Sisters!! Gotta lov em

Hi everyone - well I think I am starting to come out the other side.  It has been quite the journey this last couple of weeks.  I don't think I was dressed more than 2 days during that time - I spent most of the time in bed and generally feeling sorry for myself.  I didn't expect it to hit me so hard since I had been doing so well.  So it was a reminder that chemo is awful and not to be messed with!!!

I am starting to feel better - my sister Bev arrived from England yesterday and it is very good to have her here.  We was up early this morning due to the jetlag and put herself to work - did a little housekeeping and the coffee was ready when I got up.  Nice to have hired help!!

We have caught up on the gossip and did a little shopping today, me sitting - Bev shopping!!  We plan on a stay at home day tomorrow and then going out to dinner with friends in the evening.  Thankfully my stomach has settled down to the point where I can enjoy a meal again.  

I am trying not to think about another treatment next week and just to enjoy this week, doing girlie things and just hanging out.  So watch out Whitby - Bev's here!!

J

Knowing now what chemo is all about

Hi folks - this session has been awful.  Aches and pains, mouth fungus, can't talk because my mouth and throat hurt and just feeling deathly ill.

Spent the day at the hospital Yesterday.  My temperature has raised slightly and when going through chemo they tell you to get to the hospital.  So I tried to avoid it but after talking to the nurse at the cencer centre, she thought it best that I go - one can't take chances with a fever.  So my neighbour Dianne took me in around 2:00 pm and there I was until 8:30 last night.    I couldn't believe how busy it was, never seen it that way before.  Plus I was fast tracked because of the cancer.  Anyway I was eventually seen and needed a chest xray and bloodwork done, and then the wait again.  I was concerned they were going to keep me in and prayed that that was not the case.  Anyway - eventually I got to see a doc and results of the bloodwork etc.  My white cell count had dropped to 1.5 and I believe that is borderline for being admitted and on antibiotics etc.  I was feeling so ill by this time, I didn't care what they did with me.  I had had nothing to eat all day - my stomach was acting up - I just wanted to sleep.  They sent me home telling me to watch the temperature, gave me a mouthwash antibiotic and hopefully I will start feeling better.

Well I slept pretty much all day - no energy whatsoever - got my mouthwash prescription and am rinsing with that - it seems to be helping.  Maureen showed up around 4:00 today and I had just got up for a few minutes.  I was trying to change the bed sheets and so she arrived at the right time.  She is amazing - had been to the hospital with her aunt and is worried about her son and here she is seeing to me.  Her husband just called to check in on her and calls her 'Florence Nightingale' - I had to laugh - it hurts to laugh.

So I just wanted to fill you in before heading back to bed.  If I am not blogging you know I am not up to it.

The Vixen has checked out for now - but she'll be back.

J

It's War against pain

Well, it is Saturday and I have to say this has been my very worst day.  The aches and pains kicked in yesterday and I can't tell you how miserable I have been.  Every joint and muscle throughout my body hurt - the pain just moves from one to the other, my jaw, my neck, knees, hips shoulders - just around and around.  No relief. It feels like a really bad flu.  I have been taking Advil every 4 hours but it barely helped.  I would get a little sleep then awake again not knowing what to do with myself.  George doesn't know what to do with me either.

I got up for a little while today around 3:00 pm and then back to bed around 5:00 pm - I did take some Oxycocet then and slept for a good couple of hours - woke up around 7:00 and felt a little better.  I will take some more oxy before hitting the sack again, don't really want to take it, but it seems to be the only thing that helps.

So - whew - I wasn't prepared for this.  Perhaps the dosage can be reduced for next time.  Will try and keep ahead of the pain for as long as it lasts now.

4th Chemo day

Hi everyone - just checking in

Dr appointment yesterday went fine - they didn't have the blood results for today's appointment, but told me that the last time my blood work was great - the numbers are good and the drug is working well for the ammune system - so she was pleased.  The drugs I am on are FEC-D - something like that.  I started the D part - she told me it would likely affect my joints, with pain and swelling - also might get neuropathy in the hands and feet - tingling and numbness.  Could also affect my nails so they put ice on my hands and feet to try lesson the affects.  They tell you all the bad stuff.  She told me there was a possibility of my hair not coming back in - well I told her I was coming for her if that was the case!!  Nothing that she hasn't told me before.   So I was bracing myself for today - it is what it is.  I am not the only one going through this.  


So today had my 4th chemo treatment and so far so good.  On lots of steroids though and will be for a couple of days - then we will see what happens after they wear off.  The drug was administered intraveniously and took about 2 hours - but no ill effects.  They wrapped my feet and hands in ice packs and so not able to do any knitting!!

Aches and pains are expected but I have them anyway with the arthritis and so I might need to take a couple of stronger pills - but hoping I wont have the stomach symptons or the fuzzy head etc.  I was speaking to a lady today that is having the same treatment as me and her eyebrows or eyelashes have not fallen out yet - she has already had 2 treatments of the 'D' part.  Plus her hair is growing in - she is not having the stomach problems and says this has been much easier on her - so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Also met another lady yesterday - she has colon cancer and has gone through some rough months - but an amazing attitude.  She had a chemo session today also and came over to chat to me once she was done - it is so interesting to hear people's stories - and it just makes you count your blessings when you don't have to deal with what some people have gone through - so another friend made.  It is amazing how people open up when there is a common thread.  Lovely young woman - liked her very much.  She goes every 2 weeks for her treatments, so I will probably meet up with her again on my last chemo treatment - did you hear that - THE LAST CHEMO TREATMENT - yes, just two more to go.  It will be celebration time.  Of course 6 weeks of radiation after that - but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Maureen was with me today and takes good care of me - reminds to me take my pills and has been a great 'breast buddy'!!

George relieved yet another one over - he always get's anxious because he has no control - but when I have a smile on my face, he is happy.  (I put on a good front!!)

Well - as you can see - all is well for now - you will know when I am not myself, because you likely wont hear from me.  But always know I am thinking about all of my friends.

Love to all.
Jeaninne

Laundry Day

Yes it is Saturday night after midnight and the laundry is still going.  Brandon and Tamara showed up last night with three garbage bags and 2 laundry baskets full of dirty laundry - so the machines have been working non stop today.

Of course they really come to visit us ( smiling ).  Other than that, we have had a lazy day.  We were expecting some friends to come from Montreal but they changed their minds because of the weather.  So we have watched tv pretty much all day - movies, football, hockey etc.

I am getting anxious about next week - Monday check up with chemo doctor and Tuesday 4th Chemo treatment.  This past week I have felt good - but it is short lived.  The drugs will be different next time and so I am not sure what to expect.  Wish it was done - but I will face it in the same way as I have done with the rest of them - with a positive and non-defeatist attitude.  Sometimes I forget I have cancer - perhaps this is a survival mechanism - I go through the process of treatment and doctors appointments without really thinking about the reason I am there - sort of robotic in a way.

Enough of that.  Sunday tomorrow - looking forward to watching Downton Abbey on the telly (British Upstairs Downstairs type of show) - if you haven't watched it, you don't know what you are missing.  I just discovered it recently and missed all but the last episode of Season 1 - so now into Season 2 - it is on WNED at 9:00 pm.  Also shown the following Saturday at 11:00 pm.

Well I am off to bed - Brandon thinks because I am old I should have been in bed long since - kids turning into parents!!! lol

Not much to write about these days - sort of the let down after Christmas - winter blues - or whatever you want to call it.

Talk to you soon

J

A normal day

It feels so good to just have a normal day, when you have enough energy to get out of bed and go to an appointment and do the groceries and a little 'Winners' shopping - spending money I shouldn't, but after being cooped up - it felt good.  Had to take a nap when I got home mind you - but hey - not complaining!!!

Took George to the docs this morning and he confirmed the hole in his foot is getting smaller (whoo hoo) - he couldn't tell him how much longer it will take to heal, but it is going in the right direction.  George get's mad at me when I go because I tend to ask questions he might not want this particular doc to know about - since he is a wound specialist.  However, in my mind he is a doc and might have a different take on things.  So we talked a little bit about his knee problems and neuropathy etc. and he was very receptive and in fact gave us a couple of things that might help.   Something for the pain and a series of three injections for the knee - not cortisone - but something like 'lube' for the joint.  So we will see what happens and hopefully it will help.

So - signing off on a positive note for today.

J

Back from the dark side

Happy New Year everyone.


I am up way after my bedtime, but enjoy my alone time.

I am feeling much better the last couple of days.  It was nice to get out for dinner with friends on Friday and enjoyed a 60th birday party on Saturday.

Got the Christmas stuff put away today, thanks to my daughter, and it feels good.  So the living room is sorted, but the rest of the house is a work in process.

So I am half way through the chemo journey - and I can't say it was devastating - as my breast specialist told me (a breast cancer survivor herself|): "it is get throughable"-  and she is right - so far so good.  It is something I would rather not have to go through - but it is the situation I am in and so there is no alternative.  The next step will be the radiation and she told me that "would be a breeze"!!  We'll see!!
I am getting worn down a bit though I have to say - I don't seem to be as feisty as I was in the beginning - I am hoping now that Christmas is over and I can focus on just getting well, then things might be a bit better.

Well I am hoping to enjoy this week and get out and about a bit - do some simple things like grocery shopping - and laundry - both have been neglected this last week or so.

So hopefully I will have some inspiration so that I can write and share.

Talk to you soon.

J