Sunday, June 07, 2009

Home Sweet Home!

Bounce

Yes, as you might have surmised, I was hospitalized for two and a half weeks (seemed like years).

At any rate, since I don't have a lap top, and MY hospital, Scripps Mercy Hospital does NOT have a library with computers for patients use, I've been rather isolated.

I was discharged a few days ago, and am now trying to get re-acclimated to my own home, hours, schedule, etc.

When I do; I'll be back here with LOTS of interesting stuff to tell you! Stay tuned...





Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Going for another cbc this morning (went a week ago today also). No more anemia 'sneaking' up on me! Want to catch it BEFORE I need two units of blood!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Sleeping

Am now taking Lexapro 10 mg day (was taking 5 for two months). The 10mg has had GREAT effect on anxiety. However, I'm sleeping all the time (and I don't like to sleep!). I've been taking a morning, afternoon, evening (sometimes till 1-3A and sometimes till morning) naps. Hope THIS side effect wears off soon!





Thursday, April 16, 2009

Cancer Update from John Hopkins

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (TRY-THE KEY WORD) AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells donot show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a fewbillion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no morecancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the testsare unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reachedthe detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will bedestroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiplenutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic,environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing dietand including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cellsand also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow,gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver,kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars anddamages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reducetumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do notresult in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy andradiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hencethe person can succumb to various kinds of infections andcomplications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate andbecome resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also causecancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells bynot feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply. CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder.By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts.Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in thegastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful,especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds,nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkalineenvironment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Freshvegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthycells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine.Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.Water- best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoidit.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot ofdigestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the proteinwalls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFA s etc.) to enable thebody's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplementslike vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death,the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, orunneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger,unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment.Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down tothe cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

PLEASE READ ON

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxinsare highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, WellnessProgram Manager at Castle Hospital was on a TV program to explain this health hazard He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat.He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.Instead, he recommends using glass, such as CorningWare, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in thepaper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one ofthe reasons. Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Confirmation at age 63!

Lord,Fulfill your promise.Send your Holy Spirit To make us witnesses before the world.…

—Rite of Confirmation




It's one of those things that I've been thinking of doing for years, and just never got around to the actuality. Well today was the day!

I was blessed to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation Administered by: Reverend Ronald Hebert & Witnessed by Sister Ann, of Sacred Heart Parish, Ocean Beach, CA

It was a joyous occasion for me. I was walking on 'air' all day...

Friday, April 10, 2009

Another Round of Chemo Over

Just finished another week (M-W-F) of VP 14 and one dose of Carbo. Think I only have one more in three weeks in this round before scans.

Had NO pain BEFORE this round (or very minimal anyway), after first dose of VP, suffered agonizing pain in rt hip, lumbar spine, rt pelvis (where major mets are in bone). Got Dilaudid pill dose doubled if needed, (and IV Dilaudid at infusion center)and a couple of times I needed it!

Docs, and very experienced Chemo nurse on unit were actually pleased! Said it meant VP was acting ON cancer cells. Doc went and compared, visually, all x-rays, said it looked to him like original lesion was smaller. And no signs of previous pneumonia. Small lights at the end of a far off tunnel...

The fatigue does not seem so bad either this time, or am I just getting used to being exhausted?

Yesterday, being Friday, was my 'long day', doses of BOTH VP and Carbo and pre-meds, so I missed all Good Friday Observances, just as I will miss Easter Mass tomorrow (but Eucharistic Minister from Sacred Heart of OB will come here), just like I missed Christmas.

I must admit to being almost completely housebound due to being auto-immune compromised is beginning to get to me, but then, I DO NOT want Shingles, or pneumonia AGAIN!

Getting done with that third day of Chemo in a week, and knowing I don't have to go back for three weeks, gives me the feeling of being let out of school for the summer! And I want to go play!

Sunday, April 05, 2009

I have a 'roomie'!

Fantastic

It's been an interesting few days. I've finally found someone to move into my extra bedroom. Her name is Geraldine and she's 50-something.

So now it's a process of getting to know each other (habits, etc) better. But it looks like we are a pretty good match.

Night help for me, and a 'home' for her; I sure hope it's a long term situation!





Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Now I feel like a Vampire!

I spent ALL yesterday afternoon at the Scripps Mercy Infusion Room getting TWO big bags of blood. Since I didn't get home until 6:45P and in an exhausted condition, I don't know if it helped or not. Though I seem to have a little more energy today.

Maybe I'll even get enough energy to write somethin INTERESTING here...

Here's to all those blood donor's out there!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Anemic

For the first time on Chemo, I am anemic. So much so that I have to go Monday and get two bags of blood! No wonder I've felt so bad lately; I have little or no energy to do anything. Therefore, I'm behind on everything...

Kicking Dirt

This will kinda ruin my Monday, as I will have to spend 6 or so hours at the Scripps Mercy Infusion Center (room 831), almost as long as a 'long' Chemo day.

As with everything new, this is causing me much anxiety, even though I know it will make me feel much better.

Then the following week, back to the Chemo schedule. (I think I have two rounds left in this 'set')





Thursday, March 26, 2009

Grandson Visits

Michael stopped by late afternoon today. It was so good to see him! He's looking good, too.

A man now, I look at him and still see that sweet little boy. But now he's a full grown man, with a girlfriend and adult problems.

We now have adult conversations.

He is going to be moving closer to me in April, so hopefully I will get to see him more often now.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Big Boy's Day

Big Boy spent almost all day inside today. It's a rarity, but sometimes it happens. He stays close to Ethel, who does interact with him. He plays with his favorite toy, a plastic circle with a tennis ball in it, it's so funny, he'll even doze off laying beside it, and reach out to hit that tenis ball every once in awhile. And he eats. He went back outside when I went to bed. So a fun day was had by all...

Monday, March 23, 2009

It Must be Nice Department

The sister of a friend of mine has just been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (It is really extensive).

They live 2,000 miles apart. The sister that lives here (retired), is going back east in April, and staying for the duration, to provide her sibling with love, support, and whatever help she can...

I guess I'm feeling envious, and sorry for myself .

Sunday, March 22, 2009

It's Parrot Season Again!

For the past couple of weeks, I've seen the big flocks of wild green parrots flying over in the evenings.

Ahh, but this morning, at dawn, as I was sitting at my patio door, as I frequently do to say my morning prayers, I heard a few of them 'waking & squawking'. Though many of my neighbors hate them; I find them such a joy!

It won't be long now before the whole flock roosts in the local trees and will fill the air with joyful noise at sunrise and sunset...

Listen to the parrots!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

A Good Day

Yes!

And they are too few and far between! Either I'm ill from one thing or another, OR my time is consumed with making/going to doc appointments, arranging transportation, refilling prescriptions, applying for grants for uncovered medical expenses, etc. (the paperwork, paperwork, paperwork of being poor!)

Then too, a real 'time eater' is trying to find a qualified 'roomie' to help me out at night. Ads, phone interviews, face to face interviews, checking references, and criminal checks, all takes a great deal of time.

I'm telling you, all this 'junk', indispensable as it is fills my days.

Today though was rare and different! I crocheted for about an hour. And I spent time on my outside plants. I did some bible study, and read a mystery novel. Not to mention, a friend bought me home-made Lasagna for dinner!

The only cloud on my horizon today (and it's always there), is missing my adult children and grandchildren...





Sunday, March 15, 2009

Pneumonia

Thumbs Up

I seem to 'get' something awful after every round of Chemo! It's getting to the point that the Chemo side effects are much less dreaded than some weird infection that follows.

This time it was pneumonia, and I just missed getting hospitalized for it. But they sent me home with prescriptions for two antibiotics. Sure was sick for awhile though...

Saw my Oncologist last Friday, and he said no Chemo for at least two weeks. Almost made me glad that I'd gotten the pneumonia!

Two whole weeks of feeling half-way decent! Perhaps I can get caught up on some stuff, it sure piles up fast.

Busy day today, that's for sure. Getting a new bedside table (changed out by friends), it's much larger and has three drawers. My care giver will be here shortly. The Eucharistic Minister of Sacred Heart parish will be here at 1P. And I have still another interview for a 'roomie' at 5P.

Am unbelievably grateful that I'll be out of bed and have the energy to do all of the above!





Sunday, March 01, 2009

More Chemo

This last week M-W-F.

And I'm so weak that I can hardly get in and out of bed (spending a lot of time in bed). I know this will gradually get better, but...

For the past 3 nights, I've had people stay over in the spare bedroom. I pay them $20 cash for the night. It's an absolute necessity. And very hard to do on my $869 per month SSD.

I have a couple of friends that help me out here and there w/a $20 bill for my night 'help', and they aren't even relatives.

It would be so very great to just call an agency and get some help in here, but of course, THAT costs a LOT of money...

(If anyone out there can help, in any way, please do!)

And I have two more 'rounds' of this specific Chemo to go; one in 3 wks, and another in 6 wks, at which point I will be reevaluated.

I am trying to find a full time 'live in' for just room/board. And to find the current regulations regarding this from HUD.

Here are the current ads:

Backpage
http://sandiego.backpage.com/DomesticJobs/care_giver_companion_room_mate_live_in/classifieds/ViewAd?oid=3749832

Craigs
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/dmg/1056134353.html

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Poems, poems, poems!

Reading 2


Today I spent a couple of hours posting poems to my writing blog: http://evvygarrettpoetandwriter.blogspot.com/. Just click on the 'label' Poems Published.

Then I took a nap....

I want to try to post more poems soon. Hope you enjoy them!





Thursday, February 19, 2009

Two doc appointments this afternoon. One to the Oncologist to schedule next Chemo (Probably next week-so don't look for many or any entries next week!), and one to a Gastroenterolist.

Although a marathon of docs exhausts me; I have to try to 'piggyback' appointments because it still costs me $9.00 round trip, and if I buy a cuppa, I spend over $10. So I really have to 'budget' my transit and doc visits.

BTW folks, it's been a very long time (over two months), since anyone has hit that PAYPAL button, so if you have a few bucks to spare...

Now I'm off to bed, and a TV movie. I may even be able to stay awake long enough to watch it!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Storm and Other Stuff

We had a cold, winter storm move through here late morning and mid-day. It was a real 'gully washer', making lakes of the sidewalks, and parking areas. Amazing stuff; I do love a good storm! No thunder and lightning though, that disappointed me! The wind however, was at times severe, so I had my computer turned off most of the day...

Mostly, Lucy and I sat at the window and watched. I tried a couple of times to get Big Boy to come in, but he would not have any of it for whatever strange reasons.

I was able to stay up in my wheelchair 4-5 hrs. at a time before having to lay down to rest.

This afternoon, Laura, from The Rock Church stopped by for a nice long visit. Among other things, she bought me two pictures from the latest Rock Church Cancer Ministry fund raising events. We ended our visit with a ‘joint’ prayer, which I really appreciated.

It was during this visit that my Grandson Michael called, but when I was able to return his call, his cell was messing up, so we are still playing ‘telephone’ tag. I am concerned about him because he is one of the MILLIONS that has had his work hours cut down to almost zero, and he’s job hunting. I don’t see or hear from him NEARLY often enough!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Valentine's Day 2009

Valentine Paper Cutout

I had a nice, peaceful day. Still recovering from the last Chemo, I was able to spend 3-5 hours up in my wheel chair before having to lay down and rest for awhile...

I made, and sent, an eValentine to family and friends.

Then a young woman, Rachel, from Sacred Heart Parish Young Adults group, who visits me once in awhile, bought me a beautiful bouquet of Orchids.

Towards evening, I put down some catnip for Lucy, and later Big Boy came in and 'killed' his favorite toy (a floppy stuffed animal rubbed with fresh catnip).

Friday, February 13, 2009

Sorry!

That I haven't posted for so long...


Holy Moly



I've been doing 'big guns' Chemo every three weeks, hardly have time to 'recover' when it's time to 'go' again.

But I will make this blog a priority, and try to catch up, (you will be notified of any NEW entries, even if post dated, if you are a 'follower' of this blog.) when ever I have just a little energy!