Starting chemo August 2014
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Arent drugs a mixed bag? We need them for some things but the side effects stink sometimes. Bippy: I have had chronic insomnia for 20 years. I've tried about everything. Ambien worked for me for awhile with no side effects. It just didn't work for long. I hear they have an extended release that works really well for some people. My best luck was with trazadone which is an old antidepressant. I took it just for sleep. No side effects and it didn't quit working. I had to quit it w I started chemo BC it reacts w taxol. My doc just increased one of my other meds that has a side effect of sleepiness... So I'm still taking that for now. You never know how you'll react till you try it. It may be great for you.
My hormone treatment w Armidex is going great. No side effects that I can tell except I had very swollen joints one day but not since. Not sure if its the meds or not.
Hope everyone is doing great. I'm feeling stronger and more normal each day. Just can't wait for my hair to get long enough to wear out! Have a great Friday everyone!
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Gatomal xoxox. Sorry you have more surgery
Windgirl. I did a couch 2 5k program last year having not done running in a few years prior ended up running 2 5ks after just a few months ( both early in my pregnancy!) I hope I can get back into it too.
Radiation starts Monday for me. Had final dry run today. I started crying on the table wtf is wrong with me. I don't know the room made me very anxious.but the 3 techs are awesome 2 younger girls but one motherly type that helped so much. Ugh I keep saying I can't wait til rads are done then we'll go back to normal...I think I'm realizing I won't ever be quite the same
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Nurseshark= You will fly threw rads. It is over before you know it. GOOD LUCK!!!
As for insomnia. I took .5 mg of lorazepam the other night. Helped just a bit. Last night took nothing ,slept OK. Who knows. I just blame chmo.
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oh nurseshark! I totally get the tears. I was crying at my acupuncture appt today. Just overwhelming emotions, it's so much to go through. And to start rads as the next and final step ( like final don't have to go to the hospital anymore all the time step) is a big deal. Hugs.
I got an Rx for neurontin yesterday. Took one pill at bedtime. Totally changed my life. I slept great, lost about a cup size on swelling, and the nerve pain is so much better. I guess you don't realize how debilitating pain is until it lifts. I walked w the girls and grandma downtown into Macy's, to the post office, and to meet daddy for lunch. We ate hotdogs on the street and watched the buses come by. The I went to acupuncture. And cried. And lit a candle at church, and cried. And realized I didn't have a tissue, just a panty liner in my purse for my Breast incision under my bra. Then I laughed! Imagine seeing someone blow their nose with a panty liner?! Hilarious.
Today, grandma had to change the girls diapers. One is in a size 5 and the other Ina size 6. Grandma couldn't read the number and asked the kid she was changing "what number is this?" She said six. I said, when the kid can read the number on the diaper, it's time to use the toilet. So maybe I'll work on that before my next anesthetic! Thank god there are things to laugh at. Love you guys! Thanks for all the support
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amy thx for the tip! Got an rx for that trazodone. Insomnia is tormenting me. Pick it up tomorrow and off we go.
It is just hitting me that I have 5 freakin years of onco visits and freakin blood tests, all looking for progression. Duh you may say, but that is a long time, I am thinkin. Why did I not realize it before. Hate having to do it, can't they just leave us alone?! My GP says after 5 years I can probably relax. Well sheeeit.
AND my freakin blood sugar is high, 178 at last draw. So he wants to do a fasting test to see if I am freakin pre OR full blown diabetic. How nice! I am super pissy now. Enough is enough. I am cranking down on the diet and exercise now. Hope I can fix it.
Nurseshark & Gatomal, rads induces tears. It's okay. It sucks in its own special way, but nothing like chemo. It is more mental torture. Techs make it or break it. I had good ones always.
Well, I guess it is now time for my daily walk, i am so inspired by cassie and windgirl. Am going to add in more pilates, yoga and light weights to my program. I am on Gaim tv, and they have loads of videos.
Everyone please have good sleeps
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My DH tried trazadone for a while. I'm not sure if it helped or not. Ativan always helps me, but I use it sparingly as it's addictive. I just want a good, solid night of sleep!
I cried at rads several times, and especially at the end. There's just so much emotion in all of us. I agree that good techs make all the difference. I loved mine.
Don't be too inspired by my exercising.
I didn't walk at all yesterday and need to get to it today. I'm just so tired. But I'll do something, as I know it's good for me, it's healing and it helps fight the fatigue. I'm 9 days out from finishing rads and still feel like that area is sensitive. But it's getting better (and it never got all that bad to begin with).I had a nice thing happen today. I work at a very small school, so we're all very close. I have the same kids in class for 2-3 years. Being out for 5 months, I missed a lot (obviously). My boss approached me today about being the keynote speaker for graduation this year. I teared up (of course!) and said yes. I'm thinking I can talk about what you do when life throws you a curve ball, when things don't go as planned, the new beginnings we receive, what really matters in life... I think it's going to be fun, and I feel very honored to have been asked. I just need to not cry while giving it!
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cassiecat= you could talk about heros in life. Who's is their favorite hero. The answer is themselves. It is within them to find their hero. The bottom line is you are a hero. You were able to stand up and and take what ever life throws you. Find the hero in themselves. Because you were a hero to yourself. Loved they asked you to speak. What a compliment!!!0 -
Wow! Just wrote a long piece and lost it all. Bummer....
Too tired to write it all again. Wishing everyone a good weekend a speedy recoveries
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Just checking in on my girls. In New Orleans for my Aunt Sissy's funeral. She was such a fun lady....always a true southern lady. Don't know that we will go to French Quarter...so much stress around funeral time for the immediate family. She loved a glass of wine in the evenings and her family around here. We had crawfish, wine and champagne in her honor tonight. Most of the family leaving in am. Im tahini until Tuesday
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so sorry to hear beatmom. Glad you can be with family and talk about your Aunt, and what fun you had. Hugs. Never been to New Orleans, love to go someday. Have a drink for me
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so sorry for your loss beatmon.
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Beatmon, I'm sorry for your loss. She sounds like a special person.
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Beatmom= Sorry for your loss. May her memory be for the blessing.0 -
me too Beatmom, blessings to Auntie.
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Beatmon, sorry for your loss. So glad you could be with your family and have a gathering in your Aunt's memory.
Catie57, thinking of you and DH. When is his surgery?
Cassiecat congrats! What an honor and compliment to you to be asked. they choose the right person. Love your proposed theme. Hugs and all l hope you are enjoying your weekend and relaxing.
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xoxox beatmom. I am so sorry for your loss.
This picture makes me smile. I hope it helps you smile too :
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hi lil' Levi! I bet you help mommy get out of bed in the morning. She loves you and you are adorable
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I'm smiling!!!!0 -
Adorable!
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So cute! Hi, Levi!
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LOL Levi and his side eye! Tx Nurseshark for the giggles
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Bippy, how's the new job going this week?
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Great photo of Levi! Keep 'emcoming!
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I am smiling Nurseshark. Levi is so adorable
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Beatmom, I'm sorry for your loss.
Nursehark, what a cute photo, made me smile as well0 -
hi peeps!
Cassie, thx for thinking of me! All is SO GOOD at new job. How very nicely it differs from the litigation and family law horrors. All my coworkers are relaxed, kind and helpful. No screamers allowed! The pace and work are new to me--slow, and no pressure.
Just what I need in my life now job wise. Having lunch with my replacement today at my old office, lol, poor thing. I feel sorry for her
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Beatmon - So sorry to hear about your Aunt.
Bipsy - Good to hear the job is working out and less stress.
Nurseshark - Levy is so cute. Give him a little squeeze for me.
Hope everyone is doing well. Went to see BS about a lump I found. Had to wait a week because of travel plans. Turns out when I finally got over there, the lump was gone and no more soreness. BS said, Cancer doesn't usually hurt. Also, between surgery and biopsies can expect it. Gave me a written script for ultrasound just in case.
With all going on with DH, can't focus on myself right now. He had tests done all day this past Monday. No blockage in arteries, so no bypass. Scheduled for valve replacement and accending aortic graphing this coming Monday, April 20th. Spoke w several surgeons and comfortable w one at NYPresbyterian in NYC. I plan to be by his side the whole week. Please keep us in your thoughts.
Had my first hair trim today. Still really short, but decided needed to be shaped a little. Have been coloring it myself.
Keep posting ladies. I read more often then I post. Glad to hear how everyone is doing
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oh catie. Thoughts and prayers for your husband to get through surgery just fine. Recovery will take time for him. It must be awful to be going through Bret Cancer and this at the same time. Glad your Lump disappeared. Hopefully just fluid from all the messing about those doctors have been doing.
Good for you to get a haircut! What a feeling! Like a human woman again, and not a patient.
I had two steroid shots today in my side chest, a painful ultrasound, and some stitches removed from the nipple that weren't dissolving. I'm feeling a lot of pain tonight. Thinking about you all on the board. I am closer to the end than the beginning, and can't wait to be done. Some good news...they can do a carpal tunnel release on my left hand during my re excision next month, so im thrilled. My med insurance is sure paying for itself this year. With the delivery and the Cancer, I'm guessing I'll be at about half a million this year in med care, right? What a deal!
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Catie, you and your husband will be in my thoughts. Please let us know how things go.
Gatomal, ouch.
I hope you can just rest easy tonight. Glad you have good benefits! When DD was born she was two months early and spent two months in the NICU. I also had 4 surgeries in 15 months. I was very glad to have great benefits through all of that!Bippy, so glad the first week is going smoothly for you. Enjoy - you deserve it!
I had a nice lunch with a coworker today after school and before meetings started. Nothing fancy, just relaxed and enjoyable. Those moments are so much more important to me now. She's about ten years younger than me and pregnant with her first baby. She's adorable.
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Catie= Best of luck to your husband. Speedy recovery. What a year you guys have had!! Ok, Give someone else a chance for all the fun of going to MD's .
Gatomal=Just reading your post sounds painful. Hope you feel better tomorrow. Glad you can get the pain in your hand alleviated.
Cassiecat=I went to lunch with a friend yesterday too. So nice to feel normal.
My hair is now getting longer that my BF, who I now call Mr Stevie is cutting my hair.(trimming it) I have colored it 2 times. Never turns out color on box. FYI= Only color with the stuff in the organic section. No ammonia. Chemical free.
I am going to get it professionally shaped in a few weeks. Should need it then. Everyone loves my hair super short and keeps telling me to keep it that way. BOY!! is it easy. I have returned to swimming and now it is a breeze when I get out of the pool. I was the slowest swimmer in the world. I now can say chemo has made me slower. My Brother and SIL gave me a waterproof IPOD after my treatments ended. Did not make me any faster. However,my mind does not wander about cancer. Love that!!!
Bippy= Super that you love your new job. I have worked in places I have hated or for people I have hated. My job now I love. So,nice to work with people you like. Makes working SO much better and Less stressful.
Just noticed my hair is the color of my beloved dog Haley Jean in the picture. It also feels like her hair. Makes me miss her more.
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