CHEMO UPDATE

HELLO MY DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND IF I TYPE ALL IN CAPITALS.  I AM HAVING A BIT OF A TROUBLE TYPING LATELY.  I AM MISSPELLING WORDS AND GETTING THE CAPITALS ALL WRONG.  THIS IS JUST EASIER FOR ME, SO PLEASE PARDON ME.

WELL I HAD MY PORT PUT IN ON MONDAY AND I WENT INTO THE HOSPTIAL AT 11 AND DIDNT GET INTO THE OPERATION UNTIL AFTER 4.  I WAS TOLD HE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE CASES BEFORE ME, SO WHEN I SAW HIM BEFORE MY SURGERY I SAID, DONT WORRY DOC, THIS WILL BE THE EASIER CASE YET.  HE TOLD ME AFTER THE SURGERY THAT HE APPRECIATED ME SAYING THAT AND THAT IS WAS IN FACT, THE EASIEST CASE OF THE DAY.  SO ALL WENT SMOOTHLY.  I WAS VERY HAPPY.

TUESDAY I WENT TO CHEMO AND THEY ACCESSED THE PORT WITH NO PROBLEMS AND I WENT THROUGH CHEMO SMOOTHLY --NO REACTION THANK GOD, BUT I HAD A WICKED HEADACHE, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IS FROM THE STERIODS THAT I HAVE TO TAKE THE DAY BEFORE AND THE DAY OF CHEMO.  I STILL GET THE SHARP STOMACH PAINS TOO BUT NO NAUSEA SO FAR TO SPEAK OF SO THAT IS GOOD TOO.  BUT I SLEEP AN AWFUL LOT.  SEEMS LIKE THE CHEMO REALLY KNOCKS THE HECK OUT OF ME.  MY LOWER LEGS REALLY HURT, BUT THE PERCOCET HELPS SOMEWHAT.

I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM MY GRANDDAUGHTER, SIX YEARS OLD.  SHE SCREAMED, GRANDMA, GRANDMA, I LOST MY FIRST TOOTH!!  THEN A FIVE MINUTE CONVERSATION about HOW IT CAME OUT AND HOW VERY EXCITED SHE WAS.  SO I HAD TO WAKE UP LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE HER A TOOTH FAIRY PILLOW ON MY SEWING MACHINE.  I PUT AN EMBROIDERED FAIRY AND HER NAME ON IT AND A LITTLE SNAPPED POCKET ON IT FOR THE TOOTH.  THEN I PUT SOME RIBBONS ON IT.  IT IS BEIGE AND BERRY COLOR.  IT TOOK ALL THE STRENGTH I HAD, BUT YOUR FIRST TOOTH ONLY COMES OUT ONCE!!! HAD TO DO IT!!!

SO FOR NOW I AM DOING WELL.  JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ALL AND LET YOU KNOW HOW I AM.  I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE WITH ALL YOUR PRAYERS.  THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THEM.  I COULDNT BE HAPPIER FOR ALL OF YOU TO BE WITH ME ON THIS JOURNEY.  THANKS FOR BEING SO INTERESTED TOO.  THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME AS WELL.

GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND KEEP IN TOUCH.  I MEAN IT, I LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU.

LINDALOO

Hey Linda , Thats great news ! I'm so glad for you that everything is going smoothly , thats just great to hear . Isn't it nice to have grandkids to call you up and brighten your day ! Continued sucess to you , I hope it all goes as well as it has been , good job ! , Mikel

Hi Linda, Best of luck with the chemo, take it easy, pace yourself. try to eat healthily and do lots of relaxation. My heart is with you. How many sessions do you need? Or is it one step at a time?

Lovely to hear of your Grandaughter and her first tooth, don't you just love them? The excitement with such simple steps, I love that joy of of life they have. I'm sure she'll lift your days.

Best best wishes, golitho

(((((((((((((((Linda))))))))))))))))))))

XXOO
Patti

Lindaloo,
So glad you're updating us! I think a lot of people are tired, so just rest all you need. I think I mentioned before my cousin finished her chemo a couple of weeks ago and looks so good (even without much hair, but none of us mind and she even seems to have gotten used to it!) I can't believe it. I think her grandchildren have kept her going psychologically, too, although at times she hasn't been able to keep them (she would babysit a lot for their parents) as often as before, but that's ok. She's waiting for word on when she will start radiation, and then except for the ongoing follow-up she'll be done. Yours will pass, too. I'm just glad there are treatments out there for people like you and her!

(((((((((((Lindaloo))))))))))))

PaLady

Thank you for all your responses. You don't know what it all means to me.

Last night I took a shower and most of the rest of my hair came out. I think I clogged the shower up. Oh no!! Thought I tried to get it all out. Oh well. Well, now I am into the scarves my dear daughters bought me, so I am prepared. Ordered a sleep cap last night too, so my head doesn't get cold at night too. Wish me luck folks!!

My headaches are better and I am sleeping very well so that is good.

I love you all and thank you so much for your responses. God bless all of you and I will continue to update you as soon as things change as they do


Love you all.

Lindaloo

Linda,
Wow it's great you've got White Beard here to give you these pointers. He should know with the work he's done. My cousin has the sleeping cap, too. I think she said it was also something soft against your head at night, as well as for temperature regulation. One thing though is she had her synthetic wig on one day while she was cooking dinner and forgot she wasn't supposed to stick her head near the oven with it on - well, she singed top of it! Good thing it wasn't anything more, and she laughed about it. So she doesn't have it on in the kitchen anymore!

I think you'll end up having a sense of humor about it all, too, and I don't say that lightly. I can't speak from personal experience, and I do realize it's a loss - and a real change of body image when we look in the mirror, but you have such a great attitude and perspective you remind me of how my cousin is handling it and she is now my hero!

I also believe a lot of it is the support she has, so I can understand why this is so important to you. My cousin has always had a strong and wide circle of friends, something I've not maintained in my life and now am paying for it. She always has someone visiting her. She'll never be without help. So don't ever be afraid to ask anyone in your life because I'll bet they'll consider it a privilege to help out!

(((((((((Lindaloo))))))

PaLady

Well, I shaved my head tonight. My DH helped me by using the clippers and the attachment. It looks better. I don't look so much like my grandmother now and I don't look so sickly. I feel better. I thought it would be more depressing but it's not, so I'm happy about that.

Just thought I would share that all with you.

God bless and have a good night.

Lindaloo

Linda,
Kudos to you for having the courage to do that! I think mama6 has an excellent point - you took some control over the situation. And it sounds like you're a bit relieved. You're facing some things that you probably had some anxiety about (I sure would) and not letting the fear take over.

Good for you! And thank you for sharing with us!

(((((((((((Lindaloo))))))))))))))

PaLady

Hi Linda,

I am so glad to hear that everything went smooth for you. It's about time you get a break! Please continue to keep us posted (caps and all..lol) we are all thinking of you. Take care.

Linda,

It sounds like this was a really big step for you. I'm so glad that you were able to make light of such a tough situation! I don't know if I could do that. You're so very strong!

hugs,
Skeye

I am doing well more than a week after the recent chemo treatment. I had "noodle legs" for about a week which is supposed to happen with the chemo drug, taxol. It feels like your legs are wobbly when you stand on them. LOL just what I needed!

My head is a little sensitive surprisingly enough. I wear a sleep cap almost all the time. It is so light and comfortable that I prefer it. I can't go bald (without some sort of cover) because my house is too cool with the airconditioner at the moment. But I am comfortable with the sleep hat. Being a seamstress, I will take it as a pattern and make another one for myself soon when I am up to it.

Hubby watches me like a hawk and makes sure I have everything I need. He is really a sweetie, I must say.

I think of you all every day and pray for all my friends on healing well. You all have been so kind and supportive to me. I appreciate all your love and prayers. It has meant the world to me. And I read and re read everything you write to me. I love to hear from you all. It helps me to go what I am going through.

God bless and have a very low pain day.

Lindaloo

Linda,
It's always great to see you post an update. You have so much courage and spirit! I couldn't help thinking as I read your post that maybe you could get into making different sleep caps for other cancer patients one day when you're feeling better. Since me and a sewing machine do not speak the same language (I'm no good even sewing on a button!) I admire creative people like you who can turn their ideas into reality.

In the meantime, just let that husband of yours watch over you for all of us!

((((((((((Lindaloo))))))))))))

PaLady
p.s. My cousin is in the second week of her daily radiation treatments (Monday-Friday) and she's still doing great, although she told me that after the second week they said she'd likely get more tired. It was their anniversary this past week, so her and her husband went to radiation (she makes it sound like going out to lunch!) stopped at our local casino to have lunch and play some games and get their free tickets for dinner (the casino gives free meals for birthdays and anniversaries), went back home to rest a bit, and then they went back out to the casino for dinner and more fun. Like I said, she's become my hero.