Good Day, Bad Day - Thursday, March 1, 2007
Day 94-95 – Round 3, Cycle 1, Day 10-11 (Wed-Thu, 2/28-3/1/07)
Wednesday and Thursday were really good days, sort of. Went shopping for a computer for the church on Wednesday, and attended Lenten services that night.
I didn’t sleep well last night and decided to get up about 4am and do some work on the computer. Internet was down, what a bummer! So, I called Roadrunner, and they said their automated voice system was down — strange, because I thought the automated voice system answered the phone. I made a couple of selections, and then I found out they were right — it went to never, never land. Finally, and called back, and made some different choices and got connected to a live person in Raleigh — they said that Charlotte was doing “routine” maintenance and the system would be up at 5am. At 5:30 I called again, and the automated voice system was up, and I got someone in Charlotte, that said they knew there was a problem and they were working on it, but didn’t know when it would be up (apparently the “routine” maintenance didn’t go “routinely”).
Anyway, the Internet (and my digital phone) was still down at 9am so I left for church to install the new computer for our retired pastor that we purchased on Wednesday. My first experience with MS Vista, and nothing went right. I left about 4:30pm without being any more done than I was at 9:30 this morning — but I think tomorrow will go much better. (Computer people are always optimistic!)
Speaking of tomorrow, I do have an appointment to see Dr L at 11:30am — but it’s close to the church, so I should be able to work in both without any problem. I’m going to ask if I can delay round 4 for about 4 weeks to give my GIT a chance to heal up a little. Today was not good from that stand point.
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.
I’m Tired! - Sunday, March 4, 2007
Day 96-97 – Round 3, Cycle 1, Day 12-13 (Fri-Sat, 3/2-3/3/07)
Friday was a good day; went to church and finished installing the new computer. Then went on to Dr L’s office for a routine visit, and another shot of Vincristine.
This morning I got up early, but was winded because I think my heart has gone into Atrial Fibrillation, which saps all my energy.
My GIT is still my primary problem, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.
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.
I’m Still Tired - Monday, March 5, 2007
Day 98-99 – Round 3, Cycle 1, Day 14-15 (Sun-Mon, 3/4-5/3/07)
Sunday I was too tired to go to church, so I stayed home while Verna attended. Took a nap in the afternoon. Sometimes I can get up and move 40 feet to the other end of the house, and sometimes, I can’t make it to the doorway of the room I’m in without resting — Not my idea of a good time.
Today, I had a routine doctors’ visit to check my blood chemistry. Because I was still weak, Verna drove me. She let me out of the car before parking, and I had to lean on a nearby car to rest before going into the building. I went to the office and waited for her. When they called me, the assistant took one look at me, and got a wheelchair. I did not refuse. What should have taken only a few minutes ended up taking 4 hours — Dr L confirmed that I was in Atrial Fibrillation, and wanted to admit me to the hospital. I talked him out of that for now — and he gave me some IV Potassium to help me out. I didn’t get a copy of the lab results, but things didn’t look that unusual.
Wasn’t supposed to go back to Dr L until Wednesday, but I now have another appointment Tuesday morning.
Your prayers for a “normal” heart rhythm would be greatly appreciated.
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.
Praise the Lord - Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Day 100 – Round 3, Cycle 1, Day 16 (Tue, 3/6/07)
Well, yesterday about an hour after I posted my blog, and asked for your prayers — my heart went back in to it’s regular rhythm — Praise the Lord! — and thanks for your prayers.
This morning I went to see Dr L and he also confirmed that my heart was back in rhythm. It’s amazing how much better I feel!
I’m scheduled now to go to the Blumenthal Cancer Center on Friday for a blood infusion to give me some more energy. Friday is the earliest that they had an opening, so I guess I’ll have to wait.
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.
Not much going on - Friday, March 9, 20007
Day 101-103 – Round 3, Cycle 1, Day 17-19 (Wed-Fri, 3/7-9/07)
As the title says, not much going here. Wednesday evening we went to church.
Thursday I went to the Blumenthal Cancer Center for about 10 minutes so they could draw blood and type it for Friday. (I don’t know if it’s a federal law, or just their practice, but if it’s been over 3 days since you blood has been typed (AB+ in my case), they draw a sample and retype it. At that time they also put a band on your wrist, which you must have when you come back to get the blood transfusion.) Thursday evening we went out to eat.
Friday morning I went to the BCC for two units of red blood. Each unit takes about 2 hours to infuse. Got there about 9am, and left about 1:30pm.
Like I said, not much going on. Monday starts the next cycle.
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.
Today ends Round 3, Cycle 1 - Sunday, March 11, 2007
Day 104-105 – Round 3, Cycle 1, Day 20-21 (Sat-Sun, 3/10-11/07)
My only lingering problem is water retention in my legs and hands. Probably elsewhere, but I don’t notice it. It does bother me in that after being done with chemo for 2 weeks I still have water retention. I must talk with Dr L about this tomorrow before we start the next cycle.
Today we got up and attended church, and for the first time in 3 weeks I stayed for bible class. Afterward we stopped by the hospital to visit a friend who was admitted because she was in Atrial Fibrillation. She’s back in sinus rhythm now, and should go home Monday. After that we stopped and had lunch before returning home. Beautiful day out — thanks be to the Lord.
Tomorrow we start another cycle, and I must admit that I’m not really looking forward to it. Don’t get me wrong, I know it is necessary, and I will do it, but I’m just wondering what it’s going to do to my body. This cycle is a high hydration cycle, which when added to my current water retention problem, just makes me wonder about its impact on my body. This weeks schedule calls for Rituxan on Monday in the doctors office; then Methotrexate and Ara C being administered in the hospital from Tuesday through Saturday, with release being on Saturday.
I would ask for your prayers that the doctor take the right steps to eliminate my water retention problem, and that there be no long term problems caused by it.
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.
Timing is everything! - Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Day 106 – Round 3, Cycle 2, Day 1 (Mon, 3/12/07)
All systems are go for Cycle 2. Even my GIT has settled down. Only remaining problems: hair loss and finger & toe numbness (and those aren’t going away for awhile), and fluid retention!
On the fluid retention front — Dr L gave me a prescription for some “Thigh High Socks” (compression hose). They go from my toes to my… well, to the top of my legs (smile). They are supposed to squeeze the water out of my legs and into my kidneys, and thus reduce fluid retention — hope they work because Cycle 2 that I’m just starting is an “aggressive hydration” chemo. I’m not sure why Dr L wrote a prescription for them; they are NOT covered by Medicare, and I doubt they will be covered by my secondary insurance. I think I just paid $116 for a pair of long socks! But, hey, that also includes a pair of gripper type rubber gloves to help slide them on. Well, tomorrow it’s off the Dr L’s office at 9:15, and then to the hospital assuming a room is available, then wait for the pharmacy to prepare the chemos, then wait, wait, wait…, and come home on Saturday. Don’t know what’s going to be on TV this week — hopefully it won’t be reruns of what to do with the body of Anna Nicole Smith trial!! 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.
Back in the Hospital (Scheduled) - Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Day 107 – Round 3, Cycle 2, Day 2 (Tue, 3/13/07)
Seems like getting into and out of a hospital is the most stressful part of my stays! Guess that’s good. Left the doctors office at 10:15am, and there was no room available at the hospital, but…. there was going to be one available in “an hour”. So we found something to do for an hour and went to the hospital where we were told it would be “an hour”, so we found a place to eat. It was a nice day out and we had a great lunch and returned to the hospital at about 12:15. I told Verna to just drop me off, as there was no need for her to waste her entire day. Well, I finally got into my room at about 1:45.
After getting to my room, the nurses ordered my chemo (they can’t do that until I actually get to my room) and took my vitals. I then left for awhile to visit another patient from church that we visited on Sunday. Her stay has been extended for a few days.
Upon returning I got out my trustee laptop and proceeded to frustrate myself because the hospital wireless LAN was not working — they finally got it working about 5pm.
My IV got hooked up about 3:30, my premed started about 8pm and my chemo started at 8:30pm.
Sleep was less than ideal during the night. I think that I will ask for a sleeping pill tonight.
Other than that, I’m doing fine. Been for a brief walk this morning. They already have me on lasix, so I’m not going very far from my room for awhile.
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.