Things have been a little busy over here with the start of Spring Break. Yesterday the kids and Doug, and my sister went swimming while I nappd and visisted with my mom! We have company in today - so what I am saying is don't worry if it takes me a long time to post another entry or to return a phone call. It just means that we are busy and hopefully having some fun!
On the blood work side of things I have not had a platlett transfusion since last Friday and today they are sitting at 45! Best that they have been in a long time. My hemoglobin is 93! My WBC's are so good that the hematologist stopped the neupogen! Murphy's Law - I just renewed the prescription!
So the plan for this week is to recheck my bloodwork prior to the weekend and possibly get a transfusion of some sort as I am scheduled for a porta-cath insertion next week. Wish me well!
Have a safe Spring Break and hopefully you can find some time to have some fun with the kids.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers,
Love ,
Karen
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A Busy Week!
It's hard to believe how fast a week can come and go! It was another whirlwind week! Last week on Sunday we went to our daughter's beautiful choir concert. On Thursday we had parent teacher interviews at the kid's school. It was my first time in the school since I was diagnosed in November. I miss being there! Yesterday was the kids curling windup - I only lasted about 20 minutes - It was far too noisy! The noise is still one thing that really bothers me! The kids were both excited and very proud as they both came home with a trophy! (every kid came home with a trophy!)
On the Cancer Care front I went on a field trip to St. B Cancer Care on Monday as HSC had no room at the Inn! I had 2 units of Packed cells as my hemoglobin fell to 71. I was back at HSC on Thursday bright and early for more platelets as they were down to 10. All things considering not too bad for me - they often fall to the single digits! My post transfusion platelets were 34! My WBC's 6.19 - which is normal. My hemoglobin hit 100!
Once again a big thank you for all the friends and family who have been thinking of us, praying for us and helping us. We would be lost without you all!
Love Karen and family
On the Cancer Care front I went on a field trip to St. B Cancer Care on Monday as HSC had no room at the Inn! I had 2 units of Packed cells as my hemoglobin fell to 71. I was back at HSC on Thursday bright and early for more platelets as they were down to 10. All things considering not too bad for me - they often fall to the single digits! My post transfusion platelets were 34! My WBC's 6.19 - which is normal. My hemoglobin hit 100!
Once again a big thank you for all the friends and family who have been thinking of us, praying for us and helping us. We would be lost without you all!
Love Karen and family
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
March 12 - "A Delicate Flower"
It was back and forth to CancerCare only twice this past week. On Monday I had more platelets - they only fell to 23 but there were platelets in house that would only last 'til Tuesday so instead of wasting them they topped me up - just like adding a litre of oil I guess!
Friday was a difficult day. It was to be my PICC line insertion day - something I was looking forward to. Finally no more IV pokes/blood draws. After several attempts and what felt like days they were unsuccessful. Apparently I have very "tiny vasculature" - thus the "delicate flower" heading! So now the plan is to have a more invasive Porta Cath insertion done in the near future.
On the positive side of things I have been feeling pretty good - it is amazing how one's body can compensate - the first time my hemoglobin dropped I felt dizzy and weak. Today with my hemoglobin of 82 I feel "normal"...whatever that is. Another blood transfusion is planned for next week.
On the family side of things the kids both got excellent report cards and passed their swimming levels. I am so very proud of them and was able to give them a hug. It has been a difficult few months around here and they seem to be pretty resilient to the ups and downs that seem to always happen.
Thanks as always for everyone's thoughts and prayers and calls and visits (which are really special now that I can have visitors again). It's taken a few days to get this post up but another one will follow in the next couple of days.
Love
Karen
Friday was a difficult day. It was to be my PICC line insertion day - something I was looking forward to. Finally no more IV pokes/blood draws. After several attempts and what felt like days they were unsuccessful. Apparently I have very "tiny vasculature" - thus the "delicate flower" heading! So now the plan is to have a more invasive Porta Cath insertion done in the near future.
On the positive side of things I have been feeling pretty good - it is amazing how one's body can compensate - the first time my hemoglobin dropped I felt dizzy and weak. Today with my hemoglobin of 82 I feel "normal"...whatever that is. Another blood transfusion is planned for next week.
On the family side of things the kids both got excellent report cards and passed their swimming levels. I am so very proud of them and was able to give them a hug. It has been a difficult few months around here and they seem to be pretty resilient to the ups and downs that seem to always happen.
Thanks as always for everyone's thoughts and prayers and calls and visits (which are really special now that I can have visitors again). It's taken a few days to get this post up but another one will follow in the next couple of days.
Love
Karen
Friday, March 4, 2011
A new reason for Hope!
Today was another busy day at CancerCare - we had to be there for 9am - the kids had no school so with them in tow we were off. My platelets fell this am to 7 - not too bad for 5 days post transfusion. My record was immeasurable once! I had 1 unit of platelets and my 30 minute post transfusion level was 56. Let's hope my marrow starts producing. My hemoglobin was actually up a little on its own and my white blood cells are approaching normal!
The kids also had a fun outing today as their favourite "retired" baby sitter and her little girl took them for most of the day! Thanks so much!
Doug met me back at CancerCare for lunch and then to see Dr. S for the MRI results. I was dreading this day so much - I had convinced myself it would be more bad news. The MRI showed that the chemo hit the tumor too and not just my bone marrow. The tumor is still very much there but it has shrunk significantly. Now we need to get my blood stable before he determines the next treatment. It may be more oral chemo and/or IV chemo. I know we still have a very long road ahead of us, but today was an uplifting day!
I know many of you have been praying and keeping us in your thoughts - we don't know how to say thanks - but know that we appreciate everything that everyone is doing for us. We would be lost without you all! Hope you continue to keep us in your prayers as we move to the next stage.
God bless you all!
Love
Karen and family
The kids also had a fun outing today as their favourite "retired" baby sitter and her little girl took them for most of the day! Thanks so much!
Doug met me back at CancerCare for lunch and then to see Dr. S for the MRI results. I was dreading this day so much - I had convinced myself it would be more bad news. The MRI showed that the chemo hit the tumor too and not just my bone marrow. The tumor is still very much there but it has shrunk significantly. Now we need to get my blood stable before he determines the next treatment. It may be more oral chemo and/or IV chemo. I know we still have a very long road ahead of us, but today was an uplifting day!
I know many of you have been praying and keeping us in your thoughts - we don't know how to say thanks - but know that we appreciate everything that everyone is doing for us. We would be lost without you all! Hope you continue to keep us in your prayers as we move to the next stage.
God bless you all!
Love
Karen and family
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
OUT FROM BEHIND THE MASK!!!
It is official - I am mask free as my neutrophils climbed to 0.94 (normal is 1.8 to 5.4 but I was at 0.0!) I still need to limit visitors and avoid crowds, etc, but I can have a healthy friend over for tea!
On the downside my marrow is still being a little on the lazy side and my platelets only got a little bump from Sunday's transfusion - they are now 15 (they have been undetectable in the past) so I will be needing a transfusion some time this week.
All and all this is the most exciting news we have received in a long time!
It will be a busy week full of medical appointments - I have a follow up MRI and then will see Dr. S for the results Friday. He told us that in most cases the tumor size will remain the same or look a little larger - but he looks for signs and symptoms of improvement.
Sorry for the long gap between postings recently - we know many of you check often so we'll try not to let it happen again!
Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers - we really appreciate it!
Love,
Karen and the gang
On the downside my marrow is still being a little on the lazy side and my platelets only got a little bump from Sunday's transfusion - they are now 15 (they have been undetectable in the past) so I will be needing a transfusion some time this week.
All and all this is the most exciting news we have received in a long time!
It will be a busy week full of medical appointments - I have a follow up MRI and then will see Dr. S for the results Friday. He told us that in most cases the tumor size will remain the same or look a little larger - but he looks for signs and symptoms of improvement.
Sorry for the long gap between postings recently - we know many of you check often so we'll try not to let it happen again!
Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers - we really appreciate it!
Love,
Karen and the gang
Field Trip Day (Sunday Feb 27 - I know it's late!)
Today I got to go to CancerCare for an all day outing. Doug diligently packed my lunch and back pack this morning and sent me on my merry way for a marathon of blood and platelet transfusions. It was either that or come in today, Monday and Wednesday. My ride was on schedule and they will be back when I give them the word. So far the platelets are done and I am half way through the first unit of packed cells. I got here at 0800 and should be done by 2:30 or 3:00.
As the hematologist predicted my bone marrow is still suppressed by the chemo and it will be a long recovery process. I sense I'll be back for more blood products. There was good white blood cell activity though. On the good side my neutrophils are still slowly climbing. I just need them to rise by 0.02 to get out of the bubble zone! Rise, PLEASE rise! I also have some other various blood levels that are actually getting better too!
Other than feeling very tired and a little light headed (the blood will fix that today) things are picking up. Although it may seem at times like it isn't!
I have a follow up MRI later this week to reassess the tumor. Dr. S told me not to be surprised if it has not changed in size, as often they don't - the radiation and chemo destroys the genetic make up of the tumor. He looks more at symptoms and most of mine have resolved or gotten better. So this week I am hoping and praying for a good MRI report. We will keep you posted.
Once again thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and support. As soon as I get the OK for visitors (next blood work is on Tuesday) I will be making calls! Miss you and love you all so much!
Love,
Karen
As the hematologist predicted my bone marrow is still suppressed by the chemo and it will be a long recovery process. I sense I'll be back for more blood products. There was good white blood cell activity though. On the good side my neutrophils are still slowly climbing. I just need them to rise by 0.02 to get out of the bubble zone! Rise, PLEASE rise! I also have some other various blood levels that are actually getting better too!
Other than feeling very tired and a little light headed (the blood will fix that today) things are picking up. Although it may seem at times like it isn't!
I have a follow up MRI later this week to reassess the tumor. Dr. S told me not to be surprised if it has not changed in size, as often they don't - the radiation and chemo destroys the genetic make up of the tumor. He looks more at symptoms and most of mine have resolved or gotten better. So this week I am hoping and praying for a good MRI report. We will keep you posted.
Once again thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and support. As soon as I get the OK for visitors (next blood work is on Tuesday) I will be making calls! Miss you and love you all so much!
Love,
Karen
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