Earlier today I had my PET Scan. All went well. Not sure when I'll get results. My next doctor visit isn't until Jan 14, so I may call next week just to check.
I'm sitting in the chair getting my monthly Zometa dose right now. Don't know if I wrote about before, but if you just get Zometa it's a 15 minute drip. I didn' t like the way it made me feel the first time, so now they give it to me over an hour with a litre of saline. That's cool with me. I'd rather sit here 45 minutes longer than feel exhausted for 24 hours anyway.
Been feeling good, so nothing to really report.
On another note, please pray for a family in the loss of their matriarch......Mrs. Katherine A.'s family. She lived down the road from my parents and passed away Dec 26 at 91 years of age. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend. She was actually one of my grandmother's best friends too. They certainly enjoyed each other's company after they were both widowed. I'm sure they are all happy together again.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Dec 26 Update
I am so happy that Christmas was a joyous occasion for our family this year. We stayed at our home and Jill came to celebrate with us. Many gifts for the boys from grandparents, Aunt Jill and Uncle Darren as well as mom and pop. Santa did make a stop too! I'll update the family blog with the celebration soon!
On Dec 23, I received a call from the CRC that I needed to have an EKG and MUGA scan on Dec 24 along with the blood work and doctor visit. I spent the morning at the hospital, but Jeff and Jill took care of the boys. Not sure when I'll get results, but I don't expect anything dramatic. These tests were for the clinical research I'm involved with and the scheduling of the tests just got overlooked.
I also have to have another PET scan and it is scheduled for next Tuesday before my Zometa dose. I will spend a good portion of the day at the hospital again. Jeff's working that day and Jill will care for the boys, so it's all good. I'm curious to see how much has changed since the end of October when I had the last PET scan. I know the tumor in my breast has gotten a bit smaller based on the exams I've been having at the doctor appointments, but that includes measuring the skin too. The PET will be more precise and also show if there are changes in the bones.
I still feel great and rarely am fatigued in the daytime, but I'm ready for bed by 9 pm. I'm sleeping good except when Brandon wakes us up. I think it's still teeth stuff or he's beginning night terrors like Gunner had about this age........seems worse the days his naps are short or the days he doesn't nap. That's why I'm thinking night terrors.
The other side effect I don't think I've mentioned is that my fingers around the nails are extremely dry from the chemo pills. They start to crack and bleed. It's the worst on my right hand, but I keep Udder Cream on all the time and use gloves for washing dishes. They heal up on my "week off" and right now they're OK. I just started my 3rd cycle on Christmas Eve, so I don't expect it to get bad until next week. My oncologist told me yesterday if it gets bad again this cycle to let her know and she can decrease my dose. I'm on the absolute highest dose I can take, so we have plenty of room to decrease if I need to.
I hope everyone was able to enjoy Christmas with their families or at least someone they love!
On Dec 23, I received a call from the CRC that I needed to have an EKG and MUGA scan on Dec 24 along with the blood work and doctor visit. I spent the morning at the hospital, but Jeff and Jill took care of the boys. Not sure when I'll get results, but I don't expect anything dramatic. These tests were for the clinical research I'm involved with and the scheduling of the tests just got overlooked.
I also have to have another PET scan and it is scheduled for next Tuesday before my Zometa dose. I will spend a good portion of the day at the hospital again. Jeff's working that day and Jill will care for the boys, so it's all good. I'm curious to see how much has changed since the end of October when I had the last PET scan. I know the tumor in my breast has gotten a bit smaller based on the exams I've been having at the doctor appointments, but that includes measuring the skin too. The PET will be more precise and also show if there are changes in the bones.
I still feel great and rarely am fatigued in the daytime, but I'm ready for bed by 9 pm. I'm sleeping good except when Brandon wakes us up. I think it's still teeth stuff or he's beginning night terrors like Gunner had about this age........seems worse the days his naps are short or the days he doesn't nap. That's why I'm thinking night terrors.
The other side effect I don't think I've mentioned is that my fingers around the nails are extremely dry from the chemo pills. They start to crack and bleed. It's the worst on my right hand, but I keep Udder Cream on all the time and use gloves for washing dishes. They heal up on my "week off" and right now they're OK. I just started my 3rd cycle on Christmas Eve, so I don't expect it to get bad until next week. My oncologist told me yesterday if it gets bad again this cycle to let her know and she can decrease my dose. I'm on the absolute highest dose I can take, so we have plenty of room to decrease if I need to.
I hope everyone was able to enjoy Christmas with their families or at least someone they love!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Winter's Official Tomorrow?
Tomorrow is the first day of winter. I'm so glad it's warm, but I really do miss the chill in the air and the thought of snow for Santa and his sleigh! Gunner keeps telling me he wants to move where it snows so he can build a snow fort and throw snowballs and also build a snowman. Only time will tell........
Anyway, just thought I'd post a quick update on my health as I haven't seemed to find much time for computer stuff lately. The new routine is going quite well. The initial doctor's appointments for the clinical study are slowing down. I go Christmas Eve morning for bloodwork and a visit with the oncologist and Clinical Research Coordinator.
I'm not as fatigued as I was on the other medications and I am sleeping much better. I tire easily if I do too much, but I'm still pretty much my busy little self trying to do too much anyway. As far as side effects, there's not much of anything at all. Mostly it depends on what I eat if I get stomach issues. Immodium takes care of it quickly though! :-) Most days I feel great and occasionally have some pain in my right leg, but as I stated in the previous post it is very minimal. I just never had it before.
Jill arrives this week to spend Christmas and New Year's with us. Jeff is also off from school for a month and has the holiday time as well. It will be nice to not have to keep up with everything for a little while. I hope to get caught up on paperwork and emails and Facebook!
I read an article this week in a bulletin I receive on email and the following verse really stood out to me from the text. The article was titled, "What Can I Do?" , written by Charles Box, and was an encouraging piece for us to use our talents for the benefit of God's work.
Luke 12:48 (NKJV)
"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."
Until next time, have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2009!
Anyway, just thought I'd post a quick update on my health as I haven't seemed to find much time for computer stuff lately. The new routine is going quite well. The initial doctor's appointments for the clinical study are slowing down. I go Christmas Eve morning for bloodwork and a visit with the oncologist and Clinical Research Coordinator.
I'm not as fatigued as I was on the other medications and I am sleeping much better. I tire easily if I do too much, but I'm still pretty much my busy little self trying to do too much anyway. As far as side effects, there's not much of anything at all. Mostly it depends on what I eat if I get stomach issues. Immodium takes care of it quickly though! :-) Most days I feel great and occasionally have some pain in my right leg, but as I stated in the previous post it is very minimal. I just never had it before.
Jill arrives this week to spend Christmas and New Year's with us. Jeff is also off from school for a month and has the holiday time as well. It will be nice to not have to keep up with everything for a little while. I hope to get caught up on paperwork and emails and Facebook!
I read an article this week in a bulletin I receive on email and the following verse really stood out to me from the text. The article was titled, "What Can I Do?" , written by Charles Box, and was an encouraging piece for us to use our talents for the benefit of God's work.
Luke 12:48 (NKJV)
"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."
Until next time, have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2009!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Bass Fisherman and the Balloonist
I needed to post something fun for a change.........By the way, I had my Zometa infusion yesterday and I am doing fine today. I did not have the side effects that I had the first dose in November. Thanks again and again for your prayers.
So, here's what I received on an email today and thought it was quite funny:
A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a bass boat below. She shouted to him, Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am.'
The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, 'You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.'
She rolled her eyes and said, 'You must be a Republican .' 'I am,' replied the bass fisherman. 'How did you know?
''Well,' answered the balloonist, ' everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me.'
The man smiled and responded, 'You must be a Democrat '
'I am,' replied the balloonist. 'How did you know?'
'Well,' said the bass fisherman, 'you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now it's my fault.'
So, here's what I received on an email today and thought it was quite funny:
A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a bass boat below. She shouted to him, Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am.'
The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, 'You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.'
She rolled her eyes and said, 'You must be a Republican .' 'I am,' replied the bass fisherman. 'How did you know?
''Well,' answered the balloonist, ' everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me.'
The man smiled and responded, 'You must be a Democrat '
'I am,' replied the balloonist. 'How did you know?'
'Well,' said the bass fisherman, 'you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now it's my fault.'
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