Nothing to Lose -- Redux

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Fasting is Not an Option

Okay... I forgot to mention that you've got to fast for 12 hours prior to a PET Scan. This does not work well in combination with steroids.

Not only did I fast in preparation for the test, Goshen called me around noon and told me that the machine was down and that my appointment would likely be a littler later. In order to take my mind off my fasting-induced rage, I initiated a cleaning frenzy. The house looks great. Got another call two hours later that my PET was cancelled and rescheduled for Friday.

Just wanted to update because I know some of you will be checking for results. The scan has been moved to 11:00 am on Friday. I'm guessing that means we won't hear anything on results until Monday.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Pray for our PETS

My test is tomorrow at 2:00 PM. It should be able to definitively tell us what's grown inside my head since September. A few of my friends have commented that my intellect has seemed to grow by leaps and bounds over the last two months; however, I am pretty sure my freshmen English classes are not that intellectually stimulating and the lunch conversation in the Language Arts office sure isn't doing it :)

Obviously the test is really important. Pray Hard.

PS - I went to Wal-Mart at 3:30 am this morning. Then, I had a suddent urge to come home and make an omellette. Why don't drug companies include stuff like this on the warning labels for prescription medication?

Sunday, November 19, 2006

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The Upside Is.... More Latenight Posts?

Dr. Wheeler was out of the office on Friday, but he was concerned enought about these changes in symptoms that he wanted me to come in and meet with one of his associates. The essential concern was that such a sudden change in symptoms was probably brought on by some internal change. An emergency MRI was ordered and Dr. Wheeler called me after hours to tell me the results: there is definitely an area on this MRI that appears larger than September's MRI (If it tells you anything... my appointment was scheduled at 9:30 am, and I ended up leaving Goshen after 5:00 p.m).

He does not want me to panic because it would be highly unusual for new disease to be able to grow and thrive this soon out of radiation. He believes there is a greater possibility that what the MRI shows is a residual effect of treatment or scar tissue. No matter the cause, the effects are still devastating. The loss of ability to control my face was by far the most horrific effect of this entire process for me. The only possible solution the doctors could come up with was to put me back on Steroids for awhile to see if they could reduce the inflammation that is compromising my trigeminal nerve (the nerve that is responsible for all these facial movements). Steroids were probably the second hardest cross to bear. It appears I'm headed back to a life of 3:00 am omellettes, manic cleaning frenzies followed by loud fights with Corlissa when my attempts at perfection cannot be maintained by her 17 year-old living habits, and latenight posts. The only other upside to steorids is that I predict I may have all of my Christmas shopping done before December 1.
(I've already informed the doctors that I will be tapering off if I don't see some major changes pretty quickly.)

Dr. Wheeler is going to schedule another PET Scan for me sometime at the beginning of the week so that we have some definitive answer about whether or not this is more cancer. Those test results will probably guide our next steps... obviously a huge area where fervent prayers are needed. He also wants to discuss with me the possibility of of a specialized surgery called radial surgery. I've done some basic research online and found that he is probably referring to stereotactic radial surgery which is often used to treat tumors found in the head. From what I've read, it sounds like this is an alternative to the more intrusive brain surgeries. Obviously I need to hear much more about this from the doctor before any decisions are made. Furthermore, I do not know if he considers this the next step regardless of what the PET Scan shows.

Okay...I think this post should suffice all you active readers who have felt jipped by my lack of consistent posting. Standby for regular updates.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Request

Okay... for those of you guys who are still checking this thing and praying. I have a request. Around Monday or Tuesday of last week, my facial nerves started regressing. I noticed that my smile and eye were drooping a little again. A couple of days later, I started getting some numbness on the right side of my lower lip/chin. These symptoms have only been intensifying. I have an appointment with Dr. Wheeler tomorrow and will definitely run all of this by him then and update you with his resopnse. These facial symptoms were probably the most horrific part of this whole cancer experience for me, though. Furthermore, it all started happening about when things were taking a turn for the better and I was just beginning to feel like I was getting back to normal. Your prayers about this would be greatly appreciated.