August 2013 Chemo Sisters

Oh, LHH - I'm so sorry to hear about your day/night yesterday - hope you can sleep tonight and are feeling much better tomorrow.

I know lots of us are finding strength in God and folks at church - hope y'all can get there tomorrow. This is my 9th day so I've stayed home pretty much this weekend but plan to go to church and Sunday School tomorrow (although I'll take plenty of hand sanitizer with me).

Praying for us all - God is good....all the time.

lighthouselady: I'm so glad you are okay. Did they determine if it was a migraine? I can't remember who I told about the migraine pills called "Maxalt" I suffer excruciating migraines and OTC and normal pain meds will do nothing for a migraine.

Isn't that something about the WBC and how quickly it went down. Could your headache have anything to do with the cold cap therapy, I have no idea what is involved, just a thought.

I take it the migraine shot at the hospital worked so did they give you a RX for some for home. Isn't it something when you go to ER and tell them that you are a cancer patient and on chemo, did they get you secluded right away?

Again, so glad you are okay and I pray you can keep that headache away.

Love, Rayna

Oh a neck massage sounds heavenly!!!



Rayna - would you believe they did NOT seclude me? They even sent me back to the waiting room after taking my vitals because they didn't have a room open. I was shocked. I know it was a migraine.... I had the nausea, light sensitivity, etc. They did not give me a prescription for anything at home. I'm going to call my MO on Monday though and see if he will. I don't think it had anything to do with the cold caps. I think it is a combination of things... Chemo, hormones, no caffeine (diet coke and iced tea both taste horrible now and I would have one or the other every day), coming off the steroids at the beginning of the week.... You name it! I will ask about that medicine though.



I'm sorry for those who are dealing with friends issues, too. I have the opposite problem. One of my good friends has me one foot in the grave and is trying to micro manage every part of my life. The minute I tell her something she starts messaging all my other friends, etc. She tries to make schedules for who will take my kids places, etc. I feel like saying I'M STILL HERE!!! I know her heart is in the right place and she wants to be needed but good grief!

LHL: Wow! I can't believe they didn't seclude you! Is your MO at the same hospital? Make sure to let him know. Your counts were really low! Migraines are the worst!!!!!!!

LHL, Hope you are feeling better soon. That sounds really miserable. Certainly not needed at this time. Sending healing thoughts your way.

Rayna and Batcatlady, hope you are feeling stronger and more energetic. It really zaps one physically and emotionally. Hard to get going at times for sure. 

Cougar, how exciting that you are having another boy. I'm sure your older son will be very protective, maybe helpful?

Martie, I am also an at home transcriptionist, going on 15 years.

beeve, So sorry you're feeling this way, I know its so easy to get weepy and feel alone. I know the weakened feeling gets me more than i'd like to admit.  I told my husband that the 3 or 4 days after chemo I seem to sway from one extreme to another, either life is flying by and I'm struggling to keep up or in my mind I am so far beyond what is happening in the here and now that I wish everyone would just quit the nonsense and move on to what's important.   I have been lashing out probably a bit more than I should.  I hate the feeling of being out of control.

Hang in there and know that you are loved.

Cougar I love the name Noah!  What a wonderful idea!  

Cougar, I would love to meet your babies, I live in the valley, so closer to you than LA or orange county.  My parent's house has a pool and my niece and nephews are great babysitters, so u let me know whenever you want to bring your babies to swim and play.  My girls are 10 and 7yrs old, most of my friends have girls, so they get excited when they see baby boys.  One of friends is due around the same time as you end of Oct, she's having a boy, we are so excited since there are only girls.  I can't wait to meet you and the boys.  You PM me when you come down.  We can have a Korean BBQ party just you and our family!  Thank you for making me your son's virtual Godmother, I'm starting my prayers for both you and the baby so you can have a safe delivery  OMG, I'm so excited!!!!

naan, are you feeling a little topsy turvey this morning or is your world just upside down?

Cougar, Two boys? I had four boys and no girls. I lived with 5 men, 4 sons and a husband. It's a wonder I survived. I can tell you one thing. Two boys are quite manageable. You hold onto one and your hubby holds the other when you go out, but when you add that third son, all hell breaks loose. You never know where one is. We had to count all of the time to be sure we got them all from the store. Then when we had #4 and took the to the beach, it was very hard keeping up with them to make sure they were ok. I put white sailor hats on them and blue and white Kentucky shirts. I could pick them out of a crowd easier that way. I would say, 1,2,3,4, then look down and read a paragraph of my book, look up, 1,2,3...uh oh, where is 4? We still had fun though. Boys are more active than girls, usually. I used to envy myfriend who could sit here baby girl on a quilt and she would sit there and play with her toys. My boys would have wadded up the quilt, thrown down the toys, and climbed a tree or something.

I read these posts earlier and lost my post, but I have been praying for all of you who are still feeling terrible. I have come out of the worst part, so there is hope. I think by the 8th or 9th day, I felt like doing things, and now, day 14, I feel really well. Now I hate to go back and do it again a week from tomorrow. Ugh.

I am now committed to wearing this wig. I cut my hair to about 1" all over except around the edges. I look like a lawnmower ran over me. I am going to have to go hat shopping very soon. I need something to wear around the house. What is everyone wearing who hates to run around without a hat or a wig? Maybe I'll get over that soon, but right now, it is just too new to me. I just cut it this morning. I didn't cry, but probably because I'm on effexor. That makes me a little emotionless. I can cry, but it takes more to make me emotional. I suppose my aunt's funeral tomorrow will jerk on my emotions. She was my second mom. Have a great day. Hope the headaches are gone, the nausea is put to sleep, and everyone enjoys a day without pain.

I'm just returning from church.  I wanted to share today's sermon with those who couldn't make it out . . .

Scripture:  Genesis 11:31-32; 12:1-3

³¹ And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. ³² So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.

The just of the sermon was that Terah (Abram's father) was instructed to leave Ur and to lead his family to Canaan (the place of more than enough).

However Terah settled in Haran (meaning parched) and died there.

They did not just stop by Haran, Scripture says they dwelt there (I believe they were there for 25 years).  Terah, the head of the family, settled for less for his family than God intended.

How to Get Out of Haran or the parched (dry place)

1. Know your destination.  The Bible said they were instructed to go to Canaan; they knew the destination.

2. Stop blaming other people + stop making excuses.  We don't know why Terah settled in Haran, but that doesn't matter. All we know is that God sent them to Canaan and they chose a different path.  Don't talk yourself into staying in the dry place.  Keep on the path to destiny (Canaan, the place of more than enough/overflow).

3. Identify your influences. Know who or what is hindering you. Terah was given the instruction and was thereby the hindrance to his family.

4. Pray + meditate. Consult God in all things. Acknowledge Him + He will direct your path.

5. Be inspired, stay inspired + Walk in the Spirit.

After Terah, the hindrance, died God spoke to Abram.  You see God was trying to get Abram to Canaan because that is where Abram's blessing was.  Terah was in the way because he did not follow God's instruction.

Genesis 12:1-3 tells us that God still had a blessing for Abram (in Canaan) + continued to speak to him and got him back on track.

¹“Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. ² I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Abram had to leave the comfort of his family + life as he knew it.  Following God took sacrifice + discipline.

Questions: 

~ Do you want Canaan, the place of more than enough?

~ What instruction has God given you that you have yet to obey?

~ Who or what is influencing you + helping to keep you stuck where you are?

~ What are you willing to sacrifice to get the blessing God has for you?

~ Seek the face of the Lord by pray + meditation.  Pray, listen + obey.

~ Acknowledge God in all your ways + He will direct your paths.

I hope this sermon helps someone to MOVE to obedience.  It could be a physical move, an emotional move, a health move, a Spiritual move or different kind of move.  The blessings for you + your family may depend on it.

God Bless!

Batcatlady, I too have gotten extremely fatigued from both of my rounds of chemo but even with Neulasta my WBC'S have dropped, this last they were critically low and my RBC'S also dropped. I asked MO and he said that would make me feel lightheaded and short if breath as well, so now I am back to my A/C and cytoxin every3 weeks instead of 2.

Sharonanne, you are right avoiding raw fruits and vegi's is when our WBC is low, we are considered " Neutrapenia" which I am right now. We have family in town and we are going to Chinese Champagne Brunch😛 I will have to be carefully and get the fresh hot things as they come out before others get to it.

Beeve, about the weepy times, last week after my 2nd infusion starting on about day 3-yesterday I cried everyday especially before I got antibiotics and started feeling better. I have concluded when I feel so crappy, and achy I just cry when I don't feel good. I was telling the Hubbs yesterday that I feel just as emotionally and worn out as physically with all this stuff. I don't think people know how to handle this "C" stuff and I day that honestly because I did not really before my Dx. I remember when I was still doing hair I got to be friends with a client that had returned to the area to be near her son after having been through Mastectomy, chemo and rads. By the time I met her her hair had grown out and we really hit it off, well her cancer had returned and was in her bones ( I have no idea of her Dx) but I knew she was getting sicker and I kept thinking I should go visit her and I never did before she passed away and I think about her often and how lonely she must have been. You see when we have never been in someone else's shoes we don't understand their walk.



Love to all Shary🌻

Rayna - Yeah, while it sucks, at least we're not alone. That's what these boards are good for

Gavinsgrandma - I did have a blood check last week in the ER (minor bleeding after hours; it was no big deal) & WBC were not super low nor was I anemic, so I guess this is just how my body is reacting? Dunno. Going to call my onc Monday morning since I'll need her to sign the disability papers anyway.

Lighthouselady - Your migraine sounds awful, sorry! By any chance were you taking the anti-nausea med Zofran? It has the side effect of headaches. My onc told me that since I get migraines & it's in the med's paperwork, so I put that as my 'last resort' nausea med of the 3 prescribed (tho' I haven't needed any of them).

FMG, Maybe I will get that brave soon, but right now, since I just cut it this morning, I'm not there yet. I have a couple of cotton hats that tie in the back. I have one on now and it's comfortable and cool. Right now, my hair looks like I fell under a lawn mower. I didn't use shears. I used scissors so I could keep each sprig. I'm playing with it to make a hairband.

I went to my uncle's home today where people had brought tons of food for my aunt's funeral tomorrow. Of course, you don't think I ate the cantaloupe do you? Well, yes I did, along with cake, corn pudding, grilled hamburger, chips, marshmallow pink salad, and whatever else was on that table. I have been eating like that for two days now and off of my diet I was on and it gave me diarrhea!!! I have been constipated with concrete until I ate those two meals. Gotta' get myself back to the grindstone. Love you all. God bless you tonight. I'll be praying for you.

Sharonannebaker, yes, your neighbor was concerned + wanted to let you know.  You gave her enough information (I'm not going to die) and she was on her way.  May God bless her for being a blessing to you.

Ok so I start round two of T/C tomorrow. I have started my steroid today. Would you praying ladies pray that I get more sleep this time and am not so restless with the chemo? Lovewins I can so relate to you saying you can't find a place to get comfortable. I will be praying for you to find that comfy place so you can get some sleep.

I have switched my allergy pill to claritin and taking Aleve so I am hoping and praying I will have less bone pain from the shot this time.

Is anyone else having chemo tomorrow?