momshapedbox

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:54:40 GMT

A lot of pain in my right hip today. Bit the bullet and decided to call my oncologist. He's away for 2 weeks but have an appt on July 17. Going to discuss some options:

quit all together..
take every OTHER day...
switch to another brand...
stop for a few weeks and see if an improvement...
or
just continue as now and ask for "mild" pain pill.

We'll figure it out as he is a very compassionate guy,easy to talk to,and a great doc!!

IN ALOT OF PAIN

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:33:59 GMT

You've never heard me complain but Ive been hurting for some time now.
I have been on cancer drug Arimidex for 4 yrs 3 mos. I have 9 more months to go. It is prescribed for some breast cancer patients whose cancer was estrogen positive,,,mine was. It is supposed to help prevent the cancer retuning to the 2nd breast.

One of the major side effects is bone and muscle pain. I have noticed the pain getting worse in the past 3 months..mainly in both hips, lower back hands and knees.. my muscles hurt constantly!

I've had all the blood tests to rule out rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lyme disease, sed rate for inflammation, creatinine kinase for muscles and all tests are negative. That is good but by ruling out all the bone and muscle diseases, it just proves the pain must be from the Arimidex Doc says.

I could stop the drug on my own, like 40% of women do in the first 6 mos do.

Every morning as I look at the smallest of the 6 pills I take,(also 6 at night) I say "do I want to take this pill and be in pain again Today"?

The problem is I can take only so much of Advil, Motrin, Aleve, etc because of my small stomach from the lap-band. It eats at my stomach so I end up popping Pepsid like candy.

I just can't win! My husband,Bill, keeps encouraging me to take them,cause he doesn't want the cancer to re-occur.

Today and the past 3 days, I can hardly walk and move...my hips especially and yet i cringe and tear up every morning just to go to work.

So I am feeling a little down and miss all my LJ friends. What would help me the most?

I'm going to ask all you guys to do a little favor for me.

PLEASE SEND ME LOTS OF HUGS VIA LJ ROUTE< as you can't hug me in person.

KEEP "EM COMING, and maybe my tears will diminish, and I'll feel better. Ive already lost 12% of my bones in my hips in the past 4 yrs, and go for another bone density scan in Aug. to see if the liquid FOSAMAX I drink once a week is preventing further loss.

SEND THOSE HUGS!! PLEEEEAAAAASE

LUV and HUGS to you all!

Better Vision

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:56:33 GMT

I was having a little trouble reading the road signs on vacation.

Today I went for an eye exam, even though I had one in Jan. I guess my eyes did change, so getting new glasses!!!

BACK HOME

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:16:41 GMT

I've been gone 8 days and am finally home. Went with hubby to Virginia for a week. Left CT last Fri and traveled thru NY, PA to Harrisburg, down thru the tip of MD and WV into the Shenandoah Valley of VA.

The first 3 days were unbearable.. the temp near 100, so stayed inside our timeshare.

Tues we ventured to Loray Caverns where we walked 1 1/2 miles 150 ft underground thru the most beautiful caverns. It was refreshing at 54 degrees.

The weather broke Tues night so Wed went into DC. Drove to Fairfax and took the Metro into the city. This was my first trip to DC. We toured the US POSTAL MUSEUM (my hubby is a postal clerk!!) which was quite interesting.
We then ate lunch in Union Station before heading over the Holocaust Museum.
Very moving and personal!! as my husband was born in one of the resettlement camps in 1947. His parents(Polish Catholics) were taken by trucks to the camps where his dad built the rails and carried stones while his mom dug the graves. She actually was pulled out of line to the gas chambers because a guard noticed she wasn't wearing a yellow star. She was only 18. After the Americans rescued them, his parents and sister stayed until 1952 in the relocation camps. They emigrated to Ellis Island, then to Hartford, CT after a Polish church sponsored them.

So to actually stand in a railroad car, see the bunks,food bowls, clothing, hundreds of old shoes and the wall of shaven hair was very emotional for me and Bill.

That was all the time we had as the buildings close at 5:30.

As we headed back to Falls Church via the Orange Line one of the rails buckled due to the heat. Stuck standing up packed like sardines for 45 min, while we waited to switch cars. NOT FUN!!!

Thurs we did a side trip to see where the Battlefield at New Market. My husband is a civil war buff so we try to see something historic relating to the Civil WAR everywhere we go.

Left Virginia Fri am and traveled thru the Amish country on our way home. WE traveled thru the back roads to see the farmers plowing and baling hay without farm equipment, just horses. WE ate lunch at an Amish restaurant and tried things from the buffet that we had never eaten.

Ham balls, homemade egg noodles, apple butter, oatmeal pie, and shoo-fly pie. They were all great!

We arrived back home in Connecticut at 8:30pm due to Friday night traffic over the Tappan Zee bridge in New York.

Today I went thru the mail, went thru 8 days of paper, did the bills, unpacked luggage and got caught up on a week's worth of LJ reading.

Gary--congrats on your grades!! You Rock!

Ed K.- sorry to hear of the loss of your aunt. My deep condolences.

It's good to go away, but always great to come home. I love my new home and took a long soaking bath with a "FIZZ BOMB" from LUSH that Richard sent me for Mother's Day.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fri, 30 May 2008 20:48:48 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY AND STEVE!!

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY TOM AND ED!!

AND TODAY IS MY 33RD ANNIVERSARY...

MAY 30 is a great day!!!!!

RELAXED

Sun, 25 May 2008 02:44:26 GMT

After working a half day today(Sat), I have Sun and Mon off...YAY

Sat- 75 degrees
Sun- 78 degrees
Mon- 80 degrees

SUNNY AND MORE SUNNY

Planning on getting ready for our tag sale next Saturday---cleaning garage and cellar, so hope to get rid of stuff.

Sunday pm I'm going to an art festival in Northampton, MA just to relax and chill with my cousin.

Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend!!!

A great week

Sat, 10 May 2008 20:52:04 GMT

We have had beautiful weather for 5 out the the last 7 days...can't ask for anything more!!

Don't forget to call your mom tomorrow on MOTHER'S DAY..and for those whose mom is no longer with us, remember her in spirit.

For anyone who wants to give me a call on MOTHER'S DAY, I would love to hear from you!!.. I'll have my cell phone close at hand all day!!! 912-695-5445

FABULOUS WEEK

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:07:11 GMT

Just got back from our 8 day vacation. Left Hartford, CT and stayed the first night in Harrisburg, PA. Traveled the next day to Cleveland, OH where we spent 3 hrs visiting the ROCK 'N ROLL HALL OF FAME. It was awesome!! Me being a seamstress/costume maker, it was interesting to see outfits from Elvis, Chuck Berry, the Platters, slutty Madonna,etc. Even saw tiny tap shoes from the Everly Brothers when they were kids. I never realized how tiny in frame Mick Jagger is till I saw his pants and tops. Saw the double
neck guitar Jimi Hendrix used. COOL!

Day 3 traveled down to Canton, OH to visit the Football Hall Of Fame. My hubby really enjoyed that.

Then onto to Cincinnati, OH to visit the UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER.. we spent 3 hrs plus in the modern 3 floor museum. I was quite moved by all the displays and history. Walked 2 blocks to climb the tallest bldg and look out over the city. Cincinnati is right on the banks of the Ohio river, so we could see Kentucky about a half mile away. We then went to a recommended restaurant "The Montgomery Inn" where they are noted for their ribs. They were GREAT!!!

Started to head back East, where we detoured to the Amish area. I wanted homemade fudge and Amish dessert like treats.

We had great weather and it was very calming driving past farm after farm thru out Ohio and Pennsylvania. Definitely got de-stressed from our jobs... then hit New York traffic!!!

All in all a great and restful week with many memories.

THE HEAT FROM ALL THOSE CANDLES!!!!!

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:24:57 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!!!!
Hope you have a great day!!!

To Health, Wealth, and great friends!!(toasts champagne)...well maybe not wealth!!

LUVIN HUGS!!!!! XXXXX OOOOOO

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:58:02 GMT

Spring has finally arrived here in CT!!!!! YAY!!! Thurs and Sat it got to 73 and 75 degrees. Our brown winter grass is now green. Forsythia and weeping willows are turning yellow and I see the first bud on the bare winter trees... No rain in sight for this week... thank God.

Friday hubby and I leave for a short vacation. We're going to Ohio for the first time. Our first stop will be the Rock and Roll hall of fame in Cleveland, then on to the Football Hall Of Fame in Canton, the finally south to Cincinnati to the recently new Underground Railroad Museum. We always see something historical as well as fun and interesting when we go away.

Dad is doing much better, so I feel OK about leaving for a week.

My co-worker is back from the FINAL FOUR in Tampa and brought me back a neat pin. Even tough we lost, and so did Stanford in the end, they both had great years. It's a long time till college basketball starts in Nov...Oh well.

Hope you all had a great weekend!!

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:25:47 GMT

Yes I'm still here. My dad was in the hospital all last week with severe dizziness. He's 87 and walks almost a mile a day and suddenly he was unable to walk at all. He was walking sideways. After a week of tests, cat scan, blood, MRI, echogram, artery tests... everything came back normal. DX: sudden onset of vertigo. No explanation. Stopped his HCTZ(diuretic) and seems to be better. My mom has dementia so between my hubby, sister-in-law and me, we all took turns staying with my mom who lives 1/2 hr away.

It's been a cold rainy month of march and it was 20 degrees last night and a cold rain today. Tomorrow is APRIL and the forecast is 65 and showers. My seasonal depression is waning and I'm ready for Spring!!

Saturday night I went to see the spring perfomance of the CGMC(Connecticut Gay Men's Choir entitled "IT"S RAINING MEN". It was a tribute to the 70's and included medleys of the BeeGees, Abba, and more. They all had seventies wigs with sideburns, tight polyester pants with white belts, open wide collared silky print shirts and ridiculous platform shoes!!! But what voices and skits!! My favorite one was 3 men's bathroom stalls in an airport to the song "KNOCK 3 TIMES"!!! What a hoot!! I was out of college and discing in the 70"s so all the songs brought back a lot of memories. Two guys dressed up as Starsky and Hutch did a great skit to the song "One Night Only". All in all it was a great night.

So glad Richard("Dicky"), Phil, Dee, and Fred are all back safe and sound and had a fabulous time. YEAH!!!

No decision has been formally made about cutting my hrs back from 30 to 25. The Docs in the building are putting up a big stink about us closing for lunch, that I may still have my 30hr position with benefits. Will keep you posted.

Glad to be back posting!!

THE WIND KNOCKED OUT OF ME

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:36:18 GMT

Yesterday I got my yearly review and raise. Got an excellent review as I do every year. The I got kicked in the gut!!! My supervisor had the job of telling me that corporate has decided to cut the 30 hr a wk positions and put them at 25hrs. My position is 7:30Am to 12:30 pm. 30 hrs with benefits. WE stay open for lunch now to service those who need their blood drawn. I will now lose my benefits even being with the company for 13yrs. I went home and cried my heart out. How can they do this to me? Having breast cancer and being on 8 different meds, I need medical benefits. My husband and I each have our own benefits thru our employers and it's not even open season. My daughter researched it and found that since this is a change in status, by law , I can go on my husband's plan within 30 days of losing my benefits. I can also pick up dental which I carried. I am so relieved!!! I'm bummed that I'll be losing 5 hrs a week but I can pick up 4.5 on Saturdays as long as I don't go over 30 hrs. So they can keep me from getting benefits. What a way to treat someone with 31 years of experience with needles. My boss's hands are tied and she thinks it's abominable to do that to an outstanding employee. But corporate doesn't care. It's all about the bottom line and cutting back.. I love my job, I love my patients, I work 1 mile away, and I love my co-worker. She and I both have over 30 yrs experience and there is no stress at all. I don't want to travel 30 min everyday to another facility and work with a jerk. I only have 4 years till I can retire so I'm going to stay at 25 hrs a week and stay with the best co-worker ever!!! Thanks for letting me vent.

We got 7" of snow again last FRI and 2 more inches of rain last night. Can Spring get here any sooner?

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:59:39 GMT

Today was not a good day. Well just the morning was bad. This morning on my way to work, one guy ran a stop sign and ran me off the road. I ENDED UP IN A SNOW BANK, and he took off like a bat outta hell. Probably had no license or insurance. No damage to my car or me, just a bit shaken up. Got to work and had to calm myself before sticking needles in patients. Came home and had a nice dinner with hubby,daughter and son-in-law. Had corn beef and cabbage, boiled potatoes, carrots and samples of 4 different rich like desserts.

And guess what? we had SUNSHINE all day!!!!!

Thank you dendren for sending those sun rays all the way from California. They traveled all night, 3000 miles to get here by daybreak. Today I actually worked in another lab 15 min. away so got to experience the sun in my face during the commute to work. Yea for sunshine!!!

Hope all you guys got big hugs from friends or partners today on VALENTINE'S DAY. And for those who didn't, I'm send A big fat hug to you from me.

HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS and more HUGS!!!

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:27:44 GMT

SADD!!! 12 straight days of no sun!!! UGH. It's tough on people like me with it (Seasonal Affective Depression Disorder). It was sunny Monday but with 40mile an hour winds the wind chill made it feel like 0 degrees F. At 7pm last night it started off with 3" of snow, changing to sleet, then freezing rain which iced up the trees and roads. This morning it changed to just plain rain and it's 3:30 pm and still raining hard. Spring can't come soon enough. Gutters are clogging and basements are flooding. Trees are snapping from all the ice and we just lost power for a split second.

I read that it's in the 60's and sunny for you guys in or near SF. I so miss that weather but more so feeling so low and blue makes me miss you guys even more.. Am planning to come out for another visit either Sept or Oct, but that seems so far away.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow and Love is in the air!!!

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:10:06 GMT

Watched 2 great movies tonight. The 1st was "CAPE FEAR" with Robert DiNiro, Nicolas Cage, and Jessica Lange. WOW was that intense!!!. And 2nd was "PRIDE" movie based on the true 1974 story about a black swim team in Philadelphia.

Getting ready for the Super Bowl party tomorrow. Will be making a vegetable lasagna---whole wheat lasagna layered with ricotta, spinach, sliced zucchini and yellow squash and using a white 4 cheese garlic and herb sauce. It's very good.

Going to root for the Giants.

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:46:04 GMT

I am feeling so much better now that my cold is finally on the upswing. Work was better as I finally felt like conversing with my patients, instead of just sticking a needle in their arm...NEXT!!

I just spent the last hour watching Jim Daniel's memorial service on Utube. Thanks Paul. It was just amazing! I have never experienced any memorial service like that. What an extraordinary person he was... The speakers were great and I actually got to be a part of it via new technology in this computer age.. A lot of work went into putting it all together. Thanks for the memories.

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:04:24 GMT

Feeling worse today. watery eyes, runny nose, stabbing pain behind eye. The misery of a cold. It's hard to be talkative to patients when you feel like crap. Had a miserable day and have to work tomorrow. Thank God tomorrow is only 4 hrs of drawing blood..7am to 11am then back home to rest.

That's all folks!!

Wake me when it's over

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:56:09 GMT

Nasty head cold..hot tea...hot bath...warm blanket...lots of kleenex with lotion!!

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:45:57 GMT

My first week back to work was good. With 5" of snow on the first day I kinda eased into the flow again. For those who don't know I am a phlebotomist for Quest Diagnostics. 31 Years. The rest of the week I was real busy but glad to be back. My patients missed me and so did my co-worker. She types up all the lab slips and I do all the drawing of blood. My toe seemed pretty good considering I don't do much sitting.

The weekend flew by with 2 UCONN basketball games to watch and the football games today. Sorry Tom and Donovan about your CHARGERS. My hubby is rooting for the Giants now.

I'm excited for Richard going to Barcelona. He's a lot of fun to be with, so hope Phil, Fred and Donovan all have a great time.

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:40:46 GMT

Had another post-op visit with the Doc and was able to get my foot into a sneaker for the first time. walking with it felt pretty good, but after a few hrs it was time to let it rest.

Yesterday I wasn't feeling up to snuff. Couldn't pinpoint what...just achy, tired and a headache. This morning I woke up and looked in the mirror. NOT A PRETTY SIGHT!!!! A humongous cold sore and 6 little ones staring back at me. And to boot had to get a cavity filled today. Thank God the novocaine numbed the lip for a couple of hrs. Now the burning pain is back. Time for more Abreva. Haven't had a cluster of cold sores in years. Guess I was due.

Had a Visa gift card to use so went to Circuit City and and got a "nerf" case for my Nintendo DS Lite along with "Brain Age 2" and "Flash Focus".

Time to hit the sack as my body feels whipped.

Relaxing Saturday

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:42:52 GMT

Went for a ride to the Mohegan Casino..45min away, had lunch a fried clam roll with my 88 yr old aunt an cousin Michelle. I'm not much of a gambler but payed the slots for 1/2 hr with my $10. Broke even. Being out of work on disability...not much money to blow..It was good just getting out of town and the Christmas decorations at the casino were still up. They were beautiful, especially the ice sculptures.

By the way, my bouquet of flowers from fredtheplumber and bigreddee are still blooming after 2 weeks. I've enjoyed them immensely!! Again thanks Fred and Donovan.

Yay! I was able to exchange my white Nintendo DS lite for the red/black one.
OK Jeff, I'm ready to charge that baby up and check out my brain age. I'm scared it will register 90 yrs old. Will let you know.

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:35:41 GMT

Had my stitches taken out today. OUCH!!

Things are starting to heal but not as quickly as planned. Will need to take 1 more week off he thinks..so expected date of returning is Jan 14 instead of Jan 7. Oh well, I don't mind!! Doc will check my foot on the 7th and will see if i can get foot back into a sneaker instead of this hard velcro shoe.

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 02:10:26 GMT

Today I had a surprise 60th birthday party for my husband. His whole life birthdays right after Christmas suck. I invited 40 people and only 10 showed up!!..He was totally surprised and quietly thanked me for the effort being I'm still in the shoe boot from surgery..

We're expecting 3-5 inches of snow tonight but will stop by 7am.

About 15-20 of us have reservations to a Chinese restaurant(buffet) tomorrow night at 7, then back to our friends for a night of games and cards.

Having my homemade traditional french meat pie(toutiere) on New Year's Day.

Hope all you guys have a safe and happy New Year's eve whether staying in or partying out!!

To a HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!CHEERS!

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 22:53:26 GMT

My family have all gone home and it's quiet time for a little bit. The day was great and everything was so festive in my new home. My son-in law took pictures so they will get posted when I learn how or someone does it for me. my table was elegant. Thanks SGT CHUCK, I sorta copied your place setting style from Thanksgiving!! You have great taste. Even Christmas Eve Polish style was good this year with many more relatives coming. Lots of pierogies!!!(? spelling)

We still have 4-5 inches of snow, but it was about 48 today and sunny. About 6:30 we'll be off to our best friend"s house for more merriment. They are from Edmonton,Canada and they have family visiting. They eat much later than we do, so we'll join them for coffee and dessert.

Thanks Richard for the Nintendo DS Lite. Now we'll just get the Brain games 1 and 2 to keep us sharp. It was all because of of Beg1n showing me his new toy that I wanted one also.

SURPRISE

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 04:51:52 GMT

Yesterday a big box arrived while I was at the doctors for a dressing change. Lo and behold a beautiful flower arrangement was sent for a "speedy recovery by Fredthepumber and bigreddee. Thanks Fred and Donovan!!!. I added some Holiday greens to the beautiful lilies which are just about to open up tomorrow so they will be gorgeous on Christmas Day. I don't have a digital camera but will ask my son-in-law to bring his to take pictures. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness. I LOVE them!!!