Barbara's Journey

Valentines Day

2012-02-15T12:43:00.009-06:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day yesterday, Clay got me yellow roses (my fave) & also added a heart charm to my Pandora bracelet. It was a great day, then he picked up Hunan's on the way home from work, so I didn't have to cook, what a day.

The little touch of bad weather we had this week was just a little reminder that it is still winter. The snow was pretty, not really enough to cause any problems and didn't last long either. I was wanting a little snow anyway, I don't like the ice but I think some snow is pretty, that is if I can be at home looking out. I'm going to go pick up Jonah at Mothers Day out after while, always love picking him up because he is always glad to see me. It just makes me feel really good.

WooHoo

2012-02-02T12:37:00.015-06:00

Great News for the Woody family!!!!!!! Clay and I left yesterday morning at 6am & returned Right about 6pm last night. We were to meet with Dr. Barlogie for the results of my tests that were done on Monday, we were both a little nervous, I think we actually were both a little scared but didn't share that with each other. I think we were both thinking that the Multiple Myeloma had returned and he would say that I needed to return to Little Rock for more treatment or another transplant. So that's what we have been dealing with the last couple of weeks. But we don't have to worry about that now, Dr. Barlogie said the tests all came back negative, nothing was showing up & the bone marrow biopsy showed NO multiple myeloma. YEA!!!!! He was watching the protein in my system, he had pulled me off of treatment for a few weeks to watch my numbers, the numbers didn't rise while off treatment, so back to my weekly treatment next week. Clay had seen the word relapse on the first page of my chart & he panicked a little, but I didn't see it and he didn't tell me about it, probably best if just 1 of us were worried about it. After we heard all the good news from Dr. Barlogie Clay mentioned that to him, he was not very happy, someone had written it by mistake, that word may have been intended for another patient. Believe me he will find out who wrote it on my chart, & get to the bottom of it. We were just glad it wasn't for me anyway, that's all we cared about.

It has been a full week, I feel like I have been on the road most of the week but I guess I have. Glad to be back home and not have to go back for awhile. I will go back for testing in June as well as see Dr, Barlogie again.

Thanks to everyone that said a prayer for me while waiting for the results this time, we all know the power of prayer is amazing.

A New Month

2012-01-31T17:23:00.017-06:00

Tomorrow starts a new month, Clay and I will head back to Little Rock tomorrow to see Dr. Barlogie again. Kara and I drove down yesterday (Monday) for all my test, bone marrow biopsy, Pet Scan, MRI & blood work. It was a long tiring day, just going from one area of the hospital to another for the next test. We didn't leave there till after 8, we were beginning to get hungry, I couldn't have anything to eat after 8am till after the Pet Scan which ended around 5. We really didn't have time to eat before the MRI, so we grabbed just a little snack to hold us over. When we finally left the hospital we went to the new Cheddars to have a late dinner. I have been to a couple different Cheddars but not the one in Little Rock, Kara had not been to a Cheddars before. Very nice restaurant I would recommend it, a good location too right on University. Kara & I got home around noon today, we ran in & out of rain quite a bit as we were coming home, I was pretty sore after the bone marrow biopsy so it is always kinda an uncomfortable ride home. But I made it and now I look forward to tomorrow to get in the car and do it all over again, the ride back that is. We just hope & pray that whatever Dr. B saw 2 weeks ago is no longer there and all the new tests are just perfect. I will post the tests results as they come in, or as they are given to us.

I still can't believe this weather, it is the end of January/first of February. It has been so nice though, I could do without the wind, I can't hardly think of a day that we haven't had strong winds. Get out & enjoy this weather or get in the car & drive somewhere like us, we will enjoy the weather looking at it from the car.

Better Days

2012-01-24T09:24:00.011-06:00

Things are looking better for me now, it really took quite a while to get back on track though. I think the only thing I didn't mention in the last post was my little falling episode, the night that things were at the lowest (in more ways than one) I had fallen a couple of times. This was when my legs had no feeling in them, were not working. It was in the middle of the night, leg pains something fierce and Clay was with me, at one point he had me sitting on the side of the bed, whether I passed out or fell asleep I slipped off the bed and hit the bed side table. I didn't really know I did it until the next day, I rubbed my head & realized I must have done something. I had Clay to look at my eye or head, he told me that it was swollen and I had a black eye. It wasn't just real bad on that Monday but by Tuesday it was deep, deep purple. I have never had a black eye before, it has faded now and things have slowly gotten back to normal.

Our trip to Little Rock for my appointment to see Dr. Barlogie is usually just a routine, he just looks over all my tests and says everything looks fine, see you back next time. This time was a little different, he seems to have seen something in my blood work as well as the bone marrow biopsy that either shouldn't be there or hasn't been there, anyway its something that he doesn't like and he wants it to be looked at further. He wanted me back down there for more testing this week and to see him again for the results but they couldn't get everything scheduled for this week, so I have appointments on Monday most of the day, then we will go back to meet with him on Wednesday for the results. There's just always something seems like but with this we just figured that its something weird going on and everything is really fine. He has pulled me off of treatment until this is taken care of, so no trips to HOG right now, it only makes me miss 2 or 3 treatments unless he says otherwise when we go back to Little Rock. I am also off of my steroids and my oral chemo each night as well. I'm sure they will get to the bottom of this and things will just go back to the way it was before.

It sure was a pretty day today, just doesn't seem like its January with the weather we have been having, sounds like rain tomorrow, I have a massage appointment at the oncology clinic, rain, sleet or snow won't keep me away from that.

I hope everyone has a great week, enjoy this weather.

A New Year

2012-01-11T16:44:00.010-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year Day. Alot of things have happened since December 2011, one is that the Razorbacks won the Cotton Bowl!!!! WPS.

We had a really nice Christmas, the week of...... everything was done so it was just a calm week doing some baking and odds & edds, it was a great week with no stress up to the day. It's always a busy time trying to make the rounds to see all family & friends. We only have the 1 little guy so he gets alot of attention when everyone's around, I'm sure Jonah was a little overwhelmed.

Candes & I went to Little Rock January 2nd, this had to be an overnight trip since I needed to be at the hospital early on the 3rd. This was a routine testing appointment with bloodwork, skans, MRI's, bone density test & a bone marrow biopsy, after all that we headed home after stopping at Olive Garden for soup & salad. We wanted to try their new soup, it was good but I wasn't a big fan, Candes really liked it because it was real tomato basil tasting.

So the next week January 10th Clay & I were scheduled to go back to see the doctor but the Friday before I got the stomach bug. Then on Sunday I got real sick I guess you would say out of it, severe leg pains, loss use of my legs with Clay having to hold me up if I needed to be up. Monday wasn't much better, HOG wanted me to come in. Evidently my Electrolytes had gone out the window, they infused 1 liter of vitamins, 1 liter of fluid, calcium & potassium, we closed them down on Monday, it was a late night. Tuesday, back to HOG for fluid & calcium, then today I again got the liter of vitamins & a bag of calcium. I wasn't able to walk on Monday so Clay had to take me inside in a wheelchair, on Tuesday he wheeled me in but I was able to walk out with some help. Today I walked in, so things are looking better, I have a little ways to go but I feel quite a bit better than I did that for sure. My doctors appointment was rescheduled to next Tuesday so hopefully things will be back to normal by then. I am going to skip treatment tomorrow (usual treatment day) to just give everything time to just settle and then go back on Friday for bloodwork to see if I need anything added. Tomorrow will be a good day to just stay at home, it's going to be cold, I don't mind at all. So it has been kinda crazy the last few days around here, I'm so thankful for Clay because I don't know what I would have done without him.

Christmas is Coming

2011-12-22T10:51:00.004-06:00

Here at Highland for treatment as usual, last one before Christmas though, I guess next to last one in 2011. January starts a whole new year, not that it will change a whole lot, I do go to Little Rock for testing and I will see Dr. Barlogie to get new orders, but they probably won't change a lot. This is short today but just wanted to post before Christmas, Jonah sees the presents under the tree at our house but doesn't really seem too interested. I'm sure when the time comes that will change, the excitement will be there and paper will start flying. I'm sure he will be the center of attention this year.

Everyone have a wonderful Christmas.

Winter Weather, Dallas & Christmas

2011-12-08T10:07:00.018-06:00

Wow its been along time since I posted, this time of year is so busy & where does the time go anyway......We did make the trip to Dallas/Canton and had a good time, we hit the ground running off the plane that is. The trip was alot of fun, tiring but fun, enjoyed the time with Candes. Christmas is just around the corner, hope everyone is ready, we are very close, just a few loose ends to tie up and we will be ready. I can't wait to see how Jonah reacts this year to the whole present unwrapping idea. I have been doing pretty good lately, still having alot of problems with the neuropathy, the last medication they added has some different issue that comes with it, I get the shakes of the morning pretty bad, I just deal with it though. Does it help I'm not really sure. I have worked on this post about 3 different times but just never have finished it. Can't believe Christmas is here, only 6 more days, with the weather being warmer it doesn't really seem like Christmas time. I think our shopping is finished now so no more trips to the mall or to town to shop. Now this week is for baking and fixing snacks & finger food, I made a batch of the old fashion fudge on Saturday and by Sunday it was almost gone. (Clay loves this fudge.) Needless to say I will be making more in a day or two. I made the Walmart run early, early this morning so that would be done, I don't want to be there later this week cause it will be a mad house. Tomorrow is just a being at home day, getting some things done, Wednesday I'm going in for a massage. Thursday is my usual treatment day, this doesn't change even with it being Christmas week. So it is kinda a laid back week getting some things done, baking & enjoying not stressing over last minute shopping. (December 19th)

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.

Beautiful Color

2011-11-02T10:55:00.003-05:00

Just in the last few days the trees have really started to turn to beautiful fall colors. Clay & I took a drive last Sunday afternoon, down old 71 to Lake Fort Smith expecting to see alot of color but we were really surprised. We need to take a drive now because I think there would be a big change, it is just amazing what a few days will do. It is Wednesday but I am here at Highland for treatment, I changed my appointment this week so I could take a little road trip with Candes to the Dallas area. She has a friend in Dallas we will be staying with, we are going to do a little shopping, a little flea marketing and I'm sure a little eating out. It's just a long week-end little trip but it should be fun.

Brrrrrr it's cold

2011-10-20T11:16:00.005-05:00

Well you would think winter had arrived but we know better, fall is definitely in the air. Love living in NW Arkansas!!!!! Of course it's Thursday and I am at HOG getting treatment. Things have been going pretty good lately, I have been feeling decent these days. I always have back pain & other pain areas, I have good days and bad. Having lunch today with Candes and an old friend at Zaxby's.

Change Of Plans

2011-10-07T16:07:00.005-05:00

I guess there was a misunderstanding between Little Rock or me with this Thyroid testing. I had my shots Thursday & today and I need my bloodwork on Monday, well 6 months ago I was told by them that I could have the bloodwork drawn at HOG and they just fax the results to them. This is where the misunderstanding came in, I will have to make a trip to Little Rock on Monday just for a blood draw, seems a little crazy but what has to be has to be. I tried very hard to convince them that HOG would work with them anyway they could to do this but they want it drawn there and send it off to the out of state lab that they use all the time. Pam Neal is going to be my driver on Monday, we will make the best of the road trip and maybe find something fun to do while we are there. So from day to day this is how things can change. Oh well its the name of the game. Speaking of the game. Go Hogs!!!!! WPS

October & Fall Are Both In The Air

2011-10-06T11:35:00.006-05:00

Love, love, love this weather, to have cool mornings and then beautiful afternoons. What more could you ask for? I know it will change soon enough but we can sure enjoy it while it's here. Everyone is decorating for Fall, I just love this time of year, I'm not much on Halloween but I love to decorate for Fall. When the kids were little we would do Halloween but now I just like the Fall deco. I'm at HOG right now doing treatment, it's a heavy load today, something different than ever before, regular treatment, plus my bone strengthening push (which I get every 2 months) & my thyrogen shot. I will come back in tomorrow for another thyrogen shot as well, I will do blood work Monday for my thyroid doctor at UAMS in Little Rock.

I picked Jonah from school yesterday, we had alot of fun, we went to visit my mom which is his Great Grandma Walker. We played outside, pulled her wagon, rode the Gator, went to the barn to see the kittens and of course found the toy closet inside. We went back to our house where we of course played inside and out, I love this little guy.

Get out and do something this week-end and enjoy this weather.

Added Another (B)

2011-09-29T16:57:00.009-05:00

By the time my treatment was over they had called another prescription in for the Neuropathy. I will continue to take the one I have been taking for several months, just take this one in addition to it. This medication is one that I will ease into, the first 5 days I will take it at night, then the next 5 days of a morning, after that 3 times a day. It just gets really scary when you can't hardly feel your feet or legs. Hopefully this will help, it will probably take close to 30 days before I can tell a difference though.

Again get out and enjoy the beautiful weather this week-end!!!!!!!

Fall Time (A)

2011-09-29T10:01:00.012-05:00

I love this time of the year, even though some of the afternoons have been warming up it just feels good. These cool mornings and cool evenings are great, fall is in the air. One more day in September and we will start a new month, before you know it Christmas will be here. Time always flies seems like this time of year, I hope fall stays a while so we can enjoy this weather. In years past we sometimes didn't really get to enjoy the fall because it jumped right into freezing winter weather.

Well I think I am finally feeling better as far as the viral infection goes, hopefully it is out of my system now. After the fever, sore throat, and no voice for a week then it seem to have settled in my neck, shoulders and back, I think a week of that was actually worse than the first week. With antibiotic, heat & alot of do nothing I think I'm better. Now its just back to the usual bone pain & Neuropathy which is getting alot worse. I have had issues with the Neuropathy but with time it is getting more severe, my feet stay tingly all the time now and it seems to be traveling up my legs as well. I take one medication for this but it is not really doing the trick, Little Rock has said that they could prescribe another drug as well but that my oncology clinic could do this as well. So I am here today we will see if that happens if not I will have to call Little Rock back. It is just a terrible feeling when you can't really feel your feet, it's the same feeling when your feet go to sleep and they are waking up, but then they just stay that way all the time. I finally was able to keep my dentist appointment for my crown, came into HOG to get my shot on Monday to boost my counts and back on Tuesday for bloodwork, to see if it did the trick, and it did. So it was on to the dentist for the crown. It's been a long time in the planning for this crown, glad to finally get it done. So with treatment today I have been to HOG three times this week. Next week will be about the same type of week, I have needed to have some things done for Little Rock since April and its just now going to come about. My thyroid doctor in LR ordered Thyrogen injections two days in a row and then blood work a few days later, this medication has been on back order since April and just now has came in. There evidently was a shortage in Arkansas even at UAMS in LR, this is to check to make sure there's no cancer left in the thyroid area. Its been a year since I had my radiation for thyroid cancer.

Everyone enjoy this weather and have a great week-end, whether you take in BBB or stay away.

How Things Can Change

2011-09-09T14:07:00.009-05:00

Since just a few days ago things have really changed alot, when I woke up on Tuesday morning (the day of my last post) my throat was a little sore but that can happen overnight so didn't worry. As the day went on it pretty much passed, I felt ok, Clay has had the crud or whatever since last Friday, he ended coming home from work around 10 that day (Tues) because he felt so bad. He slept alot that day, went to work the next day as well as Thursday & today, he just can't knock it. He decided to run to the dr at noon, got a shot, antibiotic & something for his cough. Now mine seems to be a little different than his, Tuesday night mine started in, so I guess that sore throat was telling me something after all. I started feeling bad and chilling, had 101 temp, after laying around awhile & after taking Tylenol my temp went up to 103. On Wednesday I decided I might should call Highland to see what they would have me do, they wanted me to come in to see an APN, my mother in law took me in since I felt so bad, they did a throat culture thinking it could be strep. Well it wasn't strep, it is a viral infection so great that means no antibiotic will help, so it will just have to run its course. It just really wipes you out, light headed, achy, very sore throat, voice gone & just over all beat. So this probably changes the plans for next week as far as getting my crown done. If I'm still not up to par the dentist won't want to work on me and you can understand that, since this viral thing has been contagious, no one else wants it. That means I will have to reschedule my appointment yet again and that means I will have to change my shot on Monday & bloodwork on Tuesday till the week that I do get back into the dentist. It is all a domino effect, one thing depends on the other. It is always so interesting, something is always going on to keep my life exciting. I am hoping at this point this infection runs its course soon and gets out of my system, Clay and I both have just been dragging around and its not fun. Being lazy is one thing but having to be lazy because you don't feel good is a different story, it gets old. At least I can stay home, he has to go to work not feeling good cause it just drags on, one day you think you might be feeling better & the next day you are worse. So this is my life and how it has played out in just a few days time, you never know how things can change.

Cooler Days

2011-09-06T16:41:00.012-05:00

I'm sure everyone is enjoying these cooler temperatures the last couple of days, I also hope you all had a nice 3 day weekend and did something fun over Labor Day. Ours wasn't real productive but it was very nice especially since we weren't having those 100+ temps. Jeremy, Kara & I took Jonah to the County Fair last Thursday night to see the animals, he wasn't too impressed with any of it but the rabbits. I think he liked the rabbits because he could get down on their level and actually touch them, he did also like some of the chickens. I think he felt a little safe because they were in their cages. We did not do the carnival scene, but after we ate we went into the livestock auction to see some of the 4-Hers sell their animals. We decided it was time to have as Jonah calls it "a snack" so Kara & I headed out with Jonah to get a snack. We mentioned a few things to him and of course he would just agree to anything that sounded good, or maybe he would take one of each. Well we decided on cotton candy & ice cream. You will have to remember that last week it was still very hot, we were smart enough to have them put it in a cup not a cone. Jeremy probably wasn't very happy with Mimi getting him sugared up before bedtime but I think he did OK that night after all. We had a fun time, he enjoyed riding the tractors & mowers most of all I think, just like every other little boy.

I have been doing pretty good these last couple of weeks, having alot of bone pain, leg pains & back pain but I think that is just part of this Multiple Myeloma business, I don't think it ever goes away. I will go in for treatment on Thursday as usual, then next Monday I will go in for a Neupogen shot to boost my WBC so I can have a crown put on one of my molars. We have rescheduled this appointment I think 4 times now due to my counts, there is a #inside the WBC that has to be at a certain level before you can have a big procedure done and mine is just not where it should be. When I was in Little Rock, August 10th Dr. Barlogie told me that I could have Highland to give me this shot to see if it will boost it up to where it needs to be, I will go back in again Tuesday morning to do blood work to see if it raised it up enough, it so on to my 10 dentist appointment if not reschedule one more time.

Everyone have a good week, tomorrow is already hump day. Take time to enjoy this beautiful weather.

Take A Break

2011-08-23T17:13:00.005-05:00

The wedding is over and we can finally take a little break from wedding plans, arrangements, ordering, picking out and up every other day. It was great, a very beautiful wedding if I do say so myself. It was a perfect day, a little warm for the ceremony but toward the end a cool breeze came through then some rain moved in during the reception. We needed the rain so bad I don't think any complaints were heard. I think that the ceremony and reception went just as Kara had planned for them to go, I hope her every dream came true. They flew to Costa Rica Sunday morning, I know they will have a good time, I'm sure the resort will be amazing, can't wait to hear about it and see pictures.

I skipped my treatment last Thursday due to running errands for the wedding, they had said that I could miss once in a blue moon, I thought this was the right time. I have had alot of swelling in my left foot, ankle and leg. They still haven't decided why this happens whether it is the chemo, the fluid, being up on it way too much or what but starting Sunday I started having pains in my upper leg deep inside. Decided to hold off calling for a day or two, took it easy Sunday & Monday then I called today, went in for a nurse consult, had a Doppler ran to look for blood clots. Good news there was not a clot but I have sluggish blood flow in the main vein, they are thinking there might be some blockage somewhere so they suggested I have a CT ran but I had just had one a month or so ago. They will study it a little closer in the meantime I am ordered to bed rest or at least down with my leg very elevated applying heat. I will do this rest of today as well as all tomorrow, I go for treatment on Thursday and Dr. Rosenfeld will decide what needs to be done if anything. We just hope for the best and can only think that I have been doing a little more than I should, we do know that I need to take it easy, things will slow down now I know.

Thank You Jesus

2011-08-11T11:45:00.010-05:00

We are so thankful for the much needed rain and little cooler temps, we just hope the temps stay down for the wedding. We really were not looking forward to a wedding with 108 degree temps. Just a little over a week away to the wedding, we have been really busy with last minute things, there are so many things that can't be done until the last little bit. We are getting very excited as the time gets so close.
Made a trip to Little Rock last Friday, Candes and I left at 7:30 to head down for testing. This visit my only orders called for blood work and a bone marrow biopsy. The biopsy wasn't too bad this time, it was a little painful but they always are. We ate lunch at On The Border then headed back home, kinda a quick trip down and back. Then this week Clay and I went down yesterday to see Dr. Barlogie to get the results, things are going good he seems to think so just keep on doing what I'm doing. I will go back in January for my next appointment for testing, at that time there will be alot more testing involved so it will be an overnighter. But that is about 5 months away so I don't even have to think about that now. The only thing different is that I will take a Neupogen shot in September to boost my Grans count inside my WBC so that I can have my crown done. When this count is so low you are not suppose to have dental work done, so I will get a shot on a Monday, come back in on Tuesday to see if it raised it before I go to the dentist. After the wedding, things will have to slow down, I need to take a little easy for a change and rest a little more.

Hope everyone has seen the rain at some time or another, I sure there has been no complaints.

Have a good weekend.

It's Thursday

2011-07-21T10:27:00.014-05:00

Well it is Thursday again, I always know what I am going to be doing on Thursday from about 9-11:30 or 12. Things go pretty smooth with the chemo, I am so thankful it is not a chemo that makes me sick, with the wedding coming up I don't have time to be sick.
Jonah stayed with us Monday night and I kept him till mid morning Tuesday till Jeanette picked him up. We will get him again Friday afternoon and we will keep him till they get home, maybe Tuesday morning, since they don't get in till 9:30 Monday night, they did make it safe to Haiti.

Saturday the wedding will only be 4 weeks away and we still have things to do but we are trying to wrap it up. They have had 2 showers already that have been really nice, and have received lots of really nice gifts. They have 2 more showers coming up next weekend as well, after that they should be ready to set up house keeping. Seeing all the new things just goes to show you what we all realize, that it should be a rule that you get a shower every 10 or at least 20 years, it just makes sense. We can only pray that temps lower just a little bit before August 20th.

Have a great weekend, stay cool if you can.

Count Down

2011-07-14T10:42:00.007-05:00

Time is getting close for the wedding now, only 5 weeks from Saturday. Trying to tie up loose ends and finish up things, just keep thinking of more things that need to be done or that hasn't been done that needs to be done. I've been feeling pretty good lately, so glad to have the weather be just a little bit cooler even if it is just for a day or two. We sure didn't get much rain at our house but we will not complain and be thankful for what we did get.

Jeremy and Adrienne along with David and Catherine are Haiti bound next week so between Jeanette (A's mom) and us we will get to share Jonah for the week. They are excited about getting to go, there are alot of issues that go along with it, like no refrigerator, very little electricity and water is always a problem. The girls will be working in the orphanage and the guys will be doing some construction.

Treatment went fine on Thursday, my counts were pretty good this week, I'm sure they will drop next week though, they always go back and forth. Have a good weekend and try to stay cool.

Hot, Hot, Hot

2011-06-28T08:56:00.012-05:00

I don't remember it ever being so hot in June, and to stay this hot for such a long time. We can only hope that we are getting August weather now and then in August we will get spring June weather, thinking of the outdoor wedding that is. Things are moving forward with all the wedding plans, it is getting within a few weeks now, time to tie up all loose ends. I still haven't found my dress yet, I have been looking but just haven't found anything yet, there are just not many places around here to look. We are going to run over to Tulsa one day this week to see if I can find something there. I want to have my dress so I don't have that to worry about.

Things with me are going pretty well, I have a lot of swelling some days in my left leg/foot and even toes. They have been watching it and decided to schedule a Doppler to check for blood clots. Having had clots before I knew that this wasn't the same but we would check it out. They found out that I have a chronic blood clot that had probably been there for some time but it should be ok just continue to take am aspirin a day. Nothing acute and that was a good thing.

They had tested my CA-125 a couple of weeks ago and I got the numbers back last week, it was elevated, not good news. This is the tumor marker they go by for ovarian cancer, even though we don't know what my original numbers were 6 years ago, because no one knew that could have been the issue then. Between Dr. Rosenfeld and Dr. Hightower they feel like I needed to have a cat scan ran, so here I am at Highland drinking that yummy drink waiting the hour until its time for my scan. (Tuesday) Hopefully it is just something weird going on and not that they would find cancer again. To not have ovaries and to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer once is bad enough but if they found it again I just don't know what I would think.

(Thursday) I am here at Highland again, had lab work and saw Dr. Rosenfeld to get the results of the scan, Clay met me here because I think in both of our minds we thought we would be getting bad news. We were so relieved Dr. Rosenfeld said the scans were clean, no sign of cancer there, they are going to keep a eye on the tumor marker to stay on top of things. I have been really struggling with this for a couple of weeks just dreading the outcome, but now I can breathe easier. So thankful.....

(Wednesday) To back up a day, made the trip to Tulsa yesterday for dress shopping, it was a 8-8 long day, I was totally worn out by the time we got home. But the main thing is I found my dress for the wedding, this is something I just wanted to be able to mark off my list and know that it was done. I am very pleased with my find.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND & A HAPPY AND SAFE 4 TH OF JULY

Long Time

2011-06-09T10:50:00.008-05:00

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted, I'm kinda behind. Doing my usual Thursday routine at HOG right now, getting fluid, getting chemo & today I'm taking the bone strengthening bag as well. We are really having issues with my counts right now, my WBC is always low seems like, but there is a # within the WBC that is so low they have to either call Little Rock or check with Dr. Rosenfeld before they treat me. It is 0.7 and it needs to be at least 1.0 before treatment is given. It would be nice to know how you could get these numbers up but the nurses say there is nothing I can do to raise it up. So we just carry on and hope for the best, it would be nice to have normal blood counts for a change but that's probably not going to happen anytime soon. Been feeling pretty good lately, just issues with the back pain still, think it is time for another massage. It helps for a little while anyway.

Things are deep into the planning and doing stages for the wedding now, it will be here before you know it. It is a busy time trying to get everything done at the right time and trying not to leave something undone. It will be a fun time the next few weeks leading up to the event in August.

Summer is so here even though the calendar says its not yet, it has been so hot lately, we complain when it is raining too much and then when it turns off hot with no rain we complain. We are never happy......

Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy this hot weather, out in the pool, doing something fun or staying inside in the cool which ever you decide to enjoy it.

Mother's Day

2011-05-11T11:46:00.009-05:00

Last weekend was really nice, the weather was beautiful for a Mother's Day weekend. Candes and I took our mother to eat lunch at Briar Rose on Saturday, it is such a nice place to eat, so glad it is open. Sunday evening I wanted to go to Tims on mission to eat, so we all met there for dinner, it was so good. After we ate everyone came to the house for awhile. I got some really nice gifts for Mother's Day.

I've been having more low back pain than usual, probably starting Sunday, but not really thinking about it being anything but the normal. Monday it just got worse as the day went on, still not putting it all together. Yesterday morning I ran into HOG lab first thing. Between Monday night and Tuesday morning I had put it all together, having other issues to go along with the back pain. I no more than got back home and they were already calling me, I have a very bad UTI so I had to go back in later to pick up the antibiotic. The nurse said it would probably be a good 24 hours before I felt any better. I can tell this morning I think the antibiotic has kicked in, in a day or two I'm sure I will feel much better.

I still haven't put out any flowers, first it was the cold nights then the wind and now its just doing it. You just hate to go to all the trouble working your beds then have to cover everything or lose it one. I am ready to get started though, Clay usually helps me with the beds, I always like the finished product but its just having the energy and strength to get it done.

Have a good week......

Back to normal

2011-05-05T10:07:00.013-05:00

Things are getting back to normal around the home front after the wedding and Easter. Since the wedding was on Easter weekend we didn't have a family meal together, even though we were all together. We did get together Sunday night at the house for ham and all the trimmings along with strawberry shortcake.

I am having a lot of pain in my lower back, hips and shoulders, whether this is the bone pain that they said I might have with the new bone strengthening drug or not I don't know. I had an issue Sunday that was a little scary, the Praise Team was singing at church and at the beginning of the second song I felt like I was going to pass out, I felt very strange. I didn't feel like I could sing, focus, or even function. I thought if I didn't sit down I would fall down so I found a seat till the song was finished. I stayed for preaching then I left very quickly, when I got home Clay had to help me out of the car due to the hip pain I was having, I couldn't turn to get my legs out of the car. I tried to take it a little easy in the afternoon even though we were having all the kids over to eat. Clay is always a great help in the kitchen, the kids pitched in too. Monday was a pretty restful day so it helped me gain some strength back. These are just issues that you don't really know why or what to blame it on, you would just like to know why or what causes things like this. Had to make a trip to Little Rock yesterday for a doctor visit on my thyroid, it was a 6 month checkup. He felt like everything looked good, he did an ultrasound, watching 1 lymph node but he said it was benign. I will have to have some shots in a week or two and then some additional blood work, he wants my thyroid count to be at zero to know the cancer is all gone. I should be able to have this done at HOG, they are checking right now to see if they can do it here. It would sure be better than having to go to Little Rock for a shot one day then at the same time the next day, then blood work three days later. So it would just really stink if I couldn't do it here at HOG.

The wedding was very pretty, Kara had put a lot of thought into what she wanted. Everything turned out and came off without a hitch and they are married. The hit of the night was the Hot Dog man coming in at 9pm, I didn't know she had booked him but it was a nice treat, the hot dogs were awesome.

Count Down

2011-04-20T09:42:00.007-05:00

Time has really flown by, the wedding is this weekend. Kara and Andrew will be married this time next week. Things are coming together and final preparations are being made. It's getting very, very close now. I have my list of things to do this week each day, I have to write it down so I won't forget. Call it age or chemo, whatever. This week sounds a little rainy and stormy, we just hope that for Saturday night it will hold off so that everyone can get inside without getting drenched.

As for me, things are going pretty good, I have had alot of new pains that I haven't had before so you ask yourself is it the new medication? I started with the new drug for my bones and they said there could be side effects and bone pain was one of them so who knows. To help with one issue you have to be in pain for another. Never ending.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a Happy Easter!!!!!

Spring Has Sprung

2011-04-07T10:54:00.011-05:00

Well it seems like Spring is actually here, the weather has been really nice lately. I am so ready, now if the wind will just calm down a little things will be much better, I guess we can't complain though but we would like to have some rain. Since my last post I think I am finally on the mends, this upper respiratory infection has hung on forever, I still have a little cough but nothing like I had before.

I had a wonderful birthday, one thing about being sick on my birthday it was spaced out over probably a two week period, so it lasted a long time. Our plan was to go out to eat on the Saturday after my birthday, trying to get 8 people together sometimes can be difficult. I really didn't feel like going out to eat so they ordered Catfish Hole and brought it to the house. Everyone enjoyed it, and there was also a cookie dough ice cream cake that was yummy. Then there were gifts, I always like that part, I'm still a kid at heart.

The wedding is getting really close now, all last minute things are being tended to and things are being finalized. It's getting to the excitement stage now, only 16 days to go and there will be another Kara Woody in the family.

I am at Highland taking my treatment right now, we have added something new to my treatment, it is a bone strengthening drug that I will take every two months. Hopefully this will help, it is given to Multiple Myeloma patients. This is given with my fluid through my port, infused over a three hour period. There are some side effects with this drug but hopefully they will be mild. There could be flu like symptoms the next day or two and a few other things I will have to watch for, we will just have to see how it goes.

Have a great weekend, get out and enjoy this beautiful weather.

Birthday Week

2011-03-24T12:20:00.008-05:00

The weekend of the 12th I started with a cough, I assumed it was just allergy related so just kinda ignored it. The cough hung on into the week, by Tuesday late afternoon I was feeling pretty rough, went on to bed early. I had plans on Wednesday since it was my birthday, had breakfast plans with my mother in law and sister in law Darcy and then a late lunch was planned with my mom and sister, well all of these things were cancelled due to me being sick and running 102 fever. I was in bed most all day on my birthday as well as the next day too. I didn't take a treatment on Thursday, I just felt too rough, they called me in antibiotic on Wednesday. My fever broke on Thursday but I still just felt bad. I feel a little better one day then the next day I feel really bad again, I'm tired of it, I feel so light headed and woozy most of the time and my sides and stomach are so sore from coughing so much.

Well here I am another week and I'm not over it yet, I saw the APN here at Highland today, it's an upper respiratory infection, I'm still on the antibiotic and she called me in some really good cough syrup (hopefully it helps). I am taking my treatment now and then I will head home to rest. I feel bad that I haven't been able to go to Loving Choices last week or this week, I enjoy volunteering there but I just haven't been able to go. I sure have enjoyed the nice weather we have had lately, I have set out on the porch a couple of days. Now this morning was a little cool for me, we haven't been in the 30's in awhile, we've been in the 50's when morning comes. I am still just ready for Spring to get here and stay.

Little Rock Visit

2011-03-10T10:19:00.006-06:00

Clay and I made the trip to Little Rock on Tuesday, another rainy day. We left home about 5:45 in the drizzle but the farther we went the heavier the rain, it rained the entire way there. My appointment was at 10, there was some waiting but it wasn't too bad. Dr. Barlogie was pleased with all the test results, he thought everything looked fine. He wants to start me on a bone strengthening medication, this would be a drip through my port that I would get in addition to the chemo I take each week. There are alot of issues with this drug so I won't be starting it right away but I think when I do start it could help me. I hope so anyway. I have alot of bone pain and he seems to think this would help. I am at Highland now, leaving here to head to the dentist for a quick repair, I chipped a tooth last night. I called to see if I could get in and luckily I called when I did because my dentist is just going to be there till 1 today and they are closed tomorrow. He is having his other knee replacement surgery on Monday so he will be out awhile. So I came here earlier trying to get to the dentist by 11, that is the only time they said they could look at my tooth, so it is a race to get there.

We also drove home in the rain, allthe way till we got close to the tunnel.

Looking foward to warmer days ahead this week.

Starting A New Month

2011-03-06T15:00:00.005-06:00

Can you believe it is already March, seems like it was just Christmas and now we are into the third month. March brings Spring, hopefully in weather not just on the calendar. I am so ready for the nicer weather to be here, we may very likely have some more bad weather though, I have heard people talk of a big snow the end of March, who knows. Things are going pretty well with me these days, Candes and I went to Little Rock February 24th and 25th. That was the stormy Thursday that we traveled in, we wanted to get down there so maybe we wouldn't have to be caught in it. We did pretty good, there was only a few miles that we ran into really hard rain, making it a little hard to see. We got to the apartment before it hit, unloaded the car and decided to sit tight for awhile, it got very stormy there, the sirens were going off and there was alot of rain, thunder and lightning going on. Luckily it was a fast moving storm, it moved on out of the Little Rock area and we ventured on out to have dinner and run some errands.

We had an early start Friday morning with my testing, check in and blood work at 8:30 then on to the MRI area after that. Candes left then to go to her doctor appointment over at Baptist, she had scheduled this appointment with her thyroid onocologist since we were going to be in Little Rock. It worked out well because she was back in the waiting room when I came out of the MRI. We got a bite of lunch there at the hospital and then onto the bone marrow biopsy, there was some waiting but it really wasn't bad, I had the last appointment of the day so they are always ready to go home and they have kinda caught themselves up by then. We started out of Little Rock pretty quick and decided to stop at Conway a little while, they had told me it would help with the soreness to walk a little so we walked and shopped a little at Belk. Headed on toward home then, made it home about 5, Kara came down to Candes' house to pick me up and bring me on home. I was very, very sore this time maybe just a little more than usual.

Clay and I will go back to Little Rock this week to see Dr. Barlogie and get the results of the tests.

I started volunteering at Loving Choices a half a day a week, I just wanted to do something to help out somewhere, it is a very good cause.

Beautiful Days

2011-02-18T10:55:00.005-06:00

The weather sure has been nice this week, we deserve it after all the snow we have had the last couple of weeks. I actually went for my treatment on the regular scheduled day, which is Thursday this week with no snow. My counts are still low but they were up a little this week. My WBC was 2.4 that is up from 1, that's where it has been for the past three weeks. I am feeling good, finally pretty much over the crud if that is possible this time of year. Can you really ever get over the crud?

Jonah is going to spend the night with us tonight, it is always fun to have him around. He is growing into quite a little boy, he is so funny. We might even get to go outside to play since the weather is going to be fairly warm, he loves to be outside.

Back To Snow Part II

2011-02-07T08:23:00.009-06:00

Well I made it in for treatment on Friday, even though they said we wouldn't get much snow. Clay came out to get me to take me to HOG, I was there a little over two hours then Jeremy came by to pick me up to bring me back home. This was the first time I had been out of the house since last Saturday, partly due to the weather but mostly due to this crud that I have had. My WBC this week was critically low, it was down to 1.3, it hasn't been that low in a long, long time. You just have to be really careful being around other people, right now there are so many bugs out there and this makes me very susceptible to pick up something. Since I have already had the crud I don't need to add another bug to it. I didn't get my chemo delivery before I left home so I was afraid I would miss it, Clay tracked it again to find out that beyond UPS control it would not be delivered until Monday. So ok this was just great, after all the waiting, watching for and wondering, it was not coming. So hopefully it will come today and this nightmare will be over for another month anyway. If we get the next snow storm they are talking about I may have an issue with my treatment again this week. It makes it hard for them to get everyone in when they have either closed for a day or open up at 10 instead of 8 for a couple of days, it throws everyone behind.

And Back To Snow

2011-02-04T09:22:00.004-06:00

Wow, what a week we have had, but it sounds like we are in store for another week of much the same. I started with the crud or a bad head cold late Saturday night and I still have it so needless to say I haven't been out of the house this week. I have been waiting two days for my chemo delivery, due to the weather it still hasn't arrived. This has to be shipped from Chicago or Ohio and they are alot worse off weather wise than we are, it has messed me up going to Highland for treatment waiting for it. Normally I go every Thursday but my delivery didn't get here, so they changed my appointment to Friday thinking I would have my delivery on Thursday and I would be good to go. Here it is Friday and still no delivery, just hope it gets here before I have to leave, it's just that I have to be here to sign for it so it makes it hard. Well it just started snowing here again, we are not suppose to get very much this time but it is coming down. Stay warm and safe if you are out and about.

From Snow to Spring

2011-01-27T10:55:00.002-06:00

Can you believe this weather??? Oh yes we live in Northwest Arkansas, this is normal for us. It sounds like we are going to have a couple of really nice days before it gets cold again. I am so ready for spring to be here or even summer, I miss getting to set out on my back porch but it is way too cold to do that.

I am at HOG right now doing my weekly treatment, my counts are still not really where they need to be but oh well. I can't believe it is almost February, that means the April wedding is getting very close. Excitement is in the air.

Enjoy the nice days coming up, we are going to have Jonah on Saturday so we can probably be outside just a little bit.

Snow or No Snow

2011-01-19T15:26:00.005-06:00

I am scheduled to go to Highland tomorrow for my Chemo, but it sounds like the weather could be bad tomorrow. I tried to change it to today but there weren't any openings, so I guess I will just wait and see what tomorrow brings and go from there. The treatments are going pretty well, they make me a little tired but they haven't made me sick. I am still having issues with my WBC staying low, I have been trying to stay away from crowds of people since it is the flu season. My kidney numbers aren't really where they need to be either, so they are trying to get a handle on that.

Andrew was off today so we met for lunch, it's always good to see him, since he lives in Rogers I don't see him very often. They have a lot going on right now, not just the wedding but they are building a house as well. Andrew is really enjoying being at the Rogers Police Department.

It's a New Year

2011-01-06T09:53:00.004-06:00

Well the Holidays are over and things are getting back to the norm now. We are thinking on to other things now, weddings to speak of. It will be a busy year with two weddings coming up. April will be here before you know it, that will be the first wedding of the year. Andrew and Kara will get married April 23rd and then Kara and Shelby are getting married August 20th. So needless to say it will be an exciting year for the Woody family.

I am taking my treatment right now at Highland, thought I should do something useful with my time here. Things are going pretty well with my treatment, it seems to make me a little on the tired side but it hasn't made me sick. They told me today that I need to be real careful about being around people, my WBC is real low again this week. My platelet count is way down again as well, you never really know what causes these things to happen.

Christmas Time

2010-12-27T10:28:00.003-06:00

I can't believe Christmas has already came and gone, this year seemed to have gone by so fast. It has been a busy month trying to finish up shopping, doing some baking and just being ready for Christmas. I really enjoyed Christmas this year, I felt so much better than I did at this time last year, it was a nice change. We enjoyed Jonah so much this year, he hasn't quite got the hang of opening the packages yet but he liked what he got. Look out next year because I'm sure he will be ready to go, and really get into it by then. Another reason I think the year has gone by fast is that Jonah will be two next month, it just doesn't seem possible that our baby can be two already.

As far as my health, I am doing pretty good these days, I am taking chemo once a week at Highland Oncology in Fayetteville. It hasn't been too bad so far, it makes me a little tired but hasn't made me sick. I don't like this cold weather that's for sure, I just can't hardly bare the cold especially the wind, it just cuts through me.

Happy Holidays to you all and I hope the New Year will bring health and happiness to all.

More Testing

2010-12-06T10:39:00.010-06:00

On Tuesday, November 23rd, Candes and I headed out early for Little Rock for more testing. I was scheduled for bloodwork, MRI's and a bone marrow biopsy, we were there the whole day. We felt like we got in and out of each test fairly quick but it just takes time. Everything seemed to go ok, there was a little issue with the bone marrow biopsy this time, I had some bleeding but it was probably due to the fact that my platelets were so low. I needed to be at 50, 000 before they could do it and I was at the lucky number of 57,000. So I was just barely where I needed to be. I had a really sore back but we headed back home after eating at the Olive Garden in Little Rock.

On Tuesday, November 30th, Clay and I made our way back to Little Rock for doctor appointments. We met with Dr. Barlogie first thing to determine what the next step would be. He told us that I needed to be back on treatment, so I was given my orders and prescriptions to get started back on maintenance therapy. I will start my treatment later this week. I was hoping to wait until after Christmas but that didn't happen, he did lower the dosage and also changed the chemo drug that I take at home so maybe it won't be too bad, one can only hope.

I am looking forward to Christmas, I am getting close to having my shopping done but I am not there yet. I feel better than I did last Christmas so that gives me alot to look forward to. Clay bought us a live tree again this year and Kara and I decorated it last week, I had mentioned that we were going to change it up this year, we did and I love it. Clay is not sure about the teal and brown, he kinda likes red, green and gold, it will grow on him though.

Counts Down

2010-11-17T14:43:00.008-06:00

Since my last trip to Little Rock my platelets have been gradually going down, for what reason we don't know at this point. With the bloodwork I had done on Monday it had started creeping back up so this is a good thing, but you still have to wonder why. My platelet count hasn't been an issue for quite some time now. When the lab at HOG gave me my report they had me to go upstairs to talk to a nurse, this time it wasn't my platelet count it was my WBC. It was down to 1.75 again this raises the question why. I have just been at home this week staying warm by the fire, I am not suppose to be around alot of people, I can't take my chances on catching something while my counts are so low. I go back to Little Rock on Tuesday for tests, MRI, bloodwork and a bone marrow biopsy. There was the concern of my platelets with the biopsy because I have to be at 50 at least before I can have it done. They ordered platelets for me if I need them before the biopsy. Even though I don't enjoy the biopsy in the least I have to have it to find out what's going on right now. The nurses say it could be a number of things, it could be the thyroid surgery, the radiation, being off treatment for awhile or the myeloma trying to come back. The later would be my fear, I can't imagine having to start over again so we just pray that it is some minor thing and it will adjust itself. I look forward to Thanksgiving this year but I can't wait until Christmas, I think I can enjoy the holiday season much more this year. I can't wait to put up the tree, Kara helped me pick out decorations for the tree, I wanted to change it out this year. I'm like a little kid but my excitement is for the decorations not so much opening the presents.

New Week

2010-11-08T09:33:00.007-06:00

Last week Clay and I made the trip to Little Rock for doctor visits. We saw Dr. Barlogie on Tuesday, all my MRI's and other test had came back good so far. I have still been off chemo, just waiting for his signal to go back on, I just knew that the news would be to start back NOW, but my platelet count was down so he wants me to wait another 3 weeks. At that time I will be going back down to Little Rock for more testing before starting back on chemo. I am scheduled for more MRI's, bloodwork and a bone marrow biopsy (in which I dread already) but I haven't had to have one in quite a while so I guess it is about time.

The next day I had an appointment with my thyroid doctor, Dr. Bodenner, he felt like everything was fine after my surgery and radiation. The body scan came back negative, so that was good news. He ran an ultrasound and said it all looked good, nothing seemed to be showing with my lymph nodes, so he was pleased. I had to have bloodwork done for him as we were leaving, if something is off they will call me if not I will continue taking the 112 synthroid.

It had been a long couple of days waiting to see doctors, nurses and lab people but it was now over and we were heading home. We stopped at Olive Garden in Little Rock to have a very late lunch before hitting the road. I will head back down a couple of days before Thanksgiving for my testing, then I can enjoy Thanksgiving and go back down to see the doctor a few days after.

On the most part I have been feeling pretty good, just tire out quickly and have alot of aches and pains, part of that may just be my age.

Just testing

2010-10-22T10:01:00.002-05:00

Made the trip to Little Rock on Tuesday, my sister in law Darcy took me this time, it was a tiring day. We had a good day, a nice chance to catch up and get a good visit in at the same time. All I had to do was have some bloodwork and a couple of MRI's. It rained most of the time on us, but not to complain because we needed the rain real bad. I won't get any of the results until I see the dr the 2nd of November. We headed back after 2 and just drove on to Conway and stopped at Market Place for a really late lunch, then on into Fayetteville, got home about 6:15.

I have been feeling pretty good lately, I know it's due to me not being on chemo right now. When I go back for the dr visit I'm sure he will say it's time to start back. I dread those words.

Columbus Day

2010-10-11T17:32:00.006-05:00

Just a pretty normal Monday here on the home front. I waited this morning for the Terminix guy to come for our yearly visit. Kara and I went to Olive Garden for lunch then ran to Hobby Lobby, I hadn't been there in quite some time. It was fun looking at all the Fall things and the Christmas stuff as well. They are still putting out more Christmas decorations, I am wanting to change my tree theme this year, whether that will happen or not we'll just have to wait and see.

I have been feeling pretty good these days, just tired, the little bit I did today just wore me out. So I usually try to get a nap in somewhere along the way. Just the usual bloodwork on Thursday, I will go down to Little Rock on Tuesday next week for bloodwork and a couple of MRI's. Just a day trip, an all day, day trip that is.

FALL OR SUMMER

2010-10-07T09:47:00.004-05:00

Is it Fall or is it still summer????? Isn't it wonderful to live in Northwest Arkansas? This cooler weather has about done me in, I don't know what I will do when winter gets here. I stay cold so much of the time, I don't know if that will ever change due to chemo. I have been feeling pretty good, it makes a difference when you take chemo and when you don't. I am off the chemo for another month so during that time I can feel better and enjoy.
Last weekend was the first time I could be around Jonah (grandson) after my radiation, we kept him awhile on Saturday night and then we got to watch him again Sunday afternoon. He is getting to be such a character, he is such a joy.

I went to Little Rock last Thursday for a body scan to see if the radiation did everything it was suppose to do. I of course didn't find out anything, I will see the dr. November 3rd, so I guess I will find out then. I am heading in for bloodwork in a few minutes and to have lunch with a couple of girls I use to work with. Have a great day and enjoy these summer time temps this afternoon.

Real Food

2010-09-28T11:00:00.005-05:00

The iodine free diet ended Friday night, what a relief, I got to go back to eating regular food again. This is not something I would want to be on for any extended period of time, it got old very fast. Things have been going pretty good with the process of the radiation, with all the precautions you have to take after the radiation. I go back down to Little Rock this week for a body scan to see if the radiation did what it was suppose to do. Last Friday I took a little fall I guess you would say, I still have that light but heavy headiness when I get up out of a chair alot of the time, I had started down the hall and I felt it coming on, I grabbed the door facing and next thing I know I am coming to on the floor. I hit the back of my head on our dining room table wooden base or a chair one of the other. My back and the back of my head have really been sore, you kinda forget until you rub your head then you remember. Clay came home for awhile to make sure I was going to be ok. It was crazy, I would always feel weak and funny but I have never go completely down, but I'm ok.

I'm Glowing

2010-09-23T09:53:00.006-05:00

Candes and I headed to Little Rock early Monday morning, I had an appointment at 11, but I needed to do bloodwork first. Things went smooth, there was some waiting in the lab but not bad. Candes checked me in at the Head & Neck Clinic (thyroid) and then she went to the pharmacy to pick up my injection shots, by that time I was upstairs. They called me right in for my injection, they want to do them the same time each day, then we were done for the day. I had started with a headache on Sunday that was pretty severe, Tylenol is the only thing I can take and it wasn't helping, we just hung out at the apartment the rest of the day. Tuesday was a busy day, went for my injection at 11, back to the apartment for lunch since I'm am still doing the iodine free diet. I had an appt at 1 with the kidney doctor and then an appt with Dr. Barlogie at 2, it kept us hopping. The results of the biopsy showed no myeloma in the kidneys, and this is a good thing but there has been quite a bit of scarring/damage done to my kidneys. This is probably due to the myeloma or even partly due to some of the medications I have been on in the past that might harm your kidneys. The bad thing is that the damage is irreversible, they are just going to keep a close eye on them knowing they can't get any worse. The next step would be dialysis and I don't want to go there if I don't have to. Wednesday was the big day for radiation, we went in and they called me back pretty quick, there's alot of pre stuff that goes on, explaining everything to you, mostly all the after precautions. They have to specially order your pill from a pharmacy across town, so by the time they make it and get it back over there we are talking about an hour. So after the wait I went in and took my pill and then I was on my way. Sounds really crazy. Candes and I were going to run back to the apartment to eat our lunch, then they tell me not to eat for 2 hours, so we ran back, picked up our stuff and hit the road for home, they said I wouldn't start throwing off rays for 2 hours. It was good to be back home again, all the things you have to do is just mind boggling though. All our laundry has to be done separate, I can't wash my clothes with Clay's, I have to have my separate living quarters with my own bathroom and no one else can use this bathroom for several days, I have to stay 6 ft away from everyone or they me anyway. I will be glad when this too is finished, but one good thing I get to go back to normal food tomorrow night. I can't wait. I am confined to the house for these days because you can't take a chance being around people especially babies, children, pregnant women, so I will just be hanging out here for awhile.

Kidney Biopsy

2010-09-19T09:10:00.007-05:00

Clay and I left around 10 Wednesday morning for Little Rock, for bloodwork and the kidney biopsy on Thursday. We had to be at the hospital at 7 Thursday morning, they took us back about 7:15 to get things started. I got 2 units of plasma before the procedure then 2 afterwards, the biopsy wasn't too bad, but after we got back to the holding room the doctor came in to tell us there was some internal bleeding and would need to admit me to the hospital to watch me overnight. They watched my vital signs very close and did a blood draw every 4 hours, had a scan about 11 pm. These are the things they watch to see if you are still bleeding or if it has stopped. Doctors were in and out during the evening and the next morning, they sent me for a chest xray Friday morning to make sure pneumonia hadn't set in, since they had me pretty much laying flat all the time to prevent anymore bleeding. I was very glad when they said there was no more bleeding, I was worried a little about them going up my groin and into my kidney to find where I was bleeding and to stop it. I had a little cloudiness in the lower part of my lungs but not enough to be concerned about. That was good to know, I didn't really need something else going on. They came in to discharge me at 2:30 and we headed home, it was an uncomfortable ride home, not alot of smooth roads in Arkansas. I took a pain pill and went to bed pretty early, slept pretty good, Saturday when I got up I felt like I had been hit by a Mac Truck, I hurt all over. Sunday, today may be a tiny bit better but my body still hurts and I have a really bad headache, we need to get my things together because early in the morning Candes and I will head back to Little Rock for the radiation, I hope I am up to it because I just want to close another chapter. I am still doing the iodine free diet and will continue that until next Friday, I won't be able to be around people for about 5 or 6 days after my radiation, there are alot of things you have to do like wash my clothes separate from Clays, no one dries their hands on a towel that I have dried mine on. It is kinda crazy but I guess I will be radioactive for a while so you have to take all precautions.

Results

2010-09-13T08:54:00.016-05:00

I had my treatment on Tuesday, packed up on Wednesday to head to Little Rock on Thursday. Normally going down for test and to see the doctor is a light packing trip, but this time was a little different. I started the low iodine diet on Tuesday so Candes and I had planned our meals to have while we were there. We had to take everything we needed for the salads or meals we were having, no eating out or picking up fast food. We left at 7:30 Thursday morning in a light rain but by the time we got to Mountainburg the rain started so hard she could hardly see to drive, we drove in rain like this until we finally ran out of it right before Conway. I had bloodwork done on Thursday and that was it for the day, Candes and I decided we would go to a movie. Later that evening the chemo kicked in (this is usually about the time it takes) stomach issues and that night I had the pains in my legs off and on all night. On Friday my doctor's appt wasn't until 2 so we had all morning, normally we would have been off doing something but we just stayed at the apartment being lazy, I just felt yuck, didn't feel like doing anything. There was alot of waiting involved before seeing the doctor, you do see a couple of nurses beforehand though. We were walking out the drs office at 6:30, that is just too long to have to wait but oh well what do you do? Dr. Barlogie said that my myeloma is all incheck right now, all counts are good with that, but there are underlying issues with my kidneys. So now I have to go back to Little Rock this week for a kidney biopsy to see if they have missed something or something new has popped up. My kidney counts have not been very good for some time, we are actually back to where we were when this all started last year. Dr. Barlogie wants to hold off on treatment this week until we find out something with the kidney biopsy, I won't have a treatment next week either due to taking the radiation. So this will give me at least 2 weeks to get to feeling better before I will probably start back. I did ask him if I was suppose to feel this way or would it get any better, he said it would get better, but when, how long does it take? I take a treatment one day and usually feel good for a couple of days then feel pretty bad for about 3 days then ok for a couple of days, then it is time to do it all over again. Hopefully they will get it all figured out and I can go back to feeling better.

Not The Best

2010-09-04T11:30:00.007-05:00

A few days after my first treatment I had a few issues, I really thought I was going to get by with just some tiredness and a little red face. Sunday afternoon I started having alot of stomach pains and just felt very yucky with this for a couple of days. On Monday I started in with leg pains, I wouldn't call them cramps because there was so much pain involved. I called Highland to see if there were any suggestions of what I could do, my potassium was a little low so they wanted me to up my potassium intake. We stocked up on bananas and cantaloupe, it did help to bring it up, Dr. Rosenfeld wanted me to also start taking Vitamin D. The pains have pretty much gone away, there will be some aching every once in awhile but not as bad as Monday. It was just kinda a draggy week, I am blaming it on not having any chemo since April and then that poison hitting me again, I think my body will just have to get use to it and adjust. I had another treatment Thursday and saw Dr, Rosenfeld, my counts were all pretty good except my blood pressure was kinda low he would like to see that up a little, I get light/heavy headed when I stand up alot of the times. I have just been a little tired but I am hoping this last treatment will be a little more gentle to me. I will have a treatment on Tuesday this week and then head to Little Rock Thursday and Friday for tests and to see Dr. Barlogie (my myeloma dr). We will see how this week goes hopefully it will be better. I have to start the low iodine diet on Tuesday to get ready for my radiation in a couple of weeks, it is going to be tough figuring out what to fix, everything has to be prepared, there can't be any type of preservatives in anything I fix, it's just a little different than what we are use to. No dairy whatsoever.

Moving Forward

2010-08-27T07:58:00.013-05:00

Well things are much better this week, my throat is better, a sore throat is just the worse thing you can have. I started my chemo treatments this week, I went on Wednesday to Highland for labwork then on upstairs to the chemo room for my treatment. I will receive a liter a fluid then during this I will get my chemo push of Velcade. The fluids I will also take each week for my kidney issues, I am still having poor kidney function/filtration, so if I am not drinking enough (in which I am) they have to give me fluids to try to help. After my treatment I just felt tired, I napped in the afternoon and just rested, that night I started taking my other oral chemo, one of the side effects is insomnia, well it hit about 3 am and I couldn't go back to sleep, I just tossed and turned. I am going to give it a chance before I gradually move it up to earlier in the day. Last night was better, I slept better waking up some but never staying awake a long length of time. I just took it easy yesterday and that's the plan today, so far so good as far as the chemo bothering me, just making me tired but I can handle that. Yesterday afternoon my face broke out or looked like a real bad sun burn, it felt burning hot like I had a fever, I even took my temp when it first started, I'm sure it is either from one of the chemo drugs or the steroids I take on the day of chemo. This too I'm sure will pass, it was just very strange, the heat would just come and go but the redness would stay. This is just another step in my recovery of my myeloma, if I didn't go in once or twice a week to Highland what would I do with myself? Also trying to keep up with all the other doctor appointments I have, it keeps me busy. I at least know what I will be doing the next three years.

Third Week

2010-08-20T09:05:00.003-05:00

Today is the 3rd week mark after my surgery, I seem to be doing good, still not much of a voice. I know he couldn't guarantee but hopefully by 6 weeks I will have my strong voice back. I started with other issues this week, Monday evening I started out with a sore throat, I just blamed it on the weather, these nice cool mornings we've had. By Tuesday it was worse and I was developing the old canker sores in my mouth as well. By Wednesday I was pretty miserable and thought I better call in, Highland wanted to see me, so I went in Wednesday afternoon. I was a little worried it might be running into strep, well it wasn't strep I had a bad case of yeast in my mouth and down my throat (Thrush) at least we found out what it is. It has been very painful, you can't eat hardly at all, I have been doing the ice cream/Jello diet this week. I am taking medication and using a swish and swollow, as long as I can keep my mouth numb for awhile I'm good. But I know that these things have to run their course, I know this to shall pass.

Recovery Time

2010-08-06T11:08:00.007-05:00

It's been a week today since my thyroid surgery, I'm glad I have a week behind me. I am doing good, just trying to heal, my neck is still sore and I'm sure there is still some swelling in my throat area. Candes and I made a trip to Little Rock late Wednesday for my early post-op appointment on Thursday. Dr. Stack said I was doing fine, he said my voice would probably come back by 6 weeks, but he couldn't guarantee that. I am still very hoarse, most of the time it is just above a whisper and other times it sounds a little stronger, it strains my throat some to use my voice very much. Clay may be glad my voice is gone but I will be glad when it returns.

I will have to do radiation, we have it scheduled for later in September. They will do injections two days and then the iodine radiation the third day, this will be done at Little Rock. I will have to be on an iodine free diet for two weeks before this starts, looking over the can and can't eat chart it looks like slim pickings. You can't believe all the things that have iodine in them, all dairy products like cheese, milk, sour cream and ice cream all have preservatives in them that I can't have. I'm glad it is only for two weeks and a couple days after, I wouldn't want to do this very long. But hey you do what you have to do, I found that out a long time ago.

Thanks for the cards that have been sent my way.

Surgery's Over

2010-08-02T09:52:00.012-05:00

Clay and I headed to Little Rock on Thursday, July 29 to be there for surgery on the 30th. They had told us that they would call us the day before between 3-6 to let us know for sure where to go and what time to be there, we did get the call on the way down there. I already knew that i was his first surgery of the day and that would be around 7:30 but you have to be there so early. So they told us to be there at 5:00 that morning and surgery was scheduled for 7:15. We went to dinner, there were certain things they requested I stay away from, such as anything marinated in heavy sauces, that really takes alot of things off the menu, I had a grilled pork chop that was wonderful. From then on that night just clear liquids, well water is about as clear as you can get and that's all I drink. I don't think either one of us got much sleep that night, knowing we had to get up at 4 and probably a little anticipation as well. We made it to the hospital, checked in, there was very little paperwork to do since we had done all that ahead and I am definitely in the system by now. They sent me on into the holding room to get things started, alot of questions then they started the IV, it only took 2 times so I was thrilled. Clay got to come in and stay with me till they were ready. The O.R. nurse came in as well as the anesthesiologist and other people as well. Once he gave me the shot to kinda take the edge off he started rolling me down the hall, after that I remember nothing, I don't even remember going into the surgery room. That's probably always a good thing though, the next thing I know a nurse is talking to me in the recovery room. She went to call Clay to come in, I think I was still kinda out of it, they sent him to get my scripts filled, in the meantime I was up and got dressed and was ready to go. I did throw up a couple of times while in the bathroom, I think it was just the getting up moving around so soon, I never was really sick at my stomach, which is always a good thing. Clay went to get the car and they wheeled me out to meet him and we were off to the apartment. I just slept/rested all afternoon, went into the living room setting/laying on the couch in the evening. Clay fixed our Chicken Alfredo for dinner, the noodles seemed to slide down, I did minus the chicken. I did have some Jello and ice cream later as well. I seem to have slept a little better Friday night. When we got up Saturday morning I said we might as well get around and head home, we didn't rush but we got home around 1:30 Saturday afternoon. I am pretty sore, my neck area and around the incision area it feels bruised type sore. I am doing better, knowing the soreness will go away. I was able to talk pretty good on Friday at the hospital and at the apartment but Saturday morning my voice was pretty much a whisper and that's the way it still is. I know this too will come back, it just may take awhile. I go back to LR on Thursday for my pre-op checkup.

Surgery Date

2010-07-11T17:01:00.008-05:00

Clay and I went to Little Rock last Wednesday to meet with the surgeon, (Dr. Stack) and the endocrinologist, (Dr. Bodenner) about surgery. I had another ultrasound as I thought I would, the cancer had not changed or grown since last ultrasound, this was our good news. We set the surgery date for July 30th, I think he was so far behind after being out for two weeks. It will roll around before you know it though. I was also scheduled to do my pre-op work up as well, this included an EKG and bloodwork, since I had several of the other test needed done recently I didn't have to do a whole lot of tests. There was a 10 page questioner that I had to fill out though. The surgery is still planned for a one day surgery, they ask that you stay in LR one night, then we can head home on Saturday when I feel like it. I am just ready to get this part over with, recover and move on to the next phase of treatment, I can't start my other chemo until after my surgery. With the delay of surgery it backs up me starting my treatment.

Summer Time

2010-07-02T08:26:00.008-05:00

Where has the time gone? I can't believe it is already July, it has felt like July or August for awhile though, it has been so hot. I really don't have any complaints though, I am cold all the time, it is really too cold in the house for me so I like to set outside under the porch if I am not in the pool. Things have been going pretty good with me, still trying to build strength but I know it will still take some time. We will be going to Little Rock next week for a day to meet with the surgeon that will be doing my thyroid surgery as well as the endocrinologist . I will probably have to have another ultrasound but hopefully not a biopsy since they already know it's cancer. They will just compare the ultrasound with the one I had several months ago to see if there are any changes. They have tentively set up a date for surgery toward the end of the month but until we meet with them we won't know for sure, I will just be glad to get the surgery over with. Since the surgeon had been on vacation for two weeks I think he is backed up a little right now, this has also delayed starting my chemo treatment here, with my TSH level being up and some of my other counts Dr. Barlogie didn't want me to start treatment until after I had my thyroid surgery, a week or two after surgery I will probably start that. I just go from day to day because you never know when they might change plans or dates on you.

We will have the family over for the 4th to swim and cookout.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July.

Doctors Visit

2010-06-17T07:50:00.004-05:00

Clay and I went to Little Rock on Monday, June 14th for my appointment with Dr. Barlogie. We met with him to get reports and results, I am thankful to say all scans, tests and etc. came back good. There were only a couple of things that needed discussing, my creatinine is still staying up too high, doc says drink more. I drink sooooo much as it is I don't know how I can drink much more but I will try. And then there is the issue with my thyroid, all along it has just been: we can just wait on it, there's no big hurry lets get the myeloma under control and then worry about that. Even though the thyroid itself hasn't really changed or the cancer my TSH count has started to elevate and he says it is time to get it out. He wanted me to start taking Synthroid in a lower dosage form for now, I'm sure the dosage will change later. It is probably a little earlier than we thought, we were thinking late summer or fall, but now it looks like it is going to bumped up to mid July. They are working on an appointment time now, the surgeon is on vacation till the end of the month or I would probably have it even sooner. So the plan was to start with my treatment at Highland next week and then stop a week before surgery. Things change everyday, I had a call late yesterday afternoon from LR, now they say don't start treatment next week, we will wait a week or two after my surgery, then I will start. This is all due to my kidneys, with the creatinine still being up and the filtration is still low, one of the chemo drugs doesn't need to be taken when I am having some kidney issues. Maybe after getting my thyroid out things will start to level out a little more. It gets a little stressful sometimes, keeping up with everything that's going on and everything you are suppose to be doing when they are changing things on you all the time, it keeps me on my toes. Your life is just kinda in their hands, I know that they know what they are doing, they just try to do too much at one time, they have so many patients and we all need something. So we are moving forward again to another phase of this process, I just wait till they call me with a surgery date. When I met with the surgeon a few months ago, he said it would be a one day surgery, so I will have it done and stay in LR a day or two before heading back home.

After thought: Clay and I did meet with Dr. Hey on Tuesday before Jeremy left for LR. he was going to research my issues but in the mean time he wanted me to have an ultrasound. This was scheduled for tomorrow but while I was in LR Dr. B wanted to have it done there and we would fax a copy to Dr. Hey, so that is what we did. Last year before I was diagnosed with MM they saw a mass on one of my kidneys so they just wanted to check that out. The report didn't show anything now. So that's a plus. My left kidney is smaller than my right, I don't think it's a problem though and my right kidney is normal.

The Trip To Little Rock

2010-06-10T11:43:00.000-05:00

Jeremy and I headed out to LR about 4:45 on Tuesday afternoon, we drove straight there without making a stop. We checked in the apartment and then back in to eat dinner, there were only certain things I could eat or there were certain things that I could not have for my testing on Wednesday. I was pretty well beat so I took a shower and pretty much called it a night knowing it was going to be a long day Wednesday. We left the apartment the next morning at 6:15, stopped at Denny's for breakfast, I could have scrambled eggs and bacon and that was it. Jeremy enjoyed a little larger breakfast than that, he needed to keep up his strength for all the waiting he was going to have to do throughout the day. We arrived at the hospital a little before 7:30 to pick up my packet to start the day. First stop lab work then on to the dreaded bone marrow biopsy, it hurt more this time than it did last time, I don't really know why. We had some time to kill so we just waited in the infusion center waiting room till closer to time to go to the MRI area. I decided since I was in the area I would ask for a copy of my lab work that I had done earlier, since my WBC was so low last week I was a little concerned that it might be still down. After getting a copy of my labs a nurse was going over them with me and noticed my Uric Acid was really high, she wanted me to see someone before I left LR. I was unable to meet with anyone so I just waited and they called me on Thursday. Uric Acid is a kidney issue, my nurse that I deal with all the time from LR said I needed to be on medication that it couldn't wait until Monday till I was back down there. So meds were called in and I started taking them on Thursday. The one good thing was that my WBC was back up a little. So back to the rest of the day, we waited an hour past my appointment time for my MRI and then it took forever, they had ordered much more this time than last to be scanned. We were real close on missing my pet scan, this was the last test and I just wanted to get them all over with and hit the road to home. We finally finished up and walked out of there about 10 till 7. Jeremy and I drove through Chic fil la , ate on the road, it was an uncomfortable ride home, we did stop at Alma to walk around just a little then back on the road. We pulled in our drive at 10 pm it was just a real long day. Clay and I will go back to Little Rock on Monday to see the doctor and get the results of all my tests. My back has been so painful this time, I don't know why sometimes are different than others but I have hurt really bad, hopefully in a day or two it will work it's way out.

Not Much Change

2010-06-04T15:57:00.000-05:00

We had a really good Memorial Day weekend, we didn't do just a whole lot but it was nice. I guess it actually started out on Thursday, Jonah needed a sitter that day, my sister in law Darcy came out to help me watch him. As I have said before he loves being outside so that means you have to watch him every second. We definitely got a work out that day but he was so much fun, he took to Darcy in a hurry. She had also brought breakfast so Jonah and Nikko got interested real quick. (our dog) Clay and I kept Jonah on Friday night so Jeremy and Adrienne could go out to eat for their anniversary. Saturday morning Clay and I went to the Farmers Market on the square, I bought some fresh cut flowers, they are always so pretty and cheap. We met Clays mom and his Uncle Randy and Brenda there, it was really good to see them, I hadn't seen them since I have been sick but they have kept up with me and have been in constant contact with me or someone else in the family. Thank you guys!!!!! We came home for awhile then back in to meet others for lunch, Uncle Tim and Peggy, Uncle Jerry and Myra and their son Carey. Jeremy and Jonah went with Clay and I. We all had a good visit, we hadn't seen any of these relatives in some time, Jonah got to meet people for the first time too. Clay and Andrew went fishing tonight so J & A & J and Kara & Shelby and I went to eat pizza. On Sunday J & A & J came over with their friends Nick & Jamie from church to swim. Andrew & Kara were here as well, we snacked in the afternoon and the four of them left and we kept Jonah, A&K stayed and we cooked out burgers and dogs. I really got my Jonah fix this weekend, but I can really never get enough.

Now that I have bored you with my weekend on to my health, I do have an appoitment to see Dr. Hey my kidney doctor on Tuesday, then we will leave for LR. Last week when I had my blood drawn it showed my WBC had dropped way down, it hasn't done this since I have been home, it has actually been climbing. It has been 4.0 or 3.6 or right around there but it nose dived to 2.2 last week. I talked to LR and they wanted me to go back in today to have it drawn again, thinking it was just a wierd thing, so I did but I guess it was real because today it is 2.3. This usually means that you might have been sick or ran a fever but I haven't had either. So the nurse at LR said today since I was coming down next week we would just run it again and try to get to the bottom of it. So that's where we are right now with the goings on with me. I am enjoying this weather, I have been in the pool a few times and I am really enjoying my backyard. Have a great weekend and I will update as I know something. There was more thing I did today that I almost left out, I also went in for a massage at Highland, it was wonderful, with the low back and shoulder pain that I have it seems to really help. It will last me about two weeks and then I will be ready for another one. Also I know some of you have tried to reply to my blog with no luck, here is my email address if you want to email me. Thank you for reading. barbarawdy@yahoo.com

Another Update

2010-05-25T14:55:00.000-05:00

Just to keep up with what has been going on lately I'll try to post a few things. I feel stronger from even my last post, but I still get tired so easily. Still going in for bloodwork, last week I cut back to once a week instead of two. Little Rock had told me that as my platelet count came up once a week would be fine, it has been continually climbing until yesterday, then it dropped some. So I don't know if I will have to start back twice a week or just wait till next week and see if they will jump back up. I also have other issues as well, my kidneys aren't filtering they way they should, this has just happened in the last month. My filtration rate has dropped 50% from April to May. They want me to go back to my nephrologist, Dr. Hey to see what he thinks. LR seems to think this has nothing to do with M.M. but with everything you read either chemo or some of the meds I have taken cause something like this. But it may just be kidney issues and it will have to be dealt with, my dr's office is trying to get an appointment for me.

The weather ha been great the last few days, the pool water is warming up, I can't wait for Jonah to be able to get in the pool. I think he is going to enjoy the water this year, he sure loves his bath time. Kara came over yesterday morning to watch Jonah at our house while Adrienne worked a few hours and I would get to see him as well. He played inside and out, Kara pulled him in the wagon and then he helped push the wagon, I tried to get them to push me (Mimi). He had such a good time, but you have to watch him every minute, no getting in the pool before its time and for sure no falling in.

I will go back to Little Rock the second week of June for a day of testing, then we will see Dr. Barlogie the next week to make sure all is well and get my orders to start treatment at Highland Oncology (the last phase) of treatment. Of course this phase will last 3 years and then I will be done besides an occasional visit to Little Rock.

Nothing Much

2010-05-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

Not much going on, I feel like I am gaining strength everyday even though I have a long way to go. I have alot of issues with my shoulders and back hurting when I do alot of walking, I just really get tired. We blame that on not having any muscle in my back, that was probably one of the first thing to go when I started loosing weight. I am trying to rebuild but it will just take time, I just want to rush things, I just want to be able to do anything I want but that is not possible yet. I want to be able to hold or carry Jonah but that isn't happening for a while yet. He is growing so fast, he loves to be outside more than anything, the last couple of times he has been over it has been too cold to go outside and that makes him mad. Yes, too cold, this crazy weather. I am so ready for it to warm back up, I stay cold most of the time anyway, most everyone else is fine but I am always cold, hopefully when it warms up I will get warmer too.

Settling In

2010-04-27T13:23:00.001-05:00

I am about to get use to being home, I have been home 2 weeks now and have enjoyed everyday of it. It is so nice not having to go into the hospital everyday, whether it be for chemo or fluid or just blood work, it is nice not having to do it. As I had mentioned before I do have to go to Highland Oncology twice a week for blood work, they overnight the blood tubes in once a week to UAMS in Little Rock. If they feel like something is off they will call and let me know and we will go from there. As my platelet count comes up I will just have to go in once a week, probably in 2 or 3 more weeks. I feel like I am getting some strength back but it sure is slow, just moving around alot just about takes it all out of me. I try to do a few things around the house then I have to rest. When I get tired or do too much my shoulders, neck and lower back hurt alot. I am just taking it slow and praying that each day will get better and better.

No Place Like Home

2010-04-21T18:51:00.000-05:00

We were scheduled to be released on Monday, April 12th, even though Dr. Barlogie had dismissed me a few days earlier, he wanted me to come back on Monday to double check my counts before I came home. Clay came back home Sunday night and Candes drove down to bring me back home on Monday. We met with the physicians assistant and a couple of different nurses to get my home medications lined out and prescription orders written. All was well except they wanted me to take a shot that would help raise my red blood count, so we headed to the infusion center for that. Of course you would know that they were so busy, I just wanted to get out of there and head back home. We waited about 2 hours before getting my shot, then we headed home. We got home about 6:30 that night. It was so exciting pulling in the driveway, there were banners in the yard saying Welcome Home Barbara and It's a Happy Day (made me cry) Thanks Sharon and Taylor. When I got in the house there were also signs throughout the house, made me feel really loved. Thank you Kara and Adrienne. The kids were here and Sharon had brought dinner over. Thank you Sharon. I was glad to see everyone but I was so excited to see my baby, Jonah my grandson.

Since I have been home I have been doing ok, some days better than others, still pretty weak and I get tired pretty easy. I go to Highland Oncology 2 times a week for blood work. I will go back to Little Rock for testing and to get my maintenance orders the 2nd week in June, so besides that I am on break and it feels good. Maintenance will probably start the 3rd week in June at Highland, I will go once a week for 3 years for chemo and I will be taking another chemo in pill form at home. So this is the update on what has been and will be going on.

Coming Home

2010-04-11T17:52:00.000-05:00

At this point it doesn't even matter what happened on Saturday or Sunday just knowing I am getting to go home. We packed up the apartment and Clay loaded the car to head back to Fayetteville. He needs to be at work in the morning so Candes is driving down tonight to take me to the doctor and drive me home tomorrow. I will see the physicians assistant for discharge and visit with a nurse to discuss meds while I am at home.

Thank you for the many prayers that have gone up on my behalf, I ask that you continue to pray for me as I do maintence at Highland for the next 3 years.

Rewind a couple of days

2010-04-06T10:44:00.000-05:00

I just haven't felt like posting so I will try to go back and play catch up to post most of what has been going on. This may post on 4/6 when I tried to start it but it didn't happen, so I will try it again tonight. When Clay and I went in I was nervous about the access of my ports, but I was blessed to have Nurse Karen and she was wonderful. Not to say there wasn't some pain involved but she made it much easier. She did the cultures on both ports to check for infection (it came back negative) after having bloodwork done I had to have platelets and a unit of blood. It was a long day, Candes came to the hospital and Clay went back home. Monday and Tuesday were the same routine going into the hospital, I started getting really bad pains in my stomach and was so weak, it was the lowest I have felt. Of course I had bottomed out with my WBC so that didn't help matters. They put me on an 5 hour infuser antibiotic, we will do this twice a day just incase there was any infection or bacteria in my stomach. It was good to have Candes here, she had the worse shift this time though. Darcy met us at the hospital on Wednesday so Candes could go back home. On Wednesday we had bloodwork, bandage change, antibiotic hookup and we were done. I was starting to feel a little better by then, I still wasn't much company though. I am feeling better but really pretty weak, my counts are coming up so that makes you feel better. I had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Barlogie, he looked over all my counts, even though my WBC had just started to come up he felt like things were on track. He wants his physicians assistant to see me on Monday just to double check my numbers and discharge me. Darcy trained as a nurse, she got to learn the process of hooking infusers up to my port, on Wednesday night she was up and down alot hooking and unhooking something or another. I had the antibiotic and potassium/magnesium. She did a good job, she was a good nurse. Clay got here Friday morning and Darcy went back home, today was a short day at the infusion center, all was good with my counts, my WBC had jumped up to 3.3 so I was tickled to death , we didn't have to do anything. I didn't have to get a growth factor shot today since my counts were up. (I am done with those) Clay and I stopped to get a sandwich since I could actually be out in public. Clay and I took a walk around the apartment complex, I was pretty tired when we got back, I still need to gain alot of strength.

Rough Day

2010-04-03T21:18:00.000-05:00

I thought I wanted pancakes this morning so Clay ran down to the corner McDonalds to bring us breakfast, well 2 or 3 bites I knew that wasn't what I wanted. The syrup was so sweet I just couldn't handle it, so that was the end of my breakfast. Felt a little yucky this morning, we just had a relaxing morning, actually Clay did things around the apartment like laundry and things like that while I relaxed. The wait wasn't too bad in the waiting room today but by the time it was all said and done we were there again till almost 6. My B.P. stayed up again today, so bloodwork, a shot, IV antibiotic was the start, again we wait for the labs to get back, I was low on magnesium and I needed a unit of blood. This meant alot of wait time since they have to order all that and sometimes you think it is being delivered by a courier pigeon. On Thursday I had mentioned that they had accessed my other port to use for a week, I felt like when the nurse dressed it that the dressing was pulled too tight, I don't really know but last night it starting oozing some blood. They checked it today, wanted to take the old dressing off, they were a little concerned with the oozing, they ran a culture on the one port to see if there was any infection. After getting my magnesium and blood they took the needle out of my port to let it rest tonight, They will have to access both ports tomorrow because they wanted to do another culture before I had my antibiotic. The site where my port is still very sore and tender, it has just been about 9 days since I had it put in. I dread tomorrow already for when they have to poke the needle back in.

Please pray that my port will heal and there will be no infection, I am not sure what the process would be if something went wrong with it. Thank you again for your love, prayers and support.

Another Long Day

2010-04-02T20:26:00.000-05:00

Clay got here by 10 this morning so Jeremy was able to head back home pretty early, I enjoyed him being here to help this week. Seems like things are always so busy we don't get alot of time to visit. We enjoyed our time together. Clay and I just hung out at the apartment for awhile before time to leave for the infusion center. They were really busy, we waited in the waiting room along time before getting called back. It was pretty much the usual, bloodwork, IV antibiotic, growth factor shot. At least my blood pressure stayed up today, I didn't have to get fluids. We had to wait for the labs to come back to see if I needed anything, if you don't wait it will never fail and they will call you back in after you get home, that's no fun. My white count is coming down but has a ways to go yet before I bottom out, but I needed platelets today, they were at 15 and they need to be at least 20. So this is what took alot of time, they had to match and order my platelets, it was another tiring day, again we were there about 5 hours. When Clay and I left there we stopped to get some dinner, he hadn't really had anything to eat since about 7 this morning, he was a little on the hungry side.

Blood Pressure

2010-04-01T19:12:00.000-05:00

Another restless night last night, I don't know what the problem is I usually don't have any problem sleeping while I am down here. Part of it was my stomach, just the yuck feeling not knowing if I would have to get up and run to the bathroom, just a panic. The stomach stuff is the worse, I will be so glad when it leaves me, none too soon. This morning was pretty bad as well and to add to it I got so weak I could hardly walk straight, I knew something was off. It was my blood pressure, what little there was. It was a total of 51/37 so of course that means fluids, fluids, fluids. They gave me a liter of fluid and that brought it up a little but not near enough, so another liter of fluid I received. It was a little higher after two liters of fluid they let me go, my counts were ok, I am still doing IV antibiotics since I had bronchitis before I came down, got my growth factor shot and blood work. It was a very long day, Jeremy and I were there from 1-6 today, it was a very tiring day. The fluid helped my energy level, still a little weak but not like this morning.

Long Time No Post

2010-03-31T18:05:00.000-05:00

There's one thing about doing a blog, there is never a guarantee that you won't loose what you have typed, that's how I will start this blog. While Kara was here with me a few days ago I did a pretty long post about my time down here this time, I do it all the time so I know to save it a few times along the way but somehow it disappeared, there were two sentences only on the post. Needless to say I was very upset, just to have to go back and try to remember at least part of the information you had written about. Oh well, that's the way it goes, I will try again to cover most of what has been going on, so bare with me.

Tuesday, March 23rd Candes and I headed toward Little Rock at 7am, I had tests scheduled for most of the day. First stop was picking up my schedule/packet then on to have blood work, I met with a couple of nurses to talk about progress and medications. Then it was on to the dreaded bone marrow biopsy, after that we sat outside on a bench for quite awhile waiting for time to go to the MRI, it was such a beautiful day. Little Rock is just a little ahead of NWA with the blooming of flowers and trees, so it was just nice to set and look at the flowers, all around UAMS they have the most gorgeous tulips and various flowers, so since I missed the early Spring blooms in Fayetteville I was able to enjoy the beauty here. On Wednesday all I had was another nurse appointment so after that we or I should say Candes (I wasn't able to do much of anything) finished unloading the car, unpacking, we made a Walmart run to get the food and supplies that we needed for a little while. Thursday I had an appointment with Dr. Barlogie to see what the plan was as far as moving forward and hear the results of my tests. All the testing came back free and clear, still in remission so we were ready to move forward with the last round of chemo. I was scheduled to have my port put in that afternoon, we went with another type of port this time, it is a port that is surgically placed under the skin. This port won't have to be taken out when I go back home, it actually can be left in 15-20 years if needed. It was kinda a painful undertaking but it's done, it was really sore for two or three days but it has gotten better now. Clay came down on Friday and Candes went back home, On Friday I was hooked up to the 4 day 24 hour a day chemo bag to carry with me everywhere I went. Things went pretty well with the bag, Clay and I had a good weekend, even though I carried the 12 pound bag around I was feeling ok. We went out to eat a couple of times while I was feeling ok. Kara came down on Sunday to stay a few days and Clay headed back home to get ready for his work week. After our trip to the infusion center we headed back to the apartment before going to get a bite to eat. Monday was pretty much the same, that night we stayed in and had chicken alfredo and some wonderful bread, this was sent by a dear friend Sharon. Thank you Sharon, it was great!!! On Tuesday Jeremy came down to take a shift and Kara went back home, I enjoyed the time we had together. Jeremy and I headed to the infusion center pretty soon after he got here, I at least got the bag off today, it always feels good to walk away without that weight on your shoulders. I was already low on potassium so I had to get an infuser baby bottle to wear home. We came back to the apartment and both took a nap, I guess neither one of us knew we were so tired. Later we ran into US Pizza for a bite to eat, I started feeling a little yucky while we were there so it really didn't taste good to me and I usually really like it. Jeremy enjoyed it, he had never been to US Pizza before. About 9pm he unhooked my bottle, so I was free for the night, I didn't sleep real good, I was hot then cold, I also had some crazy dreams in which I don't usually do. I have been taking the blood thinner shots for several days in the stomach. (always fun) Today I started with the growth factor shots, this will effect my white blood count, these shots are given in my arm and they sting like a bee and keep on stinging for quite a while. All my counts were ok so I didn't have to have anything today, they actually took the needle out of my lower port so I came out of there today with only a bandaid covering my port. I didn't mention that it was a double port so they will access my upper port tomorrow and use it for a week, they will just switch back and forth.

Please continue to pray that this last round would go as smooth as possible and I will not have alot of issues as I move forward to the end. Thank you for your love and support.

Birthday and about that time again

2010-03-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

I am still trying to get my body and mind ready to head back to Little Rock for my last big chemo treatment. I felt like I was about over the crud that I have had, but I'm really not sure. I think once you get it you can't get rid of it, I have been a little stuffy, ears still feel like they might have fluid or infection and a little cough, not anything like the cough I had when this stuff first started.
Hopefully it will all pass soon.

Well I had a wonderful birthday, my mom, sister and I had lunch at Olive Garden. It was really good, we just had the soup, salad and bread sticks, that way you can eat as little or as much as you want. Since I am not eating a whole lot these days that works great. They had picked me up some new clothes since pretty much all the clothes I have no longer fit. We keep switching sizes as I keep losing weight. It is not a good way to loose weight believe me. I got a sweater jacket from my sister in law, clothes from my girls so I am fixed up for a while now. We had dinner here at home and all the kids were here except Andrew, he had to work that night. We enjoyed Jonah, he entertained all of us, we had petitfores for desert and Jonah sure enjoyed a petitfore, he enjoyed it so much that he had to take a bath before he went home. It was just a great day all the way around.

I need to think about getting packed and gathering up the things I need to take back to Little Rock, Candes and I will leave early Tuesday, March 23rd. I have a busy day on Tuesday and then not much going on Wednesday, I will see the doctor on Thursday. As far as packing, I pretty much just stay packed, the things I take down are sometimes extras so I just keep things boxed up and we move it back and forth. I won't know what to do when I get back and can unpack for good.

Feeling Better

2010-03-09T08:50:00.000-06:00

I am finally beginning to feel better. Sorry I haven't posted in a while, it seems like when I am back home I am either sick, not feeling well or just loose interest in my blog. In my last post I mentioned the crud that I had, seems like each day something else started. It started with bronchitis then a sinus infection, bad cough and runny nose. I don't know how many boxes of Puffs I went through. Then the second week I developed an ear infection, they tried 3 different antibiotic then I lost my voice for probably 4 days. I think I am on the mends with it now, it is truly nasty stuff, I know alot of people have had it and once you get it you keep it for a while, it doesn't want to go away.

As far as getting over my last treatment, I think I am also getting there. I am still tired and weak but it is so much better than it was. Seems like there is always something that hits you after you get home, you feel pretty good the first 3 or 4 days you are home and then bam there are issues. I have this week and next week to be home and get stronger before I go back. I will go back on the 23rd, I will spend my birthday at home on the 16th, I will miss Easter at home, I will be in Little Rock (that stinks) I will miss Jonah's second Easter. This will be my last treatment in Little Rock, I will go back and forth for tests and check ups but the rest of my treatments I will do here at Highland Oncology. I will take a treatment once a month for three years, I so look forward to the end, we are so much closer now.

Fighting Bronchitis

2010-02-21T15:49:00.000-06:00

I have been fighting bronchitis all week, I wasn't sure what it was when it started, but have found out now. I started with a real runny nose on Monday, thick but not yellow or green, so didn't think there was any infection. Tuesday morning out of the blue I started with a very deep cough, it seemed to just get worse. I had talked to the nurse on Monday, she started me on over the counter meds. On Wednesday I wasn't any better so they wanted me to have a chest ex-ray on Thursday, I am scheduled for lab and to get my line out anyway. They want to make sure I haven't developed pneumonia, so many people end up with pneumonia when they go home, this is something I didn't want to get. The ex-ray showed my lungs to be clear and had no fluid, I thought that was good news. They started me on an antibiotic and a cough syrup for bedtime, I hope I can knock this pretty quick, I know it seems to hang on sometimes. My stomach and ribs are sore from coughing so much. I go in for blood work tomorrow. Oh I did get my line out on Thursday, the nurse did a good job taking it out, not much pain involved, just pulling the tape was the only bad thing.

Good to be Home

2010-02-17T07:48:00.000-06:00

It is truly good to be back home, even though it won't be for long, knowing I just have one more round to go makes it all worth while. I can do this!!!!! I have just been home a few days but it has been nice. I am trying to get something, like a cold or some kinda crud in which I do not want. I have to be careful in what I take, I can't just take anything. We are doing over the counter right now, my nurse said if it changed or didn't improve we would probably need to go to an antibiotic. I just don't want it to develop into something bad. When I went to have blood work on Monday my blood pressure was good so I didn't have to have fluids, I hope it stays up so I can get my line taken out maybe on Thursday. Kara took me in for labs on Monday, she had just got back Sunday night, she had been on a cruise, enjoying some warm weather.

Fluids and more Fluids

2010-02-11T09:00:00.000-06:00

Wednesday Darcy and I headed into to have labwork done and to see what I needed. My blood pressure was a little better but not what they wanted to see, they say when it drops like 50 points when you stand up, it's just too much of a drop. I took in 1 liter of fluid while I was there and was sent home with a 2 liter bag of fluid to take over 24 hours. They are trying to get my BP under control before I go home. I didn't feel as light headed Wednesday morning as I have felt the last few days.

We will go in today (Thursday) at 1 and see how things are today. My BP was better today, I did take a liter of fluid, but I didn't have to take fluid home. I had to have a unit of blood today as well as a magnesium infuser, they hooked me up to the infuser and it was finished by the time we left. By the time they crosstyped my my blood and they got it up to the 7th floor it was 6:45 by the time we got out of there.

The bad news is that we have to be back at 8 in the morning to get another unit. I have an early appt so we can get out of there for my 11:30 drs appt. I also had to have potassium today, a 5 hour infuser. Clay got there before 11 and Darcy headed back home, we headed over to the drs office to see what the plan was. We met with Dr. Nair and he dismissed us to go home, we decided to leave my line in for at least a week or two incase I needed fluids while I was home. We went to the apartment so Clay could load the car, Candes and Darcy had done most of the packing up so it was just pretty much loading up. We headed for home, it was a good feeling, we got home about 6:30 (Friday night), I will be home give or take 4 weeks, then we will have 1 more round to go. That also is a good feeling. After chemo my veins are just worthless, they have to stick me several times to find anything. The skin on my neck is so sensitive it is just to the raw stage, I developed blood blisters this time due to the pulling off of tape. If I don't have to have anything then someone at Highland will take my line out and my skin can start to heal. Clay will have to flush my lines each day and put heparin in my line. I will go in twice a week for labs while I am home.

More bad weather

2010-02-09T15:35:00.000-06:00

Sunday night and all day Monday it snowed here and I mean snowed. I don't think I have ever seen flakes that big, we watched from the room at the hospital. It was such a wet snow that you were walking in snow as well as water. Candes and I had never seen anything like this snow, trying to walk into the apartment (on the sidewalk) the water was above your shoes. All I brought was tennis shoes who would have known I needed waders , it has been a mess. It froze last night so you have to walk on frozen crunchy snow.

On to the medical part Monday my WBC had came up to 2.67 so we are on the way up, of course my BP is still dropping when I stand up so that means fluid, 2 liters. I had to get an infuser of magnesium/potassium. I am still feeling pretty weak and light headed, they say it is probably due to my BP. Today my WBC had jumped up to 6.20 so things are looking up as far as my counts. Of course my BP was at an all time low 68/29 yes you read that right, it has never dropped quite that low. I got a liter of fluid and was sent home with another liter for over night. I had a drs appointment today, Dr. Nair thought with my counts I should be ready to go home by Friday, I will see him again to make sure nothing has changed. He felt like I needed a few more days of fluid to watch my BP and to keep an eye on my headaches. He prescribed a BP medicine to raise it a little, we will see if it will work, also wanting me to start taking something to increase my appetite. Candes stayed an extra day this time partly because of the weather and partly because we were seeing the dr and thought he might send us home and there was no need for Darcy to come down. But we will go with the plan Darcy will come down and Candes will head back home, she has had her hands full this week since I have felt so bad. I will always be her baby sister.

Things Change

2010-02-07T20:48:00.000-06:00

Well I didn't have to get blood afterall, my counts are coming up a little more so I didn't need blood or platelets. All I had to do was bloodwork and fluids. I am just so weak, I am ready to get my strength back. It will get better as my counts continue to come up. I have a drs appointment tomorrow and then on to have labwork, it will be a full day. My CRP had doubled again today, this again could mean signs of infection but the APN is not real concerned at this point, they still think it might be due to my counts. I pray that she is right and there is no need to worry. I have had an awful headache today that I just can't get rid of, what's so bad is with the chemo I can't really take anything.

Low Counts

2010-02-07T10:46:00.000-06:00

My counts are really dropping now (as they are suppose to) and it has kinda zapped me, you just wait for them to come back up to feel a little better. On Friday my WBC was 0.17, it had been heading down but this was a big drop. I had to get fluids and I was low on potassium, so they hooked me up to an infuser which Clay had to switch out at 10 pm and then again at 3:30 am. On Saturday my WBC had jumped all the way up to 0.19 (wow) so hopefully we are on the way up, just slow. My CRP was doubled from the day before, this could be a sign of infection or it could be just due to my WBC. They have had alot of sick patients down here and having to put several in the hospital, I just want to stay infection free. I had to get platelets again today, along with fluid and home with a phosphate/potassium infuser. Clay has been a trooper this week, he has had to do a little bit of everything, I haven't been much company because I just haven't felt good. He said he might even learn to cook.

Today we already know that I am going to have to get blood and I am sure fluid, beside that we will just have to wait and see. Clay will take me today and later Candes will probably meet us there and Clay will head back home.

Counts Dropping

2010-02-04T19:24:00.000-06:00

It is a rainy day here in Little Rock as well as most of the state I think, a nice day to stay in if you could. Clay drove in the rain the whole way here as well as Darcy driving back to Fayetteville, they both made it safe. They transferred me to 7-C today so I could be assigned an APN, I had been on the waiting list, luckily I haven't needed one. My WBC had really dropped today, almost to zero so it is on with the mask to protect me from any germs. My blood pressure did it's thing again today so I had to get fluids, not just 1 liter but two, I also had to get a 2 hour magnesium infuser while we were there and I also needed platelets today. They loaded me up today, they also sent me home with an antibiotic infuser just in case my temp went above 101. Hopefully my counts will come up as fast as they went down.

Hump Day

2010-02-03T14:52:00.000-06:00

I guess just a normal day around here for us, we have made our trip into UAMS for lab work and we are back at the apartment. The last three days I have had to get a liter of fluid due to my blood pressure dropping so low when I would stand up, today it was better and I didn't have to get fluids. Clay made it home on Sunday as Candes made her way down to stay a couple of days. We have changed our schedule around somewhat since we had to let one caretaker go, Andrew was my beginning of the week person from the start but he was recently hired by the Rogers Police Department, so duty calls. He is real excited as we are for him, it will take me a while to realize I have a policeman for a son, and it is always a little sary. So like I said Candes was here then my sis in law Darcy came down Tuesday afternoon, she will stay till Clay gets here on Thursday doing the weekend shift. And then we start all over again.

At this point we are just watching my counts waiting for them to come down and then go back up to get me on the mend. I take a growth factor shot to help my white count. The lab work wasn't back when we left so if I am low on anything they will call and we will have to go back in. On the most part I am doing ok, just a little weak, tired and having a few stomach issues. Hopefully my counts will go down and be back up in no time.

Please pray for strength and courage to keep me moving forward with this journey.

Weather Concern

2010-01-29T12:00:00.000-06:00

This is the main concern for all of Arkansas right now, right now here in Little Rock it is freezing rain/sleet. Back home in Fayetteville I hear it has been snowing for a while. It is suppose to get worse here as the day goes on, depending on the temperatures. We are a little concerned because I have a 3:30 appointment, not knowing what it is going to do because I usually don't get out of there till 5:30 or 6.

Seems to be going pretty well so far, when we get the chemo bag changed out today it will be my last night to have to sleep with her. I should get unhooked tomorrow late afternoon, when you get a new bag it weighs right at 12 pounds so it gets a little old to carry around.

Clay and Andrew made the switch late yesterday afternoon to get everyone to where they needed to be today instead of waiting to do the switch this morning, probably a good decision.

Clay ran down to the store to pick up a few things for us for dinner and breakfast tomorrow, thought it would be better to go now than later, hope they are not out of everything when he gets there.

Everyone stay safe out there today and tomorrow or until this nasty stuff moves out.

Bag Lady

2010-01-27T12:30:00.000-06:00

That's what you feel like for 4 days while you are taking chemo. By that I am talking about the 4 day-24 hour a day bag of chemo like I did when I first started my journey here in Little Rock. My appointment was at 1:00 today, they were really busy we left there at 6, it was a very tiring day. It's the bag you carry with you everywhere you go, it is hooked to your line so you have to remember to take it with you each and every step you take, we call her Martha, she is a sound sleeper yes she sleeps with me as well. I will have this until Saturday before they unhook it, we go in each day to get the chemo bag changed and do blood work but I still carry the bag. I am back on several meds now and as I have said in the past I do not do well taking all those meds. I am taking Dexamethasone in the morning and Thalidomide in the evening, this is the nasty stuff. Kara will be leaving today when Andrew gets here around noon, I have enjoyed her time here with me, she has been alot of help as well. My appointment is at 3:30 today, hopefully we will not have to wait as long today.

We are a little concerned about the weather that is suppose to hit the next few days, it will mess up our changing of the guards. We are just going to keep an eye on it and hope we will know what to do.

Back in Little Rock

2010-01-24T20:03:00.000-06:00

I was in Little Rock last week, Candes brought me down last Wednesday for testing. I was scheduled for testing Thursday and Friday, it was pretty much routine testing. Each time I come back it is always the same type of testing like a MMR, Pet scan, Bone Marrow Biopsy, meeting with about 3 different nurses. I didn't have anything scheduled for Saturday or Sunday so we headed home Friday afternoon.

Kara and I headed back to Little Rock Sunday afternoon, I have a doctor's appointment at 10 Monday morning. We will find out what the plan is for my next treatment. My thought is that I will have my port put in tomorrow and start chemo on Tuesday, but I don't make the treatment plans they do. So until they give us the word we will just wait.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

New Year

2010-01-03T10:42:00.000-06:00

Dropping off the face of the earth I'm sure is what most of you think has happened to me. Well I am still around, I just haven't really been in the mood to post in a while, I apologize to the ones that keep up with my blog. I will try to get started back with my treatment and progress. I have been home for 7 weeks now, the first month probably was pretty rough with alot of stomach issues and appetite problems. My stomach issues are better but I still don't have an appetite, I get a little hungry but I haven't really found anything that tastes right. I eat but then I get full real fast. My energy level is very low, I move around the house and it just wears me out. Seems like anything I do it takes all my strength. And with the weather we have had lately it keeps you in the gloomy mood. I still have another week and a half still at home before I go back to Little Rock, I am not looking forward to it but if I want to get my treatment over with I have got to get started. I just want my strength and appetite back.

I had written the above paragraph a couple of weeks ago, but I never did post so I will just try to finish it up this morning and post it. Things are going a little better, that always happens when it time to go back, I leave tomorrow (Jan. 20th) for testing Thursday and Friday. I will see the dr. Monday, Jan. 25th, I will probably start my chemo that day or the next. We will just have to wait to see what the doc says. I will probably be in Little Rock 3-4 weeks this time, we will be staying at the same apartment complex as we have been.

I have enjoyed my time at home over the holiday season, even though I haven't felt the best I have tried to get everything in that I could. We had a wonderful Christmas this year, we enjoyed having baby Jonah around. Even though he is not a baby anymore, he just turned 1 yesterday (Jan. 18th) we celebrated his birthday actually on our other baby's birthday. Andrew turned 23 on the 16th, I am glad that I got to be home for these special days.

Home Again

2009-12-02T20:53:00.000-06:00

Just a short note, I am back home, Andrew and I came on in Tuesday, November 24 th about 10:30 pm. It was good to see home, got a nights sleep and a day of rest on Wednesday. Andrew made a pot of chicken soup for everyone, we celebrated Kara's birthday (I didn't know if I would be here for it or not). On Thanksgiving we ate at my mom's house, I had about 6 bites total, but it was good to see some family.

I am still very weak and tired as well as not feeling my best. I need to eat and drink but right now that is very hard.

I wanted to thank you for your continued prayers for my strength and healing.

I'm back

2009-11-23T17:54:00.000-06:00

I have had some rough days, some up and down days but I hope things are looking better now. I still have a ways to go but I am doing better, Kara was with me today and yesterday, we talked to the the APN she told me that I was ready to go home (if I was ready) my counts are good good right now, I will just have to learn to eat and drink. I am still having issues with that, nothing tastes good. Andrew came today after Kara and I got back from the hospital and Kara headed back home. I do have a Dr.s appt tomorrow and he will let me know if I can go home or not, it will be his decision, but partly my decision as well. If I get to go home, I hope I can enjoy Thanksgiving Lunch at my moms, dressing sounds really good but I just don't know if I can eat it or or not.

How low can you go?

2009-11-12T20:07:00.000-06:00

Wow, even lower here I go!!!! It was a struggle getting around this morning to go to the hospital. It takes everybit of strength to take a bath, get yourself dressed or even walk across the room. Candes scrambled us a egg for breakfast, that tasted pretty good. When we arrived at the hospital Candes did picked us up a wheelchair, again today I would have never made it on foot. My BP was lower today, I had to get two units of fluid today, along with the other things, nausea meds, blood thinner and growth factor shots and I was low on potassium so I went home with a 5 hour baby bottle. They said I would probably need platelets by tomorrow, we will find that out when we go in. A few more days of this and hopefully my counts will gradually start coming back up. Candes made us some potato soup tonight, it was very tasty, it hit the spot. She always tries to cook different things that might taste good to me. Candes will take me to the hospital and stay with me till Clay gets there, then she will drive back to Fayetteville. I pray for safe travels for Candes and Clay. We will still have several more days of low counts, low energy and rough days ahead. Clay may have his hands full this week end.

Lower Yet

2009-11-11T18:28:00.000-06:00

My counts are still coming down today, it seems like it takes along time to get to the bottom from the top, I think you feel every bit of it along the way. Andrew took me in this morning, we stopped to pick up a wheelchair, we didn't think I could make the walk today. I am just so tired, and wore out, you feel like you need someone to lift your foot in front of the other. My BP was so low today that again I got fluids, nausea medicine, blood thinner shot and today I started on the growth factor shot. This will help distribute and boost my stem cell to where they need to be. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be about as low as I can be, so after that we can only go back up, so that is our plan, that is what we look forward to. It was a very tiring day, having no strength puts a damper on anyone, I myself don't like it. I just have to be patient, knowing that things that go down must come back up. I just want it sooner more than later. Candes relieved Andrew today, so this visit is probably not going to be very fun for her, I am not at the top of my game, but I know she will take good care of me, she always has. That's what big sisters do, right? We came home, I had to rest awhile, then we did go outside to walk just a few minutes, just to get some air. It just about did me in, but we did it. Candes fixed some rice and some cinn. apples, they were good, I actually ate pretty good.

My prayer is to have this go as smooth and easy as it can, deal with what you send my way and be as brave as I can. And when you feel like it is time for me to regain my strength I will accept it with grace. Lord, I trust you and I leave it all in your hands.

Counts are still coming down

2009-11-10T17:54:00.000-06:00

Counts are still coming down, I am not at the bottom yet, even though I feel like it. Yesterday I was very tired but with Andrews help we walked in. It is a very long walk from the Parking Deck into the hospital and up to the 7th floor when your feet just barely scoot in front of you. I know that it is good to walk as much as you can, but there may get to be a time I have to resort to a wheelchair. That may be tomorrow or the next day. I just want to be strong, but when you are dehydrated and your BP is so low then it might be time to take a ride. We will see, today again we went in at 10, pretty much the same routine, they take your vitals, draw your blood and send it to the lab. They knew instantly today that I needed fluids, my BP was so low that it wouldn't even register. They started on me right away, they also are giving me Zofran in my line for nausea, I am dealing with quite a bit of that. That yucky, quizzy stomach all the time. We came home today, I rested awhile, maybe slept awhile and then later Andrew and I went outside to keep me moving a little bit. It was very hard but I hung on to his arm every step of the way, he didn't have to drag me too far. :) I know Andrew has been a little bored down here this time, with me feeling yucky, we haven't got to get out and do things or go to eat. He has had to come up with things and try to figure out something I would/could eat. That is not easy these days, still hardly nothing tastes good, even the fluids is still a struggle. We are trying to find things. We wwiil go again at 10 Wednesday, Andrew will stay with me till around noon, Candes will come in then and Andrew will head back home soon after that. Thank you Andrew for you understanding and your patience with me. I love you.

Day #2

2009-11-08T18:23:00.000-06:00

We had to be at the hospital at 10 this morning, for blood work and vitals. The blood work seems to take awhile some days, we waited for some time. You always want to wait on the blood work, this saves a trip back in if you need anything. Well they thought I would be good to go today but I needed fluids, so I had to get a liter of fluids, this takes right at an hour to run through my line. My WBC is dropping fast so by tomorrow I should be very tired and ran down they said, it will mean getting the mask out and wearing it, once this happens I will pretty much be apartment and hospital bound. We didn't get back to the apartment till almost 2 this afternoon, Clay got around to head back home as Andrew was heading this way. We go in at 10 again tomorrow.

Transplant Day #2

2009-11-07T14:15:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I went in for my stem Cell Transplant, it was not alot different than any other day besides long. Candes took me in, my appointment was at 9, Clay got there in time for the transplant and Candes was still here as well. The transplant doesn't take long at all, probably about 20 minutes tops, an APN stays in the room with you while the cells are going in your line. What takes so long is the waiting afterwards, they keep you 3 hours to watch your vitals just every few minutes, it turns into a long day. Clay and I came back to apartment for awhile, we decided to run to Olive Garden to eat a little dinner. I ate a few bites of salad, then I ate a few bites of Clay's chicken Alfredo, that is all I could possibly eat. I rested pretty well last night.

Today we went in for blood work, you just have to wait until the lab has your results, which some days take longer than other days. We went in at 10 this morning, we watched the first half of the Razorback game at the hospital. When my blood work came back I needed fluid and my uric acid was high so they gave me a little bag of meds to get that down, I also got a shot of Pepcid in my line, I am having alot of trouble with acid reflux, I am already taking medication for this but it is not enough. They say it is due to the chemo. That is all I had to do today, no bottles to bring home, that will probably come later on. I am getting a little tired but not feeling too bad so far. We finished watching the game here at the apartment. GO HOGS!!!!!!!!

Chemo Day #2

2009-11-05T21:10:00.000-06:00

Today Candes and I went in for my chemo, as like the chemo I took before my last transplant, it is the heavy duty dose. They give you anti nausea meds before the chemo, I feel fine tonight, it usually set's in a couple days later. First thing that happens is the tiredness, I hope and pray that's all I have to deal with this time. Tomorrow my appointment is at 9 so my stem cell transplant will probably be around 10. After the transplant they will keep me there around 3 hours watching my vital signs. Clay will meet us at the hospital and Candes will head back home. We will just see what the upcoming days bring.

Round Two

2009-11-04T21:03:00.000-06:00

News from the doctor today, we are ready to move on. We met with the doctor, nurse and research nurse to get ready for the next phase. This involves more meds, some new, some the same, increasing the dose on others. I have always had a problem taking pills, I hate taking pills, I gag almost every time. So now I have more to take, I started back on my Dex (a steroid) 10 pills each morning, at least I only take those for 4 days.

I am scheduled for the big dose of chemo tomorrow at 11 and my transplant will be on Friday. I hope my body is ready for this, that I am strong enough to endure the side effects that it might bring this time. I pray that maybe it won't be as harsh on me this time and my turn around time will be shorter.

This just throws me behind 4 days but that is almost a week in recovery time. We thought I would be home about 3 days before Thanksgiving, now it is looking very slim. I may get to spend it down here, I probably won't have an appetite anyway but I will miss being around my family. We will just have to make this call as we get closer.

So we just gear up for tomorrow and hit it head on, we are going to beat this thing, after this round I can actually say the worse is over.

Andrew left around 11 and Candes got here at noon, I told Andrew to start on home, I was fine knowing that Candes would be here within an hour.

Fluids, Fluids, Fluids

2009-11-02T16:37:00.000-06:00

I think I am about to float away, but I seem to always be low on fluids or dehydrated. I am still going in for fluids and bloodwork as well as the antibiotic each day. These pretty days I am trying to walk quite abit outside and enjoy the sunshine as well. My energy level is still kinda low so I can't do alot but I am getting better. One more day as far as we know of fluids then we see the dr on Wednesday and he will determine what's next.

I still ask for your prayers in getting my strength back so we can move on with Transplant #2.

Also pray that I can get my appetite back as well as finding something that taste good to drink, I am still having a hard time with tea, water or anything else. Soft drinks are too sweet lemonade is too sour. I just need something in between that is just right.

Andrew is with me now, he encourages me to keep moving, but he is also patient with me as well.

Things Change

2009-10-31T20:38:00.000-05:00

Things are not always set in stone, plans change or someone changes them for you. As you read in my last post we were coming back to Little Rock for my second stem cell transplant. Clay and I met with the doctor on Friday to see if things were still on schedule and if we were moving on as planned. We visited with him about me being so sick when I was home this last time, he realized my energy wasn't where it needed to be, I was also pretty dehydrated. He also noted that there might be just a little infection trying to start, and he wanted to get that taken care of as well. So the plan is to go to the infusion center each day to get fluids to get me built back up and then we will go from there. Yesterday after the doctor's appointment I got my line put back in, it wasn't very pleasant this time. I have heard that after you have one put in several times you build up scare tissue, I guess this can be true. As far as I am concerned I don't like my jugular vein poked in that much. After the line was put in we headed to the infusion center for fluids, today they ordered 2 liters, then the other days I will just get 1 liter.
Today we went in for fluids and they also ordered a bag of antibiotic to run through my line. So as far as the chemo and the transplant, we are holding off a few days to see if my counts get back to where they need to be. I have an appointment to see the doctor on Wednesday and he will make the decision whether to start chemo and transplant next week or wait a little longer. So right now we are just here doing what the doctor says. I will keep you posted on the plans.

Home Away From Home

2009-10-29T17:42:00.000-05:00

Well here we are back in Little Rock for more testing this week, we drove down yesterday. Might I add it was a beautiful day for a drive, the sun was shinning, which made the trees and leaves very pretty. Unlike every other day we have had with the rain, yesterday was perfect. I have a new caregiver this time, a friend of mine Michelle brought me down. I know we could have had a much better time if things were different with me, we could shop, go out to eat and all kind of fun things BUT things aren't like that these days. I am a little wimp, or a party pooper when it comes to doing anything, I am just too tired. We got here about noon yesterday, just enough time to check in the apartment, unload the car and sit just a few minutes before going to the hospital. First stop was 5th floor where I picked up my packet/schedule, had blood work done and met with a nurse. After this we were heading over to have my Pet Scan and after that we were free until my MRI which was scheduled at 8pm, they got me in about 30 minutes early so we left the hospital about 8:30 last night. It made for a long day, I know for Michelle it had to be really boring just sitting, waiting.

Today was a new day, Michelle and I needed to be at the hospital at 8:30 for the bone marrow biopsy, this of course is something I always dread, it did hurt but it wasn't quite as bad today as times in the past. Always glad to get it over though. Michelle went in the room with me, so she got to see how a bone marrow biopsy is done. After the biopsy we headed to the 5th floor to meet with the research nurse for a few minutes and then we were out of there. We stopped at Olive Garden for some soup, salad & bread sticks, it was good I had a few bites but just got full very fast. It has been raining all day, so after we went back to the apartment I was ready to take a nap, I was just real chilled when we came in. I slept for a couple hours, after I woke up Michelle took my bandages off my back, the other layer stays on for 4 days. We just stayed in tonight, kinda a veg out night. Michelle ran to the store to pick up some popcorn and to Sonic to pick up drinks. It was a good TV show night so we just enjoyed our lazy time.

Tomorrow is another day, Clay will be here in the morning and Michelle will head back to Fayetteville. I know the weather isn't suppose to be any better, I pray for safe travel for both of them, coming and going. Clay and I will see the doctor tomorrow to make sure I am on target with treatment. Saturday, October 31st I think will be a free day, Sunday, November 1st will be the heavy duty chemo day and Monday, November 2nd will be the Transplant Day.

Thank you Michelle for rearranging your schedule to be my caregiver this week. You did good!

Count Down

2009-10-22T07:47:00.000-05:00

My days are numbered now to be at home, it is almost time to head back to Little Rock. I will leave next Wednesday morning, I have alot of tests scheduled for that afternoon. There will be more tests on Thursday (bone marrow biopsy) and then on Friday I will meet with the doctor. As long as he thinks I am ready to move on, then we will move forward with the chemo and transplant the next week. I am finally beginning to feel human again, I still don't have all my strength back yet. I am still weak and a little shaky but I know things will get back to normal in time.

I have still been doing blood work twice a week at Highland Oncology, I am also going in everyday to receive fluids. The fluids just make me feel a little better and give me a little pick me up. It seems like my time at home has just flown by since I was sick the first two full weeks, it makes you want more time at home. But the sooner I go back the sooner I get through this whole ordeal. I am hoping to do the transplant, get my counts back up, get over any sickness, get my energy back and be home and enjoy the holidays. I want to enjoy baby Jonah's first Christmas. I will miss his first Halloween, Adrienne is working on his costume so maybe we can get a sneak peek before I go.

Catch Up

2009-10-16T10:02:00.000-05:00

I know I am way behind on my posting but I have been a little under the weather. I won't post everything that has been going on since my last post, but I will touch the surface. Some of my thoughts may be random and not in order as they happened, since I haven't posted in awhile you seem to forget what went on. Some things you choose to forget.

September 20, Kara was with me, I bent over to pick something up, I felt a pop in my lower back. It just seem to get worse, I told the APN the next day, I was given pain meds. The meds didn't seem to do anything, they ran an MRI which didn't show anything. The pain in my back seem to get worse everyday, getting up and down got to be almost impossible. This has gone on for almost a month now.

October 2, Candes and I did our routine with blood work and then on to the dr's. appointment in the afternoon. With much discussion about my time to come back for the next transplant I was released to come home. There is such a thing called bridging to stay home for 6 weeks or more, if you do this there is a lot more medications involved, nasty meds that I have taken for a short time, but this would mean taking them for about 3 weeks. We all felt like the shorter time at home would be the best. This was late in the day and I still needed to get my line taken out, so Candes and I waited to head home on Saturday. Clay normally comes down on Friday but Candes thought since she was there already there was no need for him to come down and turn around and go back. Since we were going home for almost 4 weeks we moved out of our apartment, this meant everything had to be packed and loaded up. Remember I have the back issue and after they take your port out you cannot stoop over or lift more than 5 pounds. So guess who got to pack and load the car, yep Candes. She said she would do it, but it was quite a chore by the time she finished. We seemed to have more than we took.

This was the best decision since Clay had been suffering with the upper resp. crud most of the week. I even spent Saturday night at Candes' house, this gave Clay another day to air out the house, at this point I didn't need to catch a bug. Clay came to pick me up about noon on Sunday, it was sure good to get home. I have been dealing with this back pain, once I get up and moving it's not as bad but the getting up and down is so painful.

October 4, I started with the nausea, vomitting and more!!!! I spoke with Little Rock about this, I was told it was due to the Chemo that I was given. I thought it would last a few days but it lasted alost 2 weeks. Finally on Oct. 15 when I went in for blood work I ask if they would take my B.P. well they did and it was very low. They thought I needed to see the dr., I met with Dr. Rosenfeld, he felt like I needed fluids, vitimans, and electrolites and some nausea meds to get me feeling better. So I battled this yuk feeling for almost two weeks, we tried everything, eating, not eating, liquid diet, nothing see to help. I am not eating much right now, nothing taste good, or it doesn't taste like it should. I will be glad to get my taste buds back, I know I have to drink as well but there again even the drinking is hard, I haven't found anything that taste good, I know I have to force myself to drink so that I can stay hydrated.

October 16, Andrew took me in for fluids today, then we stopped by my office just a few minutes to say Hello. It was good to get out, it just wears me out, my energy level is very low. The nausea seems to be gone, my back is getting better, there is still some pain involved. My whole body seems to be sore all over, probably due to the setting around that I have had no choice in doing.

October 17, So as I think back over the last month, it seems to have been a roller coaster ride to get to this day. I'm am glad that I have made it this far in the treatment, but I will also say that I will be real glad when it's over and I can close this chapter of Barbara's Journey. I will be home about 3 1/2 weeks this time, but I have already used up 2 with being sick, so I look forward to this next week and hope I can enjoy the rest of my time at home.

So I ask you to continue to pray for my healing, strength and for my body to recovery before my next transplant. My next transplant is scheduled for November 2nd, that is if everything checks out with my blood work when I get back to Little Rock.

I'M BACK

2009-09-30T21:10:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately, I have pretty much been out of it, even tonight I am very tired. I just wanted you to know I am still around and will do some posting real soon. So bear with me and watch for my updates in days to come.

Rough Days

2009-09-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

I didn't post yesterday, I just couldn't, the chemo really hit me hard this time. I guess I feel so fortunate, up to now with my treatments, don't get me wrong there have been some bad days. but nothing like this. I knew the chemo I was given last Sunday was going to be powerful, but you never really know how it will actually affect your body. Besides dealing with the tiredness, fatigue and weakness there is the stomach issues to deal with most of which I won't go into. Anyone that knows much about chemo realizes that it can do a number on your stomach, anything from you not being hungry, not wanting to eat or drink, nothing taste good, or if it does you fill up so fast. You have to try to eat to keep some of your strength up, and you have to drink as much as you can, this is how the toxins leave your body. The more you drink the more you go to the bathroom, if you hold the fluids inside then you have major issues, it can always run into some type of infection. Normally I don't have any problem drinking, I am a big sweet tea drinker and I drink alot of water, but with this chemo, nothing tates good, it is so hard to find something you just want to drink alot of. I am trying my best to be a good patient, but it is hard sometimes. Today my blood pressure was very low, it wouldn't even register when I stood up, they take it when you are setting, then they take it with you standing, I was so weak I couldn't hardly stand up and it was taking too long for it to register. They decided I needed fluids stat, so I was assigned a room and we got started, fluids, blood thinner, nausea meds, the usual routine. Today, since it is Saturday they sent us home with a antibiotic baby bottle, just in case my temperature comes up in the next few days. This way whoever is with me can hook it up to my line instantly instead of waiting to go in the next day. We always hope for no infection to set in, but just in case we are prepared.

Yesterday when Candes and I went in to the hospital I was so weak, she pushed me in a wheelchair, I didn't want to at first but I really needed to ride. There is quite a walk from the parking lot to the area of the hospital we need to go, including an uphill slope, I don't think I could have made it. Today I am still very weak, I wanted to try to walk it today, Clay and I did it together, it was pretty tiring but we made it. I know if I can and when I can, I need to move around as much as possible. 1) for my lungs-breathing 2) avoid the risks of blood clots again 3) keep my muscles moving. Clay and I are watching the Razorback game at the apartment tonight. I really don't like the feeling of someone having to take care of me, I feel so helpless. It has been a trying few days and we are not where we need to be yet, my WBC did drop to zero today, so a few more days of this before my counts starting going back up. I had to put the mask on today, don't want to take any chance catching a bug of any kind. I feel very blessed and fortunate that I have the family support that I have, I know that people have to sacrifice and rearrange their routines so they can take a shift with me. I say Thank You to them for all their love and support throughout this journey. I can only tell them how much I love and appreciate them. Schedule for the week: Clay arrived this morning, Candes headed home, Kara will come down tomorrow and Clay will head home later in the day. I have a Dr's appointment on Monday, I think Andrew will come down Tuesday afternoon.

A Little Under The Weather

2009-09-17T20:40:00.000-05:00

It is really hard to describe how I am feeling, as I posted yesterday I am just so tired. But today it is even more than that, I just feel really yucky, I don't like to give in to something like this. I am just so tired and sleepy, that is really all I can do is rest. The nurses tell you that you need plenty of sleep and rest, I just haven't felt like this during this journey, I feel like I am wasting my time. I know my counts have started to go down, but there is along way to go before they hit bottom. You just feel useless or helpless, that you don't have enough energy to hardly get across the room. I had to get fluids today, that was all I was really low on. Candes brought me home, put me to bed and then she made a Walmart run to pick up a few things. She made us a bowl of potato soup and cornbread for supper. It tasted good, I just get full really fast. This will be short tonight, I will be nodding off here real soon. Please pray for my strength, energy and patience to get through this rough time.

So Tired

2009-09-16T18:47:00.000-05:00

I slept pretty good last night with a little sleep aid, I wasn't even wanting to get up this morning. I am just sleepy and tired, They say this is the way it will for awhile, it is the beginning of things that happen when my counts start to go down. I had to get a bag fluid today and I was also really low on potassium, they hooked me up to one infuser and then sent me home with 2 more. This will be changed out during the night through my line by Candes, she said she would set the alarm so she could get up change it out. This will be 15 hours of potassium, hopefully that will help me feel a little better as well. Today was just probably a normal day, just my strength seems to really be going down in a hurry. I guess that is the plan, loose your strength and energy, your counts drop, then you can head to the upside of all of it. Building my counts as well as my strength back up and on the road to recovery. I don't want to speak to soon but, so far so good as far as the nausea and the vomiting it has not hit me, I just can only pray that it doesn't. Also, the same with the mouth sores, they could still appear, we just keep our fingers crossed that I won't have to experience them. It has been pretty much much a gloomy, rainy day today, Candes had to drive down in the rain most of the way, I think Clay also had to drive most of the way home in it as well. It was hard to see Clay go, we got alot accomplished this time, if all goes well the stem cell transplant will be a success and that is the total plan.

The Day After

2009-09-15T18:43:00.000-05:00

We made it through last night ok, I had slept most of the afternoon so I didn't sleep quite as well last night as I did the night before. But I did get alot of rest. Clay fixed biscuits, gravy & bacon for breakfast this morning, he did good. We got ready and headed to 7-C to see what the plan was for today. As usual I had blood work, vitals taken and I had to be given a bag of fluid, my blood pressure was a little low. I am feeling pretty good, just real tired feeling like I need alot of rest. I have the hand shakes a little, they said that was due to the Dex. Steroids that I have been taking. I finished my last dose of the Dex this morning, so the shakes should ease off some. My counts seem to be alright today, it will be a few days before they really start dropping. This is when my counts they say will drop to zero, I am sure I will have a few rough days there, until my counts come back up to where they should be. During this down time I will probably have to get blood and platelets at some time or another. I do seem to feel okay tonight just a little yucky and I also get a bad case of the hiccups ever once in awhile that hurt your insides, I hope this passes.

Clay will head back home tomorrow afternoon, it has sure been good to have him here for several days, through the chemo and the transplant. Even though the worse may not hit me until next week, he got to be here for what we have worked for for several months. We have had a few good days together. Candes will come in sometime tomorrow, they have been on vacation this past week, but will come down to take her shift.

Transplant Day

2009-09-14T21:02:00.000-05:00

The day we have waited for was finally here, we headed to the hospital about 8:15 to get ready for my stem cell transplant. Pretty much the usual, blood work, vital signs and assigned to a room. They hooked me up to oxygen for the entire process, and took my blood pressure every 15 minutes. I was given my anti nausea pills, a bag of fluids before the transplant began. Once they hooked up the stem cell bag it took approximately 10 minutes to run through. Seems a little crazy for all the build up for a 10 minutes process. They had mentioned to us that during this process that I would have an odd taste in my mouth, such as cream corn, garlic or roasted chicken. Well my taste was the cream corn, this was very strange and didn't last long, they have you to suck on hard candy and this helps a little. The strange thing is that after this you can't smell the preservatives on you or your clothing, only the people around me, Clay says it is pretty strong, though he couldn't put a finger on what the smell really was. When he steps outside and comes back in he says it is really strong. He is washing my clothes now to get the smell out of them. They said this smell could last a couple of days, it is just so strange that I can't smell it now. But I am not complaining, this part is over, and besides we should be downhill from here, we can only know things will get better. The old saying says what goes up must come down, we are going to turn that around to say what goes down must come up. This is concerning my counts, they will drop down this week but they will come back up just the same, I was high on uric acid today, so I had to get a little bag to try to get it to come down, then before I left I had to get my blood thinner shot. After this we were dismissed to go.

I was just really tired when Clay and I got home, I slept about all afternoon. We didn't let our chicken go to waste, he grilled out tonight and baked potatoes. It tasted really good to me, I got full really quick.

Chemo Day

2009-09-13T17:46:00.002-05:00

Clay and I headed to 7-C at the old hospital around 8:15 this morning for my 9 am appointment. The first thing is vital signs and blood work before you are assigned to a room. Normally there will be 2 people to a room, it is like a hospital room with recliners for the patients to relax in. The room is also large enough for your caregiver to have a place to set there with you. The next thing that was done this morning, I was given a bag and 1/2 fluids to protect my kidneys. I was given 2 anti nausea pills to protect me from getting sick, then I had my blood thinner shot. Then the chemo arrived, a chemo called Melphalan in a bag, I thought it was going to be a shot of chemo in my line. It was a bag instead, of course it did go through my line but it was a much larger dose than I was expecting. I had been given this chemo in a smaller dose before, but never a large dose like this. This type of chemo can cause mouth and throat sores, especially in patients with kidney issues. They encourage you to eat a lot of ice all during your time there, they say this will help with maybe preventing the sores. I am an ice chomper anyway, they just want you to basically freeze your mouth. After the chemo bag was empty we were free to go home. I had to continue the ice routine for about an hour and a half after we got home. Darcy had picked up some Popsicles for just this, they sure came in handy, I ate 2 of them when we got home.

Clay had planned on grilling out tonight, but the nurse mentioned not to eat anything hot tonight so there went that idea. I can have cold or lukewarm tonight. Grilled chicken just isn't the same cold as it is hot, we will just wait for another night to grill out.

Transplant is set for tomorrow.