There's no place like home

On Saturday, I went to Dana Farber for my chemo as usual.  The nurse came back with my blood results and they were unable to give me chemo that day because my white and red blood cells were very low.  The thing about this kind of chemo is that it hates bone marrow, so I run the risk of having low white blood cells (neutrophils) each time.  So I was what they called Neutropenic.  No, not Neutrogene, Neutropenic.  :)  The on-call doctor wanted to keep me in the hospital.  Just because of the fevers I was having that whole week before.  He didn't feel comfortable sending me out with no immune system.  Hey thanks doc!

I stayed at Brigham's until yesterday.  They ran every single culture they could think of, I got blasted with IV antibiotics, got MRI's and CT scans, but everything came back negative.  That's good, but I still don't know what causes these random fevers. 

Let's see, let's do a rating of the Brigham.  I might as well since I've been in many hospitals.  It'll be on a scale of 1 to 5 (IV bags)

Nurses: 4.5  They were all very nice and attentive
PCAs: 3.0  Leaves much to be desired, you ask them to do their job and they get all huffy
Room:  All single rooms because I was on a floor where they tried to minimize germ exposure.  The room was huge.
Food:  -10  This hospital had the WORST food I have every had.  I ordered a GRILLED cheese.  You know what I get?  Bread slightly toasted, a piece of cheese in the middle, served cold.  "Scrambled eggs" turned into an omelet, fake eggs.  Ahh well, as long as the medicines good, right?!

I have a follow up appointment with the doctor tomorrow and we'll see if I'll be able to get chemo.

I still don't feel "right", not that I ever did!  Hopefully every day will get better.  I'm planning on returning to work on Monday. 

Oddity/Curiosity Trip #2 - The Charles Ponzi House

 

Last week, I spent the day with my high school friends Christine and Charlene in Lexington.  I thought it would be interesting to go see some curiosities in Lexington/Concord since I was there.  Christine was all for it, so I told her about them.

The first stop was the original Charles Ponzi house.  He was the creator of the "Ponzi scheme", basically, the first pyramid scam.  An Italian immigrant (figures) living in Boston, he fine tuned this scam.  He borrowed from Peter to pay Paul.  He promised investors a 50 percent return on their money in 90 days if they purchased international postal reply coupons, which were coupons he purchased overseas for a penny and exchanged in the US for six cents.  Unfortunately, it wound up costing more to ship and exchange than they were worth here.  It worked as long as you had new investors at the bottom of the pyramid.  Short story long, he spent 7 years in jail and died penniless in Rio de Janeiro.  Investigators searched the 20 room mansion in Lexington, MA and all they found were 100 gallons of home-made Italian wine.

Butler's Pantry

While we were looking at the house, a lady came out and I went to ask her if this was the Ponzi house and if it was ok to take pictures.  I was expecting a sign or something, but there was nothing.  A few minutes later, another lady walked out and told us she was the current owner and if we would be interested in a tour.  Are you kidding?  Sure!!  I told her that her house was in a book on Curiosities in Massachusetts.  She was surprised, she never had anyone come by to see the house.  The house...err...mansion was huge, hence the name mansion!  She still had original chandeliers and the old butler pantry with a pass through.  The fancy woodwork on the ceiling and moldings were original.  It was beautiful.  She gave us copies of some pictures she had from a book.  She had original photos of Ponzi, but she couldn't remember where they were.  No kidding!  LOL Her husband made a copy of the page in my book mentioning the home.
Before we ended the tour, it so happened that the owner knows my friend's Christine's aunt and uncle and were going to see them that weekend!  What a small world!  Chris would've never had met them if we didn't get that tour and talked to that lady.  She was so friendly and open, it was so cool!

Beautiful landscaping, and some original trees and steps from 1919.  This had to be the coolest curiosity trip to date!!  I have some pictures, but their quality is horrible.

Phew, is it hot in here or is it just me?

Temperature reached 102.2.  I have an appointment with Dr. Guarnieri tomorrow morning.  Don't know what he's going to do.  Leigh has been gracious enough to drive me in.

I'm sweating, so maybe this round of fevers finally broke.  Taking temp now...101.6.  Better, but not great.

Lizz called.  They ended up getting tickets to come out here for the baptism!  I'm so excited!  I'm so happy, can't wait to see them all again.  They won't be staying long, and I don't know if I can take time off, but I will try.

Thom made me some chicken broth with orzo!  Mmm, I was hungry!

Disclaimer:  The following is religious talk.  We all have different beliefs, and thats fine. If you don't believe in any kind of God, I'm sorry if it offends.  If you don't like it, don't read my blog.  I don't want to be PC.

Today is Ash Wednesday, and of course, I didn't get my ashes.  And I was having a hard time deciding whether or not I'm going to give something up.  And if so, what could I give up?  The only thing that I do on a regular basis is play WOW.  Then, I started thinking about what else I could give up instead.  This  made me feel bad because I was taking the road most traveled.  "I can't give up WOW!  I enjoy it too much!". Made me feel worse because Jesus didn't get the choice of what he was sacrificing.  How can I not give up something I enjoy? That's a sacrifice for me.  A little one compared to what Jesus sacrificed for us. I feel this world has become Godless, and I don't want to be part of that.  Sodom and Gomorra always come to mind.  How long can we not believe without reprisal?  God is just, but don't deny Him.  You don't want Him angry.  

So, for 46 days, there will be no WOW playing for me.

  

I'm burning up

Stayed home from work yesterday and today, still battling fevers, and some nausea when I'm upright for a bit.

Thom and Jen McKenna (Dr. Silver's medical assistant, but more than that, I don't know her title) both think that the Zometa injection I got on Friday was what's causing the fevers, but this is a long time for a fever to last.  I think the lowest it's gotten was 99.7•F.

I've gone threw a shirt a night because I sweat so much, I drench them and it makes me cold.  Night sweats, fever sweats?  I just don't know.  Same thing?

I got the rest of the week off to rest and because a lot of people are sick at work, so she didn't want me exposed to all these germs.  That's very thoughtful.

Temperature reached 102.2.  I have an appointment with Dr. Guarnieri tomorrow morning.  Don't know what he's going to do.  Leigh has been gracious enough to drive me in.

I'm sweating, so maybe this round of fevers finally broke.  Taking temp now...101.6.  Better, but not great.

Lizz called.  They ended up getting tickets to come out here for the baptism!  I'm so excited!  I'm so happy, can't wait to see them all again.  They won't be staying long, and I don't know if I can take time off, but I will try.

Thom made me some chicken broth with orzo!  Mmm, I was hungry!

Today is Ash Wednesday, and of course, I didn't get my ashes.  And I was having a hard time deciding whether or not I'm going to give something up.  And if so, what could I give up?  The only thing that I do on a regular basis is play WOW.  Then, I started thinking about what else I could give up instead.  This made me feel bad because I was taking the road most traveled.  "I can't give up WOW!  I enjoy it too much!". Made me feel worse because Jesus didn't get the choice of what he was sacrificing.  How can I not give up something I enjoy? That's a sacrifice for me.  A little one compared to what Jesus sacrificed for us. Other people don't bother, but why would I want to be grouped with hedonists?  If that's the right word.  I feel this world is Godless, and I don't want to be part of that.  Sodom and Gomorra always come to mind.  How long can we not believe without reprisal?  God is just, but don't deny Him.  You don't want Him angry.  So, for 46 days, there will be no WOW playing for me.

I wish there was a way to download this into my blog.  That would be sweet.

Fever has increased to 102.1.  Dr. Silver wanted me to get a CBC done to check my neutrophils,  which are white blood cells that fight infections. If their numbers are less than 1000, I have no immune system and I should be on IV antibiotics.

The fun never stops here.  I'm still waiting on the results!!  Not sure if Dr. Silver will even read them tonight.  So now we play the waiting game.

Is my body just shutting down all at once?  My imagination is running a muck.  

Tired and cold.  That's what I'm feeling.  Oh and frustrated and angry.

First day of the new chemo regime:  Navelbine.  It's a bolus injection that takes about 10 minutes to inject, but to prevent a flare up in my upper arm (I'm told hurts), I will get injected with saline for about 45 minutes.  Luckily, I got my usual nurse Jade in here for the first time, so the nervousness is decreased because I trust her.  If this hurts a lot, we'll be considering a port.

The new setup at the Yawkey center is nice.  The chairs have heat and massage, flat screen TVs, and floor to ceiling windows, giving this place a much brighter feel to it.  I like this new setup.

I had dinner plans with my high school gals, but we needed to reschedule due to Christine having the norovirus, and she didn't want to give it to me.  So we rescheduled for the spring when everyone will hopefully be healthier.  I'm touched she was thinking of me.  Not many people would.  And I really don't need any more sickness, thank you.

48 hours

It's been 48 hours since the surgery, so I was able to remove the bandages.  Steri-strips are all that cover the 2 small incisions.  There's been a dull soreness, but no pain.

The thing that is concerning me is that I now have a fever (101.6). I've had a low grade fever since I got home.  Thom said it was too fast for an infection, and the site looks fine.  Is it one of those mysterious fevers again?   No one can figure out the cause, and it's very frustrating.  It puts my already compromised immune system under more stress.  How can my body fully fight this disease if all this other shit keeps making it weaker?  It scares me.

I've only been able to stand or sit upright for a short period of time before I start getting nauseous.  I'm lucky that I'm working from home tomorrow.  Gives me one more day to rest.

Meeting Jenn  and Stacy at the McDonald's in Spencer for lunch.  I'm so glad they're coming out this way.

I opened the windows in the bedroom to get some fresh air in, boy did it smell great!  I can't wait for winter to leave.  This has been the longest year of my life.

Do you think the fungus on my left toe is contributing to the fevers?  I'm trying to think of things.  Do I have a tooth infection that's just brimming?  WHAT IS CAUSING THESE FEVERS?!?!

D-Day

Today is surgery day.  We have to be at the Brigham by 6am.  ?!?! The surgery takes about 1.5 hours, recovery about 45 minutes.  Chemo is scheduled at 10am.  They are going to put the port into the subclavian vein, between my collar bone and my breast.  They are only going to sedate me so that they can still talk to me.  Wonder what I'll say!  Get the recorder ready!  Youtube alert!  I can expect to be sore of course. And I'm a little bit nervous, but I'm in  good, capable hands.

I'm still a bit skeeved out by the whole thing, but this better for me in the long run.  Shudder.

Heard from Lizz that they will be unable to fly here in June because airline tickets have skyrocketed.  They can't afford it.  I was so looking forward to seeing them again.  Of course my mom's flying there for a week.  I can't go because I am going to Texas in May for Jim & Michelle's wedding.  I can't take another week off.  I'm bumming.  Logan has changed so much since I last saw him, and Brianna is turning into such a beautiful girl, not that she wasn't always beautiful.  

Last night I went out shopping with Libby and then we met Bri and Melissa for dinner at Plaza Azteca, my new favorite Mexican restaurant.  We had a great time!  There was a live Mariachi band, and I told them it was my birthday.  They serenaded me with both the English and Spanish version of "Happy Birthday", plus a couple of other songs.  I loved it!  Always wanted to hear a Mariachi band!  It was pretty cool!  Melissa tipped them because the rest of us didn't have any cash.  

AND I pulled yet another muscle or struck a nerve because somehow, I tweaked my back and it's killing me.  It hurt to even lift my glass.  Thom asked me what I did, and I told him that I, um, walked.  WTF?!  It's just one thing after another after another.  I keep saying I have some bad juju going on, because so far, this year has been riddled with sickness, a fractured rib, infections, sciatica and pulled muscles.  It's bordering on the insane and unbelievable.  When can I catch a break?  I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.  But I must push forward.

D-Day cont.

Had to be at the Brigham by 6 am, but of course, we got behind some slow ass bitch getting to the pike.  Really?!  It's 5 in the morning, you must have to be somewhere, so speed the fuck up!!  We were a half hour late.  But it was ok.  Got my blood work done and brought to pre- op.  My nurse, Laurel, has the same birthday as me!  We're both fools!  They explained the whole procedure and I even got to see and feel the "super port" as they call it!  

This is my first step to becoming bionic!! LOL

Once in the OR, I got moved to their table and it felt like a temperpedic, it conformed to me.  Nice warm blankets and I was very comfortable.  Then I got my cocktail of "twilight" drugs to put me into a semi-conscious state.  I liked that!  It looked like the lights on the ceiling were moving.  Ahhh...so relaxed.  Don't remember a thing!  But the procedure went perfect, with no problems.  This is going to make things so much easier for me, much less painful.

Went to recovery for about 45 min or so, and my nurse Bill was awesome!  

Now it was chemo time.  Saw LaTasha after so long, it was great to see her, that girl just cracks me up!  Always brings a smile to my face!  Love her!  I had my bestest nurse, Jade.  Chemo went flawlessly and most important, pain free!  My left arm STILL hurts from last week's chemo.  

Pain meds started to wear off and that's when I started to feel a little soreness and a lot of tenderness.  I felt like I got a piece of furniture slammed into my clavicle area.  Ouchie.  Bandages need to stay on for 48 hours.  Can't get it wet.  It's such a great thing I don't have to work on Monday in the office, gives me another day to chill.  I brought some easy work home.  Thank you to my boss for being the most awesomeness boss I've ever had. 

We got home a little bit past 6pm, more than thirteen hours later.  It's been a LOOOONG day.  I'm in bed and I took some pain killers and now I'm getting drowsy.  The pain has ebbed so that's a blessing.

And Thom, you are amazing!  I love you so much and you take care of me so well.  You're thoughtful and considerate and it means the world to me!  Muah!