Last of Chemo Round 4 and Info

Today my blood was good and I received the Taxol on schedule.  I asked the nurse – sometimes nurses will tell you more than doctors – about my schedule.

Next Monday I go for blood work.  That will be without the addition of the steroids the day before and gives a truer reading.

The Monday after that I see the doctor and then am scheduled to start the next round of chemo.  That day they will also draw blood for the special test of cancer markers.

The nurse said some patients stay on chemo for a year, depending on what their blood markers are.

So now at least I have some information to work with. 

I plan to try driving myself to that next chemo appointment.  If I feel wobbly afterward I will sit in my car until I feel alert enough to drive.  If I sit there for more than an hour I will call someone to bring a friend and drive me and my car home.

I have told the nurse and my kids what I plan to do.  I just want to be more independent.

The new normals are coming fast.  Sometimes the hardest thing to say is “thy will be done”.  Then the question arises – what is “thy will”. 

So on I go on into this journey.  I WILL find a way to be more independent and get more done and not give in to the fatigue so much. 

John installed a new showerhead yesterday, the kind with a hose on it and you can lift it off and spray around. 

Since Bandit jumped into the bathtub to avoid the thunder and lightning yesterday evening and dog feet are always a little dirty, I made use of the showerhead today to rinse out the tub.  He also managed to get a bit of wet paint on his head. 

Once I get him into his cage, smelly chewy dog treats are the lure, he seems to settle down and feel safe.  I never had a dog who predicted storms before.  Guess he is a weather dog.

I slept through the storm in the night.  Those sleeping pills really work.  There were tree trimmers out today cleaning up a lot of old trees and branches just down the street.  Everyone needs work around here, good for them.

Really enjoyed a phone call from my sister yesterday.  I enjoy reading her blog and hearing about the places they go and the things they do. 

Later….

 

 

Out of the House Saturday

Today I went to the post office, the bank (drive-thru), and Walmart.   A woman in the next drive-thru lane at the bank was taking a long time, she was on her cell phone.  I was looking toward the bank, not at her, but she closed the cell phone and drove away giving me a dirty look.  I’m sure the car behind her was glad she finally moved on.

Then I came home, put away most of the groceries and took a nap.  The dogs took a nap, too.  They are so used to my being here all the time that they get stressed when I am gone.  That makes them tired. 

They got their ears worked on this evening.  It amounts to squirting liquid in their ears and massaging the base of their ears for a minute or two, then letting them shake their heads to get the liquid out. 

I used to buy this liquid from the vet at about $10. a bottle.  This last time I was at the vet’s I introduced Bandit who is a foster dog.  The vet took pity on me and told me the liquid was 50% water and 50% vinegar. 

This ear cleaning process upsets Bandit a lot.  He runs around the back yard shaking his head then comes in the house and runs around like a wild dog.  I am told this is called the “Bassett 500”.

It just so happened that Lory and John were painting in the bathroom when he came in.  He kept taking a detour in there while he ran.  We finally had to close the door until he settled down.

My sense of smell isn’t dead.  I can smell the paint now and then.

The ceiling is done and tomorrow the walls will be done.  I’ll try to get a picture of the finished product.  It was painted before in 2002.  There is only one other room that has been painted since I moved here in 2002.

I’m not much of a decorator.  If there is a nail on the wall I’ll hang something on it but that’s about it.

Tomorrow will be a “take the Dexamethasone” day in preparation for chemo on Monday.

later….

 

Not Quite So Grumpy Friday

It doesn’t help when you wake up to snow going sideways.  Most of the snow is already gone this evening.  Flood warnings are out but I’m on high ground. 

I can tell myself that “it is what it is” and “get over it” and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

Today I got dressed about noontime right after I got a call that Lory and John were coming over to start working on painting my bathroom.

They got a lot done but there is still a lot to do.  The new bathtub left areas that needed drywall and spackle.  That’s all been done. 

Today Kilz was put on the ceiling and the patched places.  We are trying to preserve the wallpaper border which makes it tricky. 

Tomorrow I am going to rouse myself and get out of the house.  I need to go to the bank and pick up a few things at the grocery.  If that works out I may even buy paint.

I was disappointed with Bandit this morning when he walked right by some rabbit tracks in the back yard without giving them a sniff.

later…. 

 

Grumpy Thursday

I’m going to grump today. 

I was given a booklet titled Understanding Chemotherapy.   On page 54 there is a paragraph which says:

“Recent research has shown that chemo can impact the thinking functions of the brain (known as cognitive functioning) for up to 10 years after treatment.  Some of the brain’s activities that are affected are concentration, memory, comprehension (understanding), and reasoning.  The changes that are found in patients are often very subtle, but the people who have these problems are very aware of the changes in their ability to think.”

So now I have an excuse. 

I’m supposed to take my temperature every day to make sure I don’t have an infection.  I take it first thing in the morning and the last 2 mornings it has been 93.1 and 93.4.   Maybe that’s why I don’t want to get out of bed.  Maybe that’s why I have to close one eye so I don’t see double.

Eventually it gets up to my normal.  Then I get to take a bunch of pills which often get stuck in my throat. 

Yesterday taking a shower was the total accomplishment of the day.  Today I don’t think I’ll even do that.

later….

Chemo - Round 4 Treatment 11

Everything went well yesterday.  My blood was good so I got my drugs.  I dozed off and on, just give me drugs and I can drift off.

Maybe that’s why I woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep.

I ate a bit last night and felt full before I ate.  I think the upset stomach thing is starting to build up.  Everything has side effects.  The pills for nausea have other side effects that I have to take pills for. 

The weather has turned back to winter.  I had planned to do some running around today but the car is covered with ice.  The TV news is warning of black ice on the roads so I guess I’ll hibernate some more.

It rained yesterday.  The dogs finally had to be brave and go out in it.  When they came back inside Bandit went to the bathroom and stood there barking. 

It finally occurred to me that he remembered being dried off with a towel – one time – several months ago.

Now I am trainable, maybe a bit slow at it.  He got dried off with the towel and so did Teddy.   

When spring finally comes and the dogs come in with muddy feet I will have to teach them to let me wipe their feet off in the “mud” room.  When I had 4 dogs instead of just 2 that was quite a job.

Later….

 

Nice Weather For a While

Thursday  Feb. 17 - I’m trying not to get used to the nice weather.  We have all of March to go before there might be dependable weather.

I did venture out into the back yard to pick up some dead branches that the wind brought down.  I keep a stack of dead wood for an occasional bonfire. 

The dogs have been in and out often in this nice weather.  The neighbor’s dogs are also in and out.  They hear one another and it starts again.

After all these weeks of giving Teddy his carrot treats and giving Bandit his chewy dog treats – suddenly Bandit will take carrots, too.  Maybe it’s because he sees Teddy running away with his carrot, defending it and enjoying it. 

If Bandit wasn’t so camera shy I would get a picture of him with his carrot.  He runs away even if I am clear across the lawn with the camera.

Sunday – Feb. 20 -  I just had a heads up call from Lory telling me I hadn’t posted since Wed. 

As you can see I started one but didn’t post it so I will add to it now.

The really nice weather is gone.  Ice pellets and rain for today.  The rest of this week calls for rain and cool temps.

Today I was really hungry at lunch time so I ate too much and have been paying for it ever since.  I am now sipping juice and munching crackers.  I think the worst is over.

I have taken all the pills for chemo tomorrow.  I have the rides arranged.  If my blood is good it will be a go.

later….

 

Car Fixed

Yippeee!!!  They got my car to act up so they could figure out what was wrong.  It was something to do with an idle arm that sometimes stuck.  The bill actually says “replace IAC motor”.

The bill to fix it wasn’t cheap but nothing is.   In fact it was less than one car payment, if  I remember right.  I haven’t made car payments in at least 10 years.

It sprinkled a bit this morning, now the sun is out.  The washer is running and the dishes are waiting to be washed.  They may wait a while.

Trying to avoid the full feeling in my stomach today.  I find that means not eating much at all. 

While I was gone picking up the car Bandit found the last apple fritter on the counter.  I hope he gets a stomach ache.

later….

 

Car & Me Update

Updates on me and my car.

I feel full all the time even when my stomach is growling for food.  So I eat a little bit at a time anyway.  I’ve almost gotten used to my ears ringing.  I noticed today that my eyelashes are gone.  There are just some tiny 1/4 inch ones left.

Yesterday I changed the sheets on my bed.  I think that is about the hardest work there is in a house.  My bed has two sides to the wall, maybe that’s part of the problem.

Ramble Warning----

I once dislocated my kneecap while making a king size bed.  That’s the kind of pain that you just draw in a gasp – don’t even cuss. 

I was on my hands and knees backing off the bed after tucking in the middle of the top sheet. 

I looked at it once and then couldn’t look any more.  I reached down and put it back where it belonged. 

I happened to be seeing an orthopedic doctor about an elbow problem so the next week at his office I told him about it.  He had it x-rayed and said I did a good job of putting it back.

I had been wearing an elastic brace on that knee for a while.  I stopped wearing that brace as I think it weakened the tendons holding the kneecap in place.

Now for the car.  They can’t make it do the stall thing.  They are letting one of their employees drive it home tonight to see if they can get it to act up.  They have tried it on the computer and find no problems.

If they find nothing I will bring it home and give it one more chance.  Just one more stall and it will be traded to a dealer.  I couldn’t let someone I know have the problem.

Got a copy of a draft of my new will.  This shouldn’t be that complicated.

Later….

Sunday and Monday

Sunday - Took my steroids and then went grocery shopping this morning.  Is that power shopping?  It didn’t take me long as I had a list. 

The sun is shining today and it feels warm at 50 degrees.  My son-in-law had the top off his car.  High tomorrow is supposed to be 39.  So I guess we have to enjoy the warm days when we get them.

I even took a walk in my back yard which is mostly still covered with snow.   By evening most of the snow was gone.

On Monday I see a physicians assistant (PA) instead of the doctor.  Tomorrow will be chemo treatment 10, the start of round 4.  Sure hope my port works this time.

Monday – My port worked!!  Hoorah.  My blood was good.  I got Zometa and the chemo, Taxol.  I dozed and even snored a little which kept waking me up.

I asked how many more rounds of chemo were planned.  The PA checked and said I was to get a PET scan after a couple more rounds. 

I asked for a prescription for the Mucinex-D since I can’t buy a weeks worth at a time over the counter.  I got that – a months worth with 1 refill. 

Going to the prescription counter to pick stuff up is when you can stand beside people with colds and flu etc.  So I hate to go there often.

One side effect (affect?) of Taxol is tingling and numbness in hands and feet.  That has started lately and 2 toes on my right foot are numb. 

I mentioned this to the PA and she consulted with one of the oncologists (mine is out of town).  He said to take vitamin B-6.  Since I also take Centrum Silver they checked to see how much more I would need and they said 200 mg.  So we stopped at the drug store and got some.

That’s about it for the appointment.

Before I went to my appointment I dropped the car at the garage.  Twice more it has stalled while the engine was warm.  It seems to start fine when it is cold.  They still have it, they haven’t been able to make it do it.  I have told them if they can’t find the problem I will shoot the car.

Machines are supposed to do what they are supposed to do and I have very little patience with them when they don’t. 

We’ll see if the car can be fixed better than I can be fixed.

later….

Happy Birthday to Me

This is me as a dog, well, maybe not the ears.  Sorry about the flash reflection.

I received a mug from my sister for my birthday.  Everyone knows I love butterflies so I wasn’t surprised that it had butterflies on it.

What was surprising was how it looked after I put hot water in it.  This is amazing.  I will be drinking many more hot drinks from now on.

My friends and family went out to lunch today.  There were 7 of us as a few couldn’t make it.  We ate and had a good time.  I got a chocolate chip cookie with a candle in it for dessert.

Then, of course, we found a flea market type shop nearby.  It used to be a grocery store but now is divided up into booths for vendors to sell their crafts and collectibles. 

A good time was had by all.  Now it’s nap time.

later….

Doing Business

I had an appointment with an estate planner today.   He explained TOD (transfer on death) and POD (pay on death). 

TOD is for property or vehicles.  You can have a new deed or title made up and filed ahead of time so the property transfers smoothly to someone else on your death.

POD is much the same thing but is used on bank accounts etc.  It is about the same as naming a beneficiary.

It seems the goal is to avoid probate as much as possible.  When I made the appointment he asked me to bring lots of things, like titles and deeds and IRA statements.

I found most of it but couldn’t find the title to the car.  You only need the title when you are buying or selling the vehicle.  Also couldn’t find the deed to this property.  I can get copies of both.

Depressing?  Not really.  It’s reality.  I want to make things as easy as possible for my family.  Cleaning out all my accumulation of stuff will be enough of a job for them.

The sun came out this afternoon which was great.  I have been pretending it is spring already.  There are a few inches of snow still on the ground and every now and then a new coating of sleet or snow.

My hoarseness is getting better.  It is a side affect of the taxol chemotherapy.  This week off proves that fact.   My back is still a little sore from my fall but getting better each day. 

All in all things are going well, just need some more energy.

later….

 

 

More Horses and Dr. Appointment

The first 3 pictures are of the big black horse.  He was beautiful but I wondered if there wasn’t some hair dye on some little part of him.  The rider had to make the signals to him that were very obvious to get him to change gaits.

He was being trained and was a little slow to respond but did his best.

 

The rider tried to get him to bow while she was on him but he wouldn’t do it until she got off.

At the Lipizzaner.com (<—link) website they advertise some of these horses for sale – $25,000 will get you a stallion.  The mares do not perform and can be bought for $7,500.  They said the mares are built differently, different weight distribution, so they cannot do the same tricks the stallions do. 

Today’s medical appointment was quick, just draw some blood.  They couldn’t get my port to work so they put some heparin in it and drew the blood they needed from a vein.  Maybe it will work next time.

I didn’t need a blood booster shot.

So this week I will try to get some things done while I feel a little better.  Things like take a load to the Salvation Army and pick up some paint chips to decide what color to paint the bathroom.

later….

 

Night Out

Friday night I got to see something that I have wanted to see for many years.  The Lipizzanor Horses.  (<—link)

Susan picked me up after she got off work and we went out to eat, then went on to the show.

Here are some pictures I took.  Susan got some better ones that I may post later.

There were eight horses and they all performed together at the end.  The history and story of these horses is interesting to read if you follow the link in the first paragraph.

There was one black horse, very big with huge feet, who performed a bit.  He was a bit clumsy but very entertaining.  It made you appreciate the smooth performance of the Lipizzanors. 

They explained that these horses are slow to mature but can live to 30 years.  For 4 years they just let them be horses and watch them to see which ones would be good for training.  All the moves they do are normal moves that horses do in the field when they romp around.

At about age 4 training is started and only lasts for 45 minutes a day.  These must be the most pampered horses in the world.

The trick is to get them to do the moves when you want them to. 

I missed one perfect picture because the person in front of me got so excited that she waved her arm in front of my camera.  It’s one the moves called “airs above the ground” where the horse rears up and then kicks it’s back feet out behind, all 4 feet off the ground at once. 

I really enjoyed the evening even though I coughed some and couldn’t talk part of the time.  The hoarseness continues and there is a sharp pain in my back when I cough so I can’t do it properly.   It is a bit better each day. 

later….

SUNSHINE

My car door is open and my cell phone is charging inside the car.

Lory and John came by and are helping me out.

My back is sore, I pulled something when I fell.  Did you know you use muscles in your back when you clear your throat or blow your nose? 

So I am talking in a whisper and taking double doses of Mucinex  D.  Actually, I’m taking the dose they say to take.  I was taking only 1 pill at a time before.

The sun is making everything melt and drip even though temperatures are still below freezing.  The dogs want to go out a lot to enjoy the sunshine.

It makes a big difference in everything. 

later….

 

 

WINTER

This morning Time Warner cable was down which means I had no TV, no phone, and no internet.  It came back on about 11:00 a.m.

By then Susan had been by to check on me when she couldn’t get me on the phone. 

My cell phone doesn’t get a very good connection here at home.  It needs charging anyway.  I have lost the charger that works in the house.  The only one I have is the one that works in the car.

The car doors are frozen shut.  Tried a hair dryer for a few minutes but it seems to be all around the door, not just the latch.  Too cold for staying out that long.

Last night I sprinkled “ice melt” on the back deck and the front steps.  The first step off the front porch looked just like the concrete porch which was not covered in ice.  So I stepped onto that first step to reach farther with the ice melt. 

One step, my foot slipped out from under me and I landed on my back and slid down four steps. 

Stupid!!!

After a moment I resettled my glasses on my face and assessed the situation. 

Everything moved okay so I held to the icy iron rail beside the steps and scooted my self up to the first step, then the next higher one and so forth until I was back on the porch. 

By then the seat of my clothes was wet from melting ice.  Maybe that would have been a better way to melt the ice on the steps.

This morning I checked myself a bit in the mirror.  There is a red spot on the right side of my back and the back of my right arm is a bit sore. 

As usual it may take another day before I know just how sore I will be.  Coughing is pretty painful.

Thousands of people are without power and shelters have been opened.  Tree branches are falling on houses and cars.  Some counties have forbidden anyone to drive on the roads except emergency vehicles. 

I am grateful I have a warm home and everything I need right here.

That groundhog had better be right about spring coming soon.

later….

Day After No. 9

I slept through chemo yesterday.  Must have been sleepy even after 6 hours of sleep Sunday night.

Day after chemo is always a crap shoot.  Today I am making lots of trips to the bathroom and drinking lots of ginger ale. 

We have an ice storm going on today and tomorrow.  A lot of homes are without power.  There are a lot of accidents on the roads.  Lucky me doesn’t have to go out.

The dogs had trouble with the ice.  Bandit couldn’t get traction to get back into the house and required a little help.

I found the “ice melt” stuff and sprinkled it on the back deck.  It is working, thank goodness.

Maybe I’ll even get dressed…

later….