Judy-OK

BUMP BUMP BUMP!!!!! Still anxiously waiting for mine but everyone else needs to order a few or several or ten or something. LOL

Sharon best wishes and prayers for you and Michael. You did mention the weight gain in the belly area over the past year and that certainly can make a difference in a persons ability to breath properly. That is one of the first things they mentioned in my pulmonary rehab program .... it seems the diaphragm can not comfortably or fully expand with the extra weight on it. Hopefully a simple diet and a bit of exercise and sweat will put Michael back on the right track. Either way you still have my prayers!!!

Welcome Robin glad you found us. Today is your first appointment with your oncologist. Here is praying you truly like this person and find them very willing to help you fight. I really like my oncologist and her attitude is always upbeat and super and I think she would even be fun to party with LOL. I do, however, have an appointment with her today to read my PET scan results and thought it has only been months the knot in my stomache returns every time and probably will for years to come. Have an attitude of gratitued and thing good thought. Best of luck with your appointment. Judy

I am like you Randy ..... but our weather is warming back up this week. LOL I only really get into cooking when it is cold outside. I think I ordered 5 and if they get here before Christmas then some will become Christmas gifts and if they get here after Christmas then they will just become "because I like you" gifts.

Hi Raney ... those symptoms sounds to me like my twice a year cold I used to get. Every spring and fall it would come around like clock work. Thankfully I have not had it yet this year. So as they say ... if in doubt contact the oncologist but try no to borrow trouble. I realize that every little pain or twinge I feel when I am this close to getting a scan makes my mind zoom off to places it just should NOT go. Let us know what you find out or how you are feeling. Take care.

Karen you and your family are definitely in my thoughts and prayers during your time of grief. Take care of yourself.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.

I just started a 6 to 7 week Pulmonary Rehabilitation program and was wondering if anyone else had an experience with something like this and if it was help to them. I will go 3 days a week for 3 hours a day and the class includes education as well as exercise in a controlled setting. They keep track of our oxygen levels and blood pressure. There are 5 of us in the class and three therapists that are with us at all times. Just wondering if anyone else has used this to help deal with their shortness of breath or other lung funtions in general. So far it has made me have a few sore muscles. LOL They also issued each of us a Ventalitory Muscle Trainer called a Threshold IMT. This should all be very educational for me. P.S. I have a Pet scan Monday and get the results Wednesday so if any of you have some spare prayers send them up for me. Thanks.

I always thought I had great veins. Never had a problem donating blood or taking blood tests. I did not realize they utilized the veins on the top of my hand/arm for chemo. The therapist asked me after my first chemo treatment if I would be willing to get a port. I did so. During the procedure my lung collapsed so had a few days in the hospital. When I went back to the surgeon who installed the port I asked him if I could keep it for the rest of my life rather than risk ever needing it reinserted. He laughted at me and said I certainly could as long as I got it flushed out every 6 to 8 weeks. Monday is my port flush and PET scan day. I guess afer having said all that I can be counted as a PRO port lady. LOL collapsed lung and all!!!!

Your friendly local American Cancer shop will also have a variety.

Jen you got me so excited with your posts that I had to order 5 of those darn books. This could be addictive.

Fodao ... I can sympathize with your dad and his taste buds. Everything tasted like metal to me. I had no one to cook for me so when I was too tired or weak I would make me a malt. Ensure was better than Boost for some reason but to a half a can of chocolate Ensure I would add three scoops of vanilla bean ice cream, three tablespoons of malt powder, a dash of vanilla and some extra hershey's chocolate syrup. Blend it in a blender and it actually tastes pretty darn good with all kinds of nutrients from the Ensure. I managed to put weight on during treatment. If he prefers another flavor go for it just add the malt powder and vanilla flavoring.

Paula ... having worked in Human Resources for many years I would urge you to apply for Family Medical Leave (FMLA). This would allow you to be available to go to your dads appts or be around to help with him during the worst of times without being punished by your employer. FMLA does not mean you will get paid for the time you are off but it does protect your job. Just a thought. Best of luck and be positive with an attitude of gratitude.

I had to laugh at Kim's post. I did not quit upon diagnosis but the day the pulmonologist told me he did not advise surgery because the loss of lung function to be dibiliating I did exactly what Kim was mentioning. As I drove down the expressway about every 5 miles I would toss a cigarette out the window. The time I smoked the most was early morning so I knew to be successful I would have to quit in the evening. I kept enough smokes to last me until 6:30 that evening and have now been smoke free ... cold turkey ... for almost 7 months. All the cutting back, patches, pills, hypnosis, etc. etc. did nothing to help me quit. You all might want to consider having a scheduled CHAT time for those that are trying to kick the habit. The support and fellow suffering can be more helpful than you can imagine. Good luck and I will be happy to join in on a chat like that.

Hi Aaron. My chemo cocktail included the steroid decadron which gave me the burst of energy and also kept me from sleeping on several occasions. Ambien would let me sleep for a few hours. Nothing worked as well as finishing the 35 radiation treatments and the chemo treatments. I still take a Tylenol PM every now and then but as the stuff left my body it was more a shutting down the mind problem than it was a sleep problem.

Welcome to a wonderful group of helpful and caring folks Kevin. By the time I finally got the diagnosis of cancer I had heard the word inconclusive so many times I wanted to scream. X-rays were read by two doctors and a radiologist specialist and deemed inconclusive by all three followed by a CT scan, PET scan and the first biopsy which were all inconclusive. Hang in there and keep a positive attitude and ask all the questions you want because someone in here has probably already experienced what you are going through.

Welcome Robin. I was like you upon diagnosis as far as my health and weight situation. My onc told me I had to eat anything and everything I could get my hands on in order to put some meat on my bones. That was about 6 months ago and during my chemo treatments and my radiation I did manage to put on about 20 pounds. Right now I am at the highest weight in my life and plan on staying there just in case. Try to think positive and remember attitude is everything.

((Lilly)) We started this battle about the same time. Know that you are in my prayers and I so hope the next treatment goes better and you do not experience the same problems again. These good folks have given you great advice. Remember attitude and gratitude can see you through anything!!! Judy

Thanks to all of you. I had made all the same justifications that you all brought up to a friend of mine and she said I was just making excuses for him. She has been a friend for about 25 years but the one thing she has never been is a mother. I did have lunch with some neighbors and friends which again makes me just thank the Lord for this board, the realitites of life, and the capability to face life head on ..... I just don't like the whine I had to have. Amazing what an outlet like this forum and a few tears can do to solve a bad day. Thanks again.

With Thanksgiving just winding down and the onslaught of Christmas just around the corner I have a non-cancer related question. This time of year can be difficult for even the healthiest of folks. Is there one forum more appropriate than the other on LCSC just to have a good old feeling sorry for myself want to have a short pity party. I am normally a very stoic, upbeat person ... or perhaps that is all a front that I use to convince myself that everything is right with the world. My son and his family live about 35 miles away and he called yesterday to wish me a Happy Thankgiving. I guess the upsetting part is I was not invited. He does work two jobs and things are often chaotic at their house but as far as I know I am on good terms with him and his wife. Well thanks for listening maybe I just need a good old fashioned cry but that just makes my eyes hurt and gives me a terrible headache.

Hi Teri!!! When I started my battle I tipped the scales at 101. The first thing my oncologist said was for me to eat anything and everything I could because it was mandatory that I put some weight on. Well here I set 6 months later and about 20 pounds heavier than when I started. When I was to tired to fix anything or not feeling well enough to really worry about cooking I relied on Chocolate Ensure which I mixed with malt powder, vanilla, ice cream and chocolate syrup ... the malt powder and vanilla took away the Ensure "taste" so many folks don't like. I can no longer wear any of the jeans and stuff I could wear before but my oncologist is a happy camper that I actually able to gain weight during treatment. Prayer are going up for you and your hubby.

I think you should call your oncologist now. Mine or one of her cohorts was available 24/7 for problems like you are currently encountering. Becoming dehydrated is not a good thing and can lead to far more difficulties that you even want to think about. Please call the office and talk with someone. It is a nasty battle we fight but they have so much knowledge and available medication to make it go more smoothly than what it sounds you are experiencing.

Hi Tammy. I am not a caregiver .... I am a hopeful survivor. I hope you do not take this the wrong way, as a matter of fact just DON'T take it the wrong way. I have always been a very strong and independent person that was to proud to ask for help and led other to believe I was the rock and needed no one and nothing. I am not sure if you have put this front on for people in the past but it so it is time to tear down those walls and ask for what you need. Very few people can read our minds and are more than happy to help if we can just admit that we NEED them. I used to detest the word "need" but cancer has taught me patience and the ability to ask for help. You are in my prayers.

Welcome aboard the greatest board around for caring and supportive people. Prayers are headed your direction.

Hi. I had 35 radiation treatments (5 days a week for 7 weeks) and six chemo treatments ... every Friday immediately after radiation. I endure the chemo very well but did experience some nasty skin burns from the radiation. They gave me Aquaphor and other meds and near the end some gel pads I could put in the refrigerator and then apply to the burned areas ... they were great. They took an x-ray weekly and then adjusted the location they hit with the radiation accordingly. Either this or the grace of God kept me from getting the problem with my esophagus that so many refer to. I tolerated the chemo very well but was quite tired during treatment. I am now 3 months out from my last treatment and find that I no longer need a nap during the day unless I just really over do things the day before. Best wishes and let us continue to hear from you, help you or support you in any way we can.