So, there I was... all girded for the brain radiaition. I had two prayers ready to go, and I'd had my happy pill....and thank the goddess I only took ONE. Alas, the computer was down.. no brain radiation for me today, just the leg.. and a happy time it was, too! Oh yes, the happy pills work WONDERFULLY!
But, I did see my PCP, Dr. Ramaswamy who is working frantically on getting my insurance company to fill my prescription for Ondansetron, AKA Phenergan, the best of the anti-nauseas. I have a couple of Compazine here, also generic, but it doesn't work as well. My BP was a tad low at 98/65, but that happens with cancer sometimes. Just have to make sure I'm not bleeding internally somewhere. I see no signs of that. :)
And I saw Dr. Ono, who is concerned about my skin getting burned due to the high intensity of this 16 round thigh zap. Well, so far, my skin looks fine. I had 28 days of zappage on my chest, and though it fried me interiorly, my skin fared well.
Thursday I'll see my Medical Oncologist, Dr. Fastenberg, and I know he'll be wanting to pop me on some hideously toxic chemo regimen. But hey, I've done it before... ad nauseum... sorry .... and I can do it again.
And there you have it, the exciting life of a cancer-filled woman, trying her damdest to not let it take over her world, but it is... and I will deal with it.
Love and hugs to all. :D
Showing posts with label Dr. Ramaswamy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. Ramaswamy. Show all posts
Monday, January 9, 2012
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Chemo Day
There are lots of repeat customers here today. One of them is the very loquatious gentleman from two weeks ago. Jane and I thought his loquatiousness was due to his massive anxiety about his treatment. Chatting about ANYTHING kept his mind occupied.
Today, our regular area was usurped by snowbirds, so he ended up alone, with noone around him with which to chat. The occupants on either side of him were fast asleep. He began to panic; hyperventilating and requiring several of the docs to come and make sure he wasn't experiencing a reaction to his treatment.
He has calmed down, and I think he'll be fine, but he is definitely the kind of person that NEEDS interaction to stave off his fears. And he is a prime example to teach us the importance of acknowledging our fears, and in the process, taking the power away from those fears.
In fact, he is asleep, and I wonder if one of those doctors popped a sedative in amongst all his meds.
Speaking of meds, Dr. Ramaswamy has scripted me with Percocet and Zofran. We haven't gotten them filled yet, but we will today. Dr. Fastenberg wants my next CT scheduled for 27 December. It will be the normal chest and abdomen, and this time, my left thigh as well. He wants to rule out ...bone cancer. I hope he does! ;)
Ok, my main course, Camptosar, is about half way through. I'm going to end this post.
Hugs to all.
Today, our regular area was usurped by snowbirds, so he ended up alone, with noone around him with which to chat. The occupants on either side of him were fast asleep. He began to panic; hyperventilating and requiring several of the docs to come and make sure he wasn't experiencing a reaction to his treatment.
He has calmed down, and I think he'll be fine, but he is definitely the kind of person that NEEDS interaction to stave off his fears. And he is a prime example to teach us the importance of acknowledging our fears, and in the process, taking the power away from those fears.
In fact, he is asleep, and I wonder if one of those doctors popped a sedative in amongst all his meds.
Speaking of meds, Dr. Ramaswamy has scripted me with Percocet and Zofran. We haven't gotten them filled yet, but we will today. Dr. Fastenberg wants my next CT scheduled for 27 December. It will be the normal chest and abdomen, and this time, my left thigh as well. He wants to rule out ...bone cancer. I hope he does! ;)
Ok, my main course, Camptosar, is about half way through. I'm going to end this post.
Hugs to all.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Hands
Hands are the most incredible tools. But we don't think much about them until something suddenly makes them less useful as tools. We take our hands for granted.
Well, not me; not anymore at least. My hands can't do so many things that used to be simply unthinking reflex actions. Twist the cap off a tube of hand cream? Piece of cake, unless that cap has any kind of ridges, and then, it's a complete no-go. Open the margarine tub? Oh no... sorry, hurts too much.
For breakfast, Jane made french toast. I could not open the maple syrup bottle because the cap had ridges. Sure, those ridges are great for traction, but not for people with Hand-Foot syndrome. I know that if it gets really bad, we'll have to stop the Xeloda, and that's the last thing I want. It's going to have to get really freaking bad before I complain to my oncologist.
The foot part is just starting to be a problem, and that's mostly noticeable when I shower. I don't wear nice comfy padded shoes when I shower. So, it's hard surface against bare feet and I really felt it today. So far, my feet had been a non-issue, but yeah, I have to be careful with them, now, too. Of course, if you think about it, there's no reason you couldn't wear, say... Croc's ... in the shower. Hmmm, something to think about. :)
So, tomorrow I go for my labs at 7AM, then do some work, then go out to see Dr. Ramaswamy at 12:30PM. I'm supposed to go in to the plant for some Sexual Harassment training, or something. That's at 2:00PM. Not sure I will have any energy left for that, though. But it's mandatory. I'll do my best.
The temperatures here are not as chilly as they were the past week or so. Tonight's low is only predicted to be 48, and that's MUCH better than those low 30's. And it looks like we have some rain in our forecast, which would be lovely. We get it so infrequently, that we always get excited when it rains around here. Our desert is very thirsty.
Be well, and safe. Keep warm, and happy. Blessings to all.
Well, not me; not anymore at least. My hands can't do so many things that used to be simply unthinking reflex actions. Twist the cap off a tube of hand cream? Piece of cake, unless that cap has any kind of ridges, and then, it's a complete no-go. Open the margarine tub? Oh no... sorry, hurts too much.
For breakfast, Jane made french toast. I could not open the maple syrup bottle because the cap had ridges. Sure, those ridges are great for traction, but not for people with Hand-Foot syndrome. I know that if it gets really bad, we'll have to stop the Xeloda, and that's the last thing I want. It's going to have to get really freaking bad before I complain to my oncologist.
The foot part is just starting to be a problem, and that's mostly noticeable when I shower. I don't wear nice comfy padded shoes when I shower. So, it's hard surface against bare feet and I really felt it today. So far, my feet had been a non-issue, but yeah, I have to be careful with them, now, too. Of course, if you think about it, there's no reason you couldn't wear, say... Croc's ... in the shower. Hmmm, something to think about. :)
So, tomorrow I go for my labs at 7AM, then do some work, then go out to see Dr. Ramaswamy at 12:30PM. I'm supposed to go in to the plant for some Sexual Harassment training, or something. That's at 2:00PM. Not sure I will have any energy left for that, though. But it's mandatory. I'll do my best.
The temperatures here are not as chilly as they were the past week or so. Tonight's low is only predicted to be 48, and that's MUCH better than those low 30's. And it looks like we have some rain in our forecast, which would be lovely. We get it so infrequently, that we always get excited when it rains around here. Our desert is very thirsty.
Be well, and safe. Keep warm, and happy. Blessings to all.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Oh Xeloda
I took the last four of this week's Xeloda with my breakfast. We made scrambled eggs and added our leftover veggie melange, which had cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, grey squash and assorted chili peppers. It was a fine breakfast.
Still coughing up goop from my lungs, although I am done with the prednisone. I do still have about a week left of the doxycycline. Yesterday's foray to the phlebotomist was a little challenging. We had to do two sticks, and my blood did not want to flow. But, we got what we needed, eventually. :)
Our neighbor, Leslie, thinks chocolate therapy is good for me, so she keeps supplying me with really lovely items. This week, it was a tiramisu log. Oh so yummy. And it's not like I'm wasting away. My weight is pretty darned stable. And then Jane's friend Lisa sent individual carrot cakes. Ai chihuahua. :)
So, Dr. Ramaswamy said I should wear support socks. He says my left leg's veins have been injured by the blood clot and that's why I get the swelling. Have you ever tried to put ON support socks? I don't breathe all that well on good days, and doubling over trying to wrestle with these socks .... well, let's just say I almost need a nap once I get one on. And then, you have to put 'em on BOTH legs. Well, I guess I could just put one on the left leg, but ... nah. Anywho, it's great exercise, if I don't pass out from lack of oxygen. :D
I've been watching The Next Iron Chef, and this iteration has some of the best chefs ever. But it's tough, because these folks ARE fantastic chefs, and each week, someone gets tossed, and it's not like there are any slugs in the mix here. Robert Irvine got tossed because his Hummus was too thick! Yeah, the line up is that good that something as minor as Hummus that's too thick can get you sent packing.
The Xeloda nausea has been a constant for this round, but it's not horrible. It doesn't make me retch, it just makes me feel crappy. But on the bright side, the chilly nights are making me sleep like crazy. Good, deep, restorative sleep. YAY!
So, keep warm, all. And have a great week.
Still coughing up goop from my lungs, although I am done with the prednisone. I do still have about a week left of the doxycycline. Yesterday's foray to the phlebotomist was a little challenging. We had to do two sticks, and my blood did not want to flow. But, we got what we needed, eventually. :)
Our neighbor, Leslie, thinks chocolate therapy is good for me, so she keeps supplying me with really lovely items. This week, it was a tiramisu log. Oh so yummy. And it's not like I'm wasting away. My weight is pretty darned stable. And then Jane's friend Lisa sent individual carrot cakes. Ai chihuahua. :)
So, Dr. Ramaswamy said I should wear support socks. He says my left leg's veins have been injured by the blood clot and that's why I get the swelling. Have you ever tried to put ON support socks? I don't breathe all that well on good days, and doubling over trying to wrestle with these socks .... well, let's just say I almost need a nap once I get one on. And then, you have to put 'em on BOTH legs. Well, I guess I could just put one on the left leg, but ... nah. Anywho, it's great exercise, if I don't pass out from lack of oxygen. :D
I've been watching The Next Iron Chef, and this iteration has some of the best chefs ever. But it's tough, because these folks ARE fantastic chefs, and each week, someone gets tossed, and it's not like there are any slugs in the mix here. Robert Irvine got tossed because his Hummus was too thick! Yeah, the line up is that good that something as minor as Hummus that's too thick can get you sent packing.
The Xeloda nausea has been a constant for this round, but it's not horrible. It doesn't make me retch, it just makes me feel crappy. But on the bright side, the chilly nights are making me sleep like crazy. Good, deep, restorative sleep. YAY!
So, keep warm, all. And have a great week.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Did My Camptosar
Happily I was able to have my camptosar infusion today, although with the bronchitis and asthma flare up, it's left me a lot more lethargic than usual. I got my four Xeloda pills down with my dinner. They are always a joy. :)
I saw my Primary Care yesterday, and he put me on some doxycyline because my sputum was starting to become colorful, and we just can't afford a bacterial pneumonia. Better to be safe than dead, I say. :D
Of course, tonight will see the Dreaded Decadron Insomnia, but I have books to read, and I reloaded Diablo II, so I can play that for a bit.
Finally confessed my self-proclaimed "behavioural issue" with Dr. Ramaswamy. I told him that I have major problems knowing when to complain about symptomatic issues. It's really, really a difficult issue for me. Mostly, I told him, I feel like a whiner because that's how I was brought up between my ever-stoic parents and the even more stoic nuns. He told me to call him if there was any doubt in my mind; any niggle of suspicion that something isn't right. If we can just deal with it over the phone, then that is what we will do. He listened to me, and he had an answer for me that makes sense, and so I shall try very hard to stick with this plan. Dr. Ramaswamy is truly the best.
He says, too, that the swelling of my ankle and foot looks alot better than it did in the hospital, and that the INR rates are very challenging on me because of my chemo drugs, and being on prednisone at the moment. So we're sticking to Monday and Thursday blood tests. He did say he was going to have his assistant contact my insurance company and ask about home testing for PT/INR's. I would do that in a heartbeat.
So, you know, I'm not feeling great, but I'm not back in the hospital, and THAT makes me happy as a clam. And on that note, I think it's time to hit the hookah.
Love to all, peace on Earth and hugs all 'round!
I saw my Primary Care yesterday, and he put me on some doxycyline because my sputum was starting to become colorful, and we just can't afford a bacterial pneumonia. Better to be safe than dead, I say. :D
Of course, tonight will see the Dreaded Decadron Insomnia, but I have books to read, and I reloaded Diablo II, so I can play that for a bit.
Finally confessed my self-proclaimed "behavioural issue" with Dr. Ramaswamy. I told him that I have major problems knowing when to complain about symptomatic issues. It's really, really a difficult issue for me. Mostly, I told him, I feel like a whiner because that's how I was brought up between my ever-stoic parents and the even more stoic nuns. He told me to call him if there was any doubt in my mind; any niggle of suspicion that something isn't right. If we can just deal with it over the phone, then that is what we will do. He listened to me, and he had an answer for me that makes sense, and so I shall try very hard to stick with this plan. Dr. Ramaswamy is truly the best.
He says, too, that the swelling of my ankle and foot looks alot better than it did in the hospital, and that the INR rates are very challenging on me because of my chemo drugs, and being on prednisone at the moment. So we're sticking to Monday and Thursday blood tests. He did say he was going to have his assistant contact my insurance company and ask about home testing for PT/INR's. I would do that in a heartbeat.
So, you know, I'm not feeling great, but I'm not back in the hospital, and THAT makes me happy as a clam. And on that note, I think it's time to hit the hookah.
Love to all, peace on Earth and hugs all 'round!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Hell's Bells!
Ok, I had turned off the Air Conditioner last week, when we were experiencing high 70's through high 80's weather and it was great, but this week, we're back to high 90's again. This is actually normal for us here in the Phoenix metropolitan (dang, that word is a pain to type!) area for this time of year.
If you notice on my Weather Channel widget, our lows are great; tonight we'll hit 64... blanket weather! ;) So, now that the sun is long past being down, all my windows and doors are open and the fans and cross currents are bringing that cooler air into the house. And it's LOVELY!
Jane says she heard our Great Horned Owls last night, so I hope I get a chance to hear them soon. Our bats were back again this evening as we were all out enjoying the sunset and the cooler temperatures.
Went and had my PT/INR today, since Dr. R has changed my schedule from Monday and Friday to Monday and Thursday. Had a chat with my case worker from my insurance company, wondering WHY this time, they wouldn't cover the Coumadin Clinic. She's going to find out. Seems my insurance isn't covering quite a few things these days, not the least of which is the only sleep aid that I, as a person with advanced lung disease, can actually use.
Yes, I broke down and asked Dr. R for a sleeping pill to use on my Dreaded Decadron Insomnia nights. He prescribed Rozerem, which doesn't have a sedative effect, which would be a bad thing for a person with lung disease and sleep apnea. But my insurance company said "prescribe Ambien" to which my doc said... diplomatically... "NO!"
Oh sure, I could spring for it myself, but for two nights in a month, they can bite me... I'll just stay up all night. It's not cheap, by the way. And frankly, I have other, much more important, priorities on my finances right now. But, you know, I'm freaking sick of non-medically trained bureaucrats (dang, that's even harder to type!) telling MY DOCTOR how to prescribe medicine, when they don't know crap about me as a patient. Yeah, I'm perturbed... which is nicer than saying this pisses me off royally. Probably because I'm sleep-deprived. Alas.
Still, all in all, life as I know it is fantastic, beaurocracy-ridden insurance companies notwithstanding, and so, I have a smile on my face, a song in my heart and a glass of red wine at my side. I have a huge family that loves me to bits, friends that give me shoulders galore, and chihuahuas that provide unquestioning adoration. For what more could one wish? A freaking good night's sleep on Dreaded Decadron Insomnia nights!!!!!
And could I also ask to be rid of this silly twitch in my left eye?
Love to all. :)
If you notice on my Weather Channel widget, our lows are great; tonight we'll hit 64... blanket weather! ;) So, now that the sun is long past being down, all my windows and doors are open and the fans and cross currents are bringing that cooler air into the house. And it's LOVELY!
Jane says she heard our Great Horned Owls last night, so I hope I get a chance to hear them soon. Our bats were back again this evening as we were all out enjoying the sunset and the cooler temperatures.
Went and had my PT/INR today, since Dr. R has changed my schedule from Monday and Friday to Monday and Thursday. Had a chat with my case worker from my insurance company, wondering WHY this time, they wouldn't cover the Coumadin Clinic. She's going to find out. Seems my insurance isn't covering quite a few things these days, not the least of which is the only sleep aid that I, as a person with advanced lung disease, can actually use.
Yes, I broke down and asked Dr. R for a sleeping pill to use on my Dreaded Decadron Insomnia nights. He prescribed Rozerem, which doesn't have a sedative effect, which would be a bad thing for a person with lung disease and sleep apnea. But my insurance company said "prescribe Ambien" to which my doc said... diplomatically... "NO!"
Oh sure, I could spring for it myself, but for two nights in a month, they can bite me... I'll just stay up all night. It's not cheap, by the way. And frankly, I have other, much more important, priorities on my finances right now. But, you know, I'm freaking sick of non-medically trained bureaucrats (dang, that's even harder to type!) telling MY DOCTOR how to prescribe medicine, when they don't know crap about me as a patient. Yeah, I'm perturbed... which is nicer than saying this pisses me off royally. Probably because I'm sleep-deprived. Alas.
Still, all in all, life as I know it is fantastic, beaurocracy-ridden insurance companies notwithstanding, and so, I have a smile on my face, a song in my heart and a glass of red wine at my side. I have a huge family that loves me to bits, friends that give me shoulders galore, and chihuahuas that provide unquestioning adoration. For what more could one wish? A freaking good night's sleep on Dreaded Decadron Insomnia nights!!!!!
And could I also ask to be rid of this silly twitch in my left eye?
Love to all. :)
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Coumadin... ai chihuahua
So, I went to Sonora Quest to get my PT/INR. I was happily anticipating a quick finger prick and then I'd be out of there.
But NO! "We can't do the finger prick; we're not technicians, and we don't have the equipment." But, after looking at my arm and examining the vein options, the phlebotomist says to me, "Don't worry, I'm really good at getting blood from you challenging types." She smiled reassuringly. Frankly, I believed her. After a thorough arm going-over, she went for my hand. It was a perfect job. :)
Then off Nancy and I went to Walgreen's to get the Coumadin. They were surprised to see me. I've had my prescriptions there, at least the ones I can't wait on for my mail order joint, for probably a year... and I've never been in the place until yesterday. Jane and Nancy have always gone to get my drugs. I think they didn't believe I existed.
I was on my pretty red scooter, and thankfully, the aisles of the Walgreen's were uncluttered enough to get through. Plus, I didn't hit a soul. YAY! :D
Jane brought me my favorite salad for dinner, and I made inroads into the See's candy that my friend Annette had brought me in the hospital. Oh lord, they have chocolate covered ginger. WOW, that is SO good! And despite those inroads, my glucose was great this morning. I'm just about back to my weird normal. :)
Dr. Ramaswamy had said that as soon as he got the results from the PT/INR, he'd call to tell me how much Coumadin to take that evening. At 4:30 PM, I decided to call, and they said they didn't have the lab results yet. Gloria, Dr. R's nurse asked me if he'd put STAT on the orders. I couldn't remember. They were odd looking to begin with because they were generated in the hospital, and were not in any way like his normal lab orders.
By 9PM, I was half asleep at my keyboard, so I took my regular evening drugs and went to bed. I figured it was better to not take ANY coumadin than to try and guess what to take. Guessing and blood thinners do not mix.
The phone rang at 11:45PM. Jane got it; Dr. Ramaswamy, beside himself and very apologetic said the test results were still not available, but take a half of one of the coumadin. I did that, and took a Vicodin because my left leg was making it hard to get back to sleep. .... I woke up at 9:15 this morning. Holy moses! I haven't slept that late in years!
And speaking of the devil; just got off the phone with Dr. Ramaswamy who told me how to dose myself for the next couple of days. Then Monday, it's back for another blood letting. Joy. :D
All in all, I'm doing really well. I feel a bit fragile yet, but I think I'm getting stronger every day. Hugs to all!
But NO! "We can't do the finger prick; we're not technicians, and we don't have the equipment." But, after looking at my arm and examining the vein options, the phlebotomist says to me, "Don't worry, I'm really good at getting blood from you challenging types." She smiled reassuringly. Frankly, I believed her. After a thorough arm going-over, she went for my hand. It was a perfect job. :)
Then off Nancy and I went to Walgreen's to get the Coumadin. They were surprised to see me. I've had my prescriptions there, at least the ones I can't wait on for my mail order joint, for probably a year... and I've never been in the place until yesterday. Jane and Nancy have always gone to get my drugs. I think they didn't believe I existed.
I was on my pretty red scooter, and thankfully, the aisles of the Walgreen's were uncluttered enough to get through. Plus, I didn't hit a soul. YAY! :D
Jane brought me my favorite salad for dinner, and I made inroads into the See's candy that my friend Annette had brought me in the hospital. Oh lord, they have chocolate covered ginger. WOW, that is SO good! And despite those inroads, my glucose was great this morning. I'm just about back to my weird normal. :)
Dr. Ramaswamy had said that as soon as he got the results from the PT/INR, he'd call to tell me how much Coumadin to take that evening. At 4:30 PM, I decided to call, and they said they didn't have the lab results yet. Gloria, Dr. R's nurse asked me if he'd put STAT on the orders. I couldn't remember. They were odd looking to begin with because they were generated in the hospital, and were not in any way like his normal lab orders.
By 9PM, I was half asleep at my keyboard, so I took my regular evening drugs and went to bed. I figured it was better to not take ANY coumadin than to try and guess what to take. Guessing and blood thinners do not mix.
The phone rang at 11:45PM. Jane got it; Dr. Ramaswamy, beside himself and very apologetic said the test results were still not available, but take a half of one of the coumadin. I did that, and took a Vicodin because my left leg was making it hard to get back to sleep. .... I woke up at 9:15 this morning. Holy moses! I haven't slept that late in years!
And speaking of the devil; just got off the phone with Dr. Ramaswamy who told me how to dose myself for the next couple of days. Then Monday, it's back for another blood letting. Joy. :D
All in all, I'm doing really well. I feel a bit fragile yet, but I think I'm getting stronger every day. Hugs to all!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
And I Give In
I asked for pain meds. My left leg, in which I have Deep Vein Thrombosis, hurts SO much, I can barely move, and it almost reduced me to tears. So Dr. Ramaswamy ordered some Vicodin, but he says I have to get some anti-nausea meds on board first. I've had one tablet so far, but I am going to bite the bullet and ask for another.
Oh, and it turned out that the creepy alarm that went off this morning was actually a fire drill. Still not terribly reassuring that we patients get shut up in our rooms while the staff evacuates. But, then again, I couldn't walk, so... :)
Anyway, Dr. R says that if we can get the pain under control, MAYBE I can go home tomorrow. Otherwise,we'll shoot for Thursday. Good gods, that would make a week in the Big House! Well, whatever....I just want to be safe and well.
Oh, and it turned out that the creepy alarm that went off this morning was actually a fire drill. Still not terribly reassuring that we patients get shut up in our rooms while the staff evacuates. But, then again, I couldn't walk, so... :)
Anyway, Dr. R says that if we can get the pain under control, MAYBE I can go home tomorrow. Otherwise,we'll shoot for Thursday. Good gods, that would make a week in the Big House! Well, whatever....I just want to be safe and well.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Had an Appetite Today!
Today was the first time, for this round of chemo, that I felt like eating! My sisters made me a slice of french toast and I also relished some lovely bacon. Who doesn't enjoy a nibble of bacon now and then? I sure do, and I really did this morning.
I didn't eat much for lunch, but I made some veggies and brown rice for dinner, simmered in a sweet potato and chipotle organic soup. Oh, it was so good! Jane went out and grabbed one of the newly grown Serrano chilies, and a good bit of the black opal basil, and we tossed that in, with some red bell pepper, grey Mexican squash, zucchini, roma tomatoes, and I finished it with a little garlic infused olive oil. Ummmm, it was quite satisfying. I am not eating lots, but I am eating, and that's a very good sign. Thursday I was sure I was going to die, and frankly, I almost wanted to, and today, I can think happy thoughts, eat, and mostly agree that I can get through this round of chemo.
It's back to work, virtually, for me tomorrow. And thank gods for the ability to keep one's mind occupied with doing something responsible and important. Being productive and useful definitely helps keep me going. Dr. Ramaswamy, my PCP, asked me on Friday how my mental health was keeping up through this, and I told him that of course, I cried when Dr. Fastenberg told me about the Adrenal tumor and how it had multiplied in size, but I also told him that once I cry, and get it out of my system, I'm pretty resilient. But believe me, if I for one minute think I'm going to need some help emotionally, I have lots of resources available to me.
One of those is the oncology nurse that calls me frequently to check up on me. This is one of my work benefits. She convinced me that I really did need to start taking pain killers for the Neulasta problem, and we discussed how to prevent the same agony after my next round of chemo. Her name is Beth, and she's in Minnesota, and she's fantastic! She also helps me keep my prognosis and treatments in perspective.
I was sorry to read that Harmon Killebrew is ending his esophageal cancer treatments, but I can certainly understand such a decision. I admire his courage. Safe to say, I think that decision is still quite a way off for me. I still have a fantastic quality of life. One of the other things Dr. Ramaswamy and I talked about was my home situation. He's thrilled that I have such great care-givers in my sisters; that there is always someone here with me, someone to get me to treatments when I can barely move, someone to make sure I eat, and most of all someone that loves me. Oh I have that in spades, folks. :)
So, tomorrow starts a new week, and things are looking brighter, and I'm happy, and the pain is settling into my lower extremeties, and not all over the place; I hear that's a sign it's almost over... YAY! And if the Neulasta works, and I can do my chemo on schedule, .. then yes, even that horrible Thursday from hell was worth it.
Now, love to all; be kind and make someone smile.
I didn't eat much for lunch, but I made some veggies and brown rice for dinner, simmered in a sweet potato and chipotle organic soup. Oh, it was so good! Jane went out and grabbed one of the newly grown Serrano chilies, and a good bit of the black opal basil, and we tossed that in, with some red bell pepper, grey Mexican squash, zucchini, roma tomatoes, and I finished it with a little garlic infused olive oil. Ummmm, it was quite satisfying. I am not eating lots, but I am eating, and that's a very good sign. Thursday I was sure I was going to die, and frankly, I almost wanted to, and today, I can think happy thoughts, eat, and mostly agree that I can get through this round of chemo.
It's back to work, virtually, for me tomorrow. And thank gods for the ability to keep one's mind occupied with doing something responsible and important. Being productive and useful definitely helps keep me going. Dr. Ramaswamy, my PCP, asked me on Friday how my mental health was keeping up through this, and I told him that of course, I cried when Dr. Fastenberg told me about the Adrenal tumor and how it had multiplied in size, but I also told him that once I cry, and get it out of my system, I'm pretty resilient. But believe me, if I for one minute think I'm going to need some help emotionally, I have lots of resources available to me.
One of those is the oncology nurse that calls me frequently to check up on me. This is one of my work benefits. She convinced me that I really did need to start taking pain killers for the Neulasta problem, and we discussed how to prevent the same agony after my next round of chemo. Her name is Beth, and she's in Minnesota, and she's fantastic! She also helps me keep my prognosis and treatments in perspective.
I was sorry to read that Harmon Killebrew is ending his esophageal cancer treatments, but I can certainly understand such a decision. I admire his courage. Safe to say, I think that decision is still quite a way off for me. I still have a fantastic quality of life. One of the other things Dr. Ramaswamy and I talked about was my home situation. He's thrilled that I have such great care-givers in my sisters; that there is always someone here with me, someone to get me to treatments when I can barely move, someone to make sure I eat, and most of all someone that loves me. Oh I have that in spades, folks. :)
So, tomorrow starts a new week, and things are looking brighter, and I'm happy, and the pain is settling into my lower extremeties, and not all over the place; I hear that's a sign it's almost over... YAY! And if the Neulasta works, and I can do my chemo on schedule, .. then yes, even that horrible Thursday from hell was worth it.
Now, love to all; be kind and make someone smile.
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