Lita57
Comments
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Lita, during that metallic taste phase I also ate a lot of spicy Mexican food....when I could eat. The chemo nurses joked about us going for tacos after infusions. I ran in to one of them while getting blood drawn & she said....."it's the taco lady"!! The trick is to just get down what you can tolerate. Another trick is to try plastic utensils. Something about putting a metal fork in my mouth turned my stomach. I agree that Biotene is awful but got into the salt/baking soda routine before trying to eat anything. It really helped.
For the concrete plops Miralax is a lifesaver.....works miracles!! I am having knee replacement surgery in a week. Knowing that I will be on pain medication (better known as concrete producer) I've already stocked up on those infamous supplies. It is so predictable I will start taking Miralax before it even becomes a problem. I will remain at home tho since, with my luck, I would have a Japanese garden incident too!!
There is so much fear, sadness, stress, pain and anxiety that comes with cancer. I am so very grateful we all can find a smile, or even a relating chuckle, amongst us. Sharing is the thing that bonds us regardless of our country, faith, likes or dislikes. You never know when a rant, tears, suggestion or humbling experience will be just what someone else needs to hear. Gentle hugs to all
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Yes, gentle hugs to all. So we don't burst forth w great poo.
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I almost never post but I wanted to tell you that I am praying for you, Lita. I also wanted to point out that while we don't have buns of steel, we do have balls of concrete.
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Hahaha pianolady.
This thread and links were a life saver this week.
Lita, I'm praying for you too
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kandy and all, I found that if I got in a good routine alternating Miralax every two or three days with 2 Senna tablets on the fourth I could keep a fairly "regular" movement happening.....
Z, your daughters comment cracked me up too. Can't wait to hear all about your trip when you return although we are already getting so much from your posts, it's great!
Lita and Jen, so sorry about these episodes. the things we have to endure sure make us resilient. I was subjected to a VERY intrusive search by TSA at the airport both coming and GOING! I was surprised since I am on a cane and obviously slightly disabled. When she told me she would be checking my buttocks and between my legs she asked if I wanted a private room to which I said "Oh hell no". I am beyond humiliation at this point. Or so I think until the next thing happens...pooping in public would do it.
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Artist, I take 2 stool softeners in the morning and 2 at night, then I take miralax every other day. It goes from too lose to concrete. No happy medium. Since I left the hospital, I have stayed too loose. They gave me prescription senekot to be taken twice a day and a prescription miralax twice a day. I stopped the miralax after things started moving by I am still on the senekot. Still too lose, once I cut back on senekot I will immediately go concrete. Sure wish someone could figure out how to get me normal again. Hoping and praying for each of you
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kandy, I feel your pain for sure. Poop issues make life a misery. I think I would much rather have too loose than concrete.....although that obviously presents problems of it's own. I'm on my steroid crash today.
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Haven't heard an update from Lita lately, just checking on you. Much love ~M~. Think of you often and your many many good looks I have been seeing. Hope you're doing ok. You're on my mind tonight ! ~M~
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Very tired, and wbc's are very low, so I'm just taking it easy.
Everything tastes like crap.
Next week is my week off, so I hope I feel a little more energetic soon.
L
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I hope you also you have a better week next week as well. I know we all live week to week day to day. I got my power of attorney and will and advanced directive all done Monday at the lawyers. Your strength and the way you have carried yourself has been so gracious and beautiful Lita. It gave me the strength and drive to get it done so no one else would be faced with anything else. I hope you know how special we all think you are! Much love ~M~
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Lita, I do hope your week off makes you feel more normal. I have also been extremely tired lately. If I sit down for any length of time I fall asleep. Definitely not the normal me. I hope your energy level rises quickly. Always lifting you and others up in prayer. You hang in there.
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hugs lita.
Z
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Lita. I hope next week is better for you and that you have more energy.
Hugs
Babs
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Hugs to you Lita and many prayers! Will light a candle for you at Mass
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Thanks, everyone 😀.
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Lita-
Thinking of you today and praying for strength. Truly in awe of how you are handling all this like a BOSS!
💕 Sheri
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New developments: My right butt cheek is numb, and so is my right inner thigh. I can no longer feel the right side of my hoohah, and I can't clench down to even complete a kegel.
Won't be able to see the MO until next Friday. Something's up. Is this spinal compression or the leptomeningeal activity that they warned me about?
Now for some levity...I was getting ready to take a shower, pulled down my underwear, and what did I see? A little pile of pubic hair. Eyebrows are almost gone, too. Haven't had to shave my armpits in weeks. Head was shaved a month ago, but I have to keep putting moisturizer on it.
When I was on Xeloda pill-form chemo, I really didn't feel like a true "cancer patient" but now I do.
L
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Lita, I felt the same way when I left Madame X and moved on to Taxol. I had super thick, wavy hair-- my wigs are less than ¼ of the thickness of my own hair. But the kicker was losing my eyebrows and lashes. That made me virtually unrecognizable. One day that first month after they vanished, I had to sit at a very long event near two women who are not my cup of tea and I was really dreading it. Well...I stood right in front of them (I was wearing a little bob halo wig with a red bandana, pirate style)... and lo and behold, neither of them recognized me. At all.
You know how pollsters sometimes ask people which superpower they would choose? Turns out, most people mostly want invisibility on demand. So there ya go, we finally have a superpower.
PS. If you need help with brows and eyeliner, PM me. I wasted a bunch of $ on a lot of stuff that migrated all over the place before Estee Lauder saved the day. I've got this one figured out!!
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Hi Lita!
Sending good thoughts your way. Hope the numbness is temporary!
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Lita, send prayers and good vibes. Hope numbness will go away tomorrow. Could be one of the taxol SE
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Outside the Navarro Winery on the way to Mendocino with DD and Sofia. My mom was raised in Navarro, Anderson Valley, Ca. We picked up some wine...of course it all tastes like metal while I'm on chemo...boo!
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From the winery parking lot. Autumn is lovely in Mendocino County. We drove thru Santa Rosa and saw some of the fire damage...SO depressing.
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Two more shots....tomorrow we're off to the beach.
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so glad the smoke cleared so you could have a fun getaway with your family - the pictures show what a gorgeous day it was!! best wishes for your pain to ease up and for sleep to come easily. xo
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Anderson is such a beautiful little place. How special to have a family connection. My family is in Santa Rosa and that's where I grew up. Can't imagine driving through it.
So glad you are in the road. So sorry for the new areas of numbness and the disappearing hair. It's just really hard y see it go
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Nice pictures Lita, have a wonderful time in Mendocino. Hoping the ocean air and all the natural beauty there have some great healing effects.
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Lita - the way you wear your scarf gives the impression of long flowing hair and is very attractive.... keeping that trick in my back pocket.
>Z<
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You both look beautiful Lita what a fun time and sunshine to boot☺️. I thought the scarf was hair too very fashionable but you always have it together. How are you finding the Taxol my feet are still numb. Hair is all standing straight up I look like a pencil eraser. Take care of yourself always thinking of you. -
It does look like a long braid or something, I thought you added a hair extension under your hat.
You hear it all the time I'm sure - your daughter is lovely and looks so much like you.
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Dinner last night was AWFUL. The restaurant here is 100% vegan. Now I can do vegetarian and some vegan stuff, but I should have ordered what my DH had...beans, rice, and tortillas. Can't go wrong with that. I had the sea palm [that's seaweed...] puff pastry dinner. BAD CHOICE, BLEEAAACH!!!
Weird stool this am and tummy ache. Time for TUMS. Going to a REAL restaurant tonight. Don’t want a repeat performance. But we LOVE the cabin we're staying in.
More pictures later.
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