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  • About Me

    Image of Lindaheff

    Lindaheff

    Female, 60
    NJ, USA
    Member since November 25, 2008

    • About Me

      It`s been a year since I was devasted by the diagnosis of OVCA. My CA 125 numbers were "off the chart" at 7500. Since then I`ve had a total hysterectomy. debulking and have been on chemo since August. Currently my CA125 levels are at 24, which are in a normal range of 0-35

      It`s been a year since I was devasted by the diagnosis of OVCA. My CA 125 numbers were "off the chart" at 7500. Since then I`ve had a total hysterectomy. debulking and have been on chemo since August. Currently my CA125 levels are at 24, which are in a normal range of 0-35

    • Interests

      My passion is sailing, I race sailboats from April through November. I love skiing and was an avid runner.I truly miss my running, as I used to run 4 miles a day. Presently I`m struggling to begin running again. Lately, I`ve been trying to stay fit by using my elliptical trainer, treadmill, and stationary bike.

      My passion is sailing, I race sailboats from April through November. I love skiing and was an avid runner.I

  • Recent Activity

    Recently:

    • 6 journal comments, 4 hugs received, 4 hugs given

    Today

    Yesterday

    Thursday

  • Journal

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    • Ray of Sunshine

      From tinynae Wednesday

      Hi Linda,
      How have you been? I am doing a lot better this week. I started my series of shots and I think it is helping my mood a lot. It is making my lower back hurt a lot but I have been taking left over pain meds from the surgeries, that helps me through the night. I also took extra time off from work, that helped catch me up on sleep. I spent the past 2 days sleeping for about 13 hours a night. I know that sounds crazy but I slept straight through so I must of needed it. Anyways I hope your having a great day, and hope your feeling well.
      ~Renee

    • Hug

      From IUPUI Wednesday

      Hi Linda, Thank you for the leg advice. I had another night with the legs aching but did manage to sleep okay. I've made it into work but am not too chipper. It's our turn here to have awful weather - it's very dreary with light rain and chilly temps. I do expect to feel better by the end of the week, especially without having had carbo. I hope all is well there. Much love, Janet

    • Congrats

      From IUPUI Tuesday

      Hi Linda, I had a bit of a "sick" day yesterday - very tired with achy, restless legs. Today is much better so far. I slept fine and will go into work for a few hours. It is cold and rainy, however. I'm glad to hear that you are getting out and around. It is odd that doctors have different vitamin recommendations. Mine doesn't want me to use herbal ingredients and the dietician I saw said only use store brands or national brands. Otherwise she said that quality wasn't assured. We are excited about the new baby - finally they've named her: Nadia Rose. I'll figure out how to post pictures soon and will go to San Francisco on Sunday. Much love, Janet

    • Hug

      From IUPUI November 14

      Hi Linda, I thought of you last night as I laid awake waiting to fall asleep. I think carboplatin makes me tired and without it the steroids took over and wired me up. I even took the heavy-dose sleeping pill that I rarely take and still couldn't sleep. I also had "creepy crawly" restless legs. I generally take 1000 IUs of vitamin D3 every day but hadn't taken any for two days. So about midnight I took a 400 IU pills and amazingly it worked. Still I woke up very early and at best had about 5 hours of sleep. I'm sure it will be better soon. I take 20 mg of dexamethasone the night before chemo and the morning of chemo, then 8 mg the next two mornings and evenings, and finally 4 mg the next two mornings and evenings. I do think it helps a lot with the side effects. I have almost no nausea. I have gained some weight but I'm not sure how much. My husband is happy about this because he thought I looked like a concentration camp survivor. I think the steroids make me hungry and I nibble all day. I take nuts and trail mix to work and eat that all day. I still can't eat much at any one sitting and that's due to scar tissue in the digestive area. Today is the anniversary of when I was told that I probably had ovarian cancer. What a shock that was! But, I'm happy to be here two years later. I had a CT scan the day before because of the rapid abdominal distention that I was getting. Then I went to work and taught a class, came back to a voicemail from the doctor's nurse. The doctor was my gastroenterologist. Actually I was in a osteoporosis study at IU and first went to the study doctor because of the abdominal distention. I thought it might be due to the study drug. He felt something in my upper abdomen and thought it was related to the digestive system and the study people got me connected with the gastroenterologist right away. I had the CT scan before I was scheduled to see him. In any case, I talked to him after my class and he said that it the swelling was due to something called "ascites fluid - a significant abnormality." He had me admitted to the hospital the next day. I ended up still going to my graduate class that evening because I wasn't really feeling bad at all. I didn't ask any questions although I tried to google ascites but didn't spell it right so could not find it. I actually though I had some kind of bowel obstruction. I wasn't really worried because I thought it would be a relatively easy fix and we were getting right on it.

      When the doctor saw me the next day he told me what the results probably indicated and he had already spoken to my gynecologist who referred me to a gyne/onc. Then while he was there the gyne/onc came in to see me. They basically transferred me right then and there - I remember thinking that it was almost like a tag team kind of thing. Well, the last thing I ever thought I had was cancer. It never occurred to me.

      Whew, I've written a lot today - hope it's not too boring :) I hope our beautiful weather heads your way - it's bright, sunny and going to about 66 degrees today! Have a good weekend. Much love, Janet

    • Ray of Sunshine

      From tinynae November 13

      Hi Linda,
      How are you doing? I hope your feeling well and hopefuly not to tired. That way you can have a fabulous weekend!! I went yesterday and got new contacts and a pair of new glasses. I'm so excited because my eyes have hardly changed, so I can still wear my old glasses. So now I will be able to choose between 3 dfferent looks everyday. I think it will be kind of fun to add to all the different hats and scarves. I hope you have a great sunny filled weekend!!
      ~Renee

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  • Support Groups

    • Close Ovarian Cancer

      I was diagnosed with 3c epithelial ovarian cancer with a CA125 of 7500. I had 18 rounds of carboplatin/taxol until I became resistant. Then Doxil and presently Avastin/Gemzar

      Treatments

      Avastin Working / Worked
      decreased CA 125 to 24 (normal range) Stuffy nose
      Carboplatin Not Working
      major hair loss, hearing and sight losses. Platinum resistant
      Chemotherapy Working / Worked
      Initially disappointed but finally have a drug that seems to work
      Gemcitabine Working / Worked
      working with mild nausea
      Taxol Not Working
      CA125 numbers started rising Neuropathy
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