Patty's epic adventure

  11/28/21 My daughter told me I was overdue updating my blog.  So, here I am.  I had a lovely Thanksgiving with my family and I hated to see them all go home.  I'll be going to Houston in a week and we'll stay with Courtney again.  I have scans and ultrasounds at MD Anderson on Monday morning, 12/6.  I will see my oncologist and my surgeon that afternoon.  Tuesday afternoon, 12/7, I see my radiation oncologist.  That's Pearl Harbor Day.  Think of me that day and pray for a good report, please.  I have a few issues they will need to hear about, so I hope I'm in and out in 2 days.  I'm going to take a few extra changes of clothing, just in case.  My gut sometimes give me a lot of grief and I'm still throwing up occasionally.  Neither of these things are great.  I'm still pretty tired and could sleep all day, if circumstances would allow.  There are a few more items I need to discuss with them, too.  I never r...

  11/16/21 I'm back from my cruise.  We had a good time, even though I couldn't do much.  I did get to snorkel in Mahogany Bay one day.  I tuckered out kinda early, but it was worth it.  It rained in Cozumel, so snorkeling was out that day.  I slept quite a bit and finished my novel, so I count it good.  I started my new cancer drug today, so we'll see how that goes.  My thyroid meds were adjusted and I haven't had labs since then, so I'm not sure how I'm doing with that, either.  I sleep a lot these days - just can't seem to stay awake all day.  I sleep around 12 hours/night, too.  Don't know why.  My lymphedema is getting worse in my torso.  Hurts like a buggar.  Don't know why.  My spinal stimulator has gone berserk and I had to turn it off today.  I can't adjust the intensity.  Don't know why.  The tech is scheduling a visit for me.  I'm throwing up some.  Don't know why.  My sto...

  11/4/21 Thursday - I got my labs back this morning.  White count is still too low and a few other items, too high.  However, they're good enough for me to go on my cruise.  My thyroid level is crazy and she called in something different for me.  That could be the cause of some of the weird stuff that's been happening to my body the past month, or so.  It's never been this far off before, and I had my thyroid removed in 1983. I started to pack for the cruise yesterday and I've got stuff laid out all over the place.  I want to go snorkeling and I packed my new full-face mask to try out for the first time.  David thinks snorkeling may be too hard to me yet, but I've just got to try it.  I'm a floater.  Snorkeling has always been easy for me.  I don't want to miss out.  If it's too hard, I'll simply stop and realize I packed my gear for nothing. We have Covid tests today to satisfy the government restrictions for the ship.  ...

  11/2/21 It's Tuesday.  I'm a bit better today.  Still off-balance, but my throat is better, so that's good.  My Houston oncologist took me off my cancer medicine for 2 weeks.  Said not to take it any more.  Prescribed a different drug that I'll begin taking after my 2 weeks is up.  We'll try that one and see if the side effects are a bit easier on me.  I'm really looking forward to feeling better in these next 2 weeks.  I had labs done, but don't have the results yet.  My local internist saw me today and said to go on the cruise.  She said just take all the normal precautions and rest when my body tells me to.  Hmmm.... I'll be resting a lot.  But, that's ok.  I love to fall asleep rocking with the waves.  Unless my blood work comes back with something screwy, I'm going. I had a stitch coming up from where I got my port removed and she took that out.  She said hopefully my rash will improve as the cancer d...

  11/1/21 It's Monday.  The first day of November.  Feel the chill in the air?  Yeah, me neither.  It's 78 degrees here today.  I drove this morning, but would not attempt it now.  I've narrowed the culprit down to one pill.  My cancer drug.  Great.  It makes me loopy, along with 1/2 dozen other side effects.  This is not good.  I have a telephone appointment with my oncologist in Houston in 1/2 hour.  He's the one that prescribed it.  We need to have a talk.  I have an appointment with my local internist first thing tomorrow morning.  I see my back doctor on Friday.  Cardiologist next Monday.  Geez.  One of these guys should at least name their first-born after me. I picked up medicine at the pharmacy and picked up my new glasses this morning.  After that, I couldn't wait to get home to take a nap.  I fell asleep on the couch in about 5 seconds.  I set my alarm to wake me for m...