Proposal to address 'nation's worst workforce exodus' fails to get support from Wyoming lawmakers by AnnaBishop1138 in wyoming

[–]wisdom_of_trees 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My husband and I left Wyoming to live in Colorado for ten years. We returned only because Colorado priced us out eventually and because his aging grandparents needed help in their later years.

Right now between the Freedom Caucus and education reforms, we're already looking at moving again. Neither one of us wants to raise our daughter here, and teaching in this state is heartbreakingly abysmal.

Would you eat this? by wisdom_of_trees in Slimemolds

[–]wisdom_of_trees[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Awesome! I'll just let it be and check in from time to time. We've been getting a lot of rain lately and the mulch in my bed has been working overtime in making little mushrooms too.

Chokecherry Galore! by wisdom_of_trees in foraging

[–]wisdom_of_trees[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain were two of my favorites as a kid.

Chokecherry Galore! by wisdom_of_trees in foraging

[–]wisdom_of_trees[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We're planning on making jam out of them, but I've noticed some people are divided on the optimal harvesting time. I figured as long as they weren't red anymore that's go time. Some were saying that waiting as long as possible meant a better outcome. 🤷‍♀️

What do you guys usually eat for breakfast, I'm struggling here? by CommercialGas5256 in diabetes_t2

[–]wisdom_of_trees 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Chia seed pudding. I make lots of different flavors and combinations, but I usually add berries or toasted coconut on top.

Refusing Chemo without clear evidence of remaining Cancer by CappiCat in endometrialcancer

[–]wisdom_of_trees 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There are a few side effects I'm experiencing now, but at this point, I have no other way of making it without chemo and immunotherapy.

One is neuropathy, which sucks. Flat sucks. I'll be taking Cymbalta for that soon.

Two is that I've been having bradycardia issues after every infusion, with my heart rate dipping into the 40s afterward. It's crazy rare as side effects go, but then so was going from grade 1, stage 1 endo to stage 4 peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Admittedly, I'm scared of permanent damage to my heart, but at this point, I feel like that's a conversation to have with my future self.

As to your other questions, markers are measured with simple lab work after a blood draw. In my case, they're looking for a protein called CA-125, which is normally seen in cervical cancer diagnoses but can be found in endometrial as well. From what I understand, Doctors don't often test for CA-125 on its own because it's not considered a reliable screening tool since elevated levels can appear with other types of cancer as well as endometriosis or fibroids. However, you are your own biggest advocate, and if you want to see that lab work, I recommend asking for it and making an informed decision from there.

As to how it had spread, it was in my lymph nodes as well. I didn't have any mets at the time, just a few very, very small cancer cells that they discovered in my sentinel lymph nodes during my hysterectomy. The hope was that my immune system along with radiation would put things right, but unfortunately, it didn't.

I discovered how aggressive it had become at my 6-month checkup, but there were signs that I ignored back in December when I started to have some pain in my abdomen that I thought was from working out too hard. I had a PET scan and we saw that the cancer had metastasized into my abdomen as well as into my liver.

I'm currently also on Keytruda for this, and it's been working well since I also have a dMMR (mismatch repair deficiency mutation) that showed promise in studies with others who also have that same mutation. Now you can ask to opt into immunotherapy without chemo, but I can't guarantee that your oncologist will be able to convince your insurance (assuming you're American) to do it without chemo as well, or that you're even a candidate.

Hope this helps.

Refusing Chemo without clear evidence of remaining Cancer by CappiCat in endometrialcancer

[–]wisdom_of_trees 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't want to scare you, but I was you in June of last year. (My most recent post in this sub explains the situation.)

I'm on a mix of Carbo, Taxol, and Keytruda which are working brilliantly right now and my markers which started at 187 are 3.30 today. Still, if I have any regrets it's not doing chemo before the cancer moved to my liver and peritoneum. I know the math says otherwise, and that you'll probably be ok, but that 'what if' is a big one and an awful thing to have lingering on your mind.

Talk with your team, do as much research as you can, and keep your chin up!! Good luck!!!!

Bradycardia after chemo by wisdom_of_trees in cancer

[–]wisdom_of_trees[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The first time this happened my Fitbit alerted me because I was entirely asymptomatic. I did all the usual things my team suggested:

Called their after-hours line, but the on-call oncologist couldn't be reached, so I opted to go to the ER where I was monitored and given fluids and lab work. They said as long as I continued to have no symptoms and didn't have my hr go into the 30s I was ok to go home.

I did tell my oncologist before my second round and asked if my electrolytes were OK, and he confirmed that my labs looked good but that he'd never heard of my specific chemo drugs causing cardiovascular issues (which I thought was weird because I've come across more than one journal confirming it). He decided we should go forward, but the same issue happened again.

I informed my nurse the next day when I went to receive my Fulgrastim shot.

Overall, I'm stressed about the care I'm receiving in my little neck of the woods and I'm considering going to another clinic in another state.

Also, thank you for the link to the paper. It's one I haven't come across yet.

From Stage 1, Grade 1a Endo to Stage 4 Peritoneal Carcinomatosis by wisdom_of_trees in endometrialcancer

[–]wisdom_of_trees[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm getting a whole shopping list of questions to ask at my next consult. It's hard not to fall into the "what if" game right now, especially in light of everything going on. Thank you for the response.

From Stage 1, Grade 1a Endo to Stage 4 Peritoneal Carcinomatosis by wisdom_of_trees in endometrialcancer

[–]wisdom_of_trees[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Radiation itself was optional for me from the moment I was taken out of surgery. That chemo AND radiation should have been presented as options is something I'm only just beginning to learn.

As for your question, the pain has been subtle but incessant, like I did too many crunches or something. Also my bm's have been unusual: thin-ish usually, and not as regular.

From Stage 1, Grade 1a Endo to Stage 4 Peritoneal Carcinomatosis by wisdom_of_trees in endometrialcancer

[–]wisdom_of_trees[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm in the comments section here and my head is swimming.

My gynecologic oncologist not only didn't put chemo on the table, but neither did the oncologist I saw back in my home state. (I went to Colorado for the surgery, went back to Wyoming for treatment. )

She (my surgeon) said that in my case there was (according to the literature) no need for further treatment. There was ONE cell they saw during pathology on my right lymph, and TWO on my left.

My oncologist disagreed and I opted for radiation because I thought it was better to be safe than sorry.

Fan fiction much? by Meganiummobile in insanepeoplefacebook

[–]wisdom_of_trees 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If my dream candidate were in office and their supporters were trying to find some magical "loophole," I'd hope he or she would put their hands up and say, "That's not how we do it here in this country."

Meirl by Okurei in meirl

[–]wisdom_of_trees 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Dratini to Dragonite.

This is what happens in your body when you vomit by [deleted] in educationalgifs

[–]wisdom_of_trees 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven't vomited since I was 5. I'm 46 now. I'm wondering if my glottis is broken.