Something About Exercise

Today, for the first time in ages, I used my NuStep.  I managed a whole six minutes, but I did it at a good pace, and it gave me great satisfaction.  I have set a goal of adding a minute a day, if I can.  I also want to do it every single day, just like I used to before I got sick.  I really NEED to get my strength back.  My sats (oxygen saturation point of my blood) went to 93, but that's OK, as long as it doesn't go below 90,.

Before all this started, I was doing 45 minutes a day on my NuStep.  I credit this fact with helping me survive all the chemos and radiation that I have had so far.  And though I have lapsed in the use of it, I know that getting back to some type of routine exercise can only help with my prognosis.  Besides, I am going to need to get stronger if I want to go back to work.

Jane and Nancy are out at some race at Phoenix International Raceway.  They work there twice a year, but I'm sorry to say, I can't remember for which vendor they work.  It's a great job; it gives them their Winter Solstice money.  So while they were out, I had Cathy go get some Curbside Takeaway from Outback Steakhouse.

Can I tell you JUST how bad I was?  I got the lobster tail add on to go with my Filet with Wild Mushroom sauce.  I was in heaven.  Although, frankly, the lobster was a tad overcooked, it was still very, very yummy.  And Outback does steamed veggies really well!  At least I wasn't so bad that we added one of their desserts to the order.  No Chocolate Thunder from Down Under for us.  ;)  Dammit.

Meanwhile, on the health front, I am SO sick of coughing.  It's been over three weeks of this.  I'm off the prednisone, and finished the Doxycycline, and now I want to be well!  But I am sleeping well, and that is truly helping.  My INR was a bit high, so I had no Coumadin yesterday, but today I will have 2.5 mg and that will continue until Monday, when I have my next test.

So, all in all, I'm really doing well, I think, thanks to all the support and love I get from my family and my friends.  You all take such good care of me!

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.

Yes, it's Chemo Week

I've not been feeling great, so I haven't had anything exciting to post. :)  I've got a couple more days on the prednisone for the asthma exacerbation, and I looked at my hands today and saw the hands of an 80 year old.  Prednisone just beats the crap out of my skin.  My hands look withered.  Of course, the side effects of the Xeloda are contributing to that, as well.  Oh well, my chances to become a famous hand model are now dimmer than ever. :D

Had another great blood draw yesterday from Joyce at Sonora Quest labs.  There is not a shoddy phlebotomist in the place.  They are fantastic!  I go to the one on Brown Road just west of Country Club.  It's close to my house... relatively speaking.

It's really cooling off here in the desert; highs are only in the low 80's and the overnight lows are down-right chilly in the 50's!  Saturday's projected high is supposed to be 64!  Holy guacamole!  But hey, that's what long sleeved shirts are for, eh?  Jane and Nancy will be happy to play soccer in the cooler weather, that's for sure.

Nothing new to report, though.  Leg is back to being painful and making it hard to get out of bed, so Nancy rigged up a support device to help me with that.  Works wonders. :)  I'm using a cane to get around the house, as sometimes the stupid leg doesn't want to support me.  How rude, when I've been supporting IT for years.  Alas.  And being on blood thinners, the last thing you want to do is fall.

Take care, all.  Keep warm. :)

Gorgeous Morning!

It's bright and sunny out, and there is a cool breeze blowing.  This is one of those rare Fall mornings in the desert that makes you realize it really IS Fall.  Today's high is showing at 80 degrees.  Considering that was our overnight low last month, this is exciting news.


The lungs are really being quite problematic; having a heck of a time getting all the goop out of them.  I'm doing a breathing treatment right now, which should help.  And I have a huge 24 oz glass of water at my side.  But I'm thinking I may have to have some chicken soup for lunch. ;)  And I'm being a good girl and taking my Prednisone.  Blech.  I ask you:  How many drugs can one body take before it has had enough?


Dr. Fastenberg, my oncologist, looks at my lab work and tells me I have the strongest liver he's ever seen.  Good thing, too!  It would be nice to have at least one decent organ left in my body. :D


So, for tonight's guilty pleasure, it's the finale of "Project Runway," but I must say, I'm rather ambivalent about it.  This season hasn't had stellar talent like past seasons.  Where is a Christian Siriano?  Where is a Mondo Guerra?  This batch seems totally forgettable.  What this season has had is one mean-spirited drama Queen in Joshua McKinley.  Ai chihuahua.  So yeah, I am kinda not caring all that much.


Now, I think I'll go get some hot tea; hot beverages are good when you need to loosen up the goop in your chest.


Love to all.   

Oh My Nose

I am sick.  I don't know if I caught a cold somehow, or if I've got the beginnings of a sinus infection, but I can't breathe through my nose and my throat is sore from post nasal drip.  Of course, not being able to breathe through my nose means I can't use my CPAP when I sleep, nor my O2.  I hate having blocked sinuses.  I don't have a fever though, so that's a good sign.


We had a virtual ticket to BlizzCon for this weekend.  Watching was a double-edged sword.  There was so much information about what's coming in the future, including Diablo III, and the new World of Warcraft expansion, Mists of Pandaria.  I'm happily anticipating being able to play both, and yet I have to wonder if I will still be able to play by the time they go into production.  I'm thinking that if this current chemo regimen continues to have good results, then I should be able to partake of both DIII and the new WoW expansion.


Back to the "I am sick" part; I'm hitting my hookah even as I type.  This whatever has already started to impact my lungs.  But I will keep an eye on it and call my pulmo if things take a bad turn.  I do have Levaquin and Prednisone here on hand if I need it.  Hate them both, though.


On a happy note, I have decided to get my sisters Kindle Fires for Winter Solstice.  No worries about spilling the beans as they already know what they are getting.  At least Jane and Nancy, that is.  Cathy is getting completely different stuff, and Wendy and Dean; well the jury is still out on them. :)


Now, I think I'm going to play a little bit of World of Warcraft, then get to bed early.  I'm feeling so puny and weak.  It IS chemo week, so that's not surprising.


Love, hugs and kisses to all!

YAY, I love Methylprednisolone....

Nah, not really.  Well kinda.  it's mostly a love/hate relationship.  It abuses me, then makes things better by helping me breathe.  Sounds like a toxic relationship but some things can't be helped. ;)  I'm sure the antibiotic is helping a bit, too.

So, I telecommuted and got lots of numbers arranged into actual facts and some pretty pictures, and life is good again.  Now, I'm pretty sure I will be able to do my Herceptin treatment next Thursday as scheduled.  As for the PET, it's just going to have to wait until my steroids get this thing to run its course.  Because as predicted, my glucose was HORRIBLE this AM, but I had a rather large dose of the steroids yesterday.  We're doing a dose pack, so we're tapering down over six days.  But believe me, I feel SO much better today, it's worth it.

As for the results of the two tests yesterday, they came in today, but doc won't be in until 3pm, and then he'll get to 'em.  I'm pretty sure, feeling as I do, that they won't find pneumonia.  If they do say anything I'll be sure to post later today.

So, love to all, keep smiling and hug someone or something fuzzy... no wait, that didn't come out right.... ;)

Saw the PC Today

I got some blood work done, and a chest Xray.  He said he'd call today with results as he'd STAT'd both of them.  He's trying to rule out pneumonia... and I sincerely hope he does.


But I got more steroids and another antibiotic, and a med to help me control the glucose while on the steroids.  I went to bed when I got home from all that wandering about, bleeding and radiating.  Temperature at the moment is 99.7.  My temperature, that is... today's outside temperature was 91!  Ai carumba!


My PC was on the phone with my oncologist when I left.  I told him about the pain in my shoulder, and he said that's probably something Dr. F needs to look into.  Not comforting, I can tell you that. :D


Anywho, that was my day; I'm tired, and in pain, ... but otherwise... such is life.

Feeling Better

My niece, Cee, came in last night.  Jane and Nancy and she are going to the Rennaisance festival out by Gold Canyon.  They are in full costume, too. :)  It's way too dusty out there for me, and I'd have to take my scooter, which would be rather anachronistic.  Although, perhaps if I put a saddle on it, and I could make it whinny now and then....

So, I had a long talk with my pancreas, and we agreed that he'd have to work harder, and things are MUCH improved on the glucose front.  Well, that and no Prednisone for four days is probably helping as well.  Prednisone... I love it for keeping me breathing, but I hate it for all the horrible things it does to the rest of my body.  It's almost like the relationship I have with chemo.  Chemotherapy is more overt in the things it does to you, though.  Prednisone is sneaky!

We had quinoa with a cilantro, garlic, jalapeno and pepitas pesto last night, and a pork loin goulash over shredded cabbage.  Good stuff, good stuff!  Quinoa is so yummy; great texture and LOADED with protein!

I'm going to head into the plant tomorrow; prove that I really do exist.  I'll take it easy.  No unnecessary wandering, although I do have to go get coffee with my 'brother' John Alfonso, tomorrow.  He called yesterday to check up on me. :)

So, that's the scoop.  Glucose is much improved, my attitude is much improved, and it's nice and warm today.  Who could ask for more?

Done in by Prednisone

Well, I am home early, and very discouraged.  As I mentioned earlier, prednisone screws with your glucose, and thus, no PET for me today.  My glucose was at 228.

I was psyched up to do it, dammit.  Oh well.

So, I am stopping the pred as of now; the lungs seem to be doing OK anyway.  They said track my glucose for three days, four times a day and when it's under control again, call 'em up.

Must avoid those carbs, too.  No toast.  I'm going to lose weight again.  But we can't do the scan over 200... it's just that I am not supposed to lose weight.  Oy vey.

Ok, so we'll work on this.  And we'll get the scan.  Minor set-back. 

Back to Pred and Levaquin

Well, the pulmo warned me that this might be hard to shake.  I'm coughing like I should be in the tuberculosis ward.  My phone conversations with work are... ugh.  Thankfully, everyone's been very understanding.  And Microsoft Communicator works very well in these situations. :)

We just had some leftovers of the 'Dinner in a Loaf' which amazingly bore NO resemblance to the original recipe.  We used ground lamb and pork, ricotta, spinach, finely diced red peppers, an italian cheese combo from Sprouts, cream of mushroom soup and the bread crumbs scooped out of the loaf.  Oh gosh it was quite satisfying.  I love spinach in anything.  Popeye and I ... spinach-a-holics.

Last night I had a fever of 100.3, which is why we're going back on the antibiotics.  And I need the pred to make sure I can breathe.  Thank the gods for my beloved oxygen concentrator.  At least when I sleep I'm sure not to desaturate.

Still no one has called about setting up that PET scan, and frankly, I feel so crappy, I don't care.  If I feel better next week, I'll call my oncologist's office and let them figure it out.  I just want to crawl in my bed and keep warm... and it's not exactly cold, now, actually.  I told my pulmo that I thought the chemo had whacked out my internal body temperature, and he said it could happen.  But this dratted ague is a pain... literally!

And yet, I got the coolest ring in the mail today, so that perked me right up.  It's silver with a huge clear quartz and some rodalite garnets on the shank.  The quartz is faceted so beautifully that it sparkles like mad.  Yeah, see, I love sparklies as much as spinach.  Happily you can get some sparklies at a reasonable price. :)

Ok, I'm off to bed.  I hurt in many places and I can barely keep my eyes open.

Live long and prosper!

More Rain Coming

Hmm, well, can't say this desert doesn't need it.  And my plants love it, but Jane and Nancy are supposed to work the race this weekend, so I sure hope it doesn't move the race to Monday.  Don't ask me WHAT race.  I don't follow that stuff, but it's NASCAR, and it's in Phoenix.  That's all I know. :D

Slowly, my head is clearing up, and tomorrow is my last day of Levaquin, although the Prednisone goes on for another week.  I really want to be well for my Herceptin treatment.  I don't want to screw up that schedule as that drug is the only thing keeping me here on earth.  Well, the love of all you good folks goes a long way for that as well. :)

As a gamer geek, I am happy as a clam that on March 8th, Dragon Age II is being released.  What a fun game!  You must make choices with how you deal with various situations, and your choices directly impact the outcome of your life.  The first Dragon Age:  Origins, had some fun character interaction and I'm looking forward to the same from the latest iteration. 

I was so tempted to buy Rift, a new MMO (Massively Multi-player Online), but I have resisted.  Like I need any more play time-sinks in my life.  It sounds good though, but then so did Aion, and that sucked a major weenie. Aion had one thing going for it; it was pretty.  But it had horrendous grind, and forced PvP (player vs player).  Not my cup of tea.  I just want to be left alone to kill things and take their stuff. ;)

Well, considering my lack of sleep of late, I think I'll head to bed.  Love to all, keep warm and dry and give out some hugs tomorrow.

Really, Weather, Make up your MIND!

No wonder half the country is sick; freezing one day, hotter than snake snot the next day, then back to freezing.  I blame aliens.  Ok, not really.  But still...


Had a pretty good night's sleep last night.  Almost breathing through my nose again, which is pretty important if you use a C-PAP and oxygen while you sleep.  Now to finish up these Levaquin before something happens to my tendons.  But remember, I am... "strong like bull."


Well, it wasn't the most exciting weekend on earth.  I coughed, blew my nose, played some World of Warcraft, coughed, inhaled copious amounts of albuterol, coughed, listened to some film scores, and generally coughed a lot.


It's so weird, I haven't had a bout of bronchitis in probably ten or more years.  I'd forgotten how debilitating it can be.  I remember when I first moved out here to Arizona, and I was having problems.  The doctor sat me down and made me breathe in some strange misty stuff, and ... I could breathe again!  He said I had asthma.  Whoa, ok.  I'm like 28, and they are just now getting around to telling me I have asthma.  No wonder the nuns thought I had TB.


So, I got used to seeing a pulmonologist when my asthma would flare, and I'd get the damned prednisone, get a shot of decradron at times, and I'd be OK.  But one day, even after I got my shot, I ended up in the ER.  That's when I found out about the joy of 'blood gasses!'  Ooh, yeah, arterial blood draw.  Another discovery was that once I was shot up with epinephrine, I could NOT shut up.  ;)


Then I realized I'd been in that ER for quite a while, so I asked the doc how soon I could go home.  She said, "in about a week; we're getting you a room."  Ack!  What?  You don't have to be in a hospital for asthma!  But, yes, you do when it's status asthmaticus.  And yes, I was in for a week, but I learned something very important.  You can't NOT learn how to manage health problems and not expect to have major problems.  I almost died that week, and I never, EVER took my lung function for granted again.


Oh yes, and this was when I first learned that really large doses of Prednisone would make you want to chow down on even the respiratory therapist that is beginning to look like a standing rib roast.


So, the moral of this story is, just don't take your health for granted.  GO get your check up.  Yes, you men, too!  I know you don't.  But do it, for all the people you love and that love you.  


Peace out. :D

Mmmm, Prednisone!

Fay, my friend, the prednisone is definitely kicking in!  I ate a chicken and jalapeno sausage and steamed asparagus for dinner.  And now, .... I WANT CHOCOLATE!  It's a dangerous combination, insomnia and the appetite from hell.  Did I mention how much I want some chocolate?  Gads. :)

I simply cannot tolerate the two Levaquin in one dose, so I'm separating them by 12 hours.  I hope I'm not screwing anything up, but they were making me really feel nasty.  But I do believe my sinus thing is starting to clear up, so hopefully, I can get all the goop out of my lungs soon. Also, I'm drinking tons of my favorite herbal water, which has to be helping. I am coughing so much, and trying my best.

Wouldn't you think that after all the coughing I've done in my life, I would have the most toughened set of coughing muscles?  Yet today, they hurt like crazy.  But, yeah, I'll keep coughing. 

Ok, can't take it anymore... I'm going to go scrounge around for some chocolate ANYTHING! 

Live long and prosper!

Big Pills

So, these Levaquin are big.  I looked at them and wondered with a bit of trepidation if they would actually get past my tumor, and make it into my stomach.  Luckily, all went well.  Phew!  And despite the prednisone, I've had no appetite today.  In fact, I lost another five pounds.  Poor Jane is turning into a frazzled wreck trying to get me to eat.  I did have a hamburger, almost all of it.  Whole wheat bun, cowboy burger from Sprouts and a piece of pepper jack cheese.  It was good!

I never was one to embellish my burgers or hot dogs.  Oh I know, hot dogs are evil, processed, and mostly worthless meat product, filled with ... fillers... and fats and gods know what else.  Thus, I rarely eat them, but when I do, I want the dog and a bun.  Minimalist.

Now, if I can sleep tonight, I know I'll feel better, especially mentally.  Let me tell you, even before this esophageal cancer came along, any time I would get a respiratory infection or the like, I would get scared that it would turn to pneumonia and with my crappy lungs, that would be the end.  So, imagine if you will the stress of not being able to breathe well, worrying about huge pills, prednisone, cancer and the fear of pneumonia.  I think I was even stressing out my dogs. :D

Yet, it's another day, and I have to remember that I do better when I live in the moment.  Stop anticipating the worst, Tequila, and appreciate all the awesome gifts of the NOW.  Yep, just have to remind myself of that now and again, and it sets me back on track.  Yes, this illness is a setback, and has the possibility of reducing my lung function a bit more, but today, I am listening to John Williams' score to "Memoirs of a Geisha," playing a little World of Warcraft, and I had most of a hamburger.  That's pretty darned good!

Love to all!

It IS the Crud!

Home from my visit to the pulmonary doc.  Apparently the virus Du Jour has taken up residence in my respiratory system, giving me a bout of bronchitis.  Dr. S says that although it's viral, we have to do the antibiotics prophylactically, because I'm special that way. :)

So, two weeks on that nasty Prednisone, and Levaquin, and if I'm not better, and he says this one tends to linger, then another two weeks.  Gads.  Just keep me out of The Big House (my code for hospitals), and you will have my undying devotion.

Jane and Nancy, my angels, have headed out to fill those prescriptions for me.  Woo, looking forward to two weeks of insomnia and the appetite from hell, not to mention occasional crying jags.  Love that Pred. :P

I hope I'm better in time for my next round of Herceptin.

Anywho, I've got to get something to eat.  I'm not hungry, but if those two drugs are going to hit my tummy, there'd better be something upon which they can land.

Live long, and prosper!