new and future flat sister, with questions
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Sorry so many are dealing with harsh drugs. Sending warm hugs.
Does anyone have a recommendation for calcium that is possible to swallow. The Citricel petites are over the Calif limit for arsenic. I got some other calcium with magnesium and can barely swallow the pills. They are huge! They aren't chewable and I doubt that I could crush them either. I don't know if they still make Vivactin but I'm ready to look and put up with the awful taste so I can chew them.
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Morning everyone! Wrenn, I can't help with small calcium pills either, the Bone Matrix that my Naturapath suggests are huge too. I think the idea of this satchet with everything included is actually a good idea, it is just that the flavoring issue ruins it.
Sorry if I gave the wrong impression, the rubbish drink I spoke of is not artificially colored, just artificial sweetener, which I would never, ever, consider eating, and artificial lemon flavor which is off my list of foodstuffs too. M x
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Sgc, I am so sorry to hear how awful you are feeling. An arthritis flare is the last thing you need on top of everything else. I totally understand about a body that just doesn't accept drugs well. Enjoy that smoothie! You sure deserve it.
nd! Sorry you didn't get out for the treat on the anniversary. I would have stayed in the cozy house too, you can have a treat next time you're out. I know I keep saying it, but I love it when you say you'll just pop across to Canada for a meal!
I hate those high winds, but I know they are coming here soon.
I am, busy these days, I always thought when you moved to the country, things would slow down! Not so, there is always something going on here. I love it! M x
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Hey Bobo, what happened was that A* hole more pleasant because you weren't alone? What happened? Is everything looking like it is healed and no infection? I have been hanging for a report that you are doing OK. I am missing you too!
Gosh, I wish you could just have some real, rest time. I can't imagine having to do all you have to do straight after all these surgeries.
Don't you love the idea of a Scottish kiss? LOL
I will let you know what goes on when Bec gets here. I know she will be looking forward to some late mornings, she is a very early riser for work, but I hope to get out and show her some fun stuff around here that she hasn't seen.
Take care....M x
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Tums makes a chewable antacid. Not bad. I get the generic kind because I prefer orange to cherry flavor. My PCP recommended them during chemo. I really like the new alka-seltzer chews but don't know if they have calcium or not. Viactive tasted like old tootsie rolls.
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Zills, Yes, really really old tootsie rolls.
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My calcium pills would choke a horse. I just crunch them in mouth, wash down with coffee. Have your tried crushing them, then mix in a bit of applesauce or yogurt?
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Hi everyone. I've been laying low because of some health and house issues....but I just wanted to share with you all that I got my prescription silicone foob today and it looks pretty darn good. Might be better than the original version 1.0. lol It seemed a little heavy at first, but like the woman said, I haven't worn a bra in 6 weeks and I'll need to get used to it. The bra(s) I bought seemed a tad tight to me, but she insisted I needed these to be tighter for support. I'm hoping they stretch out over time and if not, I'll buy some new ones. The whole measuring thing was kind of strange, but at least I got her to tell me my 'mini boob' wasn't too bad and she had seen scars way worse than mine. That made me feel good since a portion of my scar (the section that had been radiated just once!) is still pretty pink and is now 1/4 inch wide. I bought some silicone scar strips a couple of days ago to see if they would help but have yet to open the box.
Funny story though, I told this women measuring me for the foob how I am always looking at women's boobs now and she said "You?? Think of me. I measure women all day long for bras. When I am out and about, I am constantly looking at women and thinking.. ohhhh...you really need to come see me!". That cracked me up. I've always heard most of us don't wear the right sized bra and I suppose I was one of them. I guess that's why I always preferred a sports bra because other bras rarely fit me right.
I head back to work tomorrow after 6 weeks off. I wish I had asked for more time off simply because I am enjoying not working...but on the other hand, I've eaten horribly since I've been home and have gained 15 lbs on my already overweight frame. Seriously, I don't think I have ever eaten worse in my life. At least when I go to work I pack a healthy lunch as compared to eating ice cream bars for lunch. Ice cream bars have calcium
Whoever was asking about calcium earlier...maybe you just need to eat more ice cream? hahTake care. Oh.. and my foob looks so good, I think I'm going to wear a henley type shirt back to work because you know they will be checking my chest out! I'll probably be the talk of the town.
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Hi PRB, was wondering how you were doing. Well, that's great news that you have your Prosthesis and you like it. If you find the bras are too tight on the chest, just add in a bra extender till you aren't tender. The deep bruising took some time to pass for me, and although I wore the Prosthesis from 6 weeks, I had some issues with wearing anything too tight, especially right where the drain exited.
It must have been good to hear from someone who sees many scars and Mx results that yours looks good, it isn't like we have a lot of people to compare with!
Good luck, back at work. Don't overdo it! LOL We all knew, but we all over did it anyway...just saying!!!
Take it easy..M x
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jsj, How are you doing?
I am on my way out to see my Thursday morning friend, quiet here, so I will check back later! M x
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HI everyone!
Sorry to be so hit and miss! I've been doing Spring cleaning things and a bit with ebay. So far I have filled up 5 more garbage bags of clothing that doesn't work any more. These are the Spring/Summer things. Next Fall's clean out should be the last big one. Then I've been going through the kitchen to scale things down too. I didn't realize just how many mismatched dishes, bowls and glasses I had accumulated over the years!
Zills and ndgirl, congrats on the milestones! Every anniversary is a good one!!
I am so sorry for those of you that are dealing with miserable se's from your meds.
PRB, so glad to hear you like your foob! I think part of my problem with the bras is I have like a shelf at the base of where my breasts were and the bands just roll up over it and land on the scars. I asked my MO about it last time and he said maybe a PS could do something about it but most likely not. I sure don't want another sx so a shelf is what I will have. I keep massaging it in hopes of redistributing the tissue some but no joy so far. (MO said that would probably do nothing, but hey, it doesn't hurt so I'll keep doing it.) Take care to not do too much as you go back to work, I know, easier said than done, but those first few days or even week are going to be really tiring.
Airom, I can imagine how excited you are to have Bec coming to visit!! And the description of the boat for winter sounds lovely. How cozy to be out on the water sipping hot chocolate!!
bobo, wondering how the dr appt went here too. Hope you are healing well and can make time to just rest.
The days here have been low 50's a mix of sun, clouds, wind and showers, some nights are still below freezing. Trying to do a little yard work too but when the wind gets going it is too cold still.
I'm thinking about all of you even though I may not answer directly.
Hugs for everyone!
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Ariom...I am doing ok. Been in a bit of weird funk the past week or so. I have been hybernating trying to ride it out. I really think I will feel much better after I see the BS tomorrow. I am just so ready to get this scheduled and done. I am over the waiting. I feel guilty to complain, there are so many people who have serious issues that I am not going to ever have to go through... So very lucky! So on to brighter things... Like your visit from Bec. Even though I haven't posted in a few, I did try to keep up with everyone.
I am so excited for you! I am glad you had so much fun your last sail of the season. I have to run to the store so I will try to check back in a bit. 0 -
Hi everyone!
Good luck at the BS tomorrow, jsj! It will feel good to see your plan taking shape.
hi gB! You are so organized and efficient, wow! Good luck selling your stuff!
PRB, all the best for your return to work. It will feel good to occupy your days and be out of the house more often. I can totally relate to the weight gain that happens when we're home! I had somehow managed to lose weight in December after my bmx, I was feeling good enough to run so it was compensating for my binges. However, with the infection and LE, I did not run for 6 wks and wham! Pounds accumulated and still are! And I have no excuses now, I've been running since Feb but still eating too much. I don't mind going to the office just to have a more normal eating day! I'll blame it on the steroids that I take for chemo, but really, it's my lack of self-control and the compensation for the crappy stuff... Sorry, too much info about me, I guess I just don't feel good about myself, this yoyo weight, and my constant obsession with food since my mild anorexia as a teenager. Congrats on the foobs! I find myself alternating b/w the heavy silicone ones and the cushion ones, to give a rest to my back.
wren, good luck finding swallowable calcium pills! Would chewable ones like Caltrate work?
Hey Zills! I'm a project manager in the software industry (thus easy to work from home or at anytime of the day). There's sometimes no budget (from clients or my company) to have onsite meetings, so i don't always have to travel, especially since I changed companies last year. My clients these days are mainly in Toronto, NYC, and UK.
3 more chemo treatments to go. Tomorrow morning is the next one (3 wks b/w tx), I hope i can control the pain with Tylenol - i have the whole gamut ready incl Tylenol 3's, MO told me to take 2 Tylenol 3s every 4-6 hrs!! I was passing out from them the 2 times I took some (one tablet) after the bmx! Anyway, I've been managing the nausea SEs well, so don't see why I would have a hard time with these new SEs. I'm just extremely lucky that my body is so resilient, with no allergic reaction to any medication (knock on wood)!
I hope your kids are getting better. How are you?
Sgc, good to hear from you! I thought this was your 2nd chemo, sorry to hear it's your 3rd... You are sooo good not to be discouraged, I admire you. Sorry about the mouth sores, mood swings, and arthritis... I hope the smoothie was good! You're almost done!! Big hug!
Vintage, glad you found bras and prosthesis. I do wear an extender, still, on my bra. Sure, the weight gain, but also the sensitivity, which although much better, is not totally gone.
Hey ndgirl, glad you missed the storm! My family in Ottawa and Montreal got 15 cm of snow last weekend, they were finding it a little discouraging to say the least! We missed the storm too, still have traces of snow where it was piled up. But melting fast, yippee!
hi bobo, glad the meeting with PS is done!
hey M, almost forgot you!! Glad you got to go sailing. Have fun planning Bec's visit, she's lucky to have a wonderful role model as a mother!
Have a good night (day M)!
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Hello Ladies,
OTC- I am impressed! How do you keep everyone straight? You must be very brilliant, have a chart of sorts or both! I can't seem to hit on everyone at one time. Thanks for your encouraging words. Hope chemo goes well in the am. I'll be with you in spirit! It really does suck, doesn't it? Only two more for both of us after this one for you. Hooray for us!!!! I think I will hold up a sign with balloons and take a photo when this chemo ends. It could be a good luck charm so I don't have to do it again! Lol
Jsj- best wishes for your BS appointment tomorrow! We are in your pockets!
Zills and ND- belated congrats on the milestones. Hope you both are seeing some springtime by now!
Gramma B- please send some of your energy my way! I only dream of getting rid of all the stuff I need to. I wish I could figure out how to sell on eBay! I have two never worn sets of leathers I'd love to get rid of. Needless to say we used to ride a Harley......
PRB- hooray for the new foobs! I am so glad you are happy with them! I haven't even thought about that yet. Best wishes as you return to work. Please be kind to yourself and don't overdo!
Vintage- hooray for new bras and pros! You too are way ahead of me. I hope you have had a bit of springtime as well!
Wren- have you found your calcium yet? I am fortunate to keep a pretty normal calcium and recovered from osteoporosis before my MX. I might be shorter, but my bones are stronger! I suffer from low D as I have found many BC patients who do. Been on those supplements for years. Keeping good thoughts for your search!
Ariom- I am so happy to hear that Bec is coming for a visit. The sailing sounded wonderful and brought back memories of my sailing days years ago. Even though it is getting colder there, I hope you can still get out to enjoy the water -even if only to walk by it and gaze. Water has always had such a positive force in my life and feels like an old friend to me. Such comfort no matter what the season!
Bobo- how is it going? I hope things haven't gotten too crazy for you. Did you have Spring break already or do you get a little breather? Hope you are feeling better each day. Your body has been through so much! I do have to tell you that you have had an positive impact on my life! Thank you!
Hey to idealism and spookie- hope you both are doing well!
So it is Wednesday which is why I am almost myself again. It takes me a full 8 days to be able to function after chemo. I was struggling but thanks to ya'll I think I'm going to make it! Bought 5 spaghetti strap cami's today. First spaghetti straps in my life! And they feel great! I might be moving slowly, but I am moving forward!
Sleep well sisters. Always, S
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jsj, I don't think there is any one of us here that will argue with the fact the waiting is just intolerable. We want answers, we want this invader out of out body and we want it done well and NOW!! Waiting is the worst!! In the bag for BS.
Hi otc, the things I clear out of my house I donate to the local Clothes Closet or a Thrift Shop that volunteers to help bc patients. My ebay business is crystals and minerals for collectors and healers. Two separate things. I have totally been neglecting ebay! In the bag for your chemo too! Will be doing a lot of hopping around tomorrow!
sgc, you might do better selling the leathers on Craigs List. ebay/PayPay has so many fo¢king fees, you lose a lot of $$. Just meet the buyer in a supermarket parking lot or some well populated place like that. My guess is they will sell fast there. I'm with you on the spaghetti strap camis! I have so many in lots of different colors, they are so much more comfy than any bra I have ever worn!!
Hugs tfor everyone!!
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I want you all to know that, although you do not hear much from me, I do enjoy reading your posts.
And OTC, no apologies for telling the truth about where you are emotionally. We have all been there or somewhere similar. That is a lot of what I value about BCO and this group. Our whole selves can come here and we are accepted in our lousy times and our precious times and our ordinary times.
Holly
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Ariom,
Here are the YouTube links to my son Dash singing his heart out after being the third person chosen from the audience to sing. He then got to sing onstage with Idina Menzel. I will send that next. I keep losing my post when I try to retrieve the second link.
Holly
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Ok...geesh. Onstage.
http://m.youtube.com/user/Dashgowland#/watch?v=nirkwgil6CA
He was so thrilled he was shaking, no, VIBRATING! in his seat afterwards.
His name suits him. He can referee nine soccer games in one day and be a wee bit tired.
Holly, Proud Mama
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Oh Holly, thank you! How great was that! I watched it 3 times and loved it, both his enthusiasm and his talent. No wonder you're a proud Mama! Please tell him I loved it and will be showing it to Bec when she comes to visit.
Bec has an Aussie "icon" Uncle, the brother of my first Husband. who played Judas in JC Superstar and has been a working actor on Television, a stage performer, doing G&S, and muso, on the road, all his adult life. Consequently, his children and some of the other cousins have followed, and are in bands, or work for him backstage, on his road show. Bec is very close to her Uncle and has been exposed to his career all her life, so she will appreciate Dash's great experience too. M x
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Hi Sgc, I love the water too, as much as I dislike the name of my Starsign, I am a Cancerian, I am always attracted to the water!
gB, although it was really warm on Tuesday for the sailing, the weather has turned and we have the heating on tonight. I wore a camisole with a warm jacket over it today. It won't be long and I will be doing the wardrobe switcheroo! I do like to dress for the Winter. I love my scarves and long boots.
otceb, those steroids are sneaky, apart from retaining fluid in some people, they make you feel like you are hungry. I've been fighting these little suckers every day for almost 18 years. I used to never put on any weight and I could eat pretty much anything I wanted, but after a few years on this drug, I jumped from a size 6 to a 12.Uggggh! Take it easy everyone!
I have my Pink Ladies meeting tomorrow morning so won't be home till after lunch...M x
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I don't know why I felt the need to hybernate... just hearing y'alls sweet words of support has made me feel so much better. I really know better... just an old habit that is hard to break
. I appreciate you all so much and just want to say thank you for your love, and friendship. Be blessed sweet sisters and thanks for being in my pocket when we go to the doc. (((Huggzzz)))0 -
Holly~ I just went to watch your son's video. He was a hoot and amazing
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Thanks for the video Holly, just what I needed because it is snowing here today!! GRRRRR, just light snowfall and will be gone in a few days but really it is April!! It will be gone a few days from now and I really am glad we didnt get the 20 inches earlier but it is just depressing.
Greetings to everyone!
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Ok... well... they finally have gotten me scheduled for my PBM. It is April 14th at 8:00 am. Just a little over a week away!?!? All those months of waiting and now it won't be much longer. He still wanted to make sure about the no recon and make sure I was informed and knew what I was doing, but once I explained why I felt the way I did, he said he supported me 100%.
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jsjherman
No doubt it will be a tough week waiting. Keep busy, make plans, shop, get stuff together, get together with friends & chat with us! Hang in there!
Lyn
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Ariom,
So fun to know you have that extroverted, creative talent in your family too. Why am I not surprised?!
Jsj and ND, thanks also for checking out the rowdy element in my family. Dash's energy and talent are the upside of turbo charged AD/HD.
ND, you are so ready for the burst of spring. Hard when the escapee snows land in April.
JSJ, I can hardly remember the countdown week before UM. Except the fear. I worked my butt off (Oh, I just checked in the mirror. It is still there.)....to cut off my thoughts of, "What if....." I had to practice a lot. Because like ND's snow, those thoughts just kept coming! However, this week will go quickly. Take soft and loose clothes. I was surprised how little pain I had after. Take us all with you. It took me awhile to figure out what everyone was doing going in each others' bags to the hospital, appointments and trying events. Now I get it and love the comraderie (sp?!).
Dash, the poor guy, had a meltdown last Sunday when our (also usually energetic) adored 12 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback mutt looked like she was dying out of the blue---frothing, eyes bouncing all over, could not walk, dry heaves. So scary. Turns out it is "Idiopathic Vestibular Disorder" or, as our wonderful vet said, "Old Dog Disorder." Usually goes entirely away. However, it looks like a stroke combined with poisoning initially.
Dash said, "First your cancer, Mom. Then Dad's. And then you again. And now Toffee. I won't make it if Toffee dies." She slept on his bed as his pillow when we rescued her at 4 months. She has been his comfort when bullied at school, when he could not learn to read, when he had few friends because of low social cognition. (Has traits of Asperger's.) Toffee has been there through all of this. He told me he had not wanted to burden me with how worried he was about losing me. I am 65. He is 21.
I am sure many of you have had these meltdowns and emotional conversations about what we mean to our loved ones and friends.
SGC, Love the thought of you in leathers on a Harley!
Ariom, I forget when Bec is coming to visit. So great to see our kidlets move into adulthood and launch or flounder or change directions.
I visited my 23 year old daughter IndiAna in Memphis in March. First visit to the South! She is in Teach for America and was placed in a low performing K-5th grade school and teaches ESL to 52 Hispanic kindergarteners who spoke no English at the beginning of the school year. Indi invited me to observe her in action. What a thrill! She is so organized. The children know the routines perfectly. When she calls for answers, the children raise their hands and put their other hand's pointer finger to their lips and imitate "Shhhh." That's what Indi did when she was teaching them to raise hands and wait to be called on. Now they think it is part of raising hands. Soooo cute! One little girl announced that my daughter is a child, not an adult, because she has a mamma!
Ok, gotta go. I have figured out how to use my phone to answer and....watch out! I am in the club now.
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jsj, Just don't forget the pillow for the seat belt coming home.
Holly, What fun children!
Today I went to my first watercolor painting class. It's for beginners, but all are welcome. I've forgotten so much that I thought starting at the beginning would be a good idea. I walk in and see a familiar looking woman sitting at a table, so I sit next to her. We're talking and she says I look familiar too. Turns out we worked together in the 1990's for Group Health in the Center for Health Promotion (a really fun department). She's still in touch with some of our friends and will say hi from me. Plus I enjoyed the class and did ok with the assignment, a painting of green onions and an apple.
We still have Goldie and now kitten season is upon us. By the end of summer, all the people fostering adults just can't stand the sight of another cute kitten. She continues to worm her way into our affections. She comes up about 6am and snuggles between us until we get up at 7:30 or 8:00. She must spend the rest of the night on my keyboard judging by all the long white hair on it.
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Hi Wrenn! I look at your painting every day! I keep it at my desk. I love "small world" stories. I have been blown away, by running into old friends since moving here. It is a great experience!
I am hoping Goldie stays. I love her attitude and her confidence with you. Sleeping on your keyboard is so funny. We caught Dex asleep on top of a glass sofa table recently. He was curled up between the Antique Smokers Chest, isn't that a ridiculous name for the box? and the candles. He hadn't moved anything and was really cozy, but it was a big surprise to see him up there.
Holly, you nailed it about the extroverted, creative talent, he is that, but not at all pretentious, thank goodness!
My 2nd Husband was a radio announcer who was the first voice on commercial FM radio here in Aus, and was an interviewer on a TV Rock show, and did voice overs for commercials and tv events. He also had a bit of a mid life crisis and decided to become a stand up comedian and TV comedy writer.
He works for the Indigenous Community radio station now, teaching all things radio to Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal) people.
It is amazing how much we have in common, Holly. I was school council President of Bec's High School which had a language center attached. We received refugees from all over the world who would start in the Language center before being integrated into the mainstream school. I started a breakfast program because we discovered that the kids were living without the money for food and would drop off to sleep in class. That went on to homework groups and then housing because we discovered homeless kids were turning up to be fed. Along the way we adopted a young Vietnamese boy named Vi, who was one of the most amazing human beings, you could ever meet. He was with us for many years and we learned a lot from each other. He moved to California to learn landscaping from an Uncle who was living there, unfortunately, he passed away in 2010 at 35 years of age. I miss him every day.
One of my favorite things about the Breakfast Club was that we had 42 different languages spoken at the school. I always asked the kids to speak English to practice, but some would continue to speak in their own language, and swearing was common. I took it upon myself to learn the swear words in as many languages as I could and I had a big plastic milk jug that I would hold aloft and ask for a coin donation for every time I heard them swear. I told them I don't mind swearing, I am a gutter gums myself, but not to the detriment of using the right words for things. Those kids were always surprised, when I would hold the jug out for a donation, they never knew, how I knew, they were swearing! LOL
Your Daughter is to be commended for being an ESL teacher, it is such an important roll, imagine being the person who "turns on the light' for people without English, when they start to learn and understand, it opens up the rest of the world to them. M x
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