In The Hospital

Yesterday, a couple of hours after I received the infusion, I received a call from the lab that my sodium level had dipped "below the accepted low normal". She advised me to go to the ER and have my blood level checked again. In the end, I was admitted.

My potassium was low and when they tried to infuse it, it burned down my arm, so I just took it in pill form.

Just awhile ago, they drew my blood again and we will see what happens.

In the meantime, I have had applesauce, some grapes and melons, and cranberry juice.

I also have a urinary tract infection (UTI) after they finally got a good urine sample. I won't go home until tomorrow.

That is all I need.

CT results

I received my CT results came in today. As expected, there is cancer bin the skin. But also there is "some" progression in my left lung.

In addition, I have "unusual" changes in my uterus and cervix and my cervis was a bit larger than it should be. So, I have an emergency appointment with my gynecologist on Monday.

Maybe what I thought was bloody urine was vaginal bleeding. Of course I think the worst.

But as dad says, don't borrow trouble before we know for sure.

Crap.

Feels a bit better today

I do feel a bit better today. I even considered taking a shower from the waist down, but my brother got into the bathroom before me. My appetite is not where it should be. I mainly eat yogurt, applesauce, and fruit smoothies. I think I am maintaing my weight.

I had a CT scan on Monday and haven't heard from Dr. K. yet. That means, I think, that there is nothing urgent. I will let you know when I hear.

I have physical therapy soon and later is wound care. I tend to average 2 appointments a day.

More news when I hear.

Sorry I haven't posted

I have been struggling with loss of appetite and off and on constipation. So I check Facebook and my email and that is about it. I have beenable to decrease the pain meeds and am takin Zofran 2/day now. Trying to wean off the dilaudid now.

I actually did some paperwork yesterday and need to pay bills this weekend and get my checkbook caught up. Also, with shaky fingers, it is hard to trim my fingernails, so they are way too long for me (perhaps normal for many).

Eddie started school last week and wishes summer wasn't over. He is with his dad this weekend. He is now as tall as I am.

Decided to go with COBRA over OMIP for the last three months of 2011 as I save a few hundred dollars because of acupuncture.

I guess that's all. Life isn't too exciting. Oh. I have a CT scan on Monday and perception on Friday. We will see what else to do after the CT scan on Monday.

Frustrated

A new anti nausea med (Raglan) seems to help, but I still have no appetite. I am afraid if I eat anything too solid, I will get bad constipation. In the meantime, I think I have lost even more weight, even though I try to force myself to eat something.

So I am frustrated. Afrid I will waste away to nothing.

Maybe I need to go into the hospital to get nutrients, fluids, and strength.

I feel like I am wasting away. But dad thinks I am gradually getting stronger. My fears are getting the worse of me today.

I did stay at Eddie's party for an hour yesterday, longer than I thought in the heat.

But I stayed home today while my patents went to the state fair with Eddie.

My family is trying to help me through this time. I am so thankful they are here.

Eddie, I am going to do all I can to be here for you. You are important to me. I love you very much.

Better today

I had pretty bad day of nausea and constipation/diarrhea yesterday. It was so bad that in the evening, my stomach and lower back were constantly cramping.

Fortunately, my rsdiation oncologist mentioned another drug that could help with nausea and moving things through the digestive tract: raglan. I startedvtaking it last night and a couple of hours later, the cramps in my belly and back stopped. And my bowels moved without hurting my back as before.

Thank goodness. So I feel better today, so I will be able to participate some in my son's birthday party today. And I feel I can eat more. Which will help me gain strength.

I have one more question to write before the party and I guess I should get to it.

Not much new

This week, I have had a lot of appointments - wound care, acupuncture,physical therapy, therapy, and home visits with two of Eddie's middle school teachers.

The hone visits went well. It will be hard forEddie the first month or so, but he eventually get the hang of it.

The arm radiation wound is leaking a lot, but part of that may be due to the fact that physical therapy is working to move the lymph fluid upmyarm. If it drains out, that is fib with me. She is also streching my right arm and I started some strength training. I think that is why my right arm hurt more yesterday.

Constipation is an ongoing problem, but my acupuncturist, Brodie, gave me some more herbs that will helpfully help.

I think I have made the decision. To go with COBRA until the end of the year. Then I will move to OMIP(Oregon Medical Insurance Pool). OMIP doesn't cover acupuncture and has a $1500 deductible on top of the premium, so it ends up being a few hundred more than just paying COBRA and getting reimbursed for acupuncture. Acupuncture is very important to me and would like to keep insurance for a few more months to get me over my current pain/constipation/energy hump.

Hope everyone is well!