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ts

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  1. ts

    Tuesday's AIR

    Slept in the doghouse last night. Well, actually in my own bed, but M got up at 4 and didn't go back to sleep due to my coughing. He slept thru it the night before, so I didn't get up and leave. I guess he only got about 2 hours of sleep poor guy. It's a small cold mostly waking me at night. The doc said to give it some more time and to take cough syrup (with codeine or hydrocodone) to help at night. Or just hydrocodone since I already have it in the house. Just like M said I should. Hate it when he is right. Gray, cool - 43 and holding. Dry spell.
  2. ts

    Sunday's Air

    oh Judy in KW - the first party didn't send me to the ER (yet) but I did just have some special time with the porcelain god. There was a very nice spread of homemade food and I ate a little plate. M ate plenty and hasn't experienced the same, so maybe it is just me (and the bit of a cold I am also experiencing.) Will try some ginger tea now. Feeling dehydrated. Hope the rest of the parties go fine - for me and all my friends here.
  3. Isn't next Saturday the one before Christmas? Trying to confuse me? No family traditions at all. Even back in the day, they changed yearly. I think they were best when we alternated going to the mountains to ski (I stopped at 12 when I fractured my leg) and going to Las Vegas and seeing the shows. This stopped when my older sister and brother were old enough to stay home and watch me. The first time, my brother managed to get a broken nose. Good times! We will attend a Christmas Eve party. M helps with the food and the crowd are old friends of his we rarely see except for this party. A few days later, there will be dinner and gifts with his family. I'm working my way through a container of eggnog for my at home lattes (cut with milk.) Falalalala lalalala.
  4. For me, as a patient, I needed solid information. I get that from the faculty and participants at cancergrace.org - a forum moderated by practicing oncologists. They've answered a million questions. They also have a relationship/partnership with LUNGevity, so I keep it in the family. Beyond that, you can talk to your own doc about some anti-anxiety medications - they can help you to function when there is so much situational stress. Also, there may be caregivers support groups you can attend - it helps to know you are not alone and you can learn valuable coping skills. Try a Gilda's Club in your location, or a local cancer center (at a hospital.) There are a number of groups here that are open to anyone dealing with cancer - you don't have to be treated at the facility either. It's so important to care for yourself - you'll do a better job for everyone!
  5. Noon and still in my pj's. Fighting off a cold, maybe. Tried to read in bed but little cat snuggled up under my chin and was tickling me with her whiskers. Good job, Judy in KW. We have one string of lights draped over the front window curtain rod. They've been there for years. I think that's all the decorating. M has two family gifts left to buy. I don't indulge, except to try and help with his. So I think I am done as well. 4 parties in the next two weeks. That's a lot for me.
  6. Well, it's gray outside and 39 degrees. But yesterday was very pretty. Yesterday I went swimming and it was good except for the water slapper (someone doing the crawl who hits the water with an open hand?) in the next lane who kept getting water in my eyes and swamped my lane at one point so I inhaled a bunch of water and had a hard time catching my breath after that (last lap, of course.) I also met a lc friend for a chat and catch up. A slice of pumpkin was ingested (by me.) I only took one of those prochlorperazin's - and since, I've made it a point to eat by 6 and I have not been troubled. Thanks for the warning Bud - I'll watch for side effects if I start up again. DOD! For those that don't know, I think that means Bud is reviewing funding proposals submitted to the Department of Defense, relative to lung cancer. That's a lot of work, so thank you! Ann - thinking of you. Good to have you posting. M is playing with a cold. Thinks it is gone, then he gets congested. Or doesn't get a good night's sleep and feels crummy again. So far, I have avoided it.
  7. Oh dear, Such a tough diagnosis. What can we say or help you with? I would ask - how is he is doing? What type of treatment has he received or is receiving? And has his cancer been tested for EGFR mutation and ALK translocation? These offer some great treatment option. Take care of yourself - caregivers are so key.
  8. ts

    Thursday's Air

    Judy in MI - waiting...not easy. Go be distracted. Yesterday was Eileen Fisher day at our Gildas- I did not go. They donate racks of clothes and members are welcome to help themselves to two pieces, as well as hand knitted scarves and hats. I think EF collects gently used and returned goods to donate. Maybe something like bring back your gently used clothes and get a discount on new clothes? Then offers them to cancer survivors. I brought home a shawl one year, but don't use it. Never found anything else that worked for me (too many size small!) They also have lots of commercial cards - Christmas, thank you, birthday - but usually no envelopes. Not sure who donates those. Judy in KW - I use to send holiday cards and did the first year. I had surgery in November so I had some serious news to share. Well, some people that sent cards every year have never been heard from again. These were old acquaintances that sent cards even in years when I did not. I'm tempted to send cards this year with "I'm still alive" as the greeting. I know the USPS could use the business. It was 34 degrees a few minutes ago. Pretty darn gray out there. M wrapped the bay tree to keep it warm and mulched the newer plantings. The backyard is full of bright yellow leaves falling from trees 2 doors away - cottonwoods maybe? I was feeling a little mopey yesterday and called one of the cats over. She snuggled up against my thigh and we just stayed on the couch for 4 hours watching bad tv - well, she was smart enough to sleep. I caught up on Top Chef and some home renovation shows. Feeling a bit better this am.
  9. ts

    Tuesday's Air

    Morning Judy, Still off schedule - stayed up to 10 last night, but still awake by 6. Earlier but I pretended. I didn't get the Made in America message - well, I don't really shop for the holiday. We did get some family gifts for M from Sicily. Funny thing - 2 things we bought were Made in America! Oops - read before you buy. I broke into the Sicilian Torrone last night. Oh yum. Before we left the island, I realized that there was no way we could ever carry enough food stuffs home to be happy, so we pretty much stopped when the bags were full. I guess we could have taken an empty bag to check - we only had one and could have had one each. But even if that was full, we wouldn't have had enough! Did I tell you we brought back a bottle and a can of olive oil? Or a bottle of wine? Beans, pasta, pistachios, pine nuts, bay leaves, pesto in jars, sun-dried tomatoes, chocolate and more chocolate, and these crispy pistachio toffee squares (oh buttery sugar goodness!) Sorry about the doc issue too. I'll be meeting a new onc on Friday. My friend says she is okay - we shared the onc that retired...sorry to hear about the cold too.
  10. ts

    Monday's Air

    Looks like they all registered yesterday as well! Spammers, me thinks.
  11. Hi Terry, I am glad that writing that out has helped, if just for the moment. For lots of people, the one year mark is significant. I hope it marks a time when you are able to start transforming your loss, grief and sorrow into living a life full of enthusiasm, love, and faith. I'm sure your Dad would love for you and your family to be happy. You will probably always be sad that he isn't there to see the new milestones in life - be it kids graduating, marriages, grandkids - but it really sounds like you lived a good life with him, with little to regret. That's some good loving. And if it takes more time, don't beat yourself up. A grief counselor might help, as might sharing your feelings with others - either in a grief group, or with family. Maybe everyone is trying to hold it together for each other when a good old fashioned cry is in order. Tears and snot wash out of t-shirts pretty well. (I have to be irreverent before I sign off.) Stephanie
  12. ts

    Sunday's Air

    well poo. I just used my car for the first time in 3 weeks - started right up. But I noticed some plant debris on the passenger seat, then noticed the arm rest was in the up position...and the (ash) change tray is gone! Someone got in and stole the tray and the pennies and a few dimes, and maybe my Dad's cheap broken watch that I hadn't thrown out yet. Don't see any damage or forced entry and I think the doors were locked. They missed the compartment with the quarters! Nothing else of interest, other than 2 umbrellas, but they left those as well. Kind of freaks me out. Hope I can easily buy a replacement change tray so I don't have to see that gap every time I use the car. How'd they get in?
  13. ts

    Sunday's Air

    Up early again, but then, I did crash after dinner again too. I think this morning is time to make granola.
  14. ts

    14 years ago today

    Way to model Donna!
  15. ts

    Saturday's Air

    Our plane home was filled with small children. I appear to have survived without getting sick but am moving awfully slowly. Returning to hibernation mode? Can you imagine being a young mother with an infant, flying from Africa to Seattle, with minimal English? That was one award winning baby. She kept a hand on his head during takeoff and landing - for comfort or perhaps knowledgeable about some pressure point to ease his experience? He was alert, but quiet. Or how about a young couple with 3 kids, one still breast feeding, on the third leg of the journey from the Republic of Georgia to Seattle? Yikes!!!
  16. ts

    Saturday's Air

    Still off time - went to sleep after dinner last night, woke around 4 and got up at 5 or so...it sure is a lot colder here than in Sicily. A frost last night. Cats seem happy to have us home. My laundry awaits. Lingering in vacation mode.
  17. Ann, I'm reading a novel - two characters have been recently widowed. The one who had regrets grieved for the woman he knew and what they did wrong. The one who loved deeply and had no regrets, grieves for the life they had not yet lived - the future that might have been. I found this an interesting insight. To want more time with our loved one - isn't that just the truest indication of this crazy thing called love? Stephanie
  18. ts

    Saturday's Air

    Wet, wet, wet. Amazing evening sky yesterday with a lavender colored sky in one direction, dark clouds in another, sunshine in another. What with the brilliant colors of the leaves that remain on the trees and clutter the yard and sidewalks, it was quite a sight. Errands this morning. Getting ready to leave town Tuesday.
  19. ts

    Friday's Air

    Just realized that yesterday was 3 years from my original surgery - turning from IA to IIIB with the flick of a scalpel. I feel pretty darn good, all things considered.
  20. ts

    Thursday's Air

    What a pretty day and not so cold. Trees are finally dropping their leaves and the sidewalks are a colorful riot of gold and red. Stopped by a friend's house to return a container they brought over filled with a tomato fennel soup. Left with a new container of lentil soup. Guess I know what's for dinner! Hope to go to an art exhibit opening this evening as well.
  21. I hear you loud and clear. It's been a long year with so many losses. My mixed cancer group has lost 3 lung cancer participants in the past year. And a few others as well. I don't think it gets easier - I keep expecting to become numb to it, but as each individual has their own experience with cancer, each has their own unique death that feels like a new wildfire in our lives.
  22. Diane, There are two ongoing conversations on this topic on Grace right now. Lots of information on trials and how they are sited as well as why they have to be monitored so closely. Here's one: http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php ... 867.0.html and the other: http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php ... 861.0.html
  23. ts

    Tuesday's Air

    Let's see. Gray and rainy outside - well, dark out now. Seems cold too. Did not leave the house today, but I did get dressed! Big cat puked a few times today - hopefully just hair ball time. But it did mean some laundry to do. He has the guest room as his bed and let's just say the cat cover on the bed was looking a bit yucky. M made soup from the dried beans from our garden - the entire crop of ones he was able to get to mature. The last half dozen tomatoes have ripened and are awaiting eating. Cover crop and favas are sprouted, still waiting for the leaves to fall so they can be raked up.
  24. Many hospitals with cancer centers have oncology social workers who specialize in helping patients with financial aspects of treatment. The American Cancer Society also has cancer navigators who are able to help. There are quite a few foundations that help when insurance doesn't cover costs that are not affordable - with need based qualifications. The records show that lung cancer is one of the quickest way to bankruptcy, but if you have someone in your corner, it usually is manageable. Chemo and radiation are in-patient procedures and not usually subject to the donut hole, from what I know (I am not on Medicare.) I think that should only apply for pharmaceuticals - drugs as an outpatient. Those can get expensive, but many manufacturers offer financial assistance for patients.
  25. We went to one party - 50th b-day party for someone I've known since he was 25. Just figured that out. Mostly ate and chatted with old friends. Diane - we're having some pretty spectacular color in the trees here as well. Like they are lit from within. Hi Becky! A bit gray out there this morning. Shine A Light (LCA) event tonight. I'm going as a warm body - the event does not seem to have drawn a lot of registrations. Hey - I see Oprah.com has finally acknowledged Lung Cancer in young women - a video was posted, co-sponsored by LungCancerLeaders I think (another new organization.) http://www.oprah.com/health/nonsmoker-r ... ncer-video There is a little more info if you search "lung".
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