Starting chemo August 2014
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Windgirl, i relate. I wanna do the things I have been unable to!
Yyaaaayyyyyy amy!!!
Dingdong the drains are gone, which old drains? bippys drains!!!!
No pain getting them out either just a weird sensation. Stitches come out next week but they don't bother me so much. Slept in my regular bed last night which was a dream. Today I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher, and doing light chores around the house and resting now. It's a new, glorious world without those stupid drains. Still sore but doc said to do some exercises and move around and I'm doing all that.
I cried most of yesterday. I think it was cathartic and needed to be done, and I am much better now. A neighbor brought me some lovelly sephora grace body wash. I am headed to the shower alone for the first time since surgery now....it is the littlest of things that make life good!
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Go Amy, go! So happy that you are finishing chemo! Yahoo!
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Yay, bippy! No more drains - one step closer to being ALL done! I cried twice yesterday, including in front of my whole family. Our niece gave us a beautiful framed family photo from their wedding last summer. Something about it just hit a nerve and I broke down. Might have been my hair, for all I know! In any event, I felt very grateful to have family around yesterday and realized how lucky I've been to have so much support all through this.
Follicle Watch 2014: I think I have a few eyebrows starting to grow back, and there may be some new hair on my head trying to come in, too. Still not enough to get to the point where it's obviously growing back, but I'll keep on scrutinizing my scalp for any signs of hope! After losing my 18 inches or so of hair, I'm ready to not be balding any more.
Today's plans - possibly taking in a movie, doing some birthday shopping for DD's friend's 16th birthday and dinnerout at out favorite Mexican restaurant.
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Cassiecat, enjoy your day today. As I said to my sister when she cried over the gift and note I gave her thanking her for her support this year - "It's not really Christmas until someone is crying!"
I'm glad you had a nice Christmas. You've had a few rough days lately and it is nice to see the smile in your post!0 -
Yay Amy and Yay Bippy!
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congrats Bibby+ Goodbye drains/Goodbye cancer!!!!0 -
Woohoo, Amy and Bippy. So glad you ate both on the mend.
Saw my dear family yesterday and Baby Valentina was the star of the show. What a wonderful gift to have family. Love, Jean
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Great picture, Jean! So cute.
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Yay Amy and Yay Bippy. Woot Woot and doing the happy dance for both of you!
Jean Valentina is so cute! Enjoy.
Cassie, So glad you were around family and had fun! I have felt more emotional over these past few days than I have over the last 6/7 months. Having family and support around is wonderful. My immediate family came over for Christmas and it was such joy. My brother gave me a card and present that just touched me so much (not that any of the others were less) but he is usually not sentimental nor emotional so caught me off guard.
I need to begin to expand my horizon. I have reflected on the last few months and I have really been a recluse and only going to work and home -- with very little outside contact. I told my husband that only my fault but I feel isolated and why I was so happy others decided to come see me over the last few days.
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Baby Valentina is gorgeous!
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Justamy - Awesome and Congrats on last chemo! Wishing you minimal SEs
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I have a PET/CT scan tomorrow and have to do a low-carb diet today. This is not easy if you're not used to it! I'm hoping for a nice, clear scan tomorrow. I have a mamm and u/s on Tuesday and then an echo and EKG on Wednesday, plus another visit with my MO. It'll be nice to someday not have so many doctor appointments and tests. Tomorrow I'll be two weeks PFC. Hope everyone is feeling good and having minimal SEs today!
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Cassiecat=Wishing NED on all your test. I just had a pet scan 4 weeks ago. No low carb diet was told to me. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
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Cassiecat good luck on all test and sticking to diet. I am Praying for NED on all your test!
Everyone enjoy your day!
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Cassie, praying that everything comes back NED!
Well it's day 3 PFC and I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Very achy and D and exhausted. That's all normal for day 3 but I'm so glad its the last time I have to recover. I don't even have a doctor appointment until Jan 16th. That one is w the surgeon. Then it will be a whirlwind of tests followed by surgery. I do have fluids scheduled for Friday but that's no big deal. Hope everyone is doing great today.
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Amy, isn't it great knowing you're not recovering just to have to go through it all over again? Every day is another day out from chemo!!!
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Catching up after travels and helping my dear mom through her heart surgery. Glad to hear so many great reports, dear friends. I think of you often and pray for you all.
Tomorrow is my "normal" chemotherapy day, but I am done! Will all side effects disappear? Will my taste buds return to normal? Wouldn't that be GREAT? SE's hanging on longer this last cycle, not wanting to let go, I guess. The SE I cannot wait to leave me are my constantly watery and puffy eyes. Someday soon...
Love your humor, Bippy. Thanks for sharing with us.
Jeni
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Hey All quick question. Did anyone experience flashes of lights in outer parts of eyes not often but when it occurs it is noticeable. New for me since last treatment. I will call MOs office tomorrow and see what they say. However wanted to see if anyone else has had this occur.
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hi Ladyb,
I haven't experienced it but I searched for you in bco and others have had this happen to them. Looks like it could potentially be be a detached vitreous or retina tear, or thinning of vitreous fluid due to age (not sure how old you are). Please go to the opthalmologist as soon as you can in case it is something they need to fix right away.
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amy & jenifer, Yes, you will feel NORMAL soon! Congrats on being done with chemo. I am already forgetting how awful it was and never thought I would feel good again. Enjoy your break! I am discovering surgery has its own special challenges and SE but it is nothing compared to chemo.
Ladyb, no lights flashing for me, hope it goes away soon and it is likely another SE from our pal chemo.
Surgery.....well, drains came out and staples to follow in a few days. My right side had the cancer and the lymph node removals. The left is fine now, no issues but the right has developed a seroma. It is minor, not painful, but feels uncomfortable as it underneath my armpit is inflated like an innertube. Sometimes they drain it, but most times they let it try to resolve on its own. I have different areas that are numb on my chest and around armpit area.
It feels and looks weird to me not having breasts right now. My hair is still comin in but slow. Been reading about types of recon, but I am waiting a year at least. I think TEs would make me insane, so may do a flap instead. I also hate the idea of replacing implants in case of issues and aging. We will see......
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hi ladyb, I went to an ophthalmologist to check out vision changes experienced throughout treatment with Taxol including some dramatic new floaters. The ophthalmologist told me to call right away if I developed flashing light sensations. It's probably nothing but I encourage you to call your eye doc just to be on the safe side.
Cassiecat, good luck with your tests. Hoping for clear results for you!
Jenifer and Amy, big congratulations on finishing chemo! It is so good to be past the SE's.
Bippy, it's great to hear your progress. Hope the healing continues. I developed a seroma and it was pretty uncomfortable but is resolving. My doc drained it once but doesn't like to do it often for fear of the possibility of infection. Hope yours won't be too bothersome.
Today I will have #20 of 30 rads and am grateful that the weeks are going by pretty quickly with less side effects than chemo. It has been nice to see some of you on the Winter rads board and I wish you well there, too!
Hugs, sandy
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Had my dermatologist appointment this morning. He lanced the cuticle infected area, took a culture and prescribed a cream and a new oral antibiotic. Hoping this will work to heal it. Tomorrow is #9 of my last taxol chemo then DONE! Hallelulia, God is good. Love, Jean
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Woo hoo, Jean! Almost there!!!
Angie, I haven't had flashing lights either. Do call in and see what they say.
I have a cold sore starting.
I could feel it yesterday and started using an OTC lysine product, but it's worse this morning. I got a big one after my first round of chemo. It's a stress reaction, so maybe this is a delayed reaction? In any event, I bums me out. I know there are way worse things, but I don't need something else making me feel ugly. Oh well...Edited to add that I just re-read this, and it isn't a delayed anything. I'm stressed about all my tests this week...duh!
Off to my scan in about 45 minutes. I'm hungry! Can't wait to have a cup of coffee afterward.
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LadyB - please don't mess around with ur sight. Go see an Ophthamologist soon.
Started my rads, 7 of 33 done. Fours weeks now after last chemo. WBC was low last week, will retest end of this week. I had hot flashes for about 5 years, but none for about a year now, until recently. I really hope they are just visiting and don't stay around too long. I suffered with at least 20 a day at my worst. Otherwise, starting to walk and ride the bike again. Put on a few extra lbs that I hope I will shed now that exercising again. Some bristles on my head. Estimate to have fuzz by end of Jan. My vit D level was also low, do take ur vitamins.
Congrats to those just finishing up chemo and to those really close.
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today was a drag had to stop radiation for 1 week typing with left hand. my right is wrapped in ace wrap including fingers 3 xs a day for 2 hours. wearing stockings and super tight leggings over. got huge slippers have to go back to mo tomorrow he was concerned about the swelling in right arm n legs i told him it was a se of taxotere n i could write a college paper on it he still said back to mo. try different diuretics oh well my nephew is a vascular surgeon left message for him to see what he thinks i hate taking drugs for no reason.. good news i have lost 4 lbs so fluid is shedding it takes up to 3 months my ro was impressed i knew so much n he was not as familiar as i was i told him i have researched this competely
good luck everyone
bippy glad you are doing so well
amy i think you are done
catie57= get into sun for your d
jean hope your finger feels better
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cassie, my dentist rxd me the oral herpes med stuff, i get cold sores from stress and sun too. It is a huge pill but works great!
Eileen, damn. Sorry for the swelling.
Ladyb, hows the eyes?
Catie, i start rads next week!
Got thise friggin staples out today, much better. It was so uncomfortable! I feel semi human again. Thought i had a seroma, but surgeon says nope, normal and minor swelling, it is all good. Gettin an rx for my fake boobs, and i am waiting to do recon for a year i think, too much trauma to absorb any more soon. The very thought of anything else is overwhelming right now. I am a post griever, need time to process what has occurred and not rush. Have a few trips to take and work to schedule. I want to relax and savor life for awhile!
Hoping for wonderful NY eve for all! We are doing an early dinner out and havin a bonfire. I will be burning alot of my papers from chemo, etc., since fire purifies! Onward to new year, cancer free and feeling good.
Cassie, forgot to say NED to you, you got it!
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Eileen, so sorry about the swelling - it sounds so uncomfortable. I hope it resolves ASAP.
So I had a unique experience today. I was getting ready to take a shower and realized that my port felt weird and loose. I could feel the side edge of it, and then it felt flat against my skin. Yes friends, it turned upside down! Went to see the breast surgeon and she manually turned it around. Ouch. Apparently a couple of the stitches let go. She said it would probably flip again and that I could try to rotate it (hell no!) or she'd have to fix in in the OR. She said it is rare for this to happen. I should have bought a lottery ticket today and see if I could defy those odds, too.
Fingers crossed that it will hold up long enough for me to finish Herceptin in July.Hope everyone is feeling well today. Hugs to all.
Sandy
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sandy= hope you port stays in place. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate this crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!0 -
oh Sandy that sounds horrible and painful! Good luck!
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good lord kellogg! I would pass out. Hope it comes out soon, is it a drain? My port is implanted all under skin.
First day post to staple removal and I feel wonderful! Still getting used to being flat chested but you know what? It's okay cause I don't have cancer anymore. If people don't like it they can just suck it. Gettin my rx for foobs and will be stuffin for a year or more, I just can't take thought of any more surgery anytime soon.
My wonderful husband has been such a rock throughout this. I'm very happy he no longer has to watch over me like a mother hen. That's less stress for him and he keeps saying how happy he is that I'm going to make it and not to worry about boobs. What a man! I'm almost back to normal but I'm still very careful about what I lift, how much I do,and how far I reach. Goin shoppin soon and driving myself. Every shower, restful night, nap, meal, sunrise is a gift.
Have herceptin and perjeta on Friday and no SEs last time, so no worries. Now that I am nearly fully recovered, from chemo and surgery, I am spending a lot of my time running down financial aid for myself so that this experience does not ruin us. I'm insured but not enough. I found out too late but it doesn't cover any office visits. Yes that includes my oncologist. I'm determined to scrape up every dime that I can find. And once I'm through this and back to work, I'm going to contribute to every organization that helps me.
Amy how are you feeling now? I'm hoping you're feeling good so you can have a nice New Year's eve with your family. Lady b, any word on tose eyes? Eileen, hope the swelling is going down.
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