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

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  • cookie54
    cookie54 Posts: 1,479

    @seeq Congrats on the engagement of DD, so exciting! It's so nice to have close family and friends there after to share in their excitement and joy! Good luck with the vax I got my flu vax last week, hope you don't feel too bad after.🤞

    @intolight Happy to hear scans showed a good response to treatment!

  • cookie54
    cookie54 Posts: 1,479

    @shanagirl Ugh I'm sorry yikes…looks like they really did a number on that arm😮. Hope it looks worse than it feels and your next stick is a better one!

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Posts: 7,645
    edited October 22

    @threetree I am glad stable is the word for scans and sorry for feeling sick and weak after all the scans, you are right to rest before the zoom training.

    @shanagirl I can empathize with bruising from the hospital, this past january my forearm and wrist were black for what felt like a long while. It was gross to me. Took weeks for it all to go away.

    I missed the post yesterday, this is the start of it. Still nothing on agenda today but have laundry on the go, not as much as yesterday so many more cloths and kitchen towels in use. Floors and waiting on prescription to be delivered, that is about it.

    Food yesterday was leftovers of the beef soup that I changed to a stew by straining broth into a container and heating up the beef and veggies part, added red lentils too. It was mighty good, not a soup person either so made good use of it. Two meals so far and still have the broth to use, probably with a burrito or couple mini pot pies and lentils. If I need more potato type stuff, put my diced potatoes in the rice cooker as well.

    I made a small grocery order, got 3 boxes of 6 mini pot pies for 4.99 each, good sale price. Last a long time. Also ordered prescription I needed, will get delivered later on.

    Meals today will focus on lentils, not sure if dried is the way I want to go but I may go ahead and do that. Perhaps take some white rice, add water for it then throw in the lentils and some of the gravy leftovers from the soup, I can microwave either a burrito or mini pot pie to go with it, I could also just take the microwaved items and put them in rice cooker, soften them up and they become something else. I will post later what I decide to have.

    MEAL 1 taking two of the mini pot pies, chicken and veggie ones, heating them 4 mins in microwave first. Taking some rice and dried red lentils and doing up in the rice cooker, probably throw pies in the rice cooker too and add gravy, let it soften together and should be pretty good. I will post results.

    MEAL 1 REVIEW, Did all above stuff so the meat pies came out like part of the lentils and rice meal, the soup broth leftovers acted as the gravy, I did heat up the meat pies first then threw in rice, lentils, meat pies and topped with the soup broth which was the gravy, it did have a spoonful of caesar dressing added and salt and vinegar seasoning with salt, combined all, it was filling and really good. I took a can of soup and got three different meals out of it, pretty awesome.

    MEAL 2 was just 2 mini pot pies microwaved. Bit of caesar on top and a bit of salt. That was good too. Has me wondering if I can deconstruct the mini pot pies and turn them into something else.

    I hope all have a good day today and in pockets for everyone.

  • shanagirl
    shanagirl Posts: 763

    @mara51506 yes, this has been way too long. It’s been over 2 months I’ve had the horrible looking bruise,. I had showed it to my oncologist at my last follow-up and treatment day and now I’m due for my next appointment next week on Wednesday, October 28th.. The bruis doesn’t look like it’s going away any time soon befor my next appointment.,,I want to ask my onc if I can have some kind of protocol or recommendations in my record No blood draws or IV in right arm. Hand only sticks because I am a hard stick.

    Dear @seeq I’m praying🙏 you will stay well after your Covid and flu jabs. I won’t take those. I always go sick after every flu shot so I haven’t had any shots since the 2 years prior to COVID. I opted out of the COVID vaccination also. My Onc was fine with that too. I never got the flu since refusing the shots nor COVID. I was tested in the hospital but no FLU, nor COVID or any of the other things they tested for. Just the bacterial bleeding pneumonia that was treated with antibiotic and steroid inhalers and breathing treatments. I’m so glad I never got the COVID shot.

  • intolight
    intolight Posts: 3,232

    @shanagirl Wow, two months is a long time. I am not a nurse but it sounds like they caused a hematoma (not serious) unless there is a blood clot. Have they checked you for that? My worst bruises usually last about a week. I know the blood tech always asks me which arm, and I think you could tell them use my hand and they should use it. I think I would insist. It was never my nature to speak up about anything negative, but I have learned in the past ten years to just do it, and it usually works without any additional stress. I sent my lunch back in a restaurant last week—I have never done this before! But is was aweful and just soup. I had my DH taste it in case it was my meds since most things taste off to me and my fault, but he gagged too. The restaurant gladly switched it for me. I think I save them from having problems with someone else since I was very tactful and quiet about it. I do have a port, but for quick lab draws I usually Just have them use my arm since I am an easy stick there. They draw from my port if I need to leave it accessed for an infusion later but I do have to have a special appointment for that. So much to navigate!!!

    I am reluctant to get the flu and Covid shots this year too. It is my first time on Taxol or any IV med and I just don't want to add to the SEs. My DH got his to protect me, and we run an air purifier next to my recliner. I see my onc tomorrow so I will see what she says.

  • seeq
    seeq Posts: 1,304

    Qualifier: I am still on my first line, non-chemo treatment, so my decisions are based on here i am now.

    I get the flu shot every year, because I've known too many people, over the years, that have been down HARD for 10 days with the flu (coworkers, family...my daughter when she was too busy at college to take the time). The only time I got sorta sick right afterwards was with the flumist version. But, everyone has their own experiences and needs to make their own decisions. I get the COVID vaccine, because I'd be kicking myself if I got seriously ill when maybe I could have prevented it. Plus, I travel and cruise, so I figure I need all the help I can get. lol. Now, I go out and live life as much as I can, while I can. If I get sick, I did what I could, and I didn’t cloister myself away, missing what opportunities I have. I think it's all about where you are in treatment, and what decision/consequence you can live with.

    @shanagirl - I once had a killer bruise (after an "air" injected tetanus vax) - nowhere near as bad or as extensive as yours, but I was able to hurry it along by massaging the area a few times a day (after the initial injury healed up - It helped the body reabsorb the dead blood cells faster). Maybe ask your onc if that would be okay.

  • intolight
    intolight Posts: 3,232

    @seeq I agree that we all have to make our own decisions about the flu and Covid shots. After 10 1/2 years on various meds, I usually get a flu shot every year but have decided to wait and talk with my oncologist whom I see tomorrow. I no longer travel or cruise, although I miss them terribly! My chemo schedule along with the three side effect days prohibits anything other than a day trip. I also just tonight noticed something funny about my big toes which have been hurting a little, so I asked my nurse daughter to come upstairs and look at them. She says they are clubbing and could mean a lot of different things. Dr Google says it could mean a lot of scary things so I will wait until tomorrow until I see what my oncologist says. Amd just when I thought I was doing pretty well with a good PET scan result. Ughhh! I hate this disease!!!

    @shanagirl I was told to try Arnica. Apparently it is sold over the counter and really helps with bruises. Yours looks bad enough I would see my doctor first if you can.

  • intolight
    intolight Posts: 3,232

    @mara51506 In your pocket filling it with prayers for a good MRI result today. Your positivity and humbleness blesses others.

  • shanagirl
    shanagirl Posts: 763

    @mara51506 I’m happy you are getting MRI results today. It sounds like you are really positive about the brain issues you have dealt with sending prayers your way dear girl🙏💞

  • cookie54
    cookie54 Posts: 1,479

    @mara51506 Great to hear MR was good and have a 6 month break until next Brain scan.😊

  • goldensrbest
    goldensrbest Posts: 888

    Mara - great news on MRI results🎉🎉.

    Sending wishes for a good weekend for all. We have had the best fall. Trees are full of beautiful color!

  • shanagirl
    shanagirl Posts: 763

    @mara51506 You ar definitely a beautiful miracle. Have a blessed day girl.

    @goldensrbest Good Friday Morning. The weather is so comfortably cool and crisp this morning here at the Jersey Shore. Enjoy your day today😎💓

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Posts: 7,645
    edited October 23

    Thank you all, yes the shrinking and stable wee mets is a good thing, no necrosis is good too. I will take it. 6 months between MRI is good to, shows progress.

    Lots of work on the chores today, laundry, floors, fix up cat toy, it is a round, needs new cardboard insert, leaving the old one just causes little pieces of cardboard all over floor. I did do a good job last night, got out 5 bags of trash from my bin out back. I get so many because I allow my lazy self to say I am too tired to put it out for the week, that is why I have my couple of bins out back, They are a thick rubber like totes so no animals getting in which is good. Easier for me to grab them then try and drag a too big garbage container over from the other side of the driveway. I also prefer bags since I do not have to collect any containers the next day when collected.

    Getting a cold but pretty mild so far, got mucinex left from last cold which I believe was last year. Nothing is really troubling so far, no wracking cough, have had a drippy nose from time to time, got a nasal spray for allergies to keep clean, better than the mess of the neti pot I used to have.

    I was perusing the instacart stores to see what they have and they are still offering the mini pot pies I put in lots of my meals, I put in rice cooker and it turns a rice and lentil meal into something better. They usually are closer to 8 and 9 dollars but one of my stores has them on sale for 3.50, cannot pass up the price and got 3 more packages again. Total for delivery and 3 of the meat pies and 3 cans of lentils is 25 dollars, will not need another shop for a while. So many ideas on using these meat pies. This first meal will be rice, lentils and a mini pot pie on top in the rice cooker. I still like to microwave the pie first, make sure fully cooked. When rice cooker done, comes out looking like hamburger if I am honest. I will post on meals later as well.

    MEAL 1 I put 1/4 cup rice, 1/2 cup of canned lentils, added 3/4 cup water and dumped in 2 beef mini pot pies that were already microwaved, set to the long grain rice setting, hour and 20 mins in the rice cooker and let it take off. Periodically I came back to stir and find out how it looked. Near the end of the heat, put in some queso with some mayo, and a final push of queso with jalepeno. Let sit for another 5 minutes then dumped on a plate, very good tasting. It looked like beef by the time the beef pot pies were mixed in. I am putting half in a container as am very full. If I knew better how to do it, would have taken a picture because it looked like a very creamy mexican dish which it was turned into. Enjoyable to be sure. Meal 2 may be the leftovers, I will see.

    Hoping all have a good day and in pockets for all.

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Posts: 7,645
    edited October 24

    Hope everyone had a good yesterday and are going to have a good weekend, whilst out or if staying home.

    I slept in bed this time for a change which is good, still have a mini cold, just stuffy and little bit of a sore throat, just taking mucinex so far, I do like that stuff I must say.

    Chunking out my chores by being a little more focused on what I want to get done. Laundry is done, just need to spin one more time then dump in the dryer. Did a few dishes that I require for what I want to make. I am thinking of eggs, mini pot pie and waffling between just other pasta like KD noodles or break up a package of Knorr noodles instead of rice, not to sure yet, if I go the Knorr route, using sour cream and chives variety and seasoning up would change a bit, will post, I do keep rest of package in a container.

    MEAL 1 Rather random, put in an egg, 1/3 cup kraft dinner noodles, 1/3 cup of Knorr fettucine alfredo, started with 2/3 cup water but have been adding more when adding an egg, sliced meat I want to get through and of course a mini pot pie, beef variety. No lentils or beans this time, can always have more later. Lots of sour cream seasoning put in and added some garlic spread, usually sub that in occasionally to replace the butter. I also got a bunch of mild old elpaso taco seasoning. Will be adding Kraft dinner cheese powder to a package of the taco seasoning and putting in a container as a good mexican sort of seasoning.

    Nothing else to be done today for me except for clearing out old cardboard from the insert of a cat toy which encourages picking on that instead of elsewhere but when starting to wear out, wind up with bunches of pieces of cardboard all over the place. That is OK. Also discovered that the jugs of cleaner from the swiffer wet jet do not need to be heated up to get it out, I just took a pair of scissors, jabbed into the top of the lid instead. I can then squeeze out a bit of cleaner to use in my other OCEDAR flat mop cleaning compartment instead. The wetjet stopped spraying, second stopped spraying then my vileda floor mop stopped spraying too. OCEDAR is not powered so it should last longer. Kept others as they can work as floor dusters and cat fur and dust pickups.

    I do hope all have a great day, in pockets for all, including myself to make me get more completed jobs around the house instead of mutliple jobs started.

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Posts: 7,645
    edited October 25

    I found some old L'oreal hair paste, we are talking since before I moved in here which was almost 8 years ago. I decided to slightly style my wig, was very light with the amount used and just took my fingers and moved about the wig. I normally do not put hair products on the wig BUT decided that since I have 3 more of the same wig, 2 unopened, I would take the chance. Big thing will be not to rub anything in to clean the wig but swish in a mild soapy water or spray some wig conditioner in the water or even the softener used in laundry.Llet dry first in a towel before hanging up to dry later. If this works out well, will keep it up. I learned a while ago that fabric softener sprayed on a wig keeps the synthetic stuff healthier looking and lose less hair.

    RESULTS OF WIG GENTLE WASH AND SOAK, I did use some wig conditioner in first soak, just grabbed an end and swished it around, then did second cycle using actual fabric softener, just a bit, same deal swished around a bit and let it soak in. Then decided to gamble a bit, I took a few cloths and put then at bottom of spin dryer and put a plastic disk, then took my wig and put on top and covered with another plastic disk but did not push it down and spun for 5 minutes, once done, took a clip little hanger, attached to label on back of wig and hung up to air dry, overall, wig looks largely the same. No hair in the sink so did not seem to be too rough, I will wait until it is dry, really smells fantastic.

  • cookie54
    cookie54 Posts: 1,479

    @mara51506 The cold season is upon us, my neighbors next door already had the flu run thru their house! Hope your cold passes this week. Sounds like the wig experiment was a success! I agree on the mops I like my squeeze trigger mop with pad the best. I don't have to worry about batteries and refills etc. I use the Bona Hardwood floor cleaner and it works great on my floors! Have a good day🎃

  • shanagirl
    shanagirl Posts: 763

    Good Sunday morning everyone. I’ts been a nice weekend, I’m a little tired and achy today. Last night we Had a lovely dinner at aa Brazilian restaurant “FLAMES” with our oldest Son and Girlfriend Partner. His 19 yr old daughter is up from Ft Myers Fla. Our other youngest daughter and youngest son joined us too. We were supposed to have dinner at our SIL’s restaurant but my oldest DS didn’t make reservations, And Saturday night he’s always slammed with a very full busy restaraunt and a small band. So my DD said hey we’re also booked with a private party, so my poor SIL was totally running on adrenaline with the bar and the packed dining. It was supposed to be a suprise that my GD was up from FT Myers. So she just went in to greet him and leave. So we had a nice dinner at Flames instead of his IL Posto here at the Jersey shore. It was a fun and different experience there.. we got home after 10 and I was really tired. So today we’re just relaxing at home. Tomorrow I have to go to the Hackensack Meridian Ocean Medical locally in Brick Nj. The next own over. So I have to get a chest CT Scan No Contrast at 12:30 in the afternoon. Just 10 minutes away. Then on Wednesday I see my Pulmonologist at 11:30 and then my oncology followup with labs and treatment. So that’s always a long day with the hour & half drive up & back and usually we hit a lot of traffick and it becomes a longer drive usually.. I’m glad my pulmonologist gets my chest CT down here.

    Well have a lovely rest of the day.

    Also I want to reach out and sent love and gentle hugs to @irishlove and @mkestrel . You both are on my mind and in my heart and prayers.

    God bless 💗💚💕

  • threetree
    threetree Posts: 2,872

    @shanagirl - Sounds like a lovely time at "Flames". I don't think I've ever really seen, muchless been to, a Brazilian restaurant. I'll have to keep my eyes out for one. Best of luck with your appointments next week! You're such a trooper, I'm sure they'll be fine, but if not, you'll find a successful way to deal with any issues.

    I join you in wanting to send hugs to @irishlove and @mkestrel . I would like to add @eleanora to that group also. I would love to hear from all three of them.

  • cookie54
    cookie54 Posts: 1,479

    @shanagirl Sounds like a great dinner with your family and a delicious place to eat! In your pocket for your appointments this week may they all be very uneventful. As I tell my MO I strive to be your boring patient lol.

    @mara51506 Also in your pocket this week for smooth boring appointments😊I hope you're having a beautiful weather week as we have been having here ! It's been brilliant sunshine and cool mornings but perfect afternoon's. I feel like it makes traveling to appointments a bit nicer when the weather is nice.

    Had a nice weekend we went out with our neighbor's to a local restaurant, good food and great company! Was home yesterday getting things organized as my son moves to his rental this Sunday. I have been gathering household and foot items etc to help him get started. We'll miss him dearly but as a parent that's what we do….groom them and watch them fly❣️I know he'll miss Buster so there will be plenty of drop-ins as Buster is the main attraction at our house lol. MNF tonight Eagles vs Dallas although looking different this year with all our injuries it's always a fun rival!

    Echoing Barb and hoping all these ladies are faring ok and possibly taking a break from the forum. Always thinking and always praying for all here❌⭕️

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Posts: 7,645
    edited October 26

    @shanagirl Sounds like a wonderful outing to the restaurant, I've never been to a Brazilian restaurant myself, would be interested in food served there, looked up some offerings on google and you definitely were having really good foods.You are very busy indeed, glad some of it is a shorter trip but 90 minutes is a long time. In your pocket for appointments and scans.

    @cookie54 Glad you got to go to a good restaurant with good friends, understandable that DS will miss the family dog but like you said, could have a lot of drop in visits. Enjoy your football games. My own DB watches football, I do not but that is OK. I only miss when he would put together good snacks for the Superbowl, the food was my favourite part and of course the halftime show. Weather here id good, warm enough in the afternoon and cool at night. I have not been running AC but fans as needed and got living room window open. I don't mind being without snow, unlike a stereotypical Canadian, I am not fond of the snow. 😄Still cannot believe how fast October has gone by though.

    I was bad last night, think it was around 10 when I went to sleep, I finished Madea Boo2, stupid but entertaining to me. I know I slept at least 4 to 5 hours, with the ottoman, possible to get horizontal, did sleep couple hours in bed and then woke up, feeling fine now, will tame the late hour over next couple nights.

    Got laundry, cat toy to exchange middle cardboard part so I do not have constant smaller pieces of cardboard to put up with, put in recycle bag too with the flattened boxes. Floors are always on the menu but have been waiting for the cardboard to be changed and will do a serious clean of all rooms as well. If I just concentrated, rooms would not take too long, maybe 10 mins in total.

    Meals today, I am unsure what I wish to do, I did have an egg from the mini griddle yesterday and the air fryer hashbrown was really good, really did not do all the lentil type stuff since in afternoon to the evening, ate peanut butter out of the container. Will do better today with the healthier fare. Pantry stuff is emptying out, finally, debating desire to eat the green bean stuff, really unsure I want to unless chopped in with other types of beans, sitting on hands to NOT buy anything, I am on my last 10 bucks and though would be easy to put on credit or line of credit, don't want to, I am still tempted by the on sale meat pies, the ones I got were 60 percent off regular but no further room in fridge. I do want to finish off the sliced meat stuff I have, still smells quite good, throw in chopper for meals today. Posting later on said meals.

    MEAL 1 Leftovers from the rice, egg and lentils from yesterday, dumped rest of lentils from my fridge on top, no major seasoning needed, just a bit of the tostitos queso and some mayo to add zip as well, put some taco seasoning on top, just had to reheat 2 mins in the microwave. It was really good.

    I hope all have a good day of course and in pockets for everyone.

  • threetree
    threetree Posts: 2,872

    @cookie54 - Cheers and yay for Buster!

    @mara51506 - I too have been absolutely floored by how fast October has gone by.

    Hi to all. Here's hoping we all have a nice week ahead.

  • shanagirl
    shanagirl Posts: 763
    edited October 26

    @mara51506 @threetree Yes it was so unique and enjoyable . The server brings the meat cooked in varying degrees you tell him what you want, he slices and we just take the slice with the provided tongs and place th meat on your plate. I told him medium rare and he slices off the piece cooked for that temperature . It was juicy and delicious. The servers keep coming around to the tables with different meats cooked perfectly to your taste. Different cuts if beef, lamb, pork loin, sausages, chicken & ham….. I only had the beef and lamb. They even came around with a grilled pineapple with maple syrup crusted and different seasonings on a spit, the sever slices the pineapple so you can grab it with the tongs , it tastes so good with the meats. They also have a salad vegetable and seafood bar where you can go and add to your plate😋 I was so full and not used to eating so much as I usually pick all day. They also put a pitcher of Sangria with blueberries & serveral kinds of fruits…… so today I’m running off to my CT chest . Take care ladies.😘

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