It's been a few weeks since my last update and I'm sorry. I am doing well for the most part. I had my third treatment a little over two weeks ago so I am at the half way point! YAY! My next round is next Monday, the Monday before Thanksgiving. I just told Mom that for the first time I am really not looking forward to the treatment. I think it's because it is so close to the holiday, my favorite holiday. By Thursday, I won't be able to taste anything and that is the day of big eats around here. I'll be fine and will just have to look forward to next year and enjoy all the things I missed this year.
I have only been sick three times, once after each treatment. So not bad!
Several friends and family have gotten on to me because I ended up in the emergency room one night and didn't let anyone know. It was not a very pleasant experience and I wanted to forget about it. It will be too much information for most but since I am trying to keep some records for Katie and Mattie, I guess I better get it recorded... so here goes.
If you don't like to read about poop and blood, you probably want to skip down a few paragraphs.
Since I started chemo, I have had issues having bowel movements. I will have a week of diarrhea followed by several days of constipation with soft stools. Both are accompanied by sever muscle cramps. About two weeks after the second treatment, I had the cramps that told me to go and had a terrible time. When I finally finished, there was a lot of blood in the toilet and on the tissues. I immediately called the on call doctor and she told me to get to the ER.
Not only did I not feel well, but it was absolutely the worst night I had ever spent in the ER. We were there a total of six hours!! Glad I wasn't actually bleeding to death because it was three hours before the doctor came in. After some test, one that I really don't want to talk about because it was so painful, they decided I had ruptured an internal hemorrhoid (sp).
I will say, since then, I have only had a couple of days of problems, but I knew to call my doctor as soon as they started. I now know how to get through these episodes with less pain.
TMI IS OVER!!!
Even though I will have my treatment next week, I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. And for those of you that know my families shopping traditions, I WILL BE JOINING THE EXCITEMENT OF BLACK FRIDAY!! I refuse to let chemo keep me from the fun! Frank told me tonight that he is going to go with us (YAY!)! And I think I am going to take my grandmother's walker with a seat on it, just in case I need to sit down in a hurry!!! LOL
Tomorrow, I will be taking Mattie to film a segment for KRBC. I will let you know when it will air. I am really excited about it, but not sure if she even knows she is doing it! She should be excited because she will get to leave school early!
I can't believe that the holiday season is already upon us. These past few month's have been a whirlwind of events and emotions. Even though some things will be different this year, one thing we all know for sure,
God is in control, and because we know that,
Everything is going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Fifteen Minutes of Fame
October 24, 2012
I've heard it said all my life "Everyone gets their fifteen minutes of fame."
Tonight it was my turn.
Well... mine and everyone at AMMA Karate.
KRBC/KTAB came out and did a story on AMMA's efforts to bring awareness to the fight for a cure for breast cancer.
More specifically, my fight.
It was a great report. Click here to see it.
I know I am behind on my post, but nothing really has changed, other than I have lost my hair. I promise to do a post on that and post some pictures. I have to. I have to keep record.
But one thing has remained steadily the same.
I have a great support group.
They are fighting for me.
Through prayer.
That is so much more than I ever expected.
I have prayer warriors everywhere, literally world wide.
And if I keep telling myself, if I can just touch one person's life
Everything is going to be OK.
Until next time, God Bless.
I've heard it said all my life "Everyone gets their fifteen minutes of fame."
Tonight it was my turn.
Well... mine and everyone at AMMA Karate.
KRBC/KTAB came out and did a story on AMMA's efforts to bring awareness to the fight for a cure for breast cancer.
More specifically, my fight.
It was a great report. Click here to see it.
I know I am behind on my post, but nothing really has changed, other than I have lost my hair. I promise to do a post on that and post some pictures. I have to. I have to keep record.
But one thing has remained steadily the same.
I have a great support group.
They are fighting for me.
Through prayer.
That is so much more than I ever expected.
I have prayer warriors everywhere, literally world wide.
And if I keep telling myself, if I can just touch one person's life
Everything is going to be OK.
Until next time, God Bless.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Lab Work and Depression
September 24, 2012
Lab work day!! And an office visit with Dr. Melnyk.
I felt uneasy about.
I don't know why, I've done several labs lately.
This one is nothing new.
Mom picked me up and we headed out to oncology. Pretty normal day... so far.
We checked in, sat down and it wasn't long before they called my name.
I sat in my normal chair, I think I'm going to start calling it the vampire chair. It is after all the one where they always draw my blood.
I haven't learned all the nurses names yer, but I'm working on it. But it was the same one that always takes my blood and she is very good by they way. As soon as I felt the stick I felt sick.
REALLY SICK!
Bless her heart, she couldn't stop what she was doing. But the other nurses stepped in, quickly. They were getting me juice and wet towels. I was sweating and freezing at the same time. I asked to lay down.
They brought me a wheel chair and started wheeling me to a room. Any room, I didn't care where it was, I needed to lay down.
Just as they got me in the room, I told them I needed something. They handed me the trash can, just in time!
When I looked up Dr. Melnyk was standing there, smiling. He told me that I had told him I was fine. And I had been. He came on in, did my check up and then looked at my counts. He decided I was a bit dehydrated and that was probably why I had gotten sick. Everything else was what he was expecting. So I am normal after all!!!
September 25, 2012
Nothing too exciting the rest of the week. Just a battle with depression. To read about that click here.
What really sunk in this week was that,
Everything is going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless.
Lab work day!! And an office visit with Dr. Melnyk.
I felt uneasy about.
I don't know why, I've done several labs lately.
This one is nothing new.
Mom picked me up and we headed out to oncology. Pretty normal day... so far.
We checked in, sat down and it wasn't long before they called my name.
I sat in my normal chair, I think I'm going to start calling it the vampire chair. It is after all the one where they always draw my blood.
I haven't learned all the nurses names yer, but I'm working on it. But it was the same one that always takes my blood and she is very good by they way. As soon as I felt the stick I felt sick.
REALLY SICK!
Bless her heart, she couldn't stop what she was doing. But the other nurses stepped in, quickly. They were getting me juice and wet towels. I was sweating and freezing at the same time. I asked to lay down.
They brought me a wheel chair and started wheeling me to a room. Any room, I didn't care where it was, I needed to lay down.
Just as they got me in the room, I told them I needed something. They handed me the trash can, just in time!
When I looked up Dr. Melnyk was standing there, smiling. He told me that I had told him I was fine. And I had been. He came on in, did my check up and then looked at my counts. He decided I was a bit dehydrated and that was probably why I had gotten sick. Everything else was what he was expecting. So I am normal after all!!!
September 25, 2012
Nothing too exciting the rest of the week. Just a battle with depression. To read about that click here.
What really sunk in this week was that,
Everything is going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
My First Round of Chemo
September 12, 2012
Mom and I went to chemo class. It was just the two of us and one of the oncology nurses. We got lots of great information. I really learned what to expect. So we are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
They gave me a notebook full of information, calendars, phone numbers, oh just tons of stuff! We also finally got to see what this port in my arm looks like. I was so nervous about how they were going to get a needle stuck in this "hard" thing in my arm, but after I saw it, I felt much better.
The funniest part of the class was when we got to the sex part. They tell you some of the changes your body will go through and how to handle that department. Three grown women sitting in a room, talking about sex, and I've been married almost 29 years. Let me tell you, this subject still makes me uncomfortable in front of my mom!!! LOL
September 19, 2012
TODAY IS THE DAY! TREATMENT ROUND NUMBER ONE!
I got this!!
My appointment was at 8:45. BUT, I also had to have labs. So I actually didn't get plugged in until about 11:00. Frank took the day off, which I am so thankful. And my dad just couldn't stand it, he came and spent the day with Frank and I. My "cocktail is Taxatere Adrimycin Cytoxan (TAC). I got the A first. It is a push drug that the nurse gives through a syringe. It's the bad one, the "Red Devil". It takes about 15/20 minutes.
Then it was the T, then C. Those take about an hour each. Love my hubby and my daddy, but they were just standing there,
staring at me.
They both looked like they wanted to be in my shoes and that just wasn't acceptable. I finally talked them in to going to get some lunch. I promised them I would be fine, that I had lots of nurses there to take care of me. So they finally left. They brought me back a Subway sandwich and it was very good!
Once those two were finished, they flushed my port and we were headed home! YAY!
It was about 2:30. It took the entire day.
Once we got home, I convinced Frank I was fine and wanted to watch my soap. He finally agreed to watch some fishing shows in the back room. It wasn't long before I heard him snoring. He had finally relaxed. So glad!
We had a great evening. The girls got home from work and karate, we laughed, ate and got ready for the next day.
September 20, 2012
Today I had to go back for a Nuelasta shot.
It goes in the stomach! Yikes! I wasn't expecting that! Never had one there before!
I just didn't look at the needle! It didn't hurt!!
This shot is the one that makes my bones ache. It starts the bone marrow to producing more white cells. Mom brought me back home and I rested.
It was a good day. And even though I didn't know how all this was going to affect me, one thing I did know was...
Everything was going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless.
Mom and I went to chemo class. It was just the two of us and one of the oncology nurses. We got lots of great information. I really learned what to expect. So we are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
They gave me a notebook full of information, calendars, phone numbers, oh just tons of stuff! We also finally got to see what this port in my arm looks like. I was so nervous about how they were going to get a needle stuck in this "hard" thing in my arm, but after I saw it, I felt much better.
The funniest part of the class was when we got to the sex part. They tell you some of the changes your body will go through and how to handle that department. Three grown women sitting in a room, talking about sex, and I've been married almost 29 years. Let me tell you, this subject still makes me uncomfortable in front of my mom!!! LOL
September 19, 2012
TODAY IS THE DAY! TREATMENT ROUND NUMBER ONE!
I got this!!
My appointment was at 8:45. BUT, I also had to have labs. So I actually didn't get plugged in until about 11:00. Frank took the day off, which I am so thankful. And my dad just couldn't stand it, he came and spent the day with Frank and I. My "cocktail is Taxatere Adrimycin Cytoxan (TAC). I got the A first. It is a push drug that the nurse gives through a syringe. It's the bad one, the "Red Devil". It takes about 15/20 minutes.
Then it was the T, then C. Those take about an hour each. Love my hubby and my daddy, but they were just standing there,
staring at me.
They both looked like they wanted to be in my shoes and that just wasn't acceptable. I finally talked them in to going to get some lunch. I promised them I would be fine, that I had lots of nurses there to take care of me. So they finally left. They brought me back a Subway sandwich and it was very good!
Once those two were finished, they flushed my port and we were headed home! YAY!
It was about 2:30. It took the entire day.
Once we got home, I convinced Frank I was fine and wanted to watch my soap. He finally agreed to watch some fishing shows in the back room. It wasn't long before I heard him snoring. He had finally relaxed. So glad!
We had a great evening. The girls got home from work and karate, we laughed, ate and got ready for the next day.
September 20, 2012
Today I had to go back for a Nuelasta shot.
It goes in the stomach! Yikes! I wasn't expecting that! Never had one there before!
I just didn't look at the needle! It didn't hurt!!
This shot is the one that makes my bones ache. It starts the bone marrow to producing more white cells. Mom brought me back home and I rested.
It was a good day. And even though I didn't know how all this was going to affect me, one thing I did know was...
Everything was going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless.
Monday, October 1, 2012
I Met Someone New Last Week, and I Didn't Like Her Very Much!!
WOW!
Two weeks since my last post!
That is totally unacceptable!!
But I can explain. Someone new came into my life last week.
This person is someone I can say I never expected to meet.
This person wasn't very nice.
I DID NOT LIKE HER AT ALL!!!
I hope I can keep her away from all of my family and friends in the future. Trust me, she is not very nice. Just ask Frank or Katie!
This person was me!!!! Well, depressed me!
Depression is something I have NEVER faced. I have always been able to find the good in everything! Even this beast cancer.
When Frank brought this to my attention, I kicked that b@#^% to the curb!!! I don't want her back in this house! Good bye and good riddance!
So now that we know what to look for, she is definitely gone!
I will get you all caught up on my treatment soon, but I ask, if you see this person sneaking back into my house, please help me get rid of her. She doesn't fit in here. Because in my house, there are no negative Nellie's. Because I've got this! Because I know...
Everything is going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless!!!
Two weeks since my last post!
That is totally unacceptable!!
But I can explain. Someone new came into my life last week.
This person is someone I can say I never expected to meet.
This person wasn't very nice.
I DID NOT LIKE HER AT ALL!!!
I hope I can keep her away from all of my family and friends in the future. Trust me, she is not very nice. Just ask Frank or Katie!
This person was me!!!! Well, depressed me!
Depression is something I have NEVER faced. I have always been able to find the good in everything! Even this beast cancer.
When Frank brought this to my attention, I kicked that b@#^% to the curb!!! I don't want her back in this house! Good bye and good riddance!
So now that we know what to look for, she is definitely gone!
I will get you all caught up on my treatment soon, but I ask, if you see this person sneaking back into my house, please help me get rid of her. She doesn't fit in here. Because in my house, there are no negative Nellie's. Because I've got this! Because I know...
Everything is going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless!!!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Chemo Class Today
September 12, 2012
Today I have my first, extensive visit with Dr. Melnyk, then my chemo class.
My appointment is at 1:30. Class at 3:00.
They said we will break away from my appointment so I can go to my class, then we'll finish up when it is over.
Looks like it is going to be a long afternoon!!
But one thing I know for sure,
Everything is going to be OK!
God Bless!!!
Today I have my first, extensive visit with Dr. Melnyk, then my chemo class.
My appointment is at 1:30. Class at 3:00.
They said we will break away from my appointment so I can go to my class, then we'll finish up when it is over.
Looks like it is going to be a long afternoon!!
But one thing I know for sure,
Everything is going to be OK!
God Bless!!!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Fun Weekend and the Fair is in Town
September 8, 2012
It's Saturday and we have things to do!
Yes life goes on so we had to go have the inspection done on Frank's truck and a few other necessary errands that have to be done each month. We also decided to go to the fair hoping it wouldn't be too crowded earlier in the day. We had a great time. Mattie had entered two items this year, a necklace (fourth place) and a play-doh model of an ice cream truck (fifth place) and of course we had to have Aggie fries. We got to visit with a lot of people that we haven't seen in a while and just walk around.
We really didn't want any other "fair food" so when we left we went to Abuelos's for a great dinner. Then back home for a relaxing evening at home.
Katie spent the day with us and we had a great time.
We stayed up way too late watching a movie then off to bed. Church in the morning.
September 9, 2012
Church was great! I am loving this series Phil is doing on "The Story". If you haven't read the Bible as much as you should (just like me!) this is a great book. It is the Bible, only in chronological order. If you would like to hear his sermons, please go to the Southern Hills web site. Go to the "resources" tab and find the sermons. It is a great series and awesome to listen too even if you don't have The Story to follow along with.
Lunch was at Fazoli's with lots of friends and family from church. Not my favorite place to eat, but the fellowship make up for that!!! We had a great time.
Then of course it was Sunday afternoon nap day!! Football started this week and I sleep while Frank watches his most favorite sport ever!
We picked Mattie up from her dad's at 6:00 and since she hadn't been to the fair yet, we took her out to ride some rides, eat some food and check out her entries to see if they won (we never tell her!). She loves the rides and she gets really tickled when adults get sick on them and she doesn't. She wasn't disappointed tonight!!! LOL "Lolo! Did you see that guy barf?!?!" We had a great time and got home way to late for a school night, but this was the only night we would be able to go as a family.
So even with lack of sleep, as we start the week, we know that...
Everything is going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless.
It's Saturday and we have things to do!
Yes life goes on so we had to go have the inspection done on Frank's truck and a few other necessary errands that have to be done each month. We also decided to go to the fair hoping it wouldn't be too crowded earlier in the day. We had a great time. Mattie had entered two items this year, a necklace (fourth place) and a play-doh model of an ice cream truck (fifth place) and of course we had to have Aggie fries. We got to visit with a lot of people that we haven't seen in a while and just walk around.
We really didn't want any other "fair food" so when we left we went to Abuelos's for a great dinner. Then back home for a relaxing evening at home.
Katie spent the day with us and we had a great time.
We stayed up way too late watching a movie then off to bed. Church in the morning.
September 9, 2012
Church was great! I am loving this series Phil is doing on "The Story". If you haven't read the Bible as much as you should (just like me!) this is a great book. It is the Bible, only in chronological order. If you would like to hear his sermons, please go to the Southern Hills web site. Go to the "resources" tab and find the sermons. It is a great series and awesome to listen too even if you don't have The Story to follow along with.
Lunch was at Fazoli's with lots of friends and family from church. Not my favorite place to eat, but the fellowship make up for that!!! We had a great time.
Then of course it was Sunday afternoon nap day!! Football started this week and I sleep while Frank watches his most favorite sport ever!
We picked Mattie up from her dad's at 6:00 and since she hadn't been to the fair yet, we took her out to ride some rides, eat some food and check out her entries to see if they won (we never tell her!). She loves the rides and she gets really tickled when adults get sick on them and she doesn't. She wasn't disappointed tonight!!! LOL "Lolo! Did you see that guy barf?!?!" We had a great time and got home way to late for a school night, but this was the only night we would be able to go as a family.
So even with lack of sleep, as we start the week, we know that...
Everything is going to be OK!
Until next time, God bless.
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