Chemo starting April 2018
Comments
-
Life, thank you not much hair but enuff to not wear hats anymore.
Happy Holidays..
0 -
hi everyone,
Robin please give a quick update on your son when you have a minute. As he gets better I hope you become less worried if there is such a thing.
Going back to what Frog said about concentration and struggling to find words. That's me! The words eventually come to me with just minimal delay for the most part. As far as memory I still honestly question whether I listened in the first place. I told my husband if there is something important make me repeat it. There has not been one time..so far..that I've forgotten. Otherwise, I'm probably not really listening!
Ingerp your hair looks great. Duffy, hope you are enjoying Florida. Engine, I agree with innaB. Look into the hyperbaric oxygen therapy with your insurance company. High dose vitamin C also promotes would healing. I've seen several threads on that so maybe it's worth searching. I hope janice is doing ok at work and that it's not too stressful. Maggie, hope you are doing well. I'm having my final fat grafting this Thursday. Urdrago, you are cute as a button! LIFE, hope all is well
I apologize for missing anyone. Hopefully everyone is feeling ok, getting through rads with minimal side effects. I would expect that is pretty draining. Have a good week!
0 -
hello everybody. I'm getting ready to do my very first colonoscopy on Tuesday. I just got done reading the instructions today. Holy moly what a process. I don't even know what I can eat today! The list says I can have chicken, pasta but nothing with color. No fruits and vegetables that has skin yeah I'm pretty confused on what I can eat today. Lol and tomorrow is going to be even more crazy because I can't eat anything. That'll be fun being at work when everybody else is munching away on candy and cookies and Christmas stuff and I'm going to be sitting there drinking my Gatorade clear Gatorade I don't even like clear Gatorade! LOL
I was thinking they should have done this while I was on chemo because I didn't have an appetite and I could care less if I ate. But now that I'm back to eating well this is going to be tough!
Okay I'm done with my rant.
Gawarrier I too have been wondering how your son is doing. Deb maybe I should have that conversation with my significant other as we ended up in a huge fight the other day on the way home from my doctor's appointment because he asked me a question and I felt I answered it. Then he asked me for morr questions which I thought were pretty much the same question. Then he went off on me and started yelling that he didn't feel he should have to ask me six questions to get an answer. Well I pretty much quit talking to him after that and we really haven't spoken since and that was 3 days ago. If It's one thing I don't need is somebody yelling at me because I don't give them the answer they want. Grrrr
Well I guess I better clean my house today especially my bathroom is it sounds like I will be spending quite a bit of time in there tomorrow night. LOL
Everybody have a wonderful day. I will check back in later.
Huggs to you all!
0 -
Oy. At least you only have to do a colonoscopy once every 10 years. It’s not too bad for some people but I pretty much hated it.
0 -
Interg OK every 10 years won't be bad but I'm still not looking forward to it!
Sounds like you've been there done that. My OC is been riding me for the last year about it because I'm 55 and never have had it done. He refuses to take it off the list until I do. They're also going to do a scope of my throat because I had such bad heartburn during chemo and when I drink coffee or eat chocolate. Ugg
0 -
LIFE, you are too funny. I have had enough colonoscopies to cover everyone on the April thread lol. Stick to things that digest easily today. Chicken noodle soup and crackers, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, applesauce, things like that. Tomorrow is Gatorade, Sprite, tea, broth. Not fun. Dont sit in the lunchroom with your coworkers lol.
Ok. 3 days is all you get to hold your grudge lol. That's what I tell a few friends at work. Think it through, calm down a bit , then try to explain it to him again. Ask him to cut you some slack. The kids take bets around here as to how long I stay mad at anything. Big family joke. Average is 15 minutes to an hour. I've always been that way for some reason.
The prep really is the worst of the whole thing. It's a great way to drop a few lbs before a beach trip lol. Bottoms up LIFE!!
0 -
Deb When I read Bottoms Up! I spewed what I was drink all over the place. That was halarious!!! Thanks for the advice on food and relationships.
0 -
DebAl, thanks I was sitting in a doctors office go figure..I'm really wanting my bangs to grow..then maybe I would be a bit happier about this short do. Also thanks for the laughs. Im grinning from cheek to cheek due to your shitty experience. Pun intended..
Life, im with you on the memory thang. Others need to approach us differently if they want us to remember!!
Gawarrior, thinking about you, and saying prayers for you/family and ur son..
Sending Good Vibes..
0 -
Hi all,
My son got the final chest tube out early this afternoon. They're watching him for a couple of hours, then he gets to head home! It's a toss up as to who is happier, me or him. There will be plenty of follow up doctor visits, but he's headed in the right direction.
Not sure if I mentioned this (yeah, I have no memory either, lol!) but the surgeon told us that only 1-2% of people survive an aortic aneurysm and dissection. We'll definitely be celebrating this Christmas!
Urdrago, your pic is adorable!
Life, maybe we can meet the next time I'm up here. Good luck tomorrow. I've had 4 colonoscopies, I think (family history of colon cancer). The prep is the worst. Lots of clear broth, Jello (not red or blue), clear liquids. The eating part isn't so bad. Take your Kindle into the bathroom, you'll be there awhile!
DebAL, good luck with your surgery on Thursday!
0 -
On a fun side note, I had the pleasure of meeting Linda2119 in person this morning! (I'm slowly working my way through the group, lol).
We chatted for an hour and a half and lost track of time. it was great to exchange stories, SEs (searching for words and foot neuropathy), and our fears and triumphs.
More jealousy on my part because her hair is a month farther out than mine and thick and adorable. We knew each other on sight based on our hair styles, lol.
Linda, thanks for taking time from your busy day to visit me at the hospital! Enjoy having your kiddos home for the holidays.
0 -
Great news,GAWarrior! Best of luck to your son! You and Linda look adorable
0 -
So great to hear that you son is doing better and will be home soon, GAWarrior. Great that you could meet up with Linda too.
0 -
It was so great to meet and chat in person with Robin. Made my day - so many of the same feelings and fears and triumphs! I floated the rest of the day.
I wasn't a frequent sharer to this group during treatment - it was much more difficult than I expected to share all those feelings, physical and emotional - but reading everyone's experiences meant the world to me when I was in the midst of treatment. I finished radiation on 11/30, so I'm finally feeling the relief of having made it through.
I have some good news - I enrolled in the Monarch E clinical trial, which is exploring the use of abemaciclib (Verzinio) for stage II and III ER+ cancers. I found out today that I was randomized into the arm that gets the study drug, so I'll be starting it on Thursday! Anything I can do to make sure this beast doesn't come back - I'm in!
Take care everyone,
Linda
0 -
GAWarrior--you made my night. Thanks so much for the update. You'll have to work your way to Central Virginia!! ;-)
0 -
morning all!
GAW, hoping Bryce got to go home. Sleep in his own bed and no hospital food. He is so fortunate to have you there. Update us when you can.
Linda, I know what you mean about floating on air. No awkwardness at all since we already "knew" each other. What a nice break for Robin to be able to visit with you. You both look great! Congrats on the trial on finishing rads and starting the trial. All in is right!!
LIFE, hopefully all went well for you. I'm sure you will enjoy your dinner tonight!
It's just so funny. You just never know when paths may cross. Heck, urdrago and I may watch an OSU/Michigan game together. You just never know!!
Hope everyone has a good day!
0 -
For LIFE--as my boss always says, "Hope everything came out okay." BWAAHAAHAAAAA!!!!
0 -
Robin, I hope Bryce is doing better by the day. Its such a blessing that you are now strong eough to take care of him. Do look after yourself as well. You and Linda look lovely. Let me know when you plan to visit NZ 😀.
Ingerp, that cracked me up. Life, I hope it went easy.
Urdrago, how goes the rads? Rest up this holiday season with your fur baby. Thats a beautiful dp. Wishing you minimal fatigue. You mentioned a rash in a previous post, how are you doing with that? My radiation nurse suggested to make a paste of baking soda and water to apply on any itchy areas and then wipe away. It takes away the itch. I do not know if its okay on broken skin though. Well, I never had any itching during radiation. Now on Xeloda I
itch like mad. Everytime I am out in the sun I have this intense prickling feeling under the skin. Thankfully it subsides after a minute or two under the shade.
So, my kid turned 7 this week and we had a beach party. The whole duration I stayed under a big shady tree, did not join in in any water or sand play. But, I was glad that I was there for the party and that I had the strength and energy to organize and pull it off. Grateful to have what I have.
I am nearing the end of the second cycle on Xeloda. So far I have had that itching thing, scaly dry patches on skin which go away on the off week, face looks quite tanned though I am very dilligent with the sun screen. My blood works are all normal, not taken much of a dip yet. I do have some serious corneal dryness. During chemo, vision in both the eyes were blurry and it took me some time to adjust between near and far. Now the left one has bounced back. The right eye not so much. And its also quite sensitive to bright lights. So I do not feel quite confident driving. Anyways, I got that looked into and am on some meds for that now.
I feel quite sorry for what our bodies had to endure in the past year.
Also, we did not get the house. But I had some major fun at the auction. This was my first auction.
Sending you all lots of cheer for the holidays
0 -
Ingerp, that was hysterical!
Life, how are you doing after the colonoscopy? It's not so bad once you're done with the prep.
DebAL, good luck with tomorrow's surgery.
Linda2119, good luck with your clinical trial tomorrow!
Frog, sorry you didn't get the house, but now you know the process for next time. I'm glad you could put your daughter's party together and enjoy it from the shade. It would have been a monumental task 6 months ago, right? I hope your itching subsides on your break between Xeloda rounds.
I'm curious, what type of eye doctor did you see for your eyes? An opthalmologist? Mine are driving me nuts. Like you, my vision was blurry towards the end of T, plus my eyes were/are very dry. I still have trouble switching focus from close up to far away and I can barely see out of my right eye since I've been here in Colorado's dry climate. I have an appointment with a retina specialist in Feb (detached retina in my right eye before all the cancer fun started). I'm thinking I should see someone well before that, though.
Bryce is home and doing well. He has a cough from the fluid in his chest and left lung, but the home health nurse was here today and says his lungs sound okay. We've been out getting supplies (like a blood pressure monitor!) and his endurance is good. He's frustrated about the restrictions. I think 6 weeks before driving and resuming a more normal life is seeming like a lifetime from now for him.
0 -
Frog--good to hear from you and my philosophy was always if you didn't get a particular house (or job, or. . . ) it wasn't meant to be and a better house for you is out there.
GAW--great news on your son. Best wishes for continued progress over the holidays!!
0 -
Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't checked in till now. The day of my colonoscopy one of the people I clean with was telling me her husband has to have throat surgery as they suspected throat cancer. So I have been picking up her extra shifts as well.
My colonoscopy went well. The doctor said everything looks good. My esophagus looks good as well. You ladies were right. The prep is the worst part of the whole deal. I actually completely forgot that I was allowed to drink chicken broth and Jell-O so I stuck to water and Gatorade. By the time I got to the office the next day I had a really bad headache. The nurse just hooked me up to an IV with fluids right away and I felt much better. The best part was afterward when I went home and slept and slept and slept. Now you all know how great of a sleeper I am at night, NOT! So I did enjoy sleeping all day!
Interg Thanks for sharing what your boss said. LOL
Gawarrier - Love your picture with Linda! You guys look adorable! Great news regarding your son! So happy for you guys. You can always tell your son are famous saying on this board, one day at a time. It's what we do.
Deb okay what surgery is Gawarrier talking about? Good gravy how did I miss that?
Frog that's pretty cool that you got to throw a party for your son on a beach! Super jealous! Where I live there is no such thing as a beach. I also experience that prickly feeling in my skin when I get overheated or start sweating. Hot flashes are miserable right now because my skin feels prickly. Skin doctor I went to told me it was dry skin and recommended a CeraVe. She explained to me not only is it a great moisturizer but it also heals and repairs the skin. Told me that i need to use it top to bottom after getting out of the shower. I don't know if your situation is the same, but if it is you might want to give that a shot. I just went to her so I've had no time to go to the store and get this lotion so I can't verify if it works.
Linda your hair looks super cute! I really like the style that you're wearing. I don't know if you had that styled or if it just happened to look that way but it looks really good! Well that's pretty awesome of you to go into trials and try different medications. I was asked if I would and to be honest with you I struggled with that. I admire you for that decision!!
Undrago how much more do you have to go on rads? Are you close to being done?
Speaking of RADS. Have any of you ladies that have gone through radiation and have had time now away from it been experiencing a burning sensation once in awhile in your nipple or a tingling sensation in your arm or your hand? It's not every day but every once in a while I get this burning sensation in my nipple and it freaks me out!
Well I think I'm going to head to bed I'm pooped.
Will check on again before the weekend starts!
0 -
I'm trying to play catch up with everyone's post. For me that means pulling out the laptop to type. Giggling... I've been doing all those Holiday things, Making cookies and letting the little ones decorate. Finishing the wrapping and putting together the Holiday brunch menu. Daily Check ins with my daughter waiting for grandbaby to arrive. Her due date is today but as I write so far no signs that we will be traveling to the hospital Might have a Christmas Eve/ day baby. Her next apt, at hospital 9am Christmas Eve. Camera is ready!!
I had a blood draw for the first time in months, and it's the opposite arm due to lymph node removal. They blew the vein, and I didn't know til I seen blood on my winter jacket. ugh!! My follow up appt. with MO is Dec 26th. getting ready for Xeloda treatment for 6 months. I've had mixed emotions about continuing the treatment plan as I want there to be an end in sight.. But statistics say I should continue so I shall with ups and downs. I just want to enjoy my days and the summer, with energy ...hoping it's easier this next year.
Life, I'm glad to hear that you managed through and results came in Great news. Hope you're having a relaxing weekend prior to the Holidays. I 'm doing pretty good, as I jinxed myself yesterday when I said, my skin is holding up. Later that evening I had a stinging sensation " angry skin" from rads. Now I have a gel with lidocaine that works wonders. I've got 6 more to go before I'm done. That's one normal and than 5 boost.
DelAl, I would love to be watching football with ya. Usually I do more traveling all season but as you're aware this year has been very chilled. Hoping to enjoy next year a lot more! How are you feeling after you're Surgery? Don't over do anything as it takes time to heal.
Frog, How are you doing on Xeloda? One thing that I can recall from talking to my MO was when on Xeloda don't wear heals. It causes pressure points in the feet and for some reason that I cannot recall (lol.) So the doc. said make sure I wear supportive shoes. Are you still house hunting ? The season there is Summer now, if so then here that would be prime selling season. Hope you find you're dream home.
Gawarrior, That is great news about you're son being home. Will you be staying there through the holidays? I read you're posting about eyes. I did go and get mine check they said, no changes. but the fuzzy vision on and off. The doc said it's just dry eye. just when I think it's gone it's back. Hope you find out something soon. So the hair color was getting lighter each day. I decided after I took the pic to darken my hair. and yep I have a red tint. I'm slowly adjusting to colored hair again.
Linda, so glad to see you're beautiful face. And jealous of the thick growth you have. It's really awesome to see the support outside of here. Maybe we all shall be so lucky to see each other as well.
Happy Holidays, wishing everyone well.
0 -
hello...Just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday season!. I hope everyone can spend it with those they love. Wishing everyone good health, strength, love, and much joy. Hugs, deb
0 -
Urdrago the Boost goes so fast! You are almost done! So exciting to have a grandbaby on the way. I bet you can hardly contain yourself. I just noticed my spell check changes the spelling of your name every time. Sorry about that. I'm kind of one of those lazy text people that talk to the phone instead of texting with my hands. I'm also one of those people that pre read after I've pushed send. LOL
Deb good to see you surfaced on the board after surgery. I still don't know what your surgery was for. I'm going to have to cruise back through all this and find out where I got lost at.
Everyone have a wonderful, peaceful Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!
0 -
urdrago I thought you were way too young to have grandkids! You don’t look like a grandma at all!!
I’m out west with some of my adult kids. Pretty watching the snow outside. Happy holidays!!
0 -
Ingerp, that’s what I thought too! Urdrago, congrats on the grand baby! She’s going to have one amazing grandma
0 -
Urdrago, hoping your last rads go by fast. I'm thinking you'll be done by New Year's? I'm glad you're doing the Xeloda, no sense messing with tnbc. Hoping it's easier on you, especially since you don't have to go to the MO to take it. Thanks for the info about dry eyes affecting your vision. It helps to know I probably don't have a cataract or something! Now, what's up with that grandbaby? Has he or she made a debut yet?
DebAl, hoping you're feeling good. I'm sending healing vibes!
Life, DebAL had fat grafting surgery.
Linda2119, how are you doing with the trial drug?
Bryce continues to recover well. He and I have been busy with Christmas shopping, restaurants, etc. I'm amazed that he's as active as he is. A nice side benefit of being here where I used to live is that I'm getting to see family and friends over the holidays that I normally wouldn't. I sure miss my poor DH who is home alone for Christmas, though. I'm planning to head home on Friday, although my overprotective mommy genes are already making me worry about leaving my son.
For those who have colored their hair, how long did you wait after chemo and did you use a DIY (box) color? I'm tossing the idea around because I'm going topless from here on out...
Happy holidays, y'all!
0 -
Happy Holidays.. no baby as of now she Charlie is enjoying the comforts of the womb. Scheduled inducing 26th. So now Im trying to reschedule my MO appt. At 2pm on 26th ..Lol no openings til jan 31st.grrrr
I colored my hair at 10 weeks seemed to oull red even with hair dresser so the chocolate color was more red purple. Than i colored a WB from Sallys last week and it pulled red but it looks a lott more like normal color. PFC 16 weeks
Gawarrior so happy that Bryce is healing very well and has strength.. prayers..
0 -
Thanks for the hair color info, Urdrago! Good luck with Baby Charlie's birth. I hope your daughter has an easy delivery. You know she's coming before the 26th just because you changed your MO appt, right? Lol. Merry Christmas!
0 -
Keep us posted urdrago! How exciting.
GAW, enjoy your last few days with Bryce. I'm sure you have very mixed emotions about leaving.
LIFE, last round of fat grafting. Sore and bruised but a bit easier than last time. I had a dent above non bc implant. Almost was going to let it go then decided what the heck, see it through. PS said the skin had adhered to the implant and causing the dent. He took a letter opener like tool to separate. The implant wasnt gliding under the skin like it should. Needless to say, I'm glad I went through with it in case it would have caused problems down the road.
I had a temporary color put on once beginning of November. Only lasted 3 weeks. I cancelled Dec appt. Hair is thick and out of control curls but it seems I have less gray. I'm still just going with it but probably need to finally get it cut in January sometime.
I hope everyone has a good short week. My wish is that 2019 will be good to all of us. Deb
0 -
Love catching up with all the happenings.
GAW- glad to hear Bryce is recovering well. Udrago grandbaby sounds like the perfect holiday gift for all.
Deb - did you feel like temporary color was a good option? Like GAW I'm considering DIY right now.
I hope everyone else had a great Christmas. We were lucky enough to have entire family together for 4 days, although son and his fiancée had to fly back north on Christmas Eve. Lots of fun together time just enjoying the sun and battling each other on CATAN.
Here's our family photo. Loving the house we rented.
0
