For those starting chemo in June

Well girls, Como estas, P.J. I have to wait until I am done with the Herceptin before we can think of going. I couldn't afford the Cobra. We are still dreaming of the day. We are looking for a place like a snowbird mobil home or cheap condo. they come with everything from dish towels to sheets. I may want my own sheets and towels but hey its pretty practical and until we get going financially I don't want to get too much in debt.and we will have bills to pay here on our house etc. My hubby wants to get a big camper and just park out there. We have been checking those out too. I have been buying some towels and things like that for when we need them and just packing them away. Well I got grandkids in the pool so better go check on them. Later girls, Mary

Mary, I've decided that strangers and even acquaintances ask too many questions in general. Why should a store clerk, you may never see again care what you do with the merchandise? Maybe, I am antisocial or something, but personal questions from strangers bug me, although I know they are just trying to be friendly. Sometimes the answer is more than you care to go into over the counter, like "What happened to your arm?"

Okay--So I'm out of the hospital for real this time--I hope. Here's what's going on--they think?? The Herceptin has adversely affected my GI system. HMMMM? Imagine that! I think that I've been telling them for months now that I get wicked diarrhea and throw up almost everything I eat for days after each Herceptin (which is a "breeze" and has no side effects) Yah, right. So over the last 4 months I've lost almost 50 pounds not to mention any appetite I ever had. So my WBC is shot to "below critical level" again and my Hemoglobin keeps dropping down below 12,000 and I have to get Aranesp shots again for extreme anemia. So while they had me trapped in the hospital trying to keep me hydrated--they ran every test they could think of to rule the Herceptin out as the culprit. So I had CT scans of my head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvic area. They all came back free and clear and "boring" according to the docs. Then they did an upper GI series with small bowel follow up and a lower GI to top or bottom it out. Except for the drinking of the barium crap for the upper GI--I found that really interesting cuz I could see my port on the screen and the tubing that goes into my heart--weird-- and I could see the staples that they left in me when they took my gall bladder out in February. I wasn't aware till now that I HAD staples left in me!! So after a gazillion extra X-rays and ultra-sounds, they determined that I was normal and that I'm definitely in Remission--That's what the report said. YAY!!! So out of all the days in the hospital and all the tests, I got really great news in the midst of feeling like crap warmed over. SO--My oncologist finally is willing to admit that Herceptin is probably the cause???!!! So he suspended my infusion on the 15th which was fine with me. They gave me one whole week to get straightened out and then resumed on this Monday the 22nd. So now I got #40 and I only have 12 to go if I don't fade away to nothing before that happens. My hemoglobin was at 12 on the dot Monday so I'm not anemic at the moment or at least I wasn't 2 days ago. I've become a huge fan of Carnation Instant Breakfast because I manage to keep it down for the most part. I went back to work at the daycare today. My little "Bug" asked me today to "Cuddle me in" for his nap. When I got him all snuggled down on his cot, he said, "Please be here when I get up from my nap--OK--Nancy--You don't have to go to the doctor any more, do you?" Wow, now I've got a 4 year old worrying about me. SIGH. So--Herceptin can have a cumulative effect. I'm glad that I don't have to take it for two years because I don't think I'd last that long. I can now fit into clothes I wore in college--Embroidered bell bottoms that I have never had the heart to toss out. What a hoot!! Gotta quit rambling and go to bed. Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

Well I had my treatment about 1 this afternoon and I am awake and sleepy but trying to stay up. I have a sinus headache thanks to the humidity thats so thick you could cut it with a knife and the rain. My M.R.I. will take about 3 days to get to my Dr. They do them in a semi truck out of Springfield. Our Hospital is small so they come down from Spring. to do them and they have to read it up there and send it to my Dr. She is good about calling me right away. Glad to hear you are doing o.k. Nancy Lee. I have now lost 8 pounds and I thank my diarrhea. My nurse started my I.V. today and I wasn't getting sleepy so I wondered what was up and about that time she said I was too talkative and checked it and she forgot to turn it on so I was getting the Hercept but not the benadryl. She turned it on fast and I was out in no time. Well P.J. I am still thinking about you and praying for you. I wish ol money bags would get warts too....She is very pretty but knows it ya know???? Her personality sucks though. Well hope Janie is doing o.k. Hi to Rene. Hugs, MaryZZZZZZZZZZZ