My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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DodgersGirl,
Oh, No! Not in the hospital? Hope you feel better soon. Hoping this week will be better.
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BevJen — Thanks!! Hoping the IV fluids 24X7 does the trick SOON!!
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Oh noooo DodgersGirl! I was in the hospital 3-4 weeks ago for D and low potassium. It was caused by Afinitor although my MO won't admit that. Dang I wish you well this week and hopefully they'll let you out of there SOON!
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Moomala, I am sorry you are stuck in hospital and dealing with the big D too. I hope things settle down soon for you and you start to feel better very soon.
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Moomala—. Hope you are much better now!
Big D and low potassium here, too.
Sure isn’t a place to be and keep any modesty
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Dodgers~Nooo not the hospital. 🥺 that certainly sucks. But if the IV can help you. Then I guess it's good but you're correct. No modesty there. No good food either I cannot eat hospital food I just can't. The smell of it sends me crazy! Nope! Dh things it's a great deal. I hate it personally. Hope you get home soon!!
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Mara I'm not in the hospital at the moment - I was in there in Juanuary for D and low potassium Fun fun.
Mel I am also not a fan of the hospital food. It's so gross.DodgersGirl - when i was in for pnuemonia in December, I had a shared room with an elderly woman who's sons stayed overnight with her. I had D the whole two days I was there - night and day. Plus accompanying gas. It was so embarrassing. She was unable to get herself to the bathroom or really even walk herself anywhere, so I at least had that much privacy but still - 3AM bathroom trips with giant gas and a strange man staying with his mother behind the curtain divider. Omg I couldn't wait to get out of there. I was admitted for low potassium in January. I still have some D from this Afinitor and my IBS now, however my potassium is controlled now with the horse pills every day and more potassium rich foods like potatoes, spinach and coconut water and low sodium V8. Are you getting the potassium in your IV? That really irritates your veins. I couldn't stand the burning. I hope they are pairing it with fluids. It makes things burn way way less.
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Moomala— for low potassium I have horse pills that I ask to have cut in half. That leaves me with 4 pretty large masses to swallow. So far, IV fluids for hydration and Zofran for nausea
I cannot imagine going thru this in a semi private room. OMG. Glad you weren’t there too many days
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Dodgersgirl - hope you feel more comfortable soon, what a wild ride those rads gave you. Any indication when you can start the cancer meds?
Just passing through tonight - had a super productive day cutting down my to do list. I have a very hard time speaking on the phone, so calling for appointments is really tough for me and something I usually put off. Not today; I blew through making an appt to see a potential house for Saturday, calling the physical therapy clinic to set an appointment for tomorrow, calling my insurance to get the code to pay for the PT.
The clinic has specialist breast cancer and pelvic therapists on staff - ready to get everything uncricked and some core strengthening started.
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DodgersGirl, hope you get home real soon. I know how you feel. I do sing along while chair dancing lo
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SondraF— still in the hospital. Been to the restroom over 20 times today. So miserable. Medical team is searching for a fix. I can’t find butt corks on Amazon (meant to be humorous)
Sounds like you were very productive with setting up appointments.... that has to feel good.
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Sondra, good job banging out appointments, it is really good when we can get quite a bit done. Feels really accomplished for sure.
Dodgers girl, I am so sorry about the big D. That definitely is miserable and that they can't seem to stop it is even worse. I am hoping it stops sooner as opposed to later for you.
I went for my daily outdoor walk. Just to the grocery store to get liver and spinach. Somehow when I got home, besides the liver and spinach, two chocolate bars made their way into my bag. Of course, they were devoured once I got home. I am usually pretty good at sticking to what I put on my list but do occasionally allow some extra for chips or chocolate of some sort. I am feeling stronger and enjoying the fact that I actually WANT to go out most days, even if it is just to the grocery store. I like the fresh air and my own company at the same time. I do have my phone friend who I talk to for about an hour a day as well. She started out as a service to make sure I was in and OK but she asked if we could be friends on the phone. She is lovely and we talk about everything. It is nice to have.
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Hello everyone,
I've been following along and not posting(obviously). I think of you all often. I have been a total slug for about 5 weeks, sleeping more and unmotivated.I feel as though I am slogging through jello. I force myself to make dinner each day and to do household chores. DH and I and our friend have started taking walks on the nice days, which is helping.
I have been concerned about my Grandson who has had a resurgence of OCD. He is washing his hands obsessively and having morbid thoughts that really upset him. I have made calls to Psychologist offices for an appmnt. i have dealt with a lot of mental health issues in my family and myself, so at least i am equipped to reassure him. But still, I look at the sky and beseech the powers that be---why does it have to be HIM? It's very treatable and he will be fine. He is able to be insightful about himself.BUT.......
My daughters are another concern-struggling financially, one out of a job and looking desperately. My DD who is in school is doing great this semester, after a somewhat traumatic ending to last semester. But, after 17 years of eating disorders, alcohol and drug addiction, shoplifting addiction, she is behind socially. She chooses complete loser boyfriends. BUT, she is going to have a nice little career as a radiographer...
I am still being treated with IV Taxol. My tumor markers have reached a plateau, after coming down significantly. I am scanning Feb.18th and we are expecting it to be fine, but one never knows. I am tolerating it well, for the most part. No hair, some neuropathy in my feet, esp. toes. No appetite a lot, and some taste issues. I went on Gabapentin for some serious jaw pain and it went away.The nurses at my infusion center are the absolutely the cat's meow.
Moomala and Dodger's Girl- it's crappy to have low potassium, dehydration, and big D. I found that the horse pills of potassium caused D. When I was on heavy chemo for Stage1 in 2014, I spiked a fever and had a horrible chest cold. I ended up in the ER with low potassium, almost NO white cells. Sooo sick. Worst in my life. I got the burning potassium IV, chest Xray for which I could hardly stand, antibiotics, and the pills. They did not want to admit me to hospital because of the nonexistent white cells. I came home and could hardly lift my head. They called it viral bronchitis.Also, I had not been able to eat much for 2 wks, which also lowers ones potassium. The fluids exiting my body were like Niagra falls- and with the severe coughing, there was no hope. i felt like sitting naked in the bath tub.Finally had the presence of mind to get jumbo depends, so I was not changing bed every five minutes. It really sucked and i am aggrieved that you two have had to endure this.
I am going to feed the boys and then finish in another post. I am afraid I will lose this.
To be continued.........
Love, MJ
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DodgersGirl- Sorry to read you are in the hospital. And 20+ bathroom trips, wow !!! Maybe you can patent those butt corks and make millions, haha.
I posted on the Ibrance Thread-- my scans went to the patient portal today. No call from MO. Looks "stable" to me. Slight increase in liver met measurements from last scan, but I think will be ok. MO appt next Mon the 17th to discuss.
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MJ Look into Neurofeedback for your Grandson. It is fabulous for anxiety, sleeplessness, etc. The easy easy system is "Neuroptimal." You can see major changes in 10-20 treatments, each treatment is 35 mins. I am a Court Appointed advocate and it made a giant difference for the foster youth I mentor. So much so, I tried it for myself. My sleep got so much better.
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Yay Candy! Hoping your MO is happy with your scans too!! Do you see him/her soon? Sorry, you’ve probably mentioned that
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Back to finish....
Soooo, Miss Mae- you have been through hell. I have been thinking of you and wanting your complete recovery STAT. They would have had to peel me off the ceiling after that sadistic procedure that you endured.I think it's so awesome that you are attending the MBC conference. Hope you feel better each day.
Sondra- what a shock it must have been to learn of your brother's Lymphoma. Ugh. Most people are cured, I think. BUT, what a lot to go through for him and your family.
Micmel-how are you sweetie? Sinus infection almost gone? Hope so. I love that you have taken up cross stitch. That kind of thing is really therapeutic. I did a few crewel pieces way back when and it was fun.Glad you are hanging in there on the Ibrance; 41 treatments is it? So awesome! You are the poster child and you are going to have YEARS.
Soccer Mom-baby lemons are so cute! They are going to be yummy when they mature. Are they Meyers?
Minnie - sad to hear about your hospital stay. i hope you experiencing less discomfort after being treated. Has the weather improved in beautiful sunny Spain? Did I remember that your daughters are coming to see you?
Candy- you must be relieved that your scan shows stability. it is hard to open up those reports and read the results for the first time.
Mara-you are such a strong woman. To pull yourself up out of a blue period and get out walking about takes a lot of courage. i heard mention of an Instapot; my sister just got one and she is going crazy with it-loves it. i heard that it comes in different sizes. I have a big cooker in my kitchen called an AGA. It has 3 different temperature ovens and is on all the time. I love it so much and don't want to hurt it's feelings, so not sure if I would get an Instapot.
Booboo-two weeks is a long time for company, even if you love them. Good luck keeping sane. Glad Abraxane is going well for you. It may be in my future.
Tanya- hello to you, dear woman. You have such a calming presence here.
My very best to everyone here- 50's girl-yes let's meet again in Spring, BigHome-are you there? SantaBarbarian, Chicagoan, Runor, Divine, Grannax, leftfoot,
Be at peace and may the force be with....
Love, Mary Jane
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Thanks, SantaBarbarian!
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I have been thinking about an instapot myself. We will see. I would save up for it. Todays food covered lunch and dinner. Took white rice, added spinach, sour cream and garlic, and shredded cheese with a ground up chicken burger. Mixed all except the sour cream and cheese in my chopper together and microwaved for about 90 seconds. Was delicious and filling. Had to eat half for lunch and then added queso and a few chips and reheated for supper. Was good and not too heavy. It was quite green due to the spinach of course so would not have looked appetizing but all of those flavours are good. I will cook up and chop the liver tomorrow to add. I try to have it once or twice a week. I soak it in milk, then of course fry it up. When combined with other flavours, you hardly know it is liver.
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The walking outdoors really kicked off when I found I was able to walk home from my last chemo in january. I thought, well if I can do that, there must be more I can do. I also felt much more energetic than I usually do post treatment. I kept up at it and did walks outside all last week which culminated in walking to and from the hospital for chemo. I did not experience nearly the same number of side effects save for the usually drippy nose. My mood is mostly stabilized as well. Not that some things don't upset me, but I don't stay upset nearly as long. I do appreciate these benefits mores so than even physical. It is also nice to be able to go to the grocery store without having to stop half a dozen times. I am gradually working up to walking further even. I have no job so it is easy for me to find the time.
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Good Morning Ladies~ this sinus infection is the gift that keeps on giving Dizziness stuffed head back again this morning. I know we all have these things, happen but damn it. It's days like this i still after 4 years cannot believe that this is what my life has become. A sinus infection that can last three weeks?? No cancer isn't enough for us? I am sick as a mother Fuc*er dealingwith cancer complications and side effects we have no control Over. I mad because our lives have been stolen. Right out from under our feet. It's not just cancer either. All kinds of shit taking people I care about down. My 39 year old niece is in kidney failure and is borderline donor material. Was exposed to some chemical at her work. Killed her kidneys. Too much exposure. Like really?? 39? A son who is 5 ? Like what the flipping hell is happening all around us? I'm so sick of everything cancer and things hurting people. Good people. I'm disheartened to think that good people suffer daily. People I know and ones I don't. Sometimes life just isn't really all that great. People trying daily just to get through the day all the pain and mental torture we go through. I'm thinking of you all this morning
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Hello to all,
When my kids were little, I used to read them this children's book titled "It Could Always Be Worse." Unfortunately for some of us, that idea doesn't always cut it. Yesterday I ran into a colleague who is a TNBC survivor -- ten years out. At the time, her kids were 2 or 3. Now they are teenagers. She recently had some aches and pains and also developed a cough, so she went back to her MO. They did scans. It's not a cancer recurrence. It's pulmonary fibrosis. She said there is no medicinal cure for pulmonary fibrosis. The only cure is a lung transplant. Talk about WTF? It's just not fair. Not telling you all this to bring people down, but simply to express that life isn't fair. Please keep this person in your prayers.
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Who's up for pocket duty? I have PET scan today in preparation for the visit to the thoracic surgeon on Thursday. I'm nervous this week. But I keep telling myself I'm just in information gathering mode, and not making any decisions right now. This lung tumor has remained stable for almost a year now and I'm not one to let a surgeon go in there and mess around with it. I'm praying I don't have lung cancer - one cancer at a time is enough for me thank you very much.
DodgersGirl, my D was resolving once I got on the potassium pills. The doctor told me that low potassium can cause a bit of a cycle with intestinal contractions. My potassium was 2.8 when I was sent to ER and it was 4.4 after three bags of potassium plus three days of horse pills two times a day. Now I'm on one horse pill a day and things have really resolved BUT I started lexapro last week and I am having some D again. Good lord.
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Moomala, I will be in your pocket for PET scan on Thursday. I am sorry the lexapro is causing D when it was just resolving.
Mel, I am sorry you are still sick and even more so to hear about your niece. It seems some people are lucky in life to not suffer a lot of tragedy and others that seem to get it dumped on them in spades. It is never fair and seems to be just the luck of the draw. I know for myself that I have been lucky when it comes to my own cancer to be stable. That part of my life is fine right now. What I have gone through since I was a kid was terrible, losing people along the way and the clusterfuck that was most of 2019 losing Mom and my brother, my home and my independence of my own funds, a big portion of which had to be put in trust for me to keep my disability. It isn't fair to anyone to have to bear this, not you, not me or anybody else. Life can be incredibly cruel at times. We all just do our best I guess but it sure isn't easy sometimes. Again, I am sorry. I wish I could help you more.
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Mara PET scan is today! Come on and get in this pocket! Bring M&M's!
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I am a mess but I’m in for pocket duty!
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Moomala— jumping in your pocket for PET scan. I pulled on a pair of “oh, I crapped my pants” so I could be there. Wasn’t sure what snack to bring so I have Imodium for all.
Hope scan goes without issues and hoping for good news from your thoracic sur
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Mel my husband has to drive me because I'm on xanax for a touch of the claustrophobia. He's got a cold too. You're in good company!
DG - Immodium to the rescue. We will call them TicTacs and be done with the big D once and for all!
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Moomala, in your pocket with all varieties of MMs. Mint is my personal favourite.
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Moomala- In your pocket--hope not too late.
I have been on the phone with my insurance company yesterday and today. I changed insurance effective Jan 1-- I opted for COBRA since I retired from job, but my employer changed carriers for all the employees Jan 1. Well.... this insurance company is CRAZY. The staff are inept. I asked to speak to a supervisor today. They don't know what they are doing. Their website is crappy. The issue is still not resolved after 2 calls yesterday--1 hour for one and 45min for the other and today's call with the supervisor. I am about to have a stroke. All of this for an appt with a new doc in March not related to the cancer. I pray I stay stable with the cancer for a long time because if I need to see another onc for more specialized treatment I doubt the insurance will approve it. I am about ready to reach through the phone and strangle someone !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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