I caught a 48 hour cold on Wednesday before infusion #4. ended up with slight chest cold, but got about 85% better before Monday infusion on Oct 5th. Early morning PET scan indicated that tumor "uptake", ie activity had been reduced by about 75%....good news! Doctor is still mulling whether to go with 6 or 8 infusions. My 5th infusion will be October 26th, and #6 will be November 16th. We head to California to see Laila's new baby on November 23rd.
A week after infusion, I seem to be plagued with chest congestion, which keeps me up at night. Taking TheraFlu to help. ALSO, I was surprised to wake up on Saturday with a severe bone pain in the arch of one foot. Limp, Limp......... Taking non-asprin pain reliever seems to pretty well, enough to allow me to continue remodeling job of changing out the windows for a customer.
Final shot of neupogen type drug today (build up white blood cells). It will be interesting to see if bone pain goes away by end of week.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Surprise Fatigue
It's great to be past that uncomfortable chemo feeling. It's a tough one to describe if you haven't experienced it. It's a kinda of weakening churning in the chest and abdominal cavity. Got past that last week, after return from Lake City. I felt kind of weak and exhausted on Monday and napped most of the day. Gradually felt much better over next few days.
On Sunday we climbed Pagosa Peak, about 4,000 ft. above our 8,000 ft home. I've climbed it twice before in about 2 hours. To my surprise, it took me 4 hours of slow trudging this time. Yikes!! I'm now realizing that I'm suffering from pretty low energy. Today I did a simple siding repair for a customer. Shoulda been a simple 2 hour task. After 3 hours I was physically exhausted! So, this is knew. If I rest and do bookwork I don't notice fatigue. And I'm eating lots of good food ! Funny that this is starting this far down the road...ready to do 4th chemo on Monday.
On Monday I will also have PET scan to see how it's all doing.
On Sunday we climbed Pagosa Peak, about 4,000 ft. above our 8,000 ft home. I've climbed it twice before in about 2 hours. To my surprise, it took me 4 hours of slow trudging this time. Yikes!! I'm now realizing that I'm suffering from pretty low energy. Today I did a simple siding repair for a customer. Shoulda been a simple 2 hour task. After 3 hours I was physically exhausted! So, this is knew. If I rest and do bookwork I don't notice fatigue. And I'm eating lots of good food ! Funny that this is starting this far down the road...ready to do 4th chemo on Monday.
On Monday I will also have PET scan to see how it's all doing.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Losing some taste
Had a great weekend in the San Juans. It IS turning to winter here. This week it will be freezing in the mountains with some snow! I've got a low energy level going, I think due to the neupogen shots, which I fianlly finished yesterday.
One odd symptom I'm noticing over the last week is that I am losing the taste of several foods. Last week I noticed that a bunch of wonderful grapes tasted like just water. Hamburger still has the textual taste but the great flavor ain't there. I was drinking SOBEs last week, but am suddenly repulsed by them. The very thought of some foods actually starts to make me feel nauseous. Fortunately, Robeta makes great chili, so I eat a lot of wonderful enchiladas and burritos! I can still taste a lot of sweet stuff. I hope it's due to the neupogen and that I will now regain all the lovely tastes!
I hopefully will now recover my strength and tastes over the the next few days and have a great week next week before #4.
One odd symptom I'm noticing over the last week is that I am losing the taste of several foods. Last week I noticed that a bunch of wonderful grapes tasted like just water. Hamburger still has the textual taste but the great flavor ain't there. I was drinking SOBEs last week, but am suddenly repulsed by them. The very thought of some foods actually starts to make me feel nauseous. Fortunately, Robeta makes great chili, so I eat a lot of wonderful enchiladas and burritos! I can still taste a lot of sweet stuff. I hope it's due to the neupogen and that I will now regain all the lovely tastes!
I hopefully will now recover my strength and tastes over the the next few days and have a great week next week before #4.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Third infusion
Had my third infusion on Monday. Drove to Albuquerque from Pagosa on Sunday. Started infusion at 10:00 AM Monday. Done by 2:00. Back in Pagosa by evening. I take steroid pills till Friday, which plays havoc with sleeping. I'm also giving myself neupogin injection everyday for eight days to build up white blood cells.
I've kinda got the routine down now, so the unknown has dimished and I can plan the weeks. I feel well enough to work paper work and remodeling tasks at a slow pace. I'll have some mild chest congestion while I'm taking the shots. We're taking the pop-up camper into the San Juans to Lake City for a wine and music festival for the weekend. Roberta will have to drink for 2! By the end of the second week I'll be starrting to feel fine again. During week three I'll be back to normal energy level. Then I'll have the next infusion on the third Monday. On the day of infusion #4 I'll also get a PET and CAT scan so the oncologist can check the effectiveness of the chemo treatment.
I've kinda got the routine down now, so the unknown has dimished and I can plan the weeks. I feel well enough to work paper work and remodeling tasks at a slow pace. I'll have some mild chest congestion while I'm taking the shots. We're taking the pop-up camper into the San Juans to Lake City for a wine and music festival for the weekend. Roberta will have to drink for 2! By the end of the second week I'll be starrting to feel fine again. During week three I'll be back to normal energy level. Then I'll have the next infusion on the third Monday. On the day of infusion #4 I'll also get a PET and CAT scan so the oncologist can check the effectiveness of the chemo treatment.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Weird symptoms
Monday night...... took last shot of neupogen around dinner. Two tylenol around 8:00 PM. I slept VERY well. No background mental semi-dream all night.....just 3 long periods of sleep and "normal" dreams. Morning symptoms......... felt weak and bone/muscular weakness during mile walk. Also feeling a little faint when getting up from sitting. This could be due to using diuretic med which lowers blood pressure. Will relax this morning. Through all of this I have kept up simple remodel schedule.......stain a house, work on bids.
Ache and shortness of breath would not allow 10 mile hike today! Hopefully by weekend.
Appetite is good. Reading recipes for crab cakes and and breakfast burritos!
Ache and shortness of breath would not allow 10 mile hike today! Hopefully by weekend.
Appetite is good. Reading recipes for crab cakes and and breakfast burritos!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Week Two after 2nd infusion
Been taking neupogen shots to increase white blood cell counts for 7 days. Neupogen works right down in the bone marrow. Last shot today. I normally take shot around dinnertime. Last night I took it around 9:00 PM after evening get together at a friends house. Weird night! I was very sleepless, achy, light sleep, up to pee every hour. Weird mental half-dream state. Bones ache some this morning. Took good mile walk this AM. Will take last neupogen shot earlier tonight. I guess neupogen is causing bones to ache....meaning it's working ! I'm off steroids for this round. Infusion number 3 in two weeks.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Infusion #2 done
Got second infusion on Monday. I checked in at 8:00 AM. Once they get me settled in to my recliner in the infusion room, they order up the chemo drugs from pharmacy. So actual infusion starts around 10:00 am. The 4 infusion drups go in through an IV (drip or nurse push). They give me a cup full of symtom treatment pills and my fist 16 mg of steroids. Next is 1 1/2 hour of rituxan, followed by nurse-push in of two infusions (30 minutes). Then the final drug is dripped in for 45 minutes. I felt fine coming out. Went to lunch with Roberta, her brother Ron and son Clay. I did half of the driving back to Pagosa. The benedryl and the steroids then battled for control. I napped part way home, but then was up from midnight till 3:00 with a steroid buzz.
I am doing neupogen injections. I give myself a small needle in the stomach everyday around 5:00 PM. Seven total days. No big deal. No real pain. The neupogin will go right to my bone marrow to help produce more white blood cells. My white blood cell level is 1600. Normal range is 4000-8000. I was 6000 at start. I haven't felt any bone aching, which might occur.
My appetite is great. We walk every morning. I feel slightly queasy-buzzed most of the day.
We'll see how the energy level rides through the next two weeks. I'm scheduling in remodeling work, at a slow pace.
I am doing neupogen injections. I give myself a small needle in the stomach everyday around 5:00 PM. Seven total days. No big deal. No real pain. The neupogin will go right to my bone marrow to help produce more white blood cells. My white blood cell level is 1600. Normal range is 4000-8000. I was 6000 at start. I haven't felt any bone aching, which might occur.
My appetite is great. We walk every morning. I feel slightly queasy-buzzed most of the day.
We'll see how the energy level rides through the next two weeks. I'm scheduling in remodeling work, at a slow pace.
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