I started taking my new medicine on Tuesday morning. And since then Naomi and Jon O have been posting like crazy. So I was content to just let you enjoy the video and find out what has been happening in our lives. Also I thought it best to let Nay do her thing and let people help organize some of the stuff that has been getting forgotten. Tonight is Friday. From experience I know that you all do not really read the blog on the weekend either. That being said I am fairly certain you will not read this until Monday. I wanted to just kind of talk about what things are like for me right now if you want to listen.
Every day I take 4000mg of Xeloda oral chemotherapy. In the photo above I take 4 of the 500 pills twice a day. I take the medicine every day for 2 weeks and then I take off a week.I am adjusting ok I think. I have a lot of stomach pain. My oncologist is not lowering my dose just yet. I thought she would when I complained. But she wrote a Rx and sent me away. I have a lot of indigestion. I taste the chemo when I burp. It does get worse when I eat dairy. I am just eating sort of light. I will continue to get zometa every 4 weeks. That is the medicine that fills in my bone mets. In terms of how I feel its hard to say. I think I am very tired. But not in the way I was after chemo. I think this actually seems to not be that hard hitting down for the count thing. But it also seems to make me feel out of sync. When should I get acupuncture? How often?
I went to acupuncture today. Ed worked on a few different things. Spleen, liver, immune system. He put needles in my throat and legs and back.Gina came with me and sat in the room to watch. She asked Ed a million questions. He was more than happy to answer them. He was a gracious teacher. I was just happy to feel good. I had a bunch more stamina when I left. I felt less pain in my stomach. We ran a few errands and went home. Ruth came over and made dinner. And did dishes. And made me laugh. Gina too always makes me feel relaxed and cared for. I am really the luckiest/most blessed person. I can not believe how amazing and loving my friends are. What did I ever do to deserve this? Not my cancer…the love. It is such a gift. Jenni and Mark thank you both so much for your visit as well.
My good friend who shall remain nameless…we went to her house on Easter…. has graciously provided us with a place to vacation at the end of April. We are staying at her family’s beach house. We will be gone for 5 days. We will play games, ride bikes, take walks, and eat. I am thrilled to have my kids all to myself. And my husband away from a computer! Oh yeah! I am really looking forward to this. I feel like if I need to go on the killer meds I will at least have this time of fun to think about. Naomi is trying to use this time to get things organized for me . For the sick time. I am trying to plan and write. Writing kids medical history’s. And love letters. Stuff I couldn’t do while I was on the other chemo and recovering from my surgery. I am still hopeful. I am still praying that this medicine is the one that kills my big bad cancer cells. If not, I guess we will deal with that when the time comes. At least now I feel like we have tried other things to get the job done.
still haven’t been able to view Jon’s video presentation…….I know others have and am wondering why I cannot. I did write to Jon asking for some advice, but no answer yet.
Enjoy ‘da shore’ the sea air has to be beneficial and hopefully you all can benefit from time away from your four walls.
Just wanted to delurk and let you know that from all over people are thinking about you. Makes me stop, take a second and take stock of what’s important.
I wish you well… I’ll be reading even if I don’t quite know what to say.
I also can’t view the video and from the comments I feel like I’m really missing out on something special. If anyone has any suggestions or solutions to help me view it please pass them on. I’m so happy you have a vacation place! I was trying to think of anyone I knew who could offer you a place, but once again, the Lord has provided. It is truly wonderful you all will be getting away and making lasting memories, too many families need to do that, mine included. My thoughts and prayers will be with you at that time. I hope it will be everything you hope for. If you want some Coke in the bottles for your vacation time- just let me know and I’ll make sure you have a case!!
ok i think you know i’m your blog stalker. if you are going to be away for 5 days i may go through withdraw! but just knowing you are having a good time with your family, i think i’ll be ok LOL
i’m so happy that the acupuncture works helping you feel better.
i love you, Andrea
have a great weekend
~leah
Hi Andrea:
The pills at the top of your page looked very familiar…..
Stay away from dairy…..
Get lactose pills……
I think it is a wonderful idea to write the kids histories. It is even more wonderful to write the love letters. Who doesn’t love a love letter.
Take care of your wonderful family.
Love Renee
It’s the weekend…I still check in. I’m so glad that you are surrounded by countless arms able to change babies, cook food and play cards. Rest deeply.
Hi My Andrea:
I DO read the blogs…every day….I never take weekends off…lol…I am afraid I will miss something really special.
I am not able to see the video either…and I would love to as well.
That is great on the shore vacation…..does a soul good. We are fortunate to have a friend who owns a beach house near Daytona beach…and we have it at our disposal anytime we like. We go several times a year….sometimes for 2 or 3 weeks at a time.
Cathy is on Xeloda 500mg- 3 tabs twice a day and Xeloda 150mg 3 tabs twice a day for 14 days wit a week off and she takes Tykerb 500mg 5 tabs every day all the time. The last 2 regimens have been real good….each 2 week regime gets easier for you….
You are in our hearts and prayers….always….love you….Donna
I look for your message of LOVE on the internet every day – including weekends. What a wonderful wife, mother and friend you are. A gift from God. I, too, want to view the video and can’t. I hear the audio but no picture. Please help.
Andrea,
I rush to read your blog everytime I see you’ve posted. I wish there was something I could do all the way out here in California. Is there?
Jane
I am so bummed that so many of you are unable to view the video. I am not tech savvy. I will speak with Jon O about it. Maybe someone else you know can view it… you could go to their house, no? I will look into the situation. It is actually pretty funny. I liked it a lot. I want you all to see it too. Have a great weekend.Andrea
whoo hoo! vacation!!
Hey Video people…try to open the page page with Mozilla Firefox (this is your web browser)…Internet Explorer is kinda of clunky with this stuff, so I assume those who can´t view the video are using IE. If you don´t have Firefox download it here…
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
it far surpasses Bill Gates and Internet Explorer…I´m sure there´s a work around to make IE work , but this is the quick answer…
good luck,
Jon
Andrea, I have been reading your blog for some time now….I have read in previous comments that you don’t like it when people say that you are “strong” so I won’t tell you that….but WOW, your spirit shines through so brightly…it’s so beautiful….for all you are dealing with right now. Your posts come right from your heart….they pack a punch! It sounds like you have a wonderful loop of friends helping you….I wish there was something I could do for you from Wisconsin….I was thinking I could send you a delivery from Schawn’s (I don’t even know if you have or know of Schwan’s) It’s a frozen food delivery…service to your door. I checked out purchasing you a gift card from Trader Joe’s and they don’t sell anything on-line…only in the stores…..maybe I could call the store you shop at, and purchase one with my credit card…then you (or your shoppers) could just pick it up at the desk. Really, that would be a good idea for anyone reading your blog….from hundreds, thousands miles away. If you post the number to your local Trader Joe’s…I could do that for you. I LOVE to cook…but since I can’t do that for you, I want to help you in some way…I could bake cookies and send them 🙂 I would bake for you weekly even! (I guess that’s if you eat or want cookies) A good ol’ cookie can be good therapy 🙂 Or set up a Paypal account under your name and your readers could just donate money for you to use towards whatever…groceries, gas, etc… Go to paypal to do that and just have a “donate” icon on your blog..for us to click on..and voila, you have $$. The beach vacation sounds awesome!! Go and enjoy yourself. I couldn’t view your video either..I clicked on it and it flipped to a different page…like it was trying to load..but never did 🙁 Thank you for sharing your life with all of us….for letting us in…for teaching us so much…you are such an inspiration. I check on you often….even on the weekends 🙂