Starting chemo August 2014
Comments
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gatomal, you guys are so cute! I never had seen a cold cap before. Hope you are feeling okay. Yes, our radio shows from the 40's! It is alot of "now see here" and, " why I oughta". Philip Marlowe is a badass! And he drinks alot, so is always hammering down Moscow Mules, which from what I can surmise consists of limes and ginger beer. Sighs. Yes hubs and I, we are pathetic!
Rads week 2 is nearly done! So 10 out of 25....ovah. Today I gave donuts to the techs and one of my nice hats to one of my new pals, as she always comes in bald and said she likes my knit hats. Everyone was happy to see me. Nurses and techs LOVE sugar. Good ones deserve high, refined doses. I highly recommend those valentine inspired donuts from Dunkin, if you are so inclined....
I have decided to really not any intense job for awhile. But, I do have a temp job lined up soon. And more to follow in that vein. But also want to do home biz. Need to upgrade the pc, we still have xp running. We both live on our ipads and rarely use it now....Need lots of new stuff for my new ventures...all the new windows, word and wordperfect.
Have a great night ladies and remember tomorrow is Amy's birthday
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Moscow mules are vodka, ginger beers and lime, preferably served in a copper mug, that's how the do it in San Francisco anyhow. I think I need a drink. "why you no good rat!" Love those radio shows!
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Gatomal, you guys are cute.
Thanks for sharing that photo!0 -
Gatomal=You are the cutest couple. It looks like you are having fun !!!! Love it
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LOL! Even better with vodka then.....yes he was in san fran during that one. You bet we are comin someday and drankin it just like that! Gatomal, you seem too young to have such an appreciation of the golden age. I like it though! San fran, It is probably number 1 on my bucket list now.
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Bippy, if (when!) you make it to San Francisco then make sure you plan a drive down the coast to come see me too!
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Haha, here is one from halloween chemo, since we are sharing.me and DH, having fun
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awesome photo bippy! We could do it without them, but it's great to have them there! Yes come to SF! Everybody! But I'll be decamping to Reno after my hair appt in June, I should be done with everything by then. But Reno is cheaper and has great steaks! Some come there so we can meet up everyone
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you bet, and everyone come to Sarasota and see me too! We have the most glorious beaches, Siesta is consistently rated one of the most beautiful. White sands, beautiful. Loads of arts and culture, the best restaurants,and not far from theme parks too. I can give tours. But the price is a Moscow Mule
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JustAmy, Happy Birthday! Thinking of you during your surgery! My husband has his moments with his job too and started again yesterday about his dislikes and all the politics, etc. I was so not wanting to hear it as I was not feeling well and tired but I listened…Urgh.
Gatomal, so glad you were successful in getting your hubby to see someone. I am still working on mine. He thinks he is OK but I know he isn't as I can tell he is getting burned out but doesn't want to say anything. He has gotten the approval to work at home M and Tuesday and off Wednesday's which I hope gives him a little relief. Love the selfie! So cute. I have never seen a cold cap before and they do look interesting. LoL
Jean, would love to hear an update on your Dermo visit and how your cuticle is doing.
Cassie, glad your meeting went well and you can ease back into work and one that fits your schedule.
Bippy, love the pic. If SF is on your bucket list we will have to get together or Reno to have a Moscow Mule.
I received answer from RO. She is recommending 25 rads instead of 28, as she will increase the dosage so that 25 rads = 28 to get me to a shorter schedule. I also will not have boost since I didn't have surgery on my breast. She did mention she has a larger area to cover and I may have a sore throat as an SE. This thread and the Winter Rads thread helped me ask the right questions as always a great group to belong too.RO referred me to PT for Lymphodemia -- had appt yesterday and PT order sleeve as I have slight Lympodemia and they want to get ahead of the game. Glad they picked that up -- hopefully it doesn't get worse.
Still very fatigued but at least cold is almost gone! I am sleeping a lot, exercising to get more energy before starting RADs. Now, I want more Hair, Hair, Hair. It is coming in but oh so slowlly. No eyebrows or eyelashes. Hair in very front and around temples is gray and the back is black. I didn't have gray hair before chemo. Catie, I had to watch your video again to give me more paitence.
I want the SEs to be over, I want hair and I want RADs to be done, I have so many appts. I am an impatient woman sometimes. LoL. And this too shall pass
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LadyB=Good luck with rads. I have 12 more. So far so good.No problems. Minimal fatigue
Just amy+ happy B day. Hope all went well with surgery.
Everyone can always visit me in Vero Beach. Beautiful beach town.My BF is a great cook and he LOVES to entertain.
Feeling really good. Some times feel as good as I did before this whole mess started. Looking forward to this being behind me.
One of the things on my bucket list I am doing Feb 12. I have wanted to thank Henry Winkler for over 18 years for being a big influence on my son. I tried emailing him and just looking to see if he ever came to Baltimore. Nothing. Emails returned wrong email address. My son is learning disabled. So,is Henry W. When my son was little and found that out. He could not believe it. Here his idol at the time was like him in some way. I used to stay to him"you can be anything you want to be in life. Look at Henry W. He became The Fonz" it gave my son confidence. He loved it. So,he is coming to my small town for a book signing. I got my ticket and the book and I am writing him a letter to give him to let him know how he influenced my son.
Check that off my bucket list
Cancer =Check
Chemo=Check
Radiation=Check
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Saw the Sloan Kettering dermatologist yesterday. He put me on hopefully the right med and topicals for the cuticle and believes it will clear up by the time I see him nest week. Looks like the ALND surgery is a go for February 12. I would be so glad to get that done and move on to rads. Wish I was done so we could plan a trip to see some of you. Love, Jean
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Amy, Happy Birthday!!!
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Happy birthday dear Amy.
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Happy Birthday Amy!
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Amy - Happy Bday and hoping for speedy recovery from surgery.
4 more rads to go! Next Wednesday is last one.
Gatamol - That is a crazy looking cold cap hat, but if it saved your hair, then who the heck cares.
Zjrosenthal - Hope all is going well w cuticles.
LadyB - How are the taste buds? When do u start rads?
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Amy= Happy Birthday!!!
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Amy, Happy Birthday to you! And happy and swift healing from your surgery.
Jean, hope that medication does the trick.
Ladyb, this too shall pass is right but just not fast enough when you are in the thick of treatment. I look at my hair way too often. It is getting thicker but not getting much longer. I had dark brown hair but now it is almost black with grey mixed in. Eyelashes are almost halfway grown back. Eyebrows are growing back thick and wild! I can recommend Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara to help tame them if you have the same issue.
Eileen, I love the Henry Winkler connection. So awesome that you will get to give him that amazing message. A much better bucket list item to check off than the others. But it is great that we are all moving closer to checking off major parts of treatment!
Bippy and Gatomal - I love the couples pictures! Gatomal, how long was your husband able to keep smiling with that cold cap on?
Hugs to everyone, you're all in my thoughts and prayers.
Sandy
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Thank you everyone for the happy birthday wishes! So far I've spent it making meals to put in the freezer so did just has to thaw and put in the crock pot. Tonight is pizza and a movie. I know I'm a wild child, but that's how I celebrate!
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Sounds good to me, Amy! Enjoy.
My dh is stuck at work, and DD is at ballet. I'm alone way too much these days and feeling really bad. I'm a teensy bit nervous about going back to work, but just getting out of the house and around people has got to be better than this. If I had weeks and weeks of this still ahead of me I think I'd need to see someone to talk about antidepressants. I'm going downhill fast.
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Cassiecat, I have come to realize how easy it is to go into hermit mode throughout treatment. My mind is like a bad neighborhood - I should never go there alone. I can come up with some scary thoughts! I have been forcing myself to call friends and make plans to go out and do things or just have someone come over to have tea and socialize. I'm also back at work more and although it is exhausting, it gets me out of my head. I'm glad you are planning to start back at work part-time. I hope you have friends close by that you feel comfortable reaching out to. You are so special - I hate to think of you feeling so low for so long. Sending hugs and good thoughts that you'll feel better soon.
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I don't work as I am on disability for depression, Anxiety, ADHD and who knows what else...really I don't know cause over the past 18 years they have thrown so many DX at me then changed them. I taught HS English for one year before all that started. So...I stay home all the time. My dd is here with me till the fall. After she leaves, I'll have to find something to keep me human...I hate being alone!
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My mind is like a bad neighborhood - I should never go there alone. BEST quote, ever!
Cassie, I so relate to you. Alot of time you post my very feelings it seems! Got myself on low dose lexapro the minute I was dx. This experience is so isolating-people physically and emotionally recoil like I have leprosy. Some are strangers, some were friends. It is hard to take. Likewise, we recoil from life when we do not feel or look good. And then add in the fear of recurrence forever, the bodies we are left with after active tx.....the suffering we undergo in tx.....the financial and spirtual burdens...frankly, I do not understand not needing meds to heal our minds.
Also it has been a struggle to let go of who I was. I have limits now that are new and scary. Physical limits. Mental capability. Endurance, patience.....the list goes on. Being angry about having recieved this "gift" does nothing beneficial, but it is there too.
So I too am scared of returning to work in my new skin. But, I think sandy is so right in that it will get us out of our heads. Maybe it is a better chapter of more fulfilling work for us ahead. Maybe it was time to slow it down anyway.
Eileen, I hope Henry signs the book! What a great story.
Amy, good plan with the food preps. Hope you got some cake for your birthday! Thinking of you for Tuesday.
BTW I am not a football fan, but looking forward to the game for the chix wings it shall bring
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Cassiecat= . I hate to read you are so down. I went through a very bad depression years ago. I vowed I would never go there again. Has never happened again. Did therapy and medication for a short time. Therapy longer. So,feel better soon. We all love you here.0 -
well, cooking is my therapy so am making baked beans from scratch and roasted pork loin, smashed taters for tomorrow. Beans are halfway done, loin is marinating. Maybe biscuits too, for a white trash jubilee. Shopping early for a few items.
I am so tired today, pissed about it. Basically, I was good for a few hours then sat my dumb ass in a chair all day. The fatigue is overpowering. Learned rads kill good cells too, so our bodies are busy healing. DAMMIT more traumas. Am doing cool compresses, aloe, airing my chest, and all of it. Maybe I am just going to zanax my way thru, screw it. My can do attitude is GONE. My attitude sucks, my body is tortured, and my mind....aint good. I have zero appetite, weird. Yet all day I cook and plan meals.....radiation anorexia, who knew?! Well. i now have more clothes to sell on ebay as they are frakin fallin offa me. Size L Michael Kors dress anyone?
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Bippy, you have done so well with your attitude thru this difficult journey but we all hit a wall at some point. You are closer to the end than the beginning. Be gentle with yourself. This is HARD!!! Love, Jean
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Hi, haven't posted here for a while, I hope everyone is doing good and issues and side effects are resolving themselves. Take care!
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thank you Jean. I awoke with a better state of mind today. Had hit a wall yesterday. Really was just not prepared for the level of fatigue. Better now! I have to again surrender to this process and SEs, vs. resisting it. Hard lessons to learn.
Cassie, hope you too are better today. I am rethinking work till after rads...if the fatigue continues as it is supposed to, working will be very difficult. Is your family home today? Maybe some game stuff will take your mind off for awhile. I never watch football, but confess to rooting for the underdog tonight.
Well. Project pork and beans enters stage 2, wherein all the spices and flavorings are added to my nearly soft enough beans in the crock, to cook low all day. Exciting times
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I knew I could post here and be understood. Yesterday was better because I wasn't alone all day. I walked with a friend who has her own share of serious issues to deal with, and then DH and I had dinner together and hung out while DD and a friend went to a school dance. I fell asleep in the car while waiting for her, though. Tired, yes! Today we leave around 1:30 to take DD to anther audition. This is a program she likely won't get into, but she wants to go for the experience. SO no football for us, which is fine, as we don't watch anyway. Tomorrow is my first day back to work unofficially, to see how it all goes.
I loved the quote about a mind being a bad neighborhood - that is perfect!
I've had to stop reading the rads board for now, as I won't know if it's going to be easy or hard for me until I start, and it's creating too much anxiety thinking about the what-ifs.
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Cassiecat= Good luck with rads. I did not find them hard so far. However, I had a lumpectomy in June and no surgery since then. Glad you are feeling better. Good luck to your DD.
As for football tonight. My BELOVED RAVENS are not in the Super Bowl. I never did nor ever will like the Patriots. So go Seahawks. I am not a pretty football fan. I am one of those people all dressed in team colors and screaming at the games. Looking forward to going to games next year. My team needs me in the stands.
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