Sue's Journey to FINALLY getting this weight off!

[scrappychik]

Good morning, Sue I too am praying they get your tube fixed and make you more comfortable

[seb]

Good Thursday morning.

I was so sick with the pain med I took yesterday that I was in bed most of the day. It made me sleep, nauseated and gave me a migraine. I'd rather have the tube pain than that. Won't take any more of those.

I'm so glad they have finally listened to me about this tube. I woke up today in pain and after being up for 30 minutes I had to go back to bed because the pain was so bad. Laying flat on my back is the only thing that helps.

I have so much to do this week and haven't accomplished one thing. It's very frustrating, but it's just how things are right now. I had to cancel coffee with a friend yesterday, which I hated to do. I couldn't greet the lady that brought over our dinner because I was too sick to get out of bed. I need a haircut before Saturday (big 80th b'day party for MIL) and get a new shirt for it, but time is running out. I need to finish getting school supplies for the kids, but I can't do that kind of stuff right now without major pain.

DD is having to do all my errands, chores, etc...and I wonder what I will do when she leaves in less than a week.

I'm not down right now; just airing my frustrations.

Lisa~I love the new pic of you and DD. You're both beautiful. Prayed for you this morning.

Sara~I have chemo next Monday. I'm beginning to dread it, but after next week I will be a quarter done with it.

Jaimie~I agree that taking meds is better than pain, but I have such bad reactions to so many meds. It's probably because at 48, I've hardly taken any meds, never did drugs, don't drink alcohol, etc...

HB~I like that quote. Thank you for sharing it with me. I do believe that good things are coming from this, even though you're right when you say that cancer sucks.

Diana~I know I will be free of all of this also in the future. The Lord will restore my youth.

Janeann~I'm not too hard on DS, but he does lose a lot of expensive stuff. I call his room "the black hole" because things just disappear. Sorry you lost your purse. How frustrating that must have been.

Jennifer~I'm on a feeding tube because I couldn't get enough calories/nutrition through my mouth to keep me healthy through chemo. This way I will stay the same weight, don't lose as much muscle mass, and end up much healthier than if I kept losing weight the unhealthy way. When they put it in I was barely getting in 500 calories a day and was in a ton of pain.

I can't eat until after the tube is replaced this afternoon. I'm hungry right now. Sure would love my morning dose of cheese toast.

[NewYorkGiants32]

Hello!

So...your son's room is The Black Hole......mine too! I wonder if it is an age thing or just a guy thing? Either way it drives me crazy.

How long is your daughter going to be gone? I know you said it before, I already forgot.

I hope this new feeding tube helps, I'm no DR, but to me, there is no reason you should have to deal with the pain of a feeding tube on top of everything else.

Are you going to your MIL for the party or is it out your way?

[seb]

Morning Jennifer.

DD will be gone for 5-6 months.

MIL's party is in the Seattle area.

[hummingbird11]

Sue...

this is the hardest part about the insidious disease called cancer...

the part that changes your life for awhile; maybe forever.

and "generous givers" such as yourself have the most difficult time with this.

YOU and YOUR HEALTH are the PRIORITY right now.

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

All of those friends that you can't meet for coffee right now, please let them know that you need HELP with errands and other things after DD leaves...

I promise you they will be HAPPY to help you. It's so hard for people to deal with life threatening illnesses. They don't know what to say or what to do or how to help. But when you give them a way to help you, they feel so good about being able to contribute something.

It's a win/win. You need the help; they need to feel helpful.

Lie on your back and ask for different pain meds.
(what were those that you took anyway?)

and try not to feel guilty or frustrated.
(although it's normal to feel that way)

this is a journey; YOUR journey.
Life will never be the same.
not better; not worse.
Just different.

Relax and let the World take care of YOU and YOUR NEEDS (for a change).

Did you get any anti-anxiety pills yet?
(ativan and zanax?)
These are IMPORTANT.

Originally Posted by seb

I have so much to do this week and haven't accomplished one thing. It's very frustrating, but it's just how things are right now. I had to cancel coffee with a friend yesterday, which I hated to do. I couldn't greet the lady that brought over our dinner because I was too sick to get out of bed. I need a haircut before Saturday (big 80th b'day party for MIL) and get a new shirt for it, but time is running out. I need to finish getting school supplies for the kids, but I can't do that kind of stuff right now without major pain.

DD is having to do all my errands, chores, etc...and I wonder what I will do when she leaves in less than a week.

[Sarajewel]

Originally Posted by hummingbird11

Sue...

this is the hardest part about the insidious disease called cancer...

the part that changes your life for awhile; maybe forever.

and "generous givers" such as yourself have the most difficult time with this.

YOU and YOUR HEALTH are the PRIORITY right now.

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

All of those friends that you can't meet for coffee right now, please let them know that you need HELP with errands and other things after DD leaves...

I promise you they will be HAPPY to help you. It's so hard for people to deal with life threatening illnesses. They don't know what to say or what to do or how to help. But when you give them a way to help you, they feel so good about being able to contribute something. It's a win/win. You need the help; they need to feel helpful.

Lay on your back and ask for different pain meds.
(what were those that you took anyway?)

and try not to feel guilty or frustrated.
(although it's normal to feel that way)

this is a journey; YOUR journey.
Life will never be the same.
not better; not worse.
Just different.

Relax and let the World take care of YOU and YOUR NEEDS (for a change).

Did you get any anti-anxiety pills yet?
(ativan and zanax?)
These are IMPORTANT.

^^^ WHAT SHE SAID!!!!!

[hummingbird11]

Cancer and Resveratrol
Anyone heard about this?? Anyone use it??

The Top 10 Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Originally Posted by fawn

Ok, here's my deal.....going into details here, but I like people to know why my decisions are what they are!

My BIL was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago. In my research to find him viable alternative therapy, I came across Johanna Budwig's cottage cheese/flax oil combination. You can google the Budwig Diet for more information. But in short, the combination claims (very good claims) to both prevent and treat cancer. In my research, we all have the capability to contract cancer and fight it daily/weekly/monthly/yearly.

Anyway, in my years of research on the immune system and digestion I have also discovered the benefits of kefir/probiotic foods (cottage cheese is also one) I smoked for 20+ years, drank my fair share and consumed foods void of nutritional value.....when my BIL was diagnosed, DH and I really just thought about our past behaviors and thought we needed to maximize our damage control and work to prevent cancer as it is a very slow growing disease in its beginning stages.

So, I made up a supplemental drink to help boost our immune systems and maybe prevent/treat a cancer that could potentially be growing in our bodies.

For two servings, I blend:
1 cup cottage cheese
4 tbs. flax oil (clean refrigerated from spectrum or nutiva)
blend the above two as the cottage cheese and flax need to combine to properly oxygenate at a cellular level
add
1 cup organic kefir (I will be making my own when I start my cow share program w/raw)
1/2 cup coconut water
blend until smooth

I sometimes add frozen blueberries for a cooling afternoon snack

It is tasty and quite healthful. We feel good with this addition but more importantly feel it a fabulous preventive medicine.

I hope you enjoy it

[hummingbird11]

My 2 friends with Cancer claim this book as their "bible":
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This one just released:
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LOVE this book (so do my friends & family):
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this book looks awesome; I think I will order it:
Amazon.com: Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want...


Sue, I pray that your procedure goes well this afternoon & that you're as abolutely pain-free as possible SOON!

[seb]

TGIF!

I feel so good today. I woke up early with energy and got a lot done before anyone got up. I've even made the pasta salad (rotini pasta, sun dried tomatoes soaked in olive oil, olives, grated parm cheese and diced red onion, yum) for tomorrow's big 80th b'day bash for MIL. BTW, if you have Dreamfields pasta, this would make a great LC salad.

The procedure went well yesterday. They lightly sedated me since they weren't sure if there were sutures on the inside, but it was over and done before I even realized it. They have me on a three month schedule for doing this now, as is usual, and said that I won't need to be sedated anymore since things went so well. I hardly felt a thing, just pressure that didn't hurt.

So, I'm in a bit of pain, but I think things will just get better. I can't believe the energy I have this morning. It feels like the old Sue is back.

Lots to do today, but I think I can fit it all in, then I'll have a relaxing evening as the kids go to the first high school football game of the season. DS's best friend is first string varsity as a sophomore, so we're all excited for him.

HB~you are so kind and helpful to me. I know that when DD leaves next week I will be calling on my friends. They've all offered to help with whatever I need, so I will be calling on them soon. It is humbling to be in these circumstances, but if I had a friend in this situation, I know that I'd be wanting to help as much as possible.

You're right. Life will never be the same for me, but I do think that in many ways it's better. I've realized how many blessings that the Lord has given me in the form of my family, friends and church. I will always be thankful for this time, as I've seen how so many have surrounded me in support. I look forward to the day that I can do the same for others. It's been a life lesson for me.

That supplemental drink sounds good. We have blueberry bushes that have produced about 30 pounds of berries this season, and they would be good with this. I'll have to go to the health food store to see if they have the kefir and coconut water. I always have flax oil on hand because I make a great salad dressing with it.

Thank you for the book ideas. I will look at the website of our local library and see if they have any of these on hand, or put them on hold. I'm at the point in this journey that I want/need more info.

[scrappychik]

Yay, Sue!!!!! I can feel the energy & good vibes coming through in your post It's so good that you're feeling like your old self.
The salad sounds yummy. I have adapted several pasta recipes just substituting dreamfields-good stuff
I was thinking that since you were able to eat more they would consider letting you lose the tube but I suppose it is too soon. If you keep improving and being a good patient it won't be long I came across this scripture while reading in the dentist office and thought of you-

"Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm." Ephesians 6:13

And in this chapter of the book (Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now for Moms) he writes

Develop a victor's mentality and watch what God begins to do. Set your face like a flint and say, "God I may not understand this, but I know You are still in control. And You said all things would work together for my good. You said You would take this evil & turn it around and use it to my advantage. So, Father I thank You that You are going to bring me through this!" No matter what you may face in life, if you know how to get up on the inside, adversities cannot keep you down.

Just wanted to share that with you. You already have an amazing attitude and strength, but every little bit helps ya know

Hope the rest of your day is TERRIFIC!!!!

ETA~OMGosh! I just noticed HB's new avatar HB, change back to your beautiful face plz

[Livywilltim-mom]

Sweet Sue,

Wow, you sound like your old self...only with more wisdom and insight

I learn something everytime I come to your journal! The ladies here are fantastic, thanks to all of you!

Hugs

[Determinedtolose]

Hi Sue,
Scrappychick and Jaimie said it all! I don't think I can add to it, but know that I am so happy and thrilled for you this day!! I can read the joy, happiness and excitment in your post.

I pray that this will last and that your weekend will be full of fun!!

God bless you Sweet Sue!!!

[Sarajewel]

Hope you have a wonderful day!

[hummingbird11]

Sue!
soooooooooooo glad that you are feeling better today and that the tube procedure went well ~ YAY!
but I'm sorry that you still have a bit of pain
I hope you enjoy your w/e and LIFE in general!

just seeing who's awake today!

Originally Posted by scrappychik

ETA~OMGosh! I just noticed HB's new avatar HB, change back to your beautiful face plz

[Bhambabe]

Hi Sue, I am happy to hear your feel better and pray your weekend will be blessed with love and joy and your able to hold on to that feel good energy .
God Bless you and your family
Janeann

[seb]

Just a quick Monday morning check in.

Things are going much better with the feeding tube. I actually haven't even been on it much because of the amount of food I have been able to eat, but the pain has lessened greatly.

I have an appointment with the Oncologist this morning, then chemo. And, I have to be getting ready the same time as the boys and DH for school and work so I must start early or things won't get done.

DD leaves tomorrow. She's been flitting around with her friends to last minute get togethers and picking up a few items she'll need for her 5 month journey.

bbl to address you all personally.

[Livywilltim-mom]

Praise God!

I am soooo relieved to hear that you are feeling better with this new tube.

I can't believe how energetic you sound...please, please, please take care of you

Hugs

[mycattaz]

Sue so glad to hear you are feeling better... God is good.... I know you hate to see dd go, but what a blessing it will be for her to experience this..... prayers go up for you today for your doctors appointment and for chemo..... hope you have a wonderful day

[Determinedtolose]

Good Morning Sue!
I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better! This could be a turning point for you now and on the road to recovery!!

Have a great day!!

Love Ya!

[seb]

DH just left with DD to take her to the airport. I didn't even cry, although I almost did. Last year when she left for college I cried buckets, but she's a year older now, confident in her abilities and strengths and ready for a change. Even though I will miss her terribly, I am so excited for her.

Our visit with the Oncologist went well yesterday. Last visit I mentioned that he smiled for the first time, and this time he not only smiled, but laughed. I think that he is surprised at my progress.

This chemo is in cycles. Each cycle is one month, or two treatments two weeks apart. I have finished two cycles of chemo, and after three cycles, he wants to do a CT scan to see what things look like. Normally a person would do 6 cycles, but he said that that is not certain with me; he'll determine what to do after the CT scan. I am praying that when they do the CT scan, the tumor will be gone. The rest of the cancer did not show up well on the CT or PET scan, so it will be hard for them to determine what is going on there, but we are praying for a complete and total healing from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.

I am amazed at how well I feel this morning. I am drinking a cup of coffee and coffee doesn't usually sound good for 2-3 days after chemo. I ate a piece of my cheese toast with no nausea. And, I have had no pain from my feeding tube since yesterday. Praise the Lord. I give Him the glory.

Good morning Jaimie, Lisa and Diana.

[mycattaz]

Sue is so wonderful to hear that you are feeling good this morning... God has his hand on you and I too proclaim that there will be no cancer from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.... We are looking for wonderful news, God is Good