<p>sunriseeast, if you decide to take metformin, the diabetes drug to which I assume you refer, given what I’ve read lately, there are certain tricks to avoid the unpleasant lower intestinal side effects that some people experience. First, it is important to build up the dose gradually over several weeks. Secondly–unless you take the time release variety, with which I have no experience–you can split the dose into two or more per day, taken with food. I currently take 1500 mg per day, which is one whole pill and one half. I find that if I take the smaller dose with breakfast and the larger at dinner, I am much less likely to have diarrhea. (At one point I thought I had developed an egg allergy because of the frequency with which I was having nasty episodes in the morning, until I tried switching the doses around.)</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice on Metformin. Yes, it’s the drug I am taking. The another drug is more exotic. It’s primarily given to children with genetic disorder. I haven’t started on this one yet: my doctor is looking at all possibly side effects just in case.</p>
<p>If drugs originally developed for cancer can have noncancer uses the converse can be true as well. Side effect issues are critical as are drug interactions, for all uses.</p>
<p>Good luck with the latest treatments.</p>
<p>over the past two days i have read all 97 pages of this board. Your story is so moving and your wonderful family brought me to tears (: Wishing you the best !</p>
<p>Sending healing thoughts to you, Sunrise…visualizing the new drugs doing their jobs.</p>
<p>I have heard about metformin taken with chemo helps the eficacy (sp) of chemo or so they are wondering.
Since I have had cancer I also brag about my kids more, WTH right and you have plenty to brag about.
How is your cancer o meter? i wish they would find a drug that if it cant cure it can keep it at bay, I know its not that simple but I think it has slowed your cancer down, as I recall it was pretty fast growing. I am betting on you!!!</p>
<p>Hello, greetings from Mountainview, CA - the heart of Silicone Valley.</p>
<p>My H’s company’s HQ is located here, and I am “playing wife” this week: I accompanied him on his business trip. It’s kinda weird. I used to come to places like this on business- now I am THE WIFE. In fact, I used to visit H’s company on business - that was before he started to work for this company. Over the weekend, we visited Napa Valley and drove up north and back down via the famed Highway 1, the coastal highway. Beautiful views. Next weekend, we will be visiting the Yosemite. </p>
<p>I am not working now - I have so many travel plans this summer. Of course, it’s based on the assumption that I am well enough to travel and my treatment schedule does not have to be tossed into the garbage can to accommodate my travel schedule.</p>
<p>I just booked a pair of first class tickets to Asia for me and S1 to visit my family(S2’s summer schedule does not allow this. perhaps next year with him). I am using my bonus mileage points: I have about 1.5 million points still left from all the crazy business trips all over the world over the years. My usual MO is to maximize the benefit - stretch it as far as I can. No way I would ever use the mileage points for first class tickets: I would be normally using them for economy class, off peak. After all, you are talking to a woman who gets $9 hair cut: my logic being - among all the “spending” you could do, money for hair cut is the poorest investment - no matter how much spend on it, there is no trace of all that money you spent 6 weeks later. At least if you buy clothes, they will be there a year later.</p>
<p>However, there is something to be said about looking at the grim statistics on the book: may as well use the mileage while I can.</p>
<p>Besides, my H insisted that “I” should fly first class. Then, I couldn’t just fly first class and leave my son in the economy seat. So, he will have a grand experience too with me. It’s the latest luxury aircraft with open bars, lounges, and shops all in the airplane (accessible only to business and first class tickets). It will be interesting to see what it is like. </p>
<p>However, I am thinking: are the mileage points inheritable? If so, maybe I should cancel that first class reservation and go back to my humble mode of operation and get economy seats… Regarding my cheap haircuts, my H is really resentful. His words… “you are punishing ME. You are not looking at your hair all the time. I AM. And, I don’t want to look at a $7 haircut!” I told him “I need to leave enough dough behind so that you can marry a 21 year old blue eyes and blond. Nobody would marry a POOR old fart!”</p>
<p>Next week, I am back to the reality show of an advanced stage cancer patient. I will be starting the drug therapy. The insurance plan does not cover it since it’s off label. Even with the generic version, it’s $1500 a month regimen - completely out of pocket. I am becoming quite extravagant these days - cheap haircut or not.</p>
<p>sunriseeast–I enjoy your humor!</p>
<p>Definitely take 1st class for a trip to Asia, over many time zones. Your body will thank you! :)</p>
<p>* I think men who relate well to women as friends, as people, colleagues, partners, etc are the ones who make a good husband and father down the road. *</p>
<p>I’ve long thought what makes these men such good catches is their solid relationships with their own moms. It doesn’t often come out of the blue. So, congrats to you for building this with your sons and having that influence on them.</p>
<p>Sunrise, use those mileage points, even if they are inheritable!! As they say, may you live to 120. I look forward to hearing about the plane ride. Enjoy.</p>
<p>We also try to go economy. However, for a trip a couple of years ago, when there no seats available for selection and I was afraid that we would be bumped I paid for the cash upgrade to first for a trip to California. What a much more pleasant ride that was than coach. Coming home we went coach…</p>
<p>Sunrise, welcome to my neck of the woods. Doing my best to arrange fantastic weekend weather for your trip ;)</p>
<p>you rock Sunrise. Amazing attitude.</p>
<p>Where do you get $6 haircuts?!</p>
<p>hoping5uc: what a stamina! you read the WHOLE thread in two days!!! I am truly impressed!</p>
<p>dietz199: so far, your magic is working. Beautiful weather! thank you.</p>
<p>kelowna: Actually, it’s $7. I tip generously, so it becomes $9. It’s from the Great Clips. The normal cut for women cost something like $14. However, I still do NOT have a robust lock on my head: I lost all the hair from my front line treatment that ended in last year May. Since then the hair did grow back: however, continuing non-stop chemo is giving me rather thin hair and not growing fast. So she is charging me for a “trim” which is half the cost of the regular full haircut.</p>
<p>Glad to hear about your trip and glad that you are flying first class. Those in the know say that makes all the difference when going so far. It may spoil you!</p>
<p>Once you fly business/first it’s hard to go back:). You deserve it. Your son will love it. And welcome to California. We’ve served up our famous blue skies for you and I hope the sun feels good.</p>
<p>Sunrise, welcome! The weather is especially wonderful this week, and I hope you have a great vacation. Are you visiting anywhere fun while you are here? If you are looking for something to do during the day while your husband is occupied, Filoli Gardens look amazing right now.</p>
<p>Have a wonderful time in California! </p>
<p>And, if anyone deserves first class, it’s you! Enjoy it. :)</p>
<p>Yes, alumother, I noticed the skies are bluer here in CA! Enjoy your visit, sunriseeast!</p>
<p>Wishing you a wonderful trip!</p>