Deep Vein Thrombosis
I was called in this morning to MD Anderson to evaluate my port area after my chest X-ray from Wednesday came back normal. I have been doing my daily Fragmen injections for almost 2 weeks and things seemed like they were getting better. This past Sunday I started having pain which progressed into severe pain. I can barely put a shirt on because it hurts to move. Pain medication helps a little, but it is still very painful to move my right arm and shoulder area. The pain is in my port area, underarm, right upper back and right shoulder and a little below. I have tenderness in my right lower neck as well, swelling and bulging veins. It sounds bad, but as long as I don’t move around too much I am doing okay :). After my assessment today, I am being referred to a Vascular surgeon. They are going to do a procedure called Thrombolysis also known as clot-busting. I meet with the specialist on Tuesday at MD Anderson. I am a little nervous about the procedure, but am happy to know this will likely improve my condition....
Thanksgiving Day
Just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that has supported me & Jamie’s Hope over the last few months. I am so blessed to have the family and friends (new & old!) that have stepped up to help in so many ways. Once again friends and family stepped up today and did all the hard work. My only contribution was our house, decorations (which I delegated), and I plugged in the food warming trays …..also cheered on the Texans from the couch!!!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving & remember to cherish those who cherish you!...
Blood Clot Confirmed / ER
Pictures above all show blue veins popping out that appeared on my right arm and this arm is more swollen. Large blood clot over 3 of my large veins around my port area. This is my arm on the other side. As you can see my veins are not seen here and this arm is smaller. Me in ER in my UGG snow boots today. After ultrasounds finding was sent to ER, but was released and got home about an hour ago. Ultrasound today New medication added. I have to give myself an injection everyday for the next 6 months Also I will be seeing a hematologist next...
Chemo / Possible Blood Clot
Chemo day 1 of 3rd cycle yesterday. Pain in right arm, possible blood clot and not able to use my port. 1 Iv miss yesterday (small blueish swollen spot), had to use baby needle and got it near the wrist. Chemo took a little longer since they had to slow the drip. One of the meds burns the veins when it goes in when using veins in my arm and not the port. However, got out in time to make it to the Paul McCartney concert with Michael and...
After Biopsy Updates
Pictures from recovery room and leaving after the biopsy. My wheel chair driver was speeding and driving crazy, had me laughing I was sedated (completely out) for the procedure with propofol. Woke up starving, had a snack in the recovery area to hold me over. Discovered a bandage in my butt crack (lol), they must have went in sideways with the needle to get access to the tumor on my right side. Had one of my favorites the snapper at Churrasco’s on the way home!! Got home and went to sleep immediately and just woke up thinking it was the morning. Hips are a little sore when I just got up, but not too bad. Also, white blood cell count was a little low and had to get a Neupogen shot this morning. Met an awesome couple today in the waiting area in Targeted Therapy, she originally had breast cancer in 1992 and in 2005 it came back with a vengeance in her bones and many other locations. She exhausted all standard treatments and was only supposed to live for 2-3 years with her diagnosis. She has been on a trial for 18 weeks in Targeted Therapy on one of the same chemo therapies that I am on, she is bald like me and doesn’t wear hats or wigs She could barely walk, but was soooo positive. Her husband said he would catch her with her walker vacuuming the house. Love meeting people like this!! Going back to bed, lots of work to do tomorrow!!!...
Biopsy
Getting ready for biopsy Hungry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
PET Scan Results, IV, Etc….
Veins were running away from the IV on Monday, still bruised this morning. I went to the iv specialty area this time to get it started, spent 20 minutes laying down, hyperventilating and almost blacking out when the IV did not want to go in. Next time i will make sure to take something to knock me out (aka xanex). Thank god for ports!!! Unfortunately they cannot use a port for a PET scan, but luckily those don’t happen too often. PET scan indicated stable disease, which is the same results from my last one. Was really hoping to see a little reduction in size since this was the first full cycle I completed without any cancellations. The 1st cycle had a lot of cancellations due to low white blood cell counts. After a pattern was noticed, Neupogen shots (that I give myself at home) were added to my protocol 3 days following chemo, so the 2nd cycle was a lot more intense. Regardless, stable is good Side Effects / symptoms : Neuropathy (can’t feel fingers and toes) Daily nosebleeds (when I blow my nose) Body temperature is completely off, waking up several times in the night sweating and drenched and then freezing cold later (annoying) Skin: major breakouts Hair: gone Stomach: behaving at the moment Hip Pain: about the same -manageable Congestion/head: sounds like water is trapped in my ear and at times I can’t hear out of my left hear (a problem I have had since radiation to head and neck years ago). Sounds like a lot, but it’s really not that bad. It could be a...
PET Scan Today
Been at MD Anderson this morning for labs and echocardiogram. Now I have about a 2 hour break before I check in for my PET scan and luckily Reliant Stadium is close At the Texans Store looking for boots for our upcoming Chicago trip for the Bears vs Texans game!!...Chemo / Side Effects
Another side effect I have been experiencing over the last 3-4 days is waking up in the middle of the night drenched from sweating. Usually, around 4 am and I get up to check the ac, today it was on 70 degrees. Typically before I started chemo I would have been freezing at 70, I was always the person wearing sweaters at 78 and cold all the time. ~...
Chemo / biopsy / Toro
-Finished chemo about 20 minutes ago, long day 8 am to 8 pm. -Skin irritation in pic is new, weird -Elevated white blood cell count, I have been feeling like I was getting sick and guess I was (prescribed Levofloxacin) -Biopsy cancelled- may have enough tissue left over from last biopsy -Did a little shopping at the gift shop -Toro (thought I had everything until I saw this) and slippers to keep my feet warm during chemo!!...
Texans / Chemo Day
Look what I found in the gift shop at the Mays Building at MD Anderson. I’m thinking they might like the Texans Anesthesia assessment this morning, radiology consult, labs (Jewels always gets my blood and has helped me get over the fear of having blood taken), doctor appointment and possibly chemo to be determined shortly...
Neupogen
Thank god for friends Friends assist when you need help giving yourself a shot. I went from being a fainter when needles are involved to giving myself a shot. Last day of my neupogen shots for the week to help boost my white blood cell...
Chemo
Mobile office at MD Anderson, had Jodi up there working with me again during chemo!!!! Work, work, work Angry stomach today, nothing like 3 emergency public bathroom stops. Thanks to chemo i’m getting acquainted with all the public restrooms on the way to the Medical Center and to the...
Chemo
Just finished chemo and left MD Anderson. Last week was my off week, so I had a wonderful week of feeling almost back to normal. Hoping my stomach will not take me down again, no time to be sick!!!! Masquerade for a Cure is getting close, soooooo much to do Jodi was my chemo buddy today, working in my mobile office (aka hospital room) while getting chemo. Was so awesome that she came up to hang out and work on Jamie’s Hope with me!!...
Masquerade for A Cure
All of us still at the office working, late...
Mikala – our miracle baby
Cuddling with my daughter, just read a story and have not cried this much since my diagnosis, a very similar story of a woman here in Houston who battled cancer and was pregnant at the same time. She gave birth in 2003, our children are 13 months apart and she lost her battle in 2005. I am soooooo thankful that I was able to give birth to our perfectly healthy miracle baby Mikala. Despite having cancer, I am still here today and have had 9 1/2 years with her so far. I plan on beating this disease again!!!!! I pray for the day that I can say I am a 4 times...
Wheatgrass
This is the only thing keeping me from getting in the car and heading to the office. Can smell it:( Wheatgrass doesn’t mix well with coffee!...
Capitol
Austin bound. On a bus full of future leaders!!!!! So excited!!!!! Hoping to meet a few...
Chemo
FYI : (there is no other way to say this) CHEMO SUCKS!!!!!! Week 3 of stomach issues, which confirms this is likely a side effect and not an infection or food poisoning. Chemo pic is last Wednesday when I was actually feeling almost normal again, so happy this is my off week!!!!!!!! Hopefully I will start feeling better asap, headed to the Capitol with my TRLP leadership group tomorrow for law, legislature and leadership day. Super excited, just hope I will have energy...Donate Here
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