Patty's epic adventure

  5/26/21 - Wednesday My brain is still fried today.  I slept 4 hours last night and tried to take a nap this afternoon, but only slept for about 15 minutes.  Between the lawn mowers and power washing going on, it was hopeless.  I'm better than yesterday, for sure, but not turning any cartwheels yet.  That would be a Kodak moment, wouldn't it? I was up early and got into my pressure suit for my hourly routine.  I had it on for 1/2 hour when the power went out.  I was just sitting reading the paper, so I didn't really care.  Didn't need a light or anything, so I just kept reading.  After a few minutes, I realized my arm was hurting.  Well, since my brain is on hiatus, I forgot the pressure machine needs electricity.  Duh.  The power went out when the suit was fully inflated and now my arm is in a full-length vice.  Of course, when I got the machine, it had a manual with it.  I read it and learned about the whole thing,...

  5/25/21 - Tuesday Hoo-boy.  I went to chemo this morning by myself.  I took off my boot, put on my tennis shoe (did not tie it), and drove that way.  Both coming and going.  I put my boot on when I got there and when I got home.  I called the doctor again when I got home since no one called me back yesterday.  No answer.  The nurse returned my call at 4:45 p.m. this afternoon.  Geez.  She's not very good at returning phone calls.  The doctor had already left the building and was in surgery, so she'll talk to him tomorrow.  She told me that if my foot felt well enough to walk on, I could ditch the boot.  The doctor will probably call in maintenance medicine for gout.  I'll know more in the morning.  So, I'm trying to walk without it this evening.  We'll see.  Cross your fingers. When I got to the cancer center this morning, there were no parking spaces.  Figures.  I had to park across the str...

  5/24/21 - Monday David took me to the doctor this morning since I have a boot on my right foot and driving is difficult enough as it is.  Plus, it was in rush hour traffic and I just was not comfortable making the trek this morning.  They didn't take blood till last today (error on their part), so I didn't get the results.  However, they said they would call if the numbers weren't good enough to have chemo tomorrow, and no one called.  So, I'm going tomorrow as scheduled.  I shouldn't be there quite as long, tho, because there will be no labs tomorrow. My infection has not completely cleared up yet, so I'm back on antibiotics again.  10 more days.  Oh, well.  My white count is too low and I don't have enough lymph nodes to help.  My dosage for chemo has been lowered so that I can tolerate the symptoms, so I hope that helps with me fighting this infection.  I have to make up the week I missed, however, so my chemo is not scheduled ...

  5/23/21 - Sunday I've been having a bit of trouble sleeping the past few days.  Perhaps my body isn't quite sure what to do without chemo for a week.  My doctor appt. is at 8 a.m. tomorrow, so hopefully my counts will be good and I'll be back on chemo on Tuesday.  Never thought I'd wish for chemo.  Go figure. I'm doing ok in my boot.  Trying to stay off my feet as much as possible.  No exercise, that's for sure.  So, the 7 lbs. I put on within 8 days last week are possibly going to remain for awhile.  Gotta love steroids, right?  Ah, the boot.  If you've never worn one, consider yourself lucky.  Mine is black with velcro straps to keep in on snuggly.  Easy on, easy off.  No muss, no fuss.  I am doing laundry today while David is in town, working.  Why is that so interesting, you ask?  It's now after noon and I've been around the house all morning.  I fixed myself lunch and have been back and fort...

  5/21/21 - Today is Friday. I was cold and tired this afternoon and my brain went on hiatus, so I climbed back into bed.  I was fully dressed with all the covers on, and it still took me awhile to get warm.  I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I felt better.   David took me to the doctor this morning.  They took x-rays and said nothing was broken.  I was sure glad to hear that - until he said a break would be easier.  Oh, crap.  Now what?!?  Tendonitis and possible gout.  I am looking at 4-6 weeks in this boot.  He wanted to put a cast on, and said it would heal faster.  However, I am in no condition to navigate with crutches and he said that right off the bat.  So, a boot, it is.  He gave me meds for the gout and said I may feel a bit better by Monday.  If not, I'm back on steroids.  Great.  Just friggin' great.  That's just what I need.  He wanted to put me on some other meds, but my wh...

  5/20/21 - Thursday A good friend sent me a book this week.  It showed up in the mailbox yesterday.  I thought the gesture was very sweet and thoughtful, but was not in the mood to read at all yesterday.  I was a bit down in the dumps, to say the least.  However, I picked the book up today - and ended up reading the entire thing.  Now, mind you, it's not a really long book, but I was glued to it.  Chapter 12 turned my spirit around 180 degrees.  It spoke of 'falling and getting back up'.  Not physically, but mentally - and spiritually.  I fell hard yesterday, but you know what?  I picked myself up again today. Now, tomorrow morning when I go to the doctor to see about my foot and what's going on with my body, I may fall again.  But, that's ok.  I will  get back up.  I will keep getting back up.  Not just for me, but for my family, my friends.  I have many people that love me, care about me, and even so...

  5/19/21 - Wednesday I felt like I was playing hooky yesterday since I belonged at chemo.  Felt funny all day.  My infection is getting better, but it's not gone and I only have 2 days of antibiotics left.  I hope that's enough to do the trick.  Yesterday, my right foot started to hurt enough for me to try and avoid walking.  It was no better today, so I called the doctor.  She told me to come right in.  Again.  She thinks it's broken.  Good grief.  If so, it'll be the third time I've broken this foot.  And, no, I have done nothing but walk, and very little of that.  So, I'm in a boot until Friday morning.  I have an appointment with a orthopedic surgeon at 9:00 a.m. that morning and he'll figure this out. If it wasn't for bad luck, I afraid I wouldn't have any luck at all these days.  My blood counts were down a bit today, so I'm hoping by Monday they will have a chance to go up again so that I can continue my ...

  5/16/21 - Sunday I haven't posted for a few days.  Just been resting all I can.  I'm 5 days into my 10-day antibiotic regime and I'm getting better.  It's slow going, and the infection is not gone, but I'm feeling better each day.  Courtney and her family came up last Thursday and stayed until today and that was a big help.  It was a boost for my spirit, too.  Jessica came up for the day on Saturday and drove back to Conroe the same day.  It had to be a tiring one for her, but again, I loved it. Note:  To the lady who flipped me off when I honked my horn at you - Your phone probably isn't on top of your car any longer. No worries.

  5/12/21 - Wednesday I got 2 hours of sleep last night, so that's 2 hours more than I anticipated.  It's the 40 mg of steroids that they drip into me every Tuesday that keeps me awake that night.  That will continue, so there won't be any surprises in my weekly routine. Well, there is going to be a change.  They won't let me have chemo next week.  I have to wait 2 weeks for my next one, if there is one, and it'll only be 1/2 dose.  I didn't have my mind on task enough to ask if this will lengthen my treatments, or not.  I reckon I'll remember to ask that question in 2 more weeks.  I got sick today.  Felt pretty crummy.  Called the oncologist and she said to come right in.  David dropped what he was doing and took me to town, because I was in no shape to drive.  I have an infection and it's a whopper.  My left side is totally inflamed - even my neck and both cheeks.  Everything is hot and red.  My lesions have sp...

  5/11/21 - Today is Tuesday.   Chemo day.  It's amazing how it comes around every week to torment me.  13 weeks under my belt, 7 more weeks to go.  I hope that's all, anyway.  Then a couple weeks off and then 5 weeks of radiation.  I will go to radiation Monday thru Friday, so only weekends off.  Shoot, it's like I'll be back at (gasp) work. I can't sugarcoat it... yesterday was horrid.  Stomach cramps, diarrhea, exhausted, etc.  The list goes on.  Monday's are usually my best days.  But not yesterday.  Totally sucked the big one.  I got ripped off!  Then had to go to chemo today.  My red count actually went up a tiny bit, which was delightful.   However, my white count took a nose dive.  That's poopy.  But, the counts were good enough to get a passing grade and I got my chemo.  I was in the treatment room for just under 3 hours today.  That's my shortest time yet.  W...

  Mother's Day I had a relaxing day and got phone calls and stuff from all my girls.  I was pretty tired today and fell asleep on the couch a few times.  My new pressure machine/thingy arrived via FedEx today.  I was first told that I would wear it for an hour in the morning and another hour in the evening, but the instructions that came with it, said just 1 hour per day.  I put it on my left arm and I look like the Michelin Man.  It builds pressure from my hand up to my shoulder and pushes the fluid up and out.  I measured my arm afterwards and it did shrink.  Yay!  I'll be good and do it every day.  I have to be in my recliner, feet up, left arm elevated, no crossing legs, no tight clothing, etc.  I got on my Ipad and played games and the hour went by lickety-split.  No worries.  Traveling with it is gonna be a pain in the butt, tho! Most of my eyelashes and eyebrows have fallen out now.  I look awful.  I look ...

  5/8/21 - Saturday I took a 4 hour nap yesterday afternoon and then slept 10 hours last night.  Everything wears me out these days, it seems.  I'll take another nap as soon as I post this, too.  If I could rid myself of any side effects, I would choose my tongue.  It's the most bothersome.  Royal pain.  It wakes me from my sleep.  Go figure.  My cognitive skills have taken a hit lately.  I just surprised myself by knowing what 'cognitive' meant.  I'm having trouble doing my puzzles and just basic concentration.  Math is becoming foreign.  I read the same sentences over and over again.  I can't remember squat.  It saddens me.  I'm not the person I used to be.  Perhaps some of you may think that's a good thing.... who knows? My lesions are improving, so that's good, but I have chemo again on Tuesday.  Wish me luck with that.  High doses of steroids make you retain fluid.  Did ya'll know th...

  5/7/21 - Today is Friday.  I haven't posted anything for a couple of days.  Not much news.  I didn't sleep at all Tuesday night.  None.  Was up all night.  Felt wired on Wednesday, too.  Not sleepy at all.  Got 8 hours Wednesday night, and now I'm back to normal.  Normal.  Ha!  That's a good one.  I'm a bit puny today and my mouth sores are becoming a real nuisance.  They're quite painful.  I prefer some of the other side effects over these, for sure.  It's mostly my tongue, and if anything has any kind of spice on it, it sets it on fire.  And, I mean anything.   I have stuff I swish around in my mouth and then swallow, but it falls far short of taking the burn away.  Oh, well.  It is, what it is.   I got a new pillow last week.  Is that big news, or what?  Yeah.  Not.  Anyway, while out and about looking for a pillow, I saw lots of bedding and stuff. ...

  Later tonight - It's 11 p.m. now.  I have more spots.  I'm having my typical chemo night difficulties.  Not feeling so hot, but that's normal for this night.  I'll keep an eye on the spots and hopefully they won't continue to spread.  I have a feeling this is gonna be a long night.  I'm supposed to cut my steroids in 1/2 tomorrow.  If the high dose isn't keeping them away, I'm having trouble wrapping my head around how 1/2 dose is gonna help much.  Maybe I should do the Hokey-Pokey again.....?

  5/4/21 Chemo day.  They kept a close eye on me this morning.  It took 3 hours and so far, I don't think I have any new spots.  I should've marked the old ones, but I wasn't that smart.  I've counted them now, so at least I can see if I add more from this point on.  Last week it was Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, so I'll be watching. I rode my recumbent bike 8.3 miles last night in 40 minutes.  I did just fine afterwards, too. I was worried about my blood work this morning, but my numbers actually went UP.  They're not divine, but up is good.  They had trouble drawing blood out of my port again.  They were trying one last trick before sending me back to the lab to do a draw, when it started flowing.  I almost had to do the Hokey-Pokey thing again to get it going. David met me for lunch to celebrate elevated blood counts and at least receiving chemo.  It's the small things..... Hey, thinking about the Hokey-Pokey.... I could ...

  5/3/21 It's Monday.  I went to my oncologist this morning and she prescribed more medicine to counter-act the steroid damage being done.  I have to stay on steroids, a pretty hefty dose, for now.  My body is revolting, however.  I will be receiving chemo tomorrow morning, even though my lesions are not quite gone.  I could use a little divine intervention for tomorrow's infusions.  I need a small miracle, in fact.  Just a small one.  That'll do, I think.  So, if anyone has any pull - maybe an angel friend - anybody up there - please call in a favor for me.  I need to get through tomorrow without any major setbacks in order to continue chemo.  That's the skinny. I am scheduled for a CT scan of my lower back next Monday, so maybe they can help me after getting those results.  I can't seem to get my heart rate below 90, no matter what I do, so the cardiologist is next.  My regular beat is 52 or 53.  My body is wea...

  5/2/21 It's Sunday afternoon and I just finished a 'workout' (I use the term quite loosely) on my recumbent bike.  I rode 8 miles today.  40 minutes.  No racing going on here, but it felt pretty good.  I played '42' Dominoes on my Ipad the whole time.  Sure made the time go a lot quicker. I have an appointment with my oncologist at 10 a.m. tomorrow and I have already prepared a list of questions for her.  The first question is about my continuing chemo since I had that reaction last week.  The lesions have almost gone, but I have a few stubborn ones clinging on.  I have a new lump under my arm that showed up this morning.  It's painful, too.  I'm hoping it's just fluid.  I'm famous for that, anyway. I slept pretty well last night, but still took a short nap this afternoon.  I tire quickly some days.  Naps are good.  Y'all should try more of them. I decided to start a garden and grow my own food.  It's heal...

  5/1/21 - May Day, May Day!   It's Saturday now.  This week is dragging by soooo slowly, it's like I'm a kid in school waiting for summer break.  Last night was horrid.  Rats.  I didn't get to sleep until sometime after 3:30 a.m.  That's the last time I looked at the clock.  At one point I was laying in bed, on my side, eyes closed, trying to drift off.  Something tiny touched my eyelash.  I felt it and immediately thought 'spider'!  I quickly brushed it off, and made sure I kept brushing all the way to the edge of the bed, and beyond.  Just in case.  You've all done that - don't deny it.  A few minutes later, I felt it again.  Oh, crap.  It was  a spider and I didn't brush it off the bed like I thought.  Now I've got it on my eye again.   Wait.  Why is it back in the exact same place?  What are the odds of that?  Does my eye smell good?  Is there a wounded fly sittin...