Starting Chemo May 2008

EyesOTex

Rock, thank you for your kind thoughts.  I know we all wish we could do the same for you, and especially when you were crawling to protect your poor feet!  You always cheer me up.

I confess to being confused again:  Karin, angelsaboveus, Rock...are ya'll on Taxol/Taxotere now or is this HFS and/or neuropathy from something else?  I'm glad the icing is working but I don't know how you can stand to have your hands in ice; it's so cold in my treatment room I have to have 2 blankets!

Otter, hope you are close to Tulsa (was it Tulsa?) by now and safely hugged by MIL and haven't accumulated too many points from other in- or out-laws along the way.

Sue, I love your kitchen window but it isn't right that you have to do dishes when you're dog. shit. tired.  And I love farm houses and hate McMansions...do you have a wraparound porch?  Your rock well house sounds maaaahvelous...and a dinner bell...Blue Bell it is!  Hope you have a good trip east and that it's for pleasure not business.

Eddie, I didn't understand about the "sides" but I sure hope it clears up fast.  I know you want to get on your way with the chemo and get it over with, not to mention the burning and itching factor of the shingles themselves.  I hope you will not have ANY postherpatic (sp?) pain.

Randie, glad you are better and keep on top of the Diflucan!!!!  Hope your chickens are surviving.

And thoughts and prayers for all of you in California affected by the fires and poor air quality; it is HOT here but I can't imagine that choking ash...wish we could send some rain but we don't have any, either!

SuePeet, I can't remember if on some other thread you got checked for lymphadema but it really sounds like you should, not wanting to alarm you or anything, but you should probably get it checked.

oh, my son's autistic cat that we had to adopt has taken to licking my head and underarms...wish she'd stayed autistic....now the opposite of constipada has kicked in so i must go.  Best wishes to all with the ol' SEs and good luck to the travelers...

eyes (dana)

OH, I forgot to say:  Jax, you look GREAT (i can say that 'cause i have cancer!)  yhou look good withand without the wig!!!! (and so does your guy)

KristyAnn

If anyone goes to Sue's house with BlueBell- I am coming and bringing the brownies to go with it!

My trip to Ireland was pretty uneventful - I have taken to getting myself scheduled as the first morning appointment which I greatly prefer- when I was going in the afternoon it seemed they were always running so far behind and it just added more stress to have to wait forever to get into the room. Now my Herceptin treatments are scheduled at 8:30 AM which is the first chemo room appointment of the day. My full Monty chemo next Thursday is a 9 AM so hopefully that will help out on the sitting in the hall waiting time. I think the chemo nurses like me - I take them goodies on full chemo day and Im usually in a good mood- it seems they are all talking to me now everytime I go in which is nice. There is one in particular I like- she does an AMAZING job of cleaning and dressing my PICC line so that I dont have any redness or itching- I am thinking of requesting her at least every other week to make sure it stays in great shape!

 I am going to Chuck E Cheese tonight- my youngest, Joe, will be 8 on Monday and this is one of his parties- this is actually the family party- we are having it away from home because my little niece and nephew dont stay in the kitchen to eat and I end up picking food out of the carpet for a week after they visit- so this is my easy solution to that. I have talked to dh and said we are going to have to request that the kids and parents keep food in the kitchen when they visit- they are allowed to eat all over their house so this is the norm for them not just something they do at my house. It just stresses me out to find food everywhere for a week after every family get together!

 Monday will be another party- immediate household plus Nan who lives 2 miles away- and he has requested mac and cheese, broccoli and Ice Cream sundaes with sprinkles for that party. He has a whole box of glow in the dark items for this party- straws, cups, etc- found it at a Bass pro shop while on my little vacation in Shreveport. After that he wants an outing to a local Fun Factory- whole yard full of inflatables and a dinner at Cracker Barrel.

Can yall tell I like to celebrate birthdays for about a week?

DH has a birthday 2 weeks later so we wil lgo back into celebration mode quite shortly!

Im feeling fine and praying for everyone else to get past the ses and genearl crud of this chemo lifestyle - for anyone dealing with leg pain from taxotere or taxol or neulasta- I have found that taking short walks (even when they hurt) really helps. When mine quit aching I log a lot of miles and have found that every treatment round the overall leg aches have decreased - dont know if it will work for everyone but my first round was horrible with leg pain- woke me up many times all night just throbbing and now I control it with Tylenol- again, YMMV but thought I would share.

Love you Ladies- hoping a restful weekend for all!

Kristy

EyesOTex

Kristy, do you think a Blue Bell diet could cure cancer???  I keep being impressed with your ability to cook while in the throes of chemo!  We have postponed my youngest's birthday celebration twice now, partly because I haven't felt up to it and partly because it's so hard to get everyone together now.  (I have to say, he isn't YOUNG, just the youngest!)

Do you mind if I ask what you take the nurses as a treat?  I keep thinking I'll do that, but I hate to just take sweets; then I think, well, they'd probably like that better than apples!

I'm trying to make yeast rolls for the next (hopefully) iteration of the birthday dinner (he wants chicken fried steak) but I'm doing it sloooooooooooooooooooooooooowly with lots of breaks for the "board".

love to all

eyes

MsKarin

EyesOTex,

I am on Cytoxan/Taxotere. In a link I had previously posted

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/frozen-glove0805

It says: About half of those taking docetaxel experience a side effect known as "hand-foot syndrome,"

Docetaxel is Taxotere. I'm not sure but I think both Angelsabove and Rock were on A/C and are now following up with Taxotere alone. They will have to confirm that though.

As for the neuropathy many of the chemo drugs can cause that as a side effect.

Sorry don't know why this is coming up bold print.

Enjoy the day, Karin

EyesOTex

Thanks, Karin, that is a very informative article.  I sure didn't realize the HFS was part of the Taxotere SEs, though; I thought that was just the nails and neuropathy...just like Rock's stupid drs and nurses.  Good to know, good to know.  I think I will be moving to Xeloda after my current tx and I know it causes HFS, but it is not infused so I don't know if the gloves would work...hmmm...

You enjoy your day, too!

eyes

mominaz

Oh so much to say....so little brain power to use!!!! Tx #3 went smooth yesterday. I am normally a Friday with my shout -n Monday but this seems to have worked better. I get my shot this afternoon.

Debbie....I will have to vent on my mom soon. I want it to make sense and am not sure I can do that right now.Heehee

EyesOTex...Holy cow. I was talking to a coworker on Wed about making Kauai my destination(hubby was also born there and I have never been even in thoughts) and only decided to change to Ireland after seeing Rock talk about it. The only difference is I was sitting under a porch in a light drizzle and cool breeze. I guess living in AZ where it is totally sunny about 98% of the time I need clouds sometimes.  Oh and Blue Bell Banana Pudding is pretty much my favorite ice cream of all time. YUMMMM

Angel....Thank you for asking. Tx was good. I got there early this time and enjoyed that also. Not as long of a wait.

I am having one problem though. TMI ALERT....I am having an extremely heavy period. It is also lasting longer than normal. Someone may have covered this before but sometimes if you are not having a certain SE you don't remember what was said. That's how I am anyway. My last one started about a day and a half before tx #2 and I think TX cut it off right away. This one started Sun. and it still going strong and in fact stronger by the day. UGH.  I need to ask today when I get my shot. The only thing I my DR is not there today. I know I should have asked yesterday I just forgot.

I know I am forgetting others that I wanted to respond to and I am sorry. I hope we are all doing better. Someone said something about spell check.....It's the ABC check button. I could not live without it. I am going to try to watch a movie. I ordered a few books but now can't seem to want to read. OH WELL!!!!

P.S my cats have become even more freaks than the were. I HATE LICKING. Plus I read you should not let them now after Tx...It's not good for them.

Take care friends.

EyesOTex

mominaz; sending virtual ice cream!  Do you think your platelets could be low for you to be bleeding this much?  I know, I'm an alarmist, but couldn't you call your Drs nurse?  Or ask when you go in for your shot??????????

I can't wait to hear your mom stories!

Get out...my son-in-law was born on Kauai, too!!!

Great, this autistic cat can't be dissuaded from licking...

eyes

ewesterman

I want to visit Nelson Canada some time, Angels, so expect me on your doorstep some day to go out for a lemonade. Thanks for all of your kind wishes, ladies....they are not too bad at this point (the shingles). They are spreading, but not killing me. I will go out and sit on my deck for a while as it is a beautiful day. I hate that I can't walk further than just a few blocks (did that this morning). Rock...thanks for the kind wishes...and the rest of you too. I am still feeling pretty sorry for myself. Sigh.

angelsaboveus

Hi eddie, just let me know when you are coming and lemonade will be ready (or it could be something stronger !!)...

Karin i was actually one FEC for my first 3 tx's ( 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin..similiar to the red devil andriamycin, and cytoxin ) It's a regime commonly used up in Canada for some reason. But i have noticed a few on the boards with it from the states. And yes it is just taxotere alone this time.

Mominaz sorry to hear about having to deal with period also , how full can our plates get...somebodies testing us !!  I wa a lucky one and dealt with menopause 3 years ago when I was 41, can't say i've missed it one bit .

Have a great weekend everyone !

MsKarin

Angelsabove,

I knew I should have let you answer for yourself. At least I did say "I'm not sure but I think" and "They will have to confirm that though."

Enjoy the day, Karin

SuePeet

EyesOTex - I had thought of Lymphedemia but I would think it would be in the smae arm I had my lymphnodes removed.. I went on for blood work today as my next treatment is on Monday.  Also had to ask about my head as it was getting a rash - only place that hasn't been screwed up yet!

Asked nurse about hand and wrist ... she said it may have beena blood clot that made chmoe leak into my hand...  - my comment was out of all the people that get chemo - surely they have seen this before and can fix it!  Reponse was no - they haven't seen a reaction lole this and GST THIS!  Hopefully over time it will go away!  HELLO !!!  Maybe!!!

Hoy - guess will drill Onc Dr when I see him of Aug 11!

Anyways here is a recipe for guarenteeing to make you poop!

1 cup brown sugar, 1.2 cup olive oil, 1 cup 1o/o Buttermilk, 1 egg, 2 tbsp Molasses

1.5 cups all Bran, 2/3 cup Multigrain Flour, 1/2 cup Wheat germ, 1/2 cup Psyllium

1/2 cup Sesame seeds, 1/4 cup crushed flax seeds, 1tsp Baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnsamom (or more), 1 cup raisons

Combine frist 5 ingrediants, then add remaining ingrediants.

Bake at 325 for 25 minutes - makes 12 muffins

Happy pooping!

For the mouth sores - yes sensitive to salt and citrus

Rock - I feel great - just frustrated at not being able to fix my arm - apparently they are going to do the treatment in my arm that has lymphnodes removed! 

I should be making your bed and fetching for you because my feet are OK.

OK you will never see my face!  My file is in jpeg format and is like 3.45 something size but still doesn't like it.

I met a women yesterday at the store - she started about same time as me - her biggest SE is she is sometimes tired!  She told her dr that she didn't think treatment was working because she didn't feel bad - her hair fell out but she has had no se's!!  I told her I got her share for the first rounds we should switch now and she can get the rest! 

Asked the nurse at the clinic if I qualified for frequent flyer points yet!

Sable

Finished my at a/c yesterday wooohoooooo!The only bad part was.... I had  pokes in the port with no go on each... then 2 fingers drained of blood. One iv in the arm that had a blow out then to my upper arm and that one worked.

The nurses growded around me to feel all over my port to try to get this thing figured out already. I felt like asking the room if anyone else would like to come over and take a peek as well, they can even see my scar if they wish lol. I think we might have one lady that can get it. I found a pic of what I thought it looked like from the xrays and took it in today when I got my neulasta shot. She seems very confident that she can access it. I can;t wait for the day that I am rolled out of er with it gone!

Ong sent me back to my surgeon today. He was feeling down my scar and he thought he felt something of a bump. So into my surgeon I trudged. He said it is most likely scarring and if it doesn't go down then we will do a ultasound on it in a month. Oh the joy.

Uti..... they never said yes or no. Not even a phone call so I am guessing it was a no. Trying to switch to strictly water and that seems to help. I mighta been drinking too many vitamin enhanced waters.

Is there anyone else in here that is going to be on herceptin besides me??? Ifound out today that the normal range they treat down here is 3:1..... I am a 6:1... I was so hoping to get out of that. *pout*

rock

Sable, you are a stronger, saner woman than I am.  My tiny little "issue" with a vein really creeped me out.  (I acted calm, but I was freakin'.) I think if I'd gone through pokes plural I might have excused myself to go to the bathroom and just pounded my head against the wall,  Add on a trip to a surgeon and a bump and no word on a UTI and babe, you are the WO-MAN.  Go, YOU.

Raise a Toast to Sable.

The nurses tangled for hours over Sable's port.

Yet she held down her mental fort.

Mominaz:  Heavy period? Bleah. I got nothing to offer other than "Bleah."

Everyone: I"m on Taxol but I think my HFS was actually from the A of the A/C breaking down the capillaries and leaching the stuff into my feet (aided by the fact that I walk a lot and I WAS boxerstyle rope jumping).  Keepin' the feet up and on icepacks seemed to work wonders, though.

Speaking of which, I'm overdue.  Night-night! 

 

ewesterman

I will be on herceptin when these (*&^ing shingles heal.....sigh

KristyAnn

I am on Herceptin and have been since treatment 1- I also get herceptin only on the weeks in between my chemos. After August when my weekly treatments end, I will be on herceptin every 3 weeks until the end of April 2009. I dont get any side effects from the herceptin other than a sleepy afternoon from the benadryl they give me as a premed.

BLUE BELL cures everything! Dont tell Rock though or it might go the way of my beloved fudgesicles! LOL- and just kidding Rock!

One time I made the nurses pound cake and cookies, the next was Heath brownies- the chemo nurses at my center love chocolate. I have also thought of taking them chicken salad sandwiches but I havent done that yet. I actually love to cook and sometimes it serves as my therapy- I BEAT the eggs, CREAM the sugar, WHIP, WHISK, DICE, CHOP- all sorts of wonderful sress relieving actions!

Kristy 

familyroks

Sable - So sorry that you are having such trouble with your port!  But WOOHOO on being done with AC!!!  THAT is something to celebrate.

All this talk about Blue Bell, I found some Fat Free Blue Bell at SuperWalmart yesterday.  I can't wait to try it.

mominaz - Between AC #1 and AC #2, I had my regular cycle.  Then 2 1/2 weeks later (odd for me as I'm a regular 28 day on the button girl), the day of AC #3, my cycle started again.  It wasn't heavier but it did drag on for a couple days longer than usual.  I haven't had another cycle since then.  That was 1 1/2 months ago.  As far as yours being heavier...are you taking Coumadin by any chance?  That could probably make it a little heavier.

~Adrienne

rock

I admire and applaud people who enjoy cooking. I know how to cook but hate it. My idea of "cooking" is cutting slices of zucchini bread rather than simply breaking it off.  I wish I were kidding. I am not. (Chicken salad sandwiches....mm-mmm. A friend makes tuna salad with raisins in it -- or is it apples?  also mm-mmm.)  Went for a boatride in Central Park yesterday afternoon, then swimming at Marcus Garvey pool in Harlem, followed by a free outdoor jazz concert.  Kids catching fireflies, "dueling" with sticks.  It was a great day all around.

Tonight, Lulu arrives. I think I will either wear my wig (2 bald women in a restaurant when one of them is a FRAUD is more than I can take) and simply refuse to entertain any discussion. I have no interest in anything Lulu has to say about me having cancer. Sadly, her partner, and my dear friend, is one of the kindest, most capable and conscientious doctors I've ever met. If anyone ever needs a GP in the Wichita, KS area, let me know. 

sueper13

rock,

isn't that often the way of it?  A nice, strong, kind, capable man takes up with a ditzy airhead.  It's like this obscure rule of physics...anyway, hope you can restrain yourself when Lulu's around.  We'll all be super proud of you if you can.  If you can't, then honey jusy let her have it all, don't hold back, okay?  I have always believed, if you are going to lose it, make it count!!

I'll be back on Tuesday night.

I love you all.

Sue 

mominaz

Good morning all.....I talked to the nurse yesterday at my shot apt. and she said if I don't stop by Monday I have to call the Dr. and go see a gyno. UGH....It's still going strong!!!! My last blood test was on Tues. All my counts were fine so she is not so worried right now. I just want it to stop!

As for my mother....Again I don't seem to know what I want...

MY MOTHER IS COMING TO AZ!!!!! She lives in N.C. and that works for both of us. Things have always been strained. I am not sure I have said that my uncle started with BC and now it has moved on to the rest of his body and is in his bones. My grandmother(also had BC a few years ago) has been running herself ragged both physically and mentally over him and was put in the hospital last week. She is out and staying with another uncle until my mom comes out next week to take care of her.  This is odd since she has trouble doing this for herself most of the time. She is not coming out to help with my uncle and has not said she is even coming to see me even though hubby has to go to the airport to get her and drive her very far away to grandmothers. I am glad in some ways she has not brought it up because I can't handle her staring at me the whole time she is here. She is ALWAYS "glass is 1/2 empty" and very medicated. I guess I would I like the thought to cross her mind. When she normally comes out she expects me to drive out every Friday (after work) to get her and take her back on Sunday night. The whole thing drives me crazy.  I know...I am complaining that she is coming AND that she might not want come over to my house. When I found out I has BC and was going to have a mastectomy and then chemo she said she wished she could come out here but her dog was dying of cancer and he was like a child to her?!?! UGH. She did not even say it in a bad way it's just how it is. The dog was there and I am here. Also, I am afraid to take 2 hours off to go with hubby to take my mother to my grandmothers because I don't want to freak anyone out anymore than they are but I am also feeling a bit left out. How do our motherly type relationships get so jacked up? 

OK,  I am done. It is 6 something in the morning and I need to try to sleep or something.

Have a Great Day....

rock

Clarification:  They are both women! My friend is a woman. And Lulu is a woman.  (Sorry, I shoulda clarified that earlier. Sue -- this is my avatar until you put your face back on yours.  I like your kitchen window, but I miss your face.)

Jeano77

It took me a couple of days catching up on posts . . . A/C #4 literally kicked my butt.  Not sure if the really bad SEs were due to the fact that the nurse pushed the "A" in roughly 7 minutes.  All other treatments they took about 20 minutes to push.  I warned her after I noticed she push the first in roughly 3 minutes, made no difference.

I had a similiar experience to Suepeet and passed a concrete elephant a couple weeks back that apparently had nails and knives attached to it.  I spent this week with the doctors and was told that I have (TMI ALERT) anal fissures inside and out.  It is incredibly painful to have a BM.  They estimated it will take 6-12 weeks to repair itself.

Eddie:  I am terribly sorry to hear about the shingles, hoping that you recover quickly.  Your positive outlook is amazing.

RanD:  I cannot imagine what your situation was like, glad that you are on the road to recovery.

Rock:  Sounds like the feet are doing a bit better, hoping that continues to improve.

I laughed about the analogy of going bald in public.  I have 2 wigs that I still have yet to wear.  I generally go out with a ball cap, scarf or bald.  When I go out bald I do get the stares, but I look at it as a public service announcement stating "do not take your health for granted".  Not in a mean way, just hoping it may serve as a reminder to folks to get that overdue physical etc. 

It is a beautiful day in Minnesota, going out for a run.  All of you are amazing, your strength is incredible.  Jean

Sable

Well I finally got a call back from the doc.... My UTI is there but she said that the wbc and the bacteria were so low on it that I could pass on the antibiotics especially if I was feeling better. That was good news to hear. She did call them in for me anyway just in case over the weekend if got worse. And she said that these were good to have on hand for other problems that require antis as well. SYmptoms starting lessning up on thursday and today I feel mostly fine. Hopefully it is gone.

WOOHOO! I got my own poem. You made my day rock LOL. As for me being strong, it was more of me asking to go home and come back and hubs sitting there telling me I had to stay no matter what and a sympathic nurse. We have got to get this port thing figured out or I'm gonna take somebody out in that office. They suggested maybe getting this port out and having a pic line put in.... then they showed me what it looked like.... egads I'll stick with the port. It freaks me out bad enough.

My mommy loves me. She is coming up to help tomorrow and I was telling her about you ladies talking about zucchini bread on here and now I wanted some. So she is off to the farmer's market today to get me some *squeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaalll*. She said if she can't find any then she'll get a zuchini and just make me a loaf here *double squeal*

mominaz- i had one cycle the day of my #2 ac... none since.... has last a/c last thursday

rock-you have my long toes! can you pinch people with yours as well?

eddie-I sure hope you feel better soon sweetie.

nothing like a make u poop recipe ROFL! I had my gallbladder out so anything that has fat in it makes me go,

EyesOTex

thanks, Kristi, heath brownies...mmmm

Rock, er...ToeTheBald...good luck tonight; should we man our shovels in unity???  Wish i were feeling more poetic; I hate to waste this Burma Shave opportunity but i am dain bread.

mominaz, i'm sorry about your mom; I was thinking the story would be funny like Christine's.  my niece just sent me a Cathy cartoon that has her husband Irving saying "Your Mom wasn't home?" and Cathy replies, "The Mom I wanted wasn't home."  sorta the story of my life.  My mom lives right next door to me.  If you've said about your uncle and BC, etc., I've missed it; I'm truly, truly sorry all this sh*t is coming down on you.  To say it isn't fair would be...well, unnecessary in all our cases...

Sheesh, Sable...I am always praying they get the people around me with one stick because I can't stand it; I want to offer up a vein.  Once they had to use "Liquid Plumber" (TPA) on my port but it didn't require a new stick; it was just being difficult.

Ladies, I love you all.  Thanks for the input and I hope you have a good afternoon (and evening with friends and idiots, Rock)

otter

Hi, all-- 

Rock, thank you for explaining why you switched your avatar from the bright-faced bald person to the thonged foot.  I miss Sue's old avatar, too.  Now I miss Sue, as she is in Tennessee which I guess does not have internet service.  : )

I have been wearing something on my head ever since arriving at my mother-in-law's apartment yesterday noon.  It's driving me crazy.  Turns out, I was really becoming accustomed to going bare-headed at home, but didn't appreciate it.  Now, I switch back and forth between bandannas, pretty scarves, and caps; and my poor hair roots are hurting from being jerked around so much!  I'm worried I might be rubbing my hairline bald again...

My mother-in-law, bless her heart, told me yesterday that I didn't need to cover my bald head on her account.  She reminded me that, when she had surgery for a (benign) brain tumor 15+ years ago, half her head was shaved and the other half had normal hair.  She said she went uncovered at home, because it felt much better; and I should feel okay about doing that, too, if I wanted.  See why I love her so much?

Adrienne/familyroks, this is for you:  "Oxymoron"-- A figure of speech usually composed of a pair of neighboring contradictory words (often within a sentence).  Example:  "Fat Free Blue Bell".  (http://www.fun-with-words.com/oxym_explain.html)

Gotta go (again).  My brother-in-law and his family just arrived.  It's their son's birthday, and we're having cake and ice cream!

otter 

rock

YOU CAN IGNORE THIS POST. IT IS VERY SELF-ABSORBED AND PETTY.  I just want to get this off my chest.

EyesO and Everyone:  Please keep your shovels handy and be prepared to post bail.  I am really trying (and failing) to be mature about this.  I DO NOT WANT TO BE SEEN WITH LULU AND HER SHORN HEAD.** I DO NOT WANT TO TALK TO HER ABOUT CANCER. I DO want to see my dear girlfriend, though. If Lulu had a whole head of hair, this would not bother me as much. But her with her inch of hair (or God, she might have even shaved it again)? 

Me alone in public, I get a few glances and I handle 'em. I'm not wild about the attention but I can cope. Me with another woman with cancer -- or 100 women with cancer - -might create a stir, and I'd be quite all right with that, nay, proud. But me with Lulu in public and I feel like shouting "Freak show! Freak show! This woman is a freak show and please do not associate me with her!" It is bringing up all my old (negative) feelings about her original stunt. I am pretty sure I am overreacting. 

I don't see the point of seeing them tonight given that I am so angry at Lulu and I won't get to talk to my girlfriend.  (It would not occcur to Lulu that I'd like to see my friend just on her own. And not just because she's an MD.  I feel like I should suggest that to my friend, but Lulu would be VERY hurt and given that they're going on a cruise tomorrow, I hate to leave my friend stuck on a ship with an Unhappy Lulu.  Another option is for me to simply dust off the wig and go out with it. But this does not solve the problem of not getting to talk to my friend.  The only reason I would even go is so that my friend could lay her eyes on me and see that I am fine.  I do want to offer her that reassurance.

I'm signing off suddenly and calling a mutual friend of ours.  

You guys are probably wishing I had some weird pus-draining boil or something to report, aren't you? 

rock

Otter -- Oh GOOD. Glad you have some head comfort.  I know what you mean. Even the most comfortable kerchief is uncomfortable after an hour or so!  (Here's to your MIL!)

EyesO -- Yes, wouldn't it be nice if we could "stand in" for each other? "Here, I can handle your sore [body part] for awhile?" "Let me take that infusion for you..."

Jean -- YIKES.  Just thinking about a too-fast infusion gives me a headache right THERE.  As for the passing elephant . . . fiber before and fiber after really seems to be the way to go, er, handle it. I started eating a lot more oatmeal and bananas.  Still hurt, but not like it did during those Exorcist days!

Eddie -- How're you holding up, cupcake? Sending you thoughts like "baking soda" and "cool breeze" and "lemon verbona".

I'm going to make a phone call. Again, I'm sorry to be so self-absorbed. But I am thinking of you wonderful women.

****

I think I need to start a thread that is "Jerky, Insensitive Things I Have Said or Done Lately that are NOT Excused Just Because I Have Breast Cancer." (I wonder if the moderators would agree to let us post anonymously.)

I am becoming someone I do not want to be. Hurtful, self-absorbed, and angry. Breast cancer (and possibly chemopause) is creating a monster.  What is my problem???? (I would give you some examples, but I am too embarrassed.)

ewesterman

Okay, Lulu...is that a real name? These shingles are not so bad. I walked my regular "little" walk today... three miles so how bad can they really be? Here is the bigger irony. I am taking valtrex (people who have herpes take these to help keep that under control) for my shingles. The pills are the size of Ethiopia. But, and don't laugh hard here....I get a mouthsore....saltwater here I come...but don't you think that is ironic? You all crack me up. I am going to take a photo of my right foot to match roc's left one if you aren't careful. I was splayed on our bed last night compressing my shingles with my dh reading me reviews of Wall E and comparing that to our fine presidential candidates....I was in stiches and I was thinking . . . maybe these shingles are good. Maybe my body needed a break before taxol kicks in. Have a lovely Saturday. I will let you know when they start blistering in earnest. So far, one has which means we are moving forward. Seriously...best news is that my joints are doing better. Lulu? Can't wait to hear how it all went.

EyesOTex

Rock, I was thinking I should apologize for calling this dumb cat autistic in case someone out there had an autistic child/brother/sister/cousin/etc, speaking of insensitive...  Are you sure you aren't being way too critical of yourself about this jerky business??? 

From what I have seen (or read) of you, you are not at all insensitive; quite the contrary.  Stop worrying.  What you are calling self-absorbed is probably mere self-preservation, and would be recognized as such in anyone else, except, of course, someone as kind and giving as yourself.

Call Pam for a consult!

We love you...

eyeso

PS: eddie, the Incurable Optimist; even shingles can't keep 'er down!

otter

I just want to tell y'all how much I love you.  That probably sounds pretty inane to someone who isn't from around these parts (i.e., BCO territory).  But, it's true.

otter 

EyesOTex

otter...w/ the last o' my strength...love ya too!!!  Glad your mother-in-law understands...

eyes