Chemo Week begins Anew

I went to see my oncologist, Dr. Fastenberg, today.  I so appreciate all the time he takes with me, answering my questions, and analyzing test results with me.  He's worried about blood clots, since of course, I had the pulmonary embolism.  I may not be so lucky next time.  He's decided to ditch the coumadin in favor of an inject-able  but first he has to get it approved by my health insurance.

If we can go that route, I won't have to get blood draws twice a week and subject my neutropenic self to hanging about with sick people.  Dr. F says my lung disease is a very limiting factor in my ability to fight cancer of any kind. He was also quite appalled by my battered right arm, which makes me look like a junkie.  And of course, he was dismayed that I'd had another exacerbation.  Well, it is Fall and Winter, if I have to be a regular patron of the blood lab, will be quite a challenge.  So anyway, let's hope he can get that inject-able anticoagulant approved.  My money is on him... :)  Oooh, quite literally. :P

Then I told him I would like to go back to work, and he said I was nuts.  However, he said, I could telecommute.  It's hard to explain, but I love my job; I love analysis and people and numbers... I never knew I wanted to do this, but when they put me there, I was so happy.  It was my niche; I was good at it, and it's fun and challenging and makes my brain feel good. :)

I've already spoken to my manager, and he's good with it all, and so I got my "Return to Work/Functional Capacities Form" all filled out by Dr. F, with a return to work of 28 November.  YAY!  This will be a very THANKFUL Thanksgiving, for sure.

I have to go back next Tuesday and get my Aranesp shot.  Oh, and I got lots of mail from my insurance company; they have approved the shots and are covering them.  I love my oncologist and every single person at Ironwood Cancer and Research Center.

Of course, I had my Camptosar infusion today, so I'm feeling a bit blecchy right now.  Must drink lots of fluids and get this stuff to run its course.

Love to all, and hugs as well.

I Love Fall

I think Fall is by far my favorite season.  Even here, we have leaves changing colors; certainly not as showy and impressive as over in New England, but it's here, nonetheless.


Today, I'll be heading off to see the oncologist at 1PM, then if all is well with my labs, I can have my Camptosar infusion.  How amazing that after being so skittish in the beginning of this treatment regimen, now, I WANT it!  Doesn't matter that it makes me nauseated; it's saving my life, and I want it.  Oooh, that sounds like a three-year-old, doesn't it?  I WANT IT!  :D


On the other hand, this means the beginning of my Xeloda cycle, too.  You know, I'm exceedingly lucky, because other than the nausea, I'm not getting the more harsh side effects from these two chemo drugs.  Oh well, yes, there IS that little problem with blood clots, but I was lucky there, too!  That Pulmonary Embolism was found before it killed me.  That's luck!


But perhaps, luck has nothing to do with it.  I know I have so many supporters out there; family, friends, even strangers I have never physically met.  With all those prayers, good mojo, best wishes and love, you know that HAS to play a part in my so-called 'luck.'  And I am most appreciative of every bit of support that comes my way.


Our house is now decorated for Halloween.  We have a HORRIBLE giant spider on the front porch, and his web is full of plastic cockroaches.  I kinda helped out yesterday, putting cockroaches in the web, but frankly, they kept sliding and looked FAR too real for my taste, but in the spirit of the season, they are perfect.


Jane made another batch of cupcakes yesterday with my favorite Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting, but instead of cocoa powder, which we didn't have, we used Mexican Chocolate... with cinnamon.  Holy carp, these cupcakes are to die for.  And if I eat too many, I will. :)  The cake part is spice cake, too, so believe me, the Mexican in us is VERY happy with these cupcakes.


So that's it for this post.  All is well, and if anything comes up at the oncologist today, I'll let you all know.


Love, hugs and kisses, too!

Decadron Insomnia

I'm happily adding this post via my Motorola Xoom, which is the reason for reverting back to a regular Blogger template.  Plus, I missed my gadgets and widgets and the ability to go wild with colors. :)

So I saw Dr. Fastenberg today and he was concerned about the pain in my leg from the DVT.  He says that sometimes, in the presence of malignancies, blood clots require more than coumadin.  He gave me orders to have a D-dimer test done along with my normal CBC and platelets with differentials.  In the meantime he wants me to be hyper aware of my breathing, and to check my O2 saturation and my heart rates.  You just know that the Queen of Neuroses is chomping on the bit to be released from my non-existent basement!

I'll be seeing Dr. Ramaswamy, my primary care doctor, on Thursday, so I'll be sure to discuss the pain issue with him.  He knows that I don't do painkillers very well.  I think I may discuss other options with him.  Acupuncture is being used for cancer-related pain, and I believe my insurance would cover it.  And believe me, any fear I used to have when it comes to needles is long gone!

Now, I'll try to at least get some rest, as I know how the dreaded decadron insomnia will screw with me. :)

Love and hugs to all!

Transfusions

I got a unit of blood, starting at 1AM. This was my first ever transfusion, and made me very grateful to EVERYONE that donates blood.  I'll be getting another unit soon.  Rebecca, my RN, has done my blood draw,and Allison just took my vital signs.

Lack of sleep is not helping me get well, but it IS making me thankful for every bit of sleep I can get.

I had a blood pressure of 95/23 last night, but this morning, it was 112/60.  Much better!

It's 4:21AM, so I am going to try for a little more sleep....or I'll call my sister Wendy, who I *know* will be up.

Ultrasound!

When the temperatures started hitting the upper 90's, I started getting some edema in my feet and ankles.  I've had it before, but doing all my physical therapy worked wonders, and I hadn't had it for two years.  Now that it was back, it wasn't surprising, considering I don't get anywhere NEAR the exercise I used to.


Still, I thought I should tell my doctor, because I didn't have any Lasix anymore, and I really didn't want the edema to get out of hand.  He said to come in.  I asked when, and he said NOW.  So, I headed out to see him, and he decided that because cancer patients can become susceptible to deep vein thrombosis, I should have an ultrasound on both of my legs.


And that I did, at 4:30 this afternoon.  Yeah, my primary care doc doesn't fool around. :)  Happily, nothing was found in either leg; no creepy blood clots, YAY!  Of course, I had had a conversation with my leg veins, earlier in the day, and told them, that really, I had all these other things with which to deal, so perhaps they could find it in their venous hearts to give me a break.  They must have agreed.


I was a happy camper as I left the imaging place.  One less problem, thank the deities.  I shall take my Lasix and my potassium and keep this edema in check, and hopefully, all will be well.


As you might imagine, it was a stressful day, and I am pooped.  I don't think I could get an entire minute done on my NuStep, today.  An early night sounds fabulous.


Oh, and I would like to thank my dear friend, Julie Challis, for sending me the wonderful card I got today.  You, dear, are so creative.  The card was beautiful!  And you made me cry, and laugh.  "Slumgullion" indeed. :)  I love you, my friend.