Hi everyone--
Well, it looks like after five months of extreme pain, I will be going in to San Ramon once again on Thursday morning (3/19) to finally have this toe amputated. Hopefully the pain will be gone soon afterward. Please do keep me in your prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery. I should be released the following morning. Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouraging emails. They really help. I apologize that I can't figure out how to respond to those of you that leave comments on this blog. I know--sad.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Hi Everyone--
Thank God I have good news to report on the PET scan. No new growth. The main tumor is still undetectable and in regression. The only very small bit of not-so-great news was that one of the two spots on my lung they have been tracking since the beginning had a very slight growth in size, BUT all of the spots are showing very little activity! The other spot remained the same, along with all the others. God is so good and I am so grateful!
I also met with the surgeon about my toe and liked him very much. We're trying to get a date on the calendar for the surgery. Of course it's difficult scheduling around my life with our musical opening in one week and a tour to Disneyland in three weeks. After the surgery is over, I will go back to meet with my oncologist to see about most likely restarting chemo with a different drug. If we do, I will lose my hair again. Oh well, not as scary this time--I love my wigs! Thank you all so much for your prayers. I really do feel them! I couldn't get through this without your amazing support.
Thank God I have good news to report on the PET scan. No new growth. The main tumor is still undetectable and in regression. The only very small bit of not-so-great news was that one of the two spots on my lung they have been tracking since the beginning had a very slight growth in size, BUT all of the spots are showing very little activity! The other spot remained the same, along with all the others. God is so good and I am so grateful!
I also met with the surgeon about my toe and liked him very much. We're trying to get a date on the calendar for the surgery. Of course it's difficult scheduling around my life with our musical opening in one week and a tour to Disneyland in three weeks. After the surgery is over, I will go back to meet with my oncologist to see about most likely restarting chemo with a different drug. If we do, I will lose my hair again. Oh well, not as scary this time--I love my wigs! Thank you all so much for your prayers. I really do feel them! I couldn't get through this without your amazing support.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Hi everyone--
Thank you so much for the prayers, because I got great news, in that they are only going to have to amputate the toe. The circulation issue is not affecting my feet or legs! In fact he said that there is even quite a bit of circulation in that toe, but thinks there must be a clot half way down my toe that is causing this. So, I am supposed to get a recommendation for a good orthopaedic surgeon and get the surgery scheduled right away. As far as the rest of my health, I will call tomorrow to schedule a PET scan (hopefully for next week). I still need those prayers, because I'm hoping for good results there too. We are hoping the spots have decreased in activity (or maybe they don't have any activity at all) so that we can maybe stop chemo, but that is a long shot. Anyway, when we get the results we will be able to make an educated decision on where to go next. Thank you so much for everything!
Thank you so much for the prayers, because I got great news, in that they are only going to have to amputate the toe. The circulation issue is not affecting my feet or legs! In fact he said that there is even quite a bit of circulation in that toe, but thinks there must be a clot half way down my toe that is causing this. So, I am supposed to get a recommendation for a good orthopaedic surgeon and get the surgery scheduled right away. As far as the rest of my health, I will call tomorrow to schedule a PET scan (hopefully for next week). I still need those prayers, because I'm hoping for good results there too. We are hoping the spots have decreased in activity (or maybe they don't have any activity at all) so that we can maybe stop chemo, but that is a long shot. Anyway, when we get the results we will be able to make an educated decision on where to go next. Thank you so much for everything!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Hi all--
I just wanted to update you. Early tomorrow morning (Thursday) I will be having an angiogram as the last test before they make a final decision on my toe. I'm praying the circulation is good everywhere else, because as of now they plan to amputate my right big toe. There is always the chance though, that if they find more circulation problems, they have to amputate more than just the toe. I don't even want to think about losing a foot or leg (one or both), so please send me all the prayers you can. Thanks so much!
I just wanted to update you. Early tomorrow morning (Thursday) I will be having an angiogram as the last test before they make a final decision on my toe. I'm praying the circulation is good everywhere else, because as of now they plan to amputate my right big toe. There is always the chance though, that if they find more circulation problems, they have to amputate more than just the toe. I don't even want to think about losing a foot or leg (one or both), so please send me all the prayers you can. Thanks so much!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Hi everyone--
Just a quick update. I returned to work yesterday, but I'm only going to work every other day this week. Hope to be back on my regular schedule by Monday. It is wonderful being back at school with my amazing students. I'm on a one-month break from chemo, then we will get a PET scan to see where we're at, and make decisions on where to go from there. We're still up in the air as far as my toes. I guess I'm stalling a little, because it seems like they're just a little better. I don't want to make any hasty decisions on that one. By the way, a correction from my last blog: I guess I accidentally typed the opposite of what was going on with my thyroid. I meant to say that it is hypo-active (not hyper-), meaning my metabolism was very slow. Since they put me on the correct meds, I've lost 35 lbs. Yeah!
My doctor has asked me to let everyone know that since I was released from the hospital, my immune system is extremely weak. He knows I'm a "hugging" type person and told me I should not be hugging anyone at this point--just in case. If there is even the slightest possibility of sickness I need to stay away completely. If I catch even a cold it could land me back in the hospital, so please don't be offended by the lack of hugs if we run into each other, because you know I love you all! :) Please keep up the prayers and I will let you know when we schedule the PET.
Just a quick update. I returned to work yesterday, but I'm only going to work every other day this week. Hope to be back on my regular schedule by Monday. It is wonderful being back at school with my amazing students. I'm on a one-month break from chemo, then we will get a PET scan to see where we're at, and make decisions on where to go from there. We're still up in the air as far as my toes. I guess I'm stalling a little, because it seems like they're just a little better. I don't want to make any hasty decisions on that one. By the way, a correction from my last blog: I guess I accidentally typed the opposite of what was going on with my thyroid. I meant to say that it is hypo-active (not hyper-), meaning my metabolism was very slow. Since they put me on the correct meds, I've lost 35 lbs. Yeah!
My doctor has asked me to let everyone know that since I was released from the hospital, my immune system is extremely weak. He knows I'm a "hugging" type person and told me I should not be hugging anyone at this point--just in case. If there is even the slightest possibility of sickness I need to stay away completely. If I catch even a cold it could land me back in the hospital, so please don't be offended by the lack of hugs if we run into each other, because you know I love you all! :) Please keep up the prayers and I will let you know when we schedule the PET.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Hi everyone--
Well, just after I got my great news, Amanda came down with a horrible virus and passed it on to me. My little one, who usually only gets sick for three days at the most, was down for 1 1/2 weeks. Of course with my immune system, it's taken me three weeks and I still have some remnants from it. One week of that landed me back at San Ramon Regional (this time not quite up to its usual standards). However they were trying to figure out so many issues it's amazing I was able to get out of there in a week. Here's what's going on:
So my blue (black) toe is looking more and more like it's going to be amputated. I still have one more test to go through (angiogram--last time was a CT-guided one, this one will be the old-fashioned way) and a few more opinions to get first. I certainly won't make any moves until I have all the info. They were also concerned about circulation in my other leg, so this has not been fun. I'm doing all I can to improve circulation through exercise in both my toe and my legs, and I do see progress there--hallelujah!
They told me I have a hyperactive thyroid gland and put me on meds for that.
They tried to tell me they thought I was now diabetic, but they were wrong. My glucose levels have fluctuated for these past three years, because of the steroids they have me on for the chemo.
The chemo gave me horrible swelling in my knees, making it almost impossible to bend them. I had a horrible rash at the time when I got the virus, and while in the hospital the scabs were pulling and making it hard to walk. Every time I'd try to walk the fluid would just drain from them. This is getting better. The doc thinks some time off will help the fluid go down.
Of course for me, the worst part of it is that my voice is basically at a whisper, making it impossible to talk with all of you when you call. Believe me, I'm not trying to avoid you--it's just very difficult because most people can't hear me on the phone.
Well my doc and I decided to take one month off of chemo to try and give this body a much-needed break. After that, we'll do a PET scan and decide where to go from there.
I hope this doesn't sound like I'm just complaining about all my woes. There just didn't seem to be any other way to bring you up to date. I have struggled with depression, but when I remember to keep my eyes focused on the One who will heal me, I come out of it. I'm still a fighter and with my fight and your prayers & support, I plan to kick this thing!
Well, just after I got my great news, Amanda came down with a horrible virus and passed it on to me. My little one, who usually only gets sick for three days at the most, was down for 1 1/2 weeks. Of course with my immune system, it's taken me three weeks and I still have some remnants from it. One week of that landed me back at San Ramon Regional (this time not quite up to its usual standards). However they were trying to figure out so many issues it's amazing I was able to get out of there in a week. Here's what's going on:
So my blue (black) toe is looking more and more like it's going to be amputated. I still have one more test to go through (angiogram--last time was a CT-guided one, this one will be the old-fashioned way) and a few more opinions to get first. I certainly won't make any moves until I have all the info. They were also concerned about circulation in my other leg, so this has not been fun. I'm doing all I can to improve circulation through exercise in both my toe and my legs, and I do see progress there--hallelujah!
They told me I have a hyperactive thyroid gland and put me on meds for that.
They tried to tell me they thought I was now diabetic, but they were wrong. My glucose levels have fluctuated for these past three years, because of the steroids they have me on for the chemo.
The chemo gave me horrible swelling in my knees, making it almost impossible to bend them. I had a horrible rash at the time when I got the virus, and while in the hospital the scabs were pulling and making it hard to walk. Every time I'd try to walk the fluid would just drain from them. This is getting better. The doc thinks some time off will help the fluid go down.
Of course for me, the worst part of it is that my voice is basically at a whisper, making it impossible to talk with all of you when you call. Believe me, I'm not trying to avoid you--it's just very difficult because most people can't hear me on the phone.
Well my doc and I decided to take one month off of chemo to try and give this body a much-needed break. After that, we'll do a PET scan and decide where to go from there.
I hope this doesn't sound like I'm just complaining about all my woes. There just didn't seem to be any other way to bring you up to date. I have struggled with depression, but when I remember to keep my eyes focused on the One who will heal me, I come out of it. I'm still a fighter and with my fight and your prayers & support, I plan to kick this thing!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wanna hear about my miracle?
Well, today I received the news about my CT scan. It shows that the spots on my lungs have basically had no change, but the main mass is completely UNDETECTABLE on the CT!! I am insisting on a PET to find out if there is still any activity in the spots on my lungs as well as getting info on the main mass. I can't get over this news. This really is what we've been hoping and praying for. I can't thank you all enough! Of course, until we get a PET and see what's going on there, we can't really be sure of anything. This is what they all thought could never happen. My nurse practitioner told me I had no idea what kind of miracle we were looking at, because it's already miraculous that I've been on this drug (Gemzar) all this time and it's still working. I guess that's not normally the case.
I thank you SO much for the love, support and prayers! I will update you again as soon as I know more.
I thank you SO much for the love, support and prayers! I will update you again as soon as I know more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)