Monday, August 20, 2012
Bedside Doctor
My oldest son comes in frequently to say hello to me and asks "Are you feeling better?" He also love to come and pretend he's my doctor. Love it! You can see his tools and supplies on my night stand.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Last Chemo!!
LAST DAY OF CHEMO! HOORAY!
And here's a little behind the scene shoot at what the Infusion room looks like. This is the middle section of the room (there are about three and half sections.) Lots of big reclining chairs and tons of IV bag stands. Im the second to the end on the left.
And here's a little behind the scene shoot at what the Infusion room looks like. This is the middle section of the room (there are about three and half sections.) Lots of big reclining chairs and tons of IV bag stands. Im the second to the end on the left.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Reading Selection
This always cracks me up. This is the waiting room at the Chemo facility. Notice anything funny about the magazine selection?
And most of the other magazines are Parenting magazines, which doesnt make a lot of sense either because about 90% of patients here are at least 50+ years old, in more the grand-parenting stage.
And most of the other magazines are Parenting magazines, which doesnt make a lot of sense either because about 90% of patients here are at least 50+ years old, in more the grand-parenting stage.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Good news
I had another check up with the Speech Pathologist today. She was completely amazed at how well I'm doing at this point. Still talking. Still have taste buds. Still eating and drinking. And my skin barely looks red.
She said that my symptoms really won't get any worse at this point, just the pain. Which is great because still being able to do all these things makes getting through the treatments and the pain so much more bearable.
They told me of a man who came in just a few days ago, and after just 4 radiation treatments, his mouth was all cracked and bleeding. I'm on treatment #26 today.
It really is amazing that I am feeling so well this far into treatments. I do have a lot of fatigue, but not near as much as I expected. My pain is very manageable with medications. Previously, I had imagined months of laying in bed, withering in pain, missing my kids and family, while the world went on around me. We have also been so incredibly blessed with amazing friends and family members so willing to help watch the kids, bring us dinners, and support us through this trial.
It is an undeniable testament that the Lord is blessing and watching over my family and I. To have so many loving people placed in our lives. To be guided to the absolute BEST doctors. And to have been blessed with endurance and had my symptoms and pain relieved. I can not imagine going through this without Him.
She said that my symptoms really won't get any worse at this point, just the pain. Which is great because still being able to do all these things makes getting through the treatments and the pain so much more bearable.
They told me of a man who came in just a few days ago, and after just 4 radiation treatments, his mouth was all cracked and bleeding. I'm on treatment #26 today.
It really is amazing that I am feeling so well this far into treatments. I do have a lot of fatigue, but not near as much as I expected. My pain is very manageable with medications. Previously, I had imagined months of laying in bed, withering in pain, missing my kids and family, while the world went on around me. We have also been so incredibly blessed with amazing friends and family members so willing to help watch the kids, bring us dinners, and support us through this trial.
It is an undeniable testament that the Lord is blessing and watching over my family and I. To have so many loving people placed in our lives. To be guided to the absolute BEST doctors. And to have been blessed with endurance and had my symptoms and pain relieved. I can not imagine going through this without Him.
To learn more about my beliefs, click here.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
In the Clear
Well, no fever or other reaction to the chemo treatment from Friday. Looks like im in the clear and will be able to stick with Erbitux and not have to switch to the traditional chemo drug. Yah!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Something good
Yes, there is actually something good that comes from being on chemo. (Erbitux specifically)
Super long eyelashes, every girl's dream
Super long eyelashes, every girl's dream
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Short Stay at the Hospital
Wow, what a horrible week! Tuesday, after my radiation therapy, I went for a quick check in with my Chemo doc, who wanted to check out the redness around my port. It was almost a comical experience.
When getting checked in by the nurse, she took my temperature and asked how I was feeling. I felt totally fine. She then told me I had a fever of almost 104. So when the doc walked in, the first thing he said was "Well it looks like you're going to the hospital." We were shocked! Yes I had a fever but I felt totally fine. So we waited around at the doctor's office while they got me a bed a the hospital, then sent us over. It was really strange to walk into the hospital, feeling completely fine, and get checked in.
I was on the oncology floor, which lucky for us, had recently been remodeled, so the rooms were really large and super nice. At first it almost felt like a vacation. I just had to sit around all day. I could read books, do my stitching, watch TV, nap. But by the end of the first day it quickly turned into a torturous experience. The nurses were just ok. They would come in at least every 2 hours to check my vitals. Then my IV pump was constantly beeping, which drove me absolutely crazy! Then I'd also get visits from the Infectious Disease doctors, my Chemo doc, the phlebotomist, house keeping, some lady checking for bed sores, another asking about home health care, transport people to take me to radiation treatments, and the list could go on and on. Oh, and I could also hear the alarms and beeps from the other patients' rooms nearby. I could not get any sleep! I was literally on the edge of loosing my sanity. Just being there for 48 hours, made me feel more and more sick until I felt completely awful by the time my doc said I could go. He said that was a sign of being in the hospital for too long. I could have told him that!
Luckily all my blood test came back negative for a Pseudomonas infection. I guess the infection stayed in forearm incision and didnt get into my blood and the high fever was attributed to chemo treatments. It is really rare that chemo causes a fever, so we will try chemo again next Friday and see if this happens all over again. If so, I'll have to switch to traditional chemo, which will cause hair loss, and nausea. Something I really really dont want to have to do.
It's hard enough dealing with having cancer, but then to have to loose all your hair...well, it is a lot harder of an experience than most people can imagine. And the nausea. My throat is getting more and more sore by the day, and to add stomach acid burning my throat, well that is just something I really dont want to have to add to the mix. Pray that this was a fluke and I wont have a reaction with my next round of chemo and I wont have to switch.
When getting checked in by the nurse, she took my temperature and asked how I was feeling. I felt totally fine. She then told me I had a fever of almost 104. So when the doc walked in, the first thing he said was "Well it looks like you're going to the hospital." We were shocked! Yes I had a fever but I felt totally fine. So we waited around at the doctor's office while they got me a bed a the hospital, then sent us over. It was really strange to walk into the hospital, feeling completely fine, and get checked in.
I was on the oncology floor, which lucky for us, had recently been remodeled, so the rooms were really large and super nice. At first it almost felt like a vacation. I just had to sit around all day. I could read books, do my stitching, watch TV, nap. But by the end of the first day it quickly turned into a torturous experience. The nurses were just ok. They would come in at least every 2 hours to check my vitals. Then my IV pump was constantly beeping, which drove me absolutely crazy! Then I'd also get visits from the Infectious Disease doctors, my Chemo doc, the phlebotomist, house keeping, some lady checking for bed sores, another asking about home health care, transport people to take me to radiation treatments, and the list could go on and on. Oh, and I could also hear the alarms and beeps from the other patients' rooms nearby. I could not get any sleep! I was literally on the edge of loosing my sanity. Just being there for 48 hours, made me feel more and more sick until I felt completely awful by the time my doc said I could go. He said that was a sign of being in the hospital for too long. I could have told him that!
Luckily all my blood test came back negative for a Pseudomonas infection. I guess the infection stayed in forearm incision and didnt get into my blood and the high fever was attributed to chemo treatments. It is really rare that chemo causes a fever, so we will try chemo again next Friday and see if this happens all over again. If so, I'll have to switch to traditional chemo, which will cause hair loss, and nausea. Something I really really dont want to have to do.
It's hard enough dealing with having cancer, but then to have to loose all your hair...well, it is a lot harder of an experience than most people can imagine. And the nausea. My throat is getting more and more sore by the day, and to add stomach acid burning my throat, well that is just something I really dont want to have to add to the mix. Pray that this was a fluke and I wont have a reaction with my next round of chemo and I wont have to switch.
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