I met with Dr. Rohatgi yesterday and he agreed that since my scans were SO high, he was putting me back on IV Chemo starting immediately. Sonia and Jordan both accompanied me to my appointment, and since Sonia was afraid we'd forget everything once we left the room, she was kind enough to record it. She actually wanted to send a copy via the internet to Luanne, but I'm not sure how to do that, so since I'm going to be spending a couple days with her this week, I'm just going to bring the recorder for her to listen to. This new IV Chemo will definitely make me lose my hair again, but that's okay because it's getting too long anyway. Sonia says that she couldn't believe I was that cheap if that's what I'm looking forward to :) ...lol. I will have chemotherapy once a week for one week on, then two weeks off. I'm still not sure how long the treatment is, but it's sometime between two and four hours. Usually it depends upon whether or not you've had blood work done ahead of time or not, but we went down to Sutter today to prepare ourselves for the treatment on Monday, but they said that the blood work I had done the other day with my blood transfusion was good enough and that I didn't need to have it done again. However, for my next cycles, I may have to come a day or two early and prepare my blood work for them. Apparently it's a big deal because if we don't have it done ahead of time, they're hours behind on my treatment. Whatever works. I just hate to have my ride (since I'm always at the mercy of somebody driving me - and it's usually Monica) have to wait a long time for nothing. I know how busy Monica is with the kids and the restaurant and all, so I hate to make her wait any longer than she has to. This Monday Monica is going to be bringing her teenage son Frankie with her to spend some quality time together :) I love Frankie, he's a good boy who sometimes helps out at Strings when they need him, but one of his greatest strengths besides his strikingly good looks, is the fact that he can play some serious baseball! Unfortunately we cheer for two opposite teams (Giants vs. A's), but it's all good. We'd just love to see Frankie successful in wherever his dreams take him. Good luck to you Frankie, just keep up those grades and you'll make it.
So...Cycle 1, day 1 starts Monday, December 19, 2011 @ 8:30. It's been about 9 months since my last IV chemo, so I'm a bit nervous. So again, I ask that you pray for me during this difficult time transitioning over to IV, it's not that easy, so I'll need your positive help with this. Also, when at the breast surgeon's office the other day, he said that the tumor in my breast had grown back to be the size that it was originally. It's a bit sore, but hopefully it will shrink with treatment and the pain will subside a bit.
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Tim, I look to you for strength and guidance...
As you know my younger brother is Tim and he's going through a pretty difficult time in his life right now. However, a little over two years ago he gave me some words of wisdom that I truly grasp at from time to time with all of my heart and soul. I sometimes grasp so hard at those words of encouragement, that I'm literally white-knuckling my fingers, they are so clenched in prayer. What Tim told me was to never under estimate the power of prayer, and that I should never forget about the power of positive thinking. And with negative thinking, it wouldn't get me anywhere, but would rather do me more harm than good.
Well, Tim, I sure love you and I've been thinking about you and your encouraging words all day. Remember my Tumor Marker that my Oncologist measures every month and keeps an eye on? Well, when I left Kaiser it was barely creeping up on 100, and I believe that was back in May. The standard range on the chart shows that it should be approximately < 38. Last month on 11/09 my count was at 415.2, but when I checked today which was drawn on 12/07 my count was 645.7! It has taken everything in me to stay positive today and have faith in what the doctors are doing, but those numbers sure do scare me...a lot.
And without "airing his dirty laundry" as my Dad would always say, I pray that you get through this difficult time in your life with dignity and respect. And remember to "never under estimate the power of prayer & definitely don't forget the power of positive thinking".
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Well, Tim, I sure love you and I've been thinking about you and your encouraging words all day. Remember my Tumor Marker that my Oncologist measures every month and keeps an eye on? Well, when I left Kaiser it was barely creeping up on 100, and I believe that was back in May. The standard range on the chart shows that it should be approximately < 38. Last month on 11/09 my count was at 415.2, but when I checked today which was drawn on 12/07 my count was 645.7! It has taken everything in me to stay positive today and have faith in what the doctors are doing, but those numbers sure do scare me...a lot.
And without "airing his dirty laundry" as my Dad would always say, I pray that you get through this difficult time in your life with dignity and respect. And remember to "never under estimate the power of prayer & definitely don't forget the power of positive thinking".
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Surgery...
We made our way upstairs to the waiting area and who was waiting with a HUGE smile on her face? Yolanda Turner from the DMV!! OMG I was so excited to see her waiting to be sure I made it into surgery okay. What a sweetheart she is. At one point in our lives we didn't see eye to eye and I sure am glad that the good Lord has shown me the unnecessary way in which I was acting, because that was plain foolish. I am blessed to have such a dear, kind-hearted friend in my life. Thank you Yolanda for your forgiveness, God bless you. I must also mention that my loving Father-in-law also drove up early from San Jose to make it in time, arriving at approximately 9:00 to save his place in line :)
After we registered I began to have butterflies that didn't want to ease up. SERIOUS butterflies. If I'd been there alone, I think I would have backed out, but unfortunately I had WAY too many witnesses to walk out on something like this...damn it!!
Dr. Tamariun walked in and went over everything again before the surgery and wondered who had requested the top anesthesiologist in the hospital and none of us had any clue, but that definitely put some of those butterflies to rest, that's for sure :0) and within about twenty seconds after answering my questions, I was out cold after meeting him. Don't ask me what he even looks like, I have no clue...sorry Dr. Brown!
Within what I swear felt like less than a minute, I was awake and talking my head off! With a room FULL of people, I managed to get some food in me and some serious narcotics to take the edge off. Between trial and error, we eventually landed on the usual cocktail of Morphine every 2 hours (just like when I landed in the ER a couple months ago) and it definitely helped with easing the pain. Thank goodness.
I do want to take this moment to apologize for perhaps being a bit grumpy straight after surgery, but it SERIOUSLY hurt like hell...so please understand when I say how truly sorry I am for anything said that might have hurt your feelings in any way, shape, or form. I found out later on, that during the final stages of the surgery, the surgeon erroneously broke a bone and had to repair that with wires before
I stayed overnight and decided that since sleep was almost impossible, we choose to go home after the first night. Watching the fish channel the entire night just wasn't kicking it :) although with the sound, it was quite therapeutic.
I'm home now and hanging out in the recliner with the cat (Siren) and starting to really heal. I believe that's what happens when you start to itch like crazy, right? I'm in a sling so I can't just stick a wire down it, but i manage with our back-scratcher. Remember it boys? It was mom's old brown one, that hit the spot every time.
Okay, I'm outta here. Not bad for one finger typing. I'll keep in touch <3
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
After we registered I began to have butterflies that didn't want to ease up. SERIOUS butterflies. If I'd been there alone, I think I would have backed out, but unfortunately I had WAY too many witnesses to walk out on something like this...damn it!!
Dr. Tamariun walked in and went over everything again before the surgery and wondered who had requested the top anesthesiologist in the hospital and none of us had any clue, but that definitely put some of those butterflies to rest, that's for sure :0) and within about twenty seconds after answering my questions, I was out cold after meeting him. Don't ask me what he even looks like, I have no clue...sorry Dr. Brown!
Within what I swear felt like less than a minute, I was awake and talking my head off! With a room FULL of people, I managed to get some food in me and some serious narcotics to take the edge off. Between trial and error, we eventually landed on the usual cocktail of Morphine every 2 hours (just like when I landed in the ER a couple months ago) and it definitely helped with easing the pain. Thank goodness.
I do want to take this moment to apologize for perhaps being a bit grumpy straight after surgery, but it SERIOUSLY hurt like hell...so please understand when I say how truly sorry I am for anything said that might have hurt your feelings in any way, shape, or form. I found out later on, that during the final stages of the surgery, the surgeon erroneously broke a bone and had to repair that with wires before
I stayed overnight and decided that since sleep was almost impossible, we choose to go home after the first night. Watching the fish channel the entire night just wasn't kicking it :) although with the sound, it was quite therapeutic.
I'm home now and hanging out in the recliner with the cat (Siren) and starting to really heal. I believe that's what happens when you start to itch like crazy, right? I'm in a sling so I can't just stick a wire down it, but i manage with our back-scratcher. Remember it boys? It was mom's old brown one, that hit the spot every time.
Okay, I'm outta here. Not bad for one finger typing. I'll keep in touch <3
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Stay Tuned...
Hello ~ I promise to blog at some point either today or tomorrow, whenever I can withstand the pain long enough to press the keys with one hand. Just know that I am alive, back on Morphine every 2 hours, and thinking about positive (pain free days ahead). Prayers are still and always will be welcomed. That is all for now, but I'll be back soon.
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Peace to you all ~ Love, Genie
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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