Post by: MrsLop on August 08, 2003, 12:09:41 PM
Radiation is finished! Amen to that!
During the last five treatments, they "Boosted" the
regular levels of treatment, wiping out what little energy
I had. I had no idea that I would be as lethargic as I
was from the treatment. Now that it is a done deal, I am
taking some time off to relax.
I had a return visit with my Chemotherapist on August
6th (Wednesday) , and I was given a 12 month
prescription of Tamoxifen. This is a pill form of
Chemotherapy. I will, if I have no adverse reaction to it,
be taking this for five years.
I was advised to rest for about a month before having
anything further done - ie... Hand Surgery.
Meanwhile, my Primary Care Physician had left her
practice and I had to find a new one.
I met with this new, very nice young doctor just last
week. She wanted me to have all of this testing done.
A Colonoscopy to determine if I have any other Cancer,
a Stress Test to determine why I am having breathing
difficulties, and some other routine Bloodwork etc..
After serious consideration, I cancelled all testing until
further notice. My husband and I have not had a break
since the diagnosis, surgery and treatments in December
of last year. I just wanted us to have some trouble free
weeks together.
It has been a very long journey and I am tired.
My Chemotherapist has promised me that my hair will
grow back (it all fell out during my Chemotherapy). My
hair was all the way down my back before it fell out.
She also said that my energy level will be increasing
but that I had to give it some time. One possible
problem is that the Chemotherapy pills have a very
slight chance of causing another Cancer somewhere
else in my body.
I feel like Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind",
in the last scene she says "...I can't think about this
today, I'll go crazy if I do. I'll think about it tomorrow."
I am just going to do what I have been doing throughout
this journey and that is to take it one day at a time and
pray every day.
For right now, I am just going to work on the Mac and
try to get out and do things with my husband , and
beloved adult children and grandchildren.
I just wanted you to know that I have been lurking
around TS even when I wasn't posting. The brain just
was not cooperating during treatments.
for all the good wishes and prayer support.I really do appreciate you all and everything that you
have done for me.
Myrna
Macland ...and I say to myself, it's a wonderful world.
Post by: Gregg on August 08, 2003, 12:53:03 PM
Good to hear you got through the chemo. I'm sure it's no fun.A colonoscopy isn't bad, it's the prep that isn't worth a $#!+ (sorry, couldn't resist)
I agree with the "take a break" approach. I've been "bedside" with a son and my wife this summer. Enough is enough, and neither were truly traumatic.
Post by: dolphin on August 08, 2003, 01:03:16 PM
The best to you Myrna!!!
Post by: MrsLop on August 08, 2003, 01:37:45 PM
Gregg,Even the Colonoscopy right now, seems too much to ask.
I have never had one, much to my doctor's chagrin.
She is hot to trot about the testing.
Somehow, I find it hard to get enthusiastic about
anyone fishing a tube with a light attached to it
through my person.
Care giving can be really hard to do. I am sorry to
hear that you were pressed into service.
I don't know how my husband perservered all this
time (since December 19th, 2002). He is my rock.
I hope that your family appreciates your efforts.
It is so good to hear from you again.
Thanks for the understanding and support.
Myrna
Post by: MrsLop on August 08, 2003, 01:50:06 PM
dolphin, to my "Adventures...",How very kind of you to buck me up. Thanks for being
here. It has been a real help to me - coming to TS; and
it really helped to make my journey more bearable.
Thanks again and drop in and let me know what you
are doing and what you are up to.
Myrna
Post by: RobW on August 08, 2003, 05:23:17 PM
but the procedure itself is nothing to worry about. (I'll be happy to "talk" offlist with anyone who has the need to get more information.)
Post by: MrsLop on August 08, 2003, 07:25:04 PM
Evening Rob,Nice to hear from you to.
Don't panic, I didn't say I wouldn't ever have a Colonoscopy,
I just said that I wanted some time off.
My husband goes back to school at the end of this month.
He needs a rest from "our illness", as much as I do.
I will be setting up an appointment within the next two weeks,
along with the Stress Test and Bloodwork, that the new Primary
Care Physician wants.
I need to steel myself for the next hurdle. Besides the above,
I am badly in need of hand surgery. It appears that the soonest
that I can make an appointment is in a month.
I need some time to empty the brain from all the traumas "we"
have been through and recharge the batteries for the next
surgery.
Believe me, I plan on doing all I can to preserve my life.
for your input. It is always valued and appreciated.How have you been and what have you been doing?
Myrna
Post by: krissel on August 09, 2003, 05:19:29 AM
Good to hear the worst of the treatments are behind you. After all you've been through you certainly deserve to take a break. It's amazing what a little mental breather can do for the physical side of your being.
Have a little fun and playtime with family and the newest child... your Mac.
Post by: RobW on August 09, 2003, 05:36:36 AM
Nah, I wasn't in a panic about you at all. I know you'll do whatever it takes. You've more than proven that in a very short time. As I said in my post--I do agree that the break will probably do you a world of good. I was actually just giving some not so subtle advice to those of our TS family who may be a bit squeemish about the colonoscopy. When the nurse tells you that it's done, you'll wonder when they started.
Post by: MrsLop on August 09, 2003, 08:37:36 AM
RobW,You aren't far from the mark about the TS members being
squeamish about having testing.
I was chatting with one who insists that doctors always
find something wrong - ergo, if you don't have the tests,
the doctors can't find anything wrong.
Of course, I was concerned about having the testing
done. That said, concern, did not translate to fear or
of denial. It was more like my version of a she
she, hissy fit. I thought to myself, "..you want to fish
this tube through where to do what... well, of course,
dear, mind that you don't puncture anything vitally
important, now. How about next year?" I think that
my being very tired had more to do with this she she
hissy fit, than anything else.
My visit to the doctor that day, was after being up 21
hours straight trying to fix my Internet problems.
The doctor thought that I was "spaced out". She
laughed when I told her why I seemed to be "spaced"
It wasn't until the next day that I decided that I really
needed to be good to myself and get some R and R.
My husband thought so too.....
I am glad that you brought that up though, because
you never know who may be lurking around TS.
Myrna
Post by: taliesin on August 09, 2003, 11:02:24 AM
I have followed your courageous adventure but not chipped in so far.
It sounds like R and R really are in order -- and have been for some while.
So do relax as best you can and make the very most of it with your husband for just as long as you need.
I'm saying this now partly because I had a colonoscopy, on top of a few other things, last month. It really is no big deal: I was able to walk to the clinic and then back in the afternoon, and my real mistake was to be hungry enough to shove a meal down then.
But -- as Gregg sort of says
-- the preparations are, mmm. Arduous.Not painful, but exacting.
You do not need to put your body through that right now.
Like you, your feller and your mind, it requires as much rest as it can get.
All my very best wishes,
Nick
Post by: MrsLop on August 09, 2003, 11:40:45 AM
to "The Adventures of MrsLop in Macland", Nick,It's a pleasure to finally meet you.
I have been frentic since I received my "new" Mac.
I have had the most awful time trying to print out
medical information using IE, to my printer.
Post Script errors abound.
I fly by the seat of my pants to try to learn as I go.
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement and
support. "We" (my husband,Tom) and I, have been on
a long road with my Cancer. "A journey of a thousand
miles begins with one step." I just take things one day
at a time. That has been a real blessing. Before I knew
it, my surgery and recuperation were done. The same
was true with my hospital IV Chemotherapy and finally,
with my Radiation Treatments. In retrospect, I am very
glad that I used that philosophy of taking one step. It
can be overwhelming to try to look to far ahead.
for being out there and I am happy that you finally decided to join in my "Adventures.."
Believe me the word "Adventures" couldn't have been
more appropriate - for me or my circumstances.
Myrna
Post by: taliesin on August 09, 2003, 03:38:29 PM
Thanks for the welcome aboard your long journey.
These days, I'm far more often "out there" -- way out there -- than I show up here. But that doesn't mean that I'm not here in spirit, or "lurking" and prowling.
Like you, I'm learning to rethink time.
Post Script errors I haven't had to tackle.
BTW. I don't know who made the banner. If somebody said, I've not spotted it. But I like it!
Post by: Mrious_be on August 10, 2003, 07:00:26 AM
Makes me feel hurt all the way inside.
But, i do wish you all the best, and it seems you are going on the right track
My wishes and hopes are with you.
And i'm really pleased to read that you don't give your believes, things like that are verrrrry importand.
Post by: MrsLop on August 10, 2003, 07:59:01 AM
Mrious_be,You don't have to tell me, but I wish I knew your real
first name. You have been here to support me from
the very beginning of my "Adventures". I like to think
of you as a friend, and my friends have first names
that I use when addressing them.
I really felt the pain you still carry about you little
brother.
Just for speaking for myself, I don't believe that our
loved ones ever really pass away. My loved ones are
with me in every memory of the times we spent together.
I think of my Mother and all of the fun I had with her.
The sound information and advice she gave are with me
today. I think of my older brother who passed away
from Pancreatic Cancer and how he opened up whole
new worlds for me as a little girl. He instilled in me a
love of the Arts: music, painting and writing. He was a
firm believer in family loyalty, too. I think of my Maid of
Honor, a diminutive Sister of Mercy, who made me and
everyone she met feel like they were the only person
she cared about. She was the best listener and friend
that I have ever had. She passed away from Leukemia
complications and battled Cancers of various forms for
ten years. I there are many losses of relatives and
friends... and many fond memories. I smile when I think
of them.
I am sorry about the loss of your little brother.
Nothing will ever erase your love of him or your
memories.
Thank you again, for sharing and for being here for me
and others on the TS Board.
My journey in Macland has been enriched with you as
a fellow traveler.
Gratefully,
Myrna
Post by: Mrious_be on August 10, 2003, 08:36:47 AM
Well.... while i'm still blushing from a sweet reply you gave, i have to give my name here
It's Marcel but some chatfriends say Marc, and one (yup yup Vijay... where are you....) calls me Jean, as that's my second name, hehehe.
I know i'm not a good person to talk to about topics like this, as i'm kinda emmotional and i can easy feel the pain others go through (which sometimes is just hard).
But that doesn't mean i don't care, but you know that
Have the very best off wishes.
Marcel <---
(Gosh it's so warm here)
