Search options (Page 1 of 2)

Thank you so much everyone! I haven't got any new news besides it's been difficult to readjust to life as usual. I think it's too much too soon.. Hopefully I can get used to it or make some adjustments.

I think I have another CT scan soon, so hopefully that will bring good news then too. No news is good news of course!

Best of luck to everyone, my family will be praying for you all!

Hiya Karen!

Recently I've been trying to get my family to do something similar with me, but it's really hard if you decide to just drop the things you're used to eating all together. I would start by maybe incorporating some of the new recipes in with the old for a few weeks and gradually cut out things you shouldn't have, or replace them with a healthier alternative. I'm definitely a meat and potatoes kind of girl too, so slow changes, I find, are what work best. Since I started eating a bit better, I have more energy and I find the chemo brain effects me a little less then when I was eating all the crap food. I also try to take like a One-A-Day vitamin every day too, those help.

Really I commend you and your husband for committing to something like this willingly! It's like pulling teeth over here, lol. Good luck to you both!

Oh dear, this thread hasn't been posted in for a while, but this is driving me nutso!

My port always gets pains in it, even when it's not accessed. But then I'm not sure if it's the actual port because it's like.. right above where it is. I assume this isn't supposed to be normal. When I took my bandages off from yesterday's treatment today, it was all.. yellow instead of the usual blood it's supposed to be.

When it was accessed yesterday it hurt so so bad too! The nurses wanted to do a chest x-ray but it stopped hurting after about 20 minutes (figures, the Gem only takes 30!). I have been told mine is at a weird angle too, maybe that's it? Anyone have any ideas?

Hiya Elicia! It's nice to meet you!

You're right, this place is a wealth of information with lots of helpful people in it. You get to feel right at home really quick!

It was super nice of the chemical company to donate your mother's chemo, that's great! If you can, see if the hospital she goes to can get you a case manager. I'm not sure if it works the same way without insurance though so that tip might be useless, but definitely use the hospital as a resource. They're there to help you!

Good luck to you all and please keep us posted! You'll be in my prayers. <3

I hope you're enjoying Heaven, Jeff.. give our regards to the big guy! We miss you. <3 I'm glad he can be at peace now at least. My condolences to his family and friends.

Hey guys!! I'm sorry it's been such a super long time since I posted, but I've been trying to keep busy with working, doing the camp counselor thing at summer camp, crafts and stuff.. I'm happy to report chemo is almost done! I have three more appointments for gem and then I'm done! I hope. I just have a CT scan after it all to see where I'm at.

I'm so excited! I can't wait for my hair to start growing back. I forgot my hat one morning for camp and my scalp burned so terribly. There's nothing worse then a peeling scalp. Oh, and I even registered for fall classes! I'm so excited about going back to school, I picked some really interesting looking ones and I can't wait to get back to it. Everything is just going back to normal.

My family is going on our family vacation to the shore next week so that'll be fun too. Oh, Disney was super awesome!! It rained at the same time every day but we saw everything and I didn't even sunburn at all!

The only problem that I've had I think is consistently low red and white blood cells, they almost couldn't treat yesterday. (My doctor says that .. something has to be at 1.5 to do it, and I was at 1.4) Is there anything I can do.. or eat to get them back up? I'm not terribly worried about it, but I guess eating right and taking a multivitamin doesn't cut it these days? lol And like. Pain in the port, even when it isn't accessed. Apparently mine is at a funky angle and I even got the numbing cream but it still makes me cry (like a wimp! aaah I hate it lol).

I hope everyone is doing well, I've been thinking about you a lot! People have asked me about my bracelet a few times so they have been helping with awareness. You're all in my prayers! <333

Hey guys! Sorry I fell off the face of the Earth for a while there, it's been ridiculous around here.

Chemo's been... okay I suppose. It's really hard for the nurses to get a vein on me so I'm still working the port issue but I'm afraid I'll be done by the time my doctor is arsed to talk to me about it! My mother harassed him via inter office notes last Friday so hopefully he gets the hint that hey, I need a port. I've been asking for an appointment for weeks! But he finally gave the okay last week so I'll just have to call my nurse or something. It burns so bad almost every time too, it's awful. I feel like an idiot every week because I always end up crying.

Among other side effects, I was itchy for a while but that symptom seems to have gone away for the time being. I got some rashes all over my face and neck two weeks ago and I'm super tired of course. I went back to work though so I need to get over that, lol. Only two days a week for a few hours so I'm not working myself to death. I've also really had a sweet tooth which I found strange. I'm more of a savory person myself so. I dunno if that counts as a side effect, lol.

Along with the chemo I had to get these shots to make blood grow and that burned real bad too. They found I have a blood disease, thalassemia it's called, and that's why after surgery my blood count was low. Just one thing after another, right?

And my hair's really starting to thin out bad. Am I going to lose all of my hair? I know everybody reacts differently but it's starting to look that way.. clumps and clumps every day, my car is covered in hair. Icky icky.

I hope everyone has been doing well!! You've been in my thoughts a lot lately.

Thanks so much everybody!! Today went well, they said my tumor marker went from 6000 to 300, so that's good right? I really don't know what that means but my mom said she was happy about it. But my blood levels were low so I had to get this shot to make bone marrow make more red blood cells. It really burned when it went it so that stunk. They told me to go on a diet high in iron so I'll have to give my mommy a shopping list, haha.

The Gemzar went over well so far, it didn't hurt going in or anything. I guess we'll have to wait until the next couple visits to see if I have any reactions to it. Though while I was having it, I think I *imagined* a metallic-y taste in my mouth. I'm not sure, how weird of me. I also asked the nurses about ports and they gave me a packet about it, I thought it would be good to ask just in case. They said only if my veins harden so I hope that doesn't happen. They showed me how it gets put in and I'm just not keen on getting sliced up again just yet, y'know? lol.

Thanks so much again everyone, you're all in mine and my family's prayers. <3