Reversal Surgery Over

Although I was really looking forward to the reversal, I didn't think much past that.  I was in the hospital overnight and then set loose with instructions to eat a bland diet, not drive, and not lift anything heavier than a milk jug for a few weeks.  Well, I didn't listen very well.   A bland diet isn't exciting and I kept trying to eat some of my favorites.  After a painful beginning,  I started adjusting to my new situation.  I flew down to visit my Mom in Florida less than a week after surgery.  She was happy to drive me around and we had a good time getting some projects done, going on long walks, shopping, and relaxing together.

Now I'm almost four weeks out from the surgery and every day gets a bit better with regard to digestion.  I am adding fresh fruits and veggies into my diet a little at a time.   I am exercising as much as I was before and even painted my daughter's bedroom and helped put sealer on the deck.   No more tests or doctor visits until December.   Hopefully the worst is over and I will just have the peace of mind that periodic tests will continue to prove that the cancer is gone.  Thank you again for all the support!

It's Official - I'm Cancer Free!

Yesterday was the big day for results.  I had bloodwork, a CT scan, and an Xray.  All tests indicated that there is no evidence of cancer and that my body has recovered well from the surgery in March. So ... the surgeon has scheduled me for reversal surgery NEXT WEDNESDAY!  I can't believe that this cancer episode is coming to an end, but it is slowly sinking in.   I will be monitored for the next 5 years at least to make sure I stay cancer-free, but the odds are in my favor that I will stay cancer-free.

Thank you for all the prayers, cards, emails, meals, special deliveries, rides for the kids, and phone calls!   Thanks especially to my husband, Dave, for being there for me and handling all the things over the past 9 months I just couldn't or wouldn't do.  My circle of support has really been a net to prop me up through a very scary time!   THANK YOU!!!  

All done with chemo!

I'm not sure anyone is even looking at this blog anymore since I have neglected to post anything since May, but I wanted to document this happy day.  I took my last chemo pills this morning and I'm feeling great.  Metal taste, tingly feet, and dry & irritated skin are still present, but hopefully not for long.  My next milestone, treatment-wise, will be a CT scan showing that the treatment worked.  That will happen on September 18th.  I will also meet with the surgeon who removed the tumor to schedule a surgery date to reverse my ileostomy.  I am looking forward to THAT surgery!

So what have I been up to since my last post?  We celebrated Erin's 8th grade graduation at the end of May and then Daniel's high school graduation in June.  We also traveled to Florida in June and July for family reunions on both sides of the family.  The picture above was taken at the height of the bridge between Sarasota and Bird Key.  I have kept up exercising almost daily since the beginning of radiation in December, when my doctor said that was the best thing I could do for myself.   I do feel all the exercise helped me get through chemo with so few side effects.

We bought 2 SUPs (inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards) in July that we can take to lakes around NC and also to the Gulf Of Mexico in FL.   Isn't this amazing to believe it is inflatable??   We are able to roll them up and put them in a duffle bag for travel back and forth!

In August we traveled to Niagara Falls, Montreal, and Quebec City for a family vacation.  We had a wonderful time and I was able to keep up with everybody as we walked everywhere.  Of course Katie had an exercise app on her phone and tracked that we walked over 25 miles that week.  (Our oldest child, Matt, ended up spending that week in Tallahassee moving his girlfriend into a new apartment and did not make the trip.)   This is a picture in Quebec City with the famous Frontenac Chateau hotel at the top.  

Summer is over now and we are getting into our new routine with only 2 children left at home.  It is strange!   Thank goodness Matt and Daniel are nearby and we are able to see them occasionally.

Well, that's all for now.  Thanks for checking up on me!

IV Chemo #2 Down!

All was well with my bloodwork on Thursday, May 15th, so I was able to proceed with my next IV chemo treatment.  In preparation, I drank extra fluids the day before and kept my forearm warm with a heating pad until right before the "stick".  The IV went in much easier and I feel better about not getting a port - especially now that I only have 4 more to go.   The 3 hours went fast and uneventfully until it was time for me to leave. Then, my legs just wouldn't work again and I felt tipsy.  The nurses and doc were trying to laugh with me, not at me, but I thought it was all very funny!   The gave me benedryl and had me wait until the reaction was over and I felt like I could go home.  I still had to be wheeled out to the car, due to overall weakness.

I'm having all the same weird nerve-ending side effects, but at least this time, I know roughly what to expect and how long the worst will last.  Today is Sunday and the leg cramps are already going away, thank goodness.   I think it helps me to keep moving around, even if it's at a slower pace.

Look What My Crazy, Generous Daughter Did ...

Erin cut off her beautiful long hair to send to Locks of Love so that hopefully someone else can benefit from her thick, healthy tresses.  Of course, she is still beautiful with her new short bob haircut! 

I am feeling like my usual self now and seem to have gradually gotten past all the chemo side effects. I took my last dose of pills for round #1 last night!!  I plan to enjoy this week of normalcy until the next IV chemo (May 15th).  

Thank you to Tina and Amie for taking care of multiple dinners for us this week!  Thanks also to Jesus for the beautiful yellow miniature rose plant. 

One IV treatment down & 5 to go.

So my first IV treatment day was pretty smooth. My bloodwork looked great (all normal), doctor visit was quick but informative, and we only had about a 40 minute wait to get a cubicle for the IV treatment. Unfortunately I had to get stuck twice - once for blood and a different spot for the chemo.  I might rethink getting a port.  The IV site was not feeling good after close to 3 hours of drips.  I thought I had great veins...

First I receive saline and anti-nausea drug(s).  Then the chemo runs for about 2 hours.   I got up once to walk around after about an hour and all was well.  Soon after I had to stop drinking my cold drink because my throat felt like it was closing up (but it isn't really) - first side effect I noticed.  Other than that, I was surprised by how fine I felt - until it was time to get up and leave.  My legs were not cooperating - they felt like they were asleep and very weak.  I had to wheelchair out of the clinic to the car.   Heaven forbid if I fall - then I have to wear big yellow booties for all to see every time I'm in the clinic - no way?!  Thank goodness Dave was with me all day to hear the information, see the process, get me out of there quickly, and drive us home.

By the time I got home, my fingers were like ice and everything I touched that was cold felt like it was covered with tiny needles.  It doesn't hurt, but the instinct is to pullback right away because it doesn't feel great either.   My eyelids were twitchy and my calves crampy.   I just have to wear gloves and think before I eat, drink, or touch anything hot or cold.   The interesting thing about the fatigue is that it actually helps to combat it by getting up and moving around - at whatever pace I can manage.  I may walk a bit funny due to my cramped calves, but I have the energy to do some slow walks around the house and even ride the exercise bike for a bit.  I was able to drive this morning, too, which was a concern.

Now I just take chemo pills for 2 weeks straight and I get to look forward to a week off of all drugs before my next IV treatment day at Duke on May 15th.

Thanks to Mollie H for a delicious beef stew and spinach salad.  It was great - even at room temperature for me.   Thanks also to Bill S for the surprise delivery of another great meal.  We are all set for a while!

Great News at post-op appointments!

Today I had 2 return appointments at Duke: one with the oncologist and one with the surgeon.  All agreed that I am recovering from surgery very well and that I will be able to start situps (yes, I asked) and the second round of chemo 2 weeks from today (April 24th).   I'm off all medications, exercising daily without any problems, and eating my normal diet.   They also said that the 3 lymph nodes that tested cancerous were not unexpected.

The Plan (repeats for a total of 6 cycles):

Day 1:   bloodwork, oncologist appt, IV anti-nausea, IV chemo PLUS chemo pills in morning and at night
Days 2-14:  chemo pills in morning and at night
Days 15-21:   Nothing!  I get a break to recover before next round.

There are many possible side effects, but that doesn't mean I will experience them all.  Since I tolerated the first round of pills so well, hopefully I will fare OK during the next stage.    

Here's a picture of me at the UNC/Maryland lacrosse game last weekend.  Erin and her middle school team played a mini-game during the halftime.   I felt like I should get to know the mascot since Daniel (son #2)
will attend UNC-Chapel Hill in the Fall...