raneyf

Congratulations Bucky! Here's to another 5 years.

I know what you mean - I feel like it's been 10 years since I was diagnosed, but then I look at the baby and can't believe he's 1! I'll be praying the Tarceva's working. It's got to work for one of us. Raney

My first day off decadron I had a horrible headache and started throwing up. They had me come to the ER for a quick scan and then gave me more decadron. I'm still tapering off of that, down to 1/2 mg per day. It was really no fun, so you might want to call the doc. Once I got the decadron and some Zofran and Morphine, I was o.k. and released that same day. I hope you feel better. Raney

Rachel, I've never been angrier at something or hated something more in my life. I completely understand. I hope you got some rest and feel better today. Raney

I was on 600mg ibuprofen every 4 hours, +20mg of the long acting oxy 2x per day, with the 5mg breakthrough pain tabs of oxy used sometimes too. It was from bone pain in my left hip and spine.

The radiation would be for her spine or other bone mets that are causing pain. It wouldn't be to cure, but to alleviate the pain. It worked 100% for me. I don't have to take any pain meds now, so it's worth asking about.

I don't have any great suggestions - I'm assuming he's not anemic. I've heard people say a "little" exercise helps sometimes, but I don't know if that's feasible. Maybe just a walk around the house or something. Are they trying to take him off the steroids and tapering him? Maybe that's contributing? Is he eating well? Just brainstorming, sorry not more helpful.

Has anyone offered her radiation for the bone mets? That helped me 100%.

I am grateful that I started chemo today and I think it's working. Is it possible I feel better already? I think I do and I'm going with it!

Glad to hear from you. I've been wondering how you've been. Wedding is right around the corner. Exciting times. I was a mess befor our wedding, so I imagine Julia is stressing. Keep helping her out and have a great time. Raney

I feel like Debi. I need to help them hurry up and grow up and function without me. I try to write letters and stuff but it's so hard and feels like I'm giving up. It's also weird in my head - like everyone I love is dying, not me - so I'm grieving for them everyday and my heart is breaking everyday. I'm not withdrawn like you describe - I still talk and communicate, but maybe that's a female thing. I just thought I'd give you some perspective from a patient also. I'm sorry it's so hard. I'm so sorry for all my loved ones and caregivers too. Raney

I had a bad reaction too. They switched me to Abraxane which had no problems. You might ask about it. I know the reaction is scary. Sorry you had to go through that.

I'm so sorry Jill.

I'm sorry Jill. I hope the hospital had some success making her more comfortable last night. My prayers are with you. Raney

Yes - life's normal with one - even with my kids. Life is actually much better not worried about every IV. Most of my anxiety now is during MRI's and CT's with contrast where they can't use the port for whatever reason.

I'm grateful that my parents have my family and my sister's family over for dinner almost every Sunday night. We get to catch up with each other and the cousins get to play. I've been married for 8 years and the tradition is still going strong.

You probably don't have to wait until open enrollment to switch to family coverage. I think that your husband's disabled status will qualify as a life event change similar to if he had lost his job. Check with your HR but I'm pretty sure about that. I'm sure COBRA will be hugely expensive, so it might be a better way to go to just switch to yours ASAP.

I am thankful my hair is all out and not making a mess all over my house, clothes, kids etc. anymore.

Hi, I just received my first disability check and I'll tell you what I know. I signed up online for it and needed some extra forms filled out that they sent to my home. I did it myself and thought it was pretty easy. You have to be disabled for 5 full months before a payment comes, so my diagnosis was in 10/06, my first check was for April-June and arrived in July. I then got another check early August and it should continue monthly. The pamphlet they gave me says I'll be eligible for Medicare 24 months after I've been on disability, so that's not great news for you. I'm covered on my husband's insurance. The whole process took a while though. I think I first signed up online in December and then there was some mail correspondence after that. I think that's about all I know. Hope it helps somewhat. Raney

I am grateful that my chest x-ray taken yesterday only shows small limited growth of primary, since I've been off of treatment for 2 months during radiation. I'm also thankful for my doctor for calling and telling me last night.

Hi Heather, I don't know about the talc procedure, and I'm sorry you're having pain. I kind of understand about the diet though. I was trying to do the Budwig diet for a few months prior to this (not as long as you were on the Macrobiotic diet I realize). Then I started radiation for a few bone mets and then WBR. Radiation has some effects on me that just make me not hungry and the WBR caused nausea. I dropped 20 lbs in a month, and while I'm not scary skinny, I haven't been so skinny since college. I decided to just eat what I could eat to get through this amount of time, because I wasn't going to let the cancer win this way. I'm like you and still try to avoid the big no-no's for the most part. I'm sorry you're having the problem with the diet community. I just wanted to let you know that I understand where you're coming from. Raney

I am thankful for my next door neighbor, Jeri. She's always available and willing to babysit my boys and she brings us donuts and home-grown tomatoes.

I'm thankful for a great day yesterday. I felt well with no nausea and limited coughing. Had lunch with my aunt, saw my sister and my grandma. Went to dinner with my family, ran normal family errands (picking up birthday presents and getting ds a haircut), then topped it off with a yummy Hawaiin Shave Ice that dripped all over me in the 110 degree AZ heat. Then I watched Last Comic Standing and laughed for a while before bed. It's been a few weeks since I had a normal day and I enjoyed this one.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your daughter. Raney

I am grateful for my husband that refuses to believe I'm not going to be o.k. somehow.