August 2013 Chemo Sisters

Good to know ladies...it's almost 2 and I have had 2 saltine crackers/1/4 of cherry turnover (not the frosting part) sugar tastes gross!/ milk chocolate ensure Mmmm / 3 oz roast pork/ and I actually ate 1/2 pack ramen noodle!  My healthy thing went to the wayside....I just gotta get thru this.  Can't wait to see what the scale say before my next treatment.  At least water is the only thing I drink now.  I wrote a letter to my Mom and Dad this am to let them know how quirky I have become to warn them before my upcoming visit...Like walking up and down driveway at 2 am!  Have the best day possible ladies.

Wing, I guess I missed what problems you were having with your OC office. Hope everything goes smoothly today.

Lovewins, Yes hungry, but then after eating a small amount, no.

LHL, sending out positive vibes for NO migraine.... What a wonderful thing your daughters softball team did. That is so thoughtful. What a great idea.

The steroids make me incredibly hungry. If I don't eat every two hours I feel like I'll faint, seriously. Good small meals/snacks: hard boiled eggs, Activia yogurt, prunes, peeled apples, watermelon, mini whole wheat bagel with peanut or almond butter, popcorn, hummus and tortilla chips.



Rayna: I have taken Ambien before. I usually take half of a 5 mg dose or if I really need it, the whole 5 mg. If the steroids really make me hyper it doesn't work well. Last week the sleeplessness wore off so I don't use anything. Benadryl and Ativan do not make me drowsy. I strongly recommend you see your doc right away for a prescription. There are also other sleeping pills.



LHL: Good your counts are up and very nice about the t-shirt. I understand though I'd probably feel a bit uncomfortable too. I just had a very nice friend mail me two hats she knitted for me. It's so sweet too when someone does something to let you know they care.

A day or two after treatment I eat like crazy, after that I'm OK.

I make a cereal smoothie that lasts me usually from 8a until 2p; it's really healthy, too, with lots of fiber + iron.

I add quinoa, flax seed, chia seeds, wheat germ, nutritional yeast + oatmeal to boiling water.  Usually I add kale, carrots + spinach raw when mixing the smooth; however, during chemo I cook the veggies with the cereal.

I steep 2 cups of strong green tea.

The next morning a add a cup + a half of the cereal, 2 cups of green tea, agave syrup, frozen berries and reishi mushroom powder and blend until smooth.

This may not sound good but it is so nutritious + good for you and believe it or not taste good.

I usually drink this every morning, except Saturdays when I have buttermilk + banana waffles!

FMG - that does sound good.  what are the proportions?

That sounds very healthy FMG...I like the sounds of a banana waffle!

Gavinsgrand...I heard eyes watering can be a SE...I asked my chemo nurse and she said I could get a flue shot but it is too early in the season.  I am going to ask my DR next time I see him.

Travlmom, I don't really measure the cereals; maybe 1/4 cup of each except oatmeal use 1/2 cup.  The cooked cereal should be thick.

I add the flaxseeds to the water first because the seeds take longer to cook.  I make enough for the week.  You may want to try it before you make too much.

LoveWins, the banana waffles are delish.  In a pinchI use the bisquick flour, buttermilk, a ready banana + pure vanilla extract.  With softened butter and pure maple syrup (or Mrs. Butterworth). Umm, umm good!  Feel free to top with fresh blueberries!

FMGD - I'd like to declare the same thing as you - may I? It sounds perfect!

I had a good day yesterday! My sister from Memphis, TN came to visit (since this is the weekend my hair will probably fall out - at this point she's going to cut it but maybe shave my head...whatever turns out to be necessary).  She brought me a whole cancer kit - everything I've been reading about you all talking about and I kept thinking yep, I need to get that: a big scarf, soft knit hat, cuticle cream, nail hardener, hand sanitizer, ginger, herbal tea, peppermints, big hat. She said she had fun doing it -- but she must have spent hours on cancer sites figuring out just what I'd need. 

That's sure one of the best things about this journey - all the wonderful ways folks show how much they care.

We are God's special women, who He's chosen to make stronger and better after the trials. Here's hoping we all have a great day!

I Surrender All (lyrics)

All to Jesus I surrender All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him In His presence daily live

I surrender all, I surrender all All to Thee my blessed Savior I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender At Thy feet I humbly bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken Take me, Jesus, take me now

I surrender all, I surrender all All to Thee my blessed  Savior I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender Lord, I give myself to Thee

Fill me with Thy love and power Let Thy blessing fall on me

I surrender all, I surrender all All to Thee my blessed  Savior I surrender all

I surrender all, I surrender all All to Thee my blessed  Savior I surrender all, I surrender all, I surrender all

BE well + MAKE it a great day!

Good Morning ladies...I declare I know that God is good and that He strengthens us to do all we need to Glorify Him with our presence In Jesus name I pray.  Praise the Lord I feel stronger just speaking it out!

Hi ladies,



My mouth sores are getting better. thank you god. ,,, I'm starting to feel my taste buds back too. What is hairy toe? Is anyone feeling really whipped out? I was feeling good this morning, so I vacuumed one room and you'd a thought I ran a 10 mile Run. Also any one expericing constapiion? I am looking forward to my friends coming over tonight... You all are in my prayers. Remember. God is Goood. When things are looking down, try looking up...



Sue

Cutie yep...I am tired! So far that's good last time after chemo number one I couldn't sleep for anything! They reduced my steroids and it sure makes a difference. However I feel like I am really blown up now. Swollen. I hate that food is yucky again. I am hungry and want to eat but one bite seems enough to say all done...yet I am still hungry! I also discovered not all "bone" pain that I had was from the shot. This morning I have started with the bone pain...flu like pain. I wondered if I might not have any since I didn't get a shot this time. It's a lot less pain, but I still have some. Just starting too so I will see if it gets worse. I have been reading and being encouraged by you all but just not well enough to comment. Keeping all in my prayers!

cutiecool, I had concrete constipation until I started using benefiber every day. Now I am doing much better. I also eat a lot of prunes.

rayna, One more infusion sounds manageable. The surgery probably will be a piece of cake after all you've been through. I pray that it is for you.

mankato, hope  you feel better soon. So many are praying for you and all of us. It's so comforting to me to know that, isn't it? I must not have been given as much steroids as some of you because I'm not having trouble sleeping. I only take two pills the day before, they infuse steroids on my chemo day, and I take two the next day.

Since my chemo was changed to Tuesday from Monday, I thought today that I could sub on Monday, but then I thought of the steroids I would be taking and what that did to me last time and I decided against it. I would probably pick up a 200 pound teenaged boy and sling him out the window or something. I had better stay home and clean the house...and the out building...and the car...and the driveway...and the yard...and the neighbor's yard...Oh no. Stop there.

FMG, I gave up claiming the disease on about the 11 day of knowing about it. I turned it over to the Lord and I truly have not worried about it one more time. I have learned that if I worry, then I haven't really turned it over. That is how I know for sure. He is working it out for his glory in me.

I can't wait until tomorrow. It will be in the 70's here. What a blessing that will be. I can go out and see the neglect in my garden. My husband picked tomatoes and banana peppers today, but when I go out there in the heat, I get so many mosquito bites. I understand that we do not even need to get a bug bite. It could cause lots of problems, so I just don't venture out there. No telling what is growing. Probably mostly weeds. I had him take the tractor to the kale and lettuce last month so they would come back in the cooler weather.

I'm going to bed. God bless you all for the comfort you have given me through prayers, humor, hymns, and just for being there. It's nice to have gotten to know a little bit about you. I am praying daily for you, a lot of the time very early in the morning EST. That's really early for you in California. You probably aren't even in bed yet. See ya' tomorrow. Hope I don't get a call.I'm tired.

Rayna...you describe how I feel "  I've definately had a few better days, don't feeling like I'm losing my mind anymore.  Still exhausted but at least my body will let me lay down now and sleep when I need to " It's like I m so tired and after I ly down for half an hour my brain says ok that's enough.  I try to be patient and get up and do something else for awhile and try again same thing happens.  I have said for a long time even before BC that as I lay down to fall aslee it is like this golden bar comes down and I reach up an attach myself in order to be taken away to sleep.  With medication it is like the bar new appears.  It does make me feel like I am losing my mind.    This whole thing woud be so much more bearable if I could get some sleep and at least drink water.  Sorry feeling frustrated tonight.  Glad you are coming into your last treatment...Hope you have no SE's.  Many blessing to you and everyone. 

lovewins: Thats exactly why this site is so valuable for us because I was just trying to explain to my sister how I was feeling and though she tries to understand she cant but you read my words and know exactly what I'm talking about. I don't know why that is comforting to know but it is so important to our mental well being knowing we are understood and not alone. No need to say sorry for your words, this is the place to say whatever you need and get it off your chest, where you know one of us will understand.



Gashgold: Glad your WBC was good and chemo is a go. And you're so right that sounds so strange to say, that although we know how bad we are going to feel again that we still don't want anything to delay the light at the end of the tunnel.

Is the place on your arm where you feel the tingling red or warm or itchy, it might be infection or a little bit of chemo got under you skin. Maybe you should call the onco and ask a nurse because it could be chemo burn. Not sure what they would do about it.. Sorry you are more nauseous I hope you can get this under control.

I wonder at the end of this a year, down the road if we will say, "it wasn't that bad" when we talk to others, if the memory will fade even though we are not feeling that way at all right now.

3 a.m. and awake but at least I was able to sleep 4 hours, heavenly. Another thing I noticed is when I dont get sleep my breast that had the lumpectomy is swollen about twice its size.

Wishing everyone well.

Love, Rayna