Monday, October 14, 2013
It's been a year since my last post, not sure why...well yes I do, I got busy lots going on I will try to catch you all up but it will be in individual post. I just can,t type that much & since I'm typing on the ipad that makes it even harder, waiting for my key board and stand for my Bday...... On the 31st 2 days!,, not sure how I feel I about that ill be 46 sounds so old, like 45 really didn't seem bad but 46, yea not so much.
Back to last year.....on August 30, 2012 I had my reconstruction......... Oh I was soooo excited, so much so I didn't listen to my sister in-law about maybe post phoning for it to not be on a holiday weekend. To anxious I wanted this over.
So I went......5 am, me, joe, mom, Kenny, Paul & Stephanie head to the hospital. They start to get me prepped PP (brother Paul) of course has to do the pre picture w/ the lovely blue cap on, I look like a dork he of course is heading to work later so he's dresses nice.
We go through all of the questions needed to be asked. Like be of mine was can you fix my ripped ear lobe while in there? Yea no the surgery was to be about 11 hours so no added nips or tucks allowed.
We meet the anesthesiologist can't remember her name but so incredibly nice. Loved PP kept touching his hand & shoulder when he asked questions then hugged me before she left. I think they are all so nice cause they take side hits of the happy juice.
Dr. Sacks comes in to do his markings on his master pieces, (I'm not making that up he really is in love with his work, we call him dr. I love my job, especially the job I did on Tonilyn , Steph says she thinks its his screen saver.
Anyway before he can mark me we need to kick everyone out! Again I have the entourage with me in the pre-op room.
Happy juice is given & I apparently wave like miss America as I go in.
So 12.25 hours later I'm done! Yes I wrote 12.25 hours.<br />
Joe, mom, & Kenny stayed the entire time. I can not believe that cause its not like you have beds to crash on or even good tv to watch, joe said when dr. Sacks came out for the last up date to say I was in recovery, mom cried(shocker) & hugged him.<br />
Got in the room about 11:00 pm. But not after I kicked out my post op nurse & called in her supervisor.<br />
My first nurse was sheena which happened to be joes mom & pops cats name, so that told me joes pop was with me in the or. She was amazing, so nice, gentle, great bedside manner. Then shifts changed.......ins don't even remember the other nurses name so we will just call her cruella.<br />
Now I've just gotten out of a 12 hour surgery, I'm a bit out of it, plus here's what I had done...... Skip ahead if your queasy .<br />
They removed the expanders in both breasts, then cut me from hip to hip & took all the fat they could get from my tummy to implant into the breasts, had to connect the blood vessels (each one) to the the other tissue to keep it alive & hope that it takes & doesn't reject it.<br />
Then the moved the belly button cause they had to stretch the tummy to connect w/ the pevis & sew it up. & because my port scar keloid he re-cut that to flatten it.<br />
So needless to say I was in a bit of pain.<br />
I was thirsty to but cause I wasn't aloud to drink they give you those sponge sticks they're supposed to taste minty & you suck on them well I started using it as an Ziccardi scooper. So as I m trying to pee on the lovely bed pan ( with a shy bladder still) I burp, good thing cause I need to move the gas, bad thing too much water so I start to throw up, cruella is next to the other bed pan & mom says she's getting sick & is trying to hold me up, & the nurse goes to reach for the pan I'm sitting on! Again a WTF moment mom yells no hand me that one, then I start to pee & mom is trying to get her to help with moving the bed up.<br />
I'm a mess, thank god for my mom, I really mean this I have no idea what I would have done with out her through all of this. But that's another page.<br />
Pain is kicking in again, i need more pain meds, but I'm stuck between get the meds now & wait 2 hours before they will move me to a room or wait & hope they move me with in the hour to a room then get the meds there?<br />
My decision was made when I needed to take off the gowns & put on new ones from the others being soiled & as mom sits me up cruella walks out of the cubicle & leaves my curtain wide open as thejanitor starts taking out the trash & mopping the floors. Yes I have no gown on! WTF<br />
That's it get her out of here.<br />
<b
Joe comes in & they get the supervisor on the phone Justin, he comes down & says fine he will get me another nurse. I the mean time every time I go to move or eat because if the Anesthesia I throw up. Now they're afraid I will aspirate because of my lungs are making a gurgling sounds & my bowl is doing something too, gurgling not gurgling who knows. But then it gets really fun, Justin calls in Anesthesia who decides I should have an NP tube put in. That's that awesome tube that goes in your nose then funnels into your stomach & is supposed suck the junk in your belly out. Well it's normally done while in the or & your a sleep! Nope not me they put it in while I'm in recovery & awake! Oh so fun. NOT.
It's in & it's gagging me. I can't swallow I can eat, & from all the tugging & pulling my stomach is in so much pain. Guess I'm getting the pain pills down here.
The upside to this story is that one of the head nurses saw my last name on the schedule & figured I was related to someone (Stephanie) & made sure I was put in a room with some amazing nurses. As it turns out they wanted to put me in ICU because if the gagging, & the boob flaps stay open so they can test the blood flow & make sure everything is connected & working correctly so I would need constant care.
But she also knew that could be a pain for me moving me again, & joe would not be able to stay with me. Good call I think that would have put me over the edge. & my nurses where some of the most attentive, caring nurses I've ever had.
My stay was to be 4-5 days, turned out to 5. I had a few more issues like the resident on duty didn't feel the np tube should be removed after a day & a 1/2, so after my nurses made call after call for the order to remove it & he never got back to them, in between a panic attack cause I was chocking, gagging & realized I couldn't breath. I pulled it out myself, yes you read that correctly I pulled it from the nostrils then kept sliding it out of my nose until it was all out! I think I shocked all of the staff, but I knew they couldn't do it & joe was about to but I was afraid he would hurt me cause he could not feel it. So I did it. "My body, my choice"!
Amazing I felt so much better, until they decided that I should get a chest x ray cause again the Ass of a resident wanted to make sure I wasn't building fluid in my lungs. 2 days after being cut up to look like the dog "frankenweinie" I was moved to a wheel chair & taken to the emergency room X-ray lap where I had to stand & try to balance for a chest X-ray that was normal.
Needless to say I wrote a letter about that resident. Moron.
5 days later I was sent home with a walker, a headless lizard tattoo (he was on my hip & had to be decapitated for the tissue flap.) lots of meds, & a realization to listen to Stephanie when she suggests something like no surgery unless its an emergency on a 5 day holiday weekend. All in all its still a great hospital with amazing surgeons & staff.
Sorry for my absence May 29, 2013
It's been a year since my last post, not sure why...well yes I do, I got busy lots going on I will try to catch you all up but it will be in individual post. I just can,t type that much & since I'm typing on the ipad that makes it even harder, waiting for my key board and stand for my Bday...... On the 31st 2 days!,, not sure how I feel I about that ill be 46 sounds so old, like 45 really didn't seem bad but 46, yea not so much.
Back to last year.....on August 30, 2012 I had my reconstruction......... Oh I was soooo excited, so much so I didn't listen to my sister in-law about maybe post phoning for it to not be on a holiday weekend. To anxious I wanted this over.
So I went......5 am, me, joe, mom, Kenny, Paul & Stephanie head to the hospital. They start to get me prepped PP (brother Paul) of course has to do the pre picture w/ the lovely blue cap on, I look like a dork he of course is heading to work later so he's dresses nice.
We go through all of the questions needed to be asked. Like be of mine was can you fix my ripped ear lobe while in there? Yea no the surgery was to be about 11 hours so no added nips or tucks allowed.
We meet the anesthesiologist can't remember her name but so incredibly nice. Loved PP kept touching his hand & shoulder when he asked questions then hugged me before she left. I think they are all so nice cause they take side hits of the happy juice.
Dr. Sacks comes in to do his markings on his master pieces, (I'm not making that up he really is in love with his work, we call him dr. I love my job, especially the job I did on Tonilyn , Steph says she thinks its his screen saver.
Anyway before he can mark me we need to kick everyone out! Again I have the entourage with me in the pre-op room.
Happy juice is given & I apparently wave like miss America as I go in.
So 12.25 hours later I'm done! Yes I wrote 12.25 hours.
Joe, mom, & Kenny stayed the entire time. I can not believe that cause its not like you have beds to crash on or even good tv to watch, joe said when dr. Sacks came out for the last up date to say I was in recovery, mom cried(shocker) & hugged him.
Got in the room about 11:00 pm. But not after I kicked out my post op nurse & called in her supervisor.
My first nurse was sheena which happened to be joes mom & pops cats name, so that told me joes pop was with me in the or. She was amazing, so nice, gentle, great bedside manner. Then shifts changed.......ins don't even remember the other nurses name so we will just call her cruella.
Now I've just gotten out of a 12 hour surgery, I'm a bit out of it, plus here's what I had done...... Skip ahead if your queasy .
They removed the expanders in both breasts, then cut me from hip to hip & took all the fat they could get from my tummy to implant into the breasts, had to connect the blood vessels (each one) to the the other tissue to keep it alive & hope that it takes & doesn't reject it.
Then the moved the belly button cause they had to stretch the tummy to connect w/ the pevis & sew it up. & because my port scar keloid he re-cut that to flatten it.
So needless to say I was in a bit of pain.
I was thirsty to but cause I wasn't aloud to drink they give you those sponge sticks they're supposed to taste minty & you suck on them well I started using it as an Ziccardi scooper. So as I m trying to pee on the lovely bed pan ( with a shy bladder still) I burp, good thing cause I need to move the gas, bad thing too much water so I start to throw up, cruella is next to the other bed pan & mom says she's getting sick & is trying to hold me up, & the nurse goes to reach for the pan I'm sitting on! Again a WTF moment mom yells no hand me that one, then I start to pee & mom is trying to get her to help with moving the bed up.
I'm a mess, thank god for my mom, I really mean this I have no idea what I would have done with out her through all of this. But that's another page.
Pain is kicking in again, i need more pain meds, but I'm stuck between get the meds now & wait 2 hours before they will move me to a room or wait & hope they move me with in the hour to a room then get the meds there?
My decision was made when I needed to take off the gowns & put on new ones from the others being soiled & as mom sits me up cruella walks out of the cubicle & leaves my curtain wide open as the ganitor starts taking out the trash & mopping the floors. Yes I have no gown on! WTF
That's it get her out of here.
Back to last year.....on August 30, 2012 I had my reconstruction......... Oh I was soooo excited, so much so I didn't listen to my sister in-law about maybe post phoning for it to not be on a holiday weekend. To anxious I wanted this over.
So I went......5 am, me, joe, mom, Kenny, Paul & Stephanie head to the hospital. They start to get me prepped PP (brother Paul) of course has to do the pre picture w/ the lovely blue cap on, I look like a dork he of course is heading to work later so he's dresses nice.
We go through all of the questions needed to be asked. Like be of mine was can you fix my ripped ear lobe while in there? Yea no the surgery was to be about 11 hours so no added nips or tucks allowed.
We meet the anesthesiologist can't remember her name but so incredibly nice. Loved PP kept touching his hand & shoulder when he asked questions then hugged me before she left. I think they are all so nice cause they take side hits of the happy juice.
Dr. Sacks comes in to do his markings on his master pieces, (I'm not making that up he really is in love with his work, we call him dr. I love my job, especially the job I did on Tonilyn , Steph says she thinks its his screen saver.
Anyway before he can mark me we need to kick everyone out! Again I have the entourage with me in the pre-op room.
Happy juice is given & I apparently wave like miss America as I go in.
So 12.25 hours later I'm done! Yes I wrote 12.25 hours.
Joe, mom, & Kenny stayed the entire time. I can not believe that cause its not like you have beds to crash on or even good tv to watch, joe said when dr. Sacks came out for the last up date to say I was in recovery, mom cried(shocker) & hugged him.
Got in the room about 11:00 pm. But not after I kicked out my post op nurse & called in her supervisor.
My first nurse was sheena which happened to be joes mom & pops cats name, so that told me joes pop was with me in the or. She was amazing, so nice, gentle, great bedside manner. Then shifts changed.......ins don't even remember the other nurses name so we will just call her cruella.
Now I've just gotten out of a 12 hour surgery, I'm a bit out of it, plus here's what I had done...... Skip ahead if your queasy .
They removed the expanders in both breasts, then cut me from hip to hip & took all the fat they could get from my tummy to implant into the breasts, had to connect the blood vessels (each one) to the the other tissue to keep it alive & hope that it takes & doesn't reject it.
Then the moved the belly button cause they had to stretch the tummy to connect w/ the pevis & sew it up. & because my port scar keloid he re-cut that to flatten it.
So needless to say I was in a bit of pain.
I was thirsty to but cause I wasn't aloud to drink they give you those sponge sticks they're supposed to taste minty & you suck on them well I started using it as an Ziccardi scooper. So as I m trying to pee on the lovely bed pan ( with a shy bladder still) I burp, good thing cause I need to move the gas, bad thing too much water so I start to throw up, cruella is next to the other bed pan & mom says she's getting sick & is trying to hold me up, & the nurse goes to reach for the pan I'm sitting on! Again a WTF moment mom yells no hand me that one, then I start to pee & mom is trying to get her to help with moving the bed up.
I'm a mess, thank god for my mom, I really mean this I have no idea what I would have done with out her through all of this. But that's another page.
Pain is kicking in again, i need more pain meds, but I'm stuck between get the meds now & wait 2 hours before they will move me to a room or wait & hope they move me with in the hour to a room then get the meds there?
My decision was made when I needed to take off the gowns & put on new ones from the others being soiled & as mom sits me up cruella walks out of the cubicle & leaves my curtain wide open as the ganitor starts taking out the trash & mopping the floors. Yes I have no gown on! WTF
That's it get her out of here.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Joseph S. Ziccardi Sr. Oct. 20, 1934 to March 14, 2012
I am dedicating this post to my father -in- law Joseph Salvatore Ziccardi Sr. Esq.
On March 14th we lost an amazing man. I call him my father in law even though Joe & I are not married yet, Because Pop (that's what we called him) would always introduce me as his daughter in law. Which to me was an honor.
He truly was a great man with many accomplishments, not only was he a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, God Father & friend. He was a retired Colonel in the Army Jag Unit. An attorney in Pennsylvania, & also known as the Hoffman Street kid.
I had heard many stories of his life from him, but was really impressed by the many people who had come to pay their respects & commented on how he mentored them, guided them to find their way in life, or how he was so proud to serve his country.
I will never be able to see an apple caramel walnut pie or swim around the island with out thinking of you.
I know you are in heaven with your Pop & Mom & I'm sure your enjoying a cigar with a Manhattan, smiling down on us.
You will truly be missed. Love you Pop!
On March 14th we lost an amazing man. I call him my father in law even though Joe & I are not married yet, Because Pop (that's what we called him) would always introduce me as his daughter in law. Which to me was an honor.
He truly was a great man with many accomplishments, not only was he a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, God Father & friend. He was a retired Colonel in the Army Jag Unit. An attorney in Pennsylvania, & also known as the Hoffman Street kid.
I had heard many stories of his life from him, but was really impressed by the many people who had come to pay their respects & commented on how he mentored them, guided them to find their way in life, or how he was so proud to serve his country.
I will never be able to see an apple caramel walnut pie or swim around the island with out thinking of you.
I know you are in heaven with your Pop & Mom & I'm sure your enjoying a cigar with a Manhattan, smiling down on us.
You will truly be missed. Love you Pop!
Close to the finish line
I know its been a really long time since my last post. I apologise, but it has been a whirlwind of a few months.
On February 4th I finished radiation, with very little burns to the skin. So little that when I went to see the plastic surgeon to set up the appointment for the other breast to be removed he didn't think i had had radiation yet. I'd like to thank my grandmothers Emma & Angie for good Genes or at least good Italian skin!
March 12th i went in & had my left breast removed. On that same day my plastics Dr. Sacks is testing out a new email program where he can email to family member's basically a play by play in the operating room. So I provided him with about 15 email addresses. Including my family that was waiting in the family waiting area. Oh wait they weren't waiting in the family waiting area anymore, because they could all get updates on their smart phones so, My Joe, mom, Paul, Stephanie, & cousin Laura all went to a local pub to enjoy burgers & beer while I was being cut open!
& To my Dr. he thought that was the coolest thing. Really? Almost as cool as his work on my Breasts yes he is really obsessed with them. Stephanie swears they are his screen saver, That's how proud he is?
All turned out good, anyway Pathology reports all came back clear!
Next was to have the ovaries out. So I was going to have that done on the same day but Dr. Sacks nixed that idea as that was way to long a surgery at the same time.
So I found a really good local Dr. in Pa. Dr.Randell. who coincidentally was one of best friends Dr.'s, He's the director of Gyn & oncology at Pennsylvania hospital. This to me was a sign. He was the man to remove the ovaries.
On April 30th He did. in less then 2 hours. I call it the drive through surgery. I arrived at 6;30 am checked in ran some labs, got my happy juice at 8:30am & was in recovery by 11:00, & home by 3. All i needed was fries & a milk shake with my surgery?
But all is good. As you can kinda see in the photo in the hospital with my bro my hair is growing back in, it really soft, thick & curly? Not sure what to do with that. But I'll work it out.
Now i wait for all skin to heal & let my body rest for the summer & come September I will have reconstruction, along with a tummy tuck. & can cross that finish line.
If anything else happens I'll keep you all informed. If not i may not be back till September with the new Bubbies.
Thanks for reading! Your prayers, praise & thoughts!
XOXO
Post-op PP pic
Pre-op Dinner
On February 4th I finished radiation, with very little burns to the skin. So little that when I went to see the plastic surgeon to set up the appointment for the other breast to be removed he didn't think i had had radiation yet. I'd like to thank my grandmothers Emma & Angie for good Genes or at least good Italian skin!
March 12th i went in & had my left breast removed. On that same day my plastics Dr. Sacks is testing out a new email program where he can email to family member's basically a play by play in the operating room. So I provided him with about 15 email addresses. Including my family that was waiting in the family waiting area. Oh wait they weren't waiting in the family waiting area anymore, because they could all get updates on their smart phones so, My Joe, mom, Paul, Stephanie, & cousin Laura all went to a local pub to enjoy burgers & beer while I was being cut open!
& To my Dr. he thought that was the coolest thing. Really? Almost as cool as his work on my Breasts yes he is really obsessed with them. Stephanie swears they are his screen saver, That's how proud he is?
All turned out good, anyway Pathology reports all came back clear!
Next was to have the ovaries out. So I was going to have that done on the same day but Dr. Sacks nixed that idea as that was way to long a surgery at the same time.
So I found a really good local Dr. in Pa. Dr.Randell. who coincidentally was one of best friends Dr.'s, He's the director of Gyn & oncology at Pennsylvania hospital. This to me was a sign. He was the man to remove the ovaries.
On April 30th He did. in less then 2 hours. I call it the drive through surgery. I arrived at 6;30 am checked in ran some labs, got my happy juice at 8:30am & was in recovery by 11:00, & home by 3. All i needed was fries & a milk shake with my surgery?
But all is good. As you can kinda see in the photo in the hospital with my bro my hair is growing back in, it really soft, thick & curly? Not sure what to do with that. But I'll work it out.
Now i wait for all skin to heal & let my body rest for the summer & come September I will have reconstruction, along with a tummy tuck. & can cross that finish line.
If anything else happens I'll keep you all informed. If not i may not be back till September with the new Bubbies.
Thanks for reading! Your prayers, praise & thoughts!
XOXO
Post-op PP pic
Pre-op DinnerWednesday, January 18, 2012
I AM CANCER FREE! 1-16-2012
Well 2012 started out well so far, i know I have to fill you all in on alot that has happened in the past month, But wanted to shout out first it is official from Dr. Greenberg on January 16th he said I am disease free. Mom asked if that meant I was in remission & he says no I am disease free. Because they removed my breast & lymph nodes there was nothing to shrink & I went through the chemo & am still going through radiation (I'm 1/2 way done) all my blood levels are back to normal & organs look good! Ye haw!!
So my next step is finish radiation, started to get some burns not too bad but they say it can get worse & the fatigue hits me a bit by the end of each week but I'll take it if it means disease free!
The back story leading up to all this.....Christmas....Mom wanted to do this in the mountains the same town where we do the Italians invade the lake in the summer. But this time the Italians invaded the mountain. We arrived to "Ski & Glee" that was the name of the house. There was snow the day we arrived but it all melted by day 2, it was one of the warmest weeks they've had up there in years? That's OK. there was plenty for us to do, the house had an arcade & when I say arcade I don't mean a few games i mean an arcade.! I got high score on the one driving game. So my name is on the licence plate of 3 of the cars. (YES, I am proud of this, have you met my brothers?) It also had an indoor pool. Hot tub, & sauna.
There was plenty of food ( as if you where all shocked about that) we did our traditional seafood chippino, stuffed calamari, and then Lobsters!
Then there was the present opening, I call it that cause it just isn't gift giving its a montage of presents being opened. I of course had the most as I always do.( its a requirement) I think my brothers had 1 more then me 1 year & I made mom wrap something lame just so they wouldn't. yes i am 44 & still worrying about this.
But i got one of the best gift ever this year, (no it wasn't the gnome, or the forever lazy. although I love them both) It was a song. Mom, Laura, Stephanie & Kati sang me a song that mom wrote. called "Let it grow" to the music of Let it snow, It was on the Holiday Tits album sung by "Las TaTa's" I will post it for you all to hear. I was more moved then I could have ever imagined, I laughed & cried.
We took pictures in matching PJ'S not a favorite for some of the men, But the girls loved it! Were a pretty cute group if I do say so myself?
Then Christmas eve Joe & I went to his mom & pops. Michele came in from Colorado, Chuck, Andrea, Charlotte, & Marco where there & His cousin Dee & Rick came too. That was a nice surprise, I haven;t spent alot of time with them so it was really nice & it was a lot of fun. Lots of laughs! Charlotte was curious about the wigs so I brought them for her to try on, she was so cute with them & that was so fun.
Lots of food again, Dolores made her famous cotton cookies (their like wedding rings) Joe & I love them & we still do the fish but it gets changed up a bit there's dungeness crab! Yum. It was the first crab I've had since chemo & it was sooooo good.
Then Christmas Day we went to my friend Lisa's ( I've been going there on Xmas day for over 10 years) Its always a blast. After a dinner of surf & turf, we play LRC. (its a gambling dice game) I was hoping they would take pity on me this year & maybe I'd win, but no such luck? I gotta work on my skill & try to win all my money back.
New Years we where supposed to go to the MD Peditto's like we do every year, But PP got the Flu & I wanted no parts of that. So instead we went to dinner in Philly w/ Lisa, my friend Mollye, & Charlie Brown showed up). Then watched the Fireworks at Pennslanding I was impressed they where really good.
So as I've been saying since January 1st. NEW YEAR NEW LIFE!
I still have a long road ahead, I have another surgery, I'm waiting to have my other breast removed & my ovaries taken once the Dr. gets me the date I will let you all know. Then i will heal for about 6 months from everything & can have Reconstruction. But again I'll take it cause I AM CANCER FREE!
So since I still have stuff to talk about I will still keep posting. Hope you all still read along!
Thank You all so much for all your support. Enjoy the video music is my let it grow song.
xoxo
So my next step is finish radiation, started to get some burns not too bad but they say it can get worse & the fatigue hits me a bit by the end of each week but I'll take it if it means disease free!
The back story leading up to all this.....Christmas....Mom wanted to do this in the mountains the same town where we do the Italians invade the lake in the summer. But this time the Italians invaded the mountain. We arrived to "Ski & Glee" that was the name of the house. There was snow the day we arrived but it all melted by day 2, it was one of the warmest weeks they've had up there in years? That's OK. there was plenty for us to do, the house had an arcade & when I say arcade I don't mean a few games i mean an arcade.! I got high score on the one driving game. So my name is on the licence plate of 3 of the cars. (YES, I am proud of this, have you met my brothers?) It also had an indoor pool. Hot tub, & sauna.
There was plenty of food ( as if you where all shocked about that) we did our traditional seafood chippino, stuffed calamari, and then Lobsters!
Then there was the present opening, I call it that cause it just isn't gift giving its a montage of presents being opened. I of course had the most as I always do.( its a requirement) I think my brothers had 1 more then me 1 year & I made mom wrap something lame just so they wouldn't. yes i am 44 & still worrying about this.
But i got one of the best gift ever this year, (no it wasn't the gnome, or the forever lazy. although I love them both) It was a song. Mom, Laura, Stephanie & Kati sang me a song that mom wrote. called "Let it grow" to the music of Let it snow, It was on the Holiday Tits album sung by "Las TaTa's" I will post it for you all to hear. I was more moved then I could have ever imagined, I laughed & cried.
We took pictures in matching PJ'S not a favorite for some of the men, But the girls loved it! Were a pretty cute group if I do say so myself?
Then Christmas eve Joe & I went to his mom & pops. Michele came in from Colorado, Chuck, Andrea, Charlotte, & Marco where there & His cousin Dee & Rick came too. That was a nice surprise, I haven;t spent alot of time with them so it was really nice & it was a lot of fun. Lots of laughs! Charlotte was curious about the wigs so I brought them for her to try on, she was so cute with them & that was so fun.
Lots of food again, Dolores made her famous cotton cookies (their like wedding rings) Joe & I love them & we still do the fish but it gets changed up a bit there's dungeness crab! Yum. It was the first crab I've had since chemo & it was sooooo good.
Then Christmas Day we went to my friend Lisa's ( I've been going there on Xmas day for over 10 years) Its always a blast. After a dinner of surf & turf, we play LRC. (its a gambling dice game) I was hoping they would take pity on me this year & maybe I'd win, but no such luck? I gotta work on my skill & try to win all my money back.
New Years we where supposed to go to the MD Peditto's like we do every year, But PP got the Flu & I wanted no parts of that. So instead we went to dinner in Philly w/ Lisa, my friend Mollye, & Charlie Brown showed up). Then watched the Fireworks at Pennslanding I was impressed they where really good.
So as I've been saying since January 1st. NEW YEAR NEW LIFE!
I still have a long road ahead, I have another surgery, I'm waiting to have my other breast removed & my ovaries taken once the Dr. gets me the date I will let you all know. Then i will heal for about 6 months from everything & can have Reconstruction. But again I'll take it cause I AM CANCER FREE!
So since I still have stuff to talk about I will still keep posting. Hope you all still read along!
Thank You all so much for all your support. Enjoy the video music is my let it grow song.
xoxo
Saturday, December 17, 2011
A Thanksgiving to be thankful 12-5-11
It's been almost a month since my last post. & boy have I been busy. I went for chemo on the 14th, levels were low, lower then ever. But I could still get the taxatier, but had to take the nupogion shots again! This sucks but In order to feel well again I need these shots. My white counts are only a 4, & that's to low for 2 weeks. So Joe again gets to be the barer of the bad shot. We discover if I put an ice pack on the spot first & numb it that makes the sting not so bad.
I then have to go back the following week to check the counts again. I go back for this on November 23rd. But before that we go into Philly on the 20th to see my bestie Lisa run in the Philly marathon. & she did it 13.1 miles so proud of my friend. Like I said to you before the race " I'll never give up" & neither did you! Then Monday we celebrate Joe's birthday. He turned 47 on the 21st! So me, his mom & sister Michele take him to the crab trap for dinner. It was a lot of fun I love seeing him w/ his family we have a lot of laughs & had a fun waitress that we all kept busting on. I had a coconut muffin (some of you might not know but I love all things coconut) so she gave me a whole bag of them. & I never even had to Pull the C card?
Now on that wed at my Dr's apt. my counts are through the roof, in a good way. But I have a whole new set of side effects. The numb tongue, still neoropathy in the fingers & feet. Now headaches again. Spots in front of my eyes kinda like seeing trails.
So the Dr is concerned I have a high toxicity level to the taxatier, we talk about being done with chemo. The Dr said that it was OK for me to stop , that the amount of chemo that I had received especially in the beginning was the most important dose. So I cry hug Donna the receptionist & Cathy the nurse. I'm done! I was on a cloud that day. Really did not know how to feel.
I immediately called my mom she was visiting Kati at school w/ Stephanie. So I made the announcement a thankful thanksgiving no more Chemo was done!
O!I called everyone & cried tears of joy. I then went to get coffee after all the excitement & run into Father Frank ( Gabe's brother the one Gina asked to pray for me in Rome the St.Jude Father) he gave me a blessing, then probably ran away, I was like a crazed fan. So excited to meet him!
Thanksgiving was that week we went to Chuck & Andrea's & it was great to see the family, it's been since the summer, Andreas sister, brother in law & nephew were there so this was really nice it's the first time I've met some of her family. Charlotte was excited to see what wig I was going to be wearing. I wore the long one knowing Char likes long hair. But promised her I'd bring the wigs for Christmas so she could try them on. At dinner we all said something we were thankful for, Marco decided he was thankful for uncle Joe & wanted us to all say that too. I said I was thankful for my health & my fiance (Marco's Uncle Joe) & his support he was my rock more the i ever expected & the families mine & his for being so supportive. Then Char belted out So when are you & uncle Joe getting married! Really.... out of the mouth of an 8 year old.
That weekend my Hammonton Girls & I went to see the cake boss at the Trop. Gina's idea she had press seats & Colleen has connections. We went to dinner at the Palm first (Comped, again Colleen) & then went to see the show. I loved it. I laughed, cried, & understood his sarcasm, it was like being with the family. At the end Colleen noticed he was signing autographs & thought they where giving out cake, so we went over to line & it was a VIP line, But yup you guessed it Colleens name was on the list! We where in. We get up to him he signs all the aprons Amy has bought for us ( its supposed to be a free night?) & then Colleen pulls the 'c" card shes been waiting to do that for months. I'm glad she did I got a kiss, hug & hes gonna pray for me! But no cake.
All that good news & It took me this long to tell everyone......Sorry.
Radiation starts December 27th. But I will fill you all in hopefully before then, we have the Italians invade the lake Christmas coming up, this should be some good writing.
Merry Chrristmas!
xoxo
I then have to go back the following week to check the counts again. I go back for this on November 23rd. But before that we go into Philly on the 20th to see my bestie Lisa run in the Philly marathon. & she did it 13.1 miles so proud of my friend. Like I said to you before the race " I'll never give up" & neither did you! Then Monday we celebrate Joe's birthday. He turned 47 on the 21st! So me, his mom & sister Michele take him to the crab trap for dinner. It was a lot of fun I love seeing him w/ his family we have a lot of laughs & had a fun waitress that we all kept busting on. I had a coconut muffin (some of you might not know but I love all things coconut) so she gave me a whole bag of them. & I never even had to Pull the C card?
Now on that wed at my Dr's apt. my counts are through the roof, in a good way. But I have a whole new set of side effects. The numb tongue, still neoropathy in the fingers & feet. Now headaches again. Spots in front of my eyes kinda like seeing trails.
So the Dr is concerned I have a high toxicity level to the taxatier, we talk about being done with chemo. The Dr said that it was OK for me to stop , that the amount of chemo that I had received especially in the beginning was the most important dose. So I cry hug Donna the receptionist & Cathy the nurse. I'm done! I was on a cloud that day. Really did not know how to feel.
I immediately called my mom she was visiting Kati at school w/ Stephanie. So I made the announcement a thankful thanksgiving no more Chemo was done!
O!I called everyone & cried tears of joy. I then went to get coffee after all the excitement & run into Father Frank ( Gabe's brother the one Gina asked to pray for me in Rome the St.Jude Father) he gave me a blessing, then probably ran away, I was like a crazed fan. So excited to meet him!
Thanksgiving was that week we went to Chuck & Andrea's & it was great to see the family, it's been since the summer, Andreas sister, brother in law & nephew were there so this was really nice it's the first time I've met some of her family. Charlotte was excited to see what wig I was going to be wearing. I wore the long one knowing Char likes long hair. But promised her I'd bring the wigs for Christmas so she could try them on. At dinner we all said something we were thankful for, Marco decided he was thankful for uncle Joe & wanted us to all say that too. I said I was thankful for my health & my fiance (Marco's Uncle Joe) & his support he was my rock more the i ever expected & the families mine & his for being so supportive. Then Char belted out So when are you & uncle Joe getting married! Really.... out of the mouth of an 8 year old.
That weekend my Hammonton Girls & I went to see the cake boss at the Trop. Gina's idea she had press seats & Colleen has connections. We went to dinner at the Palm first (Comped, again Colleen) & then went to see the show. I loved it. I laughed, cried, & understood his sarcasm, it was like being with the family. At the end Colleen noticed he was signing autographs & thought they where giving out cake, so we went over to line & it was a VIP line, But yup you guessed it Colleens name was on the list! We where in. We get up to him he signs all the aprons Amy has bought for us ( its supposed to be a free night?) & then Colleen pulls the 'c" card shes been waiting to do that for months. I'm glad she did I got a kiss, hug & hes gonna pray for me! But no cake.
All that good news & It took me this long to tell everyone......Sorry.
Radiation starts December 27th. But I will fill you all in hopefully before then, we have the Italians invade the lake Christmas coming up, this should be some good writing.
Merry Chrristmas!
xoxo
Friday, November 11, 2011
6 Down 2 To Go...................11-11-11.
This is going to be a long post....
Started the new chemo Taxatier, its the sister to the Taxol. Side effects still neuropathy (just not as bad) nausea, lowers white blood count, aches & pains, oh basically the same as everything else. But only a 2 1/2 hour treatment.
So I had treatment on Monday the 31st. Happy Halloween to me).
It wasn't to bad a process. Dr. Matumba was there asked him about taking B12 to help the neuropathy but he said no but i could take B6. So I am.
Tuesday after treatment feel great, Wednesday hits me again about 3. Tired, not as achy, Thursday I'm beat and now not only are my finger tips numb, but my tongue and whole mouth is. Ugggggg. this is not a good feeling. I sleep most of the day away, brush my teeth every time I get up, just to keep the mouth sores away.
Thursday night I am so sore I have to take a hydracodone & decide maybe some cold sesame noodles I get up get dizzy pass out! Then start to get nauseous. Now many of you don't know this about me but I hate i mean hate anything that has to do with vomiting. (not that anyone does) But I cant hear see it smell it anything or i get sick so if i am about to get sick myself i try my hardest not to! (thanks mom for passing this on to me). I dry heave and pass out again when I decide to try and get up. Joe then puts me on the couch take a zofran and out i go for 2 hours. But I wake up feeling ok.
On Friday I'm doing pretty good. We are going to visit the MD Peditto's on Sunday & I have a follow up with Dr. Sacks on Monday at Hopkins.
I feel much better on Sunday still a bit tired, but feel good. Paul & Stephanie invited Charlie & Jane over for dinner that night & i can't wait i know it will be lots of laughs & lots of rebuttling......even Nick jumped in on the humor.
Monday get to Hopkins for lunch meet Stephanie, & stop to see the Jesus statue. Its my first time i see him as every time Ive been there its either been rushed or Ive been in surgery. This is cool, you are to touch his foot or his robe ( I touched both) & you can write a note for prayers.
Me, Joe & Stephanie go up to the breast ctr, & see Dr. Sacks, he checks out the boob & is so impressed with it. and I quote " that's the best looking nipple sparing mastectomy, That's one for the record books" Joe was waiting for him to take a picture to use it on his business cards.
He also feels if I could have the other breast removed have an expander put in & the overectamy done at the same time. Then everything would be ready for reconstruction in about 6, 9 or 12 months after everything heals from radiation.
I went for a blood check on Wednesday and my white counts where down to 2? But Dr. Greenberg feels i am on the up swing, and things should be good for treatment number 7 on the 14th. Something may have to change he said though because the tongue numbness is a concern. I will be done on the 28th!!!!
Also if I haven't mentioned it, chemo can & did send me into menopause, ok so beware, mood swings are at a high, hot flashes are unbelievable, if you've ever seen the sex in the city episode when Samantha had cancer & she is talking at the award ceremony & starts to have a hot flash says "oh F-it" & rips off her wig. I do that i think once an hour!!!! So i started to take vitamin e this is supposed to help?
I had a nice surprise on Thursday, Cousin Kristy came to visit. We are 5 months apart (shes older). and when we where young spent sooo much time together, she lives in Medford lakes & did when we where young too. 2 Quick stories......I think we were about 10 & where riding double on her banana seat bike, but I was on the handlebars going down a huge hill in the lakes, hit a rock (or bolder) and we went flying. I still have the scars on my elbows. (it was her idea). oh & at about 13, our family had a small family reunion at our Gparents house in Ventnor & we decided to walk up to Steel Pier in AC, it got dark & w/ no $ left could not get back. So we went into the Astor Hotel on pacific ave.( I think that was the name) & had to call the parents. They were not happy. (That may have been my idea?) Any way, we may not see each other that often but having lunch with her & talking was like we never missed a beat. It completely made my week! I love you cuz. Thank You.
I went today to see Dr. Harvey the radiologist, she needed to get my measurements for radiation. that was interesting. You lie on a cat scan table, boob out arms above the head. then the pillow thingy you lay on is a mold that they form to your shape as well as align a beam across the breast area, then they tattoo 3 little dots one on either side of both breasts & one in the center of the chest area. They look like freckles, & yes they are real permanent tattoos. I asked if I could get something cool, like stars , moons & maybe a ribbon.
Then photos of the area. and that's it. I will start radiation on December 27th. it will be about 15 min. everyday for 6 weeks. So on or about February 7th I will be done that! Then hopefully sometime in February remove the other breast, put in the expander and overectamy.
& depending on how my skin reacts to radiation, reconstruction sometime from September to February 2013.
xoxo
This picture is of Me & Karlee C, (shes not happy) with a 6 foot Snake. At Anthony & Carmello M's Sixth Birthday Party.
Started the new chemo Taxatier, its the sister to the Taxol. Side effects still neuropathy (just not as bad) nausea, lowers white blood count, aches & pains, oh basically the same as everything else. But only a 2 1/2 hour treatment.
So I had treatment on Monday the 31st. Happy Halloween to me).
It wasn't to bad a process. Dr. Matumba was there asked him about taking B12 to help the neuropathy but he said no but i could take B6. So I am.
Tuesday after treatment feel great, Wednesday hits me again about 3. Tired, not as achy, Thursday I'm beat and now not only are my finger tips numb, but my tongue and whole mouth is. Ugggggg. this is not a good feeling. I sleep most of the day away, brush my teeth every time I get up, just to keep the mouth sores away.
Thursday night I am so sore I have to take a hydracodone & decide maybe some cold sesame noodles I get up get dizzy pass out! Then start to get nauseous. Now many of you don't know this about me but I hate i mean hate anything that has to do with vomiting. (not that anyone does) But I cant hear see it smell it anything or i get sick so if i am about to get sick myself i try my hardest not to! (thanks mom for passing this on to me). I dry heave and pass out again when I decide to try and get up. Joe then puts me on the couch take a zofran and out i go for 2 hours. But I wake up feeling ok.
On Friday I'm doing pretty good. We are going to visit the MD Peditto's on Sunday & I have a follow up with Dr. Sacks on Monday at Hopkins.
I feel much better on Sunday still a bit tired, but feel good. Paul & Stephanie invited Charlie & Jane over for dinner that night & i can't wait i know it will be lots of laughs & lots of rebuttling......even Nick jumped in on the humor.
Monday get to Hopkins for lunch meet Stephanie, & stop to see the Jesus statue. Its my first time i see him as every time Ive been there its either been rushed or Ive been in surgery. This is cool, you are to touch his foot or his robe ( I touched both) & you can write a note for prayers.
Me, Joe & Stephanie go up to the breast ctr, & see Dr. Sacks, he checks out the boob & is so impressed with it. and I quote " that's the best looking nipple sparing mastectomy, That's one for the record books" Joe was waiting for him to take a picture to use it on his business cards.
He also feels if I could have the other breast removed have an expander put in & the overectamy done at the same time. Then everything would be ready for reconstruction in about 6, 9 or 12 months after everything heals from radiation.
I went for a blood check on Wednesday and my white counts where down to 2? But Dr. Greenberg feels i am on the up swing, and things should be good for treatment number 7 on the 14th. Something may have to change he said though because the tongue numbness is a concern. I will be done on the 28th!!!!
Also if I haven't mentioned it, chemo can & did send me into menopause, ok so beware, mood swings are at a high, hot flashes are unbelievable, if you've ever seen the sex in the city episode when Samantha had cancer & she is talking at the award ceremony & starts to have a hot flash says "oh F-it" & rips off her wig. I do that i think once an hour!!!! So i started to take vitamin e this is supposed to help?
I had a nice surprise on Thursday, Cousin Kristy came to visit. We are 5 months apart (shes older). and when we where young spent sooo much time together, she lives in Medford lakes & did when we where young too. 2 Quick stories......I think we were about 10 & where riding double on her banana seat bike, but I was on the handlebars going down a huge hill in the lakes, hit a rock (or bolder) and we went flying. I still have the scars on my elbows. (it was her idea). oh & at about 13, our family had a small family reunion at our Gparents house in Ventnor & we decided to walk up to Steel Pier in AC, it got dark & w/ no $ left could not get back. So we went into the Astor Hotel on pacific ave.( I think that was the name) & had to call the parents. They were not happy. (That may have been my idea?) Any way, we may not see each other that often but having lunch with her & talking was like we never missed a beat. It completely made my week! I love you cuz. Thank You.
I went today to see Dr. Harvey the radiologist, she needed to get my measurements for radiation. that was interesting. You lie on a cat scan table, boob out arms above the head. then the pillow thingy you lay on is a mold that they form to your shape as well as align a beam across the breast area, then they tattoo 3 little dots one on either side of both breasts & one in the center of the chest area. They look like freckles, & yes they are real permanent tattoos. I asked if I could get something cool, like stars , moons & maybe a ribbon.
Then photos of the area. and that's it. I will start radiation on December 27th. it will be about 15 min. everyday for 6 weeks. So on or about February 7th I will be done that! Then hopefully sometime in February remove the other breast, put in the expander and overectamy.
& depending on how my skin reacts to radiation, reconstruction sometime from September to February 2013.
xoxo
This picture is of Me & Karlee C, (shes not happy) with a 6 foot Snake. At Anthony & Carmello M's Sixth Birthday Party.
Monday, October 24, 2011
A Shout Out to some supporters
Just wanted to inform you all of some amazing support I have gotten during this time. These are just two recent ones from town.
Jeanine from Studio 21 Beauty Bar in Hammonton has been doing Pink blinged out Martini glasses in honor of me & The koman foundation. & Is doing a brows for breasts event. Here's her ad...............................
Jeanine from Studio 21 Beauty Bar in Hammonton has been doing Pink blinged out Martini glasses in honor of me & The koman foundation. & Is doing a brows for breasts event. Here's her ad...............................
Breast Cancer Walk, & the Next step of Chemo........Taxol Oct. 24
Wow Lots to catch up on........First my today is my much older brother Paul's Birthday, so Happy Birthday PP! LOVE YOU SO MUCH, For being you & for always being there for me.
Last week was the Breast Cancer walk in OC NJ. I had wrote about it a few month ago. Laura designed the T-shirt & it turned out so cool. We had a beautiful day with some of my favorite people. Me & Joe, Mom, Lisa & Linda (long), My cousins came from North jersey Joanna, & Marie from Penncy, & brought me my fave. cookies she makes!, My Hammonton peeps came & brought lots of Pink Bling, LisaJo, Joanne, Cassy & My Karlee who made a Team Toni Banner for us to carry. & Of course my sidekick & her family Colleen, Ant, Lil Ant ( who if you ask what I have, he says I have sarcasm, he's 5 & already knows how sarcastic I can be) & Carmello & Megan. 2 of them kind of ate their way up & down the boardwalk. But the support was there. It was a sea of pink, support & very moving. So glad I was up for doing it.
I started the Taxol treatment the following Monday, The side effects are numbness in the hands & feet, body aches & all the other typical side effects. But the Dr. said most of those don't hit until a few treatments in.......AHHH Yea not so much!
They started of with giving me the IV of steroids, zofran & emmend. Then a large IV bag of benadryl, thats just in case i have an allergic reaction to the Taxol? So about an hour into getting the bennidril, i was still talking Lisa was there trying to do work while hanging with me, I made grocery lists for Mom who ran to Walmart . Kathy the nurse did not understand how I was still awake. Her reply most people would be asleep by now for at least a few hours. Lisa said she thought I was talking more...oh well I guess the benadryl had an adverse effect on me. It made me hyper? I did take a quick nap for maybe about an hour. But the whole process was 5 & a 1/2 hours.....Yea no one warned me of that. Good think I have the new Angry Birds game on my phone!
I felt pretty good the rest of the day, tired but I think mostly because it was just a long day.
They next day felt fine, same a before kind of rejuvenated. Most likely because of all the steroids I've been pumped up with.
Day 3, about 3:00 I hit the wall.......baaadddd. Body aches & the tingling in the fingers had started so bad I couldn't button a button. The bottoms of my feet were burning, & the aches where so bad I swear you could hear my knees Creek. Luckily I still had hydrocodone from before so that was it I needed to pop them & sleep. I was able to eat normally, no nausea. Thank Goodness. But up until Sunday I felt like I was 110.
So now I know what to expect, I go in today for blood work to check my counts that will be done through my port since last week the nurse slipped & I have a quarter sizee bruise on my arm!
Then 3 more treatments left. November 28th will be my last one!!!!!!!!!! & I should be good to go for the December Christmas season, I can not wait to eat Crabs & Spaghetti.
Below are pictures from the walk.
xoxo
Last week was the Breast Cancer walk in OC NJ. I had wrote about it a few month ago. Laura designed the T-shirt & it turned out so cool. We had a beautiful day with some of my favorite people. Me & Joe, Mom, Lisa & Linda (long), My cousins came from North jersey Joanna, & Marie from Penncy, & brought me my fave. cookies she makes!, My Hammonton peeps came & brought lots of Pink Bling, LisaJo, Joanne, Cassy & My Karlee who made a Team Toni Banner for us to carry. & Of course my sidekick & her family Colleen, Ant, Lil Ant ( who if you ask what I have, he says I have sarcasm, he's 5 & already knows how sarcastic I can be) & Carmello & Megan. 2 of them kind of ate their way up & down the boardwalk. But the support was there. It was a sea of pink, support & very moving. So glad I was up for doing it.
I started the Taxol treatment the following Monday, The side effects are numbness in the hands & feet, body aches & all the other typical side effects. But the Dr. said most of those don't hit until a few treatments in.......AHHH Yea not so much!
They started of with giving me the IV of steroids, zofran & emmend. Then a large IV bag of benadryl, thats just in case i have an allergic reaction to the Taxol? So about an hour into getting the bennidril, i was still talking Lisa was there trying to do work while hanging with me, I made grocery lists for Mom who ran to Walmart . Kathy the nurse did not understand how I was still awake. Her reply most people would be asleep by now for at least a few hours. Lisa said she thought I was talking more...oh well I guess the benadryl had an adverse effect on me. It made me hyper? I did take a quick nap for maybe about an hour. But the whole process was 5 & a 1/2 hours.....Yea no one warned me of that. Good think I have the new Angry Birds game on my phone!
I felt pretty good the rest of the day, tired but I think mostly because it was just a long day.
They next day felt fine, same a before kind of rejuvenated. Most likely because of all the steroids I've been pumped up with.
Day 3, about 3:00 I hit the wall.......baaadddd. Body aches & the tingling in the fingers had started so bad I couldn't button a button. The bottoms of my feet were burning, & the aches where so bad I swear you could hear my knees Creek. Luckily I still had hydrocodone from before so that was it I needed to pop them & sleep. I was able to eat normally, no nausea. Thank Goodness. But up until Sunday I felt like I was 110.
So now I know what to expect, I go in today for blood work to check my counts that will be done through my port since last week the nurse slipped & I have a quarter sizee bruise on my arm!
Then 3 more treatments left. November 28th will be my last one!!!!!!!!!! & I should be good to go for the December Christmas season, I can not wait to eat Crabs & Spaghetti.
Below are pictures from the walk.
xoxo
Friday, October 7, 2011
Round 4.....the last of the A/C chemo 10-1-11
Sorry never posted from the last chemo, & for the delay in posting, I've realized that typing on the computer & just looking at the computer makes my eyes & head hurt. I did not get the nuelasta shot, the Dr prescribed the nuepogin shot because it was the nuelasta that was giving me the migraine. Joe got the lucky job of giving me the shot at home for 6 days, so I needed to be nice to him. After this treatment in 2 weeks I will start the taxoil treatments, now that Ive got the A/C chemo down on what works & makes me feel better treatment will change.
Here are a few tips I've learned......
Eating an ice pop while getting chemo helps w/ the mouth sores
If I feel like a mouth sore is starting I eat an ice cube and numb the area & it seems to go away.
I had a bad esophagus burn and reflux from the chemo (that's lovely) so the Dr prescribed prilocet & that helps so much! Plus tums, lots of tums.
Cousin Stephanie D. Recommended preggi pops for the nausea they're found at maternity stores & they really work. Oh & they're all natural.
Of course the steroids cause hot head & with it having been hot out I would get the chills so keeping a scarf on my bald head helped keep the heat in & my body temp comfortable.
Taking a clairatin the night before I would get the nuepogin shot helps keep the bone ache down, don't know why but that was a tip from the Melinda the nurse at the center for cancer.
But for a quick update I'm doing pretty good, usually a few days down after chemo then about 6 days or so where I kinda feel like myself. Taste buds are off but that's OK. Cranberry juice, OJ & black cherry soda all taste good.
Also 2 new wigs, one was for a Housewives tour, My sidekick Colleen & I went to see the ladies dish....It was a fun night out & I gotta say they look better in person.
Then Moms wavy hair wig, It has a lace front so I need to cover it with a scarf, or it looks odd. But strangely enough I liked it, & any of my high school & Disney friends may remember when I actually had this hair & paid a lot of $$$ for it.
I was interviewed by the local paper for a series they are doing on cancer in town it's really good I'd I do say so myself. I'll post it on another page for your reading enjoyment. It's very exciting, another Peditto is in the news. Not about an animal rescue or a screen play, but cancer awareness!
It's breast cancer awareness month so if you haven't gotten your mammogram nows is as good a time as any!
Xoxo
Just a reminder....no judging on the spelling bad enough i have no idea how to spell some of these meds, I now have whats called Chemo brain (yes it's real) so you have no memory & am a bit scrambled when it comes to re-reading & writing.
Here are a few tips I've learned......
Eating an ice pop while getting chemo helps w/ the mouth sores
If I feel like a mouth sore is starting I eat an ice cube and numb the area & it seems to go away.
I had a bad esophagus burn and reflux from the chemo (that's lovely) so the Dr prescribed prilocet & that helps so much! Plus tums, lots of tums.
Cousin Stephanie D. Recommended preggi pops for the nausea they're found at maternity stores & they really work. Oh & they're all natural.
Of course the steroids cause hot head & with it having been hot out I would get the chills so keeping a scarf on my bald head helped keep the heat in & my body temp comfortable.
Taking a clairatin the night before I would get the nuepogin shot helps keep the bone ache down, don't know why but that was a tip from the Melinda the nurse at the center for cancer.
But for a quick update I'm doing pretty good, usually a few days down after chemo then about 6 days or so where I kinda feel like myself. Taste buds are off but that's OK. Cranberry juice, OJ & black cherry soda all taste good.
Also 2 new wigs, one was for a Housewives tour, My sidekick Colleen & I went to see the ladies dish....It was a fun night out & I gotta say they look better in person.
Then Moms wavy hair wig, It has a lace front so I need to cover it with a scarf, or it looks odd. But strangely enough I liked it, & any of my high school & Disney friends may remember when I actually had this hair & paid a lot of $$$ for it.
I was interviewed by the local paper for a series they are doing on cancer in town it's really good I'd I do say so myself. I'll post it on another page for your reading enjoyment. It's very exciting, another Peditto is in the news. Not about an animal rescue or a screen play, but cancer awareness!
It's breast cancer awareness month so if you haven't gotten your mammogram nows is as good a time as any!
Xoxo
Just a reminder....no judging on the spelling bad enough i have no idea how to spell some of these meds, I now have whats called Chemo brain (yes it's real) so you have no memory & am a bit scrambled when it comes to re-reading & writing.
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Strawberry stork mark? Sept. 19th
First I want to start off Wishing my god child Bopper Kati Peditto A very Happy 18th Birthday today! I love you.
So a quick cancer update. No Chemo today...White count is just a bit to low. But I did take the Nupogin shot & so far so good. I go back on Wednesday 9-21-11, if I'm all good, then I get chemo.
The reason for the title of this post is a genetic question. After losing all my hair Lisa asked if she had hurt me because she thought I had a rash on the back of my neck? My mom said no that's her Strawberry birthmark, all the Peditto's have one. I thought she was crazy, but as you will see in the picture of me & Darren we both have the same mark. Mom said Paul has it too. She also said Grandmom Peditto said that all her boys had them? So I am throwing this out there to all my cousins who are reading this & if you can ask around to those that are not. Who else has this birthmark? Now Zackary does not have one, but I think the gene must come from the father, & I know Kati has one cause I distinctly remember it. Not sure about Nick? (Paul or Steph does he?) Also I think Anna has one but can't be positive, but I will find out.
And is it a Peditto thing only or is it a Monaco thing too? I am so curious. Please let me know.
I have also added some pictures of my wigs......so far Its a Blonde, Purple tips, & then the basic black. But no worries more will follow soon.
xoxo
So a quick cancer update. No Chemo today...White count is just a bit to low. But I did take the Nupogin shot & so far so good. I go back on Wednesday 9-21-11, if I'm all good, then I get chemo.
The reason for the title of this post is a genetic question. After losing all my hair Lisa asked if she had hurt me because she thought I had a rash on the back of my neck? My mom said no that's her Strawberry birthmark, all the Peditto's have one. I thought she was crazy, but as you will see in the picture of me & Darren we both have the same mark. Mom said Paul has it too. She also said Grandmom Peditto said that all her boys had them? So I am throwing this out there to all my cousins who are reading this & if you can ask around to those that are not. Who else has this birthmark? Now Zackary does not have one, but I think the gene must come from the father, & I know Kati has one cause I distinctly remember it. Not sure about Nick? (Paul or Steph does he?) Also I think Anna has one but can't be positive, but I will find out.
And is it a Peditto thing only or is it a Monaco thing too? I am so curious. Please let me know.
I have also added some pictures of my wigs......so far Its a Blonde, Purple tips, & then the basic black. But no worries more will follow soon.
xoxo
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
OC NJ Breast Cancer walk Oct 16th
Wanted to give everyone the heads up on Oct 16th we will be doing ( I hope to be doing, depending on how i feel) the OC NJ Breast Cancer walk on the boardwalk. If you would like to join us, the more the merrier.
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY12Eastern?fr_id=35961&pg=entry
This is the registration for that walk.
My cousin also designed a t-shirt if your interested & would like one let me know what size. I waiting on the cost to have the t-shirts printed but don't think it should be much.
Thank You for all the prayers & support.
xoxo,
Tonilyn
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY12Eastern?fr_id=35961&pg=entry
This is the registration for that walk.
My cousin also designed a t-shirt if your interested & would like one let me know what size. I waiting on the cost to have the t-shirts printed but don't think it should be much.
Thank You for all the prayers & support.
xoxo,
Tonilyn
Round 2 Chemo & Get out the Buzzers Sept. 14th
Again I apologize for the delay in my posting. It seems that this will be the normal amount of time in between posts after a chemo treatment. They are kicking my Ass! We or should I say I decided on treatment day
(9-7-11) that I was not going to take the Nuelasta shot or the Nupogin. If that's the cause of the migraines i wanted to narrow it down so it didn't happen again. Now lets hope when I go back on Monday Sept. 19th. My white count is OK & lucky me can have another treatment rather then having to skip a week to wait for them to go up.
So the pattern seems to be Treatment day....pretty good. a bit tired due to all the waiting and the fact that i', being given poison.
The 2nd day......Really good almost a boost, I'm sure from all the steroids & everything that is still moving through the system.
The 3rd day......Still pretty good, eating well a bit more tired but can still get around.
Day 4, 5, 6 out......That's about it, just out sort of an out of body experience, some nausea, very tired & then theres hot head from steroids, sweating, chills, dry mouth, your thirsty but nothing tastes good, so you don't want to drink( but you have to, to keep hydrated). Then the pills that help most of that just knock you oh & then theres the indigestion, so i eat a box of tums which adds to the dry mouth. Yup the fun has begun.
But if I can have 4 or 5 good days before my next treatment I'll take it.
Only 6 more to go..............
On another side effect as was said before I should loss my hair. Yup I did. I was told 14 days from the first chemo it was to the day. That's pretty good estimating.
So on Tuesday night I had my girlfriend Lisa come over to shave my head. It was better then waking up with it all over my pillow. ( Thank You Kristin, for that bit of advice. You were correct! That was a much better idea).
I decided to make it a bit of a party. Because it was last minute I didn't really get to invite a lot of people. But those that showed up where real troopers! Thank You, Lisa for the head shave it means more then you will ever know. Mom for not crying until Stephanie text you back, Amy for the professional photos,
Colleen (sidekick) for the idea to carve initials in the back of my head & not being the first one to cry, Jessica via Face time for the Mohawk idea & trying to control the situation from Maine. & Of course Joe for sitting in the back ground then kissing my head & telling me you love me & that you think I'm still beautiful hair or no hair. You guys really are a great support system. I love you all.
So now I sport a wig but a scarf more then that. wigs are itchy.
Then the next day I got even more support, my brother Darren shaved his head, & my cousin-in-law Tim who is married to my cousin Victor, shaved his head in support of me. Talk about touched, really i do not expect people to do that. but wow! I really feel lucky to have this amazing support system. Thanks Guys.
Until the next treatment........
xoxo
(9-7-11) that I was not going to take the Nuelasta shot or the Nupogin. If that's the cause of the migraines i wanted to narrow it down so it didn't happen again. Now lets hope when I go back on Monday Sept. 19th. My white count is OK & lucky me can have another treatment rather then having to skip a week to wait for them to go up.
So the pattern seems to be Treatment day....pretty good. a bit tired due to all the waiting and the fact that i', being given poison.
The 2nd day......Really good almost a boost, I'm sure from all the steroids & everything that is still moving through the system.
The 3rd day......Still pretty good, eating well a bit more tired but can still get around.
Day 4, 5, 6 out......That's about it, just out sort of an out of body experience, some nausea, very tired & then theres hot head from steroids, sweating, chills, dry mouth, your thirsty but nothing tastes good, so you don't want to drink( but you have to, to keep hydrated). Then the pills that help most of that just knock you oh & then theres the indigestion, so i eat a box of tums which adds to the dry mouth. Yup the fun has begun.
But if I can have 4 or 5 good days before my next treatment I'll take it.
Only 6 more to go..............
On another side effect as was said before I should loss my hair. Yup I did. I was told 14 days from the first chemo it was to the day. That's pretty good estimating.
So on Tuesday night I had my girlfriend Lisa come over to shave my head. It was better then waking up with it all over my pillow. ( Thank You Kristin, for that bit of advice. You were correct! That was a much better idea).
I decided to make it a bit of a party. Because it was last minute I didn't really get to invite a lot of people. But those that showed up where real troopers! Thank You, Lisa for the head shave it means more then you will ever know. Mom for not crying until Stephanie text you back, Amy for the professional photos,
Colleen (sidekick) for the idea to carve initials in the back of my head & not being the first one to cry, Jessica via Face time for the Mohawk idea & trying to control the situation from Maine. & Of course Joe for sitting in the back ground then kissing my head & telling me you love me & that you think I'm still beautiful hair or no hair. You guys really are a great support system. I love you all.
So now I sport a wig but a scarf more then that. wigs are itchy.
Then the next day I got even more support, my brother Darren shaved his head, & my cousin-in-law Tim who is married to my cousin Victor, shaved his head in support of me. Talk about touched, really i do not expect people to do that. but wow! I really feel lucky to have this amazing support system. Thanks Guys.
Until the next treatment........
xoxo
 |
| Darren & Me |
 |
| Tim before & after |
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
First Round down............Aug.31, 2011
The first round of chemo is out of the way....... only 7 more to go.
I was a bit unsure how i was going to react, of course i have heard how everyone else has done, so I went into it with a very positive attitude, well lets see, it seemed the average person I have either spoken to or have heard about has had no reaction or the meds have helped them so well they have had no nausea, no aches a little tired here & there, but otherwise no reaction. So while again I went into it with the glass is half full attitude, I got to be honest i had my doubts.
I mean lets look at all the odds, my lump was found & came back at first likely to be cancer, but not definite, looked like I had maybe 3 lymphnodes? ended up with 8, only a 10% chance to be BRACA1 positive & I am, I've had a hemotoma on my hand from the IV that nurse candy cane thought was fine, 2 blown veins from blood work. On the other hand the CT, & Pet scans all came back good. So maybe chemo won't be so bad......ehhhh, Nope not so much.
It started out OK, as i had said in the previous post, i felt pretty good afterward. Went to lunch, was tired but not knocked out. took a nap slept good. Got Up the next day & felt great, went over to the store, ran errands. I was like wow this is nothing........then it all started, That afternoon we had an earthquake, & I felt it! An F'ing earthquake in NJ? Talk about a WTF moment, I was watching as the hallmark stores windows actually buckled (never broke) but it was wild.
Then on Wednesday I had a slight headache but i had to go back to the Dr. for the Nuelasta shot, this boosts the bone marrow & helps keep the white cell count up, its a time released drug so it works over a 6 day period, its side effects are achy bones & can make you a bit tired. I told him about the headache & that Tylenol was barely touching it, so he prescribed hyrdocodone so if i had the achy bones & a headache this will help both, Well that day about 4:00 i hit the wall, It sort of felt like I had the flu, not bad but just the start I ate small amounts of things like, peanut butter crackers, pastina soup. Forcing myself to eat, because now I needed to take the hydra & wasn't doing that on an empty stomach that for sure would have made me sick. It really only knocked me out, & caused terrible heart burn. Now I was eating tums like crazy. (good thing they're good for you).
Thursday was like an out of body experience, I never felt like myself still had the headache & my body was throbbing. Took 1/2 a day at the store then lots of naps.
Friday was worse yet, now I have a full blown migraine, achy bones, throbbing body & can't even get up. Oh & there's a hurricane on the way!
So call the Dr. he calls in a script for Fiorcet, for migraines & it has codine. I send Joe to pick it up, add some more peanut butter crackers, saltines, OJ, cranapple juice and Advil just for good measure. By the time the script was actually ready, he came home w/ it, the crackers & a bad generic OJ i could not drink. That's all that was left, apparently we were in an Apocalypse & no one told us?
Mom came to stay w/ us for the 2 days so she wouldn't end up like Dorothy from the wizard of OZ at her house, this also gave her the opportunity to help take care of me, even though she did not want to stay & would escape when the pills would kick in & I'd pass out for a few hours.
As it turned out Irene was really a lot of rain & strong winds for us. Our neighbor lost a big oak, but nothing was damaged & we never even lost power. Thank God (make the sign of the cross, here ). It didn't matter much to me anyway those pills knocked me out till pretty much Sunday!
I got better each day, Monday went back to the Dr, my white cells are excellent, & he feels i had a bad reaction to the Nuelasta, that this caused the headaches. So my next treatment that will be on Wednesday Sept. 7th i will get a self injecting shot of Nupogin. I will give this to myself over the next 6 days but if I feel the migraines start I'm to stop it. Then we'll test my cells & see how i do.
I just love all the testing & we'll see how you do's.......but i guess that's why its called making strides.
Mom, Me & Lisa also went wig shopping on Monday, i got 3 wigs I will post pics with all my new do's after the hair falls out. I gotta keep you waiting to see something ................my new nick name might just be
"Blonde Rapper TLP"
As of today Wednesday August 31st, I finally feel like myself. Still leery of certain foods. So, as my friend Gabe said this week "Table anything that might be a favorite, You don't want to NOT want something you love when this is all over" Good point, cause crabs & spags is my second favorite meal & just Joe mentioning making it, doesn't sound the least bit good. So I'll wait till this over to have that again!
Keep fingers & anything else crossed next week works out better.
Love all the prayers, thoughts & keep the comments coming.
xoxo
I was a bit unsure how i was going to react, of course i have heard how everyone else has done, so I went into it with a very positive attitude, well lets see, it seemed the average person I have either spoken to or have heard about has had no reaction or the meds have helped them so well they have had no nausea, no aches a little tired here & there, but otherwise no reaction. So while again I went into it with the glass is half full attitude, I got to be honest i had my doubts.
I mean lets look at all the odds, my lump was found & came back at first likely to be cancer, but not definite, looked like I had maybe 3 lymphnodes? ended up with 8, only a 10% chance to be BRACA1 positive & I am, I've had a hemotoma on my hand from the IV that nurse candy cane thought was fine, 2 blown veins from blood work. On the other hand the CT, & Pet scans all came back good. So maybe chemo won't be so bad......ehhhh, Nope not so much.
It started out OK, as i had said in the previous post, i felt pretty good afterward. Went to lunch, was tired but not knocked out. took a nap slept good. Got Up the next day & felt great, went over to the store, ran errands. I was like wow this is nothing........then it all started, That afternoon we had an earthquake, & I felt it! An F'ing earthquake in NJ? Talk about a WTF moment, I was watching as the hallmark stores windows actually buckled (never broke) but it was wild.
Then on Wednesday I had a slight headache but i had to go back to the Dr. for the Nuelasta shot, this boosts the bone marrow & helps keep the white cell count up, its a time released drug so it works over a 6 day period, its side effects are achy bones & can make you a bit tired. I told him about the headache & that Tylenol was barely touching it, so he prescribed hyrdocodone so if i had the achy bones & a headache this will help both, Well that day about 4:00 i hit the wall, It sort of felt like I had the flu, not bad but just the start I ate small amounts of things like, peanut butter crackers, pastina soup. Forcing myself to eat, because now I needed to take the hydra & wasn't doing that on an empty stomach that for sure would have made me sick. It really only knocked me out, & caused terrible heart burn. Now I was eating tums like crazy. (good thing they're good for you).
Thursday was like an out of body experience, I never felt like myself still had the headache & my body was throbbing. Took 1/2 a day at the store then lots of naps.
Friday was worse yet, now I have a full blown migraine, achy bones, throbbing body & can't even get up. Oh & there's a hurricane on the way!
So call the Dr. he calls in a script for Fiorcet, for migraines & it has codine. I send Joe to pick it up, add some more peanut butter crackers, saltines, OJ, cranapple juice and Advil just for good measure. By the time the script was actually ready, he came home w/ it, the crackers & a bad generic OJ i could not drink. That's all that was left, apparently we were in an Apocalypse & no one told us?
Mom came to stay w/ us for the 2 days so she wouldn't end up like Dorothy from the wizard of OZ at her house, this also gave her the opportunity to help take care of me, even though she did not want to stay & would escape when the pills would kick in & I'd pass out for a few hours.
As it turned out Irene was really a lot of rain & strong winds for us. Our neighbor lost a big oak, but nothing was damaged & we never even lost power. Thank God (make the sign of the cross, here ). It didn't matter much to me anyway those pills knocked me out till pretty much Sunday!
I got better each day, Monday went back to the Dr, my white cells are excellent, & he feels i had a bad reaction to the Nuelasta, that this caused the headaches. So my next treatment that will be on Wednesday Sept. 7th i will get a self injecting shot of Nupogin. I will give this to myself over the next 6 days but if I feel the migraines start I'm to stop it. Then we'll test my cells & see how i do.
I just love all the testing & we'll see how you do's.......but i guess that's why its called making strides.
Mom, Me & Lisa also went wig shopping on Monday, i got 3 wigs I will post pics with all my new do's after the hair falls out. I gotta keep you waiting to see something ................my new nick name might just be
"Blonde Rapper TLP"
As of today Wednesday August 31st, I finally feel like myself. Still leery of certain foods. So, as my friend Gabe said this week "Table anything that might be a favorite, You don't want to NOT want something you love when this is all over" Good point, cause crabs & spags is my second favorite meal & just Joe mentioning making it, doesn't sound the least bit good. So I'll wait till this over to have that again!
Keep fingers & anything else crossed next week works out better.
Love all the prayers, thoughts & keep the comments coming.
xoxo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
A day I will never forget......August 22
Aunt JoAnn & Mom in 1988
My Aunt JoAnn Prelle August 22 1946-July 24 2002, Happy 65th Birthday. If anyone should be made a saint in our family it would have to be her!
There where a lot of coincidence's this day Aug. 22. It also would have been my Pops birthday her dads he would have been 88? (mom check me on my dates?)
My cousin Laura who is Aunt JoAnn's daughter came back from Austria for being abroad for a year (she's like my kid sister). She said she went there to study to be a peaceful spy...kidding it was really for Peace & conflict resolution. But I think she just went to travel Europe. Ahh to be 26 again!
It was my first treatment of Chemo.... Laura got to be there with me.:)
The place was great, Nurses Melinda, Gene, & Francesco he was the one mixing the meds. But he was from Venice Italy with a thick Italian accent, a big plant grower so the minute he found out that Joe was a horticulturist, he was picking his brain.
I'm not sure they knew what to do with us when we arrived.....Again I seem to show up with an Entourage!Luckily there was only 1 other woman in there so we took the seat farthest from her.
Mom brought Popsicles to help with the mouth sores so we were providing info to the nurses about natural remedies. They thought it was hysterical that I wanted my picture taken with the red chemo being put in, & that i didn't like my smile in some of the shots.
It took about 2 hours by the time they give you everything, saline, anti Nausea, then the A, then the C.
By the time I was done Francesco was bringing my mom in a plant that is some kind of succulent that keeps reproducing over & over again. And Joe some radicchio seeds he just brought back from Venice.
Then we all went out to lunch at The Maplewood, I got Egg Plant parm w/ French fries. Yum.
Came home felt pretty good, a little tired I think more cause I didn't sleep from the night before, and took one of the nausea pills on a just in case basis, had a headache and still sort of do. But otherwise feel pretty good.
They have come a long way since My Aunt Jo had cancer. But I know I have an angel- plus some up there making sure I beat this.
Mom is already planning her pizzelle baking for this office to bring for the next visit.
I also need to thank & apologize to some people.......to my Mom & Joe sorry for the crazy outbursts & emotional freak outs of last week. Thanks for still talking to me.
And to Lisa, Colleen, & Jessica thank you for listening to me cry, and rant and rave about the stupid things that happened last week. I need to learn to move on........& just take care of it.
Some of this I know I can blame on cancer, hormones etc. But I'm also a Sicilian - Calibres Italian woman.
I will go back on Wednesday for the nuelesta shot to keep blood counts up, then back on the 29th for a check up to see how my first time went. Then the next week I'm off cause my day falls on Labor day. So i think my next treatment will be on the September 12th. But I will keep you all posted.
xoxo
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| Mom & Aunt JoAnn as teenagers |
 | <><><><>
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Vacation is over..........August 16
Home from vacation, I will say it was very relaxing didn't do much not because I didn't want to but because I just couldn't. If you haven't seen the pictures on face book I will post some here so you can see how come we call it the Italians invade the lake. Here is a little run down.........
The house we rented this year had a large back patio, outdoor couches, hot tub, ping pong, fireplace & fire pit. It was so pretty just being out there was relaxing in it of itself.
I brought 3 of the books I've been given just so i made sure i had enough to read. The only one I read was "Cancer Schmancer" by Fran Drescher. It was awesome! Even if you don't have cancer i recommend it, funny, sad, enlightening ( I sound like the NY post book review) but a really good read. Thanks Aunt Lil for sending it to me.
We brought up the kayak's (for those of you who don't know Joe & I started Kayaking a few years ago & love it) I didn't make it out on mine, not enough mobility on the right arm just yet. But once i was able to get in the lake & hot tube that was some great PT. Also Kati had 2 friends w/her & the one's mom is a breast PT therapist so she called her for some easy exercises. Oh & Becky sings & plays guitar (awesome) & so we had a little sing a long moment by the fire.
Paul's friends ( & ours now too) Charlie & Jane & their family came up this year & rented a house too. So we had dinner w/ them 2 nights one night we cooked 18 people & another night we went to them., They did German night & I gotta say for never cooking German food before I thoroughly enjoyed it! But the night that was with us was Italian night, so Joe did his famous spaghetti & meatballs plus sausage, pork, mom made a Caesar salad oh & have i mentioned mom over compensates with food 4 different types of aps? Anyway plenty of food. so to wear off some of the food comes the "Spoons" game. Of which I have been the queen of spoons, I or should I say WE take no prisoners when we play, family friends visitors strangers Game on!
Now some of you have never heard of spoons??? Its a card game that's like musical chairs with spoons last person to grab a spoon is out! (Kati made special plastic spoons for us to use, now because metal tends to draw blood). Everyone insisted I not play their excuse i was still healing from surgery & couldn't use my right arm yet so I might get hurt, huh can you say they were all scarred, I'd win again. & We had new blood in town Charlies daughter Anna & her friend Leah, & Kati had new friends w/her this year Em, & Becky, Oh I was playing. So MY dear sister in law decides to saran wrap my arm down! For some reason Anna actually had experience in doing this before?? ( yeah don't ask).
I played left handed dealt this way & everything! Unfortunately did not win came down to the last 4, but my queen in training Kati did win, oh & she beat her dad you know my brother Perfect Paul!!! You go Girl. I gladly handed over the winners belt. Until next time, I almost have full mobility in the right arm victory will be mine again.
Oh & Joanna we play LRC too(not clr- lol) just so your aware. But that's a Xmas game w/ my friend Lisa & her family it gets very serious cause there's a lot of cash involved.
I also started to collect the smurfs from McD's, just found out you don't have to actually buy the happy meal to get the little guys! 8 later thank you very much. I remember when cousin Nancy had the whole set accessories and all I was so jealous. Well now I only need 2 of the 16 Jokey & the painter. Yes i get obsessed and a bit crazy when i feel I need to complete something.
So back to my cancer situation.... Chemo starts Monday the 22nd, and will go for 8 treatments over 16 weeks. I got the port put in on this past Monday, another fun out patient treatment. Your put under twilight sedation & numb the area with lidocaine before they slice you open. It went up above the left breast area & a wire tubing is slid to the jugular. I was out of it, but could hear what was going on, felt the first slice & let the Dr. know so he hit me up w/ more lidocaine. They were playing music it was great old rock and roll. At one point i was apparently taping my hand along to some Led Zeppelin & I know I heard the Dr. singing.
They really did a great job. Thanks to the folks at SJ Vascular!
I was sore for about 48 hours but its better now, my boob still hurts but its only been 7 weeks since surgery & they say about 3 months or so till you really get use to the expander. Lovely!
Finger crossed for the chemo to not be to bad??? I'll keep you all posted again thanks for all the posts, prayers and thoughts.
Peditto's & Ziccardi's
Kayaking Joe
Saran Spoons...see the plastic spoons
Just kidding....maybe next year?xoxo
The house we rented this year had a large back patio, outdoor couches, hot tub, ping pong, fireplace & fire pit. It was so pretty just being out there was relaxing in it of itself.
I brought 3 of the books I've been given just so i made sure i had enough to read. The only one I read was "Cancer Schmancer" by Fran Drescher. It was awesome! Even if you don't have cancer i recommend it, funny, sad, enlightening ( I sound like the NY post book review) but a really good read. Thanks Aunt Lil for sending it to me.
We brought up the kayak's (for those of you who don't know Joe & I started Kayaking a few years ago & love it) I didn't make it out on mine, not enough mobility on the right arm just yet. But once i was able to get in the lake & hot tube that was some great PT. Also Kati had 2 friends w/her & the one's mom is a breast PT therapist so she called her for some easy exercises. Oh & Becky sings & plays guitar (awesome) & so we had a little sing a long moment by the fire.
Paul's friends ( & ours now too) Charlie & Jane & their family came up this year & rented a house too. So we had dinner w/ them 2 nights one night we cooked 18 people & another night we went to them., They did German night & I gotta say for never cooking German food before I thoroughly enjoyed it! But the night that was with us was Italian night, so Joe did his famous spaghetti & meatballs plus sausage, pork, mom made a Caesar salad oh & have i mentioned mom over compensates with food 4 different types of aps? Anyway plenty of food. so to wear off some of the food comes the "Spoons" game. Of which I have been the queen of spoons, I or should I say WE take no prisoners when we play, family friends visitors strangers Game on!
Now some of you have never heard of spoons??? Its a card game that's like musical chairs with spoons last person to grab a spoon is out! (Kati made special plastic spoons for us to use, now because metal tends to draw blood). Everyone insisted I not play their excuse i was still healing from surgery & couldn't use my right arm yet so I might get hurt, huh can you say they were all scarred, I'd win again. & We had new blood in town Charlies daughter Anna & her friend Leah, & Kati had new friends w/her this year Em, & Becky, Oh I was playing. So MY dear sister in law decides to saran wrap my arm down! For some reason Anna actually had experience in doing this before?? ( yeah don't ask).
I played left handed dealt this way & everything! Unfortunately did not win came down to the last 4, but my queen in training Kati did win, oh & she beat her dad you know my brother Perfect Paul!!! You go Girl. I gladly handed over the winners belt. Until next time, I almost have full mobility in the right arm victory will be mine again.
Oh & Joanna we play LRC too(not clr- lol) just so your aware. But that's a Xmas game w/ my friend Lisa & her family it gets very serious cause there's a lot of cash involved.
I also started to collect the smurfs from McD's, just found out you don't have to actually buy the happy meal to get the little guys! 8 later thank you very much. I remember when cousin Nancy had the whole set accessories and all I was so jealous. Well now I only need 2 of the 16 Jokey & the painter. Yes i get obsessed and a bit crazy when i feel I need to complete something.
So back to my cancer situation.... Chemo starts Monday the 22nd, and will go for 8 treatments over 16 weeks. I got the port put in on this past Monday, another fun out patient treatment. Your put under twilight sedation & numb the area with lidocaine before they slice you open. It went up above the left breast area & a wire tubing is slid to the jugular. I was out of it, but could hear what was going on, felt the first slice & let the Dr. know so he hit me up w/ more lidocaine. They were playing music it was great old rock and roll. At one point i was apparently taping my hand along to some Led Zeppelin & I know I heard the Dr. singing.
They really did a great job. Thanks to the folks at SJ Vascular!
I was sore for about 48 hours but its better now, my boob still hurts but its only been 7 weeks since surgery & they say about 3 months or so till you really get use to the expander. Lovely!
Finger crossed for the chemo to not be to bad??? I'll keep you all posted again thanks for all the posts, prayers and thoughts.
Peditto's & Ziccardi's
Kayaking Joe
Saran Spoons...see the plastic spoons
Just kidding....maybe next year?Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Round 2 begins Aug.2
Hi again.....Sorry its been a bit a little while.
Here's what going on, I had my last plastic surgery appointment and expansion. Again it hurt not as bad as the first 2 times but the next day it felt like i was punched in the chest. Thank goodness for meds!
I have met with the medical oncologist for NJ Dr. Greenberg, he is with the cancer center of NJ, and was very nice. Dr.Prowell (Tinkerbell) from Hopkins called him and spoke with him about what her suggestion of treatment would be, and he said he agreed. Its exactly what he would have prescribed. That makes me feel better, not that I feel the Dr's at Hopkins are the only ones who know what they are doing but when you go in blind not having known anything about a Dr its a bit nerve racking. I did ask around and found out Dr. Greenberg had been a Dr for a few friends family members and they all loved him. He also has an office in Hammonton, so it will be very convenient for the treatments.
Here's the plan.....I go on the 4th for the mugascan ( it tests the heart to make sure its strong enough for chemo) That's at SJ radiology, then meet Dr. Harvey on the 5th shes radiology. Aug 15th blood work at virtua voorhees, Aug 16th SJ vascular to have the port put in. And first treatment of chemo will be on August 22 (aunt Joann & my pops bdays?) Yup I now know they are up there watching me! Then on the 24th I go in for the Neulasta shot this helps keep the white blood cells up.
The start of the chemo treatment will be Adrianmycin-Cytoxin the A/C. That will be 4 cycles every 2 weeks, then they will start Taxol for 4 cycles every 2 weeks. so a total of 8 weeks. If everything goes well and i keep on schedule i will be done November 21 ( Joe's Birthday!) Then I take about 4 weeks off to get back into better health and radiation will start. Not sure exactly how long yet, but will keep you all posted.
So if everything stays on track and goes according to plan I will have a chemo and Dr. free Christmas!!!
We will be going on our family vacation this week, when the Italian's invade the lake, so I will be sure to keep everyone posted on all the chaos that happens up there. Oh and I'm cleared for swimming and lite kayaking!!! But no wake boarding this year? oh well....
xoxo
Here's what going on, I had my last plastic surgery appointment and expansion. Again it hurt not as bad as the first 2 times but the next day it felt like i was punched in the chest. Thank goodness for meds!
I have met with the medical oncologist for NJ Dr. Greenberg, he is with the cancer center of NJ, and was very nice. Dr.Prowell (Tinkerbell) from Hopkins called him and spoke with him about what her suggestion of treatment would be, and he said he agreed. Its exactly what he would have prescribed. That makes me feel better, not that I feel the Dr's at Hopkins are the only ones who know what they are doing but when you go in blind not having known anything about a Dr its a bit nerve racking. I did ask around and found out Dr. Greenberg had been a Dr for a few friends family members and they all loved him. He also has an office in Hammonton, so it will be very convenient for the treatments.
Here's the plan.....I go on the 4th for the mugascan ( it tests the heart to make sure its strong enough for chemo) That's at SJ radiology, then meet Dr. Harvey on the 5th shes radiology. Aug 15th blood work at virtua voorhees, Aug 16th SJ vascular to have the port put in. And first treatment of chemo will be on August 22 (aunt Joann & my pops bdays?) Yup I now know they are up there watching me! Then on the 24th I go in for the Neulasta shot this helps keep the white blood cells up.
The start of the chemo treatment will be Adrianmycin-Cytoxin the A/C. That will be 4 cycles every 2 weeks, then they will start Taxol for 4 cycles every 2 weeks. so a total of 8 weeks. If everything goes well and i keep on schedule i will be done November 21 ( Joe's Birthday!) Then I take about 4 weeks off to get back into better health and radiation will start. Not sure exactly how long yet, but will keep you all posted.
So if everything stays on track and goes according to plan I will have a chemo and Dr. free Christmas!!!
We will be going on our family vacation this week, when the Italian's invade the lake, so I will be sure to keep everyone posted on all the chaos that happens up there. Oh and I'm cleared for swimming and lite kayaking!!! But no wake boarding this year? oh well....
xoxo
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Glass is Half Full.......July 20th results
Thanks to my cousin Jo for reminding me that I should never stop looking at the glass as being half full. She was right. I went in for the the cat scan & the bone scan both of which came back clear! Yay.....It was a very long day of tests but well worth it.
It started at 11 am, got to the 3rd floor of the out patient center & they put in an IV it was to send a radioactive dye through my body, for the bone scan. This takes 2 hours for that to happen so i left there & headed to the cat scan next while the dye travel though out my body. Before the cat scan I get to drink this liquid, its a red crystal light drink that helps with the contrast when they put that in. Ugh i do not drink diet things so image something really sweet with a horrible diet after taste that's red, cold and 24oz. & my family is not understanding why I'm choking it down. Let alone they only gave me about 15 minutes to drink it!
I go in for the scan its only 5 min. very odd they put this stuff in the IV & the tech says now your body is going to get very warm, & you will feel like your peeing but I promise you, you are not. I feel it omg, are you sure I'm not peeing, (really thought I was, so odd). Oh let me back up a bit, so last Wednesday when I got home from my god awful day, There was a package waiting for me. It was a quilt made by my Aunt Joan (Jessica's mom) really a beautiful purple & pink quilt for me to take with me to the Dr's knowing its so cold in the office & for when I start chemo. I have received lots of gifts, Candy from the fudge kitchen (yum), flowers, cookies, fruit, PJ'S, Holy water, Saints, Prayer cards & cards galore....Flowers, dinners, food! More things then i could ever list & truly appreciate everything. I can't not thank you all enough. But the blanket i now believe is like a good luck charm.
OK back to the scan so as always its cold in there so they let me put the CQ(cancer quilt, that's what Joe calls it) On. I also had my padre pio relic taped to my arm, & my blessed mother bracelet from Gabby ( a fellow survivor).
Next up to the 4th floor to the Breast center to meet with Laura Gavin to hopefully have the drain removed. Yup its ready, first she expands the boob more this needs to be completed before any chemo can start. So she gives me 100cc of fluid that's double the week before. Watch out Dolly Parton this baby is standing straight up! Oh & hurts like a M'fer again!!! Now she rips the drain out, literally. I'm not feeling so good, a bit pale & light headed. But i need to get down stairs to the bone scan that's in 5 mins. So in a wheel chair I go.
I've had to take to pain killers thanks to the amount of pain i am in from expansion & the drain being removed so I am a bit out of it. This test should take about 45 mins. What happens next was sort of an out of body experience....I start to fall a sleep ( lots of pain meds & I'm really covered up since its cold in there my CQ is on me & padre pio. Can't have the bracelet its metal) I smelled this perfume odd cause its me & the tech in there only & I know shes not wearing any. sort of smelled like L'air Du Temp it was an old perfume smell i remember & believe grandmom Peditto or Aunt Lana used to wear it? or both? Any cousins with info on this? So i think either one or both of them was in the room w/ me.
The end result from a very long day...clear scans, chemo still for sure but only about 4 months now, depending on my health, radiation for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. all of this is less then was originally thought. & of course could change at any moment. But if all goes well reconstruction & ovaries out in August of 2012 instead of March 2013.....Finger crossed & keep the prayers comin. Love you all.
Next appointment Aug. 1, Dr.Sacks (plastics - last expansion), Aug. 2nd Medical oncology in NJ. To find out was the treatment will be.
xoxo
Yucky red drink
It started at 11 am, got to the 3rd floor of the out patient center & they put in an IV it was to send a radioactive dye through my body, for the bone scan. This takes 2 hours for that to happen so i left there & headed to the cat scan next while the dye travel though out my body. Before the cat scan I get to drink this liquid, its a red crystal light drink that helps with the contrast when they put that in. Ugh i do not drink diet things so image something really sweet with a horrible diet after taste that's red, cold and 24oz. & my family is not understanding why I'm choking it down. Let alone they only gave me about 15 minutes to drink it!
I go in for the scan its only 5 min. very odd they put this stuff in the IV & the tech says now your body is going to get very warm, & you will feel like your peeing but I promise you, you are not. I feel it omg, are you sure I'm not peeing, (really thought I was, so odd). Oh let me back up a bit, so last Wednesday when I got home from my god awful day, There was a package waiting for me. It was a quilt made by my Aunt Joan (Jessica's mom) really a beautiful purple & pink quilt for me to take with me to the Dr's knowing its so cold in the office & for when I start chemo. I have received lots of gifts, Candy from the fudge kitchen (yum), flowers, cookies, fruit, PJ'S, Holy water, Saints, Prayer cards & cards galore....Flowers, dinners, food! More things then i could ever list & truly appreciate everything. I can't not thank you all enough. But the blanket i now believe is like a good luck charm.
OK back to the scan so as always its cold in there so they let me put the CQ(cancer quilt, that's what Joe calls it) On. I also had my padre pio relic taped to my arm, & my blessed mother bracelet from Gabby ( a fellow survivor).
Next up to the 4th floor to the Breast center to meet with Laura Gavin to hopefully have the drain removed. Yup its ready, first she expands the boob more this needs to be completed before any chemo can start. So she gives me 100cc of fluid that's double the week before. Watch out Dolly Parton this baby is standing straight up! Oh & hurts like a M'fer again!!! Now she rips the drain out, literally. I'm not feeling so good, a bit pale & light headed. But i need to get down stairs to the bone scan that's in 5 mins. So in a wheel chair I go.
I've had to take to pain killers thanks to the amount of pain i am in from expansion & the drain being removed so I am a bit out of it. This test should take about 45 mins. What happens next was sort of an out of body experience....I start to fall a sleep ( lots of pain meds & I'm really covered up since its cold in there my CQ is on me & padre pio. Can't have the bracelet its metal) I smelled this perfume odd cause its me & the tech in there only & I know shes not wearing any. sort of smelled like L'air Du Temp it was an old perfume smell i remember & believe grandmom Peditto or Aunt Lana used to wear it? or both? Any cousins with info on this? So i think either one or both of them was in the room w/ me.
The end result from a very long day...clear scans, chemo still for sure but only about 4 months now, depending on my health, radiation for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. all of this is less then was originally thought. & of course could change at any moment. But if all goes well reconstruction & ovaries out in August of 2012 instead of March 2013.....Finger crossed & keep the prayers comin. Love you all.
Next appointment Aug. 1, Dr.Sacks (plastics - last expansion), Aug. 2nd Medical oncology in NJ. To find out was the treatment will be.
xoxo
Me with my CQ-& Florence Nightingale (Stephanie)
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Delayed results from July 13th......(
Sorry I never updated the results from my July 13th visit. After getting home on that Wednesday I sort of hit a wall, a very large brick wall ( & that's how my boob feels too).
I decided I needed a little R&R at the beach, add in a little vitamin D, sand, drunken family, crabs, dairy bar, laughter & a BF ( Michele's, Chris) from Colorado who was stylin & profilin & I am good as new. Mentally for the time being anyway.
Any hoo, got to Hopkins at 1:00, go in to the breast center (they're starting to know me in there), I see Laura the nurse Practitioner, things look good, but nope still don't think I'm removing that drain....too much fluid. Ugh, your kidding me? So Dr. Sacks is there that day, she's going to have him come in & check me out. He comes in....." WOW look at that, I do nice work!" He is so excited about how my boob looks. But yup still too much fluid, drain stays, but Laura can expand me a little. This will take up some of the room & help alleviate the fluid. fingers crossed, come back on the 20th next Wednesday & it should able to come out. So they inflate it with another 50 cc. Nice its almost the same size as the other one? ( Sorry brothers if this is TMI?)
Next appointment all the way across the other side of the building......Radiology & Medical Oncology.
Radiology is running behind, so Dr. Prowell comes in first she is Medical Oncology. She reminds me of Tinkerbell with lots of cleavage. She's young but very smart. Has no idea I don't know my Pathology results & starts going over them......"So 8 of the 12 of your lymph nodes they removed were cancerous, & your tumor was 2 cm, OK the cells under the nipple are good.." Whoa what 8 were positive? oh you don't have these yet. UMM NO!
Ok so treatment will be about the same, but for about 6 months, your a stage 3 now. And we'll need a pet scan, & bone scan. Because of the # of nodes. We want to make sure that there are no more tumors or Cancer anywhere else in the body, before you start treatment. WTF. ( Yup its my new mantra) But usually I say the actual words, not the acronym.
Oh it says here your taking Yaz birth control? That's wrong, right? You stopped that? Um nope still taking it. WHAT? that should have been the 1st thing you did! Your cancer is estrogen receptive! You can not take any kind of hormone or birth control.
Yes first thing I threw out when I got home.
Dr. T calls me he doesn't realize I'm at Hopkins & Is calling me about my Path reports. So Tatiana ( Dr. Prowels first name) Calls him back. "Ted, Hi its Tatiana" ( watch it Tink Sandi Tallon is gonna get mad, she hears that flirting w/ dr. soft voice). Yes I'm w/ Ms. Peditto now going over her reports.
Finally Dr. Chin, & Dr. Zellers come in, same thing...yata yata yata....go over reports , ok so radiation will start a few weeks after chemo is done, for 4months.
So here's where I'm at.... Wed. 7-20, 1:00 Laura again, drain out? I hope. Expand me a little more.
Before that not sure what time, Pet scan then bone scan, 3:00 Dr. Prowell again, she should have the results of those 2 tests, then a definite treatment plan?
That may start in August....And about March radiation will begin.....then the following March after all healed up, skin is back to normal reconstruction & other boob is taken, & ovaries are removed.
So if all goes as planned it will all be over in & healed in April 2013.
And i am heading on a vacation somewhere, Maybe Seattle. My future sis in law Andrea always talks about what an amazing trip we could take. So maybe we'll do it? & I have family out there? Hummm
Oh almost forgot to talk about the pain from the expansion, as if its not bad enough that my boob is that brick wall I was telling you about, getting expanded hurts like an MF'er. let alone that the drain is still in, so it moved had to re-heal & stretch out the skin..... Lovely. Tylenol 3, hydracodone, & a Valium later I was fine.
Until next week. Unless something good happens in between.
xoxo
I decided I needed a little R&R at the beach, add in a little vitamin D, sand, drunken family, crabs, dairy bar, laughter & a BF ( Michele's, Chris) from Colorado who was stylin & profilin & I am good as new. Mentally for the time being anyway.
Any hoo, got to Hopkins at 1:00, go in to the breast center (they're starting to know me in there), I see Laura the nurse Practitioner, things look good, but nope still don't think I'm removing that drain....too much fluid. Ugh, your kidding me? So Dr. Sacks is there that day, she's going to have him come in & check me out. He comes in....." WOW look at that, I do nice work!" He is so excited about how my boob looks. But yup still too much fluid, drain stays, but Laura can expand me a little. This will take up some of the room & help alleviate the fluid. fingers crossed, come back on the 20th next Wednesday & it should able to come out. So they inflate it with another 50 cc. Nice its almost the same size as the other one? ( Sorry brothers if this is TMI?)
Next appointment all the way across the other side of the building......Radiology & Medical Oncology.
Radiology is running behind, so Dr. Prowell comes in first she is Medical Oncology. She reminds me of Tinkerbell with lots of cleavage. She's young but very smart. Has no idea I don't know my Pathology results & starts going over them......"So 8 of the 12 of your lymph nodes they removed were cancerous, & your tumor was 2 cm, OK the cells under the nipple are good.." Whoa what 8 were positive? oh you don't have these yet. UMM NO!
Ok so treatment will be about the same, but for about 6 months, your a stage 3 now. And we'll need a pet scan, & bone scan. Because of the # of nodes. We want to make sure that there are no more tumors or Cancer anywhere else in the body, before you start treatment. WTF. ( Yup its my new mantra) But usually I say the actual words, not the acronym.
Oh it says here your taking Yaz birth control? That's wrong, right? You stopped that? Um nope still taking it. WHAT? that should have been the 1st thing you did! Your cancer is estrogen receptive! You can not take any kind of hormone or birth control.
Yes first thing I threw out when I got home.
Dr. T calls me he doesn't realize I'm at Hopkins & Is calling me about my Path reports. So Tatiana ( Dr. Prowels first name) Calls him back. "Ted, Hi its Tatiana" ( watch it Tink Sandi Tallon is gonna get mad, she hears that flirting w/ dr. soft voice). Yes I'm w/ Ms. Peditto now going over her reports.
Finally Dr. Chin, & Dr. Zellers come in, same thing...yata yata yata....go over reports , ok so radiation will start a few weeks after chemo is done, for 4months.
So here's where I'm at.... Wed. 7-20, 1:00 Laura again, drain out? I hope. Expand me a little more.
Before that not sure what time, Pet scan then bone scan, 3:00 Dr. Prowell again, she should have the results of those 2 tests, then a definite treatment plan?
That may start in August....And about March radiation will begin.....then the following March after all healed up, skin is back to normal reconstruction & other boob is taken, & ovaries are removed.
So if all goes as planned it will all be over in & healed in April 2013.
And i am heading on a vacation somewhere, Maybe Seattle. My future sis in law Andrea always talks about what an amazing trip we could take. So maybe we'll do it? & I have family out there? Hummm
Oh almost forgot to talk about the pain from the expansion, as if its not bad enough that my boob is that brick wall I was telling you about, getting expanded hurts like an MF'er. let alone that the drain is still in, so it moved had to re-heal & stretch out the skin..... Lovely. Tylenol 3, hydracodone, & a Valium later I was fine.
Until next week. Unless something good happens in between.
xoxo
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