The sun is shining and I feel human today!
Smile Large!!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Hanging in There
Thought I should put out an update of my current situation...
I still don't feel all that great. Yesterday, the doctor prescribed another 7 days worth of antibiotics, at the higher dosage, so we can knock this thing out of my system. We need to have the infection gone for obvious reasons, but also so we can start the Xeloda in a couple of weeks.
To steal my friend, Sheryl's line: I feel like a "waste of skin" these days. Not much happening besides couch time. I am working and radiating and got out of the house a bit this past weekend. I just wish I had more energy to be productive in the evening. I'm sure Brian and Dominic are both tired of seeing me under the blanket in the living room.
I do feel a heck of a lot better than last week...but I'd rather feel like me again!
I still don't feel all that great. Yesterday, the doctor prescribed another 7 days worth of antibiotics, at the higher dosage, so we can knock this thing out of my system. We need to have the infection gone for obvious reasons, but also so we can start the Xeloda in a couple of weeks.
To steal my friend, Sheryl's line: I feel like a "waste of skin" these days. Not much happening besides couch time. I am working and radiating and got out of the house a bit this past weekend. I just wish I had more energy to be productive in the evening. I'm sure Brian and Dominic are both tired of seeing me under the blanket in the living room.
I do feel a heck of a lot better than last week...but I'd rather feel like me again!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
What's a Body to Do?
Talk about one thing after another...
The antibiotics that I was prescribed were NOT well tolerated by me. I was sick to my stomach all day yesterday and so the doctor took me off of both pills. That was a good thing because it meant no more "orange" in my world, and no more upset tummy. Today I was able to eat and keep it all down. There were a couple of options as to what to do, but it was decided to just not prescribe anything different at that time in hopes that I had gotten enough in my system to clear up the infection. I was ok with that because I didn't like the meds.
Well...this morning I woke up with terrible back pains. I couldn't decide if it was a result of lying around for so many days and my back just hurt from that, or if it was related to this infection. As the day progressed and the pain remained steady (even the Advil didn't take the edge off) I realized this was probably not a good sign. When I went in for radiation I mentioned it to the techs. They felt that I should definitely see the nurse practitioner since the doc was out.
What I learned is this: when a urinalysis is done there is a "sensitivity" test done that tells what drugs will be effective for my own specific case. The nurse was looking for this form, but it wasn't in my file. The lab never sent it. So it turns out that of the dozen or so options of what they could have prescribed, the doc (through no fault of his own) presribed one of only two non-effective drugs! So not only was there absolutely no reason for me to have felt so crummy since Saturday!!...but this also means that I was, essentially, not being treated at all!!
They started me on a new drug today and the hope now is that the infection has not spread over the course of this past week. Come on...what are the chances it hasn't?! The pain seems to have worsened throughout the day with little back spasms going on. It's just so messed up!
My mood is greatly improved today since I'm not nauseous, but I can't seem to find a comfortable position right now. I hope these drugs kick in quickly.
Thank you for all the warm and kind comments, calls, and messages after my last post. I always appreciate it when I check my blog and see a reply!
The antibiotics that I was prescribed were NOT well tolerated by me. I was sick to my stomach all day yesterday and so the doctor took me off of both pills. That was a good thing because it meant no more "orange" in my world, and no more upset tummy. Today I was able to eat and keep it all down. There were a couple of options as to what to do, but it was decided to just not prescribe anything different at that time in hopes that I had gotten enough in my system to clear up the infection. I was ok with that because I didn't like the meds.
Well...this morning I woke up with terrible back pains. I couldn't decide if it was a result of lying around for so many days and my back just hurt from that, or if it was related to this infection. As the day progressed and the pain remained steady (even the Advil didn't take the edge off) I realized this was probably not a good sign. When I went in for radiation I mentioned it to the techs. They felt that I should definitely see the nurse practitioner since the doc was out.
What I learned is this: when a urinalysis is done there is a "sensitivity" test done that tells what drugs will be effective for my own specific case. The nurse was looking for this form, but it wasn't in my file. The lab never sent it. So it turns out that of the dozen or so options of what they could have prescribed, the doc (through no fault of his own) presribed one of only two non-effective drugs! So not only was there absolutely no reason for me to have felt so crummy since Saturday!!...but this also means that I was, essentially, not being treated at all!!
They started me on a new drug today and the hope now is that the infection has not spread over the course of this past week. Come on...what are the chances it hasn't?! The pain seems to have worsened throughout the day with little back spasms going on. It's just so messed up!
My mood is greatly improved today since I'm not nauseous, but I can't seem to find a comfortable position right now. I hope these drugs kick in quickly.
Thank you for all the warm and kind comments, calls, and messages after my last post. I always appreciate it when I check my blog and see a reply!
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Trying to take it all in stride
I am 16/20 of the way done with the radiation on my left side. I have, mostly, come through it ok...right up to this week. For the most part I feel fine, but now there are residual side effects with which I am dealing.
Generally, when I have a procedure done or I take a medication the side effects are not visible. In this case, there may be some visual changes. I have developed a bladder infection, most likely related to the small area of my bladder and/or intestines that have just barely been touched by the radiation. While my white and red blood cell counts look good, I am still, apparently, subject to infection. They put me on two different medications to clear this up. One is an analgesic that can cause a discoloring of my skin, my tears, and my perspiration (including staining my clothes). In this day and age don't you think they could come up with something a little less 'obvious?!' So now I will have to wear my glasses for two weeks and wear mostly dark clothes. Ugh!
On top of all of that unpleasantness, my tumor marker has jumped again...now to 979. I had prepared myself for a number right around 1000 so I wasn't totatlly blown away. But it's still disturbing, to say the least. In order that we can more quickly get started on the Xeloda, we are going to start radiating my right side on Monday (along with the left for those remaining four days).
It's very beneficial to me that the sun is shining and the skies are blue. And the fact that this is Easter weekend and we are celebrating LIFE and the AFTERLIFE. I guess you could say this is relatively good timing.
I wish all of you a blessed Easter. I hope everyone is able to be with loved ones and spread the joy of the day with hugs and laughter. Alleluiah!
Generally, when I have a procedure done or I take a medication the side effects are not visible. In this case, there may be some visual changes. I have developed a bladder infection, most likely related to the small area of my bladder and/or intestines that have just barely been touched by the radiation. While my white and red blood cell counts look good, I am still, apparently, subject to infection. They put me on two different medications to clear this up. One is an analgesic that can cause a discoloring of my skin, my tears, and my perspiration (including staining my clothes). In this day and age don't you think they could come up with something a little less 'obvious?!' So now I will have to wear my glasses for two weeks and wear mostly dark clothes. Ugh!
On top of all of that unpleasantness, my tumor marker has jumped again...now to 979. I had prepared myself for a number right around 1000 so I wasn't totatlly blown away. But it's still disturbing, to say the least. In order that we can more quickly get started on the Xeloda, we are going to start radiating my right side on Monday (along with the left for those remaining four days).
It's very beneficial to me that the sun is shining and the skies are blue. And the fact that this is Easter weekend and we are celebrating LIFE and the AFTERLIFE. I guess you could say this is relatively good timing.
I wish all of you a blessed Easter. I hope everyone is able to be with loved ones and spread the joy of the day with hugs and laughter. Alleluiah!
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