Illinois ladies facing bc
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Rene-Just went through the apt hunt with my DD. If she's looking in a specfic area keep in mind looking for ads/flyers in community areas like student centers if near a school, bulletin board in markets, etc. It worked for her, just a thought.0
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Rene,
Checking out the neighborhood rental agents is the best source. Maybe googling the neighborhood and rental agent will get you info. At the worst, find another neighborhood on a convenient bus or "L" line. Often there are better deals with an equally good place to live.
Not sure if this still applies in non-university neighborhoods, but in the past rentals were on May and October cycles making summer hunting difficult.
I had a great time at the 57th Street Fair with lago and her DH. She even met my daughter's quite possible future in-laws, wasn't expecting them to be there. Good place to shop for bling, ceramics, photos, painting, woodworking, clothing, crafts, etc. There's a highend market and a community market with local craftspersons. Might make a good annual outing for those interested. Free parking, no entry fee, and food is reasonable in Hyde Park. If I don't remember to organize this next year, someone please remind me in April!!!!!
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If you want to feel rich,
just count all of the things you have that money can't buy.
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I'm not a regular poster, but I am a regular lurker. Grace, even if all you do is lurk, you'll find an immense amount of understanding and information from the most amazing women. They've "talked me off the ledge" so many times without even knowing they've done it. I'm grateful.
Friday is my big day: BMX with (I hope) DIEP reconstruction. But the scary part is the SNB. The BS says don't worry, so little chance it's no longer DCIS, but you all know hearing that reassurance is one thing, waiting for the path report is another.
I had a major freak-out this weekend. I keep thinking "this is the last time I do ___ before my surgery". My three college girls were all home, my Dallas-commuting husband was home, the weather was great, the garden looks wonderful, and all I could do was dwell on Friday. My nipples may not be gorgeous, but they are mine and they're going away. It'll be great not having saggy breasts and a having a flatter stomach, but not at the price of waiting for that path report. All my time at work (ok, except when I'm reading or posting here), is leaving to-do lists for my folks and instructions for my boss, which just makes me feel more and more like I'm not coming back, that something terrible will happen. My youngest is graduating from HS Sunday and I won't be there. I know its ridiculous, but I'm feeling grotesquely selfish and guilty about agreeing to schedule for Friday instead of waiting for the next available date - the end of July. I could have been there but I'm too scared to wait that much longer. OK, done venting. Thanks for listening.
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Lynn,I am also a lurker but learning a lot from these Il ladies. Stay strong. I will say I was scared of what I would see when the bandages came off and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I hope you have that same experience.Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
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Lynne27,
Glad you joined us as a poster, but sorry you have to be here. I'm six years out, and don't post often, but just happened to check just now and saw your post.
I also had to miss my oldest daughter's graduation which was in NYC. Making it worse, she was becoming a nurse, like me. My husband didn't go either, because I was in chemo at the time, so her younger sister went alone. They were both much happier that I was doing what I needed to do to get well, and hopefully your family will feel the same way. Now 6 years later, I am well, and my daughter is very understanding. It still makes me a little sometimes, but they almost don't remember it.
I remember so well those "last time I do this and that" days before treatment. This is the hardest part in many ways, and I agree waiting for the path report is tough. I doubt your family would want you to wait longer for surgery, and then your DD would probably feel guilty. I think you are doing the right thing, for all my opinion counts! The best thing you can do for your family is to get healthy, and I'm hoping you can see it that way.
I and many of us here will be thinking of you this week, and especially on Friday. Please keep in touch...you are not selfish, nor ridiculous.
Vent all you want! That's what we're here for.
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PS Still makes me a little sad sometimes! Can spell, but not type.
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Welcome lurkers Lynne & doingwhatIhaveto. So glad you have come out.
Lynne I'll talk you of the node ledge. I had to wait 7 weeks after my biopsy to have surgery. At the time they thought I had a 7cm tumor (ony about 6-6.5 with DCIS but IDC only 5.5cm)! Also fast growing HER2+ but as far as they could tell no node involvement (granted my BS thought there might be micromets). I too was "get it out before it goes to the nodes. Isn't this a long time to wait?) Well I had no node involvement not even micromets. There is an excellent chance given you have DCIS that your cancer hasn't figured out yet out to get out of the duct. Yeah I know not 100% but the odds are really in your favor. I had a real sense of relief once the surgery was done. Very surreal but no more worries about the cancer spreading because it was out of me! Good luck Friday. ♥
doingwhatIhaveto How are you doing? You getting expansions?
Smerf so glad to see you.
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Ok Went in for check up and got my scrip for tamoxifen. Now I'm trying to decide if I should start today or wait until next Monday and start it on my 40th bday.
He said I am ok to take any kind of vitimins or pills I want. And I can eat anything I want.
For awhile I thought I would have to be on a strick diet or something. This might be a breeze to handle. I go back in6 weeks to see how I am doing then ever 3 months.0 -
First of all --- yay Lisa. You've come a long way and I'd start the pills on Monday.......enjoy a week-end where you can do nothing --- then dive in on Monday. I do hope it all goes well. I think most of us that tolerate the "pills" we take feel like it gives us that bit of extra 'insurace'/ reassurance that we are doing as much as we can to make the ogre go away and stay away.
Lynn.....welcome for now or for a really long time....whichever it turns out to be. Good to know you were able to come and find comfort and info here. We do want to be that to whomever chooses to spend time with us.....in whatever way....lurking or venting. If you chose to stay we'd all be delighted.
To parrot Smerf....we'll be sending positive thoughts and energy your way on Friday --
I hope you all have a fantastic day.....
Hugs, Jackie
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I am doing well,feeling completely recovered.The fills have gone well. i am anxiously awaiting my MO appointment tomorrow.I learn my ontcotype score and know the next step.This appointment was suppose to be last Wednesday,but got cancelled because results weren't available and than MD went to a medical conference and wouldn't be available till tomorrow. WAiring is very hard! After tomorrow I start chemo or I go back to work. I have had a lot of waiting periods since diagnosis and it leaves too much time to worry,
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Welcome to the new gals!
Lynn, I am so glad that you posted. This is truly a place where you can come and vent to your heart's content and nobody is going to complain because we've all done the same thing........MANY TIMES! As for your surgery date, that is not an act of selfishness. You are being very proactive and I'm glad you're having it done sooner than in July. I think you made a good choice. There doesn't EVER seem to be a good time for surgery but it's better to get it taken care of. We will be thinking of you on Friday and sending healing vibes! Please let us know how you are doing ASAP.
It's another dreary, rainy day here in Bloomington but we need the rain. I had a day to myself and planned to summerize my deck are the surrounding area today. I guess it will just have to wait until later in the week.
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Welcome to the new gals, once again. We were all lurkers at some point. Well, we have to exclude our dear Rita who got this thread going one dark night. Look at her now.... running off to DisneyWorld with her grandkids! There is light at the end of this tunnel. But really, where would we all be if it were not for this wonderful place to come and vent?
Some of you have noticed on FB that I am now hobbling around on one foot. Can you believe that I tripped over the welcome mat when I was leaving church yesterday??? Your Welcome! My DH is head of the property committee. I took it up with him! A trip to the ER resulted in a temporary cast and crutches after they found a minor metatarsal fracture on the x-ray. So, this afternoon, I am headed off to my local orthopedic surgeon to see what he has to say. It does feel alot less painful today, so I am hoping that I will get off easy. I really don't need this right now. Can't believe how boring my medical history was a couple years ago. Ever since the wonderful BC diagnosis, my body seems to be under assault. Ugggh!
What wonderful weather today. Sorry about the rain in Bloomington, Rita. I have trying to get out and soak up some Vitamin D all day, but cannot seem to get out of the office. Now, my DH's limo is waiting to head to the orthopedic. You can bet it will be freezing cold in that office. Why do doctor's think we need to freeze in the waiting room. The waiting room at the ER yesterday was so frickin cold that patients were opting to wait outdoors!
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Joan!!!! Oh No!
I had a broken 5th metatarsal in my left foot approximately 4 months before my BC diagnosis. The darn thing would not heal. I wore that walking boot for so long it felt like a part of me. Rest up and heal up. The walking cast is horrible.
What can happen next? Be ready for the raised eyebrow when they take your history before you go in for the back surgery. You may wake up in restraints because they will list you as a "fall risk". LOL!
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Thank you everyone for such positive and supportive responses. You are a marvelous group. I am so glad I stumbled on this site. I'm going to recommend it to my advocate. Too many sites are just horror stories, but that's not the case here. I'll try to stay off the ledge, but no promises regarding Friday morning. On the other hand, I have to be at Northwestern at 6:00. That's too early for ledges.
I hope you enjoy this absolutely perfect Chicagoland weather.
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Welcome, Lynn27!
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BTW went to my PCP today to see about the fluid retention. I've been taking the diuretic again for several months. Onc doesn't want to deal with it anymore since it's not from chemo. PCP thinks its from the ESD (Anastrozole). I guess 7-10% of women on it have this issue.
Just thought I'd let you gals know just in case you are having the same issue.
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Lago: Thanks for the info. I retain fluid all the time and take hydrochlorithiazide (sp?). It helps to some extent.
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Lynn-so glad you joined us, so sorry you had to join us. I'll be sending prayers and good thoughts to you and your surgical team on Friday. IMHO, you made the right decision to go ahead with the surgery. I'm sure your family just wants you to fight this the best way possible.
Joan-I'm so sorry- some welcome you received. Hope you heal quickly and can move on with your back surgery as planned.
Lago-I hate Anastrozole. Hope your fluid retuention improves.
Have a good night, sleep tight.
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My fluid retention is fine because I'm taking the diuretic they gave me after chemo. When I try to stop taking it even one day I put on 3-4 lbs. My PCP said it was fine to keep taking it. I just needed some doctor to monitor it since my NP/Onc deferred to my PCP
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My visit to my orthopedic went well today. He has me in one of those walking boots... my new fashion accessory. He says that I should be fully healed in time for my back surgery though. Just not looking forward to sporting this darn boot on my visit back to my PS later this week and then to my spine surgeon and the pre-op clearance in a couple weeks. Hmmmm. Maybe they have already noticed this black cloud hanging over my head. LOL.
The good news is that my LE is really starting to come down now that I can get my arm moving, do my MLD several times a day, and massage out the scar tissue.
Lago... just watch your blood pressure when taking (HCT) diuretics. That is usually the first line of treatment for treating high blood pressure. That didn't work for me, so my PCP put me on a prescription blood pressure medication with the HCT component. Then it took a big nose dive, so they changed me to just the script without the HCT. Kind of wish I still had the diuretic just to shed a few pounds that Femara keeps on me. But low blood pressure is not good for our organs.
Well, I am hangin my foot out on the recliner for a while and then heading off to bed EARLY. Been a long day.
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I also take HCTZ like kj.....but got started on it so I would not have to up my blood pressure meds. I'll be taking it I presume long after my anastrozole is a memory. I actually don't take all that much for "meds" but there are days when I find it frustrating.....this small batch has to happen on an empty stomach and the other group has to go down with food.....hmm, as long as I can make it strawberries, shortbread cookies and a couple of cream horns maybe I can keep on controlling my mood.
Joan....wow --- I'm glad nothing worse happened. I'll make you a deal.....I'll lay off the cream horns if you stay solidly on your feet.
Lynn --- so glad you are going to join us. We long for the day that no one needs to come here.....but for now the door is always open and there is always plenty of room.
Monday---blech sometimes...but hey it is trying to blow up a rain so not nearly so hot and humid outside. We could use some of Rita's rain windfall -- so maybe tonight. Hope you all have a great evening. See you in the morning.
Hugs, Jackie
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Thanks Joan BP is 120/80 at 6:30pm today. I did let him do it on my arm because I felt it was important to get a good reading. My ankle runs high… above the ankle is really high.
I'm only taking 1/2 a pill. This is the amount my onc had me take. Ironically when I tried to refill the pharmacist argued with my NP that it wasn't enough. My NP said fine… then sent me an email telling me to ignore the instructions on the bottle. Only take 1/2 a pill.
I think Joan after all this you are going to have a full "goth" wardrobe right down to that black compression bra.
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Hello everyone from a Poster/lurker/poster/floater in and out
Got a little question.....Im stomping around a little today a bit on the angry side thinking about the old song by Jefferson Airplane * One pill makes you larger and another makes you small.........* Ive been on Arimidex for 3.5 years now and I have done beautifully on it not a problem in the world.....today I had my Dexa scan and got an immediate call that my bone density is significantly decreased and to get in touch with my onc/PCP asap and figure out a plan....I dont want to figure out a plan I dont want to take anymore *stuff* Any thoughts or ideas ? Im thinking most everyone who is on Arimidex or one of the others has been on a shorter time than me but someone might have a thought or two.....
I do pop in and read when I can and I do keep all of you in my prayers and my best thoughts cause I remember how much help everyone here was to me when I needed it.
Love to all
jan
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samedaynurseJan - You are always welcome however/whenever you swoop down on us. As for your bone health, it depends on what they mean by "bone density is significantly decreased." There are degrees of decrease, concern, and intervention. It also depends on what you have been doing to keep your bones strong before this DEXA, also your family history.
Because this is triggered by reading DEXA results by a dr who knows the significance of them, then this might be more of concern than the reverse. Depends on whether or not the dr is proactive or reactive. My onc/nurse called me in to discuss my DEXA results and told me I had osteopenia and what I should do to keep it stable. No surprise to me because I'd been that for 6 years already. The test showed I'd held steady through chemo. I was happy, my oncs were concerned. Still because of every relative on my mom's side eventually got osteoporosis despite being active and eating well, my onc wants me on Zometa, an infusion each 6 mo. A plus is that it helps prevent metastisis to the bone. I'd rather not, but the latter plus is making me consider it seriously.
Do you take 2-4,000iu of Vit D? Do you get at least 1,200mg of calcium from food (significant supplementation may cause heart problems)? Do you get 30 - 45 mins of weight bearing excercise each day? If you are doing all of these things, you may need some meds to help. Bone health can be stablized and can be reversed, but you'll have to do something more than what you are doing currently to manage that.
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Sameday I had a dexa done just before chemo. I was also slightly "osteopenic." I have ready that women with small frames (doxie that would include you) can get that reading but are really normal. But my mother had/has osteoporosis. My onc put me on increased calcium. I was already on increased D. I quit drinking diet soda (known to thin bones). I already do weight bearing exercise. As a Caucasian my risk also increases but I can't do anything about that.
After chemo and 5 months of Anastrzole I decreased only .1% (yes there is a decimal there). I will be tested again in the fall. So so far no Zometa for me. Ironically my onc did consider it but at the time a study came out saying no benefit for bone mets. A newer study came out a year later saying just the opposite. So getting on it might not be such a bad thing.
This is something you should discuss with your onc. Without understanding the degree of loss it's hard to say what to do. I know my Dexa put osteopenia as an alarm but osteopenia is not osteoporosis. My treatment center and PCP does not treat osteopenia.
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Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.Denis Waitley
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Jan...I also had the Dexa -- my first one ever and show osteopenia. V.A. wanted to put me on something right away but I refused.....as just as Doxie and Lago said, you can have this reading/issue for many years before a change. So....I did nothing as far as medications. Other than make sure I was taking enough vitamins etc. I would try as hard as possible to keep from having to take "bone" drugs for as long as possible. I think though....we are living longer and longer and I imagine.....at some point many of us will be making some choice. I keep hoping ( though I don't actually believe anyone is really looking and would just have to stumble on it )that something will come that has less negative se's to consider if we can wait long enough. This is my simple thinking of course. We'd like to think that will occur with all drugs.
We all "see some change" in things when we take these 5yr. pills --- I often wonder, is it the new cells after we use chemo, or the body tying to normalize. I never took drugs for much of anything most of my life, and seldom found anything that caused a problem except for tetanus of all things. But after cell destruction.......lots of things come up. Hope you figure out something that works for you Jan.
Hoping you all have a pretty day today. Rita.....didn't get our rain here but did cool down which was nice. Hope you are done with your liquid sun for awhile.
Hi to invisible....hope all is going well.Waving at everyone else.........................
Hugs, Jackie
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Morning!
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Hey Jan! My dexa results plummeted deep into osteopenia territory after I was on the AI's for a while. I know, because I'd had a normal dexa prior to starting all this. I did do the Zometa - 3 times actually. I actually skipped my second one after having a mini-panic about it all, but after talking to my onc and getting clarification about the potential risks/benefits, I resumed the treatments. My last dexa showed my bone scores were a slightly better, but I felt satisfied that they didn't continue dropping. I'll have my next dexa in October. Very curious to see those numbers.
Thanks for all the apartment hunting suggestions. Hopefully going to see a few later today, if all the stars align.0
