Hello!
Just wanted to do a quick update about my CT scans and lab tests I had done last Monday. By Monday evening I already had the results! Everything looks good! My hemoglobin is up a little (finally--I've been taking iron pills!). My platelets are at the low end of the range, and have been since surgery. Before that they were much higher. I'm going to ask my oncologist about that when I see him on Tues. I have a list of things in my head that I want to ask him--I really need to write these questions down!
I will have another little surgery on my backside on March 8th. Not going to do any major surgery on the fistula yet. My surgeon can't guarantee the outcome, so we will hold off as long as possible. There is a chance it might close up on it's own, eventually.
I had to miss another day of work due to my 'digestive system'. The barium stuff I have to drink for the CT scan really messes me up, and I spent most of the evening and into the night in the bathroom. I wasn't able to go to work the next day either. I think that's 5 days I've missed this school year related to my cancer treatment/side effects. Then I missed 4 days due to illness recently too--first a stomach bug, then a cold/chest/cough thing. I don't usually get those type of viruses, so it was weird to get them one right after another. I've already used up the 10 days I get per school year! I'm praying I don't miss any more this year!
It's a relief to have my scans done and over with. I was getting a little nervous this time. I couldn't shake the feeling that 'this might be it'. On the way to the hospital to get my tests done, as I was driving, I was praying and praying. And I was asking forgiveness for the fear, because I knew I shouldn't be afraid--I should be trusting in God. Finally, I realized where the fear was coming from and I said out loud "Satan, you can't touch this! I am a child of the Most High King, and covered by the blood of the Lamb! I have no cancer in me, and I will trust in God and not be afraid!". I felt soooo much better after declaring that for the devil to hear. He fled and I was filled with peace! I was able to be joyful the rest of the day, which I think was nice for those around me in the hospital. That can be a very stressful place, and I made sure I smiled at everyone!
Oh-- I have to mention my infusion nurses again. One of my regular nurses is working at a different place (I will miss her and hearing about her lovely children and family!), and the other 'regular' one wasn't there either. The nurse I had, Carol (Carole?), is one I know though, from being there over the last 4 years, and she had a person with her that was in training. At the end, when I was ready to go, Carol started asking me about my grandkids, and how I was doing after treatment. I was only going to tell her a little, to not take up too much of her time, but she kept asking, so I kept talking! That was so special to me, that she took the time to REALLY ask how I was doing. Usually when I don't have one of my 'regular' 2 nurses, I am in and out of there pretty quick. Everyone is very nice and says hi, but I am only there for a port flush or labs. It just made me feel really good, that she remembered things about my family, and really cared about how I was doing. Chemo nurses are truly angels!
Well, I see my oncologist Tuesday, and have my mammogram Thurs., then the following week I have a pre-op, and my minor surgery. Then I think I'll be done for awhile! *Whew*!
More updates later this week. Hope everyone feels blessed this week, and feels the love of Jesus surrounding them! Amen!
Tina
Showing posts with label platelets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label platelets. Show all posts
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Low Platelets!
Yep, my platelets are low, just as the doc and I thought they would be. They were 96 last time, and that was almost too low, and this time they were 85. My wbc were high due to the shots. We will wait a week and try again! In the meantime, I will be enjoying feeling good! :)
I asked the doc today about my tumor. I reminded him that it was "moderately differentiated" (sp?), and asked him how long he thought it took to grow. He said it probably took about 5 years to grow and was moderately aggressive--sort of middle of the road. It started as a polyp, and that is why I will have a colonoscopy every 1-3 years, so if another polyp starts they will find it and remove it before it gets cancerous. As for the cancer spreading, the fact that it only made it to 2 lymph nodes is a good thing, and the doc said all the treatment I had should have gotten any remaining cancer cells. My prognosis looks pretty good. Just off the top of his head, he thinks I have at least a 75% chance of it NOT returning. He doesn't expect it to spread. So that was all good to hear!
We also talked about my neuropathy. Its there, but doesn't hurt, just tingles. Dr. J said it would be alot worse if I didn't have that break from Oxaliplatin over the summer during radiation. He checked to make sure I still had feeling in my fingers, and told me I should call him if it gets "bothersome". There are trials going on now to find something that works better. Apparently there is a hand cream they are trying out.
I'll have a colonoscopy the end of Feb., then I'll see the doc and have labs done in about 4 months. After that I'll have a ct scan. I asked about pet scans and he said its harder to see details on the pet scan and the ct works better for the colon. I'll continue to see the doc every 3 months after that, and ct scans every 6 months. Not sure how long that will go on. It was an interesting office visit!
I couldn't help thinking how weird it will be after my last chemo--when I start feeling good, I'll KEEP feeling good. It won't only be a few days of feeling good. And then I'll be able to put ice in all my drinks again, and eat sherbet...ahhh that'll be soooo good!
My plan is to start using the treadmill and eat healthier so I can regain my strength (I can hardly make it up a short flight of steps these days. My legs are really weak!), AND keep the weight off (and hopefully lose more!!) I should start this week!
I've also got to make a better plan for Bible reading. I've always struggled with having a set time, but I really should be reading it daily. So I've got some ideas to make that work.
So much to think about--no wonder I can't sleep some nights!
Oh--I took an Ativan before my appt. this morning, and didn't have any trouble with feeling nauseous after having my port wiped with alcohol, or getting the saline flush. I'll have to remember that before every port draw!
Speaking of ports, I will leave mine in at least until I have my ct scan. I don't know if I'll want to leave it in longer than that--we'll see.
That's all for now!
Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers!
Love,
Tina
I asked the doc today about my tumor. I reminded him that it was "moderately differentiated" (sp?), and asked him how long he thought it took to grow. He said it probably took about 5 years to grow and was moderately aggressive--sort of middle of the road. It started as a polyp, and that is why I will have a colonoscopy every 1-3 years, so if another polyp starts they will find it and remove it before it gets cancerous. As for the cancer spreading, the fact that it only made it to 2 lymph nodes is a good thing, and the doc said all the treatment I had should have gotten any remaining cancer cells. My prognosis looks pretty good. Just off the top of his head, he thinks I have at least a 75% chance of it NOT returning. He doesn't expect it to spread. So that was all good to hear!
We also talked about my neuropathy. Its there, but doesn't hurt, just tingles. Dr. J said it would be alot worse if I didn't have that break from Oxaliplatin over the summer during radiation. He checked to make sure I still had feeling in my fingers, and told me I should call him if it gets "bothersome". There are trials going on now to find something that works better. Apparently there is a hand cream they are trying out.
I'll have a colonoscopy the end of Feb., then I'll see the doc and have labs done in about 4 months. After that I'll have a ct scan. I asked about pet scans and he said its harder to see details on the pet scan and the ct works better for the colon. I'll continue to see the doc every 3 months after that, and ct scans every 6 months. Not sure how long that will go on. It was an interesting office visit!
I couldn't help thinking how weird it will be after my last chemo--when I start feeling good, I'll KEEP feeling good. It won't only be a few days of feeling good. And then I'll be able to put ice in all my drinks again, and eat sherbet...ahhh that'll be soooo good!
My plan is to start using the treadmill and eat healthier so I can regain my strength (I can hardly make it up a short flight of steps these days. My legs are really weak!), AND keep the weight off (and hopefully lose more!!) I should start this week!
I've also got to make a better plan for Bible reading. I've always struggled with having a set time, but I really should be reading it daily. So I've got some ideas to make that work.
So much to think about--no wonder I can't sleep some nights!
Oh--I took an Ativan before my appt. this morning, and didn't have any trouble with feeling nauseous after having my port wiped with alcohol, or getting the saline flush. I'll have to remember that before every port draw!
Speaking of ports, I will leave mine in at least until I have my ct scan. I don't know if I'll want to leave it in longer than that--we'll see.
That's all for now!
Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers!
Love,
Tina
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Will Tomorrow be The Day??
I'm hoping tomorrow will be my last chemo. We have to wait and see if my platelets are ok; the doc and I think they might be too low. I did my 2 shots of Neupogen, so I'm sure my wbc will be ok. If chemo has to be delayed, that's ok too.
I have alot of back pain from the shots this time, so my wbc must have been low. I've said before that alternating ibuprofen and Tylenol really helps with the pain, but this time I can't take ibuprofen due to my low platelets. I woke up with alot of pain and ate some applesauce so I could take Tylenol, but it hasn't helped much. Soon I'm going to take one of my Percosets, but since it has Tylenol in it I have to wait at least 4 hours from when I took it this morning. I was hoping to go shopping with Shonna today, but had to cancel that :( . Oh well, such is life with cancer--you never know if you can follow through with your plans or not!
Boy, I had so much energy last Thurs. and Fri.--but it seems to have disappeared! I guess I just need to go with the flow and not feel guilty. :)
I've read that others are having trouble with their finger and toenails, from the chemo. While my chemo isn't as harsh as some have had, I've lost my little toenails and my fingernails have ridges and some are peeling from the bottom up. But they aren't too bad. My hands also look awful. Any age spots or freckles have gotten darker, and there are dark lines too. The spots on my face have gotten darker too. I'm hoping this all goes away once the chemo gets out of my system.
I have definitely been colder lately. I'm wondering if my hemoglobin has gotten lower. It seems stores and restaurants just aren't heating their buildings much! Yesterday at Target the bottom of my feet were tingling from being cold! That doesn't usually happen when I'm walking around a store! At night I really pile on the blankets too, and have a hard time warming up when I first get into bed. I think we'll have to start using the little heater that Shonna has in her room (she's REALLY a freeze-baby!). I'll just use it to heat up our room before bedtime.
Well, hope everyone else around the country is staying warm! Hopefully this little heat wave we are having will last awhile! Its supposed to be 34 here tomorrow! (for those of you in warmer climes--34 is really good!)
Love and blessings!
Tina
I have alot of back pain from the shots this time, so my wbc must have been low. I've said before that alternating ibuprofen and Tylenol really helps with the pain, but this time I can't take ibuprofen due to my low platelets. I woke up with alot of pain and ate some applesauce so I could take Tylenol, but it hasn't helped much. Soon I'm going to take one of my Percosets, but since it has Tylenol in it I have to wait at least 4 hours from when I took it this morning. I was hoping to go shopping with Shonna today, but had to cancel that :( . Oh well, such is life with cancer--you never know if you can follow through with your plans or not!
Boy, I had so much energy last Thurs. and Fri.--but it seems to have disappeared! I guess I just need to go with the flow and not feel guilty. :)
I've read that others are having trouble with their finger and toenails, from the chemo. While my chemo isn't as harsh as some have had, I've lost my little toenails and my fingernails have ridges and some are peeling from the bottom up. But they aren't too bad. My hands also look awful. Any age spots or freckles have gotten darker, and there are dark lines too. The spots on my face have gotten darker too. I'm hoping this all goes away once the chemo gets out of my system.
I have definitely been colder lately. I'm wondering if my hemoglobin has gotten lower. It seems stores and restaurants just aren't heating their buildings much! Yesterday at Target the bottom of my feet were tingling from being cold! That doesn't usually happen when I'm walking around a store! At night I really pile on the blankets too, and have a hard time warming up when I first get into bed. I think we'll have to start using the little heater that Shonna has in her room (she's REALLY a freeze-baby!). I'll just use it to heat up our room before bedtime.
Well, hope everyone else around the country is staying warm! Hopefully this little heat wave we are having will last awhile! Its supposed to be 34 here tomorrow! (for those of you in warmer climes--34 is really good!)
Love and blessings!
Tina
Friday, January 8, 2010
Life is Good!
Been feeling much better the last few days. I've had the urge to clean and organize! Unfortunately I can't do as much as I would like--I take frequent breaks! When you go through several days of awful fatigue, life seems so good and exciting when you come out of it.
Can't wait til next Monday or Tuesday, when my cold sensitivity goes away enough for me to have a "melted" smoothie. Didn't get one last round, and I'm craving that yummy berry flavor.
My last round of chemo is scheduled for Wed., but it might be delayed due to blood counts--specifically low platelets. My wbc should be fine because I did 4 shots over the weekend, and I will do a shot on both Sunday and Monday. The first 4 didn't cause me any back pain, I think because my counts weren't low yet. We'll see if the next 2 hurt. They seem to only hurt bad if my counts are really low. Then the shots cause a lot of activity in my bone marrow/spine.
My neuropathy is getting more noticeable in my fingers and toes. It doesn't hurt, but with each tap on the keyboard my fingers tingle. My slippers brushing against my big toes make them tingle. I'm glad I'm almost done with chemo, because if the neuropathy gets bad enough the doc would have to discontinue the Oxaliplatin. Hopefully the mild tingling I have won't take too long to go away. Sometimes it can take a year to go away, and sometimes its permanent.
From reading the blogs of others, and talking to my doc, I know that there may be side effects from the chemo and especially the radiation for a long time to come. I'm glad I know this ahead of time. But I feel like I'll be so happy to be declared "cancer free" that anything else won't matter!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Blessings!
Tina
Can't wait til next Monday or Tuesday, when my cold sensitivity goes away enough for me to have a "melted" smoothie. Didn't get one last round, and I'm craving that yummy berry flavor.
My last round of chemo is scheduled for Wed., but it might be delayed due to blood counts--specifically low platelets. My wbc should be fine because I did 4 shots over the weekend, and I will do a shot on both Sunday and Monday. The first 4 didn't cause me any back pain, I think because my counts weren't low yet. We'll see if the next 2 hurt. They seem to only hurt bad if my counts are really low. Then the shots cause a lot of activity in my bone marrow/spine.
My neuropathy is getting more noticeable in my fingers and toes. It doesn't hurt, but with each tap on the keyboard my fingers tingle. My slippers brushing against my big toes make them tingle. I'm glad I'm almost done with chemo, because if the neuropathy gets bad enough the doc would have to discontinue the Oxaliplatin. Hopefully the mild tingling I have won't take too long to go away. Sometimes it can take a year to go away, and sometimes its permanent.
From reading the blogs of others, and talking to my doc, I know that there may be side effects from the chemo and especially the radiation for a long time to come. I'm glad I know this ahead of time. But I feel like I'll be so happy to be declared "cancer free" that anything else won't matter!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Blessings!
Tina
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