May 29, 2009

• Still Here

  Brief update with bullets:

  *  My blood work looked REALLY good yesterday and that included electrolytes and fluid intake.

  *  Doctor's guess it was the medicine (very harsh stuff) causing my symptoms and assured me the Taxol wouldn't be as harsh.

  *  Everything bit of lab work was higher (red, white, platelet cells, etc.) and it's most likely because I didn't try to do too much and my cells replenished themselves this last time.

  *  She left it up to me to go or not go in for chemo yesterday.  I elected to go and get it over with. 

  *  She told me the new drug they will switch to for my last 4 rounds of chemo won't hurt my blood cells as much and toe & finger tingly was a given, hand and foot numbness another close runner up as far as symptoms.  HOWEVER, she gave me the name of something (L-Glutamine) that appears safe and keeps the hand and feet symptoms to a minimum.  Whatever damage you have, doesn't correct itself for 3 - 4 months.  That's a long time to feel numb/tingly.

  *  The chemo gals couldn't believe I still have thin hair that falls below my neck/shoulders.  They also said that some women on Taxol (the next drug) start to grow more hair back.  She knew of only one girl who had started with waist length hair (and very THICK hair), who didn't completely lose her hair.  She said what was left wasn't as long as mine, but she wore wispy pieces out around the bottom and sides of her hats.  I told her my hair had been about the same length, but NEVER, in my life, thick.  I told her I had prayed about my hair and felt God had mercy on me.  I have see-through thin hair.  You can definitely see my bald head, but there is quite a bit of long hair, at least more than I ever anticipated!  I have to put it in a pin curl to slide my caps on my head without hair sticking out here and there.

  *  We discussed my falling and black outs and she said it was either moments of low blood pressure or, again, the toll the chemo drugs are having on my body.  She encouraged me that I was fortunate the cancer wasn't in any organs and people with what I have (the vertebrae involvement) lived for decades.  That's what I'm praying - at least 30 more years puts me mid-80s and my little children grown and my grandchildren old enough to have had a good relationship with me.

  *  I felt lousy when I came home (felt that way at the appointment, too, and they could definitely tell) and spend the rest of the evening in bed trying to read and trying to watch the news.  I only got up to eat dinner.

  *  Had trouble falling asleep, so had to take something extra to help me.  I rarely turn to MORE medicine since my body feel like a fully stocked pharmacy these days.

  *  I have to go in for my "white cell shot" and they suggested I schedule an hour so they can hang a liter of saline, like they did yesterday.  They KNEW, for sure, I was getting enough fluids by doing that.

  *  My dear friend Emily came by yesterday evening.  She was collecting pans to make two dinners for us and a dessert.  She said she was rounding up other sisters in the church to get us through Tuesday night.  She offered all kinds of other services - watching the girls, grocery shopping for me, etc.  She came in and sat on the edge of my mattress and just help my hand.  My spirits soared - they truly did.  We visited a while and then hugged good bye and said "I love yous" and she went to the kitchen in search of what she needed.  Imagine my surprise when she came back a second time to hug me and say I love you, again.  She's a wonderful comforter and a doll of a friend  So sweet!

  *  Jesse left early to mow.  Marie should be here within an hour.  I've already had a bath and washed my "hairs" (LOL!) and just need a little something to eat. 

  *  My aunt sent a sweet email note last night.  She offered me a cleaning service while I'm down.  I had the pleasure of telling her that my house is in pretty good shape.  Between my girls, JoAnn, and now Marie, things are just fine.  Marie even put clean sheets on my bed while I was gone yesterday.  My bathroom and bedroom was tidied up, and her guess that a clean bed would feel good to me was accurate.

  *  Marie took the girls to the zoo on Wednesday (a cool day) and forgot her scavenger sheets we had printed off of the Interent.  So, yesterday, the had a zoo school review!!!!  Her plan is take them to the park this morning while it's not so hot, let them run off some energy, and them come home, freshen them up, and take them to their therapy appointment at 1pm.  She loves children and they have had fun with her.

  *  That's about most of the news.  Jesse's foot is bothering him.  He stepped on a rock, twisted his ankle and the ligaments that wrap under the bottom of the foot are causing him a lot of pain .  Same thing he had surgery on years ago.  He has to talk to mow, weed eat, edge, etc. and I feel so bad for him limping in pain to work.  Please keep him in your prayers.

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 8:48 am
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