I was thinking about what I was doing last year at this time. I was taking chemo and having a hard time keeping up with school with the boys. The boys were good about doing their school work but I was awful in taking the time to grade papers, especially essays, etc. This year I am more organzied and have been keeping up with their papers and school work. It is so nice not to be going off to the doctors and chemo clinic, etc every week. Seems like last year, I had somewhere to go at least once a week and sometimes more. Last year the boys couldn't drive but this year they can so it's nice that I am not going to town very much. I wish Christopher was driving last year but that didn't happen. It was hard to get that drivers ed done so that is something we aren't doing either this year. This year is just a smoother year. I am glad about that.
Another reflection that Larry had. My hair started to grow back at this time so what I have now is a year's worth of hair growth!!! Hard to believe. Since I've not had to use a blow dryer since May 2009, I can't find mine now. lol. I wanted to use it the other day but couldn't find it. I think I put it up somewhere but not sure. Need to do some more looking. Maybe I let my daughter have it but I don't think so.
I bought some medications over the counter to help with the joint stiffness but found out that it will interact with my blood thinner, Coumadin, so I can't take it. Bummer. Hopefully I will be off Coumadin by Novemeber so will save the medication until I can use it. Well, life is definitely much better for me this year!!!! I am looking forward to going to the mountains with my mom this weekend. What fun---just mom and daughter time. Love you all....
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Coumadin check and flush
This past Thursday, I had a coumadin level done. It was 2.8 which is on the higher end of "normal" so all is great. I get to go another whole month before being tested again. This is great news. One thing I've done different to help my level is to quit drinking green tea. I didn't realize that can hurt your level. No problem, I've not had green tea since I learned about the effects of green tea on coumadin levels. I was only drinking it since I knew it was suppose to be good for you. lol..Oh, well, I'll start back on it when I quit taking the coumadin. After having my level checked, I went downstairs to the cancer center to have my port-a-cath flushed with heparin to keep it open in case I need it later. Was nice to walk in the chemo clinic knowing that I only had to stay for a few minutes. They weren't busy at all so the nurse had everything ready when I walked in. I think I was there for about 5-10 minutes. Luckily, the port was just fine. I will go again in a month to have the port flushed.
Everything is going pretty much the same. It 's kinda of weird but I seem to notice the numbness in my breast area more lately. Not sure why but I do. Seems that I am shaving my legs more too so guess my hair is growing better. lol. I bought a sticker for my car--one of the pink ribbon ones that says Breast Cancer Awareness. I saw one today at the store that says survivor. I would have liked that one better but it's okay. Hope everyone is doing fine. Thank you for continuing to check up on me. Love you all......by the way, I've not tried bowling lately...not sure I will for a long time. lol.
Everything is going pretty much the same. It 's kinda of weird but I seem to notice the numbness in my breast area more lately. Not sure why but I do. Seems that I am shaving my legs more too so guess my hair is growing better. lol. I bought a sticker for my car--one of the pink ribbon ones that says Breast Cancer Awareness. I saw one today at the store that says survivor. I would have liked that one better but it's okay. Hope everyone is doing fine. Thank you for continuing to check up on me. Love you all......by the way, I've not tried bowling lately...not sure I will for a long time. lol.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Bowling experience
Things are going fairly well. My hair is growing very slow but it's at a cute length so am happy with it. Not sure if I will grow it out long or not. Wish it would stay curly but I've heard that once it gets cut, that I will eventually lose the curls. My joint pain is less these days. Still have some trouble especially when I want to bend down to pick something up off the ground/floor. A couple of weeks ago, I took my kids bowling and decided I would bowl too. What a mistake.....I could hardly bowl. I like to bend down to roll the ball but I couldn't do it well at all. I was so sore the next couple of days. I guess bowling is out for me......just can't bend down low at all. It was the worse score I've done in years. I'm sure the kids wanted to laugh out loud but they were kind enough not to laugh or make remarks. I'm sure I looked funny trying to figure out how to bowl without bending much. lol. Hope you are all doing great. My brother in law who had the prostate cancer got a good report the other day....his PSA was less than 1 which is wonderful. He is cancer free!!!!! I will be getting a coumadin level check next week plus my port flushed with heparin. The only other complaint I have had is that there are times when my breast where I had the cancer feels heavy and painful in the morning when I wake up. During the day, I have no problems. Thanks for keeping up with me and I'm sorry I've not written in quite a while. Just not much to report on. Love you....
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Last Treatment
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice!
Monday was a grand day for me!!! Had my last Herceptin treatment and boy, was I excited. I was to be there at 11 for Brandon had a doctor's appt. at 9:30 and I wanted to be sure there was plenty of time for his appt. Well, Brandon got in and out very quickly so there I was at 10 am and right next door to the cancer center so I called and they said I could come in early. Larry had planned to be with me while I had the last treatment. He had not seen the new chemo clinic. So, I messed up his plans but I told him not to worry for it usually takes 1 1/2 hours to have my treatment. He planned to come over at 10:30 but got stuck in his office with one of his employees and wasn't able to get away until 11. And wouldn't you know that of all days, my treatment was done in only 1 hour. I walked out of the chemo clinic and Larry was driving into the parking lot. Sorry Larry....I made chocolate chip cookies for the nurses and staff which they appreciated. Also, I talked to them about buying a fish for their tank so they told me where to go buy one for the owner of this shop cleans their tank and knows the fish that is in the tank already. I will do that soon. I always enjoyed watching the fish. After my treatment was done, Larry and I went out to lunch at Olive Garden with some friends to celebrate!!!! What fun we had. Our waitress was someone we all knew and she gave us lots of extra mints afterwards and those are my favorite mints. (Andes mint). Larry ended up taking the rest of the day off so after he got home, we spent time together playing cards. Sarah joined us for a couple of games. Had a nice relaxing day. It is hard to believe I am done with all the IV treatments. Went through 15 months of treatments. I will have to go back in a month to have my port flushed with heparin but that takes just a minute to do. Will go there when I have my next coumadin level checked since it's all in the same building. I will see the doctor on Oct. 20 after I have some cat scans. Thanks to all of you who have followed my journey and have prayed for me all these months. Thanks , Mom, for all you've done for me. God has used this journey to draw me closer to Him and to others. He has delivered me from cancer and I give him all the praise and glory for that. I know He has been there every moment helping me get through this tough time. He gave me the peace I needed to navigate through this journey. What a wonderful feeling that was to have that peace, knowing that God is with me and that He knows what is best for me even though I may not understand why I had to go through this journey. All I had to do was lean on him and trust Him for all things. I hope I passed the test....:). Love you all...... (oh, I will have a hamburger cookout this Sat. around 6 pm...welcome to come...just let me know)
Isaiah 48:17 This is what the Lord says: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
Monday was a grand day for me!!! Had my last Herceptin treatment and boy, was I excited. I was to be there at 11 for Brandon had a doctor's appt. at 9:30 and I wanted to be sure there was plenty of time for his appt. Well, Brandon got in and out very quickly so there I was at 10 am and right next door to the cancer center so I called and they said I could come in early. Larry had planned to be with me while I had the last treatment. He had not seen the new chemo clinic. So, I messed up his plans but I told him not to worry for it usually takes 1 1/2 hours to have my treatment. He planned to come over at 10:30 but got stuck in his office with one of his employees and wasn't able to get away until 11. And wouldn't you know that of all days, my treatment was done in only 1 hour. I walked out of the chemo clinic and Larry was driving into the parking lot. Sorry Larry....I made chocolate chip cookies for the nurses and staff which they appreciated. Also, I talked to them about buying a fish for their tank so they told me where to go buy one for the owner of this shop cleans their tank and knows the fish that is in the tank already. I will do that soon. I always enjoyed watching the fish. After my treatment was done, Larry and I went out to lunch at Olive Garden with some friends to celebrate!!!! What fun we had. Our waitress was someone we all knew and she gave us lots of extra mints afterwards and those are my favorite mints. (Andes mint). Larry ended up taking the rest of the day off so after he got home, we spent time together playing cards. Sarah joined us for a couple of games. Had a nice relaxing day. It is hard to believe I am done with all the IV treatments. Went through 15 months of treatments. I will have to go back in a month to have my port flushed with heparin but that takes just a minute to do. Will go there when I have my next coumadin level checked since it's all in the same building. I will see the doctor on Oct. 20 after I have some cat scans. Thanks to all of you who have followed my journey and have prayed for me all these months. Thanks , Mom, for all you've done for me. God has used this journey to draw me closer to Him and to others. He has delivered me from cancer and I give him all the praise and glory for that. I know He has been there every moment helping me get through this tough time. He gave me the peace I needed to navigate through this journey. What a wonderful feeling that was to have that peace, knowing that God is with me and that He knows what is best for me even though I may not understand why I had to go through this journey. All I had to do was lean on him and trust Him for all things. I hope I passed the test....:). Love you all...... (oh, I will have a hamburger cookout this Sat. around 6 pm...welcome to come...just let me know)
Isaiah 48:17 This is what the Lord says: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
coumadin level
Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no on can fathom.
Sorry that I've not written in quite a while. I had a coumadin level check yesterday and it was perfect at 2.5!!! That was the first time to have it checked a month later so again, I get to wait for another month to have it checked. I am so happy about the level check. I also had blood drawn at the cancer center. I am to have Herceptin on Monday...my last treatment. Since it is my last treatment, I want to celebrate. First I thought we would just go out for dinner but now I am thinking of having a party at my house and invite my neighbors who helped out and some others who helped out and supported us. And if any of you live nearby, you are invited too. I will have it on saturday....august 14 in the evening. I am trying to think of what I can do for a memorable favor thing. Not sure yet. I am going to bake cookies for the nurses at chemo center and I want to buy a fish for their salt water fish tank. I went to Petco to check on what fishes they have so thinking of getting them a clown fish. I would get it on Monday except my son has a dr. appt before I go have my Herceptin so wouldn't be wise do that plus store doesn't open that early. I will ask to be sure it's okay to buy a fish and then do it shortly afterwards. I am doing great these days besides my "chemo brain". I still have joint stiffness and neuropathy in toes but other than that I am okay. Oh, sometimes I have the fatigue too. The other day we went on a field trip to see some painted rocks (Indian pictographs) and when the lady was talking, I was falling asleep and this was at 10 am. I was so embarrassed for what she said was interesting but I just do that at times. Well, thank you so much for keeping up with my journey...it's close to the end. Guess I can't say it's really over until I see the CT Scans in October but treatments are ending. Praise the Lord. I will say that the only thing I regret about my journey is the fact that I didn't have good church family at the time. I went to a church for 20 years that was family and they would have been right there for me (a couple were and they did pray for whenever I see someone like at the store, they ask how things are going with my treatments). But we had left that church 3 1/2 years prior to my having cancer then we were at a small church that would have been helpful but left it 1 1/2 years prior to the cancer. The church I go to now is large and even though some knew, they just weren't there to help out except one lady but I have known her for years through homeschooling. I really wish I had been in a better church but God used others like neighbors and friends and family to be my support group and I had to rely on Him so much more too. And my out of town friends were so encouraging with words, emails, cards, phone calls, prayers, etc. It all worked out so am thankful.....Love you all.
Psalm 145:7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Sorry that I've not written in quite a while. I had a coumadin level check yesterday and it was perfect at 2.5!!! That was the first time to have it checked a month later so again, I get to wait for another month to have it checked. I am so happy about the level check. I also had blood drawn at the cancer center. I am to have Herceptin on Monday...my last treatment. Since it is my last treatment, I want to celebrate. First I thought we would just go out for dinner but now I am thinking of having a party at my house and invite my neighbors who helped out and some others who helped out and supported us. And if any of you live nearby, you are invited too. I will have it on saturday....august 14 in the evening. I am trying to think of what I can do for a memorable favor thing. Not sure yet. I am going to bake cookies for the nurses at chemo center and I want to buy a fish for their salt water fish tank. I went to Petco to check on what fishes they have so thinking of getting them a clown fish. I would get it on Monday except my son has a dr. appt before I go have my Herceptin so wouldn't be wise do that plus store doesn't open that early. I will ask to be sure it's okay to buy a fish and then do it shortly afterwards. I am doing great these days besides my "chemo brain". I still have joint stiffness and neuropathy in toes but other than that I am okay. Oh, sometimes I have the fatigue too. The other day we went on a field trip to see some painted rocks (Indian pictographs) and when the lady was talking, I was falling asleep and this was at 10 am. I was so embarrassed for what she said was interesting but I just do that at times. Well, thank you so much for keeping up with my journey...it's close to the end. Guess I can't say it's really over until I see the CT Scans in October but treatments are ending. Praise the Lord. I will say that the only thing I regret about my journey is the fact that I didn't have good church family at the time. I went to a church for 20 years that was family and they would have been right there for me (a couple were and they did pray for whenever I see someone like at the store, they ask how things are going with my treatments). But we had left that church 3 1/2 years prior to my having cancer then we were at a small church that would have been helpful but left it 1 1/2 years prior to the cancer. The church I go to now is large and even though some knew, they just weren't there to help out except one lady but I have known her for years through homeschooling. I really wish I had been in a better church but God used others like neighbors and friends and family to be my support group and I had to rely on Him so much more too. And my out of town friends were so encouraging with words, emails, cards, phone calls, prayers, etc. It all worked out so am thankful.....Love you all.
Psalm 145:7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Doctor visit and Herceptin treatment
Psalm 118: 24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
I wrote this yesterday but somehow I lost all that I wrote so am redoing it today. I was too tired yesterday to redo it then. Anyway, I went to the onocologist this past Monday. Talked with his nurse practioner too. My heart test that I had a couple of weeks ago was great. Shows that my heart hasn't changed at all from the first one which is great news. However, I did have a disappointment. I was hoping to have my port taken out after the last herceptin treatment which is on August 9. But, the doctor says I have to wait until I have a CT Scan of my abdomen, pelvis, and chest which won't be done until mid October. Then I see the doctor again on Oct. 20. If the CT Scan is good, no cancer evident, then I can have the port taken out. That means I have to continue taking coumadin for a few more months...oh, well....that is okay. Since I won't be having any treatments in Sept. or Oct., I will have to go to the chemo clinic to have a heparin flush to keep the port working. Heparin is a blood thinner and is use to keep lines open. They flush with heparin after each of my treatments. Guess I will be having surgery in Novemeber to have the port taken out (at least I hope). I talked to the nurse practioner about my joint stiffness. She says it is mainly from chemo. Could be some from getting older and some early arthritis but mainly from chemo. I have the joint stiffness mainly in the morning when I get up, when I get out of a chair, and especially when I get out of the car. I am sure people laugh at me when I go to Walmart or some store, and can't even stand up straight when I get out of the car. I must look like a old woman....lol.
I also had my herceptin treatment after seeing the doctor. It was going well which was good for I needed to hurry because I was babysitting that afternoon. Well, I had a float nurse who doesn't usually work there. My medicaton quit infusing but my nurse was starting an IV on a patient. Most patients have ports but once in a while, someone needs an IV started. Well, my nurse had trouble so I couldn't get her to fix my medicatin and wouldn't you know, the other nurse was also starting an IV. Then my nurse took off (maybe to lunch) so it was over 30 minutes before I could get someone to fix my medication. I was frustrated for it only takes 3o mintues for my medication to infuse and here it was....an extra 30 minutes. Usually it wouldn't bother me but that day I was in a hurry...oh, well....there was nothing I could do. I just have one more treatment left. Yea!!!
My hair is looking pretty good these days. I am getting used to short hair...um..maybe I should keep it short. Ummm....lol. We'll see...I am just happy to have hair. That was one of the hardest things about my cancer. For a woman, that is hard. Thanks to all for you love and interest in how I am doing. Thanks for your prayers. Love you all..
Psalm 118:28-29 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
I wrote this yesterday but somehow I lost all that I wrote so am redoing it today. I was too tired yesterday to redo it then. Anyway, I went to the onocologist this past Monday. Talked with his nurse practioner too. My heart test that I had a couple of weeks ago was great. Shows that my heart hasn't changed at all from the first one which is great news. However, I did have a disappointment. I was hoping to have my port taken out after the last herceptin treatment which is on August 9. But, the doctor says I have to wait until I have a CT Scan of my abdomen, pelvis, and chest which won't be done until mid October. Then I see the doctor again on Oct. 20. If the CT Scan is good, no cancer evident, then I can have the port taken out. That means I have to continue taking coumadin for a few more months...oh, well....that is okay. Since I won't be having any treatments in Sept. or Oct., I will have to go to the chemo clinic to have a heparin flush to keep the port working. Heparin is a blood thinner and is use to keep lines open. They flush with heparin after each of my treatments. Guess I will be having surgery in Novemeber to have the port taken out (at least I hope). I talked to the nurse practioner about my joint stiffness. She says it is mainly from chemo. Could be some from getting older and some early arthritis but mainly from chemo. I have the joint stiffness mainly in the morning when I get up, when I get out of a chair, and especially when I get out of the car. I am sure people laugh at me when I go to Walmart or some store, and can't even stand up straight when I get out of the car. I must look like a old woman....lol.
I also had my herceptin treatment after seeing the doctor. It was going well which was good for I needed to hurry because I was babysitting that afternoon. Well, I had a float nurse who doesn't usually work there. My medicaton quit infusing but my nurse was starting an IV on a patient. Most patients have ports but once in a while, someone needs an IV started. Well, my nurse had trouble so I couldn't get her to fix my medicatin and wouldn't you know, the other nurse was also starting an IV. Then my nurse took off (maybe to lunch) so it was over 30 minutes before I could get someone to fix my medication. I was frustrated for it only takes 3o mintues for my medication to infuse and here it was....an extra 30 minutes. Usually it wouldn't bother me but that day I was in a hurry...oh, well....there was nothing I could do. I just have one more treatment left. Yea!!!
My hair is looking pretty good these days. I am getting used to short hair...um..maybe I should keep it short. Ummm....lol. We'll see...I am just happy to have hair. That was one of the hardest things about my cancer. For a woman, that is hard. Thanks to all for you love and interest in how I am doing. Thanks for your prayers. Love you all..
Psalm 118:28-29 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Hair
Here is how my hair looks now. This is how it looks naturally....I just let it dry on own without blow drying or using a curling iron.
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