The last time I was able to blog, I mentioned that I was waiting for the results of the biopsy on Tuesday (Day 21 post diagnosis). The results came back inconclusive, with not enough cells to be able to analyze. A repeat bone marrow biopsy is scheduled for this Monday afternoon, thankfully under anesthesia again.... Continue Reading →
Days 17-20: Biopsy and the Waiting Game
I'm not a patient person. I think I might have mentioned that once or twice before. My mom tells me that it started before I was born. I was due in mid-September, but come the end of July I couldn't wait anymore and chose to enter the world premature, screaming and fighting. Being patient takes... Continue Reading →
Day 16: Crying ’til I Laugh
The Big 'D' I slept fitfully last night, thoughts of my hair not far from my mind. I know it sounds vain, and those of you who know me from Facebook, are aware that I went through this just about a week and a half ago when the doctor told me I would definitely lose... Continue Reading →
Day 15: Good Beginning… Not So Good Ending…
Overnight was rough again, the usual fever and chills. I meant to mention in yesterday's post that my central line had to be removed in the afternoon, because they suspected that it had become infected. The culture that returned back gram positive yesterday for Staph infection, led them to believe that it was coming from... Continue Reading →
Day 14: Fever in the Morning . . .
. . . Fever all through the night What a rough night. Probably the worst night yet. Had uncontrollable chills, and the fever spiked even higher. I was given cross matched platelets overnight, to see if that would boost my levels enough to take the chills away a bit. And then was given another IV... Continue Reading →
Day 13: Stop fighting, already!!
I've been trying to write for days, but every time I get a few minutes, I either get a call... a doctor or nurse walks in... or I am given Benadryl before a transfusion which knocks me out for 4-5 hours or more... or I just plain don't feel well. How's a girl supposed to... Continue Reading →
Day 12, Part 2: A Spoonful of Sugar
Have I got you singing the rest of the song? Earlier today, I determined to try to get myself to a better-feeling place. And, as I close out the night and get ready to go to sleep, my heart and mind are at peace again. I am continually amazed at the power of the mind,... Continue Reading →
Day 12, Part 1: Girl on a Mission
6:30 am: Woke up so cranky. Don't think Ambien agrees with me. Took forever to get to sleep, though I think this was more due to the ultimately anti-climactic countdown to the end of chemo (although, thank you to JK for toasting my milestone with a shot of tequila!). Had an awful nurse last night,... Continue Reading →
Day 11: Hibernation
With the aid of a Percocet taken around 9pm last night, I managed to get about 10 hours of sleep, pain-free. Woke up this morning with the same pain I went to sleep with - excruciating stomach pain. I'm not one to take drugs, I generally just push through unless it gets particularly unbearable. But... Continue Reading →
Day 10: Cookies, Milestones, and Mood Swings
I ended last night waiting for the cat scan of the lungs. They finally took me down at about 12:30 am. Arrgh.... Thankfully, the results showed that there were no blood clots in my lungs. A very good thing. My nurse and I noticed a trend (the benefit of having the same nurse most of... Continue Reading →
Day 9: A Day in the Life . . .
"The Routine" Today started out pretty well. Had my energy back, despite only getting about two hours of sleep overnight. Being a huge creature of habit, my typical daily routine seems to have evened out to: 4:00 am - vital signs (generally don't go back to sleep, just doze a bit) 7:00 am - try... Continue Reading →
Day 8: Feeling great!
Woke up in a much better frame of mind today. Suffering from the effects of the chemo a little more, however. I've been tired, and have lost my sense of taste and appetite. I ordered yogurt for breakfast, and I could have sworn it tasted like drywall spackle. Not that I've eaten drywall spackle, mind... Continue Reading →
Day 7: ‘Twas Bound to Happen
I woke up decidedly melancholy this morning. I underestimated just how upsetting cutting all of my hair off would be to me. Like Sampson in Biblical times, whose strength was in his hair, I felt that all my femininity was in my long, red tresses. To say that I shed a few tears would be... Continue Reading →
Day 6, Part 2: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Exercise... YES! Never underestimate the power of positive endorphins. When I was moved to a new (BIGGER!) room yesterday with an exercise bike I had requested, it was a huge boost to my mental health. I was going pretty stir crazy in my previous room, not a lot of room to walk around in, so... Continue Reading →
Day 6, Part 1: Really??? Day 6, already??
Hard to believe I am on day 6 after my diagnosis, and day 3 of chemo. Time flies when you're, well, having fun. Oddly enough, I've overall not had a bad few days, all things considered. I laugh a lot here - joke around with my nurses, and I secretly think my doctors like... Continue Reading →
Day 1: The Day After the Diagnosis
Daily Motivation
The Road Less Traveled 