chemo update

5th of September 2nd chemo you know I recall starting school on the 5th some years the cool crisp air that by afternoon was warm being excited and nervous, decked out from head to toe with new hot items that new coat and Levi's and those sneakers that made you run faster and jump higher  trapper keeper all set to go pencils sharpened oh well  that seems to be all I really recall about the 5th of September in my long life of 53 years (not long enough) well now I can remember it for my second life-saving treatment.

I have decided to show people after chemo I am pretty much ok yes I am sick yes I am depressed at times and crying yes cranky but also yes I am alive and Ok look at me I am here and doing this and can do this. I am a warrior love you all.

Sept 8 Game night with Jonathan go PATS finally feeling a bit better from chemo so hoping to enjoy 

watching the game on TV.

I also shaved my head this weekend 

Sept-13 feeling much better past couple days, still some rectal  issues (see below for advice and what I personally deal with) but not so bad I am not in tears today is the start of the real good days well I hope anyway hoping to do some weed whacking next week the last clean up for fall and winter. and maybe a drive to the ocean we will see. 

things I have gone through and recommendations that really work for me

one stool softener every day from day one of chemo until weeks after I finish in December!!!! I actually take it twice a day senna-s works great, (I had so much pain going poop OMG thought I was going to Die and it depressed me and made me so cranky.) once I found out I should take the senna every day until I am done chemo now I feel so much better still some pain but not nearly as bad as it was. a donut seat helps. I take a prescribed antinausea that I take every morning and night and sometimes around 3 in the afternoon,  I eat small meals through the day and take the diabetic shake product instead of ensure shake if you are not diabetic take ensure.  I drink one shake a day and first 3 days after chemo I drink 2 or 3 they help settle my tummy. 

food day 1 after chemo toast, cereal cold cut sandwich  or small sub, apple sauce shakes  nothing warm day 2 toast cereal fruits like Mellon's pears, apple sauce shakes pasta salads or pasta dishes like mac and cheese or alfredo  or soups chicken soup butternut squash, clam chowder same for day 3  then we start on some more normal meals still staying away from greasy and spicy. on line Recommendations really work look them up also try eating cold or warm foods instead of hot.

my hair started falling out 2 weeks after the first treatment. shave your head it makes it easier on everyone it gets everywhere around the house clothes and so on remember it grows back.. I bought cheap chemo hats on amazon and heath prayer yoga beads to decorate them on amazon links are below 

I have to say the first 3 days for me after each treatment are awful I am so depressed queazy but no vomiting  weakness and so on it takes me an entire week to feel really really good again I have 2 good weeks then another treatment, but I have hope and only 4 more treatments to go big deep breath.

 I can do this and I am so thankful for my online friends my family and my biggest supporter Jonathan he goes through a lot with my depression and crankiness, I do want to say make sure you talk about this the depression feeling sick and weakness and being cranky  right off so everyone understands it will change after treatments are done. being sick is so hard on you and on the ones you love once you start having good days reward the ones you love for taking your upset on bad days I do not know how to explain but that I cry a lot and sometimes get angry like very cranky I suppose. I do know I feel bad and try to let Jonathan know I didn't mean things, I said I do not mean to attack him it isn't his fault I have cancer but the depression and the sick feeling are so awful some days. he gets it after we talk about the day and I apologize. acknowledging each other's hurt if there is some is important when you are able the family is battling cancer and it is hard the entire family are warriors I say.

on amazon  10 bucks for 8 wow

On Amazon 
all different colors you pick the 4 you like for 15 bucks cool

love you all thanks for stopping by hugs 

health update

August 22 and 23 had a bout of vomiting and not feeling well but then feeling a bit better with just some old constipations pain.

25th  been enjoying the cool air outside last few days mainly relaxing watching birds and squirrels and Barnaby l. feeling good today I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon. Hugs all.

29th Tomorrow going to bone marrow biopsy. They say it is painful, but only for a little bit. I'm scared because I'm not at the top of my game to begin with. 
Well, I will be fine, I always finish with good people making me smile, hubby number one and my biggest fan. This is my new "kicking cancer in nodes" t-shirt.

30th bone marrow biopsy -Good morning Barnaby yes Mom has to go out today sorry but extra treats when we get home. Have a good day everyone hugs.

31st Happy birthday to my wonderful husband - all went as expected yesterday yup hurt like a wrenching charlie horse cramping pain in my back.  but pain well it is getting to be normal in a way, special procedures docs and nurses are remembering me now very friendly. Had the same doc that did my port. Doing great this morning sun is shining have a great weekend everyone. And prayers for those in Florida in the path of the hurricane. till next time hugs all. thank you for reading.

chemotherapy R- CHOP DAY

8-15-19 was R-CHOP  day

I didn't sleep well the night before

Well, a long day I slept a lot during part of the treatment because they gave me liquid Benadryl to help with side effects. It made me very sleepy but made time go by faster. Got home around 6 and so far weak but been fine. Jonathan was good company and helpful. Love you hon so much.

8-16  I am doing good today, the nausea meds are working perfectly it seems. Mostly I have low energy like you would after having the flu. I am a bit spacy and foggy, i.e. ”chemo brain”, but we expected that. So far it isn't anywhere near as bad of side effects as I was concerned about. Hoping it continues!

I have been able to do most of my normal daily needs myself with ease, so very grateful.
The picture is of the Neulasta On Pro that is advertised on TV, it's so I don't have to go back for the shot the next day. Cool gadget! I will get blinking green light at about 9 tonight and then it will beep and it will automatically deliver the shot, and that's it, we just take it off.
No more chemo for 3 weeks. Then start again.  

8-17 a bit worse today a bit more times of queazy tummy but no vomiting so happy with that, and was much weaker and dizzy than yesterday but I was able to walk about holding on to things everything else went well.

8-18 wow feeling really good hungry and have energy very happy so far but it is early  I am going to end this post with a quick video if anything gets out of sorts today I will update but I am blessed I know this thank you all for caring so much.

Port put in

Had the port put in and it went pretty well. It actually was faster than the biopsies, which is weird because it is the only actual surgery.

I'm sore and it aches more than the others did.

But I got a fun card to show at airports if it sets off the metal detector. LOL

But, unfortunately, when I got there I found out they want to schedule a bone marrow biopsy. Whhaaatt?!?!

Needless to say I'm upset about that because I've heard it's pretty painful.

But all is well, I'm resting with my hubby and the pup-pup.

day 2- port site still very soar but I am managing hoping pain will go away

interesting video love it

Non Hodgkins Follicular Lymphoma and how I turned it around:)

Biopsy update

Lisa Roy

July 30 at 7:50 AM · 

This morning going in for another biopsy this time in my lower back a larger 2 centimeters they found in PET scan they want to try and get a bigger sample for testing to see what kind of treatment if it is aggressive or not. as always my mental health anxiety has me with upset stomach and edge of tears deep breaths and going to write down some positives before I have to get ready to leave. hugs everyone

This time because the biopsy is of a much deeper lymph node they are using a CT scan to guide it. 

It hurt more than expected mostly giving the pain killer shots 3 shots into sections inside me wow and a longer recovery. Jonathan was with me before and after I am so grateful and he was so awesome keeping me smiling and feeling loved as always. 

8-2-19

Lisa Roy ( today doc appointment for biopsy results) No news the tech with results of my biopsy hadn't sent it to him and wasn't in when he tried to get ahold of her so instead as we wait for results I will get an appointment with his assistant to teach me about what chemo is and so on, by then they will know the kind I will receive and how often. I get my port put in and get an EKG for a baseline and blood work for my blood cell levels I get that a lot now just to see if anything changes nothing has it has been good so far. will post with news hugs everyone thanks you so much for all your support

7-27-19 update

Well, I was off and on sick recently it seems when I have a great day and work gardening a bit or do housework by the end of the day I am wiped out but it is the next day that bothers me. 

I am usually sick like yesterday I had diarrhea tired and out of sorts, it seems I can do things every other day and have to except the other days I will be sick or not feeling well in some way. remember I am on watch and wait with a cancer flare-up which means once it gets bad enough we use treatment to get it into remission. after the biopsi I will start treatment we are finding out if it will be aggressive or not meaning 2 different therapies.

 the biopsy will tell us then I will get a tube shunt or whatever you call it in my chest near my neck for the treatments. 

I have the biopsy in a couple days nervous about it but at least I know what to expect just a different spot this time not my armpit but my lower back I will let you all know how it goes.

I was feeling some depression I wrote about having anxiety and depression to my FL group on facebook they recommended writing good things down think only the positive to get through so I started making these a fun way  to put write my good thoughts down 

I made some awareness items at Zazzle here is one we did for Jonathan people can change the white letters to what they like  the link is here zazzle awareness products 

My husband Jonathan in his hat 

till next time many hugs and thanks