Spring is coming

Well, it has been quite a crazy day but it really ended on a high note!! This morning I could not get out of bed for anything and Rob snore there beside me was not help. Finally drug myself out of bed (a little late -but oh well) and off to work, however since I was late I didn't have anything to eat or drink. Got yelled at and Rob brought me my yummy(not) green veggie drink and protein drink to work and told the staff and Dr. Hall to make sure i drink it so I was attacked when I went to wash out the bottle ( I mean really attacked too, they were yelling and running through the office "you drink that you drink that!!!" I did, I was just washing the bottle. Geesh. Then clinic was long and I was exhausted, but made it through. Today the gift certificate that Rob got for a free meal at Bristol expired so we HAD to go. And much to my surprise I could actually taste some of my meal, I mean How cool is that of course there is probably 2 bottles of salt in every bite, but, I could sorta taste it. YEAH!! we are on the right track. And then after that wonderful experience I came home to a wonderful surprise, My dear friend and my sister -n - law had dropped off two big pots of spring flowers for me to sit outside and enjoy!! Thanks so much to them!!! I can sit and enjoy them and the bunnies can't get to them (HA HA BUNNIES) That will be nice this weekend (inside for now) since it is suppose to rain or snow.

So it is off to bed for me early, 'cause I have surgery tomorrow and it is 3 hours long.

1 Month Follow Up

Doctor appointment went GREAT! He said he felt I was doing really good - better than expected. He SAAIIDD that my taste should completely recover Which is different than what he said before, but maybe that is because I am doing so well now -- How awesome is that. He said I haven't lost as much weight as he thought I had ( Could be because I wore my Heavy coat and big shoes) whoops. Thats ok I didn't need to be yelled at. So he is planning to do a follow MRI in about a 6 weeks and then follow up with him in 2 months. Then we will schedule the PET scan. I see the surgeon in two weeks and My primary care in a week and repeat labs to see if i am still anemic and if my Vitamin D levels are up. If not I guess I will have to get a doctors order to Florida! So far this week I have felt awesome! weight is staying stable, energy level is staying up and no pain in my mouth. Now if I can just start eating enough to support an increase in activity so I can start exercising I will be completely happy with where I am at. I'm workin on it. I will check back in about a week from now. Have a great week everyone. I love you all!!!

4 weeks out

Well, here we are 1 month from my last treatment. Last week Dr. Hall was out of town, so I was able to rest up quite a bit. I tried to take at least half a day off everyday. I really think it did me some good. My energy level is up, My mouth doesn't hurt at all anymore. I am still getting the blisters develop and have one big sore left on the left side of my tongue. Throat does hurt at times when I swallow. My taste is still gone so my weight is an issue, but we are working on that and Hopefully that will start coming back in the next couple week ( I am being very optimistic) Most of the time I feel like nothing happened. I have my 1 month post treatment appointment tomorrow. Then i guess they will schedule my PET scan. It is hard to believe we are on this side and one month out. Thanks to everyone for all of your love and support- you are what helped me get through this , I could never have done it without you all. Love you and I will let you know what doctor says tomorrow.

3rd Week post treatment

This week was filled with ups and downs. Started out very strong. Monday had surgery 5 hour surgery did much better than I thought I would. Went home after to rest up for a very busy day on Tuesday.. Surgery AND Clinic. Made it through surgery very well, then headed to the office for clinic. About 3 o'clock I found my self feeling so energized I almost felt normal (and I use that term lightly) again. Then went home and was still energized to go out to dinner for Rob's birthday. I was so thrilled, I thought maybe we have turned a corner--YEAH!!

Then Wednesday came felt pretty good in the morning and then about noon it was like someone had turned a switch off all of a sudden I couldn't lift my arms off the desk hardly. So I thought - I need to go home and rest and I will be fine for clinic tomorrow. So I did. But Thursday was worse, Overwhelming since of exhaustion had come over me and would not go away. Finished Clinic (a very long clinic no doubt) and headed home to bed. Then Friday I made it through about 1 1/2 hrs of office and I headed home, Slept about all day and night and til noon today. Just now starting to feel like I could actually get out of bed and not just collapse to the floor. Do Not want to experience that again. WoW! Hopefully THAT was the turn around point, don't think I can handle much more of this laying around It is driving me INSANE!!!

So hopefully tomorrow will bring energy back and since my doctor is out of town this week I hope I will be able to rest and re energize!

Starting Week 3 post treatment

Well, things are looking up!! My mouth continues to improve with the mouthwash and meds the doctor gave me. They are causing a serious itchy rash all over my trunk and now starting down my legs and arms. I am using benedryl when I can (It puts me to sleep) and benedryl cream for the rest of the time. I am hardly using any pain medication any more. Starting to eat better - lots of cooked carrots and green beans, rice baked potatoes, Still can't taste anything but at least it doesn't hurt anymore.

Dad and Austen came up to see me this weekend - That was a treat!! We played cards and just hung out, I am afraid at this point I am not very entertaining. All I do is sleep. But, I do feel like I am going in the right direction at least. Friday I barely made it through a 2 1/2 hour surgery and Today I was able to barely make it through a 4 hour surgery so things are looking up. YEAH!!!

2nd Week out from treatments

Well hello-- It has been an interesting week for me. On the second week following treatment my hopes were to be getting back to normal, healing and feeling better. I was hoping to be more energetic, pain decreasing and eating better. So imagine my frustration when the opposite has been true. My energy is hard to judge for me right now because of all the pain medication I am on, The Pain has been increasing ( I have resorted to eating baby food because it is all I can get down due to the pain.) Therefore, My eating is worse. I am at least getting my 10 veggies in with a liquid supplement and Protein with a protein drink and then the rest is whatever I can get down in a 24 hour day. Rob and mom are laughing at me - I have always been a slow eater, but WOW now it takes me 2 hours to get my super down - ie: mac n cheese, bowl of rice with cooked carrots and green beans. And that is the only meal of the day that doesn't consist of pure type food. I went back in to see the doctor on Wednesday due to my frustration and lack of getting better. He said we should be getting better any day now (not sure how comforting that is or what that means) but he thought I had thrush - hence the increase in pain. Mom was a LIFE SAVER on Tuesday, she called her dentist and they had a syrup mixed up for me to swish in my mouth that numbs it for about 2-4 hours at a time and that has been such a blessing, I was getting to were it hurt even to open my mouth and talk and that was making it hard to work for sure since most of what I do is talking to patients and teaching. I actually called in sick for the first time on Tuesday. (It just about killed me but I did it ) The doctor gave me some tablets to dissolve in my mouth to help heal the thrush and said I could continue the swish. We are also trying to get off the steroids without getting headaches, which is slow, but getting there, (this will also help the thrush) now down to 1 a day. On an up side the sun has been out this week and really helped give me a boost of much needed happy endorphins. I have tried to set on the porch as much as possible - Mom is a blessing to us she always knows the right thing to do (even when you resist) And Rob continues to be such a support for my frustrations and getting me through all this emotional stuff---- God brings what you need when its needed, it never ceases to amaze me how he works this way.

Again I want to thank all of you for the cards, notes, letter of support and encouragement, It is such a help - I have them all out on the table so I can go by and read them when I need a little boost.