Name change/blood tests

I don't know if this matters but I changed the name of my blog to: mylifewithcarcinoidcancer.blogspot.com  

I didn't like just having my name up there...  

I had blood work done last Friday.  The cancer clinic actually had my Z-tube for the Pancreastatin test so they did it right there and will send that one out. The only thing I don't like about them doing it is I don't get my results as quickly.  When the hospital lab does it, the results are online usually within a day (for the regular blood work like my liver function tests, CBC, etc.).   When the clinic does it, it may NOT get posted to my personal health record (online with them) for days and days.  I know the tumor marker tests take longer (CgA about a week and Pancreastatin about two weeks), but really, can't you get my other test results up there a little sooner?

I am curious what my WBC (white blood count) and Granulocytes are this time.  WBC was high and granulocytes was low.  My doc did not say anything about it at the time.  If they are still high/low when I see him in November, I'm going to ask...  

Here's wishing/hoping for my markers to remain low!  I'm not sure when I'll get my next scan.  Probably January or February.  This will be the longest I've gone between scans since my diagnosis in June 2012 (my first blog post).  

  

Top 10

Top Ten Reasons to Live:

1. My dog.  Who will take care of Sookie when I'm gone?  Even if I live another ten years, she would be 14.  She might still be alive (and old).  My sister has promised to care for her (if anything should happen to me) I hope that she will (if needed).
2. My horse. Abbie is 14.  Ten years = 24.  Not impossible by any means.  My first horse, Everclear, lived to be 29.   I may be at a cross-roads with Abbie anyway.  I might have to move out of my sisters. The only way to do this would be to sell her (Abbie, not my sister--although that is tempting and for another post).
3. My family ( I know I have to say this one and it probably should be first but they can take care of themselves--they don't need me).  This would be my sisters and extended family.  Nieces, nephews (none will miss me much--maybe a few thoughts now and then).  I have no children.  No one to carry-on my genes which may be a good thing).  Sometimes I really do regret no having kids and at other times I am grateful! 
4. Hmmm.  Maybe this is my Top Three Reasons to Live list.  

OK.  I'm not really trying to think of reasons to live... I LIKE living.  I'm a liver... living.  It's a GOOD thing.  I thought I better clarify that in case someone thinks I'm not WANTING to hang around.  I do.  I want to become a vampire and live FOREVER...  :)  

A very drugged Abbie

Sookie in her new winter sweater

Sister's trip w/o me!

I thought I better post something even though I have no medical news to report... except I did go in for my Sandostatin shot yesterday.  It was uneventful--just how I like them (and with a $17,000 price tag, I better like them)!

Our yearly sisters trip was this week.  My sisters went without me!  They are enjoying the sun and sand of Mazatlan, Mexico.  I was sort of bummed about not going but I just don't have any vacation time at work due to my liver surgery back in Feb.  I also didn't have the money for the flight.  My oldest sis, whom I live with, has a time-share there so I only had to come up with $$ for the flight and food, etc.  Oh well, maybe next year (but I'm never going to have extra cash hanging around).

I tweaked my back on Sunday.  I have NO idea what I could have done to it.  I actually thought perhaps I slept too long... 11 hours Saturday night!  It was the latest I've slept-in for a long, long time and I felt great!  The best I've felt in years.  I went and rode Abbie and cleaned her stall but didn't twist or do anything that would have hurt my back (that I felt).  After I got home and relaxed on the couch (watched TV) I tried to stand up and just about couldn't!  It feels more like my hip but is on the lower left side so I don't know if that is considered your back or hip?  The major problem is I can't sleep!  It hurts every time I move and I sleep on my side (either) or my back.  I think I roll from side to side or back to side a lot during the night and every time I try to roll-over it hurts so bad!  Last night I caved in and took a tramadol--my go-to pain pill.  It did nothing so I got up around midnight and took an over-the-counter sleep med.  That didn't help either!  I am so tired today but I think my back pain is actually getting a little better this afternoon!  Yeah!  Of course since I don't remember actually hurting my back, my thoughts turn to cancer.  Is it cancer?  Has it spread to my bones?  Oh no!  I try so hard not to think along those lines but I know it is normal to think this way.  I decided that if it doesn't get better, I will just wait until my appointment with my Oncologist next month and talk to him, however, I'm pretty sure it'll be 100% better before then.  Whew.

The weather has gotten very Fall-ish the last couple of weeks.  Even downright Winter-ish.  It was a whopping 32 degrees this morning when I left for work.  It's warmed up to a nice 50 this afternoon.  Geez, I wish Fall would hang around a while longer!

I'm going in next week for my blood draw.  It takes at least two full weeks for the pancreastatin test to come back (maybe even three) and I want to make sure it's back before my appointment with my Onc.  Last time my WBC (white blood count) was a little high and so was my granulocytes.  I'm curious to see what they are now.  He (Onc.) didn't say anything about it so?

That's my quick update.  Sister gets back Friday night.  It's been a nice break for us.  Living together can be challenging at times!

Gifts

My niece made these Zebra themed pens for me:

I have one more I'll need to add the the "collection".  I really want to learn how to make them so I can make some for our support group.  The next meeting is mid-November so I better hurry up!

I go in Monday for my post procedure follow-up appointment with my OBGYN.  I'm sure it'll be a "quickie".  All is pretty good.  I'm only dealing with hot flashes now.  I do have some mild pain/discomfort in my lower right side, where on my last scan they noted a 1.2 cm lobulated growth in the right adnexa.  I Dr. Googled the adnexa and that is simply the area where your ovaries and fallopian tubes are.  Hmmm...  It is "enhancing".  Which I believe means it is taking up the contrast material ingested/injected for the scan.  I will ask her.  I think she had said we would follow-up with an ultrasound in January when I saw her next but that was before my procedure...  Maybe she'll order an ultrasound.  I'm not sure if I want to push for one or just wait until my next scan and see what it says.  I guess I can ask her.  I'm pretty sure it is nothing to worry about.  Probably another cyst.  I did have some intense pain last Sunday while riding my horse, Abbie.  It was very sharp.  It quit after I got off.  I thought perhaps it was a cyst and had burst!  However, I am still having that same mild burning/pain feeling in that general area.  I hate sounding like a hypochondriac but cancer does that to you I guess.  You worry that those aches and pains are cancer....  I know it is probably not but I still worry.

I'm still dealing with fatigue but not the "brain fog" that I had.  I'm usually really tired in the mornings and afternoons/evening.  I try to rest when I get home from work.  

It is a dreary, rainy, cold day here today.  48 degrees!  Brrr.  I hope it warms back up as I'm not ready for winter!

Hope all is well with you and yours!

Parting ways..

Metropolol 

And I have parted ways!  I felt like it was causing my extreme fatigue and since the need to take it wasn't medically necessary, why continue?  I was taking it for the heart palpitations I was experiencing since just before my diagnosis.  They were very annoying and that is why I decided to try the drug.  Hey, it worked. My palps stopped.  I've taken it for just about 9 months.  

I felt like my brain wasn't getting any oxygen.  My heart rate was very low (usually low 50's or less) so how could my brain be getting the O2 it needed?  I did not stop taking it before asking my oncologist.  I asked the nurse when I went in for my last Sandostatin shot and he came out to talk to me.  I think he was a little concerned when I told him just how tired I was.  I don't think he thinks it's the metoprolol, as I was on the lowest dose but since stopping two week ago, I am feeling much better! I am still tired but I don't feel like my brain isn't able to function.   

I think they (the palpitations) were caused by the Carcinoid tumors in my liver producing high serotonin levels (part of Carcinoid Syndrome) and since most of my bigger tumors have been removed (surgically) and my labs have come down, then I probably don't have a lot of circulating serotonin in my blood. Hopefully, they will not return (and this will confirm my suspicion--it will also give me a "heads-up" if they come back down the road).  I have blood work due the end of this month so I'm going to ask them to add a serotonin blood test as well (just to see where I'm at now).  

I am going in to see my OBGYN in two weeks for my follow-up to my failed ablation.  I think the fibroid she found and removed was causing my bleeding issue as I am no longer bleeding.  Woot, woot.  I am so glad.  I hope it never returns.  I really didn't want to have to have a hysterectomy so I am happy!

My blood test results will determine "next steps" as in when my next scan will be.  If my tumor markers remain unchanged then we'll wait until Jan/Feb or ever later.  I'm sure if they are climbing, I'll get one sooner.  I don't expect any changes.  I'm hoping to continue to feel better and gain more energy so that I can finally start working out again.  I think it would really help me mentally.

Thanks for listening!  I'll post an update after my next round of labs!