April 23, 2007

  • Monday's Chemo Update

    Happy Monday, all.

    I wanted to let you all know that this weekend went swimmingly as far as my health goes.  I'm having very severe heartburn, but the doctor has called in a prescription that I will start taking tonight.  He said that I can take Maalox if the prescription doesn't work right away, I just have to leave a window around my Coumadin.

    My pain level is decreased SIGNIFICANTLY, and I am so happy to be nearly pain free over the weekend, and now.  Yes, they had to double my pain meds to get there, but we got there.  I was resistant to making this move for some reason.  And I think it's totally psychological.  If  he had doubled my OxyContin, I would have freaked out.  But to double the strength of a patch?  No biggie.  How strange I am.  Oh well.  It has worked, and for that I am thankful.

    I'm in a bit of a fog, but that's just what they call "Chemo Brain" according to the nurse I talked to.  She said that my issues with memory on Thursday (chemo day) are probably attributable more to my pre-meds than the chemo itself. I guess I got a humongous hit of Benedryl with my pre-meds.  I'm having a lot of trouble remembering things from Thursday, and it's driving me slightly batty.  Stephanie was with me through the morning, and then my cousin, Debbie, came.  I kind of remember the "hand off" where Steph left and Deb came.  But I don't remember much of anything with Deb that afternoon.  I do remember that she has a new car.  Can't for the life of me remember what kind it is.  After she left, I panicked thinking that I hadn't said, "Thank You" or even "Good-bye."  But Meleia assured me that I had.  That's the stuff that's driving me crazy.  I also need to have my blood drawn every week on Thursday.  I don't remember those instructions.  I only know that I have a prescription in my purse for weekly blood draws.  Ay yi yi!

    This morning, I got dressed for work, and put on a cami with a suit jacket, knowing that normally on Monday, it's cold in the office.  I got here, and was burning up from the exertion of walking to my cube.  I called Paul to bring me something different to wear since I couldn't take off my suit jacket, and by the time he got here, I was freezing.  So, the fun of hormones and lack thereof just continues!

    On the hormone front, we did find out that my tumor does not have hormone receptors. I will not be able to take Tamoxifen and have it be effective.  Now, Dr. H is open to trying it anyway, thinking that perhaps it was a sampling error, and that the tumor might have hormone receptors.  I remember him saying something about it not being well-differentiated or something.  Something to the effect of the cancer not being consistant across cells. But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Especially since I don't remember it.  It doesn't seem to make a lot of sense that it's not a hormone fed cancer when getting my hormones in order was what triggered the pain and apparent growth of the cancer in the first place.

    I am still pleasantly shocked at my reaction to Taxol.  I was so afraid of how bad I would feel, and with the exception of the heartburn, I'm doing so well.  When I was on weekly chemo during radiation, I felt so lousy for a few days.  This time, when the drug was stronger, I really didn't feel that bad.  My mom says it's because I'm stronger, too.  I'm just happy that I can handle a 3-week dose without problems.  Next hurdle is my CBC on Thursday, but we'll see what happens with that.  I have permission to work from home as much as I feel that I need to so as to not get sick when my white cell counts are tanking.

    On the Wish front, I am contacting Wish Granting Agencies today and tomorrow to see what we need to do to get to Walt Disney World.  We have already had 3 day passes donated, which is a HUGE blessing!  This is really going to happen.  I can't wait!!!!

    On a personal note, I was blessed beyond measure to have my Grandmamma here this weekend.  I had chemo on Thursday, and she flew in on Friday.  She kept an eye on me, and we got to visit and talk.  She got to see the girls get dolled up for their dances, and go to dinner on Saturday with the boys and Meleia.  Today, I'm installing "ding" from Southwest since my friend, Amy, found tickets from Nashville for $50 each way last week.  Maybe Grandmamma can be here more often at those prices!

    OK, it's Monday and I have to get to work.  Thank you for all of your prayers and support.

     

Comments (2)

  • Chemo brain is why you need keepers on chemo day and for a few days afterwards. I'm sooooo glad that you can take the 3 week dose. Now to pray for high white cell counts!

    And, your girls are just beautiful!!!

  • Maybe you need to take a notepad with you for the Dr. to write stuff down in that he is telling you so you can look back at it when you don't remember. Just a thought. Glad to hear that the visit went so well. Good also to hear that your pain is sooo much better. Praying for you. Again, your girls are beauties!

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