Fund raiser at work

To my surprise, my co-workers and friends at work raised $754.00 to help with my medical expenses. I explained to one who helped take the lead, that I have no way of repaying anyone for what they have done. Her comment was that the repayment is for me to get better, to get healthy. It is soooo generous that it made me cry when I was told how much they raised.. To think I have that many friends at Red Canoe Credit Union who care.

The cookies they made by hand were sugar cookies with pink frosting in the shape of the cancer awareness pink ribbon and were  frosted, sprinkled, bagged and sold within the credit union.. The three of them, Sharla, Yolanda and Kris put in a  lot of time, effort and love to do this. Thank you to them. And thank you to all who participated and gave. It means so much.

Feeling Better

I think with the help of the BRAT (Banana's, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) diet, I am going to pull through this time.
Those foods helped me get some food in me that I wouldn't throw up and that has helped.

Now after 10 days of no coffee , I just need a good Starbucks and I will be fine!

Still Home...

Kaiser oncology closes at 5pm. after that if you need them, you are to call the Sunnyside Kaiser and ask for an oncology nurse who is on call.I called Longview at 4pm and never got a call back so had to call Portland.

I had been so sick and not keeping any food down since Monday night so  Richard forced me to call. Of course, they want to know why you are calling Portland and not Longview blah blah blah.(so far, for this entire situation, I am really fed up with Kaiser and how they treat everyone, decent insurance coverage but customer service stinks) So the nurse on the phone goes over a list of questions that takes about 20 minutes, has me take my temperature while on the phone with her and says to eat a little bit of the BRAT diet. Bananas (which I dislike everything about them), Rice, Applesauce and Toast. to try a little of those foods, take a medication I have a little bit left of and to lay on my right side since the stomach empties out better on the right.(never heard of that one before). So I try it. Spent a rough night waking up every hour still feeling bad.

Got up yesterday (Wed) morning and was still puking. So I have Richard call the Longview Kaiser and they were much nicer. Gave some helpful solutions,  like no full strength juice because its too sugary on an empty stomach - I had been drinking orange juice ,the peppermint candies I was eating because the peppermint sounded and felt soothing wasn't the best either, .....as was the pizza  (it sounded really good and tasted really good!) I had for lunch on Monday was probably not the wisest choice of food,so  no greasy foods, no sugary foods and they prescribed some more meds. Had me put one of the meds under my tongue rather than swallow it, that way it can't be thrown up. This was the key. This helped I would say within the hour. For dinner I had some white rice with just a little BBQ pork on it for some protein and a little teryakki sauce.. not the best tasting but it was food. And since I had not had real food, only saltines, some tortilla chips and ginger ale  for almost two days it tasted pretty good.!

Today I am suppose to call them back and let them know how I am doing and how the meds are working.  Today I feel good. Just really really slow moving due to being down for so many days and get tired really easy.
Tomorrow, Friday I will go back to work.
This has been a long sickness from the treatment. According to the Longview Kaiser, not unheard of, but can happen that many days out from chemo. I think I am on the mend!

Melt Down and Sick Today

Last night I had a melt down. Was a crying mess. I want the chemo to be over with. Wish I would have just done the radiation.  Want the feeling sick part to go away. I don't want to walk past a mirror and see either me with a wig on, or me with a hat on or bald. I want my hair back. I want my old life back. I am tired of the Doctors and the appointments. Tired of having to be careful of what eat, who I am around, how much energy is what I am doing going to take, how tired I am.

After my loving husband re-assured me that we are doing really well, a trooper as my mom says I am, and we will make it through this, we are half way with the chemo, he than says its OK to have to cry about it once in a while, it is scary, and it is tough. It could be worse and I know that. I know he is going through this too and must be scared. Its not easy to watch someone you love be sick.

Spent an OK night, but woke up this morning and had to throw up. Richard thinks I might have over did it a little bit yesterday and now I am paying for it. So no work again today. I am afraid to eat anything but yet feel hungry. What a triangle!

Feeling ok

Today is Saturday and I am feeling just OK. Just a little tired so took a 2 hour nap. I feel like I am waiting for the sickness to start.  I don't have much ambition and am afraid to do too much . Nothing like waiting to be sick.

Usually Saturday is one of my worst days, so this is a  little odd that I don't feel sick yet. Not that I am complaining about not being sick!

Half Way Done With Chemo Round 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday June 3rd was my treatment day. I tried getting Richard to drive the opposite direction, I even suggested we go garage saleing  (i don't do garage sales) anything but take me to Kaiser......This is  the fourth of eight treatments.    I am now half way done with chemo.!!!!Yippee.
When I met with Dr. Richert-Boe, we talked about my blood counts. She said I am not even close to having low counts, that its pretty unusual but I am doing really well. Hugged me and told me to go pick out a chair.(the chemo chair I will be sitting in for  the next few hours) Said the next two drugs I take for the next 4 treatments  should be easier on me.
Got around the corner into the infusion room, it was right at 9:30am  and there was only lady at the far end. So I picked the opposite end. Richard was with me and my mom showed up not to much longer, maybe around 10am. Richard left and my mom stayed with me the entire time. Then about 40 minutes before being done, Brenda came to visit. It was the first time she had come to see me there.
It seemed like a long day, got there a little before 9 for my Dr. appt and left just before 1pm.
Got home, and went to bed for a couple hours. As the evening rolled along, I got to feeling really sick to my stomach. Made myself stay up until 9:30. Slept well but woke up a lot feeling like I wanted to puke but never did.
Woke up this morning and felt pretty good. Made breakfast for Richard and I . But than I felt worn out so took a two hour nap, and have been taking it easy today. just watching some TV. The nurses both told me that last time I probably did to much the day after chemo and to take it easy this time. We will see how I feel later in the evening, and tomorrow , usually Saturday has been my worse day.

Lost My Wig!!!

Today I decided to go for a massage after work. I had mentioned to Kris that I was afraid I would be on my front side and my wig would fall off onto the floor. This was the first massage I have ever had. After filling out the paper work, the girl asked me about my cancer. I told her that tomorrow is my half way through chemo.
At one point, Are you ready for this:       I was on my back and the lady was rubbing the back of my neck. All of a sudden I thought I could feel my wig moving up the back of my neck. At that moment, the lady says to me, " um, your hair..."
I didn't know what to say, so just said, " oh let me take it off."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I laid it on my stomach.
How embarrassing is that? I didn't know what else to say or do! And I am pretty sure this was the fist time she had someones wig come off!