No MMM!! More bumps along the road

truckingalong
truckingalong Member Posts: 445 Member
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
Hi, Friends,

I have been thinking that I am faced with the fact that I continue to have low WBCs and my doc told me no MMM - do not go to malls, metro, and movies or crowded areas or dirty areas!! Geez, I find myself kinda isolated at home. I also am faced with a dirty house. My hands hurt too much from neuropathy and am still looking for a house cleaner that I can afford. My hubby said he would clean but he doesn't - too busy with work and mowing and on and on and I would not want him to do it. Also, I miss us going out to restaurants and I feel sad. I wonder how you deal with this similiar issue - how you cope with this? I find myself using paper towels opening stuff that are not clean, crazy! Would appreciate hearing stories so that I am not alone! By the way, my hubby is flying out tomorrow for 4 day business trip. On Tues and Wed, my brother in law will take me to get my shots. Well, I m gonna keep myself busy organizing papers! I notice I have a hard time concentrating to read a book - does chemo do that to our brain?

Blessings,
Liz

Comments

  • forme
    forme Member Posts: 1,161 Member
    #2
    The new normal
    Hi Liz,
    Thank you Silicon Valley for the computer.. Keeps us all less isolated. I know some of what you are going through. Don't worry too much about your house. The "germs" that live there are yours and should be safe. A little dust etc, can't hurt. Staying away from crowds is hard. My big worry is going to visit my elderly mom. She lives at a senior home. So, there are lots of old folks in various states of health. And also, when the grandkids come over. I was telling Sue about my brain. I just have such a hard time staying focused. Reading is really hard. Quilting also. I am surrounded by unfinished quilts...Sigh
    You are not alone in this. We all have various things to cope with. For me, getting out last night to walk the dog was such a treat..
    Thinking of you..
    Lisha
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #3
    Hi Liz,
    Thank goodness for this group and days like today when someone posts questions as you have!!!! I can totally relate to what you are going through. My hubby is scared to death that I will catch something, so he has been like a watchdog making sure nobody comes around that might be sick. He has a little table set up by the front door with hand sanitizer, kleenex, face masks and gloves.(over kill in my opinion), but it makes him feel better. My blood counts are good, but the fear of me getting a secondary sickness on top of what I'm already battling is very scary for him. We have quit going out to eat,walk in movies, shopping etc. I love my home and so far I haven't felt like I'm missing out on anything, but in the back of my mind I know winter is coming...snow, slick roads, and of course the flu bug. Right now I can get out in the yard or sit on the patio, but before long it will just be too cold, so I'm thinking "what can I do to not feel isolated to the house when I can't get outside"? I have been keeping up on my house work, but I have to do it differently now. I do a little each day...one day I vacumn, next day I clean the bathrooms, next day clean the kitchen..so on and so forth. Never quite feel like "EVERYTHING" is clean at one time, but I'm learning to deal with it...it is what it is. My reading gets better after I'm off of the Pred, but I'm starting to forget some things that have always been second nature for me. I guess it's the chemo, so I'm writing myself notes more and more. Steve and I are renting more movies and have started cooking together, playing cards and boardgames. I guess the trick is to just find new ways to keep busy and still be able to deal with the cancer and the side affects of the chemo. I am so new at this so it will be interesting to see how well I do with making changes in my life. Libras have a tendency to resist change as it throws our scales off balance. Maybe we can all learn little coping tricks together over the coming winter months. I'm game! Sorry this was so long, but your questions were somthing I've been thinking about all week long.(pred makes my brain race)...ha! Thanks for posting Liz...we truely are never alone with our questions or thoughts as long as we have each other.
    Love...Sue
  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #4
    allmost60 said:

    Hi Liz,
    Thank goodness for this group and days like today when someone posts questions as you have!!!! I can totally relate to what you are going through. My hubby is scared to death that I will catch something, so he has been like a watchdog making sure nobody comes around that might be sick. He has a little table set up by the front door with hand sanitizer, kleenex, face masks and gloves.(over kill in my opinion), but it makes him feel better. My blood counts are good, but the fear of me getting a secondary sickness on top of what I'm already battling is very scary for him. We have quit going out to eat,walk in movies, shopping etc. I love my home and so far I haven't felt like I'm missing out on anything, but in the back of my mind I know winter is coming...snow, slick roads, and of course the flu bug. Right now I can get out in the yard or sit on the patio, but before long it will just be too cold, so I'm thinking "what can I do to not feel isolated to the house when I can't get outside"? I have been keeping up on my house work, but I have to do it differently now. I do a little each day...one day I vacumn, next day I clean the bathrooms, next day clean the kitchen..so on and so forth. Never quite feel like "EVERYTHING" is clean at one time, but I'm learning to deal with it...it is what it is. My reading gets better after I'm off of the Pred, but I'm starting to forget some things that have always been second nature for me. I guess it's the chemo, so I'm writing myself notes more and more. Steve and I are renting more movies and have started cooking together, playing cards and boardgames. I guess the trick is to just find new ways to keep busy and still be able to deal with the cancer and the side affects of the chemo. I am so new at this so it will be interesting to see how well I do with making changes in my life. Libras have a tendency to resist change as it throws our scales off balance. Maybe we can all learn little coping tricks together over the coming winter months. I'm game! Sorry this was so long, but your questions were somthing I've been thinking about all week long.(pred makes my brain race)...ha! Thanks for posting Liz...we truely are never alone with our questions or thoughts as long as we have each other.
    Love...Sue

    I love to read, but I couldn't do it on chemo. I just couldn't concentrate enough to read a book. Reading on the computer during chat and discussion was the best I could do. The neuropathy got so bad I couldn't write either and dropped almost everything I tried to pick up.

    So, I napped, watched tv and did little bits of housework like Sue said. I was very careful and didn't go out much, but I am a homebody and it was right up my alley. I did go into work usually on chemo day when I would get done and visit for a little bit with people while I was still high on the happy drug LOL.

    Lots of movies, food and sleep. Don't remember doing much of anything else :)

    Take care,

    Beth
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #5
    dixiegirl said:

    I love to read, but I couldn't do it on chemo. I just couldn't concentrate enough to read a book. Reading on the computer during chat and discussion was the best I could do. The neuropathy got so bad I couldn't write either and dropped almost everything I tried to pick up.

    So, I napped, watched tv and did little bits of housework like Sue said. I was very careful and didn't go out much, but I am a homebody and it was right up my alley. I did go into work usually on chemo day when I would get done and visit for a little bit with people while I was still high on the happy drug LOL.

    Lots of movies, food and sleep. Don't remember doing much of anything else :)

    Take care,

    Beth

    dropping stuff
    I have the same problem with dropping stuff at times. It gets worse with time while on the chemo. I hope it gets better after chemo stops. Concentration is another problem too. Don't know how many times I had written the same thing on here and when I go back and reread I catch it. another problem is hand strenght, I can't open jars anymore like I could a few months ago. I see things during the day and later I think where did I see or hear that. I know I saw it or heard it but can't remember where to save my life. Chemo brain is real thats for sure. John
  • truckingalong
    truckingalong Member Posts: 445 Member
    #6
    dixiegirl said:

    I love to read, but I couldn't do it on chemo. I just couldn't concentrate enough to read a book. Reading on the computer during chat and discussion was the best I could do. The neuropathy got so bad I couldn't write either and dropped almost everything I tried to pick up.

    So, I napped, watched tv and did little bits of housework like Sue said. I was very careful and didn't go out much, but I am a homebody and it was right up my alley. I did go into work usually on chemo day when I would get done and visit for a little bit with people while I was still high on the happy drug LOL.

    Lots of movies, food and sleep. Don't remember doing much of anything else :)

    Take care,

    Beth

    You got it
    Yeah!

    Wow, we are in it together! Thank god for the computer to keep us less alone. I realize I get carried away thinking about germs in my house. I would clean little by little and feel accomplished. Yes, I dread for the coming winter months - but look forward to having a fireplace and eat smores!

    I feel better now as hubby and I went outside tonight for a short walk - it helped!

    Speaking of chemo brain, my agency was kind enough to let me work (1 day/wk to start) so I started making appts with clients but get the fear that I'd screw up when the time comes but realize I can wing it - guess I am learning to be a seasoned survivor, lol!

    Thanks,
    Liz
  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #7
    truckingalong said:

    You got it
    Yeah!

    Wow, we are in it together! Thank god for the computer to keep us less alone. I realize I get carried away thinking about germs in my house. I would clean little by little and feel accomplished. Yes, I dread for the coming winter months - but look forward to having a fireplace and eat smores!

    I feel better now as hubby and I went outside tonight for a short walk - it helped!

    Speaking of chemo brain, my agency was kind enough to let me work (1 day/wk to start) so I started making appts with clients but get the fear that I'd screw up when the time comes but realize I can wing it - guess I am learning to be a seasoned survivor, lol!

    Thanks,
    Liz

    Dropping stuff
    John, don't feel bad I couldn't open things well either. I did my chemo during the summer and one day wanted a Gatorade to cool off. I worked and worked on getting the friggin lid open and couldn't. I was checking out the neighborhood to see who was home to try and help me...course nobody I knew was home.

    I live across the street from a sandblasting business. I saw the guy driving a forklift in front of my house heading down the road. So I walk over to this stranger and ask him to open my gatorade. You should have seen the odd look on his face, but he did it. LOL
    Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #8
    low counts!
    Hahahaha been there done that it!!!! It is tough, just to it sloooooowwwwwwww, low counts are killing me to! It will not last for ever...... Music and of course cooking help's.... (when I can move! LOL) Keep plugging Liz!!!!!
  • truckingalong
    truckingalong Member Posts: 445 Member
    #9
    vinny59 said:

    low counts!
    Hahahaha been there done that it!!!! It is tough, just to it sloooooowwwwwwww, low counts are killing me to! It will not last for ever...... Music and of course cooking help's.... (when I can move! LOL) Keep plugging Liz!!!!!

    Thanks for making me smile and then.....
    Ha ha - that is funny, Beth - asking that guy to open the Gaterade for you! Yes, Vinny -Good to know that this does not last forever but....

    Well as it turned out for today, I grew weaker and felt worse - what the heck?!!! Just in time that my hubby flew out of town for business trip. So I decided to call my mighty 84 years old father to take me to his house (he jogged 5 miles yesterday and by the way, he adopted me when I was an infant - WISH I had his genes!) for the night. Feeling shortness of breath, etc. and I feel scared and now I want the shots to make those symptoms go away! Huh. One moment at a time - I m gonna be okay. Anyway, god bless dad - and you all.

    Liz
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #10
    truckingalong said:

    Thanks for making me smile and then.....
    Ha ha - that is funny, Beth - asking that guy to open the Gaterade for you! Yes, Vinny -Good to know that this does not last forever but....

    Well as it turned out for today, I grew weaker and felt worse - what the heck?!!! Just in time that my hubby flew out of town for business trip. So I decided to call my mighty 84 years old father to take me to his house (he jogged 5 miles yesterday and by the way, he adopted me when I was an infant - WISH I had his genes!) for the night. Feeling shortness of breath, etc. and I feel scared and now I want the shots to make those symptoms go away! Huh. One moment at a time - I m gonna be okay. Anyway, god bless dad - and you all.

    Liz

    Not alone
    Hi liz,
    I'm glad your not at home alone...what a great dad you have! He sounds like my 85 year old Aunt...she called earlier today and said she had been working in her vegetable garden all morning and just finished canning 2 dozens jars of tomatoe juice before calling me. I love it!... Take it easy and save your energy Liz....Love,Sue

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