June 2007
June 1, 2007
Called OPIS. Asked Ms. Chris
if Dr. Cross was in the office today. No luck. Told her I noticed a rise
in my CEA levels and would like Dr. Cross to take a look at my charts.
He will be back in the office on June 6th and should call me then.
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June 3, 2007
I just finished an hour of cardio at the gym, ate a banana and drank a protein shake. My left fingertip is numb down to the second knuckle -- I can't feel anything at all, though I do have feeling at the base. Other fingers are number than normal: my left thumb and my right ring finger and pinkie. My toes also feel extraordinarily numb. Don't know why, though I do wonder if it might be the shoes I wore to the gym. I wore my black Nikes instead of my Asics (love them!) running shoes. The Nikes caused a raw spot on the back of my right heel. I won't be wearing the Nikes for cardio anymore. I do have a pair of white Nike Impax which I might be able to interchange with my Asics when I'm doing intervals or hills on the treadmill. I'll try them out tomorrow morning and try to save my Asics strictly for running.
I called OPIS last Friday to let Dr. Cross know of my concern for the rise in my CEA levels over the past three CBCs (complete blood counts). I should hear something back from him this Wed., June 6th when he gets back into the office.
8:49 p.m. - Well, seems like my fingers and toes are back to "normal." I'm off to bed. Tired from getting up at 5:30 this morning, what now seems to be my body's alarm clock setting the past month or so. Not a bad thing, really. I can enjoy my first cup of coffee and a piece of fruit before stretching and hitting my ab workout while the kids are still asleep!
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June 6, 2007
Ms. Chris called to let me know that Dr. Cross has ordered a PET CT scan. Once the appointment has been set up, I should get a call with the exact date and time.
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June 7, 2007
PET CT scan is scheduled for Tues., June 26th at 9:45 a.m. St. Mary's Hospital no longer provides PET scans, so I have to travel to Waldorf. I am not to eat food four hours prior to my appointment; no exercise the day before; and I must drink 16 oz of water one hour prior. Basically, I need to drink my entire bottle of water -- which I carry with me everywhere I go -- while I drive to my PET scan appointment.
Of course, I am worried that I might have a recurrence of colon cancer. But I refuse to give in to a pity party. At this point, I will try to take one step at a time and continue to enjoy every day with my husband and children. I can't help but think that if I do find out of a recurrence, I know I will be much better at coping with my emotions. I stopped attending church regularly over 20 years ago, but it doesn't mean I have stopped believing. I have had many private talks with Him over the past two years, and I can honestly say that I feel at peace with the inevitable (whether or not from cancer). I am no longer afraid of the next chapter, so to speak. Besides, I have so much more to think about right now.
Next week, while Andrew visits with Grandma/pa Perrin, Armani and I will be flying to Jacksonville, FL so she can visit with relatives while I continue our search for a home. We get back from our trip on the 15th, stay at Mom/Dad Perrin's overnight as Mike and Jen's wedding reception will be the following day. On June 18th, Andrew, Armani and I will be flying up to Portland, Maine for several days. My favorite photographer (back in the day when I used to model) will be shooting photos of my children so I can develop comp cards and start them on their way to possible modeling opportunities. Armani has expressed an interest in modeling, and I thought this would be a great time to get the ball rolling.
After our trip to Maine, it's back to Jacksonville, FL in time to be with family on the 4th of July. I have plans to leave the children behind while I travel back up to Maryland to handle our pack-out. We have movers scheduled for the week of July 9th, and then we close on our house with the new owners on July 16th.
Whew! Lots going on this month.
That, on top of my health and the worries that come along with raising
a teenage daughter who thinks the whole world revolves around her. Ha!
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June 14, 2007
Finally found a house in Jax this week. Narrowed David's search down to four houses plus two more that the agent pulled at the last minute. David made the final decision, and we placed an offer to purchase. The sellers agreed to our offer, so on July18, we will have a home to move into. Leaving for Mt. Vernon tomorrow to stay at Mom and Dad's place since the following day will be Mike & Jen's wedding reception.
Right eye is bothering me. Pulled out my contact this morning and it was stuck to my eye. Felt like I pulled the cornea along with my contact lens! Funny thing is, Armani's right eye is bothering her too. It looks red and irritated.
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June 15, 2007
My eye is really red and was
puffy when I awoke this morning. Armani's eye looks even redder, if that's
even possible. Nice to see and be with Andrew again. Sure did miss him.
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June 16, 2007
Mom took it upon herself this
morning to make an eye appointment for both Armani and me. My eye is so
swollen and red and Armani's is bright red. The ophthalmologist concluded
Armani has bacteria in her eye. Bet it's from the use of an old tube of
mascara! An antibiotic in the form of eye drops was prescribed for her.
My eye is inflamed and irritated from the removal of my contact lens.
Tobradex, eye drops with steroids, was given to me. By the end of the
evening, my eye looked much better.
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June 17, 2007
My eye is constantly watering
and still very swollen. It's red again too. Guess I'll just keep using
the drops. I need to pack for our trip to Maine tomorrow morning.
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June 18, 2007
No contact lenses for me this morning. Eye is puffier than normal, and now my left eye seems to be getting irritated.
By the time we landed in Portland,
Maine, I felt like I was coming down with the flu. My body and head aches
tremendously. My tummy is cramping up. Settled into our hotel room and
allowed the kids to swim in the pool while I slept for two hours.
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June 19, 2007
Woke up this morning drenched
in my own sweat this morning. My tummy is hurting more today, and I have
a fever. Must be a stomach bug, though I don't have diarrhea, thank goodness.
I will have to stay behind during Andrew's photo shoot today and ask Armani
to be his stylist.
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June 20, 2007
I cry and huddle into a fetal position between waves of pain. Armani put it upon herself to call Stew the photographer to have him take me to the local outpatient clinic. Blood work, urine sample, rectal exam, IV insertion and fluids for dehydration were given to me prior to downing four cups of contrast dye that looked like fruit punch. My pain was almost unbearable, similar to birthing contractions. I was given three separate doses of morphine to relieve my stomach pain. Unfortunately, the morphine effect was short-lived. I could have used something better, but the doc only gave me more. Two-and-a-half hours later, I got more contrast dye, only this time, it was inserted into my IV which felt like a warm rush of hot liquid throughout my internal organs before being glided into the CT chamber.
The scan showed abnormal blockage in the left side of my colon, more than likely adhesions where my colon was sewn together after the removal of my colon cancer two years ago. The doctor also took a look at my right eye to make sure there were no abrasions to my cornea and recommended I discontinue using Tobradex. I was transported via ambulance to Maine Medical where I am to have an NG (nasogastric) tube inserted down my nostril, through my esophagus and into my stomach to pump out excess gas. Stew mentioned his harrowing ordeal with the NG tube. And possible surgery to remove the obstruction.
My cell phone rang. It was David. I asked Stew to bring over the trash bin to my side and motioned Stew to get the phone from my purse and answer the call as a huge wave of pain came crashing down on me. Thar she blows! And wouldn't you know it…time for my ambulance ride to Maine Medical!
I was too close from having all of the procedures performed by one of the surgeons, when I lucked out and had a bowel movement (BM). It was very loose to say the least, but regardless, it was a BM and it saved me from getting the NG tube and surgery. I was put on a diet of nothing and a night of medical observation.
Thank goodness all was going well with me. My stomach pain was lessening with each BM. I was able to stay away from narcotics, only using Tylenol to relieve my massive headache and the dull pain in my lower belly. I feel parched but am still not allowed to have anything to drink by mouth.
Stew and the kids came by the hospital to visit me. He was kind enough to care for the kids today by taking them out for a fun-filled day at a local pizzeria/arcade facility for lunch, some down time at the park as well as more photos, another outing for dinner, and having them sleep over at his home this evening so the kids would not have to be alone in our hotel room.
It's about 8:00 p.m. right now. Stew called to let me know that David just finished his flights and landed at Reagan National Airport in DC. As soon as he got word that I was in the hospital, he turned back around and took the next flight up to Maine. He should be here by 10:30 p.m.
It's not hospital policy to
allow guests to sleep in with the patient especially if there's a roommate
(there was), but one of the nurses was kind enough to set up a bed for
David in an empty room down the hallway. Knowing David was right down
the hall and my belly pain subsiding, I slept peacefully for the first
time in days.
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June 21, 2007
I guess I did well enough last night that I was given the OK on a clear liquid diet this morning - jello, coffee, orange juice and water. I tried the coffee and jello, but within an hour, my belly started to ache again. The doctor put me back to eating and drinking nothing for the rest of the day.
Good news is I weighed in at 118 pounds after having gained six pounds during my one-week stay in Jax last week while I was house-hunting. What a way to lose weight, huh?
I introduced myself to my roommate
Kerry earlier this afternoon. Turns out she was in for exactly the same
thing as me, only she had to have an NG tube and surgery to remove adhesions
from a previous hysterectomy. Plus, she and her husband are in the process
of moving out of their home tomorrow. How coincidental, as David and I
are in the process of moving as well!
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June 22, 2007
This time, my belly was able to handle the jello I ate this morning. I even walked a mile around the hospital ward with David and Andrew to get the blood flowing.
I was famished when it was dinner time. I ate turkey, chicken, a few bites of stuffing and mashed potatoes. I ate all my green veggies and devoured the slice of pumpkin pie. To my surprise, my stomach was handling the food!
The doc gave me the go-ahead to be discharged tomorrow after breakfast. David checked on departing flights, but there were none available. So he has decided to rent an SUV so we can drive back home. He figured it would take approximately nine hours to get to Southern Maryland.
In the middle of the night,
I was given a shot of Heparin in my left thigh to ward off blood clots.
I almost forgot about the shot until the following morning.
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June 23, 2007
Ohh, my left thigh feels like it was punched by a mad man. Breakfast was especially delicious this morning, and I was even able to keep down my coffee! Discharge papers are set. David and the kids are packing our belongings, and I'll be leaving by 11:00 a.m.! One more Heparin shot to go and a prescription for pain meds to get me through our road trip.
I think we would have been
able to make it home in David's estimated time frame had it not been for
the four-hour traffic in NY. We hit Delaware and decided to get some shut-eye
before moving forward with our trip the following morning.
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June 24, 2007
Breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Yum! Bet I've already regained the weight I lost this week.
Before we could get home, we had to swing by Reagan National to drop off the rental car and then to Mom and Dad Perrin's so David could drive his car back down. Another two hours to drive before settling at home.
Safe and sound in our home
now. No rest for the weary! Tons of mail and email from both of our realtors
in MD and Jax. I can't wait till my To-Do list starts to dwindle!
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June 25, 2007
Yet another day goes by without any exercise for me. I have a PET CT scan scheduled for tomorrow. Part of prepping for the scan includes no exercise 24 hours prior, low carbohydrate dinner tonight, no food four hours prior and 16 oz of water one hour prior to my 9:45 a.m. appointment.
David left this afternoon for
the rest of the week for his flights. Hope to see him down in Jax on July
1-3 when he's done flying. The kids and I leave for Jax on the 27th. I'll
stay until the 4th of July. Airport shouldn't be too busy on a holiday,
which would make traveling easier on me. The kids will stay behind when
I leave for home one last time to do last-minute tasks around the house
before I meet with the movers on the week of July 9th.
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June 29, 2007
Great news! PET CT scan came
back clear. One less thing for me to worry about right now!
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