2013 Survivors!!!
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shianne, gosh. If it were me and my family had that kind of history, I'd probably check again or another way or other lab if there is another lab that does genetic testing.
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allur...have neuropathy in both feet since the beginning of the weekly Taxol. it's been a year and the balls of both feet plus the toes are numb. They don't hurt at all and if I scratch them I can sure feel it. It's no problem to walk so I just ignore it. My MO said it would disappear but I doubt that very much!
stride...yahoo and congrats!
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Hello
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hello
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Oh my gosh you guys... I'm never going to catch up.
Reason being quiet is still dancing on that table I wished... work is absolutely manic and then getting home and just crashing as quite tired.
Still nothing heard from mammo - so I say 'no news is good news'.
Weird we all have neuropathy in the same toes… bizarre. Not losing toenails anymore…. Big ones are growing nicely and I hope will be able to be shown in public by springtime.
Mcook: sounds like he was there for that time in your life – Mr. Right for that Time.
Stride: woo hoo
Ramols….you’ll be there soon. Great milestone.
Juneau: good luck for tonight.
To all I have missed – hello and hugs. Need to get back to work now.
Love you all xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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I missed you all but beyond figuring out how to get to BCO on my new iPhone (first smart phone for a non tech user) in the hospital the drugs just made it impossible to do much else. I wrote on the March surgery thread and have been copy/pasting after catching up on all your posts. Between chemo brain and Percoset brain I can't remember much but basically I am happy to be back home in my own bed with BCO to read.
I just came home from the hospital today. My surgery went well but I did have nausea and vomiting in recovery and so was there a few hours. It was not bad though as they kept me topped up with antiemetics and pain meds IV. Low blood pressure and Hg dropped too so I got the choice to stay an extra night and was quite happy to do so. I have seen my new breast (not much fill in yet) and it looks good to me. Nipple sparing was not an option as BS said with cancer on and close to margins, not a good idea. Pain is not bad but I agree with staying on top of it. The resident gave me an Rx for Emtec or Traumatab/acetominophen but I told him I wanted Percoset~~a breast cancer buddy who had same surgery and PS in the fall said she needed more than she got sent home with and PS ended up prescribing Percoset for her which I told the resident. He kind of grudgingly gave me what I wanted so am asssured of good pain relief now at home though I do hope to taper off sooner than later.
I am really lucky in that a friend flew out from Nova Scotia last night to spend 5 days looking after me which makes my DH happy. She and I nursed together in the same hospital I had my surgery in and though it was decades ago, we knew a few people still. Neither of us has seen a drain in years though so we learned that today before my discharge. Home care nurse will come too to change the dressings and also will take the drains out when it is time. PS also took my port out and so they could not use it for the IV. That was maybe the worst part as my veins are so bad. The nurse gave up and the anesthetist actually gave me gas to knock me out so he could put the IV in pain free! No fun down the road for regular blood work but the doctors did not want to leave it in just for that.
So it was not as bad as I thought~~quite manageable in fact. And it feels so good to get this step on the long journey over with.
Marian0 -
CindyL congrats on your clean bill of health. I know they tested me for every kind of ovarian cancer at my annual gyn this yr because my mom was a victim of Ovar cancer.
Just got back from the oncologist qtrly visit. Dont know what the blood test is for?? They called me of course on their way outta the office. I hate that! Now I will worry all night wondering if everythg is ok. They are pushing Prolia,a new bone loss prevention injection. Its supposed to be extremely expensive even with insurance. I wanna stay on my Fosamax. No new drugs plsss!
Where is everyone going for the meetup? location?
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Marian, welcome back! Thanks for your account of how everything went. Doesn't it feel good to be home settled safely in your own bed? That's half the battle won already on the road to recovery. Hospital is just not the same. Good for you on having such a good friend who came so far to take care of you. That's amazing! Now you just need lots of rest to heal up and get well. I had the same surgery on the left side with TE placement a year ago. You will be up and running soon. Big hugs to you!
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marian- Welcome back and so glad you are home and doing well. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Don't do too much too quick. You'll regret it.
Just got home from my son's track meet. He ran the 800 sprint and placed 5th. I'm so proud of him. I yelled the entire time he was running. But track is not a spectators sport. Hope everyone is doing well tonight.
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Marian- sorry I did not realize you were having surgery! Glad you are home now! As everyone said remember to rest and also stay on top of your pain Meds:) hugs! And yes the surgery fear is much worse then the surgery itself or atleast it was for me. Still sucks! But glad your friend came to help you. Big hugs honey! Rest now and heal!
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Hi ladies! It's been a while since I posted. I am doing well and I am glad to see all of you here! I am just trying to decide how to do with my hair. I want to grow it out long enough to it in a pony tail but I am in a difficult phase, it's about 4 inches long and a mix of curly wavy and straight and looks moppy. I had about 1/2 inch cut 4-5 months ago to get the clear tips off. But nothing since. Are any of you guys getting your hair styled/cut? I will update my avatar soon...
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jpmom...yep I have had my second cut since PFC last March. Funny thing is...the more I cut it, the darker it gets. It came in almost white all over but I decided not to colour it anymore. I like not having the grey roots with the dark hair. LOL
The only bitch I have is that the Arimidex is making it very thin on the crown and it freaks me out. I got her to cut it like Jamie Lee Curtis...I love her look...sadly I do not resemble her at all except for the haircut!
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Hah!, i like that look too and may even go back to it. I got the most compliments on my hair when it was really short. My hair seems to be thinning out too, i am shedding like a cat. probably the tamoxifen...
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Jpmomof3- hi! Yep had mine cut and thinned out a bit once but going to let it just grow and be crazy for awhile so I can have it long once again:) it look like a hot mess right now. But at least I can wear hats to works
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Juneau's challenge is met. New avatar on the profile. Yeah, that's me.
Stride: No fear that you have is irrational. Your concerns about metastasis are VALID, but that being said they shouldn't rule your life. And to further speak to that . . .
Websister: The balance beam metaphor is spot on.
And while I'm here, Happy International Women's Day.
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Scorchy-Well hello beautiful!!! Great pic!
Scottie-where is your picture?0 -
HI ladies!! LOVE the LOVE I'm feeling from everyone today when I caught up.
JPMOM: WE MISSED YOU and you look WONDERFUL! I am cutting my hair every 2 months or so. I am about 24 weeks PFC now (I'll have to take my own advice and update my avatar since that's at about 21 weeks) but I have had two visits where I was buzzed (my neck cleaned up and up to and around my ears - the top left alone), and one visit last week where she buzzed my neck and CUT around the sides up to my ears. She's letting it thicken up now and get a bit longer. She told me on my next appointment we will be ready to CUT the top a bit. She is a close friend and she is going to continue to shape it as it grows in so eventual it will be in a bob and we can DO something with it. I trust her completely and just being back in her salon makes me feel better. It used to cost me $130 for a visit and 2 hours (cutting my long locks and coloring it), now it's $15 and 30 mins. LOL! I know I'll have a horrible in between stage, but I'll just put on a had band, or a barrette, or a hat. Fuckit, I'm not going back to super short until I grow it back out. THEN I'll decide if I liked it more then my old hair and I'll cut it all back off because I WANT TO. Right now I still see my hair and feel like this "was done to me", I'm the victim and I don't like feeling that way. If I look at my head and have a super short cut ever...it will be because I WANTED IT THAT WAY. OK - that's my hair rant.
Marian; welcome home... Percocet make me feel speedy and I can't sleep on them. I ask for take Dilaudid - which are super strong opiates and knock me out so I'm in no pain AND I'm sleeping. BUT I'M a JUNKIE... so I have to be VERY CAREFUL to only take one at a time. Although I was tempted to take 2, or 3 even... my husband kept count to make sure I only took them as prescribed. Anyway - enough about me; so wonderful your friend flew across country to be with you.
I keep meaning to tell you too allurbad; you look GREAT! Love the hair coming in!!
Scorchy; nice avatar.... At least SOMEONE is willing to humor me.
Layla2525; the blood work is to look for cancer markers. It's how they make sure you there is still NED. I just went last week and no news is good news. Only takes a day to run the test.
So the therapist was nice enough, and I will be going back to give her a chance, but she knows NOTHING about recovery - even making a suggesting that my crying all the time before I went into rehab might have aided in releasing my desire to use drugs. I had to correct her that I am an ADDICT (read the definition; The term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences, as deemed by the user themselves to their individual health, mental state, or social life.) and that NOTHING will EVER release me from my desire to use drugs. That's why I go to meetings and sponsor women and stay involved in my program and work steps and yadda, yadda, yadda. As an addict my instinct is to run from feelings, and/or use them as an excuse to become a victim, cop a resentment and then it's YOUR FAULT my life SUCKS and a I had to go get high. She doesn't really get it and that bothers me a little, but maybe my Higher Power has a plan and I'm supposed to get a new perspective.
I have been having dizzy spells the past few weeks. Not too often, but when they come I feel like I am going to pass out for about 30 seconds. I think maybe I should go see someone about them, but I'm not sure who?? My ENT, my GP...?
Anyway - I should be working so I'll say so long for now.... Tazzy, Ramols I'm looking at you... new avatars any time soon???
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Marian: happy you are home and the surgery went well.
Scorchy: What chrisrenee said - hello beautiful.
jpmom: you look amazing. I go for my first hair cut next Wednesday. Have all my yearly scans then, so thought in between the radioactive bone scan injection (2 hours) I will get a trim.
schatzi: I agree wtih the Jamie Lee Curtis hair cut... I was going to go for that too... and like you it will be the only thing that resembles her.
Hi to all others I have missed. Been really busy at work, and was out last night - yes wings and beer.... and now paying for it as have put on 2lb. Will get my butt out walking at lunchtime and in the garden tomorrow - we have forecast a beautiful sunny day.
Hugs ladies xx
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Mariane- so glad your surgery went well and that you have a good friend to help during your recovery.
Tazzy - I weighed 160.6 this morning. That was a good save after being out if town. Sigh of relief.
I will have to look for a photo of Jaime Lee Curtis. I took my hairdresser a photo of Anne Hathaway. I really don't look like her at all! Enjoying my Pixie for now and will through the summer. Next fall, I will let it all grow out. I really have no hair skills and don't want to take on that challenge for now.0 -
believe...just google "short haircuts" and Jamie Lee's pic comes up.
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I am glad to be back and i love trying to catch up, though there is no way that i can...its great seeing all you guys again and with hair!
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Hi all!
Liefie - wishing you a wonderful vacation with your DH, have a great week!
Tazzy - can't wait to see the new cut
Marian - so good to hear from you on this side of the surgery, sending lots of healing wishes your way
Scorchy - love the avatar and the International Women's Day picture
JPMomof3 - looking good! I've seen all sorts of answers to the hair dyeing question, many seem to have done it after 3 months
Juneau - I hope the therapy session is better next time, it's so important to feel confidence in what the therapist is saying. I also have been having some dizzy spells and some loss of balance when I first get up from sitting. I was at a return to work class yesterday and just about fell as I got up, got way more attention than I wanted or needed. I am going to talk to my oncologist about it at my next visit in April, I'm thinking it might be an oncologist type topic - I have seen it mentioned in relation to aromatase inhibitors but we are both on Tamoxifen.
Have had my rads for today and now home, it is a beautiful sunny day here, our snow will all soon be melted. Wishing you all a good weekend!0 -
as requested juneau. just snapped this now - almost exactly 3 months PFC. slowly but surely its coming in.
jpmom - nice to see you!
scorchy - so nice to see a pic!!!
I'm missing everyone... too busy and tired... leaving in a bit for rads. after today - only 2 more - woo hoo!!!
Hugs all!
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websister: radiation can, in some people, make your hemoglobin levels drop which may be causing dizziness... ask one of the techs when you go on Monday - to be on the safe side.
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Liefie; I missed the vacation post.... and I try so hard to keep up! Where are you going... do enjoy.
Ramols: You look WONDERFUL!!!
I got on my treadmill this morning, thank god - I just ate a HUGH thing of Singapore Mei Fun (Noodles if you don't know what it is), instead of my healthy salad I brought from home with a tuna wrap. I just couldn't resist when they were ordering out. *sigh* Good think I got SOME exercise already today. We got a whole lot of snow last night, so I can't walk during lunch with my friend as planned.
websister: I'll ask my MO then. It didn't ocurr to me that it might be tamoxifen related.
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Hi ladies - you all look beautiful with your new hair! But I will say it again if one more person says "oh your hair looks cute you should keep it!" I will bitch slap them from here till kingdom come! Um hellllloooo this was not a choice! Anyway just sitting here watching the pretty snow and reading. Keep thinking that it was one year ago today (and I think to the hour as I type this) that I got the dreaded call. And look at me now! Lots behind me, probably more ahead of me. But I am here to tackle it!
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Fellow Warriors,
I am so so sad today and I can think of a million reasons why I should be. I've been crying for 24 hours and just generally feeling lousy. I know depression can be a part of this illness and it seems to have popped into the picture lately. I do take Prozac already and have increased my dose a bit. It is cold and grey in North Texas today, I have a rash from the chemo, my mouth is sore, my bones ache and I have the entire day to spend alone as all family are out at work or school. Need some quick suggestions and pick-me-ups as this state of being is just unacceptable! I do not like to be a whiner. Suggestions?
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Gosh I just can't keep up with all of you. I read fast, type fast but by golly you have me outfoxed.
Have the cold from HEdouble toothpicks. It will just not give up despite now taking Dayquil on top of Nyquil at night. DH is tired of hearing me blow nose and the nose is tired of it too.
I won't repeat goat birthing stories others may be read on other threads. Suffice it to say both mamas and their respective 2 babies each are doing good after a very rough Tuesday. No sleep for most of 24 hours. One bottle baby in the house in a dog crate. Though did take her out a little bit ago and she latched on great. Maybe she can go back out with mama eventually. And the best thing of all in that terrible day was that it was our 37th anniversary. What a way to spend it. DH even took a personal day to help out. Bless him. Is that love???
Stride - First of all congrats for finishing rads. WOOHOO!!
jpmomof3 - Looking good. Hope your feeling well too. Bet someone else can address haircuts.
Marian - Hope your are resting well today with minimal pain. How good of your friend to come out.
Scorchy - Gosh, nice to see you. But I did love your smily scorchy sun.
Believe - Identify with the "no hair skills". Mostly let mine do what it wants except for church. Though I do love Jamie Lee Curtis' hair. If I had a hairdresser in my pocket maybe.
Liefie - Have a wonderful time with your DH. Sounds like you both deserve it.
Tazzy - Yeah for Friday. Catch up some zzzz's and your garden.
Juneau - I know you know what you need/don't need in a therapist. Maybe you're right, there is something in the bigger picture.
Websister - Almost finished with rads. How great!! As for the dizziness, I think any drug can cause it. I don't know much about Tamoxifen but would think that would be the place to start.
CMBernardi - Welcome. We do have a Texas thread, don't know if I mentioned it. Not real active. Would love to get together one of these Saturdays. I live NW of Ft. Worth. So many new hospitals opening up along the Alliance corridor. I think Texas Health Resources has a new one and Wise Regional out of Decatur is opening a specialty hospital in conjuction with Baylor.
Mcook - Sounds like you're being very wise about DH (boyfriend). (((HUGS))) as you figure it out.
Well, I again know I have missed many but as long as this is I prob. have put you to sleep. Hoping for minimal SEs for everyone. TTYL.
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cmbernardi...you aren't "whining" but rather "expressing". We all have shit days and sometimes it comes so unexpectedly. Altho it's a worn out cliche...tomorrow is another day.
Find something to be happy about even if its a scoop of ice cream, that chocolate bar you hid at the back of the cupboard or call someone you have been meaning to get in touch with and never got around to it.
Can you concentrate to read a magazine or start a book?
I hope I am not being too "cheerful"...if I am, you have my blessing to gimme a smack!
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Cmbarnardi - when I get down I bake. It's a new hobby for me and it keeps my mind, brain and hands busy. When I go anywhere I take cookies, everyone seems happy to see me! I've never had time to bake before and I'm loving it.
Scottie - before you comment - Arimidex has taken my sweet tooth away so I don't eat any of my goodies. I have made tons of cookies and not found one that even tempts me. Unfortunately my DH has never seen a cookie he hasn't loved. I've had to slow down as he gains weight.
I found a picture of Jamie Lee. I wish I hadn't just seen my hairdresser. Her hair is adorable and though short, had some style. Next time! Mine is just short.
Love all the new avatars! Someday I will change mine. That is when I'm not busy baking or beading.
I'm coming up on the Anniversary of my dreaded phone call too. Yes, we've come a long way!!! And God's not even finished with us yet.0
