Another Twist in the cancer
 

Still trying to regain my strength...seems it is at a much slower pace than I expected...my incisions are healing, but I am still having a few breathing problems...left lower lobe of my lung is partially collapsed and i have a hemidiaphragm...which may have occured from the surgery.....both make breathing a little struggle at times, and sleeping a pain in the a**....
I also have been having a problem with the left side of my neck swelling.....then after I am up, the swelling lessens but does not go away totally....saw the throat surgeon this week and seems I have developed lymphadema in the neck...rare but not unusual with all the lymph node involvement i have in the area. Now I am sleeping propped up on my back and the swelling is almost nill...just an FYI as i had never heard of this.

Wont know until scans if the Cytoxan and Methotroxate are helping...odd that I get nausea from the Cytoxan...i have never had nausea from any chemo before, so this is a new game.

Time to go strengthen the lungs with my spirometry toy....you are all in my thoughts and prayers even though i have been lax in posting...My son recently lost his home to a tornado here...the house that I raised my own children in, and had been in his Dad's family since 1897...he and his wife and children are safe but devastated....funny how fast our lives change!

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Oh so sorry to hear this. Thank goodness everyone is ok.
hugs and love
sarah

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Hi Sheila. So many twists, over time, in cancer and in life. The neck lymphadenopathy is something I've never heard of either. Thanks for attaching the photos. I still am caring for my parents' place and feel the connections to it, and am glad you have the memories even though I'm sorry to see what happened to it. I can imagine what it must have looked like in the area there at the time it was built originally, and what it would have been like for the first bride who lived there.

The Cytoxan gave me nausea with the 5-FU of CAF, and of course the nausea doesn't help a lot with making sure to drink enough fluid to avoid bladder difficulties. I suspect the difference in strength and slower feeling of recovery might be due to lower blood counts with Cytoxan too, but I don't know?

Hugs,

AlaskaAngel

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Sheila, thank you for lettings us know what is happening. I hope your SEs get back in line with feeling good. You are amazing.

The house pictures are unreal. Hard to believe it stood strong for so long and finally met it's match. Change is so hard.
Much love to you, ma

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Dear Sheila,

I read your post and just kept saying "oh my" - I haven't been here an awhile and came back to check up on my friends and I find you with such devastation in your life and yet I don't detect (still) any bitterness or defeat at all - just some annoyance - and that with humor! You are still so "YOU" and that's why you are still here, still the amazing woman who was one of the first to jump in and help me here when I showed up 5 years ago!

My prayers are with you and your family - keep on moving forward with your usual lovely, amazing self!

Love to you, Donna

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Sheila, I hope you regain your breathing strength real soon. Wow! those pictures remind me of the Wizard of Oz. Glad your family is ok and hope they can fix your family home back to its original beauty.
Kris...

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Damn. When you get a minute, please update your treatment list. I can't remember what surgery you had. Any chance that time of day or proximity to food might influence Cytoxan nausea?

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Sheila,

You are in my thoughts and prayers. Since joining HER2 you have continued to be a strength and inspiration to me.........Take Care and Keep the Faith.

Tami

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

You and your family certainly have had your ups and downs. It never rains, but it pours------all at once.
I hope the storms of life calm down, so that all of you will have a more peaceful life someday.
I hope that your body will heal and that all the problems it is dealing with are temporary.
Take good care of yourself. I have my fingers crossed for your improvement.

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Sheila, I had read of your son losing his home through your FB page and was just so relieved they were all okay but what a terrible thing to happen.

I also just wanted to send good thoughts and wishes for a big improvement soon, you're long overdue some better times:)

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

I'm stomping my feet in frustration for all you are going through. You are way overdue for a break from health set backs and other life problems. I hope things improve for you soon. Can you arrange for some manual lymph drainage from a therapist for the lymphedema? I think that would be very helpful as well as relaxing massage like experience for you. Take good care of yourself. Pam

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

I'm sorry to hear about your son's home but happy that everyone came out ok. Hoping and praying for better days ahead for you and your family.

Marcia

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Hi Shelia, If you hear alot of noise it's because I'm stomping my feet along with Pam. It seems it's one thing after another for you...talk about Murphy's Law! My heart really goes out to you. It's time some good things start coming your way as it's long over do.
So sorry to hear about your breathing problems...I hope they get can get to the bottom of that and give you some relief. When its time for you scans I will be sending positive thoughts for good a report. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers always for better days to come. Hang in there.

Chelee

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Sheila,

Thinking of you and sending lots of hugs and love your way. I am sorry you have to deal with so much.

How very frightful for your son and family, thank God they were not harmed. The house is beautiful and I hope they plan to restore it and continue the family
legacy.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Jean

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

So sorry to hear of your son’s loss but glad everyone is OK. It seems god has put some natural disaster in every part of the world to shake up our lives.
I too have elevation of my right hemidiaphragm and scarring in the lower lobe caused by the sacrifice of my right phrenic nerve during the open biopsy of my neck. This is when my breathing problems started and there is nothing they can do to permanently fix this issue. The only thing that seems to help is when my pulmonologist puts me on a round of prednisone to reduce inflammation in my lungs. I don’t know if this would help you, but I thought I would mention it.
I think about you, my neck node sister, often and do hope the new cocktail works. Thanks for the information about neck lymphadema. I read recently, maybe even on this site, that they have a new laser treatment for lymphadema. I wonder if this would help you too????

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Sheila,
It sounds like you have been very uncomfortable and going through a lot. Please know that we are thinking of you and wishing for a speed up on feeling better again. I was so sorry to hear the news about the house and grateful that your family is o.k.. Yes, life changes quickly and it doesn't seem to know or care that such changes (even when in the right direction) are stressful for us humans!

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Thanks for the update Shiela, it just seems unfair
but you are a trooper. I hope this mix works because
you deserve time off for good behavior. Hang in there
and take care.
patb

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Oh Sheila...Oy on the house and the twister. Double Oy on the lung and swelling. I'm sending some extra fortitude from my personal and special supply, direct from my heart to yours. Hang in there!!!!
Flori

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Sheila, I'm sending along my wishes for easier times too. Hugs.

Barb A.

Re: Another Twist in the cancer
 

Wow Sheila
sometimes I think you are trying to work your way cover to cover through the medical dictionary! Don't they get it? You are just too ALIVE!
Keep pushing on Sheila and as you know my best advice is always to BREATHE...so do that-ahow that spirometer who's boss!

Much much love my friend
chris