Percocet

New drug pain killer starting today, not sure which amount / colour yet. Can't wait for the relief. 

Tuesday April 22, 2015

Regular XRay and special MRI

Regular appointment yesterday Xray, went very quick and well. I had so much pain I decided to go to Emergency I sent my cancer driver home. First she took me into the registrar for my my appointment then took my walker home so I could use a wheelchair, she will bring it home today, amazing too. Xray went fast. Went to emerg it was packed with so many people I think some were standing room onl. urse tucked me in a corner tho away from the waiting room.Finally was put in a room away from others all to myself. Lots of checking, needle, pain killer finally, such a help!! felt better, Then had an MRI for my back but everything was seen fine. Sent for a prescription for Percocet, getting that today Morphine doesn't seem to work for me. Left at noon and home at 8 1/2 hrs later, was in bed pretty good last night, Taking it easy today.Need to go to costco to pick up 2 photos, buying milk and butter,,,Michae;s fir fabruc and either pick up my new meds or have them delivered this afternoon if ready.RESTING RESTING!!!

Lack of sleep

Unfortunately because of all the dexamethosone I'm taking,  I don't sleep a lot.Go to bed tired at 8pm, bathroom a lot and up out of bed 2-4am.....oh well. Enjoying quiet and snuggling with my kitty. Sometimes can watch something on tv or doing a craft/cross stitch or quietly cleaning out a drawer, cupboard or bin...

Cancer, Brain and KGH

Saturday the day before Easter, we had a wonderful dinner and gifts for the kids and girlfriend and boyfriends for our older kids so we were very very busy, all prepared. We planned a turkey, ham and corned beef. Full dinner and the kids could take stuff home. Chocolate and Easter gifts for the kids and Peter. I stopped speeching and Easter ruined. Thankfully Peter handed most of the Easter hugs went to his kids and himself. (Ashlee' stuff still here)

So off to KGH on our own, I am thinking now we would have done Ambulance. We ended waiting room in KGH forever while Ambulances went ahead. I don't remember everything but I know for 2 days I could not speak. Finally went to a room at the hospital,

I can't tell you everything because I don't remember everything. I do remember Dr Owen (Radiation) and Dr Anna Toniak (Cancer) He came up once, she came up 2x. I also met Dr Cook Dr surgery and we are going to see him in 3 weeks. Next week I am having an XRAY Tues Apr 21,,,,week after that Dr Cook at HDH hospital and then Wednesday Pamidronate on Wednesday and visit to Dr Tomiak (cancer). Peter wants to go to both appointments April 27 and 29. I forget so much so he listens to my appointments.

Dr Cooks may be discussing surgery in my brain. I am terrified. I am not sure with this situation for the first time in 5 1/2 YEARS I have dealt with every medical discussion but with this I am scared and shocked.

On Wednesday the Pamidronate comes once a mount to remove the needle and Michelle is wonderful, can't wait to see her. She works for CCAC.

My life feels like it's everywhere. I hope I can continue and for some reason I am so scared I just don't know what to do.

At this moment I am taking the following medication:

1 needle of Fragmin 75,000 once a day
1 needle of Fragmin 10,000 once a day (both needles in my tunny)
Dexamethosone -- 2 - 4mg in the morning and 2- 4mg at night
Valproic Acid 250 mg - 2 in the morning -- 2 in the evening
Vesicare - 5mg to control my pee

If I have pain  anywhere I will take 2 Extra strength Tylenot and/or perscription Hydromorphone 1mg or 4mg offers

I am allergic to things like NSaids and others that I cannot think of.

Dr Anna Tomiak http://oncology.queensu.ca/divisions/divisions/medical_oncology/anna_tomiak

Dr Owen Radiologist http://oncology.queensu.ca/divisions/divisions/radiation_oncology/tim_owenDr Owen

Don't really know Dr Cook yet.



Please keep me in my thoughts.

Off to Ottawa General Hospital.

I spoke with the 3rd year intern and he seemed very smart, he had mentioned brain surgery and Peter and I were a little freaked. He explained about starting to take dexamethosone if it's necessary. When he went to talk to Dr Malone and came back, they decided NO SURGERY!! Dr Malone was very busy and since my situation wasn't really severe he did not come talk to me, which was okay. I've had the 3rd year intern before and he is very good. I have to go back to see him and Dr Malone in 6mths. So it's up to me and Peter to keep an eye on eye problems, headaches, swelling and other things..in that case, straight to ER at KGH. So far so good.

Broca's Aphasia

"Expressive aphasia is also known as Broca's aphasia in clinical neuropsychology "

I had an appointment today with Dr. Owen my radiologist. We had a long talk about what is happening to my brain. I knew I was having troubles with remembering words currently but having long term memory was perfect. I have come off the dexamethasone and my body will start to get tired and I will loose energy and want to sleep a lot. I've noticed my lack of speech over quite a few month because of the tumor in my brain. Thankfully the tumor is shrinking a bit and perhaps it will improve my speech.

The Broca tumor has shrunk from 3mm to 2mm and I hope it continues to shrink. Whether it will improve my speech I don't know.

I had my appointment with Dr Owen today and then my Pamidronate with my wonderful nurse. I was unable to see Dr T, she was not expecting me today and was very busy.

Pamidronate: "Pamidronate injection comes as a solution (liquid) to inject into a vein slowly, over 2 to 24 hours. It is usually injected by a health care provider in a doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. It may be given once every 3 to 4 weeks, once a day for 3 days in a row, or as a single dose that may be repeated after 1 week or longer. The treatment schedule depends on your condition."

This is my actual pamidronate bottle used today. My wonderful Michelle took it out today. We put them in a medical box and when the box is full I take it to the hospital and they destroy it. This medication is for bone strengthening since I have bone metastasis to many bones on my body.

I am off to see Dr Malone in Ottawa on Wednesday.




==================================================================

What is an MRI T1.5 ?

This is a quote from MRI wikipedia.



"How MRI works

Main article: Physics of magnetic resonance imaging

MRI requires a magnetic field that is both strong and uniform. The field strength of the magnet is measured in tesla – and while the majority of systems operate at 1.5T, commercial systems are available between 0.2T–7T. Most clinical magnets are superconducting which requires liquid helium. The lower field strengths can be achieved with permanent magnets, which are often used in "open" MRI scanners for claustrophobic patients.^[23]To perform a study, the patient is positioned within an MRI scanner which forms a strong magnetic field around the area to be imaged. In most medical applications, protons (hydrogen atoms) in tissues containing water molecules are used to create a signal that is processed to form an image of the body. First, energy from an oscillating magnetic field is temporarily applied to the patient at the appropriate resonant frequency. The excited hydrogen atoms emit a radio frequency signal which is measured by a receiver coil. The radio signal can be made to encode position information by varying the main magnetic field using gradient coils. As these coils are rapidly switched on and off they create the characteristic repetitive noises of an MRI scan. The contrast between different tissues is determined by the rate at which excited atoms return to the equilibrium state. Exogenous contrast agents may be given intravenously, orally or intra-articularly.

Contrast in MRI

.

Image contrast may be weighted to demonstrate different anatomical structures or pathologies. Each tissue returns to its equilibrium state after excitation by the independent processes of T1 (spin-lattice) and T2 (spin-spin) relaxation."

YaY!!

HHHHHUUUUURRRRAAAAAYYYYY my 10:30 pm appt in Ottawa has been changed. My files have been looked at and they discovered that I can take the injection provided with this. Now I can have that done, go into the MRI T1.5 instead of the MRI T3.....the 1.5 is very specific for my brain tumor photos.....my appt is now on Friday at 1pm AFTERNOON....Peter and I are very happy to not have to go late tonight...

Clearing up!!

I looked at myself today and was shocked to see how much was cleared up. Things are going well and I am glad.

side

Belly (not my butt lol)

right side

front

Xarelto legal case

I always get freaked out when "legal" commercials are on tv about medication that causes this and causes that, danger, making people ill or dead. Thankfully none of my meds have ever been shown. Until today. Wow. Many months ago I was put on Xarelto (clots developed within days so they took me off the Xarelto)....10 minutes ago there was an ad on tv about the medication causing strokes etc. "I" was put on Xarelto and within days I developed blood clots in my lungs...I was recently in hospital for a week regarding the clots but thank god I was taken off the Xarelto I had developed deep vein thrombosis and and pulmonary embolism...my clots ended up going away pretty quick ,Still have to be on my blood thinner injections for the rest of my life but thank goodness my doc knew to take me off the drug. It's been confirmed that was the culprit.Thank god doc got me off the drug quickly Still shocked about the ad on tv. 

Xarelto Legal Case

GOING HOME!!!!

One whole week in the hospital and I am finally going HOME!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait....waiting for Peter getting off work at 4pm....hopefully home when Young and the Restless starts at 4:30 and I think I will celebrate by ordering something for dinner.

Doctor needs to call in my fragmin, to Shopper's Drug Mart new amount and I will start those today. I heard news today that I didn't know. I had a VKU scan and it showed I have NO BLOOD CLOTS !!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOSH!!!! I am thrilled, it's been so scary knowing they were there but they are gone!!!!! What a relief...

Blood clots....

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                                                                             VCU scan

                                                   

                                                 ---------------------------------------------------

So my new task is walking A LOT!! I have to walk everyday. I will walk my building in the winter, up and down the stairs very carefully, up and down the halls...then when the weather gets better I will walk outside, slowly but surely....

                                                                          Walking

                                       __________________________________________

Visits

From Nikki

Saw Dr Bigshot today, things are going well....then my normal oncologist  Dr. Tomiak  came to visit SO good to see her!!!

I had a friend AnneMarie Fernie I've known since elementary school and high school, living on the base. 

I got a nice letter from my friend Venessa Arthur via email...

Flowers from my friend Nikki Roe, beautiful purple roses, lavender baby's breath and purple statice

My best friend ever Denise I've known for 40 years...

Went down to visit my old friend Tammy who works at the hospital

Ran into an old daycare dad Kevin and got a hug

I got a phone call from Lorraine Byron a lifelong Stanley friend

My nurses and medical team  are amazing...nurse Delainey, PCA Cathy and Shannon and student nurse Jessica

My dear friend Sharen came to visit as well

Met some one named Christa whose boyfriend knew Tammy's husband and met Tammy...what a small world and is now a facebook friend

I get to visit a lot of student doctors, what incredible staff....

I HOPE I mentioned all the people I know who have taken part in my life...of course so many people on facebook are so special to me...

                                    Beautiful flowers from my family Gerbera daisies and baby's breath

*************WARNING************* Very detailed, naked photos

So I will begin with the large infected tummy area. I may have posted already about this but it's worth repeating  again. About a month or so awhile ago, I had to go to ER to deal with a red hot, burning, raised area on the right side of my hip. The blood had accumulated and it had to be removed with 5 large needles and given meds to clear it up. Seems to have just taken a few days and all was better.

________________________________________________

I then had an issue on the left hip and found an area that was hard and doc said that eventually in a short period of time, being black and purple it would likely reabsorb and quickly clear up, which it did.

________________________________________________

On Friday January the 16th I had a regular appointment with Dr Lollar to see how things were going. Seems most was okay, but there was a large hardened area of blood and I had to keep an eye on it. She told me to watch it and hope it would shrink. If it went softer within 24-48 hrs nothing needed to be done....Turns out it did not soften and the blood began to harden so we had to go to ER. It appears that blood is spreading all over my left hip, my back and a bit down my leg.

_______________________________________________

We are trying to figure out why the blood amount is going down. So far I have had 6 blood transfusions. Blood should be around 120 mine was 80 something which is okay but now dropping to anywhere from 50-60. Each time it drops I have to take 2 fusions, it raises but then drops again. This is why I am still here. Not happy but have to stay.

______________________________________________________

So I will now show you the photos that my friend Samantha took for me. They are naked. The nurses drew with a red marker around the blood filled area. The blood will begin to clear a bit and the skin will begin  to turn more normal creamy white, that is a good thing. Hopefully this will clear over time. If you look closely the clearing parts no matter how small, it's a good thing but it's slow. That's really all that can be done in addition to the blood being added. Slow, slow, slow. Where you see the red marker and the white/cream portions showing, that is VERY goof, we hope it continues to clear

________________________________________________________

Sorry for the detail but I have always said I would post  any photos or make comments that are completely honest................Thank you so much for your love, support, prayers and caring regarding my cancer, it means everything to me,

__________________________________________________________

~~Velda~~
_________________________________________________________

Appointments

8 Medical appts coming up....3 to Ottawa and 5 in Kingston over the next 3 months I'm sure more will be thrown in..Love and appreciate Dr Malone, Dr Tomiak, Dr Lollar, Charity my incredible nurse and all my plebotimists who love to stab me and the girls at MRI in Ottawa.....Thank goodness Peterbought me a gorgeous calender to help me keep track...I use highlighters to keep specific things together, makes it easier..... And thanks to Peter for taking me to Ottawa and BIG KGH appts and the volunteer drivers for taking me to my monthly and smaller appts at KGH

KGH  Cancer Clinic

_________________________________________________________________________

Ottawa General Hospital Cancer Clinic

 

______________________________________________________________________________

MRI -Ottawa

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X-ray KGH

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NOT my pamidronate, but this is the same one I get every month, takes 2 1/2 hours to drain into my chest then the nurse Michelle comes to my house to remove it.

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Voted one of 12 best 2014 lung cancer blogs

My friend Laura Moreland just told me my blog was voted one of 12 best lung cancer blogs of 2014. I had no idea. The description they put on the link below regarding my blog is so wonderful, I am proud. Thank you Laura!! http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-lung-cancer-blogs#8


"

The Climb Sometimes the Fall

Velda is a mother of four children. She also has non-small cell lung cancer with metastases in her brain and bones. Her blog, The Climb Sometimes the Fall, conveys those very aspects of her journey with a writer’s eye for detail and emotional honesty.

Velda lets us in on her excitement about a family trip from Canada to Disney World, as well as the fear and sadness that gripped her when a trip to the emergency room threatens to derail those plans. She writes with toughness about her own treatment, and with tenderness when describing her fellow hospital patients and the nurses who care for her."

Yuck!

Unfortunately with the Dexamethosone I am on and the 2 blood thinner needles I have to take each day, I bruise VERY easily. Most of the bruises don't hurt. I have been to ER twice over time when my belly swelled really bad. I had a blood accumulation once so bad it was hot red, swollen and had to have the blood released by needle suckers  to get rid of the pressure. Wasn't fun. The second time at  ER doc said I had to just let it settle down on t's own and did nothing, it wasn't red and hot tho, just dark and huge.

Right now I have a horribly painful left side. it's hard as a rock and the bruising keeps spreading. I've been taking extra strength tylenol and some morphine. I also put a wet facecloth in a sandwich bag, freeze it and put it on the bruise. It is SO HUGE!! Hurts so bad.

Taking it easy today hopefully the hard blood accumulation in my tummy will start to soften, absorb into my tummy and go away soon.

2014-2015

I guess it's time to come to the end of 2014 updates and continue into 2015.

So Peter and I went to see STYX at the Casinorama on November 21st. We were able to visit my friend Jan and Rick in Barrie and Gina in Scarborough. It's usually only once a year so it was lovely.

Then December came. It began on Thursday Dec 4th going to Ottawa General Hospital at 4:30 pm (dislike late appts there) for an MRI, things went well. The following day Friday Dec 5th, attended KGH for an IVR new port insertion. I was glad to finally have that surgery done. It feels really good this time :)

2 FULL weeks next with NO doctor or hospital appointments. Zachary's birthday was on Dec 18th and he turned 15.

The following week I had a pammi appt on Christmas Eve and it went in really well. Then I bumped into a small problem. Apparently my blood was a little low so I had to go on an IV to have some Magnesium put into my blood. Oh well. The only thing I missed was having my wonderful nurse Michelle missing me at home to remove my pammi needle. But she showed up not knowing and I had a little card and gift for her that Zoe gave  her. I get to see her again mid January.

 My next visit was Dr T on Dec 31st, I guess I missed an earlier appt, oops, only ever missed 2 appts in 5 years. The appt was full of lots of questions and an examination and once again Dr T is amazed at hme well I am doing. She is an incredible doctor!!

Peter and I and Zoe had a wonderful dinner. We had lobster, prime rib, mashed potatoes and various veggies. It was sooooooooooooo good!!!

So I have to share a short story that came to me this morning, Jan 6th. I had decided to sell 3/4 of my wigs to make a little money. An amazing girl approached me and over about a half hour we were involved in a conversation. She offered me a payment to instead of selling them, donate them, I agreed. I am still stunned and overwhelmed. I was in tears. It is incredible how she reacted, but discovering cancer was involved in her family. Turns out This woman and people in her life are in my life. I won;t share any more details than that. I will be donating them all the cancer clinic Jan 14th and taking a photo to share. It overwhelms me what just occurred. Thank you, you know who you are!

So this month we have had rain, snow, fog, cool, freezing and ice. It's been crazy. We took a couple days doing errand and lots of grocery shopping etc.We are trying to plan our meals each wek. I am not a fan of cooking but things seem to make meals easier.

So first 2 weeks no medical appts. On Tuesday  Jan 13th we are headed to see Dr Melone  my doc. Again the appt is later in the day 3:40pm. We will take Zoe with us. Hopefully any news he needs to give me will be good news. He;s a great doctor. 

Wednesday back to KGH for an x-ray. Takes awhile, appt at 1pm but I have to drink 1 1/2 hr of medicine so it takes awhile. Hopefully I will get home in time for Zoe from school, but she knows the rules :)

The last appt planned for Jan so far is my monthly pammi appt and it;s at KGH early then home. It goes into me for about 2 1/2 hrs and then I get to see my wonderful nurse at home to remove it. Can't wait to see her.

Well life has been crazy days and quiet days. Hopefully everyone has a wonderful 2015!! Again always thank you all for your love and support. 

******* Figures, excited no appts this week, Ottawa just called and wants me tomorrow instead of next week as planned. Hopefully everything is okay. . *sigh* Good thing I like my doc*********