Jump to content

purplelady47

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    187

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by purplelady47

    From caregiver to patient

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Hello everyone ~

    I have some very good news - my daughter and her husband moved here to FL from Baltimore. They arrived last week and have been busy settling in, unpacking and going on job interviews. Their presence in our day-to-day lives will be a huge help as well as a huge comfort for both me and my son.

    Of course, this is one of this happy/sad things - although I am very, very grateful that they were willing to do this for us, I am also very sad that it is necessary for them to do this. This is NOT what I wanted for my daughter's life.

    I've always been the caretaker - I really am the poster child for Codependents Anonymous!! :lol: Not only did I take care of both my parents and my husband for many years before they died, my father-in-law and an elderly great-aunt but I've always had a child/children to take care of. It's been a very difficult transition for me to go from the caretaker to recipient of the care. Although at this time I don't need a full-time caregiver, it is very, very nice to have the assistance, comfort and companionship.

    They decided to move here now because it is important to all of us that my son have a stable and consistent home enviroment. As my daughter said "There might be icky things happening and it's very important that we be together to make our memories and deal with whatever comes our way." She is a very wise woman and I am blessed that she is my daughter.

    So I am dealing with this change and it's not been easy - I have always been so fiercely independent!!! But I am learning to accept their kindness and thoughtfulness as well as celebrate their presence in our daily lives.

    The Taxotere treatment hasn't been too bad so far. I find that the worse part is the fatigue days 2-6 after chemo. Since I tolerated the first round of the trial medication without any problems, the dosage was increased for the second round of chemo. I get a second CT scan on Tuesday and I am keeping my fingers crossed for good results.

    I am sending all kinds of positive thoughts to everyone -

    Pam in FL

    Taxotere - Bad Side Effects

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Hey there Mary ~

    I am finding the Taxotere very tiring too - even moreso than the Carbo/Taxol. I have only received one infusion so far - the next one is Thursday. I thought maybe I was so tired because I started taking the Lexapro at the same time I started the Taxotere.

    The Taxotere has not affected my equilibrium so far. I remember when I was on the Taxol - after the 3rd infusion my oncologist told me I had to stop roller blading and bike riding because he said the Taxol would affect my sense of balance and it did. I was constantly walking into the doorknob in the hallway, even when I was being careful. When I finished my last treatment in April I waited a month and started back roller-blading and biking again without any problem.

    I will watch and see if I have any problems after infusion #2 and let you know.

    With a gentle hug,

    Pam in FL

    :)

    follow up on my stage question & why is this worse

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    I just went through all this back in January and finally received my first SSDI check this month. In the meantime, I recieved a SSI check every month - it was for $600.00. In order to qualify for that, I had to have less than $2000.00 in the bank. There is a six month waiting period from the time of approval for SSDI until you receive the first SSDI check. I received the SSI check within a week.

    I was approved for SSDI very quickly - probably less than 2 weeks because all my medical records say Stage IV. I was told at the time that Stage IV is automatically approved.

    Hope this helps a bit.

    Pam in FL

    Getting to Know You - August 17

    in JUST FOR FUN

    Posted

    I have a cairn terrier named Yoda - he's small, furry and a delightful couch companion.

    But in two weeks, when my daughter and son-in-law move in with us, my grandcats will arrive - Bishop and Ripley. They are named after the characters in the movie "Alien". We are hoping that living with the cats and Yoda will not be an alien encounter.

    When I lived in IL with my husband, we raised and trained hunting dogs - specifically Brittanys. I personally believe that all clothing is enhanced with a wee bit of pet hair as an accessory!

    :D

    Pam

    Getting to Know You - August 15

    in JUST FOR FUN

    Posted

    I do this Japanese braiding called kumihimo that I really love. I have some photos of it on my website:

    http://pamelathome5047.fotopic.net/

    I really love to make these braids - it's very relaxing and there are so many uses for long woven braids. Right now I am making keychains for a friend's business to give as gifts to her suppliers at Christmas.

    I also love to make jewelry too. I make necklaces, bracelets and earrings and sell them on Ebay. I have all the equipment for making glass beads and when it gets cooler, I am going to start practicing that too.

    I find crafty stuff very relaxing. These hobbies have really helped me fill the long hours since I am not working.

    Pam in FL

    :D

    It's Tuesday

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    :lol::lol::lol::lol:

    Oh Ginny!!

    That was my mistake - I was using bon-bons as my coping mechanism. :D

    ::::making a note for my next chemo::::

    I will have to bypass the candy store before my next chemo to stock up!!!

    :wink:

    Pam in FL

    We have 200 recipes so far, just need 200 more--*8/15 update

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Okay Andrea ~

    I am not much of a cook, but I just sent you two very simple recipes, along with some photos also.

    For the "This and That" section, I was thinking about this poem:

    Dishwashing Without Groans

    Thank God for dirty dishes

    for they have a tale to tell.

    Well other folks go hungry,

    we're eating very well.

    With Home and Health and Happiness

    we shouldn't want to fuss.

    For by this stack of evidence

    God's very good to us!

    (My Mom had a plaque with this poem by our sink when I was growing up. She died of SCLC in 1995.)

    I have this plaque hanging in my kitchen:

    Welcome

    Although you'll find our house a mess...

    Come in, sit down,

    Converse.

    It does not always look like this....

    Somedays it's even worse.

    And my other favorite:

    I kiss better than I cook!

    :lol:

    Pam in FL

    It's Tuesday

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    And I am feeling almost human again. :wink:

    Randy - will you be opening the chat room tonight??? I am tired of laying on the couch, watching TV and eating bon-bons, so if you are opening up the chat room, I will be there!!

    Pam in FL

    :lol:

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept