I did chemo treatment #11 on Monday, March 12 - once again this time it was a shorter amount of time than normal. I got the pump off on Wednesday, March 14. Also on Wednesday they told me that I would have to do bloodwork on the19th - so there went missing out on that ONE day of not having bloodwork done. The word for this week was constipation - not a good word and not a word that I have been too familiar with. Starting the bowel movements back up after the chemo treatment has always started at a different time - usually by noon on Wednesday things had started moving again. Well this time things were moving, but not too fast, and very painfully. Carrie had picked up some colace for me and I had started back up on the miralax. I checked with my angel Nickole, Dr. B's medical assistant and she told me to double up on the miralax. Well the dam broke loose on Friday - so much so that I had to work from home so I could be close to the bathroom! Wednesday it also broke loose again during the afternoon, and then I was up early Thursday morning going to the bathroom - both times I took a small amount of immodium, which took care of the diarrhea. Now when I say diarrhea, it is not the same for me as what it is for most of you - for me the diarrhea means that the bowel movements are coming too close together! Nickole told me this process would be like a teeter totter - we would have to find the right balance to keep things normal. (Not too much miralax to get the diarrhea, but not too much immodium to slow it down too much!) So I am curious to see what happens after the next (and last) infusion!
One of the things that had been different with this chemo treatment than the ones before is that I had been running a temp at the end of the week of the infusion, but had not been running a fever on the second week. Another one of those weird side effects that has not been the same.
The GOTRA Spring Meeting was held on Sunday, March 18 - and I have to thank my friend Carol S. for helping me that day taking forms, etc. After the meeting, John went to Omaha, so Jeff and Brody and he and Uncle Richard could go fishing at Lake Cunningham. I went home to the couch, but I don't think it wore me out as much as the Fall Meeting did!
On the 19th I went and had my bloodwork done - and then I went and had my mammogram done. They did the normal shots and after the radiologist had looked at those she did three more shots - but after looking at those, the radiologist said everything looked fine. It was different trying to do the mammogram with the port in on the left side. I do believe that I had done my mammogram before I got the first port put in last March. From there I went to Big B's and got to talk to Sharon (one of the owners), who has had her own fight with both colon cancer and also lung cancer (metastasized from the colon cancer). It's always good to be able to sympathize with and encourage someone else going through this journey.
It's surprising how small of a kindness makes such a difference when you're fighting cancer - believe I can tell you that it does! That's why I appreciate everyone so much that has been praying for me, calling me, stopping by to see me and sending cards or emails or messages on Facebook - that truly has been what has kept me going through this long process! We are at thirteen months (as of March 15) of going through this journey now and even to me it seems like it has been forever.
My feet have still been bothering me, sometimes being tingly and sometimes feeling numb - John had asked Dr. H on the 12th if the peripheral neuropathy would go away - and of course Dr. H's response was that he hoped so, and hopefully that we had stopped the one chemo drug in time to do that.
On another note - some of the kids and a couple of adults from the senior high group at church decided to shave their heads to show their solidarity for Jay, who is battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma!
Also our friend Dan has finished up his six chemo treatments to fight Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Our friend Brian has started on his regimen of chemo treatments, which sound alot like the regimen I have been on.
Now on to #12 - the FINAL treatment.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
My off week
On Sunday, March 4 Brody came to spend some time with me, and also to do some work. His school is collecting money during Lent for a homeless shelter, and instead of people just giving money to the kids, they were encouraging the kids to work for it. So we did some dusting and some window cleaning, etc. Then when we got done, Papa and I took him back home and Jill had fixed supper for all of us - roast, potatoes, carrots, pasta salad and no crust pumpkin pie for dessert! On Monday, March 5 I went in to get my bloodwork done and they told me that I would only have to do bloodwork on the days that I do the infusions, not on the off weeks (which would only be March 19 since I'm so close to the end). I had the option of doing bloodwork on the 5th, but I did just because I was curious as to where the white blood cell count was. The count was pretty good, and since we're not doing the one chemo drug now, the white blood cell count is not going down like it was before - that's why I am no longer having to do the neupegen shots too. My friend Cyndy came into church that afternoon, and as she always does when she comes in, really made my day! On the 6th I was feeling like I had lots of energy - so I went grocery shopping at Food 4 Less (I haven't gone to the grocery store, unless it's just to grab one item) for quite some time. Also ran into an old friend, Judy, while I was shopping and we had a wonderful time catching up! After I got done there I went to our neighborhood Dollar General to pick up a few things. (That is where I have been doing my shopping, picking up the things I can there - and John has been going to the grocery store.) On Wednesday, March 7 I had my regular three month checkup with Dr. S. He thought things were coming along fine - confirmed what Dr. B had told me about the hernia, but also gave me a couple of other things to watch for. I had done my A1C at the last checkup, so he said it was up to me whether we did bloodwork (cholesterol checking) at this appt or the next - I told him we should wait until the next. Besides taking a simvastatin pill every day, the Welchol that I was taking also started out being a cholesterol drug, so I'm thinking the cholesterol level should be good!
One night for supper Carrie had brought in some of her world famous broccoli cheese soup and equally famous banana bread. Our friends Spence & Michele dropped off a black cherry pie - it was to die for, I love cherry pie, but this was the best pie I have ever had! Rachel and Jake (part of our extended family) dropped off some casseroles for us - Rachel had also done this when I was doing the radiation and chemo treatments in March and April - and believe me Rachel is a great cook! I really have to be thankful to my kids and also to the Rehder's for watching out for us. It really means a lot and I hope that I will be able to do that for someone else when I am once again able!
Saturday was such a beautiful day that I had hoped to get some things done - I did get a couple of plants transplanted and spent some time outside too! I unloaded the dishwasher and worked on some laundry. On Sunday I did some more laundry and also ran the dishwasher. This is what my life has evolved to - trying to get as much done as I can at the end of the "off weeks", because usually I don't have the strength to do any of it during the week of chemo.
One thing I have been watching is my temp, as usually I would have a temp in the evening on my off week - I can NOT let it get up above 100.5 or otherwise I'll end back up in the ER - and I definitely don't want to do that.
One night for supper Carrie had brought in some of her world famous broccoli cheese soup and equally famous banana bread. Our friends Spence & Michele dropped off a black cherry pie - it was to die for, I love cherry pie, but this was the best pie I have ever had! Rachel and Jake (part of our extended family) dropped off some casseroles for us - Rachel had also done this when I was doing the radiation and chemo treatments in March and April - and believe me Rachel is a great cook! I really have to be thankful to my kids and also to the Rehder's for watching out for us. It really means a lot and I hope that I will be able to do that for someone else when I am once again able!
Saturday was such a beautiful day that I had hoped to get some things done - I did get a couple of plants transplanted and spent some time outside too! I unloaded the dishwasher and worked on some laundry. On Sunday I did some more laundry and also ran the dishwasher. This is what my life has evolved to - trying to get as much done as I can at the end of the "off weeks", because usually I don't have the strength to do any of it during the week of chemo.
One thing I have been watching is my temp, as usually I would have a temp in the evening on my off week - I can NOT let it get up above 100.5 or otherwise I'll end back up in the ER - and I definitely don't want to do that.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Chemo Treatment #10
I am so anxious to be done - so this far into it, I am really counting down - only two more treatments to go. I did the infusion on Monday, February 27 and got the pump off on Wednesday, February 29 - Leap Day! Once again they only did the one chemo drug this time - in addition to the steriods, benadryl and anti-nausea medicine. Although the treatment seemed to take about the same time this time as it had previously - we did spend a lot of time waiting for Dr. H to come and talk to us before we got back to do the treatment. I had asked Dr.H what would be coming next - and he said that they would have me come in every three months for awhile, then every four months, then every five months, then every six months before they stretched it out to a year. And with part of the checkups there will be bloodwork - so I asked him about keeping my port in for awhile, and as long as I get it flushed once a month it shouldn't be a problem. As a matter of fact he said he's known people that have kept them for quite some time. I cannot do blood draws or blood pressure on the left arm - because of the lumpectomy from the breast cancer so that only leaves my right arm, and I do not have very good veins. I never look forward to having my blood drawn - except out of the port - and that's only with the Emla cream.
The only side effect I have had this time is having trouble sleeping - I was up in the middle of the night for several hours on both Monday and Tuesday night. Last night I slept pretty well, but felt like I was still catching up. Also have had some more diaper rash this time. I have cut back on the Welchol, as Dr. B told me to do that if I was having any problem with constipation - which I have had, even without doing the chemo drug I thought was causing it. I haven't been so good about drinking a lot of water - and need to do a better job of that. One other side effect has been that I have been very tired this week - I imagine that will not get any better until I am completely done.
They decided not to do the neupogen shots this time - they will do my bloodwork on Monday, March 5 and see where my white blood cell count is. That would be great if it stays at a good level and that I wouldn't have to get any more shots through the end!
The laundry hamper is FULL of dirty clothes, so I imagine I will try and see what I can get done with that this weekend! John and Jeff are going to Sioux City to a Swap Meet - taking Jeff's car to promote GOTRA - so I'll have plenty of time to get something done.
There have been a couple of things going on at church - Pastor Jon's father-in-law (Jen's dad) had been admitted to the hospital in Arizona and wasn't doing too well - so Jen had flown out to be with him. He then took a turn for the worse - so Jon and the girls flew out as well. He had been put on hospice and they were thinking it was only a matter of time. Please keep the Ashley's and the Mitchell's in your prayers. Also one of our senior high kids has just been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - they put a port in right away and have done one round of chemo already (he spent three days in the hospital). They are treating this very aggressively and we are very optimistic that he will be cured. In the meantime he and his family all need your prayers too please!
I really would like to thank everyone for all of their prayers and good wishes. On those days when I am feeling down (which doesn't happen too often thankfully) I just think about all the people that are supporting me and have been throughout this whole journey! I couldn't have kept my spirits up without all of you! Thank you.
The only side effect I have had this time is having trouble sleeping - I was up in the middle of the night for several hours on both Monday and Tuesday night. Last night I slept pretty well, but felt like I was still catching up. Also have had some more diaper rash this time. I have cut back on the Welchol, as Dr. B told me to do that if I was having any problem with constipation - which I have had, even without doing the chemo drug I thought was causing it. I haven't been so good about drinking a lot of water - and need to do a better job of that. One other side effect has been that I have been very tired this week - I imagine that will not get any better until I am completely done.
They decided not to do the neupogen shots this time - they will do my bloodwork on Monday, March 5 and see where my white blood cell count is. That would be great if it stays at a good level and that I wouldn't have to get any more shots through the end!
The laundry hamper is FULL of dirty clothes, so I imagine I will try and see what I can get done with that this weekend! John and Jeff are going to Sioux City to a Swap Meet - taking Jeff's car to promote GOTRA - so I'll have plenty of time to get something done.
There have been a couple of things going on at church - Pastor Jon's father-in-law (Jen's dad) had been admitted to the hospital in Arizona and wasn't doing too well - so Jen had flown out to be with him. He then took a turn for the worse - so Jon and the girls flew out as well. He had been put on hospice and they were thinking it was only a matter of time. Please keep the Ashley's and the Mitchell's in your prayers. Also one of our senior high kids has just been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - they put a port in right away and have done one round of chemo already (he spent three days in the hospital). They are treating this very aggressively and we are very optimistic that he will be cured. In the meantime he and his family all need your prayers too please!
I really would like to thank everyone for all of their prayers and good wishes. On those days when I am feeling down (which doesn't happen too often thankfully) I just think about all the people that are supporting me and have been throughout this whole journey! I couldn't have kept my spirits up without all of you! Thank you.
In between
My in between week - on Saturday, February 18 John sold his 1996 white S10 pickup and bought a 1999 silver S10 pickup. Also on that night we went out to eat with the kids and grandkids to Wooden Windmill - what a great time we had. There was a benefit for Brian Emmons that night at Izaak Walton - John had taken a gift certificate "A Night in the Pits" from GOTRA and Ferguson Racing for them to auction off. After we got done eating John went back out to the benefit for awhile - I was pooped, so I spent the rest of the evening on the couch. On Sunday morning we went to church and then out to Wal-Mart - well I didn't travel too far from the checkouts before I found a bench! Monday I had my bloodwork as I always do on the off weeks of the infusion. Tuesday night I went to the Session meeting (our governing board at church) to explain vouchers, etc. to all of the Elders. I was supposed to have done this in January - but was running a temp that night, so opted not to go. On Wednesday the 22nd I had my three month checkup with Dr. B - I was sure that I had another fissure and she confirmed that I did, but otherwise was very pleased with how things are going. I had asked her about my little "pooch" and if I would ever have a belly button again - so she looked at my tummy - and told me that I had a hernia. But that she wouldn't worry about it for a year or two or five - I asked if there was anything I should look out for - and she said pain. The walls of my stomach are weak from all of the surgeries and that is what caused it. I googled hernia to see what I could find about them, and found out that straining for bowel movements might have caused it. So just one more thing to add to the list. At the appointment with Dr. B in January she told me that I would probably be very sore, and would probably have bleeding - that time I didn't have either - this time I did. As a matter of fact I had taken vacation on the 22nd and 23rd so that I could rest up to go with Carrie and Jill and Brody to see Disney on Ice on the 23rd at the MAC center in CB, Iowa. When I got up Thursday morning I knew that I would not be able to sit all the way there, plus all the way home and all during the performance. So I called Jill and was trying to figure out who could go with them - Brody's friend Lauren went with them - and they all had a great time! So now, somewhere along the way Brody and I will have to do something special just the two of us. Friday I went to work and then came home and made pasta salad (for the Airboat Club wild game feed) and also a chocolate cake. On Saturday Justin & Carrie went with me to pick up the Fremont SHARE boxes - then I came home and did some laundry and also cleaned out the freezer. On Sunday I was pooped out, but did end up cleaning out the refrigerator by the end of the day and running the dishwasher. And then it was time for . . .
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