Illinois ladies facing bc
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Good morning everyone! Healing vibrations to all in treatment and recuperating and a special yay for getting out of the hospital!
Lago- I was so annoyed that I was booked last weekend after you mentioned all those festivals! I was out by you western(er) gals on Sunday. My family and my friend's family rode our bikes to Pheasant Run in St Charles, swam, played board games, then rode back home on Monday. Fun.
Nip tatts. I won't be doing mine until the beginning of 2013. I've been to NOLA many times and Baltimore only once so I'm up for either.
Have a cool day!
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Good morning.....Roula & Karen....Claritin should work well just as you described. Many of the gals used it during my/our chemo time which is now back in 2007/8. I did not as I had Nupogin shots in a series of 7 each of the 8 rds. of chemo I had.........
Invisible.....yay...you sound so much better now. Here's hoping you'll very soon be on long walks with your best friends. There is nothing like sorting and getting rid of your problems and getting a fresh perspective on things using the release of a nice long walk. I lived in California for 25 yrs. and found if I needed a fix/cure for a problem all I had to do was go sit on the beach ( about a mile from me ) and after a bit I would feel much lighter and calmer. All my troubles were riding those waves clear to the horizon where they disappeared. We all need a periodic cleansing cycle probably.....however we can get it. So......hope you are on that walk soon. Your troubles get tird of tagging along and just go away. Or......a good solution pops into your head.
Hope you all have a fantastic day.
Hugs, Jackie
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Well maybe I need to post this earlier. This weekend in the city and very near suburbs:
Custer's Last Stand Festival* (Evanston, Main St. Stop on the purple line CTA)
* Will be attending for the first time this year
** Have never attended0 -
roula and kliberty I hope you get some relief from the side effects soon.
invisible it will feel so wonderful when you can sleep in the position you want. It took me months to be able to sleep on my side. I hated not being able to lay with my head on my husbands shoulder. One time in the hospital in with complications and another surgery I was in the hospital bed and I said, "I so miss laying with my head on your shoulder" to my husband. Being the hero he is he came over and leaned over the side rail and laid his trunk on the bed so I could put my head on his shoulder. I love him so!
Have a peace filled day ladies.
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LAGO!
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ADEY!
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Daughter of Lynn... thanks so very much for the update on your mom. She has a great team of doctors and sounds like she is recovering well. I am sure that she is anxious to get back home this Friday.
CC-that is great that your sister will be here with you. Hope that she is great company for you.
Roula- I had a real problem with post chemo/steroid depression. There was a definite pattern that developed. It always came on like clock work exactly 3 days after a chemo TX and would last 7-10 days. Scared me. Probably scared my DH even more. My own research pointed me to the SE's of chemo and especially on the steroids. It was like a "steroid crash". I spoke to my ONC and he agreed with my steroid theory. He did gave me a prescription for Lexapro and it did help alot.
I visited a new LE PT yesterday. She was incredible. She gave me lots of new tips for helping with further muscle/scar massage that I need after this lat surgery two months ago. I will start regular MLD, etc with her on the 25th for a week or two to get me in good shape for my back surgery on July 13th. In the meantime, I am supposed to wear my Caresia sleeve AMAP with a taping overwrap and work on my exercises.
My foot is healing, sloooowly, as my orthopedic warned. Stupid me, I try to limp around in the house without my boot (too many stairs), but it does feel much better when I put on the compression sock and boot. I am quite a pathetic looking mess right now with my arm in the Caresia sleeve and my foot in a boot! It does open alot of doors for me, though. LOL!
Hope that everyone has a chance to enjoy this beautiful weather before the heat/humidity returns this weekend. Hugs to everyone going through treatments and surgeries. I so remember being there the summer of 2010. And I am off to get a hair cut today. Imagine that. I really see my trips to the salon as a real treat these days as we all know how much more we appreciate HAIR after going without for several months.
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BJ and Lisa- C25K week 5 workout 2 done! I think I can............
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Hello ladies - thank you all for your replies. I am feeling much better today, I did not take Claritin, forgot to buy it and by the time I remembered it was too late, but I will definitely have it for the next round. I am three days out of the neulasta shot and am feeling s little twinge of pain in my thigh bone - nothing too bad.
Joan - I blame chemo and the steroid crash for the depression as well. There is a definite pattern emerging.0 -
Hi ladies
First AC done last Thursday and I thought it went well. I was calm and rested all weekend.
The Neulasta shot was fine, the oncologist did not think the Clariton would make a difference, so I never took it. But chemo turned it angry eye at me on Tuesday. Monday I was fine, worked five hours, walked 15 minutes and exercised my arm. The Tuesday within an hour of getting to work, I was laying on my office floor thinking I was going to pass out. I had sweats, chills and felt faint. Nothing made a differnce except my car air conditioner blowing in my face to cool me down. After my 40 minute drive home I literaly had NO energy and felt completely helpless.
I had not had a restful night sleep since chemo, and I was always a good sleeper. Last night I was totally and completely drained, almost no will to go on with the fight and that was only round one.
thank goodness, my husband got home and just held me for hours as I cried (and I am not usually a crier) I finally fell asleep and did sleep all the way through. I think the reality of what I am up against hit me all at once.
Has AC brought on depression tendancies with anyone else? Is it common to have five okay days and then get hit hard! Does it get worse with each AC infusion? Just wish I knew what to expect with each treatment.
trying to stay strong for the long haul... (I have 4 AC, then 12 Taxol-Herceptin and 13 Herceptin, with 6 weeks radiation too)
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Graceembraced, if that happens at your next treatment, call me. If I am around and able, I'll give you a place to rest or drive you home.
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Grace, Roula -- I'm so sorry that you are going through this with chemo side effects. For me, I could really tell that the steroids affected me ... positively for the first 24 hours (felt happy and strong), then the emotional crash was awful. Lots of anxiety and crying. After three cycles of suffering through this, I decided to try an antidepressant, my onc put me on a low dose, and it helped enormously. I was able to give it up a few months after chemo, once I was on tamoxifen and feeling settled.
For me at least, the steroids messed with me emotionally, and very dramatically!
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Good afternoon ladies! Thanks to Lynn's daughter for giving us an update. I am so glad that the surgery went well and that NO NODES were involved. That is such great news. I'm sending healing vibes for a quick recovery!
C-Squared....so glad you are home! YEAH!!!
Well, I panicked big-time this afternoon. Last Thursday I went into the Cancer Center for my bloodwork and I'm supposed to see my oncologist tomorrow for the results. When I got home from golf this afternoon, there was a message on my answering machine telling me to call the oncologist's nurse. Immediately my mind went into over-drive! Anyway, I sat for a few minutes then I picked up the phone and called. She said that he wanted me to get in contact with my primary care physician because my cholesterol was high. At first I sighed a sigh of relief because the call was about cholesterol instead of the other big "C" and then I got a little agitated because I wondered if the Arimidex could be part of the problem. I have no idea how high it is but will find out tomorrow....as well as find out the other results. I really hate to take another pill to lower the cholesterol. Has anyone else on Arimidex had this problem and was it possible to get it down through diet and exercise? Dang it all! I do take a mild high blood pressure pill but have always kept the cholesterol in check by walking and eating properly. I fell off my walking routine with all the vacations and didn't eat the best then so I'm torn about what is really causing this. I'd love any input any of you might have with this issue.
Jackie, you got our rain! Send it back this way! :-)
Oh Graceembraced! I am so sorry that you had to go through that! Hugs! It sounds like you have a wonderful husband who knew just what you needed to get through that ordeal!
Well, I need to get moving and get a few things done around here. I hope everyone is having a good day!
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Rita, I am taking Crestor for high cholesterol and I appreciate your wish to not add on new meds. I would think that if you are finished with arimidex, it may get the cholesterol down. Plus if you have taken a break from walking and diet-watching, you may be able to negotiate with the doctor to give you six months to see if arimidex, diet and exercise may be the culprit. I guess it would depend on how high your cholesterol is. Maybe they would want to wait six months and then check it again. Once you are on the meds, it is harder to get off, so a wait and see approach may work for you. Good luck!
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Thank you to Lynn's daughter for the good-news update. Please pass on how much everyone is thinking of her.
Adey (and other potential nip-tatters) - Early 2013 is actually better for me as well. I already have enough stuff going on in the fall and a big family trip mid-December. I haven't been to NOLA since pre-Katrina. Looking forward to seeing it again.
A "steroid crash" makes a lot of sense. I don't think I was able to detect a pattern when I was going through the worst of my "dark days." It seems so long ago now, and it's not something I like to dwell on a lot anymore, but it's also good to be reminded of how much things have changed since those difficult early days. Hugs to all of you who are still in the thick of it of it all.
I'm craving frozen yogurt, the really sour stuff, with chocolate chips on it. Now to convince my DH (who just ran 5 miles as part of his marathon training) to go out to find some with me.
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Rita-good luck tomorrow. I believe elevated cholesterol is another se of the lovely "A"
Zap-drove by the botanical garden last Friday and wondered if you were doing your tea gig.
Rene-yum, hope you get your craving satisfied.
I have one more weekend event to add-the 6 corners bbq fest in portage park. I tried to do the cute linky thing like Lago, but this is how it came out:
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Rita....I got high cholesterol and a rise in sugar level after my arimidex ---- I think I mentioned way back when.....that for a variety of reasons.....and because I knew someone I trusted who had excellent results....I started eating chocolate three times a day. I ate it for a about three weeks and went to have my blood work done. I got a call back....my cholesterol had gone down 34 points and was normal......and my sugar was in the right place as well. I continued to use the chocolate ( it is sort of easy to have faith in something that tastes so good ) and ultimately lost 55 pounds.......always meaning to use some formal diet-type plan.....never got around to that.
I'm out of my chocolate and have to get more....but just my personal opinion......I'd rather skip any DRUG that I can, if I can ----- I was actually amazed that this happened but I chose not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
graceembraced....I'm so sorry you had to have this experience. I had some hard times --- lost 38 pounds and a couple of times the thought was crossing my mind that maybe I could not do it. Thanks to everyone here....they were my hero's and I did have a Dh who was supportive as well. Coming here kept me a lot more grounded. One of the biggest reasons some of the old-timers are still here is that we had each other to lean on and it is not always an easy path. There are medications......but rest when you can because you are doing things ( destroying cells, having wild swings in blood cells/counts ) which is wearing to your system and you can find yourself overwhelmed.....just ragged at every edge. It is easy for the can't do notion to sneak up on you.
There is a finish line.....we all crossed it, and we are going to get you across too. We are not giving up on you. You are working to save your life.....for yourself, your family, and everyone who loves you. So, do talk to your oncologist.....there isn't any extra prize for doing this without some stabilizing medications....we never really know how our bodies will react to txs. You may or may not have the same, or at least some of the same things happen the next time.
Rene'......I went for shortbread toffee cookies....when will I learn to quit buying cookies thinking I won't eat them. The trouble is....I don't eat them....I inhale them.
Ok.....I need to find my recliner. Has an extra hour tacked on at work again tonight.....if this keeps us, hope I sill know who I am at week's end.
Have a great night ladies.
Hugs, Jackie
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Mornin everyone.....
Rita, I caught your post about cholesterol and Arimidex.....me previously perfect cholesterol rose drastically about 2.5 years into my Arimidex and it WAS attributed to the Arimidex, my cardiologist put me on a very low dose of Simvastatin and he said he has never seen anyone respond so quickly and so perfectly I was back to normal within 6 months......he said if it had been a build up of genetic or dietary nature it wouldnt have responded so quickly and completely.....I am staying on the statin til I finish Armidex for sure and then he said we can try going off of it and see what happens.....I HATE taking more new meds as though who know me well here know but I am buying into this theory and running the course....maybe this will help you make your decision
Good luck, Good thoughs and Good days to each of you
jan
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Frozen yogurt craving? The other day my DH was looking through the Williams Sonoma catalog and saw a Popsicle maker. I told him I could make those without that contraption. He said "orange flavor?" I replied "yes." So the next day I mixed up 1 container of low fat Greek yogurt with 2 large oranges in the blender. Placed in one of those cheap Popsicle molds (I had one but Bed Bath & Beyond sells several varieties). The were ready by the end of day. Blueberries and Strawberries are cheap right now. You could do it with any type of fruit.
Jackie I just had blood work done yesterday (order by my PCP). I think this is the first time I had the full range since chemo. It will be interesting to see if I have cholesterol issues. Mom (74) doesn't and I don't think my dad had issues till he was 70 (currently 80). Granted as much as my mom tries dad did eat lots of crappy stuff.
Granted I like the chocolate idea. Is it dark chocolate? Anything to give me a reason to eat the double dark chocolate covered raisins they sell in the grocery next door. Good for constipation too Seriously I don't have a cardiologist. I hope I don't get this issue. I'm only taking the ESD and a low dose diuretic for meds but I don't need another doctor! Gals in treatment hang in there. All I can say is once it's over it really does get better.
Saw invisible yesterday. She had an appointment and I needed bloodwork. She looked beat but otherwise good. So nice to see her.
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Morning All
I went to see my BS yesterday and I have my first appt with MO on Tuesday. I did get my final pathology. I had two biopisies before my BMX which showed IDC and DCIS grade 2. The final pathology showed IDC grade 3 and DCIS grade 2. The KI-67 was 'unfavorable' but I think that test is part of the Onco test so I'm not going to worry about that until I meet with the MO. The ER/PR numbers stayed the same (90/20).
My decision to remove my right breast was the right one. Pathology showed LCIS and atypia ductual hyperplasia. This could have caused me some problems down the road. When making the decision my BS told me to follow my gut and that's what I did. My gut is rarely wrong. Well...maybe once or twice in my younger days and it usually involved a man.
I have had some severe fatigue. I wrote it off to two surgeries in two weeks and lack of sleep but found out yesterday during a visit with my internist that I am anemic. Lovely - I get to take iron supplements. Yum, love those iron supplements
I have seen people refer to 'dog ears' and I finally found out what they were yesterday! I have these lumps of skin under each arm (well almost under each arm) so I asked the BS if these were my new breasts and if so, I would like them moved. He laughed and said 'it's extra skin - a fold for expansion'. Lago met me after this visit and said 'you have dog ears'! I never understood what that meant. I now understand why they are called dog ears. It gave me a good laugh. Thanks again for meeting me Lago. It's always great to see you. Your calm wisdom and humor is a huge help to me.
Thanks to Lynn's daughter for updating us. I hope everyone else is doing well.
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Sometimes I like the days when I can't decide:
"Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." - Jane Goodall"The body is a sacred garment." - Martha Graham"Loving ourselves creates miracles in our lives." - Louise Hay"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." - William James"The fullness of Joy is to behold God in everything." - Julian of Norwich0 -
Going to be a pretty morning here......ok today I think,but I think we are going into some higher temps. that will stay. Don't care about that, but am hoping the humidity doesn't get too wild with it. The humidity zaps my strength more than I like.
The chocolate I eat is cold processed, and it is the cold processing of it that enables it to maintain all the nutrient value that seems to enrich the body so much. It is dark chocolate --- and again, it really was a STRONG wish of mine ( though I tried to prepare if need be ) not to have to take more pills. I was especially concerned over statins as I saw what problems Dh had with them.
As I have worked recently with several older people and see the long list of drugs they take to "stay alive and healthy??? ) my determination is even a bit stronger to do what I can to avoid any more 'medications' for myself as long as I can.
Invisible --- the good part if any, to what you needed to do......is that we do discover a few other things that may need to be fixed....like the anemia. I don't remember anemia so much, but I did have to take horse sized potassium pills. I hope soon you start feeling "energy" making a return.
I hope you all have a fantastic day. I'll be checking in again after work.
Hugs, Jackie
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IllinoisLady: Jackie: Okay, I know I may sound stupid, but what is cold-pressed dark chocolate? Where do you buy it and whats the brand. I am going to be finishing chemo, then on to radiation, then on to Arimidex, so I want to nip this potential high cholesterol thing in the bud. Thanks.
Karen
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Spunky, I am in the Butterfly Garden at the Botanic Gardens. I was in there four hours yesterday with all these butterflies and I dreamt about them last night. Absolutely gorgeous. For some reason (and I bet there is a psychological explanation) three and some four year olds are afraid in the enclosed buttefly garden and freak out when one lands on them. Every now and then we get a grownup that wigs out. I love it. Susan
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Susan....there aren't really any stupid questions. We "live" by learning.....and this question is just one that has never come up. I sent you a p.m.
Susan......butterflies are gorgeous and seem like angels on a special earth mission to me. So many have very short life spans --- yet accomplish their life in a beautiful fashion......enriching others as they do. I think some children ( as beautiful as they are ) are NERVOUS around any type of bug/insect and react accordingly or psychologically as you say.
PLEASE FORGIVE ........... I meant to say Karen in first paragraph, which I'm sure everyone realized. Still, I feel better with doing some correction.
Thanks.
Hope you all have a butterfly kind of day.
Hugs, Jackie
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invisible so glad you made the right choice. I did as well as I had only one tumor IDC small on mamo and US but when final path had IDC, DCIS and LCIS on one side and LCIS on the other!
So sorry for those experiencing such difficult side effects. The tears are good. It is ok to cry. And so glad your DH was able to do what you needed. Sometimes all we need is to be held and to cry. The emotions we feel run the entire cycle of emotions experienced in the grief process. It does get better it lessens with time but it is heartbreaking when you are in the thick of things. But it does get better.
I am not sure what cold pressed chocolate is either and would be interested.
Surgery tomorrow at Northwestern at 8am to keep trying to fix the botched NSM. of over 2 years ago. I am the never ending recon lady!
Hope everyone has a good weekend
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I had to edit my earlier post not once, but twice. Yikes.....not sure you should trust me at all. Anyway. I think I have it repaired correctly now. Hopeful......basically speaking.....most of our foods are processed through heat and I think very high heat. Heat ( for the fact that it makes food much safer ) tends to leach so many of the good nutrients out of food or change the properties somewhat.
When you cold process a "food" you skip the high heat and do not reduce or alter nutritive value --- so the chocolate I eat is I guess in a manner of saying is purer for that reason.
I'm running late for work....but if you want to know any more....let me know and Ill see if I can give you a better explanation.
Jackie
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Thanks Jackie, what brand of chocolate?
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Hi invisible2,
I had a high ki-67 and a grade 3 tumor and still had a low oncotype score. It surprised me! I hope you have the same luck.0 -
Dr. Susan Love just posted on her blog she has leukemia.
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