All is Finally Right

Today, I worked.  Got all my accesses cleared, my badge works, and my wifi was perfect, and so, I am once again a productive part of the American workforce.  YAY! :)  I think, because my new job will require some education on my part, I will probably have to ask for a printer.  Lots of new systems and processes to come up to speed on, and I learn better when I read and have things right in front of me.  Sometimes, I can be SO old-school.

Yesterday was a huge challenge.  I was on-site for about six hours and by the time I got home, I was so exhausted I ached everywhere and couldn't get warm to save my life.  This morning, my leg was excruciatingly painful, and I had a headache.  And I still had to go into the plant to get my laptop from the service center.  But, I went in early, it was ready and rarin' to go, so I probably only spent a couple of hours on-site.  Still, by the time I got home, I was in so much pain I was in tears.  So, I broke down and took a Naprosyn, and thought to myself, if I get stomach bleeding from this, so be it, at least I won't hurt that much.  I did consider taking a Vicodin, I was in that much pain, but ... oh blech... I couldn't stand the thought of having to vomit with such a headache.

So, despite this being the week from hell, I anticipate nothing but smooth sailing from here on out.  If this afternoon was any indication, we're in good shape, and I can get cracking on learning all the new things on which I need to become an expert.  Thank the deities I learn quickly.

Well, crap, I just realized that I didn't take my Xeloda with my dinner so,... I had best go get them and get them down my gullet ASAP.

Hugs to all!

Ugh, Leg Pain

It's back with a vengeance.  I took a Naprosyn today.  Yesterday I got a call from the Apothecary Shop that my prescription for the anti-coagulant shots would be delivered today.  Dr. F had told me to not take Coumadin the day before I started the shots, so I didn't take anything yesterday.

Having given myself Lovenox injections many years ago, I figured I'd be fine to do these.  And I was, but I pretty much had to stare at the needle for about a minute before I finally put it into my flesh.  You couldn't feel a thing.  The med wasn't as stingy as I recall the Lovenox being.  Oh, this stuff is Fondaparinux Sodium.

The happiest part of taking this shot is that I don't have to go twice a week for blood draws any more.  My poor arm can heal.  It's ... colorful at the moment.

Also, happily, now that my asthma exacerbation is almost over, my glucose numbers are back where they should be.  You see, any time you body gets stressed out by illness, it plays havoc with your glucose.  Plus many different meds can influence your glucose levels, as well.  It sometimes gets pretty difficult to keep these numbers under control.

Oh, I like that the Apothecary Shop also brought me alcohol swabs and a sharps container.  But according to the note in my meds delivery, they still owe me 21 syringes of this stuff.  I do have a copay for these shots, but it's manageable.

So, that's what's been happening this week; leg pain, change of anti-coagulant, no more phlebotomist twice a week, although I'll still see them for my pre-chemo testing.  Now I must go drink lots of water.  Oncologist has me on Lasix again, hoping to reduce the swelling in my foot and ankle.  I have my circulation socks on, but I don't really think they work all that well.  And I'm tired and I don't feel so hot, so I'm going to go have a nice lie down. :)

Hugs to all!

A Good Dentist is a Joy Forever

Dr. Robert Baker is my dentist and he got me all fixed up today.  We talked about a lot of things; he's just the best.  Unfortunately, I cried a little as we were talking about my prognosis, but he got me laughing again pretty quickly.


I only cried because I'm getting a little tired of pain.  It wears you down, you know, and makes it hard to be your normally happy self.  But I came home, took a Naprosyn and felt better.  It doesn't take away all the pain, but it makes it manageable.  I just don't want to vomit and I don't want to keep taking the compazine, either.  The vicodin makes me sick.  I've always had a very low tolerance for pain killers.  


I'll discuss all this with Dr. Fastenberg on Tuesday when I see him before the next infusion.  The major pain is still in my left leg.  It feels muscular to me, but I don't know.  I had the sonogram on both of my legs to check for blood clots and everything was fine.  And my left leg doesn't LOOK any different than my right leg, which is a good sign, I think.


Tonight, though, I will probably take a vicodin before I try to sleep.  


Other than that, I broke down and got a game from Amazon even if it is from those evil cads at Electronic Arts.  It's called Darkspore and so far, it's not bad.  Kind of a dungeon crawler in space.  But you know me, it needs more phat lewtz. ;)  I do like the ability to change your 'hero' in mid battle.  I just wish EA would stop making you go ONLINE when all you are doing is playing a freaking single-player game.  They treat their customers like we're all thieves.  


Anywho, thought I'd best post as it had been a couple of days, and people worry when I don't post.  Oh, and speaking of posts, over the weekend I wrote my last blog post, with instructions for my sisters on how to access my blog and copy and paste it in.


It's unsettling when you find a blog you are drawn to, especially the ones written by people with a chronic disease, and it just stops.  No more posts.  You don't know if they have gotten so well, that their exciting life has given them no time to post, or if something more final has happened.  It's sad, too.  


So, I didn't want anyone to come upon this blog someday, and have to wonder what ever happened to Tequila and her journey through cancer.  I think it's a good final post, if I do say so myself; upbeat, not maudlin, or scary, just factual and happy. :)


You know, I love every single day I get, even the ones with pain, because I get to be with people I love, chihuahuas I adore, and I get to let people know that just because you've got an expiration date on you, it's no reason to stop living and having fun.


Live long and prosper. :D

Tortilla Soup

There is nothing better guaranteed to produce an appetite in me more than my sister Jane's Tortilla Soup.  I can smell the aromatics even back here in my bedroom.  She makes machaca chicken first, and then at the last moment assembles the actual soup.  It's an all-day venture, very soulful and full of love.   The link up at machaca is actually a recipe for machaca beef, but Jane's is similar for chicken.


I wonder why I always get bone pain with chemo?  I took a Naprosyn, and that took the edge off it.  It makes walking very uncomfortable, but I don't want to become a lump, either.  Happily, I have no symptoms of Hand-Foot Syndrome as yet, nor do I have the warned about Diarrhea. I do have the beginnings of one mouth sore, but even that's feeling alright at the moment.  I wonder how it will enjoy Tortilla Soup? :D


Yesterday I asked for something I normally NEVER want:  I wanted a slice of a very decadent chocolate cake.  Of course, Jane went right out and found me one from AJ's.  I only have a couple of bites of it at a time, so this could last for a week. :D  And it is OH so decadent, rich, moist, bringing great happiness to my taster.


So, for the week upcoming, I have to do the eight Xeloda pills until Monday, and then Tuesday, I only take the four with breakfast, then I get a week off.  But Monday the 1st of August, I have to go get my labs done, and Tuesday the 2nd of August it's back to Ironwood for my next infusion of Camptosar again and more than likely, a shot of Aranesp, which is the one I had to sign paperwork to acknowledge that they had warned me of all the risks.  Well, duh.  I die if I don't get it, pretty much, so if it kills me... c'est la vie.


Anywho, next week should be a piece of cake... hmmm... ummmm... cake.  Stop that!  So, I shall rest up and get my strength back so that I can go into round two of this regimen able to deal with the side effects. 


Love to all, hugs, kisses and stay healthy!