Cycl 6 done!

Thursday went in for blood work. Technician 'stuck' me and the vein blew, so she had to do it again. Oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes. Next stop was to Dr. Grosset. When finally called, went for the weigh in. This time I was down a pound from last time (at least it wasn't another gain!), blood pressure was around 154 (I only seem to remember the top number). I didn't have caffine the night before or that morning, so can't figure out why so high, but nurse wasn't concerned. Doctor came in and looked at my labs and said they were very good! He read I had completed my 5th cycle and I said I figured I'd probably be doing 8 cycles. He smiled and said he was a '6 cycle' / 8 retux doctor. He checked my lymph nodes and listened to my lungs and was very pleased with result. Wrote on my chart the dose for this cycle, and ordered CT, and EKG as well as the next chemo cycle (retux for sure and maybe more CHOP depending on test results). I then met with the person who schedules all the stuff. So Sept. 15 I'll do the CT in the morning and EKG in early afternoon. Then Sept 18 I'll do the doctor visit and treatment. I presume I'll get test results then (EKG I'll be able to see what goes on ... CT I'm not sure if they will tell me anything).

Since I didn't get upstairs until after 11:30, treatments ended close to 5pm. When came time for the retux my blood pressure was down to 115 (guess I 'run higher' in morning). All went well. We got home around 6 when I grabbed a bite to eat (prednisone needs to be taken with food). Was tired and felt 'off' ... I wonder why??? ;) Tried to get my fluid intake going and managed to get through the evening in pretty good shape. However .... I couldn't fall asleep until 4:30 AM !!! Guess it was the taking of prednisone so late. Got up at 6:45 to take my thyroid pill, then back to sleep for a couple of hours. Actually I don't feel too bad right now, but I'll be getting my shot today at 2:10, so if all goes as usual, I'll be feeling punky late tonight and tomorrow.

Love to all

Been a long time

Finally did a 'normal Saturday' with Jim today. I don't think I've gone to town with him on a Saturday since March (at least). Did our usual St Vincents, Goodwill, Big Lots, Fred Meyer and Super 1 .... BUT also went to Joanne's Fabric (bought material for Ava's apron), as well as a COSTCO run! Also went to eat at Chili's. Long day, pretty tired ... thought I'd end up taking a nap, but here I am typing away while Jim's doing his Satuday evening nap ... that way he can stay up until 3 or 4 am chatting with his overseas friends and doing a little Second Life.

Would like to cut our 'weeds' tomorrow, work on a computer at home, and maybe start Ava's apron, as well as usual Sunday chores. Bet I'll end up just doing the Sunday chores ... oh well .... I can always do it next weekend right? ;)

Love to all

Sue

Week worth of update

Wednesday:
Wow ... did my first 10 hour day! Didn't plan on it, but that's what it ended up being. Last two hours were working on a computer at Athol so it wasn't as if I were running around all day. Was tired, but not exhausted.

Thursday:
Back to Athol, software update didn't go as planned Wednesday OR Thursday. Waiting for new software to try reinstalling again. Regular hour workday.

Friday:
Still no software yet, will most likely get them by next week. Hopefully before Thursday's chemo.

Not much more to report.

Love to all

Hot - Hot - Hot

Spokane set a record high temperature (103) on Sunday. Hot hot hot ... not my cup of tea. Good thing Jim got me that air conditioner. I think we might have 'froze' it ... wasn't as cooling as usual, so ran it on vent overnight and this morning seemed to be cooling again. I don't do 'heat' ... I get really cranky, whine alot and a whole lot of other descriptions that you don't want me to go into. Let's just say it is a very good thing I was able to stay within my tolerance range ... ;)

Sunday I was able to finish Ava's blanket, so will get it in the mail to her this week.

Feel okay ... plan on working full day today. Not much else to report.

Love to all

Sorry!

Oops ... sorry I haven't posted more often. Let's blame it on 'chemo fog brain'! ;)

Saturday was Athol Daze! (99th anniversary of incorporation). Jim did his usual "Cake Walk" running. Deborah helped him this year since I was still tired from Thurs & Fri treatments. He said he had 10 cakes (12 is usually max since people 'wear out' quickly)

Sunday did the usual chores, felt okay, just still tired & achy. Kinda got in the mode for cooking so made some yoghurt.

Monday went to work for 7 hours. Was a little 'off' all day, but it was only day 4 after the chemo. Heard from an email friend on same cycle as I am, she said over half her lymph nodes are free of cancer (yeah!). Made me think about mine (kinda in lala land believing almost all of mine are gone). She's had a CT scan to check progress. Dr. hasn't mentioned anything about a followup scan for me (next time is cycle 6). Kinda figuring I'll go 8 cycles (have .. should I say HAD ... that big tumor), so that put me in a bit of a downer mood. Being at work perked me up so left in better state than when I came in.

Tuesday woke up feeling FANTASTIC! Had energy and was wide awake (day 5 of prednisone). Worked 7 hours, moved computers, tidied (did I spell that right?) up my work area and basically 'over did it". When I got home I had a bite to eat, then started watching the Olympics. Wanted to see the equestrian events and Phelps swimming for medals, ended up 'dozing' through all! Oh well that's the way it goes.

Wednesday felt better (not as great as the morning before), and put in another 7 hours. This time I didn't doze through the programs I wanted to watch! All in all a pretty good day.

Thursday (today) is starting out an okay day. Yesterday I didn't drink as much (sorry Dianne) as I should have, but it was nice not waking up every two hours to pee! Plan on doing 7 hours today as well.

As you can see, not a whole lot to report, but I tried!

Love to all

5th cycle over!

Thursday went through the regular lab stick, blood pressure was up to 155 (highest it's been for a while as well as heart rate higher. Nurse said it was probably from the coffee I had had earlier that morning), then met with Dr. Morich (Dr. Grosset was on vacation). Very nice and thorough with exam. Didn't indicate that he found neck lymph nodes enlarged (good thing). I mentioned that I had gained more weight, and he said it was probably from the steroids (he said it makes you eat like a horse!). Nurse said earlier that the cancer center never complains when patients gain weight ... it's a good thing. Doctor also mentioned my glucose level was a bit high (didn't ask what it was, but I know it was running high when I had blood work done before cancer diagnosis).

Then went up to the treatment center, and by the time they took my blood pressure before starting the treatments, it was down to 117 and heart rate was the usual. Guess it was a combination of coffee and anticipation of substitute doctor. IV's went good, and ritux started at the higher level and finished at the max. Started feeling 'very' tired about half hour before finish. Got home, had a bite to eat and felt crummy (tired, achy, and a tiny bit of nausea). By the time I woke up for my 2am pee, I felt much better. (Yes Dianne, I'm trying to push the drinking! hee-hee)

Friday went in for the neulasta shot and felt ok for the rest of the night. Saturday found me tired and just 'off'. Expected this, so wasn't surprised. Should be better tomorrow. Figure I can go to work on Monday and do at least 6 hours. Won't try for more until Tuesday, but should be able to do 8 hour days rest of the week.

Next cycle (number 6!) will be August 28. Figure I'll be scheduled for a ct to see what's going on before Dr. decides whether or not I'll be doing 8 cycles.

Love to all

Full days ahead

Completed my first eight hour workday on Monday. Was fine until about a half hour after I got home, then it hit. Not bad, just a good tired. Looking forward to another two full eight hour days before I get my 5th chemo cycle. Will head back to work again on Monday. I figure I'll do a couple of six hour days before I try more full days. Hopefully I'll have another two weeks before the sixth cycle (don't know whether I'll be doing six or eight cycles yet).

Looking forward to the fall since I figure if everything goes right, I should be done with treatments. Keep your fingers crossed!

Love to all