The Heat is On

OK, now I look like someone who had a pot of boiling oil held really close to their face for an extended period of time. It itches and I find myself waking to the sensation of me scratching my face. Which is pleasant for the first nano second, and then it hurts.

My beloved is a restless sleeper who snores and he came home late last night so I've had just a little bit of sleep. Add to that the new night guard and it's been a little less than ideal to sleep. The night guard is supposed to help with bruxism - tooth grinding. I've always been a bit of a grinder and clencher but it was affecting one of my teeth to the point that I was worried I needed a root canal. Enter the night guard. I'll give it the next two weeks and see how it does.

I admit that this whole Efudex experience has been humbling. I'm uncomfortable with how I look, and feel just bad enough to make me a little cranky. Add to that the fact that my weekend was shot through the heart on our abortive maiden voyage to send my kids off to Hawaii. There was a problem with the age of my youngest not meeting the unaccompanied minor cut off, and the age of my eldest not meeting the required 18 to escort. Their dad had to fly over to pick them up from the airport, instead of waiting for the destination arrival. They finally got out the next day, but by then the damage was done to relaxing and hanging out with my beloved.

My best friend and friend I have known the longest has to go in for a double biopsy on Thursday. They found some micro-calcification in both of her breasts and it make me very afraid. I will be praying for her and I hope you do too. While I suspect it's nothing it still makes me afraid for her, and hits way to close to home.

Driving Miss Daisy crazy

My kids are home for two days before they head to an island paradise for 5 weeks with their Dad. I'm glad they are going because they need to spend that time with their Dad, but I still can't help but feel he does not deserve them. I'm sure I am wrong about that, but I can't help how I feel.

My Darlin' man is making me crazy right now. I'm seeing that he is very insecure and needs more reassurance than I realized. I am going far beyond my usual efforts to provide loving comments and support for him. The funny thing is, the more nice things I say, the more insulting and harsh things he has to say back. I brought him beautiful raspberries and strawberries freshly picked. He takes one look at them and pronounces them "dog turds". Not in a mean way. Like it's so hysterically funny. Which I guess it would be if I didn't feel like a simple thank you and a smile would have gone over so much better.

Not sure what to do about that. I just wonder if I can do this trade nice for nasty for the long term. I don't say nice things just to get something back, but I do think every time something nice is said, a dirty joke need not be the only and every response. Dunno, maybe it's just me.

It Ain't Acne it's Efudex

I think this may be my last really easy day for awhile. The redness is spreading and some of the spots are now slightly crusty and brown. I don't think I'll ever be as bad as the topicalchemo guy, but I did want the cortisone cream today and took an Ibuprofen for extra measure.

There are many measle looking spots on my face and the burn/itch is slight but persistent. I have the most spots on my chin. Some of the spots are large, like a thumb print. Some are small like a pimple. And I have a few pimples too.

Last night we went bike riding around 7:30. It felt really good to be out and about. The air was soothing. I'll have to see if I can manage that tonight.

Kids come back tomorrow for 2 days and then they are off to Hawaii. I'm glad to have them home but at the same time I am relieved they are heading out again. I am enjoying this being a grownup with no strings. I hemmed my skirt last night because I had the time and the energy. Those days are few and far between when the kids are around. I hope that my oldest having her license will be good for me to get a break for the driving I've done. Time will tell.

Is it Acne or is it Efudex?

I've always wondered what it would be like to look like a Zombie. I think I'm going to find out. For now I look just like I'm afflicted with Meth Mites and I am afraid if I get pulled over for any reason, the officer will search my car for Meth. It's not like it happens with regularity (getting pulled over), or that I really look like I'm doing Meth.

The redness is beginning in spots around my face where the other darker brown spots are. I'm not sure if that means that the brown spots aren't ever going to go away or if I'm still going to have to deal with them as worrisome pre-cancerous lesions if they don't resolve with the treatment.

Friday I'll see the PA for the dermatologist. I guess I'll ask those questions then. Till then it's twice daily until they say I don't gotta anymore.

Getting Old is not for Sissies

Warning, this will be a bit of a rant. I'm in day 6 of the Efudex treatment and still nothing happening. I have to say I am not unhappy about it. The less time I spend in pain the better. Apparently though, my sub-conscious mind is having quite the fling with worrying. So much so that I am grinding my teeth. This has caused one of my teeth to be very unhappy. I went to the dentist today and he feels it's just inflammation from me pressing on the tooth and irritating the nerve.

So to add to the hats, and glass and sunscreen and cell phone and headset and all the other STUFF that I get to lug around, I will now add a mouth guard to wear at night. OK, enough whining. I get to keep the tooth apparently, instead of rendering it one of the undead through root canal. That is if it stops being inflamed and doesn't get infected. Which it shouldn't. I hope. OK I really hope alot.

I am also having some pretty unpleasant cramps. I didn't want to take any pain medication just in case something was really wrong with the tooth and it would make it harder to diagnose it. I think I'll go ahead and take some now. The xray didn't show anything scary.

Whew! I'm adjusting to my kids being gone, and the nausea from the chemo is better. OK enough ranting.

The Kid's are Gone, the Funk has arrived

My progeny have left for 2 weeks. The first day is really hard. I feel so unmoored when they leave at first. Then gradually I get up and start finding my own rythmn. I'm still in the finding my own rythmn fight now. Cooking foods I like. The house stays clean, and quiet. Sometimes way too quiet.

I'm on day three of Efudex and nothing has shown up yet. I know it will, just later than I wanted it to, because it means that the treatment will take longer. But it will take what it takes. And I'll still be here.

The airport was horrible. And I behaved badly. I'm PMSing and it makes me not very nice. I hope to sleep better tonight and then get in a good peaceful day of work tomorrow.

My Last Day of Sanity for Awhile

I'm OK for now. I'm going to take it one day at a time. That's all I can say, it that I'm not going to project what will happen or how I will react. I'll deal with the stuff that happens as best I can. I'm hoping for peace of mind to carry me through this.