INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours
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Junie sorry you are having a rough time, hip surgery is a major operation. It is very unfortunate that your mother isn't there for you, do you have any help? I wished I lived closer, I am about a six hour drive north of the Montana boarder. I would love to see Oregon , it is supposed to be beautiful
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Oh my.......so much going on today
I'll pack up some blankets, pillows, animal crackers and juice boxes (or wine boxes) and we'll all meet under that beautiful tree next to Lookie's waterfall. We can bask in the warmth of the sun as it peeks through the branches overhead and let the flowiing water carry all our "icky stuff" far, far away......
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jazzy, tests today...no results yet. Will know tonight
Lover...ha, didn't notice that. Guess I Didn't get the memo. Also, I am shrinking:(. Hope you feel better soon
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Cb,on the genetics, for those that were tested they were BRCA negative. Several preceded BRCA, I think. Did you have thyroid cancer? There is a connection. The Seer stats also showed that two cancers are increasing more than pervious, whereas, the others are stable or going down. Thyroid cancer is one. Liver is the other one.
Thyroid disease as you likely know runs in families and is predominantly a female thing. Same as with Thyroid cancer. So far I'm the only one.
My doc at Moffitt is at the elite level in thyroid circles. Regretfully, I didn't see him till after the RAI-131. I decided to flip over across the state when the docs involved were not communicating in concert about course.
So interesting to talk with BigWig doc. the bigwigs were seeing an increase, but the SEER stats confirmed it. Plus, management now is radically different. Much less aggressive. The RAI-131 can do more damage than the cancer. Papillary and follicular are taking more of watch and evaluate with yearly ultrasound every 3-6 months. then yearly.
There is one study in Japan with a cohort of just under 1000. It's been on going for _____(15 years). Only three have had to receive 131. There are a couple of other studies. The key is it's a changing scenario about thyroid cancer.
Big Wig docs and the elites were treating according to the unpublished results of studies a year before I was dx'd, I so, wish I had him and not the local cancer docs. Since I'm on the fence of saying it's over, but the complication that made my life hell since April 2014 may now be okay 2 years later. I have learned to not declare it over.
Thanks for the prayers, I will try the same
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Jazzy, I thought it was tall.
... So, true on giving and not trying to effect something after the giving. But DB just sold their place. What they hadn't already taken back to Mich. last year they are divesting now. Some cute plates I had given are coming back to me. .....Do you drink coffee or tea?Loverly, love the kids pics.
Shep & Cb Color Genomics which recently changed it's name , but still can be accessed by that. Was started by some silicon valley folks that thought it awful that the cost was so high on testing. After Myriad lost the patent suit, they developed a panel of 18 genetic tests at a cost of 250.00$. I'm even too cheap for that, but they're other reasons too which I won't disclose at the moment. Hopefully, I can remember to bring the BCO thread link here.
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Susan, the kids looked so happy. The house looked wonderful. So many creative ideas. So beautifully preserved in pics. I'm so bad I never think pics. Ergo, I have no pics. Your 's are just delightful. Was Claire surprised? Hmm, no, not a surprise they came the day before for the wedding? Who helped decorate? DH is a cutie. Such a proud grandpapa.
With the cupcakes were you afraid that__________(it will bam me after I post) sweetie pie furbaby--milo? was going to jump on the table?
You have a happy bright house
Do you have a pics of you and Dh over the years, Since both of you are so beautiful now, guessing you have always been a striking couple. Strike us, LOL. Please,
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Loverly, it's a risk leaving them out. Been working it since 1975. Max was the worst and the first. I stupidly didn't believe in crate training. I learned. So did the subsequent dogs. If it says anything Max was a Brit. The dog(only, I believe?) Smarrty gave to a farm
By the time we got a female we learned much more. We didn't have any issues with subsequent Brits.Also, well trained dogs have a great influence on the training of new dogs. Max was superlative by the time we got Lady. Then the two helped train Moose and JB(Jimmy Buffet).
As an untrained dog learns, they get a sense of boundaries. The time of learning is such a risk. Just put away what you value for a few months. Once Mitsy has shown she can be trusted over a few months bring the good stuff out
Everything Shep and others have said about the safe place of the open door crate is so very, very true.Shats was still being crated when we were gone. The goodbye pat through the crate wires. She watched for months as Rascal was on the bed getting hugs and kisses. Off we'd go.
One day Shats, who by then knew the signals of the leaving, jumped on the bed close to Rascal. With this innocent "I'm a good dog, I am". We left her out. She's never been crated again with the door closed. She uses it when there is a storm, but it's her choice.
If she's not in control when someone comes, I say "cage". Years ago as a young pup, I made her go to the cage for a timeout. Basically, to allow her to get control. As time went on, I would say "cage". She didn't like going to the cage and would immediately settle down. It was/is so cute to watch. "I'll be good mom, don't send me to my room" with a sheepish look. Then It's a pat and an okay and she's good. Dogs are all about knowing boundaries.
Mitsy was abused they are a bit different. Dini was too. Hate to say it , but Donnie was involved too. He took Dini in after the greatest abuse. But Donnie didn't understand that a dog doesn't need to be hit to obey. It was a shock when they moved in. Either the first or second weekend. I got a call from DS in an airport in Michigan, asking what was going on. My back neighbor heard Donnie screaming explectives and the dog yelping. She called Steve telling him she was afraid I was being beaten. Yikes.............What a mess. All that cared about me so upset. I had to start teaching Donnie as well as his Dini. Dini is short for Houdini. Yes, we had an escape problem too. The no hit rule was established immediately. Overtime Dini and Donnie learned the other rules. Both are well adjusted now
The run in the country corridor for Dini is special. He never understood freedom with limits. He's so self assured now. Mitsy will get there too
Time is what she needs and consistency.Getting maudlin now------and love.
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Lookie, We learn, my first learning about poking too much. 1975, OR patient with a throat tumor. The lead anesthesiologist put the case on hold after he looked in her throat with her sitting up. He came back after some minutes. She was proceeded to be put to sleep. The anesthesist couldn't access to put in the endotracheal tube, neither could maybe one or two others. The tumor was blocking access. The doc stepped forward. Took a device out of his pocket an did a needle 14ga.cricothyrotomy, Hooked it up to oxygen and she was good. It was a pretty frightening experience. Time slows down. I remember all the details still.
He was an experienced doc. He prepared for a failure. It allowed for absolute control. Pretty damn cool.
I had him teach me about the landmarks to do a cric (cricothryotomy). I went around feeling the landmarks the rest of the day. Then noted I had trouble swallowing. Duh, I had created a situation. It was a life lesson about poking
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sas,,ha, my 15 year old dog couldn't jump to get anything. Had her downstairs mist of the time,nice she doesn't hear well, she had no idea people were here....lol
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Picture of hubby and I just before cancer journey 15 years ago0 -
Owlettes!
Lurking, reading, sending love....
Wanted to mention something my MO told me last week....
We were reviewing my drugs, and she saw Omeprozole. That's a generic for Prilosec. I had taken it daily for years, then stopped. I couldn't remember why I started. (Indigestion? Reflux? Who knows.)
She told me that this drug is a Proton Pump Inhibitor, and was designed to be used short-term only - 14 days max.
Recent studies have shown that drugs in the PPI family can cause c. diff (Clostridium Difficile - a horrible, nasty, drug-resistant diarrhea caused by intestinal infection).
Many hospital patients acquire c. diff because it is present everywhere, but being on high-dose antibiotic therapy destroys all the good bacteria in the intestinal tract, and c. diff takes over. (I'm probably preaching to the choir here... y'all probably know way too much about c. diff already....)
The MO told me that I should switch to drugs like Pepcid, which are Histamine 2 Blockers. They do the same thing as Proton Pump Inhibitors, but without the connection to c. diff.
O.K. End of sermon.
Love y'all!!!!!
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just got word...tests were are stable !!!!!! Happy dance time
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Susan - Happy Dance indeed!
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Shep what was Marti's dx and what drug was she put on? At one point I thought she was having focal motor seizures. But then backed off on that b/c of another description. Oh yeah, the pacing....That was an unknown to me. What up? I'm doing split screen review. Didn't think I missed anything, but must have.
Melatonin was introduced to me by ChrissyB. She's a wonderful Aussie. In my worst days the only thing that would knock me out was Melatonin 10mg and Ativan 4mg. Chit, now I'd probably have to go to the hospital. But it was an awful, awful time. I started this thread b/c I was tried of being up in the middle of the night with no one to talk too. On about page 180 I made it my home social thread. That's when it became 24/7
In a do over I would have tried a higher dose of Melatonin. I'm big into Cytochrome450 liver enzymes. They are metabolizing pathways. Since those dark days, I think it is 1A2 has been identified as the pathway for melatonin. We are designed for it. God did it
I think if you look at more current info up to 20 mg. of melatonin is safe. Of course, just saying that is making my OCD voice repeating "Check that, Check that". Actually, should. melatonin research was blossoming. Different than other non patentable drugs.
Love it that you caught the thought about the Golden Dildo Award. Dildo's are fine. But the connotation of being such an anal wad. Yes, The doc had his WHOLE HEART TEAM quit on the same day. He was so denigrating. He was fine outside the room. When he got in the surgical room. He'd call all of them every 4 letter name in the book. On the particular day they all quit, cunt was his word of choice. Can you imagine the chit that went down when the CEO had to explain to the Board of Directors why the HEART program had to be shut down. It never leaked to the press, or maybe the press was convinced not to print it.
Being on the Heart team was my goal when I went to the OR. With the description above you can see why I didn't when I could have. But explaining to others why I didn't when I said it was my goal wasn't easy. We kept the wall of silence. Rarely, have I told that story.
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Susan, just got to your post " got all my tests today, yuck day." I know in good time you will explain further.
From the topic box " "Be still and know that I am God" and "He Wept"- Susan3 and Loverfolife, 2015".
Your doc, has pulled so much out of the trick bag. I think your MO is a rare breed that should be cloned. Continue ..................and breathe, L&H&P's
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Cb deleted posts, several, what's that mean?
Shep, naw, can't say broken tool in spine without the story? I'm an old OR nurse right. Details.........
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sas keep reading...tests were stable ...yeahhhhh
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Susan great news
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cb
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Sas,
I had total thyroidectomy due to cancer in 1992. My niece just had the same last month.
Thyroid directly relates to how your body processes calcium from Vit D. My Vit D levels are horribly low and I know there's a cancer correlation in this vitamin D thing.
My PCP has me on a weekly supplement.
cb
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Sorry. All I could think of was "Raindrop my @** - it looks exactly like a breast implant!"
http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliareinstein/raindrop-cake?bffbfood&utm_term=.upmGj0Ppv#.jyX8G5EeL
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Lookforward - Oregon is beautiful. Yes we do have our share of overcast rainy days, but the greenness of the landscape is so great. In the Summer, even when we have very warm weather, once the sun goes down we are able to open our windows because the temps cool down very nicely. I lived in Las Vegas, NV for 15 years and DO NOT miss it at all. I enjoy going to Portland for the day, but always am thankful when I get back to Salem.
Also, yes I do have friends who are available if I need help, but most of us would like to have a real Mom. I have a Mother, but she never learned how to be a Mom. I truly envy those who are blessed with that kind of relationship with their mothers. Oh well.
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Good Evening Y'all! My, my everyone has been busy today.......gotta catch up.
Susan, your yucky day turned into a HAPPY day ~ Hurray!
JunieB, Don't know if insurance would cover it or not, but there are in-home caregivers available for a lower cost for cancer patients. Maybe a combo of a home aid and helpful friends? You can't be by yourself after surgery. Check with your doctor or the American Cancer Society to see what might be available for you. I'm happy for you to be having your hip fixed and so sad you don't have the support from your mom you need. (((hugs)))
Loverly, Yay for Mitzy being a good girl! As for dog hair in the bed, don't you know that doesn't "count"? It's just her special way of adding sprinkles of love to make the bed more cozy :-) I had my gallbladder out 16 years ago and my guts were never the same after. I already had GERD and a touchy stomach from years of NSAIDS (for arthritus). Now I have IBS - not as bad as yours :-( I am now lactose intolerant, cannot eat anything high in fat, nothing fried and no garlic, black pepper or other hot spices. I take Nexium first thing in the morning and Axid at bedtime. Later in the morning I take Robinul-Forte, which works to slow down rapid digestion and stop cramping. It can be taken up to 3x daily, I get by with 1x. My PCP is big on natural/herbal remedies and suggested I take Bromelain (Pineapple Extract) 3x daily. It works for digestion and for inflammation. I've gone weeks where I could skip the Robinul-Forte because the Bromelain worked so well for me.
CB, being pissed off is a-okay. When I get good and mad is when I am most productive! The dicktor (is that how to say it?) who first found my cancer told me I would "drop dead in 6 months". Pissed me off so bad that 3 years later I'm still here. Ha! Get mad, be sad, throw the grandest pity party ever. Get it out and then channel all that shite into ways to make things better. If you're not confident with your doctors, keep looking until you find someone who listens to you and knows what they are doing. Do what's best for you and your body. There are those who will tell you "horror" stories about this treatment and that treatment. They are called jackasses. Don't listen to them. Your Onc team works for YOU. Their job is to keep you comfortable and keep you here for as long as possible. Your job is make sure they do that. ( this attitude may be why my MO refers to me as "The Pain in the Butt" - he really loves me though)
Keeping Patty in my prayers ~ hope she gets to go home to her boys soon.
Sas, I'm catching up to you next...........
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Jumping into the conversation too. We've had a history of thyroid cancer in my family as well. My mom, my aunt and cousin on my dad's side. I had my thyroid removed in October due to possible Hurthle cell carcinoma, thankfully it was not. 3 months later got a DX of BC. Lots of other cancers in my family as well. Colon, lung, ovarian and a two BC.
Oregon is beautiful. Thinking of making a quick trip out there to see a friend who has been thru BC, before my surgery.
Have a great week everyone!
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Sas, The story of my spine......I will carefully phrase some of it so as not to show in an online search.
I have a moth eaten spine from all the bone mets. From the base of my skill to the tip of my tailbone. When first dx'd 3 years ago I was immediately given a brace as the Ortho was afraid my lower spine was going to collapse from the damage that included a fracture at L2. My MO is at one of the top cancer research centers (NCI Designated) and I have an outstanding team. I was started on monthly Zometa infusions right away which has helped strengthen my bones a bit. I had a round of rads to my spine, pelvis and hips that first month as well. I had been in a wheelchair in the beginning but after 3 months of treatment I was able to walk with a cane.
I had a procedure last spring that involved the placing of cement into that fractured vertebra to stabilize it and relieve nerve pressure. My surgeon is considered to be one of the best in his field. There were two devices used to put the cement into the vertebra; one on each side. One came out just fine like it was supposed to. The other snapped apart and no matter how he tried, the surgeon could not pull it out. It is lodged in the middle of the vertebra and cemented in place. It sticks out of the bone by a few millimeters. The only way it could be removed would involve cutting the bone apart.
The metal used was not supposed to be left in the body so it is not composed of materials that are MRI safe. Lucky me, I am the only person who has ever had this happen to with this procedure and tool.
I have had numbness in my one of my arms for about 2 years. Some of it comes and goes. My middle finger on that hand is always numb. On that same side of my body I have numbness in the lower leg. my foot is the worst; sometimes it feels like frostbite and hurts! All this is being caused by pressure on some of the nerve roots. I have soo much damage - a herniated disc, disc bulges, degenerative disc disease, bone spurs, pressure from lesions... So much pain every where that isn't numb. Plus I have all the mets in my hips and entire pelvis that all hurt all the time.
Post surgery, I have had CT scans and nerve studies but really need an MRI. The first specialist I saw for all this "passed" as I had more going on than he knew what to do with. (at least he was honest) The 2nd guy was an Oncology Neurologist; again more than he could handle. He did refer me to a Neurosurgeon who specializes in difficult cancer and spine cases. That is who I'll be seeing Wednesday. I don't want to get my hopes up and am stressed that this may be my last chance at getting some relief. Narcotics/opiates have no effect on my pain and only make me vomit.
I do have a legal person regarding the thingy where it doesn't belong. The person has been involved since August and nothing seems to be happening. I very little confidence in him.
That's the story......... Your opinions and advice would be greatly appreciated
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Shepkitty - Thanks for the hugs. Very appreciated. I personally love your spunky attitude. Mine gets me into trouble at times, but that's their problem I've come to realize. Depending on the circumstance I am either stubborn or determined. Depending on who the other party is.
Wow, reading your story of your journey thus far, you definitely have to be determined. How in the world do you get through a day without pain meds? When my pain isn't controlled, my anxiety gets high and I get cranky. I am allergic to Morphine & Dilaudid and the thought of not having meds for pain scare the heck out of me. What I take right now I take the lowest dose that gives me control so as to not build up a tolerance for as long as possible.
I was aware that there is home health care for people after surgery, but didn't know that there was extra help for cancer patients. Thanks for the heads up.
I certainly hope your appt. on Wednesday gives you some answers and hope.
Also, I second Sassy's question. What was Marti's dx and can the vet help her?
Susan - So glad your tests turned out to be stable. Thanks for sharing your pics of the shower. It looked like a great time for all.
Loverly - Now it's my turn to wonder where you are. You usually post every evening. Hope your doing o.k.
Well it's after 2:00 a.m., so I'm headed off to bed. Hope I can fall asleep. Goodnight to all.
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To all newbies to the thread
Insomniacs thread moves so fast, It's hard to keep up. I tend to read all the posts b/c whatever I missed, is in an answer to someone else. They're is only a few threads that move this fast.
If you have the ability to do split screen, it helps in reading for sure. Open two browsers to BCO. Split them 50-50. I type in the posting box on the right and read on the left.. I can be back several pages on the one screen and move forward while posting on the other screen. It's the only way I can keep up. Rare people can remember what everyone writes, not me. I plod along one post at a time
Plus, if you posted to someone and they don't answer, it could be for several reasons. Not everyone posts everyday. So you may not get an answer for a few days. Sometimes folks take a break i.e off on trips, chemoing, taking a BCO break. It may not be that the are rude, they just may not be here. This one is pretty universal to all threads.
What is unusual is they're is a mixed group on IT. Newbies and oldbies. That's very unusual on BCO. They're are a fair amount of posters. It's difficult to remember who's doing what. Threads range from 6-12 members, varies. The higher number is unusual. It's like being at Thanksgiving and everyone talking at once. You can catch a snipet of a thought, but missed the original post and things don't make sense.
Another thing, is you think your caught up and a post appears in a section that you have already gone by. You never see the post and someone thinks you're not answering. I really dislike this one. But it has to do with time. Took me awhile to figure that one out.
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Thanks for the explanation Sassy. I thought I was rather fluent after about 6 months on BCO, but this thread is at whole 'nother level.
Today is Tuesday, which is my morning to watch my neighbor Lori. Maybe I can catch up with all of you during her naps.
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Loverly, loved the marble machine. That kid is going to be a great inventor. Loverly, that was me in the reflection. Double chin and all LOL. Had to open a third browser to go find it
The wheat: I thought wheat at first, but wheat doesn't have the flower, and it's a definite flower. I tried keywords "signature designs of glass cutters" Didn't pull anything useful. Thinking of your sweetie in Nepal. " OCD will not allow me to have Mitzy in my bed. She sheds too much!' I put a special spread on the bed, that they are allowed to lay on. They are great about it. Unless of course I don't make the bed.Lookie great pic
Junie, an up and down week. Are you going to rehab after sx? Ask your Ortho doc to set up HomeHealth for the two weeks post op when you get home. Insurance will usually cover 2 weeks for a nurse and 8 weeks for PT. Ask for a nursing assistant. That's the important one. They can come in several times a week for bed bath and light food prep. I just saw Shep's post she's thinking the same thing I am.
Have you had a Social Work consultation in the home to "Evaluate for Services"(this is the order the doc needs to write)? You may be eligible for all kinds of things and not know it. Have your PCP write the order. This is a whole separate issue from Post-op HomeHealth. Strobe effect on the motion. Gasperilla, my son loves it. Tampa St Pete always has so much going on. I'm glad DS is there.
Shep what a wonderful idea on the picnic. I'll be right there
Blessings. Ditto on the PPB's and the can contribute to osteoporosis. I've been on a soap box about it for several years. The Blobs do look like implants---EWHHHHHHHHhhhhh
CB, ah-hah. What dose are you on for replacement? On the D I take 5000 a day.
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Susan
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