Sorry to have taken so long to get back here. It seems every time I sit down to catch up, I fall asleep. 😀 I used to chuckle at my parents who would sit, and soon you would see their chins on their chests. 😀 Now I have become them. I hate wasting that time when life is so precious each day. It’s a side effect of this medication. As long as I’m up and about doing something, I believe that I’m gaining strength and stamina. But at times of the day, I simply have to take a nap. Perhaps it is a part of the healing process. Therefore, it may take me several hitches to get this one written. I actually do my best writing after 10:00 pm, being the night owl that I am. But it’s 9:40 am right now, so I barely have my eyes open, much less my brain in gear.
And speaking of eyes, that is probably my most bothersome side effect. It causes facial swelling and blurriness. I manage around the house just fine, and I can read OK for a while, but my eyes tire quickly. I bought these strong reader glasses, which does help a little.
But it all limits my driving. I do OK around town, but the droopy lids really do interfere out on the highway. I hate being so dependent on Guy to take me everywhere out of town. If I want to go spend a half a day in Walmart, I don’t want to be reminded that he is out in the car waiting. Oh, well, maybe one day…….
One of the other side effects is increased blood pressure. It is not bad, and I don’t know it is elevated unless I take it. I don’t really worry about it since the cardiologist told me to not worry about the “numbers” – go more by how you feel right now while under cancer treatment.
The other side effect is the “d” word. It is occasional – unpredictable – but I manage that with Imodium. It does affect my appetite, and I eat about half of what I did before.
So REALLY, when you consider all this, I’m really blessed. The side effects could be so much worse.
Well……I’m back! I knew it would happen….the sandman overtook me, so I leaned back in my recliner with my neck pillow and blankie and slept the rest of the morning!
I guess no news has been good news. I’ve been doing really well – at least until someone tells me differently. I had an appointment this afternoon with the local oncologist. He still is very encouraged, and my lab work looked good. Guy asked, given the great results, what does the future look like. Dr. Page said that these mutations are hard to predict, but this medication could work for months to years. Eventually, the cancer would more than likely pop up again, but at that time, we would just attack it again! He said this particular medication could target and reduce the number of cancer cells enough that my own immune system would take care of the rest, but this would be extremely rare! I couldn’t help but think “Or I could be divinely healed!” I know it would take a true miracle for me to be completely free of it, but even if I got several more years, I’d truly be happy. Like about 20 more!!! 😀
Just to review the drastic results, look at the pictures and dates below. Or if you can't take looking at these pictures, just scroll quickly past.
Jan. 28
Feb 12 You can see how aggressive this stuff is!
Feb. 25
March 8 (one day after starting Mekinist)
March 8
March 8
March 12 not quite a week on the med and you can already see the size of the tumor decreasing and some pink areas.
March 16 - much lighter forehead
March 22 - three weeks and one day on the pill
April 4 - about 1 month of Mekinist - tremendous difference!
Last Thursday
I’m just about ready to start my 3rdmonth of Mekinist. It will come tomorrow. Here is how it comes by UPS.
Here was the other side of the room! 😀
This took a lot longer, because most of the boxes were full of sewing “stuff”. Oh, where to put all that??? How to organize it??? I’m still not through, but I’m getting close. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I want to get it so that when Jeannine and the girls come, they will have some large space in which to play. I want to take down the blowup beds and make a little sitting area with the couches in the other end of this large room. (behind me)
Here’s how it looks now – just about there!
This all made room for a normal guest room upstairs where I was originally going to put the quilt room. Here are some pictures of the nice quest room that I can’t wait for someone to stay in.
Actually, my sister will be the first, because she is coming this Friday for a week. She was supposed to come a couple weeks ago, but she got sick. I talked with her today, and she sounds sooooo much better!!
Actually, my sister will be the first, because she is coming this Friday for a week. She was supposed to come a couple weeks ago, but she got sick. I talked with her today, and she sounds sooooo much better!!
Guy has been working out at the farm almost every day. He is cutting trees that have grown up here and there with a chain saw. Then he has to drag them by hand into a pile. All I’ve been hearing about is how he needs a tractor. He has been looking and looking. Used ones like he wants are really hard to come by because everyone else wants one that size to work/piddle around on their farms. He finally found one he thought would work for him and that he could afford. I don’t know about the “afford” part, but I guess he does need one. It was delivered this morning, so he is so excited. He will store it in the container he has out there – it just fits!
The mess out there on the farm is pretty much cleaned up – as far as the metal goes. The cement blocks are still everywhere, but at least it doesn’t look as bad as it did. We’ve had a couple tiny rains – enough to get the pasture grass to grow again. The guys fixing the fences and gates have finished their work, so the steers are due to go in tomorrow – 130 of them. The only thing really left is to get power to the north water well. They are working on that. Power to the south well was spared, thankfully. Since the area was considered a disaster area, we may get some financial help for the fence repair. Guy has filled out the paperwork, and they have been out to survey the damage, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. So far, there has been a lot more “out-go” than “in-come.” 😟
And the WIND!!!!! Oh, my!!! I remember Kansas as being windy, but I don’t ever remember it being this bad. It has tipped semi trucks over on the east/west interstate!! I hope this is an unusual year for the wind. When you have to hold on to your stocking cap to keep it from blowing off, that is WINDY!! I wouldn’t even THINK of attempting to keep a wig on!!! I can’t really wear a wig anyway, because I still have about a narrow 2” open area just above my forehead that is just too tender to wear anything very tight. It is healing but EVER SO SLOWLY!! This summer, when knitted and crocheted hats are too hot to wear, it will be a challenge.
In about 3 weeks, I’ll be going back to Kansas City for my CT scan. I’m try not to get nervous about this one, but it will be soooo important. Sometimes I look in the mirror, and, except for the fact that I have no hair (well I do have some growing back in on the right half of my head), I almost look normal. I want to relax and not worry about it, but I keep wondering if this pill is working on the inside like it is working on the outside. And then, I know that even if it is, I’m not out of the woods. It’s like that boogy-man that is always lurking around the corner somewhere – just waiting to jump out and GET YOU!! It’s a feeling that never leaves you – some days it is better than others – but it is always there…..lurking…..lurking…… So many of my devotionals speak to this….not trying to plan my future all out, not trying to be in control, focusing on Him – His presence, His peace. Oh, what would I do without Him?????
Without Him I could do nothing
Without Him I’d surely fail
Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail
Without Him I’d surely fail
Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail
Without Him I would be dying
Without Him I’d be enslaved
Without Him life would be worthless
But with Jesus thank God I'm saved
Without Him I’d be enslaved
Without Him life would be worthless
But with Jesus thank God I'm saved
Oh Jesus, oh Jesus
Do you know Him today
Please don't turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him how lost I would be
Without Him how lost I would be
Do you know Him today
Please don't turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him how lost I would be
Without Him how lost I would be
Oooh! Pretty fabric! That's a nice large room! I see a sewing machine set up too. Lovely guest bedroom. So glad to see that things are going well!
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