Just Me LMJ

Well I had my first post chemo appointment last Friday.  My red count is pretty good but my white count is still below normal.  The doctor gave me another antibiotic since I still have a lingering sinus infection.  I have to take this medicine for two weeks (by the time I am done with this med, I will have been on an antibiotic for 29 days) so I am thinking the antibiotic ought to knock whatever I have.  I was a little swollen so the doc ordered additional lab and a urine test be done.  He didn’t think it was anything but wanted to be sure.  Chemo zaps the body so I had a bone density test done.  The results were that I was below normal but not bad and he would check it again later.

I was put on the anti-prevention drug, Tamoxifen.  It is a daily pill that I will take until August when I will be put on another drug.  Tamoxifen has a few side effects (blood clots, uterine cancer and hot flashes).  The doctor told me this daily drug regimen is just as important as my chemo treatments were.  I guess he wanted to stress the importance of taking Tamoxifen….I have approached my cancer experience with aggressiveness and being pro-active (removing both breasts) so I don’t plan to miss any daily pill.

I found out today that my lab work and urine test were normal….so I guess I am normal (although I don’t quite feel normal).  I know…I know… it has only been a month since my chemo treatments have ended but I am

on my way back!

Love, Lori

Well here it is almost 4 weeks post chemo and I’m trying to get back into a “normal” life. My hubby and I had a wonderful, relaxing time at Couples Sans Souci, in Ocho Ricos, Jamaica. The resort was in a cove so the beach was small but private. The resort had 4 pools and 2 beaches (one was a nude beach) so the beach where we spent most of our time was not crowded at all. It is amazing how tired we were by 9:00 p.m. when we just ate and hung out at the beach all day.

Unfortunately since our return, I haven’t been feeling too great. We returned on Sunday and on Wednesday I began experiencing swelling. By Thursday, I had no ankle bones so I went to the doctor (my doctor was on vacation). I was checked for blood clots in my legs (which I didn’t have) and on Friday I was put on a water pill. The doctor had no idea why I was swelling but the water pills have helped. During this time, I developed what I thought was a toothache so on the following Monday I went to the dentist only to find out it wasn’t a dental issue. So to my primary doctor I went, where I was put on an antibiotic for a sinus infection. Now you think that would be the end of it, but no such luck, on the following Sunday I woke at 2 a.m. with an ear issue and since then my head feels like I’m in a well and I can’t hear very well. I don’t understand what is going on….I’m taking a decongestant along with my antibiotic so why is my head clogged?

I go to my cancer doctor on Friday so today was the last day I’m taking the water pill…I want to see if I swell up again. If my head is still clogged, maybe he can help with that too. If this isn’t enough, I have several fingernails that have partially separated from the nail bed. My fingernails haven’t fallen off, just some of the nails don’t look very good. I’ll let you know how my doctor appointment goes on Friday.
I find this all a little frustrating…I thought I would bounce right back after chemo…my hubby reminds me that it has not been that long and I’m expecting too much.

Love, Lori