Yesterday was a full day for me ... visit to the GP in the morning, then radiation and finally my Herceptin infusion. Everything went well until the end when the nurse pulled out the needle before she had flushed the port! That meant that she had to reinsert the needle and flush the port ... so I got stuck twice. She was mortified but I was not upset ... she got the needle in both times and didn't hurt me.
What I was more upset about was my low potassium levels. The bloody thing fell to 3.0 from the miserable 3.1 three weeks ago. I really don't understand this ... I am taking the pills and I am eating a potassium rich diet. I don't know what else to do. My potassium level has been low since my last TCH on July 28.
I will have to do some research into this and figure out why this is happening. This is not cool at all. They've doubled the dosage that I am supposed to take and I started today, so we shall see.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Cleaning Stuff
Even though I know it makes no sense, I did for one brief moment after diagnosis, wonder if I could have prevented my cancer. I know that no one has an answer ... I exercised, I watched what I ate, I stayed out of the sun ... and in the end what did it really matter? Mine was of course, did I clean too much? Did the chemicals I used cause my cancer? Did it kill my cat? I remember how crazy she would get while I was cleaning!
I cannot give my cancer away nor can I bring Cloudy back, but I can change the way I clean, and I have. All the chemicals have been thrown out. Now all I use are things I have in my pantry. I went out to the Dollar Store and bought one of those spray bottles and put equal parts of water and vinegar in it and that is what I use to clean the bathrooms and the kitchen.
For scrubbing the shower stall, I use baking soda. We went out and got a big bag of baking soda from Sam's Club (5 lb or something like that) and now what I do is make sure the shower stall is wet, then I sprinkle baking soda (the more pastelike it is, the better), leave it for an hour or so and then scrub. Everyone who knows me knows how finicky I am about my clean toilets, and these products are good enough for me.
Sometime next summer when my herb garden is up and about again, I am going to experiment with adding fresh herbs to the vinegar cleaner and see if it makes a difference with the scent.
I am still looking for a good natural cleaner for my wood floors.
I cannot give my cancer away nor can I bring Cloudy back, but I can change the way I clean, and I have. All the chemicals have been thrown out. Now all I use are things I have in my pantry. I went out to the Dollar Store and bought one of those spray bottles and put equal parts of water and vinegar in it and that is what I use to clean the bathrooms and the kitchen.
For scrubbing the shower stall, I use baking soda. We went out and got a big bag of baking soda from Sam's Club (5 lb or something like that) and now what I do is make sure the shower stall is wet, then I sprinkle baking soda (the more pastelike it is, the better), leave it for an hour or so and then scrub. Everyone who knows me knows how finicky I am about my clean toilets, and these products are good enough for me.
Sometime next summer when my herb garden is up and about again, I am going to experiment with adding fresh herbs to the vinegar cleaner and see if it makes a difference with the scent.
I am still looking for a good natural cleaner for my wood floors.
Preparation for Boosts
Yesterday after my 20th treatment, I had to be marked for my boosts which should start week after next. The technician put clear tape over the markings so they wouldn't rub off ... needed to have them in place until today for the radiation therapists to take x-rays.
Long story short ... when I took off the tape today ... for one horrifying moment I thought I had ripped my skin off! It was painful and the tape had left a film of glue that was lifting up and it looked like peeling skin! Thankfully, it wasn't but I am allergic to whatever that tape was because I have neat little bumps that are itching like the devil. I have worked emu oil into my skin and am keeping my fingers crossed that the "miracle" oil will fix everything.
I have not forgotten that today is my 21st treatment!
Long story short ... when I took off the tape today ... for one horrifying moment I thought I had ripped my skin off! It was painful and the tape had left a film of glue that was lifting up and it looked like peeling skin! Thankfully, it wasn't but I am allergic to whatever that tape was because I have neat little bumps that are itching like the devil. I have worked emu oil into my skin and am keeping my fingers crossed that the "miracle" oil will fix everything.
I have not forgotten that today is my 21st treatment!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Midpoint
Yesterday's radiation treatment was the 17th, so I only have 18 more to go ... that's almost midpoint and everything else from now on will be a count down to the end!
I'm still doing fairly well. There is some reddening of the skin and there is no doubt as to the area of radiation. The skin discoloration makes that very clear! I'm slathering on that emu oil and hopefully that will be enough. Every now and then the skin itches like crazy usually at the most awkward moments ... almost always in public when I can do nothing about it. Anyway I am trying not to scratch ... don't want to break any skin. Lord knows what would happen! Probably some massive infection that will kill me or something.
Recently I've noticed that every time I sweat I also start itching all over ... makes exercising rather trying. I wonder whether that is the radiation? I also have some changes in taste again ... this time the exact opposite of when I had chemo. I can't tolerate salty & vinegary but can taste sweet.
When will my life get back to normal? I often wonder whether there is ever going to be a normal for me. I suspect that for me there is no such thing anymore.
I'm still doing fairly well. There is some reddening of the skin and there is no doubt as to the area of radiation. The skin discoloration makes that very clear! I'm slathering on that emu oil and hopefully that will be enough. Every now and then the skin itches like crazy usually at the most awkward moments ... almost always in public when I can do nothing about it. Anyway I am trying not to scratch ... don't want to break any skin. Lord knows what would happen! Probably some massive infection that will kill me or something.
Recently I've noticed that every time I sweat I also start itching all over ... makes exercising rather trying. I wonder whether that is the radiation? I also have some changes in taste again ... this time the exact opposite of when I had chemo. I can't tolerate salty & vinegary but can taste sweet.
When will my life get back to normal? I often wonder whether there is ever going to be a normal for me. I suspect that for me there is no such thing anymore.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
12th Radiation Treatment
Had my 12th treatment yesterday so I ONLY have 23 more to go! It doesn't seem quite so long when I think of it that way. And so far so good. I had my weekly meeting with Dr. Trivette on Wednesday and he said he could see some redness already and to keep moisturizing. I hope to goodness that emu oil works!
The skin discoloration has allowed me to see the area that is radiated. It goes higher up under my arm than I had anticipated but that makes sense because it needs to get the area of the lymph nodes. And that is the area that has some swelling and irritation but it is not unbearable ... I just slapped on more emu oil!
My reward to myself to mark the end of this week was to go to the movies to see The Help with John and Sarah. I loved the movie ... it made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe (quite scary); made me cry, and saddened me as well.
Now I'm off to do something I can't put off any more (not if I want to be able to go clothes shopping) ... weeding my closet! Perhaps there is some element of the hoarder in me because I find it very hard to throw anything out. It's got to be done ... off I go ... going now ... really.
The skin discoloration has allowed me to see the area that is radiated. It goes higher up under my arm than I had anticipated but that makes sense because it needs to get the area of the lymph nodes. And that is the area that has some swelling and irritation but it is not unbearable ... I just slapped on more emu oil!
My reward to myself to mark the end of this week was to go to the movies to see The Help with John and Sarah. I loved the movie ... it made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe (quite scary); made me cry, and saddened me as well.
Now I'm off to do something I can't put off any more (not if I want to be able to go clothes shopping) ... weeding my closet! Perhaps there is some element of the hoarder in me because I find it very hard to throw anything out. It's got to be done ... off I go ... going now ... really.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
First Triple Dose Herceptin
It was a little strange yesterday to be back at the infusion center after being gone for three weeks. It was my first triple dose Herceptin session, and I wish I could say that all went well.
When we got there we found that the whole session would take two hours instead of the thirty minutes that we had been told, which would have made me late for my radiation. So the nurse had to call the radiation center, give me part of my pre-meds and then we had to dash over to radiation. Thank goodness they could fit me in. I was able to get my 8th radiation!
From the start I should have known that the rest would just go downhill ... the nurse couldn't get the needle into my port and must have hit a nerve because pain just exploded under my arm. That had never happened before, so I knew at once that the needle was not in.
We decided to just get the infusion through my arm and I decided that I don't like it because it leaves me with only one free arm. Having the infusion through the port leaves both hands free to hold my book ... eat my snack, etc. On September 23 when I come for the next Herceptin infusion, they will have to access my port because it will need to be flushed, so they have no choice. I'd better pray for one of my regular nurses! This one nurse I had not had before.
We were way behind in my dinner schedule so I was glad that I had put that pot roast in the crockpot, and just had to worry about the sides. Sarah and David were coming to dinner and I had hoped to make the rolls for them but there was just no time. Everything turned out well, so all was well in my world by then. I don't expect to have any side effects with this Herceptin infusion.
When we got there we found that the whole session would take two hours instead of the thirty minutes that we had been told, which would have made me late for my radiation. So the nurse had to call the radiation center, give me part of my pre-meds and then we had to dash over to radiation. Thank goodness they could fit me in. I was able to get my 8th radiation!
From the start I should have known that the rest would just go downhill ... the nurse couldn't get the needle into my port and must have hit a nerve because pain just exploded under my arm. That had never happened before, so I knew at once that the needle was not in.
We decided to just get the infusion through my arm and I decided that I don't like it because it leaves me with only one free arm. Having the infusion through the port leaves both hands free to hold my book ... eat my snack, etc. On September 23 when I come for the next Herceptin infusion, they will have to access my port because it will need to be flushed, so they have no choice. I'd better pray for one of my regular nurses! This one nurse I had not had before.
We were way behind in my dinner schedule so I was glad that I had put that pot roast in the crockpot, and just had to worry about the sides. Sarah and David were coming to dinner and I had hoped to make the rolls for them but there was just no time. Everything turned out well, so all was well in my world by then. I don't expect to have any side effects with this Herceptin infusion.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Hurricane Irene and Radiation Treatments
I don't know what it is with natural disasters! While we came out of Hurricane Irene's visit relatively unscathed, our lovely Vermont is reeling from the devastation of the floods that the wicked witch brought.
I was able to have my 5th radiation treatment on Monday. The machine was up and running although the therapists were backed up. I was forty-five minutes late getting my treatment and I was a little annoyed because I had already planned an outing to Party City with Sarah to pick up supplies for her birthday party. I hate being thrown off my schedule.
We got most of what we were looking for and I cooked a lobster dinner and was able to enjoy that. I'm noticing some odd shifts in my taste again. I have to keep an eye on this!
I also exercised like a maniac and was able to stay on the elliptical for 40 minutes but my hips complained about it the next day.
On Tuesday I had a regular visit with my oncologist Dr. Schaffer. Everything is looking good but my potassium level is still too low at 3.2. It needs to go up to 3.5. I've been taking my potassium pills every other day, I guess now I have to be sure to take them everyday. I also told Dr. Schaffer that I had ordered emu oil. She laughed and told me that I had to check with Dr. Trivette. Yes, yes, I went ahead and ordered it because it seems like it is a multi-purpose oil that will do anything from relieving joint pain, keeping your skin soft to growing hair!
I figured if Dr. Trivette nixed the skin lotioning part of it, I could still use the emu oil to grow hair, fill in the rest of my eyebrows and that one little clump of missing eye lash. But he did not pooh pooh the idea when I saw him on Wednesday. He said that I could go ahead and use it and if it works he will recommend it for the rest of his patients.
I did not get my 7th radiation treatment because the machine was broken and so what will happen is that I will get an extra treatment tagged onto the end. I am now scheduled to finish on Oct. 12 instead of Oct. 11. I can live with that.
I was able to have my 5th radiation treatment on Monday. The machine was up and running although the therapists were backed up. I was forty-five minutes late getting my treatment and I was a little annoyed because I had already planned an outing to Party City with Sarah to pick up supplies for her birthday party. I hate being thrown off my schedule.
We got most of what we were looking for and I cooked a lobster dinner and was able to enjoy that. I'm noticing some odd shifts in my taste again. I have to keep an eye on this!
I also exercised like a maniac and was able to stay on the elliptical for 40 minutes but my hips complained about it the next day.
On Tuesday I had a regular visit with my oncologist Dr. Schaffer. Everything is looking good but my potassium level is still too low at 3.2. It needs to go up to 3.5. I've been taking my potassium pills every other day, I guess now I have to be sure to take them everyday. I also told Dr. Schaffer that I had ordered emu oil. She laughed and told me that I had to check with Dr. Trivette. Yes, yes, I went ahead and ordered it because it seems like it is a multi-purpose oil that will do anything from relieving joint pain, keeping your skin soft to growing hair!
I figured if Dr. Trivette nixed the skin lotioning part of it, I could still use the emu oil to grow hair, fill in the rest of my eyebrows and that one little clump of missing eye lash. But he did not pooh pooh the idea when I saw him on Wednesday. He said that I could go ahead and use it and if it works he will recommend it for the rest of his patients.
I did not get my 7th radiation treatment because the machine was broken and so what will happen is that I will get an extra treatment tagged onto the end. I am now scheduled to finish on Oct. 12 instead of Oct. 11. I can live with that.
Earthquake and First Day of Radiation
I will not take it personally God that on the first day of my radiation treatment, Virginia suffers an earthquake, the magnitude of which has not been seen here since 1879! For most of us who have never felt the tremors of an earthquake ... we had no idea what the rumbling sound and then the earth shaking meant! Thankfully the only thing that tipped over in the library was one of the plastic display stands.
And thankfully too that my radiation treatment went well ... it was short and sweet and I was home by 4 pm. I guess they can't do it any longer or they will fry me. I like my two radiation therapists -- Tanya and Kelly.
As soon as I got home, I exercised, showered and then used my Eucerin lotion on the breast. I've been looking through the radiation therapy forum on breastcancer.org and quite a few of the women are recommending emu oil. Not so sure how I feel about putting animal fat on my body. I'll have to think about this one and explore it a little more.
And thankfully too that my radiation treatment went well ... it was short and sweet and I was home by 4 pm. I guess they can't do it any longer or they will fry me. I like my two radiation therapists -- Tanya and Kelly.
As soon as I got home, I exercised, showered and then used my Eucerin lotion on the breast. I've been looking through the radiation therapy forum on breastcancer.org and quite a few of the women are recommending emu oil. Not so sure how I feel about putting animal fat on my body. I'll have to think about this one and explore it a little more.
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