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IAAM

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Everything posted by IAAM

  1. Thank you all for your posts, and Katie, it's never too late! Didn't find out Monday like I had hoped, but still had a nice New Year's Eve. Barb, I was hoping that it was just the radiologists read, but I talked to my Dr. today. He looked at the CT films and PET. The PET showed the same "hot spots"/nodules/enlarged lymphs as the CT. I see him tomorrow and may have a biopsy, but I may not be a candidate for the biopsy because I only have 1 lung. I'll know more tomorrow. I think he thinks that probably it is back, actually, he thought these cells have been there (just too small to appear) since my surgery, since I had lymph node involvement, and might have gotten past the chemo and radiation. Said they usually appear between 1 & 2 yrs. from surgery, I'm right there. They are little buggers, aren't they! I may have to go thru some chemo and radiation again. I'll let everyone know. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, -Elyse
  2. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I will let you know.
  3. Just needed to post, to vent a little. Had my first change in a CT scan in 21 months. Dr. on vacation, but thankfully still read my report and sent me for a PET scan, Friday. He will be back tomorrow and I will hear the results. The waiting and not knowing is very hard. I'm a bit scared right now. The little ____ might be back, I thought I had gotten rid of it! You all have been very encouraging and I thank you. After I find out what's up, I'll be back here! Last year we had a wonderful New Year's Eve, hope tomorrow night we'll be celebrating a little bit. Hope everyone is having a great holiday season and have a very happy new year! -Elyse
  4. IAAM

    The Battle

    Thank you all for your responses. I'm not very good at putting my feelings into words, so many of you are. I really enjoy reading your posts. You are all incredibly strong, encouraging, inspirational, positive Survivors, and I'm glad to be a part of this! My nephew (8 yr) once said to me, "Daddy (my brother-in-law) said you're Wonderwoman because you "beat" cancer!" I think of this often. Thank you all, -Elyse
  5. One of the positive things that has happened is I've realized how strong I could be. I think I might have "kicked *ss"!!!! It's not always easy, but I try to appreciate everyday, some of the little things. I read a book that said to try and appreciate certain things like washing dishes. I think I'm doing good on that one. 2 days in a row last week I sat in traffic for about 2 hours. I generally think I've become less patient since my cancer, which may not be positive, but... sitting in that traffic I thought to myself... I am HERE, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I have water and crackers in the car, my cellphone battery was very low, but I have music, so what if my leg is getting tired on the clutch (I have a stick-shift)... I am HERE! -Elyse
  6. IAAM

    The Battle

    Yesterday my father's internist asked how I was doing. My dad said he always asks about me. I thought that was nice. His Dr. then asked how my battle was going. My reply to my dad was, "I'm done with my battle", but then said, "maybe the battle is never finished", and my dad agreed. Just curious about your thoughts, thanks. Hope you are all doing well. -Elyse
  7. Sally, Thoughts and prayers are going out to you. Please keep us posted. -Elyse
  8. Eileen, Connie and Pam, thank you for your posts, I love what you wrote. I've had some similar experiences and got good advice also from these posts. I had my right lung removed 1 yr. and 8 months ago. I am still numb and figured I might always be. I cough, and am SOB sometimes, but do think of this all as the "new norm". I do get tightness in my chest, mainly in the lung that is still there. It happens with high humidity or very cold weather. Last Fall I was still going through radiation, so I can't compare to now. This is my first Fall, so I think of it as a baseline of how it will be in the future. (kind of like a baseline mammogram, I guess) I do feel that I HAD lung cancer, but think that it's natural to feel scared at every ache & pain. Maybe that always stays with us. I don't like to be a hypochondriac (I have a girlfriend that tells me I should be) , but I think it's better to be safe than sorry, and have it checked out. Eileen, Good luck and please post to let us know. -Elyse
  9. Hi Christine, I was diagnosed stage IIIb after my surgery, but my Dr. said it was only for treatment purposes. When I researched it online, it sounded horrible, was almost like a "death sentence". I can understand your feeling discouraged after what your Dr. said. There are many people on this board who are stage IV and are truly an inspiration. Glad you stumbled on this site. As I have, you will find a lot of support here. -Elyse
  10. Congrats Geri! Here's to many more! -Elyse
  11. Hi Joe! Sounds like you have a great attitude! Wishing you the best. You will find great support here!
  12. When I was first diagnosed, I went online. I read that Stage IIIb was like a "death sentence". After that, for a while I stopped looking online. I eventually started looking again. Now, being a survivor for over a year and a half, I have found this site and others that give tremendous positive support. I've learned there are so many Stage IV survivors! I know it's hard to stop reading the negatives, but I think that a positive attitude, and being "hopeful" makes a huge difference! I agree with everyone else here, try not to read that stuff! That YouTube video was amazing, thank you, Connie. -Elyse [/i]
  13. Hi Cathy, Welcome! You will find much support here. Sorry about your husband. Thoughts are with you. -Elyse
  14. IAAM

    NEDS ?

    Hi Marci, Welcome. I asked the same question in my first post and thought it was great that it's also Ned's nickname! There are a couple of acronyms that I still don't know, I need to post. Looking forward to hearing your story, sorry you have to be here though. -Elyse
  15. Hi Patty, I'm glad to hear your first chemo went pretty well. I too was given Dexamethasone tablets to take the day before, same day, and day after chemo. I didn't experience any personality changes (not that I know of ), but did have more energy from them. Like Ned, the day after every chemo I had a Neulasta shot, the first one gave me a lot of flu-like aches in my bones, mostly legs. But each one after that, kept getting better, I barely had any aches! Hope your future sessions go alright. Let us know. All the best, -Elyse
  16. Hi Eileen, Sorry to hear about your employer. I've read other posts where others have been in similar situations. I work for myself so I can't even imagine what you and others are going thru with your jobs. I can understand your fear of losing health insurance. I do know that you can get Cobra 18 mths. after your job ends... as if that really helps. I can relate to the stress and the fear of the lc coming back. I am less stressed now than I was when I wrote this post, but also because I just had a stable CT scan last week. I think the fear is always going to be there, but I've learned at this board that it does get better with time. I deal with SOB still also, it comes and goes. Need to talk with my onc about it. Have you talked with your Dr. about the SOB and fatigue? Will you fill out your profile so we can know more about your history? Sounds like you're doing great with the lc, it's understandable how you feel about the employment abuse, I'm sorry you that it's happening to you. Good luck and please let us know what happens. -Elyse
  17. Thank you for sharing, Ned. I too always enjoy reading your posts. You always have such wonderful, encouraging words. Sounds like you and your wife are very lucky to have each other. I am blessed as well with an amazing husband. What a beautiful orchid! Congratulations on 1 year, hope you have many more! -Elyse
  18. Don, I agree, great line! My husband no longer has it, but I can still remember riding on the back of his Sportster, 12 years ago! -Elyse
  19. Just found this post... Yesterday was 1 1/2 years and going strong! -E
  20. Thank you Mike and Connie. I'm glad you both are here, and share your thoughts. Mike, it doesn't sound crazy to worry about not worrying! I find it very comforting to hear that a lot of what I'm feeling so many others are also. I get a lot of hope from both of your histories and posts and I wish also that more long-time survivors would post too. thanks you, -Elyse
  21. Thank you, Connie. Wow, you have had a lot of stress in the last 12 years! I'm sorry to hear about your son, and hope your husband is doing well. My mom lives in another state, so I'm waiting to hear. Thank you for your thoughts on the NEW NORM, I do try and tell myself this! I also get down on myself because I should be grateful that I am here and feeling good! Sounds like you, and many others have been through a lot more stress and still stay positive. It really helps to hear that others go through this and I'm glad you said the fear of recurrence fades with time. I know you and many others here understand and I thank you so much for your thoughts and letting me express mine. I will continue to do so. I have found much support here. You and so many others here are an inspiration! Like you 1 lunger, I hope(and plan) to have many more years with my 1 lung! Thank you again, -Elyse
  22. Just wondering if anyone out there experiences anything similar. I've recently been under a lot of stress. We have been trying to demo and build a new home for almost 4 years now. We have been running into a lot of obstacles. My mother has been under stress also with her business and just now went into the hospital with chest pains (she's had a heart attack, bypass and had nsclc 2 years before I did). Last week we were talking about how both of us fear that stress can affect our health. I was going to post this question last week, but now with mom in the hospital and this past weekend I was having chest tightness and coughing (I think due to the weather, and 1 lung), I thought I'd write now. Does anyone else fear that stress can affect your health? Ever since my treatment ended, I have tried to keep the stress low. I've posted before about attitude and have always had a pretty good one, but lately I fear more about the lc coming back. I'm sure it's the stress. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd really appreciate! Thanks, -E
  23. I just found this post. Thank you, this is awesome and so are you Katie!
  24. Welcome to the site. You will find a lot of support here, I have. Sorry to hear about your husband, please keep us posted. I vent all the time, thankfully many will listen! Good luck with your new job. I can imagine how hard it is to concentrate. I've experienced this many times, but not with a new job! So I wish you and your husband the best. -E
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