Chemo 2A

I have a neighbor who works a half a mile from the clinic. Buffy gave me a ride this morning since I had an early appointment. (Thanks, Buffy!) It worked out really well. We even got to use the HOV lane. Since Mom and Dad are on their way down, they picked me up and took me home.

Yesterday's CT scan shows normal lymph nodes and kidneys, and the spleen is at the upper limit of normal. So everything is shrinking back to normal. I was a mess when I checked into the hospital June 24th. What a difference.

Bloodwork is good again today so I got chemo.  This is my first time getting chemo without being in the hospital.  I thought it would be hung and administered under supervision. I was wrong. The chemo I am getting this round is administered every 12 hours, so I have my take home chemo bag. Does anyone else think this is weird?

It's a do-it-yourself kit. I am plugged in and the pump is programmed to run at 10am and 10pm. Then back to the clinic tomorrow and the next day for the same. Friday will be different one day chemo at the clinic. The bag also has fluids to protect my organs. So I have two pumps running at times for 3 days then again the 18, 19, 20th. And the bag is heavy. "... But it doesn't go back a lot."

Start at 2:30 to lead up to 4:10

http://youtu.be/uEY58fiSK8E

I get it. Chemo is amazing.

I also will be on steroids for the next 4 days. They make me spazzy. This should be fun.  "Hey! I have an idea! Let's go ... Ooo! Look! Shiney! .... Now what was I going to do? .."

I got some good news/bad news today. 

Bad news first: lumbar puncture with chemo tomorrow and the 19th.  I dread them since one out of three times I had got shot Ina nerve.

Good news: LPs through cycle 2B only. Meaning 4 down, 4 more to go. One "half way"milestone!  (And I know, things could change...)

But for now I am happy to report good company, I'm feeling good and good appetite and a good attitude. What more could I want?

Frisbee!

EVERY catch is an AirDex!

Company!

Mom and Dad are driving down. They should be here tomorrow afternoon. Yay!

It's amazing who you run in to. The Mann Family showed up in the elevator on my way to clinic. Of all the elevators in all the world...

Donating platelets: a great family outing! Who knew. Thank you for donating!

It was one of those mythical short visits at clinic today. Wow! They do exist! We were home by...

Great numbers at clinic today. I am almost in the normal range on all categories. The ones I didn't make were not far off. 

See? Normal.

Since I have recovered, tomorrow I will get chemo 2A. It's not as complicated as a B cycle, so it will be outpatient. I got a CT scan today in preparation. While I was gone, my transplant coordinator visited and spoke to Kent.

Both my older sister and younger brother were given cheek swabs to see if they are a donor match. I found out today my sister is not a full match. My brother, however, has passed 6 out of 10 indicator tests. The sample will go out for additional testing, so he may be a match if needed.  Paws crossed!

We are still not sure if the doctors will recommend a bone marrow transplant.  We will know August 21st.

I got out for a moment today.  (With my hat, glasses, and pants.)  Sun is my enemy. My skin is very sensitive due to the chemo.

I sure miss gardening, but the overgrown plants are attracting nice butterflies!

And butterflies are a symbol of... A quick internet search revealed they are symbol of pretty much everything. I like the Japanese take: good luck!

Behind Every Success

I heard a quote on TV:   "Behind every success story are others helping to make it happen."  

That's the truth. I have gotten rides from neighbors, and donations of platelets.  Just yesterday, Jill donated. Thanks to Jill and to her driver, Jim!

My medical team is vast. I have only met a few techs and nurses and the doctors, of course. But if you think about what it takes to pull blood each visit and analyze it, it's amazing.  Blood is the indicator of how I am doing and what needs to be done next. Tomorrow's clinic will determine when the next round of chemo will start. You know, now that I have recovered from the last round.  They should be spaced every 3 weeks, so it's time.  But it's not my job to plan these things. "Let the pilot fly the plane" or in this case let to doctor do the doctor stuff.

Kent and I are both receiving emotional support, too, thanks to family and friends, and even complete strangers.  Tomorrow my Mom and Dad come in town. I don't know how long they will be here, but I do know Daddy Burgers are in my near future. Yum!

Today was a nice day off.  We had the new neighbors, the Browns, down for a short visit. Kent has been playing guitar with the son, and the middle daughter is about to go off to college. In celebration, Kent made a cake.

He really is creative. Maybe he should have been a baker whilst furloughed from TWA/AA. I suppose it's not too late since he is still furloughed nearly 13 years later. (Just what he needs to do in his spare time...)

Spare time... You would think I have a ton of it. Somehow the days melt away and I am left with a hundred things I could have done. Things I didn't do. (Huh. That's what it is like to be retired.)  I think I have a year until getting back to my job, so I can put off "projects" and get back to them. I guess I just need to scatter my crafts on the dining room table and leave them out where they can mock me. I wonder if Kent will let me use the sewing machine with its sharp needle. A girl can try!

I am still trying hard to project #11 and so far it is working.  Phew!!

Now to enjoy another piece of cake. With ice cream? Yes, please!

Organized

I feel good. My energy is up so I did some organizing. Nothing too serious or stressful.

My weight is almost 119 pounds. (Normal is 128). I feel like I am regaining some muscle, too. That's a good thing. I didn't notice when, but I had lost a bunch of muscle.  So I know it's really important to build it back up, especially on days I feel good.  I won't want to be active when I am tired.  Thanks to Dave, I can work out in front of the tv.

I know it's a good one since they have the same model at clinic.  Kent still is overprotective and does not want me outside much.  Especially in the grass. But I know it's ok ifi have shoes on and protective clothes or use sun block. We were both there when the doctor said that walks were ok.  Oh well... Better safe than sorry.

It was a rainy evening, so we had some good inside time.  Dexter and Annie were very helpful making dinner.

That's it for today, August 9th, 2014. Happy Birthday, Aunt Pat!!

Weekend off

I have the weekend off. I was hoping to see The Psycho DeVilles tonight. They are playing at an outdoor event in Covington. My doctor said I could sit in the car and listen, but not be in a crowd. Looking like that's not going to happen.  So maybe a movie instead.

Nothing says long drive like rain.

I was nearly done at clinic. Then this showed up. GA drivers are super scared of rain.

But I just got a small bag of fluids today. My BFF was disconnected and I am once again free of strings. For the moment. I am sure I will get it back at some point. Maybe even Monday.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kQC5bQKPj6o

So Monday I get a blood check again and meet with my nurse Selena, the physician's assistant Megan, and whichever doctor is on duty. Then we will see when the next round of chemo will start. It could be as early as Tuesday.  This will be an "A cycle" and be done outpatient, so long days at the clinic and home every night. Then I recover again.

I still don't know if a bone marrow transplant is in my future, or if my sister or brother are a match.  Both have sent in their sales, and we are awaiting results.

Most likely we won't know until August 21. That is the meeting with the Doctor and come up with a long term plan.

Until then, we will keep on keeping on. (And try to be a good and patient patient.) 

Wet paint

Do you ever wonder what it's like to sit and watch paint dry? As a man, you might ask:  why does it need to be watched? As a woman, you understand there's not much you can do with wet nails.

You can't rush the process.  This is what I a finding out. Just get better. And I am. No clinic today, so I don't have numbers to support it, but I feel it.  Clinic tomorrow.

I did have a nice visitor today.

Naomi brought her human, Aunt Cathy. It was really great to connect with a lady from Sheltie Rescue and hear all about what's going on.  Cathy was so kind and brought dinner and dessert.  Yum! Thank you!

Kent also got hands on. He told me he misses meeting new dogs during the intake process, even the dirty dogs, so gave Naomi a bath. He said in another 30 minutes she would have been his new best friend. She will be an easy placement for some lucky family.

So it's a stormy night relaxing at home. (Unless you are Annie. "Thunder is scary and Momma won't coddle me.")

Over Correcting

Good numbers today. I get tomorrow off. 

I responded very well to the Neupogen. Yesterday my white blood cell count was at 3.1, now I am 18.4 (10.8 is high end of normal). It will settle down.  Best news is no more Neupogen shots! Until after the next round of chemo.

My platelets are up from 22 to 36. Ha! Didn't need them again.however, I still appreciate the donations. Curt and Darlene drove me and went to the Blood Services while I got a bag of fluids.