Its like being back in chemo

I had no idea until well after I had chemo for breast cancer that chemo drugs are used for treating other illnesses. I have a friend with MS who has had chemo infusions to treat her illness.

Now I am on a chemo drug, Methotrexate, to treat my RA. It is primarily used to treat cancers as well as to treat RA or psoriasis.

I am told to avoid sick people and crowds, watch for infections, eat healthy, and cut back on drinking alcohol. Doesn't that sound like being back in chemo? I think I got these same warnings with chemo infusions.

Now its just an injection once a week. But I also have to take high doses of folic acid to reduce liver damage.

Blah, blah, blah. These warnings just annoy me at this point. My mother was on methotrexate orally for about 20 years. I refuse to live for 20 years and change my life for that long. I want to enjoy my life. I am NOT going to avoid crowds. I never did and I'm not going to now. Call me a rebel.

I really just want my life back. Sigh.

Medical roller coaster

Last night I actually attempted to be a social butterfly and went to two parties (without my husband because he is cranky as he now has my cold). At the first party a friend was talking about the medical roller coaster of having a heart attack at 43 and now living with the constant what if fear. She said she has a stent and has changed her life - taking better care of herself, quit smoking, etc but constantly wonders what if her arteries are clogging again. She asked her cardiologist and he tells her that since she tests well on stress tests and feels okay the assumption is that her arteries are doing fine. There is no way to tell if they are opening up more or slowly clogging up again without some invasive tests. She feels like she is living in constant limbo. I talked to her a bit about it how learning how to balance the ups and downs of the medical roller coaster. Its just learning to cope and it has its definite ups and downs. Its not just cancer that puts you on that lovely roller coaster.

At the second party, despite the unexpected arrival of Santa Claus to replenish the miniscule beer supply (really he showed up with a case of beer), the elephant was clearly in the room. The host of the party is living the 'chemo for life' program with a stubborn case of Stage IV colon cancer. While he looked pretty good and was socializing with his ever present bottle of water, he did need to sit down for the bulk of the party and at one point snuck off to find one of the really good drugs his oncologist provides. He is on the same medical roller coaster but one with steeper hills and bigger drops but was talking less about it. I am not sure everyone realizes how serious his situation is. His treatment only has one end. When I left I wished him well on his upcoming scans this week. They will tell the story we hope will bring a merry Christmas.

So the medical roller coaster is alive and well for many of us and takes many forms. How scary a ride is a matter of perspective.

Junk food during chemo

I seem to have developed a taste for junk food. This week I purchased the aforementioned coconut sorbet, a can of cashews, a container of soft licorice twists, and sea salt rice chips (healthy potato chips). (The really bad thing is Walter doesn't like licorice or coconut sorbet and doesn't know about the rice chips or cashews.) In addition, we split a bag of Cape Cod potato chips at work one day. I also have a chocolate ice cream craving. So much for being healthy. Next week I shall try to improve my nutritional levels but these days I am not too concerned with nutrition.

I was thinking. Tomorrow is six months since I started my blog. I actually got my big news on May 31 (it took me a few days to figure out how to communicate), but there aren't 30 days in November so today is sort of the six month anniversary of my diagnosis. It has been quite a roller coaster ride. LOTS of trips to Lahey Clinic, doctor's appointments, needles, tests, treatments, many OMWAH sightings and not much fun. In the next three months, I should finish my treatments - now won't THAT be nice!

Now, I have not reported much on OMWAHs recently but there have been several sightings. The Lahey parking garage I am convinced is where they converge in the universe. I have been told it is ageist and sexist to describe OMWAHs but I should clarify that anyone of either sex or any age can have OMWAH status, it is really a reflection of driving ability, or lack of. I did see an OMWAH in the parking lot of Christmas Tree Shops yesterday. To the person in the black SUV on the phone, backing out of parking space without looking, you are an OMWAH! And just be glad the little white car managed to get out of your way before you hit them!

Anyhow, thank you to all who have been reading along on my wonderful little roller coaster ride. I hope I keep you all entertained at the very least and don't bore you too much.

Nutrition during chemo

So I went to a presentation on Monday about good nutrition during chemo. Well, too bad I heard it nearly at the end of my treatment. Here are things that I am not supposed to eat during chemo: rare meat, sushi, salad bars, and restaurant buffets. Also, I am not supposed to lose weight during chemo. And I am supposed to wash all vegetables and fruits and peel as many as possible before eating. This includes washing the 'prewashed' bags of lettuce. Okay, I broke all those rules. No one told me! How was I supposed to know?

Here's another good one. Did you know you are supposed to get 9 (yes, nine) servings of fruits and vegetables in one day? Do you get that many? Most people don't. Including a lot of nutritionists and other supposed healthy eaters. If you get six, that is supposed to be enough. How about all those servings of grains? Not getting enough of those either. Apparently I am like most Americans who get plenty of protein (we eat too much meat) and too much sodium (in prepared food) and I need more of all the other categories. I'm trying. That's all I can say.

Anyhow, yesterday I got very tired in the afternoon and came home to veg out. I did go out for a walk and a little Christmas shopping earlier. Today I am going to the library, for a walk, Christmas Tree Shops, and that's it. A fun filled day. I think I will have to watch a movie or something as well. The cat is feeling deprived. I haven't spent enough time sitting around so he can sleep on my lap. Maybe I can blame my lack of sleep at night on him. The little weasel thinks nothing of hogging half the bed!!!

Today I think I will have to get some ice cream. Yesterday in Trader Joe's they had Ben & Jerry's but only Cherry Garcia and Chocolate Cookie Dough. I don't like either of those so I got a coconut sorbet that looked good. Well it is the consistency of dried spackle and tastes somewhat like it as well. It could be improved by some chocolate sauce so perhaps I will try that route at some point. However today I think I will have to find a pint of some type of chocolate ice cream with nuts in it... The nutritionist mentioned that during chemo it is perfectly acceptable to eat unhealthy things instead of skipping meals!

PS I did pick up the dry cleaning yesterday. Gold star for me!