November Rads 2009

Hi ladies, I'd like to join in. Had my first rad today, 29 to go. I'v scanned through your posts. Very informative. Thanks for sharing.

11 of 30 complete   I am starting to pink up and I noticed bumps in my armpit - looks almost like razor burn (though I am NOT shaving) but it doesn't hurt.  The doc said that my skin looks like it'll start to itch soon so she wrote a script for super duty hydrocortisone creme to have on hand.

So far, so good.

I also made a decision to get my fat ass into the gym!  I went this morning and walked 45 minutes on the treadmill.  It felt great.  The owner of the gym was so impressed that I was coming in during treatments that he gave me a years membership for free!!  How cool is that!

Haha, Lauren, I seriously deserve the giant pacifier award.    If nobody gives me one I'll make my own.  I have lots of Sculpey.  

The plan for today is to take Klonopin and Xanax, stop off to buy a sleep mask and earplugs on the way, and take the train to rads so I won't have to drive while 'medicated'.  I'm either going into the room backwards or I'm going to wear the mask and have them lead me, I haven't decided yet.  

NikNak, that's so cool!  I admire your determination!  

Good luck Sparrow!  Let us know how you make out.

Rinna, I do the same thing.  I think about my son and try to think about what he might be doing at that given moment.  And I think about all the things we'll do together when this is all God willing in the past.  I also think about cancer cells being zapped into oblivion.  And I pray that it's working.

8 of 33 done. yea. 

A LOT MORE $$$ in the US. got another bill in the mail...erroneously. the price for one treatment is $863.88. so, 33 tx will be $28,508.04, that is if the boosts cost the same as a regular tx. No CT scan listed, but it does say RAD TX THREE+ AREAS 6-l0 MEV. Have no idea what this means. Anyone know? Will definitely ask my doc what it means next time I see her. 

Worked out today too. Hoping I can keep it up the whole time. Anyone who's almost done still working out?

Deb

Hi Ladies, I have completed 6 out of my 30 rads today.  I am in pain, it hurts in mostly my chest.  And lucky me I puke every day.  I feel like I have been hit by a truck every other day, that is strange it is only every other day.  WTF again.  I am in and out quick now.  It only takes about 5 min to position me then on to zap me, get changed again and out the door.  I have to drive an hour each way so that blows.  Glad to see we are all moving along.

I still havent received my COBRA paperwork so all of this is going to be a nightmare with the bills once I get them. 

Much Love all

Hi Sparrow:
I was suffering from panic attacks last year when my thyroid went on the fritz and was helped greatly by a CD by Belleruth Naperstek. You can find more information at www.healthjourneys.com and check it out. The section that helped me immensely were the affirmations which always bring me back to a peaceful place within. I now use them for radiation but only get through a few of them before the session is over, it happens so quickly.You can download the MP3 instantly. Practice the affirmations for a few hours - you will be amazed, I promise!!! The section starts out with these words..."I declare my intention to heal myself in body, mind and spirit" and goes from there. Worth a try and can be used with or without ativan!

This will put a smile on your face.  Just copy link and paste to your browser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw

Hi Sparrow:
Glad you know of Belleruth.....sometimes people think I'm going all "new age" on them when I suggest her programs.....but they are very, very effective. I listen to the affirmations at night when going to sleep and in the morning before I get out of bed. That way they are in my head and stick with me....and the ones that are meaningful (like the one I mentioned) are the ones I can repeat to myself while getting zapped. Here's the funny thing....I've had 3 treatments so far and my life is so hectic and nuts right now that I actually find the 6 or so minutes I lie there are the most peaceful of the day - because it's the one true time I am doing something for me, and me alone.

I wish you peace and will "see" you on the discussion board soon.

Janet

Hello ladies,

I like the imagery about taking 5 min .for your self.  I am very peaceful when I go in.  The machine does not close around me it just moves from place to place.  My only problem is that the doctor said not to breath deeply once and thats all I want to do.

Here is another difference in Germany besides 1/3 the cost of treatment.  They do not tatoo you.  The mark me with a marker and put tape over it.  It works good but I had them remove it between my breast because it was itchy.  I look odd with blue pen all over my chest but it beats tatoos. I think.

I went and worked out in a back room of the gym and decided not to wear my hat.  My hair is a 1/4 inch long and it looks bald but I did not feel like sweating as much.  The only one that was there was a bald guy so who cares. 

Hey, gjlanders!    They didn't tattoo me either.  I have black sharpie xs covered with clear tape circles. They told me tattooing was 'old school'.  I didn't want tattoos anyway.  

#3 went much better than #2!    I guess I'm going to have to stay on the drugs till this is over, they really help!  Ugh, I always think I don't need them anymore when apparently I do...  Also, the sleep mask I bought is awesome and the ear plugs REALLY help.  I can daydream and *almost* not even notice the machine is there. I never even saw it today.  I did have a little trouble breathing but no tears.    I think I can actually do this!!!   

I arranged it with my techs so I can sign in and wait on a bench outside the building.  This helps a bunch.  The patient 'waiting room' is really a hallway with chairs crammed into it.  I always get claustrophobic in there and I can hear other people getting buzzed-  ugh!  

amlg1,I just finished #10 rads, and yes it does go pretty quick once you are in there. Have you had any problems with rads? I am just red so far. Do you go to Sloan on LI for treatment??

I would not do the wine with  xanax. Ask your doctor to be sure, but most drugs for anxiety say no alcohol. I believe it "potentiates" the drug, meaning it makes the effects more intense: which is not predictable and could be dangerous.  There are a number of drugs that help to potentiate others: this is why, for example, acetaminophen is added to codeine. The amount of codeine can be reduced (thus fewer side effects) because the acetaminophen makes the codeine work better. Alcohol potentiates a lot of different drugs. For example, people die from combining alcohol with barbiturates because the alcohol makes the dose of the barbiturate effectively stronger. My dad was on xanax, I remember the doctor telling us no wine, or only a small glass for a special occasion. (daily rads would not count, I think!)

There was a thread sometime back, saying 1 glass of red wine helped prevent burning. A search would probably turn up the thread. I tried it, but could not do it consistently. It makes me so sleepy that my day would end with dinner if I did. And wine at bedtime is not good either, as it causes waking later in the night. I have enough trouble sleeping through the night without that.

I am toasty now after 25 treatments  but the aloe 2x  day (should have been 3, but it's too hard to get undressed during the day) helped a lot. My skin looks burned but is not that sore except for the nipple, which got dark, cracked and dry. The rad doctor prescribed Radiaplex cream last week, which is even better than aloe. Very soothing. The hospital pharmacy carries it. I tried the greasy ointments (like Aquaphor) recommended here but they were much too hard to get off before treatments. They feel great on, but if you have to scrub to remove them, that is harder on the skin. It makes the skin hurt and feel like it is burning after a treatment if I fail to get it all off, which must be very bad. So I'm sticking to the Radiaplex or aloe now.

I am more sore on the inside than the outside, but Aleve or ibuprofen help very well with that.

uuugggghhh!!!! got 2 more bills in the mail today. can they PLEASE use the right billing code for my insurance? Radiation is stressful enough. Do I really need to keep calling the billing department too?

maybe i'll drink that glass of wine for you so glad to have the weekend off!!!