I go for the risk analysis with the oncologist today. I think my risk of actual breast cancer is low, but one of the spots on the left side is still healing and oozing a bit but not blood. If I never have to have surgery again it will be fine with me.

I finally got the paperwork from the local neuro yesterday and faxed it over to my HR contact. It was a bit depressing reading that the condition is permanent and I will need the chair indefinitely, but I am really relieved that I will have it if I need it. Next I will tell my co-workers why I need it though my boss said I can just tell them it is none of their dang business. ;)

Now I'm thinking about a placard for the car because there are times when it is daunting to walk a long way across a parking lot until I get a cart I can hold onto.

Ok, that is my serving of whine for today. :D

So sorry to have to welcome you to the Gimp Club, Wiz.:mad:. You are so
brave, to march forward, no matter the obstacle. May you always
have that inner strength.:hug:

HP placard
 

Wiz, I got an HP placard about six months ago, and I just use it when I really need it. I figure that I don't have to use it all the time just 'cause I have one. And if there's only one space, and if that space is wheel chair-accessible, I really do my best to suck it up and park in another space. But the point is that it's OK to have one, even if you don't need it all of the time.

Sorry about all of your troubles, Erika. Wish you could at least have some cookies to soothe your aches and pains.:(

Ok, I met the oncologist and he was a very nice doctor, he worked at both Rush and Northwestern in Chicago and he is the medical director of our local cancer center.

He thinks it might benefit me to take a breast cancer suppressing drug called Raloxifene, or Evista. He gave me the RX but does not want me to have it filled until he does some research related to MS, the drug and the other meds I take. That alone speaks volumes IMO.

He said that my lifetime risk is about 18% of breast cancer and around 3% in the next five years. The Evista cuts that in half. My risk might be higher though because I don't know for sure if my late sister Laura ever had breast cancer. Both of her daughters have had other forms of cancer.

The main side effect with the drug is an increased risk of blood clots. There is also a possible side effect of leg cramps which I already get a lot of at night when I'm relaxing. So we'll see what he finds out.

Erika,

I hope you will feel better soon, you have been through so much. :hug: I also have to avoid holiday sweets because they make me feel sicker. :rolleyes: People at work try to push them on me but I always refuse. It isn't always easy either! :hug:

I am so tired of feeling this way! I have so much left to do for Christmas, then the new year, then my birthday, then my son's birthday. I can't be doing this downward spiral right now! But I can't get enough sleep, there's more pain every day , my breathing is getting difficult again (it does every time I have a flare, but not enough to go to an ER) and today my left arm is weak and hurts. Oh and let's not forget my vision getting worse. :(

Ugh, I just want to enjoy time with family and not make my husband and kids take care of everything!

Ok done whining, now to find the strength to make dinner.

:hug::hug::hug: nemsmom :hug::hug::hug:

With love, Erika

Newsmom,

Try not to overdo it. I understand where you are coming from but you need to slow down and maybe let others help or possibly order take out food for meals or get some help around the house with the kids. :hug:

Wiz, you will feel so much better with that handicap placard. Like you I only use mine if I am having a bad day. In the summer I do use it more because I need to be close tot he door when I leave. Now when I get to the store it's another story. Being in the air conditioned car I am fine. But going in, shopping, having to put the bags in the car, I need that space. So far I have never had anyone question why as an able bodied 'looking' person that I have it. Now my husband on the other hand would use it everywhere we go. It gives him a bigger parking place and the car is more protected. Bless his heart. Isn't he glad he is married to some one with a disability that requires a tag. If I die before him I'm sure that will be his number one requirement of a new wife. She has to be disabled. But I refuse to let him park in one if I am having a good day. And now that I am in better shape physically I usually do feel like walking. One day he parked in one anyway so I got out and walked around the whole building and made him late just to show him and anyone watching that the car was not parked there for my purpose.

Oh believe me, I'm doing as little as possible. Dinners have been very simple or made by my hubby. The kids and my husband have really increased what they do around the house to start helping me out, and my kids are old enough that they can tell when I don't feel good. So then they do more to help me including getting things for me when I just don't have the strength to get up.

The holidays gatherings will not be here at my house. We go to our parents houses, that makes that so much easier.

My birthday, my hubby usually takes care of everything that day so I can just relax, we are having friends and family over to play cards that night but that's not a big deal.

My son's birthday will be a lot of work, but thankfully that is the end of January, we just have a lot of family birthdays in between mine and my son's.

I am taking it as easy as I possibly can with having two kids ages nine and six. They are good kids, they know how to take it easy on me when I don't feel well.

It's the thought of how many things there are to do right now I think that is kind of stressing me out, but breaking it down like this helps. I just want to be able to do this without all the health issues.

Oh and the handicap card, it is so good to have. I am another one who only uses it when I truly need it. But it is so good to have it when I do need it. I do get dirty looks when I use it, but I'm 29 and look healthy.

Okay I have fallen asleep three times typing this, I think it's nap time. ;)

annd now I'm wide awake. The silly fire alarm decided it had to beep, just three beeps, but that was enough to trigger this headache to keep me awake. :(

What I was trying to say was, even with as easy as I'm taking it, things are getting worse. It is just so darn frustrating!!! :mad:

Thank you all for your support!