Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Latest dr. visit

I went up to Duke yesterday June 9 for bloodwork, Dr. appt, chemo (just the Herceptin) and a CT scan to get me set up for radiation. When we got the report from the dr that my pathology report came back cancer free, I was so very happy. Then a few days later my stomach started hurting really bad then I had all the stuff that goes with upset stomach. I went back for my Herceptin 3 weeks ago and that is when it was really bad. I had taken 2 prilosec that morning and when they got the IV started they gave me zofran, and tagament and that didn't touch it then they gave me some mylanta and gas x and that didn't help so the whole way home I was bent over in excruciating pain. So we paged my dr up at Duke and told him that we just left from up there and all the meds they gave me didn't help and so he told me to go to the ER here so then in the past few weeks I have been to the dr down here several times and the hospital getting test done. At first they thought it was my gall bladder and so I had a sonogram and it showed no signs of gall stones then I had the pipida scan and that came back normal. So now they are checking for C-diff. They best way I can describe that is-all the antibiotics that I was on after surgery and having those drain tubes in (I was on antibiotics for 16 days, pain meds and also Tamiflu because Cole had the flu and so my dr. put me on it to for precaution) so sometimes alot of antibiotics can kill the good stuff in your intestines and you have to take some more antibiotics to get it back right again. OH I don't know something like that anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If it isn't that than the next step will be an upper and lower endoscopy to check for ulcers and to take some biopsys. My dr had originally wanted me to get a brain MRI when I was vomitting alot because sometimes the cancer can metasisize to the brain. So instead of just being the happiest person in the world right now I have been so sick with my stomach and terrified of it spreading somewhere else. I know I should look on the positive side-look at all I have been through and now my pathology report came back cancer free but I have been so sick and so scared about what is going on with me. I have googled my symtoms and it has said gall bladder or ulcers or celiacs disease (gluten free diet). So hopefully I will get this fixed whatever is going on with me and then CELEBRATE. Also I will tell you for pure HUMOR that I was on a liquid diet for 11 days and did not lose ONE freaking pound. Very humorous huh!!!!!!!!!!!
Last week we met with Dr. Horton at Duke for my radiation consultation and she said that she thinks that I do need radiation. I was hoping to get out of that but oh well I have come this far. She said I had three strikes against me- being so young, cancer so large and it was in my lymph nodes. So I start radiation on June 16 and it will be for 6 1/2 weeks, 5 days a week. Well that is all for now, I will let everyone know how the radiation goes.
Love, Audra