The fever is back :(

Just when I thought all was well... I awoke from a nap to a fever of almost 102. I am supposed to call the Dr or Oncology Nurse (or even go to the ER) when it's around 100.3, but since I am supposed to be in contact with the Dr's office tomorrow anyway, I'll just wait til then. I did however, take a couple of Tylenol, and they seem to be doing the trick. I haven't taken my temp again yet, but I am feeling a lot less feverish. I hope this is just a minor hiccup. Fevers make me nervous because something is causing them!

I see the light (at the end of the tunnel)

Today is Wed ( well Thursday really, 2 something a.m. ) and I am happy to report that I am really feeling so much better! Thank God.

Don't get me wrong I'm not at 100 percent BUT from where I was to where I am - there is a pretty big difference! First off I think the fever, that kept creeping around, is finally broken (yay!). That gives us a sigh of relief, and it probably means that my immune system is coming back online, and my white counts are going up ("aka" the Neulasta shot is working! Yeah!)

The biggest problem I have right now is PAIN. That issue is so difficult to resolve because it keeps changing, and is based on so many different factors. Unfortunately I have been dealing with a recurrence of the Shingles (due to the compromised immune system no doubt) and it's been really hard BUT at least we know what we're dealing with and that helps a lot! I am still on the pain patch, (which by the way I think I may have to seek a replacement treatment for as I heard about a recall of it etc. More on that after I do some research), and it is pretty effective BUT, its effectiveness changes when other factors change. Like MORE PAIN than usual for example. I've been having to up my pain PILL usage to compensate. Thankfully it hasn't taken a lot of pills to do the trick. Basically instead of every 6 hours I am at every 4 1/2 - 5, which is still in my prescribed range of 1 pill every 4-6 hours. So that's good.

OK, I think that's it for now so I'll be going. Timing is perfect too, because it's time for that all important pain pill! :)

Sunday May 23, 2010 A Very Bad Day

I will make this brief. Today was a very difficult day for me, filled with pain and discomfort. I also had a fever of 100.6 at one point and that's always scary when my counts are already down. I spent most of the day in or around the bed, which was about all I could do. I did manage to stitch some which helps calms my nerves and relaxes me.

I will call the dr. in the a.m. to see what I should do next. I will post when I know something.

Chemo on Thursday and beyond...

OK, so I had chemotherapy on Thursday as scheduled. It was a little touch-and-go there for awhile because by WBCs (white blood cell count for those that don't know) were really low 1.2. The lowest that the Dr likes them to be is 1.5, but at this point with the rate of my tumors growth putting off the treatment is probably a bigger risk than doing it.

Friday was not totally horrible even though it was the "day after". I was a little more tired than usual, but that's understandable. I went in to the office in the late afternoon for my Neulasta shot. That was fun. NOT! No, but seriously, it's not bad. Just a quick jab and press and we're done. The part when the meds are going in hurts more than the poke itself, but it's all good, it doesn't last more than a few seconds or so.

Today is Saturday, and I am here (alone) chillin'. The boys are out for some daddy/son time and I get to enjoy some peace. Ahhh a win win situation. Today my town is having their Wine and Art Stroll. It's an event where artists come out and create their works in public, and walkers by can sip win and watch/or chat with them as they create. I want to go, but if I do I will probably have to wear a mask to protect myself from the germies out there. It would be worth it though, because I just want to get out of the house! :)

CT Results

Since my last chemo treatment, I've had a CT scan done of the brain, chest, and abdomen. That was followed up by a dr's visit on Monday of this week to get the results of said scan. The good news is that there is no new progression. On the "not-so-good" side there is some fluid in my lungs (both) again, and I am hoping that that won't mean another lung-draining session. For now though, everything is pretty stable for the most part, and I am still on track for chemo tomorrow.

Speaking of chemo, we (my doc) is adding a new drug to my treatment. It's called Avastin. From what I understand it is supposed to cut the blood flow to the tumors which will cause them to shrink. This new addition will add an additional hour to chemo therapy session the first time it is administered, then a half hour after that. I don't know how long it will take before we know if it did anything or not, but I am hopeful that it will do it's job. :)

Hello

I am so blessed to have wonderful family and friends that are interested, and want to be engaged with what is going on with me, as I go through my journey with cancer. I have created this blog so that I can give updates on my condition, as well as just blog about how I'm doing/feeling etc. I hope that this will help those of you that "need to know" to feel informed and up-to-date.

It's late right now, 2:16 a.m. so I will do my first "real" entry tomorrow. :)