Illinois ladies facing bc
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Corinne, there is a Connie and she was the poster and Wendy and Jackie were responding to her post. Anyway, it does get confusing at times.
Connie, good to hear from you and so glad you are having fun. As I explained to BJ, DH and I bagged the plans to search for a lake home. The economy is our worry and it would just not be a wise thing for us to take on extra, so we do our small rental trips and that is fine for now. I do love water!
Corinne, welcome and hope to hear from you soon.
Lago, I just got a groupon for an Indian place in Buffalo Grove. I wonder how authentic????? Do you ladies use groupons? We even had them when I did my New Mexico trip.
Irene and Marina: Please read The Samurai's Garden. Great book. I am getting the The Paris Wife even though I now have a stack of books a mile high. A kindle would be deadly for me as I would be reading multiple books at one time.
MakMak, I am still rejoicing. Now that it is all clear, I have to admit I was worried although I did think it was stress and weather-related.
Rita, how perfectly delightful! This time with you will forever remain a wonderful memory for the two of you. You should get him a kiddie version of Tom Sawyer so he could pretend he is on the Mississippi..... and a straw hat. Oh, I am so corny. I dressed up my oldest grandchild as tinker bell. I would post a picture but my SIL is so wary of the internet. I gave her real "live" pixie dust (glitter) and I am sure her neighbors thought we were nuts...well maybe they just thought the older girl was nuts.
Laura, hope all is well and you got yourself a good pair of goggles.
And then...amidst all the happiness...we have our common feeling of sadness that WendyTY has so much to face. You are so right, Jackie, this girl has spirit like no other. I have great admiration for her and her wonderful family. With our combined prayers, thoughts, etc. she will will rally and heal. I know so many of us are on board for that! Love you WendyTY!
Wendy, have fun on that trip.
Susan
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Susan too funny. I was going to PM you about that groupon. Let me know how it is. I did the groupon for Las Tablas they had the day before. This is the 2nd time Las Tablas offered a groupon. (Colombian food).
I have used a lot of restaurant groupons.
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Hi Corinne! It's me, Connie! lol - it does look confusing in print!
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Hi Corrine and welcome!!
Thanks again to all for the good wishes. I'm still pretty happy.. put a cruise vacation on hold.. and I think I found flights.. So I'm hoping to get my DH's Ok by tomorrow..
I need this to look forward to though now my DD is asking for me to go to Boston with her to look at Brandeis in October.. Just one little hurdle in three weeks.. I need a clean scan... always something with this darn disease!!Susan, the Samurai's Garden is in my "wish list" on Amazon.. it's not on Kindle yet.. the book I got yesterday is by the same author, and I started today and love the way it reads already!! I didn't realize I'd be so happy to be reading real books instead of Cancer books again!! Been 1.5 years!!!
By the way that Indian place in BG is the only Indian food I've ever had as I don't do spicy or curry.. I liked it.. and it's very well rated.. however, I have no clue how authentic other than an Indian co-worker took me there 5 years or so ago and he used to go there all the time..
Thoroughly enjoying the cooler day today.. though my DD is on a boat in Lake Geneva with all her girlfriends.. hopefully it's enjoyable..
Joan, hope you're enjoying your trip to Willis tower today!!
Lago- glad you're recovering well!!
Adey - I'm jealous of all your trips!! Good for YOU!!!
Hi to everyone else!! Again THANK YOU THANK YOU for being here!! Don't know what I'd do without you all!!
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Hey Susan, we grandmas do crazy things! Love the tinker bell idea!
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Hi IL ladies....
Ugh, have I felt horrible the last couple days... Been so tired and sore from overdoing it I think? I honestly didn't think my BMX recovery was gonna kick my butt like this. I have always said a C-section was the worst pain ever....I was WRONG!!! And to top it off I had what I think was a horrible sinus headache for 4 days....which of course made me crazy paranoid that I had cancer in my brain now....that fear is never going to go away now is it??
Anyways...I did see that MakMak got great news....and I'm still praying for WendyTY....
Hi to Corinne!!! That's my best friend's name....spelled exactly the same, growing up people always called her Connie or Colleen, it used to drive her crazy!!! Ha ha.... Kinda like me and "Jenny"
And Hi to Connie too, I was the one that mentioned ISU, my stepson leaves Aug. 19th for school there....I went there too!!! GOOD TIMES!!
Lisa, have a wonderful trip to Door County!!!
Hi to everyone else....from what I read it sounds like everyone had a great holiday....
I scheduled my axilliary node dissection (UGH) for the 13th....and am having my port put in than too....wish me luck, I'm more nervous about this than I was before my BMX. Not sure why?
Have nice evenings everyone!!!! :0)0 -
Hi Connie!
Glad we got that all straighten out. Even if *I* was the only one confused.
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Susan, I have read The Samurai's Garden. I've read ALL of her books. I rarely, if ever, read books a second time, but I've been thinking about starting over again with hers. I find her writing so beautiful, and I don't mean just what she writes, but how she writes.
Marina - I hope you love the book... and the CRUISE!
Hi to Corinne, and hi to Connie.
You Grandmas are making me jealous! One day... *sigh*
I'm a Groupon fan too, although I haven't seen one I wanted to buy in a while. It's funny, but as much as I love most types of food, I am not a fan of Indian food. A previous co-worker was from India and she would bring in several things for me to try, but nothing ever made me want to try more. I did go to an Indian restaurant with friends once (in Schaumburg somewhere) and it wasn't terrible by any means, but I just didn't love, or like very much, any of it.
I do love my mother's Japanese curry dish though. I think it's just a completely different type of curry.
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Corinne....you have a beautiful smile. We are all confused at times. Not to worry. This is a wonderful place to hang out....get great hand holding, questions answered, chat or go through the many emotions that seem to fall out when your not looking with this diagnosis.
It is trying to rain again here. Not quite making it. I think that means that all my dogs get a bath in my tub tonight since we can't do it outside in the rain. They are bringing in ticks from outside.....they don't embed on the dogs......just end up on me. So.....we will try the shampoo trick and see how it goes. It is also good for fleas though they get flea meds monthly.
See you all later.
Hugs, Jackie
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Whoo Hoo Mak, so thankful. Hope all you ladies are dealing well with the heat and enjoyed your holiday. I had a huge treat last night. One of my buddies showed up with tools in hand and cleaned out my garden for me. looks amazing. I would include a picture but never can figure out how to do this on this site.Also got Mrs. Fields cookies as an early b day gift. How cool is that!!
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I cheated and put it on as my avitar instead. Beautiful purple, pinks and yellows, oh my...
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Morning! 59 and clear this am....lovely sleeping weather.
Mak...enjoy that cruise! You sure have earned it!
Zap....you are such a great Grandma! Fairy dust...love it!
Jackie....watch out for those ticks!
Corinne....I was confused too! Had to go back and read your original post to figure out who you were!
Joan....you sure are having a great visit!
Madismommy....nope, fear will never go away. It is part of your new normal. But it keeps us ever-vigilant but we tend to use the 2-week rule should any symptoms pop up. Good luck with the surgery on Wednesday....
Rene....I reread books all the time! I always find something new in them...
Trips downtown, Door County...you all seem to be having good summers and that is wonderful. For those still going thru treatment/awaiting tx....remember that this too shall pass. Just a slight detour in your life and then you will be back on your road! ( ok...maybe not slight!!! But you know what I mean)
Eye doc recheck this am...wish me luck! Finding out about those two retinal tears with no symptoms really scared me. ZAP.....GET YOUR BUTT TO THE OPTHALMOLOGIST!!!!
Have a great Friday!0 -
Corinne - Welcome! The girls here are great...We have a "saying"...ILLINOIS GIRLS ARE TOUGH!
Onward - Your garden is gorgeous! Such a nice friend you have!
maddismommy - Try to NOT overdo it...I know...easier said than done! Hang in there.
mak - Still doing the happy dance for you!
Wendrew - Good luck at the eye doctor. The ONLY good thing about eye doctors is that they're one of the few doctors that you DON'T have strip down for! LOL And BTW...AriAnna's birthday party was great. She is so adorable. The theme was ladybugs...we call her little ladybug. Her cake was amazing! Will post a photo one of these days.
zap - DON'T mess with the "eyes"...we only have TWO! lol
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Hoping you all have as good a day as you possibly can. Will be working at the church this morning. Then getting a haircut/highlights. Then working in my forest. LOVE IT!
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WendyTY - If you're reading...you know I'm praying for you. Hugs to you little one!
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And...this is "funny"...we have had a problem with carpenter ants getting into our master bath and bedroom. dh has been spraying the outside perimeter of the house...in an effoert to keep them at bay. Last night while in bed - just b/4 I fell asleep, I made THE MISTAKE OF WATCHING a documentary about African KILLER ANTS (they can actually attack a human, kill it and then eat the entire body). CRIPE...I had horrible nightmares! Man OH Man...those killer ants are HORRIFYING! LOL Needless to say...I WILL NOT be watching the Science channel EVER AGAIN b/4 sleep time! lol
AND...my LE has acted up again this week. Weather - no doubt. Been persistent with massage and wrapping - trying desperately to keep it under control. SIGH...
LAGO/JOAN - How is your LE?
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Oh and Jackie thanks for the quotes! Really do appreciate them. I had to share this one:
"Some of the biggest cases of mistaken identity are among intellectuals who have trouble remembering that they are not God." -Thomas Sowell
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Laughing Laura! AND....there is NO SCALE at the eye doc either!!! WoooHooo!
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LauraGTO LE is sorta undercontrol. There still seems to be a little dense/thick fluid in my upper part of the lower arm but no swelling. It's only a little numb. I just haven't been able to move this all out yet. Other arm is good. I'm actually relieved because I thought surgery would screw this up. Granted I did keep my walking up just a bit slower. I do wear the sleeve all the time and will wear it till it goes down. Other arm seems fine. How about you?
and no needles or BP at the eye doctor either! Sometimes I rather strip than fight with the BP issue. I finally figured out they can get a decent reading (just a little high for me but still normal) around my ankle. When they take it on my leg the machines starts beeping like I'm having a stroke.
Sounds like everyone is enjoying themselves. Onward I want to see a bigger picture. Your garden deserves more pixels
Madismommy719 I find any surgery that requires healing kicks my butt. Your body uses a lot of energy to heel. The best thing to do is rest when you need it so your body has the energy you need. If you do that you will heal faster. I found the port surgery to be pretty easy. I was a little sore. I had the BMX and nodes done all at the same time so I can't comment how that will be. Be sure to move things on lower shelves in the bathroom and kitchen if you haven't already. You won't be reaching above your shoulders for a while. At least it took me some time. If you have drains they don't want you to reach that high anyway.
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I have a purpose - growing;
I have a goal - glowing.
I have a hobby - giving;
I have a song - living.
I have a mission - reaching;
I have a love - teaching.
I have a calling - caring;
I have a joy - sharing.
William Arthur Ward0 -
Laura...I too am laughing. I don't think I've ever dreamed about anything I've watched on t.v., but if I wake up....it seems within seconds I can be thinking about it again. My problem is that I don't remember my dreams very well.....even the good ones. I should have worded this different...I'm laughing about the quote....not about dreaming of ants that eat you. I think there are a lot of things in Africa that we wouldn't like including the ants. I think several things might want to eat you there.
Susan....I think you are a great, as in fantastic, grandmother. What great memories later as you say.
Mad, Lago is so right. No matter how you wish it were not so.....we come to that place where we don't bounce back so quickly after things.....and I think with this diagnosis and tx. comes a huge emotional drain --- even more so if we are stoic. Be kind to yourself and let your body be the guide along with your Dr.'s
Shelter day today. Hope I have fun. We are so full right now.
Rained during the night....quite a bit...poured several times. I think today will be dry. Hope so. Minnie just jumped into my lag......See you all later.
Hugs, Jackie
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Yes, surgery is a very strange thing. I thought I was perfectly back to normal, was a week or so after the second surgery to get clean margins, had a drink, stood up and keeled over. I guess I fainted. It came out of nowhere. So very important to be conservative in what you do. I realize how frustrating it is that you can't move things along faster.
Thanks for the reminder to see the eye doctor. This HMO stinks. I have to get a referral each time I need to see a doctor and so I tend to procrastinate. I love the doctors, however, so if I had a PPO I would go to them all the same; just with greater regularity.
Have a great weekend, ladies!
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Hi Ladies, this thread moves fast! Thank you for the warm welcome last month.
My Mom and I are both being treated for BC. My surgery is now scheduled for 7/26. My Mom has one more consult next week and then soon I hope she will have a treatment plan for her Stage 2 TN IDC. She has so many more decisions/considerations to make. Surgery first, chemo first? Lump/Mast? I had multi-focal DCIS, so a uni-MX/SNB it is. I'm scared about the discomfort/recovery with the TE. (PS is doing a small reduction/lift on good side.) I'm a Mom to three littles, so it's going to be interesting. Welcome to all the new IL ladies that have posted since I did. Several of you in the Western burbs like me it looked like.0 -
Calico I won't lie to you this surgery is scary but not as bad as I thought. As far as pain everyone is different. I actually never needed any pain pills, pain pump not even a Tylenol after BMX. I was sore but everyday I felt so much better I just didn't realize I was hurting… The worst for my was the anesthesia. I get very nauseous and it took a while for that to wear off. Now you've given birth. That must hurt more… and you're awake for that! I'm not a mom so I don't know.0
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Wow, this thread moves. LOL!
Just got caught up. I hope everyone had a lovely 4th! This week I got fabulous news...I got my period. Ha! I went through fertility treatments in case it didn't come back. And I officially got it on Tuesday which is about 2 months after my last chemo. So excited. Or I was until the cramps started.
Today I had my 15th treatment of radiation and I have only one more week to go. That thrills me. It's hard having to work and going to radiation every day. What I like about radiation is I get the fatigue without the chemo side effects that kept me from sleeping. I couldn't sleep for nothing after I was diagnosed and all through chemo. So this is a nice change of pace.
IllinoisLady, what shelter do you volunteer at? I also did rescue work for an animal shelter. I did fostering, helped at the adoption shows, and did transport. I have two adopted dogs myself.
Madismommy, I totally relate to the fear about brain cancer. Every time I have a headache, that is my first thought. My BS said it would a while before I don't associate every ache and pain with potential cancer spreading all over my body. Frankly, I don't think that will ever happen. It's always in the back of mind.
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UGH, I really hope I don't end up with a drain again, that was one of the worst parts of my BMX!!! My BS said there's a possibility I'll have one on my left side after this AND but I'm really hoping not.
I have really felt crappy the last couple of days, some of it physical and some of it mental. I know staying positive is a huge part of this battle but sometimes I just can't.
I was out today with my mom and ran into a friend of hers who went on and on about my having cancer and asking me questions, and talking about me losing my hair soon,etc etc etc. And it made me just want to cry!!!! Why do I ALWAYS have to talk about it when I'm out and about?
It could just be hormonal from my monthly friend? Or fear of this surgery? Or just emotionally drained from all of it and physically exhausted from my non sleeping each night.....but I am so weepy and down.
Time to snap out of it....
Calico - nice to see you!! You and your mom are both going through this? UGH!!! Glad to hear you at least have a surgery date and your plan in place, it helps a ton. I hope your mom gets all her answers soon too!!!! You're in the western burbs too? I'm in Geneva.....0 -
Well congratulations Illinois Native. Don't you just feel like reading "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret" again? Sometimes this journey is a total do over. Granted I'm not doing this over. I have a unopened package of Kotex I bought for chemo (no tampons on chemo) that I never needed. Want them?
My onc and I think (and hope) I'm done.Madismommy719 Some of us like to talk about it and some of us don't. You can politely tell this friend you really don't feel like talking about it right now. Thank her for her interest but you just need a break from it. She'll understand.
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Hi all. I am from Bloomington as well. I was diagnosed in 2001. I am currently going through a failed breast reconstruction saga! Original Reconstruction went perfect...now my 10 year anniversary of cancer free and dealing with surgery and surgery. I had surgery on May 25th because i started having horrible pain around my implant. Doc took it out and discovered a hematoma. He put in a TE until my skin healed as it was breaking down from the hematoma. 2 days later i got an infection and back in the hospital for 4 days with celluitis. Went home with a picc line and 2x daily vancomycian drip. Week later wound opened up and draining horribly. Went in for surgery to put in drain clean out and restitch wound. Week later opened up again and continuous draining...lots. PS decided that my skin is so damaged from radiation along with the draining that i will not heal. Sent me to a PS that deals with more flap surgeries. New PS said I will need to have a GAP flap. Just got back from surgery to take out TE today with a packed open wound and hoping to have surgery for the flap in Sept. I whine and complain to my hubby but i guess i need to be thankful that my cancer has not returned...but man...not how i planned to celebrate my anniversary!
Michelle
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lago, no tampons on chemo? Whoops. I got my period after my first round of chemo and I used tampons. Nobody told me not to. It was the only period I got during chemo...until now. Is it about the risk of infection? Dear Lord. I need to be watched, people. lol0
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Lago, you are of the Judy Blume generation. VERY early in my teaching career, so many of "my girls" loved Judy Blume and the title you mention was the hit. I actually now want to get that book again as it truly was a favorite, but I have to say I have no clue now what it is all about.
Also your comments to Madismommy....are right on. I think age is relevant as well. I would not like to be talking about these subjects when I am out and about, but I would most certainly not want to do that if I were as young as Madismommy. I would agree on how she could handle it. I would add that she could put her arm out and her hand out to say, "Back off, I am in protective mode." I actually found that people avoided the BC subject, but now that you bring this up, I actually think that people want to give younger woman advice and suggestions as this is the only way they can cope themselves with cancer intruding on one so young. Madismom....you are at a tender time. This is big and scary and no wonder you are exhausted. Please find some safe places for yourself. I know it sounds silly but Wendy (the deck weather-reporting girl) had a mother who took her to a place where she felt safe. I am 63 years old and have recreated this place for myself and my precious grandkids. Maybe Wendy will chime in. It is not a silly place. It is a safe place when feeling overwhelmed and it works because it cuts out most of that open space that is so scary.
Susan
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IllinoisNative I did read that someone. Yes risk of infection. Not sure if you are getting nuelasta shot. I know I wanted to be careful. It was actually pretty funny when I went to purchase them. I have never worn a pad. So here I am, 49YO at the time staring at all the brands. Some seem to fly (wings) etc. I had to ask another women which I should get. CHeck with your onc though.0
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I'm done with chemo now so I'm not sure if I should still be worried. I'm definitely going to check with my onc. I have a follow up appointment with him after my radiation is done (which will be next Friday). I didn't get the nuelasta shot. My onc is NOT a fan of that shot if I didn't need it. I did fairly well with chemo so it was never an issue for me. I'm kind of glad after reading what a lot of women are dealing with.
That's hysterical about the pads.
I would probably do the same thing. I haven't worn a pad in forever! 0 -
FYI in the city:
North Michigan Avenue Art Festival
Chicago Fold & Roots Festival
(Looks a little like an add for Viagra)and lots more
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