And MORE Coughing

Last night I started coughing... and coughing...and coughing.  I did a breathing treatment, but the coughing continued until I was totally exhausted.  Today, I'm still exhausted, and there is some residual coughing.  I've done all my lung meds, so we'll see how it goes today.

But, I had a good breakfast of my muesli, heated up with some milk.  Such a comforting meal, eaten while watching Liverpool lose to Manchester United with Steven Gerrard going out on a red card.  Theoretically, it was a studs up tackle, but we didn't see it from the right angle, I guess.

Because of the possibility of radiation pneumonitis, I'll be watching this cough like a hawk.  So far, no fever.  Plus, I'll see the Radiation Oncologist this week, so if it's still bothersome, I'll let her know.

That's it for this post.  Keep warm, all, and don't forget to hug someone you love.

Cinnamon vs Comino (Cumin)

As a Latina (well, half that is), culturally, two of my favorite spices are Cinnamon and Cumin.  But somehow, I have this horrible habit of picking up the Cumin when I mean to use the Cinnamon.  I did it again this morning.

The very first time I did this, and let me just tell you, the ones I use are from the same manufacturer, in the same bottle with the same labels, so I'm not QUITE insane.  Anyway, the first time I did this, we had just gotten an ice cream maker, and to start, I thought I'd do the basic vanilla, just to get used to the machine.  All was well, then I got the bright idea, because I love Cinnamon, to put some of that into the mix.  Of course, I picked up the Cumin.  After two mighty shakes of the container, the aroma hit me, and I realized my error.  Alas, I was not about to toss out all that good mix.  So, I decided to make Cumin ice cream.  It was fabulous!

This morning, as I mentioned in my previous post, I was going to have my Muesli.  And I decided to add some cinnamon... and tossed in the cumin.  Again, it was the aroma that cued me in to my error.  Oh well, the ice cream came out fine, let's roll with it!

Well, gang, this was not quite the culinary masterpiece I created with Cumin Ice Cream.  But I ate it; for I don't like to waste, especially my favorite Muesli.  Now, I wonder, is there any exciting health benefit to Cumin that my subconscious it trying to get me to use MORE cumin than I already do?  I have heard that Turmeric can help with some forms of cancer... maybe my subconscious meant me to use that.   Oh well, who knows.  But I resolve to try hard to READ spice labels before applying them to my dishes-in-progress.

:)

Total Eclipse of the Moon

If it's clear, we could begin seeing the eclipse around 11:15 PM here in the desert, but I don't think I can stay up.  I remember watching one, but I don't remember when that was, or where I was.  I would think I was here in Arizona, and at this house. 

My glucose was decent this AM, and my weight looks stable.  No waking up this morning with an asthma attack. :)

Haven't had breakfast yet, but I think I'll have my Bob's Red Mill Muesli.  I love that stuff; in fact, I think I had better go order some more from Amazon.  OH!  It makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies on earth, too.

So, I bought a download PC game from Amazon yesterday, called Witcher, or something like that, and thank the gods it was really cheap, because it made me sick.  Some games give me vertigo, and this was definitely one of them.  Please, game makers, most of us that play PC games don't want to be bouncing all over the place.  I just want to kill things and take their stuff.   I remember playing the original Soldier of Fortune, which I loved, but there was this section you had to go along these cliffs.... oh lordy, I think I had to get my sister to get me past it.

Even today, I have a hard time in Thunder Bluff.  WHY do cows want to live on lofty mesas with rope and wood suspension bridges connecting everything?  I love the Tauren, hate their city.

On today's agenda, absolutely nothing except rest and recuperation.  Good plan. :)

Hugs to all, keep warm, and watch the Eclipse if you can!!

Another Day, More Burning

I'd like to try to describe what the 'throat changes' feel like.  First, they are not really in my throat; they are in my esophagus.  Although sometimes, the act of swallowing can be a major pain, it is fleeting, and I can deal with it.

The weird burning thing doesn't necessarily happen when I eat, although it can if I make a poor choice in what I'm eating.  But many times, it just ... happens.  It feels raw; and not unlike acid reflux, but without the acid.  Maybe this is what heartburn feels like, only exponentially worse.  I certainly do understand why they stop treatments to let you heal up for a while.  I got lulled into a false sense of security because the radiation itself doesn't have any sensation at all.  the machine makes some cool noises, although the actual zzzzzzzzzzzzzap buzzing sound isn't my favorite sound of all time.

I guess, though, some of it really IS in my throat.  The topmost tattoo sits center of my chest, just above my cleavage.  I believe that's where the radiation is targeting the two involved lymph nodes.

But I had a great breakfast today; Bob's Red Mill Muesli.  Jane and I had it warm with milk.  Yum.  Tons of great grains and I can deal with raisins when they are plumped up with milk. :) 

Well, that's it for today.  The sun is out, my bougainvillea is looking FANTASTIC just outside my bedroom door, and all is right with the world...that's in my back yard, anyway.

Love to all!