Illinois ladies facing bc

Joan- good luck with presentation!

Bogie I dont have truncal LE but the LE MD I see is Dr. Joseph Feldman. I know a few others have seen him too. He's like THE LE guy (president of LANA). (Northshore & Evanston). He would be able to recommend a good LE person for you.

There are LANA certified therapists listed here: linky 
There may be many good therapists that aren't LANA certified as well.

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My neighbor is cooking her Indian/Pakistani food again. OMG it smells so good. I so want to go to Sabri Nehari now.

If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought. -Peace Pilgrim

Good morning.....wishes for everyone to have a wonderful Saturday.  Lago...just found time to look at the restaurant link.....wishing we had one of those restaurants here.

cindy -- I had Taxotere and only had some bone pain, but was a little terrific a couple of times.  Another great case of you never know. 

Hugs, Jackie

BOGIE - There's 2 very good LE PT's. They're both LANA certified and treated me successfully, several times. They work out of Good Shepherd Hospital Health Club.

http://www.advocatehealth.com/gshp/healthserviceshttp://www.advocatehealth.com/gshp/healthservices

Rob - I "joined" bco back in 2005 (August). Don't recall her screen name. According to the member search feature here, she hasn't logged on since 2008. Sorry I couldn't help more.

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WELCOME to all the new members!

Hope you all make the most of this day!

Wish4one, we have an opening........Your in....seriously, welcome to our little forum. Join in anytime. We are hard to keep up with as some of us.....lago, cough, cough can be filled with info. But you are most certainly welcome. We meet in person monthly so hope you can see us up close...Onward

Nice, Joan!  Good for you....good for us all!  Thanks for doing that and I am happy it went well. You were meant to give that presentation. Susan

Spunky.... "a day of mindfulness" ... just trying to imagine what that would be. What can you tell us about that study?



Lisa7290, I get "super warm flashes" that start in my head and then radiate through my upper body. Not alot of sweating. Darn Femara!



Thanks, Zap. I truly enjoyed giving my presentation. My preparation for it was so good for my healing process.

Hi Cathy,

I was diagnosed just a few days before you. Sorry that you can't get a lumpectomy - I had the same news (for different reasons).  I read that you can't take any pain meds - I have the same problem.  I threw up on anything they ever tried to give me for pain.  When I had my mastectomy I spent a lot of time talking to anesthesia.  They made sure not to give me any morphine.  They have this wonderful IV Tylenol that I had in surgery and in my room.  Then they gave me Nucynta (a pill) in the hospital and to take at home.  It was very effective and did not make me sick - a tiny bit dizzy but that did not last long.  I took it for about 10 days.

Joan it sounds like your presentation was awesome. No surprise there. Hows the healing going? That recipe is really good. I've made it twice. First time without the smoked paprika. Still really good. The Cinnamon really makes a huge difference. Remember I get my spices at the Spice House in Chicago. They also have a location in Evanston. There is a Penzy's spices in Oak Park. They are actually cousins that don't get along. They pretty much sell the same stuff. Saigon cinnamon is awesome.

lisak are the flashes strange? I used to get them on chemo between 2-5am pretty much like Joan describes.  I would first get very sweaty on the back of my head then it would wave down my body. After chemo they stopped. Now that I'm on ESD I get some slight warm flashes every so often at the same time. Sometimes I'm not sure if they are even hot flashes or if I'm just hot.

Invisible2 so glad to see you posting. Hope you got to enjoy your weekend in spite of the news.

DeborahC I sure wish I knew about all that before my surgeries. The anesthesia at my BMX and exchange surgery was just awful. (at nipple recon the anesthesiologist did a great job). Also I could have used some kind of pain killer other than Aleve for the Shingles but narcotics make me dizzy and nauseous so I just suffered. I never took anything for the other surgeries. I was just sore so not too bad.

Bogie some of us have more of a challenge with LE than others but it can be managed. I know my LE PT said she knew I was compliant with wearing my sleeve because she could see the tan line and how white my arm was… in October! I don't even sit in the sun but   I guess it was from my power walks in the summer. The trick is not to ignore the issues and try to keep up with the exercises your PT gives you and wear the sleeve as directed. But trust me you will get back to feeling like you and doing the things you always did. Just  plan on a few more doctors appointments in the year.

BTW Dr. Masey does do lymph node transfer. It's very controversial. My LE PT did hear her speak last year in Chicago. She talked about this. My LE PT isn't a fan of the procedure. 

Robo I wish I could give you some miricle grew for your lovely locks. 

HI all - just checking in. 

Joan - I hope you are healing ok and feeling better each day.  Your presentation sounds wonderful.  After I met you and we discussed you doing this presentation there was no doubt in my mind you would do a great job!  I am sure it was a meaningful presentation to those in the group listening.

Madisonsmommy - we need to schedule lunch girl!  I want the full scoop on Mexico and I want to see your hair!!!

Robo -I will pray to the hair Gods for you.....hoping more hair sprouts with spring!  Let me know when you are in the burbs so we can meet up again!

Invisible - so sorry about the news.  Many of us have done the BMX thing so we are happy to be a resource and support to you.  I also live near by (Geneva) and I drive my son to school in St Charles every morning.  If you want to meet up or need help during recovery, PLEASE let me know.  I don't work any more so my schedule is more flexible.  Hugs!!!

Lago - I want someone to put a plate of those fries down in front of me right now.  They look sooooo good!  I am going to have to try those for sure!!!

Spunky  - 6 hours of yoga an meditation?  How was that?  Sounds like something I could use!  I have been doing a yoga class once a week and doing some of the same stuff on my own after my workouts daily.  I am really enjoying it and it really has made my body feel better.  My aches and pains are gone from all the yoga positions! 

Deborah and Cathy - I am a post surgery barfer too.  I always spent lots of time talking to the anesthisiologist before surgery.  No matter what they give me...I barf.  I ended up having to stay an extra night at the hospital for my BMX because of it.  I also almost had to spend the night after exchange surgery because of it.  It's the worst.  I hope you can get through your next round of stuff without getting sick.  Hugs on that....I can SO relate.

Lisa - when I was getting the hot flashes, mine would start in my abdomen area and then flash out my whole body and I would sweat like crazy.   Now that I am on effexor, I don't get them much anymore (yea!).

Hi to all the rest of you that I missed.  I hope everyone is doing well.  I am hoping we get a sunny, nice, warmer spring day today!  Hugs to all!!!

Robo...I'm still real thin in the front and sides too....but I gave up waiting!!! I'll email Lago a pic of me in Mexico so she can post it on here since my I pad won't allow it (pretty please Lago?!) ....first pics "topless"...



Sorry to hear about the 2nd tumor invisible... Sucks!!!! Definitely not the news you were hoping for but we will all help you get through it!!!



Lago....we have a spice house shop here in Geneva too, I wonder if they are all related??



I have a bridal shower today.... Hopefully no one gives me the typical "awww, poor her eyes" I always seem to get when at these types of things..... I'm approaching my 1 year cancerversary..... I'm over it! Lol



Happy day ladies....Lago I'm going to find a pic to email for Robos viewing pleasure....

Good Sunday morning....though we had some sprinkles already.  Sure does not feel good with all the cooler air that is visiting us.  It is said that way because I'm working hard to visualize it gone.

The above quote is for all those going through whatever you are in your journey.  It is all so un-knowable and personal.  The trip....nothing like the vacation in Europe, or Yellowstone.  Had hair then and probably no hot flashes, no missing body parts etc. 

Doxie...it does end though and I'm glad you are all reaching for the high notes.  We have earned and deserve that.  Life is a real journey and this diagnosis just another dimension of it.  At the beginning I wanted to get through with some heath and sanity intact -- after that "most of the time" its icing on the cake to me.  I'm here, alive and can create so many good things.  A nice hello, a wave to a friend, happy well fed feral cats, consolation to someone who is having a problem.  I'm here to live the best life I can ( boy, do I fall down some times ) no matter what my circumstances.  So....I ignore the somewhat thin,nearly bald spot where my cow-lick was before chemo.....and the return of my same old mousy brown thin and very fine hair.  Some higher power left me here.....so I'm still in the game -- visualizing the best I can pull forth and hoping that it goes that way for everyone.  I think you can become your own self-fulfilling prophesy.....so make it a good one.

Hugs, Jackie

edited to add:  my hot ( actually more like fairly warm ) come about 4 p.m. and start at the back of my head and work down. 

Add me to the morphine barf club. They had me on a morphine PCA in the hospital after my lat flap surgery last week and the nurses kept reminding me that I needed to push that button every 15 minutes or so. I wasn't sure that I needed it and then decided, WTH, let's see what it can do. Big mistake! Never going to push that button again.



Robo... I really wanted to register for Dr Masey's presentation, but just can't make it work. Our kids and family are here next weekend to attend my DH's company retirement party. I sure hope she has another one in Chicago again soon. My LE is a bit out of control right now because of the lat flap surgery. Still cannot move my right arm more than 30 degrees off my waist ....doctor's orders. I know my body is processing alot of toxins right now so I am wearing my sleeves, doing alot of deep breathing,etc. My PS is very much tuned in to the LE and is very hopeful that this lat surgery will eventually offer alot of relief from LE.



Bogie, I felt just like you when BC turned my life upside down. You are still you. Remember that and you will find yourself again.... And probably will be better for it. I know... Hard to believe that sometimes.

Aww...thanks ladies!!! It was really hard the first times emerged from my house "topless" but I've gotten used to it! Yes Robo....that is a margarita in hand..,. and my best friend since grade school is on the left and another friend of mine sincemy teens on the right. we had a great time!!!!



Lago...I'm going to have to venture into the spice store soon!!! My daughter went in there once with my mom and gagged the whole time, LOL....she can't handle smells like that! Ha ha....