I'm sorry there's been a lot of radio silence from me. There will be a lot of information from November til now. I got the hip shot. It didn't work. Eventually Dr. Joshi ordered an MRI. The results were not good. All the places I complain about with pain are places where cancer has metastasized, plus a nodule we'd been watching has grown enough to be concerning. In other news, we spent Thanksgiving with Mitch, Amy, and the boys. They were really cute, lots of fun, and entertained us a lot.
Went to Mosaic, double masked, for ugly sweater day and decorated a cookie. It was a great day. The next day, the other shoe dropped. Pain was really bad. That seems to be the pattern now. I was planning to go to Pennsylvania with Jim and Katie. My oncologist even cleared me for it. The day before it was time to leave there was too much pain. I didn't think I could make it that long in the car. I stayed with my mom and dad while Jim and Katie went. I was very disappointed. It wasn't the same without my Jim and Katie. I also haven't seen my PA family in a while and miss them too. Silver lining-I got to be with my nephews. They got a playskool slide for Christmas and they were so funny. Davis would only go down if someone said "Wheeeee!" And Drew got tired of waiting on him so he would headbutt him in the middle of the back to force him down. My parents and I watched Christmas Eve services at my church and theirs. On Christmas Day we watched their service. My church was closed. Jim and Katie came back, Jim bringing Covid. But he quarantined really well so Katie and I didn't get it. It was so hard trying to stay away from him in the house.
The pain still hadn't abated. Based on hospital scans from October I had been switched to the irinotecan chemo. Because this didn't seem to be working, missed church first full week of January to have a CT scan. More things to tell you about that later. What you need to know is that he changed my chemo again. I'm not going to go into details just yet. The results showed some further metastasis. He sent the results of the scan to my orthopedic oncologist and my radiation oncologist. Ortho said keep all weight-baring off the right hip. It is unstable and could fracture. The radiation said he could do some palliative work to ease my pain. I did two weeks of radiation on my back and my right hip. I got some relief in my legs and my hips. Keeping weight off my right hip has proven painful and difficult. Now there is pain in my neck and shoulders and arms. It has become as bad as my legs. Silver lining-I got to choose my music during radiation. Lots of good classic rock. Changed one of my painkillers this week.
My birthday was January 26th and I am now 51 years old. We went to my absolute favorite local diner. Most of the adults sat on the benched section while the high chairs for the boys were pulled up against the open side. I was rolled up between the two boys. It was wonderful. The food was good but I already knew that. We went with my mom and dad, my brother and sister in law, and my two nephews. I was so happy-and full. I still haven't finished my key lime pie.
Went to chemo today. Told my doctor about the issues I have with breathing and dizziness when I do anything that is strenuous to me right now. Things like getting dressed or walking across the house. There was some fluid seen on my lungs from the January scan but Dr. Joshi said that listening to it, it didn't sound that bad. I got fluids because I'm dehydrated and I'll be getting them again on Friday. He was concerned enough, though, to send me for an x-ray that would be quicker and tell him whether the fluid was accumulating quicker. The results came back from the radiologist but it's radiology speak to me, and it was just before closing time so he didn't call.
Finally, to close, God really does speak to us. I've been praying about healing and miracles and other specific things. Going back to those January church services, pastor Donell preached on healing (this Sunday I was out for the scan). I looked up pastor Naeem's sermon for that Sunday, and it was about miracles. My devotional from the bible app touched on a few other things I've been praying about. Our God listens to us and responds to us. It wasn't immediate but it was soon after. Jesus really does love us. He can take any crazy thoughts or feelings we have and hold them. He knows our pain-physical, mental, and spiritual. Pretty much we're caught up until now until Dr. Joshi calls me. I hope you made it all the way until the end.
Went to Mosaic, double masked, for ugly sweater day and decorated a cookie. It was a great day. The next day, the other shoe dropped. Pain was really bad. That seems to be the pattern now. I was planning to go to Pennsylvania with Jim and Katie. My oncologist even cleared me for it. The day before it was time to leave there was too much pain. I didn't think I could make it that long in the car. I stayed with my mom and dad while Jim and Katie went. I was very disappointed. It wasn't the same without my Jim and Katie. I also haven't seen my PA family in a while and miss them too. Silver lining-I got to be with my nephews. They got a playskool slide for Christmas and they were so funny. Davis would only go down if someone said "Wheeeee!" And Drew got tired of waiting on him so he would headbutt him in the middle of the back to force him down. My parents and I watched Christmas Eve services at my church and theirs. On Christmas Day we watched their service. My church was closed. Jim and Katie came back, Jim bringing Covid. But he quarantined really well so Katie and I didn't get it. It was so hard trying to stay away from him in the house.
The pain still hadn't abated. Based on hospital scans from October I had been switched to the irinotecan chemo. Because this didn't seem to be working, missed church first full week of January to have a CT scan. More things to tell you about that later. What you need to know is that he changed my chemo again. I'm not going to go into details just yet. The results showed some further metastasis. He sent the results of the scan to my orthopedic oncologist and my radiation oncologist. Ortho said keep all weight-baring off the right hip. It is unstable and could fracture. The radiation said he could do some palliative work to ease my pain. I did two weeks of radiation on my back and my right hip. I got some relief in my legs and my hips. Keeping weight off my right hip has proven painful and difficult. Now there is pain in my neck and shoulders and arms. It has become as bad as my legs. Silver lining-I got to choose my music during radiation. Lots of good classic rock. Changed one of my painkillers this week.
My birthday was January 26th and I am now 51 years old. We went to my absolute favorite local diner. Most of the adults sat on the benched section while the high chairs for the boys were pulled up against the open side. I was rolled up between the two boys. It was wonderful. The food was good but I already knew that. We went with my mom and dad, my brother and sister in law, and my two nephews. I was so happy-and full. I still haven't finished my key lime pie.
Went to chemo today. Told my doctor about the issues I have with breathing and dizziness when I do anything that is strenuous to me right now. Things like getting dressed or walking across the house. There was some fluid seen on my lungs from the January scan but Dr. Joshi said that listening to it, it didn't sound that bad. I got fluids because I'm dehydrated and I'll be getting them again on Friday. He was concerned enough, though, to send me for an x-ray that would be quicker and tell him whether the fluid was accumulating quicker. The results came back from the radiologist but it's radiology speak to me, and it was just before closing time so he didn't call.
Finally, to close, God really does speak to us. I've been praying about healing and miracles and other specific things. Going back to those January church services, pastor Donell preached on healing (this Sunday I was out for the scan). I looked up pastor Naeem's sermon for that Sunday, and it was about miracles. My devotional from the bible app touched on a few other things I've been praying about. Our God listens to us and responds to us. It wasn't immediate but it was soon after. Jesus really does love us. He can take any crazy thoughts or feelings we have and hold them. He knows our pain-physical, mental, and spiritual. Pretty much we're caught up until now until Dr. Joshi calls me. I hope you made it all the way until the end.