My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer

irishlove · December 3

Hi everyone. I managed to catch up on the goings on around here. Wishes for a healthier new year for everyone.

Cookie, DH was able to improve his heart failure status and no longer has restrictions. He swims everyday or night and walks the dogs 1/2 hour or so each morning. We believe it was triggered by undiagnosed Covid, even though he had his vaccine and booster shots.

Mara, we use coffee filters in our air fryer to reduce clean up. Works well and doesn't burn. Plus it's inexpensive. Oh do those burritos and other mexican inspired foods sound delicious.

I've been sick on and off since mid-October. I still have pneumonia. Then I caught a nasty bug that took a week to shake. Now I'm pretty sure I have strep-throat. It was a minor sore throat for 2 or 3 days and today it became very sore. Took a flashlight and shined it down my pipe and sure enough saw pus pockets both sides. Been to so many hospital visits and doctor visits that I'm going to cheat a bit and treat this myself. Have antibiotics for UTI and I believe I have another one, so this should cover both medical problems (hopefully).

We had planned to go home for Christmas (first time in over 5 years) but cancelling tomorrow DH booked Amtrak train roundtrip and motel room. We should receive full refund. Sometimes I am so sure of myself and then have to admit that my body just isn't cooperating. Talked to my sis and we agreed to reschedule for spring.

In pockets for scans and hoping for good success with new meds to have improvement and better health for the new year.

Irishlove

betrayal · December 3

irishlove, if you think you have strep throat, do not self treat. You need to be on antibiotics specific to strep and most likely for 10 days. It is a nasty bug and improper treatment can lead to serious consequences involving other body systems. Please seek medical help.

chicagoan · December 3

@irishlove Strep is going around Chicago now too so I agree with @betrayal that it might be better to do one more doctor visit to treat it (Sigh).

So sorry you had to cancel your planned Christmas trip but at least you will get your money back.

@cookie54 It must be so challenging for both you and your husband to have such serious health issues. Hopefully you can lean on each other and get through this.

Had a couple of fun nights-pizza party with co-workers, dinner and farkle with pickleball friends. Staying in today and making some soup from my rotisserie chicken carcass. I may try to get to the gym to do upper body. My new hip is getting better and better which is a relief. In a holding pattern to see what my next cancer treatment might be. Still taking Ibrance as we wait for tissue biopsy and Guardant results, along with new scans at the beginning of January. I feel good so I'm not worrying about anything.

mara51506 · December 3

I am presently making up some air fryed lentils, shaking every couple minutes. Once those are crispy, cracking a couple eggs as well. Lentils and the eggs should taste good. I put white cheddar seasoning, sour cream and onion and lots of taco seasoning, lentils came out pretty crispy but not burned. Got eggs in there as well now that lentils in a bowl. Will add a binder at some point as well, still have a lot to choose from.

EDIT The lentils with the seasonings from the air fryer were really very good. Eggs were good as well, nothing burned. It was all enjoyable to me. Got it soaking now for use either later today or in days ahead.

Got laundry on the go right now, agitating in colour shield oxi for 15 mins for total hour or so soak, wiped up window sills and spots on floor and cloths were pretty soiled. After the wash/soak, will drain and do a normal wash with detergent.

Nothing else to say, quiet weekend besides Welcome to Derry and Stranger Things, binged that show. More episodes coming later December.

Still have not heard about consult appointment yet, will cancel the next RO appointment if it means to focus on a non existent consult. If I am honest, not going to lose sleep, if it was super urgent to be seen, someone would have phoned. For now just putting along as usual. I did phone my RO and let them know no consult seems to be on the books. I was polite but just said that since there is something in my brain that should not be there, would prefer the consult sooner before brain swelling and seizures start. The RO office person said they will call tomorrow. Oh well, I am more annoyed and have little sympathy about the neurosurgeon being busy. Just figured something growing in the brain would be a little more urgent than the it all seems to be. The MRI was in Sept that showed the blood flowing cyst. I am also leaving RO office to deal with the neurosurgeon consult.

Hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for all.

eleanora · December 4

@irishlove

I second others' comments about getting the right meds for strep. I know it's exhausting. I am finally on the way to recovery after a 5 month bout with diverticulitis that included 4 emergency room visits, multiple doctor visits and 14 days of IV antibiotics to finally resolve it.

So sorry you had to cancel your trip, but glad you're already planning the next one. I find that having something to look forward to greatly improves my state of mind. Congrats on your husband's improvement.

irishlove · December 5

Hello midnight and any late night owls still around? I absolutely can not do mornings anymore. Not sure what I can do to change that, so I just schedule afternoon doctor appts.

Thanks all for input on what might be strep throat? Maybe I should mention that I have a UTI, courtesy of MS and am on Cephalexen. Hoping that will clean up this throat and UTI. I say strep but it hasn't been tested. Not sure about how each of you react to antibiotics, but I do have problems with them. The Z-pak, doxicycline and amoxa-clavin and sulfa-based drugs, create severe nausea and vomiting. Even taken with food. Cipro is a huge NO. Tendonitis tore my poor feet up . Side effects have reported ruptured tendons from Cipro. Cephalexen is my go to. Grandma had us swish one part warm water to one part hydrogen peroxide for sore throats when we were kids. I promise I will see PCP if I develop fever or this does not clear.

DD and DGD are here since Thanksgiving. So I put on my I feel fine face, and cooked some crock pot meals for the whole crew. DD's hubby came by (they've separated) after work, so had enough for him, too. Nothing like a roast with carrots and small baby potatoes and with leftovers I would add diced tomatoes, chop up the beef and add beef broth and Dales low sodium seasoning. Don't forget frozen mixed veggies and it's a good soup.

Not to make anyone jealous, but DH turned the pool heater on and I got out of my sick bed to climb in. It was lovely. I miss my family terribly at Christmas time, but not the ice and bitterly cold temps. A little snow is lovely.

We had laid peel on/off wallpaper on the one bedroom wall. It looks so pretty. But…. ever remembering calling Grandma and ask what she was doing? Well she would say "Just sitting here watching the wallpaper peel". And fast forward 50 years later and that's what I'm doing. I think I'm gonna just take it down. The walls must have some dampness to them or humidity might be the problem.

In pockets for all your needs.

Laurel

shanagirl · December 5

Well, I’m still awake at 2:24 AM and just am not feeling sleep, so I thought I would read along and catch up on you all. I haven’t been posting for the 10 days of palliative radiation on my acetabulum and hip groin area. My last rad was Black Friday,….totally feel wiped out but it's helped in some ways.Wishing you al a belated Happy Thanksgiving. DH & I spent the weekend putting the tree up and he did the lights outside the house. I love Christmas lights.

@threetree I'm thinking of you and praying for you that things become clearer for you and you get what you need from your care team as far as treatment and what’s going on with your cancer status. I know you’ve been a little down in the dumps and under the weather. You feel you and I always seem to mirror certain issues together. I went for treatment Monday for the XGeva Fasoldex injections., my metabolics always have some highs and lows, never perfect. My calcium is always high. So Hoping all is well with you @chicagoan., @cookie54. @candy-678 @irishlove I’m also bad about morning doctor visits before 12. It’s har getting out in the mornings for me too. And please let your doctor know about your sore throat that is strep so he can prescribe the proper medication for you.

So now I’m being too much of a nightmare owl so I’m going to close this IPad and go to sleep🥱😴🩵

cookie54 · December 5

@irishlove So glad DH is out of heart failure status, great news! Ugh sorry you’re now dealing with possible strep, agree with the others , be careful. You don’t need any lingering infections! Yikes what a pia to have such issues with antibiotics, that's rough. I always admire the way you are able to deal with multiple issues yet put your game face on and cook!I know we all try our hardest to keep it "normal". Guess it’s best to travel in the Spring as I’m sure you’re disappointed. Sending hugs and get well wishes.

@chicagoan Glad to hear the new hip is treating you well. Nice to be able to get out with friends and have some fun! May you have continued peace of mind as you wait on scans and tissue biopsy.

@shanagirl Ugh rough night on sleep,it's awful! Hope you were able to settle and get a couple hours in. I started using Natrol melatonin gummies and it's been giving me a couple steady hours of sleep. Yipee for last Rads , I hope the fatigue doesn't linger much longer. I love the twinkle soft Christmas lights too, it makes the house so cozy.

@mara51506 How are ya? Sounds like your enjoying your air fryer. How was the electric cleaning brush you bought? Did I miss that review lol?

So great news, DH heart catheterization is good! Stent looked good and all else clear. No improvement in his heart failure but as he says "he is ok with keeping his old broken self" and grateful no new issues. Big sigh of relief …Thanks for all the well wishes for him❤️Now Echo for me today since I haven't had on since the start of chemo. I'm not expecting anything just following doctors orders and ending this year of tests🤞

Happy Friday and I hope everyone has a good day ❣️

mara51506 · December 5

@cookie54 The scrubber is doing just fine when needed on dishes, have not used in the bathtub yet but will. Love the air fryer for sure. Not sure what .to use for today, yesterday, used my instant pot for some rice instead. Both work quite well.

I am sick, yesterday woke with a very sore throat, productive cough and runny nose. Oh well, throwing the expectorant in the day, hydrating and using some vicks vapo rub. I slept a long time as I did put myself to bed earlier. I use the cough suppressant at night.

Not sure about food today, ordered up a bunch of breakfast and beef and bean burritos yesterday, still have hotdogs that can be boiled, chopped into cheese and thrown in the air fryer with lentils. I will see, not awake enough for food yet and too busy blocking facebook posts that trigger me into arguments or going after bullies who go after people with typos. Oh well, no one asked me to go after bullies so block is generously being used today.

I do have a couple of prescriptions coming and having a breakfast burrito for now before prescription arrives. I will see how I feel as to what else may be done. I am better than yesterday BUT colds, coughing and sore throat make me turn into a huge whiny person. Will also get to bed earlier again.

Hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for all.

intolight · December 5

@mara51506 No! So sorry to hear you are sick. Take good care of yourself and feel better quick.

My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer

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