I know, I know... my last post was a while ago. I've had a lot of people asking how I am doing because I haven't updated my blog, well folks, here's your update :o)
On February 10th I had my planning session for radiation. It was really interesting. They made a mold of my body/arm using this chemical compound that is liquid but then foams up and around whatever it is placed next too. We had to do this process twice, because the first time they couldn't get the whole image of my outstretched arm in the CT scan. Once they made the mold, they marked on my arm and body, using a laser to show a straight line. When I came home I looked like I had been attacked by a sharpie marker ;o) They also tattooed small dots into my skin to show where the lasers should penetrate the tissue. So now, I have 4 more small black tattoos. The mold they made I will lay in every time for radiation to make sure that I'm in the same position every time, pretty neat, huh? This Friday, February 24, I go in for a practice run. I guess they'll line me up using the images they took last time and make sure everything will go smoothly for my first treatment on Monday February 27.
Last week I completed cycle 6 (almost half way there), and in the middle of it all I had to get another blood transfusion. Familiar faces joined me as I sat everyday receiving poison in my veins. Mom/Julian came on Monday, Diane on Tuesday, Dad on Wednesday, Justin on Thursday and Sean joined me for his first time on Friday. It wasn't that hard of a week, except that the transfusion kept me up late Wednesday night, so I was basically worthless on Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday I went straight from Chemo to the hospital to receive my second blood transfusion. Although the experience was so much better, it still took a long time to get the blood up to me in order to start the transfusion. Way to go Blood Bank..... So, my mom, who works at the hospital, came and stayed with me, but once Justin got into town, she went to home to bed and he stayed with me until I was finished, at 1245am. Then there was a bit of miscommunication and we had to wait a bit before I could actually leave. See, since I was to get chemo the next morning, my port was to be kept 'accessed,' meaning the lines should remain open. Well, I guess some retards used their accessed port one time for recreational drugs and therefore the hospital needed written verification from my Dr (at 100am) to leave my port accessed. I understand the safety concern, so I patiently waited for the Dr on call at the office to call the nurse and give the 'go ahead.' Last time I received a transfusion, I wasn't receiving chemo, so they deaccessed my port.... little things to know for next time....
When I was told I was going to need another transfusion so soon, I was really upset. It had only been 3 weeks since the last one and I had only been through 1 round of chemo since then. I can only hope that this isn't a repeat occurrence every 3 weeks. But sadly, I should be more realistic and know that I will be receiving multiple transfusions throughout this process.
This past weekend Sean and I went to Charlottesville and got to see our niece, Madison, Kevin and Kristi who were in town from their new home in New Jersey. Madison is getting so big, last time I saw her was when she was first born, in October, Before Cancer (BC). I wasn't allowed to see her at Christmas because she had just been vaccinated and I'm not supposed to be around children who have recently received their shots. So it was neat to see all the changes, I hope it's not another 4 months before we see her again. I'm not sure who has less hair at this point, me or her, we def have a competition going, and I think she might win :o) We also went down to Richmond to the wedding venue and to talk to hotels about a room block for our guests. Currently our venue is undergoing renovation of part of the dance floor and deck, it looks AMAZING! I'm excited that we'll have more room to boogie down. It's just over 3 months away now, yay!!
Well folks, besides the radiation trial run, this week is full of shots and blood draws. I'm in isolation now since my counts were so low today. Sean continues to give me the shots on the weekends after my long week, and I'm so thankful that he is willing to do so! He's becoming a pro, getting better with everyone he does!
I'll blog again after the next cycle and my first week of radiation!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
CYCLE 5 = Finito - MRI Results and Blood Transfusion
Wow, I have a lot of things to fill everyone in on!!
Ok, so, after my last post I went to the Drs Office and they told me that my Red blood count had become critically low so I needed a transfusion RIGHT AWAY. I kind of knew this would be the case because earlier that day I was changing the sheets on the bed, and every time I finished one part, i.e. putting the fitted sheet on the bed, I was winded. I had to take a break, catch my breath, let my heart beat slow down, then continue making the bed. I've never felt like that in my life, so I knew something was up. They scheduled the transfusion for Tuesday after my MRI. This was going to make for an awesome *sarcastic* day.
My MRI went a lot smoother than I expected. The first time I had it done it was an awful experience. But this time, I went to a different place, and the tech was great. For the MRI I have to lay on my stomach with my left arm stretched out straight and my head kinda tucked in order to fit in the machine. The tech made sure my head was supported, it didn't take 2 hours like it did the last time, and I just felt more comfortable over all.
After the MRI, Sean and I grabbed lunch and waited for the call that my bed was ready at the hospital. The call that NEVER came. Finally, we just went over there and tried to figure out where I was supposed to be. We got there at 215pm, we figured out I was on the 10th floor. We went up there went to the nurses station, a nurse there took me to my room and we waited, and waited and waited. No one ever came to talk to us for almost an hour. Finally I broke down, Sean went back out to the nurses station to find out what was going on. They said I wasn't registered (no one mentioned this), and no one knew I was even in there. They said they hadn't received the orders from the doctor, yet, I had a room for a transfusion? I dunno, it was a disaster. By 330pm my port still hadn't been accessed. I knew that each unit of blood took 3-4 hours so I knew this was going to be a LONG night. At 6pm the nurse came in and told me they had gotten the info from the blood bank and they were just waiting for the blood to come up. The first bag of blood went up at 630pm. By this time, Sean had gone home to take care of the pups and I knew it was going to be late before I was done. When the second bag didn't go up until 1020pm, I told him I'd call my dad to come get me since he had to work a double the next day, he would be so exhausted. Luckily dad was able to come and finally at 130am, after 11 hours, I was discharged and on my way home to bed. Can we say ridiculous?
Well, after the transfusion I felt great. The first day not so much, but each day after that I was feeling better and better. I even went to bootcamp on Thursday night and got my butt kicked. It felt awesome to be 'normal' for a night. I couldn't do it all, but I did what I could. And then I could barely walk the next few days ;o)
Results of the MRI
When I saw the Dr on Thursday after the MRI he took a look at the CD and got the results from the radiologist. Everything is perfect. He said the surgery I had originally to treat an infection had gotten rid of all the cancer and was healing fine. There wasn't any other sign of cancer (except the microscopic cancer cells which chemo is taking care of). I won't need any more surgery, but I will add radiation to my chemo regimen at the end of cycle 6 (beginning of March). CAN I GET AN AMEN?!?!?!?
Cycle 5
I only have to do this regimen 4 more times, yes! Chemo was uneventful. No nausea, because of the awesome meds I have. Becky took my on my long day and a new friendly face, my sis-in-law, Judy took me on my short day. Sean was also sick during both of my chemo days, so I was the one helping him, instead of him helping me. It was very different. Normally he takes care of everything when I get home from chemo, this time, I was walking the dogs after chemo and taking care of the house. I must say, it was hard and I needed more sleep because of it.
Now I'm just getting over feeling awful from the Neulasta shot. Again, only 4 more of those, whoo hoo!! This is definitely the part I hate each month, but I know that I have to get the shot so I can regain my white blood counts, so it's worth it to feel like crap for a day I guess.
Well, that's all the news for now. Hope everyone is having a great start to 2012, I know I am! Less than 4 months now until I'm Mrs Strait :o)
Ok, so, after my last post I went to the Drs Office and they told me that my Red blood count had become critically low so I needed a transfusion RIGHT AWAY. I kind of knew this would be the case because earlier that day I was changing the sheets on the bed, and every time I finished one part, i.e. putting the fitted sheet on the bed, I was winded. I had to take a break, catch my breath, let my heart beat slow down, then continue making the bed. I've never felt like that in my life, so I knew something was up. They scheduled the transfusion for Tuesday after my MRI. This was going to make for an awesome *sarcastic* day.
My MRI went a lot smoother than I expected. The first time I had it done it was an awful experience. But this time, I went to a different place, and the tech was great. For the MRI I have to lay on my stomach with my left arm stretched out straight and my head kinda tucked in order to fit in the machine. The tech made sure my head was supported, it didn't take 2 hours like it did the last time, and I just felt more comfortable over all.
After the MRI, Sean and I grabbed lunch and waited for the call that my bed was ready at the hospital. The call that NEVER came. Finally, we just went over there and tried to figure out where I was supposed to be. We got there at 215pm, we figured out I was on the 10th floor. We went up there went to the nurses station, a nurse there took me to my room and we waited, and waited and waited. No one ever came to talk to us for almost an hour. Finally I broke down, Sean went back out to the nurses station to find out what was going on. They said I wasn't registered (no one mentioned this), and no one knew I was even in there. They said they hadn't received the orders from the doctor, yet, I had a room for a transfusion? I dunno, it was a disaster. By 330pm my port still hadn't been accessed. I knew that each unit of blood took 3-4 hours so I knew this was going to be a LONG night. At 6pm the nurse came in and told me they had gotten the info from the blood bank and they were just waiting for the blood to come up. The first bag of blood went up at 630pm. By this time, Sean had gone home to take care of the pups and I knew it was going to be late before I was done. When the second bag didn't go up until 1020pm, I told him I'd call my dad to come get me since he had to work a double the next day, he would be so exhausted. Luckily dad was able to come and finally at 130am, after 11 hours, I was discharged and on my way home to bed. Can we say ridiculous?
Well, after the transfusion I felt great. The first day not so much, but each day after that I was feeling better and better. I even went to bootcamp on Thursday night and got my butt kicked. It felt awesome to be 'normal' for a night. I couldn't do it all, but I did what I could. And then I could barely walk the next few days ;o)
Results of the MRI
When I saw the Dr on Thursday after the MRI he took a look at the CD and got the results from the radiologist. Everything is perfect. He said the surgery I had originally to treat an infection had gotten rid of all the cancer and was healing fine. There wasn't any other sign of cancer (except the microscopic cancer cells which chemo is taking care of). I won't need any more surgery, but I will add radiation to my chemo regimen at the end of cycle 6 (beginning of March). CAN I GET AN AMEN?!?!?!?
Cycle 5
I only have to do this regimen 4 more times, yes! Chemo was uneventful. No nausea, because of the awesome meds I have. Becky took my on my long day and a new friendly face, my sis-in-law, Judy took me on my short day. Sean was also sick during both of my chemo days, so I was the one helping him, instead of him helping me. It was very different. Normally he takes care of everything when I get home from chemo, this time, I was walking the dogs after chemo and taking care of the house. I must say, it was hard and I needed more sleep because of it.
Now I'm just getting over feeling awful from the Neulasta shot. Again, only 4 more of those, whoo hoo!! This is definitely the part I hate each month, but I know that I have to get the shot so I can regain my white blood counts, so it's worth it to feel like crap for a day I guess.
Well, that's all the news for now. Hope everyone is having a great start to 2012, I know I am! Less than 4 months now until I'm Mrs Strait :o)
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