August 2013 At CTCA

First I need to let you know I just haven't felt well enough to keep up with my blog. I really need you to understand what has gone on in the last few months so you can continue to support my fight! You are a main reason why I'm in this fight! I thank you from the bottom of my heart!! God Bless You All! The last time I blogged I was still taking Afinitor chemo and that is what has made me so sick. When I visited my doctor in July I told her I had enough of this drug. My quality of life just wasn't there and my poor body couldn't take anymore abuse. We talked about what to do next. There are still several options which I am grateful for. One thing I have discovered through all this is that if I take a chemo pill every night instead of an infusion in my port I have more side affects. So I've told her that I would rather stay with the infusions. This also means more travel. I really don't mind that at all. So after much discussion the doctor chose Ixempra for my chemo treatment this time. I put a link to the side if you want to explore. My first infusion was Wednesday July 10th. I first had a pt scan to have something to compare to in 3 months. This showed several areas in the bone that had grown which tells the doctor that the Afinitor didn't do as well as she wanted. Dang and all the sick days I spent praying that it would work! Not that I prayed for nothing but that I spent 6 months taking this with severe side effects without good results! After the 6 hour infusion we finally got back to the hotel only to pack and get ready to come home the next morning. Robbin had gone with me this time and I'm glad he did. I had to be carried to the room because the drugs they give me before chemo just knock me out for about 4 hours. When we arrived home the next day all I wanted to do was sleep. I'm getting really good at listening to my body and doing what I need to get through the day. I've even learned to tell people no. Don't like that but I do it. Friday I started feeling so weak and had so much pain. I ended up going to the ER for some fluid, knew I was dehydrated, which made me feel a little better. But by Sunday Robbin was calling the ambulance because the pain was more than I could bare. I received pain meds that put me into a state of mind I've never been before. Didn't like it!!! I saw flying toothpicks, dolls dancing on the wall, even saw a concert behind my bed. Don't know who the band was. Must have been good....Lynn and Debbie were there! I can laugh about it know but at the time it was very scary. I guess I was even telling my family stories so if you want a good laugh just ask them. I have and its hilarious. Robbin was able to bring my dog Molly to the hospital Thursday-Sunday. She was great company and also healing for me! Monday morning the doctors at the hospital discovery I had a very low white blood count and a very high fever. The white cells were 0.30, normal for me is around 11.0 and the fever was 100.8. I was put in isolation for 3 days. One thing that this new chemo drug does is drop my white cells dramatically and fast. The doctors at the hospital don't know that so they treated me for high fever thinking I had an infection somewhere. After ever infusion of Ixempra 24 hours later I get a shot of Neupragen. This helps to build the white cells up. For the next few days I received so many drugs just to make me comfortable that by day 8 I had to go through withdrawals just to get back to me being in control not the drugs. This is the worst thing I have ever gone trough! Robbin was in constant contact with my doctors at CTCA. Not much more for anyone to do then to just get me through another day. By Monday I was able to go home and start recovering only to return for another treatment July 31st. This appointment was a very uplifting appointment. All I had gone through had been for the good!! My cancer markers had dropped!! There are three that we watch....7/10/13 CEA 13.4 to 6.9 CA-15.3 781 to 305 CA-27.29 678.4 to 237.3. I couldn't believe my eyes!!! Dropped more than half in one month!! And of course my doctor was so happy. We did the happy dance!! Rob and Patti had gone with me so we had a celebration moment too!! I received my second dose of ix.......that afternoon. And oh yes we were able to somehow squeeze in a couple hours of shopping before the treatment. If you need to know how to arrange the time to shop just call me. I'm becoming an expert! Just have to have some fun while we're there! After returning home I knew I would have to take it easy for at least 7 days. The pain from this treatment is very uncomfortable so it's very important that I stay on top of my pain. With that and rest I'm now starting to gain strength to return for a third treatment. The doctor says I will have 6 treatments with another pt scan after 3 months. When I started this treatment I wasn't given the full dose. My doctor knows me too well to do that to me. The second dose was less than the first. If I respond like she wants I will stay on the current dose. My birthday was July 25th so my family brought dinner over and we celebrated. After gifts Patti wanted to clip my hair. Yep, I'm bald again! I really don't care because this is one thing that will grow back and I do have 2 wigs that are lots of fun to wear. I also love wearing hats! With my life at the stage it's at I can only continue to tell you that your support means everything to me. It gives me encouragement, strength, and a sense of accomplishment. Thank you to all that have helped me in so many ways. I can't do this without YOU! Love to all!