Illinois ladies facing bc

 

Donna That's awesome regarding the bid. Of course I'll be so sorry to see you go.  We still haven't done lunch in the city!

Shingles is a virus (herpes simplex 2). It typically has outbreaks in older adults that have already had chicken pox (usually as kids). It's a rash with blisters that erupts on one side of the body usually torso (but not always) on a nerve path. It can be itchy and painful. If caught early with meds you can keep it from spreading and it heals faster. Anyone who has had chicken pox can get it as an adult. Usually people over 60 but also in people with compromised immune systems are susceptible. (You know like been on chemo!)

My family doctor happened to be on call last night so I got meds then. I will call and make an appointment to see him tomorrow or Tuesday. I'm sure I will have to cancel the colonoscopy and probably my PE appointments too. Shingles is contagious to people who have NOT had chicken pox only. I will call both places tomorrow and see if they want me to cancel.

I'm not in too much discomfort so far. I think with the meds is should start to get better tomorrow or Tuesday but like any virus/herpes it takes a while to go dormant again. I really don't know too much about it. I'm afraid of spreading it or making it worse. I don't know if it behaves like a cold sore would on your lip… cold sores are Herpes simplex I.

Lago - I had shingles the first time when my kids ere small maybe about 6- 8- & 10.  We were on vacation when I broke out and ended up in hospital ER in Ohio.  It spread all down my right arm & torso.  It took 2 to 3 weeks for the shingles to go away, but I had a reaction to the prednisone and it took about a month for the migranes to go away.  I have had 2 more small attacks over the years but just a 5 day pack of prednisone was enough to head it off each time.  It does not come back in the same spot you had it before.  2nd time was on the right hand.  Hope yours goes away quickly.

Annette 

I don't know if you guys know but there is a vaccine for shingles they now give people over 60. I know at some point I'm going to ask about it. I'm not sure if I can get it being so young but I'm going to ask. They do say chemo ages you 10 years so I'm right on target if that's true.

The CDC highly recommends this for people over 60.

Lago... so sorry you are dealing shingles.  Isn't it "always something"!  Anyway, I did a little reserach a few weeks ago on the vaccine and it appeared to me that it was not recommended for anyone having gone through chemo or radiation, but I am going to ask my ONC about it when I see him next month.

DonnaDio... that is great news if you get an offer on your house so soon.  We have homes in our neighborhood that have been for sale for 3-4 years. Hate to see you go  though.

We had a really nice Easter weekend.  Our DS and DIL from Charlotte surprised us and came a day early.  What a great time we had in spite of some bad weather late last week. We got in some long walks and long bike rides, trips to the health club.  On Saturday night, they treated us to an evening at the Old Town School of Folk Music in the Lincoln Square neigborhood in the city.  Great concert with "Crooked Still" and a "Mike and Ruthy".  They are both bluegrass bands.  Found a great little Mexican restaurant nearby for dinner prior to the concert.

And so... now the lymphedema in my right arm has flared up.  Just in time for our trip to Florida later this week.  Guess I will be wearing my sleeve and gauntlet 24/7 for a few days and hopefully get the arm back down.  I hate to go around in sleeveless dresses and shirts with unmatched pair of arms.  I am thinking that the big bike ride yesterday is probably the culprit.  I should have been wearing the sleeve then.  Darn it!

Other than that and the stiff joints (thanks,Femara), I don't feel 10 years older.  But I do feel 10 years wiser!  Everyone have a great week.

Adey, good for you.  I think that is great that you worked out like that.

Joan, we need the name of the restaurant as DH and I go to theater in LS.  There are so many cool restaurants there.

I do not feel ten years older.  I often feel ten years wiser and on occasion I feel ten years wearier as I now see so much I never payed any attention to before  BC.  To be honest, there are many times I  wonder if I really ever did have cancer as it  was all such a blur, so quick and so odd that I would.

 Rita, try to get together with family on Mother's Day. We had so much fun.  We had an Egg hunt and it was a riot watching them scramble for eggs.  Lila would see one and yell "EGG" and then would scramble (in the mud, I might add) to pick up her egg.  She was a pretty serious egg hunter yesterday.  My DD hosted and we had Bill's family too.  I was worried, but it turned out to be a happy day for all.

Off to walk in the indoor track.  Adey has me feeling guilty.

Susan

zap... the Mexican restauarant is called Los Nopales on Western Avenue. It is an easy 2 or 3 blocks from theater.  It is BYOB as there is a school next door.  We took our own bottle of wine and they charge a minimal corkage fee which is a much better deal than paying the usual restaurant mark-up on mediocre wines. I noticed others bringing in their own beers and margarita mix also which they graciously open and serve for you.  We all ordered something different and everything was excellent.

Lago....thanks for the info on the shingles.  Maybe I can get by and get skipped.  I really did well for the most part with my blood counts etc. during chemo.  In fact, I never had a cold or a sniffle through the whole thing and still haven't.  So, maybe my immune system is as strong as it seemed to have been before chemo.  I think in the last 14 yrs. I've only had one small cold....lasted about 3 days and poof....gone. 

We had a sort of rotten day here.  Rained all night and has rained off and on all day....though we did have a tiny bit of sun a couple of times through the day.  It surprised me.  Now its thundering and lighting again.  I think they said tomorrow would be dry....hope so.  I just am not liking this at all.....but the guy in charge just refuses to check with me. 

 Off and running.  I'll be checking in later.

Hugs, Jackie

Thanks Lago, I will ask.  Never hurts to get a few questions answered along the way.  Hmm, I think I spoke rather lightly.  As it stands here people in low-lying areas are asked to evacuate immediately if they have not already.  Talk about a deluge.....it's not a nice thing going on out there.  We had to drive very slow coming home in order not to hydroplane through several blocks.  The water cannot get to the lake fast enough that is for sure. 

 Kaskaskia will probably end up out of its banks and I know all the creeks around here will as well.  Just hoping that all is fine tomorrow out toward the Shelter.  I said I would work and I just hope to get there.  Will be taking Dh to work first.  Anyway....hope most of you get a pass on this one. 

Who stole the sun and where are they hiding it.  See you all in the morning. 

Hugs Jackie

All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.
 James Russel Lowell

Good morning all.

That stinks about LE Lago.

Hi Dawne!

Good morning Gals.  I see its busy here as usual.  I hope you are all doing well.  Lago I am so sorry to hear you have shingles.  My sister and mother both had it.  Very painful.

I have more questions??  I would like to know if any of you have HPOA?  I now have secondary.

I went to Doc for pain around the dorsi tram flap I had.  It still hurts.  He sent me for a bone scan It showed HPOA I was then sent for a PFT test and Pet scan.  The scan showed a couple spots my Lung doc wanted looked at and biopsied.  I saw the surgeon and he said there is nothing there.  Nothing to biopsy,  Then I went to the Rhumatologist who confirmed HPOA.. 

Buddy... I give up.  What is HPOA?

Wow, more rain.  Arrgh!  I so hope it does not follow us down to Florida later this week.  I am really looking forward to some sunshine.  When I was little, my mother always told me that the angels were washing the floors of heaven.  Pretty clean floors by now!

Think I am starting to get my lymphedema back down.  Been wearing the darn old sleeve and gauntlet, swimming, drinking lots of water and exercises.  Learned my lesson about doing those long walks.  Just have to keep my arms up.  Guess I will look a little funny walking down the trail!

Dawn-Hope..welcome to thread.  Hope you are getting your LE under control also.  I have always been really active too and I am still trying to figure out which activities aggravate LE and which ones may actually help.  You must be getting this rain deluge also.

Onward... I think you are done with rads??  Everyone try to enjoy the day, hopefully the sun will come out.... tomorrow, tomorrow, its only a day away.  You know, the "Annie" song.  I always get that stuck in my head on rainy days.