A Day at the SPA - "Special Patient Appointment"

My day at the MDA SPA was filled with good reports, great times and super happy memories! It was everything I imagined it would be and better! My spirits have been lifted!

Aunt Kay picked me up at the crack of dawn and we made it to MD Anderson with plenty of time to prepare for my Watsu Brain Scan. I brought my purple silk robe and fuzzy slippers to keep it cozy. Then as I laid down on the table, I placed cool cucumbers on my eyes and enjoyed some music, as the magnets started their clanking and the Watsu MRI began. It was the best MRI ever!

Then off we went to the Indigenous Echo-Cardiogram. (I should have left my robe on for the picture.) This is the machine they use. I've never had one before but it is just like an ultrasound except it is of the heart. I got to see my healthy and strong heart at work. I could even spot the catheter from my port pulsating in my ventricle! That was wild and a little creepy! I didn't realize it went straight into my heart.

The best part was saved for last...a Mental Relaxation Therapy Session with my Greek Oncologist, Dr. Nick. We discussed my last couple of months on Cytarabine, today's test results, and the road ahead as he gave me the best manicure I have ever had.

Basically, everything looks good! My heart is healthy and strong. My brain is still there! (David wants to see the pictures for proof.) The lesions are stable (not bigger/no new ones) and my blood tests show all is normal! My liver enzymes are even back to normal! I can actually end the day with a glass of wine. As for the change in meds! It is official. The infusions of Cytarabine are over! I did 5 months and that is all my body can handle. I will now be on a Chemo pill "Gleevec". Dr. Nick likes this choice of medicine better than the last one and predicts I will be much more comfortable. It is not the one he described as a nuclear bomb going off in my immune system like I first thought. If fact, when I asked him about that he said, "GLEEVEC has a good sounding name "Gleeeee" with a little punch at the end "vec". The Nuclear bomb like medicine he was talking about this summer was more like "AK47" but, I can't remember the actual letters and numbers he said...you get the idea though. AK47 sounds like it's gonna come in, blow everything up and leave me for dead on the cold floor...scary.


This is the nurse that has to listen to all my calls...and she is still smiling!


This is my new manicurist!

I know Dr. Nick was just being himself, but I don't think he realizes how much he lifted my spirits today! For him to play along with my little game that I was spending the day at the SPA did more for my mental state than I even expected. I know attitude is half the battle and I try to keep a positive outlook on life but, I guess I didn't expect it to work so well. I truly feel stronger, more optimistic and now "GLEEFUL!" I believe with all my heart, I can make it through the second half of the treatment knowing I WILL beat this thing and leave it all behind me! I still have a long life journey ahead. This is only a mere bump in the road.

After a long day at the SPA, one needs food! So, Aunt Kay and I had a nice Asian meal at Pei Wei's on HWY 50. Thank you, Aunt Kay for sharing this day with me. It was so amazing.

Cycle 5 - Full Report

Happy Belated Halloween!
I've decided that Sunday night prior to my treatment and all day Monday, I was having a mid-life crisis, an emotional meltdown! I realized I am just not happy with where I am in life right now - who would be with all this going on? Don't worry, I woke up emotionally, fine Tuesday morning...thankfully, because physically, I was about to face some more challenges. Aunt Kay and Uncle Jim shared the beginning of the week with me! Aren't we fun looking? I am still at the 150 dose but, Tuesday night (at midnight) I was woken up by chills and a sore torso. I had a fever and bad pain in my lower rib cage area that wrapped all the way around my back. It was pretty intense! Motrin lowered the fever within 45 minutes but the whole night and next day I felt bloated and tender in my upper abdomen. (this happened last month as well, and I was better by Friday - so I wasn't too worried) By-the-way, I went to work the next day - only because I had guest speakers for all of my classes. They are my personal contacts and not to be trusted with a random substitute. I was happy they did the talking all day, but I was in horrible discomfort the entire time. So, Uncle Jim picked me up for treatment Wednesday, I told the nurse about my symptoms, they consulted with my Doctor and decided to hold on the treatment and send me in for tests. The best place to do this was the E.R. (which they now call the E.D.) Off, we went! We were like VIPs of the E.R...wheel-chair LIMO service, back door passes, a fast pass for every attraction (never waiting any one place too long!) It was a delightful change of pace. After all, we were getting tired of the same ole' routine. I wasn't feeling well enough to take pictures this week but my talented Unkie Jim drew this to capture our adventure. He calls it "Wheelin' to the E.D." and writes a comment, "I didn't draw the wounded we left behind us littering the hallways. They were the hapless victims of our swift passing. Burma Shave! Wooooo-Woooooo!!!" Yes, I was trying to text the whole time. Boy, this was a bustling place! Doctors, nurses, and techs, oh my! They were everywhere. It was loud like a bar! My room had a sliding glass door so, we could close off the noise and still watch all the action! I was visited by one doctor after another and they were so young and cute, I was expecting Dr. House to walk in at some point. Really, I felt felt like I was on a TV Show as the rare, interesting, and incredibly mysterious medical case. At one point, I even got to be part of a medical demonstration for 5 Florida State Medical students. I've just raised my teaching to another level! hee hee

Here's the medical scoop from the E.D. Blood work revealed liver and pancreas enzymes were high (60 range) but not high enough to keep me. My CT scan was un-remarkable. All other vitals, tests were fine also. (ultrasound of Gall bladder - fine). So, they gave me morphine and sent me home with oxycodone for pain. I rested all day Thursday, went in for Chemo in the afternoon and did well. So, I repeated on Friday. Friday's pain was still intense but, lower abdomen, wrapping around to my lower back. No fever. I don't have an appetite and can't really eat anything without feeling pain. They advised I stay on a BRAT diet, drink a lot of clear liquids and stay away from Tylenol.

As I understand it, they said, "This is either a side-effect of the Chemo which they could treat by tweaking my pre-meds or it is the beginning of something else and we hope it is a side-effect."

I have a follow up appointment with my primary care doctor Monday at noon. I've emailed my Dr. in Texas, we'll be having a phone conversation this week. I also have an MRI and a follow up appointment with my MD Anderson Doctor on December 10th. So, I feel confident that the right choices will be made in my best interest. Changes to my treatment plan might be in store. I'll be sure to make updates as I get them.

My symptoms from the lesions are all still the same (not worse), except for my arm...the numbness is gone! This is truly a big deal!

I regret that I missed some good photo ops this week. I didn't even have my camera with me most days. On Thursday, Barb and Lauren D. picked me up for treatment (they also brought us dinner). This was the day after the E.D. and I was on my pain meds. So, we took the cute MD Anderson shuttle cart from the garage to the front entrance. When we arrived to the 5th floor, they had their usual hot tea bar but they also had a full spread of treats! I couldn't eat much but I nibbled. Then we discovered the joys of a private waiting room back in the treatment hall. It was like a cozy little living room where we could all visit at the same time. Lauren spotted hand made chicken wire, beaded and shelly crowns on a shelf (3 of them) and this is when I discovered I didn't have my camera. They have to come back for a photo shoot with me!!!

Also, missed photo opportunities were on Friday with my mom. There was a live musician in the hall, playing guitar. It was so nice. I still wasn't feeling well and slept in my chair through my treatment. (I rarely do that) So, forgive me but I was just really beat this week.

As I post this Blog, I am already starting to feel better!
Love you all!