Illinois ladies facing bc

Marina, such wonderful news.  You must feel very grateful and now you have the joy of transitioning your daughter into college. 

It seems that antidepressant drugs are prescribed for so many things.  I was surprised the doctor prescribed  Lexapro for IBS.  My DH has very bad eczema or psoriasis (I do not know the difference)  right now (I am worried it is the cat) and sees the dermatologist on Friday.  I wonder if they will put him on an antidepressant.  I think, Lago, people with IBS need to be so conscientious about what they eat and when they eat.  For me it is worse if I skip breakfast.  And the bloating is mortifying.  I worry that one day my grandchild will innocently ask me if I am pregnant.  The pro biotic helps as does fiber.  Keep the stress down.  I have a live wire between my brain and my intestines.  Stress = trip to the bathroom.  Sorry if this is TMI. My doctor said that Lexapro would make it history but I just could not handle the lethargy the drug produced.  I felt utterly stupid while on it. I might try it again if the IBS  becomes too restictive.  I guess we all have something.  I never get headaches so I guess IBS is my lot.

It is too cold. 

Spunky, that is way too much time to wait.  You are so right. What if you were sick and had to wait.  My doctors have an office manager and she or he organizes the tests, hospital work, treatments, etc.  and then sends it by computer to me. I never realized that some people do that themselves.  Perhaps I am misunderstanding you.

Welcome to the new people and keep on coming.  Some talk is off task on what you are needing to do right now, but you will pick up the information you need and can skip the chitchat you don't.  The people here are among the kindest in the world.

Susan

Is Ayers in with Dr. Ferris?  I know there are two groups there.  Dr. Ferris is at the new cancer building.

invisible2 it kind of depends on where you start counting   I had the official dx on the 20th of the month and surgery 9 days later! But the process started with a mamo on the 5th, call back and second mamo a week later then biopsy waited about a week for results the offical and 9 days later.  I think mine went pretty fast from actual bx to surgery.  Yes it is a long process.  And when the surgery is over it is not even close to being done.  From a physical and emotional standpoint.  Hope for your sake it moves a long more quickly now.

Invisible:

June 11th diagnostic Mammo/US (at a different treatment center but set up an appointment with BS at new treatment center for 2 weeks)
June 15th results of Mammo/US
July 8th Biopsy
July 14th biopsy results
July 28th MRI & BRCA test
August 31st BMX

-------------------------------

It took so long to get the biopsy because treatment center 1 sent over the wrong US 2 times! Basically once biopsy results were in it took 6 weeks to get all the results of MRI (we weren't sure if I had to do both) and find a time when both BS/PS were available. 

Thanks for the doctor recommendation.  I am looking to find a new one and make some calls next week to schedule appointments. 

Mak - that is fantastic news!  So happy you are doing so well.  Please keep us posted on your progress.  I think of you often.

Invisible:  I had my dx Dec 12th.  Lumpectomy Dec 23.  BMX Jan 27th.  Chemo March 3rd.  It seems like most people had a similar timeline.  Surgery usually isn't super quick.  It often takes long to schedule both surgeons on the same day if you are having immediate reconstruction.  That is what took mine so long. 

Robo- cracking up......I just did a groupon for bikini line laser.  After the no hair from chemo I decided I wanted to be permanently ready for bathing suit season.  I have only done one session so far....I will let you know how it works out!  WIth groupons it is cheap.  Let me know when you are out in the burbs girl!  Let's do lunch in the next few weeks!  We can even get out for a walk if ou are up for it!

Zap I have also had issues getting the right meds to help with anxiety and hot flashes.  I also found that the ones I have been on took time.  It seems like the way I felt on them changed after several weeks.  Now I am on effexor.  I also have IBS and usually run to the bathroom. I have to say that I noticed a huge difference in my IBS after I quit my job.  I don't know if it was the stress or all the eating out (work related...I had lots of catered meals with my job).  I also take probiotics daily and several other vitamins/supplements.  I have had far less issues.

Joan - I hope you get some relief with your back pain soon....I am sure it is horrible. 

Adey - I hope those drains are gone soon!!!

 Sorry for anyone I missed...too much to catch up on.  I am busy this week with my son home - it's spring break here.  We are busy with activities and playdates.  Sports start next week...yikes!  Things are about to get crazier around here. 

Welcome to our newbies!  You have found a great group of gals to hang with!!!

Chicago sisters - I will be visiting late April and moving there in the summer (from Dallas).  I will be needing your recommendations for an experienced LE therapist and a BS for followups (thankfully finished at this point).  For this year we will be living downtown and will decide on moving outward later.  Thank you!!

Welcome KC --- wish you didn't need to be here but doors are always open here and lots of loving hearts who wish to help.  This will be a big change from Dallas. 

Hi to everyone else today.......as always wishing you all well and a fantastic day.  Sure am thinking the Spring temps and foliage bring with it some of the strong, resilient feelings we all have.  Sure wake mine up a little more than they were.

I'll see you all after work as usual.....though by then I'm pretty well done in for the day. 

Hugs, Jackie

Welcome kcshreve! I moved to the west burbs from out of state in August. These ladies gave me a warm welcome and have made me feel at home. Glad you found this group of wonderful ladies!! Sorry I can't help with a lymphadema specualist at all. I am sure others will help. Welcome!!!

Talking about the IBS and meds is allowing me to at least reconsider trying the lexapro.  I need self-confidence I will be okay.  When it flares I am paranoid to go places and that is a lifestyle killer.  Maybe the lexapro would deaden the "what-ifs".

When I hear abour mistakes that are made, I just cringe.  I cannot imagine being told I was triple negative and than oops one week later it changes.  It has nothing to do with triple negative but a whole lot to do with mixing up the people involved.  I had a cut and paste mistake sent to my primary, saying that the cancer was seen on the mammogram when in fact the mammogram never showed it.  My primary is gently arguing with me that I got it wrong and the size of thing was wrong.  So we looked at it together and it had a number of "clerical" mistakes.  He called and it indeed was about another person.  I thought I would lose it.

Getting riled up just remembering it......cleansing breath!

Susan

LOL about the Nexium :-)

Welcome to Illinois and this group KC!

I spent the past two days wrapped up in a blanket watching double headers and today it is beautiful!!  Another game tomorrow.  Hopefully more like today!!!  Love the green foliage.  It looks so beautiful! 

Welcome kcshreve.  Like Lago says, there are lots of really good choices in Chicago.  My BS is at Northwestern downtown, but my LE PT is out here in the burbs.

Onward and Robo... I have been using Nioxin for about 6 months now.  My hair was thin before BC, and came back a little bit thicker after chemo.  Then the AI's thinned it out big time.  I order the Nioxin online via Amazon in the big, big bottles. Maybe I will have to stop at Sally's and compare prices.

Well, off for my evening date with the IV pole and my antibiotic again.  This is getting real old already.  Hope everyone had a chance to enjoy this beautiful day.

Robo... LOL.

Hi ladies!  *waving*

I'm waaay too far behind to catch up on everything, but in skimming I see a lot of new names here.  Welcome to everyone!

Joan is pole-dancing now?  Good for you! 

Zap - I did see the picture of sweet baby Violet.  What a cutie.  I really love her name too.  

Mak! - SO happy for your good news.  

All you ladies still on Hair-Watch - hang in there.  It's like watching a pot boil, isn't it?  My hair isn't as full as it once was, but it's back to growing like a weed.  I feel like I have to color my "silver highlights" every month now because they grow out so fast.  It feels like ages ago when I was staring at my nubby head in the mirror every morning waiting for some length to happen. 

I took my last Femara in January.  I keep waiting to see my extra weight miraculously fall off.  Uh...so far, that's not going so well. lol.  I think I'm actually GAINING weight.  Grrr.  I have changed my diet to (mostly) gluten-free though, and I might be over-compensating by eating more rice and potatoes.  OR, it's just that I haven't been working out and need to get my fat, lazy butt off the couch when I get home at night! 

Btw, the (mostly) Gluten-free thing is something I tried for my IBS.  I do think it's helped.  There are a lot of people who don't necessarily have true celiac disease, but are gluten-sensitive.  I did a trial run before the holidays and thought I felt better, but then I stopped.  I noticed a difference right away.  Possibly coincidental, but between the pro-biotics, my calcium blend, and avoiding most gluten foods (esp. breads and pastas), my IBS has definitely improved.  

My joint pains had subsided to mostly stiffness after sitting for long periods of time towards the end of my AI's, and that hasn't changed.  

I have developed a REALLY annoying case of tinnitus (ringing in the ears).  I actually wondered if this is related to my getting off the AI after so many years, but the ENT thinks it's because I have severe arthritis (apparently) in my TMJ's.  No pain in my TMJ's, just major crunching that I've always ignored.  I'm not convinced, but I'll go with that for now.  Debating calling the onc about it, but you know how that goes....  I'm doing a Scarlett O'Hara and thinking about that later.

Okay, gotta head off to work.  Have a great day everyone!  

*Editing to add:  I'm probably going to do a 3D nip in the fall.  Maybe we can get a group rate?  BOGO Nips? 

Lisa / Lemondrop1967 - how are you??  Missing you!

Joan - Laughing at your pole dancing!  Were you getting your IV last night laughing about it? I would have been.

This is so crazy..  I know this is true for so many of you but I just do not have cancer in our family.  I was diagnosed in Nov last year and now my mom (70) was just diagosed with uterine cancer.  What a blow.  It does sound as if it was found early which is very good.  She will have a hysterectomy and possibly radiation.   I was just starting to feel a little bit better / more positive.  I can't explain it but it was starting to feel a little more back to normal and now this. God only gives us what we can handl.  I keep reminding myself that.  I am also wondering now what my MO will do/ say as I am on Tamox.