I started blogging my stuff late, hence the 2 blog sites. Link to:
Random Thoughts of a Cancer Survivor here.
Random Thoughts of a Cancer Survivor here.
Thursday, 5 July 2007
The Karma Wheel Starts to Turn
They caught the crooks....kinda. Posted May 15, 2007
Well....finally some good news for Mother's Day!!! (Those of you remember Mother's Day 2001 don't you??? When I slipped & fell at work and dislocated & broke my right shoulder and arm????) Anyway....I digress...this Mother's Day was good. Not fantastic, but I'll take good any day....considering my options lately!
We got a call from the police when we got back home from taking my adoptive mom-in-law out for lunch....they recovered some of our stuff!!! Yipee!!!
Went to the police station (CVPD) to identify the stuff they recovered...I now know too much about how to catalog evidence. About half the stuff they recovered from this tweeker's room was from my family. All the family jewelry was GONE, baby, GONE. They knew their stuff...they got into the safe and just weeded out the good stuff. I got left with all the sentimental, but not worth very much stuff. On the bright side, the one guy they busted had about half of the stolen savings bonds hidden in his room, so we can definitely get him for receiving stolen goods. I also got left with 3 empty Patron bottles in a beautiful broken display case.
Later yesterday afternoon, the detective called me to meet him at a pawn shop and HOOORAY!!! we recovered my dad's diamond ring. Unfortunately...in order to get it back, my brother and I will have to pay the pawnshop owners $600...the money they had paid the deadbeat tweaker who had pawned it.
Well...I said the Karma Wheel had started to turn on the evil-doers....I didn't say that it was a very fast wheel, or that it was an always fair wheel...just that it has started to turn...and in the right direction!
Well...that's it from here....will keep you posted with more....if you want. If you want off this merry-go-round, just let me know and I'll take you off the mailing list!
Love to all,
Mel
Well....finally some good news for Mother's Day!!! (Those of you remember Mother's Day 2001 don't you??? When I slipped & fell at work and dislocated & broke my right shoulder and arm????) Anyway....I digress...this Mother's Day was good. Not fantastic, but I'll take good any day....considering my options lately!
We got a call from the police when we got back home from taking my adoptive mom-in-law out for lunch....they recovered some of our stuff!!! Yipee!!!
Went to the police station (CVPD) to identify the stuff they recovered...I now know too much about how to catalog evidence. About half the stuff they recovered from this tweeker's room was from my family. All the family jewelry was GONE, baby, GONE. They knew their stuff...they got into the safe and just weeded out the good stuff. I got left with all the sentimental, but not worth very much stuff. On the bright side, the one guy they busted had about half of the stolen savings bonds hidden in his room, so we can definitely get him for receiving stolen goods. I also got left with 3 empty Patron bottles in a beautiful broken display case.
Later yesterday afternoon, the detective called me to meet him at a pawn shop and HOOORAY!!! we recovered my dad's diamond ring. Unfortunately...in order to get it back, my brother and I will have to pay the pawnshop owners $600...the money they had paid the deadbeat tweaker who had pawned it.
Well...I said the Karma Wheel had started to turn on the evil-doers....I didn't say that it was a very fast wheel, or that it was an always fair wheel...just that it has started to turn...and in the right direction!
Well...that's it from here....will keep you posted with more....if you want. If you want off this merry-go-round, just let me know and I'll take you off the mailing list!
Love to all,
Mel
Okay...Now I'm Just Pissed Off!
Not handling the 2nd break-in in 11 days very well. Not well at all. Posted May 10, 2007
I'm tired of looking at the bright side. I'm tired of being helpless. The 3rd time isn't "the charm"...oh, no...the 3rd time is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Our house was hit for the 3rd time in 2 years (the 2nd time in less than 2 weeks) tonight. I didn't know that there was anything of value left, but I suppose that any lowlife thief can find value in anything.
They broke in through the garage and crowbarred through the door to the kitchen. I guess there is just no stopping someone determined to steal from you. I'm just glad no one was at home to get hurt. 2 years ago, I surprised them while they were still there and almost ran into them face-to-face. I guess bars on your doors and windows just aren't enough of a deterrent anymore.
My neighbor was taking his trash to the curb tonight when 2 guys came running out of the house with 2 big boxes of stuff. The last time this happened (April 29th) I was very despondent and weepy...now I'm just PISSED OFF!!! If they ever catch those guys, I have a size 8 clog I'd like them to meet in the most intimate of ways. As it is, I am a total believer in "what goes around, comes around" and when Karmic justice catches up to these thieves, special parts of them will be rotting and falling off suddenly, much to their shock and dismay.
Anyway...just venting....thanks for putting up with my rant.
Love,
Mel
I'm tired of looking at the bright side. I'm tired of being helpless. The 3rd time isn't "the charm"...oh, no...the 3rd time is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Our house was hit for the 3rd time in 2 years (the 2nd time in less than 2 weeks) tonight. I didn't know that there was anything of value left, but I suppose that any lowlife thief can find value in anything.
They broke in through the garage and crowbarred through the door to the kitchen. I guess there is just no stopping someone determined to steal from you. I'm just glad no one was at home to get hurt. 2 years ago, I surprised them while they were still there and almost ran into them face-to-face. I guess bars on your doors and windows just aren't enough of a deterrent anymore.
My neighbor was taking his trash to the curb tonight when 2 guys came running out of the house with 2 big boxes of stuff. The last time this happened (April 29th) I was very despondent and weepy...now I'm just PISSED OFF!!! If they ever catch those guys, I have a size 8 clog I'd like them to meet in the most intimate of ways. As it is, I am a total believer in "what goes around, comes around" and when Karmic justice catches up to these thieves, special parts of them will be rotting and falling off suddenly, much to their shock and dismay.
Anyway...just venting....thanks for putting up with my rant.
Love,
Mel
Hoping to Go Back to Work...SOON!
After nearly a year...back to the grindstone. Surprisingly, I've missed it! Posted May 6, 2007
Hey Folks....
In the final stages of healing (I hope!)...had a busy weekend trying to clean up after the latest (devastating) break-in at the old homestead and get on with life.
Missing work, coworkers and just old-fashioned one-on-one, face-to-face interaction so I made the big step of contacting work and asking to come back July 1st...part-time at first, but hopefully back to full-time soon...we shall see!
Anyway...wish me luck. Even though I look forward to getting back to the unit...I'm a little leery of being up all night, 12 hours at a time...I'm kinda used to dropping off at least by 0400!!!
Love to all...and hope to see you soon...
Mel
In the final stages of healing (I hope!)...had a busy weekend trying to clean up after the latest (devastating) break-in at the old homestead and get on with life.
Missing work, coworkers and just old-fashioned one-on-one, face-to-face interaction so I made the big step of contacting work and asking to come back July 1st...part-time at first, but hopefully back to full-time soon...we shall see!
Anyway...wish me luck. Even though I look forward to getting back to the unit...I'm a little leery of being up all night, 12 hours at a time...I'm kinda used to dropping off at least by 0400!!!
Love to all...and hope to see you soon...
Mel
Perspective On Life
Getting robbed sucks! Posted April 29, 2007
Ahoy Folks....
It's me again...Just trying to wrap my head around the weirdness of life. I have been dealing well with this whole cancer thing...or so I have been told, but then things happen that isn't even life-threatening, and here I am trying not to fall completely into a funk and cry my eyes out.
I have been living with my brother and sister-in-law since the end of chemotherapy around the end of November 2006. The house we grew up in has been locked up and we only go by every so often, well....I was awoken this morning by my aunt who had been contacted by the police to say that we had had a break-in and they needed us to confirm what had been taken.
How thieves stole a huge floor safe, I don't know. But besides all the important paperwork that was taken, all sentimental family jewelry is gone, too. I know...I am thankful...yet again...that no one was hurt, and it is just "stuff", but strangely enough I feel more devastated by this than with the fact that I had breast cancer and have had 4 major surgeries in 10 months. I feel raped...totally violated...not physically but definitely psychically...emotionally.
My karma has got to change for the good sometime...soon I hope.
Anyway...I just needed to get this off my chest before it ate me up completely and sent me running to the shrink.
Love to all,
Mel
P.S. Please, please, please be diligent about doing your booby checks. And boys...make sure you check your boys as well as your boobies, too!
It's me again...Just trying to wrap my head around the weirdness of life. I have been dealing well with this whole cancer thing...or so I have been told, but then things happen that isn't even life-threatening, and here I am trying not to fall completely into a funk and cry my eyes out.
I have been living with my brother and sister-in-law since the end of chemotherapy around the end of November 2006. The house we grew up in has been locked up and we only go by every so often, well....I was awoken this morning by my aunt who had been contacted by the police to say that we had had a break-in and they needed us to confirm what had been taken.
How thieves stole a huge floor safe, I don't know. But besides all the important paperwork that was taken, all sentimental family jewelry is gone, too. I know...I am thankful...yet again...that no one was hurt, and it is just "stuff", but strangely enough I feel more devastated by this than with the fact that I had breast cancer and have had 4 major surgeries in 10 months. I feel raped...totally violated...not physically but definitely psychically...emotionally.
My karma has got to change for the good sometime...soon I hope.
Anyway...I just needed to get this off my chest before it ate me up completely and sent me running to the shrink.
Love to all,
Mel
P.S. Please, please, please be diligent about doing your booby checks. And boys...make sure you check your boys as well as your boobies, too!
Home From the Hospital...AGAIN
No one ever said it was going to be easy. Back-to-back blogs after my hysterectomy.
After the weekend...Posted April 23, 2007
Hey Folks....
Thanks for all the well wishes. As for the pain level...I survived the weekend on my Ibuprofen....HAH! But ended up calling my doc this afternoon (Mon 04/23) and asking for some help with the pain control (who am I kidding....I was close to begging), so it's a bit better.
I know for a fact that I could never be a Marine...or any other type of military personnel...I'd give away national secrets with the slightest threat of physical pain. Mental pain I can do...physical...forget it!
Anyway...everyone take care of themselves so you don't have to go through any of this yourself....have you felt yourself up lately???
Love,
Mel
White-knuckled weekend...Posted April 22, 2007
After the weekend...Posted April 23, 2007
Hey Folks....
Thanks for all the well wishes. As for the pain level...I survived the weekend on my Ibuprofen....HAH! But ended up calling my doc this afternoon (Mon 04/23) and asking for some help with the pain control (who am I kidding....I was close to begging), so it's a bit better.
I know for a fact that I could never be a Marine...or any other type of military personnel...I'd give away national secrets with the slightest threat of physical pain. Mental pain I can do...physical...forget it!
Anyway...everyone take care of themselves so you don't have to go through any of this yourself....have you felt yourself up lately???
Love,
Mel
White-knuckled weekend...Posted April 22, 2007
Ahoy All....
Got home from the hospital on Thursday night around 8pm. Went in on Monday afternoon (04/16) to get all my "girlie things" removed. I guess I did great during surgery, but I kinda scared them afterwards because I was waaaaaaaay under and liking the sleep too much. Ended up on the telemetry floor post-op on bipap because they didn't like the way I didn't want breathe....ooops! Breathing was okay once all the nice anesthesia wore off....then the FUN began!!!
They forgot to tell me that they sutured my abdomen to my leg....or at least that is what it felt like. A full bladder now has a feeling all its own. And let me tell you....never, and I do mean NEVER get abdominal surgery when you have a cough!!!! Nnnnnaaaaaahhhhhhooooowwwwhhhharrrrrggghhhh!!!!!! That whole thing about splinting the wound when you cough to lessen the pain???? HA! Who makes this stuff up?
Anyway...after 3 days of getting nice pain meds every 4-6 hours, I went home....on Ibuprophen (yes...that would be Motrin or Advil)....every 8 hours. Yeah.....uh.....are ya trying to drive yer patients to drink???? My poor baby brother drove me home in his nice Element; unfortunately for both of us, the Element has a suspension like an off-road vehicle. It found every little crease, wrinkle and divot on the road home; according to my brother I kinda lost my healthy color on the 1st couple of turns. It's a toss up on who was the more stressed out, him or me. At least I had meds to take once I got back home....he doesn't even take Tylenol.
But now everything is almost back to normal. Still a lot more pain than I'm used to, but it's getting better. Oh and to those of you who didn't already know....passing gas is considered the essential 5th vital sign; be smart and do all you can to pass the test on your own....or your doctor will find all sorts of colorful ways to "help" you out.
Love to all,
Mel
Got home from the hospital on Thursday night around 8pm. Went in on Monday afternoon (04/16) to get all my "girlie things" removed. I guess I did great during surgery, but I kinda scared them afterwards because I was waaaaaaaay under and liking the sleep too much. Ended up on the telemetry floor post-op on bipap because they didn't like the way I didn't want breathe....ooops! Breathing was okay once all the nice anesthesia wore off....then the FUN began!!!
They forgot to tell me that they sutured my abdomen to my leg....or at least that is what it felt like. A full bladder now has a feeling all its own. And let me tell you....never, and I do mean NEVER get abdominal surgery when you have a cough!!!! Nnnnnaaaaaahhhhhhooooowwwwhhhha
Anyway...after 3 days of getting nice pain meds every 4-6 hours, I went home....on Ibuprophen (yes...that would be Motrin or Advil)....every 8 hours. Yeah.....uh.....are ya trying to drive yer patients to drink???? My poor baby brother drove me home in his nice Element; unfortunately for both of us, the Element has a suspension like an off-road vehicle. It found every little crease, wrinkle and divot on the road home; according to my brother I kinda lost my healthy color on the 1st couple of turns. It's a toss up on who was the more stressed out, him or me. At least I had meds to take once I got back home....he doesn't even take Tylenol.
But now everything is almost back to normal. Still a lot more pain than I'm used to, but it's getting better. Oh and to those of you who didn't already know....passing gas is considered the essential 5th vital sign; be smart and do all you can to pass the test on your own....or your doctor will find all sorts of colorful ways to "help" you out.
Love to all,
Mel
Vanity Does Not Become Me
Vanity proves painful. Posted April 10, 2007
I was beginning to wonder why I was taking so long to decide whether or not to do breast reconstruciton surgery after my cancer treatment. I was very ambivalent about the whole thing.
Did I really need to have "breasts"? What was the big deal? Did I want to put myself through MORE surgery, and this time for cosmetic reasons?
Well...I finally decided to go ahead and start the process after much discussions with various friends of mine, both female and male, and had the skin expanders placed and the surgical flap revised (removal of old scar tissue and such). That was on Monday. I vaguely recall coming out of the OR and asking my nurse "Why did I decide to do this again???"
I can honestly say that this surgery was way more painful than my intial bilateral mastectomy. Probably because of all the removal of scar tissue and adhesions, but.....OUCH!!! If I had this knowledge beforehand, I cannot honestly say that I would make the same decision. Everyone was very nice at the hospital and I can't say that they weren't on top of my pain....as much as they could be without knocking me out completely again, but mmmmmm....let's just say that I'm not looking forward to the next surgery!!! Boobs or no boobs!
Love,
Mel
Did I really need to have "breasts"? What was the big deal? Did I want to put myself through MORE surgery, and this time for cosmetic reasons?
Well...I finally decided to go ahead and start the process after much discussions with various friends of mine, both female and male, and had the skin expanders placed and the surgical flap revised (removal of old scar tissue and such). That was on Monday. I vaguely recall coming out of the OR and asking my nurse "Why did I decide to do this again???"
I can honestly say that this surgery was way more painful than my intial bilateral mastectomy. Probably because of all the removal of scar tissue and adhesions, but.....OUCH!!! If I had this knowledge beforehand, I cannot honestly say that I would make the same decision. Everyone was very nice at the hospital and I can't say that they weren't on top of my pain....as much as they could be without knocking me out completely again, but mmmmmm....let's just say that I'm not looking forward to the next surgery!!! Boobs or no boobs!
Love,
Mel
Why I Keep Chugging Along
Just a few of the people in my life that help put a smile on my face. Posted April 8, 2007
Ahoy Folks....
Just some Easter greetings from the Ether Bunny...yes "Ether" bunny (or whatever equivalent they will give me tomorrow for my expander surgery!!!).
I hope this Easter season finds you all well (or at least "better"). I've been asked a lot lately by people who don't know me well about how I can be so chipper all the time; well the answer is...I'm not. At least not "all the time". I am certainly no little Mary Sunshine...as people who REALLY know me know! But the people in my life keep me going. Here are pictures of some of the real reasons I keep put-putting along....
Email me more pictures so that I can add them to my wall of fame....
Love,
Mel
Just some Easter greetings from the Ether Bunny...yes "Ether" bunny (or whatever equivalent they will give me tomorrow for my expander surgery!!!).
I hope this Easter season finds you all well (or at least "better"). I've been asked a lot lately by people who don't know me well about how I can be so chipper all the time; well the answer is...I'm not. At least not "all the time". I am certainly no little Mary Sunshine...as people who REALLY know me know! But the people in my life keep me going. Here are pictures of some of the real reasons I keep put-putting along....
Email me more pictures so that I can add them to my wall of fame....
Love,
Mel
Surgery, Surgery, Surgery
Finally healed...just in time for more surgery. Posted March 27, 2007
Hi Folks!!!
Long time since I last blogged....been doing well and recovering from all the cancer stuff from last year. Just got fully healed and released from the wound clinic....just in time to get scheduled for the 1st stage of my reconstructive surgery on April 9th, followed by my hysterectomy on April 16th. Wish me well!
Anyway....hope everyone is doing well...and doing their booby checks, too!
Check out my new picture (the one I'm using as my profile)....my friend Steven Kernen did the caricature of me as the Buddha. I think he did a teriffic job, don't you??? I'm trying to get it made into a sweatshirt.
Anywhoo....will blog more later.
Mel
WooHoo!!! My Eyebrows Are BAAACK!
Holidays were hectic, no chance to post until now. Posted February 2, 2007
Ahoy All!!! Just updated my picture on MySpace 'cause I now have my eyebrows back and my hair now looks like hair rather than fuzz. Yipee!!!! Hope all is well with everyone. Stay healthy and happy this year! Check the the Boobachinos at least once a month! Love, Mel
Holiday Sprouts
My hair is growing...kinda. Posted December 13, 2006
Ahoy Friends!!!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Jolly Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays and Glad Tidings to all (I hope I covered everyone)!!
Just sending out good thoughts and warm wishes to all of you during this hectic season...2006 has been an eventful and, at times, trying year for many of us, so I'm hoping that the end of the year is peaceful and harmonious for all of us!
I've been spending the last 4 weeks since my last chemo treatment recuperating and regaining my energy...or at least trying to regain energy...I managed to catch a doozy of a cold last weekend and have been snotty and pooped out for the past 5 days. Oh well....could be worse.
Oh yeah...my hair has started to sprout. It's almost (ALMOST!) 1/8 of an inch long! It's still sparse in spots, but at least you don't have to squint to see it anymore. I now look like a fuzzy egg....I used to look like a moldy egg, so I look at this as an improvement! One big (REALLY BIG) shock for me is that I think that I see WHITE sprouts coming in. I don't know how to handle this. I didn't have grey or white hairs before, so.... Maybe I should just stay bald?! What's your thoughts on that? I could save a ton on hair products.
Anyway...just a quick holiday update and best regards to all.
Love,
Mel
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Jolly Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays and Glad Tidings to all (I hope I covered everyone)!!
Just sending out good thoughts and warm wishes to all of you during this hectic season...2006 has been an eventful and, at times, trying year for many of us, so I'm hoping that the end of the year is peaceful and harmonious for all of us!
I've been spending the last 4 weeks since my last chemo treatment recuperating and regaining my energy...or at least trying to regain energy...I managed to catch a doozy of a cold last weekend and have been snotty and pooped out for the past 5 days. Oh well....could be worse.
Oh yeah...my hair has started to sprout. It's almost (ALMOST!) 1/8 of an inch long! It's still sparse in spots, but at least you don't have to squint to see it anymore. I now look like a fuzzy egg....I used to look like a moldy egg, so I look at this as an improvement! One big (REALLY BIG) shock for me is that I think that I see WHITE sprouts coming in. I don't know how to handle this. I didn't have grey or white hairs before, so.... Maybe I should just stay bald?! What's your thoughts on that? I could save a ton on hair products.
Anyway...just a quick holiday update and best regards to all.
Love,
Mel
Adventure of a Human Dartboard
What to do about the ovaries....should they stay or should they go? Posted November 20, 2oo6
Ahoy All...
Well...the adventure continues despite the end of chemotherapy...I guess the fat lady hasn't sung yet (besides, I'm totally tone-deaf!), so I'm gonna continue to let you all know what's going on...
Had a busy appointment day today...saw 4 different people today...I've been vital-signed into the ground...blood pressure remained good throughout the day...blood sugar see-sawed as usual...got shots (hence the "Human Dartboard") of Neupogen, Epogen & the Flu vaccine, so I don't know which end is up (no, thank God, no shots to the bottom!)...I told a friend of mine that I feel like I don't need kids 'cause I take myself to my own well-baby check-ups to get my immunizations...bummer though...I don't get a balloon or a sticker!
Got Apligraf applied to my wounds today. It's this stuff that they grow in culture from neonatal foreskin (No, I am NOT making this up!!! Check out www.apligraf.com) that they apply to wounds that have a hard time healing. It's supposed to help new skin cells form. And yes, I'm expecting some pretty rude comments from those of you with skewed senses of humor, so BRING IT ON!
Now here's the thing....I need opinions from those of you who have had any experience with breast cancer (personal or professional, I want your thoughts on this)...I spoke to my oncologist today and he wants me to consider having my ovaries removed in the near future...before some of you get upset...here's the thought behind this: 1. My cancer is estrogen sensitive and tumor growth is greatly affected by the production of estrogen, 2. Because I wasn't menopausal prior to chemo, I may start cycling again and start producing estrogen, 3. Estrogen inhibitors have a better chance of working if I'm sure my ovaries aren't gonna kick in again, 4. There is a higher incidence of ovarian cancer occurance in women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer. So...I just want your thoughts on this; I'm not all that attached to my ovaries (at least emotionally!) but I am kinda chicken about having surgery again.
Anyway...I'm gonna go take some pain-relief and get horizontal.
Love to all,
Mel
Well...the adventure continues despite the end of chemotherapy...I guess the fat lady hasn't sung yet (besides, I'm totally tone-deaf!), so I'm gonna continue to let you all know what's going on...
Had a busy appointment day today...saw 4 different people today...I've been vital-signed into the ground...blood pressure remained good throughout the day...blood sugar see-sawed as usual...got shots (hence the "Human Dartboard") of Neupogen, Epogen & the Flu vaccine, so I don't know which end is up (no, thank God, no shots to the bottom!)...I told a friend of mine that I feel like I don't need kids 'cause I take myself to my own well-baby check-ups to get my immunizations...bummer though...I don't get a balloon or a sticker!
Got Apligraf applied to my wounds today. It's this stuff that they grow in culture from neonatal foreskin (No, I am NOT making this up!!! Check out www.apligraf.com) that they apply to wounds that have a hard time healing. It's supposed to help new skin cells form. And yes, I'm expecting some pretty rude comments from those of you with skewed senses of humor, so BRING IT ON!
Now here's the thing....I need opinions from those of you who have had any experience with breast cancer (personal or professional, I want your thoughts on this)...I spoke to my oncologist today and he wants me to consider having my ovaries removed in the near future...before some of you get upset...here's the thought behind this: 1. My cancer is estrogen sensitive and tumor growth is greatly affected by the production of estrogen, 2. Because I wasn't menopausal prior to chemo, I may start cycling again and start producing estrogen, 3. Estrogen inhibitors have a better chance of working if I'm sure my ovaries aren't gonna kick in again, 4. There is a higher incidence of ovarian cancer occurance in women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer. So...I just want your thoughts on this; I'm not all that attached to my ovaries (at least emotionally!) but I am kinda chicken about having surgery again.
Anyway...I'm gonna go take some pain-relief and get horizontal.
Love to all,
Mel
YIPEE!!! Finito With The Chemo!!!
Done with the chemical death juice...on to the healing process!!! Posted November 15, 2006
Ahoy All!!!
Wooohooo!!!! Stick a fork in me, I'm DONE!!!! I won't lie to you...it stomped my butt FLAT this time AND my glucose went through the roof (nearly 400) with the decadron...but I'm done (with the chemo part at least) and that is what counts!!!
I go back in a week for more labs to just check my white count and hemoglobin (got more Procrit for the anemia today, but no Neupogen so I was happy), then they will probably put me on some hormone stuff depending on whether they figure out if I'm peri-menopausal or post-menopausal...yes, at 40 I am (hopefully) done with the PMS stuff too...although I'm hoping that I'm more post-menopausal so that I don't have to deal with the hot flashes as often as I have been....whoa, those flashes are totally EVIL. Hot flashes are like taking a sudden trip to the equator without benefit of the beaches, cabana boys or umbrella drinks!!! If I'm gonna sweat like I'm on the beach in St. Croix...at least have Paulo there to hand me a Rum punch!!!
Anyway...my doctor says that it'll be at least 6 weeks from now before he thinks that I'm recovered enough from chemo to go back to work, but ultimately it's gonna depend on how well my wounds have healed by then...yes, they are STILL not completely closed, so more waiting....although I'm getting Apligraf put on next Monday....Ask Annie Turonis about Apligraf; it's interesting stuff...to help it heal over.
Oh, and I'm now that I'm done with chemo...I'm moving back to the Chula Vista area (my brother's place in Eastlake)...as soon as I am not so wiped out from this last round....more info later. Thanks again to Jerry & Kelly for providing me with a place to recover...it means so much more than they will ever know...it made chemo so much easier to handle.
Love to all,
Mel
Ahoy All!!!
Wooohooo!!!! Stick a fork in me, I'm DONE!!!! I won't lie to you...it stomped my butt FLAT this time AND my glucose went through the roof (nearly 400) with the decadron...but I'm done (with the chemo part at least) and that is what counts!!!
I go back in a week for more labs to just check my white count and hemoglobin (got more Procrit for the anemia today, but no Neupogen so I was happy), then they will probably put me on some hormone stuff depending on whether they figure out if I'm peri-menopausal or post-menopausal...yes, at 40 I am (hopefully) done with the PMS stuff too...although I'm hoping that I'm more post-menopausal so that I don't have to deal with the hot flashes as often as I have been....whoa, those flashes are totally EVIL. Hot flashes are like taking a sudden trip to the equator without benefit of the beaches, cabana boys or umbrella drinks!!! If I'm gonna sweat like I'm on the beach in St. Croix...at least have Paulo there to hand me a Rum punch!!!
Anyway...my doctor says that it'll be at least 6 weeks from now before he thinks that I'm recovered enough from chemo to go back to work, but ultimately it's gonna depend on how well my wounds have healed by then...yes, they are STILL not completely closed, so more waiting....although I'm getting Apligraf put on next Monday....Ask Annie Turonis about Apligraf; it's interesting stuff...to help it heal over.
Oh, and I'm now that I'm done with chemo...I'm moving back to the Chula Vista area (my brother's place in Eastlake)...as soon as I am not so wiped out from this last round....more info later. Thanks again to Jerry & Kelly for providing me with a place to recover...it means so much more than they will ever know...it made chemo so much easier to handle.
Love to all,
Mel
A World Without Eyebrows
I now know how Lex Luthor felt! Every hair on my body fell out! Posted November 7, 2006
Ahoy All...
I recently noticed that not only am I bald, but my eyebrows were jumping ship quite rapidly since chemo #5. I kinda look like Mr. Clean & Whoopi Goldberg had a love child. I have been trying to draw the suckers in (otherwise your face looks strangely blank without brows!) but without the hairs to guide me....well...I have had decidedly mixed results ranging from Joan Crawford to early 80's Madonna...scary!!!
Check out my latest picture!!! I'm using it on my profile on MySpace!
Anyway...taking my cranky, sniffly self to bed....nite-nite!!
Love to all,
Mel
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