Sleeping A Lot

Vicodin makes me sleepy so if I take one, I have to sleep at least two hours.  I took my last Vicodin yesterday.  I started to get nauseated and decided I'd rather have pain than nausea.

But even so, I'm still sleeping quite a bit. Maybe my body just needs some rest.  Must listen to the body. ;)

Tomorrow I go to Sonora to get my PT/INR tested again.  I'm at 2.5 mg of Coumadin at the moment.  I wish it would hurry up and get rid of that damned clot in my thigh so I could walk again.  I should stop the whining, I know, but it hurts.

So anywho, that's why I'm not posting so much; I'm too busy sleeping.  But I think I detect a lessening of the pain, so maybe the coumadin is working and I just need to be patient.  HAHAHAH, yeah, that's me, patient. ;)

Love to all!

CT Results are In

So it wasn't all bad news, but it wasn't what I was hoping for, either.  The adrenal tumor is now at 5 cm. That's about 2 inches.  Dr. Fastenberg was disappointed that the chemo regimen we had been on wasn't helping.


On the esophageal cancer front, all seems to be stable.  The main tumor has not changed, the one lymph node behind my trachea enlarged minimally, and one located near my shoulder was unchanged.  But the good news there is that there was NOTHING NEW!!!! :)


Starting next week, I will be part of a stage II clinical trial of CPT-11, which is already approved and in use for breast cancer and colon/rectal cancer.  It's known as Camptosar.  That will be an IV infusion every three weeks, but additionally, I will be taking Xeloda pills.  It will be a trial in more ways than one, and so I will be taking three months of short term disability and see how that goes. 


I asked Dr. Fastenberg point blank if I should be considering hospice and he said not at all; we still have options, and I'm still doing pretty well.  I can still walk, kinda, I can still eat, kinda, and I've still got hope.


I was so stressed out this morning, I had an ocular migraine during my consult with Dr. F.  That was... kinda creepy, and because my hemoglobin was down to 8, I had to have a shot of Procrit.  Let us hope that works well, otherwise next time, it's a transfusion and I have to go to the hospital for that. 


I'm exhausted.  It's a lot of information to digest; but I still believe that I have a chance.  Dr. F says that this trial has a 47% success rate so far.  By success, 15% have eliminated their cancer and the other 32% have their cancer under control.  I will happily take control if that's as good as I can get.  There are only 29 people in this trial.  I will be number 30.  I like that number. :)  Why so few in the trial? Because both of my cancers are relatively rare, our numbers are few.


I will start the trial on the 19th, so I get a week to rest up get strong.  And generate some red and white blood cells!  And try not to get sick.


And so I'm hanging in here, and sending love and hugs to all. :)

Happy Birthday, my dear sister, Jane!

Without you, I probably would not have gotten through all that chemo and radiation with such ease.  You kept me fed and kept my spirits up, and generally ensured that I knew I was loved and well looked-after.  I love you so very much!

Of course, once she discovers I've posted this picture of her on my Blog, it might be the end of me. :D

That's my orange wing amazon parrot, Vinnie the Vampire posing with her.  Oh, and .. that IS her Halloween costume from that year, not something she habitually wears around the house.... hehehe.

I am thankful every day that you and Nancy came to live with me after your stints in the Navy.  I would not be here without you, that's certain.

Now, if only you had the power to make this horrific cold weather go away!  It was 28 this AM, but the wind made it feel like 17.  I don't think I have ever experienced cold like that in my life, except for a business trip to Chicago, or maybe it was that February wedding in Boston.  Who gets married in FEBRUARY in Boston? ;)

But at least I can stay home tomorrow and keep warm, and listen to some great music while I work.  Yes, I'm really, really tired again, but I think not quite as bad as I was Monday after going into the plant, so maybe I am building up my endurance. :D

I hope this post finds you all safe and home and warm and loved.

Cold, Tired and Happy as a Clam

Remember when you were a kid and tomorrow was Christmas?  Or maybe your memory is more like tomorrow you're going to Disneyland?  You were so excited you barely slept, and you ended up getting out of bed the next morning before anyone in your neighborhood?

Yes, that was me this morning.  I could not wait to get to work!  And it all went pretty darned well.  Best transition I have ever had coming off of a leave of absence.  Got my computer up and running by 9AM with total access to all my lovely numbers.

But oh yes, I am totally exhausted now, but it's such a wonderful, almost gleeful exhaustion.  My Boeing family welcomed me back with such warmth.  So, I probably talked too much, which tired me out even before the cancer.   I ended up leaving a bit early and finishing up my day at home telecommuting. 

It was so much fun working on my formulae in Excel and getting reports and things formatted for January month-end.  Gads, I missed it all so much; and it all came back to me so fast!  I was whipping through pivot tables like crazy. :D

Now, I am starving and need to go see about creating dinner.  I have no idea what we have in the house, but I bet I can come up with something.  I'm going to be working from home tomorrow, so I can sleep in a bit.  It's gotten rather cold, and we're expecting another overnight freeze this week.  What a bizarre winter it has been.

And in the mail today, I received a card from the congregation of which my Reverend sister is a member.  That card pushed all the chill from my day; it was full of love and kindness and a powerful fellowship.  Thank you to each and every person that had a hand in that card; I can't help but be touched and feel loved.

Ok, off to find food!  Keep warm, all!