My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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@candy-678 So glad to hear you’re moving along and are having an easier time reading. I guess the readers will suffice until your new glasses arrive. I have cheap readers all over the house lol. Lucky so far I only need the readers but I probably should go to the eye dr as its been a couple years. Sometimes I don’t even feel like going to another doctor😜
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@tanya_djamila I'm with you. I'm helping a sister move from a property that got somewhat neglected after her wife died and the grief was overwhelming. I'm glad I am strong enough to do it right now, though it takes me much longer to recover from the physical effort of lifting and carrying. I adore my sister and am so glad to have loving family like her. Hope your mom finds comfort and she's lucky to have you.
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Candy - so glad to hear you are healing well and have stable scans too🎉🎉🎉.
Tanya - clearing out a home is exhausting work. I hope your mom is willing to let go of stuff!
Mara - I agree about sharing concerns about what is going on in our world today. It’s a scary place out there. I think we’re all smart enough not to get into political arguments - there’s plenty of those in the news🙄.
Here for pocket duty for those in need. Sending HUGS to all🤗🤗
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So I received a letter from the external review of insurance denial appeal. They completely reversed the denial and stated that according to new studies Enhertu is obviously medically necessary in cases like mine. They backed up everything my oncologist said. HA.
The Signaterra which has been rising to above 65 dropped to 0.47. if that's correct, that is a huge win for Enhertu treatment. I have scans next week to see if it is shrinking the liver lesions and I hope so.
Wishing all a good day.
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Cookie, you are right. Discovered yesterday that all the ice melter took care of the ice on the steps so no issues yesterday. It is snowing a bit today but warming up well above freezing into the next week.
I did have a good but tiring day. Did the Herceptin and both the ride to and from the hospital were smooth. One lady complaining she calls the Paratransit and waits for four hours. Said she starts at 700am and it takes til 1100am. I have never had that problem but I know not to call first thing. I wait at least an hour after opening and it never takes long even if I am caller 25 in the queue. Suggested she delay by an hour or hour and a half and it would not take so long. She had not thought about that so she will try. We both were at the cancer centre so perhaps she can update if it worked. I got home in time to have a quick dinner and then go out with DB. Spent 5.00 there, got a big thing of baby spinach. We then went to an old grocery store I worked at and I spent 24.00 there. Nothing too impressive. Got an extra mini pot pie and got some egg bites, same price. Couple chocolate bars. Was 24 dollars but I have not redeemed a credit earned for paying rent with the card so will cash that in and pay nothing for what I got yesterday.
Today, I decided to skip all the frozen pasta and stuff. I did not enjoy the last couple and disposed of the combo meal. I still have dry pasta and will make my own. I do take the Kraft Dinner pasta which is about the size of rice and use it that way, keep cheese powder as a dry seasoning. I just make up a portion of rice out of that. As stated in earlier post, rice, beans, eggs and spinach go a long way to making better meals. I have eaten most of the stuff in the freezer and found frozen peppers which I like to add to eggs as well. Also planning to get the fridge more organized, I keep most food in my own containers
Got two loads of laundry on the go, after those are complete, a blanket which got some chocolate on it so in it goes, repaired some of the floating lint filters I use, I can be cheap about those but they are needed and pick up a great amount of lint.
I will likely have a couple eggs and spinach this morning with a normal english muffin, plain but also good, later may have a side spinach salad with a meat pie.
I do hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for all who need me.
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Goldens, you are right about not getting into personal politics and arguments as we are from differing situations and everyone is affected but in a different way. My mind has come to accept reality in the world as it is and just wait and see what happens more than worrying about anything.
mkestral, beautiful flower and am glad that Enhertu is on the go for you, in your pocket for that.
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I do have to add that I am trying out washng with the oxi clean laundry spray along with tide laundry spray with oxiclean. I use so little detergent, fills up less than the bottom of the cap anyway, did 3 sprays of each and have many bubbles in the machine. Will rince them out and cut down the spraysThe smell is heaven too, cannot wait until it goes in the dryer. My house will smell heavenly. In the mean time, will spin the cloths to remove some soap, rinse in the sink and drain out the foam or wipe down the inside of the washer. At this rate, will never run out of laundry stuff.
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@mkestral-So glad that things were resolved with the insurance company and that the Enhertu is working for you.
I had a pleasant surprise. I was told there were no grants for Ibrance and I would have a $150 monthly co-pay but for the last two months I have had no co-pay! I don't know if they found a grant for me but I won't ask, just keep cruising along. I didn't fill out any paper work.
Candy-can't wait until we get the report once you have your new glasses!
Mara-I picture you like some of the people in the commercials-blissing out over the smell of their laundry. Enjoy!
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Mkestrel, great news! And that photo is so beautiful, brings me happiness.
Mara, thank you so much for your supportive comments about importance of sharing our feelings. I tend to be hard on myself if I'm feeling anything difficult, yet I'm working on allowing the feelings to be present and be more gentle with myself.
Candy, hope your eyes are improving every day!
Tanya and Tougholdcrow, it can be super stressful helping someone clear out their house to move, really lovely that you're doing this.
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sfcakes, we all have worries about the world we are in right now. We need to lean on each other about those, gets a bit of stress of our shoulders and allows us to see how we are each affected by world events too. Like you say, just allow the feelings and still go through your day and enjoy yourself. I am doing the same.
OK, new favourite meal so far, took some of the baby spinach and chopped it up while the mini egg quiche was baking in my breville. Put the two together, added some corn twists, really small amount of caesar dressing as well. Mixed it all up with a bit of salt, I shake it on my hand so I see how much is going in. Had lower BP yesterday at my chemo so thinking the veggies are clutch. I am probably going to stop eating the frozen noodles and stick rice in their place. Trying to say it was delicious, really very good. Tonight planning two eggs as I have more than 30 and need to eat them up. Can make those in the micrwave with lentils and a frozen spinach cube and peppers, heat, take out and chop the egg, lentils and spinach with peppers and add cheese to the chopper, go back to the microwave and melt the cheese. Should be good as well.
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Candy - Great news re your eyes, glasses progress. Thanks for letting us know and may things keep improving!
Mkestrel - Absolutely beautiful and uplifting photo, as usual. So, so glad you got all that insurance stuff worked out. The insurance system we have for working people (non Medicare) is just a mess and not fair at all.
Intolight - Nice that you might get 70 today. We've made the low to mid 60's a couple of times now which seems a little unusual for this time of year, but maybe not and I've forgotten; will be again today. It sure is a welcome and noticeable difference. I hope the Orserdu is starting to show some benefit for you.
I got my Faslodex shots and Zometa infusion again at the same time yesterday. Only the second time I have had them both on the same day. I'm beginning to feel it might be worth it, as my side effects aren't too bad today and not as bad as usual with either drug (??!!). It's early yet, but so far, a better thing all around; hope I'm not speaking too soon. My sodium levels were finally normal yesterday and they also gave me the after Zometa fluids for a whole hour yesterday, whereas they had been doing it for 45 minutes. Maybe those things helped too. I have an ongoing problem with low sodium and I must be the only person in the world whose been told to go ahead and add a whole bunch of salt to my food! It seems to be helping and not affecting my blood pressure.
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@mkestrel Beautiful photo and awesome news on insurance approval!
@intolight Enjoy the warmer weather, certainly uplifting.
@mara51506 Love the Tide spray, it's been my favorite lately. Hope you wake up refreshed tomorrow. Yep the world will keep going and I try not to get caught up in it.
@threetree Glad to hear the double infusion is pretty decent with minimal SE. Ha, yea don't know many or any people that are encouraged to use the salt shaker.
Was a good day ,started searching for weddings dresses with my DD. Grateful that I am well enough to enjoy it. Rest well beautiful ladies.
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Cookie - Sounds absolutely wonderful to be able to look for wedding dresses with your daughter. Have a really nice time with that. So glad you are able.
I might have spoken a bit too soon about that infusion and shots going better this time. I have gotten real achy and tired, but it's not horrible, and I will get through it. I'd just love to have that "magic" Zometa infusion where I never have side effects from it, like most seem to. I've been doing this for a year and a half now and have yet to have a side effect free Zometa infusion. Ugh.
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Cookie, I am more refreshed today, looking at some outdoor walks in my future I think, the little dusting of snow will be gone. I want to attempt a walk to the grocery store I used to go to but I will see or walk around the block start with laps. Option two, walk up to the burger joint about 30 mins away for a treat. I will see what I feel like. I should probably train for that too, can train by walking on the spot inside to music and adding outdoor walks too but the indoor training should be good. When I went out with DB on wednesday, got 6000 steps between costco and food basics. I am also starting to look into cooling caps that would fit under my wig and something that soaks in ice and goes around my neck since I find I overheat, would prefer not too. It does not have to be overly hot either for me to get symptoms of heat exhaustion. I do have the UV umbrellas as well but will get myself used to walking outdoors with a cane and everything as the umbrella may be a PIA. Not sure a hat would fit if planning on using cooling caps and such.
Threetree, glad things are going better for you with the longer infusion and adding salt to your food
I have some blankets I want to do, just have to put stuff in my spinner on the larger washer and get that stuff done. As said before, I am washing with the washing spray and oxy spray as it takes so little to get the washer all set to wash stuff. Probably two sprays of each, the smell is so nice as well. Very nice of course. The poor blanket I usually use in the living room still has the bit of chocolate so once stuff is spun, will put it in next. I also found a use for one of the 20 dollar silly impulse buys of wee little washer and that is as a dish soaker if my sink in kitchen gets overly full. No agitation of course but just the ability to fill with bit of soap and put dishes that fit in there and soak as I will, fill sink with stuff that will not fit and not forget that I have a dish rack hanging on the wall for drying, keep forgetting it is there but should bust it out here and there.
I am thinking of having chopped spinach or a spinach frozen cube, couple of eggs with lentils and spinach added, microwave first to heat the egg then take the contents over to my chopper, add some cheese and chop into a groundbeef texture. Love it like that, put the chopped stuff in the microwave for another minute or so. Not sure about seasoning yet. I am back to seasoning almost as normal, just putting seasoning on my hand so I do not overdo it. I am also going to kibosh the frozen meals. Too much sodium when I season with more sodium dry seasonings. I also take more things like salad dressing and sour cream to add binding and flavour as well. Use dry pasta instead of the frozen pasta possibly, I will have to see. BP was lower normal when taken on Wednesday but does not hurt to stay within the normal amount.
I do hope everyone is having a good day and in pockets for everyone who needs me. Forgive typos, Tigger is leaned up on my forearm as I am typing this.
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Addition, I did pull out the broken wee washer and filled with hot water and dishsoap, it holds more than a 5L bucket with the added bonus of a drain, it does hold quite a bit, bigger items soak in the sink. I do notice a little bit of spinach in the washer too so may do a couple of fill and drain sessions to make sure I do not get the drain clogged. It does work a bit as a washer but motor cuts off after may 1 min so using as a spare sink works well for me. What did I expect for 20 bucks. Might as well put my impulse buy to good use.
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Mara - Good luck with the walking "training" and actual walks. I am all for walking and it's the best thing I do with this disease. I think it can do wonders for a person's mental health. Go for it!
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Threetree, thank you. I just realized that on a nicer day, could take a walk up to the grocery store, 30 mins for normal walkers, probably 40 mins for me, my thought was, walk there and have a Paratransit booked for the trip home. I think that might be good or walk up to the burger joint I used to frequent, eat lunch and get taken home. I will call Paratransit about this, I have to still book three days ahead to do that and figure out the timing. That would give a nice half hour walk, have burger that I enjoy occasionally and a ride home. The grocery is also a half hour walk, and getting picked up would help a lot. Have to call Paratransit and see about booking a trip from somewhere else to home. I am sure they would do it but I will find out.
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Mara - One of the main stores I shop at is only a block and a half away, but I find walking over to that store, and then walking around it and back home, as short as that distance is, can really just make me feel "more human" sometimes, after being cooped up in my apartment. I also have neighborhood walks that I take that vary from 30 minutes to an hour depending on my mood and abilities, and again it is just the best thing I can think of that I do in this situation other than take my prescriptions. Maybe your paratransit people will have some ideas too? I know it can be hard sometimes to decide how far to go on your own initially, assuming that you'll need the energy and ability to get back too. The walk to the store and then paratransit back might be best, especially if you'll have a bag of groceries with you.
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Edited, found one of my favourite budget cooking channels on youtube and she gave me a fabulous idea for lentils. Put them in my magic bullet with a bit of water or chicken broth, blend them out til fairly smooth and make tortillas or little cakes in the frypan. Might give it a go, option 2 is put a couple of eggs in the magic bullet with the lentils and do a similar thing. I will see. Doing a lot of yapping today, scroll if too much. I am baking up two of the egg quiche type things, they are around the same size as the mini pot pies. Clicking that I could make that type of thing in my muffin pan and add similar ingredients. I normally would have one but just got hungry. Using breville oven this time on 375 for 20 mins, would imagine a regular egg mix would do the same, I will see. I also realize I could put lentils in the pan and fry them up using butter melted in the pan, I mostly use a spreadable butter but do have a couple bars of regular butter, would need to babysit the lentils and see how they turn out. That will be much later as I have not eaten yet.
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Slept lightly last night, my own fault. Had popcorn late at night and then fell asleep on the couch, not the end of the world though. I think it was 4am before I got to bed but kept sleep mask on and just gave myself dreams which eventually sent me off to sleep.
Not sure about today's activities, got the TV earning some money, yesterday watched golden retriever vids and today watching cooking vids, getting paid for the ads. I also have games to play to earn money for paypal to boost the budget. I mostly enjoy games where you water sort colours into the same bottle or variations. Not good at most other games but will try these ones. Laundry as always, did have a spot on a cloth so used the spray tide and one spray of oxi clean and initially let it soak but realized I actually need to rub the cloth to get the stain to life, geez. Still liking to spray out the cap of the tide regular detergent and one spray of the tide stain treater and the oxyclean. At this rate, none of this stuff is going to run out. Both washers agitate pretty quick. I have also started a pre filling of the water, adding the detergent and agitate for couple of minutes and then throwing stuff in, I don't know if it makes much difference but will give it a try. I am also washing a plastic mayonnaise container that is empty, want to use it as food storage later on or other type of storage too. Will label it so I know what is put in. I reuse as much as possible until recycling makes sense. I have an old CoolWhip container subbing in as storage for
The package of the mini egg omelets I call them is half eaten, I have really enjoyed the ones I had so far. Planning to whip up some eggs and put similar ingredients in and heat up in the muffin pan for the same amount of time which was 20 mins at 375. Should yield a similar result. Add peppers, potatoes, spinach and lentils to the mix. Later can do some kind of lentils, spinach and rice dish with cheese. I also saw a video with the person whipping a bunch of lentils in a magic bullet to a liquid and making stuff in the pan, kind of like rollups, would have to watch the consistency as too thin is no good, may give those a try, use them as tortilla type rolls. I will see what I feel like doing. Could like whip up some precooked white rice and lentils and whip up, pour into the heated frypan or mini griddle and make some sort of tortilla type thing. Sounds really good to me, again just need to watch the water content so it is neither too thick or thin. Probably try that this morning and try to make some sort of toast out of it all.
Edited, decided to whip up eggs, peppers, cheese and frozen potato cubes in the magic bullet, use the sprayed muffin pan and pour the mix, use the 375 and bake for 20 mins. Still mulling over the rollups idea as well. The taste was fine but the texture was not the same as the egg bites from the store. Will simply go back to microwaving eggs plus whatever goes in, chop up the mixture to melt cheese and go from there.
I do hope everyone has a good day and I am in pockets for all.
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Well, looks like everyone is busy this weekend but I will still yap anyway. Had a decent night sleep, still was in bed late but it did not take long to go to sleep which was good.
Not sure what I wish to do. I do chores most days, laundry is a given, need to repair a lint filter, they get spun so fast they bump into each other. Use zipties to facilitate repairs. If I just tossed them after they are damaged, would be spending a lot of money fun for a repair. The mayo jar that I wanted to save washed up and rinsed well, let it agitate as it is plastic, not sure what to keep in there, possibly dry pasta or something, I will figure it all out later. I have cheez whiz that I need to dispose of as well, will need to spoon into a container and toss it all, figure a way to clean the container since it is glass, no agitation, may just put in a mesh bag and hold it or make the water warm so I can hold it in my hand and let the water and detergent go through. That should help to clean out the container. I will decide later what to do with it.
I also will be walking, just going to have the first meal and then wash the clothes I want to wear. When it comes to making egg bites, the problem yesterday was quite possibly too much liquid, the temp of the oven and time to cook was just fine, just to much liquid as I put sour cream and garlic and that added too much liquid to the eggs. I will still do up the eggs, defrost and chop in potatoes, peppers and such as well. Cheese needs to be added as well. If I do not bake egg bites in the oven, the usual take a sprayed bowl, add eggs and other ingredients I want and microwave, chop up the microwaved bits with cheese, re heat some more to melt cheese and bobs your uncle, good meal. Season with whatever I decide to.
Edit, going with a meat pie, bit larger than the mini pot pies are so am unsure if going to eat the whole thing as of yet. Doing it in the oven so will take 30 mins at 400 in the breville oven. Looking at the mini air fryer as well, need to save up if I want that though. Thinking it would be nice to fry up beans and lentils without a lot of grease. May split meal into two and eat it at dinner too, I will decide on that later of course. At this point, took some butter and melted in a frypan on my regular stove, put a bunch of lentils in the pan, stirred around a bit and turned off the burner and covered so the lentils will get the butter without burning them.
Update on the meal, I did the meat pie in oven as stated above, edges were a little burnt but rest was find. Did fry up lentils with butter on high then turned off burner and covered with lid. Scooped onto a plate and did not add a binder. Meat pie had gravy so unneeded. Salted and put some sour cream seasoning in, mixed, was very good. I did take my usual digestive enzyme and one immodium because my feeling is this meal may trigger digestive issues and can slow down hopefully with one immodium, no need to shut the pipes off as of yet. I love the taste and believe this can be a meal. Still mulling an air fryer but have to figure out how much to save toward it, no impulse buying, I would love to have crunchy beans and lentils, they could go in a salad. Oh well, no buys today.
Hoping it is a good day for you so far, in pockets wherever I am needed.
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Threetree, yes you are right about getting out feeling good. If I do decide to walk to the store, need to remember that I need to watch the weight as Paratransit does not allow shopping carts unless they are folded up which is weird but whatever. Option 2 is get back to the regular bus, who knows.
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Me again, i will keep yapping since I know people are reading and I enjoy posting stuff I do.
Laundry will happen, am washing up blankets, the bed ones and the mattress topper, I put all of the away in a container but decided to pull them out and clean them up. Later I may do up the biggest blankets. That will be awesome for me as that entails a lot of laundry spanning the large and repaired washers at the same time. The only things my washers do not have are automatic cycles but given the size of my fleet in the tub and stuff I can pull out, it is great, still using broken wee washer to soak extra dishes if kitchen sink filled up. I do love filling the wash tub first, doing two sprays of the tid laundry spray, two sprays of oxyclean spray and the teeniest squirt of tide detergent. Agitate water first then add the laundry and lint filters.
I did sleep alright but was in bed very late so just woke up a few minutes ago. I decided to have chocolate around 11pm and stayed up watching The Last of US season 2. It is definitely more for the horror fans out there. I've watched gameplays which are more like movies and find it interesting the changes they put into the show.
I am making a couple eggs, dumping in sprayed bowl. Adding frozen potatoes, spinach and peppers. Heating up in microwave first. Chopping up the previous ingredients after cooling, adding cheese and chips to season, put on another 2 mins to melt cheese. Will use either salad dressing or sour cream as the binder, should be good. Not sure about dinner yet.
I can tell everyone is busy so have a good rest of the day, in pockets for those who need me.
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@mara51506 I enjoy reading your posts so keep yapping away. Sitting here drinking a cup of coffee with you is like enjoying the company of a friend. Sometimes it keeps me from feeling so lonely.
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Thank you intolight, gives me a chance to say the stuff DIL and DB are not interested in. I love the meals and stuff like that.
I did decide to book a Paratransit trip to the mall but gave myself long enough for a good walk around the mall, planning to shop a little bit at Walmart near the end of my trip. Need to get out more. That will be on Thursday.
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@mara51506 Keep on yapping we all need to hear everyday life events. Glad to hear you planned a trip to the mall for yourself. It's nice to have something to look forward too. I will be food shopping tomorrow for Easter dinner. I plan to make lasagna, sweet sausage, eggplant stackers, roast with mashed potatoes. My sil is making her delicious scalloped potatoes . I may do zucchini since I'm lacking a veggie. My hubby's birthday is on the 24th so I asked what he wanted for dessert. He picked " Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding" which I will assemble in a trifle bowl. I baked biscotti last week and will make a cheesecake and possibly a peanut butter pie with a chocolate crust. I'll see how much gas in left in my tank by the end of the week lol. Hope you had a good day .
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Cookie - Wow! You've got more energy than I can even dream of having! It all sounds wonderful, and I hope you all have a wonderful time.
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Cookie - I agree on your energy! Menu sounds wonderful. I made a butternut squash Mac & cheese last fall. Even with my hubs cutting up the squash for me, I was exhausted by the time I was done and vowed no more from scratch cooking! Most meals are pretty basic. My hubs grills a lot and usually just have a veggie to go with.
Mara - love your posts. You make every day life so interesting!
Waving hello to all and providing pocket duty for those in need. HUGS.🤗
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