June 16
10:40 I’m having trouble getting my phone to charge properly. Had it plugged in all day y’day and never got above 14%. Changed brick. This morning it was at 34%. Decided to turn phone off for while.
I frustrated myself because I them couldn’t read the next scripture passages in my Bible reading bcuz my phone was off. Remembered that I’m a day ahead and I post weekly reading plan on church page. Used tablet for Bible reading.
Proverbs 27-31; Psalm 103:13; Ephesians 1:13;
Coughed up a quarter size green goober. Yuck. At least it’s breaking up. Hoping to feel better soon. Waiting a return call from Dr George’s office.
Holly and James came fir a visit. Holly came to room and sat on end of my bed. We chatted for a little bit. James visited with Joe. I got tired after about 20 minutes or so, but enjoyed the visit.
Mom asked if she could help. She offered chicken noodle soup, but we still have some from earlier when I made large pot. She told me to let her know how they could help.
11:00 called Dr George’s office. At first, nurse was going to reschedule for next Friday, but when I asked about the blood work. Her instructions were different than the nurse that gave us the chemo class. When I questioned how it all works, the nurse told me she’d have to check with Dr and call me back.
12:30 in need of a nap
1:00 Joe brought me chicken noodle soup.
2:30 tried calling Drs office again multiple times, but couldn’t get through. I think they’re phones are down.
2:45 Joe came to sit with me a bit. I fell asleep.
6:00 Joe made dinner – chicken breast, rice, and corn. It was delicious but I couldn’t eat it all.
Managed to finish the Memory Verse sheet for VBS. Next step schedule. I don’t have anymore energy today. These headache are bothering me. To finally be free of daily headaches to having them multiple times a day with this upper respiratory infection is quite draining.
7:30 a friend checked on me and offered to bring chicken and rice tomorrow around lunch. I accepted.
Drank a few cups of hot green tea with honey today. It helped soothe my throat. Throat still hurts and it hurts to swallow, but at least it’s not on fire anymore.
Intensified body aches are easing some. Still have random muscle twitching in legs. Temp has been 99 most of day. Feet periodically freezing then warm up after couple hours. Periodic chills some make me shiver much. Brain fog some.
8:00 looked in mirror at Steri strips to keep eye out for infection. One on neck a little red. Noticed that the steri strip on neck switched from being horizontal to being vertical. Lol. I swabbed both suture area with colloidal silver and frankincense oil.
10:30 time for bed and I’m wide awake but a little sleepy. Head is pounding.
Night vitamins and medicines taken. Took 2 Tylenol for the headache. Chest hurts especially when I cough. My port area hurts today when I move certain ways and sometimes when I’m not moving at all.
Thankful for…
- Heaven
- Starting to feel a smidge better
- Ointments and perfume
Melissa’s Musings:
This journey on the road to recovery (first from the lightning strike and now breast cancer) has challenged me to think outside the box way more than usual. From relearning how to complete simple tasks to learning how to simplify daily chores and use them as a means of exercise to now trying to figure out healthy things such as drinking purified water, juicing fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamins, healthier diet, pushing myself to exercise through the pain, etc., I’ve been trying to find the right balance for me and not go too over the top.
In fighting the cancer, some websites suggest you do all natural everything. That’s all well and good, but when you live on a one-income household some of their expensive suggestions are way out of my budget. I love looking for deals and ways to save money.
Anyways, I already use essential oils for health remedies and household cleaning. I began wondering if I should switch to more natural beauty products, such as makeup and perfume. I don’t wear them much anyways – mostly for church or special occasions. I do however always need a little lip color.
I then had a thought….
Ever wonder why some people are all about their ointments and perfume and smelling just right?
Well, I found a verse that gives the answer.
Proverbs 27:9 – Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
I came across this verse in my Bible reading today and it tickled me. Sharing a little humor to ponder. Sweet dreams .
June 17
Rough night. Trouble getting comfortable. Hot then cold. Throat hurts to swallow. Bad headache. Port keeps hurting. Whole body stiff and throbbing. Coughing makes my body hurts worse. Body trying to expel some of the green mucus. Good that’s it’s coming up but it hurts.
I can’t imagine how sick I would be if I weren’t already taking 16-20,000mg of Vitamin C, zinc, Elderberry, and D3 daily. Oh, my.
Ecclesiastes 1-6; Psa. 68:4-5; Ephesians 6:19-20
Decided I need to get that yogurt down somehow. Looked up homemade granola. Stovetop version doesn’t look too hard. Ingredients: coconut oil, oatmeal, cinnamon, honey, pecans, slivered almonds, shredded coconut, and dried cranberries. Melt coconut oil. Add in oats, cinnamon, pecans, almonds, and honey. Stir well. Cook about 8 minutes stirring frequently until oats are toasted. Add in coconut and cranberries. Stir well. Allow to cool. Store in airtight container.
Added this to bowl of yogurt. Able to get 1/2 the bowl eaten. Yay. I’ll eat more later. Throat is hurting and my energy is wiped. Grabbed my last veggie juice to drink. Will have to make more later.
Guys seem to be starting to feel better. I’m glad. Dezirae will be home tomorrow night. I miss her.
Guys disinfecting house today for me. Diffusing thieves oil in the house. Will also spray and wipe things down later.
11:48 finally talked with oncologist triage nurse. Scheduled to start chemo next Friday (6/24). I can come in Thursday or wait til Friday morning for blood work. Ok to be on antibiotics and histamine. Must be fever free for 24 hours prior to my appointment. I finally got the email invite to set my patient portal. I’ll work on that a little later.
Mbh dropped off chicken and rice soup. That’s sweet of her.
12:55 migraine won’t quit. Took 2 Excedrin. If that doesn’t work, I’ll break down and take my migraine Rx.
1:05 left ear ringing
Since I have clarity of thought for most part and I can’t fall asleep when my head is pounding, I decided to work on planning VBS. I’m behind, but it’ll come together. I just pray I’m well enough to at least attend it. I love VBS!
Finished extra verses for Memory Verse sheet. Penciled baseline schedule. Have part of games planned.
Since part of the cancer is estrogen dominant, a couple people suggested I check out DIM.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dim-supplement#basics
Able to get out of bed for few hours this evening. Got up to eat dinner and watch movie with the family. Helped a little bit with dishes then was wiped out again.
Throat hurts as if rt side of neck was cut on inside and it hurts to swallow.
Headache finally eased about hour or so after taking Excedrin. Feet keep freezing off and on today for couple hours at a time. Periodic chills. Nose starting to be stuffy and run. Nose is slightly bloody. I think the connection is the histamine blocker. Everytime I take too much or for length of time I get bloody noses. Low back throbbing immensely. Muscles stiff and achy. Need to start moving more to loosen up the joints. Coughing. Sneezing. Bones ache deeply. Nerves stinging.
Surgery site at base of neck Steri strip came off cut area but still clung to skin. Looked kind of funny when I checked it in the mirror. It itches. Knowing me I’d try to itchy it subconsciously so I wiped it with colloidal silver and covered it with round bandage. Wiped port area suture with colloidal silver. That Steri strip still firmly in place. Port area still aches and hurts especially when I move certain ways. Hoping it’ll ease by next Friday’s appointment.
Thankful for…
- My friend, Marybeth, bringing us lunch
- Guys helping take care of me including getting few groceries and taking care of some things around house
- Truth of God’s Word will stand forever!
June 18
6:00 been awake for a while. My throat hurts immensely. It hurts to swallow. Sinuses congested. Coughing fit causes me to spit up more junk. Throat hurts worse. Body hurts all over making getting comfortable nearly impossible. Limited on positions as I still cannot lay on rt side that puts pressure on port area. Lymph nodes on either side of neck are swollen and very tender
Just had thought – might need to get someone else to drop teens off a week from Monday as I might not be able to since my first chemo session is next Friday.
Dezirae comes home this evening. I’m looking forward to seeing her. I’ve missed her, but glad she’s able to be at camp and make new friends.
Used restroom and noticed Milk of Magnesia and a bottle of liquid Benadryl. Oh, I remember using that when my tongue hurts something awful. Decided to gargle with it to see if it’d help my throat. It eased it a little. Lips are stinging though. Throat still hurts but not as bad. May need to try again in couple hours.
https://www.readersdigest.ca/health/conditions/6-canker-sore-treatments-actually-work/
https://www.healthline.com/health/magic-mouthwash
I remember the term magic mouthwash being mentioned if I get mouth sores during treatments. I wonder if there’s a natural magic mouthwash?
Wt 190. I’m down 33lbs. Of course, being sick this week helped me lose. I have 2lbs to reach my next goal. (Pst – the weight I was when before I was struck by lightning).
Ecclesiastes 7-12
6:50 Text msg letting me know that Dezirae is sick. Given meds for fever. I’m concerned she got what we have. Praying she gets better soon.
Weather forecast on my phone indicates possible thunderstorms today. No wonder pain levels are elevated.
Rt ear throbbing. Whole body hurts. Throat hurts. I’m exhausted.
Matthew 5:14; Ephesians 6:4;
Got up to work on bulletin and do my juicing. Mom came to check on me. She helped me finish cutting the veggies for juicing.
Oh, I finally thought of something Mom can help me with – canning the bone broth. I call and ask. She’s glad to help. Give her use of the jars, my canner, and the broth. I don’t have the energy to do it right now.
Back to bed. Energy wiped out. Severe sinus pressure in face. Throat feels like I have a sharp edged lump stuck in it. Head pounding. Body aches. Rt ear hurts Need some sleep.
https://www.cleaneatingkitchen.com/manage-estrogen-dominance-naturally/
Asked Joe for a popsicle to chill my throat. Kind of tastes like coffee. It eased both my throat pain and head pain a little.
Have a bruise on my right foot between large and second toe about the size of a quarter. Not sure how that happened. It’s tender to touch but doesn’t hurt otherwise. Hmm?
Mid and lower back icy stinging tingling sensation. Feet starting to get cold.
6:00 Joe made dinner – hamburgers with onions, peppers, and mushrooms and oven cooked fries. The salt feels good on my throat.
I’m so tired, but I want to stay up to see Dezirae and I need to print things off for church tomorrow.
6:30 Dezirae home. We’re all glad to see her. She admits to me that she’s glad that I didn’t start chemo y’day because she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to give me a hug. Awh.
10:30 whew I’m exhausted. Brain hurts. Feet are frost burn freezing and it’s traveling up my legs to my chins. Low back throbbing. Eyes watery. Throat pain has eased some but it still hurts to swallow. Headache. Nerves stinging mildly. Muscles stiff and achy. Had runs for couple hours. Port area still very sore.
If I turn my neck wrong it feels like the cord is pinching my neck
Thankful for…
- Dezirae making it home safe
- Hymn writers
- Bed to sleep in
- Down to 190. Yay!
