Playing Catch up again

When I saw my primary doctor to discuss the high heart rate and the disappointing response from from the stool sample, she made two changes: she doubled my beta blocker for the heart rate and put me on an intense 14 day drug regime to hopefully get rid of that horrible infection in my intestines. I still have a week to go on the infection drug and another week after that before I can test the stool sample.

It's with a big smile on my face that I say the high heart rate is finally down below 100 so we've progress on that. It's so nice NOT to feel like I'm constantly running a race. It also tired me out.

I called my Pulmonary specialist because both my home nurse and my primary doctor found a place by my right lower lung that was suspect and the first thing I had to do was a chest X-ray for the doctor to examine. She called me the next day to say I had to make an immediate appointment at the hospital for an urgent fluid drainage on the left lung area. I may have told you last time they drained my (right) lung area it wasn't at all painful. This time it was just the opposite. They took a liter off and it was very painful. At one point they suspected that the lung was collapsing on the bottom so I had to stay at the hospital for hours in case they had to do surgery. They X-rayed and had it read by a the radiation doctor each time. Finally hours later and 2 more X-rays the hospital released me.

I've been feeling a little better every day since coming home. The drug for the intestine infection does take the edge off my appetite but I try to clean my plate knowing that it does me more good.

Dennis is coming for Easter weekend and we're looking forward to that. He'll be surprised by the heat since he was here last. It does seem like it came early this year. Whatever the heat we'll have a great time while he's here.

Some News

I called my primary doctor to get the results of the stool specimen and received some disappointing news. I still have the infection. I have an appointment to see her in a couple of days so she'll discuss the best treatment then. I also have to talk with her about my high heart rate which has been 110 for the last 4 weeks. Gary will be going to my appointment with me and will take notes so we'll know what was discussed.

I also received a call from the trial doctor's office and they're wondering if I'm interested in getting in the cancer drug trial that he discussed with me on my last visit. I told them the sad news about the infection and also the heart rate and said I would discuss if it was a good idea to start the trial with my primary doctor and call them back.

I do worry about my lung cancer not being in any kind of treatment but at the same time I can't see how I can handle any side effects.

Hope the news gets better when I post again.

April 1 post

Lately the posting on the blog has been negative news which I hope will soon change. The latest thing is that I caught that flu that keeps you running to the bathroom from both sides with horrible cramps which I was treated to during the night. I feel a little better each day but now I'm contagious and had to cancel some lunch plans that I was looking forward to. I planned to make more lunch plans before this latest ailment hit but didn't have a chance once it did.

For the last three weeks my heart rate has stayed at 110 even on the medication so I have an appointment with my primary doctor to look into changing the dosage or something. With my heart rate that high I feel like I'm running all day long and it wears me out.

We need to get all these things healed so I can look into a lung cancer treatment. I haven't been in treatment since I entered the hospital for the pneumonia in January and it's April already. I wish the cancer just got bored from lack of attention and just left. Now that's something to pray for.

Thanks to all for all the cards that still cheer me up every day. Let's hope I'll soon be able to see you all in person.

While I was in the hospital as well as once I was home being treated with antibiotics for the pneumonia the stage was being set for my next problem. It was an infection in my intestines because all the working bacteria had been killed by the antibiotics.

The first prescription for that problem caused a another serious problem so I had to stop using it. That was okay with me because those pills made me feel under the weather. I was able to get a new more expensive prescription and so far it's not causing any of the problems the first prescription did.

Our visit with Charlie worked was wonderful. Charlie was able to spend every day with us because he invited his friends to get together on the same evening. I thought that was a wonderful way to see everyone. Don drove him to the airport at 4 a.m. on Friday.

Dennis, our middle son, will be coming in a few days. He comes more often but can only stay a few days. Velvet may be coming in the day after he arrives if she's over that 10 day nasty cold that's been going around. We're hoping they'll both be here.

I still have lots of accounting type work ahead of me. I need to gather all my tax papers so I'll be busy with that for the next few days.

Thank you to all of you who left messages on my answering machine. I made a pact with myself to focus what little energy I have on Charlie since he lives so far away and hasn't been able to get to Arizona for a long time. Please understand talking takes lung power and mine is in short supply.

Pulmonary Doctor second visit

Yesterday I saw the Lung doctor and things must have improved because she changed my oxygen to night time only. They walked me in circles around the office to prove I wasn't ready to give up the oxygen completely. Also I don't have to see her again for 2 months. I see that as a sure sign that my recovery is going according to plan.

I've been able to have some lunches out with friends and that's been liberating. I hope to set up a few more. Now that I'm able to talk on the phone it's a breeze to make plans. My son, Charlie, who lives east is coming to visit in a few days so I won't be making any lunch dates while he's here. He'll be here for a week. It's been a long time since we were together so I'll treasure these moments.

Dennis is also planning a visit with us and he's planning to come late March. It'll be great to spend time with them separately now that I feel better.

I've been walking with Don around our little neighborhood and I'm working towards walking the 2 mile circle with the long range goal to get back to the gym and Spinning classes. I've been able to gain a little weight and my eating is getting better although how a chocolataholic like me can have a pantry full of dark chocolate even I can't understand. I don't crave it and I guess that's the difference. Look out when my appetite for chocolate comes back.

Thanks again for all your good wishes for my recovery. I just had to let you know your wishes are working.

It's Me this time!

I want to thank everyone who sent those beautiful cards throughout my current illnesses. They were welcomed every day and helped me deal with being housebound.

My Pulmonary doctor was my lastest appointment and she ordered oxygen, inhaler and more drugs to get the pneumonia out of my system. For the 2 week cold that's going around and caused me a heap of trouble I'm eating oranges and Vitamin C. She added that the pneumonia recovery would be about 12 weeks. That'll make it a full year that I've been sick.

Since I've been on the oxygen my voice is stronger and I'm able to talk although I've forgotten a lot of words so the "Maria Charades" lives on. I'm eating 3 meals a day but my love of food hasn't come back yet. I eat to gain some weight but it's not happening yet. When the weather is nice I try to walk outside sometimes it's just the cul-de-sac and sometimes I can get to the end of the street.

I'm no longer in the cancer drug trial because the drug no longer kept the cancer from growing. Once I've recovered from all my current ailments we'll research where we'll go next. My hope is that I'll be able to post on the blog more often. I'm sorry but the email was impossible--I can't sit at the computer that long.

Change in Direction

Gary here, pitch-hitting for Mom again on the blog today. We just got back from her appointment and she is going to discontinue the drug trial. The drug hasn't been as effective lately and the side effects are too difficult to manage during Mom's recovery. She is going to spend her time getting her strength back and looking for a new treatment. The doctors offered several drug options to consider and some have the reputation for being easier on the body, so that's good news.

Needless to say, Mom is happy with the news that there might be something better out there for her. It will take time for the current drug to totally leave her system (before she can start another therapy) so Mom is looking forward to the down time from the constant demands of cancer treatment so she can concentrate on recovering from surgery.

In the meantime, Mom has a full week of "other" appointments ahead to check her progress on recovering from surgery and pneumonia and right now, that's our primary concern. Fighting cancer is hard enough but it's almost impossible when you have pneumonia.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts, cards and gifts. I can't tell you what a difference it makes for Mom knowing that she has you in her corner. Keep up the great work!