I’m free! - Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Round 2, Cycle 1, Day 8 (Monday, 1/15/07), or Day 50
Well, I’m free of my carry around bag of Adriamycin. Just got it disconnected (7:30pm).
Today I have a little more energy than yesterday, but far from what I’d like. The Cytoxan really does a number on me.
Tonight I’ll be able to take a shower, and sleep in my own bed!!! Tomorrow I have an appointment at the Dr’s office – blood work, and I think a shot of Neulasta. Don’t see Dr L until Friday. Also, tomorrow is when I start taking my anti-botics, anti-fungal, etc type medicines.
But, tonight I’m free.
That’s it for now. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, my family, and the medical team on my case.
Tuesday was a good day. - Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Round 2, Cycle 1, Day 9 (Tuesday, 1/16/07), or Day 51
Tuesday was a pretty good day. It being another day away from the Cytoxan, I’m getting a little stronger. Went to the Doctors office in the afternoon to get a shot of Neulasta — supposed to help build up the immune system.
My stomach has not been feeling great over the last several days; not sick, but just not right; probably related to all the chemo that I’ve had.
That’s it for now. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, my family, and the medical team on my case.
Another good day - Thursday, January 18, 2007
Round 2, Cycle 1, Day 10 & 11 (Wednesday & Thursday, 1/17/07 & 1/18/07), or Day 52 & 53
Wednesday was a good day. Thursday also. Feeling more normal each day I stay away from chemo. Strength is slowly returning. Thank You Lord.
Finger and toe numbness is my only side effect of the chemo.
That’s it for now. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, my family, and the medical team on my case.
Time flys when you’re having fun, or even if you’re not - Sunday, January 21, 2007
Round 2, Cycle 1, Day 12-14 (Friday-Sunday, 1/19/07-1/21/07), or Day 54-56
Today, Sunday, will complete 8 weeks of treatments. At times that seems like forever, and at times it doesn’t! The whole process is supposed to take around 24 weeks, so maybe (and that’s if all goes well maybe) I’m about one third of the way finished with treatments.
Each day I seem to get a little stronger, but that is not to say that I don’t have any problems — some problems I’ve decided just not to talk about in such a public forum.
Went in to see Dr L on Friday, except he wasn’t there. He’s had problems with some pesky Kidney Stones over the last week. I’ve had (and currently carry some now), and I wouldn’t trade him — at least not when they’re moving. You may not know what the first one is, but you’ll never confuse the second, or later, ones.
Anyway, I got some blood work done on Friday, and got another shot of Vincristine (the wonderful finger numbing chemo). My White Blood Cells (WBC) and platelets were up, but my RBC were down. Bottom line, good infection fighting; no bleeding problems; limited energy. This would normally be my weakest time for fighting infections. I decided to take a chance and attended church today because of the high WBC. I pray that I didn’t make a mistake in doing so.
Over the last few days, I’ve been doing some programming; not working on anything that will win me a Nobel Prize, but just the fact that I want to do it, and am able concentrate on it, is a good sign, I believe. It’s related to my hobby of Genealogy.
The last few days have generally been good ones, and I thank the Lord for that. I have another week to rest up and get stronger, before they though the next round at me. Oh yeah, this coming Friday I turn 65.
That’s it for now. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, my family, and the medical team on my case.
I’m Winded - Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Round 2, Cycle 1, Day 15-16 (Monday-Tuesday, 1/22/07-1/23/07), or Day 57-58
The last couple of days I’ve been very winded. I walk out to the mailbox, get back, and I can hardly breathe. Today I called the nurse, thinking it was my red blood count. Went in, but that was not the problem; blood counts all look good. Dr M (Dr L is still having Kidney Stone problems) thought it might be related to the steroids that I’ve been taking. I felt fine on Friday before I started taking them. Took the last of them on Monday, so we’ll see.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, in the morning I have a regular appointment with Dr H, my cardiologist. It’s been 6 weeks tomorrow since I had my episode with Atrial Fibrillation problem. Hmmm… Heart problems; breathing problems; what is there about this cycle?
And tomorrow afternoon I’m have an appointment with Dr L, if he’s there; otherwise with someone else. They all seem to be well qualified, so that doesn’t bother me.
That’s it for now. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, my family, and the medical team on my case.
Atrial Fibrillation is back! - Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Round 2, Cycle 1, Day 17 (Wednesday, 1/24/07), or Day 59
Six weeks ago today I had Atrial Fibrillation, and went to the hospital to get it fixed. Today, I met with my cardiologist, Dr H, for my first checkup. Guess what – my heart is doing it again! We discussed the options (millions of people live with it everyday), and decided for now I will just put up with it. He changed my medicines (old one didn’t prevent AF; new one is supposed to lessen the effect of it), and said to come back in 3 weeks.
All that said, I am feeling better today than yesterday. Not as winded, and my voice is stronger. Thank you Lord.
This afternoon we went to see Dr L (yes, he was there); and we discussed the plans for next week. Monday Rituxan; Tuesday admit to the hospital for the next round of Methotrexate and Ara-C. With my strength down already, I must admit that I’m not looking forward to this round — but then what are my options? Your continued prayers will be most appreciated.
What I am looking forward to is (if all goes according to plan) my two children and their families are coming home this weekend to help us celebrate my birthday. It will be our first get together since Thanksgiving. It will be interesting to see what reaction (if any) the grand kids have when they see PaPa with no hair; some probably will not notice (I hope so).
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Three Good Days - Sunday, January 28, 2007
Round 2, Cycle 1, Day 18-20 (Thursday-Saturday, 1/25/07-1/27/07), or Day 60-62
The last three days have been good ones; strength has been increasing a little each day; and I have survived my birthday. My legs are getting stronger again; and my breathe is pretty much back to normal.
My fingers and toes are more numb than before, but I guess I need to just get used to that. I also believe that I’m retaining fluids again. This seems to be happening more often than I’d like — and don’t know why.
I’ve enjoyed seeing our children and grandchildren over the last couple of days. Tomorrow we will be attending church, Lord willing.
Monday starts another round, but we’ll deal with that next week.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Round 2, Cycle 1 is finished - Monday, January 29, 2007
Round 2, Cycle 1, Day 21 (Sunday, 1/28/07), or Day 63
Well, I’ve completed 9 weeks of treatment, and in theory have only 15 weeks left. I must admit that I feel much better right now than I thought I would a week, or even two weeks ago. The Lord has allowed my strength to return at an amazing rate over the last 4 or 5 days. Don’t misunderstand, I’m a long way from from where I was 9 weeks ago, but I certainly feel better than I did, say on Tuesday of this past week.
Tomorrow, Monday, I start Cycle 2. Monday will be Ritaxan in Dr L’s office, then home for the night. Tuesday I’ll head for his office, then to the hospital until Saturday. During that time I’ll get the Methotrexate and Ara-C chemos. I recall from last trip that I had a LOT of fluid retention toward the end of this stay in the hospital. Hope and pray that doesn’t happen again.
Off to bed now.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Monday was a good day. - Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Day 64 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 1 (Monday, 1/29/07)
Pretty much uneventful. Went to Dr L’s office for the Rituxan IV that takes about 5 hours. They give it with benydryl, so I got some good naps along with the medication.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.
Tuesday – back in the Hospital (scheduled) - Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Day 65 – Round 2, Cycle 2, Day 2 (Tuesday, 1/30/07)
Blog is a little late because CMC’s internet access is not working properly. I can get to some sites, but not others — and my blog site is not available . Called Guest Services and they said they were aware of the problem, and that someone was working on it. It’s now about 2pm on Wednesday, and I seem to be able to get on the internet — that only took a little over a day!!
Arrived at Dr L’s office at 8:45am on Tuesday for blood work; and admission to hospital. For this cycle both of my IV ports are needed, so Dr L’s office normally gets them ready, but only one of them seemed to be working. So, they scheduled me to go to CMC Radiology and have them investigate the problem — besides my room at CMC was not ready. At 10:45am I stopped by 4 Tower (my home away from home for the next few days) and left Dr L’s orders for me. I was hopeful that this would speed the process of pharmacy preparing my chemo (as we’ll see, that didn’t help any). Then I went on to Radiology where at 11:30am they called me in, examined the port, and said everything was working okay — guess just setting around for an hour and a half caused it to self heal — amazing technology.
Stopped back by 4 Tower at 11:45am but my room was not ready yet, so I got a voucher for the cafeteria, and ate some real food. Got back about 12:30 and my room was ready for me. So now the real waiting starts.
For the first couple of days of this stay urine pH is important, so I left my first sample for them at 2:50pm — they picked it up at 3:30pm — no hurry, I guess. At 3:30pm they also hooked me up to an IV of Bicarb to starting raising the pH. At 8:30pm they determined that my pH was where it was supposed to be, and they started the “pre-meds”. This was primarily anti-nausea medicine and steroids. Then at about 9:30pm they started the actual chemo of Methotrexate.
That’s it for this day. Thank you for your prayers, emails, cards, and phone calls. God bless you all, and may God bless me, and my family, and the medical team on my case.