Radiation

So here's the short of it,
My radiation treatments started today. 

And here's the long

Today I started my radiation treatments. I had to go up to the lab at Dr. Schlabach's office to get my blood counts first.  They are low, but both my doctors felt like they were showing a move in the right direction and both were of the opinion that radiation could begin.  Both of these doctors are very cautious practitioners, and I feel very comfortable with their decision.

Today was a long appointment.  They kept referring to it as set up and blocking, and referred to the shields.  Once again, I had to have my arms above my head holding onto those handles.  It really stretches my shoulder muscles, and after a bit of time is quite uncomfortable.  I was in two different rooms this trip, and both the rooms were very cool. Apparently they have to keep them pretty cool because of the machines.  It wasn't too bad when I was fully clothed with my big sweater on. Once my nurse said take everything off from the waist up and put on this robe, open in the front, I was cold!  In the first room my radiation nurse, Johnna, got me in just the right position and took x-rays.  It took lots of time - she was extremely meticulous about getting my body in exactly the right position.  She had me lie down on the skinny bed and put me into the upper body mold that they made on my first visit; then she moved me - it seemed like only in the tiniest of increments.  Sometimes she would just push against my skin to move me and get my tattoos right under the beam of light shining on my chest. Other times she moved me using the sheet.  Sometimes she rolled me just a bit, other times she actually pulled the sheet under me from one side or the other. None of the moves seemed more than just the tiniest bit. Then I had to be really still for a long time while she took measurements and marked me up with a permanent marker - oh yeah, my arms were still up over my head.  She would say numbers like 94 point 2 or 82.  I have no idea what those numbers meant.  I must have incredibly stiff muscles in my shoulders, because it really hurt to have to be so still with my arms up.  I kept just telling myself that I only had to get through another 5 minutes, finally toward the end, I was aiming to get through just the next one minute at a time.  After all the x-rays were taken Dr. Gefter came in and checked out the positioning and marked up a big area on my chest.  Then I was able to put my arms down and they took me to a little dressing room to wait for the OK to go into the treatment area.

I probably waited 20 minutes or so in this little dressing room for the treatment plan to be approved.  When I went into the actual treatment room, they replicated the first day I went for planning and mapping.  I had a special cushion under my knees and a pad under my back at a very specific location.  My upper body mold went on the table and I got right into the position. My treatment technician was a delightful young woman not too much older than Liga.  She told me what to expect and exactly how it would all happen.  She was joined by another technician and we repeated the meticulous positioning - I think it was easier because there were two of them.  Again, I don't think they moved me very much at all any time - and sometimes it seemed they were just pushing my skin. but they finally got me lined up just right.  Then Dr. Gefter came and double checked the x-rays and the positioning and marked me up some more.  I do think that the smell of a permanent marker will remind me for a long time of radiation treatments.  So here we were, ready to go.  The machine moved to the right side - the technicians left the room and it radiated me for 30 - 45 seconds.  Then the machine moved to the left side and I got the second short blast of radiation.  Then it was all over!

So it seems that the majority of a radiation appointment will be getting into the right position and making sure that the marks for the margins of the treatment area are touched up.  No wonder Johnna told me to buy a couple of really cheap bras.  I'll have permanent ink marks all over whatever I wear for the next couple of months!  I go again tomorrow and again the next day - 36 treatments Monday through Friday with time off on Christmas Day and New Year's Day!

My Mom, Aunt Frances, and Aunt Joyce gave me a special gift for this radiation phase of my treatment.

There is this beautiful gold foil box and inside it are 36 quotes for my days of radiation treatment.  There is a poem written by the sisters.







                           FOR LYNN - BLESSINGS
       Inside this box are quotes for you.
       Choose one each day to see you through.

       Some are deep and some are fun
       But remember, dear, to choose just one!

       We hope they'll help you pass each day,
       And just remember, we all will pray...

       That you will find, before much longer
       You will become stronger, STRONGER!

       And, yes, we add a final touch...
       It is "WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH"!

          Emily (Mom), Frances and Joyce

The Christmas Star

So here's the short of it,
The Christmas Star that Dad helped conceive and build is lit in front of First Cumberland Church. 

And here's the long

I was a little more tired today -- maybe I overdid it the last couple of days when I felt so much better.  But all in all today was a pretty good day.  This morning I slept in a bit and this afternoon I took a pretty long nap. I had enough energy to putter around the house a bit, but didn't really get very much accomplished. 

This evening, Alan and I went to the church service at First Cumberland Church for the Star Lighting service.  After Dad and Mom got settled in and decided which church they would attend, it didn't take long for him to start talking up the idea of a Christmas Star every year.  So the Star in front of First Cumberland is just one of the tangible legacies Dad left behind.  He loved the stars.  In the last weeks he was alive, Alan and I went to visit and told him there was a really bright star that evening.  He mouthed, it's Mercury.  He knew the heavens just as well as I know the streets running through the Belvoir neighborhood.  And he was enthralled with the idea of the star at Christmas.

Tomorrow I have my first radiation appointment.  I'm not sure if they will actually do the treatment since my platelet counts were still so low last Wednesday.  I'll just have to wait and see what happens.  I understand the first treatment takes about an hour to make sure everything is set just right.  I still have the ghosts of the permanent marker from my mapping.  I do know I'm not allowed to wear any deodorant over the length of the treatment.  I'm to use cornstarch instead.  The nurse also told me to get a couple of cheap sports bras to wear during the treatment.  She told me that whatever bras I wear will be ruined by the treatment.  I'm not sure why, but I'm sure I'll find out! 

My fingers are pretty sore.  One of my friends who is probably also distant family sent me a suggestion to use Zim's Crack Cream.  Liga picked it up for me today when she did our grocery shopping, and I've been using it since.  I sure hope it helps.  My Aunt Frances also sent information about a foot cream for neuropathy.  I'll get that ordered tomorrow!

Good family time

So here's the short of it,
I'm feeling stronger and had a good visit with Shelley, Lou, and Max.  

And here's the long

Today I continue to be stronger.  But now at 8:30 in the evening, I'm really tired.

This evening we had Mommy Anne, Shelley, Lou, and Max for dinner.  Liga also invited her friend Danny.   I felt well enough to really help in preparing dinner this evening.  That's a major step forward.  Sophie got along great with Max tonight. Actually for the first part of the evening she was quite shy and not sure what to make of this baby in her house.  By the end of the evening she was giving Max some little doggie kisses on his hand. They will be headed back home tomorrow early morning.  We'll miss them!

My physical symptoms are certainly bearable, but they are sure no fun.  I continue to have neuropathy in my feet and hands.  In addition to the numbness and occasional tingling I'm beginning to have occasional shooting pains in my feet - I have nothing at all like that in my fingers.  My fingers are mostly just numb, and make handling small things really difficutl.  The fingers on my right hand are cracking open in small sore places on the tips - following the ridges of my fingerprint, as well as in a couple of places at the corners of my nails.  For the first time in a long time, I'm having some back pain.  It's been so long since I really did any of my stretches and I've sure gotten pretty stiff - I imagine that's the biggest part of my back pain.  As I get stronger, I'm going to really make that a priority.

Tomorrow night at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, there will be a ceremonial lighting of the Star.  Gene brought that idea of the star with him from Kentucky when they moved to Chattanooga.  He and a gentleman that he met at church, made the star and for several years now it's been on the front lawn of the church each Christmas season.  Alan and I are planning to go to the service. 

Stronger

So here's the short of it,
I'm feeling better and trying another neuropathy treatment.

And here's the long

I've felt stronger today!  That must be good news about my blood counts. 

It's been months since I've had enough energy to make a dent in the mess on the kitchen counter.  Everything that I put there has just stayed there.  Along with just a few things that other people put down.  Sophie's adventure with my medicine box yesterday was my incentive, so today I cleaned up the counter.  I didn't get out of breath from the exertion, and I didn't have to keep sitting down. It's not quite finished, but I think Sophie has been very disappointed the last couple of times she's tried to see if there's something interesting.  She apparently suffered no ill effects from the medicines and the glass shards.  She's going to be very disappointed tomorrow when she can't have all the whole wheat bread she wants. 

I read a post today from someone who wrote that foot baths and massage really helped her neuropathy.  So as I sit here, I've got my feet soaking and am going to give myself a foot massage before I go to bed tonight. I'm still taking the B6, I also read that I should be taking B12 - I'll get that on the grocery list too.  My right foot and hand seem to be worse than my left.  I could imagine it's because my port is on my right side, but I know better, because the end of the port is somewhere in the middle of my chest.  So I don't really know why that should be.  Today my middle finger on my right hand is really tender on the nail and all around the edges of the nail.  I know lots of people lose their nails during chemo......I'm thinking that's not what's happening after all my chemo is over! 

This evening Alan and I had dinner with Joyce and cousin Daniel, and then went over to visit with Max for a few minutes before he went down for the night. 

Thanksgiving and Sophie May Not

So here's the short of it,
Thanksgiving was very different this year, and Sophie May Not was a very bad girl. 

And here's the long

Today has been an adventure.  It been a very different Thanksgiving.  I've also had much more energy than I thought I would have. 

Late this morning, we went to Cracker Barrel.  I met Aunt Joyce and Cousin Daniel there as they were on their way through town going to David and Cyndi's for Thanksgiving Dinner.  We visited for about 30 minutes and then the rest of the crew arrived - Mommy Anne; Shelley,Lou, and Max; Liga and Valdis; and Alan and me.  I've never done Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving before, and there were sure a lot of people "doing Thanksgiving" there.  We had a lovely time and it was nice for us to all be together for a while. 

We had several cars there and Liga left early so that she could get ready to go to work.  I was taking my time moseying home the long way when I got the call. When Liga arrived, there all over the living room was the evidence.  Sophie May Not had gotten one of my weekly pill boxes and a compact florescent light bulb still in its package.  She had chewed open the pill box and the florescent light bulb package was open and it was shattered all over the floor.  By the time I got home, Liga had the mess cleaned up, and had saved the pills in the dustpan.  I was able to count how many were missing of each one. There was no way to really tell if she had swallowed any of the glass from the light bulb! Once I had everything accounted for, I called the Emergency Vet Clinic and they referred me to the ASPCA poison control center.  You can bet I was pretty nervous about that call!  I was mostly worried about the glass and the Elavil - that's a medicine they have put me on for my neuropathy.  (That will be another blog entry altogether about using anti-depression medications for neuropathy).  After a tense wait the vet on the other end of the call told me that she probably had not ingested enough to harm her.  He was not particularly worried about her ingesting the glass.  He told me to bulk up her diet today and tomorrow with whole grain bread.  That apparently will bind up any glass she might have gotten and help her pass it normally in her stool.  Then he gave me the symptoms to watch for that would be reason to take her in to the Emergency Clinic.  Thankfully, she has not exhibited any of them all day.  What an afternoon! Our last dog wasn't  big enough to counter surf --- and the counter is so messy these days partly because I've not felt like doing anything at all for months! Anyway, I spent a couple of hours today working on the counter.  I still have a section to tackle tomorrow.  Sophie has been amazed today - every time she came near me I was offering her a piece of bread!  Right now she is snoozing away just across the room from me and seems to be doing just fine and dandy.  

Late this afternoon Cousin Mia came by on her way home from taking Clyde to the Atlanta airport for a quick Thanksgiving trip to see his Dad.  We had some great girl time making fried green tomato and turkey bacon sandwiches for supper and just chattering all about the kids, work, and stuff. 

It's not really late, but I'm beginning to get a little tired.  I think it's good that today wasn't a Thanksgiving like ones we've had over the years.  It's been hard to get through this first Thanksgiving without Dad, but it was easier that we were doing things differently than in the past.  Sometime during Thanksgiving Day Dad would always ask everyone say something they were thankful for.  I'm very grateful that Gene Howard was my Dad.  I am also very grateful that Mom is still here with us.

So here's the short of it,

I had a relaxing morning  and a treatment this afternoon.  

Neuropathy and no hair continue.  

And here's the long

Today we had a lovely brunch at cousin Mia's with Shelley and Lou and Max.  It was a nice relaxing time.  Mia made three different kinds of quiche.  Everyone was raving over the spinach and mushroom one, but the way my taster is these days, my favorite one was made with ricotta and goat cheese with red peppers and tomatoes.  It was really nice.  

This afternoon I had a Herceptin treatment.  My red counts are very slowly creeping upwards.  I had another shot of Procrit, but right now no transfusion. Thanks to everyone who sent up prayers, meditated, crossed fingers or other methods of support!  I wonder what will happen with my radiation on Monday.  Dr. Gefter has told me that he won't start radiation until my counts are up a bit.  I'll just have to wait - so I'll thnk about that on Monday.

My neuropathy is still about the same.  Not being able to be sure of my feet causes me to walk slowly and to sometimes lose my balance.  I haven't fallen yet but I have to be pretty careful.  My right foot continues to be much worse than my left.  I've discovered that having my feet cold makes the neuropathy more pronounced. Mom got me these great socks to wear around the house at night.  I actually go to bed with them on my feet and a toboggan on my head.  Sometime in the middle of the night they come off.  Keeping my feet and head warm makes me much more comfortable.

I'm thinking I'm at the turning point now.  The other day Liga was in the car with me and the sunlight was hitting me just a certain way and she gasped and said, "Mom, what happened to your eyebrows!"  Well, they aren't completely gone, but they are sure barely there - and the same is true of my eyelashes.  So I'm thinking as far out as I am from my last chemo, it may be about time for hair to quit falling out, blood counts to quit dropping, and more energy to return.  I'm also really eager for my taste to return! 

Thanksgiving Break!

So here's the short of it,
Thanksgiving break is here, and Max and his Mommy and Daddy are in town.


And here's the long

Today was the last day of work before the  Thanksgiving Break.  I actually had a really good day and was back in a school building again!  I really like beginning to do some of my more normal activities.

My neuropathy seems to be about the same.  When I'm working at my desk I can turn on the little heater that Russ brought me and it seems to help my feet some.  And of course, when I fall asleep it doesn't bother me at all! My fingers don't really bother me - it's just that I don't have any dexterity.  

This evening Shelley, Lou, and Max got here after a flight delay at their layover, but we went over for a brief visit before Max went off to sleep.  I'll swear, when they were handing out handsome, that little boy got in the line twice!  He is really beautiful. 

Tomorrow morning we are going to spend some time with Mia, Dad's first cousin.  And I have a Herceptin treatment in the early afternoon.  I will also get a blood count report.  Last week Dr. Schlabach came in to visit with me and let me know that if my blood counts don't come up I'll need to have a transfusion.  So here's a request for lots of prayers and good thoughts that my blood counts will be up tomorrow.

I'm so glad to have some time off! Tomorrow will be a sleep in day.  I know, I know, I can just hear some of you saying that won't help me get my days and nights straightened out.  I do need to do that, but I'll work on that later!