On Tuesday I had chest pains when I took deep breaths so we went to the ER - after hours of hoorah, I have a tiny pulmonary embolism in my lung - I was sent to ICU and given blood thinners, then the next day moved to the far quieter 3rd floor surgical and on the 29th (Gene's birthday) got sent home with blood thinners to inject and a plan to meet with Dr. Rigden next Wednesday to pick the next chemo - Xeloda does not play well with blood thinners.
So I am once again doing fine - but there must be something wrong at my hospital - at least twice an episode during Grey's Anatomy they have a code blue - I've been in the hospital at least 10 episodes worth and they haven't had even one.
Anyway I am still hanging in there and feeling pretty well.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Beautiful Explanation of Death for a Christian - thanks Norma!
~DEATH~ WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT ..
A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to
leave the examination room and said,
"Doctor, I am afraid to die.
Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man,
do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door;
on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,
and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room
and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said,
"Did you notice my dog?
He's never been in this room before.
He didn't know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here,
and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.
I know little of what is on the other side of death,
but I do know one thing...
I know my Master is there and that is enough."
~DEATH~ WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT ..
A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to
leave the examination room and said,
"Doctor, I am afraid to die.
Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man,
do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door;
on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,
and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room
and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said,
"Did you notice my dog?
He's never been in this room before.
He didn't know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here,
and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.
I know little of what is on the other side of death,
but I do know one thing...
I know my Master is there and that is enough."
Monday, May 26, 2008
Review results
Well. folks - the taxol did not do the trick - the tumors have not shrunk - so we are doing an oral chemo now - I take an anti-nausea drug 1st, then 5 of the chemo - Xeloda - pills twice a day. So far no bad effects.
To prevent one of the side effects I have to put something called Bag Balm on my feet and hands to prevent sores. it is the texture of petroleum Jelly. I put on crew socks to keep from greasing the sheets and the floor. But my feet are nice and soft.
Gene's parents came to visit and it was great. We took Ryan and Leah to Ameristar Casino for all the crab legs you can eat on their buffet.
He's 19 now - how did that happen? I blinked.
To prevent one of the side effects I have to put something called Bag Balm on my feet and hands to prevent sores. it is the texture of petroleum Jelly. I put on crew socks to keep from greasing the sheets and the floor. But my feet are nice and soft.
Gene's parents came to visit and it was great. We took Ryan and Leah to Ameristar Casino for all the crab legs you can eat on their buffet.
He's 19 now - how did that happen? I blinked.
Fell
I haven't written in a while - Last week I was in the hospital again -
Gene went to the store and I got up and went to the bathroom - and woke up with my head in the shower stall - no warning, dizziness, head whirls or blurs. Just down. I knocked the glass doors off the tracks, broke the track, and was dripping blood all over when I came to. When I finally got myself upright (a story in itself) I found I had gashed my face from my nose to my lip. Didn't hurt so I had thought I had a nose bleed.
Leah showed up in about 5 minutes to visit me and since I had a bloody washcloth on my face - the first thing I said was "It's not as bad as it looks." She was so cool - got me dressed (I was still in my pj's) and then cleaned up the bathroom so Gene wouldn't have to see all the blood - Head wounds bleed a lot. She is great!
I am glad this isn't a movie because in the movies the glass doors would have shattered and cut off my head - and that would have really ruined a lot of people's day.
So Gene took me to the ER. I received 6 stitches -- the numbing agent, Lidocaine comes in square needles and burns - the only part of the procedure that hurt.
Then they surprised us by admitting me and giving me tons of tests. Result - the Taxol/steroid combo has slowed my nerve response. When you stand up, the nerves in your legs tell your muscles to contract taking blood to your brain - I guess I walked all the way to the bathroom without any blood in the brain.
First my legs give way, then quit delivering blood - both listed under the 2% possible side effects. I am definitely going to read that part of the package of information they give me more carefully!
Anyway I am back home and standing slowly - then flexing my calves. So far so good! Today I go in for my review of all the scans and we will see if I continue the chemo. I'll let you know.
Gene went to the store and I got up and went to the bathroom - and woke up with my head in the shower stall - no warning, dizziness, head whirls or blurs. Just down. I knocked the glass doors off the tracks, broke the track, and was dripping blood all over when I came to. When I finally got myself upright (a story in itself) I found I had gashed my face from my nose to my lip. Didn't hurt so I had thought I had a nose bleed.
Leah showed up in about 5 minutes to visit me and since I had a bloody washcloth on my face - the first thing I said was "It's not as bad as it looks." She was so cool - got me dressed (I was still in my pj's) and then cleaned up the bathroom so Gene wouldn't have to see all the blood - Head wounds bleed a lot. She is great!
I am glad this isn't a movie because in the movies the glass doors would have shattered and cut off my head - and that would have really ruined a lot of people's day.
So Gene took me to the ER. I received 6 stitches -- the numbing agent, Lidocaine comes in square needles and burns - the only part of the procedure that hurt.
Then they surprised us by admitting me and giving me tons of tests. Result - the Taxol/steroid combo has slowed my nerve response. When you stand up, the nerves in your legs tell your muscles to contract taking blood to your brain - I guess I walked all the way to the bathroom without any blood in the brain.
First my legs give way, then quit delivering blood - both listed under the 2% possible side effects. I am definitely going to read that part of the package of information they give me more carefully!
Anyway I am back home and standing slowly - then flexing my calves. So far so good! Today I go in for my review of all the scans and we will see if I continue the chemo. I'll let you know.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Chemo 2
Well, the first chemo wasn't to bad - Not as bad as the first series - I had extreme fatigue (2 naps a day and 14 hours sleep at night but it got better) and then halfway through started running fevers - I had a white blood cell drop - so I got to take a general spectrum antibiotic and now my white blood count is fine - 9 something.
But the low count meant that I couldn't go to the fundraiser - had to stay out of crowds. Cindy Weers, Jane Snodgrass, Kathy Whitley, Ryan and his friends - Matty and Josh from MU all took over and ran things. It was great!
So I had my second Taxol treatment yesterday. I have Physical training today and a Radiology Oncology follow up today.
Our daffodils and tulips are glorious this year - It is a great excuse to walk outside.
Lori Barringer
But the low count meant that I couldn't go to the fundraiser - had to stay out of crowds. Cindy Weers, Jane Snodgrass, Kathy Whitley, Ryan and his friends - Matty and Josh from MU all took over and ran things. It was great!
So I had my second Taxol treatment yesterday. I have Physical training today and a Radiology Oncology follow up today.
Our daffodils and tulips are glorious this year - It is a great excuse to walk outside.
Lori Barringer
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