Kidney Problems

    Monday afternoon, I received three voice mails from my oncologist's office.  My cretin level was 3.9 Friday morning.  My oncologist thought the blue dye from the CT scan caused this issue with my kidneys.  They wanted me to receive fluids.
   Yesterday, I was scheduled to have my port flushed and blood drawn to test my ACE levels (sarcoid). My cretin levels were 3.1. I received two bags of fluid.  I was told that I had to get an ultrasound of my kidneys.  I had that done at 1 pm today, then went back over to the cancer center to received two more bags of fluid. 
   Now my cretin levels are 2.9. I have to go back to the cancer center tomorrow for two more bags of  fluids.  They are getting me in, so that I can still keep my dentist appointment at 4 pm.
  The highlight of my day was seeing my two favorite nurses.
    Still having headaches, stomach ache, and feeling a bit nausea. 
  Nobody knows what is going on with my kidneys and what has caused this.

I Do Not Have a Blood Clot

I am not sure how soon after getting back from VA, I noticed that my right leg was swollen, and it hurts in a couple of areas.  I had two massages last week, because of my sore and tight muscles.  I called and was able to get an appointment to see my doctor this morning.  I didn't think all of the swelling was due to my lymphodema that I have had in my right leg since the LND.

  I saw her and she wanted me to get an ultrasound of my leg and an x-ray of my foot and ankle.  I wasn't allowed to leave until they got the results and looked at it.  My doctor and I both had thought blood clot.  I was scheduled for the ultrasound at 2:15 pm.  After the ultrasound, I got the x-rays.  then I sat and waited.  I do not have a blood clot in my right leg  or foot.  I am to wear my compression stocking every day, and if the swelling doesn't go down by the end of the week, call to make an appointment to see her again.

  It is good news not to have a blood clot.  We think the swelling is due to being on my feet and all of the walking I did in the heat while in VA.  I even wore my compression stocking while in VA.

Mammogram and Kidney Stone Surgery #3

  I was scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound at 9:30 this morning.  Dad had me there by 9:15.  I had four pictures taken of my left breast, then I had to sit and wait a bit before the ultrasound of my left breast.  I was done there by 10:45ish.  I was told by the ultrasound technician  that she was to look for two things, and she only found one, a cyst.  She couldn't find the other one, so the doctor on duty read the films and said they look benign.  That means no biopsy.  I am glad for that.

  I walked over to out patient surgery and didn't have to wait long to be called back.  I was surprised that I wasn't taken to have an x-ray done this morning, since I was expecting it.  My port was accessed, but the initial blood flow was slow, and my port continued to run slow.  It was slow on Tuesday, when I had it flushed and had blood work done for today.

   Mom, Dad, and my best friend, Elaine came back around 12:30 to see me before my surgery.  Having Elaine come by, was a nice surprise.  I enjoyed my visit with her.  I even received my birthday present from her, all Pittsburgh Steelers stuff.  Thank you Elaine for coming to see me.

   I go to the operating room, and with my port running slow, the antheisologist says that she wants to access a vein, and I told her that might not be possible.  She said that she will wait until after I am asleep to do so.  They give me the medicine, and she did start an IV in a vein in my right arm, at my elbow.  I didn't like waiting up to that.  The surgery was a quick one.  The doctor told mom, that he had a hard time using the laser to break up the stone.  It was being very stubborn!! He broke up the stone and removed it, and   placed a stint in the tube.  He will remove the stint in a couple of weeks in  his office.

  I came home with five prescriptions.  Only got four filled, since one is for pain meds.  I have an antibiotic to take this weekend, Flomax to take for twenty days, and two other kinda pain meds, depending on if I have certain pains with bathroom stuff. 

  I hope it is another twenty years or longer before I get another kidney stone, or never again.

Yearly Mammogram

    Last week, I had my yearly mammogram.  I had a couple of messages in my voice mail yesterday after school, telling me that I need to have another one.  On Thursday, November 8, at 9:30 am, I am scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound on my left breast.  A mass was found in my left breast.  I am not worried for I have left it in God's hands.

    This is my third time having to get a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound of my left breast.  The other times were in 2008 and in 2010.

Ultrasound Update

I had my ultrasound this morning, on both groins and going down the inside part of each leg, and behind each knee. I was told that I had a Bakers Cyst, a buildup of fluid. I will know more after I see the surgeon next week.

Ultrasound

I saw my surgeon this morning. For the past week, I have had some pain in my right knee. Last Thursday, at least twice, I was standing and talking, the next thing I know, my leg gives out on me. I didn't fall, but was able to shift my weight around. I debated or not to make the appointment then debated or not to keep the appointment. So, I saw him this morning. The knee area is a little swollen and so is the calf area.

Tomorrow morning at 8:30, I am scheduled for an ultrasound on both legs from the groin area on down. Since I just had a CT scan last month, I'm not getting another one. My surgeon doesn't think there is anything wrong, but to play it safe. Wants to make sure I do not have a blood clot, and the ultrasound can pick up lymph nodes.

I will be seeing my surgeon again next Wednesday morning.

Need Further Evaluation

Two weeks ago, on President's Day, I had a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound, which took 2 1/2 hours. I was told the doctor thought there was something around my port area. Today, I received a letter, saying that I need further evaluation, from what they saw two weeks ago. I am already scheduled to see my onc this Friday. We will talk about this and I will also talk to him about my fatigue and energy levels. Please keep me in your prayers on Friday morning.

Scan Results

First off, I have a sinus infection. I have not been feeling well. I stayed home from church yesterday, and slept for a few more hours. I got an antibiotic from my onc this morning. I have had a few nose bleeds since Thursday evening.

I had an appointment to see my onc this morning. Bloodcounts are fine. As you all know, I had my CT Scan two weeks ago. Two weeks ago, I had a kidney stone. I didn't know that I had one. I've had one before, very painful. I wasn't really having much pain. I have the usual stomach ache at different times. I also have a cyst on an ovary. My onc said that it is commen for women to get cysts. This Friday morning, I am scheduled to get an ultrasound.

After seeing my onc, I was scheduled for a appointment at the Breast Imaging Center there by the hospital. My appointmnet was for 10:20 am, and I didn't leave there til about 1 pm. I had a mammogram on them both. She showed them to the doctor, and I had to wait for about 30 minutes to get an ultrasound on them both. Then I had another mammogram, then went in for another ultrasound. One of the techs explained all what went on. This was my first mammogram, and with my history, the doctor was erring on the side of caution, and setting up a baseline to have something to comapre it to in the future. The doctor saw some tissue mass around my port. (I saw the port on the xray.) Doctor is not sure if it is residual from the port being put in. I have to get another mammogram in about six months. They are going to take a wait and see stance on it.

My last CT Scan in July, the onc saw nodules in my lungs. They are still there, and are still small. There is no change in the nodules. That is good. He was able to see a few lymph nodes, but they were visible because I haven't been feeling well.

Again, thank you for your prayers, and please continue to pray. I see my onc again on March 7.