Eternal Hippies A Year Homemade and Beyond

I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post. Work has been crazy and getting ready for my son coming to visit kept me distracted. Yesterday I had my 3rd chemo treatment. Next I have several doctor's appointments and the pre-stuff for radiation treatments. They won't start until Jan. 2nd though. During my treatment yesterday, my son Sean stopped by to hang out. That was cool to have him there. Joe, of course, drove me and took care of me as he has lovingly done each treatment. Last week for Thanksgiving it was Sean, his girlfriend Mika and Rachael all came over for the afternoon. I had to work in the morning, but was home around 12:30pm to find Joe already starting the cooking and entertaining everyone. We all had such a good time and I hadn't laughed so much in ages. Thursday, Friday and Saturday Sean and Mika stayed with us because their campsite was in North Carolina and they had a vendor showing in Myrtle Beach. They worked very hard and did alrig...

Yesterday was my doctor's appointment and chemo treatment. It took 3 tries to get blood. Ouch! Then the doctor's appointment went okay, but I am still on limited physical duties. I'm healing slower than expected. The CT scan showed a lymph node swollen, but the doctor said it could just be stress from the two surgeries nearby. I'll have to have another scan in a month to check on it. Everything else looked okay. YEAH! After I headed back upstairs for the chemo treatment. But there was miscommunication and I sat in the waiting area for 1 1/2 hours until the nurse finally called me in. No one told her I was waiting. I had an allergic reaction to one of the anti-nausea medications, I think because I wasn't given steroids prior to the appointment. Last time I was given steroids for the night before and the morning of treatment. Once  the nurse stopped the anti nausea medication and gave me steroids, the hive and pain went away. The rest of the chemo treatment went...

It has been a challenging week, hair-wise. All last week I chronicled my personal horror of it all. Saturday I got so tired of looking like a...well, I don't know but I hated it. So I took the clippers to what was left of my hair. It felt better, but I still couldn't stand the stubble. So yesterday I went to the hair salon, hoping they would shave my head. But they wouldn't, just trimmed up the buzz cut I gave myself. So I went home and shaved my own head. I had my daughter help me with the tricky parts around the ears and the back of my head. Today I am sporting one of the chemo caps I bought on Ebay. It's comfortable and stylish. I will probably get some more. Everyone here at work seem to be supportive and all have said how good I look. It will take time to get used to no hair. But at least the shedding is over and I can get ready for the next round of chemo. Peace to you!

Day 4 of my horror/freak show. It is now obvious that my hair is falling out. And not just because there is hair all over my shoulders, getting into my eyes, landing on everything! All around I look and there is at least one hair sitting there mocking me. Plus, I got a big shock yesterday afternoon. I was reading the news and found out that Beverly McClellan died of cancer. I don't know her and I have never watched "The Voice" from which she was a contestant. But she died of the same cancer as me. Stage 3 endometrial cancer. It had spread to her bladder, colon and intestines. She was only 49years old. I have stage 3 endometrial cancer and I find out next week how far it has spread. From what I understand, she only lived 7 months from the time of her diagnosis. But Joe reminded me that we don't know all of her circumstances and we don't know all of mine, yet. But 7 months is not a long time. I don't want to die! I better go. Tears are trying to ...

It's day 3 of the horror/freak show that is my life. The hair is still falling out everywhere! It's in the shower, the pillow, my clothes, the desk, and it itches! My scalp stings, aches and yes, itches. I changed up my homemade shampoo to make it more gentle. Now my recipe is: 1 cup chamomile tea, using 2 tea bags 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon olive oil 3/4 cup liquid Dr. Bronner's baby soap Steep tea for 30 minutes with honey. Remove tea bag. Add olive oil and then Dr. Bronner's baby soap. When thinking about how to change my shampoo, I researched what ingredients were in commercial baby shampoos. And three things were common, chamomile, honey and olive oil. Two of those items were already in my shampoo recipe. Easy. Now for the horror pics! Keep in mind these are just what I have lost during work hours. It doesn't include what I loose in the shower each day, which has been clogging up the shower! First we have yesterday's losses:  Morning loss ...