Monday I had blood work to see if all was well to continue with chemo. I received the results early that afternoon. Of course I had no idea what most of the tests meant. But most were in the normal zone. No call that chemo was called off, so off we went Tuesday morning.
The nurse came out and said that my platelet count was too low and I had to postpone chemo until next week. Now that was a little upsetting, they knew Monday yet no one called me not to come. That really ticked me off. There is nothing I can do to raise my platelet count except not take chemo for a week. Next Monday blood work again and hopefully chemo will happen on Tuesday.
Marty and I had set up our calendars for about 10 appointments for February. All of those are canceled because I am now on a different chemo cycle. We have 3 appointments for February and hopefully will get the rest on Tuesday.
I contacted my oncologist to see if I could go back to church. I would wear a mask if allowed to go. She said no, it was not safe with my compromised immune system. Small groups of people I know are healthy is allowed. Other wise wear the mask and no hugging or shaking hands.
Then I told the oncologist I had a dental check up/cleaning next and had been told that could be dangerous for me. Yep, Deb was right. Cleaning my teeth could spread bacteria into my blood stream. No cleaning allowed, just the check up.
Wow! I am a delicate flower.
Wednesday good friends who live in Texas came to take care of Marty and me. ( They are part of our A Team group. This is a cooking group that became almost like family.) We haven't seen Karl and Deb for 5 years. They walked in and it was if we had been with them yesterday. They have cleaned the apartment and done laundry. This was a huge help especially since our son is working out of town for two weeks and can't help us. Great timing Karl and Deb.
Yesterday they took me walking in my neighborhood. I walk regularly but not alone outside. I am a little shaky and afraid of falling. We walking a good distance, came home and I rested. Then we walked a couple of blocks to my favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch. That was a big day for me. I had a nap and sat in the recliner to recover. My energy level drops as the day goes on.
But tired as I was it was a fabulous day. It was great to see all the blooming plants in the neighborhood. With our crazy weather things are blooming about 2 weeks early. Sorry the rest of the country, we are having spring with 70 degree days. Tulip trees are in full bloom, pear trees are finishing up, jasmine is starting to bloom, and of course daffodils are strutting their stuff. The roses never went dormant. They are just blooming their hearts out. It smelled so good with all the blooming trees, even the evergreens smelled great.
Today we are going into the city to have lunch with the A Team. Two of the couples are doing all the cooking. We other 2 couples will bring wine. They are doing a lunch instead of a dinner so I will be peppy.
That's what's going on in my life right now. I feel so much better and can do so much more. I still rest and nap. And by early evening I am pretty tired. But all and all, to be so sick, I am doing great.
Prayer warriors please continue praying, you are why I am improving. Thank you.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Months since we have done this type of "normal" event
Marty and I test recipes for Cook's Country and its sister magazines. We get recipes to test all the time. But because I hadn't had an appetite in forever, we rarely participated in the testing. Well now I am hungry, all the time. This new gentler chemo is not killing my appetite. Last night we tested a new recipe.
The recipe was for pork burgers with a horseradish sauce. Right away we found an error. One place it said it served 6, in another serves 4. That is a little confusing.
The recipe was for pork burgers with a horseradish sauce. Right away we found an error. One place it said it served 6, in another serves 4. That is a little confusing.
Close to the end of the recipe is where it says serve on 4 hamburger buns.
Ingredients for the burgers.
Marty carefully weighed out each patty at a 1/4 pound each.
Ingredients for the horseradish sauce. No, the Pedialyte is not part of the ingredients. I forgot to move it out of the picture area.
Horseradish sauce ingredients all whisked together and ready to serve.
Burgers hot from the grill.
Plated and ready to eat with some home made tater tots.
I think the horseradish sauce is fabulous. I would eat it off a spoon. But the pork burger disappointed me just a little. It was good, but I think in my head I thought it would be more of a hamburger taste. It looks like a hamburger, it is on a hamburger bun. That was just me, beef and pork totally different flavors.
I really enjoyed testing a recipe with Marty.. We like cooking together and then discussing what we have served. So normal again was great.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Hey, I did some normal today.
Friend Kirsten firmly believes that if I am walking it should be outside, not in the apartment. She also understands I am still wobbly and shouldn't walk alone outside the apartment. So she offered to take me to the San Leandro Marina and walk with me . She also believes if walking you should have beauty to look at. The marina area is on San Francisco Bay, talk about beauty.
Today she picked me up and drove us out to the Marina. It was a bright warmish day, and breezy. We walked a little over 20 minutes, we didn't want to push me too much. With walking to and from the car at the apartment, and going up and down the stairs, I did my 30 minutes.
Kirsten wouldn't let me walk next to the water after my first wobble. She quickly switched sides with me. I don't think she wanted to fish me out of the Bay. It was a lovely to be outside and enjoying the water sparkling like topped with diamonds.
This is a ramp down to some of the berths for the boats. San Francisco Bay is the other side of the trees.
A few of the boats at the Marina.
Thank you Kirsten. Can't wait to go back.
Today she picked me up and drove us out to the Marina. It was a bright warmish day, and breezy. We walked a little over 20 minutes, we didn't want to push me too much. With walking to and from the car at the apartment, and going up and down the stairs, I did my 30 minutes.
Kirsten wouldn't let me walk next to the water after my first wobble. She quickly switched sides with me. I don't think she wanted to fish me out of the Bay. It was a lovely to be outside and enjoying the water sparkling like topped with diamonds.
This is a ramp down to some of the berths for the boats. San Francisco Bay is the other side of the trees.
A few of the boats at the Marina.
Thank you Kirsten. Can't wait to go back.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Lab report
The surgeon just emailed the lab report. The knot was just old blood from an injection site. So nothing to worry about.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Health Update
Yesterday, Tuesday, I had another round of chemo. One minor side effect and it is one I will take over vomiting any day. I am having difficulty sleeping at night. Last night I woke up at 1:30 and it was close to 5:00 before I went back to sleep. I did sleep until 8:30 so I got a little rest. I can't decide whether to stay and bed and hope I will fall asleep or to get up and read myself to sleep in the recliner. If the problem persists I think I will try the recliner. At least that way I won't be disturbing Marty with my restlessness.
I am much healthier. Even the nurse commented yesterday on how much better my color is. As I keep saying to be so very ill, I am pretty healthy. I am doing more domestic things. I have cooked some meals, prepped meals for Marty to cook, and washed a boatload of dishes. How 2 people can use so many plates and glasses is beyond me. I really wish this apartment had a dishwasher besides me.
I am walking in the apartment regularly. I am still afraid to walk outside because I am a little wobbly and lots of my meds make me dizzy. Add to that my vertigo and I bounce off the walls sometimes. The walking is still fairly slow, but I have met my goal of 30 minutes. Now to get my speed up.
I haven't heard back from the lab about my biopsy. It has been 7 days and I feel I should have heard something by now, so I sent an email to my surgeon. Maybe he can prod the lab. The knot is smaller and the hole he punched in it no longer hurts. I am having some allergy sneezing and that was painful. Now I can sneeze and not curse.
I am doing well. Much stronger and not as wimpy as I was a couple of weeks ago. I have plans to walk with a friend soon at the marina. A beautiful view and a flat walk. Now to find a time she can take me.
Again thank all of you for your love, support, and prayers.
I am much healthier. Even the nurse commented yesterday on how much better my color is. As I keep saying to be so very ill, I am pretty healthy. I am doing more domestic things. I have cooked some meals, prepped meals for Marty to cook, and washed a boatload of dishes. How 2 people can use so many plates and glasses is beyond me. I really wish this apartment had a dishwasher besides me.
I am walking in the apartment regularly. I am still afraid to walk outside because I am a little wobbly and lots of my meds make me dizzy. Add to that my vertigo and I bounce off the walls sometimes. The walking is still fairly slow, but I have met my goal of 30 minutes. Now to get my speed up.
I haven't heard back from the lab about my biopsy. It has been 7 days and I feel I should have heard something by now, so I sent an email to my surgeon. Maybe he can prod the lab. The knot is smaller and the hole he punched in it no longer hurts. I am having some allergy sneezing and that was painful. Now I can sneeze and not curse.
I am doing well. Much stronger and not as wimpy as I was a couple of weeks ago. I have plans to walk with a friend soon at the marina. A beautiful view and a flat walk. Now to find a time she can take me.
Again thank all of you for your love, support, and prayers.
Friday, January 16, 2015
A weekly update
First to the chemo which was Tuesday the 13th. It took a much shorter time, 2 hours instead of 4 or 5. It would have been maybe an hour an a half but the pharmacy was short staffed and wasn't putting out drugs in a timely manner. There have been NO side effects, great joy. But I know realistically that chemo is accumulative. So we will see how next week will go.
A little over a week ago I found a plum size lump on my lower abdomen. of course I was close to panic mode. I saw a primary care doctor and she arranged for me to see a surgeon that afternoon. That really freaked me out. He was very reassuring and thought it was a bruise/collection of blood from the Lovenox shots (blood thinner). I was to do warm compresses for a week. If it didn't disappear in a week, I was to come back for a needle biopsy.
You see where this going, don't you? Of course it did not go away. It was a little smaller but was still there. So I had the needle biopsy. I have had other needle biopsies, and they aren't too bad. But they put me close to a panic attack. What are they going to find out? Is there a spread, or is it another type of cancer? Scary on the table as my mind went nuts.
The doctor who looks like he is about 15 years old is very good. He explained everything he was going to do. He would pre-numb the lump, and that would sting some. Next he would make a HOLE in the lump and then take samples. A hole? Are you kidding me? Nope he made a hole which later he put a stitch in. The samples were gelatinous blood, just as he thought. So he squeezed out as much as he could. He said, "This is just like popping a zit." The man has a sense of humor. The samples are off to the lab and it will be next week before a final report.
I am sore and swollen. The swelling will last a few weeks. This was a little more than other needle biopsies I have had. But I am not worried, doctors don't say it is OK without a lot of evidence. I have to wear a stomach band (it looks like a back brace) for a few weeks. This is to keep the swelling down somewhat.
Yes, I do have to throw in some drama every now and then. It just wouldn't be me if I didn't.
A little over a week ago I found a plum size lump on my lower abdomen. of course I was close to panic mode. I saw a primary care doctor and she arranged for me to see a surgeon that afternoon. That really freaked me out. He was very reassuring and thought it was a bruise/collection of blood from the Lovenox shots (blood thinner). I was to do warm compresses for a week. If it didn't disappear in a week, I was to come back for a needle biopsy.
You see where this going, don't you? Of course it did not go away. It was a little smaller but was still there. So I had the needle biopsy. I have had other needle biopsies, and they aren't too bad. But they put me close to a panic attack. What are they going to find out? Is there a spread, or is it another type of cancer? Scary on the table as my mind went nuts.
The doctor who looks like he is about 15 years old is very good. He explained everything he was going to do. He would pre-numb the lump, and that would sting some. Next he would make a HOLE in the lump and then take samples. A hole? Are you kidding me? Nope he made a hole which later he put a stitch in. The samples were gelatinous blood, just as he thought. So he squeezed out as much as he could. He said, "This is just like popping a zit." The man has a sense of humor. The samples are off to the lab and it will be next week before a final report.
I am sore and swollen. The swelling will last a few weeks. This was a little more than other needle biopsies I have had. But I am not worried, doctors don't say it is OK without a lot of evidence. I have to wear a stomach band (it looks like a back brace) for a few weeks. This is to keep the swelling down somewhat.
Yes, I do have to throw in some drama every now and then. It just wouldn't be me if I didn't.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
How do I spend my day as I recover?
Just what does someone recovering from heart problems and side effects from chemo do all day? When I came home from the hospital 2 weeks ago, not a whole hell of a lot. Now I am stronger and every day is better.
I get up and fix my breakfast. I have been eating a lot of eggs lately, they want me to eat lots of protein. So we forget the cholesterol problem. Pills control that. Plus I don't do eggs everyday. Then I clean me up and put on real clothes. At first a shower wore me out, but now not so tired. About this time I take my shot and pills.
Now it is time for the leg exercises for my swollen legs. I do these twice a day. The legs are now looking close to normal in the morning but by evening they are swollen. But nothing like when I came home.
Because of the swollen legs I am to sit and keep my legs up most of the time. So my recliner is my best friend. Of course it isn't good to just sit all day, so I walk down the hall every couple of hours.
I watch a lot of idiot TV. I have lots of mindless shows recorded and they fill up the day. I watch a lot of the Home and Garden channel, History channel, and The Learning Channel. House Hunters, Property Brothers, Love it or List it, Say Yes to the Dress, What not to wear, American Pickers and on and on. When I had the eye infection this helped me keep my sanity, because I couldn't see well enough to read. Now I am able to read and that fills up a lot of the day.
I fix my lunch and wash up breakfast and lunch dishes. Then it is back to the recliner to watch TV or to read. And maybe to nap. After a rest I walk the apartment to build strength. Up to 10 minutes. going for 15 today.
Supper Marty cooks, and now I can set the table and wash up dishes. Then it is time for leg exercises and then into my jammies. Marty and I watch better TV together until bedtime. Pills and another shot in the early evening. Then to bed and the next day it all begins again.
Many days we go to Kaiser for blood work and doctor appointments. Next week chemo begins again. This time I will have three weeks of chemo and then we will evaluate what is happening.
Yes, pretty boring at times. But it is making me stronger. I hope to not need a wheel chair when we go to Kaiser Monday. It is a big building and a lot of walking. Hope I can do it.
Oh, today I am feeling great. So I have made chili for supper. Marty is excited to not have to cook.
I get up and fix my breakfast. I have been eating a lot of eggs lately, they want me to eat lots of protein. So we forget the cholesterol problem. Pills control that. Plus I don't do eggs everyday. Then I clean me up and put on real clothes. At first a shower wore me out, but now not so tired. About this time I take my shot and pills.
Now it is time for the leg exercises for my swollen legs. I do these twice a day. The legs are now looking close to normal in the morning but by evening they are swollen. But nothing like when I came home.
Because of the swollen legs I am to sit and keep my legs up most of the time. So my recliner is my best friend. Of course it isn't good to just sit all day, so I walk down the hall every couple of hours.
I watch a lot of idiot TV. I have lots of mindless shows recorded and they fill up the day. I watch a lot of the Home and Garden channel, History channel, and The Learning Channel. House Hunters, Property Brothers, Love it or List it, Say Yes to the Dress, What not to wear, American Pickers and on and on. When I had the eye infection this helped me keep my sanity, because I couldn't see well enough to read. Now I am able to read and that fills up a lot of the day.
I fix my lunch and wash up breakfast and lunch dishes. Then it is back to the recliner to watch TV or to read. And maybe to nap. After a rest I walk the apartment to build strength. Up to 10 minutes. going for 15 today.
Supper Marty cooks, and now I can set the table and wash up dishes. Then it is time for leg exercises and then into my jammies. Marty and I watch better TV together until bedtime. Pills and another shot in the early evening. Then to bed and the next day it all begins again.
Many days we go to Kaiser for blood work and doctor appointments. Next week chemo begins again. This time I will have three weeks of chemo and then we will evaluate what is happening.
Yes, pretty boring at times. But it is making me stronger. I hope to not need a wheel chair when we go to Kaiser Monday. It is a big building and a lot of walking. Hope I can do it.
Oh, today I am feeling great. So I have made chili for supper. Marty is excited to not have to cook.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
A small update
Everyday I am gaining strength. I can stand steadier, do my leg exercises higher, stay awake longer. I fix my breakfast and lunch by myself. And at supper I set the table and then do the dishes. Baby steps are getting longer. My appetite is pretty good. I am still having some intestinal problems, but they are less than before.
This is the last week for the home care nurse and physical therapist. Chemo will begin again on the 13th. IF blood work shows I am strong enough. Then we will see if I can tolerate the new chemo. It will be much less than I was doing before. Side effects should be much less. It will be an hour session instead of the 5 hour and take home chemo. We are now going for quality of life.
Prayers are still needed for Marty and me. He is carrying a huge burden and is tired. I am strong enough to be alone some for him to run errands and see clients. But I do get nervous after a couple of hours alone. I have been so protected the last month, that independence is scary.
Friend Kirsten still is organizing babysitters for me so Marty can work and get out of the house every now and then. I don't so much need help as knowledge it is there if needed.
I wish I could go to my book group and get back to marrying couples. But that can't happen. I can't be around all those strange germs.
Much love to all my prayer warriors. I pray for all of you every night.
This is the last week for the home care nurse and physical therapist. Chemo will begin again on the 13th. IF blood work shows I am strong enough. Then we will see if I can tolerate the new chemo. It will be much less than I was doing before. Side effects should be much less. It will be an hour session instead of the 5 hour and take home chemo. We are now going for quality of life.
Prayers are still needed for Marty and me. He is carrying a huge burden and is tired. I am strong enough to be alone some for him to run errands and see clients. But I do get nervous after a couple of hours alone. I have been so protected the last month, that independence is scary.
Friend Kirsten still is organizing babysitters for me so Marty can work and get out of the house every now and then. I don't so much need help as knowledge it is there if needed.
I wish I could go to my book group and get back to marrying couples. But that can't happen. I can't be around all those strange germs.
Much love to all my prayer warriors. I pray for all of you every night.
Friday, January 2, 2015
News from Joe on Weddings in 2014
The Marriage Factory in 2014
Weddings. People keep having them. Here's a couple who got married at the Rose Bowl (http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/01/us/oregon-duck-fans-wedding/index.html). Business at the Marriage Factory continues apace. I usually do 8-12 weddings each Friday morning. This year, I even subbed on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Christmas Eve was busy, New Year's Eve not so much.
This week, I did a pair of double weddings, where groom #1 was the witness for couple #2. More people than you think get married on the spur of the moment, finding a witness among the similarly inclined or the kindly romantic. Our no-appointment-needed policy is very attractive to those with a yen to take care of everything at once, mitigated only by the need to feed a meter until their turn comes. Every once in a while, that is a gating factor, at least until a last-minute scramble sets things right.
Witnesses number from 0 to "Please, if you can't find a seat, stand quietly." Children are quiet or excited or bored or screaming or some combination thereof. Tears and laughter, mostly from the bride, sometimes from the groom, often from the crowd. Every once in a while, a sigh of relief from a parent, sibling or even a child, glad her folks finally made it official.
There have been a number of lovely outfits since I last wrote. Wednesday, a patterned blue shawl blouse with fringe, followed by a white macrame-style knit dress. Each groom matched his bride, midnight blue bowling-shirt cut for one, cream linen suit for the other.
I've seen long, flowing gowns and simple but elegant sundresses; modest heels, thigh-high lace-up boots, and pink bedazzled flip-flops; sweeping up-dos, long flowing locks, shaved heads, and even a veil or two.
I know the clerks missed having Miss Janet with them in the latter part of 2014 and look forward to her return, as do I. Get well soon, dear.
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