Saturday, August 09, 2008

Hanging in there

I'm getting complaints about not keeping my blog updated. Shame on me. I'll try to do better.

Since I last wrote, I've been feeling better in general. The nausea was a bugger to get under control but at last, with 4 different anti-nausea meds spread out over the day, I think things are finally looking up. The dry heaves were such a problem that in desperation, I actually visited a hypnotist twice and he made a CD of our sessions so I can listen back to them when needed. I'm still not sure what I think of hypnotism but I did like the nice British man I visited. He came highly recommended.

I was also put on a very small amount of steroids which must be helping too. Walt says to say I can bench press 300# now. The nurse practitioner explained that the kind of steroids they use in sports are hormone based and not the same as I'm taking. So there go my biceps.

I continue to have fatigue from chemo but with a nap during the day, I manage to get through. Yesterday I had a CT scan which involves drinking 2 tall glasses of barium spaced 30 minutes apart. You must be fasting during this time so it makes it all the harder to get and keep the barium down. It's a thick chalky mixture which I hope you never have the need for. I did manage to keep it down in spite of coming close to losing it. We should get the results from the tests on Monday or Tuesday. They will show whether or not the chemo is working and will help decide what to do next.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

praise God!

Anonymous said...

Thank you Yvonne for "hanging in there." We love you dearly and I pray that each day - in between the bouts of nausea and the fatigue you keep experiencing the love of family and friends and the unending faithfulness of God.

Damon said...

Mmm! a nice cold glass of barium!:) that sounds great!....

Unknown said...

Wow, I don't know how you did that barium thing. I can hardly hold it together some mornings when I brush my teeth and gag on the toothpaste! I know God gives you the strength and patience to do what you have to do...
Thanks for being such a witness,encouragement and hero to so many of us.
Love, Barb and Rachel