Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Good Scans, Not So Good Health

Sorry, once again, for taking so long to blog the news we have all been waiting for, but I have literally not been out of bed for days. I have been quite ill with pnemonia and unable to eat or drink much (luckily I have been "blessed" by a team of care givers who are making sure that I have consuming enough liquid and calories so that I don't require IV hydration and nutrients, but I must admit I am not making this easy on them, as nausea is my least favorite sensation and that is what anything that enters my body creates right now). But, it is nice to be cared for and I am doing my best to please everyone who loves me but sometimes I want to stomp my foot like a small child and say, "No more!"

At any rate, the brain and body scans came back as well as my doctor had hoped they would. All brain lesions have disappeared or shrunk substantially. The biggest of 11mm is now 6mm. There are no new lesions and everyone expects them to continue to shrink over time. We will check them every three months indefinitely and if they start to grow or change we will take a magic zapping wand to them individually but we are hopeful that they will just die on the sword where they are and that the Tykerb oral meds I am taking will simply keep them at bay.

The cancer outside of the brain also appears to be well controlled from neck to knee, so overall very good news out side of the pneumonia. This has been my first experience with pneumonia and I had no idea how painful it could be. I am trying to make it through one day at at time here, with seven or eight different medications that all make me nauseous but am hopeful that the meds are starting to kick in here, almost a week later. I can take a deeper breath today without screaming in pain and water tastes good for the first time in weeks. And, I'm blogging! Overdue, but doing it nonetheless!

So, once again, my apologies for making you wait for this this mostly wonderful news and bear with me as I make every effort to recover my strength and rejoin the world.

14 comments:

Peggy said...

I can't believe you are apologizing!! I have been praying for your complete recovery to Bishop Alvaro del Portillo. It looks like your treatment is working, although I am sorry you are feeling so crappy (I'm a nurse, so I know all these technical words...:).

Karen said...

Oh God bless you! You remain in my daily prayers and it is good to hear the good news. I'm sorry you are suffering with the pneumonia, and I hope you will be back to feeling well soon. Do not apologize for not posting sooner. Get your health back!

Barb said...

I'm so sorry to hear that you've been sick with pnuemonia and dealing with nausea...so loathesome!
I am glad to hear about your scan results...good news indeed!
You will continue to be in my prayers!

Annie Bizzi said...

tears of joy about the scan results... hope the pneumonia is short staying as well...love to you!

antonia said...

So sorry to hear how unwell you are with pneumonia. Thank God for the good scan results,
With love & prayers
XXX

Grandma Honey said...

Bless you. What good news although that pneumonia sounds horrible, and I have heard it is so painful. I will continue to pray for a complete recovery.

Anonymous said...

Suzanne,I am so glad for the good news!! And sorry you are so sick at the same time! What a crazy ride it must be for you this week, but I am very happy to hear that the treatments are working. Praise God! He is so good! -AO

Jennifer @ Conversion Diary said...

Thank you for this update! I'm praying for you!

anna lisa said...

Oh Suzanne!
Such good news and yet my head is spinning with the round of suffering that came with the good news.
I want to stamp my foot too. But that's the girl in me that likes to argue. Yes, you are very, very special to Him, and a veritable WMD in the service of the King. I am so inspired by you.
Big XO,
Love,
A.L.

Allaire said...

Continued prayers. Always, A

Anonymous said...

hi Suzanne-
was thinking sbout you right now and am glad to read you are doing well- thanks for the tips about Carnival an I hope you pneumonia is tackled soon. love, Jen

Anonymous said...

that's Jen Prosi Slezak above!

Anonymous said...

Suzanne, please know that you are LOVED, LOVED, LOVED!! So many prayers and positive thoughts are coming your way for you and all of your family XXOO and HUGS, Love, Charlynn

viagra online said...

I'm so sorry to hear that you've been sick with pnuemonia and dealing with nausea...so loathesome!
I am glad to hear about your scan results...good news indeed!
You will continue to be in my prayers!