The week is coming to an end, read my mini-vacation is almost over. I have loved spending time with my Sister and her family. So lucky to have them and for them to be so supportive. My little guy has LOVED having siblings for the week. The kids all get along so well I don't think there has been a single harsh word spoken all week. Was going to say I'm so lucky that they are such good kids but it is not luck at all. How does the saying go you "reap what you sow", they are great kids who have wonderful parents and it shows.
Today is a big day out for me. Going shopping for some new undergarments for which I am in desperate need. The weight loss is starting to catch up to me and my wiggle room is diminishing. Plus I've been informed that I should not be using my bra for a pocketbook (how's that for a visual) now that there is so much extra room in there. One of the nurses was laughing at me at MGH the other day about it so I think it is time for some new ones.
Its amazing the little things that get me excited these days. We took the kids to Peaceful Meadows yesterday and I actually got a frozen sherbet frappe type thing. It was so yummy and it felt like I was drinking so much of it and I was thinking to myself I'm going overboard. Yet I open up the cup and I've barely had any. I'm really going to need to adjust my "eyes bigger than my stomach" perception. Apparently it is WAY out of whack.
Well thats all for now just wanted to share something on a lighter note...hope everyone is having a great week and is enjoying the weather.
Also please feel free to comment or just chit chat back and forth with me here....it totally gives me something to do ;-)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
I'm Back.....
Feel like every time I start a blog I'm saying "it's been a while since I last posted". Funny how time is flying by, yet also feels like it is dragging at the same time (if that even makes sense).
As most of you know I spent some time in the hospital last week. Nothing major, it was basically because of dehydration and my lack of eating. I think I was a little naive when it came to my radiation treatments. 5 weeks every single day, but when you get radiation it is like going in for an x-ray. It does not hurt at all; you just lay there on a table, some loud noises go off and then your done, no big deal right? What I was not factoring in was the havoc the radiation was actually doing to my insides. They warned me that it would get worse before it got better and of course they were right, but for some reason it was just not "clicking" with me. I should have noticed the signs...my throat really started to bother me and I was told I had esophagitis which basically means swollen and irritated esophagus. Amazing how sensitive it can be; sometimes it does not take more than a sip of water going down to set me off on a coughing fit, which then turns into me getting sick. Really it is more annoying then anything else. Radiation has at least allowed me to finally act like a nurse though. I'm taking care of my own IV at home now for hydration. It's pretty straight forward and simple (I think they will let just about anyone do it at home). It's just time consuming taking 4 hours just to get 1 liter of fluid in (at the hospital they do it in 2 hours). So I have a leash for 4 hours everyday. I keep saying that my muscles are going to be lopsided because I move the IV pole around with my right arm and my left is neglected ;-) I'll look like one of those arm-wrestlers with one really strong side and a week side.
I've been spending the last few days with my sister and her family which has been nice. I get friendly reminders that I have not been drinking or I have not had anything to eat, because strangely enough I need those types of reminders. It is actually comforting to have your own private nurse taking care of you.
The 4th of July has snuck up on me, I thought we had an entire week ahead of us before the 4th. As usual our family will be heading to Houghs Neck to Mom & Dads for the 4th. Should be an interesting day to say the least. The holiday for my family usually revolves around having a few cocktails and non-stop eating all day so I will be a very different one for me this year. What matters though is I'll surrounded by people I love and who love me back. I always knew I was lucky for the people I have in my life but it's just so amazing how much you can feel the love right when you seem to need it the most.
I don't have any "important" appointments for a few weeks as they are giving me sometime to recuperate from the last round of radiation/chemo. I would imagine at this point that I won't start chemo therapy again until the end of July and that it will last about 8 weeks. I'll update as I can. In the meantime I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful 3rd & 4th of July.
God Bless the USA!!
As most of you know I spent some time in the hospital last week. Nothing major, it was basically because of dehydration and my lack of eating. I think I was a little naive when it came to my radiation treatments. 5 weeks every single day, but when you get radiation it is like going in for an x-ray. It does not hurt at all; you just lay there on a table, some loud noises go off and then your done, no big deal right? What I was not factoring in was the havoc the radiation was actually doing to my insides. They warned me that it would get worse before it got better and of course they were right, but for some reason it was just not "clicking" with me. I should have noticed the signs...my throat really started to bother me and I was told I had esophagitis which basically means swollen and irritated esophagus. Amazing how sensitive it can be; sometimes it does not take more than a sip of water going down to set me off on a coughing fit, which then turns into me getting sick. Really it is more annoying then anything else. Radiation has at least allowed me to finally act like a nurse though. I'm taking care of my own IV at home now for hydration. It's pretty straight forward and simple (I think they will let just about anyone do it at home). It's just time consuming taking 4 hours just to get 1 liter of fluid in (at the hospital they do it in 2 hours). So I have a leash for 4 hours everyday. I keep saying that my muscles are going to be lopsided because I move the IV pole around with my right arm and my left is neglected ;-) I'll look like one of those arm-wrestlers with one really strong side and a week side.
I've been spending the last few days with my sister and her family which has been nice. I get friendly reminders that I have not been drinking or I have not had anything to eat, because strangely enough I need those types of reminders. It is actually comforting to have your own private nurse taking care of you.
The 4th of July has snuck up on me, I thought we had an entire week ahead of us before the 4th. As usual our family will be heading to Houghs Neck to Mom & Dads for the 4th. Should be an interesting day to say the least. The holiday for my family usually revolves around having a few cocktails and non-stop eating all day so I will be a very different one for me this year. What matters though is I'll surrounded by people I love and who love me back. I always knew I was lucky for the people I have in my life but it's just so amazing how much you can feel the love right when you seem to need it the most.
I don't have any "important" appointments for a few weeks as they are giving me sometime to recuperate from the last round of radiation/chemo. I would imagine at this point that I won't start chemo therapy again until the end of July and that it will last about 8 weeks. I'll update as I can. In the meantime I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful 3rd & 4th of July.
God Bless the USA!!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Almost 1/2 Way
It's been a while since I last wrote, thanks for the reminder DD. I'm almost half way thorough my 5 weeks of Chemo/Radiation. First week went really well. Second week not so good, I feel nauseated all the time on some level. Some days worse than others. But all and all I'd take this round of treatment over my last round of chemo any day. I've still been driving myself and after tomorrow will have made my goal of driving myself for the first 3 weeks. Weeks 4 & 5 I'll be counting on family and friends for helping me get to MGH on time.
Been spending a lot of time sleeping lately. But I also managed to make it to a Yoga class at MGH for cancer patients/survivors. I find it very relaxing. Think it is something I need to slowly bring back into my life. Still actually sore from the surgery, I feel bruised on the inside around the incision. I guess radiation can irritate the scar tissue so I just need to take whatever I end up doing slowly. Lost a little more weight than the Drs. want. Down 5 more lbs since starting but trying really hard to maintain and not lose anymore. The lining of your esophagus (food pipe) is sensitive to radiation and may become inflamed and sore during treatments (a condition called esophagitis), the doctors think I may now have this as well. It should go away once I stop radiation. Other than this everything is the same with us...karate, baseball, play dates, birthday parties, and cub scout events.
I figured with a lot of time on my hands in the car I should listen to some old cds. Yup I'll sing full force in the car and I don't care who's watching. Found one cd that I've played over and over again, still can, and enjoy it. One of the songs really touched me yesterday (as well as I can remember here are some of the words)..
If you lose your faith babe, you can have mine
If you're lost I'm right behind, cause we walk the same line
When its dark baby, there's a light I'll shine
Cause if your lost I'm right behind, cause we walk the same line
If these troubles should vanish like rain at midday,
well have no doubt there'll be more
We can't run and we can't cheat
Cause baby when we meet what we're afraid of
We'll find out what we're made of
Hope you all have a great weekend. I'll try and update within the next two weeks. Please feel free to comment, I love hearing from you.
Barbara
Been spending a lot of time sleeping lately. But I also managed to make it to a Yoga class at MGH for cancer patients/survivors. I find it very relaxing. Think it is something I need to slowly bring back into my life. Still actually sore from the surgery, I feel bruised on the inside around the incision. I guess radiation can irritate the scar tissue so I just need to take whatever I end up doing slowly. Lost a little more weight than the Drs. want. Down 5 more lbs since starting but trying really hard to maintain and not lose anymore. The lining of your esophagus (food pipe) is sensitive to radiation and may become inflamed and sore during treatments (a condition called esophagitis), the doctors think I may now have this as well. It should go away once I stop radiation. Other than this everything is the same with us...karate, baseball, play dates, birthday parties, and cub scout events.
I figured with a lot of time on my hands in the car I should listen to some old cds. Yup I'll sing full force in the car and I don't care who's watching. Found one cd that I've played over and over again, still can, and enjoy it. One of the songs really touched me yesterday (as well as I can remember here are some of the words)..
If you lose your faith babe, you can have mine
If you're lost I'm right behind, cause we walk the same line
When its dark baby, there's a light I'll shine
Cause if your lost I'm right behind, cause we walk the same line
If these troubles should vanish like rain at midday,
well have no doubt there'll be more
We can't run and we can't cheat
Cause baby when we meet what we're afraid of
We'll find out what we're made of
Hope you all have a great weekend. I'll try and update within the next two weeks. Please feel free to comment, I love hearing from you.
Barbara
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