June 17, 2009

• Thank You for Drugs . . . I think

  Yesterday was . . . interesting (???) . . .

  I woke up feeling quite a bit better, but continued to rest in bed - talking with the girls, Chirper (yes, I talk to him!!!), reading my Bible, and, generally, keeping myself quiet.

                            
                                          (Bottles of Nivea and Curell lotion from Rissy)

  Jesse went to work early and JoAnn had to take Rissy in to pick up her daytime leg braces and orthotic shoes (nothing fit right, but that's another story).  Stephanie came over to stay with me while the other "adults" were gone. 

                            
                                       (She slowly read all of her cards from her sisters)

  She and I talked a bit about different things, while she sat next to me in bed.  She looked through the box of books Lori K brought me on Sunday . . .  a huge selection of those hard bound condensed version books Reader's Digest puts out, usually 4 - 5 stories in each book.  Stephanie and I love them.  In fact, Stephanie said, "I love when Lori brings you books because they are gifts for *me* too!" 

  Through the morning and early afternoon, I felt okay, as far as bone pain, but decided I needed to take it easy.  So I did.  I was sure that resting would help me to not have any severe pain, again.

                          
                                           (Lots of cards and little gifts from her sisters.
                                    The pets were in the middle of everything, like always!)

  Imagine my surprise when my legs began to ache in the late afternoon and I felt chilled . . . like I had a fever.  The truth was, I DID have a low grade fever that continued to climb as my knees and lower leg pain continued to escalate.  Oh joy!  Not again?  Yes . . . again . . . mainly in my lower legs and down into my feet.  (big sigh - rolling my eyes)

                             
                                                           (A relaxing CD from Luci)

  By dinner time, I was back on Percocet and AFTER dinner had to take a Morphine tablet.  I took a warm bath which did nothing for the pain, but made me feel more comfortable living with myself.  Whew-eee - stinky me!!!

  JoAnn monitored the alternating pills and how many hours between each one, because the pain was bothering me enough that I felt confused about what type of pill I took last and what was safe to take after so many hours.  JoAnn has a sheet of paper that has each of my pills (from vitamins to pain meds) listed; and, she writes what I take at what time.  Thanking the Lord for a sister-in-law who has worked in the home health care profession and is experienced with administering drugs.  {{{{{{{{{{{{JoAnn}}}}}}}}}}}}

                                
                                          (Before the number "31" was inserted in the cupcakes.
                                                  The "31" candles were stolen from a cake
                                                        my friend Kathy made Stephanie!)

  While taking my bath (around 9pm), I noticed my hives had come back full force.  No WONDER my legs hurt AND itched!!!  So, to combat the nausea that the Morphine and Percocet can cause, I took 2 Benadryl which would also reduce my ugly hives.

                                  

  This morning, I spoke to the nurse in the chemo room (where I go for chemo therapy).  She said her niece had had the same problem each time she received Taxol chemo drug and the Neulasta injection, which is what helps regenerate white cells.  She (Linda, the nurse) knew my pain was real and horrible.  She also said there was very little I could do for it.  Heating pads and warm baths just don't reach into the bone marrow, which is where the pain originates.  The heat *can* help sooth the muscles that tense up when the pain starts, and the application of heat to those tense muscles is about all you can do.  AND, Linda ALSO said the pain can last longer than 72 hours in some people.  She said her niece had pain each chemo treatment and it lasted 7 to 10 days.  Oh!  DOUBLE joy! 

  So, that's something y'all can pray about on my behalf, the pain I might experience over the next couple of months

                               
                            (We sang the unique family birthday song AND the usual Happy Birthday song)

  Didn't I say IF there was a 1% group that experienced certain weird side effects, I'd be in *that* group???  I remember thinking "that" - whether or not I actually wrote it down in my blog!  I'm always the one with the unexpected and "hardly ever happens" things!

  Speaking of writing things down . . . Lori K gave me the most awesome birthday gift.  She copied (and had bound) my blog postings from the first year, 2007.  She printed pictures AND comments left for me after I posted an entry.  It was such a neat "journal" for me to reread AND (as Stephanie said) to leave for my children and grandchildren to read, someday.  She's so clever!

                                
                                              Stephanie is in love with Abreeana and thinks Jennifer
                                                  (Abreeana's Mom) should give her to Stephanie!

  Today is Lori K's actual birthday and I will call her later.  She's suffering at church camp (about 25 miles north of here) in 100 degree temps this week.  What a brave soul!  It's so incredibly muggy.  When I open an outside door the hot dampness feels like someone took a shower with the door closed in a small bathroom.  REALLY heavy air.

                                         
                                (Another JanaLyn picture of her decorated with birthday trimmings!)

  We don't have any place we have to go for the rest of the week.  Stephanie is coming this afternoon to pick up her little sisters.  They will spend a few days at her house like they did a few weeks ago.  We will have to have a "discussion" about apartment behavior before they leave.  Also, a quick course in swimming pool etiquette because Stephanie had a few embarrassing moments with them last time.  They've always been with us or in their own backyard when swimming, and they don't know about NOT asking people (strangers) if they can use their raft, etc.  My fault for not teaching them.  Those lessons have never been necessary in the past.

                                     
                                                    (Stephanie and me *with my wig* and Tango)

  I'm going to get off of here and make a few phone calls.  I have a bill from the chemo people I need to check.  It's over $25,000 (after being adjusted and reduced) for FOUR chemo treatments!!!  They want us to pay $13 and I'll gladly pay it, if I really owe it.  The one shot that is hurting my bones (Neulasta) is $6757.00 per shot!!!!  You'd think, for that price, they'd figure out a way to take away its side effects!!!!

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 11:15 am
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