Wrapping up 2005

Christmas in LA was all that I had hoped. It even managed to be white on Christmas day! (fog) Sandy's Dad and Mona looked after us well and everyone had a vacation that they'll remember for a long time. Thank you Jack and Mona!

The trip home brought a return to reality. I've got a neck brace on still until Jan 6. That'll be a red letter day for me even if I have physio to look forward to after that. While everyone has been great about driving me all over the place in the Christmas traffic, a girl needs her own wheels. Just to be safe, if you see me driving on Jan 7, don't hide in my blind spot.

This week I started a set of three more chemo treatments. My white blood cell count was well rested and today's treatment went off without a hitch. Next week I get a torso and head CT scan. That's a lot of laying still but it'll show how we're doing on the liver, and the head. I'm sure they'll show nothing and I'll have to get a hobby for 2006 to fill in my time!

Happy New Year to you all and we'll see you in 2006.

The neck bone's connected

On Friday I went to see the spinal surgeon. He works out of the "cast clinic" at the foothills hospital. He looked at my x-ray and pronounced it healing well. I just have to wear the neck brace another 3 weeks (!), then a little physio because I won't have any neck muscles still working, and my little neck episode is history. The doctor also said the "tumor load" was way down but that he wouldn't say it was gone (he's not a cancer doctor).

I am getting better at sleeping with this thing on. I guess you can get use to anything. Still no driving and its a little slippery for bikes. In three days we're headed for LA to visit Sandy's Dad. That's always fun and it'll be nice to worry about water going down my neck instead of snow.

Everybody have a merry Christmas and watch for slippery sidewalks!

Sore throat

One of the side effects of having neck radiation is a very sore throat. It showed up a few days ago but yesterday and today it is very painful. I cringe everytime I have to swallow. That is slowing me down on eatting or drinking anything. Christmas oranges are about the only thing I am willing to try right now because they kind of slip down on their own.

The doctor gave me a prescription for Lidocaine and Maalox that you mix together and swallow. Nasty, nasty stuff. I tried it last night and if froze my whole mouth so that I couldn't talk or eat so I went to bed at 5 pm and slept till 8 am this morning. Guess I needed the sleep.

No plans for the weekend. Hopefully get Jessica to the ski hill one day to enjoy the warm weather. A few Christmas presents to get still but that can wait until next week.

My love to you all.

Carolin

Last chemo session before Christmas

Friday is suppose to be my last chemo/herceptin session before Christmas. Once again the blood work shows that my white count isn't healthy enough to handle another dose of chemo. That means another missed opportunity to kill cancer cells with chemo. The doctor says we can start another round of three sessions on Dec 30. I had thought that we were finished but apparently not. The doctor isn't counting any of the original MMN chemo that they stopped because of the lung damage. More anti-cancer stuff? Who am I to argue?

Contrary to what my blood says, I feel great. My biggest complaint is the neck brace. It's darn hard to sleep in but apparently necessary to keep my head from falling off. Next week I'll see the neck surgeon so he can see if the neck bone is healing on its own. That'd be a nice Christmas present.

One week closer to Christmas

Well my sister left on Sunday morning and we had a productive week. In between doctor appointments we decorated the house for Christmas, cleaned my house, did Christmas shopping and had a visit from my dad. Not much of a vacation for my sister but she certainly knows how to get around Calgary as she was also my driver for the week.

Sandy's mom is staying with me now until Tuesday when Sandy comes home.

Thank you for all the phones calls I have received offering to give me rides. I really appreciate all the support and generousity especially since I know how busy this time of year is. This week things are covered. Karen drove me this morning and Sandy will be home for Thursday and Friday. Next week is quiet as we should have been on our cruise.

I shall call if I need help with rides or looking after Jessica. Thank you.

No news about my health. I am having trouble sleeping with this neck brace on. The good news is that I have no pain in my shoulder anymore.

Gotta run.

Love Carolin

Friday is finally here

It has been a very busy week since we were at the Tom Baker every day. I had radiation every day. Yesterday I had my blood test and my counts were good (2.3). Today we had chemo and radiation. My doctor has put on some pills to stimulate bone growth. 4 pills per day.

The appointment with the plastic surgeon was OK. We have decided that we may be optimistic with a Feb 10 surergy date because of my neck. He has some concerns because I will have to have a breathing tube inserted and that may depend on the healing of my neck. I said that I was comfortable postponing until Feb or early March.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Love Carolin