<p>"a theory based, empirically validated annoyance. "</p>
<p>Helloooooooooo curly red haired inner demon. You are feisty and funny, after a day like that . Wow!</p>
<p>Sunrise, positive thoughts to you. I hope it goes better from here on out.</p>
<p>Sunrise… do you have a kindle? I think now is the time to catch up on all of the reading that you have ever wanted to do, but put off. </p>
<p>I do feel that it is outrageous that so much of your time is being wasted just at the point in your life when your time is more precious than ever, but I think you have a clear view of things to come and the only way to deal with waiting is to arrive with the equipment in hand to camp out and entertain yourself for hours on end.</p>
<p>Sunrise, I am so sorry you had such an exhausting and frustrating experience . . . and then you had the energy to write about it! You are unreal. 
I hope tomorrow is an easier and far more positive experience.</p>
<p>Thank you for letting that red haired inner demon out. She needs to let loose every once in a while!!!</p>
<p>Finally, thanks for this:
“So, it turned out to be a 16 hour day. They should mandate a certification process for an advanced cancer patient status. Those who fail will be assigned to less glamorous garden variety ailments like high blood pressure and indigestion.”</p>
<p>I read that and had a good laugh. Truly, thank you for your wit and sense of humor in the midst of such an arduous journey. I am praying for you, and even if you do not subscribe to those beliefs, know that good thoughts are with you.</p>
<p>my prayers are with you!</p>
<p>I love your curly red haired inner demon. I happen to have a D (the reason I discovered CC) with wild, incredible curly red hair. The kind of hair you just look at and just marvel. She’s not a demon, but she is a spitfire and is determined and focused. Didn’t care for HS so much because she doesn’t put up with nonsense. I am now visualizing her as your mascot/advocate.</p>
<p>Pixar has a movie scheduled to come out in June, 2012 called Brave set in the Scottish Highlands which has a curly red haired heroine, who looks like my D. I’m thinking we may need to get some merchandise . . .</p>
<p>Fiery red headed demons are the best!</p>
<p>Thinking of you…</p>
<p>Hoping you are in the midst of a good night’s sleep. Thoughts and prayers are with you.</p>
<p>Thinking of you.
Stay strong!</p>
<p>As a fellow MBA, I love your “theory based, empirically validated annoyance”! Hospital scheduling seems designed to convey the message that you shouldn’t have anything else in your life but your medical treatment. I hope your next trip was a LOT shorter than 16 hours.</p>
<p>But don’t be too hard on the hubby for showing up. My husband always tells me I can skip the appointments, too, but sometimes I go anyway. We just want to feel useful (even if we can’t be, and sometimes aren’t :-))!</p>
<p>Sending healing positive thoughts your way</p>
<p>Thinking of you. Something tells me you might be at a family weekend. If so, enjoy yourself! :)</p>
<p>dougbetsy,</p>
<p>did not make it to the family weekend. Because as an ROTC student, S2 is attending all weekend leadership training in a nearby Army camp. Don’t ask me why they ended up holding this event on the family weekend.</p>
<p>We visited him last weekend instead.</p>
<p>meanwhile, I am REALLY liking the school. I know your D is thinking about it. PM me if you want some observation and input.</p>
<p>Thinking of you today…</p>
<p>At my hospital in bpston they say if you have been waiting more than 15 minutes let someone know. I know in the midst of treatment it would have been impossible to wait all that time.</p>
<p>To all of us who are fighting the fight: I am Jewish, but not religious. I come from a long line of secular Jews. However my mother, of blessed memory, loved the fall. She love Rosh Hashonah, the Jewish New Year. It is a time for renewal, of making things right and starting anew. The only prayer that she said, and only at this part of the year went something like this: May God bless you and keep you. May his strength and goodness give you the strength to keep you and the ones you love strong. And may you live to see another year surrounded by your family and friends.</p>
<p>I am sure that this is a family take on an ancient prayer. but it has given me a bit of a push to keep going. I hope that I have not offended anyone by reciting this.</p>
<p>So to all: A good and healthy New Year.</p>
<p>I would hope that good thoughts never offend anyone! Thank you for sharing that, ellebud. </p>
<p>Sunriseeast, you are on my mind and I hope you are doing well. Please stop in for a moment if you can and give us an update. Remember, it’s ok to let that redhead out. ;)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It sounds like the ‘Priestly Blessing’, which comes from the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew scriptures:</p>
<p>May the LORD bless you and keep you;
May the LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.</p>
<p>Yes, I suspect that is where the original wording came from. The original is far more meaningful and beautiful.</p>
<p>thanks everyone.</p>
<p>I am doing OK. A bit more tired than the first time. I still exercise and all that, but need more sleep. Don’t know whether this is Doxil (the main chemo drug), the experimental drug (as part of the clinical trial), the combination of the two, or the fact that it’s so soon after the first treatment, and my body is just taking it a bit more gingerly.</p>
<p>Still no side effects to Doxil. But I reacted very strongly to the experimental drug. Last wed, within a few hours after the shot, I was chilled to the bone and was not well at all the rest of the day. I was warned though – a flu like syndrome was on the list of “very likely” symptoms. I hope it’s the sign that it’s working. I had to stay for eight hours after the shot for the research blood collection. The train ride that night was the longest ever, be it plane or train. But, I was well enough to track back to MSKCC next day again. </p>
<p>My current problem, again, nothing compared with what other women go through, is a total lack of appetite. No, I am not nauseous, nor do I throw up when I eat. If I manage to muster enough will power to chew something and swallow it, it will stay there, and come out the right way, if you know what I mean. It’s soooooooooo tempting to just fast a day or two. I checked my last albumin level, thinking, if it’s high enough, maybe I will let myself go food free for a day. Then I saw that it was already on the low end borderline normal, so no such easy way out. Besides, my weight is already on the borderline normal on the low end, so, I should be more vigilant.</p>
<p>Overweight people should have my problem. I know that there are things a dr can prescribe for increasing appetite, but I am really reluctant to request one: way too many meds here and there. I will just exercise my will power. During the last treatment, there were days here and there when I did not feel like eating but it was not a constant problem. This times, it seems to be the norm. </p>
<p>Protein shake it is, since that’s the easiest way to pack calories in and I can swallow it in 30 seconds as opposed to agonizing over a plateful of food to “conquer”. This Yom Kippur, it will be so tempting for me to turn “pious” for a day - after all, I am an honorary Jew. I used to merrily eat away anything and everything while my fasting husband looked on wistfully, but perhaps this year I should show more solidarity. </p>
<p>I am getting the exp drug again tomorrow: we are invited to Rosh Hashanah dinner – I hope I feel better this time.</p>
<p>Happy Rosh Hashonah to those who are Jewish or an honorary Jew like me!</p>