This week has gone pretty well. The sensations in my feet have subsided and the neuropathy does not seem to be spreading as much. It seems to come and go in its severity. In addition to my other vitamins and mineral supplements, I am taking high doses of vitamins B-2 and B-6 which seem to have helped. There is another supplement, L Glutamine, that I was taking while I was off treatment that helped also. I will have to get the doctor's permission to take it during treatment, but I am hoping he will agree to it. I am taking literature regarding this supplement that his nurse sent me from an article in an oncology nursing magazine and other articles written by the oncologist who developed this supplement.
I was a good girl and took my sleeping pills last night so that I could sleep in spite of the steroids in my system. I'm very glad I did as I was rested enough to attend the first service at our church today. I love the worship music at our church and it was a good message and challenge today. I truly have a greater appreciaton for the loneliness "shut-ins" experience. Eventhough we listen to many sermons on the internet and have the opportunity to watch church services on TV, it's just not the same as being in your own church and fellowshipping with your friends.
We were very blessed that the insurance company was more generous in their settlement than we anticipated for our storm damage from the first of the year. Thanks for your prayers regarding finances with our medical expenses. It seems they have spilled over to our homeowner's insurance, too, for which we are most grateful. He has miraculously provided and we anticipate it will continue.
The Lord has really blessed me with contact from friends and family this week. It always lifts my spirits and a positive attitude is important when you're in this kind of battle.
We continue to pray for God's healing touch and everytime we go to Stanford we anticipate a miraculous report of normal numbers on my blood work! We pray God is blessing you in many ways as you reach out to us through your prayers.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Round 2, Week 2
Round 2 – Week 2
Today begins the second week of treatment of round 2. I am feeling quite well, except for the neuropathy. It is continuing to spread and progress in severity. I am beginning to experience some pain and other sensations, such as burning, tingling and sharp shooting pains. I will get a break from the weekly blood tests. My next appointment at Stanford is February 5 at which time all of the necessary blood tests will be done to monitor my progress during this second round of treatment.
Steve has improved rapidly from his pneumonia this week and it has been difficult to keep him from doing too much. He will need a follow-up x-ray in the next few weeks.
Wedding plans are progressing smoothly and we’re happy that so many things are in place already.
Prayer focus for this week: 1) Please pray regarding the spreading neuropathy in my body; 2) that wedding plans will continue to go smoothly and that there will be clear direction for the decisions that need to be made yet.
Our spirits are uplifted by your encouragement and prayers. Thank you for the time you invest in our lives.
Today begins the second week of treatment of round 2. I am feeling quite well, except for the neuropathy. It is continuing to spread and progress in severity. I am beginning to experience some pain and other sensations, such as burning, tingling and sharp shooting pains. I will get a break from the weekly blood tests. My next appointment at Stanford is February 5 at which time all of the necessary blood tests will be done to monitor my progress during this second round of treatment.
Steve has improved rapidly from his pneumonia this week and it has been difficult to keep him from doing too much. He will need a follow-up x-ray in the next few weeks.
Wedding plans are progressing smoothly and we’re happy that so many things are in place already.
Prayer focus for this week: 1) Please pray regarding the spreading neuropathy in my body; 2) that wedding plans will continue to go smoothly and that there will be clear direction for the decisions that need to be made yet.
Our spirits are uplifted by your encouragement and prayers. Thank you for the time you invest in our lives.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Treament - Round 2
Well, I didn’t make it through last weekend without a trip to the urgent care clinic. By last Saturday, I was running a pretty good fever and had to see a doctor. They put me on a high-dose, strong antibiotic for 10 days, and I am happy to report that I bounced back quickly. Thanks for your prayers! Being able to get my gamma globulin infusion last Monday was a big boost to my immune system, too. Thursday was more blood work to check my counts and on Friday, I saw my primary care doctor who determined I was sufficiently recovered from my bronchitis to begin treatment again.
My white blood count is back to an acceptable level, so today begins Round 2 at my attempts for treatment. Today is a “Dex” day so I have a bit more energy. My dose of Revlimid has been reduced to 15 mg per day to hopefully prevent any further neuropathy and to prevent such a big drop in my white blood count. It is important that treatment gets going and stays consistent. This lower dose may make it possible for me to continue with a more “normal” routine in my life and not have to be quite so isolated.
I will see my doctor at Stanford the first week of February, and he will determine at that time if I can return to choir in March. I’m still hoping we can at least have a short spring semester, March through the end of May/first of June, yet this year. I miss everyone so much and miss the creative outlet of teaching music.
Thank you for your continued prayers and for your cards and notes through the holidays!
My white blood count is back to an acceptable level, so today begins Round 2 at my attempts for treatment. Today is a “Dex” day so I have a bit more energy. My dose of Revlimid has been reduced to 15 mg per day to hopefully prevent any further neuropathy and to prevent such a big drop in my white blood count. It is important that treatment gets going and stays consistent. This lower dose may make it possible for me to continue with a more “normal” routine in my life and not have to be quite so isolated.
I will see my doctor at Stanford the first week of February, and he will determine at that time if I can return to choir in March. I’m still hoping we can at least have a short spring semester, March through the end of May/first of June, yet this year. I miss everyone so much and miss the creative outlet of teaching music.
Thank you for your continued prayers and for your cards and notes through the holidays!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Blowin' in the wind
That was quite a storm on Thursday night, wasn’t it? I hope all of you are safe and dry and didn’t have too much damage to your homes. We heard winds were clocked at 86 mph at the airport (about 12 miles north of us), but a man in Anderson with a weather station said our winds were 122 mph! And I believe him! The wind roared all night at our place Thursday night as the rain beat against the house, the floors shook on the 2nd and 3rd story, and the shingles from our roof filled the yard and surrounding pasture. We’re very grateful there were no leaks as we had re-roofed the house years ago and put the new roof over the old one. Something blew through our yard from somewhere and damaged our garage door; and, our gazebo and hot tub are kapoot! We’re grateful that our power was restored after 5 hours; but we had prepared for a long outage when we heard the weather warnings. It was so quiet last night and very conducive for a good night’s sleep. I wonder if the next storm will bring snow to our valley? The skiing will be good in the mountains as soon as the roads open and avalanche warnings are lifted.
My labs this week show my blood counts are continuing to slowly rise and by the end of next week I could begin my treatment again. However, I’ve been fighting a bad cold this week and was hopeful my gamma globulin infusions, scheduled for yesterday (Friday), would give me the boost I needed to get over it. However, a national shortage of this blood product caused my appointment to be canceled. I’m continuing to get a little worse each day even though I am resting and taking lots of vitamins and supplements. The infusion center has located what they need for me at another one of their centers and I will be able to get my infusion on Monday. Please pray for me! This could be a critical situation for me – the concern is always pneumonia with my type of cancer.
My labs this week show my blood counts are continuing to slowly rise and by the end of next week I could begin my treatment again. However, I’ve been fighting a bad cold this week and was hopeful my gamma globulin infusions, scheduled for yesterday (Friday), would give me the boost I needed to get over it. However, a national shortage of this blood product caused my appointment to be canceled. I’m continuing to get a little worse each day even though I am resting and taking lots of vitamins and supplements. The infusion center has located what they need for me at another one of their centers and I will be able to get my infusion on Monday. Please pray for me! This could be a critical situation for me – the concern is always pneumonia with my type of cancer.
Wedding Bells!
Jen and Jeff announced their engagement on New Year’s Eve, so there will be a wedding this summer! Modern technology (phone, fax and internet) has certainly made it easier to “shop” from home and keep our trips to town at a minimum for me right now. Jeff begins training at the California Highway Patrol Academy in Sacramento on Monday, so the kids have been busy trying to put as many things in place as they can before he leaves. He’ll be home most weekends, but will probably have homework, so we want to keep wedding stuff at a minimum for him. It’s fun watching their creative ideas begin to take shape as they strive to make their wedding day unique and a reflection of who they are. Please pray for them during this time of preparation.
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