Baby News

Hi there

Well, here is some fun news rather than medical news!!

I went this morning with Meghan, Corey and Ryan when they were to have the 3D Ultrasound. They wanted to make sure a healthy baby and of course to find out what they were having. Well, this baby was sleeping and planned on staying asleep as long as possible. Had their legs together and was holding one foot with the hand. Wasn't showing anything!

Well with some work from the technician - ie wake up the baby - Meghan and Corey's little boy Ryan - already knew what they were having. A baby sister! And so, they are having a little girl - and already she is cute!!! Ok, so I am a little biased,but she had chubby little cheeks and one heck of a heart beat - nice and fast. Could see her spine and ribs, and her toes and fingers - very awesome!

So, little Ryan will have his work cut out for him, protecting his little sister once she is a wee bit older.

We will all meet her in 10 weeks and everyone is so excited.

Roni (aka Gammie)

Busy Week

Chemo #15

Not sure what I was doing here when Patrick took the picture!!! Think I was talking to the new patient.

It has been a busy week medical wise!!! And heat wise - the heat wave has hit again. But no one had better complain!! We had a wee bit of rain last week and some cooler and much appreciated temperatures. Though the PNE starts on Saturday and that could mean a change in the weather!!! I am going Monday or Tuesday with Meghan and Ryan - thinking more Tuesday -as VanCity members and one guest get in for $5 - so that saves $20! I like that!

Monday, Brian and I both had an appointment to see our family doctor. By the time we got out of there, we had 6 Rx between us plus I had one waiting at the pharmacy I had called in earlier - so 7 in total! Thank goodness we have insurance and BC Pharmacare or these would have cost us close to $600!!! In the end $34.

Tuesday, it was time to see Dr. Pansegrau. Nothing out of the ordinary with this visit. The liver is looking ok - harder to see of course with an ultrasound, but keeping in line with my tumour markers. He has said that I will be having the pre-meds before each chemo session so as not to have the allergic reaction with the eye again - so that will add about half an hour to the session -but that is better than having a reaction. I did forget to tell him about the ringing in the left ear which is now constant and a bit of ringing in the right ear which comes and goes. Will have to write it down for when I see him in three weeks. I will be having a CT scan before cycle 4 to see how this set of drugs is working and more than likely an ultra sound of the liver as well.

Relaxing after the premeds - they made me sleepy and cold this time.

Patrick came today for my chemo appointment as he may be gone shortly to join the Armed Forces. At least with me having the port in, he will be ok - he hates needles!!! I didn't make him come into the room where they put it in! And Meghan stopped by to say hello.

Patrick and I.......

I had Julie today - and she was quite nice and not quite as chatty as the other gals but a very good nurse. I mentioned it to her that I had forgotten to tell Dr. P about the ringing in the ears. She asked how bad it was, and Leslie picked up on it as well. Told her it is 24/7 in my left and about half that in the right. She called Dr. Johal (Dr. P is on holidays) and he changed one of the chemo drugs - took me off the Cisplatin and put me on a sort of sister drug to it - Carboplatin which has very few side effects - wahooo. So that took a while to sort out, the file had to go down to him and he had to physically change it and then the file went to pharmacy and eventually it came back to the chemo room. Once that was all settled, then Julie started me on the pre-meds for allergies and that takes about 25 minutes - then had to wait about 20 minutes after it finished to get it through my system. Then started my two chemo drugs. At one point, when Julie was at lunch, I asked Leslie what my numbers were. The red count was good 131 but my white count - I just about didn't get the chemo done - I was 1.0 - so now I have t be very careful with my health and checking my temp more often. Don't want to end up in the hospital. My chemo drugs are already at 75% because of the allergic reactions. And ya know, twice in hospital in a year is enough!!

Julie and I
People keep asking me how I am so upbeat all of the time. For the most part, I am, but there are times when I am down - I usually try and not show it. My friend "Pink Lady" asked me about it the other day and what about the depression. It is there, it is hard not to have it. There are the meds I take and they do help. When I am not as spunky as I normally am, I will be reading - more than usual - and will just find a place and read. And if it is a good book, then it is finished quickly! Or I just go very quiet. I find night time is the worst - when I go to bed, more so after I have had tests done - it is the what if factor that kicks in. And there is nothing you can do about that - it is there and in your head.

My hair started to come back and now it has stopped growing again - and it comes out hair by hair - it won't all go, just thin out. And I don't like it - I want my hair back and my eyebrows (they are sort of there, but blonde) and the eye lashes (same they are there but thin and light - and damn it I need a 7x mirror to put on mascara!!!). I know, greedy aren't I!! I really want to know what the final colour and texture will be in the end!!! Any wagers?? And damn it, have to shave again!!!

I have been on chemo for a year now - give or take a few weeks. I thought I would be back at work in August. Now it is looking like at least next year. 2010 - seems like such a long time. I miss working and I miss the people contact. And I would not be honest in that I miss the money!!! And my train friends! Morning and afternoon ones!

Well that is it until next Thursday when I have my next chemo appointment. It should go a lot faster - the regular time which should be about 90 minutes!!

Caio and feel free to leave a comment - I love to get them and read them.... and I have changed it so that you don't have to put in the "verification words" - so that should make it a bit easier.

Roni

Whoops - I did it again!!!

Hi Everyone!

Aren't you glad that our heat wave has gone and back to our normal summer weather? I know I am!!!

My IV Tech - hiding behind her mask - she was great

Waiting for the alcohol to dry

Putting in the iv - it really doesn't hurt!

Just doing the saline flush

Another chemo day!! Went to the ambulatory day care to get my paperwork and ID bracelet – I am not in the system – seems the gal that booked me previously did it wrong and assumed that I was going to the regular lab. But Megan was there and she knows me, so she got the paperwork faxed and sent me over to Medical Day Care. There are more pictures of that today – as never took the camera before and no one came with me!!! So it shows the room where it is done – part office, part supply room, part procedure room! Once they move into the new building will be much nicer!

Putting in the clotting agent - twice this time!

Well, I managed to do it again this week! Yup – another reaction – and yes, the same one and almost at the same time as last weeks!! Leslie was my nurse today along with Erin who is brand new. We had discussed some of what has been happening to me over the last week – ie the side effects. And with some of them, to take meds earlier rather than later – which does make sense. They were quite concerned over the ringing in the ears, which is a major one – I had some but nothing to worry about but had had blocked ears. Leslie said that if I was to get the ringing big time, they might have to change the drugs that I am on – but it a wait and see basis!

Tina came with me today – former co-worker and good friend. We had a lot of fun with all of the nurses – and I am meaning ALL – they all come at one point at the same time – ok, they were laughing!!! And I know she was not bored at all!

They started with the Gemcitabine – which takes about 30 minutes to go though the IV – in theory! Leslie would walk by me and check to ensure that nothing was happening. I was chatting with a new patient and her daughter as well as Tina.

When Tina mentions that my eye looks a little puffy… oh great, not again! And it appeared as quickly as last week. And it was getting itchy. Leslie happened to look and came right over, and shut off the medication and instantly put in the benadryl. She then called Dr P and he laughed – was so funny… she told him I had been waiting for him since last week and I was hungry and cranky from the long wait!!! He then told her to give me the hydrocortisone via the IV. That takes a bit to make up and then she connected me. We had a very good laugh – every single nurse came over – you aren’t supposed to get this type of reaction and not two weeks in a row and not at the almost same time!!! My file now has two HOT pink stickers on the cover and in the file – allergic reactions. From now on, will have the pre-meds done before the chemo starts!!

Once the bag was empty and she let me sit for a bit, then Leslie started up the medication and it finished – and then did the Cisplatin – which is a more powerful and strong drug – and it does nothing!!

By the time all was done and finished, it was almost 6 by the time we got out of there – and we headed to Central City Pub for a pint and some dinner and just a good chat!!

Next appointments are Monday August 10 at 8am – Surrey Memorial Hospital for the liver ultrasound. August 18 at 9:00 – Dr. Pansegrau. August 20 – Medical Day Care and Cancer Clinic – blood work and chemo. August 27 - Medical Day Care and Cancer Clinic – blood work and chemo. Times to be determined.

Leslie and Erin

Round 3, Treatment 1 of 12

Hello everyone!

Well, here we go again! Got to the clinic at 9 for the "training" session with Colleen. Seeing as I have been through 2 other rounds, most of the stuff was just a refresher, but there were a few things I found out. I will have two weeks of treatment and two weeks off and then start again. So, a harder schedule this time and won't have a lot of time to get back to 100% health. Most of the side effects are the same with a few new ones thrown in just for good luck!!!

Had a new chemo nurse today, Whitney, she is new and was really good and funny!

And of course, I just go and have a chemo treatment - noooooo - I have to have an allergic reaction to the Gemcitabine after about 15 minutes. My right eye felt really itchy - and I asked Colleen if it was inflamed (I was thinking the whites of the eyes) - nope - it was the eyelid. Then called over Leslie - one of the nurses I have had before and got her to take a look - The entire eyelid was red and really swollen. She stopped treatment right away and then called Dr. P and explained - he asked her if she could see it five feet away - and she said, yeah no problem with

that...LOL... he said to start me on the hydrocortisone and benedryl and see where it went.....and he would come and see me (hmmm never did make it!!). So put that batch in, which took about 25 minutes and then had to wait about 20 minutes to see if the swelling had gone down - it went down about 80% and Whitney started the first drug and it was ok and then did the other bag of drugs. So what sould have been an hour session landed being over two hours. And will get to do it all again next week.

Got to chat with 5 of the nurses I have had before and that is always fun. They ask - that the hell are you doing back here......lol..... and as the nurse Colleen said, we hate to see you here but we are glad to see you!! Me too!

They have told me that I will get flu-like symptoms within 24 hours and not to worry - yeah right, I have rehearsal for the World Police and Fire Games at 7 today and then rehearsal at 1pm tomorrow and then line up for the parade of athletes at 6pm tomorrow.... along with the heat wave we are having. LOL.

But that is about it - nothing overly interesting. More next week!!!

Roni

May be hard to see, but the right eye is puffy and swollen - though it had gone down considerably by the time this was take. Allergic reations are so much fun - NOT!

Colleen and I

Whitney and I - was a great new nurse

Whitney explaining my medication schedule and one of the nicest patient and I didn't get her name!

Decided that we needed a more fun blog for a change - so here ya go!!

Well, yesterday was our annual backyard bbq! The numbers grow each year and we almost run out of room on the lawn and the deck! But we all had a great time! All 60 of us…and not everyone showed up!

As usual, we wait to the last minute to start clearing off the deck and getting stuff ready. But Patrick, Brian and I had it all done by 1 – chairs on the lawn, tables prepped for food and booze, BBQ moved, area prepped for coffee drinkers and there were a few. Put one mister on the lawn and another on the deck. The kiddie’s pool was filled (and there were adults who wanted to go into it!).

Patrick and Jason were our wonderful chefs to cook everyone’s meat – they did an awesome job – got everyone fed and happy. And the food that everyone brought was so good – managed to sample just about all of it! And not much in the line of leftovers either!!

Was wonderful to have one of my sisters here – Annie, four nieces – Margy, Theresa (who brought me a beautiful bouquet of Stargazer Lilies), Cathy and Kathy, a great- niece – Chelsea and a great-nephew – Quincy (home for the summer from college in the US). Lots of friends from the Relay for Life, some of the Train Gang and from Masons. And so many wonderful and close friends.

And was great to have so many little ones this year – between 7 months and 5 years old – they had a blast – playing in the pool and running through the mister on the lawn. They never slowed down the entire time they were here and not a disagreement at all!

Last guests left at 2am today – we just sat and talked and talked!!

Well, that is it for this year – we will be thinking of the next one soon – the year will fly by.

Will post again on Thursday about the new chemo drugs etc. And I am starting my volunteer work at the World Police and Fire Games tomorrow - so once my time is up (about 30 hours) I will post on here how it was and any pictures if I am able to get any - I am in the opening ceremonies, so hoping to snag some pictures!

My beautiful granddaughter Ayla - 7 months - she is a cutie.

My sister Annie, niece Kathy, niece Theresa (Annie's oldest)

Rick getting a big hug from our grandson Ryan, Colleen and Rod

Well, today sure was not the news we expected – yet again. My tumour markers are up again – from 210 last time I went to 278 this time and there is no shrinkage in the tumours. I was stunned and I think Brian was too. Just not what we had expected to hear.

Dr. P said that with the CT scan – it showed the chest area – and there was no difference – but it did not show the liver or kidney very well. So, will have to have an ultrasound to see if the two spots have changed at all or if they are still cysts. I should hear shortly as to when that would be.

So, we discussed with Dr. P the various treatments that could be done. And he has said that the anti-hormonal treatments won’t work anymore. So, he said that I would start chemo again next week. The type of treatment this time – is two drugs – Gemcitabine and Cisplatin. No red stuff this time! There are numerous side effects – some of which I have had and some new ones. Not liking the ringing in the ear side effect – mine already ring, but this could add to it and could be permanent. We shall have to wait and see.

He has given me three different prescriptions for three anti-nausea drugs – as nausea is one of the side effects.

While we were waiting to get paperwork in the waiting area, the tears started again and once again in the hallway of the hospital. I just want this to go away.

I start the chemo at 10am on July 30. I then go on August 6 for blood work which means from what I understand, that chemo is every week. Will have to do some research on this one.

To say the least, I won’t be going back to work for a while. And this was something that I had been looking forward to. Didn’t think to ask how many rounds I will have of this cocktail!

But I have a strong support system – and am very glad to have them here – will need it – I didn’t think I would have to go through chemo again for a while – but alas, not the cards I was dealt.

But I did have a great day at the Aquarium with Meghan and Ryan – and a free lunch thanks to Patrick’s boss!!

And looking forward to the BBQ on Sunday with so many family and friends coming to it – and it will be a beautiful day!!

And call me if you want – Brian will be going back to work soon and I will be by myself – visitors, meals, phone calls and wine are all welcome.

Hugz

Roni

Tests and Such

Hi everyone

Well, today started out great and ended up messed up!!

I got to the hospital this morning and checked in with Ambulatory Day Care to get my arm bracelet and paperwork. Meandered down to Medical Day Care to get the IV put in, blood work done and then a flush of the port. I told them to leave the IV in as I was going for a CT scan.

So, downstairs I went and everything was going great till I got changed and put in a bed. They go through all the same questions every single time - you would think they would have this stuff in the system somewhere!! Then she saw I had a portacath - well, "we aren't using that, you will have to have a regular IV with the contrast dye". "Ahh no, I don't have any veins, that is why the pic line is in". So it went from one nurse to another - three in total. All very rude and condescending. "We won't do it, we just don't use them, they could blow out and it would be a mess". So, they got the radiologist involved. I tried to phone Dr. P. but he was at an off site meeting and would call me back. Well, This took over an hour and then they finally said they will do the CT but not using the contrast dye. Like what is the point? People have these put in for a reason as they don't have veins or are getting numerous IV's, blood work etc (hmmm just like me). So, I am not sure how the test will turn out if they will be able to see everything as clearly as with the dye. It may have to be redone.

I headed back upstairs to the Medical Day Care and they took out the IV and we chatted a little bit. They don't know why either. I mean blood is thick and they use the portacath for transfusions. And then went back to Ambulatory Day Care to get my next flushing appointment - which will be August 11 @ 2:30pm.


I see Dr. P next week and will ask him what is with this and also will comment to him on the attitude of the three nurses. And we will get the results (which we are thinking very positive) and then go from there. Especially as to when I can go back to work.

That is all for now - weather has been wonderful for so long, a few cooler days and those are much appreciated by everyone for sure. The gardens are blooming and have lots of colour. The veggie garden is looking wonderful - we have had some of the veggies already and the taste is so yummy!

Ciao

Roni