Sunday, March 10, 2013

Slowly Getting Better

2 weeks or so ago with the pneumonia I could not walk to my bathroom and back without getting really winded and needing to sit. Today Josh and I just took a 20 min walk outside. I mean I am slightly tired but it's a big improvement!

Monday, February 25, 2013

PNEUMONIA
On 2/8 my oncologist gave me my flu shot which gave me a slight fever and low grade flu like symptoms, perfectly normal... Then a few days later I came down with a cold. Figured it was just what had been going around. Then thank The Lord when I went to go see my medication management doctor they were a little concerned that my pulse/ox was slightly low at 92% where its usually 97-100%. My breath sounds weren't stellar either so they asked me to mention it to my primary care physician. I called them that day, and they scheduled me for the next day (I love being with the doctor who was at the hospital when I was born, not a whole lot of doctors these days can see their patients so easily next day...) So I saw him the next day ( last Wednesday ) which was the Lord's timing because i was feeling so much worse. My breath sounds did not sound good at all, especially the lower left lobe (the upper left lobe was removed a few years ago because of a recurring tumor). He prescribed antibiotics and a chest x-ray. I was in really bad shape there for a few days, and it turned out that my symptoms +the x-rays =PNEUMONIA. I had a checkup this morning and he said my lungs sounded way better. He was glad I got in to him that day cause he told me I was on the verge of needing hospital care. (I need another hospital stay like I need another hole in my head ;) (a joke my granny and pap and the rest of the family make) So I am still on the mend, but it seems to be the upswing. I just thank The Lord I had my Med Mgmt. appt. when I did because they are supposed to be every four weeks, but this one I needed to push for five, so thank The Lord that I had my appointment when I did. He works in mysterious ways, but I know He is always looking out for me. Sorry I didn't post about this sooner I have just been feeling so horrible . Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers for my health in general. Josh Curtis posted a medical update not too long ago, nothing has really changed since then if you want to know how things are with the cancer fight.
Take Care
Hattie and I met with her doctors yesterday to discuss the results from her latest full body PET/CT scan. There has been some progression. All the tumor spots in the bone have remained stable except for one spot on her right hip and one on her left hip that both slightly grew. The tumor in her neck has remained the same size and looks stable. The tumors in both her lungs remain stable, but there are new multiple little spots in both lungs now. These spots are so small that the doctors can't measure them on the scans at this point. Our next course of action is to change Hattie's systemic chemo(Votrient/Pauzapanib) to another called Everolimus in hopes that it will treat her cancer better. To look on the bright side, it looks like Hattie's cancer has slowed down, but is still fighting to stay alive in her. This is going to be a long fight that could plague Hattie for the rest of her life, but I know we can beat this with God's help. Thank you all for your prayers.