Hi all-
well, we are past the fourth chemo session, with at least 8 to go. Sometime in April, we'll probably get a PET scan (again) to see progress and determine if we need to add Radiation to the treatment. The way Dr. H explained it- if anything shows on PET scan- we can add Radiation to take care of the outlier areas that do not appear to be responding to chemo.
That said- her labs continue good and on exam- she has no palpable nodes in her neck or arm pits! Her hemoglobin is up to 13.4, and she has more color and energy. YAY. She has even started playing the Wii which helps her exercise-yes a video game that lets you move more.
Her liver enzyme remains normal- and her Potassium is in normal range again- thanks to Potassium rich foods- thank you Kim and Paige for helping me figure out more Potassium foods than I was aware of!
She did great through chemo today- even slept during the last one. Bridget came home and slept some more- and then the dreaded nausea hit. This happened the last time- which makes me think that the pre- chemo anti nausea med is not working anymore (This is the one that is supposed to last 48 hours). So, since it happened the last two times, I think we will add Compazine in between the 4 meds, which may help to keep the nausea "troll" at bay.
And probably we'll just stick with soup for lunch on chemo day!. and maybe more soup/broth for dinner on chemo day.
However, the nausea/urp ups only last at most two days, then she gets her appetite back. She gained 3 pounds this last two weeks up to 158. And she is eating almost anything she can get her hands on- except asparagus (can't convince her that it is a great tasting veggie?). Oh well, she will eat beets and spinach without too much protest.
Well, again - thanks for the positive thoughts and prayers. It's working.
Denise
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Third week chemo
Hi all- (second time at this- the first one did not save)
Bridget had chemo yesterday (Yes there was another scheduling glitch). Other than it was a 7 hour ordeal, it went well and she tolerated things fine. We arrived at 8:20 to the Cancer center- had lab work and a Chest Xray. After those were processed, we met with Dr. Hueftle.
GOOD NEWS-
Her hemoglobin is up to 12 (she is pink, has color to her cheeks and finger nails and is no longer see thru). Her liver enzyme that was so elevated at 760- is down to normal levels at 170!! YAY.
The only concern I have is that her potassium is low at 3.2, so I am giving her all the potassium rich foods we can find. Bananas, tomatoes, cheeses, yellow and orange fruits and veggies. So with the chemo and the bananas- she MAY turn into a monkey! (joking)
Dr. H was surprised to see she has not lost all her hair. It is thinning but she still has lots of hair.
So her chest Xray- without even looking at the old one (january's), I could tell that the nodes were much smaller. BUT the comparison of old to recent- Wow- the nodes are about 1/3 the size they were. She is really responding well to chemo.
So upstairs we go for chemo. She tolerated it well. We left at 3:15, so all in all a 7 hour ordeal- I still don't get why they say 4 hours in and out--- but oh well. We get to hang out together and chat with my old friends from St. James.
Today she got the booster shot for White blood cells, so by tomorrow, she will most likely be sick to her stomach (which she describes as her tummy doing handstands and flip flops) AND her bones will ache (which last time she told me felt like little trolls jumping on her bones). Not a fun Thursday. It, so far, has only lasted one day. Then a week and a half of good things. If the weather Ever warms up (-20 in Clancy this morning???), I want to get her out walking after dinner.
We thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts. Her next chemo is scheduled for March 24th. I'll post a new blog then.
Take care
Denise
Bridget had chemo yesterday (Yes there was another scheduling glitch). Other than it was a 7 hour ordeal, it went well and she tolerated things fine. We arrived at 8:20 to the Cancer center- had lab work and a Chest Xray. After those were processed, we met with Dr. Hueftle.
GOOD NEWS-
Her hemoglobin is up to 12 (she is pink, has color to her cheeks and finger nails and is no longer see thru). Her liver enzyme that was so elevated at 760- is down to normal levels at 170!! YAY.
The only concern I have is that her potassium is low at 3.2, so I am giving her all the potassium rich foods we can find. Bananas, tomatoes, cheeses, yellow and orange fruits and veggies. So with the chemo and the bananas- she MAY turn into a monkey! (joking)
Dr. H was surprised to see she has not lost all her hair. It is thinning but she still has lots of hair.
So her chest Xray- without even looking at the old one (january's), I could tell that the nodes were much smaller. BUT the comparison of old to recent- Wow- the nodes are about 1/3 the size they were. She is really responding well to chemo.
So upstairs we go for chemo. She tolerated it well. We left at 3:15, so all in all a 7 hour ordeal- I still don't get why they say 4 hours in and out--- but oh well. We get to hang out together and chat with my old friends from St. James.
Today she got the booster shot for White blood cells, so by tomorrow, she will most likely be sick to her stomach (which she describes as her tummy doing handstands and flip flops) AND her bones will ache (which last time she told me felt like little trolls jumping on her bones). Not a fun Thursday. It, so far, has only lasted one day. Then a week and a half of good things. If the weather Ever warms up (-20 in Clancy this morning???), I want to get her out walking after dinner.
We thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts. Her next chemo is scheduled for March 24th. I'll post a new blog then.
Take care
Denise
Monday, March 2, 2009
Busy week
Sorry, seemed like last week blew by too fast and I am late in putting up the latest. Apologies for that!
Bridget had her chemo last Tuesday (2/24/09) and it went well. Took about 5 hours for the infusions to go in. She went first to Chemo center for lab and MD visit. I think I reported that her hemoglobin is up (10.9) and her Liver enzymes down from 750 to around 250!! yeah!! So the chemo is working!
She tolerated chemo well. The anti nausea med lasted about 36 hours this time- she was icky feeling the next evening. More sick this time!! (probably will be as the meds buildup in her body), but she handled it well with the Compazine. The Neulasta shot (to build up white blood cells and her immunity) also must be building up in her body- this time bone pain was more noticeable. Not just twinges and cramps, but real aches and pains. This is an expected side effect of the shot. If you think about it, it makes sense. White blood cells are built in the bone marrow, so places where her bone marrow is making more WBC's in response to the shot are going to hurt more. That lasted about a day and a half, coming right on top of the 'icky' feeling- so not a pleasant couple of days for Bridge.
She has more energy, is planning future things- like what she will do this summer, what movies she wants to go watch at the drive in, etc. She did the dishes one night last week and even set up her Wii, but ended up not playing it. So things are bouncing back for her!
Next chemo is next Monday- no hiccups, we have it scheduled and planned out in advance. She will have her labs and a Chest Xray to see what the lymph nodes around her heart and lungs are doing (shrinking????).
Still have not heard back from SSA yet, I am going to call today and see what the status is, plus have Dr. Hueftle call them to see if he can push from his end. We are getting bills. I probably would have a heart attack if I did not know in advance this was going to be pricey. We'll pay what we can and go from there. Meantime, more paperwork to fill out, Now you all know why the government is in the shape its in.
Chat with you later.
Denise
Bridget had her chemo last Tuesday (2/24/09) and it went well. Took about 5 hours for the infusions to go in. She went first to Chemo center for lab and MD visit. I think I reported that her hemoglobin is up (10.9) and her Liver enzymes down from 750 to around 250!! yeah!! So the chemo is working!
She tolerated chemo well. The anti nausea med lasted about 36 hours this time- she was icky feeling the next evening. More sick this time!! (probably will be as the meds buildup in her body), but she handled it well with the Compazine. The Neulasta shot (to build up white blood cells and her immunity) also must be building up in her body- this time bone pain was more noticeable. Not just twinges and cramps, but real aches and pains. This is an expected side effect of the shot. If you think about it, it makes sense. White blood cells are built in the bone marrow, so places where her bone marrow is making more WBC's in response to the shot are going to hurt more. That lasted about a day and a half, coming right on top of the 'icky' feeling- so not a pleasant couple of days for Bridge.
She has more energy, is planning future things- like what she will do this summer, what movies she wants to go watch at the drive in, etc. She did the dishes one night last week and even set up her Wii, but ended up not playing it. So things are bouncing back for her!
Next chemo is next Monday- no hiccups, we have it scheduled and planned out in advance. She will have her labs and a Chest Xray to see what the lymph nodes around her heart and lungs are doing (shrinking????).
Still have not heard back from SSA yet, I am going to call today and see what the status is, plus have Dr. Hueftle call them to see if he can push from his end. We are getting bills. I probably would have a heart attack if I did not know in advance this was going to be pricey. We'll pay what we can and go from there. Meantime, more paperwork to fill out, Now you all know why the government is in the shape its in.
Chat with you later.
Denise
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