TriciaR

I don't know much about dream catchers, but I do know about powerful dreams. I was in a cult for 19 years, (took me a while to figure it out-I'm a slow learner) and have dreamed about it off and on since I left for the last 8 years. Not always nightmares, but often the people or place or emotions around my life there. I can occasionally decide this is a dream and I don't like it and will myself to change it or wake up. Not always, though. Funny thing, since nsclc, I haven't dreamt of Ed or Ned. As for chickens, I think they are always the answer. Love them. There is nothing much more entertaining than chickens running around in your yard. I would have some more in a heartbeat if we hadn't adopted a cat recently and don't have a Ft. Knox built to protect them. Big chickens may be able to take care of themselves in regards to the cat, but Ft. Knox is still necessary as we moved to an area in the foothills of CA where mountain lions and bears have been seen. And since other improvements are necessary on the house, Ft. Knox will have to wait. Best of luck kicking Ed out of your dreams. Tricia

Thanks for the info. I am already on Prevacid for acid reflux, and usually have it under control. My cough happens day and night, though not as often recently as in the past. Next week I go for a CT scan to check for the results of 2 months of prednisone and to see whether it is scar tissue or an active inflammation in my lungs around the radiation site. I may also have a hairline fracture in my rib which seems to be healing slowly. Bone scan was negative, thank goodness. Approved for SSDI within 2 months. Unbelievable. Now I just have to adjust to being labeled disabled, as well as being disabled. Tricia

Statistics are interesting and fun, but boy, are they easily manipulated and thus, often meaningless. One suggestion for checking stats is to check with your local tumor board/hospital/oncologists/cancer center. The statistics close to home are probably still skewed because of demographics, but they may be more current and responding to the treatments at your specific center. When I was diagnosed, the surgeon had just returned from a Northern California convention with nationwide statistics (supposedly recent) and also the local hospital's statistics. They were both pretty scarry, but slightly different from each other. For me, statistics are just one piece of the puzzle. Another is my response to treatment, age, general health, information/education, support system, diet, exercise, etc. Tricia

Love them all! Iressa/other drugs, meds in general, food in any way shape or form (I'm on prednisone now and all I want to do is eat), take-out, delivery and reservations are my favorite, recipes are fun, occasionally, too. Today I had a nice laugh. Thanks guys for the humor. Tricia

I feel like I am "surviving" but not yet a "survivor". Since 80% of those diagnosed with my type of lc die within 1-2 years and the "rate of survival" at 5 years is 1 in 3, I think I will feel like anything after 2 years is a bonus, and that I will truely be a "survivor" after 5 years. It has now been 15 months since dx with no signs of recurrence. Yip! Yip! Tricia

Thank you all for responding and not critizising me for my need to weep and vent. It is more comforting to me to hear about your having been depressed than it is to hear I should use my positive will power to overcome my feelings. Today I spent the morning at the hospital having a CT scan to rule out pulmonary embolism in my lung and to check for cancer reoccurrence. No pulmonary embolism, as they sent me home. Don't know about the cancer, yet. Monday I go for a bone scan to check my ribs. If it is all negative, which I hope, I probably just have a strained muscle from coughing so much. I have had the cough a long time and the pain for less than a week and it seems to be getting worse. Tuesday I go to the pulmonologist to get the results of my pft and to talk with her about disability. I am not as sad or fearful today, maybe because I haven't visited any other posts as of yet. Thanks for understanding. Tricia