Starting Chemo May 2008

rock

Ode to May 2008 (I was missing Sue, Otter, and Cris and thought I'd write them a little poem and then I got carried away because I'm so grateful to all of you for your pre-Lulu support. If I missed you, I'm sorry! I can add you in if you want !!!!)
 

A Poem to the Wonderful Women of May 2008

Right now, I really wanna be/Hangin' with Sue in Tennessee

If constipada and queasiness are headed my way/I hope they're accompanied by Cris in Cali-for-ni-ay  

If I were to lapse into a coma/I hope I'd come to with Otter in Oklahoma 

Were my thinking to get addled/I hope you contact Eddie in Seattle.

I'm feeling the need to bitch again/Time to PM Linda in Michigan 

Sores on my feet, got me feeling hexed?/I can cope, with a friend like EyesOTex

To confront a doctor takes cajones/That's why I'm calling "mom" in Arizona

I would not care about Taxol one iota/If I could have the company of Jeano in MInnesota  

Got joint pain? Do some leg flexes/ There's no better coach than Kristy from Texas 

I've got a fever and a UTI-oh!/I'm summoning Sable in Ohio

Help! It's an allergic reaction! Where's the nurse-y!/Please fetch Karin in New Jersey

My head feels like it's been whacked with a hammer/Sharon's bringing an icepack from Alabama

You know how it is when you think you don't have it in ya?/I need the support of Lee in Virginia  

My mood's flaggin' I need to rally/I'm gonna call Randie who lives in Cally.

Or maybe if I get super lucky/I'll be able to reach Gracie in Kentucky 

My energy is restored, ah feel lahk dansin/Perhaps I'll be joined bah Roxi, from Wisconsin 

When chemo has been said and done/I look forward to connecting w/ Adrienne from Washington

But when/if my time is up, I'd happily "go forth"/Stopping by to check on Angels and Sue Peet, Canadian friends to the north.

********* 

Lulu came. Lulu went. I survived. And I did get to catch up with my friend and only got testy with Lulu 3 or 4 times (including one time when she asked me if I needed help pulling a sweatshirt over my head). 

ranD

Okay,

Why didn't anyone tell me that even if I missed chemo on Thursday, I would still be slammed by SEs? Apparently, my body decided that it was chemo day and acted accordingly. I have been nauseous for 2 days and have avoided all meds because  I wanted to be chem free...whoo hoooo...lol...So, I ignored it and went shopping for a tart pan and no one in this town sells them. guess I will have to wait for next Thursday's treatment to go to the big city. I so anted to make a fresh peach pie.

Heat has finally broken here, and it was cold last night, so great to sleep in....and my chickens look better and will start laying again.

best thing of all, I can go to church tomorrow and then we will all go out for lunch. Feels almost normal.  But I will be worshiping bald-bald because it makes me feel better-better.  My husband came back last Sunday with 2 wig catalogs from someone at church.  They are no win the recycle bin, guess I will thank her tomorrow.

 Here's a cute story: My bf watched "Breast Cancer Diaries" the other day.  She had her 9 yo dd with her ( my 10 yo dd bff).  They got to the part about hair loss during chemo and Mary asked what that was and if everyone gets it, she explained it to her.  Mary said that she would like to see a bald woman.  Sandy looked at her and thought she was joking, then said, you were just over randie's.  Mary looked at her and said , she's not bald. After everyone finished laughing, Mary told them that she thought i had just gotten a really really short haircut for the summer. lol, guess all that 1/4 peach fuzz makes me look like I had a bad hair day instead of a bald hair day.....

hears to minimal se's this weekend!

randie

rock

Bald-bald/better-better -- agreed, agreed. (Here's to peach fuzz! Peach pie! And Recycling bins!

Peach pie? I do declare. I have just found something to reactivate the salivary glands. I need to find me a peach pie tomorrow.

lewing

Oh my gosh, I just finished catching up on the last 2-3 pages . . . I missed all of you women so much when I was away from the computer for this past almost-week (dropping daughter off at camp; stealing an extra couple of days on the Lake Michigan shore with my boyfriend; taxotere #2 on Friday; busy busy busy with (his) family yesterday).  Then I came here, read your posts, and now miss you even more.  If that makes sense: I look at it as the difference between an abstract kind of missing (as in, "I wonder what's up with the gang?") vs. a visceral longing to be hanging out with all of you on a non-virtual porch (Sue's?), eating peach cobbler (or brownies, for you chocolate fiends) and drinking lemonade and enjoying the breeze. 

And I can't believe what all's been going on: Shingles. Lulu visits. Anal fissures. Recalcitrant ports. Heat waves. Spraying down the chickens.  Difficult mothers. Just plain feeling rotten.  Sheesh!  That's enough crap for three or four weeks all compressed into one.  Aren't we due for a break??

Treatment day was uneventful (though I wish I'd known Ireland was the destination - green and cool sounds so appealing, and I could have counted the sheep crossing the road during my Benadryl/Pepcid drip!).  The only possible bump in the road is that my hemoglobin has hit a new low: 10.6 at my pre-tx lab check-in.  If it falls any lower, they'll probably want me to go on a growth factor.  I'm not sure what's going on . . . my Day 8 bloodwork (usually at or close to my nadir) had my hgb at 11.5; it went back up to 11.9 on Day 15, then evidently tanked before Day 23 (treatment day was pushed back to Friday because of my trip).  I'm wondering if the transition from AC to Taxotere led to a kind of piling-on effect. 

For the moment, though, I'm feeling surprisingly spry - still running, even.  Puffing like a steam engine, but still running.

Other than that, I'm trying to head off the sore mouth by taking someone's advice (MsKarin, was it you?) and spraying with something called Oasis (couldn't find Biotene in spray form) in addition to my usual Biotene rinse and salt water swishing and gargling.  Gotta at least try to keep those salivary glands going what with local fruit coming in!

Love you all,

Linda

EyesOTex

Rock, you rock!  glad you survived "lulu" and got to visit with your good friend.

wow, randie, I didn't know the SEs would hit anyway...not fair, again!

Linda, I missed Ireland, too.  Sorry about your bloodwork & hope it comes back better next time.

love ya all,

whoever i am

lewing

Eyes, are you having an identity crisis??

One quick, non-BC note from my road trip, inspired by Rock's mention of fireflies.  I so remember summer nights full of fireflies when I was growing up in Ohio - how my sister and I would run around with mayonnaise jars (air holes punched in the top, a little dirt and grass in the bottom to keep things comfy) and try to fill them with as many fireflies as we could.

These days, I rarely see them.  I figured that pesticides or climate change or something had made them scarcer.  And maybe they have, around Detroit.

But driving home from the western/central part of the state on Thursday night, wow!  The freeway shoulder and the fields beyond were twinkling with them.  It was lovely - and also reassuring.  I'm relieved that fireflies are still hanging in there, and that kids still have the opportunity to try to catch them. 

Linda

familyroks

Fireflies!  I haven't seen one in years.  We don't have them here in Washington state.  I grew up on the east coast and have great memories of catching fireflies...exactly as Linda describes!

My oldest daughter just relocated to Nebraska and is seeing fireflies for the first time in her life.  She thinks they are awesome.  I told her to keep an eye out for grasshoppers as well!

I hope everyone has a most enjoyable Sunday.  We're heading out to the Zoo & Aquarium later this morning.  Beautiful day here in the Seattle area.

~Adrienne

drcrisc

I'm baaaaaacckk!! 

We had a great time at Disneyland - it was warm but not too hot  and the girls had a great time!  Everyone (meaning adults) got along also (that can be dicey sometimes ) and we all had a busy, but fun vacation.

I will post more later,,,still getting caught up as I'm at least 3 pages behind!  We're trying to go to church this morning or at least I am - I think the girls would be content to lay on the bed all day!

Tried to get dh to transfer the pics from the camera to computer but he forgot and is at work all day.  Guess I'll have to read the instructions...drat.

drcrisc

O.K., the attempt at church failed - we were all not very motivated anyway.  But it gave me time to catch up on the 3 pages - does that count?! 

Linda - I know what you mean about "missing" this place and these women.  There were many times during my trip last week that I kept thinking "I gotta remember that one to post".  I also found myself wondering about Rock's feet and Randie's netherlands (sounds weird!), etc., etc.  One more thing - I was also an adult when I first saw fireflies and was mesmerized by them.  I grew up in Las Vegas (that's a whole 'nother post) and it was tooo hot for them there. 

Rock - Love, love, love that poem!!  And so glad you're feet are letting you walk.  What's with Lulu (that's just a goofy name anyway - sorry, that's probably uncalled for) and helping you with a sweatshirt?!  It's a wonder she still has her hands!  Puuhleeze!!

Jeano - I think how fast they "push" in the meds is related to an increase/decrease of s/e's.  At least that's what my onc told me.  My infusions last 4-5 hours each time (I also have 4 bags of stuff) but they drip the meds sloooooowwwwllllyy.  The last bag of just hydration goes much faster. 

Mominaz - Hope your mom is able to really mother you in a good way.  Sorry about the heavy period thing.  Been there, done that and it sucks!  My friend calls it "the flood".  I had almost a constant spotting between my first and second txs and had a period during both txs.  No spotting yet - we'll see if I've hit chemopause. 

Sable - YAY for you to be done with AC!!  And sorry about the port/sticking thing.  Owie.

Randie - Sooo glad to hear things are getting better.  You mentioned your future gd coming which reminded me about your ds - how's he doing?

Roxi - Hope things are okay for your sisters.  The only family history of bc is also my aunt on my father's side.  It was over 50 years ago and the only tx she had was a mastectomy.  She is now almost 95!  But I've been thinking about getting tested when this is all done just for my dd's to know (it's not urgent, since they are so little still). 

Dana - Sorry for the chemo brain stuff.  That happened to me yesterday in the grocery store.  I could not place a former co-worker (until we left the store) and my oldest dd kept saying (loudly, of course!) "Who is that?".  Shush!   And it was you who told me about the yeast-y thing with you (I've had it after each tx) and I remembered to mention it to Randie.  So yay you!

Otter - So glad you're feeling well enough to travel again and that it's a good place with warm, loving in-laws!  And cake and ice cream to boot!

Sueper - I know you're away, but I just missed your wit ("dog ass tired", yup, that about sums it up).  And the "destination" is where we decide to have chemo for that week - it started as "beachy" places, but now we have become world travelers!

Gracie - It took me a couple of readings to realize who "Auntie Flo" was and why she was taking you to the store early in the morning - can you say chemo brain?!

Eddie - (I've been going backwards - can you tell?  Had to take notes, too!)  WOMAN - Shingles suck!  Postponing chemo sucks too, but I can so relate to that part.  Done that twice.  Feels like such a setback and I am a creature of habit - get me on a schedule and I'm good to go!  I do hope they are getting better - sounds like it.  I also hope you're getting something good to drink to wash down those Ethiopian-size pills!  Ha.  I can also relate to issues under the arm, as I will explain below.

Even though we went away, bc seemed to follow.  However, I'm not completely sure if this bc-related, but I can blame it anyway!   A few days before we left, I noticed what looked like either an in-grown hair or a pimple (?), yes, you guessed it - under my arm!!  And it happens to be the lumpectomy/node removal arm.  Great.  I wasn't too worried about it and sprayed/slathered it with antibiotic cream for several days.  Seemed to be better, but noooooo.  Tuesday afternoon it was huge, red and clearly infected!  Fortunately, my mom travels with the kitchen sink and, lo and behold, produces a bottle of Amoxicillan.  My RN dh says take them.  So I took one that evening and the next morning called my onc's office to talk to the PA.  She agreed - take them and sit with a warm compress under my arm (yeah, that will work well traipsing through Disneyland!).  She laughed when she heard that.  Unfortunately, she only had 4 full days worth, so I will be calling tomorrow morning for a follow-up.  I DO NOT want to postpone tx again for this.

The funny part (Slight TMI):  When I raised my arm while naked, it looked I had 3 nipples!  Sorry to those who have lost one or two - I would gladly share!  lol...

The annoying part:  Before it got better, it got worse and hurt like hell.  It didn't help that I brought my backpack/purse (to make things easy to carry) and the strap hit in just that spot.  Damn.  (That's for you, Eddie).

The scary part:  Even thought it seems to have responded well to the antibiotic, anything weiredness on that side is disconcerting.  Crap. 

So, if it's clear and my counts are still fine, I will have tx #3 on Thursday.  One more of this cocktail and then it's on to Taxotere.  The HFS is making me nervous, given my daily hike into/out of work.  We'll see...

Sorry for the long post, but I'm caught up now!

SuePeet

OK - I need yours wisdom (yours being the plural form of your!)  I have a bad ass cold started Friday worst day today - should start to get better tomorrow (I hope)  My next treatment is tomorrow morning - do ya think they will delay or will they still go through with it?  I'm gong to BC in a week for holidays and I don't want it delayed - so not sure what to expect!

Sue from Red Deer

KristyAnn

I decided today that I want ANONYMOUS back- I really want to be anonymous again. I know people mean well and are expressing their concern and prayers and I really really REALLY do appreciate them- but how I wish I could sit in a restaurant and NOT be noticed! I have no desire to wear pink ribbons all the time and be a poster child for breast cancer- I just wanna be anonymous!

Kristy 

ranD

Chris,

Ahhh I hate this new system, it deleted my whole paragraph.  Let's see if chemo brain can remember!

Glad to hear you had a good time at D-land and that the heat stayed away. Ds is doing better and is back to work.  Since its a desk job, he said there was no reason to keep him at home.

Kristy: Felt that way the other day and so  just put on my cap and glasses and refused to make eye contact with anyone.  Even went out to Round Table by myself, ordered my pizza and sat in a corner booth with a big book in front of me so no one could try to talk....

Went to church today for the first time in 8 weeks, felt nice and everyone who stared tried to be non-obvious.  Actually , most of the guys came over and said that I pulled off bald better than they did...So, I think between church and lunch out, I racked up about 11 points.  How bout you, Rock?

off to drive one dd to a friend's house and pick up the other one....

what is Blue Bell and how come she doesn't visit here in California??????

Randie

collector

Kristy, I hear you loud and clear.  Anonymous would equal privacy and I value my privacy.

Roxi65229

Welcome back Christine and I hope whatever that thing under your arm was finally went away. Doesn't sound fun at all. 

Kristy, I'm with you. I'm sporting the wig and hate it. It almost flew off last night while I was dancing. People just don't know how to react.

Sue, They'll probably still provide your treatment as long as you haven't had any low blodd counts.

Eyes, had my first herceptin on Wednesday.

Okay ladies, I am so sore from taxol.My joints are killing me. The tylenol isn't doing a damn thing. I hope this won't last too long. I can't even walk up the stairs. I may call tomorrow for something other than tylenol.

Love you all, Roxi 

SuePeet

Thanx ROxi - just not sure what the protocol is - postponing treatment will mess up my holiday plans - we have to keep our priorities ou know!

I hope you are feeling  better soon!

otter

I would feel positively decadent, except for the fact that my Taxotere/Cytoxan SE's are still following me 5-1/2 wks after my last tx.  I still have enough fluid retention (sporadic, now) to cause my ankles to swell up after I've been walking for awhile.

And, walking I've been doing.  Way too much, I'm afraid.  We are still visiting my mother-in-law, and today was non-stop.  Tomorrow will be even worse, because we'll get started earlier and not get back to her apartment until much later.  On Tuesday we'll head back toward home, with a sleep-over in Memphis to make it a 2-day trip.

Roxi, I was allowed to take ibuprofen for the aches and pains of Taxotere, which would be similar to what you're feeling with Taxol.  Check on that.  Tylenol does nothing for me, except make me anxious about liver damage.

For the lovers of anonymity:  When I want to remain anonymous, I avoid making eye contact.  I've been able to walk into a store, bare my bald-bald head, and try on dozens of caps without attracting any attention, simply by ignoring everyone.  Today, I did it in Bass Pro Shop; yesterday I did the same thing in WalMart and in the gift shop for a community/regional aquarium we visited.

Cristine, that's a nasty skin infection to get, especially under your arm where things tend to stay moist.  I hope it's clearing up--keep up the antibiotics.

My under-arm area still gets puffy during the day, and I've recently re-acquired some cording that is giving me pain in my upper arm as well as being a royal pain in the a**.  It is so not fair--I'm 5-1/2 months out from my mast/SNB (no recon), so I'm assuming this relapse in my range-of-motion is because of the residual effects of Taxotere.  I suppose it could have something to do with the Arimidex I've been taking for nearly 3 wks, but I don't want that to be the case, so I'm not even going to go there...

Rock, thanks so much for the poem to the women of May ('08).  I will be headed back to Alabama in a couple of days, so my line will need a new rhyme (Oklahoma won't work anymore).  Oh, but before I leave, we're having warm peach cobbler my mother-in-law baked from peaches she got at a peach orchard near here.

THINK PINK:  I thought y'all might like to see what I discovered today while browsing at Bass Pro Shop.  It's a surprising example of the commercialization of breast cancer:  a bright pink container of pepper spray to carry on your key ring, complete with the pink ribbon logo on the package.  The manufacturer promises to make a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for every unit sold:  http://www.pps-safety.com/breastcancerpromo.htm

I was shopping at a Piggly Wiggly grocery store at home last week when I saw a pink BC ribbon on the label of a can of either tuna or chicken.  I don't remember which it was, because I started laughing so hard I nearly dropped the can.  (I didn't buy any.)

The peach cobbler is ready.  (Sorry.)  Hi to all.

otter 

familyroks

I do the no eye contact thing because I just don't want to see people looking at me.  Today we went to the zoo & aquarium.  We were having so much fun that I'd forget all about "it", then I'd turn around to look for my dh and somehow my eyes would meet with someone looking at me.  I kept thinking.."wonder why they are looking at me?"  Ohhhhhh....riiiiiiight.  Sheesh, did they have to remind me.  But I'd soon forget again, until the next eye contact.

I mentioned it to DH tonight.  He had noticed the same thing with the looks today.  I was wearing a nice hat too.  Ah well.

Roxi - I had the bone ache/pain after my Taxol.  Taxol Wednesday, bone pain Saturday & Sunday and a little bit on Monday.  Gone Tuesday.  I didn't find either Tylenol or Advil being very effective.  Oddly enough, walking made it feel better for me.

There are pink ribbons everywhere aren't there?  I often wonder how much truly goes to Komen and who would know if any did or didn't?  The one I saw last week was Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup.

~Adrienne

rock

Bleary-eyed from indexing and fatigue but wanted to say:  Roxi, your wig almost flew off while you were dancing.  That sentence spoke volumes, happy volumes.  Dancing.  (Sorry about the Taxol pain.  I'll be there with you by Friday.)

Otter -- but if you don't buy the beribboned can of tuna/chicken, how can you heave it at someone's head?  (Pink ribbon mace ... that's priceless. Maybe they could fill it with Adriamycin or Cytoxan.)

Cris -- a third nipple. Maybe you could have it removed and "freeze-dried" or whatever in case one of us needs it down the road?  (I gotta say, the indignities chemo visits upon us.)

Randie -- Anything involving church or other place of worship is good for an extra 2 bonus points. 

Again, dancing.

cloet1

hi, My name is Anne and I would like to join this group.  I was origianlly diagnosed in Nov. 2006 and had a mastectomy and chemo, 4 AC followed by 4 taxol.  Things went well but in a recent check up, more cancer was found.  I am now doing chemo again and would really like to connect to some people having treatment at the same time.  I did it alone last time and wished I had made contacts on this board.  I can probably help with some info on the treatments that I had, since I already dealt with the side effects.  I am doing different drugs this time so most people will not be albe to relate but would like to make some contacts here anyway.  Anne

rock

Anne -- I'm happy you found us, and grateful to have you join us.  I am sorry they found more cancer. How are you holding up?

ellenoire

This is a note to Jeano77 regarding the fissures you are suffering.

 I had the same issue. NO amount of OTC laxatives or fibre helped at all. 

 *TMI alert*

I cried and bled at every bowel movement. I was finally prescibed (after my doc told me to use prep H and it would heal in a few weeks/ months) by a visiting doc to use a liquid lax called lactulose, and a cream and suppository called Proctosedyl. The suppositories saved my life. PM me if you want more info. Good Luck! It gets better with the Taxo drugs!

I am interloping from April, glad to see my beloved Otter is spreading her wisdom here too!  

 Glad Lulu did not get the shovel treatment..  

rock

Lulu was spared the shovel. I found it a wee bit hard to look at her because her hair was at least 2 inches long and quite thick (she'd shaved her head in early May). 

Jeano and Ellenoire -- you have my utmost sympathy. I was in less dire, but similar straits. I'm not joking when I say I felt like I was possessed by an alien. Increasing my fiber helped (THANK GOD).  I am soo sorry.

Roxi -- I had some joint and shin pain but it was overshadowed by the searing foot pain.  I hope you are able to find some relief, some way to get on top of it.  I am really sorry.

ewesterman

Screw Lulu

Eddie's lesson for the day: Just because I was told I was no longer contagious, I went out all day (thrilled with my new found freedom). Took my younger son to work for Obama for an hour at the International District Fair. Had ice cream with a bunch of teens I love in West Seattle. Walked three miles. Went to see Aida (was as good as the production I saw on Broadway a few years ago...blah, blah, blah). My shingles are burning up a storm and I can't believe I though not contagious meant well. It just means not contagious. It does not, it turns out, mean you can go out all day and party.

My burning question for the day. Eyes. I know I mentioned, recently I was having the gunky eye syndrome. Others were having it too. Mine was minor. Now it is major. I wake up with one of my eyes gunked over so much that I can't open it. I keep taking a Q-tip to it to degunk, and my dh is trying to tell me drops will work, but it is not because my eye(s) are dry...it is a serious gunk issue. Any advice oh great poets and everyone else? It is serious enough that it was hard to see through that eye driving home tonight....And it is starting to burn and hurt too. I thought it was due to very thinning eyelashes.....but now I am wondering about infection or just gunk....what say you oh great women of wisdom? Help me out.

You have helped with biotene; you have helped with great wisdom; by the way, I have a blister on my toe too. Do I bust it or leave it? I think I am starting to sound like Gilda Radner (God rest her soul) "I have shingles; I have gunky eye syndrome; I have delayed chemo issues; I am taking meds up the yin yang; my joints ache and I have gas." Okay that last part wasn't true for me but she always said, "and I have gas." I guess those were the days when we all had gas for cheaper but that isn't the kind of gas she was talking about. Oh oh...I am starting to ramble.

Advice on the gunky eyes and blister would be helpful

Love,

Eddie

PS Lulu is a dope. 

drcrisc

Anne - Welcome as well.  I would be in much worse shape without these women.  What protocol are you on, as there are some on the board with different regimens.  You might find one similar to yours.  And side effects are side effects, no matter what the drug! 

Roxi - I do hope you get something that works for the bone pain.  Advil and Tylenol did not touch mine before the Claritin.  But that's Neupogen pain - I don't know if that's different from Taxol pain.  What a pain in the ass - sometimes literally!  And yes, my under the arm thing is better, but I will be calling some doctor's office tomorrow.  I don't know if I should call the onc or my PCP.  Who's in charge of underarm nipples?  Anyone?

Yes, suddenly it seems like pink ribbons are on everything!  I applaud the effort and I think they have achieved their goal of raising awareness.  I am supportive, but would not wear or buy half (probably more) of the things that end up being "pink".  I have to watch my sarcasm (tone!) as I alerted my older dd to this phenomenon and now she notices as well.  I think it is more for people without bc than those living/lived through it.  I, personally, do not need pink ribbons on everything I own to be reminded I have/had bc.  I experienced this over the past week, because my mom has a sticker from the Komen foundation affixed to the windshield of her car which we used to drive down to Anaheim.  So I had a "pink ribbon" staring at me on the passenger side screaming "BREAST CANCER" every time I was in the car.  I didn't realize until just now how really unnerving that was. 

Hmmmmm...maybe it's time for bed.  Sorry for the soapbox/rant.

ewesterman

By the way...I appreciate the nipple story and the cussing...that made me feel a little bit better about my cussing earlier this week. I could start again, but I only do that Turret's thing once in a while. Oh oh...hope no one has Turret's. Hey, if we make breast cancer jokes and third nipple joks, shouldn't we all pardon ourselves for offending ourselves? Adrienne, you were in Seattle at the zoo and aquarium and you didn't pop by for lemondade? Someday we will meet. I really had a fantasy that my shingles would be gone and I'd get to do taxol right away on Thursday (as originally scheduled) but I am realizing that taxol sounds like a bummer and the mixture of that with burning shingles and gunky eye might be too much even for someone who people call a congenital optimist.

Good night to all and to all a goodnight. You knew I wouldn't shut up after just one entry, right? Love you all.....remember....eye and blister advice by tomorrow morning so I can open my eye...okay? 

ewesterman

Ooops. Welcome  Anne. I just finished four A/c and am heading for four taxol...would love to chat with you. Third submit is a charm .... good night. I promise.

drcrisc

Eddie - You were posting when I was posting!  I am no help, however, with eye gunk as I have not been privileged with that lovely event.  I have heard that others say the drops help.  I only use them sporadically, like the first 4-5 days after chemo.  But can I just say that you made me spit on my computer with the Gilda Radner thing (God rest her soul).  I think you did that before, too. Hope someone else is more help than me!  The blister, I don't know.  Did they tell you to pop other ones or is this unrelated to the shingles?  I would not be inclined to pop if it could still be infected.  That's a tough one...

familyroks

Eddie - In light of the whole shingles virus thing (which really SUCKS), I would have a doctor check out your eye to make sure you don't have an infection/virus going on there.  Some antibiotic drops might be in order.  I warm damp cloth on the eye might also provide some immediate relief. 

We actually went to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium yesterday.  What a beautiful day it was.  It sounds like you had quite the day yourself.  Perhaps today is a day of rest?  Take care of yourself woman!

Rock - one wonders how you've been managing to dress yourself all this time before LuLu's visit?

~Adrienne

rock

Adrienne -- I just allow Pam (my neighbor) to dress me and then I wear the same clothes until they rot off my body, apparently.  Or I run around nekkid.  She had some other similarly patronizing remarks that I realized-- even at th emoment -- I was going to have to LET GO and FORGET otherwise I was going to spend my time seething rather than focusing on my friend who is so very near and dear to me.

Eddie: Re: blisters. I was carefully and studiously NOT popping my blisters. Then I went to my podiatrist who just as carefully and studiously DID pop them.  So I now compromise. I try not to pop them but to let the liquid reabsorb. If that doesn't apear to be happening, then I disinfect a needle with alcohol, antibiotic, bandage, etc.  My feet are not in pain, but boy are they hideous. Covered in slow-to-heal sores.

Keeping my feet up and on ice seems to have helped. Wearing crocs. Keeping my blisters bandaged.  And the Udderly Smooth with Urea I ordered from drugstore.com works better than the 10 gallons of other lotions I have on hand.  

This would be more convincing if I hadn't just whined about my feet but -- after one infusion --  I DO like Taxol a lot better than A/C.  I have felt fantastic! strong! healthy! energetic! the last week or more in a way that I never felt for a prolonged period of time on A/C.  And no constipation. No queasiness.  

And Eddie -- could your eye stuff be conjunctivitis?  Are you getting (yellowish-greenish) goop to go along with the whitish gunk?  Because that sounds like a lot more gunk than what I've had.  That's my "professional" opinion.

Okay, back to doublechecking my  @(#$*& index.  I'm only up to the "b"s (birth, birth control, black women, Buck v. Bell, Bush, George W....). 

rock

Oh! Oh! Oh! I saw Nathan Englander (a novelist) and he smiled at me in a "I remember you" way rather than a "poor woman" kind of way!  (I met him once before briefly when I had hair.)  My heart fluttered and it wasn't the Adriamycin.  I'm going to go draw "Nathan + Rock" with a heart around it on all my notebooks now...