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I received my last Neupogen shot for the week and I don't get them again until the week after my next chemo. The next chemo is a week from today. I am feeling great today. So..... for one week I am going to write on anything other than the big "C". whew
Daniel's platelet counts are up to 124,000...woohoo!
Bev went to a movement disorder specialist last week at Vandy and he thinks she has three types of distonia. In her eyes, face, and neck. He wanted to give her botox that day. Of course, she said no. Every doctor has a different diagnosis. I pray and hope that she will have a diagnosis and treatment plan to begin healing. She is so much stronger than me. I love my Sis so much and it is difficult to see her like this and knowing there is no "plan" YET for recovering. I wish I could do more.
1/21/09 Chemo Headaches
Sun. night and Mon. night I could not sleep well because of the pain and discomfort everywhere. I woke up Mon. and Tues. with horrible headaches and nausea. I made it to BG in the afternoons for my shots but not to work. Yesterday the Doc said he would adjust my chemo treatment next time because of the headaches but the body pain is not uncommon. He gave me a prescription for Hydrocodone with Tylenol for last night. I took it when I got home and another before I went to bed. It was a milder dosage and I could take up to two at a time if needed. Well, the nausea finally won and it happened a couple of times last night. At 2am I took a nausea pill with a cracker and slept until 5 this am and I awoke with another headache. I was advised not to take Advil but I decided to at 6:30 because I need some relief. It's almost 7:30 and my headache is like a small throb. I need to go to work today and I told them I would be coming in later. I need to make sure my nausea is gone and attempt some breakfast because I am "queezy". I must hold it down and go to work.
I would really like to have one night of good sleep.
This has been tougher than expected but I think of others such as my Sis, Kaydence Morris, James Bow, and Flo Devasher. Let's keep them on our prayer lists.
Inspiration is all around us.
I would really like to have one night of good sleep.
This has been tougher than expected but I think of others such as my Sis, Kaydence Morris, James Bow, and Flo Devasher. Let's keep them on our prayer lists.
Inspiration is all around us.
1/18/09 - Hangin' in there
Tara, Grant, and Ellie came to visit. She is growing so fast and trying to talk. Grandpa held her most of the time and she slept in his arms for a bit. And we watched the video of Grant speaking at church today. I am so proud of him.
My nausea has subsided but I literally feel like I have been run over by a truck. I've taken advil but my shoulders, sides, neck, and legs are aching. Kinda like the flu. And I am zapped of all energy and find it difficult to get comfortable. My headache is gone though. I am thinking I might need to take four days off for a chemo treatment instead of three. But I will see how I am feeling tomorrow.
I'm hanging in there and I just have to grin and bear it for a while. It will all be over in a few months....ha
Love to all
My nausea has subsided but I literally feel like I have been run over by a truck. I've taken advil but my shoulders, sides, neck, and legs are aching. Kinda like the flu. And I am zapped of all energy and find it difficult to get comfortable. My headache is gone though. I am thinking I might need to take four days off for a chemo treatment instead of three. But I will see how I am feeling tomorrow.
I'm hanging in there and I just have to grin and bear it for a while. It will all be over in a few months....ha
Love to all
1/17/09 My Instructions
First, I have learned I will be receiving daily injections the week after chemo. They can not give me shots at the time I receive chemo. They are given to boost my white blood cells to fight infections. Next week I stop by the treatment room anytime from 8-4 and I go 1/19 through 1/23. I receive the shots in the back of my arm in the fatty area. Ha, that will be hard to find on me =).
Definition -
What is Neupogen (filgrastim)?: Neupogen (filgrastim) is a drug given to patients who have neutropenia (low neutrophil count). An injection of Neupogen stimulates white blood cell production. It is a clear liquid that is usually given as a shot (injection). Use For Breast Cancer: Chemotherapy for breast cancer affects all the rapidly dividing cells in your body, including bone marrow cells, which produce white and red blood cells and platelets. Fewer bone marrow cells means less blood cells. If your CBC shows that your neutrophil count is low, you may be neutropenic. Injections of Neupogen can boost production of your neutrophils, a special type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infection.
I need to-
The Doc. called in a prescription for two nauseous pills for me to my pharmacy and both cost $178.00. I am taking some nauseous pills I already had at home that are less dosage to see how I do first.
I am a little nauseous, the headaches are worse and I just feel tired and queezy. Just small bursts of energy here and there.
Our grandbaby has a Dr. Appt because she has a cold or something but I hope to see her tomorrow and I will wear a mask if needed. Also, on her next monthly shots she is injected with a virus and they have been told to keep away from anyone taking chemo for a few weeks. This will bother me more than anything.
I think I covered everything. Oh, and I watched Amadeus and Ghandi again this weekend. Of course, I fall asleep and have to watch them in segments. Ha
Have a blessed day!
Definition -
What is Neupogen (filgrastim)?: Neupogen (filgrastim) is a drug given to patients who have neutropenia (low neutrophil count). An injection of Neupogen stimulates white blood cell production. It is a clear liquid that is usually given as a shot (injection). Use For Breast Cancer: Chemotherapy for breast cancer affects all the rapidly dividing cells in your body, including bone marrow cells, which produce white and red blood cells and platelets. Fewer bone marrow cells means less blood cells. If your CBC shows that your neutrophil count is low, you may be neutropenic. Injections of Neupogen can boost production of your neutrophils, a special type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infection.
I need to-
- Stay away from Walmart or public places as such
- Not get a fever - call Doc immediately is over 100.5
- Do not get sick or I can't get my chemo
- Wash hands frequently and use sanitizing hand gel often
- Eat six smaller meals instead of 3 large
- Due to mouth sores possible to develop - stay away from high acidity, carbonation drinks, etc. Regular tea mixed with Green tea is good.
- Drink lots of clear liquids to help flush the chemo
- Flush twice for two days after chemo because of the toxins
- Wear a mask if needed to keep germs away
- Stay away from greasy foods and eat healthier but get the calories in
- and an entire list of "watch fors"
The Doc. called in a prescription for two nauseous pills for me to my pharmacy and both cost $178.00. I am taking some nauseous pills I already had at home that are less dosage to see how I do first.
I am a little nauseous, the headaches are worse and I just feel tired and queezy. Just small bursts of energy here and there.
Our grandbaby has a Dr. Appt because she has a cold or something but I hope to see her tomorrow and I will wear a mask if needed. Also, on her next monthly shots she is injected with a virus and they have been told to keep away from anyone taking chemo for a few weeks. This will bother me more than anything.
I think I covered everything. Oh, and I watched Amadeus and Ghandi again this weekend. Of course, I fall asleep and have to watch them in segments. Ha
Have a blessed day!
1/16/09 GO - First Chemo
January 16th - What a day.
I woke up with terrible pain in my left shoulder and upper arm and I took 3 Advil. I could not wait to see my surgeon at 8:30 to ask about the pain.
8:30 - Surgeons office - Medical Arts Bldg at the Med. Center
He suspected the pain described was due to the needle left in on Tuesday when I got my port. Probably, muscle spasms and it would go away when removed after my chemo. He drained off 6 tubes of fluid from the node removal area.
The remaining day was spent at Graves Gilbert Clinic
9:20 - Lab Work
I went to the treatment room to have blood drawn for testing to see if my blood count was good for chemo.
11:00 - Oncologist (Chemo Doc)
I was consulted and checked for everything- weight, blood pressure, illness, mouth, port site, any new physical pains, etc. He ordered a Echocardiogram before I begin chemo.
11:15 - Echocardiogram
The purpose of this test is to see how well my heart pumps blood, and to determine if my valves are functioning properly. Melvin had to help me undress waist up because of my shoulder pain. They attached ECG wires at various places on my chest. He asked me to lie on my left side, to obtain pictures of my heart using a special probe and ultrasonic gel. It hurt because of my pain on that side. It took approximately 45 minutes. Melvin helped me dress and cried a little from the pain.
12:00 - Oncology office
I went straight to a nurse and asked for any pain medication. She gave me two extra strength Tylenol and I sat in the treatment room relaxing and waiting for pain relief. The nurses said they were waiting on approval from the doc to give me chemo. The Echocardiogram results were on his desk. After feeling better, and since I hadn't eaten all day, I went to the waiting room and asked Melvin to go ahead and get something to eat to bring me something to eat, because I was just waiting.
I made a new friend.
I went back the treatment room which is a room full of reclining chairs, windows, a couple of wall mounted tv's, snacks, drinks, etc. Also, there were several nurses and four or five other patients receiving chemo. When I returned a nurse said the lady asked me to give you the tv remote. She was three recliners down from me. I looked her and thanked her. We talked for a while. Her name is Flo DeVasher and my mom's maiden name is DeVasher. She is from Russellville and attends First Baptist Church. She has been battling Leukemia. Her husband is a distant cousin of my Uncle Wallace DeVasher that had the car lot on Columbia Ave. Her husband passed a couple of years back and her son has brought her to all of her treatments. She is approx. 75-80. She has added me to her prayer list and I told her that I would pass her name on to my support group. So please add Flo Devasher to your prayer list. She mentioned once how she had asked God to answer a prayer and he didn't. But come to find out later he answered in a different way and things worked out for the better. She laughed and said he knows best.
What a lovely lady and how she blessed me by uplifting me on a day I needed it most.
Melvin returned and we ate in the waiting room. Then the nurse came and said they were ready for me. Mom and Wayne had stopped by so I hugged all and went back to the treatment room.
1:30 - Chemo
First, I had a bag of premeds(for nauseousness, steroids for the fatigue, and another) it was a mix of medicines that took about 30 minutes to drip.
Second, I had my first chemo nicknamed the "red devil".
Definition:
Adriamycin (Doxorubicin): Adriamycin is a chemotherapy drug, a type of anthracycline antibiotic that is an anti-tumor drug. It is made from the bacterium Streptomyces. Use For Breast Cancer: Adriamycin can be used to treat early-stage or node-postive breast cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer, and metastatic disease. Adriamycin is sometimes combined with cytoxan and/or 5-flouracil to make a cocktail of breast-cancer fighting chemotherapy drugs.
It was bright red and manually slowly squeezed from a syringe into my port by a nurse. She pulled out a little blood frquently and mixed it with the blood.
It took about 30 minutes.
Third, I had my second chemo Cytoxan.
Definition:
Cytoxan is a chemotherapy drug that is used in combination with other drugs to treat cancer. It is derived from mustard gas, and is an anti-tumor drug. Cytoxan is often combined with two other drugs, Adriamycin and 5-Fluorouracil, in a chemotherapy infusion to treat breast cancer. This combination is called AC, FAC or CAF.
It took about an hour.
I had my needle removed from my port and immediately felt better.
I left for home about 3:00.
I'll email later about all of my instructions for the next couple of months.
Bev sees a new doctor next week and I will email about that also. Daniel is doing fine. And I am a little nauseous but have headaches.
Remember Flo and love to all.
I woke up with terrible pain in my left shoulder and upper arm and I took 3 Advil. I could not wait to see my surgeon at 8:30 to ask about the pain.
8:30 - Surgeons office - Medical Arts Bldg at the Med. Center
He suspected the pain described was due to the needle left in on Tuesday when I got my port. Probably, muscle spasms and it would go away when removed after my chemo. He drained off 6 tubes of fluid from the node removal area.
The remaining day was spent at Graves Gilbert Clinic
9:20 - Lab Work
I went to the treatment room to have blood drawn for testing to see if my blood count was good for chemo.
11:00 - Oncologist (Chemo Doc)
I was consulted and checked for everything- weight, blood pressure, illness, mouth, port site, any new physical pains, etc. He ordered a Echocardiogram before I begin chemo.
11:15 - Echocardiogram
The purpose of this test is to see how well my heart pumps blood, and to determine if my valves are functioning properly. Melvin had to help me undress waist up because of my shoulder pain. They attached ECG wires at various places on my chest. He asked me to lie on my left side, to obtain pictures of my heart using a special probe and ultrasonic gel. It hurt because of my pain on that side. It took approximately 45 minutes. Melvin helped me dress and cried a little from the pain.
12:00 - Oncology office
I went straight to a nurse and asked for any pain medication. She gave me two extra strength Tylenol and I sat in the treatment room relaxing and waiting for pain relief. The nurses said they were waiting on approval from the doc to give me chemo. The Echocardiogram results were on his desk. After feeling better, and since I hadn't eaten all day, I went to the waiting room and asked Melvin to go ahead and get something to eat to bring me something to eat, because I was just waiting.
I made a new friend.
I went back the treatment room which is a room full of reclining chairs, windows, a couple of wall mounted tv's, snacks, drinks, etc. Also, there were several nurses and four or five other patients receiving chemo. When I returned a nurse said the lady asked me to give you the tv remote. She was three recliners down from me. I looked her and thanked her. We talked for a while. Her name is Flo DeVasher and my mom's maiden name is DeVasher. She is from Russellville and attends First Baptist Church. She has been battling Leukemia. Her husband is a distant cousin of my Uncle Wallace DeVasher that had the car lot on Columbia Ave. Her husband passed a couple of years back and her son has brought her to all of her treatments. She is approx. 75-80. She has added me to her prayer list and I told her that I would pass her name on to my support group. So please add Flo Devasher to your prayer list. She mentioned once how she had asked God to answer a prayer and he didn't. But come to find out later he answered in a different way and things worked out for the better. She laughed and said he knows best.
What a lovely lady and how she blessed me by uplifting me on a day I needed it most.
Melvin returned and we ate in the waiting room. Then the nurse came and said they were ready for me. Mom and Wayne had stopped by so I hugged all and went back to the treatment room.
1:30 - Chemo
First, I had a bag of premeds(for nauseousness, steroids for the fatigue, and another) it was a mix of medicines that took about 30 minutes to drip.
Second, I had my first chemo nicknamed the "red devil".
Definition:
Adriamycin (Doxorubicin): Adriamycin is a chemotherapy drug, a type of anthracycline antibiotic that is an anti-tumor drug. It is made from the bacterium Streptomyces. Use For Breast Cancer: Adriamycin can be used to treat early-stage or node-postive breast cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer, and metastatic disease. Adriamycin is sometimes combined with cytoxan and/or 5-flouracil to make a cocktail of breast-cancer fighting chemotherapy drugs.
It was bright red and manually slowly squeezed from a syringe into my port by a nurse. She pulled out a little blood frquently and mixed it with the blood.
It took about 30 minutes.
Third, I had my second chemo Cytoxan.
Definition:
Cytoxan is a chemotherapy drug that is used in combination with other drugs to treat cancer. It is derived from mustard gas, and is an anti-tumor drug. Cytoxan is often combined with two other drugs, Adriamycin and 5-Fluorouracil, in a chemotherapy infusion to treat breast cancer. This combination is called AC, FAC or CAF.
It took about an hour.
I had my needle removed from my port and immediately felt better.
I left for home about 3:00.
I'll email later about all of my instructions for the next couple of months.
Bev sees a new doctor next week and I will email about that also. Daniel is doing fine. And I am a little nauseous but have headaches.
Remember Flo and love to all.
1/15/09 The Landrums Blog
I had to work tonight 3-11 and just got home and I took more Advil. I have been extremely sore tonight. I had Motrin when I got work then Extra Strength Tylenol at 7pm and now Advil. I almost took a Hydrocodone but didn't. This port in my chest is painful. I think I dislike it more than the drainage tube.
Tara had a good post today. I always enjoy reading their blog.
Her post today reminded me of an old quote. Which I have always loved.
You can check out their blog at...
http://www.landrum08.blogspot.com
Oh, and Grant is speaking at church on Sunday and I am looking forward to that. I hope I am not too nauseous to go.
Tara had a good post today. I always enjoy reading their blog.
Her post today reminded me of an old quote. Which I have always loved.
To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.
Anonymous
You can check out their blog at...
http://www.landrum08.blogspot.com
Oh, and Grant is speaking at church on Sunday and I am looking forward to that. I hope I am not too nauseous to go.
1/14/09 Daniel and his ITP
Daniel has ITP and last week his blood platelet count dropped again. He was getting tiny red spots on his ankles again. His test came back at 10,000(a normal count is about 150,000 to 450,000) then last Friday it was 14,000 and today it is 79,000. This is the third time it has dropped. The second time it dropped to 8,000. The first was the worst at 1,000 and he was rushed to Kosairs in the ambulance and he had to receive a treatment which causes painful reactions. His pediatric hematologist said the reactions will worsen with each additional treatment. So we always wait and pray that his numbers increase. When his numbers are low he can do no physical activity for fear he will bleed internally. In other words, he is bleeding internally because his blood will not clot. He can not brush his teeth as normal when it is very low. Nose bleeding and gum bleeding are major concerns. We hope and pray it goes remission forever. I would give anything to take this condition from him.
What Is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn’t clot as it should. This is due to a low number of blood cells called platelets (PLATE-lets).
Platelets are also called thrombocytes (THROM-bo-sites), and they’re made in your bone marrow (along with other kinds of blood cells). Platelets circulate through the blood vessels and help stop bleeding by sticking together (clotting) to seal small cuts or breaks.
Idiopathic (id-ee-o-PATH-ick) means that the cause of the disease or condition isn’t known. Thrombocytopenic (throm-bo-cy-toe-PEE-nick) means there is a lower-than-normal number of platelets in the blood. Purpura (PURR-purr-ah) are purple bruises caused by bleeding under the skin. More extensive bleeding can create a three-dimensional mass called a hematoma (he-ma-TO-ma).
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