My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
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Lunch was delicious. Had a bean and beef burrito. It gets heated in the microwave. As a side dish, had diced frozen potatoes, put some queso crema from a squeeze bottle and heated that for 15 minutes, near the end of the 15 mins threw in some garlic toast, let both cool and put into a bowl. Took the crust off the bread. Should have kept the crust and chopped up but unfortunately, tossed into a bowl soaking in sink so not possible. Oh well.
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Went to the mall and took a walk around with DB. Had to have a hand from SIL, the snow was quite slippy, she told how to stamp in the snow to get a better grip, helped a lot. Mall walk was good, no rest break until we stopped for pop and doughnuts. When I got home, managed to get up myself. I enjoyed being out and about with them.
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@mara51506 That sounds like a fun outing.
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Hi everyone. Hope you had a good day and perhaps enjoyed some Olympics. Our day started warm and not it's about 45 degrees, brrr.. I started to cut back dead foliage. I believe the bird of paradise will make it. Worried about the bottle brush bush/tree. I don't have much in the way of flowers, mostly plants, so these are important for the bees, butterflies and what few hummingbirds come thru. Time to replant and replace after our gulley washer due here Sunday.
DD and DGD have moved out (again). It's quiet and that's ok by us. But we realize our best friends moved or passed on, so we sit here without companionship. I'd love to go to a social dance. Might just dance on the table, like old times. NOT. We actually stayed in and ordered early Valentine's meal. Daytona 500 this weekend and restaurants are slammed. Wouldn't dare go on the beachside due to traffic. Sometime, or rather, most of the time, we are staying home due to viruses, traffic and budget. Can't get lunch for 2 with drinks for less than $40, unless doing Steak n Shake or Wendy's. That doesn't entice me except for chili and a frosty. We took a step back from Chick-fil-a, also. They are cutting their lettuce and soaking it in a whiting product. This happens when the lettuce starts to turn brown (or rusts, as my Gram use to say). I am highly allergic to that product and become very ill, borderline food poisioning ill. I wish they wouldn't cut too much lettuce at one time and then it would not need to be treated. Plus pulling lettuce versus cutting makes a difference also.
I'm on prednisone taper pack for the difficulty breathing. We believe it is an MS flare. Hate how I feel on prednisone. It feels like my kidneys are on fire. I read that it's probably fluid retention. My BP skyrocketed with taking the two tablets when required. Major headache, requiring tylenol. 2 days down, 4 to go. Plus no sleep…
But I'm gonna try. In pockets for all the sweet ladies here on the porch. Stay warm and if you aren't, I'll let you borrow Grammy's crocheted squares afghan. It was my high school grad present along with a $100 bill. Can't recall how I spent the money, but the afghan has been a warm and welcoming bit of home for 53 years now.
Laurel
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I woke up a couple minutes ago and automatically started the laundry. My SIL gave me more pants to wear so will wash those later on.
I slept well and found my second cane. Thought I lost it but it was hanging on the over the door hanger and I just could not see where it was. I am happy about that.
I pulled out a pkg of hotdogs from the freezer to use as my main protein. I plan to heat them up then chop them up, use with beans, rice, lentils or eggs. Can also chop before I use them, season like I do the ground beef and heat all in the pan. Some taco and queso to season it all up, have the egg tonight, not sure which method to use as I do have my entire egg maker kit and measuring cups to make things hard boiled or soft. My thoughts for the egg meal could be to microwave eggs, some hot dog, premade rice and a bit of cheese all together. Also would like to add some frozen sliced peppers and not sure about what stuff to add to it but it will be good. Option two of that dish would be use the mini griddle or both of them to heat stuff at same time. The griddles only use 300 W of power. I will post if something fantastic is made.
I hope everyone has a good day, in pockets for everyone.
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Mara, so glad you were able to get out and about with your DB. It sounds like a fun outing yes.
Laurel, those prednisone packs are a menace. I have to go on one occasionally because I am developing different allergies. Not fun. I didn't know that about Chick-Fil A. We don't have one close and I love their salads. Actually I love a lettuce salad but lately I can't seem to make one without that taste it gets. I have almost decided to not buy lettuce anymore. Any suggestions? I was wondering what restaurants do. Hmmm… We went to a local breakfast diner yesterday. We really enjoy their reasonably priced food and they have delicious sausages. They actually will sell them if given enough notice. We went with my BIL and SIL who are great friends. It was the first time I wore my wig but it is ten years old and doesn't look quite right anymore since I have grayed a lot in ten years. So my SIL and I are going wig shopping next week. The guys have decided to tag along for lunch as it is the day after my birthday and we missed my BILs BDay last week as he was passing a kidney stone. The boys will split off once we leave to go shopping. I don't want them there!
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@cookie54 and @intolight - Thank you both so very much for the dosage info when I was about to see my oncologist. It was really helpful.
Again, I am just too fatigued from this new Xeloda routine, that I can't post as quickly, often, or as fully as I would like, but I do appreciate all of the thoughts and comments I've received from so many. Additionally, I have to do all of this on my phone these days (long story), and I don't type well at all on my phone.
I saw the onc last Wednesday and felt like things went well. He said that since that spot that appeared on my chest in December is now mostly gone, it is a good sign that the Xeloda is likely working, and it's only been about a month. He says he'd like to give it about 3 months and then do scans before deciding on a dose change. He says that if the response seems "robust" at that time, we could consider lowering the dose. In the meantime he will watch tumor markers.
And speaking of tumor markers, I got the lab results that same evening and could see improvement in just about everything. The tumor markers took a dive, but still aren't quite back into the normal range, but it's something. My oncologist messaged me the next morning saying that, "Tumor markers are falling briskly! This is great news." That made my day. Keeping my fingers crossed for continued "success". Will have another tumor marker check in March and scans in early April .
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, especially if you have a Valentine. We're supposed to have some more sun here, so I'm looking forward to some walking. Saw some lavender crocus the day before yesterday.
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@threetree Good news on the great results with Xeloda. Sounds like you have a good plan in place.
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I wound up having the beef and macaroni with two torn apart hot dogs, sliced frozen peppers and riced veggies. Heated all for 8 mins in the microwave, added tostitos queso and proper sour cream. With all the fat, took two immodium and digestive enzyme. The meal was quite good and was enjoyable. I am quite full.
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You let the fire go out!!!
Not much going on, just slog through treatments. Wish all a good weekend
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@mkestrel Ha what a great action pic and your caption lol…love it!
@mara51506 Happy to hear you had a nice outing with DB and SIL!
@threetree Wow!! Amazing news on Xeloda response may it continue. Hope your fatigue improves as your body adjusts or on your week off, fingers crossed. Sounds like a fair plan from your MO.
@irishlove Well enjoy your peace anyway, ha dancing on the tables…too funny! Oh I loved my 20's I was always out dancing , great memories!
Was a nice sunny warmer day here, near 50 ! We took Buster on a drive to the beach. He finally got to run!! Let the melting continue…. Hi to all here hope your having a nice weekend.❤️
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Glad everyone had a good day, just what I like to hear and that weather is warming, that is good.
Did very little this past Sunday night. Did do an IQ test just for fun and not super detailed. I have a 100 to 120 range so I guess that is OK, was curious after all the work my brain has had done to it.
Meals were 2 egg mcmuffins and a fruitopia earlier in the day, dinner was chopped hot dogs, cheese and sliced peppers together. Not the best or worst of lunch. Just getting tired of certain things. Hotdogs are one of them.
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Good wee hours of the morning to you. I'm up courtesy of prednisone. I just couldn't take it (the drug) any longer. BP at highest was 191/110, major fluid retention, a headache the size of Texas and the worst pain in my kidneys. Plus it constipated me. So instead of 4 yesterday I did 3. Then about 12 hours later I had a "spell" where it felt as if I was going to faint. Total brain freeze. I grabbed the bed and had a difficult time making any plans to get some help. Finally DH heard me. I drank a ton of water, laid down, took zofran and gave in and took one 10 mg prednisone. It cleared everything. I have barium swallowing test Tuesday and that's suppose to be my last day on prednisone. I'm gonna make it tomorrow. I had to use DH's high BP meds since I don't have high BP except sometimes with meds. Never had a problem before, but I do now. Bad jui-jui!
@intolight We had lunch at a hippie cafe and I found just the answer to lettuce. Baby spinach. They do not cut the spinach, so it's nice and fresh. It was so good with small sweet tomatoes, feta, cucumbers, red onion and grilled mushrooms plus I added 6 grilled shrimp to the mix. MY DH loves spinach salad and now I know why. It was a first for me. I loved iceberg lettuce but I'm so done with whitening. They do that treatment in restaurants too, if they prepared too much cut lettuce and it's rusting.
No gulley washer rain as promised. Just a noisy storm that set the poor dogs off. We cover them with blankets and turn the tv up to try to calm them down. Some rain, but we are still in a huge drought deficit. Lots of small wildfires in the area. I see St. Augustine beach was named best in the nation. We are only 45 min. away and love the restaurants and downtown area. Hmm, think fudge shop. Hoping for a trip maybe tomorrow. Scans on Fri 20th.
In your pockets for all your needs and may you be pain free and improving with these new meds.
Laurel
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Sadly, I think that at some point, this will apply to many of us.
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Up a little earlier just now, different order of operations today as far as chores, completing laundry first, only two cycles of 15 mins and a drip of tide and 3 sprays of the tide laundry spray and oxy max force each. Makes for a good suds without being over the top, not feeling the need to disinfect anything, nothing heavily stained.
Post laundry will make my bed once laundry in dryer, cats are fed. Doing water a bit different, give it to them around half hour later, Tigger been eating and then overfilling with water and then that is like overfilling a bucket of water. Figure the half hour gives him time to digest what he eats.
I must say am having trouble deciding what to do with the rest of my hot dogs. I really am not enjoying them and accidentally bought 24 and they are the great valu brand, not as good as name brand dogs. I will need to figure out how to disguise the taste of the dog, I am going to pulverize a couple of dogs in the chopper with black beans, maybe add cheese and put them in with some premade rice into my frypan, put garlic, cooking spray, and some taco seasoning, add queso to the pan and do the old leave it all in a hot pan thing, cover and put a lid on. I also need to use my ramen noodles, do not need to have them hanging about. I need to make stuff taste good for myself. Need to buy more meat pies and get started with eggs, hoping to skip shopping for this week since I am setting a 60 to 100 dollar monthly grocery budget, less if possible and there is nothing I need.
Floors are done in the afternoon between 2 and 6 and that is it for the chores, sink has fallen behind, been recovering it feels like post not the super best news and surgery in general. I will feel good keeping up on everything.
I hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for all.
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@irishlove My heart hurts with all of your struggles lately. I will praying for you during your barium swallow test while I sit under the chemo drip Tuesday which just happens to be my birthday 😔But we are having a good lunch before so that will help my mood.
We are in a fire watch today. My DH was doing a special HAM radio project yesterday at 10,000 ft elevation located several hours north of us and he said there was no snow anywhere. So scary for us. Not only does it affect the ski resorts and towns but the local ranches and the water supply this Spring and Summer. Pikes Peak barely has any snow showing.
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@intolight - I so feel for you re having to have that drip on your birthday 🎂! I try not to schedule medical stuff around my birthday or holidays, but sometimes it just can't be helped. I agree that a nice lunch beforehand will help a lot. Also, very interesting and odd about the snow situation. I hope you finally get some.
In your pocket for tomorrow for sure, and a very, very Happy Birthday too🎈!
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@intolight Hoping you get some snow soon and a Happy Birthday.
I did prepare a breakfast with broken up ramen noodles, I did boil it in water and put the entire seasoning in with the water so it would not taste super salty. Took my frozen sliced peppers, microwaved 3 mins to get rid of a lot of the water content. Pulled out the air fryer next. I still am not fond of hot dogs so took one hotdog and pulverized it in my spice grinder, got to say it left almost nothing put puffy stuff, added all ingredients into the air fryer and heated for 5 mins at a time,, stirred with a spoon and when done, put in a bowl. Added the squeezable queso and another dollop of sour cream and lime. Was more measured in the dry seasoning by just adding some to my hand, added white cheddar, dash of salt, dash of sour cream and onion dry seasoning . It all came together well, was concerned could cause digestive stuff so took 2 immodiums and my usual enzymes. It was pretty delicious I must say. Not a ton of protein, just one hotdog in there which was really undetectable the way I chopped the hotdog.
I have so much canned stuff and refrigerator stuff, it is nuts. Working on eating through my pantry and fridge first.
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@intolight Wishing you a Happy Birthday and may you enjoy a delicious lunch! Sorry your treatment fell on your birthday obviously not where you would like to be. So I hope it goes quick and smoothly so you can enjoy the rest of your birthday evening🎉
@irishlove In your pocket for your barium swallow tomorrow. Hope all they see is a beautiful open flowing esophagus! Guess your gonna have to go out and do your rain dance to help the drought situation lol, always something. Hopefully mother nature will get on it for you !
@eleanora Wow, I think you hit the nail on the head with that post, so true! Many times I joke with my hubby and say I'm tired of hearing myself talk about my ailments.
@mara51506 You're the perfect person to work through your food stash. Your recipe imagination is amazing!
Dreary day here , in everyone's pocket this week for ongoing struggles and appointments.
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Hello lovely ladies. I’m just checking in to wish happy Valentine’s Day this past Saturday. I got some pretty flowers. It was nice. Gabbie has finished chemo Hooray!!!! So we are at a holding pattern for her skin from radiation to heal some more before recon she’s amazing. I’m so proud of her. Trooper . I’m thinking of you all and read up when I can. I’m hoping things are slowing down for now. Sending love to all. Mara., hope you’re good. !
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@micmel - Always so happy to see a post from you. So glad to hear that Gabbie is done with her chemo. That's a real milestone, and hopefully she can start to feel better now. I continue to wish her nothing but the absolute best, and I'm wishing you a belated happy Valentine's Day! So nice that you got some flowers. Sending love back to you too. How 'bout a hug 🤗 too!
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thank you so very much. It means a lot….. a hug right back.
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Hi all lovely ladies here. @intolight A very Happy Birthday to you. I hope your luncheon was delicious and that you really had a lovely time. Darn that chemo pesting you on your day. I hate that for you.
I've followed the lack of snow pack for a number of area in recent months. Our friends said not enough snowfall to open up Mt. Hood, which is a disaster for locals and the economy. What a strange winter we are having across the states. That rain didn't dampen much to help with wild fires. The interstate had to be closed both north and southbound around Port Orange area as the fire jumped the roads. It was gray today, but no rain. Just a cold dreary day.
@micmel Oh what great news for your Gabby. I pray she starts to heal now and never needs to look back at this time frame in her life.
@mara I wonder if you could share some hot dogs with the kitties. We would buy extras and give both dogs and cats hot dogs for treats. DH is now buying rotisserie chicken almost daily for sandwiches and for the dogs. They are old now and turn their noses up at about everything. lol
@cookie54 Well I've been accused of having a big mouth when I was much younger, so lets hope it hold up for tomorrow. Thanks for the encouragement.
This pet scan coming up Friday has me concerned, as I know we all get that scanxiety. I just found out just two weeks ago that I was in remission. It's done wonders for my mental health. But there is a caveat. The MO said kinda on the side that I had been in remission for a while. I was shocked that no one told me and I didn't think to ask how long "for awhile" exactly was. I am thrilled for the remission just wish I could have had more time to celebrate that and maybe Christmas and my Birthday may have been a bit merrier and brighter. I hope that does not come across as ungrateful, as I am deeply thankful.
Hi everyone that I haven't had chance to say hi to personally. In pockets for everyone's needs.
Laurel
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Intolight - Happy belated birthday 🎂🎈💐🎁🥳! Hope chemo went ok.
Irishlove - hope you get some answers after your test yesterday.
Mel - so happy that dear Gabbie is done with chemo. How are YOU doing?
So on Friday I had a peripheral nerve stimulator put in. There are 2 thin wires coming out of my back were the source of my pain was the highest. Not the most pleasant experience as my pain doc attempted to find the best spots to attach the wires. I wear an attached battery pack that provides nerve stimulation for 12 hours at a time. I will do this for 2 months and hope to see improvement in pain during that time. Apparently the nerve stimulation eventually changes how the brain reacts to the pain. I’m keeping my fingers crossed and saying prayers that this process will work.
I’m here for pocket duty for all in need. Virtual hugs to each and every sister in this living room🫶🏻🫶🏻
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@intolight Happy Birthday! Hope that you and your husband have a wonderful lunch and that your chemo goes smoothly and extends your life by many more good years.
@goldensrbest That peripehral nerve stimulator sounds very interesting. Best wishes for a relief from pain.
@micmel Nice to see you. Glad that your daughter is done with chemo and radiation. I'm sure she'll be happy to get that reconstruction done too.
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@intolight - A great big Happy Birthday to you 🎉🎂🎈.
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Happy belated Birthday! Glad you had a great lunch to celebrate.
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Hi @moderators , ‼️ it’s always nice when we see you pop in. Thank you for thinking of visiting Mel’s livingroom today hi. 🩵🌷 I was just visiting the bone Mets thread and didn’t want to miss you all her in @micmel ’s livingroom. Sooooo………..
I just popped in myself to say hi to @cookie54 @candy-678 @brutersmom @threetree @tanya_djamila @tougholdcrow @norah2024 @intolight @irishlove @illimae @eleanora @emac877 @goldensrbest @going2beatthis @gailmary @jen1 @micmel @mara51506 @chicagoan @xsuzx @seeq @sf-cakes @malebreastc and anyone else I’ve missed. Didnt really read on along here. Today is a yucky day today. They really worked me in PT yesterday do I’m sore in my muscles but wow today the bone pain really sucks. Lot’s of arthritis in joints and shoulders, wrists, thumb,, ankles and also pain in my Accetabulum where I went for Palliative radiation in November. I think this horrible weather and expected rain storm coming tomorrow is affecting all my bones today. So I’ll check in tomorrow after PT. Have a relaxing and painfree day all 🩵🥰
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@goldensrbest In pocket for the nerve stumulator to give you a hand for the pain you are dealing with.
@micmel Glad to hear Gabbie is done and looking forward toward reconstruction.
I slept OK but had to pee 3 separate times so was a bit annoying. I have my Herceptin tomorrow, gave Paratransit a longer window since I will be having a loading dose as has been a couple months since last treatment. Better bring chargers and earbuds, could even get a movie to bring, I will see. Need to book Paratransit for an echo of the heart, normal test and then off for the next week. Figure that will be a good time to do my taxes, they are pretty simple to do. The online Turbo tax fills out the stuff online that is used. Does cost money but who cares, I also have the annual insurance due to be paid which is fine, will be a long time before I need more than 60 a month in groceries.
Really unsure of meal to have today. Need to keep using up stuff, got some leftover noodle in fridge, need to have an egg type thing, thinking of pulverizing a hotdog again in the spice grinder then add to an egg going in the microwave, making up a egg mcmuffin vibe, still got plenty of hashbrowns or diced potatoes, I will see what I feel like having. Option 2 is to heat a pan, add actual white rice, brown it first, no water, brings out flavour then add the water cover with lid. Still go ahead with hot dog pulverized again, see what veggies I may have or want to include. Still have some cheese leftover as well. I will need to move the air fryer over sink instead of where was using because it heats up meds and that is no good. Will post if meal is really good.
I did find paper towel on sale, I do not typically use paper products but these are easier to use to mop up grease if cooking a lesser grade of beef, but when I use a cloth to do that, it takes a bit for the soak in baking soda water, then a hand wash before putting in laundry.
Anyway hope all have a good day and in pockets for all.
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Almost could not open a can of black beans, it was really tough, not due to the opener but me, decided that I will always need an electric opener but this one does not use batteries, I can recharge it with a phone charger. I have a ton of those, tired of the struggle. Not sure when it arrives, paid right away.
Lunch is some pulverized hot dogs, leftover noodles in fridge and the black beans. I just put all in the air fryer. Also moving some prescriptions around because noticed the heat from the fryer warmed them up, just moving them next door and the few plates and bowls move above the air fryer.
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