My hair, or lack thereof, was driving me crazy. I could not take it any more. Even though Joey gave me a buzz cut, my hair really started falling out. It was everywhere. I had to wear a scarf to keep it from getting in everything. I don't know who was shedding more, me or my cats.
So, I called Richard and asked him if he would shave my head. He agreed and we did it last night. It was quite a production. First, he used his shaver to remove as much as he could. There were a lot of bald spots all over so this did not take that long. Then, he lathered me up and shaved it a little at a time. Boy is my head white!!! It feels strange to rub your hands over your head and feel nothing. For those who don't know me, I have very curly hair and it was long until I cut it short this summer. So having no hair is a strange thing. And it is cold!!! How do you guys stand it? I had to wear one of those old lady turban things to sleep in last night and it was in the 50's. I will freeze when it gets cold. So, if you see me and I have one of those old lady turbans on, just know it is not a fashion statement - I am cold!!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
2 DOWN AND 6 TO GO
Monday morning I had my second round of chemo. Again, it was not bad. The vampires took my blood, and I was hooked up to the IVs and all that. The only thing that stands out is the taste that you get immediately when the red chemo is injected.
The nurses at my cancer killers are the best. They are so compassionate and caring. Dr. Bogdon is great. She is so encouraging and understanding. To be honest, I feel great. The biggest side effect I have is being tired and somewhat queasy for a few days. But my friend Lisa says I was tired before so what else is new? I do miss working out. I just don't have the energy right now. I do try and get in a quick Tony Horton when I can. It does help. I don't want to finish all this and have to start over getting in shape (like I ever was to begin with).
So, thank you all for you continued support and know that I am going to beat this thing and I am doing great. Failure is not an option.
So, this leaves just 6 more treatments!!!! I will be finished with the first round in December. Then I start a new chemo for 4 treatments. That one is not as bad as the first so it should be a cakewalk.
The nurses at my cancer killers are the best. They are so compassionate and caring. Dr. Bogdon is great. She is so encouraging and understanding. To be honest, I feel great. The biggest side effect I have is being tired and somewhat queasy for a few days. But my friend Lisa says I was tired before so what else is new? I do miss working out. I just don't have the energy right now. I do try and get in a quick Tony Horton when I can. It does help. I don't want to finish all this and have to start over getting in shape (like I ever was to begin with).
So, thank you all for you continued support and know that I am going to beat this thing and I am doing great. Failure is not an option.
So, this leaves just 6 more treatments!!!! I will be finished with the first round in December. Then I start a new chemo for 4 treatments. That one is not as bad as the first so it should be a cakewalk.
Great Friday the 13th
After all the back and forth about my shot, I finally did get authorization for it. Thanks in large part to Jonelle, my angel case worker at Medicad.
The day took a much brighter turn. My office, Keller Williams Realty Myrtle Beach, held a fundraiser for me today. I was overwhelmed. Agents that I did not even know were there, contributing time, food, money. Even my friends at Bellamy Law firm helped out. Thanks to Teresa and Jill. They ordered 20 lunches and gave even more. I cannot tell you how much this meant to me. I am having a hard time making ends meet as I have to miss work because of the chemo, etc. I had no idea the turnout would be so great. My broker, Joanne, and her assistant, Dianne, are the greatest. I just want to thank each and every one of you that helped. I hope that one day I can do something to repay all their kindness and generousity. I wanted to do a thank you speech, but could not because I was so emotional and knew I would just stand there and cry. So again, to everyone, thank you from the bottom of my heart and my God bless you all.
The day took a much brighter turn. My office, Keller Williams Realty Myrtle Beach, held a fundraiser for me today. I was overwhelmed. Agents that I did not even know were there, contributing time, food, money. Even my friends at Bellamy Law firm helped out. Thanks to Teresa and Jill. They ordered 20 lunches and gave even more. I cannot tell you how much this meant to me. I am having a hard time making ends meet as I have to miss work because of the chemo, etc. I had no idea the turnout would be so great. My broker, Joanne, and her assistant, Dianne, are the greatest. I just want to thank each and every one of you that helped. I hope that one day I can do something to repay all their kindness and generousity. I wanted to do a thank you speech, but could not because I was so emotional and knew I would just stand there and cry. So again, to everyone, thank you from the bottom of my heart and my God bless you all.
Friday, November 13, 2009
No Shot For You
I have been having the best two weeks I have had since cancer. I feel great. In fact, I don't even feel like I have cancer. All this is because after chemo I get a shot of Neulasta. This stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. As a result of this shot, all my blood levels are normal - hence my feeling great. Imagine my dismay and anger when I received a letter from my medicad provider that they were denying my shot for my next chemo. The reason? My blood levels are normal. OF COURSE THEY ARE YOU IDIOTS THE SHOT WORKS.
Let me digress. When I enrolled in Medicad I was told I had to choose a managed plan. I checked with my cancer killers and chose the one they accept. I did not know that I had the choice to remain on regular or fee for services medicad. So I am stuck with Select Health/AmeriHealth Mercy for November. I am switching back to the regular plan next month. Unfortunately this does not help with my shot this month. So, if you find yourself in my situation, under no circumstances choose Select Health/AmeriHealth Mercy. They are the worse. I love that they have mercy in their name. What mercy? And I thought cancer sucked. I have prayed about this and have faith that God will keep me healthy or provide another source to pay for my shot. The shot costs $3,000.00 and if I had $3,000.00 I would not need medicad. I sure can't count on that wonderful (note the sarcasm) Select Health to provide for me.
So, in conclusion, if you find yourself with cancer and on medicad, stay on the fee for services plan.
Let me digress. When I enrolled in Medicad I was told I had to choose a managed plan. I checked with my cancer killers and chose the one they accept. I did not know that I had the choice to remain on regular or fee for services medicad. So I am stuck with Select Health/AmeriHealth Mercy for November. I am switching back to the regular plan next month. Unfortunately this does not help with my shot this month. So, if you find yourself in my situation, under no circumstances choose Select Health/AmeriHealth Mercy. They are the worse. I love that they have mercy in their name. What mercy? And I thought cancer sucked. I have prayed about this and have faith that God will keep me healthy or provide another source to pay for my shot. The shot costs $3,000.00 and if I had $3,000.00 I would not need medicad. I sure can't count on that wonderful (note the sarcasm) Select Health to provide for me.
So, in conclusion, if you find yourself with cancer and on medicad, stay on the fee for services plan.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Hair Today Gone Tomorrow
Okay. One of the worse side effects of chemo is the loss of your hair. Mine started coming out about 2 weeks after the chemo. It did not come out all at once. But it was coming out in clumps. I was afraid to drive with the windows down for fear I would be bald by the time I got where I was going. After a couple days of this I was over it. I called my hairdresser (and long time friend) Joey. He told me he was available 24/7 to handle my hair loss. I picked up a wig at the cancer killers and he said he would style it for me. So he arrived with scissors, etc. At first, we thought maybe he could just cut it really short. But, after much deliberation, I decided I was tired of fighting it. My good friend, Sue, came over to lend her moral support. She is a 15 year breast cancer survivor. SO, Joey got out his trusty clippers and proceeded to buzz my head. I have about 1/8 in of hair still. I was glad they were both here as we laughed and had fun and it was really not as traumatic as I thought it would be. What was scary was how gray my hair is. I have been coloring it so long that I was unaware it was so gray!! I have had some friends tell me "embrace your gray hair" I THINK NOT. As long as there is Joey or a Sally's somewhere I will never have gray hair. I look so old - well at least as old as I am and I don't like that.
Joey had me put the wig on and he cut and shaped it for about an hour. It still looked like I had a cocker spaniel on my head.
He came back the next night and tried again. Richard came over too and we had dinner. Richard found a wig and wore it most of the evening. It looked like a mullet - everytime I looked at him I had to laugh. After much laughing and talking we decided there was no way the wig was going to look like anything but a wig (or a cocker spaniel) so we went online and Joey helped me pick out a wig - which my BFF Lisa is buying for me. I tell you, God has blessed me with so many angels. I will go to work tonight with my "new do". Hope I don't scare everyone - after all, halloween is over!!!
BUT, the bright side of hair loss is that it happens all over your body - I don't have to shave my legs for about 6 months. CANCER ROCKS!!!!!
Joey had me put the wig on and he cut and shaped it for about an hour. It still looked like I had a cocker spaniel on my head.
He came back the next night and tried again. Richard came over too and we had dinner. Richard found a wig and wore it most of the evening. It looked like a mullet - everytime I looked at him I had to laugh. After much laughing and talking we decided there was no way the wig was going to look like anything but a wig (or a cocker spaniel) so we went online and Joey helped me pick out a wig - which my BFF Lisa is buying for me. I tell you, God has blessed me with so many angels. I will go to work tonight with my "new do". Hope I don't scare everyone - after all, halloween is over!!!
BUT, the bright side of hair loss is that it happens all over your body - I don't have to shave my legs for about 6 months. CANCER ROCKS!!!!!
Let's Kill Some Cancer
I had my first chemo treatment on Monday, Oct 26. I was planning to go by myself - after all, I can do this. But Richard had other plans. He called me at 8:00 to tell me he would be picking me up. So off we went to the Cancer Killers to start my Plan Nine From Murrells Inlet.
First, they took some blood. They are always taking blood. It is a good thing our bodies make more as I would be out of it by now. Then, I was seated in this nice recliner type chair. The nurse explained everything to me step by step. The port is the place where everything goes. First, she checked it to make sure we had the vein. Then, I was given anti-nausea stuff through the IV. After that was done, she injected the red chemo into my iv. This took about 3-5 minutes. Then, I had another chemo in a drip bag that was also in the IV. All this took about an hour and a half.
Believe it or not, it did not hurt. In fact, I felt great afterwards. Richard and I went to lunch.
I was tired but think it was because I really did not sleep the night before. Nerves or something.
The next day I felt like I could do anything. I cleaned my closet, cooked chicken bog and had some friends over for dinner.
The next day I had to have my shot for production of white cells. I was really tired after that.
To be honest, the only bad effects I had from the chemo was tiredness and I was a little queasy for a couple of days. So on the days I had to work, I just stayed in bed until time to go to work.
Hey, if that is as bad as it gets, BRING IT ON. I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!
I had to go back on the following Monday for more blood work. Then again on Friday. I seriously think they are a vampire coven or something. I tell you, I should be out of blood - thank goodness God designed our bodies to make more. I also found out why I felt so great - steriods. But I am not getting any muscles out of it or hitting any home runs or anything. Just feeling good.
First, they took some blood. They are always taking blood. It is a good thing our bodies make more as I would be out of it by now. Then, I was seated in this nice recliner type chair. The nurse explained everything to me step by step. The port is the place where everything goes. First, she checked it to make sure we had the vein. Then, I was given anti-nausea stuff through the IV. After that was done, she injected the red chemo into my iv. This took about 3-5 minutes. Then, I had another chemo in a drip bag that was also in the IV. All this took about an hour and a half.
Believe it or not, it did not hurt. In fact, I felt great afterwards. Richard and I went to lunch.
I was tired but think it was because I really did not sleep the night before. Nerves or something.
The next day I felt like I could do anything. I cleaned my closet, cooked chicken bog and had some friends over for dinner.
The next day I had to have my shot for production of white cells. I was really tired after that.
To be honest, the only bad effects I had from the chemo was tiredness and I was a little queasy for a couple of days. So on the days I had to work, I just stayed in bed until time to go to work.
Hey, if that is as bad as it gets, BRING IT ON. I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!
I had to go back on the following Monday for more blood work. Then again on Friday. I seriously think they are a vampire coven or something. I tell you, I should be out of blood - thank goodness God designed our bodies to make more. I also found out why I felt so great - steriods. But I am not getting any muscles out of it or hitting any home runs or anything. Just feeling good.
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