The game plan was that I would go back down to Boston tomorrow night with Melissa and receive my chemo in the wee hours of Wed. morning. Mom would stay with Melissa's and my kids while we were gone, with Melissa's husband taking over after work. We had "helpers" lined up to assist Mom with the 5 kids.
My blood work from today revealed that my kidneys are in high gear, which is a first for me. (Normally, it's my liver that keeps me in the hospital the extra night after methotrexate.) This is my body's way of screaming "UNCLE!" to the doctor, so he has decided that I will not be receiving ANY more methotrexate. This week's treatment is canceled, which as you can imagine left me cheering. I'll get my last treatment, the big guns, next week, as planned.
So for those of you who are concerned about the kidneys, my level should be 0.5-1.3 (with my personal numbers in the range of 0.7-1.0). Today's reading was 2.7. So, I go for blood work again tomorrow to make sure that the numbers are dropping. In the meantime, I need to hydrate more and keep taking the antidote for the methotrexate "until further notice".
I think the coolest part about all of this is how I can see God's hand in it (which I'm not always able to recognize). I was concerned about Mom having all 5 kids, given her fatigue lately and the kids just having got back from family vacation. I was concerned about my body handling the methotrexate as I don't feel ready - still quite fatigued and not quite right. I was bummed to have to tell Anderson's teacher "no" to helping with the pumpkin party on Thursday, due to treatment. Well, this "change in plans" took care of all of that in 1 swoop!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Chemo Update
Sorry no info. until now; Bob scrubbed the scrolling banner. 8) I'm home and exhausted...slept all day except maybe 2 hours. God keeps reminding me that tomorrow is a new day, and He still has me in His hands. At least I'm not sick, just feel crappy-tired, chilled, no appetite, thrush is back. Some of it might be due to getting a flu shot too. (H1N1 not avail. yet, so maybe I'll have that next week.)
Interesting trip to Boston, as always. Adventure started with the car drive; Aunt Carol and I missed our exit and didn't realize until we saw signs for Rte. 90. It was very dark, lots of trucks on the road (we passed), and we were gabbing. We're not used to traveling it at night either. Regardless, a phone call to Bob and a trip through the airport terminal got us back on track and we eventually made it at 9:08. The whole thing struck me as quite humorous, not sure why. The late time didn't really matter because they weren't going to give me chemo until the early morning (at my request - it's too tough on me in the middle of the night). The bed wasn't available until 7pm, which actually turned out to be a good thing as I was able to have Anderson's birthday breakfast for dinner with the family (thanks to Auntie and Dave).
I ended up getting chemo at 10:30am due to some craziness on the floor and the dr. not realizing that they won't mix the chemo until 9am (he had written the order for 10/22, which meant they couldn't mix it the night before). So, this was a very different experience, and my fatigue is usually what I would be experiencing Thurs. night. I'm just thankful that my liver settled down enough yesterday so I could get home mid-afternoon. (Also, it was great to see my nurse friends on Phillips 21 again as it had been about a month.)
It looks like I'll have the same schedule next week due to the minimum time required between treatments.
Interesting trip to Boston, as always. Adventure started with the car drive; Aunt Carol and I missed our exit and didn't realize until we saw signs for Rte. 90. It was very dark, lots of trucks on the road (we passed), and we were gabbing. We're not used to traveling it at night either. Regardless, a phone call to Bob and a trip through the airport terminal got us back on track and we eventually made it at 9:08. The whole thing struck me as quite humorous, not sure why. The late time didn't really matter because they weren't going to give me chemo until the early morning (at my request - it's too tough on me in the middle of the night). The bed wasn't available until 7pm, which actually turned out to be a good thing as I was able to have Anderson's birthday breakfast for dinner with the family (thanks to Auntie and Dave).
I ended up getting chemo at 10:30am due to some craziness on the floor and the dr. not realizing that they won't mix the chemo until 9am (he had written the order for 10/22, which meant they couldn't mix it the night before). So, this was a very different experience, and my fatigue is usually what I would be experiencing Thurs. night. I'm just thankful that my liver settled down enough yesterday so I could get home mid-afternoon. (Also, it was great to see my nurse friends on Phillips 21 again as it had been about a month.)
It looks like I'll have the same schedule next week due to the minimum time required between treatments.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Off-time Fun
God really blessed us with providing a great deal of energy during these last 2 weeks. I still nap most afternoons, but I've actually taken care of the kids a little bit by myself and accomplished a few things on my wish list.
*Anderson and I went on a birthday date...lunch at Friendly's, 6 year photo, and shopping for party favors for his brithday party with 5 friends.
*God gave me the energy to prepare for the party - doing invitations, shopping for party favors and supplies, making Anderson's cake, getting a gift, and making birthday brownies for his class. (I was very surprised by the energy I was able to exert, as well as the fact that my hip retaliated. It seems to be a bit better now.)
*The kids and I, with the assistance of my friend, picked apples at an orchard, saw baby farm animals, and went through a maze. Ethan loved riding in the backpack on Melissa's back! We all had a good time in spite of the cold.
*We had some fun family time with another family at a different orchard, having a pizza picnic and getting drops. (Mom and Lyndsey spent all day making applesauce! Hard work!)
*I finished getting Lyndsey and Ethan's clothes settled - clothes that are too small packed/given away and clothes that fit put in the drawers. Anderson's clothes are half-way there.
*I've been able to go to women's Bible study regularly...so uplifting!
*I actually scrapbooked 1 night - not very productive but the chatting was great. I also hung out with friends at a girls' night out. It was great to be with the girls.
So, as you can see, God has been very gracious. I know that this last cycle will bring more challenges, and after that, even more challenges with not overdoing it and the transition within our family. But, God will continue to take care of things. I just need to keep my eyes on Him.
*Anderson and I went on a birthday date...lunch at Friendly's, 6 year photo, and shopping for party favors for his brithday party with 5 friends.
*God gave me the energy to prepare for the party - doing invitations, shopping for party favors and supplies, making Anderson's cake, getting a gift, and making birthday brownies for his class. (I was very surprised by the energy I was able to exert, as well as the fact that my hip retaliated. It seems to be a bit better now.)
*The kids and I, with the assistance of my friend, picked apples at an orchard, saw baby farm animals, and went through a maze. Ethan loved riding in the backpack on Melissa's back! We all had a good time in spite of the cold.
*We had some fun family time with another family at a different orchard, having a pizza picnic and getting drops. (Mom and Lyndsey spent all day making applesauce! Hard work!)
*I finished getting Lyndsey and Ethan's clothes settled - clothes that are too small packed/given away and clothes that fit put in the drawers. Anderson's clothes are half-way there.
*I've been able to go to women's Bible study regularly...so uplifting!
*I actually scrapbooked 1 night - not very productive but the chatting was great. I also hung out with friends at a girls' night out. It was great to be with the girls.
So, as you can see, God has been very gracious. I know that this last cycle will bring more challenges, and after that, even more challenges with not overdoing it and the transition within our family. But, God will continue to take care of things. I just need to keep my eyes on Him.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Update
This last trip to Boston went pretty smoothly once they finally found a bed for me (after calling a couple of times to change the status). Jason stayed the first night, and Nichole stayed the second night. I really appreciated the quality time, good conversations. I'm doing well considering that this week was the big gun's treatment and sleep was challenging. Once again, I was able to walk out of the hospital! The fatigue hit Friday (and today), but I won't complain. This could be SO much worse. The thrush is back but no mouth sores so far! The dr. cut both drugs in half this time, and I had a blood transfusion. So, these are good reasons for me to have better-than-normal energy. Good-bye Cycle 5!!!!
When I got home on Thursday, I took Ethan to the dr. The poor little guy has a double ear infection. My poor mother spent a lot of the previous night awake, trying to sooth him back to sleep, but at least the next night was much better, thanks to the antibiotic and Tylenol. He seems to be doing well now.
When I got home on Thursday, I took Ethan to the dr. The poor little guy has a double ear infection. My poor mother spent a lot of the previous night awake, trying to sooth him back to sleep, but at least the next night was much better, thanks to the antibiotic and Tylenol. He seems to be doing well now.
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