Throughout the month of November, I was feeling a little fatigued, taking lots of cat naps and lost almost 10 pounds. I quit smoking after 20 years - my last cigarette was 11/21/2010. I used Chantix to help me stop - it really works! I attributed the fatigue and wieght loss to the side effects of Chantix, the time change (it's dark at 5pm) and wondered if my Crohn's was flairing up or not. Either way, I was happy with the wieght loss and so what if I'm in bed by 9pm....that's a good thing, right?
December 3, 2010
We went to the Clubhouse and I wasn't feeling very well. I thought I was getting a cold or something...chills, felt feverish. I took some Nyquil and went to bed at 10pm.
December 4, 2010
I woke up at 2am with excrutiating pain in my lower left back. I thought it was a Kidney Stone. Monster pain all morning, I couldn't get comfortable. I took a pain pill and went to bed thinking if it was a kidney stone there is nothing they can do about it until Monday. Drink lots of water and rest.
December 6, 2010 Monday
Kevin, my wonderful husband, took the morning off to take me to the doctor. I was in alot of pain. Doc thought I pulled a muscle and sent me home. No kidney stone. What? About an hour later, Dr. Blues called with my blood work results and said my WBC was over 30,000 and I had an appointment with a Hemotologist and Bone Marrow Biopsy the next day. This was the first time I heard her say Cancer.
Cancer? What? Look again, I have a Kidney Stone!! I just quit smoking!
December 7, 2010
I had my first Bone Marrow Biopsy at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY. Not a pleasant experience, but a necessary one. Thank Goodness Kevin was with me!
December 8, 2010
Dr. Rachel Harper called with the Bone Marrow results - CML Chronic Mylegenous Leukemia, Accelerated Phase. It's not fatal. In fact, it is treatable with chemo pills. Imagine that. I was prescribed Gleevec 400mg twice a day, which was $9,077 per month. I was referred to UK Markey Cancer Center in Lexington.
December 16, 2010
One day after my 44th birthday and both of the girls are home from school. Allyson is a Freshman at UK and Katie is a Freshman at Madison Central HS in Richmond, KY. We are going to tell the girls about my diagnosis tonight. We waited until finals were over for both of them so that we didn't overwhelm them during thier busy times. It went as expected....lots of tears, hugs and ended with a few laughs! I have great kids and a great husband!
The side effects of Gleevec are alot of bone and muscle pain in my legs and hips. At times it feels like my legs will collapse, give out, as if they can't hold me up. I can only stand for a few minutes. Pain meds are keeping me comfortable and in bed. Over time the pain subsides, probably about 4 weeks. I've had minimal stomach trouble with Gleevec, which is good since I have issues there anyway!
I decided to take a leave of absence from work. I am off for 5 weeks. During that time, I did alot of resting. I got the flu, which took me back a few strides. I continue to lose wieght - 17 pounds so far. I look as though I've aged 10 years. I can't keep up, I don't understand what's happening, I didn't ask for this, why me?
The neighborhood ladies started taking turns cooking dinners for us. That was really nice!! I've rec'd alot of support from my friends and family.
Once the pain got better, I began to have swollen puffy eyes. Some days they are so bad that I don't want to leave the house. My self esteem and self confidence have taken a beating for sure! I don't like looking in the mirror - I hate what I see.
February 22, 2011
Back to work.
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