Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
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Hello all: There is too much for me to reply to so I am just going to wish everyone well. I hope that the surgeries, rads, and chemo for everyone goes well. I also hope that everyone who is sick (LTF) and/or dealing with annoying SE's feels better quickly. Just to say - I am still numb in my underarm and part of my left breast 1 year and 5 months after surgery and rads. In my case, my malignancy was not the palpable lump either. It was a lump that I could not feel. Then, of course, I had the secondary malignancy that did not show up in the biopsy. Thanks to all of your well wishes to my son. Moondust, that is awful that your RO was so uncompromising and caused you more aggravation as a result.
I went to a modeling casting, on Sunday, for Pink Strydes which is a Breast Cancer organization that donates money to patients. I thought that it was going to be only for BC survivors. 3 people whom I know from various BC organizations went to the modeling casting too. That is how I heard about it. I went solely to visit friends and to raise money. It turns out that it was for REAL models. The REAL MODELS took the audition so seriously. Basically, I was happy that I did not fall down. After all, I had to wear high heels. The presenter informed us that the runway was wobbly! All of the BC survivors will be automatically accepted because it is a fundraiser for BC. I had a ton of fun. We'll see what happens and how much money that will be raised.
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Wow- that skiing looks like fun! Glad you went for it, friends!
My DH and I were able to enjoy the weekend like we did before BC...it was so much fun! Had to share a pic of my little friend, Rowdy. Was able to play with him when DH and I went out to a farm to buy fresh pastured eggs and pork products on Saturday. Just do not think he could have been any cuter!
We then attended a wedding on Sunday of the daughter of a sorority sister from college. There is a group of us who live within about 2 hours of one another and we have remained dear friends since college- and our husbands get along so well. We are able to just jump back in with one another even when we go months or sometimes years without seeing each other. So special. We laugh and laugh and laugh! Such a fun time. My DH and I talked about how this past weekend was like it was before BC. Yes, we got it- we are going to try to jump back into the lives we had before we were so involved in treatments and fear- but in a "new normal" kind of way, I guess. Every day is a day in our lives and we are going to enjoy more of them.
Hugs to all.
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By the way: Good for all of you who are skiing throughout your tx. I grew up skiing in Vermont. I also ran ski tours/bus trips in New York. Skiing is so much fun. My brother moved to Colorado so that he could ski. I haven't skied in years because I live in Florida now. Enjoy. I love the pictures.
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HH -Cute pic!
614 - Now you can add model to your resume! Glad you had a fun time.
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HH - too cute! I want one
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HappyHammer: AWWW!!! (totally googlyeyed) is teh ittehbitteh lambiekins! (SIGH! LE SIGH!)
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Hi all, I'm finally feeling better. I read everything but it's too much to respond to. I love seeing all the happy pictures!
I went back to work today and at my meeting about accommodations, because I return to my usual department April 4. Meeting went very well and I got what I want!
I'm still a tiny bit under the weather with cold symptoms (laryngitis), but no fever or headache or exhaustion oranything like that. It's depressing that I was down for two weeks including my kids a break from school, but I'm focussing on feeling good now hopefully until I have chemo again on the 29th. I haven't hit my fitbut steps and days, working on that again tomorrow ( for today, just working was enough)!
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Stella- LOVE it!
Mel- my tumor went from 6/7mm to 1.8cm in a month! Pretty aggressive grade 3. So explain THAT researchers;) Nice job starting the day meditating! When I can't sleep and my mind races, I try and take myself on the guided meditation my reiki master uses on me:)
614- Not only do we have skiers, gardeners and teachers... But we have a runway model! That's great;)
HH- You just made me so incredibly jealous. I love goats! So nice that you are enjoying your new norm. It's not that bad is it...?;)
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HH, seeing your cute little goat reminded me of a story my mother told on herself when she was young, growing up in Iowa. While she didn't live on a farm, her best friend had goats (and was only a couple blocks away). They were fainting goats. Mother and her friend would scare the goats (which apparently wasn't hard) and they'd all fall over. The friend's father was definitely not impressed. I was though! They only had sheep when I knew them. Might have had goats on the farm that was out of town.
LTF, so glad you are finally feeling better. Whatever bug it is going around does not like to leave! Great that you got what you wanted for your job. That lessens all the worries!
614, I am wayyyyy soooo impressed that you are now a model. I take it high heels aren't part of your wardrobe (I love them - just not platforms). Definitely put it on your resume!
They're doing the inspection of my hopeful new home right now. Since it is quite new (2009), there shouldn't be any issues (except for the hot tub connections - the hot tub goes and the connections need to be flush to the patio or something - no clue).
HUGS!
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That's exciting Peggy that things are moving along!
Here's a story unfolding at my house...
Just got a bill for $2k that's overdue from my December core biopsy... Called the lab in California who sent the bill and guess what...? They were given the wrong insurance company by the local hospital! My husband is on now arguing with the lab rep that we 1. Don't owe the money 2. This is not our responsibility as we don't have the ins that she's claiming we do 3. No... WE ARE NOT PAYING THIS BILL TO CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM.
He is now faxing our insurance card and she's still trying to say that it's well overdue...
WTF is wrong with customer service?
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MLP3, customer service seems non-existent. I got a bill for my echo-cardiogram that I had a month ago. I said I didn't think I owed anything. Turns out someone hadn't "turned on" my secondary insurance - they did have the info though. Do not pay that damn bill. Let them cope with their own error. Argh!
Have to arrange painting long distance, too, for my new home. Not sure I'm happy doing that. But definitely have to paint.
HUGS!
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Hooray for skiing, and I'm jealous of all those who got to do it! I'm going to hike on Friday and hopefully snowshoe one more time this year. I used to ski but my knees are too easily damaged these days to chance it.
Stellamaris, beautiful photo! Yours too, Zinny!
MLP, my RO said it is fine to have dental work done during rads. It is only the head and neck rad patients that need to be cautious. I'd wait until you are mostly recovered from chemo.
Jill, glad you are finally feeling better!
Sandy, please remind me when you leave for London. That will be so much fun!
Mel, I'm glad to hear that you are feeling so good!
HH, is Rowdy a sheep or a goat? He looks like either a Boer goat or a Dorper sheep. Glad you are getting out to some fun places!
Well, if I'd known y'all like to see cute animal pix I would have been posting some! Here are tiny twin lambs that were born a couple of weeks ago. I've got about 30 Painted Desert hair sheep. If anyone wants a "sheep fix" you are invited to visit, but be forewarned my place is decidedly not fancy!
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Moondust - Awwwwww! The lambs are soooo cute!
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Moondust, those lambs are soooooo pretty! I've never seen sheep marked like that, only goats. How many sheep do you have?
HUGS!
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Moondust- Rowdy was a lamb...actually a triplet. His mom had an injured teat so they took the two smallest ones to bottle feed. His little sister, Rosie, bleated and bleated when I had Rowdy out of the stall...Moondust- I wish we lived closer- would love to come and see your little lambs and maybe even work...do you ever let folks come help out?
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I love animals! Keep posting pics.
My friend just sent modeling pictures of us next to the REAL MODELS! It is so funny. I keep laughing. Me as a model is RIDICULOUS! I used to look like a model but I don't any more. Menopause and aromatase inhibitors have not been friendly to me.
LTF: I am so glad that you are able to work and that they are making accommodations for you.
Good luck with the inspection Peggy.
Moondust: I would love to visit. I used to work on a farm at 4H camp. I love nature, animals, farms, and the woods. I also love camping. I wish that I could join all of you when you get together.
Dear MLP: I am so sorry that you are having billing/insurance problems. I can totally sympathize. My insurance company told me that my surgery to my right breast was cosmetic and that they were not going to pay for it. They didn't care that I would have been deformed if I did not have the surgery. Also, there is a law stating that insurance companies are obligated to pay. However, I still had to fight hard to get the insurance company to pay. They did pay eventually. Good luck.
Hi to everyone else. Sorry that I missed responding to you.
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I am so impressed with you skiers! I couldn't do that on a good day, much less with BC. My last skiing adventure resulted in my tearing up my right knee on a little slope.
HH and Moondust, I love your lambie pics. My sister has sheep out in Washington and I love going out to see them. One of her ewes just dropped some surprise twins, in fact. I think some of hers are Katahdins. She has both black and white sheep.
Okay, finally, some GOOD NEWS! My PS deemed the wound on the right (zombie breast) to be healed enough to ditch the wound vac. Woot! You don't know how happy I am to get rid of that machine and all it's 6ft of tubing (not even kidding.) So now she wants me to use this other kind of stuff I pack in there and cover with a waterproof dressing, kinda like Tegaderm but different. AND I can now take a shower every day! I am so happy. The left side wound (good side) is starting to fill in a little bit since I've been using the iodoform gauze packing. The PS doesn't want to see me for another 2 weeks. Considering that I've been seeing her 2-3 times a week since Feb 8, this will really be wonderful.
At rehab today my PT decided that I have regained all my range of motion in my shoulders. I still need to strengthen muscles, but I can work on that on my own. she wants to see me again on Wed, to check me off.
I'll probably be offline most of the next 4 days. I have home visits about 90 miles from here in this little funky college town. DH is going with me, so we'll stay overnight, have some good food and some mojitos. Then I'll bring him home Wed and head over to a 2-day conference on the other side of Atlanta. Thankfully, my boss is allowing me to stay at the hotel there. I just cannot do that drive--1-1/2 to 2 hours in rush hour each way.
So happy that things are really starting to turn around here...
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Poodles....giving you a WOO-HOO....oh, even another WOO-HOO!!! Hope you and DH enjoy the good food and a few mojitos....you DESERVE BOTH!!!
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Poodles, damn. About time you had some good news. You must be flying high! So glad DH can tag along on your road trip. That will be fun for you both. Good that you can get a hotel for the conference! I'm doing a happy dance for you!!
HUGS!
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Poodles, where in Washington is your sister? Anywhere near Spokane?? That would be neat if she is!
HUGS!
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LTFly, wow you are amazing going back to work so fast after being ill. Poodles so happy to hear you have progess on the wound healing and have a good time with DH. 614, I bet you look better than those models. HH, cute picture! Moondust, cute lambs. Peggy, I hope that the inspection goes well and maybe your DIL can help you with choosing paint long distance. Everyone having billing and insurance issues, ugh I am oh so familiar with those problems. It once took me a year to straighten out a problem after DS had dental surgery at the hospital under general anesthesia. The final straw was being sent to collection without warning after me talking to them over and over. I finally threw such a fit (nicely) that I got the right person on the phone who pointed out that with me having an HMO it was their fault they didn't get paid and wrote off the bill and pulled back the collection.
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Dear Poodles: Thank God that you have some good news and that you are healing. Yay! Enjoy the hotel and the mojitos with your DH. It is amazing that you can work given what you are enduring. Good luck.
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Jill, the laryngitis is part of the crud, hang in there.
14 months from surgery, and over the weekend I put a top on that bothered the stupid sentinel node site. I swear that area is the biggest pain
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Peggy, My sister lives in Poulsbo, across the Puget Sound from Seattle. She is my best friend and it's a shame we live on opposite coasts. We're hoping that I can retire in about 2 years so we can think about possibly moving out there, at least part-time. We'll see.
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Moondust - I love, love, love your lambiekins!
Poodles - dancing the WOO-HOO jig for you 0 -
Yay poodles!! You deserve good news and a celebration.
Moondust- I'm envious! Even though I have the ocean, I'm at peace in the mountains. My dream retirement is a farm up north with goats, a horse and a cow. My husband always asks who's going to take care of it all... I keep telling him the 28 year old stable hands
Now the lab company has our insurance info and will submit everything to them. After that fiasco, the next envelope we opened tonight was our insurance saying that we didn't have enough info submitted for my $2k wig claim. The listed missing info was... Exactly what we sent in! Let the games begin
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Dear Poodles: You deserve to be able to retire now so that you can move near your sister. You have earned it. Hopefully, the 2 years will fly by.
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Dear Molly: The insurance companies are so difficult to deal with. I am so glad that you prevailed. You are the sweetest person. Thanks for your comments.
Dear MLP: I am still not surprised that your insurance company is causing you all of this grief. Of course you have sent in everything that they requested and they say that they don't have it. Good luck resolving the issues. It sucks to have to fight your insurance company at the same time that you are going through chemo and fighting BC. I am praying for a speedy ruling in your favor and no more bills for you.
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I've been swamped finishing up a course and grading with a bunch of doc appointments thrown in for good measure. I have been trying to get caught up here.
Welcome iammags, Kanali, Eleanora, Nachon, njnancy, heathnet and any other newbie that I may have missed, So sorry you had to join this club but the ladies here are just the best.
Kanali, I see you found jazzy girl over in the bilateral group. Hope she was able to answer your brachytherapy questions.
Kanali, Nachon and njancy - good luck with your sugery this week - in everyone's pocket.
LTF, glad you are feeling better. If I remember correctly, you are into make-up. I need help with my eyebrows - they are thinning due to old age. Can you recommend a good eyebrow product? I spent a fortune on the last two and they both sucked.
MLP, love the ski photo. Glad you got to go and enjoy yourself. Oh and thanks for sharing your recipes. The hubby had a heart attack in May so I have been concentrating on keeping his saturated fats to less than 12 g a day so I'm always on the lookout for healthy and tasty recipes.
Peggy, congratulations on the new house. Hope the inspection turns out OK.
Tess, I can relate. I am 5 wk out from LXs and still incredibly bruise and still have scabs on the incisions.
614, so sorry to hear how sick your son is.
Molly, glad your son is finally feeling better.
Poodles, hurray on loosing the tissue vac.
Sloan, fingers and toes crossed that path comes back as scar tissue.
Apologies to anyone that I missed.
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Dear Froggie: Here's to good health for your DH.
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