And another health update

This week more of the same.  I continued to be tired, sleepy, and nauseated.  No chemo this week, so I was hoping my body would pep up.  But it didn't really.

I would get up, clean up and dress and that would wear me out.  But I know if I don't dress I will feel worse.  But no make up, that was just too hard.  To add to being in pain from my back, my bad knee decided it needed attention.  Now that isn't a huge problem I just stay off it, rest it, maybe ice it, and take Tylenol which doesn't do much.  That didn't work Tuesday.  I had a lot of walking to do Tuesday.

Tuesday was CT Scan day.  First I had to go to oncology to have my port accessed.  Then I had to walk to radiology for the scan.  I didn't think I would make it, the knee protested every step of the way.  This added to my anxiety about the scan.  A couple of weeks before I had taken the blood test, tumor marker.  It was up, not much but up.  Dr. Kuan said it is only a clue and it will fluctuate, don't worry.  Well I did some. 

All went well with the scan until I tried to get off the table.  My back said I don't think so.  And I started crying. The tech helped me off and I was to go to the dressing room.   I asked if there any closer than the one I used, yes there were.  Then she and the transport guy saw how wobbly I was and said they would let me dress in the scanning room.  The men in the safe room for techs turned around and I dressed.  They insisted I use a wheelchair to go back up to oncology.  I accepted.  He wheeled me to Oncology and I went in to have them take out the access line.  I lost it again and cried all over the nurse.  All this drama paid off.  The tumor is smaller and there is no spread.  YAY Prayer Warriors. 

That afternoon friends Pat and Kirsten came to visit.  They always make me feel better.  We laughed, did some serious talking about our lives, and enjoyed being together.

I slept all of Wednesday and ate very little.  Thursday was the first time in a long time I didn't take a nausea pill.  I still didn't like eating but did, sort of. Thursday night my two wonderful crazy friends from The Marriage Factory came to visit.  We laughed like fools and it felt so good.  They told gossip about co workers, flying lessons, trips they have taken, and we talked about every day goings on.  I was tired but felt so happy from the visit.  Love you Christine and Lourdes.  That would be in alphabetical order so Lourdes don't get your nose out of joint.

This morning I had a bone density test.  This is to set a baseline and check a disc problem. This is a very easy test for the patient, no dyes, you don't even have to wear a hospital gown.  I was in and out in less than 10 minutes.  The only problem was getting there.  My Kaiser doesn't do this test, certain Kaisers do certain tests and have certain departments.   Anyway, we were 45 minutes away one way for a 10 minute test.  It could be Monday before I get results. 

I am not as whinny as some of the blogs lately.  My friends and the nurses told me I don't have to be brave all the time.  I am allowed to be mad, sad, and scared.  Yes, I am human not always a superwoman.  Some days more human than others.

Once again a health update

I have some good news and some bad news.  Let's do the bad first and reward ourselves with the good.

Throw back Thursday almost was throw up Thursday.  Again the Thursday after chemo I was sick.  Yes that awful word diarrhea entered my life starting at 4:30 in the morning and was not controlled until around 10:30.  Of course there was great nausea to go with it.  As I have said before, I do have a cast iron stomach and rarely throw up.  Yesterday I wanted to throw up hoping to feel better.  No such luck. The nausea pills sort of made me  more comfortable.  And I was so terribly tired. 

For lunch I had maybe a quarter cup of applesauce and some water.  I had nothing for supper.  I slept from 11:30 until 9:15 that night.  The only reason I woke up was because my alarm went off to take my meds.  I stayed up a couple of hours and then went back to bed.  I slept 10 more hours. 

Today I feel much better and was able to eat some peanut butter and a chocolate chip cookie for lunch.  For supper I am going to try grilled cheese and tomato soup, the perfect comfort food.  I think this is going to be a way of life again. 

Chemo side effects are accumulative and I have been doing this type since January.   As yucky as yesterday and the other Thursday were, I will take this.  It isn't as awful as last year at this time.  We must hope it says at this level.

Now for a little good news.  Last year early Fall I was told I couldn't go to church.  I was too sick and too many germs to jump on me from bulletins, chairs, friends.  This week(because it is now flu and cold season) I asked when to stop going to church and the lovely Dr. Kuan said keep going as I feel able.  Just no hugging or kisses.  So FCC friends, I will be there hit and miss and we can elbow bump or wave to each other.

Overall doing well.  Not thrilled with Thursdays now, but I've been through much much worse.  I can do this as long as all my friends, family continue their prayers.  YAY Prayer Warriors!!!

Health Update

We got back from Louisville on Wednesday, August 19.  I was fine on Thursday, still pumped  up from all the goings on in Louisville.  I crashed on Friday, and slept most of that day and Saturday.  Sunday  I was still very tired, but almost back to my normal level.

Monday I had lab work and also saw a different oncologist.  My oncologist had a family emergency and was off this week.  The new doctor was nice, and explained some things we had never thought to ask.  I have chemo brain and Marty gets overwhelmed sometimes with all we are told. 

The doctor told me when I was diagnosed with cancer the tumor marker ( a blood test that checks the protein the tumor puts out ) was over 1000.  You want low numbers.  He said the one a few weeks ago was only a little over 100.  Very impressive he thought.  Again we were reminded this is only a clue to how I am doing.  He showed us the graph on the tests and it looks like a nose dive from October to August.  Very very happy on this one. 

Tuesday I had chemo.  It went well, no surprises with vitals going crazy.  There has been light nausea, but controlled by meds.  I also have been tired all week and having trouble sleeping.  So am I tired from the chemo, or from not sleeping?  Am I not sleeping because of the chemo?  We will never know.  As I say, I have no endings. 

Sunday was a big day.  The longish drive to church.  The church service, then we had a church lunch to kick off the new year in the educational program.  I was tired.  But we weren't done yet.  Marty had a quick meeting with his committee on the renovations.  I said I would rest in the car.  Well, that didn't work out.

One of our members, another Janet, brings an older member, Annabelle, to church each Sunday.  Janet was in Marty's meeting and her teenage son was keeping Annabelle company.  They were talking about TV, the early years.  I hung out with them and we talked about me seeing jet planes as a child and it being a huge deal.  Annabelle talked about going to the airport just to watch planes taking off or landing.  I said I took my first graders on a field trip to the airport.  It was a big deal.  We discussed other things we old people remember. I told him how big the first cell phones were.  I am sure Janet's son was convinced we were older than God.

Today was lab work again.  Tuesday chemo if the all was OK. 

I have felt pretty good this past week.  As I said I have been tired with some nausea.  But I have been able to cook, and wash dishes.  I have walked my 30 minutes everyday.  I am not terribly active but I am not sitting back and giving up.  Tuesday I will begin my 12th month since the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.  I have made it this long because of prayer warriors, wonderful Kaiser care, Marty, Erik, family, church family, and my incredible friends.  I plan to stick around much longer.

I am doing well, so more travel

You may wonder if I am so sick, how can I travel.  I wonder too.  I think it is a combination of things.  Most importantly, Prayer Warriors are keeping me strong.  Other factors a gentler chemo. While in the hospital in December, we decided to go for quality of life.  I now have fewer side effects and I am stronger because now I can exercise and keep food down.  I am doing some traveling, but I must factor in rest time, legs swelling, and crankiness. 

Thursday I wrote about our great train trip to San Diego.  Today's post is a day trip all about trains.  Prepare to be over whelmed by too many pictures of not scenery, but of TRAINS!  We rode Amtrak to Sacramento to tour the Train Museum.  Did you know I love trains?

I only have one picture taken while we rode the train. 

 

 

On the train bridge crossing the Suisun Bay looking at the car bridge.  The dot on the horizon is the Moth Ball Fleet.

 

 

 

The museum is all about trains on the West Coast.  The transcontinental railroad was mainly funded by California business men.  Very rich business men.

 

 

This shows the building of snow sheds.  They protect the rails from being blocked by heavy snow.

 

 

A train from the mid 19th century

 

Another early train

 



Wood was burned to provide the steam on early trains.

 

  

Isn't this wheel great?

 

 

Sleeping cars were different from what we had last week. 

 

 

Ceilings were higher, and notice this is a double bed as was the upper berth.  Not a skinny single.

 

 



 

The Dining Car was where the real elegance was.  At least until about around the 1960's.

 

 

 



 

Two pictures of the kitchen

 

 

Just one example of the real china used in the recent past.

 

 

The Mail Car was a moving Post Office

 

 

Just to show you how huge these trains were.  Friend Mark and Marty . . . look at the wheel behind them.  Mark is well over 6 feet tall.

 

 

Love this Virginia City and Truckee train.  Look at the armed guards.  This line carried silver from the mines in Nevada and gold from California.

 

 

This train is gorgeous.  Look at all the colors, and that headlight.

 



Final train, a monster train.  These big ones are not like the trains Marty and I grew up with.  The monsters were for the West.  They had to cross the Rockies and the Sierras.  That took big honking engines.  Todays engines are not as big because of technology.  They also are not as dramatic.

 

 

July no more trips are planned.  I have to work in chemo sometime. And the chemo is what makes it possible to make these trips.



Good news on a couple of fronts

This week I had lab work on Monday, Tuesday I had chemo, and Wednesday morning the dreaded CT scan.  Regular readers know all the trouble I have had with the last two CT scans. I was really scared to have another one.  And in a normal case a CT scan is no big deal.

The first time I was poked and poked and the idiot couldn't hit a vein, then the IV line leaked.  The next time they had a hissy fit over my port and didn't want to use it.  Then they caught the IV line and nearly pulled my port out of my chest.  The topper, they ripped the line and dye went in my ears, eyes, mouth, down my back, into my hair (yes I had hair then) and all over the floor.  Yes I was really scared Wednesday.

When I checked in I EXPLAINED the port had an access line for them and to get the person who hooks me up now.  I would not wait over an hour this time.  I was taken back and glory hallelujah, a different team appeared.  I carefully told them everything that had happened the last two times and that I would hurt them if it happened again.  I also told them I had friends waiting with Bail money if I needed it. 

This team was horrified with what I had been through.  They calmed me down, and said nothing would go wrong.  They called the radiologist doctor to access my port line.  The doctor was so sweet to me.  He held my hand and said all would be OK.   They took good care of me and nothing went wrong.  Three minutes and it was over.  I have the names of the team and was told I could request appointments with them.  Trust me, I will ask for them.

Then the wait for the results began.  If not Kaiser, a patient could wait days for the results.  But with Kaiser I had an email in 5 hours and in 6 hours my oncologist called me with more details.  The tumor is smaller, everything else is the same and in the normal range.  I am one lucky girl.

Thank you Prayer Warriors!  You are great.  You give me comfort, humor, and better health.  God Bless You. 

Update on CT Scan

I just had my meeting with the oncologist.  The good news is the mass has shrunk a little and there is no spread.  Bad news, still wrapped around blood vessels, so still can't operate.  Maybe next time.

The chemo is doing its job.  I will begin another 6 weeks tomorrow.

Prayer Warriors, you are helping.  So please keep me in your prayers.

We had a great Thanksgiving and we are now shooting for a great Christmas.