The Hermit Club

Teka

blondiex46

no support group here

yay jazzy..good news

 

magdalene51

As I said to DH today, the actual administration of the chemo is the easiest part, though tiring. The hard part comes after. Please to report my blood work remains excellent, WBC count was even a bit high. All functions normal. Tonight, just a little nausea, so took my zofran & heading to bed.

But I wanted to tell you about what happened with my MO today. He always asks about not only my physical health, but also my mental and spiritual health. I told him, I struggle. He said, is there anything I can do for you? I said that our mutual friend who referred me to him told me he would pray with me. He said he'd be happy to. He sat with both my hands in his and prayed quite a while, didn't rush through or seem hurried at all. It was amazing and I was all tears. Highlight of my day. He also shared with me about a stressful time he'd been having and how he had started meditating on the 23rd Psalm, one line a day, and how that had really taken the stress off him. So I agreed to try that. It's a psalm I memorized as a child and still recite in my head when I can't sleep. But I like his idea.

Jazzy, grats on your stitchlessness. Will you be doing a combover?

I have not tried a support group because I'm a hermit and it would mean leaving the nest. Speaking of leaving the nest, I will have to to rads every weekday for 6-1/2 to 7 weeks. Needless to say I'm not looking forward to that. He's going to try to get me through it before the end of the year so I won't have to deal with the deductible issue. We might have to get another car so I can drive myself, as that's a lot to ask of my cousin. She has other obligations.

Ok heading to bed now. Nini Hermies! (By the way, the insomnia? Side effect of Effexor.)

camillegal

Hi Herms

YAY for stitchless Jazzy and u can swim soon too I'm glad that's all over for u.

U know I never even thought of a support group so I never went--my mind was usully in a good place tho.

Mags it's great to have a Dr. like that, it's such a boost for u'r morale and u'r right the chemo is the easiest part. The rads are so fast, u'r in and out in 15 min. I made all my app't early so it was over with early. Just a thought.

Lily I'm glad u'r over this one , well u know to rest--But I still think u can find a med that would be good, I know sometimes u have to go thru lot to get one, but eventually it could happen and u'll start to feel better.

I had a lot of calls today so I was busy, plus I had my D again--didn't make it everytime cuz someone was talking to me on the phoe--It was quite a day and now I'm exhausted.

But I wanted to come in to say Hi 

blondiex46

Hi cammie. ? Dont u have a cordless phone

Jazzygirl

Good morning hermits. A little sunrise photo from Carrizozzo, NM.

Jazzygirl

Mags- wow, that is really something your doctor prayed with you, but I have heard other stories like that here. Although I don't do organized religion these days, I grew up in the congregational church back east and 23rd Psalm is something that has always comforted me. I still recite to myself these days during the toughest of times. What a lovely story you shared.

So you had a BMX, I am wondering about your rads? What areas will you have done? Although I did not do chemo, I did do internal rads. There are some good threads here that will help you as you go through that. Just like you are doing with your chemo thread. My experience is, just be prepared for fatigue afterwards. Go home to rest right after. You should be able to drive yourself back and forth if you want to.

Cami-good to hear from you and sorry about the ongoing D. Rest sister.

Blondie- hope you are doing okay. Think of you every day. 

Oh and about my incision/scar. I don't think I am missing much hair there. I am able to easily cover it with my blonde tendrils. I am going to get my hair cut tomorrow and thinking of a restyling, and will see what my hair dresser says. I have a presentation I am doing at a local technical conference here next week, so jazzy needs to look good!

magdalene51

Good morning, Hermies! Slept ok until about 5, finally got up a bit after 6 and made my tea. Eyes are not focusing well this morning, very blurry and full of sleepies as my mom used to call them. They feel like they need a good rinsing out. Doc says the tear ducts are affected by the taxotere. He said if it gets really bad they send you to an ophthalmic surgeon and place stents in the tear ducts. Eek! I'll take this. I can handle blurry vision.

Jazzy, that is some view! Is that your property there? I don't know any more details on what they will be doing for rads, MO made the appointment, it'll be the day after next chemo, when I go in for Neulasta shot next day I'll go early and see the RO so hopefully will know more then.

Cousin has made me some scrambled eggs and toast, and a big glass of her special juice (carrots, beets, greens, apples) so I better eat.

Jazzygirl

Mags- yikes, keep people away from your eyes! Sounds like it will be temporary.

That photo is from an area to the south and west of here. I am on a thread on FB called NM Pics and this is where a lot of my photos of NM come from (outside of the ones I show you from my adventures). I never knew Carrizozzo was so green, but think it is from all the rain this year!

I hope you like your RO, I had a really great one, he had the best bedside manner of any doctor I have ever known to date. My MO would be next in line for that. 

Juice sounds yummy. I am going to the mid week farmers market today to get some goodies for my new juicer.

Teka

Good Morning Hermits!

My heavenly blue morning glories in bloom!

Cami, damn the D.

Mags, I was able to enjoy eating out while having radiation treatments.

Jazzy, one of my few pleasures is a trip to the hairdresser.

Blondie and Lily, taking it easy?

Jazzygirl

Teka- your morning glories are BEAUTIFUL. 

Teka

Thank You!!

So far a pleasant Fall in the North Country.

Jazzygirl

Teka- good to hear. It has been hot here again the past week, as the rains have slowed down (monsoons wane in Sept). In the 90s yesterday which is hot for Sept. Should be cooling down towards the weekend. I noticed some of the cottonwoods are starting to get a bit of yellow color on them (they just turn yellow, but it is a beautiful shimmery gold in the sunshine). 

Have your trees started turning yet?

Teka

Yes!

camillegal

Teka those are so pretty and r u getting fall??? We re still warm here and no sight of fall for a whil anyway.

Jazzy u'r picts are always so calming where ever u get them

Mags rads just made me tired too but u can still do things tho, like Teka says.

Blondie u'r in my thoughts.

Lily I hope u'r resting well.

 

Lily55

Not finding it easy to rest as its so hot here still....but slept better than first night albeit with several wake ups..........this road has been so long and I keep thinking it will get better and it doesn´t...............I can honestly say every single day since pre diagnosis has been hard emotional work to try and get out there and live a relatively normal life.......

Jazzygirl

Lily- it is work to get through this and back to having a normal life. Although it may be a sort of "new normal" as I have come to call it. As this is your last surgery, things will normalize once this stuff is over. You will see incremental improvement as you go on. One day, you may even say "wow, I had a day where I had good energy today!" Then more of those will come, and the bad days will be less and less. 

Teka- yay for fall colors. I miss the east coast fall still.

Cami- is the D better today.

I just finished putting away all my CDs/music in my entertainment center finally. Jazzy has a lot of music. 

Teka

I listen to music on-line!

Teka

Lily, takes time!*Hugs*

Jazzygirl

Teka

Exactly!

Lily55

Its been over two years for me and oh how i wish this was my last surgery........the surgeon won´t even say how many more I will need but its another four at least...........after rad damage and the awful infection that ate tissue away the only route for me is this long haul......I don´t even know if I will get there as each procedure carries a risk of infection.........I hear the new normal and I try to adjust but you know the reality is I hurt down nelow as its so atrophied, I feel ancient, it takes me over ten minutes every morning to take my pills just for pre breakfast.........and I feel no joy or fun in life, I just feel pain and abused people and animals and sick souls and I wonder why am I working so hard to get out in the world when I just h u r t......and I don´t feel feminine anymore. 

I kept going to exercise post op and post diagnosis, only surgeon forbidding me to exercise has stopped me, I kept on with animal rescue, I kept oN with finding a job etc etc......and for what as I feel NOTHING, I can see some people being kind to me but I don´t feel it.......am I making sense.......its all such a long road and I never feel refreshed.....never feel like I´ve had a good night´s sleep as I never get one!  On top is all the stuff with my so called partner and the mad local who still plays up and so on and I just want to be out of it all, its really all too much........I had a complete meltdown a few days ago, my first one ever in public........so although more people now know I still feel just as bad and alone, and I am even bored with myself now writing this.......

Jazzygirl

Lily- well no wonder you are having such a hard time. Four more surgeries? None one should have to go through that much. I remember the bad infection you had and did not realize how much it hurt your body. 

magdalene51

The cancer clinic is having an art exhibit. Many of the works are accompanied by a card describing "How cancer has affected me." I wanted to share some that I liked.

OncoWarrior

deleted

SallyS70

Onco, I certainly would benefit from making a notebook about the posters on the thread. 

Jazzy, it was good to hear that your scalp healed well with minimal scaring ... great picture of the NM morning.

Mags, you sound in good spirits even though your eyes are blurry.  I hope the other SE's are milder this time.

Lily, if wishes could make you feel better, you would be feeling great.  Like many others I am sending you a ton of good wishes.

Blondie, hope your day has been good and that you have a restful night.

Cami, is your computer all fixed?

Teka, as often happens, your post brought a smile to my face ... this time it was the "leaf peepers."

Sweet dreams everyone.

 

 

Jazzygirl

Mags- great pictures. Very inspiring!

Simple pleasures are the best. I met my friend at the mid week farmers market today and we scored on some great fruits and vegetables. She bought a couple peaches and we went to the library near by to sit outside and have a visit and ate those peaches. OMG, were they ever good. Sitting outside on a late summer afternoon eatin' a peach under a shady tree. I also brought home some apples, romaine, japanese eggplant (they are skinny), tomatoes, cukes and 2 lbs of string beans. I am going to cook those up tonight and marinate them. 

I went swimming for the first time today in 2.5 weeks. Felt good.

Monis

Oh Lily, sending bigs hugs to you!

blondiex46

Awesome pix.

Yep here still have a screwed up sleeping schedule.  Steroids r working with the lugs hjust cant sleep. 

Lily I think of u often

Jazzy they will love u r presentation,  show us the new do.

Mags those pix r cool, hugs

Teka, sally, cammie, onco, monis.. Big hugs

Goodnight to u, I will b up 4 a while tho

Teka

Good Morning Hermits!