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Daniel got up and left for a golf event, I dozed back off to sleep. I was surprised when I woke up and it was after 9 o'clock again! I got up and breakfasted, then showered and got ready for the day. We had a wedding to attend at 3:30 in Holland if he got back soon enough.
1:30 and he's still not home. He finally came in about 3. The reception started at 6, in Spring Lake, so we didn't have to leave until 4:30. He laid down, I had lunch.
We went to this beautiful reception at the Spring Lake Country Club for my cousin's son, Jeff, and new bride Jill. Dan and I met some very nice people and enjoyed ourselves. It was nice to get out, be dressed up, and feel good. It's definitely a new chapter in my book. Heck, it's a whole new volume...
We got home about 0100; Daniel went right to bed. I wrote here. And now I'm off to bed, too.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday 8.14.2008
What a lovely day! I got up and got ready for work, then headed south. Looked at the gas gauge--shoot! I forgot to refuel yesterday. So, I stopped at Kipp Road Meijer and gassed up. Of course, the price had jumped 9 cents since yesterday, too. Oh well.
I got to Jackson, found a space in the lot 2 blocks away, and the shuttle was there. I hopped aboard and was driven over to the building. Clocked in, report, day under way.
Good patients, good staff. Good administration--the powers that be had a 90th anniversary party for the facility (Foote) and had put together a very nice "bbq party" for the staff. There was a huge tent, 3-piece jazzy blues band, and catered food! A very nice change--chicken, ribs, beautiful fresh fruit, yeast rolls, corn, baked beans, assorted high fat/high sugar/high calorie cookies, punch, and we were handed a large black tote bag with a lanyard inside of it. (with the new logo on them, of course) None-the-less, it was nice to have something other than hospital food. And it was free. (You have to understand that the freebies have all but vanished...)
So, after a good lunch, we discharged a lot of the patients, and the rest of the day was, well, swell. Other than the hot flashes which are overpowering me sometimes. The intensity seem to be increasing. I can feel them coming on, and before long, now I'm perspiring across the top of my forehead, the sides of my neck, and sometimes even drip down my back. EWWWW!!!!
This is just not good. I've not done anything different as far as meds go, and of course I can't take hormones, or even the "natural" products like soy or black cohosh, because my tumor was hormone receptor positive. So, it's me and the hots. I do my best to breathe and not let it bother me, but geesh. Many times a day, like maybe twice an hour, and I've not noticed any triggers. Even being "dry", sometimes I'm so cold I'm shivering, sometimes for 20 or 30 minutes. Then I usually have a pretty long episode of being hot. And not always perspiring. Just hot. Today I had an episode of being queasy hot. Yuck. These temperature fluctuations are really something.
The shift finally ended, and I changed my shoes and walked the two blocks over to my car. An uneventful drive home Thank You God where Daniel was waiting for me.
He had a good day, too, practicing golf stuff. Tomorrow he's playing in some qualifier for something.
We visited a bit, we looked at some of the Olympic events, he drifted off to bed, and I wrote here. I've gotten tired in the last hour or so, and it was a trick to write tonight.
Thank you for reading, Hugs.
I got to Jackson, found a space in the lot 2 blocks away, and the shuttle was there. I hopped aboard and was driven over to the building. Clocked in, report, day under way.
Good patients, good staff. Good administration--the powers that be had a 90th anniversary party for the facility (Foote) and had put together a very nice "bbq party" for the staff. There was a huge tent, 3-piece jazzy blues band, and catered food! A very nice change--chicken, ribs, beautiful fresh fruit, yeast rolls, corn, baked beans, assorted high fat/high sugar/high calorie cookies, punch, and we were handed a large black tote bag with a lanyard inside of it. (with the new logo on them, of course) None-the-less, it was nice to have something other than hospital food. And it was free. (You have to understand that the freebies have all but vanished...)
So, after a good lunch, we discharged a lot of the patients, and the rest of the day was, well, swell. Other than the hot flashes which are overpowering me sometimes. The intensity seem to be increasing. I can feel them coming on, and before long, now I'm perspiring across the top of my forehead, the sides of my neck, and sometimes even drip down my back. EWWWW!!!!
This is just not good. I've not done anything different as far as meds go, and of course I can't take hormones, or even the "natural" products like soy or black cohosh, because my tumor was hormone receptor positive. So, it's me and the hots. I do my best to breathe and not let it bother me, but geesh. Many times a day, like maybe twice an hour, and I've not noticed any triggers. Even being "dry", sometimes I'm so cold I'm shivering, sometimes for 20 or 30 minutes. Then I usually have a pretty long episode of being hot. And not always perspiring. Just hot. Today I had an episode of being queasy hot. Yuck. These temperature fluctuations are really something.
The shift finally ended, and I changed my shoes and walked the two blocks over to my car. An uneventful drive home Thank You God where Daniel was waiting for me.
He had a good day, too, practicing golf stuff. Tomorrow he's playing in some qualifier for something.
We visited a bit, we looked at some of the Olympic events, he drifted off to bed, and I wrote here. I've gotten tired in the last hour or so, and it was a trick to write tonight.
Thank you for reading, Hugs.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wednesday 8.13.2008
I slept pretty good again. I woke up about 8:10. Daniel was up at 7. I knew he was up, but didn't hear him leave.
I got up and got ready for the day. After breakfast, I checked email and looked around on the computer. Then I decided to make some cookies.
I checked that I had ingredients, and mixed up some oatmeal cookies. Daniel came in when about half of them were baked. We chatted a bit while I finished up. He went upstairs to use the desktop computer to do whatever he was doing. (I found out later that he was listing some items on ebay.) I had cleaned up my cookie mess and went over on the sofa. It wasn't long before I was laying down, and the next thing I knew it was almost 4 o'clock!
Whoa! I'm surprised I'm sleeping so much. I suppose it's good, seeing as how I haven't been for quite some time.
I took the steaks outside to the grill while Daniel did the inside cooking--mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. Yum. We both cleaned the kitchen, and I went outside for a short walk.
Back in, the Olympics are on TV. I wrote here, and I'm about ready for bed again.
I've had a couple of "really hot" hot flashes today. This evening was almost queasy hot. And it lasted for what seemed forever--maybe 20-25 minutes or so. It eventually passes, and then I'm a little cool. Sometimes downright chilled. I'll be glad when my temperature finally stabilizes.
Tomorrow is a workday. And I'm feeling tired again. I'll get my things ready for the morning.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
I got up and got ready for the day. After breakfast, I checked email and looked around on the computer. Then I decided to make some cookies.
I checked that I had ingredients, and mixed up some oatmeal cookies. Daniel came in when about half of them were baked. We chatted a bit while I finished up. He went upstairs to use the desktop computer to do whatever he was doing. (I found out later that he was listing some items on ebay.) I had cleaned up my cookie mess and went over on the sofa. It wasn't long before I was laying down, and the next thing I knew it was almost 4 o'clock!
Whoa! I'm surprised I'm sleeping so much. I suppose it's good, seeing as how I haven't been for quite some time.
I took the steaks outside to the grill while Daniel did the inside cooking--mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. Yum. We both cleaned the kitchen, and I went outside for a short walk.
Back in, the Olympics are on TV. I wrote here, and I'm about ready for bed again.
I've had a couple of "really hot" hot flashes today. This evening was almost queasy hot. And it lasted for what seemed forever--maybe 20-25 minutes or so. It eventually passes, and then I'm a little cool. Sometimes downright chilled. I'll be glad when my temperature finally stabilizes.
Tomorrow is a workday. And I'm feeling tired again. I'll get my things ready for the morning.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tuesday 8.12.2008
Wow. Last night I woke up a couple of times, listened to the radio between 0530 and 6, Daniel got up at 7. I did not hear him leave at 0830, and woke up at 0853!! He said I was snoring when he left...
I got up, kind of in a fog, and wandered around the house, finally landing on the sofa. Didn't do much, really; checked email, flipped through the channels, turned the tv back off. Eventually I had breakfast, then showered. I was surprised (kind of) that my nipple sloughed off again today. It does feel a little tender for a few hours. Of course, everything is swollen on the left side. I also did a couple loads of laundry.
I went out to Target and Office Max, picked up the sale items from those places, and Daniel had called saying his daughter Kim would be over at 4:30. That cuts my shopping time--I was going to stop over to Meijer and get fresh fruits and other sale items there, too. But I wanted to see Kim, so I went home.
Daniel was home from his golf game. Kim arrived shortly after I got home. We had a brief visit, then she left.
Dan and I went out for dinner, then stopped at K-Mart and Meijer, picking up sale items. (gotta make the money stretch, you know) We got home and basically enjoyed each other's company.
The evening went on, and we're watching Olympics.
Tomorrow I don't have much planned. Dan golfs in the morning again.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
I got up, kind of in a fog, and wandered around the house, finally landing on the sofa. Didn't do much, really; checked email, flipped through the channels, turned the tv back off. Eventually I had breakfast, then showered. I was surprised (kind of) that my nipple sloughed off again today. It does feel a little tender for a few hours. Of course, everything is swollen on the left side. I also did a couple loads of laundry.
I went out to Target and Office Max, picked up the sale items from those places, and Daniel had called saying his daughter Kim would be over at 4:30. That cuts my shopping time--I was going to stop over to Meijer and get fresh fruits and other sale items there, too. But I wanted to see Kim, so I went home.
Daniel was home from his golf game. Kim arrived shortly after I got home. We had a brief visit, then she left.
Dan and I went out for dinner, then stopped at K-Mart and Meijer, picking up sale items. (gotta make the money stretch, you know) We got home and basically enjoyed each other's company.
The evening went on, and we're watching Olympics.
Tomorrow I don't have much planned. Dan golfs in the morning again.
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday 8.11.2008
Last night I went to bed about 10, and I think I went to sleep pretty fast. I woke a few times being hot (which is not different), but I'm having episodes of being cold, too. Strange.
I woke at 0530-ish, and dozed back off. I was sleeping good when the phone rang at 0720. The hospital. I had to go in, and float off to a med/surg unit. "Ok", I struggled to say. "It'll take me a little bit, I'm not up yet." I drug myself out of bed. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I didn't feel quite right. In the mud, is what it felt like. My breast feels swollen and is tender, my shoulder aches, the upper arm itches, and yes, my fingers are full this morning. I pushed through, got ready to go, took motrin and tylenol, and headed out.
I did the naughty thing--made phone calls while driving. I called Dr. Bolmer's office to request a prescription for physical therapy. I listened to the options, spoke to a person, who connected me to a recording instructing me to leave a message. So I did. Then I called Rehab to make an appointment with Ike.
The nice lady who answered the phone had an accent that I was unfamiliar with, and I didn't understand her name, but I could kind of tell by the tone of her voice that she was asking me how could she help me. Sheesh. Ok, God, help me listen and hear what she's saying. I told her my name, that I had seen Ike previously, that I have called to have a prescription faxed over to evaluate and treat, and could she check Ike's schedule and fit me in? She put me on hold. After a minute or so, she came back. And, I could understand her. She said Ike is on vacation this week, and she has time open Monday and Tuesday. Monday at 10:00. I'll take it. I'm kind of glad she's on vacation this week, only because I wouldn't have been able to see her if I would have called last week. I thanked the nice lady, relieved to have an appointment.
In Jackson, I found a place to park, pleasantly surprised that it was a block away. I went in, and up to my floor, found Tishia as instructed. She told me that med/surg hadn't gotten back with her yet to know where we were going. (We? Yep-the other 2 girls on-call had to come in, too) She told me to go ahead and clock in, and she'll let us know when she finds out. Ok.
Our census is really low, as we have a couple of OB docs on vacation. I went over to West, that we closed yesterday, and generally tidied up the unit. Stray equipment, supplies, etc. I was almost done when Tish called me. "Med/surg decided they didn't need anyone. You can all go home." Hm. "Thanks for coming in. And I won't be calling you back to come in for them today. You are still on call for us, though." Ok. I finished up my project, clocked out, and remembered I needed to print out a copy of my hospital-based learning stuff for the annual eval, so I looked that up and printed it out. I was in the locker room changing my shoes and getting my purse when the phone rang. It was someone from the Doctor's office clarifying my request for therapy. She told me one of the nurses would call me back. Ok, thanks. I finally made it back home about noon.
I still wasn't feeling just right. I was hungry, and my shoulder and breast are achy. I ate a pb&j sandwich, took more meds (it was time), and talked with Daniel a bit. My phone rang again, Doctor's office again. It was Rose (she was one of my chemo nurses) asking just exactly what I needed. She had read the chart, so she followed what I was saying, and knew what to send over to the rehab place. No problem, she said. Thank you, Rose. About 1:30, I went in and took a nap.
I slept for 2 hours, waking up feeling mostly better. The mud was gone, anyway. My shoulder and breast are still achy. I had some fruit, a bunch of water, Daniel went to his golf league, and I didn't do much at all. Sat out on the deck, read the newspaper, came in, checked the computer, basically not much. And then Dan came back.
We watched some Olympics, and he has drifted off to bed. I'm writing here. Still uncomfortable, and my hand is still tight, even though it doesn't look as puffy tonight.
I hope I feel better tomorrow. I'm surprised at how tired I've been the last couple of days, and how I've been sleeping. I have been alternating between chilled cold and hot, with the chills happening first, then a good warm up. I am also having the "aura" of the sensation that I need to take a big breath, and I often find myself deep breathing, and that's how I know I'm about to be warm. And I've started perspiring, too, with the hot flashes. Across my forehead, the back of my neck, down the middle of my back, and the inside creases of my elbows. Very weird. What a ride, huh? But I'm cancer free, and that's what counts.
I guess I should find a light bite before going to bed. I don't like waking up hungry at 0200...
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
I woke at 0530-ish, and dozed back off. I was sleeping good when the phone rang at 0720. The hospital. I had to go in, and float off to a med/surg unit. "Ok", I struggled to say. "It'll take me a little bit, I'm not up yet." I drug myself out of bed. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I didn't feel quite right. In the mud, is what it felt like. My breast feels swollen and is tender, my shoulder aches, the upper arm itches, and yes, my fingers are full this morning. I pushed through, got ready to go, took motrin and tylenol, and headed out.
I did the naughty thing--made phone calls while driving. I called Dr. Bolmer's office to request a prescription for physical therapy. I listened to the options, spoke to a person, who connected me to a recording instructing me to leave a message. So I did. Then I called Rehab to make an appointment with Ike.
The nice lady who answered the phone had an accent that I was unfamiliar with, and I didn't understand her name, but I could kind of tell by the tone of her voice that she was asking me how could she help me. Sheesh. Ok, God, help me listen and hear what she's saying. I told her my name, that I had seen Ike previously, that I have called to have a prescription faxed over to evaluate and treat, and could she check Ike's schedule and fit me in? She put me on hold. After a minute or so, she came back. And, I could understand her. She said Ike is on vacation this week, and she has time open Monday and Tuesday. Monday at 10:00. I'll take it. I'm kind of glad she's on vacation this week, only because I wouldn't have been able to see her if I would have called last week. I thanked the nice lady, relieved to have an appointment.
In Jackson, I found a place to park, pleasantly surprised that it was a block away. I went in, and up to my floor, found Tishia as instructed. She told me that med/surg hadn't gotten back with her yet to know where we were going. (We? Yep-the other 2 girls on-call had to come in, too) She told me to go ahead and clock in, and she'll let us know when she finds out. Ok.
Our census is really low, as we have a couple of OB docs on vacation. I went over to West, that we closed yesterday, and generally tidied up the unit. Stray equipment, supplies, etc. I was almost done when Tish called me. "Med/surg decided they didn't need anyone. You can all go home." Hm. "Thanks for coming in. And I won't be calling you back to come in for them today. You are still on call for us, though." Ok. I finished up my project, clocked out, and remembered I needed to print out a copy of my hospital-based learning stuff for the annual eval, so I looked that up and printed it out. I was in the locker room changing my shoes and getting my purse when the phone rang. It was someone from the Doctor's office clarifying my request for therapy. She told me one of the nurses would call me back. Ok, thanks. I finally made it back home about noon.
I still wasn't feeling just right. I was hungry, and my shoulder and breast are achy. I ate a pb&j sandwich, took more meds (it was time), and talked with Daniel a bit. My phone rang again, Doctor's office again. It was Rose (she was one of my chemo nurses) asking just exactly what I needed. She had read the chart, so she followed what I was saying, and knew what to send over to the rehab place. No problem, she said. Thank you, Rose. About 1:30, I went in and took a nap.
I slept for 2 hours, waking up feeling mostly better. The mud was gone, anyway. My shoulder and breast are still achy. I had some fruit, a bunch of water, Daniel went to his golf league, and I didn't do much at all. Sat out on the deck, read the newspaper, came in, checked the computer, basically not much. And then Dan came back.
We watched some Olympics, and he has drifted off to bed. I'm writing here. Still uncomfortable, and my hand is still tight, even though it doesn't look as puffy tonight.
I hope I feel better tomorrow. I'm surprised at how tired I've been the last couple of days, and how I've been sleeping. I have been alternating between chilled cold and hot, with the chills happening first, then a good warm up. I am also having the "aura" of the sensation that I need to take a big breath, and I often find myself deep breathing, and that's how I know I'm about to be warm. And I've started perspiring, too, with the hot flashes. Across my forehead, the back of my neck, down the middle of my back, and the inside creases of my elbows. Very weird. What a ride, huh? But I'm cancer free, and that's what counts.
I guess I should find a light bite before going to bed. I don't like waking up hungry at 0200...
Thank you for reading. Hugs.
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