Ultrasound Follow-up

Just a quick follow-up on the ultrasound of my kidneys...there doesn't seem to be any obstruction there.  I also seem to be tolerating this chemo better than last week.  I've only thrown up once.

I woke up this morning and was actually a little surprised that I still had cancer.  I don't know why, but every now and again I wake up thinking it's all just been a nightmare and everything will be back to normal.  No such luck!  I also woke up too late to go to church yesterday but was able to receive the sacrament from some wonderful Priests in my ward.

It was sad to say goodbye to the Dibbs yesterday.  It was so nice to have them here!

Second Round of New Chemo

I didn't tolerate the first round of the new chemo very well.  I pretty much threw up everything from Thursday afternoon until Sunday night.  Fortunately, I haven't thrown up since Monday, and I've had a bit more appetite since then as well.

I had my second round of my new treatment this afternoon.  The pharmacist mixed up a new concoction for my anti-nausea pre-meds, which has been encouraging so far.  The oncologist has some minor concerns about my kidney, so I will be having an ultrasound tomorrow morning on my kidneys to rule out an obstruction.

I've been blessed with spring break visitors this week from California.  It's so nice to have them here.  I'm so thankful for all of the people who are helping me.  I receive help in ways I don't even know I need until I receive it.

New Chemo

I got my first round of the new chemotherapy treatment yesterday.  I'm not quite sure why, but I ended up throwing up the whole rest of the day and more this morning.  It was baffling, because I had just received a loading dose of anti-nausea meds through my IV, and this type of chemo is supposedly well-tolerated.

I haven't thrown up again since this morning.  I was able to go on a short walk today in the most glorious spring weather.  I'll receive the same treatment once a week for the next couple of months.  Hopefully the rest of this week will level out and the drug can do what it's supposed to do.

Here are some pictures of my time with Mindy!

 I went to the temple with Melissa and Mindy...beautiful spring!

Got to spend some time with Baby B...

Went for a little walk around the block.

15/15

I finished my fifteenth radiation treatment yesterday!  I wish I could say that I feel better, or that it has made a significant difference.  However, it has been a very rough couple of weeks.  I feel pretty miserable all of the time.  I finally stopped throwing up a few days ago, but I am still so weak and am in a lot of pain.

There's been no talk of another scan any time soon.  I'm getting the impression that there won't be another scan for at least two months.  I start my new chemotherapy on Thursday.  It will be once a week for at least two months.  I don't know what to expect from this new chemo.  I'm just so sick of being sick.

My sister is here from California for a few days, which is a real blessing.  Thank you for your prayers and fasting.  I am certainly in need of strength beyond my own.  Thanks for continuing to reach out to me.

I'm hoping the next blog post has better news and that I'm feeling better!

More of the Same

Today I finished my tenth of fifteen radiation treatments.  I haven't recognized any difference yet, but I hear it might be a little premature for me to feel the changes.  I'm still throwing up every day, even though I'm taking a mountain of anti-nausea medication.  I feel crummy 90% of the time that I'm awake.  My radiology oncologist is quite convinced that my nausea and throwing up is directly related to the radiation.  I'm really hoping that it is, because it suggests an end in sight.

On a more exciting note, Jeanette stayed back for a few days of her spring break so she could help me, but then she needed to go to Salt Lake to spend the rest of the week with her family.  Fortunately, my sister and her daughter from Ogden came to stay with me for 2.5 days, and my parents came up for the rest of the weekend.  They are all so good to help!  It was great to have all the help and support.

I am still fortunate to be sleeping well.  I can't imagine the additional misery I would be feeling if I were awake all night.  I'm also so grateful for all of the people that are helping to get me to my radiation treatments.  It's very humbling to see how quickly I was able to fill the calendar with willing friends who are eager to help.

Thank you for all the Easter cards and well wishes!  Even though I felt too sick to go to church yesterday, I felt buoyed up on every side.

Syvanna walking me in to MSTI for my radiation treatment

I've Just Been So Sick

I don't know if it's even connected to the radiation, but I have just felt so sick for the past couple of weeks.  My appetite is nonexistent.  I'm throwing up way too much, not even sure what I'm throwing up since I'm not really eating.  It's just been crazy.

I go to radiation every day.  I've posted some photos of the process.  Once they set me up and close the door, I lay there for about 10 minutes while they radiate from every angle.  It doesn't seem to have made any difference in the way that I feel on a day to day basis, except I am more nauseous and losing weight again.

It's been a discouraging couple of weeks.  The beautiful roses in the photo are from my visiting teacher.  She is a rock star, and the roses are gorgeous!

Thanks for reaching out to me.  I love to hear from you.

  

Great Wedding Weekend...Now Radiation Begins

It was so nice to be at Michael's wedding events this weekend!  I'll admit that it was exhausting, but I was so glad that I could be there.  I could not have done it without the constant help of my family.   I've posted some photos.  I didn't spend the whole weekend in a wheelchair, just when there was a lot of walking or standing around that was going to be taking place.  Again, my family came through like superheroes.  

My radiation treatments began yesterday.  I'll have them every day until April 4 (minus the weekends).  So far, they have been pretty quick and painless.  Some people fly through radiation; others struggle.  The two I've had so far have not seemed to present any crazy side effects.  I am so grateful for all the people that are helping me and will continue to help me get to these appointments.

It's been a rough week.  The results of the CT scan last week were nothing short of a kick to the stomach on every level.  I'm still trying to figure out how to process the information.

I'm frequently asked how I'm sleeping, how's my appetite, am I experiencing nausea?  The answers are that I am sleeping great and so grateful for that blessing.  My appetite is terrible.  It's not improving at the current time.  The nausea has been off and on the past week.  I've been throwing up more, but I'm not sure where that's all coming from.  My body is pretty weak, and I have a lot of chest pain.  Apparently, it's from the growth in my chest area.

I cannot express with enough gratitude how I feel about all of the help I am receiving from so many on a daily basis.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.