October 22, 2009

• A Bit of News

  Where to begin . . . .

  The stray dog . . .

  Yesterday was a bust, as far as the dog is concerned.  Our neighborhood PetSmart scanned him (pretty much all over!) and said there was no embedded chip in him.  She also said that they have had MANY people in their store that have brought stray Yorkies (and she thinks he may be a Silky Terrier) and they have been from our neighborhood.    Others, like us, have tried to place calls and looked for "Lost Dog" signs to no avail.  Many people have paid for newspaper ads for weeks, with no response! 

  She said many people don't like the maintenance of a small dog.  (He's so cute!  What's not to love????    )  She thinks he is about a year and a half to two years old.  Since he is so undernourished and has not been neutered, she believes the previous owner could have had him as a "last of the litter" that they couldn't sell and don't care about his return.  She said many people close a dog out and don't let them back into their house.     Some move and let the dogs loose in the neighborhood for "whoever" to take in.     (Makes me sick to think about it.) 

  I told her I couldn't believe anyone would do that because I saw that local Yorkies went for $375 - $900.  She said she didn't think this was a $375 dog - more like a $1000 pure breed.  (Gulp!)     She thought he looked sturdy and, with love and care, would be a fine pet.  She commented that he was REALLY affectionate & friendly. 

  We bought a collar and two sweaters for him today.  We aren't feeling very hopeful.  If, after one more week, there is no owner, we will take him to our own vet and start paying his little doggie bills. 

  ================

  The oncologist's visit, today.

  I think it went well.  I have an ultrasound scheduled for November 4th and that will tell a lot. 

  She felt some breast lumps, today, but they don't resemble the previous cancerous lumps.  AND, they hurt.  She thinks I may have injured the little muscles between my ribs by lifting or reaching too much.  I was VERY tender along the chest ribs when she pressed.

  We talked about maintenance and she said I will have to be on pain medication for the rest of my life because the cancer has done damage to my back that will never be repaired.      She gave me some muscle relaxers (2 kinds) to take along with Percocet.  Those are for the times when the regular pain medication (I take time released morphine 3 times a day) doesn't kill the pain.  She said I will always have to be careful about doing too much and no one can put pressure on my back - it could fracture.  Also, walking a long distance could damage my back because of the jolting of my steps. 

  IF the cancer returns, the type of treatment will depend on where it is and how big it is.  She said a hip area might be treated with radiation.  An organ (I'm praying I don't' have that in the distant future!!!) might be treated with an injection weekly rather than IV's.  It just depends and we will cross that bridge at the time.  For now, the breast cancer is totally gone and the blood cancer is suppressed, as well as the bone cancer.     Scans in the future will reveal more about the bones.

  The intense itching I have down the center of my back is due to radiation irritation.  It could be worse.  It could be painful like a horrible sunburn.     It's not.  But, it feels like a million mosquito bites down my back - the exact place we can't reach to scratch by ourself!!!      I've gotten really good at running a foot long, plastic ruler down my back to scratch!  She said it will eventually clear up!  

  She is just a fantastic doctor.  I had over a dozen questions and she patiently answered every one of them, even though she was running far, far behind, this morning.  She did the breast exam.  THEN, turned to leave, turned back, and gave me a huge hug.  We think she might like our family!  

  I think that's all for now.  That's a lot of words about two subjects!

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 8:30 pm
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