Where have I been Cancer

[Guest guest]

On july 5 I got hurt working out doors. Through my emergency room visit

and many test they found that I had cancer of the thymus gland, so with

my injuries and doctors visits I have been totaly exhausted.

The doctor does feel he has all the cancer but I still must see a doctor about

radiation. As you can see I am not typing very well.

Hopefully it will be the first and last time I have my chest cut open. It`s been

a long haul since July. Right now, I only hope someone can help me with these 2

questions.

Should I be expecting so much arm and shoulder pain. I know I spent a lot of

time on my back and my arm was used for a pully and dart board if you get what I

mean.

Secondly, does anyone know of anything I can use for sort of a dry

shampoo. Sad to say, I spend a lot of time a lone, and hubby is NO

help. My hair are needing a shampoo badly and I can`t figure out how to

do it. My arms won`t stay up that long and I don`t want to crawl in the

shower just yet. Not enough strength.

My surgery isn`t two weeks old yet. And I`m alone a lot as I stated. Maybe

someone has an idea.

I have been reading the post, but this is the most tpyping I have

done in weeks. I`ll be waiting to see if anyone has any idea.

Thank you for your help and bless you all. I`ll keep trying to read. I knw many

of you sffer a whole lot too.

R.

[Guest guest]

--- " imstillhereyet " wrote:

>\ Right now, I only hope someone can help me with these 2 questions.

>

> Should I be expecting so much arm and shoulder pain. > Secondly,

does anyone know of anything I can use for sort of a dry

> shampoo.

Hello -

I'm terribly sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis, and I hope

you have a complete and easy recovery.

I think you need to ask your doctor immediately about the arm pain.

We are not doctors. It could be a symptom of something serious, or

it may just be overuse. But don't assume anything - have it checked

out by an expert familiar with your surgery and treatment.

As for the shampoo - when I was in the hospital last fall, they gave

me a bottle of a " cleanser " that can be used on hair or body (or even

on private parts safely with no irritation!) that doesn't have to be

rinsed off. It can be applied to damp hair (you could just run a wet

comb or brush through your hair at the sink to dampen it) and then

rub it into a lather and wipe it off with a towel. No rinsing

necessary. You can also use it on your body without having to rinse

it off, if you're not up to taking a shower or bath.

It is called " Aloe Vesta Multi-Purpose Cleansing Foam " for body,

hair, and perineal area, made by a company called ConvaTec. I

entered " ConvaTec Aloe Vesta Cleansing Foam " into Yahoo or Google and

got a lot of companies that sell it online. I think you also might

be able to find it at a medical supply company locally, but it's not

sold in retail stores. Given your situation, you might just want to

buy it online and have it delivered.

It's a really good product - I've continued to use it since bringing

home the bottle they gave me in the hospital, and have thought about

trying to order some more, it's so nice. It makes a great, non-

irritating foam for shaving your legs!

Hope this helps. Again, I hope you have a great recovery.

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

[Guest guest]

On Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 11:10 AM, imstillhereyet

wrote:

Secondly, does anyone know of anything I can use for sort of a dry

shampoo. Sad to say, I spend a lot of time a lone, and hubby is NO

help. My hair are needing a shampoo badly and I can`t figure out how to

do it. My arms won`t stay up that long and I don`t want to crawl in the

shower just yet. Not enough strength.

R.

*Dear , *

If I were there near you, I would come to your house and wash your hair for

you! And I would do it with a smile, because I know it is a bad situation

to be in. With arthritis in my fingers, and bursitis in my elbows and

wrists, I know how hard it can be even to just stand in the shower and try

to massage shampoo into my hair, and then conditioner. It is downright

exhausting and adds to the pain already there. If you were well enough to go

to a salon, that would be my next option. The latter would be the better,

especially if you can get your hubby to take you there. I have tried the

spray-on stuff, and it made my scalp itch the next day. That was a long time

ago, and I would never want to do that again!

Bonnadel

P.S. Another option would be to hang your head over the edge of the bed

(with a plastic table cloth under your shoulders that extends into a tub on

the floor. and a small rolled towel under your neck), then get your hubby to

pour the warm water-- which YOU have tested for warmth-- and play " shampoo "

man without the Mr. Clean earring or shaved head. That would take some

doing, possibly messy, and requiring gentleness on his part, but well worth

the effort if you can get a clean scalp.

B.B. from SC

>

>

>

--

Y F B

[Guest guest]

I feel for you, being in need of help but none being offered.  I know that

people volunteer to help people who are housebound through churches and other

agencies.  Do a search for " social services " in your county.  Then start

calling, explaining your situation.  Your hospital's social service department

should also be a good resource if they haven't offered their services, call

them.

I had a cancer in my thyroid and my doctor removed my thymus during that surgery

with a small incision in my neck.  Not all doctors feel that cracking a chest is

the only way to remove the thymus.  Research and see if someone can get you in

touch with a doctor who is familiar and experienced.  I had my surgery at

Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH.

Jennette

--- wrote:

The doctor does feel he has all the cancer but I still must see a doctor about

radiation. As you can see I am not typing very well.

[Guest guest]

R wrote:

> Should I be expecting so much arm and shoulder pain. I know I spent a

> lot of time on my back and my arm was used for a pully and dart board

> if you get what I mean.

>

> Secondly, does anyone know of anything I can use for sort of a dry

> shampoo.

>

> ,

Question One:

Sorry about you incidents but I am glad they are getting it treated.

Chest surgery is very sore and takes a long time to

recoup. I thought I would just zoom through the over twelve chest

surgeries I had in the past.

Even though some were outpatient, I could not believe the weakness I

had in my arms and how difficult it was to

reach to the cabinets to get to cups. I just put my elbows close to my

body and went from there. It takes a while to

build the strength back. I don't know why pulling my elbows close in

made me feel less pain but it did.

I remember doing the itsy bitsy spider crawl with my fingers up the

wall to see how far up the wall my arm could go.

I finally made it above my shoulders ! I think it took me six weeks I

also couldn't believe all the things that were all out of my reach.

So, put all

things on the counter so you just scoot up to the side and get them : )

I will be thinking of you and hope that your

chemotherapy goes well.

Let us know how you are doing.

Question number two: Dry shampoo ?

-Talcum Powder and corn starch you can just use one time but there are

shampoos for what you are wanting at health aid stores.

It is called " No Rinse " and it is great, I used it on my Mom when she

was bed ridden and I got it at the hospital when I was

hospitalized. I think Walgreens has it but you can go to their

website, No Rinse .com and they have lots of products.

I know that Petsmart has it for Cats and it looks just like the No

RInse so you could use that. They also have cat wipes

and it has the same stuff that diaper wipes have in it, so you could

try those also.

I used them on time to clean my bangs and they worked.

I am praying for you, it is time to call in your favors and let others

do for you ! Let us know how you are. Bennie

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm so sorry you are going through this. You are the 7th person I know of that

went into the hospital with an injury and come out with the diagnosis of cancer.

I'm so glad they found it and could get it out. I'm thinking you were having

symptoms before finding out? If so, what were they? (I know you have a hard time

typing so don't feel like you have to type about that now).

I know that there are dry rub shampoo's out there but unsure of the brand names.

I wish I was there to help you, maybe you could sit on a chair in the shower,

that might help. I'm not an expert on the arm/shoulder pain but I think that

would be expected under the circumstances.

Hang in there and hope you feel better really soon. We will be thinking about

you.

Caitlin

Moderator

On july 5 I got hurt working out doors. Through my emergency room visit and many

test they found that I had cancer of the thymus gland, so with my injuries and

doctors visits I have been totaly exhausted.