Feb Post Op Appts

This last week has been really hard, havent had the energy to write. I thought I better make myself do at least a small update

I have finished week 2 of chemo. 1st week was ok, but this 2nd week hs been super hard. Needed help with everything, including errands and driving. So thankful for my VT who makes herself available to me to help whenever I need it.

Yesterday I had 3 hours of appts back to back. To say that I am exhausted today would be an understatement...

Oncology appt - I met with the PA. She is so patient and works hard to explain things to me. My brain was so tired yesterday that it took Preston and the PA to try to discuss our go forward plan and make a schedule for my next chemo cycle. We discussed starting right away, but my PA was extra concerned that I would not be able to handle it and I would be at high risk. Instead we clarified that I will finish the few chemo meds and just finish up in the next few days. I will then take a whole week off, and start a full 3week cycle in 2 weeks. I will continue to keep a detailed journal and check in with dr office about any concerns.

During my oncology appt we went over all of my labs (have to insert here that I am SOOOO thankful for the owner of the local mobile lab company who fits me into his already full schedule to help me not spend an extra hour at the cancer center, he is a really great guy, so thankful to have him on my medical team) My PA was really thrilled with all of my labs. #'s are really good, and very stable. She was also able to give me a report on my A1C (diabetic #s) and I was esp happy to know that those #s are stable too and that my med is doing its job. I always find it interesting when my labs look so good when I have been so sick this last week, sometimes they dont reflect how I am really feeling. The one lab that was too high was my calcium level. Oncology watches to see if it gets too high to assess whether I need IV fluids. Thankfully yesterday no one was overly concerned, esp knowing that I was getting my bone strengthener injection.

After my oncology appt I went directly to the infusion office. It was an interesting appt as the cancer center insurance case manager came and found us there. She has been working her guts out the last 2 weeks to track down and get my next chemo sent. Long story short she has been after our insurance pharmacy to get my chemo after we were told the pharmacy was out and might get it, if not when. She was so mad at how we and how she had been treated by the insurance. I told Preston that she is a tiger, she does everything possible to help patients and she is the one to fight the insurance so we dont have to. Hopefully meds will show up while I am in my "off" week. I always look forward to my infusion appt because I know that he gals there truly care about me and it is always wonderful to have my nurses from when I was sick the first time. We again talked about my calcium levels, and my nurses were sure that my injection would reserve any concerns. 

My last appt of the day was my OB post op appt. My surgeon had been away for a family funeral for my surgery, so it was really wonderful to see her and go over all my post op with her. She is my very fave dr at the OB office (I have others too, the group is great) She delivered colton and helped me through all of the complications of that day. She personally came and found me after my mastectomy surgery went all wrong and visited me as often as she could. She counseled me and helped me make a surgery plan when we knew that oncology alone was not going to resolved concerns. After all these years we are on a first name basis, and she is my friend and not just my dr. My appt went well and after lots of hugs, she cut me loose until my check up in Oct. I am so grateful for all that she has done for me. 

Truly I am so blessed to have the medical team that I do, always working so hard to give me help and support and doing everything they can to help us work through the constant snags. I am also heaven blessed to have my husband who stands by me through thick and thin. He took time off work,again, to come with me to all of my appts and to drive me home. I am thankful that his brain hears and processes things that I dont, esp when I am already feeling yucky. He helps to make a plan, he offers to follow up on things we have discussed, he is there to give me love and support. I dont know what I would ever do without him. I am so thankful that heavenly father sent him to me.

OK, soooo...my short update ended up being extra long. If you read this far, thanx for continuing to stick with us. Hopefully, things should be pretty quiet for awhile. I will update more after my next appts. Thanx for all of your love and support and help! It really means so much to know that you are there!