Wow, I looked at my blog and saw that it was two weeks since my last post. How did that happen? I am so sorry people for leaving you all 'hanging' like that...you are probably wondering how we are all doing here.
I will fill you in with Dina first. She had her fourth chemo treatment on Friday Dec. 14. She was told very early in this process that each treatment will bring a longer recovery time and her fatigue will increase. HAH! They were right! I think what hurts the most for her is her bones...they all just ache. Yesterday she spent most of the day in bed. She is anemic and we have been told that is the reason for the bone pain. The doctor is watching it closely and right now even though she is anemic, the level has not gone to the point of requiring a blood transfusion. She continues to receive her blood booster shot. So what is wrong with staying in bed, all snugly warm among flannel blankets and soft down pillows with a TV in the room and maybe a good book too? NOTHING! As long as the kiddos are all in school! ha ha...otherwise I think they would all be in bed with her...and trust me, that wouldn't be as relaxing!
I am praying she will be back to her new 'normal' by the holiday. Oh and she should be having one more CT scan here in another week...we are so anxious to hear the report from that...we pray that even more of the cancer will be eliminated from her body...wouldn't that be the best Christmas gift EVER? I will definitely post a report once we get the news...so stay tuned!
Now about me...I don't think one can even imagine all the parts of the body that is effected when one takes out a little old lobe of lung! The whole left upper back feels so 'numb' yet at the same time it aches and is very uncomfortable...standing for any time puts a lot of pressure on the back...at least that is what it feels like. It feels like the whole left side is hard, like the muscle has gone into spasm...And I don't know, maybe that is what is happening. The nerves are all very extra sensitive...not only in the back, but right around to the breast bone in the front. Now, please don't take this as "whining"...I'm really not! I guess I just want to keep this real and document how this is feeling to me. Because we know the saying: You don't remember pain! Well, you can maybe recall the pain, but you cannot relive it....that is what I always heard about having babies...(for some). And that is a good thing - to not remember the pain! So getting back to what I feel - lots of tingling in a not very comfortable way. Lots of pressure in the back and around to the front...Scott will catch me with my hand over my left breast...I don't know why, I cause I feel if I apply pressure it will ease off a bit, it seems the bones just ache around there..Well, of course you know they had this four inch tube separating my ribs to get to the lung and so I imagine lots of things are trying to heal inside there...lots of damage to the nerve endings.
Okay, enough of that, how about some good news! I saw the oncologist on Monday and the biopsy results showed NO other diseases in the area...!!! So they got it all! We can all do a happy dance and Praise the Lord! I will have some follow up CT scans in the years to follow...this type of cancer is very slow growing, so I imagine even if another one did pop up, it would take a while to actually show up. And just to remind you all, it was a low-grade cancer tumor, however after the lung biopsy, it was raised to a higher level within the low grade spectrum. And it is also a more rare form...so we will just watch it. The doctor said it could be 6 months or more before I actually feel like I can do what I did before...but I think I will try a few minutes on the illiptical...just to get my lungs working, you know!
I did have one set back in that I developed a nasty urinary infection...that has kept me laying around even more...the whole tummy feels yucky and maybe a little low grade fever...And you know me...offering it up to the Lord. He is my Comforter and Healer...I give it all to Him! So today is a new day...I always seem to wake early (sometimes way to early) and I just need to get out of bed and sit up and move around a bit. I am so looking forward to laying on my right side. Actually I have a funny story to tell...yesterday morning I was up early...like 4am...I read a bit on the couch, sat up and then finally around 7 decided I could go back to bed and catch a few more winks. I so desperately wanted to lay on my 'bad side'...so I gently went from my back ever so slowly towards my left side...now I was not completely on my side...no way could I do that...but just a little bit. Oh...heaven, felt so good to lay my head on the pillow with my left ear! (do you know how tired my 'right ear' gets from laying on it all day long? ha...trust me, it is getting annoyed!!). And I immediately fell asleep, for maybe 40 minutes. I woke up and tried to go to my back and I couldn't move! Just shifting my right shoulder to slowly lay me on my back caused great pain...I was once again a "beached whale" on my side! I think I must have moaned because Scott was right there to help me sit up and adjust myself. Okay, I tried, I guess I will have to wait a while longer to lay on my missing lung side!
That's it for me my dear family and friends. I am just taking one day at a time...trying to do little things, like walk a bit...Scott makes sure I get out...you know we always have to run to Home Depot...sometimes I get out and walk in the store (which BTW really poops me out!) and sometimes I just sit in the car...I do like getting out for the fresh air and being a part of the world.
If I don't post before Christmas, I do want to wish you all a very blessed one...one filled with joy and love. Treasure each other...don't take anyone or anything for granted...cherish time spent with your loved ones. My Christmas cards will be sent out, although they may be a bit late in the coming!
Thank you for your continued prayers!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A New Me... Minus one Lung
Hi everyone...let me fill you in with what has been happening since I came home. First I thought it would be much easier to do things, to sit and read or knit or be on my new tablet. Well, that has NOT been the case at all. I am really tired and tend to sleep a lot. Scott says he cannot believe how long it is taking me to finish this book I am reading, normally I can whip those out in no time. But post surgery every time I pick up the book I fall asleep! ha ha!!
I came home Thursday night and discovered that I could not move on my own. I could NOT get off the couch by myself. I certainly could not lay down by myself and NO WAY could I get myself out of bed. I seriously felt like a beached whale and I did NOT like that feeling of helplessness at all. Halfway through the night, I grabbed my pillows, water, etc and headed for the couch. I could prop myself up with the armrest and be half sitting/half laying on my 'good side'. And then it was manageable. Friday night we decided to try propping me up in bed, so gathered all the extra pillows in the house and I had 5 of them under or around or on me! That did the trick! I could sleep in bed! Yeah!
Saturday I woke with a bit of a headache and throughout the day it just kept getting worse. I took several naps and even after sleeping for several hours, I still had that pounding headache and it was beginning to make me sick to my stomach...and I did make a dash to the kitchen sink and threw up some water and I knew instantly I did NOT want to do that again! By the time we were going to bed my blood pressure was quite high and Scott did not like that, so he called the surgeon's office to talk to someone, they suggested going to the ER to have my blood pressure checked out, they did not think it was related to the surgery itself. So we were in the ER until 4 in the morning and they helped get the headache pain under control through an IV. They were so kind and so helpful at Meridian Park Hospital. They weren't sure, but thought the headache caused the high blood pressure. The ER doctor checked with an anesthesiologist up in the birthing center and thought the headache may be a result of the epidural I had for the surgery. After several hours of an IV with the great drug dilaudid we managed to get the head pain under control...I did throw up at the hospital and let me tell you that was NOT a fun experience...as much as I tried hugging my sides, it just was very painful. Scott and I both came home and crashed into bed and slept away the morning.
A dear friend brought communion to me, so I was able to hear the gospel and receive Our Lord. We had a nice visit. Then I took another nap in time to receive two more guests...my girl friends from high school. I must show you what they brought for me:
Silky Zebra Print Pillowcases!! How awesome are those (there are two of them!), an angel night light from IKEA! LOVE it!, candy, books and an awesome, hand made purse/bag with zebra print and two pockets in the front! I tell you, I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends who take care of me! And zebra print...now didn't I pick the right kind of cancer...so trendy right now! ha ha!
After they left I slept for a couple more hours and then watched a little TV with Scott, but we both were ready for bed by 8:30 Sunday night. Monday morning I woke feeling okay...no headache....had a bite to eat so I could take my pills and then amazingly enough I fell asleep on the couch for two more hours and when I woke, I had the headache again.. GRRR...the doctor's office said it was okay to take more oxycodone to get the pain under control...so I did that, went back to bed and slept soundly for three more hours. And when I woke, I felt really good. In fact, I did not take any more pain pills the rest of the day, not until I was going to bed did I decide I should take something to make sure I stay on top of the pain.
And that is where I am now...each day is getting a little better. A little less pain in the surgical area...I have a 2.5 inch incision on the left side of my back where they pulled out the lung. I have two other small circle like incisions ...one on my side and the other under my left breast...I will be so happy to be able to sleep on my "other side". For now...no driving until the 12 of December when I will get the stitches out...no lifting of 10 pounds or more for 6 weeks...so a fairly decent recovery time. And I use the breathing apparatus to build my lung capacity and each day it is getting better. Prior to the surgery I had a pulmonary function test and I scored 112%...so with 20% of my lung gone now, it still puts me at 92 %...so I feel like that can be quite doable for me...after all, I do not run marathons! I don't think I will miss this lung too much, of course I wish I did not have to have it removed, this has not been a pleasant experience, but a necessary one...just hope I don't get another one of those carcinoid tumors someplace else.
Now let me give you an update on Dina. She is halfway through her chemo and gosh darn that girl looks so good it is unbelievable! She is getting the white cell booster shot every time after her chemo now and it is causing some bone aches for about a week. She still has not gotten "sick"...yes she gets very tired and always nauseous after her chemo, but it has not kept the girl down...she still keeps going and going. I think she takes after my mom and even me (I hope)...if we can do for ourselves, it is best for our psyche to do so, it really makes us feel better to get up and be "normal" or as normal as we can be. We just need to know when to slow down and take care of ourselves. For now, Dina is going to basketball games for Ellie, taking Ellie to volleyball practices, and thankfully Lily gets to walk out the door to the backyard "Barn" and have her VB practice. Actually Ellie has one night a week of practice in The Barn also.
The timing for her chemo is really working out for the Christmas celebrations. Her next one will be Dec. 14 so that means by the time Christmas Eve and day rolls around, she should be feeling pretty good. Her fifth infusion will be Jan. 4 and finally her last one is scheduled for Jan 25. Of course all of this will be checked with more PET scans and CT scans and blood work. Also she will be having another bone marrow biopsy about 8 weeks after her final treatment...those results will determine if indeed she can be done or if she needs further treatment. So continue with the prayers "lifting her up" to the Lord that she may be done with this journey and go out and become a testament to the Power of Prayer. We thank you all so much for the prayers and good wishes.
Thank you for walking beside us on this journey. Every day we are shown the love and support from YOU, our dear friends and family! Thank you for supporting us and thank you to all who are a part of Team Dina...be sure to take a picture of yourself wearing the Team Dina gear and send it to me or even Dina...we are going to make a BIG poster with all her supporters...You all are loved so much!
I came home Thursday night and discovered that I could not move on my own. I could NOT get off the couch by myself. I certainly could not lay down by myself and NO WAY could I get myself out of bed. I seriously felt like a beached whale and I did NOT like that feeling of helplessness at all. Halfway through the night, I grabbed my pillows, water, etc and headed for the couch. I could prop myself up with the armrest and be half sitting/half laying on my 'good side'. And then it was manageable. Friday night we decided to try propping me up in bed, so gathered all the extra pillows in the house and I had 5 of them under or around or on me! That did the trick! I could sleep in bed! Yeah!
Saturday I woke with a bit of a headache and throughout the day it just kept getting worse. I took several naps and even after sleeping for several hours, I still had that pounding headache and it was beginning to make me sick to my stomach...and I did make a dash to the kitchen sink and threw up some water and I knew instantly I did NOT want to do that again! By the time we were going to bed my blood pressure was quite high and Scott did not like that, so he called the surgeon's office to talk to someone, they suggested going to the ER to have my blood pressure checked out, they did not think it was related to the surgery itself. So we were in the ER until 4 in the morning and they helped get the headache pain under control through an IV. They were so kind and so helpful at Meridian Park Hospital. They weren't sure, but thought the headache caused the high blood pressure. The ER doctor checked with an anesthesiologist up in the birthing center and thought the headache may be a result of the epidural I had for the surgery. After several hours of an IV with the great drug dilaudid we managed to get the head pain under control...I did throw up at the hospital and let me tell you that was NOT a fun experience...as much as I tried hugging my sides, it just was very painful. Scott and I both came home and crashed into bed and slept away the morning.
A dear friend brought communion to me, so I was able to hear the gospel and receive Our Lord. We had a nice visit. Then I took another nap in time to receive two more guests...my girl friends from high school. I must show you what they brought for me:
After they left I slept for a couple more hours and then watched a little TV with Scott, but we both were ready for bed by 8:30 Sunday night. Monday morning I woke feeling okay...no headache....had a bite to eat so I could take my pills and then amazingly enough I fell asleep on the couch for two more hours and when I woke, I had the headache again.. GRRR...the doctor's office said it was okay to take more oxycodone to get the pain under control...so I did that, went back to bed and slept soundly for three more hours. And when I woke, I felt really good. In fact, I did not take any more pain pills the rest of the day, not until I was going to bed did I decide I should take something to make sure I stay on top of the pain.
And that is where I am now...each day is getting a little better. A little less pain in the surgical area...I have a 2.5 inch incision on the left side of my back where they pulled out the lung. I have two other small circle like incisions ...one on my side and the other under my left breast...I will be so happy to be able to sleep on my "other side". For now...no driving until the 12 of December when I will get the stitches out...no lifting of 10 pounds or more for 6 weeks...so a fairly decent recovery time. And I use the breathing apparatus to build my lung capacity and each day it is getting better. Prior to the surgery I had a pulmonary function test and I scored 112%...so with 20% of my lung gone now, it still puts me at 92 %...so I feel like that can be quite doable for me...after all, I do not run marathons! I don't think I will miss this lung too much, of course I wish I did not have to have it removed, this has not been a pleasant experience, but a necessary one...just hope I don't get another one of those carcinoid tumors someplace else.
Now let me give you an update on Dina. She is halfway through her chemo and gosh darn that girl looks so good it is unbelievable! She is getting the white cell booster shot every time after her chemo now and it is causing some bone aches for about a week. She still has not gotten "sick"...yes she gets very tired and always nauseous after her chemo, but it has not kept the girl down...she still keeps going and going. I think she takes after my mom and even me (I hope)...if we can do for ourselves, it is best for our psyche to do so, it really makes us feel better to get up and be "normal" or as normal as we can be. We just need to know when to slow down and take care of ourselves. For now, Dina is going to basketball games for Ellie, taking Ellie to volleyball practices, and thankfully Lily gets to walk out the door to the backyard "Barn" and have her VB practice. Actually Ellie has one night a week of practice in The Barn also.
The timing for her chemo is really working out for the Christmas celebrations. Her next one will be Dec. 14 so that means by the time Christmas Eve and day rolls around, she should be feeling pretty good. Her fifth infusion will be Jan. 4 and finally her last one is scheduled for Jan 25. Of course all of this will be checked with more PET scans and CT scans and blood work. Also she will be having another bone marrow biopsy about 8 weeks after her final treatment...those results will determine if indeed she can be done or if she needs further treatment. So continue with the prayers "lifting her up" to the Lord that she may be done with this journey and go out and become a testament to the Power of Prayer. We thank you all so much for the prayers and good wishes.
Thank you for walking beside us on this journey. Every day we are shown the love and support from YOU, our dear friends and family! Thank you for supporting us and thank you to all who are a part of Team Dina...be sure to take a picture of yourself wearing the Team Dina gear and send it to me or even Dina...we are going to make a BIG poster with all her supporters...You all are loved so much!
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