You Know I'm Really Sick When....

I cancel swimming lessons!

I debated all last night and all this morning. I knew what I should do, I just did not want to do it. So, I put off the decision until the very last minute, hoping that I would miraculously get better and be able to teach swimming.

I have been sick (AGAIN!), since last week. No fever, nothing horrible, just a non-stop runny nose and a post-nasal-drip cough (the cough sometimes seems a little too deep in my chest -- if I am not better by tomorrow, I might actually go see a doctor). Oh yeah, and on Shabbat I had no voice (again!).

Anyway, I knew I really should cancel swimming lessons, but I really did not want to.

Eventually, I just could not ignore the fact that I still had only half a voice, my congestion was driving me crazy, I still had somewhat regular coughing fits, and I just plain did not feel well!

So, I emailed and called all my parents. to let them know that we would not be having any more swimming lessons until after Pesach (Passover). All my parents were supportive and understanding, as I knew they would be. But I was still bummed.

I knew it was the right decision, but I did not like it. In addition to everything else, I am getting chemo a day early and need my blood count to be good. Also, Pesach is in a week and I don't want to spend it sick in bed!

So, I did the responsible, grown-up thing to do.

Now, I am going to crawl back into bed with my tissues and a good book!





Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Shabbat

Shabbat was pretty quiet.

Moshe and I were both getting over colds, so we kept things pretty simple.

With no guests, and Y at a friend's (see previous post), A and MD got some extra attention.

MD spent a lot of time playing with his "Diablo" (never heard of it? see here). He even taught his sister how to juggle with it!

I basically slept all Shabbat.

Our Shabbat Seudot (meals) were very nice, and I managed to stay at the table (awake) for the entire meal. I have not done that in a while.

Despite needing to rest a lot, I found some time to read to my kids, which I also have not done in a while. I read the first two chapters of one of my favorite books: Follow My Leader, by James B. Garfield. I remember this book as being really influential. It will be interesting to read it again as an adult.

I feel a lot better, but, unfortunately, I still do not feel well. I am still very tired (despite not receiving chemo this week).

And I am still, as we say in my family, "a pony" (i.e. I am a little hoarse).

The doctor said that my voice will come back quicker, the less I use it.

Hah!

What can I say.... it is hard for me to keep my mouth shut! ;-)



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Chemo Day -- Herceptin: YES, Taxol: NO

Apparently, a "little break" is one week.

I received Herceptin today, but no Taxol. My next Taxol treatment will be next Thursday.

I was a little nervous about skipping the treatment, but my oncologist was pretty insistent. When I pressed him about it, he offered to give it to me if I was willing to sign a waver, taking full responsibility for any possible complications. I politely declined, to which he responded "I thought that's what you'd say."

So, I will focus on kicking this cold, which is pretty much taking up all my energy and then some.

I felt a bit better this morning, but by the time I got home I was wiped. I went straight to bed and slept for three hours!

At least I got the Herceptin. (This dose was the free dose provided by Roche)

We still hope to make an evaluation before I am due for my next dose, in three weeks.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Sick Again

I have a cold… again.

I made the mistake of going to the doctor... again.

I did not have fever this time, so I though I was "safe." I just wanted cough syrup, so I could sleep better. (Besides, I was wheezing, and it sounded spooky)

I might have slept in anyway, but Moshe woke me because he and Y were going to the morning walk-in-clinic and it made sense for me to go with them.

The first thing the doctor on duty did was take my temperature, which was normal. (told you so!)

So, imagine my surprise when the doctor sent me to Maccabi (my health care supplier) for blood work, cultures and an x-ray!

"But I have no fever!" I protested.

The doctor was unmoved.

I grasped at straws, and asked him to try calling my oncologist for confirmation. My oncologist did not answer the phone. The doctor left a message (that helps... NOT).

I asked how irresponsible it would be to just ignore his advice.

As my father always says "If you have to ask, you already know the answer."

Now, it is true that going to Maccabi was certainly faster than going to the emergency room. And, given that I was finished with everything in less than an hour, it might very well have been faster that going to the oncology day ward. BUT, what I really wanted was to go home and go to bed.

Do I really need to do this every time I have a cold?



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Now You KNOW I'm Sick

I came home from the doctors, ate a bowl of leftover chicken soup, and crashed.

I was feeling pretty miserable, and forced myself to admit that I was not up to teaching swimming.

So, just before I went to bed, I sent an email canceling classes.

I fell asleep around noon and woke up just before 4:30 pm!

I did not expect to sleep that long!

I frantically checked my email and made a few calls to make sure that all my parents were aware that classes were cancelled.

Then I crawled back under my covers.

At about 7:00 pm, Y came in and we talked a bit and watched sit-coms for a bit. We even had a really meaningful conversation during the commercials. (strange, but true)

A few minutes before 8:00 pm, I realized that I wasn't going to the laughter workshop.

Ha...ha....

Had a friend been available to drive, I probably would have gone anyway.

But it was a real "gam zu l'tova" (all for the best) situation.

I was disappointed, but I knew it was the right decision.

I got out of bed, had a bite to eat, and directed my kids to bed (better late than never).

Now I will take some more drugs, thank you very much, and go back to bed.

Good night.


Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA