Hey everyone. SO so sorry it has taken me so long to post this. I was fairly sick after this last round and it really took a toll on me.
Radiation is DONE, after 31 treatments. I received a certificate and everything for completing it all! The nurse told me my arm would get worse before it started to heal, boy was she right. For the first week and a half after I finished treatment I could barely even use my left arm. It was so tender and bright red. Compare it to a REALLY BAD sunburn. The skin was weeping, peeling, and swollen. It is now starting to heal and I can actually start bending and straightening it. The Dr told me I may need physical therapy but I'm trying my best to move it as much as I can.
Cycle 10 went as well as could be expected. I had some great company that week, my mom/Sean, step mom, brother, friend Courtney and my Aunt Patti came down from New Jersey. Thursday was the off day. I felt so sick and actually had to stick my head out of the window on the way to the office. Needless to say the nurses gave me some great drugs and I began to feel better. On Friday, after chemo, Sean decided we needed to go and find out about the cost of our wedding rings. Good thing I sucked it up and went. It takes 6-8 weeks to make a custom wedding band and we had 7 weeks until the wedding. Somehow Sean misunderstood how long it was going to take. We had to give them my ring for a week so they could make the mold. I'm so glad that we are going to have wedding rings ;o)
The week after chemo was a different story. The whole week I just felt awful. I scheduled my dress fitting for Tuesday and one of my former bosses came down to go with me. We had a lovely lunch and she stayed for dinner, but I wasn't feeling all that great. We had a lovely time and my dress only needed minor alterations, thank goodness! I had scheduled a blood transfusion for Thursday and my labs on Wednesday showed that I also needed platelets. During the transfusions I began to run a fever and my left hand started swelling. The nurse said the swelling was from the radiation and was nothing to be worried about. When I left the hospital it had reached 100.0. If I ever have a temp of 100.5 or higher, I have to call the on-call Dr. At 430, my temp had reached 100.8. I called the Dr, she told me that it was probably from the transfusion and to take Tylenol. The next day I went back for more labs, I waited in the waiting room for over 30mins, watching all of these people who came in after me get their blood drawn. I finally asked what was going on and apparently because of my fever the night before, they wanted to get blood cultures to check for infection. I wish someone had told me about this, but what can you do. I wasn't running a fever at the time, but my labs showed that my platelets hadn't recovered, in fact they had gone down. So I needed another transfusion. I also showed the nurse practitioner my hand and she was worried about the swelling and ordered a scan of my arm. So I went and got the scan done, everything was fine, then I headed to the hospital. When the nurse took my vitals at the hospital, my temp was 101.0. I couldn't believe that in just a few hours my temp had risen that much. So, the nurses at the hospital called the Drs office and they decided to put me on IV antibiotics. We were supposed to leave for Florida on Saturday, but now I had to go to the office and get antibiotics all weekend.
I messaged Sean that we weren't going to be able to go to Florida and he was fine with the change in plans. He said my health was more important than anything else so getting me healthy should be our priority. What a guy, huh? He decided to keep the week off and spend it at home with me and the pups. By Monday, I hadn't had a fever all weekend and Dr Spira said I was on the mend. He blamed my arm for the fever/infection.
We decided to go down to Charlottesville to visit Sean's parents for a few days this past week. I decided to keep Thursday and Friday off and enjoy the mountains. Although we didn't get to go to Disney or see the beach down in Florida, it was a nice week with my hubby-to-be and he took such great care of me. Since Sean was home, we decided to go and get our marriage certificate so he wouldn't have to take another day off work. The process was so simple and I'm glad we can check that off of our list of things to do. I also went and picked out the flower girl dress and fabric. Linda Boggs is going to make the dress for our flower girl who is coming all the way from Germany. She is the daughter of my former exchange students and I'm so excited she is going to be a part of our special day.
Wedding is only 34 days away. Only little things left to do. One more cycle of chemo this week and then I'm off until after the wedding. I'm going to need this time in order to feel well at the wedding. I'm glad that I will have this time off even if it means it will take me longer to finish chemo.
So many great things to look forward too, hope you will continue to follow me through them!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Cycle 9 - Fertig! Weeks 4-5 of Radiation, Blood and Platelet Tranfusions
Wow, I can't believe my wedding is exactly 2 months away. Sean and I went and finalized the menu, table covers and went over the plans for the wedding at the venue yesterday. We also get "fun mail" everyday with our RSVP's coming back. I actually enjoy going to the mailbox :o)
Well, a lot has gone on since I last blogged. If I recall correctly I had let you know that I was scheduled for a blood transfusion during week 4 of radiation. I was lucky enough to get a place in the infusion clinic on the 9th floor of the main tower at Ffx hospital. Those ladies had me in and out like clock work. Shortest time yet, 5 hours, amazing! Well, the following day, I went in for labs like usual and my platelets were a mere 28 (lowest in the range is 140), so needless to say, they told me I had to go right back to the hospital for a platelet transfusion. Luckily, this doesn't take nearly as long as blood and I was in and out of there in no time.
Last week, despite having the transfusions, my platelet counts were still not quite high enough to receive chemo on Monday, so they pushed me to Thursday hoping everything would recover by then. On Thursday I went in and they drew my blood, everything was good to go so I was able to get chemo. Unfortunately, the nurses told me that my Dr wanted to talk to me about going to 3-week cycles instead of the 2-week cycles I'm on now since my body isn't responding quick enough. This upset me because, well, I just want to be done! Dr Spira told me that we knew there may come a point when this would happen. The regimen is set up for 14-15 kids, not adults. Our bodies just don't regenerate as fast, thus having to change the cycle weeks. I was able to show Dr Spira that in April I basically have a 3-week cycle since we are going to Florida, and in May, well..... I will only have one cycle of chemo and I'll have 3 weeks off before the wedding (perhaps a blessing in disguise?) and then 3 cycles left after the wedding. Originally I was only going to have 2, but with the changes, another long cycle got pushed to directly after the wedding *sigh* In the whole grand scheme of things, it won't matter that I finished in July instead of June, the only thing that matters is that I no longer have cancer.
Week 5 of radiation really took a toll on my arm. It is so red now especially in my elbow area. I keep it lathered in Aquaphor as much as I can but I have to keep it covered when I got outside as well so then the lotion just comes off on my sleeve. The nurse told me to try Aloe, but that dries so quickly and then my arm still hurts. They also suggested using powder to prevent friction but that really dries out my skin so the best solution is still the Aquaphor. Last Friday once I finished my treatment they told me I still had 6 more treatments. I was confused, I thought this week was my last week, so 5 more. Apparently, somewhere, someone added 1 more treatment making it 31 sessions instead of 30. Ok, so you would think one more session, isn't a big deal, BUT IT IS!!! I was so mad. I couldn't believe that they somehow forgot to tell me that they added another session. So now I finish on a Monday, instead of a Friday. And on that Monday I have chemo, so I'm not going to feel like celebrating afterwards. Again, will it matter in 6 months? No, but I feel like I've had so many setbacks recently that this just really upset me last week. As of today, I have 5 sessions left. Next time I blog the radiation piece will be completed! YES!!!
I just wanted to Thank everyone who reads this blog and has followed me through my journey. Even if I don't hear from you, I know you are out there and I really appreciate all of the support! Not much longer :o)
Chemo: 5 more cycles
Radiation: 5 more days
April: Trip to Florida
May: Bridal Shower
June: Wedding!!!
Let's do this!!
Well, a lot has gone on since I last blogged. If I recall correctly I had let you know that I was scheduled for a blood transfusion during week 4 of radiation. I was lucky enough to get a place in the infusion clinic on the 9th floor of the main tower at Ffx hospital. Those ladies had me in and out like clock work. Shortest time yet, 5 hours, amazing! Well, the following day, I went in for labs like usual and my platelets were a mere 28 (lowest in the range is 140), so needless to say, they told me I had to go right back to the hospital for a platelet transfusion. Luckily, this doesn't take nearly as long as blood and I was in and out of there in no time.
Last week, despite having the transfusions, my platelet counts were still not quite high enough to receive chemo on Monday, so they pushed me to Thursday hoping everything would recover by then. On Thursday I went in and they drew my blood, everything was good to go so I was able to get chemo. Unfortunately, the nurses told me that my Dr wanted to talk to me about going to 3-week cycles instead of the 2-week cycles I'm on now since my body isn't responding quick enough. This upset me because, well, I just want to be done! Dr Spira told me that we knew there may come a point when this would happen. The regimen is set up for 14-15 kids, not adults. Our bodies just don't regenerate as fast, thus having to change the cycle weeks. I was able to show Dr Spira that in April I basically have a 3-week cycle since we are going to Florida, and in May, well..... I will only have one cycle of chemo and I'll have 3 weeks off before the wedding (perhaps a blessing in disguise?) and then 3 cycles left after the wedding. Originally I was only going to have 2, but with the changes, another long cycle got pushed to directly after the wedding *sigh* In the whole grand scheme of things, it won't matter that I finished in July instead of June, the only thing that matters is that I no longer have cancer.
Week 5 of radiation really took a toll on my arm. It is so red now especially in my elbow area. I keep it lathered in Aquaphor as much as I can but I have to keep it covered when I got outside as well so then the lotion just comes off on my sleeve. The nurse told me to try Aloe, but that dries so quickly and then my arm still hurts. They also suggested using powder to prevent friction but that really dries out my skin so the best solution is still the Aquaphor. Last Friday once I finished my treatment they told me I still had 6 more treatments. I was confused, I thought this week was my last week, so 5 more. Apparently, somewhere, someone added 1 more treatment making it 31 sessions instead of 30. Ok, so you would think one more session, isn't a big deal, BUT IT IS!!! I was so mad. I couldn't believe that they somehow forgot to tell me that they added another session. So now I finish on a Monday, instead of a Friday. And on that Monday I have chemo, so I'm not going to feel like celebrating afterwards. Again, will it matter in 6 months? No, but I feel like I've had so many setbacks recently that this just really upset me last week. As of today, I have 5 sessions left. Next time I blog the radiation piece will be completed! YES!!!
I just wanted to Thank everyone who reads this blog and has followed me through my journey. Even if I don't hear from you, I know you are out there and I really appreciate all of the support! Not much longer :o)
Chemo: 5 more cycles
Radiation: 5 more days
April: Trip to Florida
May: Bridal Shower
June: Wedding!!!
Let's do this!!
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