My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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We're still having hot weather, (83 today) but by Monday we won't even meet 70 degrees and we're supposed to top out at 60 on Tuesday. Fall is on the horizon in the Rockies. That means snow on the Peak probably by Tuesday. That's normal. I have lots of beautiful flowers right now so I will be watching for frost.
I had a dental appointment today to replace a crown that was disintegrating. I hate going to the dentist any time, but by the end of today my dentist said I deserved a purple heart. The old amalgum just wouldn't drill out. I have a very small mouth and the dentist needs to use child-sized tools and it is tricky getting in since I can't open very wide. Anyways, it was tough. I finally broke down and took a pain pill this evening. I don't fault the dentist. He has always been great and is careful not to do anything extra knowing my cancer history. Just not having the best day…
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@intolight I am glad the dental part of your day is over, hoping the pain relief is kicking in and hoping you sleep deeply tonight.
I've had a hell of a day if I am being honest, the floor is still a mess even with all the sweeping and vacuum having been done, I gave up for now, new broom and upright dustpan coming tomorrow. One nice thing is that the steel box while not 100 percent clean did get a good cleanout. Added far less litter so once the litter starts to clump, will dump into a garbage bag, I have two bags of stuff I put in my bin outside. The house does smell fresher now.
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@mara51506 When my last kitty died I decided not to get another one. I can't bend over well either and knew I wouldn't be able to keep her box cleaned up, etc. It was a tough decision, but I know it was the right one. This is the first time I have not had a cat since I left for college 50 years ago. Before she passed we switched to using pellets and it was easier than the sandy stuff in many ways. I have to content myself with my DGD's small dog (almost exactly like Mel's) so I at least get to lap and pet her. But I miss my cats!
We are having a nice rain storm tonight. I feel sorry for those in the path of the hurricane though. We have had a lot of rain this year in the Rockies. It means that we also have more dense growth that increases the fire danger. Hopefully winter will arrive before the fires and hopefully we won't have more snow than normal.
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Lost my lenghty post. sigh………… Hi everyone. Weatherman said major drop in temps in a number of states in next few weeks. Didn't mention Florida though. DRATS.
I wonder how many have had an increase in infections since starting treatment. Seems monthly for me and having to use keflex, amoxoclavin, etc. I retyped my post three times now, so I 'll just call it a night. Storms in the area. In pockets for all and all your needs.
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@intolight Yeah, once my two are gone, no more cats I do not think, just get a stuffy to sit with. It is a lot of work to keep up with their litter etc. Must not have filled the box enough, one of them left me a present just outside. but that is removed already. Still smells nicer in here. I still have a lot of loose litter to get rid of from the spill yesterday but is coming along. Good news is that cat has accepted the new amount of litter and used the box.
I slept like a dead person, part was sleeping through the reels I watch on facebook, then set the rain noise I like to sleep with.
I am getting some stuff from Amazon today, the chocolate I felt I owed myself after my day yesterday, a garden trowel for when scraping may become necessary, I also got a standing dustbin. It comes with a broom although my vileda is likely better than that. Just have to figure out where everything goes. I currently have the proper corded vacuum, sweeper vac which did respectable in the litter mess .
Got some dishes that soaked overnight so will clear those out and see about putting together another egg, rice, bean and beef bowl. Will heat up rice first, clean the pot and spray a pan with some canola oil and cook a frozen burger, mash it down first, degrease the pan. Got some KD pasta 1/4 cup in some boiled water, put a lid on it and let the steam cook the noodles, no cheese powder but can make up a suitable taste, serving with chipotle beans as well. I feel hungry but not ready to cook up a burger currently. Egg will come later. Will also look up other beans to finish, I did purchase beans in a chili sauce which would taste good.
I find I like to flavour meals with more things like bit of dressing or mayo blends, watching sodium a little more and I go crazy with the dry ones sometimes, if I ease back on those, should go back to a normal or slight low BP. I can have everything, just taking all into consideration.
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@irishlove Do an immediate CtrlX when you lose a post and see if you get it back. I also make sure I am logged in first.
Are you immune compromised? I have been on some of my treatments and got sick a lot, but not anymore. Just a thought.
Yes, we are going to be cooler here and may barely reach 70° here today.
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Had the exact same dental procedure to replace a crown last year. Hope the pain is subsiding. I have the same problem with having a very small mouth and fortunately found a wonderful dentist 4 years ago. The one before him actually dislocated my jaw trying to force his huge hands in there. I have had several dentists over my lifetime who seem to be oblivious to the fact that there is a human being attached to the mouth they're working on.
Glad you're getting cooler weather. Still touch and go here in the mid-atlantic.
I am immune compromised and yes, @irishlove , I went from being someone who rarely had a cold to a prolonged bout with pneumonia last year and a miserable episode of diverticulitis this year that is still lingering. I miss my stamina and resilience. Between the symptoms of that and the side effects of Kisqali, my intestines will never be the same. The gastroenterologist is pressuring me to have a colonoscopy and I told him to back off. He persisted, saying that he needs to rule out cancer and I reminded him that I was already metastatic and I doubted that one more would have a significant impact on my life expectancy. I'm in an unusually ornery mood, probably in anticipation of the 🤬faslodex injections scheduled for Monday.
Hope everyone has a peaceful weekend with at least one small joy in each of your days.
Eleanora
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I will end the dirty floor saga with some encouraging news. I got my Amazon steel garden trowel, using that if needing to scrape the steel box, my dustbin and broomset are nice, keeping the bin in front of the microwave shelf, can just take the broom and move everything there, vacuum up rest. Tomorrow will have me continuing the cleanup, I have some storage under the couch so pull that all out and go under with the broom, dustbin came with it. The dustbin has nice teeth that clean the bristles of t he broom. I figure that a dust, sweep into the bin, a quick once over with one of my vacuums and quick microfiber mop will go a long way to improving my floors.
As promised, last of the long posts, I am just happy that things are coming along well for the cleanliness.
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Just woke up, wound up in bed by 5am due to chocolate later at night, body did try to wake me earlier but just woke now. I really felt like it was monday to day but no, just Sunday. Feeling overloaded with chores on the floor that need to be done that I am feeling tired and depressed and that it will never clear up.
Stopped negative thinking. Taking what needs to be done and sectioning it off into stages, there really is nothing saying I cannot do a small section of floor, broom and dustpan to get into crannies, my little bissell corded vac to pick up stuff as well. I need dishes done, since my kitchen has virtually no counter and the sink is overloaded, going to take a bag and put what does not need doing immediately and fill the sink. Can also put silverware and smaller bowls in wee washers with soap and hot water to soak with, no agitation. I saw someone film if dishes can be done in a washer and unless they are plastic, that is a hard NO. The dishes broke on the spot.
Since I ama hungry now, getting my usual Mcdonalds when I am starving, s deluxe cheeseburger because it comes with tomato at no extra cost, also have my coke and junior chicken. I really enjoy this meal, Also got more butter and some plain ketchup packets.
I hope today is good for everyone and in pockets if you need me.
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I’m requesting pocket duty for scans tomorrow. The last ones hinted at possible progression so I’m really nervous
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You got it! I am in your pocket for sure and totally sympathize with the nervousness and anxiety this can bring. Fingers crossed 🤞 and best of luck!☘️
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Wren, I will jump in your pocket too. I understand your scanxiety and fears. Got you covered…
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@wren44 In your pocket for your scans. Sending support your way and breathing exercises too to manage the anxiety.
I was anxious earlier today, not for scans but fear of not getting stuff done. I did decide to tackle clearing up the floor but in sections, taking breaks between. Started sweeping then sat down, emptied bottom storage of the couch and vacuumed that out. It looks better in here. I did start up the robot vac but it got itself stuck WAY under the couch at the back. Since I do not care for the machine, I will live it there without concern of getting it out. The dustpan is a win, just stick my foot behind and use the broom that came with it. If I get tired, I can rest.
I had peanut butter at near dinner time after some chocolate. Good protein and not doing anymore.
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@wren44 Reporting for pocket duty. Prayers for the day to be over quickly and that all is well. You need a lot of pockets with all the gals supporting you. You got this!!!!
I sure am immune compromised. Years of MS treatments and of course Ibrance now. Neuo said he will not add any other treatment plan at this time. I rejoiced. Just tired of one bottle after another of antibiotics. The salivary gland blockage came back. 7 days of augmentine. Last month diverticulitis. 10 days of antibiotics. Month before, UTI. You get it.
The weather did change here. Much cooler after tremendous storms rolled thru. I feel crappy as the storms lasted all day. I find my legs super weak right now. Get to see Neuo Tuesday and the Pain Management clinic on Thurs., to see if an epidural will aide with severe back pains. PT and cortisone did not work.
In pockets for all my sweet friends. May your days be pain free and your spirit bright.
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wren - joining others for pocket duty. Prayers for a good outcome of scans🙏🏻🙏🏻
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Sorry the storms made you feel crappy, but glad they brought cooler temperatures. Being able to go outside, even just to sit and look at the sky and the trees and flowers is a definite mood booster. Hope the experts can create an effective plan for your back pain.
Does your MO stop Ibrance while you're on augmentin? I had it for 3 weeks for my recent bout with diverticulitis and my MO had me stop Kisqali for that time. Have my first regular 4 week bloodwork today and hoping the numbers are still in the normal range despite the Kisqali "vacation".
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I was wondering if any of you have had Signatera testing done? It is a blood test for ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA). I have read about it. I asked my MO about it, and he said we could do it on me. I get the blood test on Friday. They say it takes a while to get the results. Just wondering if any of you have done it.
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@irishlove I am so sorry you are dealing with the pain. I hope someone can come and take care of you, I would think an epidural or nerve block would help. If you are in bed, is it possible to bring knees to chest to possibly loosen it safely, just to make it a bit easier to move about? Don't want to suggest too much but if muscle could be loosened that may of a help. May be a safe way to strengthen legs without relying on standing on and have the benefit of taking weight off your back. In pockets for you anyway.
@wren44 I am still in your pocket even dealing with my own life. I am in pocket holding your hand and giving you a hug as well.
Slept well, no plans other than taking out of garbage. Will store my own in bins I bought from Walmart. Save me from keeping them in the bin out back. Nice rubbermaid totes. One for garbage bags until pickup time, one for recycling stuff and one for food storage as needed. 18 gallons each with lid. Will exchange the large cardboard box for Tigger and put a blanket on the lid, that can house some of the stuff I have under the lid. Out back where I was storing is covered in recycle trash and I could trip. Going to also take garbage bag out front and empty contents of a larger recycle bin, it has been out there weeks and is an eyesore. It bugs me so will remove the stuff and take the recycle bin for myself as it does not belong to someone else. If I leave it, will be moved back and forth forever.
Wound up have a deluxe cheeseburger from Mc d and a junior chicken burger. Like the deluxe cheeseburger as I can add a free tomato, lettuce and mayo sauce. It comes with a tomato anyway so there were two.
Supper will likely involve a quesadilla of some sort. Stages are needed for this,need to microwave a whipped egg, hamburger and add in some peppers. Figure if done in the magic bullet then microwaved, avoid the explosion. Take over to the chopper, chop it up with some cheese and add to the centre of quesadillas, heat up the quesadilla a few minutes and fashion some condiment to have on the side, should be pretty good.
I removed a lot of this previous post as too word heavy before. I want to say hoping the day is going well and in pockets for everyone who might need me.
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@tanya_djamila @snow-drop @intolight @irishlove @illimae @mara51506 @eleanora @cookie54 @threetree @wren44 @goldensrbest @mkestrel@candy-678 @gailmary and all whom I have missed here. Saying Hi and updating. I had my last scan yesterday the brain MRI. . Last week the nM Bone & the CT Scans. I haven’t been feeling too well since. Nausea, acid reflux and esophageal pain, extreme tiredness and another annoying cough that keeps me awake at night.. I got the MY Chart notification this morning on my CT results. I’m really confused by it and has me questioning this cough I’ve had. Usually the scans always say stable and unremarkable and all organs are normal…. this time they mention GGO. ground glass opacity in both lobes. and in the impression they keep mentioning scattered sclerotic metastases and mention of lesion in femur and pubic groin. area…..this i all so new, but in the impression summary……. Am i being paranoid about my lungs?
FINDINGS:CHEST:THORACIC INLET: Normal.
MEDIASTINUM/HILA/AXILLA: Stable posterior mediastinal node superiorly measures 1.3 x 0.8 cm in the tracheoesophageal groove on the right.
CARDIOVASCULAR: Cardiac size is normal. No pericardial effusion.
LUNGS: Central tracheobronchial tree is patent. Mild scattered atelectasis. There is patchy groundglass opacities bilateral lower lobes right upper lobe posteriorly slightly increased in conspicuity from prior examination. No suspicious nodule. No mass or consolidation. No pleural effusion. No pneumothorax.
BONES/SOFT TISSUES: Scattered sclerotic osseous metastasis. Postsurgical changes of the left breast and axilla.
ABDOMEN/PELVIS:HEPATOBILIARY: Liver is normal.
Gallbladder and biliary tree are normal. SPLEEN: Normal.
PANCREAS: Normal.
ADRENALS: Normal.
KIDNEYS/URETERS/BLADDER:
Normal. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS: Uterus and adnexa are unremarkable.
BOWEL: Moderate hiatal hernia. No bowel obstruction.
PERITONEUM/RETROPERITONEUM: No adenopathy or ascites.
VASCULATURE: Scattered arterial calcifications. No abdominal aortic aneurysm.
BONES/SOFT TISSUES: Scattered sclerotic osseous metastasis. Surgical changes in the right anterior abdominal wall ____________________
IMPRESSION: 1. Scattered sclerotic osseous metastasis.
2. Posterior mediastinal node, stable.
3. Patchy groundglass opacities bilateral lower lobes and right upper lobe posteriorly slightly increased in conspicuity from prior examination. Findings may reflect infectious/inflammatory process.
?????????
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@shanagirl I’ve had stuff like this pop up before too. “Lesion” really just means something, not necessarily cancer. When I questioned it, the MO confirmed that it was likely an older injury or degenerative changes and was not progression. I also had ground glass before, which cleared up on it own by the next scan and was thought to be the result of inflammation or some random infection that I didn’t know I had.
Stable is great, that’s all I’d focus on unless they say otherwise.2 -
@shanagirl I agree with illimae. I think that if they'd thought the lung situation was suspicious for metastasis, they would have said so. This looks good to me! Especially after all you have been going through.
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Well, got my 4 bags of trash, mostly cat litter and from the mess I made and other trash from the fridge, one of the bags was so heavy, thought I would fall but did not thanks to the cane. They are completely done. Went back and forth 3 times back to front, was breathing hard almost panting when I was done. A neighbour asked me if I was OK, said yes and thanked him. Not done recycling yet so may do that or leave til next week. I will see how I feel in couple to few hours. I am not feeling energetic right now, rest is best. I also have those rubbermaid bins with lids and that can house recycling and extra garbage. I did pick up the few things out back and just stuck in the recycling bins out back, if feeling energetic after supper, may see about the box or not.
I also made the mistake of wearing only sock mops outside, did not even think of it and realized that was not such a great idea once I stepped on some stones. I will see about recycle soon. Also jonesing for more protein quickly so will put another skip order in but this time for harvey's and get some onion rings May give enough energy to get the recycle out or sort it and just keep in outdoor bin til my containers arrive for indoor use.
Got a Harvey's order coming with onion rings and a ton of veggie toppings with cheese and bacon, smaller burger and bun and getting a pepsi. It will be good, sitting on my but the rest of today.
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@shanagirl, Jumping in here about your lungs. The CT report sounds like mild organizing pneumonia, the initial stage of pneumonitis. It’s an uncommon SE of Verzenio and many other drugs. All CDK4/6 inhibitors have pneumonitis/ILD as a black box warning. The severe cough and fatigue (especially if it gets worse with exertion) are symptoms. GERD exacerbates the inflammation since stomach acid is aspirated into your lungs when you lie down thanks to the hiatal hernia. Taking a PPI is helpful. At this early stage oral or inhaled steroids will clear it. If not treated it can turn into pulmonary fibrosis which shuts down respiration. It’s not metastasis but can wipe you out if it progresses. I ended up hospitalized on O2 with a grade 4 AE from radiation. Thankfully one lung recovered. Pneumonitis is often mistaken for allergies, pneumonia and viruses so treatment gets delayed. I'd recommend consulting your MO or pulmonologist if you have one.
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@wren44 Squeezing in here for pocket duty, Wrapping you in a giant hug and sending good vibes your way.
@mara51506 Seems like you have been a very busy bee with housework. No worries, whatever you don't get done today will get done tomorrow or the next day. You have more energy than most and are doing just fine managing on your own❤️
@shanagirl Sorry you have been feeling crappy lately and are dealing with the annoying cough. As far as CT goes I am focusing on the fact that the GGO have been there and are "slightly" increased.I'm sure your MO will look at the images and your clinical symptoms to decide how to handle this. Sclerotic osseous metastasis (bone mets), many radiologists instead of mentioning each bony location of mets will just emphasize scattered.Some radiologists are more wordy than others in reporting. I know it's sooo hard not to worry and I totally understand! You're in good hands and I have faith that your MO will be able to break this all down for you to see if there are any changes of concern.Wrapping you in a giant calming hug❌⭕️Hope you sleep better tonight!
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Mara - you have been so focused on cleaning up that mess! Sounds like your diligence is paying off.
Shana - lots of sound explanations from other sisters. Hope that helps to ease your mind.
Here for pocket duty for all in need.
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Hello Ladies. It’s not possible to update you all
On everything going on but I just wanted to check in and say I’m still here plugging along. I was reading along some and came to see mention of liver issues and Tanya had mentioned my liver spread at diagnosis, they did a resection and I’m going on 9.5 years since . If it’s small enough. Get it out.
gabbie is fighting with all she has. She’s in her back end chemo therapy after ending 18 radiation sessions 13 more chemos and then reconstructive surgery since her expanders have been in. It’s been a nightmare. I’m totally exhausted and am slowing down. I’m constantly tired. Had good bloodwork , feeling the same with fatigue bug over can’t complain except for my mouth. Never stops hurting. I think of you often and send out warm hugs and love to you all. I’ll keep in touch when time allows. So many doctors and chemo visits and sickness . I hate cancer so much and hope you’re all doing ok. Did I read someplace the KBL passed? 💔. Please tell me I’m wrong. 😞love to all7 -
@micmel big hugs to you.
To all my sisters, I feel less stressed today and looking logically at the unknown nomenclature that was used on my lung scan impression. I really think that my lungs have been compromised these past few busy weeks with that first cough virus i got during the running back & forth in the hot weather fo procedures and treatment and follow-up appointments. I also got that cough virus back again after my CT scan and it must have shown up in those striations in the lung. This morning I woke up with really bad lorengitis. DH is laugh at my voice wherever is let of it. I’ve had this when I was younger but everything seems to worry us more when we. Are scanned regularly and things like body changes show up. I got my MY CHART test results back last night and my bone scan & Brain MRI were stable and unremarkable. So I'm letting go of the worrying and just giving into the tiredness until this lung infection passes. Also my Onc has not called me so obviously he’s not worried. Also thanks to @maggie15
forjumping in with the encouragement. You are probably mostly right.. I’m now sticking to the Slippery elm & Euchalyptus teas and avoiding the popping do tums and Prilosec for the heart burn🩵🌷5 -
oooooffff that’s a tough one and did I see ebernixgrl? Spelling. Had passed as well. I really hope that is not the case. She was a long timer that would Break my heart in so many ways. Life is tough I don’t know how we do it.
Candy ~ ty honey for checking in on me. Hi Tanya. Missed you too. Shana. Thanks for mentioning me and not forgetting me.5
