to bed. Thankfully it came on again at 7 this morning so I could make a cuppa & I can have a shower
It sure was a wild night...sunny now tho, phew.
Have a good day...
kt
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Hi guys, gosh rough night here in Auckland. I feel like such an idiot this morning, I had an appointment with the Lymphoedema people in Papakura this morning at 8.30 and I thought it was tomorrow. So the lady just phoned me, she could hear how busy I was as I had to put her on hold for a while so said it was okay and she didn't mind but I still feel bad. I had to put todays appointment off from last month because I've been having so much time off work. So now I have to wait for another month, I'm really mad with myself because I think I may have Lymphoedema and that's why I'm so sore in my armpit and my upper arm looks puffy and I can't wear my rings on that arm. Do any of you who work ever feel bad about all the time off? I seem to have an appointment every week, even after 1 year. I'm at the stage now where I feel like not taking anymore pills for anything. I am sure that's why I feel like crap all the time. Anyway sorry about the moan. I think it's because I don't have anyone else to moan to. I don't moan to my mother because she is such a worrier and I don't want her to have another stroke because of me. I don't moan to my kids because I don't want them to worry. God now I've done a bloody big moan to you guys, sorry about that.
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Fizz - that's what we're here for! Moan away....I know it helps me to have a "safe" place to vent. And yes, having cancer feels like a full time job sometimes.
Sending you hugs!
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Fizz, moan away. I had a cry at chemo today because just when I thought we had got all my chemo times sorted so it didn't interfere with work they are all mucked up again. Also I have a Breast Clinic appointment at Greenlane on Monday @ 2:15 I have had to cancel my appointment for this clinic 3 times because I was too busy I had changed shifts at work till the morning so I could finally make it. Today I found out that I have an oncology appointment the same day at 9:30 so Im likely going to have to take a days annual leave if I Can get cover or blow off the Breast clinic again and swap my shift back. Too hard. Thankfully though my next 3 chemos have been moved to a better time I would feel better if I didnt know we will be going through the same drama next cycle.
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Aw Shazza I wish I could give you a big hug. I should remember there is always someone worse off, I do try and remember this. I guess you must have a really understanding boss aye, you would have to otherwise it would just be impossible. My bosses have been really good but I just feel bad sometimes. Anyway, the sun is shining here now in East Tamaki, one minute it's hot, the next minute it's cold, just can't seem to win and no wonder there are so many people walking around with runny noses. Take care, Donna xxx
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Grrr, it's not fair when they muck your times up. I feel for you girls working full (or nearly full) time. It is a stress trying to get to appointments. I hope you get your arm sorted soon Fizz, lymphoedema is a nuisance- I had a wee brush with it a while back- the good news is when you do see them they can give you exercises to help with it as well as teach you a bit of mld to help if you get a flare up.
The weather has gone back to blustery wet & cold- still, it was nice to see the sun briefly. I went and got some bottled water in case we have another power cut- I don't always remember to fill containers & get caught short sometimes.
I hope your day improves, those of you having had a hard start xx
kt
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I do have really understanding employers but because this is a long term thing I feel really bad about mucking people around. I did feel like a fool crying over appointment times, such a trivial thing, but it's been going on for so long it's just got on top of me. It did get some action though.
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Sometimes a few tears can go a long way, not that I would ever do that on purpose. I take my hat off to you Shazza. I have been thinking about looking for a new job, something closer to home as the motorway traffic sucks, but I just don't know if I could because of all the bloody doctors appointments. If I went for an interview I wouldn't want to tell someone I'd had breast cancer because they probably wouldn't hire me, that sort of thing. Hopefully when they sort my medication out I won't have many appointments and I can think about looking for a new job then. Of course there is always winning lotto and retiring, or meeting a handsome millionaire prince (in my dreams) who wanted to marry me and carry me off, and I could retire
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This made me cry at work, it's so funny. I love cat humour.
http://www.dose.com/lists/18915/23-Cats-That-Just-...
Don't know if it will work because I'm not very god at posting links etc.
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It worked. Very good, will have to show dd ;
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love the bad kitties. Too funny. Couldn't decide if sneezing in grandma's ashes or peeing on the hamster was the funniest one.
Thanks for the smile!Sometimes I think it all just gets to be too much, this whole cancer thing. Sorry you all are going through such crap with appointments, etc. Just sucks!
Terre
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My dh is working from home today (really hard, as you can tell) and he showed me this.... Thought it might make you smile (if you're at work you might want to turn it down as it has music)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/67742428...
Catch you later
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kt1966 I just watched this (it's a quiet day at my work today, can you tell) Chimps are just so clever aren't they?
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Hi all, loved the funny links! Yes taking time off work sucks...luckily havent got so many appointments anymore. Have no leave anymore though, eveything was used up. Had a robust discussion with a nurse last week about Letrozole cause I told them about the numb fingers and she said Onc wanted me to go back on Tamoxifen to see if it would make a difference. Didnt want to do it because Letrozole has better outcomes with ILC so I'll just live with the numbness and other than that dont have any SE...they really dont like it when you disagree with them. Have been applying for jobs lately, but have decided not to tell about BC, after all if it doesn't interfere with your ability to do the job, you are not required to disclose it. Hard to get interviews tho, as soon as you're over 50...
Anyway the fire is roaring and I'm gonna snuggle up
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OMG woody, I've got numb fingers too and my GP just shook his head and said he didn't know what it was. My right index finger is numb on top and my right thumb is numb and the skin on my feet and hands feels funny, sometimes when I move quickly it feels like a knife has been put into it. I had to stop my letrozole nearly 2 months ago because it was making me so sick. My blood pressure was dangerous 194/80 and I just felt soooooooooo bad. I really wanted to stay on it because I know it's better for ILC, but they told me to have a drug holiday and I had to stop my Zoladex injections as well. Pretty sure it was the Letrozole because my headaches have nearly stopped and I don't feel like a little old lady anymore, it's just the numbness problems. Because of letrozole, I am now on heart pills, blood pressure pills, stomach pills, antidepressants, cholesterol, voltaren, and gastrosoothe. I rattle when I walk and I practically need the chemist to put my pills into one of those dispensers because I get so confused! My oncologist wants me to go on Tamoxifen but I want to try another AI? Sorry to go on but I was so excited to read that you have numb fingers too and blame the letrozole. How long have you been on letrozole for because I was great for the first couple of months.
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Blimey Fizzdon, that is a lot of meds.
I hate taking stuff, but I guess we gotta! I start on my new cycle of xeloda tomorrow- I love the week off I get
Weird how you and Woody have numbness from letrozole, I never had that....
I hope you find a job you enjoy Woody. We spend a lot of time at work, always better if you like it.
I'm knackered as per usual after work, so now relaxing & catching up on the forum etc Yuck weather, feels like winter already- I hope we get back to a mild autumn
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Hi Fizzdon, just google "letrozole and carpal tunnel syndrome" and you'll see why you have numb fingers. I had a little numb spot on the tip of my middle finger after chemo. I was on Tamoxifen for a couple of months and the numbness didn't get any worse. I then read about the study where it shows that Letrozole over a 5yr period (with ILC) increases survival from 66% to 82%, so that's what I wanted (everything to increase the odds, right). So I pestered my onc to do a bloodtest to see if I was menopausal (why the heck they didn't do it in the first place!) which it turned out that I was, so straight on Letro - have been on it for about a year now. Did feel like a little old lady in the beginning but a lot better now, have found yoga helps a lot, just the numbness in my fingers, which, given the statistics, I can live with.
You're right Kt finding the right job is important and I'm sure something will come along at the right time...have been doing a lot of study in the last couple of years - just need to find the matching job!
Off to Rotovegas with the family for a couple of days..looking forward to hiking, fishing hotpooling and luging:)
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Hi all!
Woody - I get carpel tunnel type symptoms (more pain than numb) in my wrist/hand/thumb from time to time. Got horrifying trigger finger for a while, but it went away. Some days I feel like I'm 90, some days I feel like I'm 30. The SEs just come and go. I've been stable on Letrazole for 2 years now, so just continuing on!
Fizzdon - I take 6 pills in the morning and 5 at night. Mostly about side effects. Feel like the old woman who swallowed a fly.
Sending hugs to all,
Terre
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Thanks Woody and Terre. Yep I know Letrozole (or an AI) is better for Lobular. That's why I can't understand why Rita wants to put me on Tamoxifen without even trying another one. I have my next appointment with them next Wednesday and I am going to take my daughter in with me. She did 1/2 her batchelor of nursing before she quit (sob) and seems to take things in better than me, so perhaps they can explain their reasoning to both of us. I seem to turn into a Zombie and don't really take things in (either that or I'm just thick which I suspect is actually the case). I had carpel tunnel in my hand 22 years ago after the birth of my daughter and had surgery for it which fixed it but this numbness feels nothing like that. I know Chemo can cause it but I didn't have Chemo so I don't know what's going on. I hate going to the doctor and always complaining but there just always seems to be something wrong. Anyway at least the weather is nice today in Auckland, even a bit of sun shining, but it will probably be hailing in 5 minutes. Take care everyone, Donna xxx
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Hi All. I had my appointment with the Breast Clinic at Manukau yesterday. The Surgeon has agreed to remove my right breast within the next 6 months. Hopefully its sooner rather than later. I am beyond overjoyed!
I only have 4 more rads left, finishing next Thursday. I am fried but because I have no feeling there it looks worse than it feels. I had my injection last week and have no side effects yet. I am starting Exemestane next week. I am looking forward to not having so many appointments over the next few months although I am not too sure how or who is going to be monitoring me in the future. How does it work for you all?
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Hi Nik, that's great that you are nearly finished your Rads. With regards to the appointments I'm not sure how they work it but those darned appointment letters just keep coming in the mail. I think for the first year you have 3 monthly check ups with your Oncologist, then it goes down to 6 monthly. I think about 1 month after your Rads finished you also have a check up with the Rad Doctor. You will also have an appointment with the Breast Surgeon, who likes to check you at 6 months and then 1 year I believe. Then if things are going well, they gradually diminish, unless you have problems sorting your medication like I am having. You will also get an appointment with the Lymphoedema Clinic and they will measure your arm etc, I think this is an annual thing? It is certainly a great achievement getting the Rads over and done with. I'm sure someone else on here will be able to add to this, I seem to have appointments every other week and I am over them.
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Morning all
Not sure about others but once I had finished rads I had appointments with both the rads clinic and onc clinic every three months so basically six weekly for the first year as well as seeing BS as well. Then it was six monthly BS, rads onc clinic. At some point I stopped seeing rads onc because I thought it a waste of time. I stopped going to the onc dept at seven years and now see my BS once a year. However I can see her anytime if I have a problem. Hope all this makes some sense.
About problems with fingers and toes. I had severe neuropathy during chemo and it continued for some time after. My hands slowly came right as did most is my feet. However I still have numb toes- three on the left foot and two on right that are very numb - just like your mouth is after leaving the dentist. I can feel pain in them but often hurt them and have burnt them on the wheat bag. On one of my last visits to the onc clinic I asked Vernon Harvey about them and he just shook his head and said it won't improve any more. He had said earlier that neuropathy should come right by two years. It is interesting that the ortho specialist laughed as he picked up the skin on both my feet and I barely reacted. It is just another gift that BC keeps on giving.
I now have further nerve problems In my legs and feet from my back.
Have to go out to MiLs old place at Takanini and do some more sorting this morning but that won't be until later. Have to find some one to take the sofa and chairs. We will move the rubbish tomorrow.
Hugs to all and have a good day.
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