My parents went with me to my treatment today. It was so nice to have them there. They got up VERY early this morning so we could leave at 7AM this morning to drive the 2 hours and 15 minute (it was longer due to stopping for gas and morning traffic) drive to the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Nashville. My counts were okay. My WBC count was 6,500...they said they like to see it higher, but since I'm going to have the Neulasta shot on Thursday I should be okay. I am also a little Anemic. My RBC count was 3.8 and the lowest of the good range is 4.04, but they said it was okay. I was actually feeling really good so I surprised my RBC count was low, but I see that my thyroid was VERY high and he didn't even mention it. I only noticed it because I asked for my records. I had my thyroid radiated in 2004 due to Graves Disease so I have no thyroid anymore...the radiation killed it. I do not take my thyroid medication that well. So, I am pretty surprised. I am taking it better though since the doctor suggested putting it on my nightstand and taking it before bed. I actually remember now. :o) Maybe the thyroid grew back from the chemo treatments. LOL!
Anyway, they confirmed that my burn on my hand was from the taxotere chemo drug, but it is so much better today that they aren't worried at all. I will try to take a picture in a few days. I forgot to mention that I did stop by their office last Tuesday to talk to them. I had to see a chemo nurse because they were gone for the day. She said it didn't look too bad at all and to just keep putting Aquafor on it and keep it out of the sun. The doctor told me that because I was on the Doxycycline it really helped it to not become worse. Big Praise!
I talked to him about my hot flashes and how they are driving me crazy and messing up my sleep. So, he gave me Megestrol (20mg). He thinks he will help and has promised it won't contribute to my weight gain (since it is such a low dose) even though a side affect is weight gain.
The doctor also confirmed that I will be going on Tamoxifen soon. I told him I wasn't sure I wanted to be on it, but I will try it. I just feel like if the side affects are bad I might be okay with declining it. I don't know. My biopsy was only 20% estrogen positive. I will have to take it a total of 5 years (2 full years, try to have a baby for 2 and then 3 more years). I am concerned about weight gain and hot flashes....well...and of course I would like to try for a baby sooner than 2 years. But, I guess I can always pray for a miracle adoption. :o) He told me that tamoxifen won't make me gain weight or have hot flashes. I'm going to ask a few of my friends that are on it and do a little research though. Also, I want a little time to go on a diet/exercise first before I start it. He wants me to wait 3-4 weeks to start my diet, but I can start the exercise now, on my good days, if I don't over do it. Last week I did go for a couple walks. One was almost 2 miles. I thought that was great for someone on chemo.
Chemo Experience
So, at 11am I was sitting in the chemo room...waiting in the chemo recliner for my IV (note: GET A PORT if you ever have to do chemo). It is funny because they are doing construction in the building so every time I come in for chemo the room is totally different. It was nice today because I found a recliner with 2 guest chairs! Normally, each recliner has only 1 chair because you are only allowed one guest, but I asked and they let them both stay with me. :o) It was a blessing! The nurse was great and only had to stick me twice to get blood! YAY! It worked on the 2nd try. I know there were some praying about this so thank you so much! My eyes were actually tearing up already the 2nd time because I was a little scared that we were going to have a replay of last time...but God was gracious. We met many sweet chemo patients today. It was a great way to end my treatment being able to talk about our stories together. I gave them my card and I hope I can keep in contact with a few of them. I got their first names so I could pray for them and I hope I hear from them so I know how to pray specifically for them and because I will always wonder how they are doing. It was not their last treatment and have different cancers. :o( So, they will need much prayer. At 2:30pm we were talking out the door.....so happy that this was it! I'm a chemo graduate! Another thing I can add to my list of experiences. I'm glad I will be able to truly say that I understand what someone else going through chemo is going through. It is rough! But, the Lord walked through it with me and when I prayed (and you prayed) He answered. What an Awesome God we have. A personal God that loves us so much.
 |
| Jayde getting chemo. Celebrating SEC football starting on Saturday by wearing her Auburn University head covering (it was a sweet gift), earrings and shirt. WAR EAGLE!! |
I was pretty out of it after chemo and very drowsy, but I wanted to celebrate so we went to Red Lobster for a late lunch. It was so good, but the last two chemo treatments I've had a weird thing happen when I eat. My throat won't swallow without me concentrating on it. I know, it sounds weird. I had to pause and think in order to swallow my food sometimes. Strange! Also, my mom hinted to the waitress that this was my last chemo day and she brought me a cheesecake with chocolate drizzle and it was VERY good. Thank you Red Lobster!
Apples
We arrived back home at about 6pm. I was tired and I have 3 boxes of apples (about 60) that need to be preserved before my side affects get too bad. My father-in-law was gracious and let me take what I wanted. His apples are SO GOOD! They are organic since he doesn't use any chemicals or sprays on his trees which is so great. My dad did most of the work for me on Sunday by picking them, climbing the ladder and fighting the bees. Thank you both!! I did help to pick some and paid for it the next day with muscles spasms at the top of my right tissue expander. Luckily, it was only bad yesterday and has not been too bad today. It was VERY sharp pains yesterday. It was fun to throw a few of the bad ones to the cows and donkeys (the horse was MIA at the time) and watch them eat them. One of the donkeys let me hand feed him. :o) They are pretty small apples so I don't think they will take too long to process, but it still requires energy. I have a magic apple peeler, corer and slicer...it does all 3 at the same time! The magic apple tool makes it go very fast. So, tonight I did 26 apples while sitting at the table (I will finish the rest in the next few days). I would put them in a solution so they wouldn't brown since I was VERY slow I didn't want to miss this step. Then, I blanched them for 2 minutes, vacuum sealed them, labeled them and froze them. I was able to do 17 cups tonight (3 bags of 4 and 1 back of 5 cups). I'll be able to make pie, cobbler or other dessert with them later. I have been so blessed during this journey with so many giving people. We were ready to put our garden in the week I found out I had cancer so we decided not to have a garden this year. YET, God provided. I was able to preserve tomatoes, green beans, okra, apples and one other veggie, but I can't remember right now. LOL! My brain is so fried.
So, with that....I can't type anymore. I'm going to bed and praying that I can sleep tonight despite the steroids they pumped into me today. Love you all! God bless you. I'm sorry for any typos or sentences that don't make sense.
Leaving you with a pic of Kevan and I. We went to a movie last week on one of my good days. You can see how chubby my face is getting. :o(
 |
| A friend of mine, who's initials are WDB confirmed that I have a double-chin and that I'm starting to look more like him everyday. Thanks WDB! Thanks a lot. lol!! |
Think you should stick to the black and gold color scheme. Nothing against Auburn, but the Blue and Orange just dosent look as good on you. Where else but college football would someone consider blue and orange together. Even at Halloween it is Black and Orange. So glad this trial is coming to a close. I am still praying about the baby part and as you know, I have seen Him move in my families life first hand. He is great and greatly to be praised. His love endures forever. Hes got this!
ReplyDeleteBTW, Willie Dale, Jayde does NOT have a double chin--it's just the way her head was turned. You're just jealous that she has hair--even if she had to BUY it!!! I'm sure she'll be looking to "bless" someone else with her wig. Have you ever thought of going blonde???
DeleteLove to you and Sherri, JOY
Sorry Willie Dale, BUT.....Blue and Orange are complimentary colors on the color wheel. They look fantastic on you Jayde!! WAR EAGLE!!!!!! We praise God that our prayers have been answered the way we requested. We know that all prayer is answered and according to His good will! I'm just excited that our will aligned with His!! Love, Lory & Greg
ReplyDeleteDear Jayde, You would look good IN A BURLAP BAG!!! It's YOU that makes the clothes look good, not the other way around. YEAH--done with chemo. You know how I am, I looked up tamoxifen to refresh my memory. The best explanation of the side effects is on ehow.com, so you might want to read that, as well as talking with some of your friends with prior experience. Being fully informed is so important, especially when you're deciding whether or not to put a drug in your system. In all the write-ups, it says that the drug DOES cause hot flashes, but not the weight gain. Also, I'm so glad about your hand. Aquafor is such a great item--it does wonders on radiation burns and all sorts of skin alterations.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to be able to interact with Jerry's animals. I love that sort of stuff. Our next door neighbor has MANY Walker Coonhounds, and last week one of them (over 100 lbs) SAT IN MY LAP on the back porch. THAT was a treat!! She also tried to lick me to death at the same time. I was squished and slobbered!!!! I loved it!
Enjoy your family and all the domestic things you're doing together. Love you and I'll keep following up and praying. JOY