Dizzy Broad

I'm getting pretty dizzy upon standing, now.  Yes, the leg pain is still there, and pretty hellacious.  Putting a heating pad on it does help, though.  Cathy's been quite adept at knowing when I need my herbal heating thingy warmed up.  I won't do any more Naprosyn since it's an NSAID and I don't want to make my stomach start bleeding while I am on my anticoagulant.

And still coughing up goop; it doesn't seem to want to let up.  I'm trying to stay nicely hydrated, but it's pretty hard when on Lasix.  I keep an eye on the skin of my hands, and if it's looking wrinkly and fragile, I know I need to drink more. 

I'm sick to death of pills.  Just sick to death of them, but I know they are keeping me from the big sleep, so what can you do?  My hands are really becoming problematic.  I can't grip anything, so I have to ask someone to open containers, open car doors, etc.  And it's getting quite painful to grip my canes.  I'm putting a ton of lotion on them, several times a day to try to stave off the Xeloda side effects, but it is getting harder every day.

Dr. F may be right, and I am nuts to want to return to work, but surely it can only help me to get my mind on something bigger than me and pain.  I can do it; I know I can.  I'll be home; I won't have to go across an atrium to get to the Ladies', nor traverse long halls to get to my desk.  It should NOT be physically taxing. 

Speaking of pills, I'm taking my night time allotment; B6, Iron, Singulair, Magnesium, Zantac, Protonix, and Lipitor.  Morning is not so bad; it's just Januvia, two Turmeric, a Glipizide if my glucose is over 150, my B6, and a krill oil capsule.  Of course, since it's still chemo week, I then have to take the four Xeloda with my breakfast, and the other four with my dinner.  Yeah, those are not my favorites.

At least tomorrow I have no need to hit the phlebotomist. :)  I'll head to Ironwood on Tuesday just to get my shot of Aranesp, and I'm doing well I think with the shot of anticoagulant I give myself every day.  Definitely not bothered by that.  It's a piece of cake. :)  Considering I've been around syringes for most of my life, I don't really have a problem with needles.  And lest that sound rather suspicious, remember that both of my parents were insulin dependent diabetics.  I've even given injections to my cockatoo, which is REALLY scary, since hers was in her chest, and you had to avoid putting it into her lungs.  Yeah, that was a nerve-wracking experience.  Not to mention, birds don't WANT to have needles stuck in their chests, and they have very strong beaks with which to make their displeasure known.

Anywho, you can probably tell that I'm not exactly at my most optimistic at the moment, but it's chemo week, and that's pretty par for the course.  After Tuesday, when I don't have to take the Xeloda for a week, I'll improve every day. :)

Hugs to all, and sleep well!

Cough... Cough

Well, whatever this malady is that is now affecting my lungs, it seems to be pretty tenacious.  I had lots of liquids today, some chicken soup, and still, the goopiness persists.


Doc called to tell me to stop the coumadin for a couple of days because my INR was up to 5.  Ai carumba!  Don't get a paper-cut, or bang your knee on a table.   I have to go in to see him on Monday afternoon.  Got more lab testing on Monday morning; the regular PT/INR and then my pre-chemo stuff, the CBC and platelets with differentials.


The worry I have is that they won't let me do my chemo on Tuesday if this coughing is still active.  Although, frankly, I can't see how it will make a difference.  But that's me... I worry.


Oh yes, I am sucking on my hookah again.  I figure if I do it just before I try to get to bed, I should have a better chance at getting to sleep, despite being wired up.  Much easier to sleep when you can breathe. :)


Sometimes it just gets overwhelming, the things you have to do to try to survive cancer.  My left leg is swelling again, at the foot and ankle.  I was hoping that would go away with the coumadin and the dissolving of the DVT.  Maybe it is just going to take longer than I want.  At least the pain in my thigh is a thing of the past.


Then, there's the watching of the glucose levels, my heart rate, my oxygen saturation, my temperature, my weight, the condition of my feet and my hands, and good gods, how on earth do we survive as a species?  We're so complicated and have so many systems that can break down!


I need to go get new glasses, but my vision changes almost every day.  That's the chemo.  It's just all so weird.


But, it's time to try to get some sleep.  Monday is Samhain, or Halloween, and I have lots and lots of family and other loved ones that have passed beyond this world, and I want to honor them and remember them and ensure they know that  death doesn't end the loving.  


Peace and love.

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.   

Happy Winter Solstice!

It's that most wonderful time of the year. ;)  OK, not so much.  However, sisters and I watched a bit of the eclipse late last night.  How lovely that it chose the longest night of the year to occur.  Too bad we had mostly clouds, but every once in a while, there was a break, and you could see the moon clearly.

I woke with a cough this morning, but I think it's my normal asthma goopiness.  Yes, that is an official asthma term... for me, anyway: Goopy.

Sisters and I opened our Winter Solstice gifts this morning.  And now, I am wearing an official NFL licensed Pittsburgh Steelers on-field jersey, with number 9, and SEPULVEDA on the back.  No, Daniel Sepulveda is no relation, but I do HAVE a nephew of the same name.  Too bad number 9 is out for the season; he's done a great job this year. :(

Anyone that really knows me will know that I am not a fan of American Football, so for me to actually have followed some of it is ... odd. But how could I not?  I mean how many times does the name Sepulveda show up on a football field?

Actually, I follow football, as in "The Beautiful Game."  My favorite team is Liverpool FC.  My favorite player?  Steven Gerrard, who has also been out with an injury.  It was hoped he'd hit the pitch for the Fulham game, but due to the incredible snow in Europe, it's been postponed.  Alas.

And that, ladies and gents is the sum of my sports knowledge. ;)

I'm a bit tired today; I think too much coughing, but it IS that time of the year.  Weather gets cold, I cough.  I remember when the nuns told my mom to go get me tested for Tuberculosis.  :P  I coughed.  And, I had asthma, although it wasn't diagnosed until I was in my late 20's.  Plenty of time for it to screw up my lungs permanently.  Oh well. :D

Again, Happy Winter Solstice... love to all, and be happy, warm and have peace in your lives.