Did My Camptosar

Happily I was able to have my camptosar infusion today, although with the bronchitis and asthma flare up, it's left me a lot more lethargic than usual.  I got my four Xeloda pills down with my dinner.  They are always a joy. :)

I saw my Primary Care yesterday, and he put me on some doxycyline because my sputum was starting to become colorful, and we just can't afford a bacterial pneumonia.  Better to be safe than dead, I say. :D

Of course, tonight will see the Dreaded Decadron Insomnia, but I have books to read, and I reloaded Diablo II, so I can play that for a bit. 

Finally confessed my self-proclaimed "behavioural issue" with Dr. Ramaswamy.  I told him that I have major problems knowing when to complain about symptomatic issues.  It's really, really a difficult issue for me.  Mostly, I told him, I feel like a whiner because that's how I was brought up between my ever-stoic parents and the even more stoic nuns.  He told me to call him if there was any doubt in my mind; any niggle of suspicion that something isn't right.  If we can just deal with it over the phone, then that is what we will do.  He listened to me, and he had an answer for me that makes sense, and so I shall try very hard to stick with this plan.  Dr. Ramaswamy is truly the best.

He says, too, that the swelling of my ankle and foot looks alot better than it did in the hospital, and that the INR rates are very challenging on me because of my chemo drugs, and being on prednisone at the moment.  So we're sticking to Monday and Thursday blood tests.  He did say he was going to have his assistant contact my insurance company and ask about home testing for PT/INR's.  I would do that in a heartbeat.

So, you know, I'm not feeling great, but I'm not back in the hospital, and THAT makes me happy as a clam.  And on that note, I think it's time to hit the hookah.

Love to all, peace on Earth and hugs all 'round!

Gloomy, and yet....

...it's a treat, if only because it's not over 100 degrees.  Oh yeah, that's coming, but good lords, not in April, please. :)


Today, I have ankles.  Another thing for which to be thankful.  YAY for Lasix.  Also, today... I did... (drum roll inserted here)... ELEVEN minutes on the NuStep!  It felt really good, I must say.  Had an average rate of 84 steps per minute.  Certainly not my best rate ever, but I did it!  I was about to say 'not my best rate, but ... considering.'  Let me tell you about that trailing CONSIDERING.  :)


I had gone to my pulmonologist for a follow up after that bout of bronchitis.  He's been very interested in the whole esophageal cancer battle; he asks about all my treatments and ensures that he gets reports from the RO and the MO.  So, as I was leaving, he tells me, "You know, I'm just amazed at how you are doing.  And you look so good,.... considering."  I'm laughing now, even as I type it.... yeah, considering.... considering my skin looks like bleached parchment paper, and considering my hair is really thin and goofy-looking, and I have weird tattoo marks that show, pretty much no matter what I wear... yeah, considering... I look good!  Hehehehehe.  Really, he's being very encouraging and I do truly appreciate that.


I have no great plans for the weekend, other than perhaps supervising the sowing of our crops.  Although, it could rain tomorrow and it could still rain today... hence the gloominess, but hey, that'll only make the soil easier to cultivate. :)


Well, that's it for today.  I've got to go figure out something to make for dinner, which will probably involve chicken and Israeli cous cous.  Have a lovely weekend, all you dear readers, friends and family!

Tomorrow We'll Know More...

Because tomorrow I see Dr. Fastenberg and he'll have the results of Monday's CT.  I know he's not going to like the sound of my lungs, but in reality, I did manage to get through this bout of bronchitis pretty darned well for a chick with stage IV Esophageal Cancer. ;)


The main thing is to find out if the Herceptin is doing its job.  I feel good.  I'm guessing it's doing a great job.  In fact, I insist that he tells me it's doing a great job. :D  I think for the Herceptin treatments to be successful, the odds are in my favor.  Really, I want to get back to some semblance of a normal life.  I managed to get in two weeks of work before I got the bronchitis, and I'd have to surmise that I was pretty much run down and an easy target.  Yes, I tried to go into the plant on Tuesday, but I was still way run down and coughing far too much.  Part of the joy of bronchitis is having to cough crap out of your lungs.  I couldn't do that very well at work.  The last thing I want to do is gross out my co-workers, so I tried to expectorate in the ladies' room, but that's quite a hike when you can't breathe, and you have it do it every five minutes or so.... and so, again, the spirit was willing but my flesh was WAY weak. :)


Thank the gods for the ability to telecommute.  But I want to GO to work, and be with my team mates; these are connections that stimulate the brain.  There's nothing better than hashing out some challenge by discussing it with our group.  We're a lovely, diverse bunch, with varied backgrounds and lots of different perceptions, and it works like a dream when we get going.


Yet, I have to get over this bronchitis set back, and not try to get back too soon either and relapse.  But I'll talk to Dr. Fastenberg tomorrow; I'm sure he'll listen to my lungs, as he always does.  I hope he doesn't freak out.  I've got some really deep rattles and wheezes.  


Now I am going to go watch a bit of TV before I head to bed.  I've been so tired because the coughing wears me out, and I've been retiring really early.  But I've got to watch Top Chef first, then bed. ;)


Love to all, keep warm and stay safe and loved.

It IS the Crud!

Home from my visit to the pulmonary doc.  Apparently the virus Du Jour has taken up residence in my respiratory system, giving me a bout of bronchitis.  Dr. S says that although it's viral, we have to do the antibiotics prophylactically, because I'm special that way. :)

So, two weeks on that nasty Prednisone, and Levaquin, and if I'm not better, and he says this one tends to linger, then another two weeks.  Gads.  Just keep me out of The Big House (my code for hospitals), and you will have my undying devotion.

Jane and Nancy, my angels, have headed out to fill those prescriptions for me.  Woo, looking forward to two weeks of insomnia and the appetite from hell, not to mention occasional crying jags.  Love that Pred. :P

I hope I'm better in time for my next round of Herceptin.

Anywho, I've got to get something to eat.  I'm not hungry, but if those two drugs are going to hit my tummy, there'd better be something upon which they can land.

Live long, and prosper!

Crud

It's 3:12 AM, and I've been awake since just after midnight.  Had to get up and do a breathing treatment.  I'm coughing up some stuff, and I've gotten dressed in case I need to hit the ER.  Watching my temperature, but it's fine.  I can't breathe through my nose.

Not sure if I caught a cold; I haven't had one of them in about twenty years, so I don't remember how they go.  I thought it might be allergies due to the unseasonable heat and yes, the pollen counts are up.  I'm starting to wheeze, though.

I'm going to go make some coffee, and then decide if I should go to the ER.