some yays!

I got my port out Tuesday.  I didn't realize how stressed I was about having it done.
They told me they weren't going to completely knock me out this time but I wouldn't
know what was happening.  When they took me into the operating room I asked them,
"You said I wouldn't know what was happening right?"  the nurse responded,
"Right, you won't feel a thing."  They tied down both of my hands so I wouldn't "help"
the Dr. and my legs.  They put something blue over my face and then I felt the Dr. give
me a shot next to the port to numb the area.  I heard her say "blade" and then felt her push
on it and I could feel it going across my skin.  I will say nothing hurt except the initial shot and
when  it felt like she was stitching it up but she used glue so I don't know why it felt like
she was stitching it, weird.  I felt fine after except very sore.  When I tried to eat later in the evening
I couldn't keep anything down.  I haven't been able to eat much in the past week and I've lost
about 6 lbs. but I am starting to feel better from the surgery and tomorrow is my last day
of radiation, yay! yay! and yay! again!!!!  I hope this is my last time of radiation forever.  
I have been radiated a total of 59 times.  I should have a long shelf life now.

I do want to say the nurse I had when I went in, her name was Cheryl, was awesome.
She was extremely sweet and tried to help me however needed and keep me as pain free
as possible.  She was just a very kind, Christian lady.

The radiologist said it would be 2-3 weeks before I would be able to eat without pain after
my last treatment.  He also said it would be up to 9 weeks or so for the areas he radiated to start feeling better.
I am going to enjoy not going to the Dr. 5 days a week very much!

I had to put this on here today because it is so fitting for my situation.
From Jesus Calling 12/21/11


My plan for your life is unfolding before you.  Sometimes the road you are traveling seems blocked, or it opens up so painfully slowly that you must hold yourself back.  Then, when time is right, the way before you suddenly clears--through no effort of own.  What you have longed for and worked for I present to you freely, as pure gift.  You feel awed by the ease with which I operate in the world, and you glimpse My Power and My Glory.  
Do not fear your weakness, for it is the stage on which My Power and Glory perform most brilliantly.  As you persevere along the path I have prepared for you, depending on My strength to sustain you, expect to see miracles--and you will.  Miracles are not always visible to the naked eye, but those who live by faith can see them clearly.  Living by faith, rather than sight, enables you to see My Glory.

Radiation will last for 15 days.  I'm looking forward to it being over - it's really making me sick this time.  The last week of radiation I will have surgery to remove the port.
I am really looking forward to having it gone.  It has hurt ever since they put it in and hasn't really been usable.  Every time it was used they would send me to the hospital for a leak or blood clot test because
Chuck said I would turn instantly white and look and feel like I was going to pass out.  It would cause a burning pain in my chest that felt like it was going into my back.  I will be happy to say goodbye port!

Good news, Jesse's been visiting the last couple of days.  It's nice when they're both home.  They both help me out so much.  It's nice to not have to worry about stuff.

Radiation begins again

bummer, I just wrote a whole post and don't have a clue what happened.  I pushed something accidently and the whole thing disappeared.  Do not push the back arrow on your computer that erases it too.

3 days of Dr visits again this week.  Wednesday, I went to the Radiologist and found out I would be starting radiation again on Thursday.  So I had to get the "planning" done which includes;
lining up, photos, getting drawn on, getting sticky-ed, and a CT scan.
Thursday, I had Physical Therapy in the morning and left a little sore.  I returned for radiation in the afternoon.  Being the first time takes about an hour of laying flat on a metal table while they do more
lining up, more drawing on, xrays, actual radiation and tattoos.  The tattoos are usually pretty painless but the one in the middle of my chest he hit the bone and I about jumped off the table.  He said he was really sorry and I know he didn't mean to do that but ouch!
After Corey and I left we stopped and got something to eat and went home.  By the time we arrived home I could hardly move.  I don't know which was the reason PT or radiation but I slept for over 2 hours.  I also had a new side effect - feeling extremely nauseous.  I hope it's temporary.
Friday, after radiation Corey and I did a little Christmas shopping and again I was sooo tired after.  I have to learn my limits again.   And another evening of extreme nauseousness.  Don't like that.  I do have a med. that they gave me a while back for nauseous and tried it last night thankfully it helped some.
I also drove for the first time since September.  Corey, Jesse, Stuart, Mom and Chuck have been chauffeuring me around since then.  I will miss their company but radiation's 5 days a week - I need to be able to do this.
The people at radiation are extremely sweet and treat me like family.  Chris one of the techs, gave me a hug when he saw me and told me they would take good care of me.  Jared, one of the ones I feel like the grandma you see on tv who wants to fix him up with my daughter or niece cause he's got such a good heart and is a cutie, he's always super nice too.  And the girls, you just want to hug them all cause they're always trying to take good care of me.  They all say it's a big family there and they take care of their family.  Grateful this is where I was sent for this part of my recovery.

Three days I spent at the Dr. last week, so tiring, And, a garage sale today. I do not like doing garage sales but it made it possible to get a car in the garage and I do like that! Jesse and Chris came and sold stuff to so that made it much better having them here.

Wednesday at the Dr. I found out I have another spot on the middle of my spine. He sent me for an MRI on Friday to see if the smaller ones they found on my pelvic bone need radiation. He wants to do it all at once so I don't have to go back again.

Thursday at the Oncologist I finally heard the good news that she's sending me to get the port out. It's been nothing but painful since it was put in and not very usable. She wants to put me on a new bone strengthener that won't use a port, yay! She also told me I was anemic which she said is sometimes normal after surgery. And she told me I need to go to physical therapy for my leg which I was hoping I wouldn't need to do but guess I have to. That's all I remember right now.

The week before Thanksgiving one of my friends from work told me she was going to stop by.

Leslie came and gave me a card from people at work with 216$ in it. I couldn't believe it. I cried.

I'd just gotten a bill the week before from my insurance telling me they weren't going to pay for one of my tests costing a little over $400. I've been maxed out on my insurance since July so I don't know why they would do this.

I want to thank Leslie, Carol, and Martha going to everyone and asking for a donation that was just so sweet. Karen, Martin, Ed, Millie, Dalila, thank you for visiting that day too. It was really good to see all of you. I know if I try to name everyone who contributed I'll forget someone but I'll try - Malinda (who works at the elementary school I used to drive for and I drove her 2 sons to middle school - sweet lady and boys!) Terri, Jan, Jay and Kathy, Carmen, Kathy, Bennie, Carolyn, Michael, Barb, Beth, Mary (hope you're doing ok), Diana, Tony, Elli, 157, 163, and I know I'm forgetting someone I apologize for that. But, to everyone who donated thought about me and is praying for me thank you so very very much!

I hope you all have a blessed Christmas and New Year too!