NOTE: BLOGGER USES COOKIES. IF THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU, THEN YOU NEED TO LEAVE NOW. IF IT IS OKAY - THEN CONTINUE. THANK YOU.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I am A daughter,although my parents have passed, a wife, mother and grandmother, and now another woman battling breast cancer. These are a few thoughts about my life and life in general. Some may be humorous, some serious - just like life. Come join me!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Here and there
Adding to the hectic nature is packing for Chicago on Friday. I keep hoping we will hear something about any limit on luggage. I don’t know which bags to pack
.
I am really random in thinking today! My mind just flits from place to place. I hope this is not indicative of what is to come this week. I have way too much to do. I can’t afford to be flitting from place to place.
I was hoping the new drug I would be on for the next four weeks would be easy. That was until I talked to a woman at chemo today. Her regime is the same as mine, and the .one I will be starting has been hard on her. My mantra will have to be the same.. Everyone reacts differently. These hard ones have been fairly easy
.
Well, see you in about a week and a half.
Friday, April 20, 2007
What do you want?
The reason I am doubting common sense is that I got an email the other day. They are moving a china cabinet to their house on the next mountains to the SSB. She wants G to help P move it in. OK, not a problemo. Tomorrow would work really well.
They are leaving this morning from the Capital City, with the expectation of arriving about noon. We are leaving Swampland with the expectation of arriving about 5:30. Wide Spot in the Road has its community club meeting this evening at 6:30. It is a covered dish dinner. I have to warm our dish. She wants help when we get there.
Um, we still have to get Simone settled and the house opened. Does M really think we are going to stop by their house, and then get to ours. After a 5+ hour drive? Don't think so. I told G we would stop on the way to WSITR. Knowing my brother in law, he will have the thing moved by 1 and it will be set up with dishes in it by 2!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The long awaited Easter canned post
The first year, my niece and her family were here along with my daughter and her family, not to mention my brother in law and sister in law. We like to get together when everyone is here, and that seems to be Christmas and Easter. Christmas is not the problem - ever.
The plan was for us to go over to the in laws for Saturday night dinner, and Easter Sunday would be here. The men folks here were working on the front deck Saturday until early afternoon. We decided to sit down to play a board game. As we were playing, the skies began to get dark. The weather said there were storms heading our way. They got darker and darker, and finally the lightning and thunder began.
About 2 pm, the electricity went out. Being all too citified at that point, and not thinking at all, when son in law decided he really needed a shower. We said to go ahead - no problem. We are on a well. There was enough water in the tank for a shower. Then we were out. We felt quite stupid.
About 5, we headed out to the in laws. It had been raining heavily, and the roads were very muddy (they are not paved - remember). But we were confident because we have 4-wheel drive in the troop carrier. As we were going up the in laws road, we met my niece and her husband who rolled down the window as he forced us off the road and yelled "no 4 wheel drive!" They were heading back to Austin. The in laws also had no water, and their son was little bitty and sick with an ear infection .
My brother in law was having to fix the evening meal on the gas grill because our kitchens are both electric. That was the only choice. The menu was a whole filet and potatoes. The deck he was using faces directly north. The wind was from the north. E had difficulty keeping the grill lit.
The resulting meal was interesting. Some of the potatoes were burned and some were raw. The filet was rather rare, but that is fine with me.
Shortly after dinner, we decided we really better head home. It was dark, and the lights were still out. Lady Bug had never been through a power outage. She was about three at the time. She could not understand why she couldn’t watch movies and we were sitting around in the dark with candles burning. Fortunately, S’s lap top had long lasting battery and we used that for her movies.
Needless to say we went to bed early, only to be awakened at 2am when the lights came back on.
Last year, we had bad weather again. We stood at the patio door on the front of the house to watch the weather happen outside. It was blowing again with a thunder storm. As we were watching, a tornado (small one, thank you God) passed to our left heading toward the other people on the next hill.
That brings us to this year. M and E were here again. We knew there was going to be cold weather and rain. That dashed all hopes for an outside egg hunt. Mid afternoon it was 31 degrees. It began to sleet, then snow. We had an inch accumulation on the back deck. But we went over for an Easter egg hunt and dinner - again.
Getting down out steps was a trick. They were so icy. The roads were muddy, and at one point there was a huge puddle. We made it. Things went better because the electricity stayed on. That was really great.
Next year, we are staying in Swampland!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Hooray!!!
As far as the canned post, I am going to try to get that one up soon. We had a pretty weird time at the SSB the last time. It's worth recording here.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Where has the time gone?
This week has been full of trips to the medicos. I have been really tired. I didn't get any rest at the SSB, and this week has just compounded the fatigue.
I'll be back soon
Thursday, April 05, 2007
It was a good appointment however. He is amazed that I am tolerating the chemo so well. He says that I am an easy patient.
The best news is that, even though there will be another round of four doses of chemo, after I complete this there will be no radiation. We will move straight to the pills. I have a good chance of beating this thing all together.
I reminded him of the Chicago trip, and he was fine with it. That’s good since it is paid for.
We are off the SSB for Easter. It looks like it will be placed in the usual family Easter there. When we were all together there three years ago, there were terrible thunder storms and flooding rains. This year it looks like freezing weather with snow/sleet.
Easter egg hunt anyone?
Have a great Easter or weekend - whichever you celebrate. I’ll be back with you on Tuesday.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Marching to a different drummer
Yesterday, I ventured out to the big box store of W*lmrt. That takes quite a bit of courage on my part. I go there knowing that someone will put a crimp into my day. But we are going to Chicago for a week at the end of the month, and I needed clothes for the trip! My last expedition for clothes was last year when we went to D*sneyland for a week. Since I do not know what this chemo will do to my body, I didn’t want to spend a fortune on clothing, even if it is Chicago!
I had completed my shopping and headed for the checkout line. I couldn’t remember how many items I bought, so I didn’t go to the 20 or less line because I hate people who do that. K called my while I was in the longer line, and I was leaning against the closed line beside me, talking to her, while I waited for the three in front of me checked out.
A little old lady about 85 was fitting around behind me, still mulling over the last minute purchases that line the checkout lanes. When I looked up, she asked me if I were in line. No, I just like loitering around at the checkout lines in that store. When I replied that I was in line, she grunted in disgust, and was obviously miffed that I was in line. I guess she thought she should be able to precede me or something.
With that, she took her 25 cartons of jello, 3 bags of hamburger patties, and who know what else, found something else in the merchandise at the lane, and put herself into the 20 or less line.
I was miffed as well as amused. Please deliver me from that kind of attitude! I try to be understanding of those 80+. I have dealt with them, am dealing with them (G’s parents), and if the Lord desires, I’ll be one.
Today, I had the experience of taking one of the cable boxes back to exchange it. I had hoped either K or S would volunteer, but no such luck.
When I got there, there was already a line. There were probably about ten people in front of me, and I almost left. But gasoline is too expensive, and that trip was one that was not to be combined with any other errand, so I was committed to staying.
So my question to myself is why would someone go to this "outlet" if they wanted new service or change their service. It can be done by the telephone. When I got there, one representative was tied up with a couple who wanted to initiate new service, but they couldn’t decide what they wanted. Another representative was tied up with someone who I thought was paying a bill, but I still don’t know what they were doing. They, too, were there for the entire 45 minutes I stood in line.
That left one open for those of us who merely needed to exchange equipment, That was until, alas, another wanted to change service. That brought the entire process to a grinding halt.
The trip that I expected to require 15 minutes tops ended up taking 50 minutes.
I guess I must be the one who is out of step!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Body image
I decided early on that I would never do that to my children regardless of their body type. K takes after me, which means she takes after my mother. Funny, huh? Mother was on the heavy side too, but never missed a beat to point out that I was "chubby" at six.. B is my father reincarnate. He is tall and thin. But I never said anything about their body types. K has been able to manage well. B doesn’t have to worry unless it’s about putting on weight (oh how I hate that !!).
If you already have body image issues, just get breast cancer. It does wonders to add to your feelings. First you get to have a mutilating surgery. Dr Surgeon did what will hopefully be good later by leaving extra skin, but right now my right breast is a sunken area with a horrible scar down the middle. It is so horrible. I refuse to be seen by anyone but G without the prosthesis.
Now I get to add being bald to my lack of body image. I am not bald yet, but the hair is going fast. I didn’t think it would bother me, but it is. As I have said, I have been wearing a wig for over a year, but there was still something on my head. I think soon there won’t be anything. It is a blow to the old ego.
When I first began this battle, I thought I would be ready for all these changes, but as they occur I wonder if I really am. But then, as with many other things life throws your way, there is nothing to do but accept it and wait until things get better.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Wee beasties
So I remembered a television commercial I had watched. There is a company here who provides quite a number of services from killing bugs in your house to building swimming pools. One of their services is to get rid of invading wildlife. I called them, and they came out Saturday.
It seems like we are not only invaded by the above-mentioned vermin, and yes even birds if they are trying to share my house are vermin, we have "roof rats." They are clever little beasties that get into your attic to live during the night, then leave during the day to forage only to return that evening. Wonderful.
We signed a contract, and they will be here this week to seal up any and all entrance areas into our attic. They will place snap traps - glad our bedroom is downstairs so we won’t be hearing that action. They will also place live traps. The hitch here is that on the contract we are to contact them within 24 hours of finding something in the live trap. Guess what! We will be gone from Friday to Monday. I figure that to be just a tad more than 24 hours.
I wonder what that will do for our contract?
Thursday, March 29, 2007
A strange turn of events
Today I met a fellow breast cancer patient. The difference is that she is a young mother, about 30, with two children and is about five months pregnant. She has had fibroid breasts, and for a long time she was told is was only that. At the beginning of the year, she found it was growing.
They tested, and she ended up having a mastectomy because her tumor was 4.5cm. She had twelve involved lymph nodes. When she went to the restroom, her friend explained that she is listed as a Stage 3, but is more likely a Stage 4 because they cannot do a scan due to her pregnancy.
She has a great attitude. But it is so sad. Young women are not being screened as they should. Breast cancer is hitting these women. They have a right to yearly mammograms too.
As for my hair loss, I am one of the millions of lucky women who have experienced hair loss over the years. I really got tired of it, and I got tired of paying over $60 every six weeks to have cuts and highlights. When I would leave, my hairdresser would say that my hair looked so good. What a load of hog wash! I knew better.
So in December of 2005, I made the decision to buy a wig. I found a circular for a place where I could order on line. They had a sale. It was 2 for 1. I ordered two wigs. One was too light, but I still have it. It’s not really comfortable. Perhaps when all this hair is gone it will be better.
The other I wear almost every day. When I went to get my prosthesis, they said that they also sold wigs. I told the fitter that I was already wearing a wig. She was amazed. It is so natural looking.
Since the first purchase, I have ordered a "summer" wig. That is a necessity here is Swamp Land. I also ordered a human hair one, but I need to do a little styling of it. It’s a little too straight and limp.
I am set for the loss of my hair, and in reality because of my hair history it's not really a big deal to me. I even ordered fake eyelashes along with the human hair wig!
Take care of yourselves! I am going to rest.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
What's a life worth?
When I got my EOB for the pet scan, my health insurance denied it. They stated that the cost was too much and it was an experimental procedure. I thought I was looking at $4500. Several weeks later, the hospital and insurance company managed to settle on a payment. I wasn't privy to the method of calclation
Yesterday, I got the EOB for the mastectomy. There were probably twelve items listed, and each one was "Hospital incidental." They had various amounts next to them ranging from $27.50 to $18,426.56. The amount the insurance will pay, and this is listed next to each and every one, is $120.75. So that means of a bill of $30,893.45, my insurance company will pay $1,449.
I knew the hospital was out of network, but I also have coverage for that. It is 60/40. Where is that shown. It isn’t. This should be an interesting journey!
Oh - on other news, the hair is beginning to go. I first noticed just a few hairs more than normal. When I ran my fingers through it, there was lots more!
Today was chemo round two - so far so good, even though the CBC showed I am a little anemic,
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The vampire
Today I had to go to the lab for what will be my biweekly CBC. It is in the same building with the oncologist, but today was my first visit. I think the subsequent visits are going to be - "interesting" to say ht least.
When I was called back, it was obvious that the tech wanted to use the right arm. I would have been perfectly content with that had I not been warned to not even allow blood pressure to be measured in the right arm. So I told her that I had to have the left arm used.
The needle didn’t hurt one bit. I thought these would be a breeze. I left and drove to the bank to access the ATM. When I put my hand out to put in my PIN, I looked at the inside of my elbow. The pad was fairly soaked with blood. That has never happened to me before - ever, ever!
I completed the transaction, drove home, and removed the bandage. I have a lump of blood that is about the size of a pencil eraser under the skin.
I have at least 15 more of these!
Friday, March 23, 2007
A poor post
With the news about Elizabeth Edwards’ reoccurrence of cancer, all the news services are finding other people who have also had reoccurrences of cancer. I know they are trying to show the courage of these people as they are valiantly continuing to fight, but for those of us who are in their first fights, it is not encouraging. They are not making the future look bright.
At this point I am struggling to remember those who have been survivors with no reoccurrence. Those are the folks I would rather hang with! Just last Friday the echo tech told me she was a nineteen year survivor. I am surrounded by these people, and yet I am hanging on the stories of reoccurrences.
I guess I will go back to the recesses of my mind where I have not truly accepted that I have breast cancer. There is still that part of me, you know. I find great comfort in sneaking back there - a lot. It’s much nicer than the truth.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
It's been a while!
Today is my usual appointment with the oncologist, where, I suppose, I will get the results of the echocardiogram I was given last Friday. The reason for the test was "poisoning by antineoplastic chemotheraphy." Sweet.
After the echo, we left to go to the SSB. G wanted to check on the barn before we paid the remaining payment on it. The builder did a good job. There had been heavy rains there since we were up last. The desert can become really beautiful after a rain. We are not really in the desert, but it is certainly a transition area. Anyway, the grass was so green!
I did nothing all weekend. It was bliss. Since the only effect of the chemo was to make me tired, that was a wonderful time. Lots of rest.
We did make a stop in San Antonio on the way home. My 86 year old MIL is going to have her other knee replaced next week. I really think dementia has grabbed her by her left ear lobe! I think she is going to have a lot of problems recovering from this surgery. She is very fragile.
Some bad news came early this morning on the news. I hope it isn’t as bad as it seems. Elizabeth Edwards has an announcement about her health. I certainly ammore sensitive to news about other breast cancer survivors. She has not been a survivor that long. She is certainly in my prayers.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Reality Check?
Yesterday was the first of the chemo sessions. When I got into the chair, the nurse asked if I had been through chem school. Nope - never heard of it! So I got an abbreviated version.
This came AFTER it was discovered that my port was deep. Thanks Dr Surgeon! No little stick, poke and it’s in. No it’s digging for it!
The first treatment went quite well - especially when I discovered that I don’t have to have a driver. I can take myself. That made me very happy.
Today was fluids day. When I was sitting in the waiting room, another woman was on her phone. She was talking about her impending chemo. She was in for just a check. She said she was due for chemo school on Tuesday, then beginning chemo on Thursday. She said she was relizing that she had breast cancer now.
Funny, after the mastectomy, now the chemo, it still isn’t really sinking in yet. I just feel these are thinks that are having to be done. I’m not looking at the real reason. I wonder if there will ever be a reality check?
Well, Lady Bug is going to be here in a bit. Monkey Boy is having an ENT appointment to check his hearing. His speech is a bit delayed, but with the speech therapy he is getting he is already getting better. The hearing check is not a bad idea however.
Time to put on the prostheses, and kick myself into high gear to get ready to Lady Bug!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Question
I did control much of what my children did when they were growing up. I put that off to parenting. I guess some was, but then again I think some wasn’t.
Facing this chemo, I realize that I am a control freak. I want it to go the way I want it to go. I want the schedule to be what we have set. I have my appointments set through the end of the month, and I want them to follow that schedule. But, and thanks Leeann for you comment on the last post, I must realize that there will be changes. This is not my ball game. I don't make the rules.
One aspect of this whole chemo thing is that I have to depend on others to get me to my appointments. I don’t like that at all. I am so independent. When I want to go, I want to go. There is the glimmer of hope that I will be able to drive myself after this first one. The site is close by, so I just hope I will be able to take control of my life again.
How do you hand the reins over to someone else?
Monday, March 12, 2007
A little bit of this and a little bit of that!
That very evening, I ran a fever - 101. I know antibiotics need to be used only when needed, but come on. If the incision is red . . . So I called Dr Surgeon on Friday morning, and they told me to come in - right then! He drained about 3 syringes of fluid from the area. I think my sensitivity to the silicon tubes caused them to clog, and the fluids were trapped. Anyway, I am on antibiotics now.
The problem with that is will they continue with the chemo on Wednesday? With the time change, the oncologist office has not changed their phones from weekend mode yet. I can't reach them. Ah, another drama.
Saturday we went to get my prosthetic breast. Dr Surgeon said that the insurance might not pay for the pro thesis and the reconstruction. I went prepared to pay outright for the pro thesis. They convinced me that insurance would have to pay, so that was the way we went.
I must say, it is a different feeling that going natural, but I feel much more secure. The silk scarf, ace bandage and two socks that I had been using were certainly not as nice as this "fake boob!"
I finally got to get my eyes examined for new glasses. It will be great to be able to see again. My present glasses are two years old because I had a aneurysm in a capillary in my right eye that had to be treated with laser surgery. I waited for a while for my vision to settle down, then I got lazy. I would use the excuses of kids going back to school, so the optical division would be too busy, or they were on vacation and it would be too busy. My glasses will be ready in 7-10 working days.
I had been reading Rana. She had gotten some great glasses via the Internet. I had wanted the progressive sunglasses as well as the regular. I asked the guy how much they would be. He quoted $240. I nearly fell off of my chair. I checked with the Internet place. I ordered a pair for less than $100 on Saturday. They will be shipped in two to four days. What do you want to bet I get the sunglasses before the regular ones!
I have rambled enough for one day. It was just a very busy weekend with so many unrelated things going on. Have a good week!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Will it be fun?
We have the opportunity to take private rail cars to Chicago the end of April. I was ready to do it. We had hoped to take this trip earlier in the year, but it was cancelled. By the way, we are train buffs! We love to ride trains. Anyway, this trip came up. We talked to Dr Surgeon. He said it would be fine.
That was before the schedule for chemo every two weeks fell onto my life. Other than being really scared of the effects of the chemo, I am really afraid of how I will handle this trip.
I love the train and I love Chicago. Absolutely. But we board the train the day after a two day chemo treatment. How sick am I going to be? How tired am I going to be? How much of Chicago can I enjoy?
I booked the hotel room last night. We will be there for four days, and then return by Amtrak.
I so hope I am worrying without reason.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Ashamed
Yesterday when I was at the oncologist, an older woman and her husband came in. They signed in, and were greeted (which is unusual in itself but that’s another story) by someone at the desk.
They ascertained this was her first visit to the office. She was laden with a portable file folder and several manilla envelopes. She was asked if she had been mailed the volumes of pages that comprised the questionnaire for the office. She replied she had, then proceeded to search for it.
Naturally several of the envelopes fell to the floor. Her husband was still there with her at this time, and he picked them up. She put things into a hasty order, and they began to go over the form.
She has checked that she had advanced directives. When the clerk asked about them, she began searching through the portable file. The advanced directive was there, and she produced it. She then began looking for the Power of Attorney. It was not there.
As she became more distressed, her husband went to a couch, got a magazine, and sat down. She searched furtively stating that the original must be in the safe at her daughter’s house, but it had been filed at the courthouse.
She was becoming more and more distressed. I was amazed at the calm demeanor of the clerk. She was assuring the lady over and over that the document was not needed, just to ascertain that she did have one. The lady by this time was in complete "finding mode." She was going to find that document. She was going to stay there until that happened.
Smugly, I sat there thinking how glad I was that I had already signed in and was sitting in the waiting room!
My appointment went very long, That was mostly due to the fact that the lovely new hospital I resided in for the mastectomy does not really have their act together. Here we were ten days post op, and the report from that surgery had not been sent to the oncologist. That was the document he wanted - nothing else, and we weren’t going any further until he got it. Thank goodness for fax machines!
After my wait in the exam room of over two hours, guess who was at check out! Yep. Since she was new, they had ordered all sorts of other tests. I think she was going to have a PET done. She was so confused with all that was going on, and I guess loving husband was still on his ass in the waiting room.
I was so tired that I was a little upset that she was going to be checking out for a while. I knew from the checking in procedure. Sure enough, when she was looking over the paperwork, she came to NPO. I know her physician went over all this while she was in the exam room, but she didn’t know what that meant. They explained everything to her again. I signed internally.
Patients are beginning to pile up behind me to check out. I was not understanding - at all.
After we left, I brought this up to G. He put the proper spin on the situation. She probably has brain cancer, she was scared, and she had never had to deal with this type of thing before. We both remarked about how wonderful the staff at the oncology clinic handled the situation.
Now I am ashamed of myself. I need to be more caring about others . Cancer is a scary thing.
Monday, March 05, 2007
It's got a good beat
So I went online, as all good computer savvy people are apt to do, to check on what was going to happen to my body. I was expecting the hair loss. OK, no real problemo. I was expecting nausea. Not pleasant, but then I knew chemo was not a walk in the park. Mouth sores. Now that caught my attention. I was really hoping those little devils would not be part of it. The drugs are going into the port, then into the blood. Leave the mouth alone already!
What really caught my eye was the possible kidney and bladder involvement that goes along with one of the drugs. So when I get that one, I get to go back the next day for fluids. What a deal! Two days at once!
Then I read the details of the other drug, It can damage the heart. I tell you, this cancer thing just keeps getting better. Now I know why I get to have an echo of the heart next week also.
But these things will pass. I can pretty much begin marking off the treatments from the calendar and look forward to getting back to my normal boring life. Things will be OK. I will live through it all, and I will be well. I just have some bumps in the road between now and then, but isn’t that what life is all about?
May you all have a good week!