CRAZY TOWN WAITING ROOM - TESTS coming up? All Stages Welcome.
Comments
-
Poppy- this time YOU buried the lead! Kudos to your son, you, and your whole family, for it was a family issue you were dealing with. I'm so happy you've had so much forward progress and genuine healing. I am truly sorry you had to mother yourself. Sounds like you did- and continue to do - a terrific job.
Everybody stay dry! It's perfect here, cooling off, but not too much, and clear. Leaves are falling. Slowly.
And Slow- the kitchen is done!
Here you go:
0 -
Eggroll, I would definitely get another opinion. Just reading what you wrote, it felt confusing and hard to process; you deserve a clearer narrative of what is going on!
Poppy, good news about your son. How difficult that must have been. So hard when a child is suffering and there are limited things one can do.
Katy, your activism is inspiring.
Gaia, enjoy your last night in MV. Re raw milk, sometimes I see it in the Greenmarket. And did you say at some point, m*a*n*y pages back, that you're in a CSA? Every once in a while, I hear from someone in our CSA that they have a raw milk collective. Maybe start asking questions?
Exhausted but happy. Mommyof2, I agree. It's a foul night out there!
0 -
Hi all, Read this thread everyday, but just don't post often. However, first, I threw out all my old make up and lotions and started using good old coconut oil and Juice Beauty products. Katy, you were told that your local LGFG program might include a component of researching safe products, however, they wanted to keep the corporate sponsors. Hmmmm, how good it would be id a company like Juice Beauty arranged some deal with the American Cancer Society to become a sponsor for all LGFG programs. I am just passing on my thoughts as I really don't know how all this works. I might contact Juice Beauty and see what they say. JB products are a little pricy, but I love them, all but foundation. Some are at Ulta, but all online.
Second thing, my mom passed away last January, right before my dx. She taught me a lot about end of life documents. Not a pleasant subject, but importsnt. AD is important, but another really important document is a Revokable Living Trust. No probate with this. It is like a will but does more. Look it up. Everything you own goes in the trust. You say who gets what in the trust. You can designate a POA in the trust, everything anyone would need. Best thing is at death, everything automatically goes to who you designate. AND NO attorney has to be involved. No probate. It proved to work for my sister and I after mom's passing.
I enjoy reading about all of you. My life is pretty boring right now. Recovering from exchange surgery last Friday. My sister is here from Oregon. She is packing up my house while I watch. I am renting and have to move in 6 months as the owners want to sell and I do not want to buy this place. I don't even know if I want to stay in the area. I will be a true resident of Crazy Town as the months progress as I hsve no idea where I will be moving!
0 -
Lynn- that is an excellent suggestion, and believe it or not, the hospital actually suggested that perhaps companies like that might like to "step in" and save the day.
It would be fantastic if you contacted them. It might be helpful to read the press release at "Poison Is Not Pretty" on the Bcaction site. You can google poison etc and in the left of that page click on news feed and you'll get the press release
Thank you for caring about this too it was the most hurtful thing that occurred during my entire TX. And keep me posted! Great to "see" you
0 -
Slow - thanks for the beautiful flowers and well wishes! I'm doing ok - the lumpectomy has barely bothered me. She did find some very small spots still in the nodes, so I did have a full ALND. Pain and stiffness in underarm and drain site. I'm catching up slowly but surely.
Barb
0 -
Barb- I'm so glad you checked in and are doing ok. I hope you have a restful, healing and restorative weekend. Sending hugs and mojo.
0 -
Katy, I will do that!
0 -
Penny, happy you are feeling OK, as well as you can! Rest, rest, rest, and do not use your arm!
0 -
Hi all. I am still here and crazier than ever because I put in a very long day at work even though I am crashing a bit on my first day without steroids post Round Two. Will catch up later but just wanted to pop in to say hi and xoxox to all!
Octogirl
0 -
eggroll call the pathologist and speak to him/her directly. That's what I did. Remember, they are doctors too. He clarified things for me and explained what every word in my report meant. And was super nice
0 -
Hello all! Diagnosed in 11/11,double with TRAM 1/12, lost TRAMS over several months, chemo, radiation, expanders, silicone implants, lost right implant to cellulitis, eventually lat flap with implant to right breast. Many many surgeries to do all of this, more than 15. Now had a breast MRI and radiologist sees suspicious "lit up" area on left (non-cancer) breast. May be fat necrosis, may be something else. Now going back for a mammogram (I thought I was done with those forever!) and ultrasound by the radiologist himself. Scared all over again. Anyone have the same thing happen?
0 -
hey there crazies.....
It's late and I'm getting ready to call it a day, but just went over a bunch of pages to try and catch up with all of you...
Penny's,
glad you are healing well
Gaia,
Safe travels back to the big apple.
Slow,
That's such good news on the family front. I've had nephews dealing with that also, plus my younger sister and mom were both bi polar and there were a lot of depression issues around the house when I was growing up.
Egg,
I agree don't be afraid to switch out anyone on your medical team if you get a bad vibe or feel uncomfortable about anyone. This is your show, your time, your life, and you have the right to have any questions respected, and answers given to your satisfaction.
Jack,
The kitchen looks great, that's a lovely backsplash!
Rain,
Glad everything is good with you. Congrats on the clean report, and yay to no more drains!!!!
Shorfi,
Congrats on your anniversary hope you have a wonderful celebration
I know I'm missing a bunch here... I'm cooking a dinner tomorrow night for the people I'm doing the restaurant consulting for. I like the mom idea... And one confession here and I hope no one thinks I'm nuts and there's al out no one I can say this to except my husband but I'm really glad that both those breasts are gone. I never had one regret about losing either of them and never wanted reconstruction. Being one breasted for 25 yrs was not something I enjoyed. I'm small anyway .. That is I was always small and it really bugged me to be even slightly uneven., I know that how I feel is not the way many people fee about mxs, but hey this is crazy town right??? So I can say crazy stuff?
Anyway, going to make that Dhoklas batter before bed as it has to ferment for several hours. I also made vegan chai "ice cream" as a dessert ... This whole dinner will be gluten free.
Ok crazies... I don't even know if I'm making any sense. G'night.
0 -
ColoradoGal, I just wanted to say I can't believe how much you have been through! I was diagnosed a month after you and thought I had had a few surgeries with 7 in three years but that is nothing compared to what you have put up with. It is horrible that you are having to worry about more tests and the results. My thoughts are with you, let us know how you get on
0 -
Morning hugs to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
0 -
Good Morning Crazies
Just a quick hello! We are packing up and fingers crossed the ferry is safely running- not that we want to leave, but duty and herceptin call. Soon I'll be on every 3 weeks and I am already planning another 'research trip to the beach. NE beaches in the winter are my favorite.
Katy the kitchen looks great and I envision many inspired meals being prepared!
Sunshine thank you for that 'advanced' piece of information, regarding the trust. Although I have no plans on 'going anywhere yet' I would like to have these things in place....
Poppy, I am so glad that the treatment your son has been receiving has helped him and that he is on a great adventure trip right now.
Sula I totally get what you are saying re the breasts-in fact I inquired if the BS would do both when I had my surgery, as I have no intention for reconstruction. Being 'lopsided this summer didn't matter much- really only the few times I put on a 2 piece bathing suit was much apparent. Partly it's because of how I dress in the summer , but also because I am not big busted. Winter will likely be a different story, but oh well for now.
Rain I used to get R milk at the US greenmarket, but the actually stopped bringing it. I'll check McCarren. I am in a CSA, but for now I LOVE the one we are part of and the convenience of where we pick it up- so I'm not going to change that for now. Will do some research when I'm back. Which CSA do you participate in?
Colorado I am so sorry for all those surgeries and now a questionable test result. CT is the place to be for support.
Pennsygal glad surgery is done and hope you are managing the discomfort from the ALND. How many nodes did she take?
Saying a hello to Octo and Slow and Tomboy and all you crazies! Stay warm and dry if you are on the east coast!
More later!
0 -
Welcome Colorado and Suzy- wow- your stories have humbled me. So many surgeries. I think that would get you an express ticket to a long term stay in Crazytown! You are both in the right place.
Colorado- I cannot begin to imagine your anguish over a new suspiscous item. And weekends are the worst because you can't DO anything. Pull up a chair and hang with us. We will get you through this.
Christine- welcome home!!!
Thank you mommy for the nice morning hug.
And bidding all my Crazies have the best of Saturdays, and those of you cooped up inside, here's something that may cheer up the house, from Kevin, from A Garden For The House (a great website btw)
Autumn Spice Cookies
Ingredients for about 3 dozen cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Spices: 1 Tablespoon allspice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper.
12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room-temperature
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
Extra-fine (sometimes called "super-fine") granulated sugar
Whisk together all of the dry ingredients except the sugar. In the bowl of a standing mixer (or an electric hand-held one), cream the butter and sugar together. With the mixer running, beat in the molasses and then the egg. Then, with the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients, and mix well.Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the fridge for at least one hour.
Scoop up a small amount of dough, then roll it in the palm of your hands to form a 1/2-inch diameter ball. As you work, drop each ball in a plastic bag or paper sack which contains one 1/4 cup super-fine sugar. Shake the bag for a second or two. Set the sugar-coated balls on an ungreased, non-stick cookie sheet. Or, set them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or Silpat.
Bake in the pre-heated, 350-degree F oven for 12-15 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack for further cooling.
When perfectly cool, the cookies will keep for about one week in an air-tight container. Or, freeze the cookies for up to one month.0 -
Ok, I woke up at 4 am and can't go back to sleep. So I will start with our weekend mother remembering/sharing. Below are a couple pictures of my mom. My mother was very athletic all of her life, and played tennis up until the last six months of her life, even though she was on dialysis. To me, she was an unstoppable life force, and it was very shocking when she was stopped.
One of her dreams was to go to Paris. She had never been, and one day she said she would never be able to go now. I asked why she thought that if it was that important to her? With her dialysis, (M-W-F) she said, she only ever had the weekend off, and you couldn't go to Paris for the weekend. The hell you can't, I said, and we arranged for her to have her dialysis one day early and we took the red eye and went. My mother (her name was Alyce) walked for 2 1/2 days all over Paris, through the steps of the Metro, up the steps of Montmartre, and ate and drank her way through several memorable meals. She cut a veritable emotional swath through Paris. I will never forget the many details of that special weekend, in the last year of her life.
Here we are, boarding a boat for a tour of Paris from the River Seine:
And below, a few other favorites. She was a beautiful, smart, funny woman. I miss her so.
Above, La Paz, Mexico
Below, racing with my Dad
Thanks for letting me share this. I have goosebumps from head to toe right now.
0 -
Katy,easy to see where you get your looks! The smile is exactly the same!
0 -
Slow, doesn't her mom look more than a little like firekraker? (a woman who used to be on BCO). I better go find some photos.
0 -
amazing story/share Katy. Thank you. Very inspiring.
0 -
Sula:f being bothered by being one-breasted is a straight ticket to CrazyTown....then I'd have been there with you! I got out of it for now--I missed a unilateral mastectomy this time around--but was steeling myself for having The Chat with BS about a bilateral mastectomy, should he need to take what remains of my affected breast.
I am not flat. I'm a DD cup. There is no bleep way I could have concealed the missing boob through clothing alone. Ruffles, Scarves. Paisleys. Nope. Nope. Nope.
0 -
Good Afternoon Crazies,
Poppy, you can post a picture of anyone in your family. We don't have to limit it to moms. Maybe your beautiful boys or your husband. Lets open it up so it's not so restrictive!! Maybe even a favorite pet. I think it's just fun to look at pictures!!!
Katy, LOVE the new kitchen. It looks great!!! Nice stash you've got there in the open cabinet!! haha
Tomboy, I do see a slight resemblance.
I will play catch up with everyone else later when I have a bit more time to sit down and read from where I posted last.
0 -
My Mom and Dad. Not a great picture of my dad. What's up with his hair??? Is that how guys wore their hair back then???
I told this story on another thread last year. I really wanted to share it here too.
My mother really was the life of the party. She was such a character - typical Italian mother. When we lived in Rockaway, she worked on the next street over. There was a big empty lot right across from our house. We had a terrace on our second floor, so I could always see her walking through the lot on her way home, so I had a good 7 minutes to get out of trouble before she came home. One winter she was crossing the lot and it was icy - she was carrying a pizza. Down she went - really hard. All of a sudden I could hear her laughing hysterically and there she was flat on the ground with her arm extended - the pizza above her head. Typical Italian - saved the food! haha. She could see me watching her which made her laugh even more. I did go out and help her once we stopped laughing. I will never get that picture of her out of my head. This is one of the many funny memories I have of that crazy Italian woman. Never a dull moment when she was around.
This is her in her later years - being goofy. She only lived a few short years after this picture was taken. She was already slurring her speech by this time. She passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease. A truly awful disease.
0 -
Katy, Love the pictures of your mom!! Thanks so much for sharing them with us. I'm so glad you were able to take that trip together. Such a great memory!! You're both beautiful!!!
Edited to say: BBL
0 -
Beppy- made me laugh too! I love a woman who can laugh at herself. I'm sorry her later years were so painful for all.
Thank you for sharing the story.
0 -
Hi again!!
I would like to welcome our newbie!!
Coloradogal, Welcome to our thread!
So glad you found us and thrilled that you've joined us!! Pull up a chair and get your crazy on. Here is your Crazy Town welcome kit. It includes a flashlight, a magnifying glass, a mirror and the newly added coconut oil!! Good grief, you've had a lot of surgeries.That is just way too much for one person to endure. I had something sort of similar, but in the same cancer side. Got through chemo and lx and found two more lumps. One they did a core biopsy and the other an US. They turned out to be nothing. But boy was I irritated to find more lumps right before starting rads. I spent a lot of time in Crazy Town when that was going down!! I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that it's just fat necrosis they are seeing on that MRI!! Gentle hugs to you!!!!!! Please keep us updated when you can.
Katy, No pain or heroics sounds great to me too. Thanks for the article. Makes for some interesting reading. I went for as minimal a treatment as possible while still dealing with the TN tumor. If it wasn't for that tumor, I wouldn't have done chemo. I know some on my treatment team wanted to be more aggressive, but once they factored in my past history, I think they were finally on board with my choices. When all is said and done, I'm the one that has to live in my body. Thanks for the recipe!! I know my DH will want to try it.
Gaia, Yes, I do remember Ducky's story. She tells some great stories!! They almost always give me a belly laugh!! I bet you can't wait for the every three week regimen. Safe travels to you. I'm glad you had this memorable weekend with your guy!! Thanks for sharing it with us!! And once again, congratulations on your engagement!!
Eggroll, If your team can't explain your pathology report in a way that makes sense to you, I would most definitely get a second opinion. Sounds like you're getting conflicting information. I'm horrible at reading pathology reports, but I do know a surgeon can't say for sure whether they got clean margins without a path report. Otherwise, why would we even need a report? My surgeon was very upfront and said after surgery, if the report showed unclean margins, she would have to go back in. I hope you're able to hang out in the cozy spot made by Katy. I'm sorry you're having to go through this over a weekend. It's so difficult to wait for answers. Gentle hugs to you!!
Rose, Sounds like your mom taught some great lessons. I kept the phone machine tape of my moms voice mails. I haven't listened to them since she passed away in '93. I do watch our home videos once in awhile. My dad used to say, "Do as I say, not as I do." haha... I always told him to practice what he preached. I try not to give my kids advice now that they are grown. Even when they ask, I'm reluctant to give my opinion. Cousin IT didn't scare me as much as Lurch!!!
Poppy, I will definitely give you a call if I end up seeing the cardio doctor up your way. It would be great to see you again!! That is wonderful news about your son!! I know how difficult this has all been on you. You're an amazing mother and your boys are so fortunate to have YOU for their mom. I'm sorry to hear how difficult it was for you growing up. It sounds like you've really had some tough times. Must be such a difficult decision on whether to let her back in your life. Gentle hugs to you!!! I agree about the mom figures on BCO. I've found a WONDERFUL adoptive mom right here on BCO. I had a bit of a rough time when I first came here. She took me under her DUCK wing and was so kind and loving to me. It's something I will never forget and I can't imagine my life without her in it!!
M0mmy, You are the little sister of our group!!! If I'm not mistaken, I think you are the youngest of us all. We are so fortunate to have you here with us!!
PTS, I hope your nephew gets better over time. Divorce is really though on kids. I know it was for my children. But love and a stable home can make all the difference in their healing.
Sunshine, I'm going to check out those Juice beauty products!! I didn't realize there were so many uses for coconut oil. I'm thinking I should stock up on some!! I'm also going to check into the revocable living trust. I hope you're enjoying your time with your sister. UGH!! Moving is the pits. I hope you're able to find a comfortable new place soon.
Pennsygal, So glad to hear the lx isn't bothering you. Sorry to hear about the small spots, but very glad they were able to remove them!! Wishing you quick, painless healing!! Thanks so much for updating us on your progress!!!
Octo, You hang in there!! That is when I would crash too - when the steroids wore off and the Nu-nasty shot would start to take affect!! I just kept thinking.....one step closer. Love when you pop in to say hi!!
Sula, I'm betting you're cooking away right about now!! If I close my eyes I can almost take in the aroma!!
Ok Crazies...I think that catches me up. To all those I didn't mention directly, love you all!! Hope you're all having a peaceful, pain free weekend!!
Waving to all the quiet crazies too!!
Leave it to me to pick a waving hamburger!! haha
0 -
I will Suzy and thanks for your thoughts!
0 -
Thank you so much! I really appreciated your welcome and support. It will help get me through.
I have to admit, it sometimes feels like the end never comes! I'm 4 years out from diagnosis and up comes this "issue". Bleh!
I guess the nice thing is that the radiologist is insisting on doing the ultrasound after the mammogram, so I will know before I leave the facility, exactly what is going on. Well, maybe not if he/she orders a biopsy.
Thank all of you again!
0 -
Welcome Colorado!!! We will not give you an award for most surgeries. Tho you are probably on first name basis with the anesthesiologists and recovery team. Have been praying for you through the weekend.
It has been a football, reading, shopping and eating sort of day(s) . Cool and rainy.
Thanks for the morning hugs back at you with the night time tuck in.
0 -
Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement. I was really hoping would say that I must be mistaken, only doctors can read those reports and no way could something like that slip through the cracks. But I did take your advice and this morning I walked for an hour and a half, along the way stumbled across a horse show, which was entrancing, giant 17-hand creatures with adorable children perched on their saddles trotting, leaping, swishing their beautifully braided tails. And then a little hidden lake with a beautiful tall white bird stalking little fishes. Then off to an Oktoberfest put on by the Rotary where I had a little treat of kettle corn and ended at an Irish Pub where I enjoyed a bowl of cabbage and mint tea with some bites of everyone else's dinner. One of my first real day's off in a weeks and weeks, my blood pressure was the best it has ever been. The local hospital had a booth at the festival and had a nurse taking blood pressure as an outreach. Looks like I'm going to survive the weekend. Thank you guys again for chiming in. This group has helped me so much, I appreciate you guys.
0
