Muriel

Thanks, Eric. Muriel

Love the pictures, Eric. thanks for posting them Muriel

I can't remember, Katie. (It's probably just an age problem, since I finished chemo 6 yrs ago.) Are you on the bus? Where on the bus? I'm so far in the back I'm lucky to have not fallen off. Hanging on tight, after Denise's experience with Patty as a driver. Hope you're with us. You can bring kids, dogs, hubby. Muriel

I don't recognize anything I'm seeing out the window. Oh, wait a minute. I see water. Is it Lake Michigan, the Atlantic ocean, or the Pacific? They're all pretty big. And Snowflake, are you still driving? I'm so far back in the bus I just can't see much. Also taking Vicoden for my knee. I still have the splint on my R arm and it's pretty heavy, so watch out. You really don't want to make me mad. Thanks for the apology, Flake. I'll answer your pm very soon. Somebody, please tell me where we are. Thanks, Muriel

I'm sorry that I haven't responded to your earlier posts. Just lazy and I figured someone else also had the experience. I have the same symptoms, but not quite so severe. My onc didn't know - or really care about it. That's 3 oncs, really. My PCP suggested magnesium and calcium. Didn't make much difference. He said there was a med. I could try, but I wasn't ready to do that yet, but I see him again on Fri. I think it's nerve damage from chemo (I've had chemo twice). I sure hope someone can give us more info. I'd write more, but I have 2 broken bones in my hand. Muriel

((((((Randy)))))) Muriel

I always felt the sleeping was a good thing. Even if you're not vomiting, even slight nausea can be really unpleasant. It sounds as tho. everything really is going just fine for her. Do make sure the Dr. knows about the sleep,etc. problem tho. Maybe he can cutback on the decadron or add something else to help her sleep. It's really scary - as you now know - when you first start chemo. You just don't know what's normal and what is a problem or what might happen next. I was 64 when diagnosed (June 2003), so was somewhat younger than your mother. I didn't start chemo until 2.5 months after surgery, so it was much easier for me. At 3 - 4 weeks, I think I was still taking pain meds. Give her my best wishes. Muriel

Becky, glad you started this on this board. "Survivors" probably isn't the place for it, given the direction we've taken it. THE BUS HAS MOVED FROM AN UNSPECIFIED BEACH IN LOS ANGELES TO LA JOLLA BEACH in La Jolla - just north of San Diego. I moved it because I really like that beach and it has a name that people can find on a map. Might be just a tiny bit closer to Ned's house, too. For those of you who are truly puzzled, you will find some background on this trip on the Survivors message board. The topic is "The last thing I knew, I was driving 'The Bus'." Snowflake started the strand on Wed. July 21st. Enjoy and please join us on our bus trip to Hawaii. Muriel

Kim, I don't remember all of your mother's symptoms. Wish you would post a history in your signature. Maybe Ned will tell you how. So, let me tell you what people I know get with chemo and how it works. For NSCLC, chemo is usually carboplatin and taxol or gemzar and cisplatin - one platin and one of the other two (taxol or gemzar). Sometimes they get a third chemo, too. The chemo "cocktail" often includes anti-nausea meds that may last for 3 - 4 days or last only that day or so and are supplemented with additional anti-nausea meds as needed at home. Decadron, I've been told, helps cells absorb the chemo "poisons." Benadryl or some other anti histamine is often given to help avoid a reaction to the "poisons." After those are infused, the "real" chemo drugs are given. With some drug combos this can take 5 hours or more. Some of these things may be your mother's problem(s): Some anti nausea drugs can make you sleepy. decadron or a like drug makes it difficult to sleep. (I cleaned the basement the day after chemo once and then slept for a couple days). Some anti-histamines cause drowsiness, too. Some (all???) "anti-cancer" drugs can cause nausea. People react differently to each of drugs in the chemo infusion. It's important to eat something. I liked mac & cheese and ice cream - not together, tho. Water is extremely important. Encourage her to drink as much as she can. Also, stale gingerale can help nausea. My friend fixed this for me: Add about a tsp. or so of sugar to the gingerale. The bubbles go away and it tastes really good. Well, I wish your mother luck with all of this. Keep asking questions and let us know how she's doing. Muriel - a 7 year NSCLC survivor.

FYI, Becky. Ry hasn't handed out any fines for a long time. You're safe. Eric: We used to joke that Ry would fine people who didn't let us know they wouldn't be posting for a while. Muriel

Years ago we joked about taking a bus trip - a beer bus trip. Randy posted a picture of a school bus with a beer logo or something like that. It was a long time ago. A bunch of us (many who don't post very often) all agreed to go on this imaginary trip. There were several trips and several drivers. Patty B wouldn't stop long enough for Denise and Jayla to hop on. Denise could only grab the window frame and push Jayla into the bus. We replaced Patty B with Becky as the driver. Other disasters occurred. We planned a route to pick up Denise, Becky (Snowflake), Ry, Debi, and then a couple people in PA. Then we would travel down the east coast and get Randy in SC, Lynn in Titusville, Ann in Melbourne, me, Judy in KW, Katie in TX, back up the center of the country and up to Canada to get Bruce U. and someothers and down to LA where Andrea is. I don't think she even had the twin when this started. We cooked on a charcoal grille on top of the bus, slept in the bus, and had lots to drink. Somehow, when Becky stopped posting, we were lost in Montana, or one of those states. I have just moved us to LA, and assume all are still on the bus. This was a thread on "Just For Fun/Off Topics." Having a problem with taking the bus to Hawaii? This is all imaginary and the bus can fly. We did have some controversy over what to call the person navigating the bus over the Pacific ocean - a driver or a pilot. Everyone was welcome to join the trip. We didn't want it to be a clique or have anyone think it was a closed group. We had lots of fun with it. Many laughs - important when you are fighting cancer. Muriel

Katie, I did respond to your pics yesterday. I was logged in when I started writing. When I hit the submit button, I got the message "you need to be logged in to reply" (or something like that). Went back to my message and it was gone. It was long enough that I just couldn't face writing it again. Sorry. I wonder if this hasn't happened to others, too. Several people have mentioned that after writing something they lost it. I thought the pics were great. Let's see some more. Muriel

Becky, We're not in Kansas anymore, but we are at a beach in the Los Angeles area, waiting for Andrea (and the twins) to show up and then we're going to take off (in the bus, as planned) for Hawaii and meet NED. As I recall, he has offered his garage, but it may be a little crowded. I'm thinking about a hotel room on a beach there. You are still driving and we're just waiting for the last few folks to show up. Poor Eric probably doesn't know what we're talking about, but I know he'd enjoy the trip. Let's wait for him. Good to see you here again. Muriel

Eric and Katie, Thank you both for the information. Now I'll have to find the camera (I think it's in a cupboard in the family room, but if anyone wants to come over and help me look, that's fine). Eric, you left the apostrophe on the little button to the left of the "Enter" key. Anybody else want any computer help? I thought not. Have a good day. Muriel

This is so pathetic! What's a sim card? What's a webmaster? I wish those questions were jokes, but, sadly, they aren't. They are REAL questions. Muriel

No one will ban you from the site, Eric. Several of us are so computer illiterate, that it's pathetic. Think you'll ever see a picture of me? Not till I figure out how to use my digital camera and to post pictures here. By the way, that second link doesn't work either. That's ok. Muriel

I don't know how I missed your post, but I did. That's wonderful news about Henk. I'm happy for both of you. Muriel

Thank you so much for posting the photos and paintings. The photos of the University are gorgeous. What pretty scenery! And, finally, we get to see Anniesland College. In the last photo, what is the building with the blue awnings? Looks like there would be little shops and stores. Very charming. Your paintings are beautiful. The one with the snow looked so real - made me think about snow shovels, sleds, and snow balls. Thank you for sharing. Muriel

Michigan, too, I think. I know someone who divorced her husband and then married his brother. Muriel

I love those pictures. Thank you for posting them! The scenery is gorgeous and the people must be having a wonderful time. One favor (please): I'd love to know what I'm looking at in the pictures - name of water? buildings? also, are those mountains or hills. They're beautiful. Muriel

Ronnie, I am so sorry for your loss. Muriel

Welcome. Sorry you have reason to be here, tho. I do think that you'll find a lot of help, encouragement, and support at this site. Have you contacted MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston? Hospital surveys typically consider it to be the best cancer center in the country. Many others are also outstanding, tho. MDACC has a good reputation for helping patients who can't pay. Worth a try. Good luck. Muriel

I'm 2 weeks away from being a 7 year survivor! Muriel

Good afternoon everyone - unless you're on the west coast and it's morning. Judy, I'm really sorry about your pain and your fears. I certainly know that feeling and waiting makes it even harder. Eric, we don't own a boat and never have, even tho. it's only about an hour to the (soon to be oily) Atlantic ocean. I grew up in Minnesota ("Land of 10,000 Lakes") and my family and their families didn't own boats either. No, poverty wasn't the reason! Many friends and neighbors in MN and neighboring Wisconsin did have boats and, better yet, summer cabins on lakes in the northern part of the state. I think Bud lives in Texas - close to Arizona - and there are lakes in TX. Arizona, of course, has the Grand Canyon, with a river running through it. It's VERY difficult to get down to that river. Enough US Geography for today. I finally saw your video and I thought it was wonderful. Assumed it was rehearsed. You never know what's going to get someone to quit smoking. For one of my sons, it was the cost. Not starting, tho., is another story. I don't understand why people do start. Your video makes a good argument for quiting before it's too late or never starting the habit. It is unbelieveably addictive. I quit 7 years ago. Hope everyone has a good day. Muriel