debutaunt.com

Some suggestions from someone who's been there (although everyone is different, I don't know how much this will actually help, but it might be reassuring so I'll tell you)

Eric went through total body radiation too. We were both *super* nervous about it, but in the end, he didn't suffer any side effects from it at all. Very anti-climatic.

Try Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry skin moisturizer, or Lubriderm extra sensitive lotion (no lanolin, fragrance, or color). We tried about 10 different lotions when Eric's skin was freaking out, and those were his favorites (and they're both cheap and available at WalMart and drugstores, unlike some of the ones his docs were trying to push on us).

And again, give those nurses hell. You should be able to stay in the comfort (?) of your room UNTIL they are ready for you in the treatment area. You should never have to sit by yourself out in the hallway for any extended amount of time. Sometimes ya gotta be difficult, but you still deserve your dignity, even if you're in a hospital.

Finally, have a bowl of chocolates in your room for the nurses. Or have someone bake yummy cookies for them. You're a lot more likely to get good treatment if you feed them. Trust me on this (I can send you or a Sis my recipe for Reverse Chip cookies if need be).

Hang in there,
Amanda

Oh my gosh. Whatever it takes. High drama seems to be in order here. I am so glad to hear about the hats. That's their job. Yours is to fight the cancer and get well. Oh, and I don't know if I'm doing you any favours, but if denial helps, hang onto it. Unpack your bags in your own time.

What asshats. I can't believe they would leave you in the hallways like that. Can I come down there and picket them or something? Big meanies. That is just so wrong.

Meanwhile, I think I need to visit you again, soon. Let me know if I can. And if you need me to bring anything.

I am not going to say what I thought you meant by moisturizing inside, but it did not have anything to do with water and it's in a place where I hope nobody is ever concern about it not being moisturized enough.

In the hallway? WTF?

I love how you're using all of the Shoshie words.

((HUGS))

Dang,
I knew all that time I spent making nicey nice
with the Rabbi would pay off. That calls for a
big WOOHOO....You know we will go to the ends of
the earth for you girlfriend.

NOW-I have a suggestion-ok roll your eyes-Make
them call down and see how far behind they are
running. I don't want you sitting in that freaking
hall.

Again when you stay at the RITZ CARLTON those
thing don't happen. You are the bus driver-
you are in charge. I feel an ass whipping coming
on.

Now I will calm down. I hate that you had to
wait, and hell I would have cried. And remember
when and if people look. This is what you say.
Were you always this rude or is this a new trait
you picked up today. Believe me I said that all
the time, if somebody gave Sarah "the look".

I am saving a very, very good Yiddish word/phrase
for tomorrow. You will plotz with laughter.

Love,
Shoshie

JUST SAY NO TO WAITING IN THE HALL

Just thinking of you sitting in the hallway crying has me sitting here crying. I hate that you are alone there. No one should be doing this by themselves...and most definitely no one ought to be sitting in a hallway alone and scared. How pissed off I am right now. My mom had some bitchin' lotion when she had her radiation...now if I could just remember the name of it. I'll call my aunt tomorrow and ask her. Peace.

Hang tough. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Here's the plan: You make a big scene when they blink wrong or if they pronounce something different than you like it or if they just look at you wrong, ok? We'll gather Cheney, Bobby Knight together and send them into the unit to straighten the crew out. If that fails, we'll enlist Ted Kennedy to give them each a ride home. That'll just about scare the bejeepers out of them and they'll straighten up and fly right.

I'm sorry you had to sit out in the hallway. What is that about - hospital detention? Those gowns are just lovely, too.

If you can visualize every one of us out in that hallway with you and what a ration of spit and vinegar all the staff and probably even the passersby would catch, please feel free to run that 'movie' in your head and laugh to your heart's content.

I'm glad to hear they've laid off the nightly vitals and also figured out that the hats are theirs to empty.

Maybe you can rest at least a little and picture your newly acquired rads kicking cancer's ass with you. Cody visualized super powers coming along with each radiation treatment though it was *only* his brain that got irradiated. (I know, I can't believe I just said that either.) So, pick a super power and join the glow-in-the-dark-gang and your 4 million little friends will join you in the battle soon.

Big 'ol hugs to you from a teary-eyed mom of another warrior.

Deb-
OH NO-IT's OPERATION HIGH DRAMA! As Shoshie said
you have your nurse call down. We will not be
sitting in any hall. Do you think UMA would sit
in a hallway-uh no-the same applies to you.
Tell them you are the Queen of the Universe
and well you "don't do halls."

This is for SIS #2. A special thanks for our
Sex Ed class.

Deb I am being serious for once. We need visuals
in the head. Hell visualize today what Sis #2
said for the whole world to see. She "thought"
she had stumbled into I guess some sex forum
on better orgasms.

Day 3 and she's going strong!

Love,
Nikki

Another visual. Shoshie with the Rabbi who
is about 100 years old "working him" for the
Yiddish word".

Ahem Nikki the Rabbi is not 100 years old. He is
76 so there.

Ok we have a really good Yiddish word for you
today. One that you can use when they get all
stupid on you. My kids who know very little Yiddish
use this one all the time. The word is ameratsim,
which means ignoramus. So when they "think" they
can put you in the hall for the line up. Just say look it you big old ameratsim "that is not going
to fly with me". When you throw out a word nobody
knows that will get their attention. Tell them
you are a linguistics guru, tell them you work
for the Houston (whatever your big paper is there)
and they will be on the front page for pissing you
off.

Ask every damn day for a new room. Smile
and say Oh by the way has a room opened up. I am
in agreement about the food. Feed em and they
will love you even more.

I should send you the fudge that one of the twins
made (the boy). If you like your candy nice and
hard you may like this fudge. He won't be on the
Martha Stewart show anytime soon. But I did not
tell him that is was HORRIBLE. I was a good Mama
and said OH this is pretty good, and I flushed
mine down the toilet :) one bite and I thought
HOLY DRECK my teeth!

They have a week off school. I swear they are
always off school. In my next life, I am coming
back as my kid's.

Love,
Shoshie

KICK ASS TODAY, BUT DON'T KICK MINE :)

Please ask the nurse for some gel lotion samples . Again , I can't remember the name but it really soothes the areas . My Radiation started around my neck and down to my stomach region .
Hang in there Miss Thang - Love you !

You have already got some excellent advice. Just know that i'm thinking of you and your loved ones and praying for you. I hope the sitting in the hall alone was a one-time thing. It should have been a non-time thing. Jerks.

I'm with the majority here: High drama, bribe "them" with food/candy, be a squeaky wheel about the room, and call first to avoid sitting in the hall if possible.

Good luck, dearie. You can do this.

As for the skin, I don't know if they have it, or if you can use it, but Gold Bond Medicated ointment/body lotion. It helps the itch. Really. There is also a product called Eucerin Anti-itch body lotion. That works VERY well, too.

Hugs,

Yeah, yeah, yeah I am back. Let me know if
I need to chat it up with the Rabbi today.
You know if you need a word I don't know.

Better yet I will see if he wants to come
see you. What a great idea. Give him fashion
tips when he comes, and tell him he needs
to get his freaking MENORAH OUT OF HIS WINDOW.

OK sad but true, I will be back after I
tend to my kiddies. I hear a little too much
action going on upstairs.

Shoshie

Deb - I've been reading since your diagnosis - have commented a time or two. I so wish I could be funny and witty like so many other posters but I just have to be honest. My heart is breaking because of what you are going through right now and I pray for you each and every day. I actually went back and read a lot of your archives before your diagnosis and feel I "know" you pretty well. If anyone can kick cancers ass its you and I have faith that you will!
Is there a physical address where I can send you a package? Maybe to one of your sisters? I would take extra care to sanitize it all as best I can before sending it. Nothing major - just a few things to make you smile. You can e-mail me here any time.
My sister is a nurse BTW and she agrees that you should NOT have to sit there in that hallway alone. I say go for the drama as well.
Sending you cyber hugs and many prayers.

haha these sisters crack me up! what a cheerleading squad you have here - perhaps that's what you should visualize...all of your 'stranger friends' cheering with pom poms and everything!!

be strong, and don't let them put you in the hallway!

When you encounter something that scares you, or when you are feeling alone, remember that you have many people rooting for you!!!! I may not really know you...but you are still in my thoughts and prayers.

Speaking from a nurse pratitioner's point of view, it sounds like you could be allergic to the tape you are using aroung the CVC ask them to try paper tape. Also that business about staying in the hallway alone. That is simply hogwash! That goes against all Patient's Rights.
Patient's have rights to. Just ask anyone of those nurses and you will have them nervous. Seriously, you need to report the incident of the hallway to the Head Nurse/Nurse Manager of your unit. If that doesn't work then ask for the Patient Advocate. Every hospital has one and they really fight for the patients. We used to call them the "nurse police". Also try the Eucerin cream. It worked for my Grandmother when she had her radiation. Hang in there Deb!
love,
Cami

Lisa O-

The safest and bestest way to get things to the Debu is to send it at the address listed here:

http://www.debutaunt.com/archives/000698.php#000698

With the office address, you have some certainty that someone is there during the week to get it. Thanks!

Good Afternoon:
Shoshie as you know is my sister. I am very
brave for admitting to that fact. Nobody but
nobody can get things done better then Shoshie.

I hope you are having a better day today. If
not give them Shoshie's email. She will set them
straight. My family prays for you each night.
Between the prayers, and everyone here, you
will be a winner in the fight.

Rachel

Initially I was too outraged to trust myself to comment. They cannot leave you in the hall. I will contact one of my buddies from law school who works in Dallas if I need to, because that is simply unacceptable.

There. See? I can be civil even when I'm pissed! But only for you, Deb. See what a good influence you are on me??

Nurse bribes are being made and shipped pronto.

Still praying for you but now also that you don't have to suffer anymore rudeness - thinking of you all the time and hoping things will get better. Love from Oz, Yasmin

Hi Deb
The radioactive Queen! . Remember to get the Patient Relations #. Keep it on file or speed dial and keep your journal up to date: names, titles, dates and problem.
You are enduring your own Olympic Game and you have a ton of supporters rooting for you. Keep up the good work and do not take any Shit. Do not sit in the hallway, if they are not ready for you, then they can provide a private room in any department in the hospitalor demand to go back to your "suite". After all your ammune systey is shot and you can not be exposed to the common folk(with germs). You are in charge and do not let any one shat on you.
Thinking of you today and everyday
Nancy

The word "moisturize" will never be quite the same for me.