Dear Friends,
Today is already Sunday....time flys....even for me right now...
As you know...I was hospitalized on Sunday from a twisted intestine ( a common occurance with surgery like mine) as the adhesions heal...they can grab on to the intestines and create not only unbelievable pain...but a need for surgery to unkink the twist...this can happen one time or many times...the chemo and or any opiate drugs can also cause this problem...
Since I was already scheduled for the port to be put in on Wednesday...they went ahead and put it in while I was still in the hospital on Wednesday afternoon... chemo was postoned due to low nuetrophils....(white count)..,I received a shot to boost me and it worked...the port site is up on my right chest and will allow anything going in or out to be accessed through this port...my arm veins are basically done...I have quite a bit of pain in my arms from the IV's.
I was released on thursday from the hospital and went straight to my hair guy...Michele....the time to go bald had arrived...Ian...another hair guy and friend...buzzed my hair down to the lowest possible length with hiz buzzer....amidst tears between all of us and crazy pictures ...I made it through another step...anything is better than looking like a werewolf shedding....I had so much hair falling out it was getting hair on everything...I looked like I had a hair falling costume on....so...it was time...then...I went to the Solana Beach 101 Barber Shop...my first time ever...and one of the Barbers....Mike....he took down the length even more with a straight edge...it was his first time in this situation and the other Barbers were very kind ....it was amazing....so now I have arrived in a very new place...my scalp has never seen daylight...I was born with hair so....this is a first...WOW !!!! I have a good head...just need a little color...I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes but I hear it's the next thing to go....oh well..
Friday was spent doing several loads of laundry with my left arm as my right arm was not strong enough yet...I love doing laundry...so I was very happy....I have to get as much done before my next chemo which is this coming tuesday...if this chemo is like the last ...the 4 days following are not that much fun....so....I'm getting things done so I can be on the couch without too much frustration....
Saturday was Wig day....yeah...the wigs that I had purchased before at " The Brighter Side " in Solana Beach...needed to be cut and custom fit to my head....so that was fun and I even wore Jeans and earrings and looked like a normal person...although, now I can't really use the word normal after hearing Winona Ryder say that her Mom...Naomi said Normal is just a cycle on the washing machine....hahahahahahha....there you have it....so ...I wore my wig out and no one knew... I felt pretty and I had fun....I didn't feel sick. I felt happy that I could get gas( at the gas station) ha ha and that I could walk from my car without collapsing and that I didn't have any pain for just a little while...I take it all in small doses now.
Back at home and ready to embrace the next step of this mysterious journey....
I have come to find out that chemo is not just chemo...it can cause many other secondary or more side effects that are part of the process...like the twisted intestines and so much more...if it comes to that point when I have complications...please know that it's all part of the same thing...several of you thought that I had something more happening to me that was not related...I know this can be confusing for all of us....I am learning as I go...I also know that I am very strong and very determined to have this be a memory ....not a lifestyle....I will handle anything that is given to me...please be strong with me...I am not negative and I don't want you to feel sorry for me....even when it looks pretty grim....stay strong with me....when I have to handle something...handle it with me as upbeat as possible....even when things seem very dark...I am not feeling worried about being in the hospital or going bald or vomiting from the pain....I don't like it but I am ok....I still need you to lift me... not feel sorry for me....I know you can have compassion without pity....I know it's hard to not say the things that come out so fast and easy that we have been trained to say when we don't know what to say...just be you and just be honest and we can deal with it together... I am great and even when I have some tough times...I am still great....
just a reminder....those of you on the food rotation...I sent a detailed email out a few weeks ago...if you didn't get it ...contact me...I will re-send it....please call me the day before you bring food so we can confirm time of drop off and to answer any questions...
Have a beautiful Sunday....Much love....Summer
Today is already Sunday....time flys....even for me right now...
As you know...I was hospitalized on Sunday from a twisted intestine ( a common occurance with surgery like mine) as the adhesions heal...they can grab on to the intestines and create not only unbelievable pain...but a need for surgery to unkink the twist...this can happen one time or many times...the chemo and or any opiate drugs can also cause this problem...
Since I was already scheduled for the port to be put in on Wednesday...they went ahead and put it in while I was still in the hospital on Wednesday afternoon... chemo was postoned due to low nuetrophils....(white count)..,I received a shot to boost me and it worked...the port site is up on my right chest and will allow anything going in or out to be accessed through this port...my arm veins are basically done...I have quite a bit of pain in my arms from the IV's.
I was released on thursday from the hospital and went straight to my hair guy...Michele....the time to go bald had arrived...Ian...another hair guy and friend...buzzed my hair down to the lowest possible length with hiz buzzer....amidst tears between all of us and crazy pictures ...I made it through another step...anything is better than looking like a werewolf shedding....I had so much hair falling out it was getting hair on everything...I looked like I had a hair falling costume on....so...it was time...then...I went to the Solana Beach 101 Barber Shop...my first time ever...and one of the Barbers....Mike....he took down the length even more with a straight edge...it was his first time in this situation and the other Barbers were very kind ....it was amazing....so now I have arrived in a very new place...my scalp has never seen daylight...I was born with hair so....this is a first...WOW !!!! I have a good head...just need a little color...I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes but I hear it's the next thing to go....oh well..
Friday was spent doing several loads of laundry with my left arm as my right arm was not strong enough yet...I love doing laundry...so I was very happy....I have to get as much done before my next chemo which is this coming tuesday...if this chemo is like the last ...the 4 days following are not that much fun....so....I'm getting things done so I can be on the couch without too much frustration....
Saturday was Wig day....yeah...the wigs that I had purchased before at " The Brighter Side " in Solana Beach...needed to be cut and custom fit to my head....so that was fun and I even wore Jeans and earrings and looked like a normal person...although, now I can't really use the word normal after hearing Winona Ryder say that her Mom...Naomi said Normal is just a cycle on the washing machine....hahahahahahha....there you have it....so ...I wore my wig out and no one knew... I felt pretty and I had fun....I didn't feel sick. I felt happy that I could get gas( at the gas station) ha ha and that I could walk from my car without collapsing and that I didn't have any pain for just a little while...I take it all in small doses now.
Back at home and ready to embrace the next step of this mysterious journey....
I have come to find out that chemo is not just chemo...it can cause many other secondary or more side effects that are part of the process...like the twisted intestines and so much more...if it comes to that point when I have complications...please know that it's all part of the same thing...several of you thought that I had something more happening to me that was not related...I know this can be confusing for all of us....I am learning as I go...I also know that I am very strong and very determined to have this be a memory ....not a lifestyle....I will handle anything that is given to me...please be strong with me...I am not negative and I don't want you to feel sorry for me....even when it looks pretty grim....stay strong with me....when I have to handle something...handle it with me as upbeat as possible....even when things seem very dark...I am not feeling worried about being in the hospital or going bald or vomiting from the pain....I don't like it but I am ok....I still need you to lift me... not feel sorry for me....I know you can have compassion without pity....I know it's hard to not say the things that come out so fast and easy that we have been trained to say when we don't know what to say...just be you and just be honest and we can deal with it together... I am great and even when I have some tough times...I am still great....
just a reminder....those of you on the food rotation...I sent a detailed email out a few weeks ago...if you didn't get it ...contact me...I will re-send it....please call me the day before you bring food so we can confirm time of drop off and to answer any questions...
Have a beautiful Sunday....Much love....Summer
posted by Summer @ 5:59 AM
3 Comments:
At 10:12 AM,
Anonymous said…
Thank you so much, Summer, for letting us know all these details. For those of us missing your physical teachings, these missives fill the gap---different, but just as important learning sessions.
We appreciate you spending your limited energy sharing with us this way!
Contined strength and good spirits,
Robin K.
At 8:57 PM,
Anonymous said…
Summer,
Thankyou for the update on the other email, regarding what we can do to help. Please know, you are always in my thoughts and prayers. Im going to pick a good dog walking week and dedicate it too you. I find comfort thinking of you and appreciate your effort contacting all of us on this email. I had my own appointment with Ian this week. He is a sweet fellow.
Love,
AmyJ
At 3:23 AM,
Anonymous said…
Summer, I just got caught up with your blog as we were out of town and recovering from the Termite tenting mess. Wow! You have been through some difficult times in the past weeks! My cousin always said the chemo feels worse then anything the cancer or surgery can do. She hates it and won't do it any more. So, kudos to you for sticking this out with so much dignity and peace. I hope to be up your way maybe next week so you can show me your new wigs and buzz cut. I will email before. I hope in the coming days you have a ton of pain free days and moments!
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