Hi lads and lassies,
Just to give you the latest--I was sent home yesterday afternoon. The doctor came in to see me and was going to keep me until Sunday until I gave him the puss in boots/big eyes welling up with tears! Thankfully he consented for me to go home as long as I take it easy and take all the meds. Yeah! I don't know who is happiest me, Colman or the kids:-)
So, I have little stones and some sludge in my gallbladder likely a casualty of chemo. It will have to be removed later this year after I finish taking care of the business at hand! Hopefully it won't kick up again--please God!!
So back in tomorrow for chemo #6! Colman's mom Kitty is coming down and staying this week to lend an extra hand as I am a bit depleted of energy after my 'well' week! I was robbed I tell ya!
Love to you and thanks again for all your prayers!
Always, Heather
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Friday, 25 January 2013
Well week where are you???
As I write this to you from my hospital bed I have to sit and wonder, what happened to my well week??? I'm supposed to be lunching with ladies!!! And dressing up! Not this time says my body!
Just a little update: since Christmas I have had a severe pain in my stomach that squeezes my chest/sternum. Very painful but usually subsides shortly after it starts . After the New Year's Eve treatment it happened again and lasted overnight but again, it would subside and was manageable. This time around I haven't been as lucky! Last Monday it came back and put my entire stomach into a spasm for 90 minutes. It was truly terrifying as I couldn't breathe and could find no comfort. Colman was up on Dublin overnight for a meeting so we had to call in a Calvary! Our babysitter Christina was brilliant and fortunately the kids were unaware of the entire episode which I am eternally grateful as it likely would have scared them indefinitely! My friend Mary, a nurse, rushed over and took control of the situation and managed to stop the spasm. Colman's brother Kevin came rushing over to do whatever was asked of him(drive to hospital/stay with kids) and our brilliant, always loving and ever dedicated child minder Libby came back to our house to stay the night with me and help get the kids off to school the next morning. After this episode, I was completely out of it and depleted of energy. I was told to go to my GP to have it investigated and luckily(?!) the pain returned on the way to the dr's and he was able to see it first hand. Off to A&E to then be admitted to hospital as my body is fighting some infection and they think it has to do with my gallbladder and my liver function seems to be affected as well. Will know more today but asking for your prayers in the meantime!!! I feel all right bit heart is missing the kids terribly! Hope to be sent home no later than tomorrow as I am due back for chemo #6 on Monday and just want to get closer to the finish line!!
Now I didn't share this with you to worry you but just to keep you on the loop!!! I am not worried--it is just an infection and I am being treated for it!
Love you all and thank you so much for all of your love, prayers, support and encouragement!
XHeather
Just a little update: since Christmas I have had a severe pain in my stomach that squeezes my chest/sternum. Very painful but usually subsides shortly after it starts . After the New Year's Eve treatment it happened again and lasted overnight but again, it would subside and was manageable. This time around I haven't been as lucky! Last Monday it came back and put my entire stomach into a spasm for 90 minutes. It was truly terrifying as I couldn't breathe and could find no comfort. Colman was up on Dublin overnight for a meeting so we had to call in a Calvary! Our babysitter Christina was brilliant and fortunately the kids were unaware of the entire episode which I am eternally grateful as it likely would have scared them indefinitely! My friend Mary, a nurse, rushed over and took control of the situation and managed to stop the spasm. Colman's brother Kevin came rushing over to do whatever was asked of him(drive to hospital/stay with kids) and our brilliant, always loving and ever dedicated child minder Libby came back to our house to stay the night with me and help get the kids off to school the next morning. After this episode, I was completely out of it and depleted of energy. I was told to go to my GP to have it investigated and luckily(?!) the pain returned on the way to the dr's and he was able to see it first hand. Off to A&E to then be admitted to hospital as my body is fighting some infection and they think it has to do with my gallbladder and my liver function seems to be affected as well. Will know more today but asking for your prayers in the meantime!!! I feel all right bit heart is missing the kids terribly! Hope to be sent home no later than tomorrow as I am due back for chemo #6 on Monday and just want to get closer to the finish line!!
Now I didn't share this with you to worry you but just to keep you on the loop!!! I am not worried--it is just an infection and I am being treated for it!
Love you all and thank you so much for all of your love, prayers, support and encouragement!
XHeather
Saturday, 19 January 2013
5 down!
Hello everyone!
I know, I know...I am a terrible blogger!! A lot of time has passed since my last post (new years eve) and I am on day 6 since my last chemo session last Monday. A new drug, Taxol-- that everyone had been telling me that I should find it more manageable than the previous sessions.
........
First catch up-- I had a difficult time after the New Years eve session so even though I had the 3 week grace period in between, it seemed to knock me harder. I suppose that so much of this is cumulative that you never fully get back to 100% but I did have a few good days before I was hit again this last Monday.
You might wonder what I am doing on the good days and I have to say, I look forward to them as it gives me an opportunity and excuse to do things that I never had time for before my diagnosis! I meet up with a lot of friends for lunches out, I go out to Galway city with my hubby to try different restaurants, we did dinner and a movie last sat night (saw les mis-- good movie, terrible singing, good acting-- hard to remake such a classic musical theatre piece) and have lots of lovely family cuddle time! I do a bit of work as well of course and I am pleased to say that our magnificent staff are working so hard flying the flag so that both Colman and I have very few work stresses! But it is nice to step briefly into those shoes from time to time and stretch my brain outside of cancer!
I miss my family at home. I really do. But I know that they are thinking of me and that makes me feel better! I think a lot of my mom and all that she went through and I have a whole new appreciation for just how strong, brave and courageous she was in her struggle. Mostly I think of how her faith brought her through all of it! While I must admit that it is difficult to pray or concentrate on prayer, I know that I am not walking alone on this journey-- I am comforted and consoled in times of struggle by God and my guardian angels. And I am so grateful for that!
We are now in the throws of decision making. I am heading to Dublin on Monday to try and rush a genetic test that should have been done in early November but wasn't. This test will tell me if I carry the breast cancer gene which increases my chances of getting it again. It takes up to 12 weeks to get the result (which leads me right up to my surgery) but will tell me whether I am having just a mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy. So kind of crappy that they have dropped the ball on this and the surgeons are still looking at me to tell them what I would like for them to do!!! Anyhoos, that's the health service in Ireland!
Now, back to 'how did heather fare on taxol?' Well, no nausea is good in my books. However, feeling like you are being drawn and quartered for 48 hours doesn't really 'sing' for me! My limbs were shaking with pain but....but we did get it under control on Friday and it has been smoother sailing since!!! Hallelujah honey! If the rest of the treatments are that controlled I will be singing in no time!!!
So as I entered into my 'well' week-- I just want to say that I continue to deeply appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, emails, texts, cards. Masses etc etc! You are helping me and I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!! And it's a great life!!!!
A special shout out to the most amazing man-- Colman- you are my rock, my shelter, my love and my friend! Thank you for standing by me in sickness! You do me such honour with your love and I am eternally blessed to call you husband!
(Sorry everyone else 'gag me with a spoon' but...for those of you who have seen and know colman--you know it's true!!!)
I love you all so much!!! Keep the faith (as I do) and don't worry!!!
With all my heart,
Heather
PS Only 3 more left!!!!
I know, I know...I am a terrible blogger!! A lot of time has passed since my last post (new years eve) and I am on day 6 since my last chemo session last Monday. A new drug, Taxol-- that everyone had been telling me that I should find it more manageable than the previous sessions.
........
First catch up-- I had a difficult time after the New Years eve session so even though I had the 3 week grace period in between, it seemed to knock me harder. I suppose that so much of this is cumulative that you never fully get back to 100% but I did have a few good days before I was hit again this last Monday.
You might wonder what I am doing on the good days and I have to say, I look forward to them as it gives me an opportunity and excuse to do things that I never had time for before my diagnosis! I meet up with a lot of friends for lunches out, I go out to Galway city with my hubby to try different restaurants, we did dinner and a movie last sat night (saw les mis-- good movie, terrible singing, good acting-- hard to remake such a classic musical theatre piece) and have lots of lovely family cuddle time! I do a bit of work as well of course and I am pleased to say that our magnificent staff are working so hard flying the flag so that both Colman and I have very few work stresses! But it is nice to step briefly into those shoes from time to time and stretch my brain outside of cancer!
I miss my family at home. I really do. But I know that they are thinking of me and that makes me feel better! I think a lot of my mom and all that she went through and I have a whole new appreciation for just how strong, brave and courageous she was in her struggle. Mostly I think of how her faith brought her through all of it! While I must admit that it is difficult to pray or concentrate on prayer, I know that I am not walking alone on this journey-- I am comforted and consoled in times of struggle by God and my guardian angels. And I am so grateful for that!
We are now in the throws of decision making. I am heading to Dublin on Monday to try and rush a genetic test that should have been done in early November but wasn't. This test will tell me if I carry the breast cancer gene which increases my chances of getting it again. It takes up to 12 weeks to get the result (which leads me right up to my surgery) but will tell me whether I am having just a mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy. So kind of crappy that they have dropped the ball on this and the surgeons are still looking at me to tell them what I would like for them to do!!! Anyhoos, that's the health service in Ireland!
Now, back to 'how did heather fare on taxol?' Well, no nausea is good in my books. However, feeling like you are being drawn and quartered for 48 hours doesn't really 'sing' for me! My limbs were shaking with pain but....but we did get it under control on Friday and it has been smoother sailing since!!! Hallelujah honey! If the rest of the treatments are that controlled I will be singing in no time!!!
So as I entered into my 'well' week-- I just want to say that I continue to deeply appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, emails, texts, cards. Masses etc etc! You are helping me and I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!! And it's a great life!!!!
A special shout out to the most amazing man-- Colman- you are my rock, my shelter, my love and my friend! Thank you for standing by me in sickness! You do me such honour with your love and I am eternally blessed to call you husband!
(Sorry everyone else 'gag me with a spoon' but...for those of you who have seen and know colman--you know it's true!!!)
I love you all so much!!! Keep the faith (as I do) and don't worry!!!
With all my heart,
Heather
PS Only 3 more left!!!!
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