It's been another fun week of being driven back and forth to CancerCare - my only outing. I had 2 units of packed cells and 1 unit of platelets this week. Today they sent me to a hematologist for a second opinion. "That is a special blood doctor"...I feel like Mr. Rodgers teaching his new word of the week! Very nice man but he had the pleasure of doing a bone marrow biopsy today..."not a nice procedure" Mr. Rodgers would never do something like that. Apparently it appears that my marrow is slowly starting to recover. Tomorrow I get to start Neupogen injections two times a week (to stimulate white blood cell growth). I'm sure I'll be able to do it?!? Who did I have to do that I.M. on in nursing school - I know I chickened out! Was that Joce or Lise? Can't remember! I'm sure you do! And if I can't do it I'm sure Doug can! Adding machine or injection - same thing right?
Last week I also managed to get a "mystery rash" It started on my face and has spread to my entire body. It is sometimes red and raised and very itchy. Dr. S wasn't sure what it was but today the hematologist's nurse took one look at it and said that's a "Septra rash - are you still taking it?" Fortunately it was stopped on Monday. At least now I know what it is! Once again my luck! The "curse of the nurse"
So that has been my life lately. This week felt like Ground Hog Dog everyday. Just not as fun as the movie! Today has left me a little more optimistic about the future.
Thanks again for all the prayers, support and love that have been coming our way. Sorry for not returning all the phone calls. This was a difficult and frightening week for me
Thanks again!
Love,
Karen
Friday, February 18, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Feb 11 - Happy 50th Birthday BOB
I would never get away with doing that if I wasn't sick!
Well it seems to be like "Ground Hog Day" over and over at our house! I was back at CancerCare today for more platelets (supercharged ones again!) They were going to "expire" at 2400 hrs tonight so once again good old Dr. S didn't want to waste them! Yesterday my platelet count was 20 - they only live for 3 days so he wanted to make sure I was charged up for the weekend! Party time! NOT! I still am "Bubble girl" as my white blood cells are still next to nothing. I am very tired of wearing my scratchy masks everywhere I go! I keep thinking my numbers should be up....I am getting kind of nasty and grumpy....I think I need a telemarketer to call so I can take my rage out on them! Oh yeah, my scratchy masks have given me a lovely rash on my face - it burns! Lucky Me!
I do feel a bit stronger and better today. My nurse assured us that this happens and can take a very long time to correct itself! But it does correct itself eventually! I unfortunately am not a Patient Person so this is a test that I am not enjoying! If only there were Coles Notes I could brush up on!
Once again thanks for following along this crazy journey with us! Thanks to my family, drivers, and for the phone calls, e-mails, cards and especially prayers that are being sent this way. Will keep you posted
Love
Karen
Well it seems to be like "Ground Hog Day" over and over at our house! I was back at CancerCare today for more platelets (supercharged ones again!) They were going to "expire" at 2400 hrs tonight so once again good old Dr. S didn't want to waste them! Yesterday my platelet count was 20 - they only live for 3 days so he wanted to make sure I was charged up for the weekend! Party time! NOT! I still am "Bubble girl" as my white blood cells are still next to nothing. I am very tired of wearing my scratchy masks everywhere I go! I keep thinking my numbers should be up....I am getting kind of nasty and grumpy....I think I need a telemarketer to call so I can take my rage out on them! Oh yeah, my scratchy masks have given me a lovely rash on my face - it burns! Lucky Me!
I do feel a bit stronger and better today. My nurse assured us that this happens and can take a very long time to correct itself! But it does correct itself eventually! I unfortunately am not a Patient Person so this is a test that I am not enjoying! If only there were Coles Notes I could brush up on!
Once again thanks for following along this crazy journey with us! Thanks to my family, drivers, and for the phone calls, e-mails, cards and especially prayers that are being sent this way. Will keep you posted
Love
Karen
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
An answer.....
Well here we go again - sitting at CancerCare and writing my blog! The folks at Canadian Blood Services finally have some answers for good Dr. S. I had a whack of blood work done on Friday - the results came today and I apparently have antibodies - which explains why my body has been chewing up and spitting out the platelets. I now will get antibody matched platelets - aren't I special?! I always knew I was a Delicate Flower! I am having yet another platelet transfusion - my platelets were 17 this am - not really low enough for a transfusion but there was a bag with my antibodies that would expire tonight @ 2400 so he thought we should use them up!
Otherwise I am feeling not too bad - tired of CancerCare being my only outing. Still the "masked lady" as my white blood cells are 0.24 (normal is 4.5 - 11.0). They are slowly rising - just not in the safe zone yet.
It is like old home week here in the chemo unit - who would think that after almost 26 years, I'd run into 3 (yes three) nursing classmates who all work in this unit at CancerCare and were all working today....too funny!
I actually get a "day off" tomorrow to stay home then we'll see on Thursday what these latest antibody matched platelets did for me. Thanks as always to everyone for all the continuing good wishes, support, prayers and everything else you are doing for us - you have no idea how much it all means to us!
Love,
Karen et al
Otherwise I am feeling not too bad - tired of CancerCare being my only outing. Still the "masked lady" as my white blood cells are 0.24 (normal is 4.5 - 11.0). They are slowly rising - just not in the safe zone yet.
It is like old home week here in the chemo unit - who would think that after almost 26 years, I'd run into 3 (yes three) nursing classmates who all work in this unit at CancerCare and were all working today....too funny!
I actually get a "day off" tomorrow to stay home then we'll see on Thursday what these latest antibody matched platelets did for me. Thanks as always to everyone for all the continuing good wishes, support, prayers and everything else you are doing for us - you have no idea how much it all means to us!
Love,
Karen et al
Thursday, February 3, 2011
After Radiation
Well I finished radiation last week Friday. I still have a little bit of the radiation burn thing happening - they say it can last 2 weeks post treatment. I still am using "diaper rash" cream on my head! It works to stop the burning...not the best look though!
It has been a discouraging week for me. I've had 2 platelet transfusions and still no luck with them sticking around. Today I had a "special" batch just for me (anti-CMV, etc, etc). My CancerCare doctor talked today with a leading chemo doctor as to the best platelets to give me. Thus I got the special batch. The staff here say they always come back.....but for us special people it always takes longer. Oh yeah, I am getting another 2 units of packed cells over today and tomorrow. My hemoglobin dropped to 78ish - this morning we knew that it was low - I felt weak and tired. Doug called Kim (my nurse at CancerCare) and she said "come on down" - it was just like being on The Price is Right - no cars - just blood products as prizes! Again a big thanks to all the blood donors out there! Keep up the good work!
I've thanked all my drivers a few times already but today we also thought we should thank all our kids drivers - whether it is to or from school or choir or sports or anything else, you know who you are and we really appreciate you taking such good care of them to get them where they need to go when we can't and making them feel so welcome - thanks so much!
That's all for today. Thanks to everyone for all the love, support and prayers you continue to send our way - you have no idea how much it means to us!
Love,
Karen and the gang
It has been a discouraging week for me. I've had 2 platelet transfusions and still no luck with them sticking around. Today I had a "special" batch just for me (anti-CMV, etc, etc). My CancerCare doctor talked today with a leading chemo doctor as to the best platelets to give me. Thus I got the special batch. The staff here say they always come back.....but for us special people it always takes longer. Oh yeah, I am getting another 2 units of packed cells over today and tomorrow. My hemoglobin dropped to 78ish - this morning we knew that it was low - I felt weak and tired. Doug called Kim (my nurse at CancerCare) and she said "come on down" - it was just like being on The Price is Right - no cars - just blood products as prizes! Again a big thanks to all the blood donors out there! Keep up the good work!
I've thanked all my drivers a few times already but today we also thought we should thank all our kids drivers - whether it is to or from school or choir or sports or anything else, you know who you are and we really appreciate you taking such good care of them to get them where they need to go when we can't and making them feel so welcome - thanks so much!
That's all for today. Thanks to everyone for all the love, support and prayers you continue to send our way - you have no idea how much it means to us!
Love,
Karen and the gang
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The planter
The question has been asked what was the radiation mask aka the soon to be planter like? Well here's a couple of pictures - each day for my radiaton treatment I layed on the table and they placed this over my head and attached it to the table with the black screws. The markings were used to line up the radiation machine with lasers and then I got the treatments in the exact same spots every time.
More blood work on Wednesday
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)