First Great Weekend

I had my first new round of chemo last Friday. It took longer for the first time so they could see if I was going to have a reaction to the new chemo. My dad from Odessa came down to take me. Once again, I am so blessed to have my parents take care of me so Gary and Travis can work. Unfortunately, I did have a reaction. My left side started twitching, like my arm and leg. Once they gave me meds to stop it, I was asleep for hours. I scared my dad so bad because I looked so bad. I'm glad no one was around taking pictures because I'm sure my head was hanging down with my mouth wide open. When I have chemo, my memory is terrible. I can't remember names, and I couldn't write in my date book when I was leaving. I WAS in bad shape. Thank goodness Gary left work a little early and came by to see how I was doing. I think that relieved my dad.

The next day, Saturday and Sunday, I have never felt so good. Especially since December. When I began feeling so bad in January, I would rest and try to recuperate on the weekends so I would feel like working the next week. It did not work.

On Sunday I felt like going to church for the first time in months, went to Lampasas so I could see where Travis was living, went out to eat, and did a little grocery shopping. The shopping did me in, I was tired. Gary did go with me to the grocery store so I wasn't at the store by myself. I usually have a babysitter with me.

I'm sure the chemo is helping, but every time I see people out around town, they tell me that they are praying for me. The last chemo I had, I thought the side effects were going to kill me. My attitude was horrible. I give God the glory to everyone who is praying for me and my family. The next time I go to MDAnderson is on my birthday, Nov. 8. I'm praying for GREAT news.

Thanks again for your cards, letters, thoughts and prayers. Have a great week.

Susan Hall

Since late August and first of September I've had a rough time with the side effects from chemo. The chemo was going to cure me or kill me. I would go three days for chemo every three weeks and my body couldn't keep up. My electrolytes, magnesium and potasium were very low. I was even in the hospital to get infusions. The only good thing was I got a unit of blood. The longer I was in the hospital the worse I felt. I was a HORRIBLE patient. I thought I would have my doctor, but they have hospitalists now, which I don't like.

I did go to MDAnderson last week and received a good report. When I go, I get a blood test, then I go for a scan of my abdomen, which you have to wait for hours. They have a huge waiting room and it is absolutely full everytime I go. Then, I had a day off. We went to the Cheesecake Factory and mall which was fun. I walked a lot for me. In fact, I was sore. My doctor, Dr. YAO looked at my blood test and had me go to the emergency room for an infusion of magnesium. This was before the Cheesecake factory. We didn't get home until 3;30 am. Very tired. I fell into bed. We stayed at the Marriot and they have great beds. The next day we saw Dr. Yao and he said my tumors in my liver are shrinking. He never says how much, but at least they are not growing. He did change my chemo to one day a week. I will have two weeks off before I start again. I was super excited about having the time off. I've just got to have my body keep up with the chemo.

I even went to a Bible study at our church on Wednesday and it was so nice to go somewhere besides a doctor. I was very tired afterwards, but came home and took a nap.

My parents are home and are taking care of themselves by going to their doctors and keeping up with their appointments.

Thank you for your cards, thoughts and prayers.
Susan

blood pressure

Last week was very interesting. There are so many side effects with chemo that I can't even keep up with them. The oncologist in Austin checks my blood every week to make sure that my white blood count is high and not low then they check calcium and magnesium. I was having so many problems with dizziness, weakness, and energy. It always felt like I was light headed and going to faint. Well, that meant that my magnesium was super low.

When I went in Monday they were going to get blood from my new port. The thing was I was sitting down and was blacking out. I didn't even know they got blood. Also my blood pressure was super low. When I stood up my blood pressure went even lower. They wanted me to sit in a wheel chair, but I was unresponsive. When I did sit down, unfortunately, I threw up. By this time, they had brought Travis and my mom in. They asked Travis if this was normal and he said NO Way. After being evaluated, I was given an IV of fluids.

I had to go the next day to get an IV of magnesium. It was an extremely busy week, but if that's what it takes to keep on chemo schedule, I guess I will do it. I felt better after the fluids and magnesium. These are just some of the side effects of chemo.

I go tomorrow for a doctor visit and they will check my blood to see if I'm ok for chemo. If everything is ok with my blood, I will do chemo. I'm very fortunate that the chemo does not hurt, it's just the side effects that I do not like.

My mom has been here taking care of me and making sure everything is running like it should. Please pray for my parents. They never dreamed that they would be taking care of me like this. They have seen me in different stages or different side effects. I've only been sick three times this two weeks but they don't like to see it. My dad will come to MF and take me to chemo. What would I do without them?

Everyone: take care and see you around.
Susan

I know it has been a long time since I wrote on my blog. A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. When I went to MDAnderson in July, my white blood count was low, so I didn't get to do my chemo. I had to take shots for a week to get built back up. So, I decided that with traveling, trying to work with schedules, I would do my treatments in Austin. I thought it would be easier on everyone. My main Dr. is still Dr. Yao in Houston and he gives the orders. It is working out pretty good. I'm not disappointed at all. When I was on Houston in July, I had a scan and it seems that the cancer is not growing at this time and my liver function is improving.

I also had a port put in so doing my chemo or infusions would be easier. My veins have just given out. Dr. Yao did not want me to do it but said we would talk about it, but I had do to something. It was my executive decision to do this. They are my veins and I can take a lot of pain, but getting a vein to work was so painful. Unfortunately, my veins are crooked, small, and like to roll.

Last week I had to go in for a in infustion of Magnesium. It was very low and it was a three hour ordeal.

Last time I had chemo was at the end of July and my Dad took me for two days. It wears everyone out. There's nothing to do but wait for hours. He went for a walk and someone asked him if they could help him find his car!!! He stayed for about a week then my Mom came. I'm very fortunate that they are able to help me. They run circles around me.

I had to get a new washer and dryer!!! Gary actually went by himself and bought them. I'm not real picky when it comes to a washer/dryer and they get delivered Tuesday PM. I'm very excited, but not about how expensive they are.

The next time I have chemo is Aug. 16-18 then I go to Houston Aug. 31-Sept. 2 for scans and follow ups.

Since I have chemo every three weeks and never know how I am going to feel, I have had to take Disability Retirement. I never dreamed after 12 years that I would be retiring. But I'm kind of excited. I always get the kids who are behavior challenged and I won't have to deal with that any more. Yea!!!!

Thank you for your sweet cards, visits, food, and prayers.

Susan

Big Week at MDA

It is Sunday and we are getting ready to go to MDA on Monday. We are cleaning house and have been washing clothes, so when we get back everything will be clean. My mom has been here, so she is a great motivator. I get a blood workup then that evening I'm getting a CT Scan on my abdomen. Then, I see Dr. Yao on Tuesday at 1:30 for him to give me my results from the tests. Our wish and hope is that the tumors are shrinking. I'll take any little bit of good news that I can get.

We are still staying at the Rotary House that is connected to everything that I go to, so we are not waiting on shuttles and sometimes it is so late when I get through with chemo the shuttles are not running. It is very convenient to stay where we are. Last time it was when the hurricane came through and I was so glad we stayed there. People were complaining that they didn't have their umbrella with them and I was just thanking my lucky stars I didn't have to get out in the rain. I'm always concerned about my immune system, especially after chemo. I can't get sick!!

I want to thank everyone for the phone calls, cards, sweet thoughts and prayers sent my way. Prayer is what is going to save me.

Have a good week everyone!!
Susan

Getting ready for Houston

Hi Everyone,
I am getting ready to go to Houston again. We leave next Monday and I want to feel better organized this time. I left half of my makeup in Marble Falls and that just seemed to set things in motion.

Thank you all for your prayers on Facebook. Someone said I needed to have a sense of humor that it really helps. If you could see me without my hair and just my little cap, you really need a sense of humor. It is pretty funny.

Monday I have my blood testing and my CT scans of my abdomen. Please pray that everything is shrinking and that I get a good report. I've been having problems with my stomach and I hope it's not my liver. I'm probably just very anxious about my trip to Houston.

Thank you for your prayers and cards. They mean so much to me.

Susan

2nd time to MDA

Before I went to MDA the second time, I got very sick with fever and we didn't know where it came from. I just know I didn't feel well at all.

Dr. Yao said my liver function was improving, so he thinks the chemo is working. I really hope so. I feel so much better this time after chemo than I did the first time. I have so much more energy and I am not near as weak. My chemo is still 8 hours long for three days which is long, but I sleep most of the time.

Next time I go, we take blood work, then we take CT scans of my abdomen. My prayers are that the tumors are shrinking. After I talk to Dr. Yao, I take my treatments. I asked him how long my treatments would be and he said we would evaluate every two months. He is all business!!!! As his PA's say, he is all cancer doctor.

We are staying at the Rotary HOuse which has a skyway and is connected to everywhere I need to go. Even when I shut a building down, I just go to my room, and if the gold carts are running, then Travis pushes me in a wheel chair.

I don't know if I told everyone, but I did try to save my hair, but the girl who cuts it tried to save it short, but it kept coming out. It is as short as you can get. When I was in Houston, I bought some cute little hats that color coordinate with my clothes. Sometimes, I'm self conscience, but this is real life and I can't worry about everything. A friend gave me a small cross before I went to MDA and I'm all about prayer. It is called a Clinging Cross and it fits into your hand. It is the coolest thing. I know I don't have to use it to pray, but it seems to make me stronger.

I am very fortunate that both of my kids, Jennifer and Travis went to MDA with me this time. I didn't want Gary to miss work. My kids are super supportive and are very positive. Right now the plan is to go to MDA every three weeks to get my chemo.

I will refer people back to my blog on FB. Thanks for reading.

Susan Hall