IRENE FROM TAMPA
09-26-2006, 03:18 PM
Hi all - we just got back from our trip this Saturday at midnite. It was a long trip back with a long lay over in Newark before coming home. It was nice to be back.
We had a marvelous time in Italy. Our first leg of the trip was spent in the Tuscan town of Cortona. This was my favorite time.My objective was to become one with the Italians and that is exactly the experience we had there. Our landlords were such warm, loving people who made our stay extra special. They even cooked the tenants a wonderful Italian meal on the Wednesday before we left. They set up tables in their garden and we all ate and drank wine under the beautiful Tuscan sky. They spoke of their traditions and we of ours and we all learned some of each others language. Since I speak Spanish, I was able to understand some of what they said pretty well. Everyday (as we hiked up the 1 kilometer STEEP walk up to the town) we got to know more and more of the towns people where eventually we were on first name basis. We made a wonderful friendship with our upstairs neighbors who are from New Zealand. Cortona will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Positano (down south) was very beautiful but I found much more touristy then I wanted. Again, we hand to hike up and down 200 steps to get to our apartment every day. Kept us in shape I must say. On our last week there I developed a fever which came an went for the whole week. I still had when we arrived back into Tampa. So I have spent the last two days running blood test and had my scans done. Will meet with my onc on Thursday for results to see how everything is going after two cycles.
Sandy H - I am glad to see you finally started on the trial.
I just started my third cycle on Monday and we had to reduce the dosage to 2650 mg per day. When we left on 8/25 I had already began having stomach issues and mouth sores. I never had either of these when I took Xeloda before. So we left with a pack full of meds. I did not feel the greatest the day we left but things started resolving a bit after a week off of the Xeloda. I had to reduce the second cycle dosage myself to 2800 since my stomach was not doing well and traveling with this issue was not fun. My doctor decided on my return to reduce even further since he does not want me to get to a point that I will have to stop taking. My blood counts have looked good so far. Just don't know why I have these fevers. They started me on an antibiotic yesterday and a water pill since my ankles became swollen and very red (we think probably from all of the walking (which must have been at least a thousand miles up and down steep hills for the whole month) at least that is what it felt like.
So my sympthoms so far have been very frequent loose bowels,
mouth sores with the first cycle - did not have any during the second cycle.
my fingers having started to crack and are very sore to the touch.
We are thinking that maybe the Tykerb may be causing some of the stomach issues with the combo of the two.
On our return, my nurse told me that she really worried about me while I was gone. She said that she handed over the "new meds" to me and I said ok see you in a month - lol. She thought that I came back in pretty good shape considering.
We had a marvelous time and mentally my mind feels clear and rested now.
This is what life is all about. I am already making plans for a future trip (God willing)
A funny story while in Rome on our last day -
We made it to see St. Peter's Basilica (which is more beautiful then words can describe). While walking around my eyes met with a Father and a nun which were walking around also. As our eyes met he smiled at me and I also in return. We kept crossing paths. The next day at the airport leaving from Rome and going throught the lines, once again, there he was and again our eyes met and he smiled. By this time I was thinking -hmmmm
When we arrived into Newark to await our transfer to Tampa, there they were again walking around. Once we went airside I noticed that they sat down at our gate coming to Tampa. I though, how interesting, they are from Tampa also.
Needless to say, when we boarded our plane, guess who is sitting next to me, THE SAME PRIEST. By this time I was getting little feelings of Is this a sign - but of what.
He introduced himself as Father Robert and we had a nice conversation all the way home. I told him about my cancer and he told me that his mother was a colon cancer survivor. He left me with a very warm (as he had kind twinkling eyes and very kind voice) thought.
He told me that these things can not be understood so I should not even try to figure out but to always remember.....
THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERYTHING WOULD BE OK.
At the end of our flight he asked if he could do a special healing prayer for me which he did. After this I felt safe and at peace.
This I feel is the sign I have been asking for...
Cioa for now.
We had a marvelous time in Italy. Our first leg of the trip was spent in the Tuscan town of Cortona. This was my favorite time.My objective was to become one with the Italians and that is exactly the experience we had there. Our landlords were such warm, loving people who made our stay extra special. They even cooked the tenants a wonderful Italian meal on the Wednesday before we left. They set up tables in their garden and we all ate and drank wine under the beautiful Tuscan sky. They spoke of their traditions and we of ours and we all learned some of each others language. Since I speak Spanish, I was able to understand some of what they said pretty well. Everyday (as we hiked up the 1 kilometer STEEP walk up to the town) we got to know more and more of the towns people where eventually we were on first name basis. We made a wonderful friendship with our upstairs neighbors who are from New Zealand. Cortona will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Positano (down south) was very beautiful but I found much more touristy then I wanted. Again, we hand to hike up and down 200 steps to get to our apartment every day. Kept us in shape I must say. On our last week there I developed a fever which came an went for the whole week. I still had when we arrived back into Tampa. So I have spent the last two days running blood test and had my scans done. Will meet with my onc on Thursday for results to see how everything is going after two cycles.
Sandy H - I am glad to see you finally started on the trial.
I just started my third cycle on Monday and we had to reduce the dosage to 2650 mg per day. When we left on 8/25 I had already began having stomach issues and mouth sores. I never had either of these when I took Xeloda before. So we left with a pack full of meds. I did not feel the greatest the day we left but things started resolving a bit after a week off of the Xeloda. I had to reduce the second cycle dosage myself to 2800 since my stomach was not doing well and traveling with this issue was not fun. My doctor decided on my return to reduce even further since he does not want me to get to a point that I will have to stop taking. My blood counts have looked good so far. Just don't know why I have these fevers. They started me on an antibiotic yesterday and a water pill since my ankles became swollen and very red (we think probably from all of the walking (which must have been at least a thousand miles up and down steep hills for the whole month) at least that is what it felt like.
So my sympthoms so far have been very frequent loose bowels,
mouth sores with the first cycle - did not have any during the second cycle.
my fingers having started to crack and are very sore to the touch.
We are thinking that maybe the Tykerb may be causing some of the stomach issues with the combo of the two.
On our return, my nurse told me that she really worried about me while I was gone. She said that she handed over the "new meds" to me and I said ok see you in a month - lol. She thought that I came back in pretty good shape considering.
We had a marvelous time and mentally my mind feels clear and rested now.
This is what life is all about. I am already making plans for a future trip (God willing)
A funny story while in Rome on our last day -
We made it to see St. Peter's Basilica (which is more beautiful then words can describe). While walking around my eyes met with a Father and a nun which were walking around also. As our eyes met he smiled at me and I also in return. We kept crossing paths. The next day at the airport leaving from Rome and going throught the lines, once again, there he was and again our eyes met and he smiled. By this time I was thinking -hmmmm
When we arrived into Newark to await our transfer to Tampa, there they were again walking around. Once we went airside I noticed that they sat down at our gate coming to Tampa. I though, how interesting, they are from Tampa also.
Needless to say, when we boarded our plane, guess who is sitting next to me, THE SAME PRIEST. By this time I was getting little feelings of Is this a sign - but of what.
He introduced himself as Father Robert and we had a nice conversation all the way home. I told him about my cancer and he told me that his mother was a colon cancer survivor. He left me with a very warm (as he had kind twinkling eyes and very kind voice) thought.
He told me that these things can not be understood so I should not even try to figure out but to always remember.....
THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERYTHING WOULD BE OK.
At the end of our flight he asked if he could do a special healing prayer for me which he did. After this I felt safe and at peace.
This I feel is the sign I have been asking for...
Cioa for now.