Geting back into routine

24

Comments

  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732
    daisy366 said:

    Super Marge
    Hi Marge,

    Good job on the walking - it's been a challenge for me to get back in the routine of exercise. I still have a hard time even getting out of the car!!! But I dragged my butt out of bed today and 6 and walked 2 miles. It felt good afterward

    And I too am excited about my velvety gray cap - it's starting to curl a little and even get "messed up". Isn't it crazy to get excited aobut stuff like that!!

    Mary Ann

    Hair!
    I am so happy for all of you and your growing hair. Can't wait to join you and I am looking forward to finding out what color it will be now. LOL I hear a lot of people say that it comes back in curly for a while, then it gradually returns to its prior texture. While my chemo was postponed, my hair started to grow and I saw a lot of very light colored (maybe grey?) hair. Looking forward...

    Sharon, I hope you are feeling okay and getting through your work week. You were on my mind today.

    Hugs to all,
    Deanna
  • fuzzytrouble
    fuzzytrouble Member Posts: 212
    deanna14 said:

    Hair!
    I am so happy for all of you and your growing hair. Can't wait to join you and I am looking forward to finding out what color it will be now. LOL I hear a lot of people say that it comes back in curly for a while, then it gradually returns to its prior texture. While my chemo was postponed, my hair started to grow and I saw a lot of very light colored (maybe grey?) hair. Looking forward...

    Sharon, I hope you are feeling okay and getting through your work week. You were on my mind today.

    Hugs to all,
    Deanna

    CT SCAN
    Deanna I will be waiting for the results of your ct scan too. I will be hoping and sending prayers your way. The waiting is just awful, and I don't think any of us disagree on that.
    My fuzz is all white with some black ones just like it was before. I do have some real prickly hairs standing straight up all over my head, pretty weird but I like them. lol

    I am doing much better on working, I made it through 3 days and I think I can make it all week. I think seeing my co-workers again and most of them are young kids, make it so much easier, they are a lot of fun.

    Have a great day,
    Sharon
  • fuzzytrouble
    fuzzytrouble Member Posts: 212
    deanna14 said:

    CT is over!
    Well, it was a lot better than last time, but still some complications. They couldn't get my port accessed and thought it was clotted. Thank goodness it wasn't. They were able to get an IV started in my wrist and it held up for the CT scan. Yeah! Then I had to go to the doctor's office to have a clot buster put in the port, but when they got the needle in, it flushed just fine and gave good blood. So, they just didn't have it accessed right in xray. I am so glad that it wasn't clotted!
    I have to go in Monday for labs prior to chemo, so I hope they will have the results of the CT by then.
    Thanks for all of the positive thoughts and prayers. I still have some peach fuzz on my head, but my eyebrows and eye lashes are almost gone. Makes me look a little ghostly!

    Hugs,
    Deanna

    port
    I have a power port and only one time did it have problems. The lab tech told me it may just have a kink in it and to put my arm over my head and see if that would help, it did and it worked. I have seen people have to slouch down in a chair to make it work too. I heard that they have something to unclog it, but it takes about 45 minutes to do. I still love having the port. My veins are terrible, and I like Linda sometimes looks like a pin cushion. Hope from now on that it goes easier for you.

    Hugs to you,
    Sharon
  • fuzzytrouble
    fuzzytrouble Member Posts: 212

    Peach Fuzz
    Fun to watch how the hair grows back. Mine started out all white, I thought for sure I was going to be completely grey. Now, all the black has come in and my hair is starting to get thick. I still rub my head and run my fingers through my hair. I shaved my head completely on January 17 so in three months I now have to start combing it and going to purchase some gel to keep it from sticking up. Very Exciting!!!

    I took two asprins before my walk last night and that help alot with my feet and ankle pain. I'm cranking out two miles with no problem and would like to go further but my feet and ankles don't want me to. 30 to 45 minutes of walking is about all I can do. I go back for my 3 month check up next week (the 29th) and going to ask the oncol lots of questions about the foot pain and muscle stiffness.

    Deanna, praying everything goes well with your CT scan today.


    MIND, BODY AND SOUL!!!

    Hugs to all.

    Rubbing head
    I have to laugh about you still rubbing your head, I can't stop. lol I am so excited about the fuzz and I think it's a habit I won't be able to break. lol
    Great on the walking, I have a nice area at work to go walking so I am starting to walk around the building a little bit, then when I get some better shoes I will do more.

    Well Marge, here's to head rubbing for us all. lol

    Big smiley face here,
    Sharon
  • fuzzytrouble
    fuzzytrouble Member Posts: 212
    Ro10 said:

    Machine fixed today
    I had treatment number 9 today. The doctor said they would just add the treatment on the end. I had blood work drawn today, too, but won't have the results until tomorrow when I go for treatment. I have never worn Croc's. They do not look like they would give me enough support. I know lots of nurse's that really like them. I have some arthritis in my feet and the orthopedic doctor told me the soles of the shoes should be very stiff to help prevent the bending of the foot and help reduce the arthritis pain. I still have 3 more chemo treatments after I finish all the external and internal radiation.
    sharon I hope you have a good day tomorrow. Keep up the tyelonal. Take Care.

    machine fixed
    Hi Ro I am so glad that the machine is fixed, we don't want to have to many delays in your treatment now do we? How are you feeling with number 9 done? I try to remember my treatments and it was so much of a blur to me I think we are all in some kind of fog when we go through our treatments. I sit and think of what they were like and the side effects from radiation then I start to remember some things. Good luck with the blood tests, and have a good day.

    Smiling for you all,
    Sharon
  • fuzzytrouble
    fuzzytrouble Member Posts: 212

    I have 3 pair of Crocs: LOVE them!
    For me, Crocs are almost as good as going barefoot. I wore high heels to a bridal shower Sunday and was almost limping when I got home, and they were a pair of heels that I used to wear all the time! My feet were even RED on the bottom, and the neuropathy that is usually confined to just a few toes seemed to be all over the balls of my feet when I took the heels off. Buy the real Crocs, not any cheap imitations, and I think you may be pleasantly surprised, so much wiggle room for your toes! My husband thinks they are, quote, "butt ugly" but they are so darned comfortable that I am spoiled for anything else. All the nurses at my chemo center wore them. I have a couple pairs of the warm lined ones for winter and the open ones for summer. Love them. As for the gel inserts, I used them in my work-out shoes ("gellin' like a felon") when I used to go to the gym every day and they really did feel good, although they make your shoes feel tighter.

    Croc's it is then
    Thanks for telling me how you like the Croc's, I too have the balls of my feet and a few toes that bother me the most. So sorry about your heels though, that must of surprised you.
    I have heard that B complex is good for neuropathy, I take them but I should take 2 a day I think. I will try to ask my doctor also if it gets any worse than it is now.
    I will order a pair this weekend and see how I like them.

    Smiles for you,
    Sharon
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732
    Ro10 said:

    Deanna glad the CT scan was a positive experience today
    I hope you get good results from the CT scan, too. Hope your blood work is good next week for you to get your chemo, too. Hang in there and have a good restful weekend. I am glad your port was not clotted. Do they have you on a small dose of coumadin to keep your port from clotting?

    Heparin
    Yes, they flush it with heparin. I try to pay attention and make sure that they remember to flush it with the heparin. I'm always worried that they will forget. Today when they thought it was clotted, they were going to put TPA in it. I am just so thankful that it wasn't clotted! I don't think the nurse that was trying to access it had much experience with port a caths. She didn't seem too sure of herself.

    It all worked out... and a huge improvement over the last CT.
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    port
    I have a power port and only one time did it have problems. The lab tech told me it may just have a kink in it and to put my arm over my head and see if that would help, it did and it worked. I have seen people have to slouch down in a chair to make it work too. I heard that they have something to unclog it, but it takes about 45 minutes to do. I still love having the port. My veins are terrible, and I like Linda sometimes looks like a pin cushion. Hope from now on that it goes easier for you.

    Hugs to you,
    Sharon

    Thanks Sharon
    I really like having the port, but I think it move a little and if whoever is accessing it doesn't have much experience with them,it is difficult for them. They were going to use TPA today to declot it, but we didn't need it. She said the TPA has to sit in the tubing for 30 minutes. This is the second time they had trouble and both were in radiology. I think it is just a bit positional and needs an experienced operator!
    It's all good, the CT is done.... next obstacle is chemo on Monday and only 1 more after that!
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    Rubbing head
    I have to laugh about you still rubbing your head, I can't stop. lol I am so excited about the fuzz and I think it's a habit I won't be able to break. lol
    Great on the walking, I have a nice area at work to go walking so I am starting to walk around the building a little bit, then when I get some better shoes I will do more.

    Well Marge, here's to head rubbing for us all. lol

    Big smiley face here,
    Sharon

    Head rubbing
    I catch myself rubbing my peach fuzz too. My MIL says it's replacement for the hair twisting that I did when I had hair. I didn't realize I did that so much. She's probably right.
    Funny story... It was warm this morning heading in for the CT, so when we got there, I didn't wear a hat. I have so many hot flashes that being bald has been an amazing help with cooling off. So I went in the dr office without a hat. This man walks by me and says... "nice do." I laughed so hard and the rest of the day I went without a hat... even to Shoney's when we ate lunch. Being bald is a part of who I am right now so why cover it up? Now that the weather is warming up, I will probably being going without a hat and staying comfortable.

    Hope you have an easy rest of the week. Take care.

    Love and hugs to all...
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    Walking around bald-headed
    I've started going places bald-headed now, too! Up until recently, I'd wear a little cap even at home because I felt cold without it. And when I'd go out, I'd wear my wig or one of my fancier 'jockey' hats, so that I wouldn't look pitiful. But last weekend, (opening day of trout season here in Pennsylvania), I wore my wig up to my son's camper. I was SOOOOO hot and sweaty there by the stream, helping the grandkids re-bait their hooks a million times and taking photos of them with their catches. When I took off my wig, the little liner under it was all wet with sweat. That was it. I washed my wig, put it on the stand, and have been going around bald-headed everywhere since. I will try and draw on eyebrows every day, but hats and wigs, from now on, will be for 'occasions'. It's getting warmer here and the spring air feels tooooo lovely on my bald head, and I refuse to not enjoy that luscious feeling! HA!

    Deanna: Sooooo glad the CT-scan went smoothly, comparatively and is over. It is so good to check off each hurdle. I know you will get a NED outcome!

    I am enjoying this break before daily radiation (starts 4/30). I planted 6 little trees yesterday (5 tiny red maples and 1 filbert hickory nut tree), for Earth Day. The tiny maples are only 2' tall and I put them in a 'nursery bed' I have to allow them to mature a couple of years before I find them permanent homes. I set the hickory out in my lawn since it was bigger, so planting that one was a little more work, as it needed a bigger hole and protection from the many rabbits that live in my woods. It is good to be able to do physical labor without my heart pounding from low hemoglobin: I think I'm recovered from my chemo!
  • lindab555
    lindab555 Member Posts: 4
    Getting back into routine
    I am going back Monday,half days for 2 weeks. I know what you mean by being tired. I guess it is from just sitting around doing nothing for so long. I hope my energy picks up again soon.
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    Walking around bald-headed
    I've started going places bald-headed now, too! Up until recently, I'd wear a little cap even at home because I felt cold without it. And when I'd go out, I'd wear my wig or one of my fancier 'jockey' hats, so that I wouldn't look pitiful. But last weekend, (opening day of trout season here in Pennsylvania), I wore my wig up to my son's camper. I was SOOOOO hot and sweaty there by the stream, helping the grandkids re-bait their hooks a million times and taking photos of them with their catches. When I took off my wig, the little liner under it was all wet with sweat. That was it. I washed my wig, put it on the stand, and have been going around bald-headed everywhere since. I will try and draw on eyebrows every day, but hats and wigs, from now on, will be for 'occasions'. It's getting warmer here and the spring air feels tooooo lovely on my bald head, and I refuse to not enjoy that luscious feeling! HA!

    Deanna: Sooooo glad the CT-scan went smoothly, comparatively and is over. It is so good to check off each hurdle. I know you will get a NED outcome!

    I am enjoying this break before daily radiation (starts 4/30). I planted 6 little trees yesterday (5 tiny red maples and 1 filbert hickory nut tree), for Earth Day. The tiny maples are only 2' tall and I put them in a 'nursery bed' I have to allow them to mature a couple of years before I find them permanent homes. I set the hickory out in my lawn since it was bigger, so planting that one was a little more work, as it needed a bigger hole and protection from the many rabbits that live in my woods. It is good to be able to do physical labor without my heart pounding from low hemoglobin: I think I'm recovered from my chemo!

    Bald is Beautiful!
    My husband is getting a kick out of me going around bald. I feel like all of this is giving me an acceptance of myself like I've never had before. I met a couple of my friends from high school today at the park for a walk and picnic lunch. I wore a hat for the walk as I don't want to burn my head, but I took it off for lunch. It feels fabulous, especially when you are hot and sweaty! I have just decided that I am accepting that for now I am bald and people will just have to deal! I get tickled at the look on people's faces. Seems like when they see that I am okay with it, they are okay with it too.

    I am happy that you are feeling so well. Planting trees is hard work! It is fantastic that you are feeling well enough to do it! Yeah!!! I think you have conquered the hardest part of treatment.
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    I remember what my little grandson said to me.
    My 7 year old grandson really made being bald okay for me. He was sleeping over and climbed onto my lap and ran his hand over my bald head, looked me striaght in the eye, and said in his most serious way, "I don't care, Grammy. I just love you so much." And I decided, then and there, that I don't care either. I love me so much, too! HA!
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member

    I remember what my little grandson said to me.
    My 7 year old grandson really made being bald okay for me. He was sleeping over and climbed onto my lap and ran his hand over my bald head, looked me striaght in the eye, and said in his most serious way, "I don't care, Grammy. I just love you so much." And I decided, then and there, that I don't care either. I love me so much, too! HA!

    What a wonderful thing for your grandson to say
    That would certainly make your day. I am so glad your grandkids add so much enjoyment to your life.
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member

    CT SCAN
    Deanna I will be waiting for the results of your ct scan too. I will be hoping and sending prayers your way. The waiting is just awful, and I don't think any of us disagree on that.
    My fuzz is all white with some black ones just like it was before. I do have some real prickly hairs standing straight up all over my head, pretty weird but I like them. lol

    I am doing much better on working, I made it through 3 days and I think I can make it all week. I think seeing my co-workers again and most of them are young kids, make it so much easier, they are a lot of fun.

    Have a great day,
    Sharon

    Sharon glad work is better
    Glad you have made it three days working. Hope the next two days go well for you. When you get those new shoes, hopefully each day will be better. Just when you get your energy up and no sore feet it will be time to quit working.

    I keep thinking I will start getting some hair back, as it has been 6 weeks since my last chemo. I have not noticed anything yet. I look forward to getting some peach fuzz, even though it will fall out again with my last 3 chemo treatments.

    I had radiation treatment #12 and am still doing okay. My blood count this week was not different than 2 weeks ago, so it is doing good.

    Warmer weather is finally here in Illinois, so it has been nice to be outside.

    HUGs to all.
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732

    I remember what my little grandson said to me.
    My 7 year old grandson really made being bald okay for me. He was sleeping over and climbed onto my lap and ran his hand over my bald head, looked me striaght in the eye, and said in his most serious way, "I don't care, Grammy. I just love you so much." And I decided, then and there, that I don't care either. I love me so much, too! HA!

    It's really not so bad...
    Being bald is definately not as bad as I had anticipated and as time goes by, I get more used to it and it just seems a part of me. I am bald, why cover it up if it is uncomfortable. Especially with this fantastic warm weather. It is just too hot to wear a hat or wig all the time. For now... I like my bald head.
  • Teresa 61
    Teresa 61 Member Posts: 84 Member
    deanna14 said:

    It's really not so bad...
    Being bald is definately not as bad as I had anticipated and as time goes by, I get more used to it and it just seems a part of me. I am bald, why cover it up if it is uncomfortable. Especially with this fantastic warm weather. It is just too hot to wear a hat or wig all the time. For now... I like my bald head.

    Finished internal radiation
    On the 19th and 20th I was put on a liquid diet. On the 21st I checked into the hospital and under general anesthesia the implant instruments were placed in my vagina.Following recovery I was taken to my hospital room where the cesium was loaded into the implant.I had to lay on my back for 32 hours then at 8 pm on the 22nd the implant was removed and I went home. I'm feeling a little achey but nothing I can't handle, happy it's over with. Will be starting my last 3 rounds of chemo around the 2nd week of May.
    Ro, I know your going to be having this done soon and I know you'll be fine. I had a roommate and that helped alot.
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    Teresa: So glad the internal radiation went so well!!
    Thanks for checking in, Teresa! It's good to know that you have that ordeal behind you and that it wasn't that bad. So are you on a complete break from treatment until the 2nd week of May? I'm really enjoying my break between chemo and radiation. It's nice not to be running over to the hospital, and I feel completely recovered from chemo now (last chemo round 3/26; pelvic radiation to start 4/30). Today I spent 3 hours lifting plants (rose campion, black-eyed susans, larkspur, columbine, and sweet williams) that seeded themselves or sprawled into the 8" edging of bare mulch that I like to have outlining all of my flower beds. I plunked some of these little flower plants into bare spots in my borders and moved most of them to along the edge of the woods where I will just let God take care of them from now on. It was so good to work outside and wonderful that it is warm enough at last that it is pleasant. I worked bald-headed and hope I don't have a sunburn on my noggin! I hope that your achiness goes away and that you can enjoy your 'spring break'!
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    Teresa 61 said:

    Finished internal radiation
    On the 19th and 20th I was put on a liquid diet. On the 21st I checked into the hospital and under general anesthesia the implant instruments were placed in my vagina.Following recovery I was taken to my hospital room where the cesium was loaded into the implant.I had to lay on my back for 32 hours then at 8 pm on the 22nd the implant was removed and I went home. I'm feeling a little achey but nothing I can't handle, happy it's over with. Will be starting my last 3 rounds of chemo around the 2nd week of May.
    Ro, I know your going to be having this done soon and I know you'll be fine. I had a roommate and that helped alot.

    happy for you, Teresa
    Hi Teresa,

    I am happy that you are finished with your radiation. That must be a relief to you. Your last 3 rounds will be a piece of cake now. Best wishes,

    Mary Ann
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    Teresa 61 said:

    Finished internal radiation
    On the 19th and 20th I was put on a liquid diet. On the 21st I checked into the hospital and under general anesthesia the implant instruments were placed in my vagina.Following recovery I was taken to my hospital room where the cesium was loaded into the implant.I had to lay on my back for 32 hours then at 8 pm on the 22nd the implant was removed and I went home. I'm feeling a little achey but nothing I can't handle, happy it's over with. Will be starting my last 3 rounds of chemo around the 2nd week of May.
    Ro, I know your going to be having this done soon and I know you'll be fine. I had a roommate and that helped alot.

    Teresa Glad you are home
    I have been thinking and praying extra for you this week. I am glad you have the internal radiation out of the way. I am surprised you only had to stay in the hospital one night. That was great for you. Hope the achiness goes away soon for you. Enjoy your break before you start your last three chemo treatments. I figure I will finish my external radiation on May 18th. Then I will have the internal radiation. I don't look forward to having to stay on my back for that long. Could you raise you head up at all? Take care. HUGS to you.