Can I just say that I am actually a bit scared of going back to work? It's been five months this time. I don't even know if I'll remember how to do stuff! Ok, that's the Queen of Neuroses coming out of the basement... hold on, let me lasso her and drag her back down there.
Ok, so... going back to work tomorrow. It really should not be an ordeal. I have to go in to Medical first thing, and present them with my oncologist's list of no-no's. For instance, because we're a manufacturing site, one of the fields on the form is what you can do with your hands; vibration, grasping, repetitive movement. He's said no to vibration and grasping because of the Hand-Foot syndrome from the Xeloda. I told him repetitive movement could be interpreted as using the keyboard, which I do and have no problem doing, so that has no restrictions.
The interesting part is that most of the restrictions on the form are due to my lung disease, and not necessarily the cancer. But the problem is that the cancer makes the lung disease more difficult to deal with. Still, I haven't had a full-up PFT in years, so I'm not sure if the last few asthma exacerbations have given me a decline in lung function. It's hard for me to remember that it's classified as COPD exacerbation, now. :) Things like stairs, walking... very challenging combined with the COPD and the cancer's debilitating effects. I get tired. ;)
I changed my phlebotomy appointment to 12:30 PM, so I can at least spend some time in the plant, trying to figure things out. But truly, I'm very happy to be getting some productive normalcy back into my life. If I can't do this, then I will have to accept that I need to go on disability, but I am fighting that every step of the way.
Must have everything prepared before I go to bed this evening; it will make the morning so much easier. Clothes assembled, accessories figured out, grab a Glucerna to take for breakfast, get morning meds ready, and probably, I'll need a hat. Nancy gave me a trim yesterday so that at least I will be presentable sans headwear... not looking so much like Alfalfa from Our Gang. ;) Oh, better find my traveling coffee mug!
The Weather Channel says it will be 76 tomorrow, but the morning will be chilly, and the scooter trip from my parking space over to medical will be nippy, so a hat is probably a very good idea.
Well, that's it for this post. Have a lovely Sunday, and make sure when someone does something you appreciate, you let them know how much.
Showing posts with label asthma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label asthma. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
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!
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!
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!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Hair... Kinda
I have the feeling that the two main bald spots will never grow hair again. No worries, I'm thinking I'll keep my hair very, very short from now on.
My asthma was a bit problematic this morning, due to the high humidity from all the recent storm activity. People kept commenting on my breathing; the nurses and even a couple of other chemo patients. Oy!
Well, I'm still a bit blecchy, so I'm off to have a little rest. But I did eat a nice salad for lunch. Isn't it nice to have cravings, for a change, that are GOOD for you? :D
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Spring; it's a Killer
With our pollen counts sky-high, and the winds blowing like crazy, it's not surprising that my asthma is being very problematic. And for some reason, I've been dizzy and a bit nauseated, almost as if I've got vertigo, or something of that ilk. But, yes, I did just have my Herceptin infusion on Thursday, so it's probably just an off-shoot of that.
The chilies are planted, and the last of the squash, which was butternut, I think. We still have the spinach and the herbs to go. I think we'll put the spinach in its own bed. As for the Dahlias, we have to prepare the old veggie beds. For instance, I still have mint growing there, and I want to keep that. Hope the Dahlias like the company. ;)
I just finished watching the first episode of "Game of Thrones" on HBO. I adore Sean Bean, but I don't think I can watch any more of this. And I won't say why, in case any of you want to watch, but haven't yet. Suffice to say, I was perturbed quite a bit by the last five minutes. That's not to say I wasn't glued to my TV for the whole thing. It was good, if a bit crude at times. Perhaps I'll try one more episode and see how it goes.
This is the lovely hunter, Basmati, flying across Howling Fjord on a flaming harpoon. Yes, Basmati, and all her pets are named after types of rice: Arborio the crab, Jasmine the wind serpent, Risotto the Blue and Gold Macaw, and um... Uncle Ben the bear. :)
Have a safe and happy week, all!
The chilies are planted, and the last of the squash, which was butternut, I think. We still have the spinach and the herbs to go. I think we'll put the spinach in its own bed. As for the Dahlias, we have to prepare the old veggie beds. For instance, I still have mint growing there, and I want to keep that. Hope the Dahlias like the company. ;)
I just finished watching the first episode of "Game of Thrones" on HBO. I adore Sean Bean, but I don't think I can watch any more of this. And I won't say why, in case any of you want to watch, but haven't yet. Suffice to say, I was perturbed quite a bit by the last five minutes. That's not to say I wasn't glued to my TV for the whole thing. It was good, if a bit crude at times. Perhaps I'll try one more episode and see how it goes.
This is the lovely hunter, Basmati, flying across Howling Fjord on a flaming harpoon. Yes, Basmati, and all her pets are named after types of rice: Arborio the crab, Jasmine the wind serpent, Risotto the Blue and Gold Macaw, and um... Uncle Ben the bear. :)
Have a safe and happy week, all!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
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
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
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Is it Spring Yet? Please?
One thing I will say for Winter is that I sleep like a hibernating bear. This is great, but I don't want to sleep my life away, either. :)
Jane and I finished off the pumpkin oatmeal this morning. Oh so delicious. That same evening, for dinner, we made a nice veggie pizza with two kinds of squash, diced Anaheim chili and shredded spinach. And, ... lots of good garlic! It was wonderful, and the spinach was cooked perfectly as it was hidden under the layer of gooey, yummy mozzarella.
I did have to get up last night and hit the Miracle Mouthwash. Maybe it was the garlic. No, wait, that was the night before last. No, wait, I had the last two pieces of that same pizza last night. Hmmm. In any event, I am still getting some burning, but not nearly as much as at the cessation of the radiation. I almost feel like 'normal' for me. You know, can't breathe, but otherwise... pretty good. :D
Must go see my Primary Care doc so we can get my prescriptions over to MedCo. Yeah, I've succumbed to the extortion. I can't afford not to succumb. To get three months worth at less than one month's supply from my local pharmacy; gotta do it. Everything went up so much on the medical insurance front. I'm going to be quite broke this year if I have to follow essentially the same treatments I had in 2010.
Well, Wendy is on the phone, so I am going to finish up this post. Hugs to all! And try some pumpkin oatmeal!!! :D
Jane and I finished off the pumpkin oatmeal this morning. Oh so delicious. That same evening, for dinner, we made a nice veggie pizza with two kinds of squash, diced Anaheim chili and shredded spinach. And, ... lots of good garlic! It was wonderful, and the spinach was cooked perfectly as it was hidden under the layer of gooey, yummy mozzarella.
I did have to get up last night and hit the Miracle Mouthwash. Maybe it was the garlic. No, wait, that was the night before last. No, wait, I had the last two pieces of that same pizza last night. Hmmm. In any event, I am still getting some burning, but not nearly as much as at the cessation of the radiation. I almost feel like 'normal' for me. You know, can't breathe, but otherwise... pretty good. :D
Must go see my Primary Care doc so we can get my prescriptions over to MedCo. Yeah, I've succumbed to the extortion. I can't afford not to succumb. To get three months worth at less than one month's supply from my local pharmacy; gotta do it. Everything went up so much on the medical insurance front. I'm going to be quite broke this year if I have to follow essentially the same treatments I had in 2010.
Well, Wendy is on the phone, so I am going to finish up this post. Hugs to all! And try some pumpkin oatmeal!!! :D
Sunday, December 26, 2010
I enjoy breathing...
...but this is the second time in a month I've woken from an asthma attack. Hey, at least I wake up. :D
I'm wondering, now, if Herceptin can exacerbate asthma. I have never in my life been woken up from asthma until this month. Let's (finally) go look at the Herceptin side effects. Hmmmm.... this site says that Herceptin can cause Congestive Heart Failure. And I know from a brother that had it, that CHF does cause you to cough a lot at night especially. So this is probably something to tell my oncologist. But I'm not having any other symptoms of CHF; no edema and no more coughing than I always have.
Besides, I'd surmise that if they had seen signs of CHF on that echocardiogram I would have heard about that by now. So, I'm guessing it's the weird weather, coupled with PM 25's from our crappy air. But, I'm not going to be a bozo and not tell the oncologist about this, just in case. :)
Now, I have a couple of CD's of family pictures I want to watch, so I'm off... and wish everyone peace and happiness. If you are lucky enough to have time off between Christmas and New Years, spend it wisely; rest, relax and enjoy your family and friends!
I'm wondering, now, if Herceptin can exacerbate asthma. I have never in my life been woken up from asthma until this month. Let's (finally) go look at the Herceptin side effects. Hmmmm.... this site says that Herceptin can cause Congestive Heart Failure. And I know from a brother that had it, that CHF does cause you to cough a lot at night especially. So this is probably something to tell my oncologist. But I'm not having any other symptoms of CHF; no edema and no more coughing than I always have.
Besides, I'd surmise that if they had seen signs of CHF on that echocardiogram I would have heard about that by now. So, I'm guessing it's the weird weather, coupled with PM 25's from our crappy air. But, I'm not going to be a bozo and not tell the oncologist about this, just in case. :)
Now, I have a couple of CD's of family pictures I want to watch, so I'm off... and wish everyone peace and happiness. If you are lucky enough to have time off between Christmas and New Years, spend it wisely; rest, relax and enjoy your family and friends!
Monday, December 20, 2010
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!!
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!!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
And my visitors are off...
I just wished Wendy and Dean a safe trip back to glorious, snowy Ohio. I hope they enjoyed their visit as much as I loved seeing them. :)
My asthma woke me up around 5:30ish, so I just got up and hit my nebulizer, and then, as is my wont when awake at weird hours, I went shopping. Amazon is my friend. I only got a downloadable casual game to help while away the hours of non-sleep. You see, usually after I use my nebulized albuterol, I am a bit too wired for sound, so no sleep for me.
I am currently sipping on a Gevalia Caramel Macchiato, which was produced by my Tassimo beverage center. I love that puppy. Anyway, this Caramel Macchiato is not all sweet and gooey like the ones prepared at coffee houses. I do not like sweet coffee. I like my coffee to taste like coffee.
Just to let my sister, Cee, know... the See's candy was a huge hit this weekend with my home denizens and my visitors alike. Wendy found every piece that could possibly have an almond in it. :)
And speaking of Wendy, Jane wanted her to make some shortbread this weekend, and that she did. She'd found a recipe that used Earl Grey tea, which laced the shortbread with a hint of bergamot flavor. Holy moley, it was so good... SO GOOD!
We sent our visitors off with a good breakfast of veggie-laden scrambled eggs and nice, crispy bacon and toast. Actually Dean was our bacon chef, as he showed us the best way to make microwave bacon. I liked mine... not all greasy, just crisp. Yum.
Now it is almost 11 AM, and I am getting tired, so I think I might go take a quick nap. On the agenda for this week: Echocardiogram on Tuesday and my chemo on Thursday. Not such a tough week. Oh, and I think the burning is starting to dissipate a bit, so perhaps the healing has begun. I hope so. :D
Love to all!
My asthma woke me up around 5:30ish, so I just got up and hit my nebulizer, and then, as is my wont when awake at weird hours, I went shopping. Amazon is my friend. I only got a downloadable casual game to help while away the hours of non-sleep. You see, usually after I use my nebulized albuterol, I am a bit too wired for sound, so no sleep for me.
I am currently sipping on a Gevalia Caramel Macchiato, which was produced by my Tassimo beverage center. I love that puppy. Anyway, this Caramel Macchiato is not all sweet and gooey like the ones prepared at coffee houses. I do not like sweet coffee. I like my coffee to taste like coffee.
Just to let my sister, Cee, know... the See's candy was a huge hit this weekend with my home denizens and my visitors alike. Wendy found every piece that could possibly have an almond in it. :)
And speaking of Wendy, Jane wanted her to make some shortbread this weekend, and that she did. She'd found a recipe that used Earl Grey tea, which laced the shortbread with a hint of bergamot flavor. Holy moley, it was so good... SO GOOD!
We sent our visitors off with a good breakfast of veggie-laden scrambled eggs and nice, crispy bacon and toast. Actually Dean was our bacon chef, as he showed us the best way to make microwave bacon. I liked mine... not all greasy, just crisp. Yum.
Now it is almost 11 AM, and I am getting tired, so I think I might go take a quick nap. On the agenda for this week: Echocardiogram on Tuesday and my chemo on Thursday. Not such a tough week. Oh, and I think the burning is starting to dissipate a bit, so perhaps the healing has begun. I hope so. :D
Love to all!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Radiation Consult
I saw Dr. Tsai after today's radiation, and she was concerned about my lungs because Dr. F told her that I wasn't moving much air on Thursday. She listened to them, and was glad to hear more air movement today. I told her that the change in the weather was definitely affecting my asthma, but I watch my sats and my peak flow meter numbers, and I'm doing pretty well.
Dr. T said that she and Dr. F want the CT on the 30th so that we can see if there has been any change in the tumor. If, as she suspects, there has been some shrinkage, then she wants to recalibrate my radiation and shrink the area of effect to best save my lungs. I *knew* December 8 wouldn't be my last radiation. :P
Here is my Hibiscus. It still needs a bit of polishing up, but I think it actually LOOKS like a hibiscus blossom, so I'm happy. :)
And so, two more radiations this week, and Dr. T gave me a couple of prescriptions just in case things get bad over the long weekend. I kid you not, one is for Magic Mouthwash. It's Lidocaine, Maalox and Benadryl... I'm supposed to slurp it down with a straw, so it goes into the esophagus and not in my mouth. A lidocained tongue is no good to anyone. ;)
The other prescription is for some heavy-duty painkillers. I'm not a big fan of painkillers in any way, shape, or form. I will have to be in a LOT of pain before I will take one. After my mastectomy, I took ONE painkiller, and that was because the ride home from the hospital was really ouchie. My sister says I deal with pain very well.
I'm starting to play World Of Warcraft again, so at least I have lots to do. And with my new watercolor crayons, holy cow, life is good. :)
Hugs and kisses to all! Extra ones to Jon and Michelle, as they are experiencing the joy of cross country flight. I love you both very much.
Dr. T said that she and Dr. F want the CT on the 30th so that we can see if there has been any change in the tumor. If, as she suspects, there has been some shrinkage, then she wants to recalibrate my radiation and shrink the area of effect to best save my lungs. I *knew* December 8 wouldn't be my last radiation. :P
And so, two more radiations this week, and Dr. T gave me a couple of prescriptions just in case things get bad over the long weekend. I kid you not, one is for Magic Mouthwash. It's Lidocaine, Maalox and Benadryl... I'm supposed to slurp it down with a straw, so it goes into the esophagus and not in my mouth. A lidocained tongue is no good to anyone. ;)
The other prescription is for some heavy-duty painkillers. I'm not a big fan of painkillers in any way, shape, or form. I will have to be in a LOT of pain before I will take one. After my mastectomy, I took ONE painkiller, and that was because the ride home from the hospital was really ouchie. My sister says I deal with pain very well.
I'm starting to play World Of Warcraft again, so at least I have lots to do. And with my new watercolor crayons, holy cow, life is good. :)
Hugs and kisses to all! Extra ones to Jon and Michelle, as they are experiencing the joy of cross country flight. I love you both very much.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Trouble on the Insurance Front...
Dr. F contacted my insurance company today regarding treatment with Herceptin, and they disapproved it. This is odd, since it was approved by the FDA for HER2 positive Gastro-esophageal cancers just a few weeks ago.
Dr. F was very upbeat about my chances with the addition of Herceptin; he's the doctor! Some insurance administrator, who looks at a list should NOT have the authority to keep me from a treatment that COULD SAVE MY LIFE!
Dr. F has vowed to fight for this, and he will, but gosh, ... how demoralizing. Am I *that* naive that I just assumed it would be fine because my oncologist says it's what I need? He doesn't go around trying to find ways of screwing people's insurance companies... HE'S TRYING TO SAVE OUR LIVES!
So, can you tell I am both angry and practically in tears, which I get when I am angry, and if you know me, and my whole asthma problem, you know that crying makes me sick... really, really sick. So, I will not cry.
Anyway, if anyone can make my insurance company listen to reason, I think Dr. F has a good chance.
Well, I feel the need to go pound bad-guys into the earth, so I think I'll go load up Fallout 3, and whack away my frustrations in good, wholesome, virtual violence. :)
Hugs and kisses!
Dr. F was very upbeat about my chances with the addition of Herceptin; he's the doctor! Some insurance administrator, who looks at a list should NOT have the authority to keep me from a treatment that COULD SAVE MY LIFE!
Dr. F has vowed to fight for this, and he will, but gosh, ... how demoralizing. Am I *that* naive that I just assumed it would be fine because my oncologist says it's what I need? He doesn't go around trying to find ways of screwing people's insurance companies... HE'S TRYING TO SAVE OUR LIVES!
So, can you tell I am both angry and practically in tears, which I get when I am angry, and if you know me, and my whole asthma problem, you know that crying makes me sick... really, really sick. So, I will not cry.
Anyway, if anyone can make my insurance company listen to reason, I think Dr. F has a good chance.
Well, I feel the need to go pound bad-guys into the earth, so I think I'll go load up Fallout 3, and whack away my frustrations in good, wholesome, virtual violence. :)
Hugs and kisses!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Holy Guacamole! She's back!
ACK! I don’t know if this is the Queen of Neuroses that has taken over my body, but holy crap, I’m suddenly so nervous! Oh, sure I write a good party-line about how I’m ‘strong like bull.’ Currently, I feel ‘weak like slug!’
First, let me apologize to all slugs. I’m guessing you’re not really weak, but I could not come up with anything else at the spur of the moment. What I am really trying to do is calm down. I don’t even want to think of what my heart rate is right now. Oh boy, when they take my blood pressure today, they’ll probably gasp.
I’ve got my nervous cough going, too. Stupid asthma. Wow, nerves are making me less than erudite, although it’s still pretty good to come up with a word like erudite. Anyway, I have to remember that I don’t have to do any of this. I choose to do this. I want to live a few more years at least. I CHOOSE TO DO THIS! This is my decision, not mandated by the government or peer pressure or gods only know what else.
Ok, let me go take a shower and get dressed, and I’m sure I’ll start feeling more in control.
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