Well the 5 days of Cisplatin, really whacked me good this go around. Finally feeling human again, and am hopeful that I never have to get Cisplatin again!
Lung function test on Monday was good, the results were better than the previous one, so that meant I got the Bleomycin yesterday.
My body really hates Bleo.. a hard night last night only got a couple hours sleep with the Chills so bad, Marnie was holding me tight, fever and my body resetting. Today has been blah with recovering from last night, feeling drained, tired, sore from everything.
So just taking it easy and resting. My plan is to get some time in the office tomorrow and Friday depending upon how I feel. Hope to be able to attend a Relay for Life event on Saturday.
Speaking of which.. if you haven't already seen, go to my Facebook page and look at the photo of what my High School Friends did for me out in Oceanside, CA. I'm truly at a loss for words.. still! And just in awe of all that everyone has done/is doing for me, Marnie and the girls.
Ya'll rock!!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Only a few more left
Well this week is almost over, just tomorrow's treatment and then one Tuesday and the following Tuesday, hopefully that is it!
As usual, this first week of the cycle has taken it's toll upon me, mentally and physically. My gut has been in turmoil, sleep compromised with battling gut and the medication they are giving me to make me pee a lot, but healthy kidneys are a good thing! Am looking forward to getting this out of my system this weekend and back to a 'normal' schedule. LOL.. but nothing has been normal for a while!
There was some concern on Tuesday as my lung function test came back and there was a slight decrease noted there. Dr. Heyer sent me for a chest X-ray first thing that morning and didn't see anything there, so he went out himself and recalculated the lung function test and thinks that when they did the calculations for the lung function they made a mistake. But heck, better to be safe than sorry. Really like how Dr. Heyer and Staff all around trying to whack the cancer, but not cause any other problems along the way and are being aggressive about keeping an eye on these other side effects.
So this means I get to have ANOTHER lung function test on Monday, last thing they want to do is have the Bleomycin damage my lungs. Otherwise been a mostly uneventful week thus far just working while getting Chemotherapy pumped into me.
On the upside only a few more treatments left, have a date for the follow-up CT scans to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. I will be having CT Chest, Abdomen & Pelvis on Monday May 18th. Given the Bleomycin, Dr. Heyer wants to have a good look at my chest/lungs to make sure things are good. I imagine that I'll be meeting with him later that week or early the following week to discuss the results and were we go from here, based on the CT scans.
Please keep the thoughts and prayers coming.. they are doing wonders. Can't wait to get started healing from the bashing my body has been taking from the Chemo!!
As usual, this first week of the cycle has taken it's toll upon me, mentally and physically. My gut has been in turmoil, sleep compromised with battling gut and the medication they are giving me to make me pee a lot, but healthy kidneys are a good thing! Am looking forward to getting this out of my system this weekend and back to a 'normal' schedule. LOL.. but nothing has been normal for a while!
There was some concern on Tuesday as my lung function test came back and there was a slight decrease noted there. Dr. Heyer sent me for a chest X-ray first thing that morning and didn't see anything there, so he went out himself and recalculated the lung function test and thinks that when they did the calculations for the lung function they made a mistake. But heck, better to be safe than sorry. Really like how Dr. Heyer and Staff all around trying to whack the cancer, but not cause any other problems along the way and are being aggressive about keeping an eye on these other side effects.
So this means I get to have ANOTHER lung function test on Monday, last thing they want to do is have the Bleomycin damage my lungs. Otherwise been a mostly uneventful week thus far just working while getting Chemotherapy pumped into me.
On the upside only a few more treatments left, have a date for the follow-up CT scans to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. I will be having CT Chest, Abdomen & Pelvis on Monday May 18th. Given the Bleomycin, Dr. Heyer wants to have a good look at my chest/lungs to make sure things are good. I imagine that I'll be meeting with him later that week or early the following week to discuss the results and were we go from here, based on the CT scans.
Please keep the thoughts and prayers coming.. they are doing wonders. Can't wait to get started healing from the bashing my body has been taking from the Chemo!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Once more into the breach..
Well it has been a busy time this past week, got a little excited at feeling mostly normal and pushed things a bit too far. But ah slept a LOT making up for that.
So the Bleomycin continues to be just nasty, when ever I get that drug, I pretty much have a fever of 100.3 and feel like doing nothing that evening. Then Wednesday morning is the tiredness from the fever. Finally about Wednesday afternoon start feeling normal again. This time around though it came with a splitting headache that kept me in bed were the room was nice and dark, until it finally passed.
Thursday was off for the PFT, huffing and puffing into the machine. Had the same tech as before and it was a shorter test than the initial one, so that was cool. Got into the office and spent some time catching up on stuff there. Very much needed and was good to be out and about.
Friday was another day in the office.. but can I just say I'm tired of being tired!! I mean all I did was carrying a couple dozen donuts from the car into work and I was exhausted! Collapsed into my chair and took me a bit to recover. That is the most frustrating thing and can never tell what is going to tire me out!
Well Saturday morning was feeling my oats.. so heck it was off to Opening Day Ceremonies for the girls softball league, jogging in from the field with the girls sure got my legs sore and elevated my heart rate though! LOL Came home, had a rest then rode the motorcycles out to the 2nd Annual Club Days at Loudoun Motorsports. Again our chapter had the most people show up, we won first prize and promptly donated the proceeds to charity, way cool! From here we zipped home, collect Mom and went to Ashley's first game of the season. Both Marnie and I forgot to apply the suntan lotion to ourselves (remembered the girls though!) and got some nice red arms from sitting at the game. But what a beautiful day out, with the girls playing ball.
Came home and between the activities and the sun was wiped out.. had some friends come by for dinner and for a while I wasn't much company as I was just feeling blah from everything all day long. Ate some dinner and was in bed by 8pm, dozed and then crashed around 11... slept a good 9 hours.
Sunday morning Marnie and Ashely were off to church and I got Shannon to go outside with Grandma and do some gardening/yard work with every intention of joining them.. really!! But instead laid down on the couch and slept for another 3 hours! Woke to find a couple friends over helping Marnie with stuff around the yard.. that still is so cool that everyone does come and do what ever! Puttered around the garage for a while, cleaned up a bit and did a little work on the bike. We decided a night out while I was feeling decent was in order, so we all went out to dinner at Applebee's.
After about 5 hours of good sleep and a couple hours of tossing and turning here I am writing and very much NOT looking forward to the next 5 days! But this is the last big push, I can do this and then just have a couple more Bleo days left.
Don't know how we could have made it this far with out help from my Mother who has been here since I started Chemotherapy. She has been invaluable helping out around the house, with the girls and keeping Marnie company when I have been in la la land from the Chemo! She is staying through Sunday to help with this last push and then heading back to California to get back to her life, horses and Dad! Thanks so much to the both of you for all that you have done for us during this challenging time!
Thanks also to everyone else out there who continues to support us in all ways, manners and fashions! Your efforts aren't unnoticed.. and they are very appreciated!
So the Bleomycin continues to be just nasty, when ever I get that drug, I pretty much have a fever of 100.3 and feel like doing nothing that evening. Then Wednesday morning is the tiredness from the fever. Finally about Wednesday afternoon start feeling normal again. This time around though it came with a splitting headache that kept me in bed were the room was nice and dark, until it finally passed.
Thursday was off for the PFT, huffing and puffing into the machine. Had the same tech as before and it was a shorter test than the initial one, so that was cool. Got into the office and spent some time catching up on stuff there. Very much needed and was good to be out and about.
Friday was another day in the office.. but can I just say I'm tired of being tired!! I mean all I did was carrying a couple dozen donuts from the car into work and I was exhausted! Collapsed into my chair and took me a bit to recover. That is the most frustrating thing and can never tell what is going to tire me out!
Well Saturday morning was feeling my oats.. so heck it was off to Opening Day Ceremonies for the girls softball league, jogging in from the field with the girls sure got my legs sore and elevated my heart rate though! LOL Came home, had a rest then rode the motorcycles out to the 2nd Annual Club Days at Loudoun Motorsports. Again our chapter had the most people show up, we won first prize and promptly donated the proceeds to charity, way cool! From here we zipped home, collect Mom and went to Ashley's first game of the season. Both Marnie and I forgot to apply the suntan lotion to ourselves (remembered the girls though!) and got some nice red arms from sitting at the game. But what a beautiful day out, with the girls playing ball.
Came home and between the activities and the sun was wiped out.. had some friends come by for dinner and for a while I wasn't much company as I was just feeling blah from everything all day long. Ate some dinner and was in bed by 8pm, dozed and then crashed around 11... slept a good 9 hours.
Sunday morning Marnie and Ashely were off to church and I got Shannon to go outside with Grandma and do some gardening/yard work with every intention of joining them.. really!! But instead laid down on the couch and slept for another 3 hours! Woke to find a couple friends over helping Marnie with stuff around the yard.. that still is so cool that everyone does come and do what ever! Puttered around the garage for a while, cleaned up a bit and did a little work on the bike. We decided a night out while I was feeling decent was in order, so we all went out to dinner at Applebee's.
After about 5 hours of good sleep and a couple hours of tossing and turning here I am writing and very much NOT looking forward to the next 5 days! But this is the last big push, I can do this and then just have a couple more Bleo days left.
Don't know how we could have made it this far with out help from my Mother who has been here since I started Chemotherapy. She has been invaluable helping out around the house, with the girls and keeping Marnie company when I have been in la la land from the Chemo! She is staying through Sunday to help with this last push and then heading back to California to get back to her life, horses and Dad! Thanks so much to the both of you for all that you have done for us during this challenging time!
Thanks also to everyone else out there who continues to support us in all ways, manners and fashions! Your efforts aren't unnoticed.. and they are very appreciated!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
2/3 of the way...
Well I realize that I have been absent from here for a while. The reaction to the compazine really threw me for a loop.
I have found that with the decreased amount of hemoglobin (the stuff in your blood that takes the oxygen from your lungs to your cells) I tire out all to easy. The mind is willing but the body is certainly letting me down these days. The neuprogen is working and keeping my white blood cells stimulated and elevated. The downside of that is that after about 3 days on neuprogen, I get a night of back spasms that is just not fun. It is a worth while trade off though.
Sure must have been a bummer of a vacation for my younger sister to come visit and me so lethargic. This had been planned before I was diagnosed, and was glad to she came even though I wasn't the life of the party. She got out with Marnie and the girls to do some things and was certainly great to have her here during this challenging time.
Have managed to get out for a few things, went to a Birthday party this past weekend and am hoping to make the girls opening softball games later this week. Will try to be better about writing here in these last few weeks.
The last big push starts next week, and while not looking forward to that, will be nice to have that done and behind me. They are already looking at dates for the scans at the end of treatments. I have another pulmonary function test on Thursday and thus far things are looking good with the lungs. Will have one more after I finish the third round as well as another CT of the abdomen and pelvis to determine how much the chemo has attacked the tumor. On the upside of all this is that I found out today that the levels of LDH (tumor marker) are back to normal. This bodes well for things!!
It has been tough going but I am doing the best I can, some days are just days by day, and others better. Been just blah at times and all I can do to log on and work. I am doing good, spirits are up and am going forward, fighting and not letting this crap get me down. Continue to appreciate all that everyone out there is doing from the food, to errands, to thoughts, prayers and helping out.
I have found that with the decreased amount of hemoglobin (the stuff in your blood that takes the oxygen from your lungs to your cells) I tire out all to easy. The mind is willing but the body is certainly letting me down these days. The neuprogen is working and keeping my white blood cells stimulated and elevated. The downside of that is that after about 3 days on neuprogen, I get a night of back spasms that is just not fun. It is a worth while trade off though.
Sure must have been a bummer of a vacation for my younger sister to come visit and me so lethargic. This had been planned before I was diagnosed, and was glad to she came even though I wasn't the life of the party. She got out with Marnie and the girls to do some things and was certainly great to have her here during this challenging time.
Have managed to get out for a few things, went to a Birthday party this past weekend and am hoping to make the girls opening softball games later this week. Will try to be better about writing here in these last few weeks.
The last big push starts next week, and while not looking forward to that, will be nice to have that done and behind me. They are already looking at dates for the scans at the end of treatments. I have another pulmonary function test on Thursday and thus far things are looking good with the lungs. Will have one more after I finish the third round as well as another CT of the abdomen and pelvis to determine how much the chemo has attacked the tumor. On the upside of all this is that I found out today that the levels of LDH (tumor marker) are back to normal. This bodes well for things!!
It has been tough going but I am doing the best I can, some days are just days by day, and others better. Been just blah at times and all I can do to log on and work. I am doing good, spirits are up and am going forward, fighting and not letting this crap get me down. Continue to appreciate all that everyone out there is doing from the food, to errands, to thoughts, prayers and helping out.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sore and tired
Well hello there...
Been a while I know, but things continue to progress and I'm still fighting the fight!
So the first part of last week wasn't too bad, things moved along and by body was doing ok with the chemo. Then Thursday and Friday my GI tract really was giving me fits from the chemo. It was a miserable couple days as the nausea really hit me for the first time and that was just yucky. Never puked, but my mid section was in total rebellion.
Top that off with a drug reaction on Friday (apparently IV Compazine and I don't along!) and the last few days have been a few of the hardest so far. I really had a hard time Friday/Saturday after that and I think it took a lot out of me.
I am really tired, lethargic, and sore still today from the last few days. Yesterday was a bright spot in that folks from our motorcycle club came by and spread, mulch, did spring pruning, etc for us. It was good to see everyone and what they did was so appreciated.
I'm fading out already from focusing to write this, it's like after a bad bout with the flu when you just can't comfortable, are sore all over, and simply walking downstairs makes you tired. I'm so done with this!! Wish it were through already.
Only a few more weeks to go.. and only one more really challenging week, so now I'm resting and getting ready for that last push in a couple weeks.
Been a while I know, but things continue to progress and I'm still fighting the fight!
So the first part of last week wasn't too bad, things moved along and by body was doing ok with the chemo. Then Thursday and Friday my GI tract really was giving me fits from the chemo. It was a miserable couple days as the nausea really hit me for the first time and that was just yucky. Never puked, but my mid section was in total rebellion.
Top that off with a drug reaction on Friday (apparently IV Compazine and I don't along!) and the last few days have been a few of the hardest so far. I really had a hard time Friday/Saturday after that and I think it took a lot out of me.
I am really tired, lethargic, and sore still today from the last few days. Yesterday was a bright spot in that folks from our motorcycle club came by and spread, mulch, did spring pruning, etc for us. It was good to see everyone and what they did was so appreciated.
I'm fading out already from focusing to write this, it's like after a bad bout with the flu when you just can't comfortable, are sore all over, and simply walking downstairs makes you tired. I'm so done with this!! Wish it were through already.
Only a few more weeks to go.. and only one more really challenging week, so now I'm resting and getting ready for that last push in a couple weeks.
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