Just Me LMJ

Yep…been a long time…but I am still here.

I continue to have health issues…..why can’t I get back to normal?  Without going into all that has occurred the last three years, I will say that the latest is my heart.  They tell me I have a severely weakened heart which has been caused by the chemo.  I currently take 4 different heart meds and there is a chance the damage that has been done can be reversed.  I weigh myself daily, take my blood pressure daily and try to reduce the stress in my life.  One way to do that has been to move to a reduced work schedule….of course add to that my dad fell and broke his hip and is recovering at my house.

I know my latest health issue could be quite serious (especially if the damage can’t be reversed) so I thank God for my wonderful hubby for without him I’m not sure where I would be.  He takes care of the house and reminds me frequently to take my meds, he helps with all the meals and helps with dad.  It is just him and I for it seems the rest of the world just goes on with their lives….not realizing what is going on in our house.  We are to blame for that since people don’t know what they don’t know.

But for now, that is the way I want it and after three years, I am entitled.  I am still kicking and refuse to give up that life may someday be normal.

I am reminded constantly that life is a gift and no day is promised to us!

Love you,

Hi all,

Sorry I haven’t posted FOREVER…but life has been crazy.  The month of November my hubby and I had 4 deaths in our family (his mother, cousin, my uncle and brother-in-law).  Then came the holidays, our house sold, softball, we moved and as you can see one thing after another.  Anyway we are still trying to get settled.

I am feeling pretty good…but I still seem to be tired…but could be that I am just too darn busy.

For now I just wanted to check in…I’ll post again….promise!

Love ya,

Lori

Thought I would update you all on my health.  My mediport removal went pretty well.  I had talked to the anesthesiologist about me taking oral sedation (like advertised in going to the dentist).  I took 2 pills and remember only bits and pieces of the ordeal.  I know I was stuck just once for my IV.  I did miss 3 days of work because the doctor didn’t put a dressing over the incision and I I needed to stay quiet as well as keep it dry.

Now the pacemaker…well, things didn’t go as smoothly..well sorta.  As you may recall I have a phobia about the IV.  On Monday before the surgery, I had to have pre-op stuff including lab work.  They stuck me okay but couldn’t get the blood to come out.  They massaged my arm and eventually had the tubes of blood.  They had me bandaged up only to realize they FORGOT to draw something so they had to stick me again, which was an ordeal allover again.  I’m sure I will be in the memories of those two lab people for years to come.  I was extremely distraught that I called up the cardiologist and wanted the same dose of oral sedation for the pacemaker surgery.  He would only let me take half the dose that I had taken for the mediport removal.  Now I was mellow but certainly not out of it and remember all!   It took 10 sticks (originally thought 8 sticks but now can see it was more than that) for the IV.  The head of the anesthesiology department was called down and as good as he is…it still took him at least 3 sticks to get the IV in.  I’m sure that I will also be in the memories of those fine people for awhile as well.  Since they had trouble getting my IV in, the procedure started later…I don’t remember too much after they got the IV in because they had a syringe full of forget liquid waiting for me as soon as the IV was in.  I kept asking if they couldn’t just give me a shot of something…but oh well.

I had to stay overnight so they could monitor my heart rate, have a chest x-ray and receive preventative antibiotics (through an IV of course).  I barely moved my left arm cause I didn’t want to mess up my IV and I didn’t want to have the leads from the pacemaker to become dislogded.  I was discharged around 11:00 Thursday with a heart rate of 89 (yeah).  No using the arm or driving until I see the doctor (couple of weeks) and then no lifting anything heavier than a milk jug or lifting my arm over shoulder height for another 2 weeks.  I am sore, tender and bruised but am getting along pretty well.  Yesterday I got on the computer but it does seem to bother it so think I will make shorter visits.

As far as my pacemaker, I know my heart rate is faster but I can’t say I have a ton more energy but then I’m not suppose to be doing anything.  I feel a sensation in my chest area and I’m not sure what it is but will ask about it if it continues.  In the literature I received, it says it takes a few weeks for the pacemaker and body to adjust…so I’m thinking that it is.

So I’m not normal yet….but may be getting closer.

Take care.  Love, Lori

Here it is…12:30 in the morning and I am up, nervous about tomorrow and remembered my blog so thought I write. I passed the 2 year Cancer Survivor on August 4, 2008. Very exciting but will be happier with each passing year.

Yes, at the moment, I am a little discouraged as it seems that my health continues to give me issues. I don’t know if it is all caused by the cancer but it all started at that time. In 2005 my mother died, in 2006 I was diagnosed with cancer, in 2007 the benign tumor was found in my left ear and now in 2008…….drumroll….a pacemaker. You are reading correctly…a pacemaker. A 48 year old woman with a pacemaker. I am much too young for that! Over the last few months I have had “episodes” of lightheadedness, fatique, dizziness. I didn’t think too much about them as I always had a reason, got up to fast, walking too fast, the humidity, etc. It wasn’t until I had an MRI in August to check on the benign tumor (which is fine) that I found out that my heart rate was only 48 (normal is 60 to 100 beats a minutes). Over the last several weeks, I have had a EKG, wore a holter monitor, blood tests, and an stress echocardiogram and still can’t believe I need a pacemaker. It seems I have something called a Heart Block…2nd degree Mobitz Type II. The heart is fine but the electrical circuit from the top chambers to the lower chambers has developed a “short”. The stress echocardiogram showed that it would not get better on it own and would only get worse. I had to walk on a treadmill for as long as I could…after 9 1/2 minutes my heart rate was only 63.

Unfortunately, tomorrow I am having outpatient surgery to remove my mediport and then on the 22nd the pacemaker surgery. I hate that my mediport has to be taken out but they said it had to. They tell me after my pacemaker surgery I will feel like a new woman.

Maybe then life will return to normal.

Love, Lori

Well I’m a little overdue with my post but thought today would be a good day…Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers that read this.  I had my doctor’s appointment in April and overall am doing pretty well.  I don’t have to go back until early July.  I am going to remain on Tamoxifen for awhile longer and other than some achy joints I really am doing well.

I believe that anyone who has had a life changing experience like cancer becomes a little apprehensive as each doctor’s appointment nears.  I felt pretty good before I was diagnosed with cancer, never would have thought I had cancer, really even when I found the lump….so as each appointment draws nearer I wonder if something will show up.  I still have my mediport in and my doctor asks me about taking it out.  I’m just not ready yet….not so much because I am worried my cancer will be back (although that is part of it), I just like having it available for all the labs, MRI’s, etc. that I still have to have.

My daughter came home from her first year of college on Friday night.  I worked late and my son picked me up.  I never suspected anything as he took me over to his house on the pretense that he needed to pick something up.  We got out of the car and he opened his garage door.  There was my family, taking my picture as I spied a cute little Saturn Sky with a big blue bow on the top.  I had said when I got diagnosed with cancer that when I got better I was getting a cute little convertible sportscar just for me.  My hubby had went out and got it for me.  What a guy!

This coming weekend is the Relay for Life.  I plan to go and walk with the other Survivors.  In a few months, I will be a 2 year cancer survivor.  Wow…hard to believe.

Happy Mother’s Day!  As always, thanks for your support.

Love, Lori

I know, I know I am long overdue with updating. I actually had a couple of people call me to make sure I was okay since I hadn’t updated in awhile. It still amazes me that people read this!! Anyway, Jeff and I went to Mexico in January and had a great relaxing time.

I finally went through with my head MRI in February. The MRI was almost 2 hours. I didn’t get claustophobic but I did get very, very uncomfortable laying there…it was like all I could think of was how uncomfortable it was, how heavy my head was feeling. The great news was that the acoustic neuroma had not gotten any bigger. So no radiation (for now). I have to go through the MRI again in about 6 months.

I started taking glucosamine (over the counter stuff) for my achy joints and bones and after a few weeks am starting to feel better. I don’t understand why I still have some swelling. Some days I can’t even wear my rings.  Jeff has made comments that one leg swells more than the other.  I see my cancer doctor next Wednesday so I’ll have to ask him….maybe it is the Tamoxifen.  Today I had a lab work and a bone density test.  I’ll get my results next week.

Life is busy….Jaylyn has started softball and we followed her to Florida over Spring break to watch her team play.  Jeff is still having some health stuff going on and trying to get our house ready to put on the market.  Work is as busy as ever.

I’ll sign off for now but since I see the doctor next week….I will post (promise).

Thanks for all your continued support and encouragement.

Love, Lori

My mom was on the local news talking about preventative mastectomies. The video is below.

Jeremy

Happy Holidays to all,

Can’t believe the holidays are here.  What a difference a year makes!  Last year I had chemo just a few days before Christmas, my red count was low and I was feeling puny.  But wow…here I am… a little worse for wear but here.

Just to update you all…I had my thyroid biospy (well attempted to) and it was discovered that the nodule was smaller so the doctor stopped and told me to have an ultrasound in a year.  Since it was smaller, it couldn’t be bad news, so I’m happy with that.  I decided to postpone my MRI on my acoustic neuroma until February.  I want to enjoy the holidays and not be feeling the side effects of radiation (if I had to have it).  I saw my cancer doctor and he had me do a chest xray and a bone scan.  The bone scan was an experience because they wouldn’t use my mediport to inject the solution and my vein kept moving and collapsing.  I found this terribly frustrating since it had been over 8 months since my last chemo treatment I thought my veins would be in better shape.  I decided I am never taking my mediport out (well at least for a long time).  After all that, my bone scan was good too.  I see my cancer doctor in March and may at that time finally be switched off of Tamoxifen to something else.  I also will have a bone density test at that time.

I have some lingering achiness and joint swelling.  I believe it may be from the Tamoxifen but not sure.  I started taking an over the counter joint lubricate but so far haven’t seen a big difference.  They tell me it may take a few weeks.

Jeremy’s house is finally done!  He moved to his house in early December.  It turned out very nice and we are very glad it is done.  In January, Jeff and I are heading to Mexico for a week.  A local radio station morning DJs are going and were promoting it so it was a spur of a moment decision for us.  We have never been to Mexico but are looking forward to it.

After the first of the year, we may finally see what it is like to have an Empty Nest.  The houses are done, Jaylyn will be back at school and it will be just Jeff and I.  Can it be that life is finally calming down?  Time will tell.  I will let you know how my MRI goes in February.

We continue to be thankful for all the support and encouragement each of us received during our cancer experience.  Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement.

This holiday season and always, enjoy any time you have with your family and friends.  In the meantime, we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2008.

Love, Lori

I am feeling a lot like the little engine that keeps trying to make it up the hill but I haven’t quite made it yet.  There still are some obstacles in my cancer journey but I know if I keep plugging away, I will make it to the top.

Life the last month or so has been extremely busy.  Between work and home, there isn’t much time to just relax.  This of course stresses me more because I know I need to think of my health.  This Friday afternoon my thyroid biopsy is scheduled.  There is a possibility that I won’t need a biopsy.  It is possible that the nodule has gone away.  But if not, and they go ahead with the biopsy, I am hopeful I will receive conclusive results so I can move past this.

I also have an appointment Friday morning with my cancer doctor.  I would love to say I am feeling super but I’m not.  I have a couple of nagging issues that I will be talking to the doctor about.  I’ll keep you posted.

In early December, I have an MRI scheduled to see if my acoustic neuroma has grown.  If it has, then I may proceed with radiating my head….something that doesn’t thrill me.  I’ll post more about that later.

I just hadn’t posted in a few weeks and I wanted to write down what is still ahead for me.  I’ll post again after my biopsy.

Thanks for everything.

Love, Lori

I know I have been seriously delinquent in posting but as I expected life has kept me very, very busy. Work was a little rough at first but I seem to be getting my work legs back. We are extremely busy at work and the days fly by…many days I am there 10 hours. Jaylyn has went off to school and is homesick and on top of that she had strep throat a couple of weeks ago and still felt puny so came home yesterday and had blood tests done to see what is going on. Today I found out she has mycroplasma pneumonia. They put her on a difference antibiotic and hopefully she will be feeling better soon.

I returned to work on a Monday and that night I had to take Jeff to the Emergency Department. He was having trouble breathing and had a heaviness in his chest. Just so you know, when you go to the Emergency Department with these symptoms, it is an automatic admit. They ran a bunch of tests on him and the good news is it wasn’t his heart. They are treating it as acid reflux but he still isn’t back 100%.

My dad also has had a few health issues and with us still working on Jeremy’s house, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. I am more or less done with my reconstruction surgery. The doctor suggested another surgery to fix my right breast, remove the fat necrosis and put in an implant, I nicely said no thanks.  At this point, I have no desire to be off work again or even deal with medical issues.

Unfortunately, I do have to take care of my acoustic neuroma.  I have an appointment in October to see a radiation physician and the ENT doc.  I just want to learn what all my options are before I have anything done.  I’m not thrilled about radiating my head but I’m not thrilled about having head surgery.

I will keep you posted……I can’t believe it has been a year since this has all started.  I am feeling pretty good.  For some reason, my hips are bothering me.  It started when I started walking but has never gone away.  If I have been sitting for awhile and get up, it takes me a few steps to work out the kinks.  Other than that, I do feel good.  My hair is growing and soon, I will not be going to a doctors every few weeks.

Thanks for all your support.

Love you, Lori