My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer

Micmel

Got my spring box today!! These products are so lovely I adore each and everything I've ever gotten. They are such high quality skin products These skin products have taken years off my face and I'm not kidding I have never loved a subscription service quite like this one What a special gift my best friend gave me. So much fun to get!!!! One thing was a weighted gravity sleep mask. Oh my word It blocks out sun light and places gentle pressure on your points near your eyes to promote relaxation. I am in love with it! The cocoon mask smells heavenly You use it before sleep and the scent pulls you into relaxing . I'm in awe!!!!

Haven’t seen Sondra! You doing ok friend?

mara51506

Looks really good Mel. Enjoy the gift.

I am having a pretty good day overall. Rise of Skywalker the movie came out on google play today so bought it and watched on my treadmill. Very good. I had some foot pain I was dealing with but found these gel toe spreaders to stretch out my foot and it is like night and day. Can't stand to wear them super long as initially they feel slightly uncomfortable, but for the treadmill walking, they offered my feet relief from the toe pain.

I also woke up with my left hand super swollen. I don't think it was lymphadema or even arthritis. I think I wore my hand and wrist splint WAY too tight and think that is what caused an issue. Probably stopped fluids from getting out of my hand. It has come down some and am wearing one of my arthritis compression gloves too. I will probably stop wearing splints at night as I healed my trigger finger in right arm and hand and left hand really is not an issue.

mara51506

Philly, I am sorry about your trip too. Hopefully all of the cancellations, school closings, store ransacking will end soon. I am not worried about it myself and still go out but it is sad that we have to cancel so many things because of it. Not sure if I should be worried, but believe my staying home would not really protect me much. I will keep walking to keep strong and if I somehow get it or another cold like the one I have now, hopefully it would not last as long. I still feel strong.

Anonymous

Mel - to me a sleep mask is a MUST, I use one every night and keep one in my hospital bag. I'm going to look up that brand you got and check it out. Doing well otherwise, all things considered, thank you for asking!

ShetlandPony

Congrats on your scan results, Mel!

booboo1

Aw, man, that box of goodies looks inviting, Mel. I am going to look into it. My poor skin could use a lift!

I have never worn a sleep mask, but that’s another thing I might try. My friend loves hers. Said she sleeps better and goes to sleep faster.

candy-678

Looks like several online right now.

Just checking in to say HI to all.

Micmel

I think Mara is our threads Mcgyver. She’s always figuring out stuff Fixing things. Rigging things to fit. (Washer)Cooking all kinds of things putting them together. she falls repeatedly and gets up like our stunt woman. Then she’s like “oh that. That didn’t hurt. I’ll be back at it tomorrow “. You could probably open a door with a piece of gum you sound like a little trickster it sounds delightfully adorable! You and your toe stretchers. Who has this stuff just laying around. Lol you’re a trip.

Micmel

thank you Shetland. I appreciate it.

BooBoo~ I’m assisted to the excellent products. And I’m not even kidding.

Sondra~ Called gravity weighted sleep mask. Love it!!! Naps are so good now! Real darkness.

LoveFromPhilly

hi everyone!

just laying low over here hanging out with my parents. We are having one cocktail, I am the bartender :-)

I make a mean old fashioned, not too sweet!

It seems like no one is observing the social distancing so far in Philly. The city seems to be partying. Lots of people out and about and I don’t see a lot of distancing happening.

Today I took a long walk and then sat in the park with my parents. It was a beautiful day.

My mom is holding down the fort about not allowing my sister and her child to visit them/us. She’s very concerned about the virus. I keep flip flopping back and forth.

Love to all,

Philly

Karenfizedbo15

Brilliant news Mel!

Some may remember I’m flying to the Island of Barra with friends on Friday 20th March & back Sunday into the only airport runway in the world which is a beach. I’ve done this before but my friends haven’t- Planned since last summer and there are only 16 seats on the wee plane.... we call it a ‘puddle jumper’.

I’ve a sense that even though the airline won’t cancel the flights as it’s an island lifeline, there may be a thing about ‘outsiders’ coming in as the virus hasn’t hit there yet. Hoping it all goes ahead, but with all the madness not so sure.

illimae

While I think there’s a fair amount of mass hysteria over stocking up at the moment, I will say that one should be very aware of others behavior. The year after Katrina hit NOLA, Houston was under evacuation for an approaching hurricane. Many stores were bare and I stopped at a gas station for cigarettes (I know and I’ve since quit), anyway an argument ensued between the clerk and a customer over the price of a bottle of water. I saw desperation and rage in the customers eyes and promptly left, it changed my entire perspective on situations like this. I do take the virus seriously but I’m honestly more concerned about the fear it’s causing. People can become violent and easily unhinged, I hope we don’t see that with this but please keep a watchful eye.

Karenfizedbo15

Agreed Mae.

mara51506

I agree. Even here in Canada, people were fighting over toilet paper. If a person had to, they could buy tea towels used for the bathroom to wash after every use until TP is not so scarce.

Micmel

well put Mae~ my dh saw it in Costco Friday. People ramming Carts into the back of his heels three times. People Shoving and pushing. Stealing things from Peoples carts. Parking rage. I totally agree with you. After my talk with my Onc. I’m not going to freak out. Hopefully it will fizz off!

Tyvm Karen !

runor

Mel, thank god! That is good news and I can only imagine that you were finally able to exhale !

This Corona thing is so stupid. But it sure separates the humans from the apes in moments like these. BY this I mean there are many walking among us whose utter lack of common decency and concern for fellow man removes from them every last shred of dignified public conduct and brotherly love. Hub and I have not stocked up on toilet paper but plan to spend a lot of time pooping at other people's houses - you know - to preserve our own limited resources. This places us firmly in the baboon camp!

Micmel

I agree. This Is ridiculous, they have closed all Non essential stores and businesses in our county and I believe state. You’re only to go out to work and do things you have to do. What about daycares? That’s scary. My DH isn’t sure yet what’s going to happen with his telecommunicating from here. Which is what he wants to do. They are talking two weeks. Extending spring breaK a week and adding another for safety. All non essential employees don’t report. Students will be doing online working from home instead of going into school. My dh one of the top computer engineers in a HuGe school System. He will Most likely need to be reachable. But he says things can be done remotely. So we will see. I don’t think he’s ever had off that long. But for this reason It’s so bizarre!

MissMonty

Hi,

My first post here, but I do read often. It’s a great group, with a lot of amazing support.

I’ll respectfully disagree with calling this “Corona Thing” stupid. I do agree that stock piling toilet paper, and other day to day essentials is stupid. Panic and mob mentally is not what we need. However, I do not think the measures our countries are taking are stupid. Italy and now Spain are cautionary tales. As a Stage IV patient with lung mets, I am concerned about community spread. And if you knew me, I am the last person to be like this.

My intent is not to have this turn into a debate, and I know we will all view this through our own lense. For me, the extra precautions are prudent, given the rate rate of spread we’ve seen in other countries. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

Anna

LoveFromPhilly

hi missMonty! Welcome! Thank you for your share. I am in 100% agreement with your thoughts.

We are learning about this on an hourly basis, it is a microbe that we just barely have a grasp on understanding.

In fact, initially the CDC was saying that only symptomatic people were contagious but now they’ve realized ASYMPTOTIC people are more contagious!

Not good

jensgotthis

happy for your good news Mel!

Micmel

thank you Jen! You’re so sweet to remember.

Miss Monty~I think it’s the behavior being seen that I can do without at the stores. It’s like a bad movie. The virus is obviously a real concern. I don’t go out much so I am hopeful I won’t get it. My oncologist didn’t seem worried In the least. He said usual practices for flu. But to see people running around crazy, scares young children and makes it seem like a surreal experience we are all hanging with this. It’s of nothing I’ve ever seen in my 49 years. I do agree to be cautious and I agree with the way governments have no choice but to do what they feel is best to contain it. But going off and not thinking logically about your own behavior Can cause panic to spread is my worry !

Welcome to the thread sweet woman Our living room!

MissMonty

Hi Micmel,

Thanks for the welcome. Agreed on the crazy behaviour of people. I was at the store yesterday and actually needed TP. I was down to my last three rolls. I only bought one package of 12, and felt almost embarrassed. Looks like we have the same somewhat uncommon pathology with er+, but pr-. I see your treatments are keeping things under control for you. That’s great.

Philly, thanks for the welcome as well. I think things might get a bit worse before they get better. There are still so many unknowns with this virus. I’m not scared, but I am definitely being more cautious for sure. Like you did, I made the decision to cancel a trip to Palm Springs. Totally sucks!

Nice to virtually meet all you ladies on this thread.

A

Tanya_Djamila

Welcome miss Monty

Hello all.

Get the provisions you need bc as Mae shared of her Katrina experience . people will get desperate and crazy in situations such as this. Prepare and then wait. This disease is deadly for the elderly and infirm.

Tanya

mara51506

I feel bad for elderly and infirm. I am lucky enough to still be active and look after myself but I know not everyone has that to protect them.

When it comes to provisions, mine are probably not similar to everyone else. I like canned beans, canned meat, queso and tortilla chips. Spinach is my other veg of choice. I also live close to a grocery store and am able to walk up and pick up one or two things I will need. I also do not require TP or hand sanitizer. I do not drink bottled water. Luckily my tap water is good. I will not get into any altercations as what I pick usually is not super high on the list. I also like to think outside the box. If my store was running low on meat, I would make my way to the nearest burger joint and get a snack size burger to fill in any gaps.

runor

 I've been thinking about this virus thing, thinking about how I would survive a shortage of coffee. (throw myself off a cliff). I think the hysteria is stupid. I think lock down is pointless virtue signalling. I think measures anyone wants to take on a personal level, (stay home and don't pick your nose without washing your hands first) are reasonable. I hope there is a special place in hell for hoarders and price gougers. This sort of carnage will always have parasites and vultures show up first. It's good to see who they are in a community. But this wasn't my main thought as I was rolling around in bed thinking about coffee and not being able to get back to sleep. 

I think the hysteria is about people hearing on the news that They Might Die!!!!!!!!!!

News flash, you were 100% going to die BEFORE you heard the news and after this has all faded away you are still 100% going to die. This is a massive concept that most people cannot wrap their heads around! We humans (most of us anyway) give little to no serious thought to our own mortality. We just go about our lives like we're going to live forever. And maybe that's good? Because each and every one of us posting here KNOWS about that bitter fist to the face that cancer brings with it, not just the illness, not just the miserable treatments, but the mental steaming pile of shit that is Dealing With Your Own Mortality. Long after treatment is over and you are 'supposed' to be getting back to 'normal life'  you are still struggling with the truth that life may look normal and you may be acting normal but you're not normal because before you were an eternal being who was never going to be struck down by anything and now you know, KNOW, that you are on borrowed time and holy shit who came up with this stupid plan and why didn't anyone tell me before?! 

It is almost impossible to explain to anyone UNcancered this shift in daily mental functioning. If you say to them,' I"m going to die and it's messing me up', they will pat your hand and say, 'but we're all going to die, Honey'. Ahh, those people have no clue. They literally mean that they think everyone else is going to die, but not them. They roll out this meaningless phrase as if they have felt the bite of those fangs. They have not.  I used to think that. Death was an event that happened to Other People and somehow I expected to be exempt. Boy, did that bubble break with my bubonic boob! It broke hard and flattened me for a long time. 

What's happening now, this insanity, is people's reaction to thinking that something uninvited, uncontrolled, can slip into their homes and bodies, make them sick and kill them.

Kind of like how cancer works. Or house fires. Or tsunamis. Or heart attacks. Or vehicle accidents. Or falling down a man hole. 

I think this hysteria is people, en masse, suddenly grasping the concept that we are all sitting ducks in the great crap shoot of life and while cancer might be my ride off the planet, maybe someone else's ride out might be Corona virus. People are getting an inkling of this ugly truth and they are Freaking Out. They are dealing with the mental discombobulation that gut punches every cancer patient (except for the few zen individuals who have transcended the very human fear of death). We here might recognize, more than most, that this is what's going on. All these steps to keep a population safe. The assumption is that the population was safe to begin with. WRONG! Never were, never will be, life is risk, and we are all going to be dead at some point from some thing and that was 100% guaranteed the minute you exited your mother's womb. A birth certificate and death certificate  should be issued on the same day because the promise and reality of both is 100%. Yet the world is freaking out over this news. 

The planet is going through what we all personally went through and while we have maybe not   'made our peace with it', we have marched on in spite of it. We cope. We function. We mourn our blissful ignorance and former immortality. So far the globe is not functioning. Not quickly accepting. They are all acting like they were going to live forever until this virus showed up to threaten their foreverness. I think a much bigger risk to the planet is the trickle down effect from knee-jerk over reaction. But none of that crisis will make the news. It just won't be flashy enough. Just my random thoughts. I needed to get that out. Now I need coffee.

ShetlandPony

But toilet paper will save us from Coronavirus.

mara51506

Just a bit of levity in the situation.

I am heading to the grocery store now. If I did find toilet paper, I would give it away in my apartment building one at a time. Counteract the jerks selling it for skyhigh prices.

mara51506

Shetland, I wish we had like buttons here sometimes.

Sunshine99

Mara51506, I agree! We need "Like" buttons.

mara51506

So no TP at the local grocery store but was not insanely busy either. Was able to get last can of black beans and grabbed white beans too. Queso was there and tortilla chips which are my staples. Plenty of frozen burgers to add protein. Also got a couple of frozen beef stroganoff that I can add to to make them heartier. I should be good for food. Might hit Walmart tomorrow morning and check on the chocolate situation. Did not find TP today to give away but will keep checking. I fully intend to give it away in my building.