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Hi, everyone! Sorry I haven’t been on for awhile but chemo and life got a little out of control! But the good news is I went for a repeat Pet scan which showed that my tumors are responding to chemo! They are shrinking and I haven’t produced any more fluid in my chest which is also really good news! So my oncologist is talking about doing 6 rounds of chemo and then maybe cutting me back to one drug instead of 3.
I had my 2nd round of chemo the monday before Christmas. I felt ok for 2 days then went down with side effects for the next 5 days. Just when I started to feel better I had to have minor surgery to get a port put in. It’s a small device they put under the skin on your chest that feeds directly to a large vein. It makes chemo a lot easier – I no longer need a cather inserted every visit!
My friend Andrea picked me up from the hospital and took me home where she told me that a really good friend of ours (I’ll call him Mike) tried to kill himself the day before. Mike took a bunch of pills and then put a bag over his head but passed out before he got the bag all the way down. His wife Beth (not her real name) and his son Bob found him – actually Bob got into the room first – he’s only 6. 🙁 So after I took a nap for an hour Andrea and I went to visit them – they live about 4 hours from my house.
Mike has been taking care of his mom 24/7 for the last 5 years – she has Alzheimer’s. The last year she has been basically bed bound and not very responsive. Mike has been suffering from depression at least the last 2 years – we all tried to get him to get help but he kept refusing, saying every thing was all right. Plus there are some serious financial issues that were coming to crisis point. And it turned out that Mike had undiagnosed diabetes. I think everything plus the holidays just got to him. The good news is that he was involuntarily committed to the Behavioral Sciences ward and got the help he needed. Plus they started to treat his diabetes which made a big difference. So he is doing much, much better.
But with everything going on Beth needed some help so Andrea and I went to see what we could do. Andrea had to leave after a few days but since I’m not working I stayed for an extra week. On top of the above Mike’s sister, The Bitch, moved in to take care of the mom. She made a bad situation even worse. Among other things the bitch went into the psych ward and told Mike that the house they were living in was 2 weeks away from foreclosure for back taxes! Which was a complete and total lie – I talked to the tax collector myself at my friends’ request (they were in a complete state of panic) and the tax collector said she never said anything about foreclosure. So his sister pushed back Mike’s recovery by several days. And then the mom started bleeding profusely from her mouth and had to be rushed to the hospital. The doctors never figured out where the bleeding came from but did decide she needed hospice care. So the mom is now in a very nice hospice center so Mike doesn’t have to take care of her anymore. He had serious caregiver burnout. But they are doing better – the bitch moved back to her apartment, Mike just came off insulin, everyone is getting counseling. But it’s going to be a long road.
So I got home just in time for my 3rd round of chemo which was the worst yet. I had bad GI symptoms and really bad GI pain. It got so bad the doctor gave me fentanyl patches and fentanyl lollipops. They worked great for the pain but made me vomit even more! So for my 4th round (I had chemo yesterday) he changed the taxol to a related drug, taxotere (spelling?). It’s not supposed to have as many side effects so my fingers are crossed!
And I have something fun to look forward to. My friend Sue (from the trip) and her husband, Pat, invited Andrea, Mike, Beth, Bob and me to visit for a couple of weeks. And they live in Hawaii! We’ve all been friends for about 20 years (except the kids!) so just getting together as a group is great but doing it in Hawaii can’t be beat. They live on Oahu (and yes, they got to meet Barack Obama – they work out at the gym he used over Christmas!) but we are also going to Maui for 4 days to see the whales! I love whales so I am unbelievably excited. We got a great deal on the air fares and get to stay free for most of the trip which is even better.
And speaking of trips I have some pictures from the cross country trip. I still don’t have the ones with Wyland – Sue has them. But I’m working on getting them!
The start of the trip – Sue and Santa Mouse at the start of Skyline Drive.
This buck kept charging the car. We had to move into the other lane to escape him!
Santa Mouse and the Luray Caverns which have to be seen to be believed!
We went to the Memphis Zoo to see the zoo lights. This is me with Jim, a Percheron, after my first ever horse drawn carriage ride! If I look like I’m freezing I am – it was on 27 degrees!
Sue at the Heartbreak Hotel at the end of Lonely Street next to Graceland. We had a blast!
And then the Grand Canyon. It snowed the night before so I’m still freezing!
We stayed at the MGM Grand in Vegas. This is Sue with her all day daquiri – 32 oz!
And who knew Santa Mouse was such a lush?
Then we made it to the Pacific Ocean!
And I got to go to the Tonight Show!
And then we caught up with Cat and Luis at Disneyland.
And we got to see some of Santa’s reindeer.
And my favorite picture of all – to boldly go where no mouse has gone before!
I’m so glad you’re doing better!! 😀 And from the pics, you look like you were having a good time. Post the rest soon. *Hugs*
Glad you are better and great pics! 😀
Thank you for comming on the forum 2huberts and I were starting to worry.I hope the treatments will be the right ones for you and I wish your friends a goor recovery. It’s awesome to see the pics of your trip. I wish you the best!
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http://www.sarahjestin.com/feedbacklists.htmThanks for the update! I’m glad Mike will pull through and things are getting better for him. I hope you have a fabulous time in Hawaii! 🙂
Glad to see you back, I was starting to worry a bit. Ask Cat. 😳
I’m so happy to hear that the tumors are responding well. And believe me the port will make things so much easier for you. Problem is, is when your nasty is all gone they’ll take it out after it heals in. Oh well, small price to pay. All the best to you.I have been thinking of you, so glad you checked in! I’m glad you are up and about! I went to Lurray years ago and oh goodness, it is beautiful, you are right about that! Have fun in Hawaii and keep that mouse out of the drink!! 😀
You must be psychic, I was just going to post a where the heck is Pam post.
So glad everything is working out so far, and really glad Mike’s family reached him in time, how scary, and that he is now recovering. His sister needs a serious ass-kicking, what the hell was she thinking at a time like that?
The pics are all great. You’ve been missed, I hope you have a bit of a break now and can hang out with us a bit before you run off to your next adventure.
Kyrin
*My browser ate my first message, so here’s to retyping!*
Wow! Santa Mouse really HAS gone where no Santa Mouse has gone before! I’m glad you all had a wonderful time. 😀 I can’t wait to see the Wyland pictures!
Sounds like you’ll have a blast on your upcoming trip!
I’m glad to hear that the tumors are responding to the chemo. That’s fantastic news! *hugs*
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I’m glad he has finally gotten help for himself and his grandmother. I’m sorry he has to deal with a sister who is so cruel, especially right now. That’s uncalled for. Hopefully he will continue to get better now that he is getting treatment and his diabetes is being treated. Hopefully he sees that he is not alone in this and realizes what good friends and the loving and supportive family (sans sister) he has.
As a thought, with his mother in Hospice and not being very responsive, is she an animal lover? Did she have a good experience with animals during her life or own any pets? If so, something that your friend may want to look into is having some sessions with a therapy animal. John Katz (yes, of author fame), a local for me, works with one of his border collies (I think Izzy), as a hospice dog. It’s different work than just a normal therapy animal, because the owner also goes through special training (you don’t give the same type of answers, you’re not there to give hope as the person is in hospice… you’re there to be, to listen… that type of support). He spoke at length about it on the local public radio station (WAMC) last summer. It was really interesting. He said he has had multiple occassions where caregivers, many of them burnt out, have said how their loved one has improved, calmed, etc, even if just for that session, just by the presence of a calm animal. The caregivers even found comfort in a way that people can’t always give. Something to consider looking into if the Hospice center knows of anyone available. He’s going through a lot and he’s a good son for having taken care of her for as long as he has. Hopefully he sees that he isn’t alone and doesn’t have to be in caring for his mother. I wish him and his family all the luck and best wishes they need!
Wow, thanks for detailed update and all the photos! I’m glad chemo seems to be working and I wish you all the best.
I’m very sorry about your friend. It must be hard taking care of an unresponsive loved one.Thanks for the update and the great photos!! I love Santa Mouse!!! 😀 Don’t disappear like that again….we were worried. 🙁
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