EileenM

Ray Glad you are feeling much better. EileenM

Hi Angie It has been one year (July 2003)since I had my upper right lobe removed and lymph nodes were clean. The only follow up I have is Ctscans and blood work every 4 months the first year - every 6 months the 2nd year and then once a year annually(as long as there is no reoccurence) I had VATS (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery) done. Have heard one recovers sooner from VATS surgery. Anyway - I walked a short distance the first day of surgery by leaning on a nurse (onc surgeon was gung ho about getting his patients out of bed early). The next day I walked very slowly and unsteadily in the hallway with my husband and my drainage bag (there were several of us in the hallway all carrying the drainage bags - we looked weird). Came home on the 3rd day. The onc surgeon also was insistent on using the Spirometer and doing the "finger wall walk". So I did it all. The amount of walking increased as my pain decreased. I faithfully took Dilaudid for the pain (I'm not big on pain for at least 3 weeks but cutting back from 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and then none by the end of August 2003. I still get short of breath if I walk too fast or go up the stairs too fast or talk while I'm walking. And I still have a pulling sensation on the right side - the oncologist said that is the nerves regenerating and the sensations can come and go for years. I agree with Muriel K. about the onc surgeon being the expert on surgery and the oncologist for the treatment. My onc surgeon had a reallllly biiiig ego and told me I didn't need to see an Oncologist because he knew what I needed. Sooooo, I hurried to an Oncologist. The Oncologist and the Onc Surgeon did agree on the follow up treatment. BUT the onc surgeon didn't like to be asked questions and I dreaded going for my appts. So I am now going to an Oncologist that is near where I live and I am very happy with him. Recovery(emotionally & physically) depends on the person. I recovered faster physically than I did emotionally. Just take it slow and do the spirometer, finger wall walk and walking. I started out walking for five minutes in the yard 3 times a day with my husband (felt like I had done a marathon). This is a wonderful board with wonderful people who listen and understand. EileenM

KitKathi Glad you are happy with your new style. And it's wonderful that you donated your hair to Locks of Love. EileenM

Hi Debi It has been one year and one week and 2 days since I had my surgery (but who's counting ) I, too, still have a pulling sensation on my right side and under my breast. Some days I can wear a bra comfortably and other days I can't stand it and off it goes. I did have a 2 week period where I had no discomfort at all (thought that was the end of it). My onc also said it is the nerves regenerating and could go on for a few years with the discomfort coming and going. I had VATS surgery done and sometimes the big incision feels swollen and the others feel itchy. I agree that you should have your bone scan done for peace of mind. EileenM

KitKathi You've probably already gone to the hairdresser. Soooo, I will just wait to see/hear what you've decided to do. After alot of hemming and hawing, I am going to the hairdresser tomorrow - been letting my hair grow but can't do a thing with it. Going to have a Consultation first (la dee da ) and then the new hairstyle. If I don't like what I get, I guess I will repeat over and over - It will grow back - It will grow back!!

Ray Hope you are feeling much better really soon. Maybe with the nice sunny weather we are having in NJ might help you feel a little better. A fellow Jerseyan EileenM

Dan Thinking of you and remembering you in my prayers. EileenM

Enjoyed seeing the pictures - you all looked like you were having a great time. Some day I am going to visit Mackinac Island - ever since I saw the movie "Somewhere in Time" I have wanted to go. In fact, I would love to see all of Michigan!! EileenM

Oh boy! I'm glad to learn I am not alone with the weight problem. Had belonged to a gym but realized I was paying for alot of stuff I wasn't putting to use anymore. So, just joined CURVES - I like it and think it will be easy to stick with. It's close to home and the music is great (lots of oldies but goodies). Also walking for exercise. I, too, have "thin" clothes just waiting to be worn again. I just bought 2 new blouses - I call them "my going to the doctor clothes". I just have to remember not to wear the same one on consecutive visits. EileenM

Hi I clipped the article out of the paper, but can't find it now. Can you give us the website that has the information? Would greatly appreciate it. Tried Google and nothing came up. Thanks EileenM

Hi Dianne Welcome! You sure have a great attitude that will take you far. This is a wonderful board with a lot of wonderful caring people. EileenM

Hi - Had my doctor's appt. today and the results of the MRI are normal. I'm relieved to learn my brains are really in my head and not in my butt ) So with the MRI being normal, the previous blood tests being normal, the dr. ordered 2 more blood tests which he feels will also be normal because I have not had another episode of double vision and do not feel sick. My reflexes are fine. One is for Myasthenia Gravis and the other is LEMS. Regardless of the results I will have a future appt in October with him. Also feels that a spike in my blood pressure may have caused it. Could be - selling a house is stressful(as SJAS stated) especially when the potential buyers kept giving us the run-around. We're back on the market - I think I will have it written in the contract that from now on the buyers have to take a lie detector test Thanks for all your prayers, good wishes and good vibes. They all worked Hebbie - forgot how we Joisey folk use the word Shore instead of Beach. We're planning a day trip to the Shore hopefully in August if the weather straightens out. EileenM

Wishing your mom the best. EileenM

Hello Memere My oncology surgeon had an EGO problem - with encouragement from people on this site I found an oncologist that I am happy with. This is a wonderful site. Lots of caring and understanding people. EileenM

Hi - the Carotid Doppler was okay. And the blood tests came back normal. Had the MRI on the 15th. The neurologist said he would call with the results, but I asked him not to call. Don't want to get bad news over the phone and I would rather wait until my appointment to hear the results. Wasn't sure when I'd get the MRI appt. so made the doc appt. on the 28th. Went for a visit to Ohio over the weekend. Told myself I wasn't going to think about what the MRI results could be. Just had a good time being with the in-law family. My 2 kids and 3 granddaughters(ages 6, 2 and 8 months) also went with us. Followed each other across Pennsylvania. Those grandkids are something else - someone is always doing or saying something that is cute (even if they get themselves in to trouble). And when we left we thought we had our house sold, but learned after we got home that the buyers backed out(after stringing us along for 2 months). So now it is back on the market. Will just worry and hope that this time we get a buyer who comes through. So I'll concentrate on the house and next week I'll start to worry about the results of the MRI. Thank you all again for your kind words. EileenM

What a neat thread. Mine isn't too exciting - Eileen and the M is for Marie. But I do have a family nickname given to me by my 2 older brothers when I was a baby - Honey. At times, I've used Honey when meeting new people. But there are people who are uncomfortable using it so they usually clear their throats to get my attention or those who wouldn't say or do anything until I looked at them. It gets confusing when signing Christmas Cards as I am known by Eileen to some and Honey to others. I didn't know my real name until I was 5 years old and starting school. That's when my mom told me that in school the teachers would know me as Eileen. She had me practice printing Eileen. I'm told that I had no problem answering to Eileen. When my hubby and I first started dating and he would introduce me, he would say this is Eileen or you can call her Honey or whatever you want. So they usually didn't feel comfortable calling me anything. I finally got him to stop introducing me like that. Told him to make a decision and stick with it. The housing development where we live presently I am known as Honey. but once we move I thought I'd be Eileen at the next place. EileenM or is it Honey?

Andrea How wonderful to be able to say in words what many feel but don't express. Very inspiring! EileenM

Congratulations on your Anniversary and on Kennedy's adoption. Many years of laughter and happiness to all of you. EileenM

Dear Ginny and Earl I am so sorry to learn Earl is not doing well. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. EileenM

Just finished my first ever chat in the chat room with Katie. I decided to hang in there in case someone logged on. I'm always missing the scheduled chats. I haven't been posting much. We sold our house and now it's time to clean out all the stuff we've collected over 35 years. Came across receipts from Shell gasoline when gas was only 35 cents a gallon. Found the paid up mortgage for our very first house - $37,000 - couldn't get an outhouse for that amount now in N.J. Went on vacation to the Shore for a few days last week to celebrate our 35th anniversary and on our way I developed Double Vision. Of course, I figured it would go away (I wasn't driving -I had fallen asleep and when I woke up there were 2 lanes of traffic coming at us and I now had 2 husbands ) so didn't say anything to my hubby(didn't know which one I should talk to ) until we were almost there. It lasted about 90 minutes. When I got out of the car, the double vision went away although I felt unsteady and very tired. Long story short - wound up at the Emergency room (per my Cardiologist's suggestion). After having an EKG, Blood Tests done and waiting 4 hours (they couldn't do a Catscan w/contrast because they couldn't get a good Renal Function test result) I checked myself out of the hospital. Saw the Cardiologist at home - had a Carotid Doppler (normal). Sent me to a Neurologist(I checked out normal) and now I will have an MRI of the brain with and without Contrast done on July 12th. So now I am thinking and worrying that maybe the BAC has spread. My last chest Catscan in April was clean. Though I tell myself that if it did I would probably have more symptoms than just double vision. Has anyone experienced double visioin? I am not on Chemo or Radiation - just have the Catscans and blood tests done. I also had 4 blood tests done today (Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lyme Disease, and Thyroid). I did enjoy the next 2 days at the Shore and decided to worry after I got home. Funniest thing I saw at the shore was the Seagulls dive bombing unsuspecting people to get at their french fries. EileenM

I had an upper right lobectomy July 23, 2003. Lymph nodes were clean and tumor was quite small 1.3 x 1.5. I was also told being Stage 1A that no further treatment other than having Catscans with Contrast and CEA blood tests every 4 months for one year and then once every 6 months for 1 or 2 years and then once a year until I kick the bucket was all that was needed. So far I have had good Catscans and CEA results. I also was told by my arrogant , egotistical surgeon not to go to an Oncologist because it wasn't needed and he would tell me what I needed to know. But I went to one anyway. The Oncologist(at same hospital) concurred with the surgeon about the treatment. Went to the Surgeon for one more follow up and when he didn't tell me about the 2 lesions on my liver I knew it was time to move on. The lesions have remained small with no change and are being followed along with the Catscans of the chest. My new Oncologist(closer to home) is knowledgeable and open to any and all questions. I will admit I was concerned about not having additional treatment - not that I wanted to go through Chemo or Radiation treatments - but worried that maybe the Cancer would reappear. But with each Catscan and CEA blood test, I feel the right decision was made. When it's time for the next Catscan, I do get anxious. Used to have a lot of sleepness nights starting the month before but now I lose sleep only about a week before having it done. Did Pat have VATS surgery? That is what I had. I think if you can get a second or even a third opinion about treatment you will feel better about your decision on what to do. Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery as possible. EileenM

Congratulations Cindy. So wonderful to hear of another "rebirthday" - Debi's new word. My hospital roommate (she's 84 yrs young) and I plan to celebrate our "rebirthday" next month on the 23rd. I agree with you about all the wonderful people on this website - not only for the info but for the shoulder to cry on, to laugh with (& at ) for listening and caring and welcoming. Congratulations Again!! EileenM

Hi Debi Congratulations on your one year anniversary. You mentioned sleeping on your right side ------ first time I discovered I slept on my right side (about 2 weeks ago) since surgery(a year next month) I didn't know it as I fell asleep on my left side. I woke up to make a potty trip and started to climb over my husband and that's when I realized I had been sleeping on my right side. I like the term "rebirthday". In a way we are reborn - given a second chance at life. Happy ReBirthday to you!!! EileenM

Curtis I am so sorry to learn of Becky's passing. I have been away from the board for a while and I am so sad about Becky. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. EileenM

Hi When my cat was a kitten - she is now 18 years old -, she jumped in to the toilet just I rose off. She flipped around a few times trying to get back out - fortunately I had flushed before she leaped! EileenM