Merry Christmas!
Sorry it has taken me so long to write this post but I had a lot to process. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Chemotherapy #6 left me very tired and a little nausous for about two weeks. During that time I developed a sore near my buttock/rectum. On November 14th I was scheduled for my next CT scan to check on the cancerous lymph nodes. That CT scan showed that the lymph nodes were stable and that I had developed an abscess near my rectum. My oncology team called me the next morning and told me to come in to be checked and to pack a bag for the hospital incase I needed to be admitted. Well, that checkup turned into a 14 day hospital stay resulting in 2 surgeries.
Once I got checked into the hospital I met with the general surgery team and they decided that they were going to do a debridement surgery the next day. Meaning they were going to scrape out any dead tissue so new healthy tissue would grow. The surgery went well but over the next couple of days my white blood cells keep climbing higher despite being on lots of IV antibiotics. Meaning the infection wasn't getting better but worse. Three days later the general surgery team decided to do a 2nd surgery while consulting the colorectal team. Together they decided to try a fairly new procedure. They inserted two Penrose drains to help the infection drain from my body. The plan was to leave those in for 3-4 weeks and then get them removed. As you can imagine it was very painful to sit on these. The day after that surgery my white blood cell count started to come down. Which meant that the drains were working and the infection was leaving my body. They kept me in the hospital for another 10 days because of my compromised immune system and the difficulty in keeping the drains clean. I was released to go home the day after Thanksgiving with my drains still intact.
I had a followup with the general surgery team on December 4th. At that time they decided to remove one of the drains. This made it a little better to sit. The last drain was removed at my last checkup last week. Now we wait for the holes to heal and close up.
So, what caused all this to happen? One of my chemo drugs, Avastin. Needless to say my oncologist has decided that I will be permanently taken off of Avastin. We will wait for this to heal 100% before resuming any more of my chemo treatments.
Prayers:
- For my body to heal 100% from this so I can get back to my treatments
- For NO more side effects
- For me to gain my strength back
So, the day after I wrote my last post I ended up getting c-diff again. I contacted my care team right away and they got me on another antibiotic that day. I was fortunate enough that within two days the antibiotic was already working.
My oncology care team decided to go ahead with my fifth infusion that Thursday October 10th with the exception of withholding Avastin. I still received my other two chemotherapy's and my immunotherapy. The infusion went well but left me exhausted for about a week and a half. I slept a lot.
On Thursday I had routine bloodwork drawn for my rheumatologist appointment the next week. The next day I woke up to 3 phone calls and 5 text messages from her nurse that my white blood cell count was dangerously low and that I needed to go to the ER immediately. I contacted my oncology care team to have them look at it. I received a call back and they said, "you are nine days out from your treatment and that is when the white blood cells are at their lowest. We will recheck them next week before your infusion." I was super thankful I didn't need to go to the hospital.
On Tuesday October 22nd I dropped my computer on my left foot/ big toe. I still have lots of swelling and really dark bruising. It has made walking very difficult.
Yesterday, I had my 6th infusion. All blood work looked really good, even my white blood cell count was back up. We. did all three chemotherapies and immunotherapy.
So far I am doing good. Keeping on top of my anti nausea meds has helped.
Prayers:
- For healing of my foot
- For no side effects from my current infusion
Pic:One of my infusion bags from yesterday
So, my last infusion was on September 4th and went really well. I had enough energy that I was able to help with some yard work that weekend. However, I woke up on Tuesday morning feeling so tired. I slept off and on that whole day. In the middle of the night I woke up with diarrhea. This continued for the next three days, with trips to the bathroom and then to bed to sleep.
On Friday Devin had an RN come to the house to give me an IV with vitamins. On Saturday afternoon I finally had some energy and was awake for a few hours.
Sunday Devin decided that we needed to find out what was going on with me as I was still having diarrhea. So off to the hospital we went. My blood work was all good and they gave my an IV because I was dehydrated. They also sent out a stool sample and sent me home. I was so glad they didn't admit me.
On Monday morning I got a call from the lab that I had C-Diff. So they ordered me 10 days of antibiotics. Finally on day nine I started to feel better. Devin did have the RN come back on Friday to give me another IV with vitamins. For three weeks all I did was sleep, watch a little tv and then sleep some more.
I am grateful that I was well enough to go with Kylie and Devin to UNC Charlotte for their open house on September 28th. It is one of five schools Kylie is looking into for college. I can't believe we are already thinking about college!!!
I am scheduled for my next infusion on Thursday this week. My last one was canceled because of the C-Diff.
Praise:
- That I was able to get over C-Diff with only 1 round of antibiotics
Prayers:
- That my infusion will go well with minimum side effects
- That I can start to regain the strength that I lost while being in bed for 3 weeks
Pic: Devin, Kylie & I at UNC Charlotte
Short and sweet update. As always, thank you for the well wishes and prayers! They are greatly appreciated!!!
Yesterday was a long eleven hour day. I had blood drawn at the lab, saw my oncologist (Dr. Brown), and had all three of my chemotherapies and my immunotherapy during my infusion. I am happy to report that all went very well.
My abdominal infection is almost healed completely.
I have felt pretty good today. Good energy and so far only one side effect. I am starting to get some stomach queasiness even with my nausea medications. I will be starting to double up on those to see if it helps along with eating smaller potions of food more often.
Prayers:
- For the queasiness to go away completely
- To have good energy levels
Pic: My new favorite quote and it happens to be from OOLA!!!
Short but sweet update! Since my last (third) infusion I've been dealing with nausea the first week and then fatigue after that. I have been going to physical therapy every week for my hip. Last week I graduated and now just get to do exercises at home.
Last Wednesday I had a CT with and without contrast to see how well my infusions are working. The report came back that all of my abdominal lymph nodes have shrunk at least 50%. My left adrenal gland is stable. Praise God that the treatments are working.
Today was suppose to be my forth infusion but Dr. Brown decided to hold off on it because my CT also showed that I have an abdominal staph infection. So instead I was sent home with two different antibiotics to take for the next two weeks. I will resume my infusions in three weeks.
Prayers:
- That the staph infection clears on its own in the next two weeks.
- Kylie starts her Freshman year at our local community college tomorrow. She is still a Junior in High School as we are not graduating her early so we can take advantage of NC Career and College Promise Program. This gets us her first two years of college paid for by the state!
Praise:
- For GREAT CT results!
Pic: Just me messing around with my camera!
I want to thank all my prayer warriors. I am eternally grateful for everyone of you!
My first two infusions have kicked my tail. I've had some nausea for the first 7 days. Then dizziness, shakiness and the fatigue sets in. I have spent a lot of time just lying on the couch watching HGTV. I have also been having one physical therapy session a week to rehab my new hip. Then I also do exercises at home the other six days. It hasn't been too bad. Just a little muscle soreness. I am currently off all my pain meds which is nice.
I received my results from my rheumatologist (Dr. Gn), she said that the ultrasound showed some nodules in my hands that would indicate rheumatoid arthritis except my blood work for that came back negative. She thinks that my immunotherapy drug caused my body to go haywire and attacked my hands and arms and made them swell up. Since the swelling has left my body currently she has started my on a three month round of Hydroxychloroquine. Apparently it takes that long to get into the body and start working. I have a follow up appointment with her next month to see how I am doing. I definitely don't want the swelling to come back. That was extremely painful.
My parents came to visit and we managed to get a week long beach trip in over the 4th of July. We went to Oak Island, NC. It was nice to get away even though I didn't feel so well. My aunt and cousin drove down for a day visit and it was really nice catching up with them too.
I had my third infusion yesterday and so far today I feel pretty good. I've managed to do some laundry and write this blog so I will take that as a big win!
Prayers:
- That I stay feeling well - no nausea, dizziness or fatigue
- That my white blood cell count stays up - I don't want to end up in the hospital like last year
Pic: Dinner with my parents, aunt and cousin in Oak Island - yes my hair started falling out after my second infusion so I shaved what was left before we went to the beach.
