January 2014 Surgery Sisters
Comments
-
thanks for the back to work support. I just went in for a quick meeting today. But I saw most everyone. So that is out out the way for my first half day tomorrow.
The blue streak in my hair was a blessing in disguise! I worried everyone would be staring at my chest....but they were so taken back by my new blue....that was more the focus...lol
As instructed if anyone asked..."I was great" !
I came home at 1pm and got right in my pjs...took a perc for the pain and did nothing until 5!
I wrote my day in my journal...goods and bads...and there it will stay.
I'm here to stay with my January surgery sisters. We have shared so much....more than anyone could ever understand. We've shared the most intimate details of our lives with strangers...who would have thought? But I always felt right. I cry now as I think of how we have all been there for each other....and we NEVER have to say..."I'm great" when we're not.
I truly love you girls.
Mary....I hope you are at peace with your decision....she's your mom....it must be very difficult.
Beverly...wow...you go girl! Bye bye cancer or anything that might ever cause it again. You've battled thru so much so far....you can do this too!
And now I will honestly say....in more tired than I can possible describe (but u know...lol...that's the best part!)....so I have to go to bed!
Night everyone! You too Eve.
0 -
Glad you got your feet wet Laurie! People are always better than you expect them to be. I'm finding that to be a true silver lining.
Mary - My boss has been where you are with both her parents and it really is true that you will be able to have better quality visits and less stress about everything you need to do for her.
Beverly - I'm so glad you got your surgery dates together. I'm sure we all remember how stressful it was when we were waiting to schedule our BMX's...seems so long ago. Think how much stronger we all are now. You've totally got this, and we're all here for you.
Eve - Has you skin cleared up yet? I've got weird little itchy bumps on my neck/shoulder area, one on my pinky and one on the inside of my bicep. They don't look like bug bites...just small raised bumps. Weird. Gonna hit them with some Cortaid and see what happens.
Okay...and now let me just say....damn it's HOT!!! It was over 90 outside today and it's still 85 in the house because the @#%@&^ AC crapped out sometime during the day...REALLY?! I've got the fans blowing and the windows open. Hopefully it will cool down enough to sleep. My poor cat looks hot and bothered too. I guess I'll be calling around for an HVAC guy to come fix it tomorrow, since it is supposed to be even warmer. Maybe he'll be a big tall hunk who prefers women with foobs! Hah!. Now THAT would be a silver lining!
Oh well other than this costly inconvenience, I had a pretty good day...class was super hot, but fun.
BTW...I've said it before, but you guys are the BEST and I've come to love all of you. We may have started out strangers, but we've turned into friends.
Sweet dreams ladies!
Diane.
0 -
hello girs...asking for good vibes today as I head to see my PS. If any of you remember, prior to raditation I had to have my right side "deflated" to allow for a more accurate rad beam to the left side. Anyway, Ive had the experience of walking around for the last couple of months feeling lopsided and utterly ridiculous
!! Thank goodness for loose clothes..no cute V-neck or figure flattering garments for me. Now that Im done with rads, I am hoping that my PS can at least re expand me, it would be nice to be even. I'll keep you all posted as to how it turns out. 0 -
Lobsided is not good....I hope they fill u back up. Then you can flaunt those new puppies!
Done my first half day! I won't complain at all about bc....but I WILL complain about the 7 frigging blisters from the new shoes I wore! I could barely walk by the time I left! Comfy flats tomorrow!
Laurie
0 -
I suggest we all go to work in sneakers, bra less andesite unshaven legs !!! Lol. Oh don't forget with a tiara on
0 -
Lol....let us know how that goes!
0 -
Well, what the hell, I go to "work" every day like that! except I don't wear any kind of shoes unless I absolutely have too! And then I wear Bob's flats...the most comfy shoe in the world. Google Bob's shoes some time....fab. Sorry for the commercial. Laurie, no blisters with Bob's.
I do shave my legs....but in the winter...not as much...
wow, marissa, that sucks...I didn't know that...about you, and your girl. Please let us know how it went at the PS. Gee wiz these docs can sure come up with a lot of freaking pain in the a$$ stuff.
Diane...The skin is better...only a welt here and there....we have well water here...has a ton of calcium and iron in it. I am allergic to too much of both. Sounds weird, I know. But the fire dept. flushed all the pipes last week and my skin is better. ??? Every since the BMX things have been really off. I think it is just gonna take some time to get back to normal. I am rowing away....found out if I use the proper posture while rowing I won't hurt my back...duh!
Our AC went out last August...OMG a week without AC in 90-95 degree weather....I totally sympathize with you. Had to buy a whole new unit...ouch.....gotta say the new unit saves us a ton of money every month...so silver lining there. Hope you get a hunk..lol hey it's fun to look....
Michelle and Mary, Ann and Anne....Beverly,
hope your day was great and filled with joy and peace.
I love you ladies too!
Finding you all in the scariest time of my life, and working through all of the BC stuff with you has been the silver lining for me.
GROUP HUG
love,
Eve
0 -
Squeeeeeze!
0 -
lol
0 -
k anyone have a recipie that uses a bunch of cilantro?
My lovely herb garden has exploded. yay!
Last weekend we made homemade ice cream with believe it or not cholate flavored mint...the plant is chocholate flavored....oh man...we had to figure out how to do it...but we let the mint leaves steep in the custard base. The ice cream is awesome. You get the flavor of chocholate and mint and then the finish is kinda leafy/organic....so good and fun to make with your 11yo kid.
So after making the custard thingy (for the ice cream) with 8 egg yolks I have 8 egg whites left over...I'm going to try to make mini angel food cakes. Then I want to make a compote with the frozen blueberries and rasberries and maybe add some lemon balm and rosemary leaves from my garden.
I also have a ton of parsley that I am going to make a chimichurri sauce to coat some rib eye steaks we have chillin in the fridge.
Still waiting on the tomatoes...I have 6 on the vine...yum yum.
you know, I have never been a big cook. Pretty much standard stuff for the kids when they were little. But now, this has been so much fun, my DH is an awesome cook...but I can turn out some really awesome dishes...who knew.
We are looking towards to having a food truck ...in our "old" age. So this is all an experiment.
hope you don't mind me blogging on...
just excited about my "job" tonight.
love
Eve
0 -
wow Eve, you are quite the chef. I'm impressed. I'm not much if a cook, the only thing I can think of that uses cilantro is pico de gallo. Really wish I could try your ice cream..delish..:). We'll I am now the proud owner of 2foobs!!!!!! My PS expanded my deflated side today. Definitely my silver lining for today
I will begin fills in 6 weeks; slow but progressive fills. I don't know when I'll have my exchange and frankly I'm in no rush. I'm completely wore out from chemo , BMX and rads. I'm truly just happy and grateful to have pseudo foobs at this point. Love, Marisa 0 -
Yeah! Marisa.So glad you got your refill today.
I can ship my ice cream...just have to put it in dry ice....
hmmmmm gormet ice cream by eve
could happen
night all
love
Eve
0 -
It has been a few months since I've been active on this site but I'm so jealous now! All of you are so close and just the best of sisters. With this crappy disease that means everything to each one of us. Since my surgery in January, I've finished with the TEs and now have my implants. I have to say this exchange surgery was the toughest and I had implants way back in the 80s. So, I planned on this one being a breeze. For me, it was a bit harder and three weeks out, I'm still not as flexible as I was. I had lost 10 lbs and walked 2 miles a day but now I've gained back the lbs and still haven't gotten back to walking the way I was before. But, I feel great, not much discomfort unless a spitting stitch that didn't dissolve starts trying to birth out of a scar. Can't lift over 5 lbs because I overdid it when I wasn't supposed to and like most of us I just would like to get on with whatever I had planned.
Kuddos to all of you strong, strong women that endured chemo or rad. My Oncotype is 6 so my MO said neither would be of benefit and since I'm post menopausal just go straight to anti-hormone therapy. That being said, Arimidex is his drug of choice but insurance is pushing on the brand name. That's a whole discussion on brand vs generic on some of these drugs.
So, I've been on a lot of threads regarding the different drugs, etc, and of course staring at these things wondering what the heck they will look like in months to come or years. People say to stay away from the mirror but then I just find myself peeking down my t-shirt.
I'm going to start jumping off and on here more. I've been reading backwards and really, you guys are great. Oh yeah, I used to be pelively, but now I'm lostboob. Just thought it was time to use a made-up name instead of my real one. Don't know why, just did.
0 -
Eve - How about Cilantro Pesto? I saw a great recipe on "A Teaspoon of Happiness" for one made with almonds, which would be less expensive than pine nuts. If you like it, you can freeze it. Wish we could cook together. I like your style...Chimichurri sounds FABU!
Marissa - So glad you back in balance again! I'll bet you are dancing around the house in a tank top! I say take all the time you need. There's no rush and you need to get your strength back. So happy for you!
Welcome back Lostboob...but Eve will tell you, of you hang out with us for long...we'll need to call you by an actual first name. You can make one up if you want...ooh that sounds fun! Penelope, Prudence, Paula, Priscilla...
Okay, need to think about getting more sleep tonight...thermostat says 83, so I'll live!
Laurie - TGIF tomorrow! Rock those flats!
Love and hugs,
Diane.
0 -
Well, okay. My name is Polly. It isn't short for anything but my mom's name was Pauline and that was her nickname. Just an FYI, but my grandmother's name was Esther so guess what my middle name is? Just ponder that...
0 -
Hahahah...love it Polly!
0 -
Welcome Polly!
TGIF! Wow I haven't cared about that for months....but yahoo!!!!
Laurie
0 -
hi Polly,
glad to have you on board.
Cilantro pesto sounds awesome. I found a chimichurri recipe that calls for cilantro and parsley plus oregano. Trying that tomorrow.
Pico de gallo is on the table tonight with adobo chicken and yellow rice. thanks for the suggestions.
Had a rough time sleeping last night, the anxiety feeling just creeps in and won't go away. Finally got up and took an Ativan...It is 11:30 and I am still in bed. It raining and yukky out so a good day to just take my time getting up and moving. LAZY lol.
Hope everyone has a good day.
Michelle and Ann how are you feeling?
love
Eve
0 -
I'm tired. No, I'm EXHAUSTED. Fatigue from radiation is no joke. I swear I wasn't this tired from chemo or surgery (ok, I probably was, but I don't remember). I think it's because I feel so "normal" that I'm going about my normal business but I'm NOT normal, I'm still going through cancer treatment. Not to mention Hubby has bronchitis and walking pneumonia and I'm trying like hell not to get it from him, but I feel so worn out that I might have caught a germ or two. 19 of 33 treatments done, so getting there. I just want to sleep all the time. <yawn> I took a 2.5 hour nap yesterday afternoon and still went to bed normal time. I feel like I could nap any minute now, too, but I have things I need to do.
At least it's Friday and I get two days off from radiation. Yay!
0 -
Michelle,
you are my hero...I wish I could come to Abilene and take care of you all.
Just sounds as if you and hubby could use a break. You both have done so much lately with the Relay for Life walk and your stuff and hubby's tongue surgery...plus taking care of kids.... It is no wonder you are exhausted.
easy for me to say...but would you all just couch potatoe it this weekend and give yourselves a well deserved break.
take that nap girl...
hugs
eve
0 -
Hi all. Been crazy busy for a week so have not posted. Will read tonite and catch up. Good news infection totally gone and starting to get my energy back. Did some gardening, switched kids rooms around so excellent time to clean their rooms. Got the business paperwork all caught up and filed taxes. Got the MaSon bees houses up and the cocoons have hatched.
Today a little tired and the radiated side sore but finally softening a little. Non rad side implant has relaxed so that side is a little lower, will need a revision in the fall. Scheduling to have ovaries.out this summer and possibly back to work in the fall. Tolerating Tamoxifen and the eyebrows and eyelashes that fell out when i first started have grown back.
The good/bad news is I burned my finger on my flat iron but that means I had enough hair to flat iron!!!
Linda
0 -
Eve, start a new business venture! I will buy your cilantro chocolate mint ice cream!
Michelle, so sorry the rads are getting to you. You have endured so much! Hugs to you!
Linda, sounds like you are doing great. Hang in there.
Welcome , Polly!
And to all the rest, I think of you every day. Hugs to all!
Well, the silver lining for me is that my family has embraced the wig and she has a different name every day. Which means I can have an alternate ego/identity, too. I was Veronica today, Margo yesterday and I started as Felicia! Tomorrow my daughter says Penelope so I guess that is that!
We are at a soccer tournament for the weekend. I am feeling like a normal human being. Even indulged in a glass of wine!
I do have a heavy heart , though, and request positive energy and prayers if you believe. My daughter's math teacher who is a sister amongst us became an angel today after a 3 year battle with BC. She just turned 40 and leaves behind young children and husband along with other family and the many students who loved her. We need to find a cure for this wicked MBC!
My DD varsity soccer team is going to pink out for their next game. Love those girls!
Ann
0 -
Mmtagirl,
Glad you were able to get away for the soccer tournament. So sorry about your daughters teacher!!! My gosh, 40?!? This disease is ruthless!!
Prayers and thoughts for all those dealing with cancer; whether it be personally or a family member or friend.
Just found out a good friend was diagnosed with stage 3B lung cancer. His son is in my grade 6 class. Cancer sucks!!!!! I pray that one day, my kids will look at cancer the way we look at diseases like polio.... Almost non existent.
Another night of no sleep for me... Good night or morning to u all
0 -
I'll second that....CANCER SUCKS!!
40 years old! Wow. That's really sad.
Michelle....your rads sound rough....you're more than half way thru....get er done! Sleep sleep sleep....and don't feel bad about it! Order in pizza and Chinese! You don't always have to be a super mom and wife. Enjoy your weekend. No rads on weekends right?
Laurie
0 -
Ann
So sorry to hear about your daughter's teacher. It is heartbreaking to lose anyone to cancer, but particularly when they leave behind little ones. I am following a girl from NY who was diagnosed with the same type cancer as Dr Jen Arnold of the little couple had. She was Dx'd while pregnant with twin girls. They were born prematurely but are doing well, but the mom, Jenna, is not doing so well. She has been in and out of medically induced comas, and is very week and fragile. There aren't enough hours in the day to pray for all the people suffering with this horrible disease.
Michelle- Hope you and hubby feel better soon- you guys have had a really rough time lately - when it rains, it pours I guess.
Anne
0 -
really hard to hear about a 40 yo....god damn it.
still crying.
CANCER SUCKS >>>YEAH>>>CANCER SUCKS!
0 -
hi girls, just chiming to say goodnight. Michelle, I'm so glad you mentioned about fatigue . Like you , I am EXHAUSTED! I'm more exhausted now than while on chemo !! I truly think that there are cumulative effects to this fatigue. Sigh....I know it will get better
Ann, I will pray for the loss of your friend. She only had BC for 3years? So scary. I sympathize for what her family went through and us now facing.
Stay strong and brave. Much love, Marissa
0 -
Can er sucks and cancer kills
BUT
Cancer hasn't taken us! It hasn't taken me or any of you.
We have our spirit...I see it everyday when I read your posts.
We have our faith ..in God, in each other, in our families, our husbands ,our boy friends, our children
OURSELVES...Faith to carry on in a big way...bigger that we ever expected of ourselves and those around us.
I feel totally lost sometimes...but more often than not I feel different...stronger somehow, calmer and more open to love. I am not as hard on myself...lowerd my expectations of who I should be and what I should be accomplishing.
you know what we did today dh and I ...NOTHING! I got up at 10am grabbed a cup of coffee, my laptop, phone, and crawled back into bed with my dog...lol I played a game on my laptop which took all dang day! DH did the same on my stepsons computer.
I made chimichurri and DH marinated steaks, cooked them on the grill. Bam that was it!
It was rainy and gray and chilly out. What an awesome day.
Just an awesome memorable day...I totally plan on having more of them!
love you guys,
Eve
0 -
I was diagnosed at 40.
My friend is Stage IV ovarian cancer in hospice now and is only 38. So sad.
Cancer sucks!
Had a long, tiring day at a softball tournament, so I'm off to bed.
0 -
Hi Ladies - I've been reading all your posts, and it makes me so sad that you have to deal first-hand with BC death Ann while you are still fighting your own battle. Some very good fiends of mine went to the funeral of their daughter's 37 year old friend who passed from BC last weekend. They both look at me now with very sad eyes when they think I'm not looking.
It makes me so angry that the recommended guidelines for mammograms aren't adapted by the insurance companies. MOST of us are in our 50's. This isn't just because BC strikes women at age 50+. It's also because we started screenings at 50. Women under 50 have to find their BC on their own...and sometimes, they don't find it in time. No one should die from this horrible disease when we know how to find it and get rid of it. Everyone should get the BRACA test, get early screenings, including ultrasound if they are at high risk, and start mammograms at 40 so they have a fighting chance! I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but damn, I just needed to vent!
Beverly - You will get the sleep thing whipped soon. Hang in there. I'm trying to eat more fruit, greens and detoxifying foods (like cilantro, chlorella, flax meal) and I'm not sure they are related, but I'm sleeping much better. It could also be that working all day, excercising regularly and chasing after my son just wear me out.
Marrisa and Michelle: Please try to rest. I know it's hard not to push yourself...you need your strength for those rads. Know that we are all here with you.
Eve - I love hearing about your garden. I wish I could get us out of this condo and into a house. Lazy days are necessary and wonderful when you can do it.
My son and I went to class in the am and to a Cinco de Mayo party at friends' yesterday. I helped our host in the kitchen for several hours. It was a blast but my feet and all my joints were on fire when we home, but I took some Aleve and slept for...drum roll here...12 hours! We're off to a birthday party at a pinball museum for one of my son's friends today. Life is good. BC has taught me to appreciate what I have.
Hugs to all of you!
Diane.
0
