We had a great Memorial Day. We had a little party for our neighbors, work friends and prayer circle friends. I enjoyed being surrounded by such good friends. The rain held off until the end of the party.
I woke up Monday morning with a stabbing pain in my upper abdomen. I have started back on some narcotic pain killers. I went into the doctor office on Tuesday morning. They ran some tests and haven't found anything. I had a fever and so they think it might be a virus. Due to the narcotics I will be sleeping with oxygen. My oxygen gets low when I am on the painkillers.
Bill visited the orthopedic surgeon Wednesday morning. His knee has been hurting for several weeks and isn't getting better on its own. He had an MRI today and may need knee surgery in a couple of weeks for suspected torn cartilage.
Have a peace filled week.
Michelle
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
More Good News
I received my results from the latest CA19-9. The CA19-9 is a blood test that shows tumor activity for bile duct cancer. Less than 55 is normal. In January my CA19-9 was 7998 and in May it was 526. Now it is 127. So a celebration is in order. Things continue to move in the right direction. Yea.
This week was my week off of chemo, so my blood counts were at their lowest. So I was very tired. I did get to work a little in the yard this week. The weather has been beautiful. Bill and his brother Tim have been working on the deck. We really appreciate all of Tim's help. Bill wanted to build me a deck so I can sit outside this summer and look at the flower gardens. Three of our 10 ft by 10 ft garden boxes have been planted with perennials. Bill also planted raspberries and strawberries.
I have been a little sad this week. I think it is because I am no longer employed. I enjoyed my job and the people I worked with. I worked for the City for over 13 years. Logically I know my job right now is to battle the cancer, but emotionally I miss work. This is part of defining the new normal for me.
Bill left this morning for Maine. He is traveling there for work. He will be returning on Wednesday evening. We will miss him.
Have a peace filled week.
Michelle
This week was my week off of chemo, so my blood counts were at their lowest. So I was very tired. I did get to work a little in the yard this week. The weather has been beautiful. Bill and his brother Tim have been working on the deck. We really appreciate all of Tim's help. Bill wanted to build me a deck so I can sit outside this summer and look at the flower gardens. Three of our 10 ft by 10 ft garden boxes have been planted with perennials. Bill also planted raspberries and strawberries.
I have been a little sad this week. I think it is because I am no longer employed. I enjoyed my job and the people I worked with. I worked for the City for over 13 years. Logically I know my job right now is to battle the cancer, but emotionally I miss work. This is part of defining the new normal for me.
Bill left this morning for Maine. He is traveling there for work. He will be returning on Wednesday evening. We will miss him.
Have a peace filled week.
Michelle
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Good News about the Bone Scan
I had chemo number 11 last Tuesday. This week is my week off. That means my blood counts are low, which is why I am so tired. I had a bone scan on Friday. I got the report today and it talks about the spot on my spine that received radiation back in February/March. It also mentions my left sinus that has an infection. We will see the oncologist on Thursday this week, so we can ask him if more radiation is needed for the spine or if it is still healing from the last round of radiation. I see the ENT on Monday, May 18th about the sinus. The best news is that it says no other focus of osseous (bone) metastatic disease identified. Yea!
The deck is coming along. Friday night, Bill, Tim, Chris and Kelly were out pouring concrete in the dark for the post holes. On Saturday, we had the expert, Steve come over and show everybody how it is done. They got the ledger board on the house and some of the joists. My contribution was putting the saw table together. Bill got a combination miter saw on a slide for the project. He says it cuts like butter. Bill got the hard part out of the way, so we can get alot done on Sunday. Well we woke up on Sunday to rain, so Bill, Tim and Chris got a break.
I went over to the Enviromental Learning Center (ELC) to walk on the trail last week. It is only a mile from our house and the Poudre River runs around it. It reminds me of walking in the woods in Michigan, (except for the Pear Cactus). Chris came with me. The next day I asked Kelly if she would come with me. Chris piped up, "Yeah Kelly you won't break a sweat, in fact you could wear your high heels and still keep up with Mom." My response, "Chris, unload the dishwasher." Chris's response, "You were going to make me unload the dishwasher anyway." He was right.
Have a peace filled week.
Michelle
The deck is coming along. Friday night, Bill, Tim, Chris and Kelly were out pouring concrete in the dark for the post holes. On Saturday, we had the expert, Steve come over and show everybody how it is done. They got the ledger board on the house and some of the joists. My contribution was putting the saw table together. Bill got a combination miter saw on a slide for the project. He says it cuts like butter. Bill got the hard part out of the way, so we can get alot done on Sunday. Well we woke up on Sunday to rain, so Bill, Tim and Chris got a break.
I went over to the Enviromental Learning Center (ELC) to walk on the trail last week. It is only a mile from our house and the Poudre River runs around it. It reminds me of walking in the woods in Michigan, (except for the Pear Cactus). Chris came with me. The next day I asked Kelly if she would come with me. Chris piped up, "Yeah Kelly you won't break a sweat, in fact you could wear your high heels and still keep up with Mom." My response, "Chris, unload the dishwasher." Chris's response, "You were going to make me unload the dishwasher anyway." He was right.
Have a peace filled week.
Michelle
Friday, May 1, 2009
Happy May
Well after a wet Saturday we have a beautiful Sunday here in Colorado. It is sunny and about 65 degrees. Bill, Chris and Bill's brother Tim are working on the deck in the backyard. Bill wants to build me a deck so I can sit outside and look at the flower gardens this summer. Right now they are trying to dig the post holes with a 2-person auger. They have 15 holes to dig and I think they are done with 5. I hear some raised voices, so I will just stay up here in my room and out of the way. ;-) (Later in the day: they got the 13 holes done for the deck and everybody is stilll talking to each other. )
The ERCP must have taken more out of me than I thought. I was very tired this week. I spent alot of time in bed. I also received chemo number 10 this week. So that could have something to do with it too. In celebration of my 10th chemotherapy I brought in brownies for the oncology nurses. They truly have a gift of caring and compassion.
Thursday was my last day at the City of Fort Collins. Really my last day at work was Friday October 31st. I ran out of leave at the end of March. I needed to either return to work part time (going full time in 6 months) or terminate. My doctor recommended that I not return to work at this time. After this week, I agree I can't work at this time. I really enjoyed the people I worked with at the City. I will miss them.
Next week will be chemotherapy and a bone scan. The bone scan is to look for any additional bone metastisis. I did have a tumor on my spine that was treated with radiation. It was found because it was causing pain. So they want to look for any other bone issues.
We will have prayer circle on Monday. I am always so lifted up after that experience. I really appreciate all of the prayers that I am receiving. I know they are working.
Have a peace filled week.
Michelle
The ERCP must have taken more out of me than I thought. I was very tired this week. I spent alot of time in bed. I also received chemo number 10 this week. So that could have something to do with it too. In celebration of my 10th chemotherapy I brought in brownies for the oncology nurses. They truly have a gift of caring and compassion.
Thursday was my last day at the City of Fort Collins. Really my last day at work was Friday October 31st. I ran out of leave at the end of March. I needed to either return to work part time (going full time in 6 months) or terminate. My doctor recommended that I not return to work at this time. After this week, I agree I can't work at this time. I really enjoyed the people I worked with at the City. I will miss them.
Next week will be chemotherapy and a bone scan. The bone scan is to look for any additional bone metastisis. I did have a tumor on my spine that was treated with radiation. It was found because it was causing pain. So they want to look for any other bone issues.
We will have prayer circle on Monday. I am always so lifted up after that experience. I really appreciate all of the prayers that I am receiving. I know they are working.
Have a peace filled week.
Michelle
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