CarolLHRN

One Step Closer

I had my last chemo treatment yesterday.  It was a great day.  I was nervous that my blood levels would not be good enough but they were.  The nurses started to do a dance in the hallway they were so excited.  I was excited too.  As much as I dreaded getting chemo and not feeling well, I just wanted to be done.  I was able to have a great weekend feeling well and knowing that I'll be feeling well again made it OK.  I was also able to get my surgery scheduled.  I actually called for the appointment as I was sitting getting my chemo.  I'm all set for June 14.  It's just a little over 5 months away.  It's hard to believe that this journey will soon be over.  I'm am super excited to get my life back and pursue the things I love again.  I miss swimming and hiking and kayaking and cycling so much.  I can't wait to jump back in the pool in a couple of weeks and take a nice ride on the trails.

Good to Go for Monday

Yesterday I went to the dermatologist to figure out what the mysterious red spots were.  Well, they didn't know what they were either.  They decided to do a biopsy just to make sure all was OK.  I told the doctor she could do whatever treatment she wanted as long as she cleared me for chemo on Monday.  She told me she has never had a patient who actually wanted chemo treatment.  Once I explained it was the last one, she understood and cleared me. I had a punch biopsy of one of the spots on my neck.  I don't really think it was necessary as the spots are fading but if that's what it took to be cleared for chemo then so be it.  It didn't hurt much.  I got numbed up and the 2 stitches were in before I knew it.  I'll go back next week to have the stitches out so no biggie.  I'm a professional with using Glad Press and Seal to cover wounds so even my shower was easy today. So now I just need to hope that my platelets are high enough on Monday to get my last treatment.  I'm hoping these 5 extra days make the difference.  Hopefully Monday I will have my chemo, be disconnected on Wednesday and be done with this phase of treatment.  Then it's just the reversal surgery and I am done.  I can't wait.  If I get my chemo on Monday I will be calling the surgeon's office to get a date for my surgery while getting chemo!

Mysterious Spots

So I got the bloody nose taken care of.  I went to the ENT on Monday afternoon and he removed the packing and indicated no further care was need.  Yea!  I hope I never have to get my nose packed again.  It is not a pleasant experience.  With the nose thing behind me, a new issue has appeared: I have spots on my shoulders and neck. The first spot was noticed Sunday night.  I figured it was just a bug bite.  On Tuesday morning, I woke up with 5 additional spots on my other shoulder and my neck.  I'm not sure if they are spots or welts or what they are but they are red and raised.  I went to my PCP yesterday and she didn't know what they were either but after consulting with my oncologist, it was decided I need to see a dermatologist and hold off on chemo today.  Sigh.  So tomorrow I am off to the dermatologist who will hopefully solve the mystery of the spots. I am disappointed I am not finishing chemo today but there was a good chance my counts weren't good enough to get chemo anyway.  I'm trying to look at the bright side of things.  I'm going to a concert tonight and I'll be able to feel good.  Tomorrow I'm going to the wine festival.  Even though I can't drink a lot, it will be fun to sip a few good wines.  Perhaps a BBQ is in order this weekend.  I'm trying to stay focused on enjoying time with my friends, something I really haven't felt up to in a while. If all goes well with the dermatologist tomorrow, she will OK me to continue with chemo.  I'll get my final treatment on Monday and disconnected on Wednesday.  It will so nice to finally be done.  It just seems like it's taking forever to just finish up!

Bloody Nose Woes

Growing up, my brother was the one with the bloody noses.  I never had a bloody nose.  That was until yesterday.  Being on chemo, it is common to have some blood in your nasal discharge.  It's sort of a strange thing.  You lose your nasal hair and have drainage all the time, sometimes a little blood tinged.  Your eyes tear a lot as well so you basically look like a toddler who just had a big cry.  But I have managed to deal with these side effects until yesterday.  After blowing my nose in the morning when I woke up, I noticed that my nose was continuing to ooze blood and wasn't really stopping.  It wasn't pouring out but it required constant attention. So, before I went out the door to go to work, I called my oncologist office and of course they told me to go to the ER.  I knew they were going to say that and part of me wishes I never called.  So, I drove to the ER with a tissue up my nose.  By the time I got to the ER, the oozing had calmed down a bit but I proceeded to get care.  I had my labs drawn and it was no surprise that my platelets were low (26).  The doctor attempted to cauterize my nose but that was unsuccessful (and painful!).  So they decided to pack my nose.  To say the least, it is not a pleasant experience and it's  not pleasant to have my nose packed for the next couple of days. Luckily I have been able to work from home today so no one had to see this packing hanging out of my nose.  When I go out this weekend, I will be sure to cover it better than it is now so I don't have snot dripping out of my nose in public.  That would be a sight to see!  On Monday afternoon I got to the ENT to have the packing removed and hopefully that will be the end of this. With my platelets being so low, my last chemo will probably be delayed a week.  They told me to go and have my labs done and see what happens.  I don't have high hopes that I will finish on May 2 but instead May 9.  I can see the finish line but I just can't get to it.  Tripped up right before getting there.  People say almost done but there is still a lot to get through.  I just keep plugging along and one day, it will all be done.  Oh, I can't wait for that day!

My New Best Friend

Hello blog followers.  I apologize for not updating the blog lately but my new best friend, my couch,  has gotten in the way.  Chemo is definitely taking it's toll on me and I have become a couch potato.  Once I am home from work, I put on my comfy PJ's, sit on the couch with my remote and chill.  I think perhaps, my body is permanently indented in the couch.  An important thing to note however, is my couch is not my best friend forever.  In fact, I am thinking once this journey is over, a new couch is in order.  I think I have spent more time on my couch in the last 3-4 weeks than I have the entire time I have owned it.  But I know once the chemo has ended (25 days but who is counting!) that I will need some recovery time.  But after that, who will need a couch?!?!  I will hopefully be riding my bike and golfing and generally, not at home to be sitting on my couch. Although it has been a comfort these last couple weeks and will continue to be so for another couple weeks, couch and Carol just don't fit well in the same sentence.  At first it was hard to get comfortable on my couch.  I was almost like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory trying to find a place to sit at Penny's.  None were comfortable at all.  But I have developed a love hate relationship with my couch.  The couch is beloved right now but I think it knows that in a short time, it will be once again forgotten and never used. On a serious note, I do have 25 more days until chemo is over.  I cannot wait as the chemo has taken every ounce of energy I have.  I continue to work and I think that's good for me.  I think it's good to have to get up and get dressed and get out the door every  morning, even if it means taking short breaks in the process.  At work I get engrossed in my projects and forget about chemo, and being tired, and even my dear friend couch.  My boss has been amazing understanding if I need to work from home, not that I have done that too much.  I'm tired of being tired but it's part of the journey and knowing the end is nearing makes it tolerable.  I have already started to plan when I can start golfing again as well as going on trips with Venture Outdoors.  I envision that last day of chemo, emailing the surgeon to schedule my surgery.  The finish line is near and even when I feel I can't go anymore, time just keeps passing by whether I am ready or not.  I know I can hang in there just a couple more weeks and then look forward to better times.