Ok so Round 3 wasn't quite as smooth as the previous one but I'm happy to say I'm home, for the second time, and am feeling immensely better :)
It started off okay. I went in with high spirits and all was progressing nicely. One day while walking laps I got on the scale in the hallway... you see I'm obsessed with scales now because I'm so thin and it's such a treat to see those low numbers ;) Hey you gotta find the perks where you can in this journey! So I pop on the scale and up comes a big red blinking 141. What?! Wait a minute... that's my old weight! Scale must be off. So I shuffle off to the other side of the floor and climb on that scale. Same number! Yikes, better let my nurse know about this. Turns out I had indeed gained about 23 pounds in fluids. Dr. X wanted to be sure my kidneys stayed good and flushed so she really had the fluids pumping. A lasix pill and lots of trips to ladies room put me back at my current weight of about 118 :) A couple people have told me I looked a bit like a cherry tomato in the face with all that fluid. Ha ha ha!
Friday night. I'm feeling pretty good and am anxious to get home and settle in and eat my own food. Hospital food is just yucky for some reason... I was eating just fine but really wanted to be home. I usually stay until Saturday morning but X agreed I could go. Off I went and being home felt great. I slept so good Friday night and woke up feeling pretty decent Saturday. Didn't think to take my anti-nausea medicine and the next thing I knew I was s-i-c-k. Hit me like a ton of bricks. Every time I barely moved I was violently ill. I should have called X right away but for some reason I thought it would pass. It didn't. When Louisa came by in the afternoon, she took one look at me, called X right away and off to the hospital we went.
Thank goodness the lovely nurse, Annette, was still in the Out-patient Infusion Room at the hospital so I didn't have to endure the whole ER admit nightmare. Annette started IVs of fluids and anti-nauseas. I had to be readmitted and spent 2 more nights in. I'm pretty sure these were the toughest days yet for me. Turns out my blood sugar had really dropped as well so I had zero energy. Just standing up was difficult. But as amazing as our bodies are, I have bounced back once again, with the help of some sugar water and sterioids. I came home yesterday and feel remarkably good again. I'm taking my anti-nauseas ;)
Right now the plan is to have my fianl round the beginning of July. X says she's thinking of ending with a big bang...?! kind of scary but she knows best! She has apologized profusely for this round making me so ill and has a gameplan in mind for next time to avoid this from happening again. I told her we both were over confident with Round 2 having gone so well. She also mentioned I will be seeing a Oncology Radiologist for an evaluation after my final round. The source tumor was a very slow growing tumor vs. the crazy fast growing offshoot one. Chemotherapy works best on fast growing tumors. They Tumor Board regulary reviews my case and they feel it may be advantageous to to some follow-up radiation. Nothing set in stone yet, just an evaluation when all is said and done. X promised the radiation, while it can have it's own side effects, does not generally produce nasuea ;) Fair enough!
Well peeps, this is a long blog and I'm getting a little pooped. I can not believe it's already the middle of June. Wow. Big shout out to Tate Thomas Oakely who will be turning 2 in 2 weeks (June 30)! Happy Birthday my sweet Grandson. Love you so much!!!
Love you all as well!!! xoxo Reba
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
What a great week!
This has been a fabulous last several days! I'm feeling really good and am all ready to check back into Chateau Mercy tomorrow a.m. for Round 3 of 4. :)
After my little side visit to the hospital on Thursday for the blood transfusion, I'm happy to say I had a really nice weekend. Friday I had lunch with my sweet friend, Marianne. I also visited work and got to catch up with everyone. At work I also spent some time chatting with a dear new friend, Mary, who is also a cancer survivor. She reached out to me early in my diagnosis with support so I wanted to say hello in person and thank her! Saturday I met Brenna and Tate Thomas at the mall. We did a little shopping and had lunch together. Yesterday we had a picnic and spent the afternoon at Lake Poway. It was a really special family day :)
Today I've been very busy running errands, stocking up on groceries, getting a pedicure and cleaning, laundry, etc. Basically getting everything ready around the house for when I get home from this round, probably Saturday morning. I'm getting better and better at this ;)
Today's shout out is for my dear friend, Madelyn. She suffered a stroke on Thursday and is in the hospital. I visited her today and she looks good. I managed to make her laugh so that's a good sign :) She's young, healthy and strong and I know she will make a speedy recovery. Please include her in your prayers, meditations and good thoughts! Thank you.
Much love to all. I'll write again soon. xo Reba
After my little side visit to the hospital on Thursday for the blood transfusion, I'm happy to say I had a really nice weekend. Friday I had lunch with my sweet friend, Marianne. I also visited work and got to catch up with everyone. At work I also spent some time chatting with a dear new friend, Mary, who is also a cancer survivor. She reached out to me early in my diagnosis with support so I wanted to say hello in person and thank her! Saturday I met Brenna and Tate Thomas at the mall. We did a little shopping and had lunch together. Yesterday we had a picnic and spent the afternoon at Lake Poway. It was a really special family day :)
Today I've been very busy running errands, stocking up on groceries, getting a pedicure and cleaning, laundry, etc. Basically getting everything ready around the house for when I get home from this round, probably Saturday morning. I'm getting better and better at this ;)
Today's shout out is for my dear friend, Madelyn. She suffered a stroke on Thursday and is in the hospital. I visited her today and she looks good. I managed to make her laugh so that's a good sign :) She's young, healthy and strong and I know she will make a speedy recovery. Please include her in your prayers, meditations and good thoughts! Thank you.
Much love to all. I'll write again soon. xo Reba
Friday, June 4, 2010
Round 3... Bring it!!!
Hello Everybody!
Last time I blogged with an update I was 48 hours home from the hospital. I'm now 13 days home and finally feeling really good :) Of course we know what that means, back to the hospital I go! Tuesday I'll be checking in for Round 3 of in-patient chemo.
I actually had a short, 5-hour hospital stay yesterday... I had a check up appt with Dr. X yesterday morning. It was routine and I was off to run errands and enjoy my day. Well, a couple hours later my phone rings and it's Dr. X saying I needed to go the the hospital right away! What?! My bloodwork came back and showed I was critically anemic. I spent the evening being transfused with 2 pints of blood, plus a shot in the arm to stimulate red blood cell growth. I felt okay yesterday but today my color is awesome. I'm now nice and rosey cheeked with pretty pink lips. I didn't realize how pale I was yesterday!
The time spent in the out-patient infusion center last night was enriching. I learned alot listening to and observing the nurses and the other chemo patients. We all shared stories of our side effects, complications and insights... the nurses shared stories about how funny we can be as patients ;) This fight can be a complicated and trying one that's for sure, but interacting with them all was a really positive experience. It was interesting to be in a room with people who truly understand and have experienced firsthand the same things I am experiencing.
Recovery from this latest round was different from the first one. The first round was very hard hitting and intense with more side effects. This round wasn't as extreme and the recovery reflected that. While the chemo definitely takes it's toll on a body, I found out yesterday, it's the Nuplasta shot they give me the day after chemo ends that gives me the bone aching and the flu'ish symptoms. The shot stimulates white blood cell production. This time around the nurse suggested I take some Claritin and some Tylenol and those should help with the discomfort. Happily there was no throwing up this treatment or recovery! I was pleasantly surprised by this. I'm crossing my fingers that's the case again.
The current plan is that this third chemo round will be followed by a fourth, and hopefully final, round starting 6/29. Cross your fingers for me! I'll be back in touch post hosptial (I should be home next Saturday). Send lots of healing thoughts my way, and as always, thank you!!!
Much love, Reba
Last time I blogged with an update I was 48 hours home from the hospital. I'm now 13 days home and finally feeling really good :) Of course we know what that means, back to the hospital I go! Tuesday I'll be checking in for Round 3 of in-patient chemo.
I actually had a short, 5-hour hospital stay yesterday... I had a check up appt with Dr. X yesterday morning. It was routine and I was off to run errands and enjoy my day. Well, a couple hours later my phone rings and it's Dr. X saying I needed to go the the hospital right away! What?! My bloodwork came back and showed I was critically anemic. I spent the evening being transfused with 2 pints of blood, plus a shot in the arm to stimulate red blood cell growth. I felt okay yesterday but today my color is awesome. I'm now nice and rosey cheeked with pretty pink lips. I didn't realize how pale I was yesterday!
The time spent in the out-patient infusion center last night was enriching. I learned alot listening to and observing the nurses and the other chemo patients. We all shared stories of our side effects, complications and insights... the nurses shared stories about how funny we can be as patients ;) This fight can be a complicated and trying one that's for sure, but interacting with them all was a really positive experience. It was interesting to be in a room with people who truly understand and have experienced firsthand the same things I am experiencing.
Recovery from this latest round was different from the first one. The first round was very hard hitting and intense with more side effects. This round wasn't as extreme and the recovery reflected that. While the chemo definitely takes it's toll on a body, I found out yesterday, it's the Nuplasta shot they give me the day after chemo ends that gives me the bone aching and the flu'ish symptoms. The shot stimulates white blood cell production. This time around the nurse suggested I take some Claritin and some Tylenol and those should help with the discomfort. Happily there was no throwing up this treatment or recovery! I was pleasantly surprised by this. I'm crossing my fingers that's the case again.
The current plan is that this third chemo round will be followed by a fourth, and hopefully final, round starting 6/29. Cross your fingers for me! I'll be back in touch post hosptial (I should be home next Saturday). Send lots of healing thoughts my way, and as always, thank you!!!
Much love, Reba
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Comments!
I read all the comments, usually several times ;) I love them and appreciate them and they always make me smile. Keep them coming!!!
Love y'all!!!! Reba/Becky/Chemo brain
*Hey, today's the 26th! 1 month until my 47th birthday. I'm so happy I'll be seeing it!!! Life is good.
Love y'all!!!! Reba/Becky/Chemo brain
*Hey, today's the 26th! 1 month until my 47th birthday. I'm so happy I'll be seeing it!!! Life is good.
Monday, May 24, 2010
3 months ago today...
2/24/10 The day I made an emergency entrance into the hospital due to the fact that a 6 inch tumor had been discovered in my abdomen. 2 days later I had surgery and was told I had cancer. It's been a roller coaster ride since then... 2 surgeries, 2 rounds of in-patient chemo, neutropenic fever, countless blood tests, MRIs, CTs, bone scans, you name it... I literally feel dizzy when I think about it! Sometimes it just doesn't seem real. I'll wake up feeling like it was just a dream but then I realize I have no hair or I feel the scar on my tummy and realize it is indeed true. I'm fighting cancer AND happily, winning the fight!
Today I'm 48 hours home from Round II of chemo. My doctor was successful in staying ahead of the nausea this time and that made a huge difference. She also kept me extremely hydrated so I think that helped also. I'm sleeping well, eating regularly and getting out a couple times each day to walk. Once around the block leaves my heart racing and me feeling pretty winded but it feels good to move and get some air and sunshine. I'm very fatigued and a little sore still from surgery. I also have a little bit of chemo brain (slow, slow, slow), but it's not all that bad really. All in all I feel remarkably well and for this I am grateful :)
Although I'm a little lonely, I plan on pretty much being a shut-in this time around, sticking to home and avoiding the general public as much as possible. My immune system should be zero here any day now so it's time for the extra precautions. No raw foods, very limited visitors and lots of hand washing! The good news is once I crash I start rebuilding so if it goes as well as last time I'll be as good as new in no time. Pray for white blood cells to flourish!!!
Happy hair! God bless my hair ;) It's coming back with a vengeance. Especially one little hair right on top of my head... It's 4 times longer than the rest and I lovingly call it my happy hair, the little hair that could! I noticed it just before I went in the hospital and it made my day. It just looks so happy and so determined. Of course Dr. X said, "You know we are going to kill that hair"? Shhhhhh, don't tell my happy hair that! Sad that my new hair will be falling out soon but inspired by the fact that it will indeed come back again when all is said and done.
Well my friends, I'm pooped! Time to rest. I really wanted to catch up the blog and say hello to everyone. I'm not sure my thoughts were articulated as well as I would have liked but as my new motto states, "blame it on the chemo" ;) I'm actually thinking of having a bumper sticker made to that effect.
3 months... sometimes it seems like it's gone so fast and sometimes it seems like it's been a lifetime. What's made it bearable is all the love and support you all provide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
xo Reba
Today I'm 48 hours home from Round II of chemo. My doctor was successful in staying ahead of the nausea this time and that made a huge difference. She also kept me extremely hydrated so I think that helped also. I'm sleeping well, eating regularly and getting out a couple times each day to walk. Once around the block leaves my heart racing and me feeling pretty winded but it feels good to move and get some air and sunshine. I'm very fatigued and a little sore still from surgery. I also have a little bit of chemo brain (slow, slow, slow), but it's not all that bad really. All in all I feel remarkably well and for this I am grateful :)
Although I'm a little lonely, I plan on pretty much being a shut-in this time around, sticking to home and avoiding the general public as much as possible. My immune system should be zero here any day now so it's time for the extra precautions. No raw foods, very limited visitors and lots of hand washing! The good news is once I crash I start rebuilding so if it goes as well as last time I'll be as good as new in no time. Pray for white blood cells to flourish!!!
Happy hair! God bless my hair ;) It's coming back with a vengeance. Especially one little hair right on top of my head... It's 4 times longer than the rest and I lovingly call it my happy hair, the little hair that could! I noticed it just before I went in the hospital and it made my day. It just looks so happy and so determined. Of course Dr. X said, "You know we are going to kill that hair"? Shhhhhh, don't tell my happy hair that! Sad that my new hair will be falling out soon but inspired by the fact that it will indeed come back again when all is said and done.
Well my friends, I'm pooped! Time to rest. I really wanted to catch up the blog and say hello to everyone. I'm not sure my thoughts were articulated as well as I would have liked but as my new motto states, "blame it on the chemo" ;) I'm actually thinking of having a bumper sticker made to that effect.
3 months... sometimes it seems like it's gone so fast and sometimes it seems like it's been a lifetime. What's made it bearable is all the love and support you all provide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
xo Reba
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