CRAZY TOWN WAITING ROOM - TESTS coming up? All Stages Welcome.
Comments
-
Ether....my grandson applied at Universit;y of Penn for college.....he is a Sr. and w;ill be going next year................he wants to do Nursing, and then move to Nurse anesthetist............
He has a high GPA....4.0, and is in the top 10% of his Sr. class, but his SAT score was only 1780........his ACT 26.........they do expect 2100 or better, so unless they reall like him we doubt he will make it.................he will work his butt off once in, but if he can't get in, then what good is it.............U of P puts a lot of creedence into SAT scores.....probably because the competition to get in that school is huge.............and also they only take 12% of applicants...
He has also applied to University of the Sciences in PHila......tough school, hard to get into also, but not as bad as Penn...............he is a golfer, so they are also recruiting him for that sport................if he goes there he will major in Pharmacy, and the school has 7 majors in Pharmacy to choose from..........he wasnt something in medicine......
He is amazing in the sciences...and loves it..........I guess time will tell.0 -
My grandaughter brought my little man to spend a few h;ours with me.......he brings joy; to my life.
0 -
Well the little guy looks happy, figure he likes hanging with you~
0 -
Notagain, I am sorry, I didn't realize it was the third go-round. In that case, I would say off with 'em, too. And before i was ever treated, I had told my BS that I would NOT be interested in recon, because I don't want my muscles messed with at all! Ever! So I am very willing to be flat. I really love(d) my breasts, and that's why i chose lumpy, plus the tumor itself was small- it just went crazy in the nodes! Don't love my breasts so much anymore, they really don't match, one is huger, and the rad-lump breast is higher and smaller. But I figure, if it does come back, it probably will be everywhere, thus no need to worry about cutting off the breast. And if it came back in just the breast, I would only do another lumpy. I would find someone who would do it, cause i am sure they would encourage mastectomy... since she has already been tortured and radiated. anyway, I hope I didn't offend you by being nosy, I was just curious, so am hoping I didn't hurt your feelings (((((not again)))).
Littleblueflowers, cracked me up! You signed 'Bacon'!!! I didn't see that before!! Hahaha! Thanks for the burbling laugh that escaped my lips... then, but now I have to crack into a bag of bacon jerky! Yes, I went back and got more..
katy, I am so sorry about your birds, I know that not everybody is a bird person, and also that birds are pretty picky about who they attach to, too. My father's mom had a bird store, and I spent much time there as a child. She was one of the women that the bird man of alcatraz corresponded with about bird diseases. She was a tiny woman, but tough, and kind of bird-like herself. I really miss her, and wish we would have been able to spend more time together. I really loved that gentle soul. How amazing to be surrounded by flying colors! She let me go into the walk in cages, to clean and feed and water them, starting at about age 5. But birds never seemed to like me as much as cats and dogs do, so you are a rare and gentle spirit, the birds can tell.
Ethergirl! So awesome and excellent! Dontcha forget about us here!
Oh, also katy, now I have to read amy temple now too!
Cubbie, yes, it's weird. it is a blood pressure medication, it's called clonidine HCL 0.1 mg, and I guess it is an off- label use for that drug. he said it dilates the blood vessels, and somehow that helps with pain. I have only taken it for three days now, and it is remarkable how much better I feel. I am still taking opiates, tho, and like katy, just feel like people disprove of that. Including many of my team, they have really made me feel as if I was an addict, and that would make me very tense and angry when dealing with especially my Onc's PA. I think part of it was just feeling like he told me he is the one doc that I can "complain" to all I want! I think psychologically it made me feel better right then. I do hope that doesn't turn around and bite me in the ass though, as some things similar have happened to me with my team there. Fingers crossed. So now, when they ask about how I am doing with pain, I just tell them that with Dr. Leightner, my pain is well-controlled. And that makes me very happy. We will be trying some other methods of pain control, too, so I can take less opiates, or none, and I am very willing for that, as long as there are not harmful weird side effects. And that they in turn are easy to stop. I have high hopes! Opiates to me are kind of a more pure drug, time tested and true. Many of the drugs they have nowadays for pain have a loooong list of weird side effects, like those commercials on TV? Scary.
All crazy beautiful gentle funny crazy amazing full of wonder crazies, I love you so much! It is the best part of my day, coming here..
Pop, thinking of you, and hoping you get some rest and feel better.
Okay, gonna try and practice making coloring pages I hope today, among other things, it's a really beautiful day outside!
0 -
Omgod, katy, that woman writer, Lionel shriver! She is my favorite author! That book "We need to talk about Kevin"? Wonder-awful! I don't even know where my copy is, I have given it to so many people! One woman I gave it to, couldn't sleep until she finished it, and it is a thick book! Plus she told me, she was torn between wanting to finish it, and throwing it away! Like reading peeking between your fingers! I think she is america's best living author. She is excellent, I love the way her brain works. After that, I read "so much for that" by her, and LOVE that book too! I really want her to write write write so I have many more hours of just breath taking admiration of what she can do.
0 -
before I got to CT, I used to post on the cancer board of weightwatchers, then I confessed there that I was taking an anti inflammatory for my dumb back, immediately one women told me I would become an addict. Hard for me to forget that someone I had communicated with for years would go off at me that way. I took the dang pill for 3 days on instructions of my PCD and then ended them. Your right, people get weird about opiates (not sure what I took was even an opiate but it did what it needed to do)
oh well, Tomboy, looking forward to being able to say I know the designer of coloring books! It is very relaxing and I know after coloring last night, slept great
0 -
I remember when you said that! Some people have all the nerve! In some cases, doctors really know best.
0 -
that is for sure, I trust my PCD as she has been by my side since way before the dumb c stuff
oh well, nothing to do about some folks
had a nice lunch at the coast at my favorite restaurant, watched the fishing boats which I love to do. Waitress knows me as I love going out there~~
0 -
0 -
sweet!
0 -
Nice, Katy!
0 -
Thanks ya'll! Tomboy, I definitely won't forget about you all! Ducky, your grandson will not regret his decision if he goes into nurse anesthesia. Granted I've been out of school for over 8 years now and there have been a lot of changes. I went to school in NC. If you want, feel free to PM me I'll be happy to give him any advice. Enjoy that squishy grandson, love the "rolls" so precious!
Hugs to all!
0 -
proudtospin, the woman on the WW board who told you that NSAIDs are addictive has NO idea what she's talking about! Some people are so stoic that they project that on to everyone else and conflate all kinds of painkillers--whether OTC acetaminophen, aspirin, NSAIDs like Aleve or Motrin, nerve-pain drugs like gabapentin or Lyrica, or other prescription non-narcotics--with the same drawbacks as opioids!
Was delighted to check the NYTimes Puzzles page yesterday to find the Second Sunday puzzle was a Diagramless--my favorite kind, the first one they've run in over 2 months. Unfortunately, it was SO easy I knocked it off in 20 min. including printing out the grid and filling in the black squares. I think I've tried every Diagramless puzzle currently online and in print. Hungry for more, but few constructors are writing them.
Last night I went to City Winery to see Tom Paxton (farewell tour) and Michael Miles (who played banjo on my debut CD) in concert. Paxton is 78 and still an amazing performer and writer, with a sly natural stage presence. It seems half the Chicago folk music community was there, and they were all asking me how I'm doing. (Sat across from a FB friend who runs a house concert series and by the end of the evening I booked one with him, for Feb. or March). Even ran into a few of my fans. Definitely cheered me up!
But back in CrazyTown, I'm dealing with a very thorny situation. One of my best friends is a brittle diabetic with advanced COPD (lifelong smoker). Her COPD has started giving her heart failure (the heart-lung syndrome called “cor pulmonale," which eventually claimed my Mom at 85)--but my pal is only 68. Because of this syndrome she developed edema severe enough to land her in the ICU, and is quite poorly oxygenated. As a result, she's not exactly thinking straight and is convinced her family is plotting against her (she is rather wealthy)--because they want to appoint a conservator for her, NOT for finances but rather because she is refusing heart and lung tests necessary to diagnose and treat her back to better health (and clearer thinking). I'm frustrated because I'm caught in the middle. In my heart, I know her family is right, but I also know that as long as she's conscious and oriented to her surroundings she has the right to have her medical decisions honored, however illogical and ill-advised they may be. At least I am not being called upon to act as attorney for either side, and I don't envy the lawyer(s) who end up in that position. But it breaks my heart to see her irrationally refusing to get better and her family being misconstrued as plotting against her.....not to mention in danger of losing her if she doesn’t get treated soon!
I need a drink, but I've used up my weekly wine allotment (hey, last night was at City WINERY, duh). Already had a slice of S'mores pie at Hoosier Mama, and am hoping my DH or DS beat me to that last half-slice of passionfruit meringue in the fridge. (But I know where the gelato is....). “Desserts" really IS “stressed" spelled backwards!
0 -
Jack/Katy,
Ok. Think I've got it all straight now. That must have been a wrenching experience with your parrots. I understand how tough it is to share that story and it speaks volumes as to how safe this place is that you ( and all the rest of us) can feel free to share all of that.
Both my mom and my sister were bi polar and so I've seen a lot of the ups and down and difficulties one has in dealing with that. Trying to get the right balance of meds, stress, you are indeed brave to have dealt with all that and still come out of it so strong. I'm so glad you have a safe new place in such a beautiful spot. I believe that's very important to feel one has control over at least ONE aspect of ones life., especially dealing with all this cancer shit. I had no idea there are Harry Potter books for adults! Thanks for the tip, I'm another cheeseball who likes HP.
I had two mxs both times. Even the first time in my 30s, I just didn't want to be messed with any more after chemo Having a second mx and no recon was a no brainier for me . All of that stuff is a very personal decision, and for me the decision that seemed best, was going flat.
I'm so glad I met you here, you bring so much good to CT and in closing I've not showed this picture of myself before.. I was in my 20's but I think you'll appreciate it.
0 -
Ducky,
Your little guy looks like seeing you is his happy place!
0 -
Forgot to mention that in addition to her cardiopulmonary problems and diabetes, my friend is also bipolar. Oy.
0 -
Chi, I hope for a miracle for your friend. It is hard to watch when a friend does that. Maybe if they put her on super oxygen, she will become more clear- headed about her family, and she can make a better choice. Does she have somebody that she really trusts, like maybe you, that she knows does love her, and is having her best outcome foremost in her life? That can help her understand? (((Chi)))
Ducky, thanks for sharing your little fellah! What a smile he has got! He must really get a kick out of you!!
0 -
Katy and Sula, that is one of the exact same one of what my grandma called a conger, african grey kept in her house! His name was hiley. But Sula, you were a stunning beauty! And still not so bad!
0 -
The little cockatiel looks like he's sitting on your head!
0 -
Thanks Ladies........he is my love.......
0 -
Sula- you are beautiful! Love that pic with the African Grey and a few others too! Somehow having a bird on your head seems very "you" to me, haha. I bet it was no picnic growing up with a bipolar mother and sister. I know firsthand how hard it is for the afflicted. But I respect and acknowledge how hard it is for those around them, and as a child, you had no choice. And you aren't a cheeseball! JK Rowling wrote a 3 book series for adults under a nom de plume Robert Galbraith. It's not Potteresque, but when it got leaked that she was the author, it of course hit the bestseller lists. She sued and won, and donated the proceeds of the lawsuit through her foundation to UK veterans.
Chi- so sorry you find yourself in such a tough situation. I wish your friend the best.. Hopefully they can get her to a place where she can make the right decisions for herself.
Ducky- so very glad you got your Bobby fix today. Hope the sun is shining a little brighter over there in your world.
Jack and I had two Furry Friends visits today, which afforded us the opportunity and luxury for a second beach walk. It was an even more beautiful day, and I saw not a single person on the beach.
Wishing all my Crazies a great weekend. Remember temporary housing is available in CT, even on weekends.
0 -
My gosh..a lot going on here in CT. I love seeing your pictures of fur babies and grandbabies and walks on the beach (what a great distraction). Katy, thanks for sharing your story. I hope it helps to get some of those words out of your head and onto paper. No wonder you are worn out and tired. I hope your situation now provides some time and space to recover not just from BC but these other events that are traumatic as well.
Testing, re-testing, results and more Dr. visits, it seems they never end! Gentle hugs from WA to you all getting ready for tests and/or results. And hoping for some peace for those struggling today, restful sleep and a calm weekend for those who need it.
Scheduled CT scan of liver and pelvis today for November 16th to rule out anything serious based on slight elevations in liver enzymes. Still 10 days away so will keep anxiety on a shelf for the time being. Trying to keep those recurrence fears from creeping in. Grateful to read your stories.
0 -
Katy, those birds really are beautiful, I am so sorry that you couldn't keep them, I would have cried for months.
Hi MEG!
0 -
Katy, those birds are beautiful. What a sad story. I'm glad to hear they all found good homes, but you must miss them so much. That must make you appreciate Jack all the more.
EtherGirl, that is good news about the mammogram and ultrasound. You might call your insurance company and ask about coverage for the MRI. They may be able to give you some guidelines under what circumstances they would cover an MRI, in case you decide to have one at some point. My insurance company has been very good about answering questions and explaining my coverage, and I've actually been a bit surprised at how good they were about covering tests.
Ducky, looks like a visit from that little guy is just what you need. Your grandson sounds like a he will do well where ever he goes. Somebody will recognize that and he'll excel in their school.
Tomboy, I've heard of clonidine as a blood pressure medication, but had no idea it could be used for pain. That's really interesting. Pain management is a whole science to itself. Those commercials on TV always remind me of Dave Barry's summary: "You need this drug/this drug may kill you."
Sandy, I've been through similar problems with a relative. It's a difficult line to tread, trying to balance their rights and their true needs. I suppose in a case like that the family pursues the conservatorship and hopes that once her condition is treated, she realizes their true motivations. If she doesn't realize why they did what they did, well, sometimes you have to do the right thing and let the chips fall where they may. Like I said, I've been there.
Mary, hopefully this is just your doctor being cautious and thorough, and everything will be fine. We'll be in your pocket on the 16th. And in the meantime, you can come to CT while you wait. I find that the closer it gets to a test or test results date, the more anxious I get until I'm a complete nut by the night before. Hopefully the rest of you are a little better.
Crazy Town summary for this week - so far I have worried about the following:
- pimples on scalp - they match the ones on my face caused by discontinuing Trinessa after diagnosis
- slight pain in my ankle while waiting in line at sandwich shop, which lasted literally two minutes
- fibromyalgia tender points on my hips I have had for 20 years
- occassional slight pain adjoining SNB site
- mild recurring cough I have had off and on for 10 years which my pulmonologist says is allergy related and is treating with some new allergy meds
- very slight intermittent muscle soreness of hip that I caused myself by overstretching
I think the ankle one amused me the most. I'm listing these here just so I can see how unreasonable it looks in print - all these are things I had for years before cancer or have obvious explanations. Well, the ankle thing was just one of those random short lived pains all people get. Cancer patient be crazy!
0 -
Cubbie, certainly you have had a serious week of pains!. I know I could do a list as well, not quite as interesting but bet we all have them. Best one was arm pain yesterday while swimming laps....cure was 5 minutes in the hot tub.
Sandy, my pal McGee is a 2 time BC survivor who just recovered from lung cancer surgery. And she still at 77 smokes~~I drove her to the apt with the lung guy who was firm that she had to stop smoking or he would not do the surgery. She managed to stop for that but only because she needs both hips fixed~~ for some reason, she can not understand why her daughter stopped speaking to her years ago and now her son after this third cancer diagnosis has also stopped speaking to her. I confess it is hard for me to talk to her as well, I just want to hit her in the head!
OK, seems to me that we should all get to share Ducky's adorable little squishy one!
Ducky, I can also say that my oldest nephew after drifting around for years, his dad refused to pay for cooking school as he did not believe it was a career.......well Bob went to nursing school and is now an ER nurse and a happy dad to 2 little guys. Seems ER nurses need to be strong and well, he was a wrestler in high school. Believe if you wake up in the ER and see Bob, his dimples will definitely put a smile on your face,
0 -
I keep getting these really weird pains and sometimes sharp cramps all around my rib cage. At first it was just my left front rib cage area but several times severe stabbing pain. Then the right back rib area. I thought maybe a I was having a heart attack once or twice! Crazy. It's probably ipaditis. I've been so depressed I've been spending a lot of time watching movies and the entire Madmen series lying on my side in bed. I am SUCH a whack job.
Thanks everyone for your support and understanding my story and my feelings. It really wasn't so long ago, and BC kind of took over before I had fully grieved or gotten a chance to start that new life I tried to start. Now that treatment is over (except for my new bosom buddy Tamoxifen) I will try to do that. I have realized this week that all of that plus losing both my parents and my younger brother are all things I need to deal with and be much kinder to myself, not ignore my sadness, but still not to wallow in it, or sit on the basement step. Walking always makes me feel better, but I'm in such poor physical shape and exercise often makes my body swell up (truncal LE- oy so many problems). NEVERTHELESS. I will endeavor to reframe the walking
From: Something I have to do
To: Something I "GET" to do.
If I don't use it I'm gonna lose it for sure. Though I wonder why this doesn't work for the brain. I overuse that and still come up with all of these creative dxs for my aches and pains!
Have a good day Crazies!
0 -
It is really tough to keep up with all the activity on this thread, especially when you duck out of Crazytown for a few days. Anyone have a tip for keeping up?
I got my Oncotype back and it's only 14, so no chemo, and I'm very happy about that. I'm now turning my obsession to a fear of radiation since it will be on my left side, where my heart is. After all the oopsies along the way, starting with a discordant biopsy, a slipped guidewire, two scoops of lumpectomy instead of one, and now I have lymphedema which was supposed to have a very small chance of happening, this notion that I'm going to be home free with radiation isn't quite comforting me. Especially since my sister came down with thyroid cancer a few months after her radiation. Anyone had left side radiation and is five years out without heart complications? I think that's what I fear the most.
Everyone I talk to says you have to do the radiation or the Mx and I just can't bear another surgery, this lymph node spelunking expedition gone wrong just took my courage out. And then the Tamoxifen, which led to my sister having a hysterectomy. Oy vey... 5 or 10 years of that. It's amazing, I am so lucky, I have a "sleepy little cancer" and yet all of this expensive, frightening treatment has to be done about it. My mom always refused treatment, diagnosed with cervical cancer at 30 and just walked away, lived to 78 before dying of completely untreated lung cancer, except for those last awful six days in the hospital, I regret putting her through that -- she smoked continually from the age of 8! Has anyone just walked away after their lumpectomy and resigned themselves to their fate? I'm 50 but I've done just about everything that can fit in a bucket list and then some.My heart goes out to Notagain, and everyone else whose troubles are so much worse than mine.
0 -
Eggroll- there is no trick to keeping up. There is NO WAY to keep up. Sometimes you just have to let it go, with all of our assurances that we will be just as crazy when you come back, haha.
I am SO GLAD about the low Onco score. Please try to relish and enjoy the relief of this good news before letting the next wave knock you over. I can't answer your question because I did the mx. A double scoop as you so entertainingly put it (I am seeing a glimmer of your sense of humor). Because of my aforementioned lung problem, I feared radiation. So I am no help except to say, we will be here for you. There are many people on these boards NED (any kind of D) many years after tx. But we all know that people with issues and problems (you know, Crazies like us) frequent the boards more than those who take their medicine, so to speak, with few ill effects, and move along.
Promise yourself one day without thinking about rads. I know, I'm a fine one to give advice, since I am certifiably INSANE. But I think that old saw "do as I say and not as I do" has some merit here.
And we will be here for you. Every day. As long as you need us.
0 -
eggroll, I had left side radiation, my family has tons of history of heart disease (My dad, my granddad and my brother all past of heart issues, course smoking was there for dad and my brother) but no heart issues for me. Believe me, my PCD is real careful with checking shit like that. Of course I do have asthma so that is an issue for me, that is due to all my allergies and also working for years in a printing firm and that really did a number on my breathing. I won a workmans comp case due to the effect on my breathing.
I do spend tons of time in the gym and work hard on getting my heart rate up. My cardiologist said the reason I do not have heart issues is my life style as in exercise and not smoking.
0 -
Morning, crazies....
I can't keep up with the thread either!
Eggroll, yay and a happy dance that you don't need chemo! You are in Crazy Town so of course rads will make you crazy to worry about, but if it helps at all, one of my buddies from the Lumpectomy board did left side rads and had no serious problems of that sort (it did wipe her out many days, but I think that is to be expected). There is a fall 2015 rads board and several of us crazies are on it, you should check it out if you aren't already there (and if you are, my apologies, my brain just can't keep up...). I am following the rads board, as I will be starting in early December, right after my break from chemo...
Cubbie; I am with you on the CT summary. My biggest right now is knee pain: my bad knee has been bothering since I came back from vacation: I think I might have overdone it. It is stiff and hurts when I walk. Unfortunately, that is keeping me from walking, and honestly, I think that is making it worse. I am hoping that the steroids I get with my chemo Monday might help temporarily (hey, the've got to be good for something, right?). Katy, I am glad you are walking. I will try a bit today, especially since it is one of the perfect, crisp fall days we sometimes get around here. Fall may well be my favorite season in the Great Central Valley.
Meg2: Will be thinking of you in mid-November, and of course this is the right place to wait. HUGS!
We had a candlelight vigil on campus yesterday. That was a good way to end the week.
My plans for the weekend, besides a tiny bit of walking: a whole lot of nothing. Resting, reading, maybe a bit of housecleaning (or maybe not: hubby is vacuuming right now and that is good enough for me!), maybe a bit of cooking. Just trying to get mentally ready for Monday and MY LAST CHEMO!!! Woohoo!!!!!
Hugs to all the crazies;
Octogirl
0
