Archives for August 2011

It has been a week now since my last chemo treatment. I am still fatigued. Food doesn’t quite fill me up or satisfy me lately. I have such a yucky taste in my mouth at all times. Yuck! I am feeling like my red blood counts are at a minimum again as the low energy and fatigue and ear fluttering is happening again. I keep telling myself to get through to Saturday because this is the day when my body becomes stronger and can start to produce red cells again. I can usually judge how I feel by what I wear (pj’s the last two days with no hair whatsoever. Just some ugly head wraps.). I just want the good days to get here again. The bad days remind me why I am going thru all this – cancer. Most days I forget about the cancer part but that is what got me to this thing called chemo. Forget the Fall. Please just bring me straight to Christmas.

On a positive note, the day where I usually feel just completely awful turned out to be a nice day. Monday was the kids first day of school and miracuously I was able to physically walk them to school. Wow. And, I was able to bring them to school the following two days as well. I was so thankful for that. I look forward to those kinds of normal days when I can bring them to and from school, energetically listen to their day, and take them to their after school activities.

I will end this by asking for strength to get through these next several days and then next several months. September will be my hardest month yet. Two treatments in one month with a husband gone traveling for work one of those weeks. Mom and Dad will be with me to see me through those weeks.

Until next time,
Love,
Kim

I made another visit to the Cancer Center today. This time my Mom, Ansley, and Jacob accompanied me. Ansley and Mom waited in the waiting room while my very brave 9 year old kept me company and sat with me in the treatment room where I got another Iron drip today. This has been my 5th Iron drip in two weeks. My red blood count increased just slightly from Monday to 9.5. A week ago today it was 7. Monday it was 9.1 and today it is 9.5. To give you perspective a normal red blood count for a person not going through chemotherapy is between 12-16. The good news is I am feeling better and better each day. I am so excited to be getting some of my energy back. During the past couple of days I was able to take my kids to their summer sports and activities and be among all the normal people. I look forward to being one of those normal people in 2012. Next Thursday I will be 2/3 of the way done with chemo. That is one step closer to normal! 🙂

Love,

Kim

I think the rainbow I saw last night after our storm was my good sign for today. They tested my red hemoglobin cells and since last Thursday they increased from 7 to 9.1 so I did not need a blood transfusion today. Yay! I did get another 15 minute iron drip and will head back there on Thursday morning to get another iron drip and blood test just to be sure the number continues to climb in the right direction. I am beginning to feel a little stronger each day. Mom went back with me to the cancer center today where I took part in a class on how to put on make on my changing skin. They also demonstrated how to tie scarves and how you can make a scarf using a t-shirt that you can cut up. Interesting stuff and nice people.

This past Saturday was my 39th birthday. I couldn’t believe the amount of cards that arrived for me over this past week in the mail. Today alone I received another 14 cards. Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes and kind words either thru Facebook, through the mail, or in person. On Saturday my sister’s family came to visit and so did some friends. One of my friend’s brought a party to me. Along with her kids they brought balloons, party hats, flowers and gifts. My uncle made a cd of music for Christmas in July in honor of Kim’s Crew for my birthday. The outside cover had a purple wreath on it. So many of you sent flowers, drew pictures, gave gifts, etc. It was an emotional day for me, especially since my energy levels were so low, and because I was so touched by continued support and love from all of you. Thank you so much!

Love,

Kim

I went back to the Cancer Center both yesterday and today and had a 15 minute iron drip into my IV both days. My red blood count (hemoglobin) dropped down to 7 yesterday. A week ago it was at 8.3 and two weeks ago it was 10.4. I have been feeling extremely weak, huffing and puffing when walking up stairs, etc. which is a result of my low red count.

This coming Monday morning I will head back to the Cancer Center for another blood test. If my red blood count is still below 8 I will need to have a blood transfusion that morning. There is a chance that with these two iron drips and that my body should start producing red cells on its own perhaps starting tomorrow I may not need a transfusion. I won’t know for sure until they test my blood Monday morning.

Here’s hoping for more energy this weekend and that my body starts producing more red cells on its own again. My white blood and platelet counts look great so that is great news.

Love,
Kim

I could really use a pep talk right about now. This is day 4/5 since my last treatment and after doing okay today, tonight is starting to throw me for a loop. This is the time when I don’t trust what’s going on inside my body and a part of me is terrified something inside will fail. Like the little engine that said “I think I can, I think I can” that is what I will say tonight. Please God watch over me tonight and keep me safe and healthy.

Love,
Kim