Being in the hospital last week and now home (attached to an IV pole) still feeling rotten has made me feel very isolated. Isolated from friends. Isolated from conversation. Isolated from school drop-off. Isolated from hiking and tennis. Isolated from the world. Isolated even from the bathroom (now that’s low!). Now, it’s not to say… Continue reading Isolation Island
Treatments – Chemotherapy & Radiation
Sinister Sinusitis with a Side of Prunes
It was a very long, sleepless sore-throat-filled night of coughing and flipping back and forth (to get the mucus to move from one side of my sinus’ to the other – Ewwwwwww. Trust me, I know). I rose (well, actually I just opened my eyes) this morning feeling rotten – again. Clearly, this sinusitis was… Continue reading Sinister Sinusitis with a Side of Prunes
Pretty Ponderous Perspective
I’m happy to say that I’m home from the hospital. The diagnosis, as you learned from The Husband (a/k/a HOTY a/k/a Husband of the Year) was sinusitis. Now the good news here (you knew a Silver Lining was coming!) is that this was not caused by FBC. Rather, it is likely that because my immune… Continue reading Pretty Ponderous Perspective
Hospital Detour during Chemo Treatment
Hospital Detour during Chemo Treatment Well, I’m sorry to say that things have gone to another level (and not up!). Today, I was admitted to the hospital with a 101 degree fever, indicating that there is an infection going on somewhere in this bod. F-Bomb. I’ve been dehydrated for several days and last night even… Continue reading Hospital Detour during Chemo Treatment
The Treatment Train Continues
Chemo #4. Check. Two more to go. Silver Lining! As you may remember, I go chemo to in an outfit that makes me feel good, happy and confident. I have always put forth an effort to look my best, no matter how I feel, and chemo infusions are no exception. So, the outfits that I wear… Continue reading The Treatment Train Continues
Friend-ly Tips
Today is Chemo #4. One step closer to Chemo #6. Which means that I’m 2/3 of the way to the finish line. Which means that I am getting a little more buzzed (from Silver Linings) with each passing day. As I was mentally preparing for #4 (not obsessing or even dreading, but envisioning strength and… Continue reading Friend-ly Tips
Chemo-Sobby
Chemo Sobby It’s been a rough, rough week. Chemo last Tuesday knocked me down – HARD. F-bomb. FBC. The cumulative effect of three doses of TAC chemotherapy is really taking its toll…everywhere (body AND mind). As a matter of (pathetic) fact, I have been quite the “chemo-sobby” girl, i.e., I cry at the drop of a… Continue reading Chemo-Sobby
Brookside Dreams of Sleep
Day two post chemo. The side effects are full on wretched – again. No amount of drugs, acupuncture, herbs, or meditation seems to mediate, alleviate, annihilate, or eradicate or them. (Though these words mean the same thing, I seem to have a thesaurus in my head…thinking that if I say “get rid of” differently, the side effects… Continue reading Brookside Dreams of Sleep
Hilacious Hotness Hits: Hot Flashes During Cancer Treatment
Hot Flashes During Cancer Treatment At 3:30 (am!), the third one of the night has already hit: hot flashes. Though I knew it was only a matter of time (because chemotherapy for F-Bomb Breast Cancer puts women into menopause), I was holding out hope that I might actually avoid one side effect of chemo: hilacious… Continue reading Hilacious Hotness Hits: Hot Flashes During Cancer Treatment
Bill Moyers and Optimism
Recently, I had the great fortune to hear Bill Moyers speak as part of the extraordinary UCSB Arts and Lectures series. It had been a bad (BAD!) day. Feeling rotten and generally miserable. The last thing I wanted to do was get dressed and go out in public. However, I felt compelled to go to… Continue reading Bill Moyers and Optimism