I am now down to 56 days until I am 1/2 way done or all the way done with chemo depending on what my 2 oncologists agree upon. I posted on Wed. how the radiation oncologist (Dr. Shiarzi) was recommending only 3 cycles + radiation and then after a converation with my regular oncologist he mentioned that this is a subject that he would need to debate with Dr. Shirazi. So the length of my treatment will probably not be fully decided until the results of my Dec. 31 scan is determined.
Otherwise I am feeling ok right now. It is early 6:33. We don't get to sleep in with 3 little ones! I am hoping for better today and hopefully I will get it.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Chemo#2...How Time Flies
It is hard to think that it was 14 days ago that I had my first treatment. This past week has gone by fast since I was feeling like my normal self. I forgot to post yesterday, SORRY. My PICC line was inserted yesterday and it was not a pleasent experience. The shot of lidocaine hurt like HECK! It was bad enough the first time she administered it but then it turned out that she could not access the vein in my left arm and had to redo the process on my right arm. Hence lidocaine shot #2 (so painful that it brought tears to my eyes).
Also, the nurse called me later in the day to let me know that my white blood cell count (WBC) was low. Normally (in 50% of the people), the WBC is supposed to rebound before the next chemo and mine has not. It is not low enough to postpone chemo but I now need to take shots to booster my WBC @ $500 a pop. That will begin on Sunday. Ray will be taught how to give them to me since I need to take them every other day for 10 days. I don't look forward to the bone pain that they are said to cause. But that is neither here nor there and today is a new day - a chemo day.
My appointment is in San Marcos at 9:30. It should go faster than last time because I don't need to 1 hour inservice/question period that I had last time. Also, since I have the PICC they can speed up the last drug that took almost 2 hours last time.
This time I felt sick before I even left my appoitment. We stopped to eat and the food did not agree with me - or maybe it was the other way around. However, we did stop at a meat market in Escondido on the way home. Ray ordered some carned asada and I picked up a taco and it was so good! This did agree with my stomach or at least with my mouth.
When we got home I watch part of a movie and then went to lie down in bed. I skipped dinner and went to be.
Also, the nurse called me later in the day to let me know that my white blood cell count (WBC) was low. Normally (in 50% of the people), the WBC is supposed to rebound before the next chemo and mine has not. It is not low enough to postpone chemo but I now need to take shots to booster my WBC @ $500 a pop. That will begin on Sunday. Ray will be taught how to give them to me since I need to take them every other day for 10 days. I don't look forward to the bone pain that they are said to cause. But that is neither here nor there and today is a new day - a chemo day.
My appointment is in San Marcos at 9:30. It should go faster than last time because I don't need to 1 hour inservice/question period that I had last time. Also, since I have the PICC they can speed up the last drug that took almost 2 hours last time.
This time I felt sick before I even left my appoitment. We stopped to eat and the food did not agree with me - or maybe it was the other way around. However, we did stop at a meat market in Escondido on the way home. Ray ordered some carned asada and I picked up a taco and it was so good! This did agree with my stomach or at least with my mouth.
When we got home I watch part of a movie and then went to lie down in bed. I skipped dinner and went to be.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Radiation Oncologist & GOOD NEWS
I had a consultation appointment today with a Radiation Oncologist. Well, we were given really good news at the appointment. The Radiation Oncologist told us that he recommended that I complete ONLY 3 cycles (6 treatments) of chemo and then 17 days (3 weeks, 2 days) of radiation to follow. I had initially thought that I would be completing 6 cycles of chemo (12 treatments), so I was delighted by the news. That means that my LAST chemo treatment will be December 21 - just in time for Christmas. Kindof like an early Christmas present :-).
We just came home from dinner. We went with Monica, Frank, and Cheryl to B.J.'s. The food was great, but I must say that the Pizookie was the highlight of my dinner - THANK YOU Cheryl. It was nice to get out of the house as we had been indoors for the past 3 days due to the fires. Monica, Frank, and Melissa leave for Dublin, Ireland tomorrow to run the marathon with Team in Training (Lymphoma & Leukemia Society). I wish them the best of luck.
Tomorrow is my appointment to have my PICC line inserted. I hope that goes well.
We just came home from dinner. We went with Monica, Frank, and Cheryl to B.J.'s. The food was great, but I must say that the Pizookie was the highlight of my dinner - THANK YOU Cheryl. It was nice to get out of the house as we had been indoors for the past 3 days due to the fires. Monica, Frank, and Melissa leave for Dublin, Ireland tomorrow to run the marathon with Team in Training (Lymphoma & Leukemia Society). I wish them the best of luck.
Tomorrow is my appointment to have my PICC line inserted. I hope that goes well.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
There is SMOKE everywhere!
I am doing well still, thankfully. Of course it is because of all the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes that many have sent my way!
The fires continue to burn and we have been indoors since yesterday. I have a feeling that the schools will be closed again tomorrow due to the very poor air quality. It will probably end up being all week.
On Thursday I have an appointment to have a PICC line inserted in my arm. Hopefully that will save me from the vein pain that I suffered from for 6 days last week. Of course I would rather not have to do any of this horrid stuff: the PICC line, the chemo, the blood draws, the hospital visits, but what can I do? Grin and bear it, I guess?
The fires continue to burn and we have been indoors since yesterday. I have a feeling that the schools will be closed again tomorrow due to the very poor air quality. It will probably end up being all week.
On Thursday I have an appointment to have a PICC line inserted in my arm. Hopefully that will save me from the vein pain that I suffered from for 6 days last week. Of course I would rather not have to do any of this horrid stuff: the PICC line, the chemo, the blood draws, the hospital visits, but what can I do? Grin and bear it, I guess?
Monday, October 22, 2007
San Diego Fires...it's deja vu!
I feel great and was ready to get to work today but many of the schools and businesses are closed due to the 8 burning fires in San Diego County. We (my daughters and I) have just finished 2 weeks of Fall Break and are now waiting to hear what lies ahead for the rest of the week. It was four years ago that the Cedar Fire was burning and we were in the very same situation.
We got a call awhile ago and our district will be closed again tomorrow. They told us that we would get word tomorrow on any closures for Wednesday.
We got a call awhile ago and our district will be closed again tomorrow. They told us that we would get word tomorrow on any closures for Wednesday.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
I'm Back
Hi everyone. We are back from Palm Desert. It was a long drive there as we encountered several traffic delays due to construction and an accident. Coming home was a lot more uneventful. Neither of the drives agreed with my stomach. Especially the drive home.
How do I feel? Well I still do not feel like my normal self. It seems that as soon as a chemo symptom subsides there is another one waiting, willing, and ready to take its place. The weird sensations and pressure in my mouth are now gone but in its place my stomach has been acting up. By acting up I mean that I have felt very bloated after every little thing that I eat and have had a lot of gas. Also, I have had to take my nausea meds every morning for the last several days. Yesterday I felt nauseaus for most of the day. The vein in my left arm has been a constant area of pain/soreness since Monday. It seems like I have a lot of issues and I do but most of these things that I have mentioned have not really stopped me from functioning like normal. The nausea is the only one that can really stop me in my tracks.
Missy and Pat came yesterday afternoon for a visit. It was nice to see them. The girls' really loved having them here.
Today is our last day of Fall Break. Back to normal tomorrow with school, work, etc. until my upcoming next treatment on Friday :-(!
How do I feel? Well I still do not feel like my normal self. It seems that as soon as a chemo symptom subsides there is another one waiting, willing, and ready to take its place. The weird sensations and pressure in my mouth are now gone but in its place my stomach has been acting up. By acting up I mean that I have felt very bloated after every little thing that I eat and have had a lot of gas. Also, I have had to take my nausea meds every morning for the last several days. Yesterday I felt nauseaus for most of the day. The vein in my left arm has been a constant area of pain/soreness since Monday. It seems like I have a lot of issues and I do but most of these things that I have mentioned have not really stopped me from functioning like normal. The nausea is the only one that can really stop me in my tracks.
Missy and Pat came yesterday afternoon for a visit. It was nice to see them. The girls' really loved having them here.
Today is our last day of Fall Break. Back to normal tomorrow with school, work, etc. until my upcoming next treatment on Friday :-(!
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