Finally slept great!

SWUMC News

Yesterday morning I went to Dr. Hs and had my blood pressure and pulse taken--both were super! (I think getting rid of some of that fluid helped).
I also got ahold of Nattam's nurse and was a little upset that they did not have any documentation of the ER Dr. calling them (BUT, he could have spoken with a different Dr. since I went to Parkview, not Lutheran). Anyhow, Dr. Nattam wasn't aware of my elevated liver enzymes and is going to see me next Thursday. He wasn't overly concerned--says he's seen higher. I don't like to see my AST at 221! Or ALT of 78. Hopefully this is a temporary and ONE TIME crazy elevation.

My pump nearly ran me off the road yesterday. The silly thing scares me to death when it goes off, and it's not even that loud. I couldn't get it to stop and then I realized my chemo bag was leaking. When I got home, as I was on the phone with the "pump" people, Jackson starts coughing in his sleep and then throws up all over his little Dora Bed. So he starts screaming and then suddenly falls back to sleep in that mess! I was torn! Anyone who knows me knows that I'm no good with vomit, especially when I already feel nauseated. So I got off the phone, walked over to Jack and started cleaning him up...then came the dry heaves! Sorry this is gross, so I tried calling Jade at work...phone was busy. So I try his cell, no answer. So I call Sara, and she agrees to run out and get Jade!!!! Jade came home to the rescue.

What a zoo! So now I have a new pump and bag and didn't hear any "beeping" last night! What a day, though.

We did get some yummy food yesterday. Thank you Anita for your warm pumpkin bread, Aunt beth for the pie and ice cream, and Mom for the lasagna. Also Thank you to Lori for the wonderful potato soup earlier in the week...the kids love it, especially the mushrooms you put in it.
Again, thank you for your prayers.

A little excitement on Wednesday

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My infusion pump woke me up AGAIN this morning (Laurie--you're probably giggling about that one). I had to change the batteries again, and then the pesky "air in line" went off again. I fixed it though! (yes, the chemo is still running).

Yesterday morning I started feeling a little pressure in my chest and my heart just "felt funny". So I took my pulse and it was only 40, then 44 after walking around. Had some blurry vision too, I guess. So I earned a visit from Laurie, my wonderful home health care nurse. She found my blood pressure was kind of high, and found my pulse to also be low. So after talking with my docs, off to the Parkview ER we went. Poor Jade, he had no clue what was going on. I was getting ready to call him, when he walked in the door to eat lunch. Perfect timing.

Long story short. I didn't have a heart attack, and the doctor seemed to think my low pulse was from running, my blood pressure was high due to chemo and that was that. He told me that all my labs "looked good", so I was satisfied with that and headed home.
He failed to tell me that my labs weren't fine and dandy (I happen to see them myself yesterday evening), so I'm following up with Dr. Hatcher this morning about them.

OH THIS IS GREAT... While I was getting ready to leave, I saw Dr. Wiersma out in the hallway (he's the guy that diagnosed me with the cancer). I asked my nurse if he was there to pop in and see me (I thought one of the reasons I was going to Fort Wayne was so that I'd be seen by the appropriate docs...nope, just the ER doc). So she went out into the hall and asked him who he was here to see--it wasn't me, but he came in and talked to Jade and I for a bit. He was very nice and talkative--shocked when I told him I can eat again and that my symptoms are improving. He said he couldn't believe how good I looked and that I was working. I told him God is great medicine! He didn't quite know what to say to that, then said people with God in their lives do often seem to do better! Now how about that! I think the reason for my trip yesterday was so that I could see him!

I really do feel better this morning. No more chest pressure, and I've been up all night "getting rid of water" as Grandma Myers might say (haha). I think maybe the pressure was also due to all the fluids they gave me on Monday--I actually had some extra Magnesium too, which likes to hold water.

The mouth sores are trying to decide if they want to attack yet. I can just barely feel that burning sensation on my tongue from those little guys. I'm using all the swish and spit concoctions too.

Oh, and I guess that the Chicago Tribune story may have been pushed back a day or 2 since the winner was in the hospital for a few days. His story, which would have normally ran on Monday or Tuesday, didn't run until yesterday. So either our story will run late, or who knows, maybe they will bump it?
UPDATE: THE STORY IS IN TODAY. Here is the link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-0610250303oct26,1,1829249.story?coll=chi-leisuretempo-hed


Thank you for your prayers and notes.

Wednesday

SWUMC News

My stomach woke me up this morning around 2:30 a.m. so I ate some cereal and can't seem to go back to sleep. It's nice and quiet though. The kids were so ornery yesterday, I welcome a little stillness.

I'm feeling pretty good, so far. Starting to feel those pesky little mouth sores, though. They usually don't make a full appearance until Saturday or Sunday.

I've been able to drink well, but I couldn't eat until lunch time yesterday--the nausea was a little overwhelming. I'm glad Dr. H talked me into staying home (actually I had no choice in the matter--she's so good to me):)

After running Sunday, I feel better than I thought I would. I can still feel it in my hamstrings and quads, but nothing compared to how I imagined I'd feel.

Kelly and Stephanie are heading to Detroit this weekend to run their marathon. I'd love to jump in with them at the 1/2 way point, but I know I won't be up for that, nor would my family go for it!

I was surfing the net for Boston qualifying marathons that I could maybe be up for in a few months, then recieved an email from Staci. Evidentally she can either run the Boston in 2007 OR 2008 and I think she is going to run in 2008. So I imagine we'll be running Chicago in 2007 to try and get me qualified for Boston 2008? Yikes! My qualifying time will need to be 3:40 or better! So WHEN I'm in remission, I should feel stronger and be able to do that. Heck, there's a 1/2 marathon at the Boston, maybe we can take a bus from South Whitley!

Well, I need to get some rest before the kids wake up.

I'm just adding a note...got a couple more hours of sleep, then had my first episode of the dry heaves. So I thought, maybe I just need to eat so I just at a blueberry waffle--not what I normally recommend to my patients, but we'll see? And I'm drinking some ice tea. What a combo, but the ice tea seems to soothe my stomach.

Week 3 chemo

SWUMC News

Other than some sore hamstrings and calves, I felt really well when I woke up this morning.

Had blood drawn and saw Dr. Waylen this morning--I think I liked him even better than Nattam. He had a lot of good information. I asked him what his impression since my symptoms have been greatly improving...due to the prayers and chemo or steroids. He felt strongly that my tumor is shrinking and that is why my symptoms are improving. I will have a CT scan in 2 weeks to see if the tumor is shrinking. I have mixed feelings about that day. I am afraid to get bad news. It's hard to imagine that the news would be bad if I'm feeling so good?
Then I will have 6 more treatments then reevaluate everything.
I also asked him what his impression was for my prognosis. He promptly replied that normally with stage 4 stomach cancer we don't shoot for a cure with chemo, but do seek remission. I was a bit confused by this, but did not ask any more questions. I think I like that word "remission". It's a lot better than "dead in 6 months!
ALSO, my counts are headed back up. My white blood cells were 4.3 today (in the normal range) which is inceased from last Wednesday when it was 3.4. Also my anemia is improving and went up one point from 10.4 to 10.5. Not bad. EXCEPT my magnesium was a little low today so I had to have a couple grams today. The nurse said it is common to occur during chemo. My creatinine (kidney test) was normal though! So Overall I was pretty happy with today's visit. Now I'm trying to get my pump to stop beeping and saying that there is air in the line! I don't see much air, so I just stop then start it again. I really don't want a bunch of air entering my port.

I'm taking the week off from work. Will rest and work on crocheting hats and scarves! Also bought a couple more patterns with neat hat and scarve directions!
It was nice to have mom there with me today. We sat in the overflow chemo room again and are getting pretty close to some of the patients and their family. Today we sat with Joyce (breast CA) and her friend (I found out is friends with Dr Hatcher), Hope (coloncancer) and her sister Esther, Ed (lung cancer) and a couple other elderly men who spent most of the time sleeping and snoring (haha)--just like home!
Will get off here and get ready for bed. Love, Becca

WE DID IT!

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So I misdirected my husband once we were in Chicago and missed the turn. So we ended up going a few miles out of our way. We also got a bit lost on the way home, but I have to add that I wasn't responsible for that one!

We did it and Staci qualified to run the Boston marathon in 2007! It was a very cold morning, but at least it only sprinkled a little, instead of the down pour that was forecasted on Friday. Jade, Mom, Dad, Rachel, Dan, and Braydan all waited with me between miles 12 and 13 for Staci (we also saw her AND Greg Lopshire at mile 2). It was a chilly hour and half--I had on 2 pairs of running pants, long sleeve shirt, jacket, coat and hat and hood--2 pairs of gloves and was STILL shivering! It was kind of scary to take off the coat, a pair of pants and a pair of gloves to get ready to jump in with Staci. We were all shivering. It was funny, though. I didn't see Staci running our way, but Jade did and he practically tossed me into the street at her! (He made me proud--what support!)
I was so afraid that I'd hold her back, but she insists that I didn't. I'm so excited for her and I'm so excited that God gave me the strength to run with her. It was wonderful to have my family there with me.
Staci grabbed my hand and we ran the last 100 meters holding hands and were approached by a reporter from the Chicago Tribune. He had a lot of questions and ended up calling both of us this evening. He took some photos--yes I have pink hair and will probably have pink hair for many days-it's not washing out. (Lauren does not like it). The article will be in either the Tuesday or Wednesday addition of the Chicago Tribune! Kind of neat. (Oprah, here we come)!

Thank you for all of your prayers, encouragement, and support. I know there were a few people kind of nervous about me running. I DID clear it with Dr. Nattam last week. He said that I could go run!
Tomorrow I see another Dr. since Dr. Nattam is out of town again. I see Dr. Waylen? He's Aunt Beths oncologist. I hope that he can answer some questions, like how many more treatmens I have to undergo before we'll do some more scans or endoscopy. Also I sure would like to know if there is a point that I will have radiation too? They talked about this early on, but since I haven't talked to a physician since before I started chemo, I really don't have any clue about my plan of care.
I had better go, I need to get some Ben Gay.