Just Me LMJ

Just a quick update…last week I met with the plastic surgeon and have scheduled my TRAM flap reconstruction surgery for June 22nd. I recently met with a woman who had the same surgeon and surgery last June. She gave me so much valuable information about what to expect and tips to help me through it. I very much appreciated all her time. The surgeon was upfront about how hard this surgery is….and how painful….the whole process does intimidate me. I am already dreading the IV’s, especially afer I learned the IVs will be in my leg. They like to keep the upper half of the body clear of any obstacles.  I will be in the hospital for 4 to 5 days, in a room that will be 85 degrees.  Evidently they like to keep the room warm to increase blood flow.  At least I won’t have a roommate but for that matter I won’t have many visitors either.  As scary and intimidating as this seems to me, it is something I do want to do.  I believe it will help me feel whole again and help me put this cancer journey behind me.  I so want life to be normal again.

Tomorrow I see my cancer doctor, my ear doctor and have a hearing test.  I don’t think my hearing has improved at all.  Maybe in time my hearing will come back just as quickly as it disappeared.  On Thursday, I will finally have my thyroid biospy.  I am hoping everything is okay…as nervous as I am about the reconstruction surgery, I don’t want anything to prevent it from happening.

I’ll post again after my biopsy.  Thanks for all the support and encouragement.

Love ya, Lori

Well I loved to write that I am A-OK but that wouldn’t quite be the truth. I have had a busy month since I last wrote. I mentioned before that I was having ears issues and finally got in to my ENT doctor. I have a significant hearing loss in my left ear (DUH….I didn’t need to go to the doctor to tell me that) but he isn’t sure it is chemo related since it is just in one ear. Although I think it is strange it began shortly after my chemo ended. Anyway, he put me on my favorite (ha) drug, a steroid, for 5 days. Other than my skin turned red, I was a Chatty Cathy, and sleep eluded me, I don’t think the steroid helped. I returned to the doctor last week and my hearing did improve minimally on paper so I am now taking my favorite drug, a steroid, for another 16 days. I just started it yesterday. The only good thing with Jaylyn graduating in a few weeks, and sleep will be hard to get I might get some things done. If no improvement, then he is doing an MRI of my head just to be sure nothing is going on. If that is negative, then I may have to go to a hearing aid.
My other health issue is that I had a thyroid ultrasound (the genetic doctor ordered it as a baseline)….anyway, wouldn’t you know, I have a little solid nodule that is almost 1 centimeter. I was sent to an endocrinologist and he has recommended a biopsy. Unfortunately, since I am taking a steroid of significant dose I can’t get the biopsy until after I am done with the steroid (something about the steroid causes bleeding). I already take thyroid medicine so I’m not overly concerned with a nodule in my thyroid. Worst case scenario is they would remove my thyroid, which isn’t great but is doable.

Right now I have appointments with my cancer doctor and ENT doctor on May 30th and I also have appointments with the plastic surgeon and thyroid biopsy for May 31st. I am trying to have my reconstruction surgery done in June (around June 19th) but my cancer doctor has to release me before it can be scheduled. Now some of that will depend on the results of the thyroid biopsy.

I was interviewed by WICD which will air Tuesday, May 15th during the 6:00 news. They were doing a story on Clinical Trials and interviewed my doctor and myself. Jaylyn has a softball game that night so I’ll have to tape it. I hope it turned out good.

We made it through Jaylyn’s prom…I am a little biased but I thought she looked absolutlely beautiful, one of the prettiest girls there. Jaylyn’s softball season is winding down this month. Senior Day at softball is this Friday and Jaylyn has told me to not wear a hat. For Volleyball Senior Day, I wore my wig, for Basketball Senior Day I wore a hat so now it will be me with a little hair.

Jaylyn will be graduating May 25th. It is so hard to believe! Jason has offered his house for a party and I think we will do an Open House during the day on May 26th to celebrate her Graduation, Jason’s new home, and us happy to have the last few months behind us.

My life seems to be filled with doctor appointments, but I am hoping I will be cleared to have my surgery next month. I am anxious for my cancer bump in the road to come to an end.

I’ll post again later this month. As always, thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and support.

Love, Lori

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

I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control and I think I like it…yes it is true…I can’t hardly contain myself…I’m here at my LAST CHEMO treatment!!! I made it, it is here…this part of the journey is almost over. I wasn’t sure I would get chemo today since my white count was low last week, it was questionable whether it would be high enough today. Whatever they look at had to be at least 1.2 in order for me to get chemo…today it was 1.27. I barely made it but I did. The doctor said if I was getting more treatments, he might have held it up a few days but since this was it, I could receive my treatment.

My hubby and I are planning a end of chemo celebratory trip to Jamaica (ah yes, sunny and warm) and we fly out on Sunday. We have never been there but have heard it is beautiful. Since my counts will drop again after today’s treatment, the doctor did give me a precautionary antibiotic. I see the doctor again in 4 weeks and will then be put on some sort of anti-prevention drug, such as Tamoxifen, that I will take everyday for as long as 5 years. I am also going to have a bone density scan done before my next appointment…chemo really knocks your bone marrow out and I am at higher risk for osteoporsis (not sure I spelled that right).

My future will still be busy with follow ups, and possibly reconstruction, so my journey with breast cancer is still not over. However, I have made it through the a major hurdle, a little worse for wear, but nevertheless I have made it. I will be anxious to see the changes in my body…will my hair grow faster now, will I be able to sleep better, less hot flashes?? Still so much is unknown.

As I said earlier, my hubby and I are jetting off to Jamaica on Sunday. I can’t wait to relax on the beach and soak up the tropical atmosphere. I’m sure we will have a couple of Rum punches and lots of rest and relaxation.

I probably won’t write as often here but do check back as I will keep blogging to keep you up to date. I have said it before, but it is worth repeating, I and my family could not have done as well through this as we have if it wasn’t for all of you. The cards, emails, phone calls, comments and knowing that people actually read this site, have kept us sane. Whenever I got down, a angel gave me a sign that I and my family were not alone.

You have all been GREAT!!

Love, Lori

Now I’m starting to get a little excited!  I can say that next week I’ll be done with chemo.  This past week has been fairly uneventful.  The normal side effect of tingling and numerous hot flashes started before bed.  I have been sleeping quite a bit on the couch lately.  I can’t seem to get comfortable, or a hot flash wakes me, so I find it easier to sleep on the couch, that way Jeff can get some sleep.  However, I will say the couch is getting old.  May have to kick Jeff out to the couch.  I went to work on Friday and had a couple of comments about my face looking sunburned, I just explained that was the steriods at work.

I did have a little frustrating experience over the weekend.   I went to the mall to buy a bathing suit.  After numerous attempts of trying different ones on, I decided that you really need boobs to make a bathing suit look right and unfortunately, that is something I don’t currently have.

Today my feet and hands have been bothering me but I’m thinking tomorrow will be a better day.  Chemo is on Thursday again this week and then next week, I’m hoping to move it to Wednesday.

Well we are almost done with this part of the journey…you all have been wonderful.

Love, Lori

The blizzard of 07 kept me from getting my chemo treatment on Wednesday like I usually do.  Unfortunately, this was the week I had to see the doctor before I could receive chemo.  Then to top it off, I have gone through 21 weeks of treatments without being sick (besides chemo effects) and on Wednesday I came down with a cold.  Anyway, I was determined to not miss a week.  I can see the end of the road, and I didn’t want weather or a cold to get in the way.  I called on Thursday to see about rescheduling but couldn’t get in until Friday to see the doctor.

I got some good news at my doctor’s appointment.  First, I hadn’t gained any weight from my last doctor’s appointment…didn’t lose any but didn’t gain either.  Secondly, my red blood was up enough that I didn’t need to get my red blood count booster shot.  Chemo was like usual, shortly after my premeds were started, I became sleepy and dozed throughout the treatment.  Jeff and Jaylyn both kept me company, can’t imagine it was much fun watching me doze, but I did appreciate them both being there.  Jaylyn didn’t have school so she brought me up for my appointment.

Since chemo was on Friday, I felt pretty good for the weekend.  I was up Friday night/Saturday morning until 3:00 a.m. and then slept for 3 1/2 hours before I was up.  The steroids kept me going pretty good on Saturday.  I didn’t take a nap at all on Saturday or Sunday.  Probably the first time in many weeks I haven’t taken a nap on the weekends.  The chemo move to Friday made for a good weekend but will probably make for a more difficult Monday and Tuesday.  I was able to move my chemo to Thursdays (they wouldn’t move it back to Wednesdays).

Well, I can’t believe how close the end is…3 more to go.

Love, Lori

Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, flow it, show it, long as God can grow it, My hair ….this is from the song Hair…my way of telling you My Hair is Growing back!!!!! How exciting is that! It is a little patchy but it is growing.  I think it is a little odd because I lost my eyelashes and most of my eyebrows just since I have been on my weekly treatments but now my hair is growing back.

Had a good week. Saw the plastic surgeon on Monday. I am a candidate for the Tram Flap surgery, however, he won’t do the surgery for at least 3 months after I am done with chemo, which would be June. I’m thinking of waiting until mid-October, it will be slower at work and not yet winter here. I would have to be off work for at least 6 weeks and unable to do heavy activity for at least 3 months. Still trying to connect with people who have had the surgery to hear the pros and cons.

Had chemo yesterday, blood counts have stayed the same. I was told I would feel pretty good on this weekly treatments for a few weeks and then it would “hit” me. I wondered what the “hit” me would be and have decided it is fatique. I have noticed I sleep more on the weekends and the days I work I am feeling much more tired by the end of the day. Although I have whole body tingling experiences, constipation, days I have to be careful which shoes I wear because my feet are sore, days I don’t wear any rings because my fingers are sore and stiff, days that food doesn’t taste good, and all the other little side effects, I think the weekly treatments have been much more tolerable. So if I now have to add more naps to my life, so be it. After all, I only have 4 more treatments to go!

Thanks for being there for me.

Love, Lori

Sounds good, doesn’t it! My red count went up again…yeah…but white count went down a little. I was pretty tired at work on Monday and Tuesday even though I had a fairly quiet weekend.

Had an appointment with genetics doctor on Tuesday. Although I did not test positive with the genetics testing that has been done, they want me to have some additional baseline tests done, like a thyroid ultrasound, and some other stuff. Evidently I meet several of the criteria for a certain snydrome so they just want to watch me. Which is okay with me.

My dad had surgery yesterday on his eye. Everything went okay.  I am more tired today and my body achiness has already started which is a little earlier than usual.  The joint pain and achiness has increased with each treatment that I have taken a couple of pain pills.  I usually try Tylenol but sometimes I just need a little something extra.  Thankfully the worst of it hits on the weekends so I’m able to be home and take it easy.

Monday I have an appointment with the other plastic surgeon to discuss the flap surgery.  I’ll let you know how that goes.

That’s all for now.  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for all your support.

Love, Lori

I am here at chemo supporting my mom.  She is sleeping right now so I figured I would update everyone.  I put Jaylyn’s senior pictures back on here.  They are on the right side under pages.  I also put back the link for the breast cancer search.  I think that was everything that was missing from the old server.  If I’m missing anything let me know.  Well we don’t have much longer here, so I’m going to go.

Jeremy