I think I am a Zed. Yes, I likened myself to a Dr. Seuss character. Why? Because I have one hair up on my head. The other night I was looking at my head (which I do quite often) to see if my hair is growing. And it is! I mean I can feel the "five o'clock" shadow. But upon careful examination I found one hair that was about a quarter of an inch long! I pulled at it to see if it would come out fairly easily and it did NOT budge! I can't believe it. So I am happy to say, I have hair!
So Thursday was a good day except for the tingling in my feet and finger tips. That continues to persist. I am wondering if it will ever go away. But I am starting to get used to it... annoying as it may be. Other than that... looking forward to a fun weekend of sun. :)
BTW, blogger has just changed the way it looks... so if things look weird... blame it on the new look!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Day 95 - I'm Normal!
Wow... I am normal. Seems like an oxymoran at this point in time. But that is what the ultrasound technician said.
I went in for my blood work and my u/s this morning. It was nice going to a smaller hospital. Everyone was on time. I got there shortly after 8a. Since I was early for the u/s appointment, I went and had my bloodwork done. I only had to walk a short distance from the check in desk to the outpatient lab. The technicians were a bit scary... english wasn't their first language. But the lab worker got my vein on the first try and it was done within minutes. After that, it took a few minutes to wait to check in for the u/s. I barely had time to get one text off to Brad to tell him that I was done with the bloodwork before I got called back. Since I was just at Mt. Hood about two weeks ago, they had me in the system. That was awesome. After checking in, it was a quick wait in a hallway. I think I waited about 7 minutes... just enough time to fire off two text messages! LOL. Thanks Annie! Then it was back in the u/s room. The sonographer was awesome. We just talked through the whole thing. She went to school in Oklahoma but moved out to the NW because she went through an F5 tornado and said she wasn't having anymore of that (scary, Brooke!). She's been in Oregon for many years now. We also talked about why we though breast cancer stats were so much higher. She didn't know. I just wanted her opinion. And whether she wanted it or not, I gave her mine. I said I like to think that we are more in tune with our bodies and we tend to catch the symptoms/signs earlier. She said she liked that response and was going to use it. Um, lemme see, I found out that the hospital complex is going to open up a new office facility that will specialize in women's breast health... mammography, biopsies and the like. She used to work at Mt. Hood MC, then went to another hospital, only to return a few months ago because she was launching this new office. She specializes in the breast. In fact, she was shocked that I was a breast cancer patient. She thought that I just had a lumpectomy because she thought my wig was my real hair. She said that I looked great for someone going through chemo and she was thrown off because I still have my eyebrows and eye lashes! Ha! I kept some hair! hahahaha!
So the u/s was only about 25 minutes in length. She took lots of pictures of my liver. She took pictures of my kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder and then last she looked at my spleen. She said that she's not supposed to tell me about what she's seeing... meaning making any sort of diagnosis, but she said that my liver looked fine and then when she got to my spleen, she said that it was a normal size. So I'm normal. :) That's a relief. So my aches and pains are just a side effect of chemo-sucky and neulasta I am assuming. She said, of course, I didn't hear it from her. But I am glad she at least told me that my spleen looked normal. Then it was off to work.
I got home just in time today to get a call from Angie, Dr. Luoh's nurse. She said that my spleen looked normal (which I already knew, but said nothing) and that my labs came back normal. She said my white blood count was in the normal range and that I am a little anemic which is also normal for a chemo-sucky patient. I asked her if there's anything I can do for that. She said that I could change my diet... eat more iron rich foods, but she doubts that it will really help. If it gets too low it would mean a blood transfusion. But it's not near that point. It just means that I am more tired. So I like my afternoon naps.
Dr. L did say I could go in for more testing... doing a doppler test to check for blood clots. But after discussing with Angie, we decided no. I don't have the symptoms of a blood clot. I don't have swollen extremities, the pain isn't increasing, no fever, etc. But we did agree if I have any of these symptoms I would call right away or get to an ER ASAP as if the blood clot were to move it could cause a stroke. But she said that blood clots are not typical. So the diagnosis is to continue to drink lots of fluids and if the pain is bad (and no fever) I can take tylenol or ibuprofen. Fun times.
After her call, I took a much needed nap. Yea!
Other than that, everything is good. Feeling good. The numbness/tingling is still there. I am hoping it will go away. I don't like the feeling. It's an awkward feeling. Think if it continues Dr. L will get me out of my last two chemo-sucky treatments??? Hahaha!
I went in for my blood work and my u/s this morning. It was nice going to a smaller hospital. Everyone was on time. I got there shortly after 8a. Since I was early for the u/s appointment, I went and had my bloodwork done. I only had to walk a short distance from the check in desk to the outpatient lab. The technicians were a bit scary... english wasn't their first language. But the lab worker got my vein on the first try and it was done within minutes. After that, it took a few minutes to wait to check in for the u/s. I barely had time to get one text off to Brad to tell him that I was done with the bloodwork before I got called back. Since I was just at Mt. Hood about two weeks ago, they had me in the system. That was awesome. After checking in, it was a quick wait in a hallway. I think I waited about 7 minutes... just enough time to fire off two text messages! LOL. Thanks Annie! Then it was back in the u/s room. The sonographer was awesome. We just talked through the whole thing. She went to school in Oklahoma but moved out to the NW because she went through an F5 tornado and said she wasn't having anymore of that (scary, Brooke!). She's been in Oregon for many years now. We also talked about why we though breast cancer stats were so much higher. She didn't know. I just wanted her opinion. And whether she wanted it or not, I gave her mine. I said I like to think that we are more in tune with our bodies and we tend to catch the symptoms/signs earlier. She said she liked that response and was going to use it. Um, lemme see, I found out that the hospital complex is going to open up a new office facility that will specialize in women's breast health... mammography, biopsies and the like. She used to work at Mt. Hood MC, then went to another hospital, only to return a few months ago because she was launching this new office. She specializes in the breast. In fact, she was shocked that I was a breast cancer patient. She thought that I just had a lumpectomy because she thought my wig was my real hair. She said that I looked great for someone going through chemo and she was thrown off because I still have my eyebrows and eye lashes! Ha! I kept some hair! hahahaha!
So the u/s was only about 25 minutes in length. She took lots of pictures of my liver. She took pictures of my kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder and then last she looked at my spleen. She said that she's not supposed to tell me about what she's seeing... meaning making any sort of diagnosis, but she said that my liver looked fine and then when she got to my spleen, she said that it was a normal size. So I'm normal. :) That's a relief. So my aches and pains are just a side effect of chemo-sucky and neulasta I am assuming. She said, of course, I didn't hear it from her. But I am glad she at least told me that my spleen looked normal. Then it was off to work.
I got home just in time today to get a call from Angie, Dr. Luoh's nurse. She said that my spleen looked normal (which I already knew, but said nothing) and that my labs came back normal. She said my white blood count was in the normal range and that I am a little anemic which is also normal for a chemo-sucky patient. I asked her if there's anything I can do for that. She said that I could change my diet... eat more iron rich foods, but she doubts that it will really help. If it gets too low it would mean a blood transfusion. But it's not near that point. It just means that I am more tired. So I like my afternoon naps.
Dr. L did say I could go in for more testing... doing a doppler test to check for blood clots. But after discussing with Angie, we decided no. I don't have the symptoms of a blood clot. I don't have swollen extremities, the pain isn't increasing, no fever, etc. But we did agree if I have any of these symptoms I would call right away or get to an ER ASAP as if the blood clot were to move it could cause a stroke. But she said that blood clots are not typical. So the diagnosis is to continue to drink lots of fluids and if the pain is bad (and no fever) I can take tylenol or ibuprofen. Fun times.
After her call, I took a much needed nap. Yea!
Other than that, everything is good. Feeling good. The numbness/tingling is still there. I am hoping it will go away. I don't like the feeling. It's an awkward feeling. Think if it continues Dr. L will get me out of my last two chemo-sucky treatments??? Hahaha!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Day 94 - How much fun can a girl have?
So last week my fun consisted of the fact that I may have to give myself injections for a week. Well, that has come and gone. Now I have to go in for an ultrasound for my spleen!
Last night my back was starting to hurt and ache. This is on my left side around my rib cage. This is where my spleen sits. Apparently the spleen is something that deals with white blood cells and the making of platelets and such. You can google search it. In anycase, part of the side effects of either the chemo-sucky or the Neulasta, an enlarged spleen could be a side effect. So it starts with an achiness or something to that fact. The ache didn't go away this morning so at 7:55a I called Dr. Luoh. I went home at lunch to await his call. I didn't get a call until 11a! Good thing it wasn't an emergency. Ha! So I gave the symptoms to his nurse, Angie and she said she'd talk to Dr. L and call me back. I finally got a call back around 2p. She said that Dr. L wants me to get an ultrasound of the spleen and then a blood test. She said that since the last time I went in and got blood work done, my white blood counts were really high. So who knows what this will mean.
So tomorrow I go to Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center for my ultrasound. The appointment is scheduled for 815a. Either I can go get my blood drawn before or after the u/s. They wanted me to do it at OHSU, but the earliest they could get me in is Friday and Dr. L didn't want to wait that long. Uh, duh! Tonight my last meal will be at midnight, as I cannot eat anything eight hours before my ultrasound. I can drink which is a life saver. I'm supposed to be drinking lots and lots. I can take tylenol or ibuprofen for the pain. I did take some but that was more for the leg aches that shoot through me every so often.
I did talk to Angie about my neuropathy. She told me to keep track of it and to tell the doctor if it gets worse. The toes are tingly. The finger tips are also tingly. She told me to use hot mitts for hot things and to wear slippers around the house. Check and check. Grrr... this is so annoying. I hate chemo-sucky. I hate cancer even more. Stupid.
On a funny note, I had just come home from picking up the girls at daycare. The phone rang as I brought Amelia inside the house. She's very fond right now of answering the phone. She wanted to answer the phone, but I got to it first because I had a feeling it was the doctor's office wanting to schedule the u/s. It was Angie on the phone. Well, I couldn't have a conversation with her without Amelia saying she wanted to say hello. I asked Angie if she could say hello. She said absolutely. Angie understands because she has a two and five year old. So Amelia said hi and she was good.
We had a lovely day - the girls and I. We watched Angelina Ballerina (it was an ice skating episode) on TV and then ice skated around the kitchen. We did leaps and twirls. Amelia baked for me. Elaina ate ice cream. So it was a good day except for the dumb achy pain on my left side.
Last night my back was starting to hurt and ache. This is on my left side around my rib cage. This is where my spleen sits. Apparently the spleen is something that deals with white blood cells and the making of platelets and such. You can google search it. In anycase, part of the side effects of either the chemo-sucky or the Neulasta, an enlarged spleen could be a side effect. So it starts with an achiness or something to that fact. The ache didn't go away this morning so at 7:55a I called Dr. Luoh. I went home at lunch to await his call. I didn't get a call until 11a! Good thing it wasn't an emergency. Ha! So I gave the symptoms to his nurse, Angie and she said she'd talk to Dr. L and call me back. I finally got a call back around 2p. She said that Dr. L wants me to get an ultrasound of the spleen and then a blood test. She said that since the last time I went in and got blood work done, my white blood counts were really high. So who knows what this will mean.
So tomorrow I go to Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center for my ultrasound. The appointment is scheduled for 815a. Either I can go get my blood drawn before or after the u/s. They wanted me to do it at OHSU, but the earliest they could get me in is Friday and Dr. L didn't want to wait that long. Uh, duh! Tonight my last meal will be at midnight, as I cannot eat anything eight hours before my ultrasound. I can drink which is a life saver. I'm supposed to be drinking lots and lots. I can take tylenol or ibuprofen for the pain. I did take some but that was more for the leg aches that shoot through me every so often.
I did talk to Angie about my neuropathy. She told me to keep track of it and to tell the doctor if it gets worse. The toes are tingly. The finger tips are also tingly. She told me to use hot mitts for hot things and to wear slippers around the house. Check and check. Grrr... this is so annoying. I hate chemo-sucky. I hate cancer even more. Stupid.
On a funny note, I had just come home from picking up the girls at daycare. The phone rang as I brought Amelia inside the house. She's very fond right now of answering the phone. She wanted to answer the phone, but I got to it first because I had a feeling it was the doctor's office wanting to schedule the u/s. It was Angie on the phone. Well, I couldn't have a conversation with her without Amelia saying she wanted to say hello. I asked Angie if she could say hello. She said absolutely. Angie understands because she has a two and five year old. So Amelia said hi and she was good.
We had a lovely day - the girls and I. We watched Angelina Ballerina (it was an ice skating episode) on TV and then ice skated around the kitchen. We did leaps and twirls. Amelia baked for me. Elaina ate ice cream. So it was a good day except for the dumb achy pain on my left side.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Day 93
Oops, I meant to post this yesterday.
Feeling better today. My fingers and toes are tingly still. Every so often I get a fit of nausea, but I think it had to do with being hungry. My legs are sore... and I get sharp pains every so often coursing through them.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Day 92
I got sick today. I was taking all my meds, but I still managed to throw up. I threw up only once. But I managed to keep water and fluids down. My fingers are tingly and so are my toes. I'm tired, so I will check in tomorrow.
Day 91
No throwing up today! I started the day off with taking zofran and not thinking about getting sick. I did get tired.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Day 90 - A decrease in Neulasta
Hydration is in order. I got my two liters of saline at the Mt. Hood OHSU Knight Cancer Center and my 4mg of Neulasta. All is right in the world. My fingers and toes started tingling while I was there. So the neuropathy is setting in. I am hoping that it isn't going to be forever and will reverse itself. Time will tell.
While I was there another woman was getting her first treatment of chemo. She had three different types of chemo. When I got there, she was already on her first one. Then I noticed she was getting adriamyacin and cytoxan. I feel bad for her. This is going to be a rough ride. She just lost her husband last year. Her mother passed away from breast cancer. Yikes! She was much older than I was though.
Friday was a good day. Just was tired when I got home. Took a nap. When I woke up, I was sore. My neck and upper body just felt like it was a 90 year old's body. I took two ibuprofen and went to bed hoping that would help.
While I was there another woman was getting her first treatment of chemo. She had three different types of chemo. When I got there, she was already on her first one. Then I noticed she was getting adriamyacin and cytoxan. I feel bad for her. This is going to be a rough ride. She just lost her husband last year. Her mother passed away from breast cancer. Yikes! She was much older than I was though.
Friday was a good day. Just was tired when I got home. Took a nap. When I woke up, I was sore. My neck and upper body just felt like it was a 90 year old's body. I took two ibuprofen and went to bed hoping that would help.
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