Journal Entry for June 20, 2008
June 20, 2008 12:35pm
Hello friends!
Again, I haven't posted in a while, and thought I'd give you all an update. My new titanium knees are doing a super job, …
Donna
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About Me
Donna
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About Me
I am a retired/disabled woman who worked in the medical community for nearly 25 years. I have 2 great children, and my passions are birds and animals, along with fighting for research for metaplastic breast cancer. I have been diagnosed with arthritis, fibromylagia, metaplastic breast cancer, anxiety, depression, obesity, and most recently, bleeding gastric ulcers.
I am a retired/disabled woman who worked in the medical community for nearly 25 years. I have 2 great children, and my passions are birds and animals, along with fighting for research for metaplastic breast cancer. I have been diagnosed with arthritis, fibromylagia, metaplastic breast cancer, anxiety, depression, obesity, and most recently, bleeding gastric ulcers.
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Journal
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Journal Entry for April 26, 2008
April 26, 2008 11:12am
Hello friends,
It's been a while since I've posted or even visited this site. I did have my surgery on March 28.....both knees replaced …
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Journal Entry for February 18, 2008
February 18, 2008 12:56pm
Thank you all so much for the support you've shown me just in the last day or so! I have missed all of you very much, and will try to stay …
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Journal Entry for February 17, 2008
February 17, 2008 3:41pm
Hi everyone,
It has been a very long time since I was last on this site, and I have lost touch with everyone and all that has been happening here, and …
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Journal Entry for November 9, 2007
November 9, 2007 11:45am
Hello everyone........Again haven't posted in a while, but really don't have much news. I'm still undergoing a barrage of testing …
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Hugbook
Rainbow
hello donna haven't been here for a while am back and really need this site it helps to have friends that can relate in all the pain and lack of accomplishments
that are impossible to do when exhausted from pain.donna, I love your picture wow you are pretttyyy.
i have no printer so, have family with us this week from San Francisco, so won't be around for a couple of days. smiles maura
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HUGS FOR YOU
Celebration
HELLO, SENDING SOME LOVE YOUR WAY. I'VE MISSED YOU..HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU. BUT I DID READ YOUR JOURNALS ABOUT YOUR KNEE AND STUFF. GLAD IT'S ALL WORKING OUT. HOW'S EVERYTHING ELSE. HOPE GOOD. LUV AND HUGS
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miss you
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Support Groups
Close Breast Cancer
Stage: IIB (T2 N1)I found a lump and had a needle biopsy. It showed cancer. I had a sentinal node mapping, and it showed no cancer. (This later proved to be wrong.) I opted for a lumpectomy, and when the mass was examined, it turned out to be metaplastic breast cancer, with 4 out of 8 nodes totally taken over by the cancer. The mass was about 4 cm, and about 2 o'clock (or under my arm). I searched for research on MBC and found that it was extremely rare; almost nothing "out there" to help me with answers.
Treatments
- Adriamycin Working / Worked
- The doctors decided to use this, along with Cytoxin. I tolerated it well.
- Radiotherapy Working / Worked
- I had 35 sessions. Very tireing, and I was burned badly in the last few sessions.
- Surgery Working / Worked
- Lumpectomy with removal of 8 nodes. Had I known of the cancer in the nodes, I would have had a mastectomy.
- Taxol Working / Worked
- This was given to me after the Adrimycin/Cytoxin. I was extremly achey and tired with the Taxol.
Close Arthritis
I have arthritis just about everywhere, and have suffered with it for many years. My biggest challange was in August of this year, when it was found that I had 3 gastric ulcers, one bleeding, caused by the arthritis meds (Mobic), along with baby asprin and Ibuprofin. I had to go off all the meds, and was in severe pain and depression. I scheduled two lumbar epidural injections, (already had ankle, knee, shoulder, and SI joint injections). My ulcers are now healed, and I've again started tx.
Treatments
- Ibuprofen Working / Worked
- Took some of the pain away, but added to the start of bleeding gastric ulcers.
- Methotrexate Working / Worked
- Diminished pain in some areas, but I didn't like the side affects.
- Prednisone Working / Worked
- Again, helped with the pain, but I gained weight, and became emotionally very ugly. Hate the side affects.
Open Peptic Ulcers
After being on arthritis meds for years along with asprin and Ibuprofin for proifilactic and migraine problems, I developed 3 gastric ulcers, one of which started bleeding badly. I had to immediately stop the arthritis meds (Mobic at the time), and deal with the pain and having ulcers. I was severely anemic and had to take iron. Also Prilosec twice daily to help with the healing. That all happened in August of this year. After a follow-up endoscopy last week, ulcers were pronounced healed.
Treatments
Open Rheumatoid Arthritis
I have delt with arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis for years, trying various meds. My RA Factor jumps back and forth from negative to positive, so the doctors don't seem to know exactly what form of arthritis I have; probably several. This last August I was diagnosed with bleeding gastric ulcers, caused by, in great part, the arthrtitis meds. I had been using Mobic for several years. I have just recently been declared healed with the ulcers, and as long as I stay on Prilosec, start tx again.
Treatments
- Celebrex Working / Worked
- Have only taken two doses, but the pain was diminished by half already!
- Methotrexate Working / Worked
- Relieved some of the pain, but I didn't like the side effects.
- Prednisone Working / Worked
- HATE the side effects, but it did work for pain.
- Mobic Working / Worked
- Seemed to work. I took it for several years, but with asprin and Ibuprofin, helped in the cause of bleeding gastric ulcers.
Open Anxiety
Along with several other medical problems, I've been diagnosed with depression and anxiety for many years. I've been on several medications, but nothing seems to work very well.
Treatments
- Lexapro Working / Worked
- Too long ago. Don't remember it's affect on me.
- Xanax Working / Worked
- Don't remember any particular problems with it.
- Klonopin Working / Worked
- I have taken for several years, and it seems to help some. But now I'm dependent on it. Don't know what to do about it at this time.
Open Insomnia
Because of various physical/emotional problems, I've been unable to sleep well. Lack of sleep just makes all of my problems worse, especially fibromylagia, anxiety, and depression.
Treatments
- Ambien Working / Worked
- Works ok, I guess, most of the time. I'm trying the new Ambien CR now, and don't feel any difference between it and the regular Ambien.
Open Breakups & Divorce
I'm only 15 months into my 2nd marriage, and at 61, was hoping to spend the rest of my life with the man that I thought I loved and loved me. We are of radically different faiths, but I thought we had that covered. He has a very explosive temper that I never saw until several months after our marriage, and, there are times when I just don't like him very much. I don't know if we love each other. I'm just very confused in this marriage.
Treatments
- Psychotherapy Considering
- I've seen a counselor on and off for many years. The one I see now isn't very helpful. Might have to change doctors.
Open Gallstones
Well, seems I have another problem. On Oct 30 I had an acute attack of something and went to ER. Diagnosis was acute gastritis. On follow-up with a sonogram, I've been told that I have gallbladder polyps. No stones, that we know of, but I have many symptoms of gallbladder disease. So now it's off to see the surgeon next week and schedule the procedure to have the gallbladder removed.
Open Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer)
My recent CT scan shows a small mass on my left kidney. It's suggestive of carcinoma. I haven't been able to contact the surgeon yet, so I don't know what's in store for me. I was supposed to have my gallbladder removed tomorrow, but now I doubt that will happen. This is also even more scary because I've had breast cancer.
Open Cholecystitis
I've had symptoms that I thought were caused by peptic ulcers since early last fall. I had one major attack where I was in so much pain that I had to call 911 and visit the ER, where I was misdiagnosed. They also said it was my ulcers. After having an ultrasound and talking with several doctors, we found out that I had polyps on my GB. Only problem with that is that polyps don't cause the symptoms I was having. Surgeon thinks there are stones and possible inflamation. My surgery is 2/12.
Treatments
- Surgery Too Soon to Tell
- Surgery is 2/12. Besides the symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, stomach and back pain), I need to have it removed because of the possibility of polyps becoming cancerous.
Open Financial Challenges
Because of my separation, I am left with many credit card bills to deal with. I am looking at several different ways to take care of them, and am looking for advice.
Open Sleep Apnea
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about a month ago, and am going for the second test in a day or so. I am a bit anxious about the CPAP and getting any sleep wearing the mask.
Treatments
- CPAP Working / Worked
- Don't know yet.
- Lose Weight Considering
- Apparently not, since I was diagnosed after having lost 100 pounds.
