My 'mhow time flies when I'm feeling good!!! I am staying so busy having fun that I forgot to update the blog to tell you I was feeling good and staying busy!!!
Let's get the medical updates out of the way first. I'm with a different physical therapist for the lymphedema and using entirely different techniques which are working ever so well. Wrapping the arm from fingers to arm pit is uncomfortable as the bandages [think Ace bandages] tend to wad up in the elbow pit and wrist. However it does keep the swelling down much better that the compression sleeve. So I'm back to doing that drill. PT is doing considerable cranial work to clear the chemo toxins. I have NO IDEA how or why this works but it does. Finally my ears are draining, sinuses draining, headaches almost gone..,..it is quite a trip!!! Since all this was working well I was interested and listening when she suggested [strongly] that I start using compression garments from bust to crotch. I'm old so I immediately thought "girdle" and tried to ignore her. However all of her other suggestions worked so I made a trip to Nordstrom's Rack to check out Spanx and anything else that wasn't a girdle. Pricey stuff!!! But I got some and darned if I didn't feel better. Apparently all the belly surgeries have compromised my trunk lymph system so the fluid that was going away from the arm was getting stuck in my belly. So I decided to be compressed daily and feel better. Off to Target and found a whole wall of "new and improved" compression wear, some even on SALE. And after 2 weeks I can really tell a difference in the belly. And fluids are definitely moving out.
After much deliberation I decided to add Effexor XR to my drug diet. The melt downs were just getting to be too much. I hate being hot and I hate being sweaty and I hate feeling "almost" sick. Darned if the Effexor isn't helping by cutting down on the frequency and intensity of the melt downs. I probably will continue to have a love/hate relationship with Effexor. I didn't want to add another drug to my life.
OK>>>>>>>>>now for the good stuff. Geneva is doing great at taking over the household. She is tail up and smiling most of the time. I told you I got Domino a fire hydrant and we had it installed by the landscapers for a small fortune. He has yet to use it!!!! We even had Beau come over for an afternoon and together they ignored it!!! The problem seems to be the landscaping. We have stones around the old flower bed and I think he doesn't want to walk on the rocks!!! So we will move the stones to another bed and give the hydrant a mulch surrounding. He never misses an opportunity to water a hydrant on our walks............what's the deal!!!!!!!!
Thank you kind friends for caring to read this blog. And caring enough to remind me when I've neglected to update. I'll try to do better!!!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Post chemo hair is DIFFERENT! + dog updates
I had no idea how much time being bald was saving me!!! Now I have enough hair to require "fixing" in some way, no more "wash and wear" for me. So I have been asking around as to products various women use to keep their short hair "spikey" or at least not flat on their heads. I have about an inch of hair all over, no area shorter or longer. And this hair is a as soft and fine as bunny fur. I wish I could say that it is thicker and darker than my pre-chemo hair............but that is not the case.
One friend who always looks so good with her hair spiked told me she uses a product called "Hard Up" and purchases it at the beauty salon. I can deal with a product called Hard Up. Another recommended product is "Gorilla Snot"............ I don't know about this........... Can you see me trying to explain a liquid product called Gorilla Snot to the German version of TSA? How is Gorilla Snot translated in German? Or in Spanish, for that matter? How long would it take to get through the airport!!!! I think I need to find a more conventionally named product for travel.
Dog Update: First, Geneva finally got a clean report on her ear infections. She has had am & pm pills that had to be taken with a meal, not just snack. So I was making kibble omelets for both of them every morning. What happy doggies!!! That is history now!!! We still give them some leftovers with kibble after dinner but nothing special like their own omelets
Second, we have a fire hydrant being "set" in a former flower bed in the back yard. I have always wanted a fire hydrant for my boy dogs and finally found one at a TV production moving sale. What fun.....sort of. The thing weighs 300# so it isn't just a simple project. 1st I had to play the old lady card to get the seller to have his staff to hoist it into the Jeep. Then I worried about having such a weight vaulting back there........What if I had to do a nose-dive sudden stop? The hydrant would be a missile headed for our backs! And a jack-rabbit start could have the hydrant out the tail gate and rolling under the pickup truck behind me! Would USAA understand that I had to haul this hydrant around for a week until the landscape crew came to start the Dog Bano project??? O, dear. Well, I drove VERY safely until the crew relieved me of the hydrant passenger. The young men in the lawn crew were really laughing about all the work, sweat and $$$ going into a Dog Bano!!! Old people are so weird!!!
One friend who always looks so good with her hair spiked told me she uses a product called "Hard Up" and purchases it at the beauty salon. I can deal with a product called Hard Up. Another recommended product is "Gorilla Snot"............ I don't know about this........... Can you see me trying to explain a liquid product called Gorilla Snot to the German version of TSA? How is Gorilla Snot translated in German? Or in Spanish, for that matter? How long would it take to get through the airport!!!! I think I need to find a more conventionally named product for travel.
Dog Update: First, Geneva finally got a clean report on her ear infections. She has had am & pm pills that had to be taken with a meal, not just snack. So I was making kibble omelets for both of them every morning. What happy doggies!!! That is history now!!! We still give them some leftovers with kibble after dinner but nothing special like their own omelets
Second, we have a fire hydrant being "set" in a former flower bed in the back yard. I have always wanted a fire hydrant for my boy dogs and finally found one at a TV production moving sale. What fun.....sort of. The thing weighs 300# so it isn't just a simple project. 1st I had to play the old lady card to get the seller to have his staff to hoist it into the Jeep. Then I worried about having such a weight vaulting back there........What if I had to do a nose-dive sudden stop? The hydrant would be a missile headed for our backs! And a jack-rabbit start could have the hydrant out the tail gate and rolling under the pickup truck behind me! Would USAA understand that I had to haul this hydrant around for a week until the landscape crew came to start the Dog Bano project??? O, dear. Well, I drove VERY safely until the crew relieved me of the hydrant passenger. The young men in the lawn crew were really laughing about all the work, sweat and $$$ going into a Dog Bano!!! Old people are so weird!!!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Arimidex and Effexor XL - to combine or not combine - that is the ???
I passed my blood tests!!!! YEA, YEA and more YEA. Otherwise I would be on even more meds. So I did report that the Arimidex is causing not just HOT FLASHES but more like MELT DOWNS complete with drips and blushes. I'm not a happy camper when I melt. Now the fact that it is 105+ outside on any given day is just a marginal problem. I only go out if absolutely necessary or if there is a good estate sale. Whatever....... the problem is the melt downs. I don't like dripping on my sewing projects or messing up a perfectly good outfit. Now let me say a "good" thing about oncologists: Oncologists are very skilled at finding a drug for the side effects of the first drug s/he gave me. So of course Dr. had a drug to counter- act the melt downs caused by the Arimidex. The offering is Effexor XL at 37.5 mgs. I filled the RX with fear and trepidations. When I got home I read up on Effexor XL and now I have more fear and trepidation.
Have you noticed how the TV ads for the latest and greatest drug offering has 10 seconds on how this drug will fix whatever and then 50 seconds of disclaimers and warnings that it could kill you? Well, so goes Effexor for hot flashes. It works HOWEVER it will cause weight gain and a few other horrors. Then when it comes time to get get off of Effexor..........well, that is worse than getting off heroin. I need both of these situations like I need another breast lump!!!!
So I'm just going to set here in a puddle of sweat for the next 4 1/2 years!!!!!!!!!!! That is the pits. O, maybe it will get better as the body gets adjusted to Arimidex. I'm the optimistic type!!! There is always the home remedy of cold packs. This is cheap and effective. And no side effects!!!
ChemoBrain Update: I may be getting a tad of acuity back. I took another Bernina digitizing class in CorelDraw 4 this week and managed to keep up with the class and re-create the embroidery when I got home!!!! Granted the instructor is excellent, but I think my brain was working better also.
Geneva Update: Definitely a poodle!!!! She has been to the groomer and looks great now. She is still pushing Domino around!!! Poor guy, she is more pushy than Gigi ever was! Her ears are still showing some infection so more drugs. She has gained a full pound but is not overweight. Maybe she is just shaping up from the last litter. Geneva is almost ready for obedience classes. I'm NOT going out until this heat wave clears so it will be a few weeks before she gets some formal training.
BUYER BEWARE NOTICE: I've had to replace my kitchen chairs after only 2-3 yrs. The problem is that the wood was not dried properly before the furniture was made....IN CHINA. The first break was easily repaired. The 2nd break isn't fixable. So I found some nice OLDER leather chairs at an estate sale and will put the China chairs on Craigslist. I'm keeping the table only because it is covered with a glass top and not so easily abused. I think I'm staying with estate sale finds for future furniture.
That's it from the old folks home for tonight. The dogs are asleep and the Rangers are not winning. I think I'll just go to bed!!!
Have you noticed how the TV ads for the latest and greatest drug offering has 10 seconds on how this drug will fix whatever and then 50 seconds of disclaimers and warnings that it could kill you? Well, so goes Effexor for hot flashes. It works HOWEVER it will cause weight gain and a few other horrors. Then when it comes time to get get off of Effexor..........well, that is worse than getting off heroin. I need both of these situations like I need another breast lump!!!!
So I'm just going to set here in a puddle of sweat for the next 4 1/2 years!!!!!!!!!!! That is the pits. O, maybe it will get better as the body gets adjusted to Arimidex. I'm the optimistic type!!! There is always the home remedy of cold packs. This is cheap and effective. And no side effects!!!
ChemoBrain Update: I may be getting a tad of acuity back. I took another Bernina digitizing class in CorelDraw 4 this week and managed to keep up with the class and re-create the embroidery when I got home!!!! Granted the instructor is excellent, but I think my brain was working better also.
Geneva Update: Definitely a poodle!!!! She has been to the groomer and looks great now. She is still pushing Domino around!!! Poor guy, she is more pushy than Gigi ever was! Her ears are still showing some infection so more drugs. She has gained a full pound but is not overweight. Maybe she is just shaping up from the last litter. Geneva is almost ready for obedience classes. I'm NOT going out until this heat wave clears so it will be a few weeks before she gets some formal training.
BUYER BEWARE NOTICE: I've had to replace my kitchen chairs after only 2-3 yrs. The problem is that the wood was not dried properly before the furniture was made....IN CHINA. The first break was easily repaired. The 2nd break isn't fixable. So I found some nice OLDER leather chairs at an estate sale and will put the China chairs on Craigslist. I'm keeping the table only because it is covered with a glass top and not so easily abused. I think I'm staying with estate sale finds for future furniture.
That's it from the old folks home for tonight. The dogs are asleep and the Rangers are not winning. I think I'll just go to bed!!!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Life is good in the slow lane. Kinesiology tape is working!!!
I'm all taped up on the left arm and the fluid accumulation is down considerably after 24 hours. And I did get a better night's sleep with less shoulder joint pain. I am definitely going to get more lessons on proper taping. The tape is more comfortable and not HOT like the ace bandages or the elastic sleeve. Katherine's friend Pat told me about the Oliver pillow which can prop up the arm more comfortably for sleeping. First, I'll have to learn to sleep on my back. Second, I'll have to learn to NOT snore beyond my room mateS tolerance level.
Joan and I went to the Quilt Show on Saturday and got really inspired to get back to our sewing rooms. We saw quilts that would take me YEARS to finish.,...maybe....maybe I would just QUIT and wonder what it might have looked like if I hadn't overshot my target!!!! I'm definitely sticking with small art quilts, kids size quilts, and maybe a few throws!!! If I EVER even think about starting a king size quilt I hope I have sense enough to fix a bourbon and/or take a nap until I get my senses back!!!
The stock market was crazy last week. I don't know if I'm solvent or illusioned. I do know that I will be more conservative in spending until there is some resolution to the insanity. And from what I observed at the quilt show my non-spending is definitely a "trend." I saw far more people with NO purchases than with purchases. And didn't see anyone carrying a huge stash. That is not normal for a quilt show where the vendors have the latest and greatest fabrics and toys on display.
Dog update: Poor Domino.....we thought we got him a buddy and playmate. What he got is a micro-supervisor. He gets no privacy and has to plan ahead to get the best toy, bone, window. Geneva is no longer the shy, quiet wall flower. She is Queen of the Backyard and has to be reminded that she now lives in the city so no more barking just to announce her presence in the yard. She doesn't have an OFF button yet. Does she ever look shaggy!!! 1 more week of ear medication then she can go to the groomer. I can hardly wait!!!!! Now that she is proud and happy, strutting around with tail straight up and wagging, she will look fantastic with a proper grooming.
Joan and I went to the Quilt Show on Saturday and got really inspired to get back to our sewing rooms. We saw quilts that would take me YEARS to finish.,...maybe....maybe I would just QUIT and wonder what it might have looked like if I hadn't overshot my target!!!! I'm definitely sticking with small art quilts, kids size quilts, and maybe a few throws!!! If I EVER even think about starting a king size quilt I hope I have sense enough to fix a bourbon and/or take a nap until I get my senses back!!!
The stock market was crazy last week. I don't know if I'm solvent or illusioned. I do know that I will be more conservative in spending until there is some resolution to the insanity. And from what I observed at the quilt show my non-spending is definitely a "trend." I saw far more people with NO purchases than with purchases. And didn't see anyone carrying a huge stash. That is not normal for a quilt show where the vendors have the latest and greatest fabrics and toys on display.
Dog update: Poor Domino.....we thought we got him a buddy and playmate. What he got is a micro-supervisor. He gets no privacy and has to plan ahead to get the best toy, bone, window. Geneva is no longer the shy, quiet wall flower. She is Queen of the Backyard and has to be reminded that she now lives in the city so no more barking just to announce her presence in the yard. She doesn't have an OFF button yet. Does she ever look shaggy!!! 1 more week of ear medication then she can go to the groomer. I can hardly wait!!!!! Now that she is proud and happy, strutting around with tail straight up and wagging, she will look fantastic with a proper grooming.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Kinesiology taping for lymphedema giving some relief
Thirty five days of 100+ degrees daytime and 85+ at night is TOO MUCH!!! The heat is giving me fits with the lymphedema. The swelling is bad enough; the pain in the elbow and shoulder is even worse. The standard treatment for lymphedema is ace bandages to encourage the lymph fluid to move toward the trunk for elimination. Winding yards of ace bandages from fingers to arm pit is not fun and once the job is done the arm begins to get hotter and hotter. I have an elastic sleeve to wear during the day [easier and cooler than bandages] but the sleeve works its way down the arm and can bind at the elbow. I use the Jobi sleeve to wear at night and that seems to keep swelling from increasing overnight.
My friend Joan learned about kinesiology tape from her massage therapist. The tape was placed in a deep V-shape from the back of her neck down to her shoulder blades. The tape gave her some really surprising relief for muscle pain. So I was hoping to learn more about kinesiology for lymphedema and for sore knees. At my last physical therapy session I got a lesson on how to position kinesiology tape to encourage lymph fluid drainage in my arm. How interesting!! The K-tape is used by sports people to reduce swelling.
The trick is to stretch the tape a little. This gives an elastic feel and massages the taped area with any movement. Well, check out the various web sites and see if K-tape will help your aches and pains. I am finding some relief for my super sore shoulder and elbow - where the lymph fluid seems to get stuck. But I can't seem to get the tape placed correctly to reduce the fluid in my upper arm. I think this is something I can learn with a few more lessons. Taping the elbow and shoulder is a not complicated.
I found a site on the internet on how to tape knees and will start trying this soon. I'm about to give up on finding relief for knee pain. In desperation I made an appointment with the orthopedic who has used cortisone shots in my joints. I generally get a shot before going on a trip. This time I'll ask for a review of both knees and am prepared for him to say NO MORE minimal invasive surgery will work. Bummer. I'm not looking forward to replacing joints yet. And the idea of replacing one knee, going through weeks of rehab, then replacing the other knee and going to rehab a 2nd time seems inefficient at best. Just what is the problem with doing both knees and getting on with life after just 1 rehab??? I've been through chemo...I know that there are some super good drugs out there to manage the pain. Bring 'em on and let's get this knee situation fixed all at once!!!
OK....of to play with my K-tape.....
My friend Joan learned about kinesiology tape from her massage therapist. The tape was placed in a deep V-shape from the back of her neck down to her shoulder blades. The tape gave her some really surprising relief for muscle pain. So I was hoping to learn more about kinesiology for lymphedema and for sore knees. At my last physical therapy session I got a lesson on how to position kinesiology tape to encourage lymph fluid drainage in my arm. How interesting!! The K-tape is used by sports people to reduce swelling.
The trick is to stretch the tape a little. This gives an elastic feel and massages the taped area with any movement. Well, check out the various web sites and see if K-tape will help your aches and pains. I am finding some relief for my super sore shoulder and elbow - where the lymph fluid seems to get stuck. But I can't seem to get the tape placed correctly to reduce the fluid in my upper arm. I think this is something I can learn with a few more lessons. Taping the elbow and shoulder is a not complicated.
I found a site on the internet on how to tape knees and will start trying this soon. I'm about to give up on finding relief for knee pain. In desperation I made an appointment with the orthopedic who has used cortisone shots in my joints. I generally get a shot before going on a trip. This time I'll ask for a review of both knees and am prepared for him to say NO MORE minimal invasive surgery will work. Bummer. I'm not looking forward to replacing joints yet. And the idea of replacing one knee, going through weeks of rehab, then replacing the other knee and going to rehab a 2nd time seems inefficient at best. Just what is the problem with doing both knees and getting on with life after just 1 rehab??? I've been through chemo...I know that there are some super good drugs out there to manage the pain. Bring 'em on and let's get this knee situation fixed all at once!!!
OK....of to play with my K-tape.....
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Where can I move TODAY to get cool???
So let the heat win already!!! I give up!!! I'm not a fan of cold weather...well, I wasn't until this past month....and now I've decided I'm not a fan of hot weather. So I need to move where it is moderate weather all the time. Hawaii would work.... It does get hot there in August. So hot that the sand burns your feet and you wish you had air conditioning. And it does get cold in the winter...so you wish you had a fire place (as if we could have afforded wood!!! HA..)
North Texas is really HOT, even for Texans. And it is NOT A DRY HEAT. There is just enough humidity to choke off any breath you might dare to take!! O, how I dread the arrival of the electric bill... it will probably push close to the house payment. Even knowing how big the bill will be DOES NOT mean that I want to turn up the thermostat from 78 degrees. That just isn't going to happen!!! Once I get hot I can't get cooled down without ice packs. This just isn't my year!!!
Being stuck in the house is not all bad. I did get the mending done and a few Christmas presents made. That is progress!! And staying indoors with my lymphedema arm bandaged is working ... the swelling is way down and the lymphedema arm is almost the same size as the right arm. If bandage wraps happen to shrink my bat-wings, I'll let you know!!!
Geneva is making progress too. She is walking tall, tail is straight up most of the time now, and she is beginning to demand what she wants. She is acting like a poodle. And she has claimed a corner of our bed as her spot for the night. Her life is good. She is clocking about 3 hours of lap time a day during the baseball games.
There are a couple of estates sales with potential coming up this weekend. What a dilemma. I don't like to get "up and out" early in the morning; however I like getting out in the heat even less. So I'll try to hit a sale and get home before 10 am. I scored big time on Craigslist this week. Sister's grandaughter is coming for 2 weeks and we needed somthing to entertain a 12 yr old. She can watch old people pet the cat only so long. Scrapbooking seemed like a good option. I found a listing for a huge suitcase full of NEW scrapbooking stuff plus a big tote bag of paper(s) and a carton of stickers/buttons/etc enhancements PLUS a sewing machine for $100. I had the Jeep full of stuff. How great is that!!!
Stay cool.
North Texas is really HOT, even for Texans. And it is NOT A DRY HEAT. There is just enough humidity to choke off any breath you might dare to take!! O, how I dread the arrival of the electric bill... it will probably push close to the house payment. Even knowing how big the bill will be DOES NOT mean that I want to turn up the thermostat from 78 degrees. That just isn't going to happen!!! Once I get hot I can't get cooled down without ice packs. This just isn't my year!!!
Being stuck in the house is not all bad. I did get the mending done and a few Christmas presents made. That is progress!! And staying indoors with my lymphedema arm bandaged is working ... the swelling is way down and the lymphedema arm is almost the same size as the right arm. If bandage wraps happen to shrink my bat-wings, I'll let you know!!!
Geneva is making progress too. She is walking tall, tail is straight up most of the time now, and she is beginning to demand what she wants. She is acting like a poodle. And she has claimed a corner of our bed as her spot for the night. Her life is good. She is clocking about 3 hours of lap time a day during the baseball games.
There are a couple of estates sales with potential coming up this weekend. What a dilemma. I don't like to get "up and out" early in the morning; however I like getting out in the heat even less. So I'll try to hit a sale and get home before 10 am. I scored big time on Craigslist this week. Sister's grandaughter is coming for 2 weeks and we needed somthing to entertain a 12 yr old. She can watch old people pet the cat only so long. Scrapbooking seemed like a good option. I found a listing for a huge suitcase full of NEW scrapbooking stuff plus a big tote bag of paper(s) and a carton of stickers/buttons/etc enhancements PLUS a sewing machine for $100. I had the Jeep full of stuff. How great is that!!!
Stay cool.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Misc grooming, health, sewing etc.
The dark colored eyebrow pluckings have been spoken for so no more requests please. Many of my friends are also "of a certain age" and apparently need some dark eyebrow hairs to use as "low lights" in their eyebrows. Well, why not? One can buy false eyelashes to glue on; why not enhance eyebrows the same way? I have such smart friends!!!
My mustache needs attention. It is too dark, I think. Maybe if I just thin out the dark hairs [Any one need dark mustache hairs?] the grey ones won't be so noticeable. Of course I can only see the hairs in the make up mirror. Many of my fiends are close to my age so they won't be able to see the hairs just through their bifocals. Maybe I could "Drink More Milk" and leave a white stain on my upper lip and then the dark hairs wouldn't show. "For a price" a day spa salon would bleach my mustache, pluck my eyebrows, and dye my eyelashes. I'll have to think about this option. Generally I'd rather pass on the spa and save the money for a fabric store or travel. Or a dog.
The HOT HOT HOT weather continues and is certainly affecting my lymphedema. Over the weekend I was out to run errands and we went out for dinner. Between the heat and the salt in restaurant foods I had an extra 6# of lymph fluid, most in the arm. Back to keeping the arm wrapped during the day regardless of how hot and itchy it feels. And I still keep the Jobi pressure sleeve on at night. After four days/nights of constant wrapping plus drinking MUCH water, I have the swelling down to a tolerable level. It isn't worth the risk of swelling to take the sleeve off during the day regardless of discomfort level.
Speaking of fabric [and I generally am speaking or at least thinking about fabric] I am finally working on Katherine's 2009 Christmas present. I got some beautiful fabric when I was in Basel with her in '09. There was Swiss + in bright red with white +'s about 6" sized. And another piece of Swiss +'s only this piece has tiny +'s. The city of Basel has a flag pattern that is black and white and the symbol is like a piece from a chess set. [I can't play chess so don't know which piece it is.] So I got 3 different pieces of Basel fabric. Then I had this great idea; well, I thought it was great. My Sister-In-Law is a fantastic quilter...great designs and even better execution. So I sent her half the fabric to make anything she wanted to for Katherine. My idea was for each of us to give Katherine a "mystery quilt" from the Basel and Swiss fabric motifs. Fabric needs to "cure" just like meat. You should not cut it for the first year of ownership. However by 2010 when it was ready to cut, S-I-L was the one who got her quilt designed and made. I was late starting my project and then did the cancer ordeal last Fall. So I'm just now getting to the design and execution of the child's VERY LATE Christmas present. I finished the prototype this afternoon and was pleased enough to move forward on the remaining blocks.
Today was cleaning lady day. This is a wonderful thing for all of us as I'm much easier to live with when the house is clean. Her 9 or 10 y.o. daughter has been along the past 2 weeks. Last week she gave Geneva a good brushing. Today we painted Geneva's toe nails. A good time was had by all. Geneva had to sleep all afternoon due to all the attention and excitement!!! She is such a calm dog!!! What a change from Domino!!!
A couple of people asked if I would write about dog rescue and how we picked this particular dog. I'll get to that soon. This is it for tonight!!!
My mustache needs attention. It is too dark, I think. Maybe if I just thin out the dark hairs [Any one need dark mustache hairs?] the grey ones won't be so noticeable. Of course I can only see the hairs in the make up mirror. Many of my fiends are close to my age so they won't be able to see the hairs just through their bifocals. Maybe I could "Drink More Milk" and leave a white stain on my upper lip and then the dark hairs wouldn't show. "For a price" a day spa salon would bleach my mustache, pluck my eyebrows, and dye my eyelashes. I'll have to think about this option. Generally I'd rather pass on the spa and save the money for a fabric store or travel. Or a dog.
The HOT HOT HOT weather continues and is certainly affecting my lymphedema. Over the weekend I was out to run errands and we went out for dinner. Between the heat and the salt in restaurant foods I had an extra 6# of lymph fluid, most in the arm. Back to keeping the arm wrapped during the day regardless of how hot and itchy it feels. And I still keep the Jobi pressure sleeve on at night. After four days/nights of constant wrapping plus drinking MUCH water, I have the swelling down to a tolerable level. It isn't worth the risk of swelling to take the sleeve off during the day regardless of discomfort level.
Speaking of fabric [and I generally am speaking or at least thinking about fabric] I am finally working on Katherine's 2009 Christmas present. I got some beautiful fabric when I was in Basel with her in '09. There was Swiss + in bright red with white +'s about 6" sized. And another piece of Swiss +'s only this piece has tiny +'s. The city of Basel has a flag pattern that is black and white and the symbol is like a piece from a chess set. [I can't play chess so don't know which piece it is.] So I got 3 different pieces of Basel fabric. Then I had this great idea; well, I thought it was great. My Sister-In-Law is a fantastic quilter...great designs and even better execution. So I sent her half the fabric to make anything she wanted to for Katherine. My idea was for each of us to give Katherine a "mystery quilt" from the Basel and Swiss fabric motifs. Fabric needs to "cure" just like meat. You should not cut it for the first year of ownership. However by 2010 when it was ready to cut, S-I-L was the one who got her quilt designed and made. I was late starting my project and then did the cancer ordeal last Fall. So I'm just now getting to the design and execution of the child's VERY LATE Christmas present. I finished the prototype this afternoon and was pleased enough to move forward on the remaining blocks.
Today was cleaning lady day. This is a wonderful thing for all of us as I'm much easier to live with when the house is clean. Her 9 or 10 y.o. daughter has been along the past 2 weeks. Last week she gave Geneva a good brushing. Today we painted Geneva's toe nails. A good time was had by all. Geneva had to sleep all afternoon due to all the attention and excitement!!! She is such a calm dog!!! What a change from Domino!!!
A couple of people asked if I would write about dog rescue and how we picked this particular dog. I'll get to that soon. This is it for tonight!!!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Hair Today....Good Grief, Charlie Brown
I had to go get a "hair cut" today. My fuzzy helmet wasn't "fitting" anymore and looked even worse than usual. So Della trimmed it. I'll bet there wasn't a full tablespoon of hair on the floor!!! What a hair cut!!! She didn't even charge me and said "Go home and grow enough hair to help support me." So I'll try. She said it will take a year or more to know what my new hair will be like...so far it is even finer than before, darker, and just plain nappy.
So now I've had to address hairy issues like every other woman. My eyebrow hairs came in dark and all over my eyebrow...what's this about??? I haven't plucked stray eyebrows for decades!!! Now I do like my new eyelashes. They are dark, which is a change from the pre-chemo lashes which were grey. Lashes are not as thick and are shorter, don't touch my glasses. I can use the time I save by not putting on mascara to pluck my eyebrows!!
I've had to shave my legs and pits twice now. And my arms are hairy again. So except for the hair on my head, all is back to some acceptable level of the new "normal."
This heat wave is really doing a job on my lymphodema. I can't get the left arm down to a size that is close to the right arm. The therapist said I will probably have to go back to the ace bandage wraps to get the size down. Well, that is no fun in 100+ heat!! It is bad enough to wear an oven mitt from finger tips to arm pit all night and then try to sleep with it propped up on pillows to encourage the lymphatic fluid to drain down to the shoulder then trunk and finally out. Do I want to be even hotter all day and all night..............not really.
Bone scan was all clear so the long bone pain is just a result of the aremidex which I have to take for 5 years. That is better than having the bone scan show bone cancer or breast cancer showing up in the bone marrow. I had to go back to hospital for an Xray of my elbow because the scan indicated that the dye collected in the elbow pit OR there was something going on there. It was the dye. It was so hard to get the vein and then get the dye to go in....I'm not surprised that the dye didn't get moved around much. I really should have asked the RNs before I jumped on Dr's idea to take the Port out!!!! It would be much easier to keep the port flushed than to go through this vein stabbing!!!
Geneva update: Our baseball fan is fitting in nicely. She had a vet tech check up for the ears today and there is still some problems. We will continue the flush and treatment meds for another 2 weeks. She is eating nicely even without wet food. No accidents in the house. She is now bold enough to jump up in our bed after we go to sleep. Wonder how long it will be before she claims her own spot in our bed?? Domino "sleeps around" and spends sleep time in various dog beds, our bed, the couch etc. He often goes to bed with me and then back to the living room to finish the ballgame with Husband.
I'm having a good time cooking! Tonight we had sea bass with cumin dusting, saffron rice and a squash corn saute. Fresh peaches and blackberries for dessert. Pinot Grigo wine. NICE. It is good to feel well enough and have enough energy to shop and cook. Slow return to the new normal.
So now I've had to address hairy issues like every other woman. My eyebrow hairs came in dark and all over my eyebrow...what's this about??? I haven't plucked stray eyebrows for decades!!! Now I do like my new eyelashes. They are dark, which is a change from the pre-chemo lashes which were grey. Lashes are not as thick and are shorter, don't touch my glasses. I can use the time I save by not putting on mascara to pluck my eyebrows!!
I've had to shave my legs and pits twice now. And my arms are hairy again. So except for the hair on my head, all is back to some acceptable level of the new "normal."
This heat wave is really doing a job on my lymphodema. I can't get the left arm down to a size that is close to the right arm. The therapist said I will probably have to go back to the ace bandage wraps to get the size down. Well, that is no fun in 100+ heat!! It is bad enough to wear an oven mitt from finger tips to arm pit all night and then try to sleep with it propped up on pillows to encourage the lymphatic fluid to drain down to the shoulder then trunk and finally out. Do I want to be even hotter all day and all night..............not really.
Bone scan was all clear so the long bone pain is just a result of the aremidex which I have to take for 5 years. That is better than having the bone scan show bone cancer or breast cancer showing up in the bone marrow. I had to go back to hospital for an Xray of my elbow because the scan indicated that the dye collected in the elbow pit OR there was something going on there. It was the dye. It was so hard to get the vein and then get the dye to go in....I'm not surprised that the dye didn't get moved around much. I really should have asked the RNs before I jumped on Dr's idea to take the Port out!!!! It would be much easier to keep the port flushed than to go through this vein stabbing!!!
Geneva update: Our baseball fan is fitting in nicely. She had a vet tech check up for the ears today and there is still some problems. We will continue the flush and treatment meds for another 2 weeks. She is eating nicely even without wet food. No accidents in the house. She is now bold enough to jump up in our bed after we go to sleep. Wonder how long it will be before she claims her own spot in our bed?? Domino "sleeps around" and spends sleep time in various dog beds, our bed, the couch etc. He often goes to bed with me and then back to the living room to finish the ballgame with Husband.
I'm having a good time cooking! Tonight we had sea bass with cumin dusting, saffron rice and a squash corn saute. Fresh peaches and blackberries for dessert. Pinot Grigo wine. NICE. It is good to feel well enough and have enough energy to shop and cook. Slow return to the new normal.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Dogs and Doctors...........what a life!!!
Husband LOST the new dog. It is 100+ on a HOT afternoon, I'm an hour away for an important meeting, and when FEDEX wanted an autograph Geneva ran out the door and down the street!!! She doesn't know her name yet, has never been on a walk in the neighborhood [still can't walk with corset or cord touching her] and she doesn't have a tag on yet. She is just plain GONE. Husband and lawn crew search and give up. Hours later I get home and Domino and I take out in the direction she was last seen. She was hiding in the scrub brush tree line behind OUR house....in the cedar stickers and POISON IVY. She was HOT and glad to see Domino and me, came right on in the yard. It took a long time to get the stickers off of her and then she had a nice bath. We all stretched out under the fans and enjoyed the air conditioning. Dogs, bah hum bug!!!!
This week is my week to get to the doctors I have ignored while doing chemo and radiation. So far so good. The dermatologist did a couple of freezes and one "slice and dice" but all is well. The eye doctor was nice enough to NOT change my glasses so there is a big savings. The dentist gave me a good report. The follow up visit to the oncologist was so-so. I' m having considerable bone pain and he ordered a bone scan just to be sure all is well. I would have preferred he say I was a wimp and "buck up" but that didn't happen.
It has just been too hot to be outside. So I don't go. And it is too hot to cook in the house. So I don't. Thank goodness we have a grill or we would starve. If we could turn on the grill via remote control...wow...there is an invention idea for you. We hurry in/out to turn the stuff and that is dinner. Life is simple punctuated by hysteria.
This week is my week to get to the doctors I have ignored while doing chemo and radiation. So far so good. The dermatologist did a couple of freezes and one "slice and dice" but all is well. The eye doctor was nice enough to NOT change my glasses so there is a big savings. The dentist gave me a good report. The follow up visit to the oncologist was so-so. I' m having considerable bone pain and he ordered a bone scan just to be sure all is well. I would have preferred he say I was a wimp and "buck up" but that didn't happen.
It has just been too hot to be outside. So I don't go. And it is too hot to cook in the house. So I don't. Thank goodness we have a grill or we would starve. If we could turn on the grill via remote control...wow...there is an invention idea for you. We hurry in/out to turn the stuff and that is dinner. Life is simple punctuated by hysteria.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
IT'S A GIRL!!!!
July 5 and 100+ and HOT HOT HOT so we went back to the Weatherford boonies to pick up our new dog. We had lunch with Husband's cousin Terry & Janice who now live there to be close to the grand kids. We don't get together often enough!!! It took us a while to get current on all the family news.
We found our way back to All God's Creatures and prepared ourselves for the tick brigade by tucking pant legs into socks and buttoning down our long sleeved shirt sleeves then spraying each other with maximum DEET. I guess the people wondered why we were stuck in the Jeep so long as they came out to check on us. I even sprayed the lower door frame of the Jeep --- I hate ticks!!!
We went into the ALMOST air conditioned shed where the dogs were being bathed and found our little girl all wet in one of the crates. She was quite scared when I reached in to dry her off. We introduced her to her new name GENEVA. After all the paperwork was done we took her to the Jeep and she was really scared. [Picking up Domino was so different---he KNEW we were there for him, leaped into the car and sat tall and straight up and never looked back at the rescue home.] So getting her into the crate was fun - she extended all 4 legs in different directions and increased her weight by at least double!!! [We each said "what if this was Beau? he weighs 60#!! and he wants Sylvia to lift him into the car.] Once in the crate [on her new quilt] she took forever to settle down enough to relax and never did go to sleep the entire trip back home.
Geneva has a new wardrobe - a pink harness. She doesn't like wearing "clothes." She can't walk in clothes. And what is this cord thing hooked to this corset thing?? So she didn't pee in the grass going into the vets offices because she can't pee when wearing clothes. What dog can resist the "inspirations" left in front of the vet's office??? Coming out of the office didn't go much better. I just slid her across the floor and she almost walked on the grass. No pee.
We got to our vet's office at 4:30 for Geneva's physical and shots and blood work. She checked out very well. Good physical confirmation and no apparent problems. No heartworms, no tick borne diseases - at this point. She will get regular re-checks for 3 months just to be sure and Vet started her on antibiotics because she has so many many scabs and sores from old tick bites. And I mean dozens of sores on each ear and zillions on her body. Then came the ear exam. You poodle owners know the drill - excess wax and yeast = big time infection. Plus Geneva has so many sores from ticks on her ears that some sores got infected. $400+ and 1 1/2 hrs later we left with sufficient meds to require a spread sheet to keep the administration correct PLUS cans of super expensive dog food to get her started eating as well as slide the pills down. This canned food goes in with the expensive "duck and potato limited ingredient" dog food we have for all the poodles.
Domino spent the day at the day care and he was wired when he got home. He was happy to see Geneva and then proceeded to ignore her while he checked out his kingdom and then he went inside to claim the couch for his well deserved naps. We took Geneva outside every 30 minutes to see if she would pee/poop before we went to bed. Well, she can't pee/poop wearing a corset!!! She did eat expensive kibble mixed with even more expensive wet food ONLY AFTER I finger fed her about half her dinner. Domino thinks she is a great addition to the family simply because she brought wet food to go in the kibble - he scarfed his bowl of kibble in record time. We had not told him that the vet sells wet food!!!!
Geneva fell over into a nap after 8 pm., She fought sleep off just like a kid, but finally lost the battle. We crated her at 10 pm and didn't hear a peep all night. At 7 am I took them outside and she magically could pee wearing a corset!!! Breakfast with wet food was enjoyed by both poodles and she took her pills nicely. She is happy today, the tail hasn't stopped wagging and she is coming to each of us for petting. Yesterday we wondered how long her tail was and today she is walking around with the nice tail up in the air!!! She is a happy camper!!! She and Domino were playing tentatively in the yard. This is going to work out nicely.
We'll give her a couple of weeks to adjust and then start introducing her to new people. I do plan to take some "arrival" pictures and in a couple of weeks some "real poodle" pictures. Her hair needs to grow out and her coat needs vitamins and Omega 3. I thought she was a red/brown color and that is not correct. After a good bath she is definitely an apricot color. She will be very pretty all fluffed up!!
We found our way back to All God's Creatures and prepared ourselves for the tick brigade by tucking pant legs into socks and buttoning down our long sleeved shirt sleeves then spraying each other with maximum DEET. I guess the people wondered why we were stuck in the Jeep so long as they came out to check on us. I even sprayed the lower door frame of the Jeep --- I hate ticks!!!
We went into the ALMOST air conditioned shed where the dogs were being bathed and found our little girl all wet in one of the crates. She was quite scared when I reached in to dry her off. We introduced her to her new name GENEVA. After all the paperwork was done we took her to the Jeep and she was really scared. [Picking up Domino was so different---he KNEW we were there for him, leaped into the car and sat tall and straight up and never looked back at the rescue home.] So getting her into the crate was fun - she extended all 4 legs in different directions and increased her weight by at least double!!! [We each said "what if this was Beau? he weighs 60#!! and he wants Sylvia to lift him into the car.] Once in the crate [on her new quilt] she took forever to settle down enough to relax and never did go to sleep the entire trip back home.
Geneva has a new wardrobe - a pink harness. She doesn't like wearing "clothes." She can't walk in clothes. And what is this cord thing hooked to this corset thing?? So she didn't pee in the grass going into the vets offices because she can't pee when wearing clothes. What dog can resist the "inspirations" left in front of the vet's office??? Coming out of the office didn't go much better. I just slid her across the floor and she almost walked on the grass. No pee.
We got to our vet's office at 4:30 for Geneva's physical and shots and blood work. She checked out very well. Good physical confirmation and no apparent problems. No heartworms, no tick borne diseases - at this point. She will get regular re-checks for 3 months just to be sure and Vet started her on antibiotics because she has so many many scabs and sores from old tick bites. And I mean dozens of sores on each ear and zillions on her body. Then came the ear exam. You poodle owners know the drill - excess wax and yeast = big time infection. Plus Geneva has so many sores from ticks on her ears that some sores got infected. $400+ and 1 1/2 hrs later we left with sufficient meds to require a spread sheet to keep the administration correct PLUS cans of super expensive dog food to get her started eating as well as slide the pills down. This canned food goes in with the expensive "duck and potato limited ingredient" dog food we have for all the poodles.
Domino spent the day at the day care and he was wired when he got home. He was happy to see Geneva and then proceeded to ignore her while he checked out his kingdom and then he went inside to claim the couch for his well deserved naps. We took Geneva outside every 30 minutes to see if she would pee/poop before we went to bed. Well, she can't pee/poop wearing a corset!!! She did eat expensive kibble mixed with even more expensive wet food ONLY AFTER I finger fed her about half her dinner. Domino thinks she is a great addition to the family simply because she brought wet food to go in the kibble - he scarfed his bowl of kibble in record time. We had not told him that the vet sells wet food!!!!
Geneva fell over into a nap after 8 pm., She fought sleep off just like a kid, but finally lost the battle. We crated her at 10 pm and didn't hear a peep all night. At 7 am I took them outside and she magically could pee wearing a corset!!! Breakfast with wet food was enjoyed by both poodles and she took her pills nicely. She is happy today, the tail hasn't stopped wagging and she is coming to each of us for petting. Yesterday we wondered how long her tail was and today she is walking around with the nice tail up in the air!!! She is a happy camper!!! She and Domino were playing tentatively in the yard. This is going to work out nicely.
We'll give her a couple of weeks to adjust and then start introducing her to new people. I do plan to take some "arrival" pictures and in a couple of weeks some "real poodle" pictures. Her hair needs to grow out and her coat needs vitamins and Omega 3. I thought she was a red/brown color and that is not correct. After a good bath she is definitely an apricot color. She will be very pretty all fluffed up!!
Monday, July 4, 2011
We are EXPECTING....a girl.......soon!!!!!!!!!
What do retired people do on a HOT holiday in TX? They stay INDOORS, in the air conditioning because they got smarter as they got older. This is how I know we are smarter:
The first 4th of July we were in North Texas [in the mid 70's] we had a family outing for a softball game and picnic in a nearby town. Man, was it HOT. The girls and I found a scrubby little tree in the vicinity of the field and we huddled in the "almost" shade around the ice chest. Husband was playing in the game so we couldn't go home gracefully. [That was then.......now I would drive that car home about the 2nd inning!!!] Well, I don't remember anything about the game or the picnic, but clearly remember on the way home seeing the bank thermometer reading of 107!!! That was crazy!!
This 4th of July it was only 100 and we stayed in all day. Husband read a book and watched an old movie on TV. I played in the sewing room and made a crate blanket for our new dog. Yes, we are expecting a girl any day now!!! She is a 3 year old rescued poodle from a mill. She will be smaller than Domino and brownish red. She will know NOTHING about living in the house with air conditioning, or having to wait for an old person to open the door to go outside to pee/poop, or being able to eat premium kibble anytime. We hope that she will be fairly easy to house train. Some dogs who were "producers" at these mills can have a difficult time adjusting to house training simply because they were never asked to "hold it." And if she was confined to a crate all the time she may not be accustomed to keeping a clean crate. We won't know these things until she gets here. So stay tuned for the adventures of old folks training a new dog. At least she is old enough to sleep through the night...of course we can each get up and let her out during the night since we don't sleep through the night anymore!!!
The first 4th of July we were in North Texas [in the mid 70's] we had a family outing for a softball game and picnic in a nearby town. Man, was it HOT. The girls and I found a scrubby little tree in the vicinity of the field and we huddled in the "almost" shade around the ice chest. Husband was playing in the game so we couldn't go home gracefully. [That was then.......now I would drive that car home about the 2nd inning!!!] Well, I don't remember anything about the game or the picnic, but clearly remember on the way home seeing the bank thermometer reading of 107!!! That was crazy!!
This 4th of July it was only 100 and we stayed in all day. Husband read a book and watched an old movie on TV. I played in the sewing room and made a crate blanket for our new dog. Yes, we are expecting a girl any day now!!! She is a 3 year old rescued poodle from a mill. She will be smaller than Domino and brownish red. She will know NOTHING about living in the house with air conditioning, or having to wait for an old person to open the door to go outside to pee/poop, or being able to eat premium kibble anytime. We hope that she will be fairly easy to house train. Some dogs who were "producers" at these mills can have a difficult time adjusting to house training simply because they were never asked to "hold it." And if she was confined to a crate all the time she may not be accustomed to keeping a clean crate. We won't know these things until she gets here. So stay tuned for the adventures of old folks training a new dog. At least she is old enough to sleep through the night...of course we can each get up and let her out during the night since we don't sleep through the night anymore!!!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Food Network Rocks!! Retirees confirmed it today!!
When one is confined to home and doing chemo it is so easy to watch much more TV than is ever "normal." Really. Reading is too much effort - books are heavy to hold, the Kindle is better however my attention span was too short to keep up with the books. So back to TV. After a few weeks, months or so, I was wandering all over the AT&T U-verse offerings. [Some day I'll tell you about "American Pickers" and why it is just too close to my roots - not the pickers so much as the people they meet.] And tonight I'll recommend another "off the beaten path" show to you - DINERS, DIVES and DRIVE-INS on the Food Network.
Husband has been "out and about" since we started watching this odd ball show. The DDD's show has really worked for husband, sending him to "great" places - gourmet hot dog places. I know that "gourmet/hot dog" is an oxymoron, but he doesn't so we won't go there, OK?
Today we went out to lunch with some of our "BFFs " from 'way back when our kids were grade school ages. We dined in great style with Bill and LaVerne in Watauga TX at the Chef Point Cafe. This is a gourmet restaurant in a convenience store/gas station. YES, really. The immigrant owners could not get a loan for a restaurant but could get a loan for a convenience store. So they got the CS and started a restaurant in the CS and they now have a big following. [Because I missed an interstate/highway junction between here and there] we didn't get to Watauga until smack dab noon and the place was packed!!! Parking was at a premium; however since I was along, my parking Karma prevailed and Bill got a parking spot right at the front door. [If you go without me you may be parking in the field out back.] And we got a nice table in the corner without undue traffic. The menu is awesome!!! LaVerne had the Hawaiian salmon with pineapple rice. Perfecto - and I will definitely try adding pineapple to my next Asian/Hawaiian rice dish. Bill ordered the Blackened Catfish which was served with Alfredo sauce on pasta and he said it was the best catfish EVER. Husband ordered the meatloaf and it came in a trough!!! He said it was the meatloaf best ever and he KNOWS meatloaf!! I went for the fried chicken with Belgium waffle and fruit - what an odd combination but it was PERFECT. My Mother-in-law couldn't have done the chicken any better!!
Now each plate - no.... platter -...is far more than 4 old retired persons need to be eating, but we did it anyway. And it is more than we usually pay for lunch; but trust me, it was worth every dime and we had enough leftovers for bedtime snacks.
The morale of this story is that you might want to check out DDDs website and find local Dives in your area. I can hardly wait to plan a road trip with DDDs as part of the itinerary!!! What fun!!!! Husband's gout may be a problem later and my weight will definitely be a problem, but O, well, these are the least of our worries at this point.
Thank you, Bill and LaVerne, for taking us to the Chef Point Cafe!!!!
Husband has been "out and about" since we started watching this odd ball show. The DDD's show has really worked for husband, sending him to "great" places - gourmet hot dog places. I know that "gourmet/hot dog" is an oxymoron, but he doesn't so we won't go there, OK?
Today we went out to lunch with some of our "BFFs " from 'way back when our kids were grade school ages. We dined in great style with Bill and LaVerne in Watauga TX at the Chef Point Cafe. This is a gourmet restaurant in a convenience store/gas station. YES, really. The immigrant owners could not get a loan for a restaurant but could get a loan for a convenience store. So they got the CS and started a restaurant in the CS and they now have a big following. [Because I missed an interstate/highway junction between here and there] we didn't get to Watauga until smack dab noon and the place was packed!!! Parking was at a premium; however since I was along, my parking Karma prevailed and Bill got a parking spot right at the front door. [If you go without me you may be parking in the field out back.] And we got a nice table in the corner without undue traffic. The menu is awesome!!! LaVerne had the Hawaiian salmon with pineapple rice. Perfecto - and I will definitely try adding pineapple to my next Asian/Hawaiian rice dish. Bill ordered the Blackened Catfish which was served with Alfredo sauce on pasta and he said it was the best catfish EVER. Husband ordered the meatloaf and it came in a trough!!! He said it was the meatloaf best ever and he KNOWS meatloaf!! I went for the fried chicken with Belgium waffle and fruit - what an odd combination but it was PERFECT. My Mother-in-law couldn't have done the chicken any better!!
Now each plate - no.... platter -...is far more than 4 old retired persons need to be eating, but we did it anyway. And it is more than we usually pay for lunch; but trust me, it was worth every dime and we had enough leftovers for bedtime snacks.
The morale of this story is that you might want to check out DDDs website and find local Dives in your area. I can hardly wait to plan a road trip with DDDs as part of the itinerary!!! What fun!!!! Husband's gout may be a problem later and my weight will definitely be a problem, but O, well, these are the least of our worries at this point.
Thank you, Bill and LaVerne, for taking us to the Chef Point Cafe!!!!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
post cancer treatment: Summer Heat related problems
It is HOT in North Texas. Dry heat, wet heat........who cares because it is just plain HOT. Ordinarily I don't care and just don't let weather stop my game plan.
However this year is different because of the cancer treatment. First the doctor took away my hormone pills. Well, that is enough to keep any woman indoors under the a/c. O, but that isn't enough ..... after chemo comes radiation which literally cooks your body from the inside to the outside. After 33 treatments my left shoulder was/is fried to the core and burned on the outside. That heat has to cool off and dissipate somehow. So it radiates outward from the core area and heats up the left shoulder, neck and head, back and trunk. The sweat just runs and runs. Especially at night. Fortunately, I am almost past the night sweat problems.
Now I can focus on the day sweat problems!! When I am out and about, even if it is a short period of time in the heat, the heat can trigger a radiation sweat blast that will last 10 minutes or so and really mess up an outfit. There is no solution because one has to get from the car to the store and just that little time frame can trigger a heat rage. I just mop off and keep on truckin'. I've been in the house far too long to let sweat keep me indoors ALL the time.
Recommendations: I've learned to keep a "cool tie" in the freezer and use that when I have to be outside for any length of time. We have sports spritz bottles which are insulated and keep ice water cold for hours. These are great when in very casual places like BBQs etc. And then the good ole ice chest rides along in the car to keep water bottles etc. It takes much more planning to just go outside now that I am a post cancer treatment person.
However this year is different because of the cancer treatment. First the doctor took away my hormone pills. Well, that is enough to keep any woman indoors under the a/c. O, but that isn't enough ..... after chemo comes radiation which literally cooks your body from the inside to the outside. After 33 treatments my left shoulder was/is fried to the core and burned on the outside. That heat has to cool off and dissipate somehow. So it radiates outward from the core area and heats up the left shoulder, neck and head, back and trunk. The sweat just runs and runs. Especially at night. Fortunately, I am almost past the night sweat problems.
Now I can focus on the day sweat problems!! When I am out and about, even if it is a short period of time in the heat, the heat can trigger a radiation sweat blast that will last 10 minutes or so and really mess up an outfit. There is no solution because one has to get from the car to the store and just that little time frame can trigger a heat rage. I just mop off and keep on truckin'. I've been in the house far too long to let sweat keep me indoors ALL the time.
Recommendations: I've learned to keep a "cool tie" in the freezer and use that when I have to be outside for any length of time. We have sports spritz bottles which are insulated and keep ice water cold for hours. These are great when in very casual places like BBQs etc. And then the good ole ice chest rides along in the car to keep water bottles etc. It takes much more planning to just go outside now that I am a post cancer treatment person.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Post chemo and post radiation and well at last
Having heard from several of you that I have neglected the blog and need to get back to writing, here I am to update you on what is happening post treatment. The reason you have not heard from me is that I have been having just TOO MUCH FUN running around in the great outdoors, out of the house, and doing some shopping therapy!! YES, Joan and I have hit some estate sales and I've even done some retail therapy!!! Having been house-bound for 7 months I have some funds available for some therapy!!! There are a few advantages to being confined to quarters for a while!!
Radiation effects are almost gone now at 2 months post treatment. I do have some burn scars that are healing and fading but that is minor. The radiation heat that is stored in the left shoulder has to be off-loaded and that takes time. I have only recently been able to sleep through the night without having to change beds to cool off. Sleeping through the night is a wonderful thing!!! Since chemo began I have been an insomniac and have listed to the BBC and NPR overnight. Thank goodness I have the satellite radio because if I get too much of NPR then I can switch to BBC. Sometimes the BBC sports is reporting on some Cricket tourney and that will put me to sleep INSTANTLY.....good grief, how is Cricket a spectator sport???? Just the scores are boring!!!! Anyhow, I can sleep now, but I haven't been able to give up NPR and US version of BBC to put me to sleep.
Joan and I have found some really nice estate sales over the Spring/Summer season. As cotton prices in the stores go up 20% or more it is nice to get a few things from someones stash or "resources" as my sister-in-law would say. I have been feeling well enough to get some sewing done and have taken some classes at the Bernina store. My chemo brain still struggles with the computer based embroidery software classes but I'm getting better. Corel4 is difficult for me since I don't work it every day. But I have the embroidery working nicely!!!!
OK, stay tuned.............I will make more effort to keep you updated.
Radiation effects are almost gone now at 2 months post treatment. I do have some burn scars that are healing and fading but that is minor. The radiation heat that is stored in the left shoulder has to be off-loaded and that takes time. I have only recently been able to sleep through the night without having to change beds to cool off. Sleeping through the night is a wonderful thing!!! Since chemo began I have been an insomniac and have listed to the BBC and NPR overnight. Thank goodness I have the satellite radio because if I get too much of NPR then I can switch to BBC. Sometimes the BBC sports is reporting on some Cricket tourney and that will put me to sleep INSTANTLY.....good grief, how is Cricket a spectator sport???? Just the scores are boring!!!! Anyhow, I can sleep now, but I haven't been able to give up NPR and US version of BBC to put me to sleep.
Joan and I have found some really nice estate sales over the Spring/Summer season. As cotton prices in the stores go up 20% or more it is nice to get a few things from someones stash or "resources" as my sister-in-law would say. I have been feeling well enough to get some sewing done and have taken some classes at the Bernina store. My chemo brain still struggles with the computer based embroidery software classes but I'm getting better. Corel4 is difficult for me since I don't work it every day. But I have the embroidery working nicely!!!!
OK, stay tuned.............I will make more effort to keep you updated.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Surviving thrush, lymphademia & post chemo system issues
Having a yeast infection systemically is difficult, at best, and not uncommon with a suppressed immune system. The PCP's routine meds didn't touch the problem. The oncologist went directly to Diflucan which began to work after a week but one script was not enough so I'm on the 2nd round. This may not be enough as I'm to take Diflucan until all symptoms are gone. For me this began as thrush in my mouth/throat, then spread through the esophagus and stomach. I really suffered with "bubbles" ... from generic burps to eruptions of mouthfuls of bubbles. Being full of bubbles means I am not hungry at all and I had to force down protein drinks [whey based since my cancer is estrogen positive, meaning no soy products] to get some energy. Once the 2nd round of Diflucan started to work I was able to expel the bubbles and began to feel alive again.
Finally I've been feeling better. And I can eat real food. And I am beginning to have energy.
Post radiation heat waves are worse than hot flashes because the heat is more constant that flashy. There is no way I can cover my shoulder/chest with anything except the lightest of covers. And during the night when I happen to cover the shoulder with a pillow case corner or such, it is instant HOT body. Thank goodness we have at least 2 beds available because when I cook one set of sheets I can go to the other bed with cool sheets while bed 1 cools off. Lately I've noticed less hot body problems. This is 3 weeks post last radiation.
Today was lymphadema physical therapy and I was pleased to get good results from the measurements on my arm. I am almost down to the same size as the right arm!!! I'm not thrilled to wear a finger to shoulder tight fitting "oven mitt" to bed each night; but if it works, it is worth it.
Finally I've been feeling better. And I can eat real food. And I am beginning to have energy.
Post radiation heat waves are worse than hot flashes because the heat is more constant that flashy. There is no way I can cover my shoulder/chest with anything except the lightest of covers. And during the night when I happen to cover the shoulder with a pillow case corner or such, it is instant HOT body. Thank goodness we have at least 2 beds available because when I cook one set of sheets I can go to the other bed with cool sheets while bed 1 cools off. Lately I've noticed less hot body problems. This is 3 weeks post last radiation.
Today was lymphadema physical therapy and I was pleased to get good results from the measurements on my arm. I am almost down to the same size as the right arm!!! I'm not thrilled to wear a finger to shoulder tight fitting "oven mitt" to bed each night; but if it works, it is worth it.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Finally, a hint of response to meds; a peak at blue skies
Systemic yeast infections are slow to respond to meds. This is my 2nd week on low voltage meds from my PCP and 1st week on high voltage meds from the oncologist. Yesterday was the first day I was even remotely interested in planning for a trip in the Fall. Today I had a "system purge" and immediately felt better. Apparently is it better to "expel" yeast than wait for it to die from drugs; or maybe the drugs are designed to expel the yeast after a while. Either way, I feel better.
The next step is to eat enough to get some energy back. I've NEVER had any disease or condition the took away my appetite before. Even with chemo I wanted to eat periodically. Not with this yeast infection.
I'm trying to eat every few hours and eat protein. Thank goodness for whey protein powder to supplement because it stays down when nothing else will.
I felt good enough about the future to watch a webinar from Avalon Waterways about river cruises in Europe next year. We are still considering a cruise in the Fall, but I'm not optimistic at this point. I think maybe it is better to hang closer to home through the Fall and the head to Tucson when it gets cold here. I guess I'm just not feeling strong enough to get back on the retirement travel trail.
The next step is to eat enough to get some energy back. I've NEVER had any disease or condition the took away my appetite before. Even with chemo I wanted to eat periodically. Not with this yeast infection.
I'm trying to eat every few hours and eat protein. Thank goodness for whey protein powder to supplement because it stays down when nothing else will.
I felt good enough about the future to watch a webinar from Avalon Waterways about river cruises in Europe next year. We are still considering a cruise in the Fall, but I'm not optimistic at this point. I think maybe it is better to hang closer to home through the Fall and the head to Tucson when it gets cold here. I guess I'm just not feeling strong enough to get back on the retirement travel trail.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Travel with no immune system.........means life in the slow lane
Monday I was back in Baylor for fluids and more meds from the oncologist. Bummer. I had just had the port removed a week ago. Double Bummer. So here I go with limited resistance due to the chemo which led to the invasion of a yeast infection which must have been a carry over from the chemo called the Red Devil which caused those terrible mouth sores. Now I have a more systemic version of yeast infection. Of course the oncologist always has the most potent drugs so now I'm on a 10 day regime.
Well, fluids.........It was so easy to get fluids with the port. I have the smallest, most rolly veins!! I have bruises from the RN trying to get the anesthesia line in when the port was coming out. Now I have more bruises from trying to get the IV line in for fluids. Two veins blew out so after four sticks we finally got a line in. And a liter of fluid later I felt much better. Really, I should have consulted the nurses in the infusion suite before I agreed to get the port removed. When Dr offed the option I took it as a wonderful sign of forward progress. Now I know.... one step forward, two steps back. Bummer.
This is the 2nd day on the strong anti-yeast drugs. I can't say there is improvement but I am no worse. So now we wait. I'll be more down than up this week, no doubt. Bummer. O, I said that already.
Well, fluids.........It was so easy to get fluids with the port. I have the smallest, most rolly veins!! I have bruises from the RN trying to get the anesthesia line in when the port was coming out. Now I have more bruises from trying to get the IV line in for fluids. Two veins blew out so after four sticks we finally got a line in. And a liter of fluid later I felt much better. Really, I should have consulted the nurses in the infusion suite before I agreed to get the port removed. When Dr offed the option I took it as a wonderful sign of forward progress. Now I know.... one step forward, two steps back. Bummer.
This is the 2nd day on the strong anti-yeast drugs. I can't say there is improvement but I am no worse. So now we wait. I'll be more down than up this week, no doubt. Bummer. O, I said that already.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Relapse .... again.
O, I'm so glad we got to party 10 days ago because I've had a rough ride since then. No because of the party....no not that kind of not feeling good. First I noticed a sore throat that was "different" than ever before. Turns out it was thrush, a yeast infection. This is VERY common post chemo and radiation when the immune system is destroyed. So the meds are working to kill that problem but it can take 2 weeks or more. It doesn't appear to be resolving and I think it has moved on to my esophagus. I would describe the symptoms as feeling like my body is full of bubbles and my throat stays "almost" sore. I drink something cold all the time and that helps a little.
Along with the throat issue is an ear ache. The tube going from my ear down the side of my neck actually hurts. This is the same side as the radiation so I think there could be a link. I'll see what my PCP thinks and then may go to the radiologist who was an ENT in an earlier life.
I decided to go back to the PCP on Monday rather than go to the ER or Urgent Care today. I do not like ERs and Urgent Care places don't seem much better for complicated issues. Unfortunately I've become a complicated issue.
I'll try to post something tomorrow night to keep you current on what ever is happening.
Along with the throat issue is an ear ache. The tube going from my ear down the side of my neck actually hurts. This is the same side as the radiation so I think there could be a link. I'll see what my PCP thinks and then may go to the radiologist who was an ENT in an earlier life.
I decided to go back to the PCP on Monday rather than go to the ER or Urgent Care today. I do not like ERs and Urgent Care places don't seem much better for complicated issues. Unfortunately I've become a complicated issue.
I'll try to post something tomorrow night to keep you current on what ever is happening.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Celabrating the end of "cancer therapy"
Radiation is DONE and the burn on my collarbone is all but healed. Life is beginning to return to normal at last. It seems quite appropriate to begin celebrating the completion of "cancer therapy." [What an oxymoron that is!! "Therapy" seems to such a healing word.....Do not be deceived. Cancer therapy is actually the opposite, designed to kill the cancer cells without killing the patient/victim. It will be 6 weeks after radiation ended before normal healing begins. My immune system is still fragile. I picked up a sore throat warranting a Z pack. If that is the worst problem I will declare myself lucky.]
The first celebration happened even before chemo/radiation ended. I bought the Bernina 830 sewing system right after the oncologist reported that my labs were clean and looked great. I get a bit of happiness happening every time I sew on that machine!
I love to have parties and have friends over. Friday afternoon 5 friends over to eat good food, drink good champagne and laugh much. We were all in the Awesome Women's Investment Club together for some years - long enough to help each other make and lose significant money. AWIC is not my only connection to each person. My friend Joan and I met at BCBSTX in 1992. I met JoAnn in 1976 when we moved to Duncanville and our husbands worked together. Maggie was a great role model for how to care for your parent when regular nursing facilities aren't enough. Marilyn is a great interior decorator and has guided me through some decorating milefields. Sylvia and I are almost neighbors and had great fun a few years ago helping with a friend's wedding. Sylvia's current claim to fame is the rescue of Beau, a black standard poodle who plays well with Domino. Both poodles attend the party....part time at least. They had just as much fun racing in the back yard as they did going around the table to get each lady to "pet me, not him." The humans were politically correct and petted both poodles at the same time. Then they moved on to the next lady. Kids, bah humbug.
I get my power port out next week. That counts as a Party. After that I want to go to Keller to visit Bill and LaVerne for lunch. When the four of us get together...it's a party. There was a resturant featured on the Food Channel show Diners, Dives and DriveIns that I want to check out. It is in a Convenience Store. At this point all I know is that I won't have to get dressed up!!!
Next will come some parties here for family and friends. I'm not ready for a road trip, even going down to Round Rock to see John and Jackie is too much to consider. The radiation heat is still "evaporating" .... that may not be the right word but I can't do any better at this point. I still can't cover my left shoulder very much without getting zapped with skin too hot to touch. That area has to have a vent. If I wear the wig or scarves more than 30 minutes I'm just wet with sweat. So until the heat is down to a simmer I think I'm better off to stay home for the most part. People who see me frequently have either gotten immuned to the bald head or they are super actors.
The first celebration happened even before chemo/radiation ended. I bought the Bernina 830 sewing system right after the oncologist reported that my labs were clean and looked great. I get a bit of happiness happening every time I sew on that machine!
I love to have parties and have friends over. Friday afternoon 5 friends over to eat good food, drink good champagne and laugh much. We were all in the Awesome Women's Investment Club together for some years - long enough to help each other make and lose significant money. AWIC is not my only connection to each person. My friend Joan and I met at BCBSTX in 1992. I met JoAnn in 1976 when we moved to Duncanville and our husbands worked together. Maggie was a great role model for how to care for your parent when regular nursing facilities aren't enough. Marilyn is a great interior decorator and has guided me through some decorating milefields. Sylvia and I are almost neighbors and had great fun a few years ago helping with a friend's wedding. Sylvia's current claim to fame is the rescue of Beau, a black standard poodle who plays well with Domino. Both poodles attend the party....part time at least. They had just as much fun racing in the back yard as they did going around the table to get each lady to "pet me, not him." The humans were politically correct and petted both poodles at the same time. Then they moved on to the next lady. Kids, bah humbug.
I get my power port out next week. That counts as a Party. After that I want to go to Keller to visit Bill and LaVerne for lunch. When the four of us get together...it's a party. There was a resturant featured on the Food Channel show Diners, Dives and DriveIns that I want to check out. It is in a Convenience Store. At this point all I know is that I won't have to get dressed up!!!
Next will come some parties here for family and friends. I'm not ready for a road trip, even going down to Round Rock to see John and Jackie is too much to consider. The radiation heat is still "evaporating" .... that may not be the right word but I can't do any better at this point. I still can't cover my left shoulder very much without getting zapped with skin too hot to touch. That area has to have a vent. If I wear the wig or scarves more than 30 minutes I'm just wet with sweat. So until the heat is down to a simmer I think I'm better off to stay home for the most part. People who see me frequently have either gotten immuned to the bald head or they are super actors.
Friday, April 22, 2011
radiation update and the end is in sight
Fry.........that is another word for radiation. From the very beginning the doctor gives out two very expensive creams which are to be applied at least twice a day. I have been very careful to put the creams on every day. And still I have burned. There are three burn sights: under my arm, under the breast, and worst of all the collar bone and neck just above it. Each radiation makes the pain worse. Since radiation works from the inside to the outside, the heat I feel on the surface is less that the heat that is going on inside my shoulder. Good Grief!! That's hot!!!
Thankfully today was the last blast to the collar bone. It started bleeding right after blast was over so I went down to the doctor's area for treatment. More numbing lotion and lidocaine to get me through the weekend. I'm having quite a time dealing with the tape that holds the lidocaine in place. When I peel [literally] the patch back to add more lidocaine it really hurts until the lidocaine kicks in. They tell me that the burn will start healing now that it is not going to be hit with radiation again. That is the good news!! It will take 3-4 weeks before it is healed. I don't know how long before it quits hurting.
This last week of radiation is boost week. They target the two surgery sights and not the full area. The good news is that both of those areas are "fluffy" - not on a bone. So maybe this time I won't get such a burn.
Finally I understand why I am having so much trouble with being hot, a different hot than hot flashes, even hotter. It is because radiation causes the "treated" body area to cook from the inside to the outside. I have to sleep either on my back or with the right side down. If I get turned over on my left side I wake up just steaming. I have to have one or more fans going all night. Joan gave me two neat denim bags filled with field corn kernels which I keep in the freezer. These bags hold the cold nicely without wetness. I use one or both of these every night.
So I'm not flashing, I'm cooking. Just proof that I am One Hot Mama..............
Thankfully today was the last blast to the collar bone. It started bleeding right after blast was over so I went down to the doctor's area for treatment. More numbing lotion and lidocaine to get me through the weekend. I'm having quite a time dealing with the tape that holds the lidocaine in place. When I peel [literally] the patch back to add more lidocaine it really hurts until the lidocaine kicks in. They tell me that the burn will start healing now that it is not going to be hit with radiation again. That is the good news!! It will take 3-4 weeks before it is healed. I don't know how long before it quits hurting.
This last week of radiation is boost week. They target the two surgery sights and not the full area. The good news is that both of those areas are "fluffy" - not on a bone. So maybe this time I won't get such a burn.
Finally I understand why I am having so much trouble with being hot, a different hot than hot flashes, even hotter. It is because radiation causes the "treated" body area to cook from the inside to the outside. I have to sleep either on my back or with the right side down. If I get turned over on my left side I wake up just steaming. I have to have one or more fans going all night. Joan gave me two neat denim bags filled with field corn kernels which I keep in the freezer. These bags hold the cold nicely without wetness. I use one or both of these every night.
So I'm not flashing, I'm cooking. Just proof that I am One Hot Mama..............
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