Three days post full Chemo Cocktail and Miss Peggy is holding firm. I'm rockin' it people!
Ok, Ok, lest I get too cocky, I am having that nasty rash painting me Fugly, but, hey, that I can do. I guess the only thing I'll need to get used to on that front, is people staring at me in public, wondering what kind of skin affliction I have. Yes, people STARE.
So, my wonderful angel-Sister Katie and her daughter Julia, arrived at 10:30 a.m., ready to take me and Michaela to Oak Brook Mall, so I can get some clothes to fit my bony-ass. We got home at 3:30pm! Yes, 3:30, I LASTED, walking and shopping for 5 HOURS.
We had a wonderful "ladies who lunch" lunch, at Antico Posto - I ate 2 pieces of bread soaked in olive oil, and had some broccoli shrimp pasta. So some good fat and carbs.
This was a real milestone for me - not only having the stamina to walk the mall that long, but just being out in public, being in a restaurant and having to manage my "personal hygiene" issues (aka the Poo-Pouch).
At about 3:00 PM, I sat in a chair in Nordstrom's shoe department, waiting for Kate & Julia. My eyes were at half-mast, but I opened one eye, spotted a pair of Orange sandals across the aisle and high-tailed it to the shoe department. Two pair of shoes later, I finished my fabulous, wonderful day.
Tomorrow, I will go out in public yet again, to attend Colleen's concert for Spirito! www.spiritosingers.org. I'm not supposed to be in enclosed crowded spaces, so I'll sit off-side, with a pretty yellow face mask, and enjoy the gorgeous music.
I continue to be so greatful for my Abundant Blessings on this Cancer journey, which include all of you, my "God Squad". I would not be progressing as well as I am if it were'nt for all of you!
XOXO , Peggy
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
What the Heck- Luckey Girls down
Michaela is home from school today- her face is flushed, no fever, bloodshot eyes and tummy ache.
Colleen broke out in some nasty rash on her face- turns out it is Impetigo- very contagious. She also has PINKEYE. My girl just can't catch a break. Between managing her blood clot and cumadin levels and just getting her complexion back so pretty, now this. We'll need to do some major disinfecting at the Luckey house today. Hope I don't get it!!!
Pretty Ironic when I'm the one person in the house feeling really GOOD today!
Lee & I had an outing today-we went and got our haircut. It felt so good to have a fresh cut and style after 2 months. And the girls at the Shear Encounter Salon just Love my Lee- and helped him move on from the Hughy Lewis style he's been sporting since we started dating!
Colleen broke out in some nasty rash on her face- turns out it is Impetigo- very contagious. She also has PINKEYE. My girl just can't catch a break. Between managing her blood clot and cumadin levels and just getting her complexion back so pretty, now this. We'll need to do some major disinfecting at the Luckey house today. Hope I don't get it!!!
Pretty Ironic when I'm the one person in the house feeling really GOOD today!
Lee & I had an outing today-we went and got our haircut. It felt so good to have a fresh cut and style after 2 months. And the girls at the Shear Encounter Salon just Love my Lee- and helped him move on from the Hughy Lewis style he's been sporting since we started dating!
Yesterday I had my 3rd round of the Full Chemo cocktail. Arrived at 8:30 am and left at 3:30- full day of work for this Chemo Girl.
I asked my Oncologist about my current mix of drugs, and is this considered standard protocol or aggressive or outside the norm for someone in my condition. She said it was the standard protocol. I asked what lab work would indicated improvement, or need for change etc..Now I don't have this completely straight, but one of the "markers" they look at in my bi-weekly blood work is CA/CEA and according to Dr. Lo, my level went from 14 to 7- which is good, whatever it means i'm not sure, but Yay me, my evil liver tumors are responding!
Another Yay - since I no longer have pain in my ribs and organs, it is another good indication the the axis of evil is shrinking and responding. Yay!
An unfortunate Boo- I stinkin' lost like 6-7 lbs. Soooo not good. I need to pork up people. Since my mouth sores subsided for now (& cross your fingers they don't return with this chemo cycle)
I can eat more substantial foods. As a matter of fact, I ate a WHOLE deli sandwich at chemo yesterday, a bag of chips, then for dinner I ate some goulash and a chocolate shake. Oinky, Oinky
I used to have a flat wide butt and with this weight loss I have a seriously diminished, flatter than a pancake, saggy old-lady bottom. I need some serious squats, but I'm afraid, in my current state, I'd take one dip down and never get off the floor without assistance! any suggestions, bring 'em on.
My Daily Gratitudes: Uneventful chemo cycle; tolerating chemo Well; NO nausea; my family's unending love, cooking and errand runs; Mia McPherson's Bruce Springsteen Concert gifts-Whoo-Hoo!
Looking forward to a few visitors this weekend - Julie & Karen - can't wait to see you!
XOXOX Peggy
I asked my Oncologist about my current mix of drugs, and is this considered standard protocol or aggressive or outside the norm for someone in my condition. She said it was the standard protocol. I asked what lab work would indicated improvement, or need for change etc..Now I don't have this completely straight, but one of the "markers" they look at in my bi-weekly blood work is CA/CEA and according to Dr. Lo, my level went from 14 to 7- which is good, whatever it means i'm not sure, but Yay me, my evil liver tumors are responding!
Another Yay - since I no longer have pain in my ribs and organs, it is another good indication the the axis of evil is shrinking and responding. Yay!
An unfortunate Boo- I stinkin' lost like 6-7 lbs. Soooo not good. I need to pork up people. Since my mouth sores subsided for now (& cross your fingers they don't return with this chemo cycle)
I can eat more substantial foods. As a matter of fact, I ate a WHOLE deli sandwich at chemo yesterday, a bag of chips, then for dinner I ate some goulash and a chocolate shake. Oinky, Oinky
I used to have a flat wide butt and with this weight loss I have a seriously diminished, flatter than a pancake, saggy old-lady bottom. I need some serious squats, but I'm afraid, in my current state, I'd take one dip down and never get off the floor without assistance! any suggestions, bring 'em on.
My Daily Gratitudes: Uneventful chemo cycle; tolerating chemo Well; NO nausea; my family's unending love, cooking and errand runs; Mia McPherson's Bruce Springsteen Concert gifts-Whoo-Hoo!
Looking forward to a few visitors this weekend - Julie & Karen - can't wait to see you!
XOXOX Peggy
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Words Schmerdz
It's amazing all the clutter that goes through your mind when you are wide awake at 2:00 a.m.
Whenever a disease or some type of health concern strikes you or a family member, the patient and the caregivers are thrown into sea of information, data, statistics, etc applicable to that disease. Words that you never heard or read now have meaning, and they roll off your tongue so easily.
So here are the words I NEVER heard of before my diagnosis:
Stoma: an artificial opening between two hollow organs or between one hollow organ and the outside of the body, constructed to permit the passage of body fluids or waste products.
Ileostomy:the construction of an artificial opening from the ileum through the abdominal wall, permitting drainage of the contents of the small intestine.
Ostomate: That's ME. A person who has undergone an ostomy.
The other flurry of new words that becomes part of your world has to do with Drugs. For a person who has been healthy all her life, aspirin and the occasional antibiotic was about as sophisticated as I got in terms of prescription drugs. That of course has changed. As part of my post-op recovery and pain and sleep management, I've been prescribed: 2 different pain relievers, 2 anti nausea pills, 1 sleep aid, 1 antacid, 2 different anxiety pills. I still can't remember or pronounce the names, Lee & I just write on the bottle the Purpose of the pill, which helps keep it straight. Just so you know, I am only taking the nausea pills (for chemo) and a sleep aid. Man, I wish I held stock in CVS Pharmacy!
Whenever a disease or some type of health concern strikes you or a family member, the patient and the caregivers are thrown into sea of information, data, statistics, etc applicable to that disease. Words that you never heard or read now have meaning, and they roll off your tongue so easily.
So here are the words I NEVER heard of before my diagnosis:
Stoma: an artificial opening between two hollow organs or between one hollow organ and the outside of the body, constructed to permit the passage of body fluids or waste products.
Ileostomy:the construction of an artificial opening from the ileum through the abdominal wall, permitting drainage of the contents of the small intestine.
Ostomate: That's ME. A person who has undergone an ostomy.
The other flurry of new words that becomes part of your world has to do with Drugs. For a person who has been healthy all her life, aspirin and the occasional antibiotic was about as sophisticated as I got in terms of prescription drugs. That of course has changed. As part of my post-op recovery and pain and sleep management, I've been prescribed: 2 different pain relievers, 2 anti nausea pills, 1 sleep aid, 1 antacid, 2 different anxiety pills. I still can't remember or pronounce the names, Lee & I just write on the bottle the Purpose of the pill, which helps keep it straight. Just so you know, I am only taking the nausea pills (for chemo) and a sleep aid. Man, I wish I held stock in CVS Pharmacy!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Wow, It's been 8 weeks since my surgery- it feels like both a lifetime and a blink of an eye.
The past 2 weeks I've made significant progress in terms of getting around, and just feeling stronger and lucid.
The nasty break out on my face,neck and chest is just now subsiding - I have no idea if it will return with each dose of my chemo coctail. My mouth sores are much better as well - i hope they stay away.
I had a special treat today - April & Barb, friends from C&W, came to visit on their lunch hour. They brought me a Portillo's burger and a shake to fatten me up, along with some Tulips and other munchies for my fatten-up plan! It was sooo great to see them, feel normal, and have some laughs. As always, I'm so greatful and blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!
All in all, it's been an uneventful week- no crazy mishaps to report. I do have an observation to note:
I've noticed that every time I go to Chemo, all the people in the waiting room directly stare at each new person that joins the waiting room. It's a direct, in your eyes type of staring, no averting the eyes as you get near. I feel like everyone is assessing their peers - "at least i have my hair", "Oh, that person has it worse than me". It's very blatant, but not necessarily offensive.
Fashion has taken a definite holiday in my situation- I basically wear some type of pajama bottom or yoga pants, haven't put a stitch of make up on in 2 months, and I have major bed-head hair. Oh, my chest has shrunk to pre-teen proportions, so my current bras don't work at all. My sister Kate was disgusted by my braless state of dressing, that she bought some for me and insists on their use in her presence! So maybe the other people are just staring at ME, and thanking their lucky stars they don't look like a bag-lady!
So tomorrow is the full Chemo Cocktail - a long day starting at 8:30 am (blood work) 9:30 am see Dr.Lo, my oncologist follwed by 4.5 hours if infusion.
It seems that I'm tolerating the Chemo pretty well, but I'm unsure if the more chemo drugs I get, will it bring on the side effects (nausea, rash, fatigue, mouth sores) more strongly with each infusion? I sure hope not, because if I've already experienced the worst of it, I can handle this with no problem!
So, my prayer for this week is: that the side effects are at a minimum which will mentally and physically help me to get stronger each day.
Also, if you have any prayers to spare, I ask that you pray for a dear friend of mine that was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Luckily, it was caught very early, so a minimally invasive surgery - tumor removal, not breast removal.
thanks, and have a great week!
XOXOXO Peggy
The past 2 weeks I've made significant progress in terms of getting around, and just feeling stronger and lucid.
The nasty break out on my face,neck and chest is just now subsiding - I have no idea if it will return with each dose of my chemo coctail. My mouth sores are much better as well - i hope they stay away.
I had a special treat today - April & Barb, friends from C&W, came to visit on their lunch hour. They brought me a Portillo's burger and a shake to fatten me up, along with some Tulips and other munchies for my fatten-up plan! It was sooo great to see them, feel normal, and have some laughs. As always, I'm so greatful and blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!
All in all, it's been an uneventful week- no crazy mishaps to report. I do have an observation to note:
I've noticed that every time I go to Chemo, all the people in the waiting room directly stare at each new person that joins the waiting room. It's a direct, in your eyes type of staring, no averting the eyes as you get near. I feel like everyone is assessing their peers - "at least i have my hair", "Oh, that person has it worse than me". It's very blatant, but not necessarily offensive.
Fashion has taken a definite holiday in my situation- I basically wear some type of pajama bottom or yoga pants, haven't put a stitch of make up on in 2 months, and I have major bed-head hair. Oh, my chest has shrunk to pre-teen proportions, so my current bras don't work at all. My sister Kate was disgusted by my braless state of dressing, that she bought some for me and insists on their use in her presence! So maybe the other people are just staring at ME, and thanking their lucky stars they don't look like a bag-lady!
So tomorrow is the full Chemo Cocktail - a long day starting at 8:30 am (blood work) 9:30 am see Dr.Lo, my oncologist follwed by 4.5 hours if infusion.
It seems that I'm tolerating the Chemo pretty well, but I'm unsure if the more chemo drugs I get, will it bring on the side effects (nausea, rash, fatigue, mouth sores) more strongly with each infusion? I sure hope not, because if I've already experienced the worst of it, I can handle this with no problem!
So, my prayer for this week is: that the side effects are at a minimum which will mentally and physically help me to get stronger each day.
Also, if you have any prayers to spare, I ask that you pray for a dear friend of mine that was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Luckily, it was caught very early, so a minimally invasive surgery - tumor removal, not breast removal.
thanks, and have a great week!
XOXOXO Peggy
Thursday, May 7, 2009
I actually left the house today and it wasn't to go to the hospital!
I had my single drug Chemo treatment yesterday and thankfully, an uneventful experience. So far, my side effects are fatigue, MAJOR acne rash on face, neck and chest, and new to the mix - Mouth Sores. I didn't keep up on the "swish & spit" water every hour, which may be why I have a nasty sore on my tongue. It makes it painful to swallow and talk. But don't worry, I'll figure out how to manage this and move past it.
I do need to return to eating calorie-heavy food- I lost some weight and need to put it back on.
When I wasn't eating much food-wise, I drank a lot of Carnation Essentials with Whole Milk, which helped me calorie load. Then I started eating real food, but obviously not enough to maintain the weight...Darn, I have to have chocoloate milkshakes every day!
In other news, the day my In-Laws and Lee left town, my sister-in-law Ruth flew in. She's been wonderful! She's cooked dinner for the girls, baked treats, having great conversations with Colleen and Michaela, not to mention taking great care of me! She helped me purge the linen closet and most important- she is giving Lucy, our deaf, 13-year old cocker spaniel - much needed attention!
Update: Ruth gave me 3 goals today: shower, get a pedicure and eat solid food, despite my mouth sores. I'm happy to report I accomplished all 3!!!! It was soooo nice to go somewhere OTHER than the Hospital! To feel "normal" Lots of visitors today: Mom and Dad, Katie, John and Kevin.
Am I LUCKY or what?????
XOXO Peggy
I do need to return to eating calorie-heavy food- I lost some weight and need to put it back on.
When I wasn't eating much food-wise, I drank a lot of Carnation Essentials with Whole Milk, which helped me calorie load. Then I started eating real food, but obviously not enough to maintain the weight...Darn, I have to have chocoloate milkshakes every day!
In other news, the day my In-Laws and Lee left town, my sister-in-law Ruth flew in. She's been wonderful! She's cooked dinner for the girls, baked treats, having great conversations with Colleen and Michaela, not to mention taking great care of me! She helped me purge the linen closet and most important- she is giving Lucy, our deaf, 13-year old cocker spaniel - much needed attention!
Update: Ruth gave me 3 goals today: shower, get a pedicure and eat solid food, despite my mouth sores. I'm happy to report I accomplished all 3!!!! It was soooo nice to go somewhere OTHER than the Hospital! To feel "normal" Lots of visitors today: Mom and Dad, Katie, John and Kevin.
Am I LUCKY or what?????
XOXO Peggy
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
188 Evergreen is feeling like Grand Central Station! My in-laws left today to return to California, Lee is leaving shortly for Ohio, and Ruth, my brother Pat's wife, is coming in from DC to babysit me!
I'm so glad Lee was able to have some time with his parents. Mrs. Luckey cooked, made cream puffs, did every stitch of laundry and de-loused Colleen's and Michaela's rooms! We had a birthday dinner for Desi, Lee's sister, and grilled shrimp and scallops and veggies, topped off by Portillo's Famous Chocolate Cake. Yum.
Tomorrow I go for the Single Chemo treatment. This is the drug that has beat me with an Ugly Stick. I look like a model for ProActive Acne commercial. I'm getting some mouth sores as well, which is another common side effect of chemo, so I need to get back on the Swish & Spit regiment, and get it under control if at all possible.
On the Positive Side - No Nausea side effects with the last 2 rounds! Yay!
I'm really looking forward to spending time with Ruth this week. She's an amazing person with a great energy, focus and spirit.
I continue to be greatful to everyone who is supporting me and my family in so many wonderful ways. "Thanks" doesn't seem grand enough to convey my gratitude to all of you.
XOXOXO Peggy
I'm so glad Lee was able to have some time with his parents. Mrs. Luckey cooked, made cream puffs, did every stitch of laundry and de-loused Colleen's and Michaela's rooms! We had a birthday dinner for Desi, Lee's sister, and grilled shrimp and scallops and veggies, topped off by Portillo's Famous Chocolate Cake. Yum.
Tomorrow I go for the Single Chemo treatment. This is the drug that has beat me with an Ugly Stick. I look like a model for ProActive Acne commercial. I'm getting some mouth sores as well, which is another common side effect of chemo, so I need to get back on the Swish & Spit regiment, and get it under control if at all possible.
On the Positive Side - No Nausea side effects with the last 2 rounds! Yay!
I'm really looking forward to spending time with Ruth this week. She's an amazing person with a great energy, focus and spirit.
I continue to be greatful to everyone who is supporting me and my family in so many wonderful ways. "Thanks" doesn't seem grand enough to convey my gratitude to all of you.
XOXOXO Peggy
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