For those of you who have been on Novantrone.....did you loose your hair? I have noticed the last few days I am loosing my hair. And, when I say that I am loosing my hair it is not like a few strands in the shower or when I brush my hair, it is massive amounts. :( This was one of the possible side effects and it was something that I was aware was a possibility, I was just hoping it would not happen.

The last time I was on a chemo drug (when I was sick before) I just lost a little bit of my hair and I seemed to loose it all from one area. The last few days I have been really tired and so I have not done a whole lot with my hair (put it up in a rubber band) and I noticed that when I took it out of the rubber band that this hand full of hair came with it. Strange I thought, but figured it was just the rubber band.....really did not want to think much more of it. Then yesterday after my shower when I was brushing out my hair I had so much hair fall out that it practically filled up my sink. The thing is that I don't have a lot of hair to begin with....so this is not good. I suppose it is all just part of the treatment though.

So, my question to all of you who have been on Novantrone before is did that happen to you? Or, is this just a rare side effect that I am being blessed with? lol, that would be my luck.

I have seen this commercial a lot and although it is not the same (and it is kind of stupid) it is how I feel....I don't think any shampoo is gonna fix my hair though.

Well, I hope you are all doing well. Take care and have a great week! :)

Hey everyone. I have decided that this year I am not only going to do my best to walk at the MS Walk on April 14th, but I am going to have a team and raise lots of money. In order to see that through I will need all of your help.

I have both a personal page and a team page with the National MS Society. You can donate online (this is secure....no worries) or you can mail a check into the National MS Society with my name in the memo box (for those of you who don't know my last name....it's Hagarty). There is a lot of time until the walk so let's raise all that we can!

And, if you live in the area....come join my team. I would love to see you out there! :)

You can access my personal page by clicking here or you can visit Team: MMSJ by clicking here! Thanks in advance for all of your support.

Last year for Christmas Nathan got the 1080 Avalanche game for his Nintendo. We spent most of his winter break playing the game (sometimes staying up until 2 in the morning). It was so much fun. The song I have on today is from that game. Anyway, so last night (now that I am feeling a bit better) I surprised Nathan and his friend Markus. They had Boy Scouts and after I took them to the skate park for a bit. It was getting late and it was dark out...but it was unexpected and a lot of fun for all of us. We met some skaters who were also there and I filmed some of it for Nathan's blog. It has been a while since I felt well enough to get out and do anything and so tonight I decided that because I am feeling pretty good that I would do something fun with my son! I miss all the good times that we had before this illness and I need to make sure that we still have them.

Today should be pretty mellow. I have the Advocacy Day conference call at noon and then there are things I need to get done around the house. Plus, the missionaries are coming over this evening.....so that will be good. Nothing too exciting going on.....for the most part it's the usual. Thursday and Friday look to be mellow as well. I don't know how that happened as I usually find myself plenty to do, but I am taking this as a good thing so that I am not over doing myself. I figure if I can get all of my housework done and spend some quality time with my son that will suffice!

There are 81 days left until the MS Walk here in the Tri-Cities. I am hoping that I can get a team formed for the walk. Of course this would consist of myself, my son, mother, sister, and Justin. I am hoping that I can get others involved as well.....so if you live in Tri-Cities and you want to join my team....send me an email!

Whether you want to be a part of the team or not, please get involved. The money raised will help each one of us. We are starting a walking group here in the Tri-Cities that will meet once a week. This way we can get ready for the walk! If you are interested in joining the walking group then send me an email and I will give you the details of where and when we will be getting together.

Last but not least I am going to be creating my own MS Walk page. I just need to come up with a great team name. Any ideas? Please leave me comments with suggestions! :)

I am happy to report that I am feeling better. There is no more kidney stone and according to the CT that was done there are not any others to worry about either! :) Even my nausea has gotten better. I think that the combination of everything at once just was not good on my body. So, on to better days......

Yesterday I had my follow-up appointment with my PCP. It was a great day to see the doctor I tell ya! We went over what has been going on with me, talked about the hospitalization, and then he told me that according to my labs and since my liver function has held steady that I get to come off of one of my meds (plus, he suspects that since it is mainly used to treat diabetes and I am not that this could be contributing to me being sick). No more Metformin for me! I am happy about it too cause of all meds that one was one of the hardest for me to take. It is this big pill that was so hard to swallow and then because of the dose I was on I had to take 4 of them a day.

Next we talked about more of what I would like to see happen this year with my health. I explained to him that I get frustrated sometimes because I have done everything I can think of to loose weight (worked with nutritionists, personal trainers, doctors, etc.), I eat a healthy balanced diet (although I need to be better about how much I eat....just have not had much of an appetite lately), and even if I can't do traditional exercise (like swimming, cardio.....based on my MS) then I still try to walk or do the ball exercises at home. I told him that I would like to know what can be done because although I don't seem to gain weight....I don't loose it either and if I could then maybe I would feel better. I told him about how I did not gain all this weight until I got sick (the first time....damn hormones) and that there MUST be something that can be done. So.....next month I am seeing a new doctor, an endocrinologist in Seattle. I am really hopeful that between my working so hard and my various doctors brilliant minds....I will be feeling better than I have in years in no time.

I want to thank all of you for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. I really appreciate it. I hope that each of you are doing well. Please take care and have a good week!

The other day our beloved friend wrote about the jerks that park too close to the disabled parking spot (and how frustrating they are) where he takes the kids swimming and today my father sent me this...so this is for you Mdmhvonpa.....

So it turns out I have a kidney stone....or at least this is what my PCP thinks. As you all know I have not been feeling well lately and I chalked that up to the Novantrone. My main problem has been the nausea and I figured in time that would go away. Well last night I had the hardest time getting any sleep because my lower back hurt. I have had back pain before, but this was horrible (and I have had a herniated disc). I just could not get comfortable no matter what I did. Then this morning, when I went to the bathroom it all made sence. I had a small amount of blood in the urine (sorry...if that is too much info). Anyway, seeing how I have had a total hysterectomy I knew there was really only one reason for that....the kidneys. Just to be on the safe side though I did call my oncologist and neurologist to let them know what was going on. You just never know what kind of weird side effects you can get with these chemo drugs.

Sure enough, my instincts were right and they told me to go see my PCP. I saw my PCP this afternoon and he explained that not only are kidney stones incredibly painful (which I now know....I have never had one before) but they can also cause nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. It all depends on the size of the stone and the type of stone, etc. Anyway, he said that the UA they did on me at the office was indeed positive for hematuria and consistent with a possible stone so I was sent in for a CT of the Urinary Tract. I should have the results tomorrow. The thing about kidney stones is that typically there is not much you can do. You just have to drink a lot of water and wait until the stone passes.

Fortunately I do drink a lot of water. Lately I have especially been drinking a lot of liquids...not just water, some sprite and ginger ale as well to help with the nausea. At least now I know that the chemo was not the only reason I have not been feeling good. There really has been something else contributing.

Do you ever feel like you just don't have time for all of this MS stuff? Of course no one wants or likes to deal with illness......that is natural. The last week I have been sick and I think that is because of the Novantrone, but there is also this nasty flu going around from what I hear...so I am not sure if I have a touch of that as well. Just my luck, eh? Hopefully not!

I continue to have a headache and with the nausea I can't help but wonder if maybe this migraine syndrome of mine is just wrecking havoc on my body....that just maybe the reason I am not responding to the anti-nausea the way I should be is because when you combine the nausea from that and the nausea from chemo it is just too much? Hmm....just a thought. So, I contacted my oncologist and he gave me samples for a heavier dose anti-nausea. It seems that as long as I don't do anything, stay still they work great! The problem is that as soon as I get up and do anything, the nausea comes right back. It is better though. I guess it will just take time. My eyes are bugging me too....do we ever really get a break from this? I guess not!

So, what is the trick to it all? I have resolved this year to stay positive and to live my life the best that I can and that is what I am trying really hard to do. I have finally learned that each day when I get up I have to take it day by day and judge what is actually going on with me. Today I don't feel well and so I am not doing much. I am still recovering from the chemo and until I actually feel better I can't push myself (even though I have so many things I would rather be doing). I know I will be better off for taking it easy now so hopefully in a week or so I will have the energy to do the things that I really need to do!

Enough of me already......on to other stuff going on! Good news or bad news first. Let's go with the bad first. My Buddyboy had surgery yesterday. My poor baby! He has been just lying around and every once in a while he starts to whine....I have never heard a dog whine before last night. About a month or so ago I noticed a lump in his side. So, off to the vet we went and yesterday it was removed. It looks to be benign but to be on the safe side they are sending it in for testing. The vet is pretty sure it is a lypompa however, which is apparently very common in dogs. He really got the treatment done too....since he was already going to be under and was due soon, he had his teeth cleaning done as well as all the other fun stuff. He is doing better today but he still won't drink anything and is very tired. Last night he looked as if he was drunk or something.

On to the good news.....I got an email from one of Nathan's new teachers yesterday (Nathan started his new school schedule after winter break). He is doing much better in school since changing classes....he is getting a B+ in Math! I am very proud of him for taking this opportunity to move forward in a positive direction. Now we just have to get him settled into the rest of his classes and he will be good to go! I know he can do it. :)

I hope all of you are having a good week and you are feeling well. I hope that you are staying warm (it snowed here and it is FREEZING!.....it was like 6` here the other night.....it NEVER gets that cold here). Oh, and as I am all covered in blankets I feel for Linda over in Seattle as I hear they got dumped on once again and it was like 25` or something over there....which NEVER EVER happens in Seattle! What the heck is happening to the weather patterns? So, my thoughts are with her right now (stay indoors girl!) Instead of music....I leave you with something else.....the BEST SHOW on TV! 24 is back and it was so awesome! :)

Just a quick note to let you all know that I am okay...just recovering from my Novantrone on Wednesday. The chemo itself was not too bad...just takes forever. My appointment was at 2pm and it was 6 before I got home. They were really busy at the Oncology office and then it is a matter of getting a nurse who can get a good vein, and then the whole thing takes about two hours anyway. So...

The day after I did okay. Figured as long as I was to take it easy (which I have made sure to clear my schedule for two weeks this time as to not over do things like last time...no worries) then things would be smooth sailing, right? Well...yesterday I had a headache and some nausea (even though I am on anti-nausea meds), even a bit of dizziness, and today...forget about it. I am so sick. So, I am thinking that this is how it is REALLY supposed to be with the chemo. I think October was a hoax or something. Anyway...so just to let you all know I am on the chemo roller coaster (or as Dave would put it recovering from Smurf Blood) and as soon as I am feeling a bit better I will be around to visit all of you! If any of you have experienced this....and have any suggestions of ways to get through the yucks then let me know!

Help Drive the Petition to Cure MS

More Info

When MS activists visit Capitol Hill in 2007 to ask for increased funding for MS research, we’ll be taking all the petition signatures with us. Resolve to support MS research this year by helping us gather as many signatures as we can for this purpose. If you’ve already signed the petition, thank you. If you haven’t yet, click here, then share with friends. It only takes a minute. We’re still striving to reach the goal of at least 200,000 signatures by February 2007. The MS research petition has tens of thousands of signers already. But we’re not moving as quickly as we’d like. We need your help.

Click here to download a hard copy of the petition and a new Web sticker. Then…

• Give copies of the petition to friends and family to sign and share.
• Conduct traditional petition signature gathering with a clipboard and copies of the petition. During the next couple weekends, visit a community gathering place and ask others to support MS research by signing the petition (be sure to abide by any solicitation rules).
• Post the Web sticker on your personal blog, support group site, Facebook, MySpace, or other Web page. Encourage others to do the same.
• For ongoing updates on state and chapter progress, click on the button above!


• Share this site with other MS activists you know.

More funding for medical research is desperately needed to investigate multiple sclerosis — the chronic, often disabling disease that affects at least one person every hour. Scientists do not fully understand its causes, but an investment in medical research can lead to a more treatable, and perhaps curable, disease. With your help, the petition will support our call for more funding for MS research and move us closer to a world free of MS.
Thank you for being an MS activist.

Today is my 2nd dose of Novantrone and I have been trying really hard to get everything done before so that I don't over do myself this time. lol The thing is that life just keeps happening. Funny how that happens. I am going to slow down and take things day by day, however....while at the same time still being involved. This time I am just not going to rush myself.

So what have I been doing? Well, you all know that I am an Ambassador for both the NMSS and the MSAA. Now some of you may think that is kind of strange (kind of like a competing thing), but this is the thing. They are both great organizations and we all have the same goal...right? Let's help everyone with MS in any way we can and I want to do whatever I can to help out....so why not volunteer with both organizations. They bring different things to the table. So, having said that....here's what is going on.

The NMSS have some great programs in this area over the next few months. For any of the programs in the Greater Washington chapter (Western and Central Washington) click here. I am working on the committees for the 2007 walk (we actually met for the first time yesterday) and I am really excited. I have volunteered before and walked several times, but it is going to be fun to be behind the scenes helping to actually put it together. I am also co-heading a walking group to help people in the area get ready for the walk.....this will be in conjunction with a new program they are doing called Family Fun Fest, which also has to do with the Walk....so lots of stuff going on there. The great bonus in that though is that the walk is not until April so we have plenty of time to do it, there are several of us on the committee (most of which have MS), and the Seattle office is still in charge of a lot of it...we are here to help them facilitate it on a local level....so it won't be this overwhelming thing either. It can be fun! And, to get out and encourage people to get ready f0r the walk...that will be nice. :)

I am also registered for the Dinner for Two program for people between 18-30 that is in Sunnyside in March......so if you live between Yakima and Tri-cities and you have MS and you are in that age range you should register. It will be held at Snipes Mountain Brewery and it will be very informative and lots of fun. Next month I am going to Olympia for two days to meet with the legislators for an Advocacy conference. I am really excited about that as I think it is so important for us to go talk to them so that we get the things that we need. If we don't let them know how policies effect us then we have no one to blame but our self. And, last but not least I am on a planning committee for a Women's Wellness Retreat on Bainbridge Island at the end of March. There is limited room for this retreat and so people will be selected by a lottery, but I encourage anyone in the area to register for it. It will be worth it!

For the MSAA we are of course still promoting the Everybody Falls CD. The open house is coming up soon.....March 2nd and we want that to be a huge success. If you are or know a celebrity who would like to donate an item to the auction for that night, please send me an email and I can get you in touch with Jillidair, or click on the Everybody Falls CD link off to the right. Every bit helps! And, of course if you have not purchased your CD yet....what are you waiting for? International shipping has now been added so for all of you in Canada and the UK, you are now able to get your copies! I have also been talking with Sue, and we are in the works to start up a support group in my area for people who have been newly diagnosed. Something that would meet maybe once a month.

And of course I have some fun things going on at home and Church, but that is for another post as this one is already getting long enough! lol Seeing how I will be home doing nothing for the next week....I should be able to update a bit more. I hope you are all doing well and are off to a good start in 2007! Take care.

I am sick and tired of my MS being front and center. It seemed to have become the theme last year and I am pretty determined that WILL NOT be the theme this year. SO....I am saying move over MS it is about time I start living my life again. The last couple of months have been really depressing for me.....as if the whole year was not depressing enough, but Christmas day and the next couple of days to follow made me realize that I have had it.

Christmas was not all happy and cheerful like in previous years. As much as I would have liked it to be...it just was not. The first part of the day was great....the second half, well my family was all torn apart. I am not going to really get into it here, but I will just say that is not normal for my family. My family is very close. We have always put each other first, we have always been there for each other....suddenly everything was just wrong. This past year has been difficult and a big part of that had to do with me and my health. I know that I don't have a lot of control over how my health responds but I can control how I react to it. I have watched my son the last couple of months and he does his best to deal with all of this, but it is hard. It is not fair for him to have to deal with this, and so this year my goal is to try and take as much of the focus off of my health as possible so that we can have as much of a normal life as possible. He deserves that....we deserve that! Not only does it effect my son adversely, but it does the rest of my family, my parents, my sister...everyone who cares....even all of you. Even me. It sucks to be sick, but when you are upset, angry, depressed and not dealing with it well you are only going to be worse off....so I am doing my best this year to not only take things day by day but to wake up every day with the attitude that today is a new day that is worth living! Even if I am in pain and not feeling good. Wish me luck!

I don't believe in making your typical New Years resolutions as I don't see the point. Everyone I know who has ever made them end up breaking them...so why bother. I do think it is wonderful to make personal goals for yourself however that are attainable.....so that is what I have done. Some of the things on my list include taking a day trip with my family (to include my parents) at least once a month to somewhere we have never been. For example....this summer I want to try and convince them to come with me on a weekend trip through the Olympic National Park. I think that would be a blast. There is a lot to see and do in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon (within a couple hours from our home....some trips may end up being weekends) that we could plan that we have not done....or have not done in a very long time, and of course Nate has not done anything here seeing how he has not grown up here. It would be a great way to plan quality time with the family and could be educational and relatively cheap as well....depending on the trip. It could be as simple as a drive up the mountains for a picnic lunch. The possibilities are endless.

At the beginning of this week I made a list of everything I "needed" to get done with the thought that if I get them done then great and if not then oh well.....I just need to take things day by day. I think that is the best mentality to have so that I don't stress myself out. The thing is that the week is almost over and most of it I have been able to get done....at least everything that I really needed to get done is done and the things that I wanted to do I think I will get accomplished as well. :) I have broken things up by what I think I can accomplish in a day and so far so good. I just have to remind myself not to over do things....not to give myself too many tasks because I don't have the energy that I once had....this body of mine just doesn't work like it used to. That has been a hard lesson to learn but if I can remember that and take things easy....put things into perspective and enjoy myself, then I think I can make this all work!

The thing is something strange has happened this week....I am actually happier. Is it because I am just telling myself that I am? Is it a trick....power of positive thinking? I am not sure, but I am going to do my best to continue it. Life is too short and there is still too many things I want to do. I figure I can either waste away or I can go out and do the best I can to live (with this illness that is.....yes, I now have limitations...but I can try and work around them, right?) Nathan even has had a better week this week. So, hopefully this is not just a fluke....hopefully this will last....hopefully I can keep it up. We will see, time will only tell. I am going to try my hardest though. That is all I can do!

I hope all of you are doing well and are off to a good start in 2007. Take care.

Happy New Year! It is officially midnight and the ball has just dropped. This will be a short post as I just wanted to wish you much happiness and good health in the new year and leave you with some music to bring in the new year! As I watched the ball drop it once again reminds me how much I love New York and need to stay healthy enough so that one of these years I can be there to watch it drop in person. That would be so much fun! I hope you all have had a wonderful 2006 and wish you nothing but the very best to come in 2007!