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.
