8/24/11 Chemo Earthquake

Gotta scootch this one in here because it’s a funny anecdote.

Some of you may know, there was an earthquake in Virginia this day that we felt up here in NJ, http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110823/NJNEWS/308230027/Earthquake-felt-across-Morris-County-up-down-East-Coast!!  

We had just gotten back from a week of handling  my uncle’s estate in Orlando this morning, when  I had to go to the treatment center to get IV for the horrible allergic reaction cited in my 8/24 entry. Here I am hooked up to an IV along with everyone else in the room when I feel my recliner start to rock forward and back.  Then I notice my IV pole is moving. I look behind me – wall – so no one is pushing me.  I look around the room and see everyone is now moving and rolling.  We all start to giggle and wonder why the whole building is shaking when we hear the nurses start to FLEE!  Yes, fight or flight and they left us all there hooked up to traveling IV poles, doped up on our drugs, rocking back and forth in our recliner chairs.  We were having fun at least. 

Then, of course, the shaking of the building became a little intense and we all started wondering if maybe we should unplug from the walls and flee ourselves!  All along I was telling people it was an earthquake, it had to be.  No, I wasn’t shouting it in a hysterically high-pitched voice. Heck, I was probably the most subdued once there at the moment and was now thinking of Chris!  He was in the parking lot in the car on a conference call.  The sensation started to cease and our chairs stopped racing.  The nurses came back, the little TV’s went on by each patient as they searched for Breaking News, and me?  Smiled broadly and asked, “Did you feel that out there!?!?!” when Chris came back through the treatment room door. 

1967 Xmas - probably my face today TOO!

Hey! Who says chemo can’t be spontaneously FUN?!?!   

8/26/11 Chemo Hurricane

As Hurricane Irene approaches, I can’t help but remember how Hurricane Charley tried to devastate us 7 years ago on our wedding day!  We persevered and had a grand time then, but somehow I don’t think the same will happen this time around. You see, Charley went from a CAT 4 to a tropical storm once it got to NJ (still bad winds, but not horrible).  Irene, will strike us as a CAT 1 they are saying and have more landfall.  Again, we shall see, but either way you wanna be prepared.   Yes, I’m tying this into cancer and chemo…

There are 5 categories for hurricanes, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/sshws_table.shtml?large, the higher the number, the worse the recipients are.  Same goes for cancer.  There are only 4 stages of cancer, but the first 3 stages have an A & B levels as well.   Each stage/category is more devasting than the previous one.  I feel very lucky to be in the lower stage 2 especially since my cancer was completely removed. 

I endure the devasatating side effects of my storm

I ride-out the emotional windfalls

I soak up the many drops of water down my face

I smile up at the sun when it shines and when it doesn’t

I am glad for our preparations & research

I thank God for my Love Ones & Supporters!

8/24/11 DEFINITION OF INSANITY

Yes, it’s been almost TEN DAYS since my last entry.  Why?  Well, lemme tell yah! :)

The day after my last entry, I started having a nasty allergic reaction to what I call a chemical spill.  When I received my last chemo treatment, some of it leaked into my tissues (yeah, boo-boo on phlebotomist’s part).  So, a few days later I got a chemical burn on the back of my right hand (pic below) that got worse as the days went by.  It got redder, hotter, and developed blisters.  Course at the time I had NO IDEA what it was, so I called the office and was told it’s just an allergic reaction to put some cream on it and take Benadryl.

Whelp, after the blisters got worse, I figured it was MORE than that, but had to go to Orlando to close out my Uncle’s estate.  So, I went and hoped for the best.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I should know better!  By the weekend I had full-blown Hand-Foot Syndrome!!  My Feet were itchy and swollen, but not as bad as my hands. My hands were like marshmallows, I couldn’t close them,  and they HURT like the dickens!  They burned and itched to the point of NO RELIEF!!!  The way I was itching and wringing my hands, Chris said I looked demented.  Well, I FELT DEMENTED!! 

DEFINITION OF INSANITY:  Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.

So, I called my Dr. and made an appointment for Tuesday the 23^rd when we got back.  She took great pity on me and gave me IV meds and some prescriptions.  Here I am a day later ABLE TO TYPE and close my hands!!!  What a relief.  Thank God for Medication!!!

So, now back to blogging and probating my Uncle’s estate.  TTFN!!

8/15/11 ...Make Lemonade!

Feeling “normal” these past few days!!!  Latest labs came back good and didn’t need fluids for dehydration this week.  Things are looking up!  Well, for me, but not the family.  One of our bearded dragons died suddenly today (seems to be a theme).  Poor Zoto…we cried over your passing.

 When Life Gives You Lemoas....

Friend Kathy F. sent this to me (very applicable to MANY WOMEN I know!!):

She can deal with stress and carry heavy burdens.
She smiles when she feels like screaming, and she sings when she feels like crying.
She cries when she's happy and laughs when she's afraid. Her love is unconditional.
There's only one thing wrong with her. She forgets what she's worth!
Pass this to every beautiful woman you know. Remind her that she's unique.

Our Zoto...best little Dragon a Boy could have.

8/13/11 I FEEL GOOD!!!

Here it is…the SECOND day in a row I FEEL GOOD!!!  Second day in a row I SLEPT!!!!
Like Garfield sings,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4uRtB3unFU&feature=related  

I even feel good enough to go OUT today!!  Going to see The Help with my buddy, Missy, then (if I’m not exhausted) to the Chatham Tea Shop with Betty.  Tomorrow is my SEVEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!  We’ve been friends for 15 years and in LOVE for 10, so LOTS to celebrate this weekend!   I am HAPPY to be ALIVE and with those I LOVE and who Love me!

8/11/11 Peace for my Uncle

I woke up knowing I'd hear some news...
My dearest Uncle Bobby is finally at Peace.  God Rest His Soul.  I will miss him dearly.

8/10/11 I'm STILL STANDING!!!!

After 72 hours, I finally feel better!!  It was rough going, but I survived and I’M STILL STANDING!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHwVBirqD2s&ob=av2e
               Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did!
               Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid

Slept over 8 hours too – amazing how one can feel after your body has time to catch up.
Got some more phone calls from loved ones and a surprise package from cousin, Susan!!  A Fight Like A Girl cap!!  How she found it!?!?!?  I’ll never know, but I LOVE IT!!!