Just wanted to give you all a head's up regarding the Jeff City clinical trial I am going to be a part of. It looks like I will be mended enough from the surgery so that Michael and I can get there on Tuesday and redo all the scans. I think I have mentioned before these scans are based on 2 week period of time. My last set of them was two weeks ago so they would be too old for criteria inclusion when we send my padket into Genentech (thedrugco).
Also, a reminder,that because I have had the gaul bladder out recently...the insurance would not allow me to start for 28 days from the surgery. Just another rule they have, but it seems a be reasonable.
All this being said, I am on the schedule to do scans the beginnng of this week witht actual drug in two weeks. I will keep you posted if anything changes.
Blessings,
Lolo
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Jack...at TaeKwonDo Tournament
Here is Jack and his over-sized trophy. He loved that his trophy was blue. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing, but at his age level, the instructors help him do the moves. It was very sweet.
Morgan...at TaeKwonDo Tournament
Morgan, at her second TKD tournament. She got two trophies, one for her form and one for her weapons. She was very proud, just as Michael and her were happy that she tried hard. She is doing wonderfully. Lolo
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
What it looks like to start over...
This is what it looks like to start all over with the hair growth process. It has been coming in for about six weeks now. It is not very exciting. In fact, I don't think it is flattering at all, however, it is me. Not sure that I will go crazy with all my hair colors like I did before. Right now it is growing in an ashen-brown. It will grow in like this for about six months and then may change texture. It is hard to tell after all this chemo, what my hair will do. But, I am learning that it doesn't matter that much anymore.
Have a great Wednesday!
Laura
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
All went well!
Had my gall bladder removed yesterday and all went well. I usually do pretty good with surgery, and this was no exception. I can already tell a huge difference. I ate some normal food today, like bread or pasta and did not have any pain associated with eating. I also ate bland food as well. I am ramping up at a normal pace.
It is amazing that through all my cancer journey, this was the one thing that caused me the most pain. However, it is not directly related to cancer at all. I will probably spend the next week just relaxing and healing. I have doctors appointments to follow up with the surgery as well as the clinical trial.
Once we get closer to those steps, I will explain the science behind the medicine. But, if you don't mind, for now...I will just probably take it easy and write on the blog about my recovery. Once again, this is just a testament to pursuing your optimal health. I do get afraid just like everyone else, but I have to believe in my heart...that our instincts can and do guide our health.
I hope that each of you have a wonderful night with your families! I am going to do exactly that!
Laura
It is amazing that through all my cancer journey, this was the one thing that caused me the most pain. However, it is not directly related to cancer at all. I will probably spend the next week just relaxing and healing. I have doctors appointments to follow up with the surgery as well as the clinical trial.
Once we get closer to those steps, I will explain the science behind the medicine. But, if you don't mind, for now...I will just probably take it easy and write on the blog about my recovery. Once again, this is just a testament to pursuing your optimal health. I do get afraid just like everyone else, but I have to believe in my heart...that our instincts can and do guide our health.
I hope that each of you have a wonderful night with your families! I am going to do exactly that!
Laura
Sunday, November 9, 2008
My sister and me...
Yesterday was such a nice day. Like I mention below, I am on pain medicines that make me a little loopy so our extended family is helping with the kids and I am being babysat because I can not drive. I have not been out to do normal things for a while, but my sister needed an outfit for a school fund raiser she went to last night. So, I decided to join her because SHOPPING is MY THING!
Her theme was Irish, but the overall theme was Old World Market...or something like that. It was so nice to get out with her and being around Irish things, which remind me of my family. We got her all decked in a warm wool sweater, a scarf, hat and a killer purse. She had the rest of the stuff at home. We also got her husband, Johnny, a hat and scarf, too.
It was so nice to go hang with my sister and see her look so adorable in her outfit! I am sure she rocked the fund raiser last night. I know, in my eyes, she always rocks everything! She is amazing!
Blessings,
Lolo
Her theme was Irish, but the overall theme was Old World Market...or something like that. It was so nice to get out with her and being around Irish things, which remind me of my family. We got her all decked in a warm wool sweater, a scarf, hat and a killer purse. She had the rest of the stuff at home. We also got her husband, Johnny, a hat and scarf, too.
It was so nice to go hang with my sister and see her look so adorable in her outfit! I am sure she rocked the fund raiser last night. I know, in my eyes, she always rocks everything! She is amazing!
Blessings,
Lolo
Verdict is in...gall bladder is coming out!
Hi friends, just a quick update on me. After all this work to figure out whether the gall bladder is still an issue, we have figured out that I should have surgery to get it removed. Ultimately, these decisions come down to the patient and for me, I can tell my gall bladder needs some help, it is just not back to normal.
Of course, at this point, some might think I have a penchant for surgery. I wouldn't disagree with any of you if you thought that, however, I think this is probably the most thoughtful process we have gone through to determine whether this thing should be removed. I feel really good about the fact that this is the best option...as we have gone through most other options.
I have been on IV antibiotics for a while to see if the gall bladder would either resolve itself or "calm down", so to speak. We figured out that the resolution on its own did not work, but the antibiotics may allow me to have a less invasive procedure when I go in. This would be having them go in laparascopically over actually opening me up and taking it out.
The ideal scenario is to do the least invasive so the surgeon is going to try laparoscopic first...then if that does not work, he will do the other. I have been on pain medicines to help reduce the pain. I am not very good at managing this as I tend to just think I should push through the pain. Maybe that is the old athlete in me, regardless, this type of pain is probably the worst I have ever felt...so Michael has been helping me with that. He is, once again, a gem!
My surgery is scheduled for early tomorrow morning, around 7am. I am not sure what my recovery will be like, but I will update the blog for you all as soon as I can. I am praying for the laparoscopic recovery, but will expect to have the longer recovery. Expectations are important to me so I always try to walk through the least favorable scenario so that I can be prepared.
What else? Oh, the reason we really pushed for this surgery now, which we did, is because the clinical trial will want me to recover from this surgery before I start the treatment. Trials are really strict so if we were not to resolve this issue now, I could be kicked out of the trial if I have to have a surgery while on the trial.
I feel like we had about twenty doctors involved in this decision...from my oncologist, GI doctors, general surgeons, radiologists, etc. However, I could not feel better about the decision or the way the surgical team is so thorough. We need to make sure my body is in optimal condition for any medicine. This is that last big hurdle to get us there!
What this means for me in the future is that I will be able to eat normal food, like pizza, and not feel physically bad afterwards. I will be able to regain energy and start working out again. However, I will be taking it really slow. I am sure my family will insist on it and I need to take my time. I haven't felt good for a while so I need to give myself some turnaround time.
Please send any positive thoughts or comments your way. My goal is to have this surgery and to move forward to recovery and keep moving toward optimal health each and every day.
I continue to appreciate all of your support and will write when I can this week.
Blessings,
Lolo
Of course, at this point, some might think I have a penchant for surgery. I wouldn't disagree with any of you if you thought that, however, I think this is probably the most thoughtful process we have gone through to determine whether this thing should be removed. I feel really good about the fact that this is the best option...as we have gone through most other options.
I have been on IV antibiotics for a while to see if the gall bladder would either resolve itself or "calm down", so to speak. We figured out that the resolution on its own did not work, but the antibiotics may allow me to have a less invasive procedure when I go in. This would be having them go in laparascopically over actually opening me up and taking it out.
The ideal scenario is to do the least invasive so the surgeon is going to try laparoscopic first...then if that does not work, he will do the other. I have been on pain medicines to help reduce the pain. I am not very good at managing this as I tend to just think I should push through the pain. Maybe that is the old athlete in me, regardless, this type of pain is probably the worst I have ever felt...so Michael has been helping me with that. He is, once again, a gem!
My surgery is scheduled for early tomorrow morning, around 7am. I am not sure what my recovery will be like, but I will update the blog for you all as soon as I can. I am praying for the laparoscopic recovery, but will expect to have the longer recovery. Expectations are important to me so I always try to walk through the least favorable scenario so that I can be prepared.
What else? Oh, the reason we really pushed for this surgery now, which we did, is because the clinical trial will want me to recover from this surgery before I start the treatment. Trials are really strict so if we were not to resolve this issue now, I could be kicked out of the trial if I have to have a surgery while on the trial.
I feel like we had about twenty doctors involved in this decision...from my oncologist, GI doctors, general surgeons, radiologists, etc. However, I could not feel better about the decision or the way the surgical team is so thorough. We need to make sure my body is in optimal condition for any medicine. This is that last big hurdle to get us there!
What this means for me in the future is that I will be able to eat normal food, like pizza, and not feel physically bad afterwards. I will be able to regain energy and start working out again. However, I will be taking it really slow. I am sure my family will insist on it and I need to take my time. I haven't felt good for a while so I need to give myself some turnaround time.
Please send any positive thoughts or comments your way. My goal is to have this surgery and to move forward to recovery and keep moving toward optimal health each and every day.
I continue to appreciate all of your support and will write when I can this week.
Blessings,
Lolo
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