One constipation idea...

lindary said:

Peace, Strength & Happy Place

Right now I wish I knew. My first thought in the morning is "what is going to ache today?". Then I have to face the day. Between the high TSH (thyroid) effects, February blahs and wondering when the stem cell transplant is going to be scheduled I could use the Peace Strength & definitely a Happy Place. 

Right now I do find Peace in my car. I don't care where I am going but I am by myself and in charge of where I am going. (Although having to deal with dumb drivers can be a bummer.) As bad as it may sound if I have a Happy Place it is the bathroom. One place where no one will bother me. Strength, forget it. I guess two out of three aint' bad. 

I always have a down time Jan-Feb except last year because I was too busy with the chemo & dr appts. This time I feel like if the house was falling down around me, I would just look at it. I am hoping that the increased thryoid meds kicks in son. I've been on the new dosage for 2 weeks and my primary dr said it takes 3 - 4 weeks to get it under control. UGH!!!

because your it!

Linda YOU are STRONG!!!!!  With a capital "S"!!!

Mental strength is equally if not more important than physical strength.  Besides, look out world when that thyroid medicine kicks in which is any day NOW!!!!!

Jan/February, I know I'm the same way.  

If the house falls just make sure the bathroom is intact and it misses your car! 

You're almost there!

lindary said:

Peace, Strength & Happy Place

Right now I wish I knew. My first thought in the morning is "what is going to ache today?". Then I have to face the day. Between the high TSH (thyroid) effects, February blahs and wondering when the stem cell transplant is going to be scheduled I could use the Peace Strength & definitely a Happy Place. 

Right now I do find Peace in my car. I don't care where I am going but I am by myself and in charge of where I am going. (Although having to deal with dumb drivers can be a bummer.) As bad as it may sound if I have a Happy Place it is the bathroom. One place where no one will bother me. Strength, forget it. I guess two out of three aint' bad. 

I always have a down time Jan-Feb except last year because I was too busy with the chemo & dr appts. This time I feel like if the house was falling down around me, I would just look at it. I am hoping that the increased thryoid meds kicks in son. I've been on the new dosage for 2 weeks and my primary dr said it takes 3 - 4 weeks to get it under control. UGH!!!

Linda,

A car can be an oasis. That is why stereo systems are such a key aspect of new vehicles.   When in school, I found that I could do my absolute best thinking while...mowing the yard.  Sure it was noisy, but you are "alone"; no one to interrupt.  It was a creative time.

In ICU, I had the crazy thought:  If I get out of here, I am gonna get a Harley, and do an 8,000 trex, from SC to San Diego, to Seattle, to Maine, and then back home.  No plans, no schedule. Just ride and see what is next down the rad. No interstates, just back roads.

That has not totally happened yet, but I do ride.   Still want to learn bass guitar, fly an airplane.  Go rent a tent for a night at the North Pole, fish for sharks in the Philipines.  I love those stories of 98 year old women getting college degrees, that sort of thing.

Be a renegade.

max

OO7 said:

Call me crazy...

Some of you know I hid my cancer because my dad was diagnosis just after me.  My husband, two friends both oncologists (one is mine, other his wife my best friend) one sister in law knew and a my husband cousin because he's the head at Johns Hopkins and there was a thought I would go there but ended up at Dana Farber.  That was it for months.

My twisted tail was difficult at first because of my father.  Life became rather complex, I needed to be better than I was and play the role of a lifetime.  My husband wasn't so great.  My oncologist thinks he just can't bare the idea of anything being wrong with me.  I take some of the blame, my warrior like personality shows no weakness but I did need to talk to someone about this and he couldn't Talk about any of it.

I was losing my father, in treatment, a zombie because of it and still had to put on "The Show". The holidays were tricky, somehow I needed to pull this all out of a hat and entertain, decorate, wrap, play Santa and all his elves too....

I just could handle the complaints anymore, mindless and  trivial things that carried no wait in the world were always the topic of everyone's concerns.  Perhaps I was just sensitive but it drove me close to the point of no return!  By the seventh month a few more people knew.  My two children were old.  My other sister-in-law now knew.  She is wonderful yet never helped with anything.  Again being strong has it's downside.  The upside is people didn't really treat me differently because they had no knowledge of my cancer.  When I was diagnosis an old friend was diagnosised too.  He is rather famous and it was constantly in the news, many blessing were coming his way from all around the world.  I just wanted a few....

With my father, I was amazed at all the love and concerned that embraced him right until the end but what I found frustrating was so many who didn't have cancer were well intenioned morons.  Sorry I had to say it.  I just would wrap my dad in my protective arms and formed a bubble.  Most days it worked.  Everyone just backed off when I was there.  I'll never forget the glances he would give me, like come now I'm about to blow!

The crazy part:

I recieved a call (7 months after diagnosis ), my dear friend had cancer too.  I was floored.  Did everything I could, was her cheerleader, gave care packages, sent her so much love and concern.  Listened, listened and listened.  I told her about me, she was so   Surprisingly more interested in my stage than anything else.  She finished her treatment, scans were clean and I was so darn thrilled for her.  When she learned my great result.  I got nothing.  No happy dance, no wow that's great nothing.  She was in the club, that's what's off to me...

 

What I would love to know is where do you find your peace, strength and happy place?

Sounds like you have really been through it , and I am so sorry for that...At the beginning of this journey, I heard the term "strong woman" way too many damn times...why did I have to be strong.?  People have always seen me that way..I have found there are a very select number I share my deepest feelings with..and those care. I think your friend is consumed with her illness.. I know it hurts when we care so greatly and it is not reciprocated..be bigger than that, we will never understand what makes others tick...I have realized my expectations of some were more than they are capable of..Love  yourself,  and appreciate you capacity to be giving and caring, not everyone is there yet. I find my happy place alone in the woods or by a river..it is there I know that I am not dealing with this alone...I'm sending positive loving thoughts your way...

During chemo, my constipation issue caused the worst of my side affects. My only savior was Miralax. I would take it every day until I was done. But by the time I started using it, the damage was done. I love fishing, but the fisure I had was the most painful thing I've experienced. The only thing that helped was soaking in a warm bath. I would be at work, and then would have to drive home several times a day for my bath. It was awful and lasted well after chemo was done (4 months). All the numbing cream in the wolrd didn't help. The pain was an 8 out of 10 on the rector scale. If I have to go through this again, I will be taking Miralax before I start until after I am done. The subject is gross, but I had to wiegh in. I agree with Birder...be proative on this one.

OO7 said:

Thank you!

Kaniksu,

Your words are a comfort.  

Life has it struggles.  Through my recent experiences, I have come to learn that Hell is not just Hell.  It has many levels.  Lymphoma did make me strong (hiding it did made me stronger) it also made me determined stedfast and greatful for all that life has to offer.  I'm just a girl who loved her dad.  It's the defining nature of love, it's what we do.  There was no choice.  

Today I'm a girl who loves her mom, it's what I have to do.  She's frail in the wake of losing my father, now her mother too has cancer.  My grandmother.  There is no room for me in that equation.  I will have to figure that out.

Happy Places, there are so many......

When I look up, the sky often dazzles me with its brilliance of color or sometime I love the powerful looming storms.  I get lost in them.  I live up on an escarpment.  I love the land, view, water and sky.   Solitude and nature perhaps are my favorites.   Nature surrounds oneself in mysterious, beautiful ways; making it exciting yet peaceful when in its presence.  A safe place to let your mind rest.

When in the woods, you witness that life is constantly changing and always coming to fruition.  I guess it give me grace.

Other happy places, anywhere with my family and fur family(cat and dog).  Stables...... Wow, I never knew how healing horses were.  My daughter rides and she can't get me out of the stable, I love being there.  In front of my fireplace. Alone with a puzzle, the bath hence my nickname is mermaid and finally Florence where I took my profile picture.  Absolute heaven for me.....

Sending you peace, endurance, happiness your way.

Horses indeed have a special spirit about them, always love being around them.  Many animals relate well to humans, especially sick humans.  Dogs are famous for this.  Of course most people have no access to them, but elephants are among the most intelligent animals on the planet (near dolphins).  Elephants have highly refined emotions, and go through grieving processes at the death of a friend or relative elephant.  Dolphins are stunning, the way they will pace a ship going to sea for hours; they loved diving over the bow of the sub whenever it was moving on the surface. You could tell it was all a joy and game to them, criss-crossing back and forth. Their stamana is unbelievable, and they would leap easily ten yards out of the water across the bow each time.  I have watched them pace survace vessels also many times, or play under a bridge I was standing on.  There are many stories of dolphins saving sailors from sharks at sea.  The insignia that submariners wear is a pair of dolphins guarding a surface ship

At a pragmatic level, I guess a dear dog at the fireplace in a house is the best most can do, but a loyal and perceptive dog is a blessing.

max

OO7 said:

Blessings

Indeed.  My trusted loyal friend could not be fooled.  When I came home on treatment days she would lay with me all day long if need be.  I could put on a front with everyone but nothing gets by her.  She knew it was a mask I was wearing.  I'll never forget my cat too, she was so weird on treatment days.  She would lick repeatedly the infusion site.  Over and over again, down right strange.

You may appreciate this.  My dear friend who is an oncologist was at my house one day.  My dog would not leave her alone, she was sniffing an area on her leg.  Dear friend gasped because she was aware of the keen sense dogs have.  Long story short, she removed cancerous cells in the very spot my dog was smelling.

I think last year was a bit difficult for me, I retreated.  Animals and solitude gave me peace and understanding.  Room to breath.  The horse thing is a bit new, I always loved them, riding too.  This is truly spectacular.  I guessed a few knew about me because there are a couple horses at the stable who don't like people who down right love me. I even whispered to them, "you know don't you"?  They're aware of the secret I'm hiding. Nala an intuitive horse and one of my favorites could be free in a pasture, if she saw me she would quickly come over and stay by my side.  She cuddles her large Teranasaouras Rex head around mine, plays with my hair and nibbles on my ears.  The woman who runs the stable is amazed but then again she doesn't know.  Most everyone else Nala bites.  Hard too!

I'm thinking of getting one, seriously.  I may need to change my life.  I travel, I do love Italy so perhaps I'll sell everything and buy a tiny farm and get my daughter a horse  ;-)

I enjoyed your Dolphin story, how lucky you are to have witness that.  Powerful and playful, what a site that must have been.  Thank you for sharing.

 

This is a pretty good example of the dolphins.  This sub is a lot larger than mine was, so the animals cannot cross over the deck completely, but it shows how they will pace the ship in front. I have seen as many as 7 or eight at once, and they will do this for hours, which is what most amazed me.

Keep jumpin !

http://www.videobash.com/video_show/simply-some-dolphins-diving-in-front-of-the-uss-mississippi-submarine-312167

.

OO7 said:

Blessings

Indeed.  My trusted loyal friend could not be fooled.  When I came home on treatment days she would lay with me all day long if need be.  I could put on a front with everyone but nothing gets by her.  She knew it was a mask I was wearing.  I'll never forget my cat too, she was so weird on treatment days.  She would lick repeatedly the infusion site.  Over and over again, down right strange.

You may appreciate this.  My dear friend who is an oncologist was at my house one day.  My dog would not leave her alone, she was sniffing an area on her leg.  Dear friend gasped because she was aware of the keen sense dogs have.  Long story short, she removed cancerous cells in the very spot my dog was smelling.

I think last year was a bit difficult for me, I retreated.  Animals and solitude gave me peace and understanding.  Room to breath.  The horse thing is a bit new, I always loved them, riding too.  This is truly spectacular.  I guessed a few knew about me because there are a couple horses at the stable who don't like people who down right love me. I even whispered to them, "you know don't you"?  They're aware of the secret I'm hiding. Nala an intuitive horse and one of my favorites could be free in a pasture, if she saw me she would quickly come over and stay by my side.  She cuddles her large Teranasaouras Rex head around mine, plays with my hair and nibbles on my ears.  The woman who runs the stable is amazed but then again she doesn't know.  Most everyone else Nala bites.  Hard too!

I'm thinking of getting one, seriously.  I may need to change my life.  I travel, I do love Italy so perhaps I'll sell everything and buy a tiny farm and get my daughter a horse  ;-)

I enjoyed your Dolphin story, how lucky you are to have witness that.  Powerful and playful, what a site that must have been.  Thank you for sharing.

 

I did volunteer work with a riding program for about 18 years. Sometimes leading horse, sometimes side-walking and sometime doing what we called ground lessons for the kids (arts & craft). I loved being with the horses. It was amazing to see how kids who could not sit still would be completely different once on the horse. When the kids realized they could "control" this huge beast they changed. I also worked some very special horses. May who was a smaller horse and was over 40 when she died. She was our "go to horse for first time riders. Too Tall a retired thoroughbred who died about 33 and love kids. Even when retired from the program he loved to come into the arena and walk around with everyone. True to his name, he was tall. Anna was the only horse I ever saw that walked around with a frown. She was a very calm old gal that I started walking with becuase I was have knee problems and she didn't walk fast. There were so many others at that barn. I grew up loving horses but working in that program made me realize my first love is dogs because they can live with us. Plus a horse cost so much more to own. With my Chemo schedule last year I had to drop out of volunteering. With the Stem Cell this year it won't be possible for me to even go to the barn. 

I do miss the horses but I have our dog and my granddogs. I often wonder if we are caretakers of the animals in this world or they are here to take care of us. I think they are doing a better job of caretaking.

Lucylou123 said:

Thank you Birder for this info. My husband had his first round of RCHOP yesterday. He is doing just fine so far, but I was wondering if he should be taking some fiber or something now. He hasn't taken any of the meds for nausea yet and I hope he is as fortunate as you have been and doesn't need them. 

My husband received a Pepcid injection at the time of his infusion. So am I understanding that in your situation you addressed the constipation from that with an over the counter laxative once you realized the anti nausea meds were causing the majority of your problems? I appreciate any advice you have on this subject and on anything else that we may anticipate with this chemo regimen. He will be having 6 rounds as well.

Congratulations on completing your chemo and I wish you good health. 

HI,  

I don't post very ofter but wanted to mention that the Vincristeen, which is a componant of RCHOP and many other chemo cocktails for Lymphomas, is the primary culpret in chemo induced constipation.  The constipation is caused by the drug slowing down or in some cases shutting down nerve impulses. This is the same drug responsible for the neropathy most/may patients experience.  

My own experience was sever constipation after the first chemo.  I know the Chemo nurse was conserned about an impaction.  I was told to use Miralax during the first week of each cycle.  I also develped a mild case of thrush so my doctor put me on an ant-fungul medication who's side effect was loose stools.  I was on this med for the remaining 5 cycles.  The result of the anti fungul was I stopped taking Miralax and had no constipation problems.

I do wish the doctors would give patients a heads up on this drug.  And hope I was of some help.

Regards,

Leslie