The week is rolling on and I am continuing to get out and about. I have two more pulmonary rehab sessions under my belt, done some office time, had lunch out, and of course kept up with my MD visits. Given my status a month ago, I couldn't be more pleased with my progress at this point.
Because rust never sleeps, I am thinking ahead. I will need to be rescanned for a more accurate determination of the effect of the Tarceva; and I feel the need to keep my eye on the options if the current treatment fails. The good news is that clinical trials are ongoing, so options are expanding as time goes on. Nevertheless, I am on alert and on guard.
I am still struggling with the side effects of Tarceva. I have not yet found a prescription medication or an over-the-counter skin treatment to relieve the rash and dry skin on my face, which continue to plague me. However, Dr. D prescribed a marvelous antidote for the digestion issues - tincture of opium. That's right. Recreational drugs are making a comeback in my life. And not a moment too soon.
January has traditionally been a difficult month for me. Long, cold and dark. Not this year.
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18 comments:
! G O S T E E L E R S !
You looked great the other day at lunch - close to your old self - keep progressing like you have been
You must educate us all about tincture of opium. I have had stomach issues for years. It might even help out with some sleeping issues. Do you have to have cancer to get this? Go Dr. D! So glad to hear you getting back to some semblance of normalcy. Love you, Liz
What a blessing to log on and see another post from you -- and and again with good news! When my mother was battling advanced Crohn's disease, the ticture of opium was a miracle for her symptoms. I hope you experience similar relief. It's also particularly wonderful to see you looking ahead as you seek cutting edge treatment. We all send our love, Cynthia and family
Keep on Rockin!
Eric
Something about the mention of narcotics and recreation makes me think of Ponce de Leon and other fountain of youth memories....
I never tire of reading your good news, Elyse. Keep paddling!
Much love, Burton
Elyse
Yay! It's so good to see you feeling better and upbeat. If you need some companionship during one of your drug therapy sessions (um, not the Tarceva, the other one), count me in!
Stan
Elyse,
Your positive outlook is absolutely contagious! Not to mention uplifting to all of us blog readers! And remember who your friends are if you want to share your recreational drugs....I'm in.
Ann
I asked last week for more good news and just got it...thank you...Now we know why opium has been used for thousands of years.
Bruce M.
Ditto the above! I read the other day that plain old milk of magnesia when applied to the face helped with rashes. I think you put it on your face, leave it on 5-10 minutes like a mask, then wash it off. I'm glad you are feeling better.
Love,
Terri
Care to share any of those recreational drugs?? (tee hee. Try a tiny bit of that La Mer serum for the rash.) xo Rach
Le Mer serum that Rachel suggested will at least take 10 years off even if not helping rash! Dang she looks good with that stuff:) Terri's suggestion worked with the kids when they had poison oak so try it out too. I'm sorry it's such a pain! Eric is interviewing with Genentech next week--maybe he can ask around and see if their is something else to use. Chase is in his first big indoor track meet today. My nerves!!!! I take NCE tomorrow--again nerves!!! Love you! You sound great and I'm glad the opium is helping. HUGS!!! Bridgette
Happy you're out and about! Maybe I'll try that tincture of opium, sounds like it's time for me to try some recreational drugs. Love to all, Mickey
To borrow a portion of a movie line...you had me at "more good days." I am not only encouraged by the wonderful posting but also the number of people willing to share in the recreational drugs!! A true sign of a good friend :)
Has the VIC cloth helped? Use it cautiously on the face.
As always, we can't wait to read/hear even more good news about NORMALCY!!!
Ali - rust never sleeps and you are now seeing all your hard work moving in the right direction. BRAVO.. Back stateside again so unfortunately you will have to put up with all the topical cans of corn again.. Hope to see you and the family soon..
________________________
Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-1 to approve Hillary Clinton as the next secretary of state. The one dissenting vote came from Republican Sen. David Vitter. He’s the guy who got caught with the hookers. Vitter said that out of force of habit, he can’t get behind a woman unless he pays her $300 first.
The incoming press secretary, Robert Gibbs, says that President-elect Barack Obama will allow gays to serve openly in the military. So the days of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” are over. Actually, that’s not quite true; Congress will continue to use the phrase when referring to the bailout money: “Don’t ask us what we did with it; we are not going to tell you.”
At his confirmation hearing, Attorney General nominee Eric Holder said that as far as he is concerned, waterboarding is torture. And Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said, “So is paying taxes.”
Geithner didn’t pay federal taxes from 2001 to 2004. He owed $34,000. But to keep his nomination afloat, he paid it this week — plus another $8,000 in interest. So that’s $42,000 the U.S. Treasury made — just like that. You know what Obama should do now? He should appoint Willie Nelson as commerce secretary. What does he owe, $28 million?
It’s cold outside. It’s so cold, Gov. Blagojevich was selling seats in his hair.
It’s so cold, Bernie Madoff was wearing bulletproof earmuffs.
So cold, Bernie Madoff swindled an elderly woman out of a scarf.
President-elect Barack Obama says he plans on closing Guantanamo Bay. Dick Cheney says, “Sure — I’m going to buy it and turn it into a vacation home.”
The New Kids on the Block announced that they will be appearing on a cruise ship. A cruise ship spokesman said, “What can we say? Good waiters are hard to find.”
The Army says they have increased recruitment by allowing fatter people to enlist. As a result, the Army is changing its slogan from “Army of One,” to “Army of One Who Looks Like Three or Four.”
In China, a panda has bitten a visitor for the third time in three years. People who saw the attack described it as horrifying and absolutely adorable.
It got down to 11 below in Chicago last night. You know what they say in the “Farmer’s Almanac,” the larger the Oprah, the colder the winter in Chicago.
In Columbus, Ohio, they declared a snow emergency. The snow is all the way up to the top of the foreclosure signs.
Obama says that one of the first things he’ll do as president is close down Guantanamo Bay. President Bush said, “That’s nothing — I’ve closed down factories, car dealerships . . .”
A spokesman for Obama says that the prisoners at Guantanamo will either be returned to their own countries or entered into the New York City cab drivers program.
Obama says that he wants to bring a “sense of accountability” to Washington. I have a better idea — why not bring some accountants to Washington?
Speaking of that, Obama’s new secretary of the Treasury nominee, Timothy Geithner has come up with a new plan to lower taxes: Don’t pay them.
It was cold today. So cold, people were throwing shoes at Al Gore.
Here’s a cold weather tip: Take your boxer shorts and put them in the microwave. It’s true. It’s a little tip I learned from Rosie O’Donnell.
Osama bin Laden has a new tape. They know it’s a recent tape, because in it he describes Salma Hayek as being smoking hot at the Golden Globes.
Plus the tape aired in its new 10 p.m. time slot.
A severe cold front hit the East Coast today, with a wind-chill factor near zero. In fact, it’s so cold, thousands of people in New Jersey had to be treated for frozen mullet.
On the season premiere of “American Idol,” a contestant showed up in a bikini, tried to kiss Ryan Seacrest and said she wanted to have his children. Apparently this hasn’t happened to Seacrest since Clay Aiken was a contestant.
Larry King interviewed President Bush and Bush told him, “My favorite color is blue, and I love enchiladas." Unfortunately Bush was answering the question, “What was your greatest achievement as president?”
President Bush has been giving Barack Obama a lot of advice. He told Obama that his biggest challenge will be “an enemy attack.” Specifically, Bush told Obama, “Keep your eye on Hillary.”
There’s a new study out that says too much caffeine can cause hallucinations. I think it’s true because I was at Starbucks today, and I hallucinated that a cup of coffee cost $4.
Then I hallucinated that the counter guy was trying to sell me a jazz CD at 7 o’clock in the damn morning.
Andy Rooney turned 90 years old today. Why is he so angry? He only works three minutes a week.
President Bush has declared a state of emergency for Washington, D.C. Apparently, the president obtained information that on Tuesday, an unidentified black man was plotting to break into and actually live in the White house.
The president was on “Larry King” last night for a parting interview before he tries to find his way back home to Texas.
Larry King asked him if he lost any money in the crisis, and surprisingly, Bush said he has no idea where his money is because his money is in a blind trust managed by a Nigerian prince who’s about to collect a huge inheritance.
It seems fitting that since he doesn’t know where our money, he shouldn’t know where his money is.
So glad that your new year has started off on the right foot. We are thinking of you! Keep warm-
Beth
Elyse,
Just read Ann's email and your latest entry. I am so glad you feel up to trying to get back into the swing of things! That is such good news. I hope you continue to feel better and better. Hope to see you soon!
Elyse,
Just caught up on your last 2 blogs and am so glad you are feeling better. The tincture of opium sounds great-just remember the motto-better living through pharmacology. Truly, it is a blessing that you are able to do some everyday normal things and feel better.
Take care, LeeAnn
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