November

 We have had such a good November, with taking that trip to Kansas City for a concert, and then our annual Crane Spotting, and now getting ready for Thanksgiving!

This has been a good year for us, mostly.  

I mean, despite the fact that I had to return to chemo, the upheaval with my care team, and the long, dry, hot summer that only just ended in OCTOBER.

We got to go home to meet my great niece.  

We got to take an impromptu, short trip to Santa Fe.

We got to take a staycation at the end of October.

Yeah.

There is lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

Speaking of...

I saw my interim oncologist this past week, and learned that my doctor has been seated at the new facility since October, but that he is still not fully credentialed, so he still can't treat patients.

His presence there, however, allowed the interim doctor to compare the tests he ordered with the last ones my doc ordered this past summer!  

They compared the reports, and the news was good!

The most exciting thing, for me, is that the words "your heart is normal" were spoken!

Then, he explained that the lesions of cancer in my liver are reduced in size to about the size of a lentil, or tiny bean/pea.  So the chemo continues to be effective, even at the reduced dose that has allowed my heart to recover.

There was nothing else found in the CT scans.

He didn't have bone scan results from 9 years ago, though, but said nothing scary, or doom-ridden, about the bone scan.

He just said that I would continue on the same treatment regime, which combines the chemo, and the drug for the bones.

SO--we feel a HUGE amount of relief, and shall fight on, with confidence that all treatments are working!!

Oh, and I got to hug my doc, who came out to the waiting area, and his medical assistant was the one who took my vitals!  I got a big hug from her, too.

That was REALLY nice.... made the place feel less cold and impersonal. 

Latest update is that my doc should be my doc again in January, rather than December.

Had my treatment on Wednesday, and they forgot the bone med, so I spoke up.  

We had to wait an extra 45 minutes to get it released to the pharmacy, prepared, and brought to my IV pole.  That was a bit aggravating.

Because of that delay, all of the staff was gone by the time I was released, so I was not able to talk to anyone about the time of my next treatment appointment.  I will just have to take a half day off for that one.

Other than that, the only issue I had with the last treatment itself was related to the steroids.  

I felt weird and agitated while the med was going into my IV, and then, that night, I had really intense cold sweats... I soaked the sheets, my pajamas, and my hair.

It was quite strange, and very uncomfortable!  

But the cool thing is, this huge, new facility and network has an online patient portal, and I was able to message the nurse about this.  

I asked if the steroid used at my first treatment with them was different (because, you may recall, my records had not come across yet).  

I had noticed that the medication in that bag was cloudy, and that the one this past week was clear.....and I had definitely experienced fewer steroid side effects that first time.  

So, naturally, I wondered if the interim doc had prescribed something different from what my regular medication had been, and that, with my doc being there, they had switched back to the old medication this time.

She said no, the same drug was used the first time, and this time.  

Hmmm..... then why did it look different (cloudy in Oct., clear in Nov.)?  Why did I feel so weird during the most recent infusion, and why was my face still hot and red 36 hours later?

I didn't ask those questions, but I DID say, in my reply, that my doc had previously reduced the steroid dosage by half, and asked if it was possible for the docs to review my previous records. I would like them to verify that I am will be sure to get the lowered dosage in the future.

The reply to that was yes, SO... hopefully, before my next treatment, that will all be looked at in detail.  I will be sure to discuss it with the interim doc, as well, at my next pre-treatment visit in December. 

In other news, we are finally getting some rain, and a little thunder, right now.  It's lovely!  The drought has been deepening all through the state, and this is much needed.

Next week, while we are at our cabin retreat, there is supposedly going to be a big winter storm up in Kansas.... we are really hoping that our forecast remains as it is, for clear weather, and moderate temperatures in the 50s/ 30s at night.  

We have never been at the cabins when there was ice or snow, and we really don't want to experience that!

Have a lovely week, gentle readers, and if you celebrate American Thanksgiving, may your tables be full (even if you are celebrating alone), and your hearts be grateful.