Haven't posted in awhile because I have felt GREAT the last week so I've been going and blowing!
I am giving all the credit to NOT getting that Neulasta shot! I will get my blood drawn this Thursday, the day before chemo, to see what the effect was. In the meantime, I feel great.
I had another fill last week. Dr. Strock put 100cc's in the left and 60cc's in the right. So my total is not 290cc's in the left and 360cc's in the right. I am getting there. He said I should be done with 2 more fills. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, I will wait 3 weeks between fills this time, but that's ok with me.
My older sister Jennifer went with me to get my fill and she gagged while he was doing it. I only put this in the blog because when we got in the car I said "this is SO going in the blog" and we started laughing our butts off! Good times... Love you Jennifer!
After that appointment I had my ECHO. It was a little uncomfortable since I just had a fill, but it wasn't too bad. Got my results and everything looks good.
I feel a little guilty just rocking and rolling along while my friend Melonie is having such a hard time. If everyone that is praying for me, could say a prayer for Melonie, I know she would be rocking and rolling along with me! Hang in there Mel!
Since I have been feeling so great, I almost forgot about chemo this Friday. Jamey was making plans to go hunting and I was making plans to go to the next Stephenville football playoff game... NOPE! We are going to chemo. :)
Only 2 more chemo treatments and only 2 more fills and I'll be done. I cannot wait until Christmas, of course I don't have any presents purchased! Baby steps
Love to all!
Christy
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
November 7, 2010
This weekend I am officially a hunting widow. Strangely this is the first year that I haven't dreaded it. Is it because I have had someone with me almost 100% of the time? I don't know. What I do know is, I wouldn't trade Jamey going with me to every doctors appointment for the world.
Even though Jamey was chomping at the bit to get to the deer lease, he took me, and my Mom, to chemo on Friday and then left. :)
As I said my mom went with us to chemo on Friday and I was excited. We don't do anything while we are there but sit and wait, but it was nice to have my Mom there and for her to see what all chemo entails. Boring... Ha ha
Friday the 5th we had round 2 of chemo but before I get to that appointment, I must tell you how the last round of chemo made me feel since I haven't blogged about it yet.
After chemo 2 weeks ago, I felt great all weekend. Then Monday I had to go to Granbury to get the Nuelasta shot, that's when I started to feel bad. It felt like my legs were stretching to 8 feet long and my back was KILLING me. I found out my bone marrow was working overtime and that is why I was hurting. It lasted for 4 days. I still feel like I'm constantly out of breath, but I've become used to that I guess. My racing heart has slowed down a little. But since I complained about it my Oncologist scheduled me for an ECHO.
Friday between chemo, Oct 29th, I had to go to Granbury and get my blood drawn to check my levels. This was the first time I went to any appointment by myself. Jamey had to work and I thought "it's just to get my blood drawn, what could go wrong?" Well I guess that is what I get for thinking that because the girl told me I had a "critical value." My WBC count was 51 and she said it's usually not over 10. She asked me if I was sick. Really? Did you just ask a cancer patient if she was sick? HA HA HA I knew what she meant, she meant did I have an infection or a cold or something. I told her my back was hurting for 4 days so she took a urine sample to make sure it wasn't a bladder infection. It wasn't. So she calls my Oncologist in Fort Worth to report my "critical value" and he told her that my WBC count was so high because of the Neulasta shot. The purpose of the shot is to keep my WBC count from going too low, so I guess the shot is doing it's job.
Fast forward to two days ago for round 2 of chemo. First we get my blood drawn, then we see the doctor. While I had the doctors attention I asked him if I could skip the Neulasta shot this round since my levels are so high. He said yes!!!! I also don't need to get my blood drawn in between rounds again! So no more false critical value scares either! I couldn't believe it!
Of course after he tells me what I want to hear, I told him I would suck it up and get the shot and feel like I had 8 feet long legs for 4 days if it would keep me on schedule, he said I should be fine.
So on to the infusion room we go (after waiting for 45 more minutes of course). I did not get Nurse Ratched (Woo Hoo!) but I got Chatty Cathy, which was ok. She took longer than Nurse Ratched because she would stop and talk to all her patients, where Nurse Ratched was just straight to business all the time!
This round took about 3 and a half hours, which sounds like a long time, and it is. But remember, I'm in this comfortable recliner with a heated blanket and I can lay all the way back and sleep. My mom and Jamey are stuck in these straight back chairs, that don't lean back and are NOT comfortable (I hear). I guess they could go get a heated blanket if they wanted one, but they didn't.
So I have never heard how uncomfortable these chairs are from Jamey. How I finally put 2 and 2 together was, Mom and Jamey were talking about them to each other on the way home! HA HA HA HA
I feel kind of bad now...
Only 2 more rounds of chemo to go! Scheduled end date is still December 3rd!!!
Tuesday I have an appointment with my Plastic Surgeon. He usually fills me before chemo but he was out of town Friday so they had to move my appointment. The Plastic Surgeon doesn't know my chemo schedule has been shortened so we will see what he says about that Tuesday. Originally he wanted me to be 100% filled by the time I am done with chemo.
Also scheduled on Tuesday is my ECHO. Precautionary I'm sure...
Love to all,
Christy
Even though Jamey was chomping at the bit to get to the deer lease, he took me, and my Mom, to chemo on Friday and then left. :)
As I said my mom went with us to chemo on Friday and I was excited. We don't do anything while we are there but sit and wait, but it was nice to have my Mom there and for her to see what all chemo entails. Boring... Ha ha
Friday the 5th we had round 2 of chemo but before I get to that appointment, I must tell you how the last round of chemo made me feel since I haven't blogged about it yet.
After chemo 2 weeks ago, I felt great all weekend. Then Monday I had to go to Granbury to get the Nuelasta shot, that's when I started to feel bad. It felt like my legs were stretching to 8 feet long and my back was KILLING me. I found out my bone marrow was working overtime and that is why I was hurting. It lasted for 4 days. I still feel like I'm constantly out of breath, but I've become used to that I guess. My racing heart has slowed down a little. But since I complained about it my Oncologist scheduled me for an ECHO.
Friday between chemo, Oct 29th, I had to go to Granbury and get my blood drawn to check my levels. This was the first time I went to any appointment by myself. Jamey had to work and I thought "it's just to get my blood drawn, what could go wrong?" Well I guess that is what I get for thinking that because the girl told me I had a "critical value." My WBC count was 51 and she said it's usually not over 10. She asked me if I was sick. Really? Did you just ask a cancer patient if she was sick? HA HA HA I knew what she meant, she meant did I have an infection or a cold or something. I told her my back was hurting for 4 days so she took a urine sample to make sure it wasn't a bladder infection. It wasn't. So she calls my Oncologist in Fort Worth to report my "critical value" and he told her that my WBC count was so high because of the Neulasta shot. The purpose of the shot is to keep my WBC count from going too low, so I guess the shot is doing it's job.
Fast forward to two days ago for round 2 of chemo. First we get my blood drawn, then we see the doctor. While I had the doctors attention I asked him if I could skip the Neulasta shot this round since my levels are so high. He said yes!!!! I also don't need to get my blood drawn in between rounds again! So no more false critical value scares either! I couldn't believe it!
Of course after he tells me what I want to hear, I told him I would suck it up and get the shot and feel like I had 8 feet long legs for 4 days if it would keep me on schedule, he said I should be fine.
So on to the infusion room we go (after waiting for 45 more minutes of course). I did not get Nurse Ratched (Woo Hoo!) but I got Chatty Cathy, which was ok. She took longer than Nurse Ratched because she would stop and talk to all her patients, where Nurse Ratched was just straight to business all the time!
This round took about 3 and a half hours, which sounds like a long time, and it is. But remember, I'm in this comfortable recliner with a heated blanket and I can lay all the way back and sleep. My mom and Jamey are stuck in these straight back chairs, that don't lean back and are NOT comfortable (I hear). I guess they could go get a heated blanket if they wanted one, but they didn't.
So I have never heard how uncomfortable these chairs are from Jamey. How I finally put 2 and 2 together was, Mom and Jamey were talking about them to each other on the way home! HA HA HA HA
I feel kind of bad now...
Only 2 more rounds of chemo to go! Scheduled end date is still December 3rd!!!
Tuesday I have an appointment with my Plastic Surgeon. He usually fills me before chemo but he was out of town Friday so they had to move my appointment. The Plastic Surgeon doesn't know my chemo schedule has been shortened so we will see what he says about that Tuesday. Originally he wanted me to be 100% filled by the time I am done with chemo.
Also scheduled on Tuesday is my ECHO. Precautionary I'm sure...
Love to all,
Christy
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday October 22, 2010
Today we went to see our plastic surgeon, Dr. Strock for another fill. Of all my doctors, he is the one that appreciates keeping an appointment. We are always in and out in 15-20 minutes. We hate paying for the parking garage, but we appreciate him keeping his appointments!
This time when he went to numb me, I felt it! I'm sure I'll get my feeling back right before my next surgery... oh well. He filled my left side with 85cc's and put 60cc's in the right side.
So total now is left 190cc's and right is 310cc's. Sounds like a huge difference but it doesn't look very different.
Next off to chemo. This was our first Taxol appointment. Thank you GOD no more Adriamycin or Cytoxin, that stuff is EVIL!
Anyway, went in to get my blood drawn. I didn't get the phlebotomist I like (and who is VERY good) but I didn't say anything. The lady that I did get tried to find my vein. She must have barely been in there because my blood was taking forever to fill those vials! After I finally filled 4 of them, barely, off to see the Dr. I went.
Only had to wait 10 minutes to see the doctor which was a very pleasant surprise! The P.A. comes in and tells me she has some good news, but it comes with some no-so good news, not bad news.
She tells me that the protocol for Taxol has changed and they are now recommending me to receive Taxol every other week x4 instead of weekly x12. YEAH!
Since I will be receiving more Taxol each time so I really need to watch my symptoms.
Now for the not-so good news. I will have to get a Neulasta shot the Monday following chemo and I will have to have my blood drawn on the off chemo Fridays. I'll take that! The Neulasta shot hurts like a tetanus shot, but I'll take that over chemo any day!
So, if everything goes according to plan, I should be done with chemo the first part of December! Thank you God!
So off to receive my first dose of Taxol. When Nurse Ratched, in mean Janet, called me back, she said she needed 4 more vials of blood. Something happened to the machine she said. She used my port and off they went. Labs were good!
Prior to Taxol comes a Benadryl/Zantac drip. This almost knocked me out! It is used in case of allergies. Since this was my first Taxol, she set the Taxol to dispense over 3 hours... what a LONG wait... Good thing I had Jamey and Luwana to keep me company. Plus I did catch a little cat nap.
Now, on to a prayer request
Jamey's cousin Tiffany's 3 year old daughter Haley, has been diagnosed with leukemia this week. Please pray for Chris, Tiffany and Haley as they go through this difficult journey, along with their parents and all other family members. The journey will be long and challenging and I pray that God leads them in the direction they are intended and when they are in doubt, they trust in the Lord and not turn away from Him.
My journey is a breeze compared to what Haley and her parents are about to endure and I ask everyone to please pray for them.
Love to all,
Christy
This time when he went to numb me, I felt it! I'm sure I'll get my feeling back right before my next surgery... oh well. He filled my left side with 85cc's and put 60cc's in the right side.
So total now is left 190cc's and right is 310cc's. Sounds like a huge difference but it doesn't look very different.
Next off to chemo. This was our first Taxol appointment. Thank you GOD no more Adriamycin or Cytoxin, that stuff is EVIL!
Anyway, went in to get my blood drawn. I didn't get the phlebotomist I like (and who is VERY good) but I didn't say anything. The lady that I did get tried to find my vein. She must have barely been in there because my blood was taking forever to fill those vials! After I finally filled 4 of them, barely, off to see the Dr. I went.
Only had to wait 10 minutes to see the doctor which was a very pleasant surprise! The P.A. comes in and tells me she has some good news, but it comes with some no-so good news, not bad news.
She tells me that the protocol for Taxol has changed and they are now recommending me to receive Taxol every other week x4 instead of weekly x12. YEAH!
Since I will be receiving more Taxol each time so I really need to watch my symptoms.
Now for the not-so good news. I will have to get a Neulasta shot the Monday following chemo and I will have to have my blood drawn on the off chemo Fridays. I'll take that! The Neulasta shot hurts like a tetanus shot, but I'll take that over chemo any day!
So, if everything goes according to plan, I should be done with chemo the first part of December! Thank you God!
So off to receive my first dose of Taxol. When Nurse Ratched, in mean Janet, called me back, she said she needed 4 more vials of blood. Something happened to the machine she said. She used my port and off they went. Labs were good!
Prior to Taxol comes a Benadryl/Zantac drip. This almost knocked me out! It is used in case of allergies. Since this was my first Taxol, she set the Taxol to dispense over 3 hours... what a LONG wait... Good thing I had Jamey and Luwana to keep me company. Plus I did catch a little cat nap.
Now, on to a prayer request
Jamey's cousin Tiffany's 3 year old daughter Haley, has been diagnosed with leukemia this week. Please pray for Chris, Tiffany and Haley as they go through this difficult journey, along with their parents and all other family members. The journey will be long and challenging and I pray that God leads them in the direction they are intended and when they are in doubt, they trust in the Lord and not turn away from Him.
My journey is a breeze compared to what Haley and her parents are about to endure and I ask everyone to please pray for them.
Love to all,
Christy
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tuesday October 19, 2010
Found out yesterday (on my 14th wedding anniversary) that my genetic test results were NEGATIVE! What an anniversary present :)
Starting to feel better this week. Of course all that could change on Friday when I go back in for chemo...
Until next time.
Love to all,
Christy
Starting to feel better this week. Of course all that could change on Friday when I go back in for chemo...
Until next time.
Love to all,
Christy
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday October 17, 2010
I have no blogged in awhile because the last round of chemo really set me back. Guess that's what I get for thinking it would be like the last 2 rounds and be ok. NOT!
When I don't feel good, I don't want to do anything... talk on the phone, read, or be on the computer. I'm feeling better, but not 100%, which is to be expected.
I did go to my first cancer support group last Thursday. That was helpful. To see other people that have been through cancer and to hear their stories, made me realize I don't have it bad, I just think I do because I'm currently going through it. This too shall pass
Friday the 22nd I have my next appointment with both my plastic surgeon and my next round of chemo, which will be my first round with this new drug Taxol. I'm hoping and praying that the next 12 - 13 weeks will not make me feel bad, just make me tired. I can handle tired, I can't handle all the rest.
Thank you to everyone that has called and checked on me. I haven't taken Jamey's pocket knife to dig out my port like I've threatened... yet. :-)
Tomorrow is our 14th wedding anniversary! So 14 years old tonight, I was nervous as all get out and so excited to be marrying my best friend! I love you Jamey!
Until the end of the week...
Love to all,
Christy
When I don't feel good, I don't want to do anything... talk on the phone, read, or be on the computer. I'm feeling better, but not 100%, which is to be expected.
I did go to my first cancer support group last Thursday. That was helpful. To see other people that have been through cancer and to hear their stories, made me realize I don't have it bad, I just think I do because I'm currently going through it. This too shall pass
Friday the 22nd I have my next appointment with both my plastic surgeon and my next round of chemo, which will be my first round with this new drug Taxol. I'm hoping and praying that the next 12 - 13 weeks will not make me feel bad, just make me tired. I can handle tired, I can't handle all the rest.
Thank you to everyone that has called and checked on me. I haven't taken Jamey's pocket knife to dig out my port like I've threatened... yet. :-)
Tomorrow is our 14th wedding anniversary! So 14 years old tonight, I was nervous as all get out and so excited to be marrying my best friend! I love you Jamey!
Until the end of the week...
Love to all,
Christy
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tuesday October 5, 2010
Today we went to UT Southwestern for genetic testing, and also went to see the Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Strock, for my first fill appointment. Here's what happened...
I have a 0.9% chance of having the positive BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic gene. That's good. If I am BRCA1 or BRCA2 positive, two things will happen. One, I will have to have my ovaries removed before I'm 40 and two, my sisters and my daughter will have a 50/50 chance of also having the positive genetic gene. If my test is negative, we won't know why I got cancer, but I haven't asked why yet so that's ok.
We talked about my family tree. She agrees with Dr. Nugent that my family tree is "dull". My family has been called many things, but NEVER dull! The more cancer in your tree, and the more diagnoses at an early age, will make your chances of a positive genetic test, higher. So dull is good! :) They drew 2 tubes of blood, which they will send to Utah, and I'll have my results in 2-3 weeks.
After Jamey and I got a bite to eat, we went to Dr. Strock's office. I have been SO nervous about this appointment. The not knowing how I was going to get filled, was just giving me nightmares. Well let me tell you, it didn't hurt at all!
First he marked the ports in my expanders. My expanders have a metal port in them and Dr. Strock uses a magnet to find them. Next he gave me a little numbing medicine, which I didn't need because I still don't have any feeling there. Then he inserted a little butterfly needle into the port and pushed the saline. He put 100cc's in my right and 105cc's in my left. I can definitely tell a difference.
I was told I would be sore, take Motrin and don't do any heavy lifting for 2 days.
He said he will put approximately 100cc's in every 2-3 weeks. My next appointment is Oct 22.
I feel like I'm leaving something out, so if I think of something else, I'll post again.
My next appointment is Thursday for my last round of Adriamycin and Cytoxin. YAY! I have to wait 2 weeks and then I'll start my 12 consecutive weeks of Taxol. If my schedule doesn't get delayed (pray no sickness or infection) I'll be done with chemo Friday January 7, 2011. Let the countdown begin!
Love to all,
Christy
I have a 0.9% chance of having the positive BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic gene. That's good. If I am BRCA1 or BRCA2 positive, two things will happen. One, I will have to have my ovaries removed before I'm 40 and two, my sisters and my daughter will have a 50/50 chance of also having the positive genetic gene. If my test is negative, we won't know why I got cancer, but I haven't asked why yet so that's ok.
We talked about my family tree. She agrees with Dr. Nugent that my family tree is "dull". My family has been called many things, but NEVER dull! The more cancer in your tree, and the more diagnoses at an early age, will make your chances of a positive genetic test, higher. So dull is good! :) They drew 2 tubes of blood, which they will send to Utah, and I'll have my results in 2-3 weeks.
After Jamey and I got a bite to eat, we went to Dr. Strock's office. I have been SO nervous about this appointment. The not knowing how I was going to get filled, was just giving me nightmares. Well let me tell you, it didn't hurt at all!
First he marked the ports in my expanders. My expanders have a metal port in them and Dr. Strock uses a magnet to find them. Next he gave me a little numbing medicine, which I didn't need because I still don't have any feeling there. Then he inserted a little butterfly needle into the port and pushed the saline. He put 100cc's in my right and 105cc's in my left. I can definitely tell a difference.
I was told I would be sore, take Motrin and don't do any heavy lifting for 2 days.
He said he will put approximately 100cc's in every 2-3 weeks. My next appointment is Oct 22.
I feel like I'm leaving something out, so if I think of something else, I'll post again.
My next appointment is Thursday for my last round of Adriamycin and Cytoxin. YAY! I have to wait 2 weeks and then I'll start my 12 consecutive weeks of Taxol. If my schedule doesn't get delayed (pray no sickness or infection) I'll be done with chemo Friday January 7, 2011. Let the countdown begin!
Love to all,
Christy
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday September 30, 2010
Can't believe today is the last day of September! Wow
No doctors appointments recently but I did make my appointment for Genetic Testing. I am going to UT Southwestern Medical Center, to their Fort Worth office, on Tuesday. They sent me some paperwork to fill out regarding history. Let's just say I now know more about my family than I ever have!
It started with my parents and grandparents. I had to put whether they are alive or deceased and what age they are or were at time of death. Then I had to list all my parents' siblings. My Mom is one of 7!!!! So I had to list how old each of them are. Then it went to my siblings and their off springs :)
At the end it showed me this family tree and said "click on each relative that has or has had cancer and has had their ovaries removed." Huh? So I had to call one of my Aunts and ask her "Hey do you have your ovaries?" Hahahaha I also had to ask my Mom if either of my grandmothers had theirs removed. "Who Knows" is not an option on this questionnaire! On top of all that, I had to list the age of diagnoses or age ovaries were removed. Geesh!
So Tuesday is my appointment and it my understanding we will go over that paperwork, she will draw my blood, and then send it off to the one and only lab in the US that does the BRAC analysis. I should get my results in 2-3 weeks.
Also, Tuesday is my first fill appointment with my Plastic Surgeon. I had a dream last night that he put me under to fill me, of course that isn't how it happens because they told me I would be able to drive myself home afterwards. Hope I can move my arms! Tee Hee
This last round of chemo was better than the other two. I was actually able to go to a restaurant on Friday night, and I ate something! I had the racing heart and muscle spasms in my back for a couple of days but I took some of my anxiety medicine and it seemed to help.
I still get queasy when I think of certain foods or candies. Mostly they are foods or candies I was eating during my chemos. I just want to throw up typing this and thinking about it... Maybe next time I will eat chocolate during chemo so I won't ever want chocolate again??? NAH!
Until Tuesday! Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!
Love to all,
Christy
No doctors appointments recently but I did make my appointment for Genetic Testing. I am going to UT Southwestern Medical Center, to their Fort Worth office, on Tuesday. They sent me some paperwork to fill out regarding history. Let's just say I now know more about my family than I ever have!
It started with my parents and grandparents. I had to put whether they are alive or deceased and what age they are or were at time of death. Then I had to list all my parents' siblings. My Mom is one of 7!!!! So I had to list how old each of them are. Then it went to my siblings and their off springs :)
At the end it showed me this family tree and said "click on each relative that has or has had cancer and has had their ovaries removed." Huh? So I had to call one of my Aunts and ask her "Hey do you have your ovaries?" Hahahaha I also had to ask my Mom if either of my grandmothers had theirs removed. "Who Knows" is not an option on this questionnaire! On top of all that, I had to list the age of diagnoses or age ovaries were removed. Geesh!
So Tuesday is my appointment and it my understanding we will go over that paperwork, she will draw my blood, and then send it off to the one and only lab in the US that does the BRAC analysis. I should get my results in 2-3 weeks.
Also, Tuesday is my first fill appointment with my Plastic Surgeon. I had a dream last night that he put me under to fill me, of course that isn't how it happens because they told me I would be able to drive myself home afterwards. Hope I can move my arms! Tee Hee
This last round of chemo was better than the other two. I was actually able to go to a restaurant on Friday night, and I ate something! I had the racing heart and muscle spasms in my back for a couple of days but I took some of my anxiety medicine and it seemed to help.
I still get queasy when I think of certain foods or candies. Mostly they are foods or candies I was eating during my chemos. I just want to throw up typing this and thinking about it... Maybe next time I will eat chocolate during chemo so I won't ever want chocolate again??? NAH!
Until Tuesday! Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!
Love to all,
Christy
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