...would be the caption of this photo, if we could caption it with this software...
While known to be sun-loving plants, we have a stand doing very well in our WI garden behind da Green House. Now in our too-manieth day of Iowa's well-known August weather, this early summer sundrop is a day-brightener for me, even if it is a bit buggy.
Backing up through this sleep-laden week:
Kevin won yesterday's Billiard game. I think that gives him a string of one ...or two in a row *thwaps self* We hope you're feeling better, Sleeves! *healing hugs* We missed you; Billiard Day just isn't the same... Please feel free to schedule yourselves a make-up game, now that you've reconfirmed we have a nicer table than some of the other ones in town. *grins*
Our massage yesterday was very relaxing, which is what I felt I needed, oddly enough. One would think that all the sleep I've gotten recently would have relaxed me plenty...
There's been some recent discussion about a couple things related to cancer and massage, and we're wondering if any of you would like to weigh in on it:
1) True or false? The manipulation of the lymphs and the lymph system in general increases the likelihood that the cancer will metastasize.
2) True or false? The manipulation of muscle tissues trying to heal at the cellular level are impeded by the chemotherapy, and massage is further detrimental to that healing process.
Whew! And now we're going to complicate all of that with radiation. *sighs*
That's what we learned at the appointment on Monday morning. The CT scan with contrast (an iodine pushed through my veins to 'light up' the tumor) lasted less than fifteen minutes. ...the wait for various nurses and personnel was over two hours.
We also got copies of the doctors' remarks from our previous appointments and learned that Dr. A is concerned about my blood pressure. We're needing to see how much my anxiety is contributing to the current elevated readings that I've been putting out. *wonders if taking lorazepam beforehand would be helpful*
I have three 'target' marks: one in the upper center of my chest and one on each side, under the armpit. The blue-magic-marker x's have been covered over with a clear tape that should be more water-resistant than Tegaderm is.
It takes 2-5 days to read the scan and devise the plan because it requires the input of a number of people. We are scheduled next Tuesday morning for that consultation. I'm remembering that at that time we'll set our morning schedule for the daily doses of radiation. (If that's wrong, Kevin will correct it.) We know it's daily and that we should be able to schedule appointments first thing in the morning so we don't tax Kevin's leave time too much. We've been told it could be two weeks; we've been told it could be five weeks. We'll let you know as soon as we do.
I'm to switch to Dove soap. We've been forbidden all our lives from using Dove soap because of a 1950's article in the Detroit News that indicated people were having reactions to it; that was enough for Mom to keep it out of the house. Also no anti-perspirant, because of the aluminum chloroxides (?), which straight deodorant doesn't have.
Now that I'm "marked" for the radiation beams, we have to be careful about both touching the areas, and the oils we use.
I'm to resume taking a resting blood pressure daily...
If you know of any other side-effects besides the above, the lowered blood cell counts, the energy drain, appetite loss, blisters, or other epidural deterioration, do let us know how best to deal with it.
The better news today (does that imply their being a worse news?) is that the ache in the muscles over my right rib cage is actually what I would call minimal today. I'm going to take NancyTurtle's advice about using an OTC med before bed for a few more days to ensure I continue to sleep through the night.
I'm feeling the lack of physical exercise which is a result of both the weather and this lethargy that I've been working through. The rain is cooling things down, and today I'm thinking about doing my walk in the rain...maybe even carry a bar of soap *heh* I need to get the stationary bike fitted for me and move the cross-country ski thang here.
The other downside of all this humidity is that Mom wants cream puffs to take to her day care in honor of Uncle Shorty's birthday on Saturday -- humidity turns flaky crispness into tough leather in no time. I was wanting to freeze them and hope that the humidity would be a bit more civil on Friday morning. *crosses fingers*
The best news is that the lethargy is diminishing!
*notes she's not nearly so verbose when she's over-slept and experiencing pain-killer withdrawal*
1 comment:
Have you looked at the National Cancer Institute website? It might be the same as the booklets you got from the hospital. There is a section about radiation therapy side effects that states that side effects are often specific to the areas being radiated. In other words, people getting radiation to the stomach are more likely to have loss of appetite than those getting chest radiation.
I can’t imagine massage slowing the healing process, but I have nothing to back that up. I can see the possibility of it temporarily increasing the discomfort if you are targeting those areas. On the other hand, I can see chemo slowing the healing process by slowing the growth of cells meant to repair the damaged areas. I don’t know anything about the effects of manipulating the lymph system.
In regard to your blood pressure, there are lots of reasons for it to be high. Stress and pain are at the top of that list. See what the resting levels are before adding another medication. I would also check it at different times during the day.
I wonder what was in Dove soap in the unregulated 50’s that was causing adverse reactions?? Some petrochemical product would be my first guess. I’m sure the formula has changed many times since then.
Do let us know how the cream puffs turn out!
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