2013 Survivors!!!
Comments
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Looks like so much fun... NYC trip please!!!! U all look so happy and beautiful.. I was there totally in spirit!
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Michelle, I was tearing up reading your post as well. It was an emotional few moments meeting you the first time. I was wiping tears away. Tears of joy, pride and love. Your mom is just the sweetest and cutest ever. She is so proud if you and her love was very evident. She hugged us all and told us how happy she was to meet us as well, that was another emotional few moments.
It definitely created a lot of great memories. It was over way too quickly!!! Next year can't come soon enough!!! A cabin on a lake? Joanne's cottage? Lol... Mexico in February?0 -
I am game for another thread .... Joanne's cottage (Canada) 2014 .....
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HI Ladies,
Got to take a look at the pictures on here..you all look great!! I am so glad everyone had a great time! I hope to meet you all in person! Dad is doing ok but seems really tired, the pt therapist says he looks pale so I wonder if he is a bit anemic..they gave him blood in hospital before he was discharged. Ran out quick to drugstore and got him multi vitamin with iron, having him eat sardines for dinner. Had steak night before last...he is just really tired last 24 hours. Have been down here three weeks and brother will relieve me a few weeks in august..but either him or I plan to be down here with him through thanksgiving..then we will reassess. Hugs to you!
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Yes all you crazies I agree with Jo.....Canada for next year.....😎💃
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Aruba, just remember to take care of yourself too.
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Aruba, as Shianne says, take care of you too ...
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Aruba, what you are doing will come back to you in spades down the road. I suspect your dad is really happy you are there.
Yay for Canada next year!
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Hi Ladies! I hope you don't mind me butting in here, but wondered if you any of you could answer a question for me. I just finished my last chemo 2 weeks ago and find that I am feeling completely worn out. I hoped that knowing the chemo part of treatment was behind me and I was moving on would lift me up but I find that I am at the lowest point right now. I had moments of being tired throughout treatment, but had good spirits and continued to work. I have missed work for the past two days and tonight when I attempted to make supper had a complete melt down as it totally overwhelmed me to even think about the effort it would take. (my husband is the best, reassured me and made dinner). Anyways - my question for you all is
How long after you finished chemo did your energy levels start to rise?
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It took me at least 6 weeks to begin to feel more like myself.
Chemo has a cumulative effect. Remember, your body has taken a beating. Cut yourself some slack. Rest, listen to your body, a d be kind to yourself.
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johnetta: I agree with kslansky - cut yourself some slack. You have taken a beating. My MO told me it can take up to 9 months for our bodies to be fully rid of chemo. I finished chemo in June and only the past couple of months have I felt more like myself. Be kind to you and listen to your body. If it tells you to rest, rest. It does get better.
Yay for Jo's cottage and Canada next year
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I agree with the above. It took me at least five or six weeks to get back up on my feet, and a month or two more to get my physical energy. My mental energy is still missing for the most part; I have become an unmotivated slug.
Carol
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Johnetta, I concur with everyone here. Be kind and listen to your body. Sounds like you may have "lunch bag let down". We all went thru it, when your thru treatment emotions takeover. During chemo it feels as if your being proactive and killing the cancer, after I started worrying and wondering and I was scared and felt alone, plus the steroids they give thru chemo keeps us up without them fatigue sets in. My drs told me to take the amount of time from dx to end of treatment and that's how long it will take to BEGIN to feel normal. I finished chemo December 4, sx January 12 and rads done April 4 I'm still exhausted and require afternoon naps often. I'm no where near back to my normal energy levels. That being said, we have all been in your shoes of feeling like "it's over, I should be able to" it just isn't that easy. We all recover at our own rates. Take your time, rest, allow your body to heal. Plus, remember chemo is systemic, so every cell in your body is carrying its effects, you'll be extra sensitive and emotional on top of tired. You have come to the right place for support, these ladies are awesome!!!!! Please post often, together we can get thru this
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Awww I thought we were doing NYC......
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Sorry Shari.....you'll have to come and deal with the Canucks next year.....lol....
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Aruba..ditto from me girl....take care of yourself also......❤
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Johnetta; you won't like this answer, but this is the one I got from my dr "it takes as long a it takes".... BUT IT WILL HAPPEN. There will come a day when you get through the whole day without feeling like a cancer patient or a survivor. A day where you are just living your life without feeling tired, mutilated, frustrated, angry, scared... a day when you have to look at your calendar to find out when your next Dr's appointment is, because you've forgotten since you made the appointment 2 months ago... a time when life will start to have a comfortable rhythm. I ALMOST said familiar rhythm, but that's not true. It's totally unfamiliar and uncomfortable and new... but eventually it starts to feel as close to normal can feel. (((BIG HUGS)))
I'm settle in now to this new normal. My problems today are luxury problems. I've spent monies shopping on-line today during work, just to get away from feeling shitty about my work environment (which has changed drastically since my boss left)... and the spending of money/shopping is just a system of my disease of addiction. I can't afford it right now with buying the house... (Well I CAN afford it, but I should be saving) - and I'm not being as strick with my eating as I was (although still not too bad). I'm not losing weight, although I'm still exercising regularly... *sigh*
I love you all - you give me perspective. I "spoke" to my step-moms friend who is having chemo for uterine cancer today via email. She's 2 week in after her 3rd treatment, and feeling pretty shit. I remember that period, that was when I was at MY WORST... right before the last chemo. And when I remember, my job situation doesn't seem so bad. I'm upright, I have no drains attached to my body, and I have NED... just for today.
Although - I must say, like Ramols, I am always cold. I'm in a room full of people sweltering at a 12 step mtg on Tuesday and I was totally fine... BONUS for me! (Ramols - turn off the a/c.. LOL!)
xo ladies.
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Thank you ladies. I think I have been expecting too much of myself too soon. You all are great. It is so wonderful to have a "support group" of people who actually "get it"
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Wonderfully put Juneau
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Couldn't have said it better Juneau - it is quite the journey, and one which is only semi-understood once travelled. Embrace each day is my motto - it is the only one we are sure of. In terms of Dr's appointments - I have 3 whole months without seeing one and I am so glad about that.
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Juneau - wonderful reply!! Thank you for the mention of shopping on-line! I always feel so guilty over it but so enjoy it!
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Juneau you always nail it. It's been a year since my last taxol and finished my herceptin May but still walk slower than everyone else and sleep later in the morning than I used to. So many new things that I don't like but I get over it. I've excepted some of these things as the way it is. I am alive, my children and husband are healthy and we can provide for them. I have an amazing extended family and friends and a support group of sisters who have gotten me to this point so I will not complain.
And you cracked me up about the online shopping. Twice this week amazon has delivered to my door! I decided I am making all new needlepoint Christmas stockings for us. Then I cleaned out my closer and said well that looks empty so I hit the mall! All of this as I sat looking at my credit card bill with my Bermuda trip waiting to be paid. Know what I said? I said WHATEV!!
Shari - we can do both! How about fall in NYC and next year we'll meet at the airport and fly up to see our beautiful Canucks?
Happy day ladies no shopping for me today just laundry, cleaning, reading and stitching!
Karen0 -
Karen, Shari.....would love to do NY but I teach and Fall is just not feasible. I believe a few others are in the same boat. I would be up for going to Cuba in March when I have a week off, but I'm sure that won't be convenient for many of the gals ....so hard to get a
a whole bunch of us together at the same time....sigh0 -
Shari - I'd like to try to make both trips too. NY isn't off the list. A lot depends on the dates. I have my Mothers Party on Aug 25th and Hawaii in early November.
Laughing about on line shopping. It used to be if I didn't leave the house, I didn't spend money but its a whole new world. The on line shopping mall is open 24/7. I've received a few packages this week too. I will be adding the UPS driver to my Christmas Cookie list!
Hugs to all.0 -
Well if we cant do NY then I'm officially inviting all if you to join my team (Breast Amigas) for the Komen walk on October 6 in Jackson literally and in spirit.
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Karen I will be there in spirit for sure.
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Well, I'm game for NYC, Jo's cottage and anywhere else inbetween!
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Hi everyone, too much to comment on since I last posted. I have read all.
Congratulations McCook, you did it!
Pictures were great, wish I could have joined you all.
Aruba - hope your father is healing well, he has an excellent and loving nurse
Juneau - yup! What you said
It's a wonderful feeling at the end of the day to know that ordinary everyday things occupied more of your thoughts and time than BC did.
And - guilty - received a parcel in the mail this week also from an online shopping spree
Life is busy right now with back to work, new GD, Mom, gardening and trying to walk every night with my DH for an hour. Still come here often to check up on how everyone is doing.
I'm planning on Canada in 20140 -
So happy for all of you to get together. Great for sharing and caring. Best wishes to all.
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We can always do a mini NYC meet up..... Understand everyone has life and trips t hard... I am heading to Hawaii end of August been exercising like a dog.. Wight bit budgin either Juneau.. It's frustrating but I am not giving up
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