Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Mystery...

No, not misery... A mystery illness!  I've gotten sick a couple of times over the past two weeks.  The first time was after lunch, at work.  I ate a lean cuisine frozen dinner and started to feel really nauseous after and then threw-up.  I hate throwing up!  It's the worst... I didn't go home that day because I felt a lot better after puking. Then another day, I got to work (felt fine getting ready), and started to feel nauseous again!  Threw up.  Went home.  I was planning on coming back but I slept until 3!  Felt OK after getting up but not 100%.  Again yesterday only this time it was much, much, worse.  I was driving in to work and started to feel shaky and hot.  I turned my air on.  I got here early, before anyone else (as usual) and went in the bathroom and threw-up!  Came back to my desk and felt OK for about 45 minutes.  This went on all day.  I threw-up 9 times!  I don't remember ever throwing-up that much!  Ever!  I should have gone home but I had my appointment at the cancer clinic for my Sandostatin shot at 4:30.  I just told myself I'd stay because I'm so much closer to the clinic from work than home.  Plus I wasn't sure if I went home I'd make it back out!



I didn't have a fever.  I found that out at the clinic when I went to get my shot. They always weigh me, pulse, temp., O2.  The nurse didn't act concerned at all. She said well, maybe you are allergic to work!  Probably some truth to that!  I did message my OBGYN to check with her whether or not it could be the progesterone she put me on.  One of the side-effects is nausea and vomiting.  She said it was doubtful to be the progesterone as it comes and goes.  If it was the drug, it would be constant.  I agree.  I didn't really think it was the drug.  Wish it would work though.  I am still having hot flashes about 20 times a day/night.  I don't really sweat much with them though.  I don't think it's "flushing" (a Carcinoid Syndrome symptom) but I'm not 100% sure.  I do look a little "pink" when I'm having one but it's hard to tell with my olive skin.  My OB was actually concerned about it being carcinoid crisis or bringing on carcinoid crisis.  She asked about my blood pressure and pulse.  I have blood pressure monitor here at work (it is a co-workers) so I checked it.  It was all A-OK.  Was higher at the clinic but that could be nerves.  Although I didn't feel nervous.

So, the mystery will continue.  I don't think it was anything I ate as I had no stomach cramping or diarrhea.  I hope it doesn't continue to happen but I guess we'll wait and see.  I feel drained today and I have a really bad headache.  I ate about half of a yogurt and a few saltines but it made me start to feel a bit yucky so I didn't eat anymore.  I'm trying to drink water.  I would sip water yesterday in between throwing-up sessions and it was about all that came up.  I never ate a thing.  It's a great weight-loss program though.  I had weighed me that morning (I don't like to be surprised at my check-in at the clinic) and when they weighed me at the clinic I was down about 1.5 lbs but this morning, I'm down 4 lbs.  4 lbs. in one day.  All water I'm sure.  I'm really trying to drink it.  Not my favorite.  Water.  Unless I am outside and it's hot.

Otherwise, I am feeling OK.  I've been really tired and I still have some discomfort in my rib area and incision area.  I've been using Mederma on my scars and my newest scar it looking a bit better although it's very red.  Sometimes it is hyper-sensitive and my clothes touching it hurt.  I'm not sure if this is from the Mederma or the nerves starting to regenerate or what.  I'm still completely numb below the incision.  I have feeling above it.  Weird.

I have blood tests in two weeks and a CT Scan the week after that.  Then apt. with my Oncologist.  I am pretty confident that I'll have no growth of remaining liver tumors and I'm hoping the areas of "fluid" in my liver will have resolved.  I'll keep you posted!  

Monday, June 17, 2013

Cancerversary!

Today is my one year Cancerversary!



One year ago today I heard those 3 little words that no one wants or expects to hear "you have cancer!"  The phone call that changed my life forever... it's been a crazy year with a lot of tests, scans, and research.  When the doctor called me and told me that he was wrong, and in fact it was cancer which had spread to my liver, I thought that I would be dead by now!  He told me it was Carcinoid but I don't remember much else of that conversation.

Now one year later and I've had 5 CT Scans, 1 Octreoscan and two major surgeries.  A busy year indeed.  I'm hoping for 20 more cancerversaries!

My next scan is scheduled for July 18th with blood work the week before and then my appointment with my oncologist.  I'm hoping for no growth in my liver tumors and no "new" tumors.  If that's the case, I think I'll finally be able to go to the twice yearly scans and follow-ups with my oncologist.  Of course, I will continue with the Sandostatin LAR shots for as long as it continues to work.

Here's to the next 20 years!


Thursday, June 6, 2013

All these great ideas...

I have all these great blog post ideas at night while I'm lying in bed trying to go to sleep.  I write the entire post (and they are pretty good) and then come morning, I can't remember half of what I "wrote"!

It has been quiet.  I knew it would be.  I have follow-up tests in July.  Blood work, CT Scan and then Dr.'s appointment.  I still occasionally have some discomfort in my rib/liver area when I take a deep breath or yawn.  It's much better.  I am going to get my mammogram this month.  It was due in March but I wanted to wait until my incision had healed well before I went in and had everything smashed!  Just trying to keep on top of everything.  I did go back to my OBGYN this week for some other issues that have been bothering me.  She put me on a prescription and I'm hoping that it helps.  She did a quick ultrasound to see how my liver looked (she read the scan and report about the possible seroma or abscess).  It looks good--she saw one spot that might still be a pocket of fluid .  She did say it's not a very good picture and the scan will be much better.  It was fun to see though.  She pointed out my aorta and some other stuff.  I've seen my scan but they mostly concentrate on my liver.  I'm hoping my small tumors have remained the same and that there are no new ones.  Dr. W. has said that the increased blood flow from surgery can cause them to grow (tumors feed off blood so it makes sense).   

Insurance.  Got the news.  My plan as it is now (free to me) is going to cost $73 a month, which is not really bad but it's $73 I don't have!  I can change plans but there isn't anything "better" that doesn't cost a lot more!  I've decided to stay with what I have.  I would hate to have to switch doctors now.

I'm trying to lease Abbie and not sell her but I've had no calls.  My trainer/instructor said she had a girl emailing her all weekend while she was on vacation and she'd tell me about it when she got back.  She's back but I haven't talked to her yet.  I'm hoping something works out there and that I don't have to sell her but I will if someone comes along and wants to buy her (and meet my criteria for a good, loving home for my baby).

No vacation plans this year.  I haven't got any vacation or sick time left.

I'll keep you posted on all the nitty gritty....

Thanks!