August 5
7:00 Drank chamomile tea before bed last night and slept much better than I had this whole week. Strange dream.
I’m freezing. Whole body stiff and achy. Dry mouth with odd taste. Thirsty.
Psalm 119:130; 2 Chronicles 34-35;
Chemotherapy #3
BP 121/77; pulse 92; weight 179
Dexamethasone (steroid) – 20 minutes, Emend (anti-nausea) – 30 minutes, Aloxi (anti-nausea) – 20 minutes.
Each time I get the steroid, my back muscles start getting chilly. Strange?
Asked the nurse. She’s going to look into it
Canjenti (immune therapy) – 30 minutes; Perjeta (immune therapy) – 30 minutes; Taxol (chemotherapy) – 1 hour; Carboplatin (chemotherapy) – 30 minutes.
Dry patches? Try Aquaphor or lotion. Keep eye on them. If they spread or start to itch, let Dr know.
Need to research more natural product. Aquaphor is made of petrolatum, ceresin, lanolin, GMO glycerin, bisabolol, and patabins.
https://marnieclark.com/how-to-protect-your-skin-during-radiation-treatment-for-breast-cancer/
Last medicine is attaching the Neulasta injection injector on my arm. It will give me the injection about 27 hours later. The contraption when the nurse first puts it on for about 3 minutes then injects a tubing into my arm to give the medicine at specific time. The shot for the tubing scares me every time even though I know it’s coming. Each time I Hollar and jump. It makes all of us giggle. It also scares me the next day when it injects the medicine. I just make a joke of it. Lol.
2:00 Joe and I stopped at Publix to pick up the platter and drinks for tomorrow’s activity. I stopped by pharmacy to give my pharmacist an update. Others were listening. As I walked away, I heard here telling the other pharmacists and techs about my being struck by lightning and now have cancer.
I was very hungry when I got home. Ate four slider bun sandwiches and some grapes.
Called chiropractor. Dr told Jordon to get him a copy of the police report and he would send them the information to have the insurance company pay for the visits. Dr said his back injury is definitely from the car accident. He will need to go regularly for a while. He will need to find a chiropractor in Pensacola to get treatments there while at college. If he does nothing, it will lead to arthritis and more pain in the future.
Called insurance company. They had hiccup in their system – thought that Joe was in accident too. They haven’t been able to get a hold of their insured yet. Will try again. Also informed them about Jordon needing to go to the doctors.
3:00 events of today are starting to catch up with me. I’m getting sleepy and lethargic feeling. Have moderate pain in my arms and hands. Laying down for a while. Feeling hot too – normally I’m chilly and need a blanket. Took 4 ibuprofen.
My friend, Kim F, brought by dinner. She also brought a goodie bag with fuzzy socks and pumpkin seeds. Yay!
I think I ate too much. My tummy hurts. I’m exhausted and tired.
https://www.earthclinic.com/mobile/cures/chemotherapy-side-effects/salt-and-baking-soda-bath/
9:50 checked on status of car parts ordered for my van. Parts were supposed to be delivered yesterday. Now it’s saying delay and expected delivery is now 8/8. This is second delay. Frustrating.
Able to help Dezirae weed small section in flower bed this afternoon. Later able to make homemade essential oils poison ivy gel for my sister, essential oils pain rub for myself (I share with the family), and homemade thieves oil. Also, had enough energy to help Dezirae with kitchen clean up some. She thanked me.
I’ve been very warm since getting home. Ran box fan in living room. Hungry (that’s not my normal). Arms and hands throbbing deeply for few hours. The ibuprofen helped ease the pain some. Lower left leg middle of shin has tourniquet tightening feeling with tingling to foot. For short period after pulling weeds, the center of chest aches deeply as if pulled a muscle. Back aches. Slight headache that comes and goes.
Drinking Chamomile tea before bed. Hoping I’ll sleep better again tonight.
Thankful for…
- Provision of school lunches for Dezirae through a sponsor
- Provision of dinner for my family tonight plus a happy gift of socks and pumpkin seeds
- Provision of rye, pumpernickel bread and chicken legs
- Able to help my sister with making eo poison ivy gel
- Having enough stamina to help with couple chores around house this afternoon
- All the kind words and prayers of friends via my update on Facebook
August 6
6:00 woke couple times in night to use restroom. First time I get up, I saw a flashing light and it took me a moment to figure out that it was coming from my left arm. I forgot that the Neulasta device blinks so you know it’s working properly.
Second time was around 5:30, due to my fluids being toxic for 48-72 hours following chemo treatments, I have to sanitize the toilet (or whatever I get bodily fluids on) after every use. Anyways, I bent over to wipe the toilet in the dark and didn’t realize how close I was to the shelves above the toilet and wacked my left eyebrow and eye on the plastic container pretty good. It still aches now thirty minutes later.
My stools are starting to get soft. I suspect that diarrhea is coming shortly, but I’m going to try the coconut flakes to see if they’ll help this time.
Looked up information regarding digestive issues on Marnie Clark’s website. Decided to send her a message and asked permission to post links on my blog/website of information that has helped me. Waiting a response.
https://marnieclark.com/tips-and-support-for-chemotherapy-digestive-problems/#comment-222725
Song: Blessed Be the Name of the Lord
Psalm 119:160; Zephaniah 1-3; Jeremiah 1-3;
Zephaniah 3:17 – The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Decent day. Able to do more than expected. Still very tired. Morning started to have diarrhea, but ate shredded coconut flakes and haven’t had problem since.
Layed down to rest around 1pm. Listening to wholetones music. Fell asleep. Shortly afterwards Joe called. One of the kids at church activity asked about me so he decided to video chat with me so she could see me. I don’t think she knew what to think. Kids made me a get-well sign.
Lft side of face flushing a little. Hot most of day except feet being cold. Found vitamin E oil online at local CVS and it was on sale. Dezirae took me to get it.
Able to get bulletins done by 8pm. Printer still gave me fits.
Took detox bath with non-iodine salt and baking soda. Bath water looked weird and slightly green afterwards. Had to have Joe help me wash my hair because I’m not supposed to get my arm wet with the Sancuso patch on my arm.
Sitting relaxing in chair while trying to plan meals for next week. Center of chest starts hurting bad. I text Joe. He comes to check me. My color is good. He thinks it’s indigestion. It feels different than that.
Fell asleep typing in my journal not sure what time.
