My Morning

Early Sunday morning, God gave me a thought to call my doctor to see about having my insulin and blood sugar levels checked.  Yesterday morning, I called my doctor and left her a message to see if this could be done.  She agreed.  I spent some time yesterday on the phone between my doctor's office, and calling to see about making an appointment someplace to get blood drawn to have these two checked.  This was 12 hour fasting blood work.  Where I normally go, couldn't get me in until 2 pm, and I did not want to go all day without eating.  They told me that private outpatient at the hospital could do.  I called and had an appointment made for 7 am this morning.  I got hold of my doctor's office and they faxed over the order.

  I had to be at the hospital before 7 am to register.  I get there, registration did not have the order, private outpatient did.  The lady at registration called over them like 5 time, trying to get the order, or at least the diagnosis codes from the order, so she could in put those codes into the computer.  Someone finally came over with the order, for her to input the codes.  I walked over to private outpatient, and found out that the order from the doctor was written wrong.  But as a favor to me they went ahead and drew my blood.  I finally received some ice, to ice my port around 7:30 am.  I finally left the hospital about 7:45 am, and still needed to get some breakfast, so I went across the street to McDonald's and went inside to get something to eat in the car.  Their OJ machine wasn't working, so I got a Dr. Pepper to drink.  I finally got to school and signed in at 8:20 am.  My homeroom was already in the room, but I had called ahead, so they knew I was on my way to school.

  So today was a type of day where I was making mistakes and laughing at myself.

Insurance Company Said "NO"

I was scheduled for a PET scan this morning.  Late last Friday afternoon, I had a voice mail from my oncologist office. (I had left my ringer off even after I got home.)  I have to get permissions from my insurance company to have a PET scan.  My oncologist ordered it back in March, to see what my lymph nodes were up, three months after surgery.  My doctor even had talked to my insurance company about why I needed it, and they didn't change their minds.  I am now having a CT scan on the 28th of this month. 

I kept my appointment for getting my port flushed, since it had been five weeks.  I talked the scheduler, for my oncologists office,  into getting an order for blood work for this morning.  I usually have blood work done a couple of weeks before my CT scan. I waited for the results, my white blood count and my platelets have  both dropped below the low end of the normal range.  With all of my bruises I have,  I am a little concerned.  Not sure if this is due to the Sarcoid or something else, I am keeping Wednesday's appointment with my oncologist.  I will see him again next month to get the results of the CT Scan.  Even blood pressure was a little high this morning.

My appointment with my lung doctor has also been pushed back to the day before my birthday.

Seeing the Lung Doctor

  This afternoon, I had a voicemail from my lung doctor's office.  He wants to see me tomorrow afternoon at 1:15 pm.  I decided to go, because I know that eventually, I would be seeing him this spring.  That means, having to have a sub for tomorrow afternoon.  I wonder why he wants to see me?  I wonder if he has the blood test results for the sarcoid test?

Active Sarcoid or Melanoma

  I saw the surgeon and my oncologist this morning and  this afternoon.  I like the surgeon.  He showed me pictures of the scans of my lungs and had copies made for me.  He showed me where the nodules were and where the lymph nodes are that have swelled up.  The lymph nodes are around my windpipe.  The nodules are either Melanoma or scar tissue (Granulomars) which is Sarcoid.  Sarcoid causes the nodules, lymph nodes to swell, and the spleen to get bigger.  Sarcoid is treatable.  I was told back in the summer of 2007, that I had Sarcoid.  One syptom is a cough, which I have basically had off and on since I was a kid.  I had blood drawn this afternoon via a vein,  so it could be tested for Sarcoid.  This test is not the best test, but it is used.  I have not had the bronchial scope done, even though  my lung doctor has talked about it before.  He is going to be brought up to speed by both the surgeon and my oncologist.

I am waiting to hear back from the surgeon's office, but as of now,  I will be having surgery next Friday, March 8.  It is a short, out patient procedure.  A small slit is made just above my breast bone, and a camera is sent down, and he will remove some lymph nodes and they will be tested.  As of now, I am scheduled to see my oncologist on Monday, March 18 at 8:30 am.  The sooner this is done the better for me.

  I now just have to tell my parents tomorrow night after I pick them up from the airport.

Blood Work Results

I called my oncologist last Thursday to get the results of the blood work from the previous Friday. My onc was out of the office until today. The nurse for my onc left me a message this morning on my phone. I called back later and we played phone tag. I talked to her and she told me that my blood work came back good and the test my onc wanted run also came back negative. Because I have been coughing for the past months pretty consistently, I will be seeing a lung specialist next Tuesday, in Medina, at 3:15 pm.

I have had a cough basically my whole life. There are long periods of time where I don't cough at all. When I have a cold, I cough a lot. Various times from taking inventory, I coughed a lot. Before March, I hadn't coughed for quite some time. No cancer, no other diseases, so what is going on? That is what my onc wants to know.

My Day and More Test Results

After 11 this morning, I started to get ready to leave. No sub at 11:30. Still no sub at 11:45. I started to become curious and called SubFinder and nobody had accepted my job for a sub. I sent a note across the hall explaining this and she said to call the office. I did, office said the district was short 20 subs for the day. They asked if my two partners would be willing to split my kids, and they said no. Between their fools and fools, it would be disastrous for them. Told the office they said no, so they found somebody else to come up. My kids were working on their social studies assignment and were told, all had to have it done before going home. Knowing my kids, not all will have it done. I left school about 12:20 pm.

I had a 12:45 appointment with my Onc. I already knew there was no cancer in my lymph nodes. The polyp tested negative for cancer also. The stains they ran on my lymph nodes for bacteria and fungus also came back negative. My onc is curious as to what is going on since there is no cancer. He ordered blood work. I will call next week for the results and go from there. I will have CT scans of my neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis areas on Monday, August 22. I will get the results the following Monday. My onc did say that from the test with my polyp, there were cells that were starting to change. He said I will will be given more info from the GYN next week when I see him for post-op.

My left armpit area has been bothering me all week off and on. Monday and today it was checked by the nurse, and very little fluid was taken out. The pain is due to healing...

When I left the both doctor offices, I went over to Akron U to buy my cap and gown. Since I am getting my master's degree, I could wear a cap or a hood. I did purchase both the cap and gown and brought them home. They did not have anymore hoods. They had to order one, but I did go ahead and pay for it. I am so excited about all of the good news I have received this week.

First Time in a Year

I was scheduled for blood work this afternoon at 4 pm. My port was accessed, did some saline and got blood return. The first thing of blood is always the waste, and after that, there was no more blood return. The nurse had me stand up, tried more saline, and finally around 4:50 gave me a dose of the clot buster drug. Around 5:25 pm, a different nurse tried to get blood return nothing, nada. I waited til about 6 pm, at first the nurse had a problem, but was able to get blood so it could be sent to the lab. I haven't had the clot buster drug in a year. A couple of times, the nurses thought they would have to give me that drug, but were able to get my port to co-operate and return blood before it was needed.

I'm praying that there is no problems with my port next week, when I have my procedures done. Also praying that I get over this cold soon. I took yesterday off from school to rest. My cold has moved to my sinuses. I will be able to continue taking Dayquil after tomorrow.

CT Scans /Onc Visit

Two weeks ago, I had a CT scan of my chest, abdomen, and pelvic area. I got the results yesterday when I saw my onc. The nodule in my lung has gotten a little smaller. A kidney stone in my kidney was found. (No, I have no pain whatsoever, and I have told my AP and secretary of my school, have to yet tell my principal, and I will when I see her.) I also had blood work done 3 weeks ago. My blood sugar was a a little high. I had to go back today and have blood work done, fasting for blood sugar. At first, when I was accessed, no blood return. The nurse had me sit forward, then sit back and raise my right arm. Raising my arm, got blood return. Loosing weight will lower my blood sugar level. It is hard to do.

My next CT scan is February 21, and I already have the yucky stuff at home. I am scheduled for a port flush clear into February. I had to move my dentist appointment that was scheduled for February 21 into March.

Blood Draw and Port Flush

This morning, I had an appointment to have blood drawn and my month port flush. (Next week, I am getting a CT Scan.) The nurse did not have orders for the blood draw in my file, and I left the orders I had, were left on the refrigerator at home. But she did it anyway with out the orders. When my port was accessed, the nurse got good blood return. No clot buster drug was needed. I waited for the blood counts to be done, and my white blood count had slightly dropped. It is at 4.0. The last time I saw the counts, I think my white blood count was at 4.3. 4.0 is still good. It is on the high end of the being low.

Low Grade Fever

Since Wednesday of last week, I have had a temp ranging between 99.0-99.6. That varies throughout the day. Don't know why I've gone so long with a low grade fever. Having a fever is a side effect of the Interferon. A fever is also a sign of an infection. My blood pressure was 99/72 on Friday, but it was back up to where it normally is, this morning.

I was told by the nurse to keep take my temp throughout the weekend. If I had a fever and the chills to my call my onc. She was a bit worried that I might have a port infection. That wouldn't be good. If that happened, my port would be taken out. I do not have a port infection. I did take my temp a couple of times Friday night, took it Saturday, and took the thermometer to church yesterday. Yes, I did. I took my temp during the sermon and twice in Sunday School. I didn't take it again the rest of the day.

Last week, my white blood count went up from 2.0 to 2.2. Blood was drawn on Friday, and my white blood count went up again, this time to 2.3. I wasn't expecting it to go up, but to go down instead.

Problems, Problems, Problems

Yesterday morning, I went in to have my blood drawn and to get my injection of Interferon. First, they take my vitals-blood pressure, pulse and my temp. The blood pressure cuff is usually put on my left arm. The nurse put the bigger cuff around my upper arm. The bottom number of my blood pressure and my pulse were 30 something. Not good. She took it again, but this time the cuff went around my lower arm. About the same again. She then took my pulse on my left wrist, the same as the machine. Then, she took my pulse on my right wrist, and it was much better. So, the cuff was put on my right arm, and it was much better.

Next, it was time to draw blood. I was given my usual glove full of ice to numb the area where my port is. The nurse went to insert the needle, but it didn't work properly, because she couldn't draw any blood. She called for another nurse to come over and to bring another needle. They took out the first needle and put in the second needle. That one hurt, because the area on my chest wasn't very numb anymore. After getting the needle in, they had to play with it. It wasn't working. After putting my feet and the foot rest down, so I was sitting up, not leaning back, they were able to draw blood.

I got my injection. The band aids don't stay very well on either of my arms. I take turns getting my injections in my arms. One day, the left arm is used, then the next, I receive the injection in my right arm. Hopefully, come next week, it won't be as difficult.

End of Week 2

Today, I finished week 2, which marks the halfway point in receiving the high dose of Interferon. I have been tired all week. I have taken a nap just about every day. My naps are between 30-60 minutes in length only. I was in bed early at the beginning of the week. I still have had headaches, but nothing like last week's. My stomach has been bothering me all week. The nurse told me to go ahead and start taking the anti-nausea pills I have. They can only be taken 1 every 12 hours as needed. At different times, I feel like I could possible throw up. Everyday, I get closer and closer to throwing up.

I had blood drawn this morning. I will find out on Monday, what my blood count levels say. If they dropped anymore, then the amount of Interferon I receive will change for next week. I spend the majority of the afternoons in my dad's recliner resting, before I get onto the computer.

I saw my onc yesterday. I saw the surgeon this morning, after my treatment. He said the hardness I feel is normal, it is scar tissue. It will take up to a year, for it to soften and get smaller. They didn't make me feel stupid about wanting to come in and see them. I will see the surgeon again on the 14th. It has now been a week, since I was measured for my custom made stocking. Should be getting it soon.

I saw 4 people from my past this week, and three back in September. Those are little gifts from God.

I truly believe that the reason my side effects haven't been worse than what they are, are due to all the people across the country who are praying for me. This is God listening to their prayers and answering them. Lord, thank you for listening and answering all of their prayers.

Blood Work

I had a good weekend, with very little side effects. Stomach did bother me, nurse today, told me to go ahead and take an anti-nauseous medicine, that way it can work, before I let it go too far and I do get sick to my stomach.

Got my blood work back and there is only two things they really look at, when deciding the amount of interferon I can receive. That is my white blood count, which is at 1.9. Back in July it was at 6.1. It is low. They also look at my Seg Neutrophil. It is at 22, and back in July it was 20.5. I guess that one is also low, but I am still receiving 49 million units of Interferon everyday this week.

Mom has to buy a thermometer tomorrow, because she has to take my temperature 2-3 times a day. If my temp hits 100.5 or greater, then we have to call the doctor.

I have had a headache today, but not bad as last week. I still took a pain pill this afternoon. I got an hour nap this afternoon. Last night, I had lights out before 11 pm, and didn't' want to get up when my alarm went off at 7 am.

God allowed me to see two people I haven't seen in years this week. Yesterday, at church, I was able to see a childhood friend. Last time we saw each other was 7 years ago. It was really nice to see him again. Today, I saw somebody from high school, who I recognized, but couldn't remember his name. He remembered my name. In an email to a friend, I said, I wonder who else God will allow me to see this week, I haven't seen in a long time.