"Some chemo and cancer medications can damage your saliva glands."
Julie Lanford, RD, Wellness director for Cancer Services Inc.
From the time I had my first chemo treatment to present hormone treatment and pain medicines, I have experienced moderate to severe Dry Mouth. Symptoms of Dry Mouth are linked to a reduction in salvia flow, which is a directly cause by taking more prescription medicines.
My doctor has advised me of the following tips to deal with Dry Mouth:
1. Sip water often to help keep your mouth moist. But avoid sugary, acidic, or caffeinated drinks.
2. Drink water or milk with meals help with chewing and swallowing.
3. Try sleeping in a room with a humidifer to ease dry mouth symptoms.
4. Rinse your mouth before bedtime. Try this mouth rinse. Mix until dissollved; 1 tsp baking soda and 3/4 tsp salt in 1 qt. water. Swish and spit. Another rinse at bedtime is to swish some olive oil and then spit. This will coat your mouth so it doesn't dry out.
All of these tips are meant reduce or help ease the symptoms of Dry Mouth.
If you or anyone use know is suffering with Dry Mouth, I hope these tips are helpful.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
Awareness
"Whatever is stored in darkness becomes distorted." Deepak Chopra
Awareness, like fresh water is meant to flow, and when it can't, it turn stagnant. Yesterday when I went to my cancer check-up appointment, I was feeling a lot of anxiety about my results because I had not been feeling very good this past week. This anxiety must have been larger than life because my blood pressure was higher than usual and my doctor felt the tension when he was talking to him. I explained that I had been been very tired and lacked energy. To my surprise my doctor explained to me that cancer can work on your subconscious when you're worried. He assured me that what ever the results were there were plenty of options. By the time I left the doctors office I was beginning to feel better with more energy. The results of my cancer test would not be available for a day or two I decided that I needed to use breathing and meditation techniques to calm me down.
When I got home I listened to some relaxing music and completed my breathing routine. Within a half an hour I was feeling better and more optimistic.
This morning when I got up my doctor called me to tell me cancer numbers had stayed the same but my calcium levels were down. He felt that may have caused me to feel more fatigue and added more calcium tablets to my diet. This simple phone call eased my anxiety and lifted my spirit!
Awareness, like fresh water is meant to flow, and when it can't, it turn stagnant. Yesterday when I went to my cancer check-up appointment, I was feeling a lot of anxiety about my results because I had not been feeling very good this past week. This anxiety must have been larger than life because my blood pressure was higher than usual and my doctor felt the tension when he was talking to him. I explained that I had been been very tired and lacked energy. To my surprise my doctor explained to me that cancer can work on your subconscious when you're worried. He assured me that what ever the results were there were plenty of options. By the time I left the doctors office I was beginning to feel better with more energy. The results of my cancer test would not be available for a day or two I decided that I needed to use breathing and meditation techniques to calm me down.
When I got home I listened to some relaxing music and completed my breathing routine. Within a half an hour I was feeling better and more optimistic.
This morning when I got up my doctor called me to tell me cancer numbers had stayed the same but my calcium levels were down. He felt that may have caused me to feel more fatigue and added more calcium tablets to my diet. This simple phone call eased my anxiety and lifted my spirit!
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Dancing in the Rain
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."
Unknown
For the last month I have been dealing with a few little bumps in the road and have not been blogging because I have procrastinating about sitting down and writing my thoughts. It seems that as days go by it gets harder to start blogging again. Today I woke up and told myself that people may or may not enjoy reading my blogs but that I had to jump back into to get restarted.
The weather has now changed from all the snow to beautiful sunshine. It seems like only a few days ago we had 30 inches of snow on the ground now the grass is growing over the curb and is begging to be mowed.
I love spring and really enjoy watching the trees and flowers blooming. I started a herb garden and I'm enjoying the basil, thyme, sage and parsley that is growing profusely in my containers. I just added a pot of chocolate mint to my collection and was very pleased with the flavor I infused in my selter water. Lemon balm is also another herb that is easy to grow and can be infused in selter water.
Thank you to my followers who voice concern about my absence on my blog. All is well with my cancer and I hope all is well with all of my followers and that you continue to communicate with me.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Friends of the Library
"Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience; this is the ideal life."
Mark Twain
Today I went to our local "Friends of the Library" annual book sale. Friends of Libraries are available in most township and county libraries. They are non-profit charitable groups formed to support libraries in communities for the purpose of fundraising, public awareness campaigns and literary program.
I love these book sales because it gives me an opportunity to donate many books that I have finished and would like to share with other readers. If there is a book I especially like, I try to write a little short note on a book markers that highlights the things I enjoyed most about the book. It also gives me a chance to buy books, cds and music choices that I have been looking for at a fraction of the original cost. Most books and other items for sale are gently used in good condition. I love these sales also because you can meet others in your community that share your love for literacy. Its a great chance to also begin looking for birthday, Christmas and other gift to give throughout the year to family and friends!
You can find advertisments for these sales in most local papers and on line. Happy reading!
Mark Twain
Today I went to our local "Friends of the Library" annual book sale. Friends of Libraries are available in most township and county libraries. They are non-profit charitable groups formed to support libraries in communities for the purpose of fundraising, public awareness campaigns and literary program.
I love these book sales because it gives me an opportunity to donate many books that I have finished and would like to share with other readers. If there is a book I especially like, I try to write a little short note on a book markers that highlights the things I enjoyed most about the book. It also gives me a chance to buy books, cds and music choices that I have been looking for at a fraction of the original cost. Most books and other items for sale are gently used in good condition. I love these sales also because you can meet others in your community that share your love for literacy. Its a great chance to also begin looking for birthday, Christmas and other gift to give throughout the year to family and friends!
You can find advertisments for these sales in most local papers and on line. Happy reading!
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Anger
"Don't hold on to anger, hurt or pain. They steal your energy and keep you from love." Leo F. Buscaglia, Inspirational Author
With all the turmoil that they are facing in Baltimore, it's hard to let go of the anger, hurt and pain the people of this city are fighting against. I am sure many of the people of Baltimore feel trapped in fear that uncertainty brings.
I lived in Baltimore for nine months when I was in a co-op educational program in college. My daughter graduated college in Baltimore two years ago so I feel I have an enlightened understanding of the people and city of Baltimore. They are a very diverse culture that prides itself on the arts, theater, and history. I am sure that the darkness of the riots make many of the problems the people are feeling become distorted. Hatred and anxiety loom larger than life and disorganized energy is a result, like the looting that occurred at the CVS pharmacy.
I believe that the people of Baltimore will come through this turmoil and the pain will lessen and eventually heal. It seems only reasonable that panic attacks will be felt by most citizens and the energy has to be bring into the light to diffuse it. I also feel that the mother running after her teenage son in the streets, urging him to go home will help pay attention to the need of guidance by the adults in the city who should be setting an example.
There is no fixed answer for the problems of Baltimore and other cities like it but I hope and pray that a response is found that helps heal through insight, compassion, patience and love from others.
With all the turmoil that they are facing in Baltimore, it's hard to let go of the anger, hurt and pain the people of this city are fighting against. I am sure many of the people of Baltimore feel trapped in fear that uncertainty brings.
I lived in Baltimore for nine months when I was in a co-op educational program in college. My daughter graduated college in Baltimore two years ago so I feel I have an enlightened understanding of the people and city of Baltimore. They are a very diverse culture that prides itself on the arts, theater, and history. I am sure that the darkness of the riots make many of the problems the people are feeling become distorted. Hatred and anxiety loom larger than life and disorganized energy is a result, like the looting that occurred at the CVS pharmacy.
I believe that the people of Baltimore will come through this turmoil and the pain will lessen and eventually heal. It seems only reasonable that panic attacks will be felt by most citizens and the energy has to be bring into the light to diffuse it. I also feel that the mother running after her teenage son in the streets, urging him to go home will help pay attention to the need of guidance by the adults in the city who should be setting an example.
There is no fixed answer for the problems of Baltimore and other cities like it but I hope and pray that a response is found that helps heal through insight, compassion, patience and love from others.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Morning Routine
"Thinking about creating my future starts when I wake up every morning...Everyday I find something creative to do with my life to make it worthwhile."
Miles Davis, Jazz Musician
When I wake-up each morning I choose to have a good day or a bad day. I realize that to have a good life, I must fill it with good days. Good days to me happen when I accomplish my most important tasks for the day. Bad days are those that leave me feeling bad because I fail to do anything to advance my most important tasks. The first thing I do in the morning is write down and organize my personal priorities, doing the most important tasks first.
Studies have shown that eighty percent of people do exactly the opposite. They organize their days around urgency's and emergencies. They tend to take care of last minute issues that should have been dealt with earlier or help others achieve their goals while ignoring their own. I find this approach leaves me feeling frustrated and irritable.
Doing first things first is a very simple discipline. I find it to be a major power and has changed my life immensely. I also find it's a fast and easy way to turn around my life when I am not happy with the way it is going so far.
These are the rules I follow: 1. I get up early and write a list of the the important tasks I want to accomplish. 2. I have breakfast, next I dress and do a short stretching exercise and a meditation session of 15-20 minutes. 3. I begin to work on my list of important tasks, crossing each one off as I accomplish it. 4. I continue down my list, taking short breaks in between to allow myself down time. 5. I make time for lunch and run errands as needed. By the end of the day I review my list and reward myself for all the items I accomplished. (I enjoy a cup of tea and a sweet treat most times) I make a list for tomorrow of tasks that still need to be accomplished.
I try to do this five days a week and spend the weekend doing fun things! I feel happier most of the time and feel I have a good life! Try it and see if it doesn't help.
Miles Davis, Jazz Musician
When I wake-up each morning I choose to have a good day or a bad day. I realize that to have a good life, I must fill it with good days. Good days to me happen when I accomplish my most important tasks for the day. Bad days are those that leave me feeling bad because I fail to do anything to advance my most important tasks. The first thing I do in the morning is write down and organize my personal priorities, doing the most important tasks first.
Studies have shown that eighty percent of people do exactly the opposite. They organize their days around urgency's and emergencies. They tend to take care of last minute issues that should have been dealt with earlier or help others achieve their goals while ignoring their own. I find this approach leaves me feeling frustrated and irritable.
Doing first things first is a very simple discipline. I find it to be a major power and has changed my life immensely. I also find it's a fast and easy way to turn around my life when I am not happy with the way it is going so far.
These are the rules I follow: 1. I get up early and write a list of the the important tasks I want to accomplish. 2. I have breakfast, next I dress and do a short stretching exercise and a meditation session of 15-20 minutes. 3. I begin to work on my list of important tasks, crossing each one off as I accomplish it. 4. I continue down my list, taking short breaks in between to allow myself down time. 5. I make time for lunch and run errands as needed. By the end of the day I review my list and reward myself for all the items I accomplished. (I enjoy a cup of tea and a sweet treat most times) I make a list for tomorrow of tasks that still need to be accomplished.
I try to do this five days a week and spend the weekend doing fun things! I feel happier most of the time and feel I have a good life! Try it and see if it doesn't help.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Daffodil Festival
"If one daffodil is worth a thousand pleasures, then one is too few."
William Wordsworth
Today my husband and I traveled to Meridan, Connecticut for "New Englands Most Beauitful Daffodil Festival". There were an estimated 600,001 daffodils blooming through out a 1800 acre park in Meridan, Connecticut, with 61 different varities. The display of daffidols are just amazing. Most people said it was the best display in years. It seems that in recent years the blooms were premature or had already bloomed at the time of the festival. There were several hundred of art/craft vendors along with Musical Entertainment. The festival runs both Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
The weather was just right for an outside event and the ground was dry for a stroll thru the daffidols and the festival. When I was a child I looked for the blooming of the daffidols as a sign that spring was finally here. I felt that same childlike feeling today seeing the acres and acres of daffidols.
If you are out for drive, look for the daffidols, they are blooming freely along most country roads!
William Wordsworth
Today my husband and I traveled to Meridan, Connecticut for "New Englands Most Beauitful Daffodil Festival". There were an estimated 600,001 daffodils blooming through out a 1800 acre park in Meridan, Connecticut, with 61 different varities. The display of daffidols are just amazing. Most people said it was the best display in years. It seems that in recent years the blooms were premature or had already bloomed at the time of the festival. There were several hundred of art/craft vendors along with Musical Entertainment. The festival runs both Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
The weather was just right for an outside event and the ground was dry for a stroll thru the daffidols and the festival. When I was a child I looked for the blooming of the daffidols as a sign that spring was finally here. I felt that same childlike feeling today seeing the acres and acres of daffidols.
If you are out for drive, look for the daffidols, they are blooming freely along most country roads!
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