Good Sabbath

One thing that changes at the first of the year is the time of our church meetings. We have two wards in our building so we either attend church at 9:30 or 11:30. Starting today our meetings begin at 11:30 which is really great for me (at least right now) It gives me time to get up and ready. Saying this makes me sound really lazy but not having to get up till 10:00 I was able to make it to church, by 2:30 I was fading but it had been a few weeks since I'd attended it was wonderful to be there. I do love associating with those wonderful members of  my ward and even those who come to visit. I was able to meet a young lady from Germany who was visiting today. What a joy she was!

Greatful For Others

Today is Saturday. Very lazy day. One of the issues I've been having with the chemo treatments is I seem to be anemic. I asked a few people at work about protein drinks. A good friend Gaynor suggested a brand to try. She told me it was sold at Target and Trader Joe's. It has several flavors, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cookies and cream, banana, mint chocolate chip. I had found chocolate and vanilla at Trader Joe's. I thought I would see if Target had some of the other flavors. I couldn't find it there. So back to Trader Joe's. I took a can to show my Dr on Thursday and see what she thought of it. She said it is a good supplement.

As you can see the title of this post doesn't really have anything to do with the above comments. So here we go. I have a former missionary companion who I have been able to reconnect with through Facebook. When I shared with her that I had started my blog and the address she posted it. A couple of her friends wanted to contact me and offer their support. What a wonderful feeling to know that those who you do not know you care enough to offer support and encouragement and offer to help in any way they can. Thanks Elisabeth!

I Could Not Stop Eating Today

Today was a really good day (well work was rough but at this time of year that is a given) I felt great and had lots of energy. I'm sure it won't last long. I also had an appetite that would not quit.

Kaiser called to set up a PET scan. That is where they inject a radioactive sugar solution into you and then you have to lay quite in the dark for an hour. The solution is supposed to head to where the cancer is, then you go into the tube and they take pictures looking for how active and where the cancer is. This will be my fourth. No problem!

It Was A Long And Interesting Day

So I left the house at a little after 8:00 this morning after not sleeping well. Got there in a half an hour (I never know what traffic will be like) Had my appointment with Dr Jeske. My CA-125 count is down to 20. Needs to be in the low teens. I'm almost half way though my treatments. Today was #3. So if all goes well sometime in March I should be done.

Then I went to have my chemo. Today was to be Gensar and Carboplatin (not sure of the exact spellings) Gensar went well and then about 15 min into the Carbo. I started feeling funny, got real warm, flashes, and real antsy. My nurse was sitting a little ways from me. I told her I didn't feel good. She came over and stopped the Carbo. The next thing I remember was feeling about 5 or 6 people around me. Someone was holding my hand and patting it, they were taking my blood pressure. Dr Jeske was there. They asked my name and date and other questions. They put in another IV to pump in fluids. I was finally able to open my eyes. Things went back to normal. My nurse told me latter that she was very close to calling a code blue. I guess I scared her. Looking back I guess it should scare me but I don't really remember it so not too scared. Dr Jeske said maybe the carbo is not so good for me but I guess it is a drug that has success with the cancer treatment.

When all that was done the I got 2 units of blood. That went fine but did not get home till after 5:00. So it was a long day.

Tomorrow Will Be A Loooooong Day!

When I got home from work today Keith told me that Kaiser had called. I had blood work done Monday in preparation for my chemo treatment tomorrow. Apparently I'm anemic. So at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow I have a Dr's appointment, I will have chemo (it is the first of the cycle). It will include 2 drugs and will also have a blood transfusion. So instead of being done around noon I won't be done till around 3:00.

At least it seems I will not have to delay the treatment another week.

I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

One nice thing at least my car windows should be covered with ice when I leave tomorrow!

New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year! 

I don't usually make New Year Resolutions. 2013 is different. My plan is to start updating my blog more regularly. We see how that goes. Yesterday my sister Merri Lea, her husband Rich, their children Ella, Bryan and Rikki and her husband Robert stopped by for a visit. I had to work so I didn't get to spend as much time with them but what I did get to spend with them was great. Rikki mentioned I hadn't written since May. I told no I had written once since then. I decided that I was going to really write more often.

So Happy New Year to all!

Not Such Good News

Early November I was sick on and off for a week. As the week progressed I wasn't getting any better. I thought I had the flu. I emailed my oncologist and general practitioner and told them that I wasn't getting better...did they have any suggestions. I was told to go and have blood work done. On Tuesday I heard from my doctors. I was severally dehydrated. Also my oncologist-Dr Jeske said that my CA-125 was slightly elevated. My GP wanted me to go to emergency and to get hydrated. While I was there they wanted me to also have a PET scan. They kept me over night. I had the PET scan and it was discovered that the cancer is active again in the liver, a mass in my pelvic, and in some lymph nodes. I was sent home and told that Dr Jeske would set up an appointment. On Thursday I saw Dr Jeske, she was very positive and said we have lots of options. That we would state Chemo again. I told her that mom and I are going to to Utah from Dec 1-8 to meet my great niece. I was a little worried how I would handle the chemo. Dr Jeske said we could wait till we got back. Mom said no we need to start right away.  It was decided that I would have a treatment before we left and then start up when I got back. I asked her about the CA-125. It was up to 39 the range is 0-35, she did say that wasn't that high, but in Oct is was 13 and had jumped up to 39 which was a concern.

On Monday Nov 19th at about 9:45 am I looked at my cell phone and saw a text from Kaiser that I had an appointment at 10:15 for a chemo treatment. There was not way that I could get there in a half an hour. I quickly called and they rescheduled for 2:00 that afternoon. I went and it went well. I actually felt better the next day.

So here I am again going through chemo.