I saw my oncologist this morning. I had to go and get blood work and an EKG - apparently with the chemo meds that I take can affect my heart so they are watching that closely. So I'm going in every two weeks for an EKG...
She did tell us that my PET scan shows no 'hot spots' in my left hip (that's gone), tumors of the right hip and liver are decreased again!
We heard yesterday that the interview that I did with TV6 was going to air today. I wasn't sure exactly how it would sound ... was a little worried about looking stupid BUT honestly I have to laugh at how swollen I am, how my hair looks. It was nice to see my doctor and the doctor that trained him - I owe them so much - along with their staff and ALL my doctors and staff that have helped!!!
I'm trying to upload the TV6 news; here is the link that you can see the TV6 news broadcast: http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=813664#.UKRcyYdTznF)
I blogged on the above part on 11/13 but wasn't sure how it sounded and I have honestly been too busy with work and life that I didn't look at it until now (Sunday, 11/18). I'm going in for a trim to my hair on Tuesday (11/20) with Casey. I've been extremely tired this weekend. I think this week I will cut back on my hours at work and rest - we are off Thursday and Friday. I don't want to overdo it! (I went in the shower today at my mom's house, washed my hair and noticed some of it was coming out... not sure if I am going to lose it from the chemo or it is just thinning in the area where I had brain radiation.)
In fact, Kurt has suggested that I go to bed now (7:47 p.m.) and get a good nights rest. :) I talked to my mom and I said I didn't really do anything in particular this weekend and she said, "It takes a lot out of you to get in and out of the car." so I said, I never really thought of it that way ... I want to be able to do things like normal life - but it doesn't come that easy any more. Not sure if it is from the meds that I am on?!?
Good night! And, I continue to believe.
(Speaking of 'believe'.... We went to the U.P. P!nk Power benefit at the Throttle in Little Lake on Saturday and my co-worker's fiance, Mike Salo was doing henna tattoos. He did one for Ashley that said "Believe" and the "L" was a cancer ribbon. I will post that the next time. It turned out REALLY beautiful!)
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Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Can You See What I See? (Or... It's More Can I See What You See?) - 11/3/2012
I was at work on Thursday, November 1st and about 12 noon my vision started to become goofy. The best way I could describe it is that I could not see up or down (peripheral vision was affected) and I "clouds" in my overall vision. While I felt good overall, I called Kurt and asked him to come and get me. He asked me what time I wanted him to come and I said, "Preferably now," and then told him what was happening. He said he would come and get me to take me to the ER. I was fine with that so he knew I was worried. While I waited for him, I heated up my french onion soup and sat eating in the front reception area waiting for him.
We went to the ER and, of course, I got to say hi to A LOT of doctors and PAs that I've gotten to know. My parent's neighbor, who happens to be an ER doctor, as well the doctor that came in to see me (his last name clued me in to ask if he was related to a girl I work with... and it's his daughter - SMALL world as I didn't know her dad was a doctor). I also saw two of the PAs from my neurosurgeon's office. So, by the time I left the ER my vision appeared to be normal.
After testing my vision, they determined that I needed an MRI. So, I went down to have that (and, of course, know them VERY well). Once we got up, the PAs reviewed my MRI from that day compared to the MRI from October 8th. It was determined that all but one of my tumors has shrunk - not sure how much but that must mean that the chemo drug that I have been on for about 5 weeks is working. The only issues are that one of my tumors hemorrhaged and that two of my fingers on my left hand had been 'twitching' for a few days. So, they increased my decadron meds (which is for brain swelling or in this case the hemorrhage) and increased my Keppra (which is for seizures - which they wonder if my fingers are twitching because of seizures?). They also wanted me to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor on Friday to have a visual field test (which was what I had done before/after my brain port surgery).
So, Friday I went to have an eye exam and the visual field exam. The eye doctor kept asking me if I had any headaches (which I didn't); he thought it could be from migraines. From my exam, he thought that my optic nerve in my left eye was pale but he thought that it was probably like that for awhile (caused by radiation to my brain). The visual field exam was inconclusive as I was supposed to keep looking at the dot in the machine and I kept looking at the little lights. So... I have to have that test again in a month.
I had some questions regarding what we were told about my MRI so I called my neurosurgeon's nurse and asked. The hemorrhage shouldn't need surgery; I was told to have another MRI in about 8 weeks.
I have been complaining for weeks that my eyes seem to be puffy and I wake up with wet eyes. (I'm told that this is more than likely from my decadron medication... much as it makes me swell up, the things it helps control make it worth it for the few side effects).
So, basically say a prayer for Kurt and the rest of the people who are around me - because he says this med (and especially an increase in it) does make me A LOT bitchy.
This week I go for my next PET scan to see how the chemo meds are working. (I found out only how they worked against the brain tumors from the MRI - here's hoping they continue to work with the hip/liver tumors and there are NO new tumors.) I won't find out until the following week when I see my oncologist but I will keep praying and believing! :)
Thanks for believing and the thoughts/prayers!!!! :)
We went to the ER and, of course, I got to say hi to A LOT of doctors and PAs that I've gotten to know. My parent's neighbor, who happens to be an ER doctor, as well the doctor that came in to see me (his last name clued me in to ask if he was related to a girl I work with... and it's his daughter - SMALL world as I didn't know her dad was a doctor). I also saw two of the PAs from my neurosurgeon's office. So, by the time I left the ER my vision appeared to be normal.
After testing my vision, they determined that I needed an MRI. So, I went down to have that (and, of course, know them VERY well). Once we got up, the PAs reviewed my MRI from that day compared to the MRI from October 8th. It was determined that all but one of my tumors has shrunk - not sure how much but that must mean that the chemo drug that I have been on for about 5 weeks is working. The only issues are that one of my tumors hemorrhaged and that two of my fingers on my left hand had been 'twitching' for a few days. So, they increased my decadron meds (which is for brain swelling or in this case the hemorrhage) and increased my Keppra (which is for seizures - which they wonder if my fingers are twitching because of seizures?). They also wanted me to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor on Friday to have a visual field test (which was what I had done before/after my brain port surgery).
So, Friday I went to have an eye exam and the visual field exam. The eye doctor kept asking me if I had any headaches (which I didn't); he thought it could be from migraines. From my exam, he thought that my optic nerve in my left eye was pale but he thought that it was probably like that for awhile (caused by radiation to my brain). The visual field exam was inconclusive as I was supposed to keep looking at the dot in the machine and I kept looking at the little lights. So... I have to have that test again in a month.
I had some questions regarding what we were told about my MRI so I called my neurosurgeon's nurse and asked. The hemorrhage shouldn't need surgery; I was told to have another MRI in about 8 weeks.
I have been complaining for weeks that my eyes seem to be puffy and I wake up with wet eyes. (I'm told that this is more than likely from my decadron medication... much as it makes me swell up, the things it helps control make it worth it for the few side effects).
So, basically say a prayer for Kurt and the rest of the people who are around me - because he says this med (and especially an increase in it) does make me A LOT bitchy.
This week I go for my next PET scan to see how the chemo meds are working. (I found out only how they worked against the brain tumors from the MRI - here's hoping they continue to work with the hip/liver tumors and there are NO new tumors.) I won't find out until the following week when I see my oncologist but I will keep praying and believing! :)
Thanks for believing and the thoughts/prayers!!!! :)
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