Weekend is off to a good start

Friday, May 27, 2011

It got cold again last night, into the 40's, but today it was much nicer and warmed up quickly, into the 60's.

My dad came over this morning (he is feeling much better!) and did some trimming for me with his weed trimmer. I have friends coming tomorrow to mow the lawn.

I did some weeding in the flower beds; only for about 10-15 minutes though, that's all I could do before I started to get tired and a little sore. After sitting and resting a bit, I cleaned the floors in the house and vacuumed. I was pooped after that! But glad I got it all done. I did not do too bad with the pain today; I didn't even take a pain pill until 3pm. That is good for me, since usually I have to take one within an hour or two of getting up.

I have still not had a chance to sit outside and read yet and enjoy my porch. Still waiting for a day with low enough pollen, and dry and warm enough. It felt nice to work outside today, but with the breeze it's just a little too chilly to sit outdoors. But maybe later in the weekend.

Depending on how I feel tomorrow, Saturday's project will be to clean the inside of the bird bath and put clean water in it. I also need to fill the bird feeders again.

I hope that you all have a great holiday weekend, with nice weather!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

AMYBINTN 5/28/2011 10:20AM

I'm looking forward to seeing photos of all of your animal friends. I hope you have a great weekend! amy Report Inappropriate Comment

CHARMIAN2 5/28/2011 5:52AM

Isn't it wonderful to get outside a bit? Report Inappropriate Comment

ELLFIN3 5/27/2011 10:31PM

The birds are waiting! Enjoy your Saturday-Dear Friends!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CMRAND54 5/27/2011 9:31PM

What a great day! I did some weeding in my garden today, too. The weather here was wonderful. Report Inappropriate Comment

GOANNA2 5/27/2011 7:26PM

Glad you got ou into the garden and do some gardening. Have a wonderful weekend. Report Inappropriate Comment

WONTBEWAISTFULL 5/27/2011 7:07PM

Enjoy your weekend, too! Glad you were up to doing your gardening. Sue Report Inappropriate Comment

Chillin' (literally!) today

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Chilly again today; it was only 46°F when I got up, and only got up into the mid 50's today. Furnace is on, but I have still felt cold most of the day; I think part of that is the lowered blood counts from the chemo. I can't turn up the heat much higher, because then I will be too warm with hot flashes, so I am sitting here in front of the computer wrapped in a blanket. No rain today, but it's been mostly cloudy and kind of gloomy.

I had to take a pain pill as soon as I got up today because of the hip pain. Feeling my fatigue more than usual today; it's not just being tired, I'm feeling kind of light headed too. That might be from the chemo also. The pain pills make me tired too, but I think maybe it affected me more today because I took it on an empty stomach. Usually I don't take one until I've been up an hour or two. If I'm not hurting that bad when I first get up, I usually wait to take a pill, because I don't like to take them if I don't need too. The one I took this morning has worn off, but as light headed as I am feeling, I decided to wait until after dinner to take another one. Hip is still hurting, but I'm not ready to call it a day yet. For now, I'm using the store brand of Ben Gay rub to take the edge off the pain.

Before the fatigue got too bad and the light headedness started, I did get in a short stability ball workout late this morning. It was after that I started not feeling so good. Had plans to clean my floors today too, but that will have to wait another day. It's only been 2 days since I've had my chemo, so I can't be expecting to have that kind of energy so soon. Going to just relax for what's left of this day. It's supposed to sunny and warmer tomorrow; hoping to get out and pull a few weeds. Even though I'm not planting anything new this year, the flower beds still have to be cleaned up a bit. But I will only do what I can; if I start hurting too much I will stop for the day.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ELLFIN3 5/26/2011 10:02PM

You are a busy little bee! Just do not over do!!! Have a good nights rest. And A great Friday! Love you Dear Friend!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CMRAND54 5/26/2011 8:34PM

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A rainy Wednesday

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Had a bad tummy night last night with the chemo side effects. Took me a long time to get to sleep too, ended up having to take one of my sleeping pills around 12:30am.

Feeling a little better today; still having some cramps and stomach pain, and chest pain from the GERD, but it comes and goes in waves.
I still managed to get the laundry done and I did the standing portion of my Tai Chi dvd. Couldn't do the whole thing because I started getting the stomach pain again. I've been using the heating pad on my stomach when I'm sitting and that has been helping.

It's rainy and kind of cold today. Had to turn the heat on for a short time to take the chill out of the air while I took a shower and got dressed. But I'm not complaining; I feel blessed that I don't have to worry about severe weather right now. There is a flood watch out for my county, but I don't live in an area that gets flooded. It may be too wet and cold to enjoy the outdoors, I have a house that is safe, warm and dry, and if I still get cold, I can turn on the heat or put on a sweater.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ELLFIN3 5/25/2011 10:02PM

You manage to get so much done even when you are not feling well!!! for you! Stay warm and safe!! Love you!!! Hugs Dear Friend!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

NURSNANA 5/25/2011 8:36PM

Hey Shari, I would be glad to exchange our hot & humid weather lately for a cold rainy day! :) It got up to the upper 80's today, and right now at sundown it is still 80 degrees! We all need to pray for the people affected by the tornadoes or in an area where they could have severe storms and tornadoes, also flooding. My best friend out in Missouri had 2 tornadoes touch down near her home today! She was ready to go down to the basement with her dog, but the storm & tornadoes passed and the sun came out. Very scary day for her. Hope you have a better night. ~hugs~ Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

CMRAND54 5/25/2011 7:42PM

It got warm here today. It's almost summer. I hope your tummy is better tomorrow. Report Inappropriate Comment

GOANNA2 5/25/2011 6:45PM

I hope it warms up for you Shari. It is good to know that if it does keep getting cold again, you have your heater to keep warm. Sorry to hear you couldn't get to sleep. Hope tomorrow is better for you. You are so good to still be able to do your Tai Chi. Puts me to shame as I have had no motivation to do but you are giving me encouragement to keep trying. Report Inappropriate Comment

The "Easy Button" worked for me today

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Before my chemo today, I had to stop at the billing office at the hospital. I recently received a bill for lab work that the insurance didn't, but should have covered. The hospital is right next door to the clinic where I get my chemo, and I decided to get that taken care of first so I wouldn't worry and stew about it while I was getting my chemo. I just started Medicare in April, and it turned out the hospital billed my old insurance instead of Medicare and my supplement. The lady that helped me was very nice, she said it was "easy to fix". (Wish all the problems in life were that easy to fix!) She also checked back through April to make sure everything else I had done at the hospital was billed correctly; she found one other thing that wasn't and she fixed that too.

I was glad to have that problem taken care of, that meant when it came time for my chemo I could relax and do my reading instead of feeling antsy to get out of there. I was there a little less than 2 hours today; everything ran pretty much on time today at the clinic. Good news is that my white blood count went up. It was 3.9 today; which is still below normal, but most of the time mine has been in the 2's.

Had to pick up a couple of prescriptions at Rite Aid, then came home and got into my pajamas. Feeling a little sleepy as usual from the nausea meds. Stomach feels a little bloated and crampy, which is normal for me right after a chemo.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KAT7457 5/25/2011 2:29PM

Happy for you that the insurance waa straighten out for you.i hate that when they get those things wrong.I am like you love to be in my jammies more confy than clothes. hope you are enjoying your outdoor furniture when the sun is out. :) xx Report Inappropriate Comment

HOPE2BE 5/25/2011 10:56AM

So glad they fixed your billing for you. Glad your white cell count was up. Hope Report Inappropriate Comment

CHARMIAN2 5/25/2011 4:32AM

what a great lady to be so gracious helping you!! Enjoy your snuggle time tonight Report Inappropriate Comment

CMRAND54 5/24/2011 8:47PM

Don't you love helpful people? They can really make a day go better. I'm glad things went well for you. Report Inappropriate Comment

NURSNANA 5/24/2011 5:54PM

Hey Shari, I feel the same way when there is something like the mix up with your billing, it makes me nervous and I just want to get it done! I am so glad it was an easy fix and you could put it out of your mind before your chemo. Good news on your white blood count! Have a relaxing evening my friend. Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

GOANNA2 5/24/2011 5:23PM

So happy that the billing problem was resolved with a smile for you. It sounds like your chemo went well and being relaxed certainly heelped. Great news about your white blood count going up. A good outcome and I'm wishing you a good night's sleep. Hope your week goes well for you. Report Inappropriate Comment

Monday; a little rain and some sunshine

Monday, May 23, 2011

Had a little trouble falling asleep last night, then when I finally did, a thunderstorm woke me up at 1am. It didn't keep me awake long though, I turned on the tv and checked the Weather Channel and felt better when I learned there wasn't anything severe in my area, so I relaxed again and fell back asleep.

I woke up earlier than I wanted too and could not get back to sleep, so I just got up. I got to the store for my groceries about an hour earlier than I usually do. Turned out to be a good thing, because about half an hour after I got home, it started to rain. We had a good steady rain for about an hour, then the sun came out. It got windy in the afternoon.

A moment that made me smile today: Watching a robin play in a water puddle while it was still raining.

My hip pain wasn't too bad today while shopping, and I was ok until about an hour after I got home. Then I had to take my pain pill.


Felt a little "headachey" all day because of the weather. So far I've been able to stave off a bad headache without having to take any of my headache meds. I have Headache Relief lotion made by Village Naturals; it has peppermint, chamomile, and lavender in it. Often it will take care of a mild headache if I rub on my forward, on my cheekbones, and the back of my neck. I have been using it today and so far it's working. If you try it, just don't put it on right after you've washed your face or showered, it stings then!

I didn't do any kind of workout today, felt a little nauseous at times during the afternoon, a symptom I sometimes get if I get a weather related headache. It made me more tired than usual too. I just took it easy the rest of the day, figured it would be a good idea with chemo tomorrow.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LADYDARYA 5/24/2011 6:27AM

I love watching the birds play in water. When I did wildlife rehab I worked only with birds and I would put down a pie pan of water and I and my family would just laugh as they would hop in the water and fling it everywhere as they played in it. I so wish I had my bird feeders up this year. Report Inappropriate Comment

CMRAND54 5/23/2011 9:29PM

I love your description of the robin in the puddle! Report Inappropriate Comment

NURSNANA 5/23/2011 8:30PM

Awww, sounds like fun to watch a Robin play in a rain puddle! :) Good thing you got your shopping done early today!! It is not fun to be loading or unloading groceries in the rain! I will be trying the Headache Relief, thanks for sharing this information. Hope your chemo goes well tomorrow. ~hugs~ Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

CJD2000 5/23/2011 7:57PM

Enjoyed your blog. We had storms today. I don't mind them if I can stay home, but today I had to drive. All was well. Arrived safely. It was good to touch base with you. Cathy Report Inappropriate Comment

ELLFIN3 5/23/2011 7:43PM

Nothing says Spring like a Robin in a water puddle. We have a sign in our front flower bed at work and today on top of the sign we have had a Tree Frog I named Terry if he is still there tomorrow I will get a picture. I hope your headache gets better and is gone by morning!!! Enjoy your evening!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

PUDLECRAZY 5/23/2011 6:40PM

I agree. The more rested you are before your chemo round, the better. How many do you have left to go? Report Inappropriate Comment