I got an email yesterday from someone who follows my blog asking for an update. I realized that I have only been updating on Facebook. I am honored that there are so many folks out there who follow our journey and take encouragement for their own. So let me catch you up a bit on what’s been going on….
MARCH 4, 2015
A morning of labs, followed by a lengthy, difficult time getting a PICC line put in. Hours after expected, we ended up in Dr. Shah’s office to sign consents and proceed to admissions. Since it was already late in the day, they actually had a room ready. But the orders weren’t there yet, so there was more waiting. Paul wore his #BTHOCANCER shirt in case we ran into my friend, Russell, who was also being admitted that day. (Paul had been praying but had never actually met him.)
We finally got to my room around 6:30-7:00pm. Then comes the lengthy check in paper work. By the time we were all settled in, we couldn't imagine that they were going to start my Day 1 chemo that night. But that’s what they did. However, Paul had already gone home by the time this decision came down…which was ok. I was fine. He was not fine. He likes being there with me. ☺ Someone, though, had ordered Zofran as the anti-nausea to go with my chemo. It is written on my chart that Zofran causes “adverse reactions” and they ordered it anyway?! Fortunately, I am always on top of these things and ask lots of questions and caught it before they gave it to me! I refused to take it, told them that they could order Compozine or Ativan and we could move on. They just looked at me. This was not my first rodeo! They changed the order. Chemo didn’t start until after 11pm. It was a long day!
MARCH 5-6, 2015
Because they didn’t give me my chemo until late the night before, all three chemo doses would have to be given late at night. :/ They have to be given 24 hours apart. The fortunate thing is that this is a relatively short dose compared to the 2-4 hour doses that I have had in the past. These days, I just tried to get my walking in, went to the exercise class, visited with our old pastor friend, and gave my mom a birthday hug and card.
MARCH 7, 2015
All I remember about Saturday is that my friend, Kay, came all the way from Nacogdoches to visit me; and our dear friends Gene & Deidra drove down to spend time with us. I did not get to enjoy or even remember much about their visits because I was sick as a dog all day long. Headache and nausea. I couldn’t even keep down a sip of water. It was a bad day! I don’t remember anything else.
MARCH 8, 2015
The nausea finally subsided, but I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. All I ate that day was a peach smoothie and a pineapple smoothie.
MARCH 9, 2015
CELL DAY – I posted on cell day. The thing that stood out was that God once again sent Myra! Sometimes God just cracks me up!! ☺ The cells only took about 20 minutes this time. Very quick. I felt so much better by Monday. I have also learned how to stay “ahead of the pain.” I learned this during my last stretch. I used to think that I needed to be brave and not ask for pain meds until I really needed them. Wrong!! As soon as you feel the least twinge of nausea or you have that indication of an oncoming migraine, take the appropriate medication. Trust me on this one! Ask the nurses. It’s huge. So even though I felt better, I still felt headaches and nausea coming, but I stayed ahead of the pain!
MARCH 10, 2015
We thought I might have to stay until the 11th for observation, but they decided they would let me go home. So Paul came back on the 10th and re-watched the video on how to flush my PICC line and change the dressing. After seeing all the appropriate folks and signing all the appropriate papers, we were on our way north. It was so good to be back in our own bed…without being tethered to a pole!
MARCH 11-13, 2015
I had to go back to MDA each day for labs and clinic. My WBC continues to drop. My platelets bottomed out and are beginning to come back up. I’m tired.
MARCH 4, 2015
A morning of labs, followed by a lengthy, difficult time getting a PICC line put in. Hours after expected, we ended up in Dr. Shah’s office to sign consents and proceed to admissions. Since it was already late in the day, they actually had a room ready. But the orders weren’t there yet, so there was more waiting. Paul wore his #BTHOCANCER shirt in case we ran into my friend, Russell, who was also being admitted that day. (Paul had been praying but had never actually met him.)
MARCH 5-6, 2015
Because they didn’t give me my chemo until late the night before, all three chemo doses would have to be given late at night. :/ They have to be given 24 hours apart. The fortunate thing is that this is a relatively short dose compared to the 2-4 hour doses that I have had in the past. These days, I just tried to get my walking in, went to the exercise class, visited with our old pastor friend, and gave my mom a birthday hug and card.
MARCH 7, 2015
All I remember about Saturday is that my friend, Kay, came all the way from Nacogdoches to visit me; and our dear friends Gene & Deidra drove down to spend time with us. I did not get to enjoy or even remember much about their visits because I was sick as a dog all day long. Headache and nausea. I couldn’t even keep down a sip of water. It was a bad day! I don’t remember anything else.
MARCH 8, 2015
The nausea finally subsided, but I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. All I ate that day was a peach smoothie and a pineapple smoothie.
MARCH 9, 2015
CELL DAY – I posted on cell day. The thing that stood out was that God once again sent Myra! Sometimes God just cracks me up!! ☺ The cells only took about 20 minutes this time. Very quick. I felt so much better by Monday. I have also learned how to stay “ahead of the pain.” I learned this during my last stretch. I used to think that I needed to be brave and not ask for pain meds until I really needed them. Wrong!! As soon as you feel the least twinge of nausea or you have that indication of an oncoming migraine, take the appropriate medication. Trust me on this one! Ask the nurses. It’s huge. So even though I felt better, I still felt headaches and nausea coming, but I stayed ahead of the pain!
MARCH 10, 2015
We thought I might have to stay until the 11th for observation, but they decided they would let me go home. So Paul came back on the 10th and re-watched the video on how to flush my PICC line and change the dressing. After seeing all the appropriate folks and signing all the appropriate papers, we were on our way north. It was so good to be back in our own bed…without being tethered to a pole!
MARCH 11-13, 2015
I had to go back to MDA each day for labs and clinic. My WBC continues to drop. My platelets bottomed out and are beginning to come back up. I’m tired.
MARCH 16, 2015
I went back to MDA again today
after having the weekend off for labs and to see my doctor rather than just go
to clinic. My WBC had continued to
drop and is now down to 1.0, so I am extremely immunocompromised. I also got fussed at (reasonably so) for
spending too much time outside this weekend "supervising" Paul’s yard project. No more yard projects until my
numbers come up! I did wear my
mask and gloves!!
I also had some oral
"mucositis" which is not what it sounds like. Chemo patients often get mouth or throat sores, or worse. Mine is mild. Please pray that it stays that way and gets better soon.
I had to get a neupogen
shot which will help stimulate growth of white blood cells and help my body
fight against infection. The one
unfortunate side effect is that it causes bone pain...because the cells are so
busy in there reproducing that it makes your bones ache. Really bizarre.
Other than that, she told me to
stay put, read a book, write a book, walk, that's it! No gardening, no kids, no painting the
house. She's no fun!
So thankful for a great doctor.
So thankful for a great God!
MARCH 17, 2015.
After a long MDA day, I was
exhausted and achey and looking forward to sleep. Just as I was about to doze
off, the second side effect suddenly hit. My entire face started itching, then
my whole head, then body. Then we remembered when I used to get this the last
time. Two Benedryl didn't even knock it out, so I eventually got up and wrote
until 2:20. Slept a few hours until the itching woke me up again.
My friend, Russell Lambert, who
just went through his SCT, is struggling with side effects at a much higher
level right now. Mine are just tiring and irritating. His are painful and
exhausting. Thank you all for your continued prayers. God gives grace for the
day.
"Trust Me one day at a
time. This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural
response.... Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence. I
will equip you to get through this day victoriously, as you live in deep
dependence on Me. Trust Me one day at a time." (Excerpt from Jesus
Calling)
"O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in
you." Psalm 84:12
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
"In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name." Psalm 33:21
"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 26:3
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
"In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name." Psalm 33:21
"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 26:3
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