Breakfast of Champions

Oh my. Nausea x 3…

All my blood counts are excellent so we went forward with 2nd round. Third day the IV anti-emetics have worn off. They kept things at bay but they just don’t do a thorough job. Once I get the nausea at bay I can attempt food. My go to meal is honey vanilla greek yogurt and Kashi with honey and flax seed. Some tea.

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I’m in love with my beehive teapot but the little blue one is the right size for my *special* tea.

I’m comimg out of the closet. I am sober and so this was a VERY difficult decision to make. I recently got my medical marijuana card and I am in the process of learning the finer nuances of the different meds that are offered. Candies, beverages, cookies, brownies, teas, and of course so many different strains of marijuana bud, hash, wax, and oil it makes your head spin. I’ve tried many different things over the past few weeks. There are a couple candies that are very helpful but edibles take 30-60 minutes to take effect. Just like pills. The tea is a bit faster and has a very pleasant effect. What I like the best about the ingestibles is that they are very much a body high. I don’t get so brain foggy I can’t do anything. After all these years of sobriety I really prefer a clear head.The ingestibles tend to be good for daytime use as long as I’m not driving. Some of the options even energize me so I can get things done around the house.

That said, the ONLY way to get immediate relief from the pain and nausea is to inhale. Back in the 70’s we called it hash oil but now it is processed in a controlled environment and it is called Rick Simpson Oil. There may be other brands but this is what is all over Seattle. This stuff frikking works and it works in a few minutes. It’s clean and clear and the absolute best solution. This is strictly for bedtime. While my head stays pretty darned clear thinking without any of the anxiety* that marijuana can provide there is no doubt I’m stoned. So no driving, no going out. I don’t want to be blotto, I’m a total light weight so I just get enough in me to take the brutal edge off. It has cured my chronic cancer/chemo insomnia. So. There it is. It had to be done. I have no regrets except I feel so uncomfortable with the secret so out it must come.

I’ve not gone to my homegroup in awhile because I’ve heard so many disparaging remarks made there about medical marijuana and I know just talking about it with others can be a trigger for others. I don’t want to hurt any one. I just don’t feel all that emotionally safe knowing folks there think very poorly of med marij users. The other reason is that by evening I’m so worn out I have nothing left. I like day meetings.

Not one person from my home group has reached out to me in any tangible way, no calls, no facebook messages…. To be fair, in the post surgery days a couple did but not since then. This isn’t surprising because I’ve been here before with them. I haven’t reached out either so that’s my fault. I have chemo brain and forget stuff…. a LOT. People have busy lives. It could also be all the other meds but I’m just not myself. There are folks from AA in general reaching out, I am blessed with many loving people in my life, just not my home group. It hurts a little to know that through all the years my home group doesn’t reach out to me, but my skin is getting pretty thick these days.  I’ve withdrawn significantly and am very glad to be able to go to my noon meetings again where I feel very loved.

My life is changing in ways I never foresaw. I am very positive about the future but boy they aren’t kidding about cancer taking up a year of your life.

*Sativa can cause anxiety, even paranoia. Indica is more a body high. I stick to the higher content Indica if going for smoking bud.  The folks at the pharmacies really know their business and they are super kind nice folks. Many of them suffer from chronic illnesses of their own and so they are really helpful.  Overall this has been one of the most positive experiences of the whole cancer adventure.

Cyn Update

2 months since surgery. Range of motion much improved but I could be more diligent. I can get clothes on over my head so I’m happy with progress rate. Adjusting to a flat chest. Sure I miss some aspects but I’m finding peace with it little by little. There will probably always be a faint lingering ache the rest of my life but I’m moving on.

Best day since infusion, the nausea has finally backed off 90% and I have a couple days before the next one.

Tried on all questionnable clothing and most of them look pretty darned good considering. I was surprised, thought I’d have more alterations. Less work, whew.

What a dork, didn’t realize I could get Pandora through my Roku box. Got it now. How frikking cool is that!!!! Less tv, more music…

Life is good. One day at a time. Today I really was able to visualize my future. Big step there actually. Visualization changes everything.

7 months to go… so glad to see spring arriving, I need that clean air everything is new and full of hope feeling… spring *sigh*

I have a couple projects that are keeping me interested when I’m not tired out and sitting like a bump on a log. I try to get out of the house every day but it doesn’t take much to wear me out. I plod through my days trying to do some decluttering, cleaning, airing out my life, hearth, and home. Sleep. And eat! Not losing any weight so far. Good and yet…

The best way to see the newest photos and short updates is for you to bite the bullet and “like” the blog on Facebook (see button in the right column of blog) as I’m rarely on the laptop and all updates and photos are mostly happening on my “phone.” 

My new pretty from Red Moon Designs. Made by a very cool healer up in B.C. She used hand dyed elk skin and a maple frame, this one also red, with a black suede beater. I don’t exactly know what to do with her yet but soon. I’m working on a flute bag for the maker of the drum and it’s coming along. Healing blessings!

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Poopyness round one

The poopyness has set in. Took all three anti nausea meds plus a pain reliever plus the pill to combat the bone marrow shot plus the mouthwash for the mouth sores I can feel starting. Pilled out fun… ate some toast so far so good. Mostly feel like I have the flu so not completely pathetic. Mostly want to avoid nausea and mouth sores, the rest I can deal with.

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It helps to have the projects going. Little tiny stitches, one stitch at a time. Need to keep the oak from looking gloomy, then red pom is so cheery… little problems.

In addition to the tree of life I’m working on a box design. It is a large heart shaped box. I plan on having a dark burned background and wood showing through, no stain or color.

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I do feel like I can do this. The fact that it’s 8 months long kind of overwhelms me but I can do this. I survived my 10 month pregnancy knowing every day that I was giving my son up, surely I can do this too. One day at a time… I have love surrounding me and that makes all the difference. Butt I may need new sofa cushions after this, there is a big butt print already. Turn and flip turn and flip. Mr. Furnance is really good at thinking of these things. He drives me, hugs me, rubs my feet, makes me laugh with the most sophomoric jokes, we have code words that are always good for a laugh. Mom is there with the food, this is the first day I don’t have an appetite. Chemo itself doesn’t make you loose weight, it’s the nausea or lack of appetite that do it.

We kind of have Valentines every day in some way. We make sure the love is right there… So grateful. Im such a lucky woman. I can be a cranky sick person so we’ve had some moments. He always accepts my apypolylogy.

I tend to leave little blurts on my Facebook wall more than posting here so if you’re curious and aren’t seeing updates here, check out my facebook wall. You will be assimilated.

Blessings all!!!
Love
Cyn

Tree of Life

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The design progresses on the tree of life embroidery. Every stitch a charm for a long and healthy life. I have a gorgeous array of threads, everything from perl cotton, fine wools, and a fine silk wool blend, maybe even some silk. We’ll see how the organic process flows.

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My path gets more thorny and long. While my cancer was downgraded from stage 3 to stage 2, it was classed a very aggressive cancer. They removed “at least” 7 tumors. Three lymph nodes were cancerous and one had burst it’s boundary which is so not good. They got everything however so that is a plus. I found this by self exam. None showed up in a mammogram. The second type of cancer I have did thank goodness. But it was stage 0. The breast tumors didn’t show up in an ultrasound either although one of the lymph tumors did. I tell you this because we are lulled into thinking that mammograms will save us. Most breast cancers are found through self exams. Mine was. My cancer is less than a year old, maybe only 6 months old. If I hadn’t found it when I did it might have been too late for the fairly rosy prognosis it is.

DO YOUR MONTHLY BREAST SELF EXS MY SISTERS!!!!!! NO EXCUSES!!!!!! It can save your life.

Due to the aggressive nature of the cancer they are going after it with everything they have. After determining that my heart will take it, I have 4 rounds of a chemo/hormone therapy three weeks apart. It’s gonna be a doozy. Then if all goes well, I have 12 more chemotherapies, one a week for 3 months. Then 6 weeks of radiation 5 days a week. The hormones wil continue for a full year. Oh. My. God and Goddess.

Work stands behind me so no worries there. I have disability insurance so that’s ok. Mr. Furnace, my love, my rock, I am so grateful for him. My mother is another rock but I so wish that at 85 with her husband in an adult home that she didn’t have to be.

Life is one day at a time. I create this piece as a testament to my journey, as a charm to bring me strength, health, and long life. I’ll post as I can. I don’t want this to be a cancer blog so will try to blend my art with my life but there might be a long bit where I only watch stupid tv because that is all I got.

Think well of me and blessings to us all.

Glorious Day!!

Pathology report from the surgery is that I didn’t have 1 massive tumor but a cluster of small ones. 3 lymph nodes affected but still in a low staging so now I am in stage 2 not stage 3. This shifts prognosis significantly and I am joyous today. Drains and stitches are out, I’m a healer ( but we knew this).  Woohoo! This witch gonna live too 100!!

Cancer survivor!