# 16 NICOTINE IS A BITCH

SMOKING ABOUT 4 CIGS A DAY DAMN IT

 

TIME TO GET RID OF THESE  TEMPTATIONS

THE LAST ASH TRAY IN THE APARTMENT

THE CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINE

# 15 WEEK OF APRIL 25 NOTES - BRAIN MRI NEGATIVE!

MONDAY APRIL 25 THROUGH FRIDAY APRIL 29

MONDAY CHECKUP WITH DR VEYTSMAN - Met Kathleen Spadaro, Nurse Practitioner. She updated my chart for new system. Blood Pressure 118/60 Pulse 60. GREAT NEWS FROM DR VEYTSMAN - MRI OF BRAIN NEGATIVE! Nurse Melissa Mummert drew blood to check white count and electrolytes. Received call from her later that day saying my magnesium was low and to add 2 - 400 mg per day to my supplements. Magnesium is a trace metal needed in the diet that plays an essential role in energy use in the cell and in copying the cell’s genetic material.  I also researched magnesium rich foods.

I added a folder to my documents with lists and charts on nutrition.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ultimate-list-40-high-protein-foods.html By Matthew Kadey, MS, RD

 
 

 Will see Dr Veytsman and have blood tests once a week till next chemo treatment in May.

THIS WEEK WITH DR SOOD - On Monday Dietician Margaret said I should be eating 5 servings of protein a day. I researched protein rich foods.

BIG THANK YOU TO MY NEW FRIEND MEG BRANTNER who followed me to the garage to leave my van for inspection, took me to both radiation appointments and then to get my van. It was a good day - only thing van needed was a light bulb! It was great getting to know Meg better. We had a good time and she showed me the alternate route to get to radiation appointments next week when 11-15 will be closed.

 

On Tuesday Nurse Julie and Dr Sood said my face color has improved greatly and gave me big congrats on quitting (almost!) smoking. Julie said 4-6 puffs a day is nothing especially compared to what I used to smoke a day. But I am not giving up on becoming a complete non-smoker.

 

On Tuesday Dr Sood said I need to build up my protein to prepare for throat and swallowing issues which may start in a week or two.

 

On Wednesday my nails are getting brittle and soft. Nurse Julie said on Thursday that this is from the chemo. I purchased Biotin (B7) supplements.

"There are many supplements marketed for strengthening nails, but the only significant evidence to-date is for supplementing with biotin (vitamin B-7)."

http://www.consumerlab.com/answers/Can+vitamin+supplements+strengthen+brittle+nails%3F/brittle_nail_supplements/ 

On Wednesday, the radiation therapists gave me a box of donuts and container of cookies to give to hikers. I put them on Doyle Hotel balcony picnic table with a note before doing a shuttle at 6:30 am. I'm sure the hikers in town loved that trail magic! There was at least 6 hikers in town.

On Thursday at the end of the second radiation I was feeling lightheaded and asked the therapists about it. Their first reaction was that it is normal when rising from the table but after I had to sit back down 4 times Kathryn took me to a room to check my vitals. Nurse Julie came in the room and said my blood pressure was low. It was 105/60. About 10 minutes later it rose to 112/57, still much lower than previous BP's this month. 4/8/16 - 137/56; 4/22/16 - 128/56; and 4/26/16 - 126/63. She said there is a name for what is happening. It is called orthostatic hypotension. She said when getting out of bed (other times it is happening) to roll on my side, then sit up in bed before standing >> "Sit before you stand, stand before you walk, look straight ahead and TAKE IT SLOW!" And taking a few deep breaths at each step.  She also instructed me to call Dr Bibosa who prescribed my blood pressure medicine. 

Dr  Bibosa's instructions are to take 1/2 pill a day and I will go in next Friday for a blood pressure check with his nurse.

Friday is day 8 (radiation # 15 & 16) of 15 days of radiation! Half way there! I saw the nurse again and we talked about my blood pressure. Today at 8:20 am before taking a blood pressure pill it was 128/56. She said do not do any changes in my blood pressure medication on my own. It could cause serious damage to go off pills totally suddenly. I told her I take my blood pressure pill after my first radiation of day. She said yesterday's low bp was probably because medication was at it's peak at that time.  
Seen by Dr Prashant Desai

today because Dr Sood has a day off. He said my lungs sounded good and asked how I am doing with smoking. Not as good as I hoped -  4 - 1/2 cigs a day. He said I have to get off them completely.

ENJOY THE MUCH NEEDED LIQUID SUNSHINE, EVERYONE!

# 14 WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO VOLUNTEER!

Here's some I have met so far. 

This gentleman didn't just tell me where I needed to be when I was confused on the first day concerning which floor I needed, he escorted me on the elevator and to the door of the room I needed to be in! 

  Barbara, retired elementary teacher Susquenita School District was the first volunteer to greet me on my first visit to the infusion center. She came out to the lobby where I was waiting to be called! THANK YOU BARBARA!

Volunteer and her dog Lola! She dresses the dog for all the holidays!

# 13 LOVE THESE PEOPLE!

BIG, BIG THANKS AND LOVE  TO THIS TEAM

 AT THE ORTENZIO CANCER CENTER

 RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

 UNDER THE FINE DIRECTION OF CARING,  LOVING, AND INSPIRATIONAL DR SOOD.

This is the second time I have been under their care. Wish I wasn't seeing them again for this reason but overjoyed to have them as the team to care for me. 

 

AT WORK

# 12 OKAY, LET'S GET 'ER DONE!

RADIATION FIRST AT WEST SHORE FACILITY, THEN CHEMO AT EAST SHORE FACILITY THEN RADIATION AGAIN AT WEST SHORE FACILITY!

THE RADIATION ROOM

And here's me on the radiation table! Appointment only takes 20 minutes from the time I walk in door to walk back out!

BIG THANK YOU TO MY DAUGHTER TINA WHO DID ALL THE DRIVING FOR ME ON WED THROUGH FRI., APRIL 20 TO 22.  LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK.

  RECEIVED GUIDELINES OF SIDE EFFECTS AND WHEN TO CALL DOCTOR OR NURSE

CHEMOTHERAPY RECEIVED - CYCLE 1

Day 1  - Anti-nausea and steroid infused with saline then cancer drugs Carboplatin and Etopozide.

Day 2 - Saline flush to rid body of carboplatin so it doesn't lay in kidneys, Etoposide

Day 3 - Same as Day 2

ORAL MEDICATIONS SCHEDULE

Day 2, 3, 4, 5 am and pm Dexamethazone (steroid for all side effects) and Ondansentron (anti nausea)

Day 6 am and pm Ondansentron

OUCH !

Day 1 Needle going into my port brought tears to my eyes because of the pain but my nurse assured me it would hurt less each time.

Day 1 Arrived at 9:10 am. Infusion started at 10:20 am. Flush started at 1:44 pm and ended at 2:00 pm.

BIG THANK YOU TO MY NURSE MEGAN ON APRIL 20! She was very kind and caring and explained everything very well.

Day 2 - 4/21/16 My nurse on day 2 was Rita and the volunteer was Manoja. At 9:27 Rita infused the prehydration to clear out day 1 treatment. Rita elevated my legs because she noticed swelling. At 10:20 the etoposide was infused and at 11:30 am I was done. No pain today from the needle.

Day 3 - 4//22/16 My nurse was Jodi and the Volunteers were Barbara & Tom. I arrived at 9:15 and was done at 11:09 am.

 WEIGHT GAIN
Gained 5 lbs since first weigh in. Nurse assures me it is all the fluids and I should piss it out over the weekend.
CARE OF PORT
Always remove bandaids within an hour to prevent infection. Don't need to specially cover to kayak. Pat dry if port gets wet. Do not submerge port.
CONSTIPATION (my only side effect thus far)
is a side effect of the ondansentron and should be relieved by taking stool softeners, lots of water, prunes, fruit and vegetables. Start remedy as soon as start taking medications.

# 11 - BIG SHOUT OUT THANKS & LOVE TO A TRAIL FRIEND

On Wednesday April 20, when I came home from treatments there were two boxes on my balcony - one being my Doterra Essentail Oil order (which I totally forgot to change from previous month - shucks)!

https://www.mydoterra.com/trailangelmary/#/

AND a box from Amazon. I didn't remember ordering anything from Amazon! 

Then on Thursday while I was on computer at treatment center I saw message from my wonderful, kind trail friend Phoenix Rising from Arizona. 

She sent me a brand new humidifier which the doctor recommended to help heal my lungs as I quit smoking. 

She also sent me these great inspirations through facebook to encourage me to keep on towards quitting.

"Top half of my new dry wipe board. Every morning as I hit the alarm I see these names and pray for healing. All are fighting something known or unknown and all hold an important place in my heart." Angela Phoenix Rising Coates

AND she sent me these supplement products which arrived just in time to relieve the constipation I was having from chemo..

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Phoenix Rising. I looked for a picture of us together in some of my cd's but couldn't find one. Definitely need to get one at Trail Days! 

#10 - GOOD NEWS CHOLESTEROL FINALLY DOWN

Here is the report from my blood tests from checkup with my general practitioner Dr Bibosa: Very happy with results!  

 

# 8 - INSPIRATIONS THAT HELPED ME QUIT

Inspiration said to me by doctors, friends, and family that helped me stay on target and quit smoking.

THANK YOU!  

"The only reason you haven't quit smoking yet is that you don't have faith that you can." 

"There are three parts to the team that is going to make you well and we all have equal parts - you, your doctors, and God."

After telling my daughter I smoked 6 cigarettes in a row after finding out the results, "Don't beat your self up over a bad day,  tomorrow will be better." And she sent me this on facebook.

"Right now the nicotine controls you. You are gaining on it with your program to quit, but you have to take the final step to control the nicotine by deciding to be a non-smoker."

 "The desire to quit smoking has to come from your heart."

# 7 KEEPING THINGS NORMAL

HIKERS HAVE BEEN FLOWING THROUGH starting with  Working Class on March 30, 2016.

         NEW HIKER BEDS!

ON TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016 LIFE WAS VERY NORMAL. 

 Two hikers packing to hike out,
another hiker waiting for me to shuttle him, and later during the shuttle to Waynesboro,VA I get a text from Vicky at the Doyle that a 7some year old hiker from Australia would like to stay for a few days and be shuttled to Harrisburg on Saturday. The hiker I was shuttling became not only my co-pilot but also a great secretary! 

SO, the hiker season has begun and I am going to keep trying to do what I do.

At the shuttle arrival I was pleasantly surprised to see the ALDHA pavilion that was erected there a few years back and of course I had to take the opportunity for a picture.

During the ride and after I had more texts from hikers to reply to.
  Turns out that  one shuttle would be completed by my now hiker/assistant shuttler from Australia Noel!

He in turn learned something new on Thursday - how to follow a gps!

So life is good and I had a great Tuesday! Fired up and ready to beat this cancer with my first treatments beginning on Wednesday. And a nice surprise when I woke on Wednesday morning

while I was talking with Noel in kitchen I see another set of hiker feet going bye in Hallway. Welcome NOBO Wanda aka 3 SOX!

 

 

OH, almost forget. The quitting cigarette update!

So at about 7 days away on my chart to the last cigarette I started to get stuck on a speed bump. I was actually smoking about 10 cigarettes on a 7 cigarette day. I repeated the 7 cigarette day attempt 3 days in a row without success. So, I decided to go ahead and smoke those 10 cigs a day and on my quit day to quit! My quit day is also my first treatments day - WEDNESDAY APRIL 20, 2016.

IF YOU WANT TO QUIT, PICK A QUIT DAY!