Kiwi ladies who need encouragment, but all welcome.
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hi ladies - I've just been reading back through the posts catching up again....I've missed heaps!! Up to date now though! Yay Donna on good biopsy results and that quilted blanket is beautiful! No wonder it look you so long.
Congrats Alyson on your new wee granddaughter. Hope your specialist appt is good.
And Yay Nikki - you've had your op - exellent news. How's your SOB lately and is the drain all sorted?
Shazza - so glad your trip went well. A shame about the bug in the last couple of days but hope that hasn't marred the good times too.
Welcome Spottyzebra - as the others said try not to worry and remember that saying if you need it "you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have".
I have now finished all my classroom time - so just study for me now in preparation for my final interview. I hope to do that in November - just keeping doing road shifts before then.
I am joining the 'I'm so tired club". If anyone has any ideas how to fix that let me know.
Hope you all have lovely weekends with your families. Take care xx
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Hi guys, it sounds like everyone is doing well. Hopefully everyone can have a restful weekend and enjoy the nice weather. Kruise what are you studying/interviewing for, I must have missed a post, are you going to become a fully qualified paramedic or teacher? Take care everyone, Donna xxx
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The drain hole closed up on Wednesday so they removed the stoma bag ( that was gross) and I have had the seroma syringed out once at middlemore since then. It feels a lot better, not so tight. Hopefully it will sort itself out over the weekend. It's been a week today already and it's my diagnosis anniversary. 1 year today - feels like 5 minutes and then it also feels like 5 years weird
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Nikki,I'm glad it's improving. One year today! Lots has changed for you.
I was wondering why I'm so tired etc, finally figuring it must be my 'crash day' after chemo. Every Friday I'm tired & teary, it's just taken a while to twig. And I had the Aredia infusion this week as well (which also can make you a bit fluey feeling).
Shazza, do you get Aredia as well?
So, Kruise, what's the interview for- another position? Great you've finished your study.
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I have been studying with St John since 28 January this year - to be an EMT so yes a basic paramedic really. I have been with them for over 3 years as a First Responder but felt this year was my year to step up. The levels above me can just give more drugs and do more procedures but I can give some life saving drugs like GTN for heart attacks, Adrenaline for Asthma and Anaphylaxis and uncontrolled nose bleeds etc. Glucagon for a diabetic low, Prednisone, plus other 'normal' type drugs and pain relief ones. The higher you go the more drugs of course you can give etc. I can assist with intubations etc.
I am still learning so much but I am enjoying caring for people and its very rewarding.
The final interview is to actually get the qualification. A panel will test me on everything the course has covered plus all the drugs (indications, contraindications, dosages etc). You have to know your stuff or you won't be deemed competent. I can choose when I sit that - but I need to be 'ready'.
I went to a 4 month old baby yesterday whose Mum had called the ambulance because baby had a rash. Luckily it wasn't meningitis but we have the antibiotics etc to give to start treatment if it was.
Anyway - enough of me but that's what has been keeping me busy.
I know what you mean Nikki about the 5 minutes vs 5 years...It feels like a different me went through that 2013 year from hell but I am forever changed from it and aged a lot - the years plus some caught up big time. But I guess if I hadn't gone through it I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now. It has made me stronger in lots of ways and brave enough to follow my path. None of us know what is around the corner - we just have to make the most of each day, love our friends and family and do the best we can.
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Hi all - I have caught up on reading again, but need to get dressed to go to a wedding in Welly, so I'll keep this short and post more later. Glad to hear good news from so many of you! Thought you might get a smile out of this. One of the neighbour's sheep got into our yard this morning. Romeo was saying hello.
Gave me a a laugh!
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great pic Terre! Hope the AWOL sheep didn't cause too much damage out there and hope the wedding was good. At least the day was ok for it!
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What a satisfying job Kruise
I admire you for doing what must be a very stressful job at times. Looks like the cat was fascinated by the sheep Terre
I got to skip chemo today (after they'd already accessed my port) because of neuropathy (fingertips hurting since Thursday) so no crash for me on Friday. I should probably make the most of that! I'll definitely get to Pilates.
Hope everyone is having a good week. How are you Shazza after you first chemo since your holiday
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KT nice to have a break, not so nice about the neuropathy. I hope you get to pilates.
Kruise, I admire you doing such an interesting and fulfilling job. Being stuck at my desk analysing data certainly doesn't have the same appeal that it once did.
I am off to the Breast Clinic today to see the Surgeon for my followup after surgery. I am plagued by swelling, it really is uncomfortable. I am not sure if it's normal, because my first mastectomy removed ALL my breast tissue where as I am not sure if this one did, and maybe it's just normal.
It's a beautiful morning outside. I hope everyone is well.
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Hi Nikki. I hope your appt at the clinic goes well. Annoying about the swelling, hopefully with time it will settle down.
I've noticed they took more on the cancer side compared with the prophy. Especially since I had axillary nodes out on cancer side. Also higher up on my chest towards clavicle there is less coverage over my ribs etc. My port sticks out so much. Most nurses accessing it don't comment but one asked me if it was always like that as if something was wrong....
Well I'd better get moving. Real estate agents coming thru the house tomorrow so it better be clean....
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Hi guys, nothing exciting to report, hope you are all okay. Good luck today Nicki I wonder if your surgeon is Gareth Poole? I had him and I think he is very good. Kruise you guys (Paramedics) do such amazing work. Love the picture of the cat looking at the sheep
Good luck with your house sale KT, that is so stressful. Hope everyone is doing well - I'm sure I can smell summer in the air - hallelujah to that Donna xxx 0 -
Donna, I had Stephanie Ulmer as my surgeon - she was really good. Today I saw Jenny Wagener (because Steph was away). They drained 235mls off so I am feeling lots better, they said that it might need to be done weekly for a while. But there was no sign of anything having beeen in that breast so that was good. I didn't have much faith in the MRI results as they said that I had no lymph node involvement in the left breast but there were 9 (escapulated).
KT I was scraped down to the ribs on my cancer side and 12 nodes removed, so I know what you mean about feeling like there was more tissue taken. I really don't care if they match at all. Completely over the body beautiful lol. Good luck with the house on the market - It's all very tiresome, but hopefully it'll sell quickly and you can get on moving on.
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http://www.purpleclover.com/health/1340-after-the-...
cool story about how it feels after...
have a nice weekend
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Hi all.
Nikki, it must feel good to have that fluid drained. I hope it stops producing it soon!
Hi woody, great to see you. Good article. That's definitely how I felt after treatment. And I'd feel guilty for being pessimistic! All your friends & family don't get that feeling, do they? Unless you've been there you can't know.
Finally it's the weekend. Have a good one!
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Very quiet around here. Do hope all going well.
Big hugs
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Hi everyone - thanks for the article Woody. Hope you Aucklanders survived all the recent rain again.
How did the real estate visit go kt? We are putting our house on the market too soon - still a lot of cleaning up to do but this coming weekend we'll get stuck in.
I find it so hard to get motivated to do much - not sure if it's just energy levels or what! I need a personal assistant lol.
Take care everyone
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Hi guys, yes that article was really interesting and is just how I feel. Thanks for posting it Woody. Nothing exciting to report here. Everything is going really well (except for that weather). You guys that live out of Auckland will probably laugh but it took me 1 1/2 hours to get to work on Monday morning and I only live 25 minutes away. Anyway take care everyone, Donna xxx
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Hi Kruise. I can totally relate on the getting motivated thing! Mind you nothing like the threat of real estate agents taking photos of your house to make you get off your ar*e and tidy up!
Good luck with the putting the house on the market...
Sure has been wet - so nice to see the sun today
I would hate to deal with the auckland traffic every day Donna! Especially the wonderful rush hour.
I'm at ak hosp waiting in my chemo. Had assessment at 10:30 & all good to go at a reduced dose. Could be a while as they have to make it up.
Catch you all later
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Hi all,
Thanks for the article Woody; really good.
For once, Auckland weather is worse than Welly! Amazing!
It's still crap here there, trust me. Just not quite as wet. And we actually almost have some sunshine to go with our gale force winds today.I totally hear everyone @ motivation. I just want to sleep...Between hay fever and a chronically upset tummy, I don't even want to get out of bed in the morning let alone go to work. Oh well...I sleep on the train which helps a bit.
Good luck with the chemo today KT.
Sending hugs,
Terre
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All good here apart from overwhelming fatique. Hormonal medication do you think? I feel like my brain is slower by the day. On the mastectomy front, I have had more fluid drained and a another course of antibiotics, it's getting a bit dreary now.
Donna, I am so glad I work from home and don't have to brave a trip into Onehunga everyday. The traffic would do my head in. Hi to Kruise, Kiwicat & Alyson.
The idea of getting my house ready for the real estate market fills me with dread, so rather you than me. I haven't been the best housekeeper lately (lol).
Hope your chemo went well and didn't take too long KT.
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Niki it's no wonder you are tired, just think of what you have been through and the medication certainly doesn't help. I think you should be a bit kinder on yourself, hugs xxx
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Aargh. I ended up waiting 2 1/2 for the chemo to be ready so didn't leave the hosp til 3. Then I wanted to visit my sister (she had a minor op on Monday) b4 heading home in the wonderful rush hour. I'm knackered
Luckily my wonderful daughter had dinner started & hubby brought a treat for dessert.
Fatigue is really annoying Nikki. It does take a while to recover from an op, the surgery and the anaesthetic. And yeah, I reckon hormonal treatment effects your energy and cognitive function. But hopefully you will improve heaps once you've recovered from surgery
I hope your tummy improves Terre, that doesn't sound nice.
Night all x
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I'm supposedly cured now and I still get tired. Sometimes I find it hard staying awake on the drive too work, let alone the drive home. I've recently started eating healthy, I gave up sugar about one month ago and I am trying to go to bed earlier (which I find challenging). I think Tamoxifen makes me tired. I actually think the whole cancer experience has worn me out! Don't know how you guys going through Chemo manage actually and I take my hat off to you. Also guys I don't know if you get the winter blues but I sure do. Roll on summer, Donna xxx
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don't we all sound like a tired bunch lol but yes I can relate to all that stuff...
Reminds me of an essay I had to write in 6th form - our title was "I laughed in order not to cry"!
Good on you Donna giving up sugar. I've kind of done the same thing. I've only managed a week so far tho. Had a horrible headache for a couple days probably detoxing.
Nikki you have been through the wringer with everything - hopefully that's the last time you have to have any fluid drained. I've been totally slack on my housework too but now the place seems a big mess so time to get stuck in and tidy up. I'm actually excited about moving though so it's kind of motivation. I have lived in this house 19 years - two of my babies were born here but it's also a house I still jointly own with my ex husband and its time to cut all those ties. Looking forward to new beginnings whatever they may be. Thinking of moving up Kapiti Coast way - closer to you Terre! :-)
And yes kt the thought of photos being taken is motivation for sure. Don't know how I'm supposed to keep all the bits I tidy remaining tidy until then though!! It seems after a week or two things go back to the same state. Might need to just pack and purge!!
Have a good weekend lovelies - sleep in!! Lol. Hi to anyone I may have missed - Shazza, Woody, Alyson.
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Quiet on here lately. I hope everyone is ok. I've just had my head down working which is very boring.
The only exciting thing is that at last I am able to see Rosalie at Eastcare, instead of at Auckland Hospital - I have an appt on 22nd. Eastcare is about a 10min walk for me, so much easier than braving that terrible traffic. She's doing a clinic a week out this way now. I still have to see the Radiation Oncologist at the Manukau Super Clinic but that's still easier than town. I have both appointments on the same day. I thought that I would be done with Radiation consultations since my treatment is a distant memory. Do any of you still see your RO?
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Hi Nikki, it has been quiet. Not much happening I guess.
Great you can see people locally
It was a few years ago but I think I did have at least one follow up with the rad onc, but certainly not ongoing ones. I'm off to ak today at 10- have chemo at 1:30, but will drop my daughter in at AUT on the way (she's in mid semester break, but needs to go in for a couple of hours) and visit my sister to do any jobs she can't do while she recovers from the op. I think I'll grab something easy for dinner on the way home as it'll be a long day
Hope everyone is doing great. Catch you later x
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Hi guys, gosh it is quiet in here but I suppose that's a good sign. Niki I only had to see my Radiologist once after treatment finished from memory. Just to make sure everything was ok. Maybe they want to check up on you because of the burns you got from treatment?
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Hi guys it has been quiet here! Nikki I never saw my RO for dust once i had finished treatment, maybe different protocol at your dhb? At home with the flu, first time being sick since treatment finished, have been slack lately with juicing & yoga and working hard, so probably let my defenses down long enough for a bug to sneak in! We had our third support group meeting here, every time I am amazed at how people cope with difficult situations and also the sometimes appalling treatment some women are getting from the health proffesionals...like lambs to slaughter, on the other hand I guess there are good oncs/nurses too.... On a brighter note it's beautiful outside, springs definitely on its way!
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Hi All,
We would really like to put together a slide show showing all your faces to show the amazing diversity of our community, reaching around the world. Please share with us here https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/135/topic..., or PM us. We may also present this at our annual fundraiser in October.
Photo (best quality possible)
Where you live
Diagnosis
Your Age
Quote about how the community/BCO has helped you.
Thanks Everybody!
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Wow who is brave enough to post a picture?
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