No antibiotic

 Last week, I posted about the chest CT results and the fact that my doctor had put me on an antibiotic, a stomach protector med, and an oral steroid.

I had been surprised when we picked up THREE prescriptions, instead of ONE, but I just read the instructions on the jars, and figured they had added two more meds??

The fact was that my PA had called me back mere MINUTES after her first call to me a week ago Friday, and said NOT to take the antibiotic.  

I am assuming that is because, when she spoke to me, and I made it clear that I have NO SYMPTOMS, that the doctor changed the approach.

Anyway, I obviously missed that call!  I had JUST clocked out from work, and my phone was still on silent.

I did not look at my phone again that evening, and didn't see that she had left a voice message.

Fortunately, I finally saw the voice message on Saturday, and had only taken one antibiotic pill!

SO... Over the past week, I have gone along with the stomach protector, and the steroid, as directed.

The steroid was keeping me up most of the night, but no other negative impacts, so I messaged my PA on Friday and begged for help.

The nurse replied with a suggestion that I try Sominex, which I just happened to have some.  It's worked very well the past two nights.

Unfortunately, the steroid also causes depletion of potassium, so I have been sleeping between raging bouts of night time leg cramps.

I just can't win.

Yes, I am taking extra potassium supplements (have been since my blood work showed low potassium a while back), and trying to include high potassium foods in my daily intake, but DANG.  

Late in the week last week, the phone started ringing again.   I've not been silencing it, because I knew that I'd be getting calls from the scheduling desk at the cancer center.

I now have an appointment with the lung oncologist on Tuesday, my regular six week visit with my breast oncologist on Wednesday, and the follow up CT scan on Friday.

Then, I took the following Monday off for my birthday, so that will be nice.... but after that, I have an evaluation appointment with the lung surgeon.

As I stated previously, we have seen these "glassy opacity" indications on my CT scans several times over the ten years of my treatment, and nothing has ever been done about them, and nothing has ever come of them.  They have just resolved on their own.

This time, however, my current care team are going full guns, and I am tired.

I was handling the stress okay until they referred to potential surgery.  What?  Why??  So the anxiety is amped up now, which I do not fucking need.

Add to it that my employer recently took away 75% of our paid time off hours, and I am in a GREAT mood about all of this!

OF COURSE I am grateful that they are being thorough. OF COURSE I recognize that I am in good hands.  But.  

I'm tired.  I'm also allowed to express myself on my blog, HAHA! 

OH!  And the heart ultrasound came back normal again, so that was a relief.

Anyway.... in other news, we finally got a good, soaking rain.  It's been gloomy and cool the past couple of days, which has been nice.

In my sleepless hours this past week, I decided to spend this weekend making Greek food.   My attempt at skordalia (potato and garlic paste/dip) was a complete failure, so I may try again today.

Yesterday, I roasted beets to go with the now-non-existent skordalia, and also roasted the potato for it, the garlic for it, and some red peppers.

The red peppers will go into a meal today with Greek meatballs, orzo, feta, and kalamata olives.

I also made a pot of my favorite lemon chicken soup yesterday.  

It's nice when sleeplessness can be productive!

SO far, the new wet food we got for the cats to try is working out!  It's from a brand called Blue Buffalo, is grain free, and they are all managing to eat it (with gusto),  and not throw it up.

Between the new kibble, and now the new wet food, we MAY have finally come upon a solution that makes everyone happy, including the humans.

Pete starts his new daily medication next Friday, after his current steroid shot wears off.

All available appendages crossed! 

Dave got our former neighbor to agree to come over and help install the new television on Monday, so that's all done.

We donated the old one to the shelter for homeless youth.

My new laptop computer is still in the box, though, which is okay.  I've been in "overwhelm" mode anyway.

Dave started talk therapy again this past week.  Looking forward to him maybe finding some motivation to do...well, anything at all.

Got my usual household chores done yesterday, and plan to take it as easy as possible today. In fact, I think I'll start my day with a warm bath, so I can massage my legs.

Have a good week!