Reinventing Kathy has moved

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Blessings!

Kathy

Shots are well underway

First, I feel I should apologize for taking so long to update everyone on my treatment. I will provide a brief update here, and try to be more diligent going forward. Being active and productive on a daily basis takes a lot of effort.

So, here’s what I’m doing. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I give myself two shots of interferon medication. I am very fortunate to be able to give do the shots myself at home, instead of having to go to the treatment center three times a week. It means that I can take the shots later in the day versus early-afternoon (or during business hours). I have to admit, I was fearful at first – injecting myself. But God continues to be faithful. I’m settling into a routine.

The side effects from the shots can be pretty rough, so says my oncologist. When I first started, she didn’t expect that I would be able to complete the entire 48 weeks. She said that most people don’t. However, she assured me that every week I take the medicine, it’s a blessing. After my last appointment, she was surprised at how well I am handling the meds. If this is “good”, I feel for the people who really have trouble.

So, here’s the routine. Monday evening, I give myself shots. Tuesday, I am exhausted or achy or nauseous. Wednesday, I start feeling a little more like myself, just about the time for another shot. Then Thursday I feel bad and stronger on Friday. Shot on Friday night, with LOTS of sleep on Saturday. Sunday is a day for a very long nap to recover and start all over on Monday.

I take the shots between 6 and 6:30 pm, giving my body 12 full hours to process the medication and have whatever immediate reaction I am going to have. What I think happens during those 12 hours is that my fever spikes, bringing with it the chills, body aches, and then the sweats when the fever breaks. The one time I took the shot at the doctor’s office, I had a 103 fever by midnight. The other time that I took the shot later, 9 pm, I could hardly walk when it was time for work. THAT was a long, horrible day. Because of the fatigue, sleep does come easy. For that, I am grateful.

Fortunately, I have had only one day where I was nauseous – sick enough that I was unable to work. Most of the time, I am completely exhausted. When I don’t react with fatigue, then I am sore – body aches like when you have the flu.

Interferons can also cause depression. If/when I do feel depressed, I think it is more because I am completely and totally exhausted. Everything takes so much effort. Sometimes, if I think about how much longer I’ve got – 43 weeks, I get very discouraged. It’s not easy.

I’m trying hard to push through, letting the side effects disrupt my life as little as possible. I work with some really great people – who have been very encouraging and sympathetic. I don’t want to be Debby Downer, so I try to keep positive. I hate admitting the truth about how I feel. I have convinced myself that most people don’t want to hear it day after day.

As always, thanks for the continued prayers and encouragement. I am so very grateful that I don’t have to walk this path alone.

Phase One is Complete

On Friday, I finished my interferon infusions. The relief I felt when I left the treatment center was surprising. I am so glad to be through with this phase and can move forward. I am very hopeful that the nausea will subside very soon.

The next phase consists of getting 3 shots a week for 48 weeks. The insurance company has approved my giving the shots to myself at home. I will only have to go to the cancer center once a month to get the port flushed.

The doctor said that the shots could be rough; however, the first three weeks will tell the story. If I get through them without incident, I should be fine for the remainder of the year. I am hopeful that the side effects will be minimal so that I can start walking/running again. The surgeries and treatments have really pushed me backwards in terms of physical fitness. I miss the exercise, and look forward to getting back to it – even if it is just a little bit.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support. When the shots start, please pray that God protect my liver, my bone marrow, and my thyroid. Those are the three areas that the interferon can attack. Any damage to those and the treatments will stop.

In loving gratitude, Kathy

It’s Time to Count Down

It’s time to start the final countdown, my last five treatments. Well, actually, my last five infusions. After that, I start the dreaded shots. I say dreaded because the man sitting next to me today is also taking interferons. He said the shots were far worse than the infusions. Now, if I were a worrier, that little statement just might be depressing. However….

I’ve got all kinds of reasons to be joyful, most of which have absolutely nothing to do with this cancer. But I did get some good news today about my second round of treatment. The insurance company has approved my taking the shots at home. I’ll be able to take the shot right before bed, pop a Benadryl, and sleep it off. At least, that’s my PLAN. Yes, I am a control freak that thinks she is control. Rest easy, my friends, I know who’s got this.

And that’s not all…

The shots are only going to cost me $30 a month. Isn’t that amazing? It certainly beats a $25 co-pay every time I walk into the office. I think I can definitely fit that into the budget.

So, infusions every day this week, and a doctor appointment on Thursday. The shots are already being ordered so I will start round two very soon.

Thank you for the continued prayers

Moving Ever Closer

By the time I get this posted, I will be three-quarters of the way done. And, on top of that, today is Freedom-from-Needle Day – a day of true celebration.

But let’s talk about some real reasons for celebration – answers to prayer. Now I know that God always answers prayer, and sometimes, He just says no. But this week, He made my walk just a little bit easier. I have slept soundly, and for seven hours, three nights this week. And, I’m expecting another peaceful, restful night tonight.

Seriously, this week I have felt very sore – like I have been smacked across the back with a baseball bat. But achy muscles can be relieved. First, a sore back is a PERFECT reason to go have a pedicure. If you go to a good salon, they have amazing (AMAZING!) chairs that knead your back from your neck all the way down to your bum. And then, there’s the long, quiet soaking one gets from a very hot bath. And Dr. Kathy prescribes the hot bath nightly. Ahhhh…..

So, maybe I’ve been a little (ok, a lot) sore, but it has provided some wonderful opportunity to pamper myself.

I’ve even come up with something that is helping the nausea, and it’s not with anti-nausea medication. I have starting eating a bagel every night – oftentimes for dinner. I’m not sure what’s up with the bagel, but I’m choosing to believe that it’s the density of the bread that is soaking up something evil that is deposited in my stomach during my treatment. Whatever it is, it works.

Before I come to a close, I want to pause and thank Holy God, my heavenly Father, my King, my Provider, my Protector, for helping me through this week and every week. I want to be very clear that I know where my relief comes from. He has provided the comfort. He has provided the peace. He restores my joy.

Oh yeah, I came up with another name for today – Needle Emancipation Day! Celebrate with me.

Unanticipated Delay

Something is wrong this morning. I feel an unbelievably heightened sense of agitation. I want to peel the skin off my arms and my legs. I can’t sit still for five minutes and focus on anything. I am not sleepy, but I want to go back to sleep. I want the day to be over.

I know this feeling. I had it once before when I was pregnant with Nathan. My nausea medication sent me into a chemical depression.

I called the doctor’s office, and they have cancelled my treatment for this afternoon, and possibly for tomorrow as well. One of the possible side effects from interferons is depression, possibly hallucinations. Seriously?!

I am not having suicidal thoughts. I don’t want to hurt myself or anyone else. They made me promise if I feel that way that I will immediately call 911. I DON’T FEEL THAT WAY!!

I just feel like a caged animal, unexplainably agitated.

So, I’m a little disappointed that I won’t be half-way through the treatments this afternoon, but am grateful that I’ve gotten someone’s attention that something isn’t right. I’m going to see the doctor tomorrow at 1pm. They will adjust the cocktail and probably give me something for depression and then we will start again. I’m not sure if it will start back up on Tuesday or Wednesday. At this point, I don’t really care. I just want my immediate world to settle down.

Needle-Out Day

Today is Friday, treatment 9 of 20. I am almost halfway through with the most intense part of my treatment. This has been a rough week, as I have added nausea to my list of symptoms. And I am a baby when it comes to being sick to my stomach. However, I’m not going to focus on that today; because today is Friday. It’s the day the needle comes out!  Ahhh, three full days without the sharp instrument nestled in my chest.

Sometimes you have to look a little deeper to find a reason to be grateful. For me, today, it’s freedom from the nasty needle!

Truthfully, I’ve got many, many reasons to be grateful:

• I am surrounded by an unbelievable support network.
• I am constantly being covered in prayer.
• I get multiple notes of encouragement daily – via email, Facebook, snail mail, texts, phone, etc. – assuring me that I am never alone.
• Friends are making sure that my family has a warm meal every night.
• I have friends willing to sit with me during my treatments, especially on Mondays when I am afraid. And one friend even brings me Diet Coke!
• My husband and kids are all three are very eager to help me with anything!
• Hannah is again healthy, after a scary bladder/kidney infection.
• I have an amazing mom who is always available – to listen, to encourage, you name it. She is a wonderful woman and friend!
• I have a boss who insists that I put my health first. “Go home and rest,” has become his favorite instruction to me.

God is so good. He has met, and continues to meet my every need. He remains faithful and evident each and every day. He promised he would not ever leave me or forsake me. He hasn’t, and He won’t. No matter how difficult the journey, I am not ever alone.

If you are being used by God to care for me, to encourage me, and to bless me, know that I thank God for you every day.