I am so very glad to be
able to tell you that I'm better! Not great, but certainly better.
It has been a very l-o-n-g November & December. I'm only really
beginning to realize just how sick I really was.
A quick update, if you
didn't know. I went into the hospital the day before Thanksgiving
and stayed for 6 days. Thought I had the flu. After a brain MRI, it
turns out, I didn't. The lung cancer metastasized to my brain –
two teensy-tiny tumors @ 3mm & 4 mm, plus one bigger @ 2 cm,
which is at the base of my cerebellum - were causing all kinds of
havoc.
Immediately began whole
brain radiation treatrments – 10 of them. Whoa! For the first
week, I had ULTRA-sensitivity to light, sounds, smells and yucky
nausea. Our house was like a bat cave – all the shades were
pulled and I walked around with a pair of wrap-around “Stevie
Wonder” sunglasses with earplugs in – quite the sight!
Fortunately, those side effecs have pretty much faded. Still have a
low-grade headache. Ah, it could be worse. In fact, it WAS worse.
Last Wednesday, Dec 12th,
I had a laser treatment on the big tumor. It lasted for one hour. I
had to wear a specially made mask – very, very tight to my face –
and also wear a housepiece during the procedure. My head was bolted
down to the table with the mask & mouthpiece in place – scarey.
When the hour was up, the technicians helped me up from the table
and said, “Oh, those marks on your face will fade over the next
hour.” Me: “What marks?” Her: “Here's a mirror, take a
look.” Well, once I got close enough to the mirror to see, I burst
out laughing! I had hundreds of tiny squares indented on my
forehead, my cheeks, my nose, my neck, my earlobes, my eyelids. I
looked like a Belgian waffle!!!! Just needed a big pat of butter on
my check to finish off the look! HA!!!!
Oh, and I have to tell
you about this. They told me that I'd lose my hair after the
radiation treatments stopped. I assumed it would fall out gradually.
WRONG! Last Thursday, I went into the shower with hair and came out
looking like a Capuchian monk! Gob & gobs & gobs of hair
fell out – just from the pressure of the water hitting my head. It
was like someone threw a switch – bam – no hair!! I am as bald
as a cue ball! Very dramatic!! Gordy and I look like almost a
matched set (he has more hair!). When I turned 59, I was bald and
now at 62, I'm bald again. I don't think God wants me to have hair!
Good thing it doesn't really matter to me – that's what hats are
for, right?!
I will have a chest CT
done the last week in January and see my Oncologist on the 29th,
when I will go back on chemo-therapy (a once a day pill). Not
exactly looking forward to it, but if it helps me stay around for
awhile longer, I'm good with that, as long as my quality of life
doesn't suffer.
Gordy & I are going
to have a nice, quiet Christmas here at home. Both of my sisters,
Micki & Nancee, are coming from the 27th through Jan
9th and will overlap their stays. This will give Gordy a
chance to take a couple of ice-fishing trips way up in Northern
Minnesota – to be able to get away without worrying about me. I
intend to laugh & laugh & laugh my butt off the entire time
my knucklehead sisters are here!
I will, of course, let
you know what's happening. Merry Christmas from me & Gordy.
With lots of love - Correne
God only knows what the hell you are going through...but you somehow manage to keep that sense of humor of yours through it all...you really crack me up....Come'on now a belgian waffle with only a pat of butter...go for the gusto add some strawberries....LOL! Glad you are feeling a little better. Sorry about your hair but you know it usually comes back thicker and curlier...hopefully this will be the case for you.... hell mine is getting thinner and thinner.. Turned 60 (2 yrs ago) and it's like the body says okay go get her it's time to raise hell!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your sisters, it's so good that you have them in your life, my 2 decided to turn their backs on me along with my mother, a long story for another time..but it is what it is even though it sucks.....I have Mike, my kids and grand kids, aunts, uncles and cousins who help me through and that means a lot to me...I was diagnosed last November with Multiple mylenoma (spelling?)so I have to keep the stress level down; it's not progressing at the moment so that is a good thing. Until it progresses there is no treatment, but there is no cure either so we just wait and see.... If the protein in the blood gets to higher levels (that's how I was diagnosed)that's when they will start whatever treatments need to be started. I have to go to the onocologist every 3-6 mos to be evaluated and blood proteins checked. He says I can go on like this for 20 years or it could flare up tomorrow...so time will tell..I do get very fatigued at times but I can handle that...
When I get down though I think of you and your sense of humor and that gets me through those moments, so when I say to you that you are my hero I truly mean it. You inspire me....
You and Gordy have the most beautiful Christmas with all the joy and laughter and love... You both deserve it. Hope Gordy has a great fishing trip and have a ball with your sisters... Know that you are in my CONSTANT thoughts and PRAYERS... Love you, Merry Christmas and The brightest and hopefully healthy New Year......Liz :)