Hello everyone:
Today I spent the day in the hospital to get the results from my last check-up. Today is also Pete's and my anniversary - last year we spent it in the honeymoon suite on the hospital discount in London because the next day was the beginning of my 15 day stay in isolation - how time flies!!
Anyway, I had gone to the Owen Sound hospital near the end of September for my regular IV, but the doctors held off because of a toothache I had. I was also experiencing a lot of pain because I think I had pulled a muscle in my back. It had hurt so bad that at night I could hardly breathe - it felt like a vice grip around my rib cage. I could hardly hold up a pan of beans, drive the van or get out of bed. The next day happened to be my scheduled IV. When they heard my symptoms (which sounded a lot like the symptoms when I was first diagnosed) they wanted to do an MRI just to make sure all was O.K. I had also had some pain in my hips. When I was sleeping one night I had a dream that I was running in a race and came in dead last because my hips hurt. When I woke up, my hips were really hurting! (I was more upset that I lost the race than about the pain I was having in my hips - I had never in my life lost a race where I came in dead last!!) So the doctor sent me straight to X-rays after my appointment. The blood work I had done the month before (the full lab sheet of work) wasn't in yet so I had to wait till this month. That's why the blog was not written yet.
Today my oncologist came back from maternity leave. She was gone since March so it will be nice to have a regular doctor again. My MRI came back showing that everything was looking good on my spine. The X-rays on my hips didn't show anything. I had a tooth filled at the dentist last week, but I'm still having a bit of pain in my jaw bones. The doctor held off with my IV again just in case I go back to the dentist. I told her it feels like the bone hurts - not my teeth. Maybe it's my teeth that are the problem and it's making the bone hurt. It's hard to tell. Last Sunday my jaw was very achy so I massaged it, and while I was massaging I felt a peanut size lump by my right ear. It doesn't bother my unless I touch it. I didn't even know it was there. I mentioned it to the doctor and she thought it could be from the IV drug I take so that was another reason I didn't get the IV. In the meantime my protein and calcium are up, which isn't a good thing but the counts are so small that the lab couldn't even give the oncologist a number. The doctor wants to keep on eye on this so I went downstairs for more blood work to compare to last month's blood work. She said the counts could just be a increase and the next month's could be back to normal again. I also have to go for a CAT scan. They have held off with this test because there is radiation in CAT scans, but after MRI's and X-rays, they want a more thorough picture done. Depending on the results of my CAT scan and blood work, the doctor may send a letter to London hospital as to the next steps. If my counts go down, and the lump shows to be nothing, I'll just continue my regular routine at Owen Sound. Hopefully this makes some kind of sense. Sometimes I walk out of the hospital not quite sure of everything myself. It makes sense while I'm talking to the doctor, but when I have to share the story it comes out different.
Anyway, I'm not too worried. Everyday I continue with my activities and chores and regular routine. I feel pretty good. My pain isn't as bad anymore - I just take it easy. I didn't even play soccer with the adults against the gr. 7 & 8's (so they could prepare for the tournament this Saturday). My mind wanted to, but I listened to my body instead. (It took will power I tell you!!) I also hope to teach the gr. 7 & 8's drama for the next month and a half. I'm looking forward to it!
In the meantime I plan to enjoy my anniversary dinner with the family tonight! At the end of the month Pete and I hope to go on a trip and get away from everything for a bit. Things are going well and I'm looking forward to this trip more than my last year's trip to isolation
