I have IBC

Hi Wendy,

Was tinkering on the computer.  Life starts after all the chemo.  How is the Arimidex going?  I lasted a week on that.  Made me drowsy and brain fogged.  Ended up on Femara and no side affects.  For the lymph drainage I bought a bristle brush and I think I got it from the body shop from memory.  Everytime I got into the shower (warm I started from my hand and worked up brushing upwards.  it relieved the fluid build up and I have full movement is my arm.  No after effects of lymph issues since losing all my muscle and all nodes on left arm pit.  The brush worked wonders.  I do not do any lymph draining now.  Am a lucky one as I have scratches etc and no reaction or blow ups.  The brush was used for about 6 months 2-3 times a day. and I forced my arms up every night and massaged them in the air and pushed to the limit even though i had some pain.  You can notice the difference by keep focussing on moving a little bit further each time.

once you have healed do something such as voluntary work.  Keep the mind active.  Find a hobby or sport and learn everything you can about it.  Even play an instrument you wish you could play.

Try not to put weight onto the arm though and sleepwith a pillow tucked up to keep arm elevated at night whilst you heal.  I bought a body pillow and love it.  To be truthful I have 6 pillows on my bed. 

Keep smiling and pull out the battle armour that you tucked away somewhere and remember do not - do not give up no matter how hard the battle becomes.  You can cry - normal emotion.  if anyone tells you otherwise then they do not deserve to be called a friend.  Friends cry with friends.  My boss at the servo where i work has a tear with me every now and again.  Its OK.  Well, Im her favourite employee.  I don't whinge I just go to work and live like there is nothing wrong with me. For a while she thought I was telling raspberries until I showed her a letter that had the words stage 4 metastatic disease and NO cure.  Well, she cut our conversation short and walked off not being nasty as such but she could not comprehend how I can do so much on my own in this servo but the other workers there don't do half as much.  I put it bluntly.  Keeping busy is what keeps me going.  No time to think negative thoughts.  So, to you my counter part in this fight to survive I only wish for you is to live your dreams and do whatever your heart desire and don't worry what others think as they will never understand what you are contending agains.  Laugh and laugh alot.  love to you, sue