There's no place like home, especially when you haven't been here for a few days. Even more so when those days have been spent in the hospital.
I woke up Wednesday feeling just a little more crummy than usual. Then I started throwing up blood and had to have Brian drive me to the E.R. Thank goodness he was home! We got to the hospital around 11 or 11:30 that morning and by early afternoon I was admitted. I had ruptured some varices in my esophagus (you may remember they came up as a potential issue at the end of December). So on Thursday we did the same scope procedure we had done back then and Dr. Sokhi banded them off to stop/prevent further bleeding. It left me with some sharp pains just below my sternum.
In addition, my breathing had become labored again. Even though they drew a litre of fluid off my lungs last Thursday (the 15th) there was more fluid built up again. This time they got 2 1/2 litres! The doctor said it's the most he's ever drawn. If the fluid comes back again they will have to do a more involved surgical procedure that involves a chest tube and the injection of some talc to sort of close off the space that allows the fluid to build. We'll cross that bridge if/when we come to it.
I was finally discharged from the hospital this morning (Sunday, the 25th). It was a long several days and my room seemed to shrink by the hour. All seems to be fairly ok right now though. Please keep praying that it remains that way and that this is the end of the fluid build-up. The chemo can potentially keep it from coming back.
I'm scheduled for shots each day again this week and for another chemo treatment on Wednesday. I will say that it was reassuring to see a different oncologist who agrees with all that Dr. K is doing. I trust Dr. K's judgment and his decisions, but there's no harm in hearing the same kinds of things from other doctors. In this case it was from my original oncologist who first treated me back in 2001. He happened to be the doctor on call this weekend.
I guess that's all for now. Thank you for the many prayers, visitors, flowers, hugs, cards, gifts, poems and drawings! And thank you for all of the love!!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Keeping it Brief
The results of the lab work on the fluid from around my lungs showed NO cancer cells! This is very reassuring. We need to now see what the chest x-ray shows next week to make sure there are no spots within the lung itself.
Keysha has run away twice now since Niko was put to sleep, but was returned by kind neighbors both times. She's one strong dog to have managed to break out of her pen, even after Brian did some strengthening of the wire. Her grieving seems to be getting a little better as she didn't spend the whole day howling today. Brian has been well-distracted by her, I think.
All for now since my tummy is rather upset today.
Keysha has run away twice now since Niko was put to sleep, but was returned by kind neighbors both times. She's one strong dog to have managed to break out of her pen, even after Brian did some strengthening of the wire. Her grieving seems to be getting a little better as she didn't spend the whole day howling today. Brian has been well-distracted by her, I think.
All for now since my tummy is rather upset today.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Sad, Sad Day
Poor Brian had to take his beloved Niko into the vet this morning. Niko would have been 13 this June and had developed some kidney problems, as well as troubles with his back legs. It was "time." Niko was Brian's best friend and this was an extremely difficult decision for him to make. I know there are many, many of you who can relate to his sorrow.
On a more positive note...my procedure went extremely well yesterday and was far less uncomfortable than I had feared. They withdrew just over a litre of fluid from around my right lung and now we await the lab results. That news should be available some time early next week, I hope. The whole procedure took less than 20 minutes and all I really felt was one tiny needle prick and just a small amount of pressure when we were nearly done. All of the staff was exceptional and really put me at ease.
On a more positive note...my procedure went extremely well yesterday and was far less uncomfortable than I had feared. They withdrew just over a litre of fluid from around my right lung and now we await the lab results. That news should be available some time early next week, I hope. The whole procedure took less than 20 minutes and all I really felt was one tiny needle prick and just a small amount of pressure when we were nearly done. All of the staff was exceptional and really put me at ease.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Jitterbug
As you can see by the post time down below, this is not a good time for me to be up and about. Especially because I have not managed to catch any Zzzzs at this point. This darn treatment today has left me feeling all buzzed up and jittery. I can't take much more of this. The steroids left me eating all kinds of junk tonight and now I don't know if the tummy is bothering me cuz of that, or cuz of the chemo. The Kytril helped settle the belly a bit, but it hasn't made me sleepy enough to be able to lay down for even 10 minutes straight!
So here I am; typing, typing, typing. I'm hopeful this will work out some of those jitters I feel. Definitely got the jimmy legs going again tonight.
Those of you who have vacationed recently (past 3-4 months), please let me know how your trips went! Technically, Brian and I should be in Mexico or Punta Cana this week and I'm missing that annual trip very much. I'm hoping to live vicariously through your vacations instead. This is the first year since we've been married that we haven't gone away.
Thanks for your quick comments on my last blog entry, KB. The pic of my liver was encouraging for sure, but the fear now is that the cancer has spread to my lungs. We were reasonably certain the Avastin was helping the spots on my liver to go away and the scan seems to have confirmed that. I never had any great degree of discomfort when Dr K pressed on my liver so we know we caught it early there. As far as Survivor goes; for those of you who don't know, yes, I am hooked on that show. I watched it at Sue's last week but I don't think the previews for this week really stuck with me. Thanks for the update on the buffs and the shake-up. It could make for much more interesting tribes now.
For you pray-ers out there...please send up a few for my uncle and aunt, Jim and Kitty, who both managed to land themselves in the hospital recently. Also, my aunt Ruth who had recent heart surgery. All three seem to be doing pretty well and are home recouping. And while you're at it, my sister-in-law, Kate's, dad is undergoing some health issues and has conflicting opinions from some doctors on whether or not he has cancer. The not knowing things is the worst...how does one deal with a conflict like that?!? At least my 2nd and 3rd opinions at UW-Madison Hospital and at the Mayo Clinic all confirmed what we were being told here at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic.
What a great day here yesterday with a high temp of 68 degrees on our deck in the sun. The wind was brisk and so it didn't necessarily feel quite that warm to me, but the snow is practically all gone now and even with the temps back down in the 40s today, it was still refreshing to be able to walk to the end of my driveway yesterday and not feel chilled to the bone. (Granted, I was wearing a turtleneck, sweatshirt, and corduroy jacket, but I was comfy.)
Oop, there's another big yawn, but the legs are still bouncing up and down yet. I think I'll iron my bandanas that I washed earlier today. I'm trying to do quiet things that won't wake the men-folk.
My 2 1/2 year old nephew, Owen, was here last evening. I didn't see much of him because he was all about having his private play time with Dominic. But he came upstairs a few times to sort of check in. I had my hat off most of the evening and the first time he just kind of looked at my head while he was talking to me, paused ever so briefly, but kept on talking. The next time he told me "you have beautiful hairs." It just made my night cuz he has no clue why my hair is practically non-existant or that that was the sweetest thing he could possibly say. What a kid!
I think that's all the typing for now. As I said, I think I'll iron now, but I don't know what I'll do after that. The print in my book is too tiny to try and read at this hour, I've already discovered. I have no desire to watch 'paid programming' and there's little else on at this hour. Much too late too call any of you for a chat, but could almost call some of you early Muth employees who might be about ready to wake up this morning. I'm not banking on much sleep before my procedure this morning. Have to be at the hospital by 10:30am, can't eat anything after 8:30am.
Well, thanks for lending an eyeball to my rambling typing. Hopefully will sleep better tomorrow night and you won't really hear from me again until we have the results from the fluid samples. No date set yet for the x-ray. Have to call and get that arranged.
Happy St. Patrick's Day (coming right up)!! I'll have to wear my fun green party hat from Mac and KB. Hope you're all snuggled in tonight and sleeping like rocks.
Love to all
So here I am; typing, typing, typing. I'm hopeful this will work out some of those jitters I feel. Definitely got the jimmy legs going again tonight.
Those of you who have vacationed recently (past 3-4 months), please let me know how your trips went! Technically, Brian and I should be in Mexico or Punta Cana this week and I'm missing that annual trip very much. I'm hoping to live vicariously through your vacations instead. This is the first year since we've been married that we haven't gone away.
Thanks for your quick comments on my last blog entry, KB. The pic of my liver was encouraging for sure, but the fear now is that the cancer has spread to my lungs. We were reasonably certain the Avastin was helping the spots on my liver to go away and the scan seems to have confirmed that. I never had any great degree of discomfort when Dr K pressed on my liver so we know we caught it early there. As far as Survivor goes; for those of you who don't know, yes, I am hooked on that show. I watched it at Sue's last week but I don't think the previews for this week really stuck with me. Thanks for the update on the buffs and the shake-up. It could make for much more interesting tribes now.
For you pray-ers out there...please send up a few for my uncle and aunt, Jim and Kitty, who both managed to land themselves in the hospital recently. Also, my aunt Ruth who had recent heart surgery. All three seem to be doing pretty well and are home recouping. And while you're at it, my sister-in-law, Kate's, dad is undergoing some health issues and has conflicting opinions from some doctors on whether or not he has cancer. The not knowing things is the worst...how does one deal with a conflict like that?!? At least my 2nd and 3rd opinions at UW-Madison Hospital and at the Mayo Clinic all confirmed what we were being told here at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic.
What a great day here yesterday with a high temp of 68 degrees on our deck in the sun. The wind was brisk and so it didn't necessarily feel quite that warm to me, but the snow is practically all gone now and even with the temps back down in the 40s today, it was still refreshing to be able to walk to the end of my driveway yesterday and not feel chilled to the bone. (Granted, I was wearing a turtleneck, sweatshirt, and corduroy jacket, but I was comfy.)
Oop, there's another big yawn, but the legs are still bouncing up and down yet. I think I'll iron my bandanas that I washed earlier today. I'm trying to do quiet things that won't wake the men-folk.
My 2 1/2 year old nephew, Owen, was here last evening. I didn't see much of him because he was all about having his private play time with Dominic. But he came upstairs a few times to sort of check in. I had my hat off most of the evening and the first time he just kind of looked at my head while he was talking to me, paused ever so briefly, but kept on talking. The next time he told me "you have beautiful hairs." It just made my night cuz he has no clue why my hair is practically non-existant or that that was the sweetest thing he could possibly say. What a kid!
I think that's all the typing for now. As I said, I think I'll iron now, but I don't know what I'll do after that. The print in my book is too tiny to try and read at this hour, I've already discovered. I have no desire to watch 'paid programming' and there's little else on at this hour. Much too late too call any of you for a chat, but could almost call some of you early Muth employees who might be about ready to wake up this morning. I'm not banking on much sleep before my procedure this morning. Have to be at the hospital by 10:30am, can't eat anything after 8:30am.
Well, thanks for lending an eyeball to my rambling typing. Hopefully will sleep better tomorrow night and you won't really hear from me again until we have the results from the fluid samples. No date set yet for the x-ray. Have to call and get that arranged.
Happy St. Patrick's Day (coming right up)!! I'll have to wear my fun green party hat from Mac and KB. Hope you're all snuggled in tonight and sleeping like rocks.
Love to all
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Bad News - Good News - Bad News
Bad news: Tumor marker number is up over a thousand again to the tune of 1092.
Good news: CT scan shows the spots on the liver seem to have all but disappeared.
Bad news: lots more fluid around the right lung and I will have a thoracentesis done tomorrow to drain anywhere from 1 to 2 litres of fluid. They'll run some tests on the fluid they draw out and I should have those results in 2-3 days. The fluid is not in the lung itself. It is in the chest cavity surrounding the lung. I'll have an x-ray done before my next treatment to see what shows up (more fluid, spots, anything).
I did have treatment today. We stuck with the Avastin, but I am no longer receiving the Taxotere. That was switched to something called Navelbine now. (Oh goody...a whole new set of possible side effects.) I'll let you know how this one works out for me in time. The plan is to continue with treatments every other week, now on Wednesdays.
Sorry if I'm not posting as often as some of you might like. When I have a crummy day I tend to not have any desire to sit and type. And I've had a lot of crummy days lately. You can always feel free to call for an update if you'd like, though. Never be afraid to call. Although I may not always be the best at returning calls either, if you leave a message it does me worlds of good just to know you're out there thinking of me. I ALWAYS love to see comments posted here too!
I guess that's about all I learned today. Questions anyone?
Q: Am I nervous about tomorrow's procedure?
A: Absolutely! The thought of a needle going into my chest makes me a little anxious.
Q: Do they know why my tumor marker number is on the rise?
A: Not specifically. Could be any number of explanations. Some drugs just don't work for everyone, or they stop working after a while. Another possibility is that certain cancer cells are not responding and those are the cells that are messing up that number. Could be there are cells elsewhere that just don't show up in this scan. But as long as we keep treating we should hopefully manage to bring that number down again, in time.
Anyone else? Questions? Buehler? Buehler?
Good news: CT scan shows the spots on the liver seem to have all but disappeared.
Bad news: lots more fluid around the right lung and I will have a thoracentesis done tomorrow to drain anywhere from 1 to 2 litres of fluid. They'll run some tests on the fluid they draw out and I should have those results in 2-3 days. The fluid is not in the lung itself. It is in the chest cavity surrounding the lung. I'll have an x-ray done before my next treatment to see what shows up (more fluid, spots, anything).
I did have treatment today. We stuck with the Avastin, but I am no longer receiving the Taxotere. That was switched to something called Navelbine now. (Oh goody...a whole new set of possible side effects.) I'll let you know how this one works out for me in time. The plan is to continue with treatments every other week, now on Wednesdays.
Sorry if I'm not posting as often as some of you might like. When I have a crummy day I tend to not have any desire to sit and type. And I've had a lot of crummy days lately. You can always feel free to call for an update if you'd like, though. Never be afraid to call. Although I may not always be the best at returning calls either, if you leave a message it does me worlds of good just to know you're out there thinking of me. I ALWAYS love to see comments posted here too!
I guess that's about all I learned today. Questions anyone?
Q: Am I nervous about tomorrow's procedure?
A: Absolutely! The thought of a needle going into my chest makes me a little anxious.
Q: Do they know why my tumor marker number is on the rise?
A: Not specifically. Could be any number of explanations. Some drugs just don't work for everyone, or they stop working after a while. Another possibility is that certain cancer cells are not responding and those are the cells that are messing up that number. Could be there are cells elsewhere that just don't show up in this scan. But as long as we keep treating we should hopefully manage to bring that number down again, in time.
Anyone else? Questions? Buehler? Buehler?
Monday, March 12, 2007
You Just Never Know
You just never know what 'treatment day' will bring. By definition it should bring a treatment, yes? Well, not today.
Instead, by the time I had asked all of my many questions and updated Dr K on all my current aches and pains he decided that we should do a CT scan of my head, chest, abdomen and pelvis. And that we should also wait and see what my latest tumor marker number looks like that we drew blood for today, before proceeding with another treatment. So I'll have the marker # sometime tomorrow, and I'll see the pics from the scan on Wed morning. After that we'll determine if we'll proceed on the same track or change things up a bit.
I've been experiencing headaches, vomiting, and lower back pain (even with the fentanyl patch on). That's why we want to see if there's anything new going on that we should be aware of. Unfortunately, this past weekend was my sort of annual get-together with my sisters and the way that I was feeling tapped into the fun way too much. I felt extremely cheated!
For some reason the scan caused a great deal more discomfort than I ever remember it causing in the past. First it took 2 nurses and 3 pokes to get an iv started. Then the iodine burned something terrible when they injected it. I know it does, but this was extreme. By the time I left I was ready to run screaming from the building. So then I came home and napped for 2 1/2 hours with my jacket on because, even on this spring-type day, I just couldn't warm up.
So I should have updated news to report on Wednesday at some point. If all looks "normal" on the scan and the tumor marker number is cooperating then we'll just go about our business as it was planned for today. If anything has gone haywire, we'll deal with that as necessary.
Instead, by the time I had asked all of my many questions and updated Dr K on all my current aches and pains he decided that we should do a CT scan of my head, chest, abdomen and pelvis. And that we should also wait and see what my latest tumor marker number looks like that we drew blood for today, before proceeding with another treatment. So I'll have the marker # sometime tomorrow, and I'll see the pics from the scan on Wed morning. After that we'll determine if we'll proceed on the same track or change things up a bit.
I've been experiencing headaches, vomiting, and lower back pain (even with the fentanyl patch on). That's why we want to see if there's anything new going on that we should be aware of. Unfortunately, this past weekend was my sort of annual get-together with my sisters and the way that I was feeling tapped into the fun way too much. I felt extremely cheated!
For some reason the scan caused a great deal more discomfort than I ever remember it causing in the past. First it took 2 nurses and 3 pokes to get an iv started. Then the iodine burned something terrible when they injected it. I know it does, but this was extreme. By the time I left I was ready to run screaming from the building. So then I came home and napped for 2 1/2 hours with my jacket on because, even on this spring-type day, I just couldn't warm up.
So I should have updated news to report on Wednesday at some point. If all looks "normal" on the scan and the tumor marker number is cooperating then we'll just go about our business as it was planned for today. If anything has gone haywire, we'll deal with that as necessary.
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