My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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Moth, I do understand the breaks are needed, especially if there is stress going on related to cancer. I also sympathize with having cold symptoms and wondering if they could be more. I had a tiny cold about a week ago and it made me a bit nervous. Just treated it the same as always, Buckleys complete, advil and vaporub, a little in my ears and around the front of my nose. Usually kicks it out pretty quick. I had a cough but it was just a dry cough.
I also agree with having a life outside of cancer. That's why I like my long distance walking or surveys I do. Gives me something more interesting about myself to focus on.
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Mae - I'm late too - but maybe I can send strong vibes for an expert "reader" to step in & look at the films. Along with everyone else - hoping there is something positive.
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Moth- Pocket duty coming your way.
Tanya- You have a PET coming up?
Oh My Gosh. I think our world is going to Hell in a handbasket, as they say. I had to take my cat (my son, have had him 10 years, my best friend) to the vet today. He has been scratching something fierce. I do not think fleas-- indoor cat and I do not see fleas. But he has bloody bumps on the back of his neck. 3 receptionists all with no masks. So I ask if the staff that goes in the exam room with me and my cat could wear masks. The 1 receptionist acted shitty and said "You can ask, but they have rights too". I told her I have cancer and on treatment. I had on 2 masks---thanks again Mel. Then the doctor and another tech came in the exam room---- no masks. I asked if they could please wear a mask. The doctor sighed and turned to go out. I said "I have cancer and on treatment". She said "I had treatment this week too"--- she has Lupus and is on Biologics. Duh... she should really know then, immunocompromised and a doctor.
I thought about turning them into the local Health Department, but they would know it was me. And I have to protect my cat from their vengeance. Of course, like my old MO, they are the vet for the town. I would have to go out of town to get another vet.
When will this damn Covid be gone??????!!!!!!!!
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Thank you all for your kind words and suggestions.
Candy, doing this alone is so difficult. I have friends but they're just busy with t heir lives, jobs etc. With brain mets and cancer in the body it's like dealing with two diseases and I have separate appointments and MRIS as well as the scans. It's why I don't feel like doing anything heroic treatment wise. I don't know if I'm allowed post links but I did find a support group online a couple of weeks ago where they have Zoom calls. I'm attending the call tonight. It's through SHAR Cancer support. Blessings to and healing to you all and thanks again.
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Re: Covid, work husband's girlfriend tested positive, after they returned from their trip to Poland about a week and a half ago. They quarantined immediately upon return as per Rules and she started showing symptoms about three days later, tested, and it came back positive. He is completely unaffected and feels fine, despite the fact that they live in a one bedroom apartment and she's been hacking away for a week with a cough. She got a call from UK government tracers yesterday asking particular questions about the Uber driver they used in Warsaw to the airport, yet my friend has yet to be contacted by track and trace himself, despite living in the same household. You start to wonder what is the point!
Candy - lots of good noises being made about a vaccine over here, and I suspect the US isn't far behind. There will be some political games played around it for sure, but it doesn't seem as endless as it did even last month. Still - pretty crappy about your vet and the useless front desk people (hope your boy feels better).
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Sondra~thats crazy! What a story.... they live together for goodness sakes. Put something on his ankle. Like youre a criminal. Where. Were you? Who were you with? Are we in some Alternative plain? He should obviously not be there with her somehow. Or he will get it. What a conundrum.
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Candy, I’m surprised, I thought any business that was open to the public required masks but I guess it varies by state. I understand not wanting to wear one but I don’t get the attitude, it’s for the benefit of others, why get so put out?
DH and I went to lunch last week, no outside area, so we sat in the corner away from anyone, although people were distanced and it wasn’t busy. After the 2nd time the waitress pulled her mask down below her chin to speak, I said “look, if you’re not going to wear your mask while speaking, I’m gonna need you to stand WAY back there”, she realized, said sorry and never did it again. It just has the potential to be so bad for some people, that alone if enough for me to deal with the inconvenience.
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That's the real problem with COVID in the US there is no national strategy for states to follow and now it's all become so political. It's just silly with the attitudes of "they have their rights, too" or "my freedom!" It's a Me society instead of a We society for the common good, even during a pandemic.
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candy yes today is scan day.
Tanya
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Bliss, well said. I agree completely.
Tanya, in your pocket with gummy bears!
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Tanya- Pocket duty coming your way. How about cinnamon rolls-- warm and gooey.
I know, this mask thing is crazy. She talked about their rights, how about mine as a cancer patient and trying to stay well. Like I said, I would turn them in to the Health Dept but that would only add fuel to the fire. And the Health Dept probably couldn't do anything but warn them.
Saw a post on Facebook about warning people if they see a gathering of more than is the recommended (25 people) and they squeal they had better watch out. Said something to the effect--- "do not turn in a neighbor. Remember they watch your house for you when you go on vacation, and give you a cup of sugar when you need it." I thought-- "Oh my gosh. Threats now".
I don't know about other areas, but mine is getting really belligerent. And very political.
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Tanya, in your pocket for scanning as well. Bringing extra cinnabons because I will be eating them at the same time as hanging out.
Candy as far as turning people in, do it anyway. They will not know it was you. People should not give into threats. Not that I am trying to be political but the past 4 years has really made people hostile to other points of view to the point of violence. Does not matter what the different topics are. Add in pandemic and inconsistent messaging area to area, that hostility only grows. Hopefully all the unrest will die down soon. Pandemic is not the time to assert constitutional rights about wearing masks or closing things down. We do have some people who have protested but not many places have erupted in violence. Most people in my city are following the rules. As such, out covid number was 9 new cases yesterday out of a population of around 450000. There are some twits but not many.
Not doing much today, will probably go to the grocery store for some free cheese, got enough loyalty points to make it free which is nice. Might take a few walks today. Not feeling the super long distance but perhaps make up the difference. Also doing surveys for cash as usual. Really helps the food and phone and internet bills a lot.
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Tanya’s pocket time!!!!
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Yeah, sorry Mae, but Tanya has the jetski.
Let's all go to the beach in her pockets,ladies!
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Tanya, I’m on pocket duty too. Hoping for good results, of course. I’ll bring some unsweetened iced tea to go with the cinnamon rolls, and coffee for the coffee drinkers. Not sure how to carry it into Tanya’s pocket but I’ll figure it out, lol
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Tanya, I am sorry your vet experience. What jerks!
I had to rent a car a few weeks ago. The line was socially distanced but the guy 6' from me had his nose out of his mask. I said, "excuse me sir, would you mind putting your mask on over your nose? And he gave me an earful about how the virus wasn't real, couldn't hurt me. So I said, excuse me but there is a rule about wearing masks inside, and I am immune compromised. He kept on w angry lecture. So finally I said, nice and loud, "Save your breath I do not listen to assholes."
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In your pocket Tanya! My dd made wonderful yeast rolls filled with blueberries so I'm bringing those.
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In Mae and Tanya's pockets with the cinnabons and yeast rolls with blue berries. Good luck you too.
I am just back from the grocery store and feel good about myself. A mom could not afford the cookies she wanted to get for her little girl ahead of me. The little one of course started crying and life looked tough on both of them so I offered to pay. I was saving 10.00 anyway in my loyalty program. I was glad to help make their day better and hope the rest is ok for them.
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No dose reduction, I agreed to give it two more weeks with the new meds for SE’s and we’ll revisit this if I’m still having trouble.
Brain MRI shows stable and decreasing lesions, which indicates that treatment is working so far. There was mention of one tiny spot that is suspicious for lepto mets (in the brain fluid), this is the 3rd mention, previously it was ruled out by spinal tap and spine MRI. I’m not overly concerned for now and hoping the treatment takes care of it but if not, I kinda feel like lepto is in my future anyways, given this keeps coming up, confirmed or not. I’m not panicking, just roll in’ with it.
Thanks for the pocket duty, jumping over to Tanya now.
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Hope the other spot goes away as treatment goes on and good for you for not taking a dose reduction. Hope the new meds address your side effects. Thank you for the update.
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Mae-Glad you are stable.
Mara-What a nice thing for you to do. I'm sure you made their day!
Thinking of Tanya-hoping all goes well.
Second day of snow in Chicago but at least it isn't sticking. Hoping I can still play outdoor pickleball this afternoon.
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No snow for us, just gray and cloudy. Cold as well which is fine with me honestly. I get much less sweaty when out walking in this weather. I am sure the snow will show up sometime overnight as temperatures are dipping toward the freezing mark at night. Hope you get your pickleball game in though! On my way out for the second little walk.
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Unlike Chicagoan-- Northern Illinois-- Southern Illinois is rainy and in the 40's. No snow here. I like the cool temps. Much better for me rather than summer.
Today I had a Zoom committee meeting. We started this committee back last winter. Then Covid and we halted all meetings. This was the first one again--- per Zoom. We will meet monthly per Zoom. Gives me something to do and think about. Otherwise laundry today.
Mae- Glad you are stable.
Mara- You are such a nice person. Hug.
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Mae,
I have stopped treatment on my last two drugs because of side effects, so I really think it’s fair to stop using a drug if it messes with your QOL. My MO totally gets it. I told her if I had 6 more months to live but all six were spent in bed (or puking), then I’d rather try another drug or stop altogether. I am sure not everyone feels like I do and is much more willing to hang in there with a drug like that, but I just can’t take anymore of the way my body feels on some of these chemos.
Wishing you all the best with whatever you decide.
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booboo, I do agree and cutting the Xeloda is always an option. At the moment, however, with some more improvement possible, I decided to give the meds one more cycle at least. I feel like this is fair, especially if the new anti nausea med proves effective, I only started it 2 days before my week off Xeloda. The next 2 weeks will be telling.
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Booboo, I fall on your side of things when it comes to SE and QOL but certainly what everyone can put up with is different.
Mae my hat is off to you to keep trying without a dose reduction of the Xeloda. Hope the new nausea med is the thing that helps with your nausea.
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I'm stressing. Seeing my MO & getting my 8 wk CT results tomorrow but I got a phone call today from an RO's office, saying I was referred & had an appt booked in Nov. I can't think of a good reason for being referred to an RO. Jeez.
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Oh, I am so sorry you got that call about being referred to an RO. I had a similar thing happen after my first brain radiation before I progressed and had my second brain radiation. When you are not prepared, it broadsides you. Call the RO office and find out what they want to see you about so you can prepare yourself more.
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moth, when I went in to see the RO, his nurse said something about "palliative radiation" and I kind of freaked out. I thought palliative was the same as hospice. It's not and the palliative radiation I got to my hip REALLY helped with the pain. I didn't have a lot of sessions, but my point is, don't freak out if you hear the word "palliative". Maybe you already knew that, but I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in there.
(((hugs)))
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Morning ladies-- 8am here.
Prayers for all of you and the decisions you are having to face.
Well I got a call last night from my "texting buddy" I have spoken about here. We are friends and attend the same church. He is the one that goes to the restaurants and the car shows. He has been feeling kind of yucky since last Friday--- muscle pain, dry cough, ? low grade temp. He tested for Covid on Sunday at an Express Care Clinic and still waiting (as of Tues night) for results. But his Dad has been feeling yucky too and tested Monday and got his results Tuesday--- Positive for Covid. We are suspecting he will be positive too as he and his Dad are around each other all the time. I can tell by talking to him that he is scared. He says he feels pretty good, but we all have heard that it can get bad fast. And he is not the type to sit at home for 14 days quarantined. He will go bat crap crazy.
Not much else here. Today is quiet day for me. TV, book, reading here.
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