Thank you. I have a raft of tests and scans coming up in the next week that will determine whether or not I can return to the study.
In the meantime, I’m dealing with a fair amount of fatigue and discomfort. My oncologist is undecided about whether or not this is the beginning of the end.
The lengthy ScanFest begins on Friday with an echocardiogram and X-rays of my painful, just-looking-for-an-excuse-to-fracture left femur, and continues from there. The fun just never stops!
Summoning all orneries to Rossweisse's side. May felines purr and comfort, may orneries spread their wings, and may strength and determination attend Rossweisse in her time of need.
I was reflecting on the feline ministry to the sick and the power of pets generally. It really is incredibly powerful and my hope for the strength of cats and orneries combined.
My father has increasing dementia and as I sat with him in hospital yesterday, I watched him whistle to a hallucinatory dog to come to him for a pat. Which is truly bizarre- as he has disliked all our (adult children) dogs and taken great pains to tell us this and to keep them away from him. It's a funny old world.
And my favourite story is the budgie (parakeet) in the local Hospice some years ago whom the night staff taught to swore. He was called Onan (due to the mess of his seed on the floor) and all delighted in his somewhat colourful greetings to staff and visitors alike.
All of which adds to my hope for peace, for rest and for comfort for all who are hurting and impacted by cancer on this thread.
Good stories, Patdys. I am sorry your father is going through this. Funny old world, indeed. The Chicago-area branch of the Feline Ministry to the Sick is in full swing for my friend K. She had a mass removed recently and begins chemo next week. Her cats have barely left her side, and she curls up with them when anxiety starts to overwhelm her.
Developments....I have some local spread i.e. new growth noted on existing tumors. But no new tumors and no distant spread (e.g. to Important Places like lungs liver, lymph or brain). I had been having minor pain (well major pain, short-lived) for several weeks and my doctor agreed it was time to change up to a new drug. Which the other one was just running out of steam. (As well as becoming a battle to renew its prescription having been on it criminally longer than the Statistical Average)
I am remarkably unstressed by this development and am proceeding with the process of getting the new drug. I'm not under real time pressure. A few weeks here or there is not significant. Amusingly the company says the effectiveness of their pill "ranges from 1 to just under 200 months". What is a woman to do with information like that?
I also found out there were just 5 people in the Corona Ward here - this information divulged by one of the medical clowns. If you need to know something at a hospital ask one of the resident clowns!
I'm having a rough few days as I've picked up a chest infection somehow. It doesn't seem to be covid, but it's left me coughing and wheezing, and sleeping propped up on a mountain of pillows. I'm a little concerned as I've almost finished the antibiotics and things aren't getting better.
Prayers as always each day Robert, Galilit, and everyone on this thread fighting the fight. May you feel surrounded by the hope and care sent to the universe on your behalf by us all.
Prayers for everyone needing prayers right now. Keep on fighting and trusting.
I've been away for a while getting treatment and generally not feeling well at all. I started blacking out some weeks ago and they're not certain why. The last time put me in the hospital for a week as I happened to do it outside on a concrete sidewalk and was sidelined with a brain bleed. They aren't sure if the bleed caused the blackout (a possibility) or was a result of meeting the sidewalk with my face (again, a possibility). At any rate they had to keep me in to watch for signs of increased pressure that would necessitate more brain surgery. Gratefully regular CT scans showed the bleeding stopping so now I just have the side effects of what the meds termed a 'slow stroke' that I need to overcome. Some speech issues, some walking and balance issues. Memory is spotty - I often don't remember the cancer, best luck!
A lengthy post as I don't come by regularly. Best to all - and continued prayers!
Folks, the day that I've fearing has arrived. My oncologist called and told me that the echocardiogram I had on Friday indicated that my heart is worse than we thought; the brain MRI indicated that my brain indicates serious expansion of the cancer into my brain and (something new!) spinal fluid; and the X-rays of of my hip and pelvis show that the latter is a pluperfect mess.
All that anyone has to suggest is opioids. I despise opioids.
That leaves prayers. I would greatly appreciate yours. Thank you!
Comments
In the meantime, I’m dealing with a fair amount of fatigue and discomfort. My oncologist is undecided about whether or not this is the beginning of the end.
Best wishes for the tests and scans - may they not add to your fatigue and discomfort.
No surrender! Orneries! To your stations! FMttS! Double and Triple up on those purrs!
The lengthy ScanFest begins on Friday with an echocardiogram and X-rays of my painful, just-looking-for-an-excuse-to-fracture left femur, and continues from there. The fun just never stops!
Amen
*If this sound ludicrous and impossible, that is why it spells CAT.
As opposed to when I am delighted, open and grateful.
My apologies to all our feline overlords.
My father has increasing dementia and as I sat with him in hospital yesterday, I watched him whistle to a hallucinatory dog to come to him for a pat. Which is truly bizarre- as he has disliked all our (adult children) dogs and taken great pains to tell us this and to keep them away from him. It's a funny old world.
And my favourite story is the budgie (parakeet) in the local Hospice some years ago whom the night staff taught to swore. He was called Onan (due to the mess of his seed on the floor) and all delighted in his somewhat colourful greetings to staff and visitors alike.
All of which adds to my hope for peace, for rest and for comfort for all who are hurting and impacted by cancer on this thread.
My prayers continue for all of you here.
I am remarkably unstressed by this development and am proceeding with the process of getting the new drug. I'm not under real time pressure. A few weeks here or there is not significant. Amusingly the company says the effectiveness of their pill "ranges from 1 to just under 200 months". What is a woman to do with information like that?
I also found out there were just 5 people in the Corona Ward here - this information divulged by one of the medical clowns. If you need to know something at a hospital ask one of the resident clowns!
Indebted to all for prayers ...
I've been away for a while getting treatment and generally not feeling well at all. I started blacking out some weeks ago and they're not certain why. The last time put me in the hospital for a week as I happened to do it outside on a concrete sidewalk and was sidelined with a brain bleed. They aren't sure if the bleed caused the blackout (a possibility) or was a result of meeting the sidewalk with my face (again, a possibility). At any rate they had to keep me in to watch for signs of increased pressure that would necessitate more brain surgery. Gratefully regular CT scans showed the bleeding stopping so now I just have the side effects of what the meds termed a 'slow stroke' that I need to overcome. Some speech issues, some walking and balance issues. Memory is spotty - I often don't remember the cancer, best luck!
A lengthy post as I don't come by regularly. Best to all - and continued prayers!
Keeping you all in my prayers and thoughts.
Folks, the day that I've fearing has arrived. My oncologist called and told me that the echocardiogram I had on Friday indicated that my heart is worse than we thought; the brain MRI indicated that my brain indicates serious expansion of the cancer into my brain and (something new!) spinal fluid; and the X-rays of of my hip and pelvis show that the latter is a pluperfect mess.
All that anyone has to suggest is opioids. I despise opioids.
That leaves prayers. I would greatly appreciate yours. Thank you!
Ross
Kyrie eleison!