Guest guest Posted November 30, 2005 Report Share Posted November 30, 2005 In a message dated 11/30/2005 9:39:16 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, seamist32000@... writes: He is determined to be as normal as possible and was out chainsawing logs yesterday much to the horror of my neighbour. As he says, when he does feel good he wants to make the most of it and I wouldn't wish to stop him. That is awesome, Fran...yes, I agree, let him be as normal as he possibly can. Will help make both of you feel more relaxed and keeps you and hubby in control at least part of the time and NOT the Cancer!!! Donelle Caregiver to Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2005 Report Share Posted November 30, 2005 From the very beginning of this little journey in my life I've done everything myself. I've driven to all doctor appointments, all scans, all chemo, all by myself. The only time I had company was when I went in knowing there would be sedation, then had to be sure I had to have someone drive me home. I think if I couldn't do those things, I'd feel much, much worse. As long as I can take care of myself independently, I'm still winning. I know that may change at some point in the future, but I'm really just fierce about it right now. The other reason is that I just don't want anybody to have to sit and wait through the long waits I encounter. It's really not the fault of the clinic, they do the best they can with what they have, but they have an overwhelming number of patients who don't have any insurance and have no other alternative. As long as he feels like doing whatever it is, let him, encourage him. At least that's my perspective on things. Hopefully when he feels like he needs some help, he'll be smart enough to tell you that. However, knowing how men are, don't hold your breath on that one...lol Grandmommyandme@... wrote: In a message dated 11/30/2005 9:39:16 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, seamist32000@... writes: He is determined to be as normal as possible and was out chainsawing logs yesterday much to the horror of my neighbour. As he says, when he does feel good he wants to make the most of it and I wouldn't wish to stop him. That is awesome, Fran...yes, I agree, let him be as normal as he possibly can. Will help make both of you feel more relaxed and keeps you and hubby in control at least part of the time and NOT the Cancer!!! Donelle Caregiver to Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2005 Report Share Posted November 30, 2005 Fran, I am sending up a Prayer for Matt to have an easy go round with the chemo. Yes, It will make hime tired. I drove myself to all my chemo's. It was an hour drive for me each way. So do not worry so much. The chemo effects usually hit me after the chemo session was over for that week. If Matt is like me at all it is very important to try to make as normal as a life as possible. This awful cancer robs us of so much that it is important to be able to function and try to be normal. Just watch Matt so he does not try to over do it. From my own experience it will catch up with him and you always end up paying for it. If he needs to learn this the hard way like I did then let him. Chemo will get harder on him the more he gets into the chemo. It does weaken you more each time. At least it did me. Now everyone is different so he may not. I will keep him in my Prayers. Sending up an extra prayer for you too. Love, Ingrid > > I have just been spending a couple of hours reading how you all are > on here and feeling that I have missed a lot. Time differences tend > to mean I am always way behind you all anyway. Except Lydia and I > hope the sun is shining for you today Lydia, grey here in England > but what's new! > > Welcome to those who have newly joined. I hope that you will find > this group as hopeful and helpful as I have. > > Congratulations to Donna and Ingrid and anyone else reading who has > had nice squeaky clean results from their colonoscopies. (No pun > intended!) > > I have offered a prayer to the baby boy who is struggling to adjust > to life just now . I will be lighting a candle for him and all > those who are suffering in some way with cancer. > > Definitely too I give thanks for all those who reach out and help > others, so many wonderful examples here whom I do find a comfort. > > Take care all and do something very nice for yourselves today. > > Matt is off having his second round of chemo right now. He was > determined to drive himself there and back so I hope he will be > alright. He is determined to be as normal as possible and was out > chainsawing logs yesterday much to the horror of my neighbour. As he > says, when he does feel good he wants to make the most of it and I > wouldn't wish to stop him. He felt rubbishy for the first 5 days of > the chemo so we still aren't sure when he should return to work. He > can have 6 months on full pay so there isn't an immediate worry but > any ideas on what is best? He is a High School teacher with a very > heavy workload in and out of school. Dare I mention it, there is > also the issue of needing the toilet more frequently? > > Thinking of you all a lot, > Love and Prayers, > Fran > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 > > Fran, I am sending up a Prayer for Matt to have an easy go round with > the chemo. Yes, It will make hime tired. > I drove myself to all my chemo's. It was an hour drive for me each > way. So do not worry so much. The chemo effects usually hit me after > the chemo session was over for that week. If Matt is like me at all > it is very important to try to make as normal as a life as possible. > This awful cancer robs us of so much that it is important to be able > to function and try to be normal. > Just watch Matt so he does not try to over do it. From my own > experience it will catch up with him and you always end up paying for > it. If he needs to learn this the hard way like I did then let him. > Chemo will get harder on him the more he gets into the chemo. It does > weaken you more each time. At least it did me. Now everyone is > different so he may not. > I will keep him in my Prayers. Sending up an extra prayer for you > too. > Love, Ingrid Thank you Ingrid both for your prayers and wise words. It is difficult with weeks carved up by so many appointments trying to keep the normality going. However, feeling independent and capable is obviously a part of that. Another part is getting people around us to let us " forget " about the cancer sometimes, not so easy! It does all come out of kindness though. Matt has an hour to the hospital too. We couldn't live further from a hospital in our area if we tried! Just goes to show the choices one makes when the family are in good health-when living rurally seems like a great idea! He was okay the other day actually; better prepared, he had taken warm clothing and a bottle of mineral water to drink during his infusion. Matt's worst symptom as far as he is concerned is a very sharp pain in his jaw when he begins to eat. It does go away after the first mouthful but naturally puts him off eating rather. Hot drinks (thanks to Len for that advice) seem to be the best thing he can tolerate. Otherwise he has had a sore mouth, oral thrush and oesophagitis as a result of the chemotherapy. These things are now all being relieved by additonal medicines and some diet changes. The tiredness is only really hitting him now on Day 3 so he will have a sleep this afternoon when he gets back from having the pump removed. He has by and large learned the value of pacing himself, he doesn't really restrict what he does but more the length of time he does it for. The concept of taking a rest in the day was foreign to Matt but he now realises how much better he feels for it. Makes life easier for all of us as the children found the grumpiness hard to bear. I am so glad you had such clear results from your tests Ingrid, I dream of Matt getting the same next year. Blessings' Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Hello, Fran. Glad to see that Matt is doing well. My Sam drove himself to all his chemo and radiation treatments. I thought he would cave in and ask someone to take him, but he stuck it out. Hopefully Matt will be able to do it as long as he can. It is something that they can do to take control of the situation. Good luck with the next treatment. ~Deb from KS > > Matt is off having his second round of chemo right now. He was > determined to drive himself there and back so I hope he will be > alright. He is determined to be as normal as possible and was out > chainsawing logs yesterday much to the horror of my neighbour. As he > says, when he does feel good he wants to make the most of it and I > wouldn't wish to stop him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Hi Deb, This treatment has gone reasonably well so far, Matt has the pump taken off today. 2 down and 10 to go. Probably shouldn't count down but it is hard not to! I am so glad for you both that Sam has finished his treatments. I hope that his painful areas will heal now as quickly as possible. Also all that toing and froing to the hospital must have been exhausting, Sam can use his energy for getting strong again now. Not easy to put it behind you I know (sorry, many figures of speech don't work so well now!) but try to let go and have a lovely Winter and Christmas. Blessings, Fran > > Hello, Fran. Glad to see that Matt is doing well. My Sam drove himself > to all his chemo and radiation treatments. I thought he would cave in > and ask someone to take him, but he stuck it out. Hopefully Matt will > be able to do it as long as he can. It is something that they can do > to take control of the situation. Good luck with the next treatment. > ~Deb from KS > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 In a message dated 12/4/2005 5:24:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, seamist32000@... writes: He is just about feeling better this evening. We had a nice drive and a little walk up on the moors to distract him from feeling grotty. Warmest, Fran Grotty....Fran, I love that word...does it mean like " crap " ....LOL Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle Caregiver to Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 Dear Ingrid, Thank you so much for the advice and the support, I really appreciate it. I'll ask him to check out about the samples, I had not thought of that. The children's toothpaste is a great idea and we will maybe try a children's toothbrush too; the soft brush I bought, Matt did not think was very soft. Fortunately Matt does get lunch during his infusions, of sandwiches and biscuits(cookies) but only the one drink. He would have to trek off with his wheeled stand to get another drink. As I know he wouldn't bother to do this I suggested he take in the bottle of water. I do so agree that taking in the food regularly is very important. He is just about feeling better this evening. We had a nice drive and a little walk up on the moors to distract him from feeling grotty. Warmest, Fran > > > > > > Fran, I am sending up a Prayer for Matt to have an easy go round > > with > > > the chemo. Yes, It will make hime tired. > > > I drove myself to all my chemo's. It was an hour drive for me > > each > > > way. So do not worry so much. The chemo effects usually hit me > > after > > > the chemo session was over for that week. If Matt is like me at > > all > > > it is very important to try to make as normal as a life as > > possible. > > > This awful cancer robs us of so much that it is important to be > > able > > > to function and try to be normal. > > > Just watch Matt so he does not try to over do it. From my own > > > experience it will catch up with him and you always end up paying > > for > > > it. If he needs to learn this the hard way like I did then let > > him. > > > Chemo will get harder on him the more he gets into the chemo. It > > does > > > weaken you more each time. At least it did me. Now everyone is > > > different so he may not. > > > I will keep him in my Prayers. Sending up an extra prayer for > > you > > > too. > > > Love, Ingrid > > > > Thank you Ingrid both for your prayers and wise words. It is > > difficult with weeks carved up by so many appointments trying to > > keep the normality going. However, feeling independent and capable > > is obviously a part of that. Another part is getting people around > > us to let us " forget " about the cancer sometimes, not so easy! It > > does all come out of kindness though. > > > > Matt has an hour to the hospital too. We couldn't live further from > > a hospital in our area if we tried! Just goes to show the choices > > one makes when the family are in good health-when living rurally > > seems like a great idea! He was okay the other day actually; better > > prepared, he had taken warm clothing and a bottle of mineral water > > to drink during his infusion. > > > > Matt's worst symptom as far as he is concerned is a very sharp pain > > in his jaw when he begins to eat. It does go away after the first > > mouthful but naturally puts him off eating rather. Hot drinks > > (thanks to Len for that advice) seem to be the best thing he can > > tolerate. Otherwise he has had a sore mouth, oral thrush and > > oesophagitis as a result of the chemotherapy. These things are now > > all being relieved by additonal medicines and some diet changes. > The > > tiredness is only really hitting him now on Day 3 so he will have a > > sleep this afternoon when he gets back from having the pump removed. > > > > He has by and large learned the value of pacing himself, he doesn't > > really restrict what he does but more the length of time he does it > > for. The concept of taking a rest in the day was foreign to Matt > but > > he now realises how much better he feels for it. Makes life easier > > for all of us as the children found the grumpiness hard to bear. > > > > I am so glad you had such clear results from your tests Ingrid, I > > dream of Matt getting the same next year. > > > > Blessings' > > Fran > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 > > > > In a message dated 12/4/2005 5:24:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, > seamist32000@y... writes: > > He is just about feeling better this evening. We had a nice drive > and a little walk up on the moors to distract him from feeling > grotty. > Warmest, > Fran > > > > Grotty....Fran, I love that word...does it mean like " crap " ....LOL You got it!!!!!!! Just a Ye Olde English word!! LOL Fran > > Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle > Caregiver to Glenn > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 Dear Fran Don't forget about all the liquid they infuse into you while you are sitting there. I agree that more liquid needs to be added but you can only get so much down. Len --- seamist32000 wrote: --------------------------------- Dear Ingrid, Thank you so much for the advice and the support, I really appreciate it. I'll ask him to check out about the samples, I had not thought of that. The children's toothpaste is a great idea and we will maybe try a children's toothbrush too; the soft brush I bought, Matt did not think was very soft. Fortunately Matt does get lunch during his infusions, of sandwiches and biscuits(cookies) but only the one drink. He would have to trek off with his wheeled stand to get another drink. As I know he wouldn't bother to do this I suggested he take in the bottle of water. I do so agree that taking in the food regularly is very important. He is just about feeling better this evening. We had a nice drive and a little walk up on the moors to distract him from feeling grotty. Warmest, Fran > > > > > > Fran, I am sending up a Prayer for Matt to have an easy go round > > with > > > the chemo. Yes, It will make hime tired. > > > I drove myself to all my chemo's. It was an hour drive for me > > each > > > way. So do not worry so much. The chemo effects usually hit me > > after > > > the chemo session was over for that week. If Matt is like me at > > all > > > it is very important to try to make as normal as a life as > > possible. > > > This awful cancer robs us of so much that it is important to be > > able > > > to function and try to be normal. > > > Just watch Matt so he does not try to over do it. From my own > > > experience it will catch up with him and you always end up paying > > for > > > it. If he needs to learn this the hard way like I did then let > > him. > > > Chemo will get harder on him the more he gets into the chemo. It > > does > > > weaken you more each time. At least it did me. Now everyone is > > > different so he may not. > > > I will keep him in my Prayers. Sending up an extra prayer for > > you > > > too. > > > Love, Ingrid > > > > Thank you Ingrid both for your prayers and wise words. It is > > difficult with weeks carved up by so many appointments trying to > > keep the normality going. However, feeling independent and capable > > is obviously a part of that. Another part is getting people around > > us to let us " forget " about the cancer sometimes, not so easy! It > > does all come out of kindness though. > > > > Matt has an hour to the hospital too. We couldn't live further from > > a hospital in our area if we tried! Just goes to show the choices > > one makes when the family are in good health-when living rurally > > seems like a great idea! He was okay the other day actually; better > > prepared, he had taken warm clothing and a bottle of mineral water > > to drink during his infusion. > > > > Matt's worst symptom as far as he is concerned is a very sharp pain > > in his jaw when he begins to eat. It does go away after the first > > mouthful but naturally puts him off eating rather. Hot drinks > > (thanks to Len for that advice) seem to be the best thing he can > > tolerate. Otherwise he has had a sore mouth, oral thrush and > > oesophagitis as a result of the chemotherapy. These things are now > > all being relieved by additonal medicines and some diet changes. > The > > tiredness is only really hitting him now on Day 3 so he will have a > > sleep this afternoon when he gets back from having the pump removed. > > > > He has by and large learned the value of pacing himself, he doesn't > > really restrict what he does but more the length of time he does it > > for. The concept of taking a rest in the day was foreign to Matt > but > > he now realises how much better he feels for it. Makes life easier > > for all of us as the children found the grumpiness hard to bear. > > > > I am so glad you had such clear results from your tests Ingrid, I > > dream of Matt getting the same next year. > > > > Blessings' > > Fran > > > For an an extensive collection of colon cancer related links go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links or http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/ yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links or http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Ah Yes, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks Len. Hope you have a good day. Fran > > > > > > > > Fran, I am sending up a Prayer for Matt to have > an easy go > round > > > with > > > > the chemo. Yes, It will make hime tired. > > > > I drove myself to all my chemo's. It was an > hour drive for > me > > > each > > > > way. So do not worry so much. The chemo effects > usually hit me > > > after > > > > the chemo session was over for that week. If > Matt is like me > at > > > all > > > > it is very important to try to make as normal as > a life as > > > possible. > > > > This awful cancer robs us of so much that it is > important to > be > > > able > > > > to function and try to be normal. > > > > Just watch Matt so he does not try to over do > it. From my > own > > > > experience it will catch up with him and you > always end up > paying > > > for > > > > it. If he needs to learn this the hard way like > I did then let > > > him. > > > > Chemo will get harder on him the more he gets > into the chemo. > It > > > does > > > > weaken you more each time. At least it did me. > Now everyone is > > > > different so he may not. > > > > I will keep him in my Prayers. Sending up an > extra prayer > for > > > you > > > > too. > > > > Love, Ingrid > > > > > > Thank you Ingrid both for your prayers and wise > words. It is > > > difficult with weeks carved up by so many > appointments trying to > > > keep the normality going. However, feeling > independent and > capable > > > is obviously a part of that. Another part is > getting people > around > > > us to let us " forget " about the cancer sometimes, > not so easy! > It > > > does all come out of kindness though. > > > > > > Matt has an hour to the hospital too. We couldn't > live further > from > > > a hospital in our area if we tried! Just goes to > show the > choices > > > one makes when the family are in good health-when > living rurally > > > seems like a great idea! He was okay the other day > actually; > better > > > prepared, he had taken warm clothing and a bottle > of mineral > water > > > to drink during his infusion. > > > > > > Matt's worst symptom as far as he is concerned is > a very sharp > pain > > > in his jaw when he begins to eat. It does go away > after the > first > > > mouthful but naturally puts him off eating rather. > Hot drinks > > > (thanks to Len for that advice) seem to be the > best thing he can > > > tolerate. Otherwise he has had a sore mouth, oral > thrush and > > > oesophagitis as a result of the chemotherapy. > These things are > now > > > all being relieved by additonal medicines and some > diet changes. > > The > > > tiredness is only really hitting him now on Day 3 > so he will > have a > > > sleep this afternoon when he gets back from having > the pump > removed. > > > > > > He has by and large learned the value of pacing > himself, he > doesn't > > > really restrict what he does but more the length > of time he does > it > > > for. The concept of taking a rest in the day was > foreign to Matt > > but > > > he now realises how much better he feels for it. > Makes life > easier > > > for all of us as the children found the grumpiness > hard to bear. > > > > > > I am so glad you had such clear results from your > tests Ingrid, > I > > > dream of Matt getting the same next year. > > > > > > Blessings' > > > Fran > > > > > > > > > > > > > For an an extensive collection of colon cancer related > links go to > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links > or > http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/ > > yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links or > http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/ > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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