It went not so badly! Blood work was good, am still a little anemic but Dr. M said that it is probably from the first chemo and surgery that I just went through. Also, he said to take it easy on myself, the feeling of sadness that sweeps over me sometimes is also part of the package deal from all of the 'stuff' that my body has gone through.
He checked my incision and said that I am healing nicely. I really am feeling better and better every single day. I am itching to get into the dirt and beat the tar out of some weeds that have invaded my hollyhocks! No kidding, there are some weeds that are as tall as some of the plants. I am not able to pull or carry things but I sure can cut stuff down with my pruning sheers!
My new chemo is called Taxol (I think that is the correct spelling) it is not supposed to be as hard to take as the other concoction that I was given so I am encouraged by that. Only fatigue is expected the doc said. HOWEVER...some people have what is call infusion reaction or infusion something or other and what that means is basically it is an allergic reaction. If I felt back pain or itching or difficulty breathing, I was to let them know so they could stop it immediately.
WHAT...seriously? Of course my 'Joe Cool - I am strong like bull ' person said to him "ok, I will let the nurse know if I feel any of those". Barney Fife was just about to jump out as I walked out of the dr. office.
I asked for nurse Deanna practically the minute that I walked in the door and I got her! She explained it all so kindly and I could feel my stress level come down so far that I hardly feel when she accessed my port practically pain free.( I said practically)
The only reaction that I had was that it knocked me on my butt! I remember when Summer and Dominic came in but I don't even remember when Whitney got there. I practically slept the whole time! Nice! I feel badly that I could not visit with my family. I was higher than a kite!!! I came home and slept all day and night.
Today, I feel a little slow but not incoherent ;)
How's that for answered prayer? Thank you all and only 11 of these bad boys to go...they did say that some people can get this infusion reaction on the second or third round but not to worry about it. Ok...one more thing on my prayer list not to worry about. How awesome is our God? The list is never too long for Him.
Today is a very busy day starting out with my support group and following that up with yet another dr. appt and physical therapy. Other stops that I will make but all is well here at the Meis house hold. Oh yes, I will squeeze in a nap as well.
Jeremiah 33:3 The Message
Call to me and I will answer you. I will tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.
Aug.2012
Mark and I ready for Blades wedding
The first ring
Dec. 7 2011
the bell of Victory!
Reading the plaque
Patients ring this bell on their last treatment.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
First of 12
This morning is the first of my next 12 rounds of chemo. Is that the right way to say this? Is each dose considered a round? I feel a little tired this morning. I think it is sort of a defeated feeling which I don't like. I have praise music on while I swig down my energy drink :) This is a daily thing for me as I do my 'stuff' on the computer. The music I listen to is scripture on cd and it is very calming for my spirit. The one that is playing now says " I rise before dawn and I cry for help. I have put my hope in your word" I LOVE IT!
My next three days are pretty appt. filled. I also get fitted for the stocking thingy that I will wear on my left arm where all of the lymph glands were taken out. I guess I need it in case I get lymphedema.
Very interesting. Need to research lymphedema. I just know that it is not good and I was given massage lessons to manage it.
Summer and Dominic are coming from Lewistown to sit with me, Whit and Mark while I get my chemo treatment. We may sit out in the solarium. Sletten Cancer Institute is a beautiful facility and it is very homey. It will be my 'haunt' for the next 12 Wednesdays.
I will hide myself in the Lord and I will be just fine...He has shown me so much mercy in my past and this is no different. He will shelter me from evil.
Get your batteries charged Flashlights because the fun begins again and I am a little weary. The floodgates of tears are just about to burst and I am relying totally on prayers and the love of my friends and family.
Here I go...I have a little of the Barney Fife look ....but I will survive this next step to my recovery.
Love you all!
My next three days are pretty appt. filled. I also get fitted for the stocking thingy that I will wear on my left arm where all of the lymph glands were taken out. I guess I need it in case I get lymphedema.
Very interesting. Need to research lymphedema. I just know that it is not good and I was given massage lessons to manage it.
Summer and Dominic are coming from Lewistown to sit with me, Whit and Mark while I get my chemo treatment. We may sit out in the solarium. Sletten Cancer Institute is a beautiful facility and it is very homey. It will be my 'haunt' for the next 12 Wednesdays.
I will hide myself in the Lord and I will be just fine...He has shown me so much mercy in my past and this is no different. He will shelter me from evil.
Get your batteries charged Flashlights because the fun begins again and I am a little weary. The floodgates of tears are just about to burst and I am relying totally on prayers and the love of my friends and family.
Here I go...I have a little of the Barney Fife look ....but I will survive this next step to my recovery.
Love you all!
Friday, July 22, 2011
I went to my breast cancer support group yesterday because I felt that I really needed to be with some ladies that are going through this same journey that I am on. There was a new lady there and I knew her from several years ago. A real blast from the past! The look of fear/confusion/disbelief on her face was all too fresh in my mind. She did not recognize me at first. She said she recognized my smile...really? ....do I look that different?....oh yes, I do. When she knew me I was 20 lbs. thinner and had tons of long dark hair and no glasses (and I had boobs :)
The meeting was awesome because there were several ladies that were many years cancer free. They were volumes of information. The new lady kept asking me questions because she has not had her mastectomy yet and no chemo either. I mean she literally JUST found out her diagnosis. She kept asking me questions that I had asked and I felt strange hearing myself share my experience because I am so new myself. When I was driving home I realized that my journey has only just begun but already the Lord is showing me that none of this will be in vain. I must share my experience strength and hope in this as well.
My hair is growing back and it is white peach fuzz. I am thinking that I will probably lose that with the 12 weeks of chemo that are coming up.
I am feeling ever so blessed to have the husband that I have, especially after hearing that one of the ladies in our group is going to be left alone as her partner does not think that he can handle living with a woman with one breast! I was dumbfounded when I heard this!
The raw emotions and honesty in this group is beyond words and I can only say that I am humbled to be a member of this amazing group of women.
Dana and Summer and babies will be here tonight. It is Logan's birthday Monday and we are celebrating it tomorrow. Two years old already! I will be here when he is celebrating his 30th and beyond! Holy Cow, I will be an old fart!
HA!
The meeting was awesome because there were several ladies that were many years cancer free. They were volumes of information. The new lady kept asking me questions because she has not had her mastectomy yet and no chemo either. I mean she literally JUST found out her diagnosis. She kept asking me questions that I had asked and I felt strange hearing myself share my experience because I am so new myself. When I was driving home I realized that my journey has only just begun but already the Lord is showing me that none of this will be in vain. I must share my experience strength and hope in this as well.
My hair is growing back and it is white peach fuzz. I am thinking that I will probably lose that with the 12 weeks of chemo that are coming up.
I am feeling ever so blessed to have the husband that I have, especially after hearing that one of the ladies in our group is going to be left alone as her partner does not think that he can handle living with a woman with one breast! I was dumbfounded when I heard this!
The raw emotions and honesty in this group is beyond words and I can only say that I am humbled to be a member of this amazing group of women.
Dana and Summer and babies will be here tonight. It is Logan's birthday Monday and we are celebrating it tomorrow. Two years old already! I will be here when he is celebrating his 30th and beyond! Holy Cow, I will be an old fart!
HA!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Mark and I had a wonderful weekend visit with Summer and Dana and Autumn and Dominic!!! I also got to visit with Vickie and Wendy and Curt and Noreen and RELAX in between ;)
When we got home, we were in for such a great surprize as some of our friends had gotten together and put up kitchen cupboards and our new home is getting closer to completion. I was blown away with how awesome it turned out. I was in on the secret as everyone wanted to surprise Mark but I had no idea how great it was going to look! Mark was deeply moved and it was fun to see that we had finally surprised him with something. He is the hardest person in the world to get 'one over on'. Thank you does not even come close to saying how grateful we are for this incredible act of kindness. Summer and Whitney were in the middle of all of this so it all fell into place perfectly.
So, I drove myself to physical therapy this morning and I think that it went well. I like the girl that is helping me and she was very informative about what is going on with my arm and about how all of the lymph nodes and etc. work. The exercises don't seem too impossible and I am not to ever have blood drawn from my left arm and do not take blood pressure there either and yadda yadda yadda...After the great events over the week end and all of the emotions of gratitude and love, what is this dark cloud that came out of nowhere and settled in for a little bit? I so hate it when my mind takes off into the abyss of negative feelings that sneak up on me. My life is so blessed and I truly feel that I am highly favored by God so what the heck was I getting my panties in a bundle over? Who knows? My mind went koo koo without the koo koo juice and I ran with it...Poor Whitney. She and Summer can sense when their mother's head is beginning to spin. Whit lives here though so she gets to see when I am certifiable. Even if my pupils are pin points and my lips are pursed, thank goodness I have learned to keep my mouth shut and keep my thoughts to myself.
We raked the yard together and started talking about 'what ever' and the mood seemed to lift.
Wish I could blame it on the heat or something but the only thing that I can change is how I react to moments like this. If I really get honest, I think that I got a little (ok, alot) ticked off at how my life is SO NOT like I thought it would be at 61 :( Yes, I know...some of you out there can relate...but, when I really think about it, it is exactly as it is supposed to be :) But boy it is not easy to keep rolling with the punches.
There, I feel so much better...sorry if I was a Debby Downer there for a minute... I have climbed back in the saddle and I am hanging on for the ride again :)
clomp, clomp, clomp....here I go....I'm not riding very fast but I'm a going. Giddy up old gray mare.
When we got home, we were in for such a great surprize as some of our friends had gotten together and put up kitchen cupboards and our new home is getting closer to completion. I was blown away with how awesome it turned out. I was in on the secret as everyone wanted to surprise Mark but I had no idea how great it was going to look! Mark was deeply moved and it was fun to see that we had finally surprised him with something. He is the hardest person in the world to get 'one over on'. Thank you does not even come close to saying how grateful we are for this incredible act of kindness. Summer and Whitney were in the middle of all of this so it all fell into place perfectly.
So, I drove myself to physical therapy this morning and I think that it went well. I like the girl that is helping me and she was very informative about what is going on with my arm and about how all of the lymph nodes and etc. work. The exercises don't seem too impossible and I am not to ever have blood drawn from my left arm and do not take blood pressure there either and yadda yadda yadda...After the great events over the week end and all of the emotions of gratitude and love, what is this dark cloud that came out of nowhere and settled in for a little bit? I so hate it when my mind takes off into the abyss of negative feelings that sneak up on me. My life is so blessed and I truly feel that I am highly favored by God so what the heck was I getting my panties in a bundle over? Who knows? My mind went koo koo without the koo koo juice and I ran with it...Poor Whitney. She and Summer can sense when their mother's head is beginning to spin. Whit lives here though so she gets to see when I am certifiable. Even if my pupils are pin points and my lips are pursed, thank goodness I have learned to keep my mouth shut and keep my thoughts to myself.
We raked the yard together and started talking about 'what ever' and the mood seemed to lift.
Wish I could blame it on the heat or something but the only thing that I can change is how I react to moments like this. If I really get honest, I think that I got a little (ok, alot) ticked off at how my life is SO NOT like I thought it would be at 61 :( Yes, I know...some of you out there can relate...but, when I really think about it, it is exactly as it is supposed to be :) But boy it is not easy to keep rolling with the punches.
There, I feel so much better...sorry if I was a Debby Downer there for a minute... I have climbed back in the saddle and I am hanging on for the ride again :)
clomp, clomp, clomp....here I go....I'm not riding very fast but I'm a going. Giddy up old gray mare.
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