Guinevere wrote:Mary,
One valuable hint is to use the electric carts at the store! You won't believe how much difference it makes. You'll think way more about than others will. One note, you become "invisible" and people will walk right out in front on you!
Anyhoo, that's one way to help yourself now. Another is to have someone with you if you're buying a bunch of stuff. Lots of times, DH would take in the refrigerated stuff and leave the rest until after we're rested. Just because you've
always done something a certain way, like carrying in all the groceries at once, doesn't mean you have to do it that way now.
Oh man, I used those electric chairs after surgery and nothing in life has ever made me feel older! But I do get your point. On that trip, I left the groceries in the car until I picked up my 16 yo from her fast food job and told her what happened. She took everything in which was very nice because I'm sure she was tired. I try to only get a few things each trip but I had not been to the store in a long time so we were out of a lot of stuff. Amazing how your mind can think one thing and your body just won't cooperate.
Okay, enough about now. Let's face what happens after chemo. Your fatigue level should start getting slowly better in about two weeks and should build from there. Give your body time. Time for the chemo to work it's way out of your body. Something my cardiologist's PA told me that's helped in being patient in healing was your whole body is affected by cancer - not just the organ(s) where the cancer is. Add to that the havoc that chemo can cause and it's no wonder it takes a while to start getting over chemo.
That helps. Good to know. I think part of the problem emotionally I'm realizing is that my 16yo moved in with me after Christmas last year after living with her dad (2 miles away) for the last four years and I feel so bad that she's getting the worst version of me. I'm anxious to feel better and be a better mother... More fun, lots of food, clean house, on top of things. I did fine the fist few infusions and then just crashed. I hate feeling like I'm disappointing her and I really hate when she is the one helping me. I want to mother her because she is my baby and the last fading light on my 25 year career as a mother. I've loved motherhood and am sad it's coming to an end. Being a mother to independent adults is very different than even a teen. Blah, crying again. Chemo sucks.
Your house - if you don't have help from a loved one or friend and have insurance, look into home health aid. They will sweep, mop, do laundry and even cook for you. I know it gets on my last nerve when things are messy and I'm not up to taking care of it.
Oh my god! I couldn't imagine letting a stranger come in a clean up after this (I have a stack of empty canned fruit cans on my nightstand. They are my friends.... Haha). I used to clean before the housekeeper showed up when I had one. I'm just trying to do something, even small each time I'm up so things are more under control. But thank you for the advice! I might look into it (if I part with my " friends") and a few other embarrassing "friends."
I wish you the best of luck and hope you're NED forever!
God bless ~
Guinevere
Awwww thank you! You gave me such great advice when I was going through chemorad lat year. You are such a welcome and appreciated voice on this forum.
I wish you many happy days!
Mary