Good News---almost!

Hi Everyone,

I just typed this whole entry and hit create.....instead of POST!! If by some small miracle you get this twice...you will know what happened.

Late yesterday after my Oncologists nurse called and said that the Dr. had seen the report of my PET/Ct. scan and was very encouraged. He said there was NO sign of cancer and we should repeat it in 6 months.

Barry, (radiation oncologist) and friend of our daughter Michele and husband Derek.....read my PET/CT report. He says that most folks from the Midwest who would have this test would see these in their lungs! I think he says it's from a mold...histoplasmaso... I think it's called. Not usually serious. So the next step was to see a Orthopedic Dr.

So at 4:50 p.m. yesterday I called an orthopedic Dr. in Longmont that Barry recommended. That Dr. was full for another month but if I could get there by 8:30 in the morning I could see another Dr. in the practice.

I saw him this morning. He took some x-rays. Said there was a little arthritis but not enough to cause this much pain. He says he sees 3 or 4 women a month that has had breast augmentation that causes so much pain between the shoulders and they have them removed! I HAD THE SAME SIZE I WAS PUT BACK IN.....sure glad I didn't go with the "Dolly Parton" size!! Oh my....don't even want to think about that!!

He gave me 4 or 5 shots of cortisone in my spine and that area and thought that might give me some relief. He told me he didn't have anything else that he could do.....except he gave me a prescription for the therapist to work on my back as well as my front side when I start Aug. 7th for weekly treatments down in Denver.
He called me about 5 this evening and said he had been thinking all day about what else might help. He suggested I check with my Oncologist about changing my Neurontin to a drug called Lyrica. I take it for the hot flashes....but also it's to help nerve ending pain. He thought that might be worth a try.

Perhaps it's time to learn to live with the pain. I know millions of people face each new day with extreme pain.

I feel so blessed the cancer has not spread... I'm going to look forward to the tomorrows that God is giving me and find hope in His mercy and grace.....praying that each day will be praise and glory to Him as each event unfolds in the days ahead.

Loving Him and each of you,
Donna

Delivery By Fed EX

Hi loved ones and friends,

The past month has been another roller coaster with pain in the middle of my back between my shoulders. To try to make a short story, my P.T. had a cancellation July 6th and then again July 13th when I called with really big pain in my back she worked me in. She sent me to her chiropractor directly from her office. Neither one relived the pain. On July 19th called my oncologist to see about changing my cancer drug (arimidex) because I have stiff joints and my right thumb and writs was really swollen and thought it might be the reason for the pain in or near my spine. He wanted to see me ASAP.

Saw him July 20th...said it wasn't the cancer drug and wanted a PET/CT to make sure the cancer wasn't elsewhere. If that scan was OK...then he would order a MRI and recommend an orthopedic doctor. He gave me more BIG pain pill which I HATE to take...but was glad to get some relief.

Had PET/CT scan Wed. July 25th and the Dr. was to call me yesterday (27th)with the report. I had asked them to send me a copy of the report. About 4 p.m. Fed-Ex arrived with the report. I read it and was concerned...OK I was more than concerned for a while. Spent the next 30 minutes on line trying to translate some of the words. Called the Dr. office at 4:45 and was told they did not get the report and the Dr. had left. The nurse said if I would fax the report to her...she would look at it and call me back. There was some findings in the lungs that they suggested another CT followup in 6 months. The nurse was reassuring that if they were concerned...they would suggest another one sooner! I have had pneumonia several times so I'm thinking it might just be 'left over' stuff from that. She said the report would be on the Dr.'s desk and they would call me Monday.

So...I'm praying she is right. I know my fears are shared by thousands of women who are walking this journey and receive even the slightest idea that it might be developing elsewhere.....but I want to say that my second thought after reading the report was thanking God that I know He holds the plan and is holding my hand. What ever lies ahead for me I know He is with me each step of the way! What an awesome God we have.

I'm always amazed how so many days my devotional seems a sweet reminder from God. Today in my devotional from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers ....the title was "God's Purpose or Mine?

I wish I had room to write the whole thing...put here's what touched my heart: "God's purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious!"

I can't fathom what life would be with out Him to walk with me! His mercies and grace are beyond words!

Thank YOU so much for walking with us also. Your love, prayers and long time concern are immeasurable!!

Praying God's blessing are folding your life this day!

Trusting Our Faithful God,
Donna

Hoping for help in August

Hi Folks,

Never knew when I last wrote June 16th the pain that was coming ahead. Again I'm not the norm from what they told me. Should have had discomfort for 4 or 5 days after the tattooing....discomfort was not the word....hit the level 7 on the 10 scale for the next 10 days. Thankfully on the 11th day it started to lessen some. I'm running on about a 3 or 4 by end of the day.

I'm encouraged after my appointment last Thur. (June 28th) when I went down to Denver for a consultation with Julia Osborne (PT,CMLDT) who is the Clinic Director for Oncology, Women's Health. She specialized with gals with mastectomy pain and manual lymph drainage.

Her opinion is that I've never had real healing time since this began. That the whole area is inflamed...nerve endings, muscles and tissue. She says the therapy I had at the end of March in Tx. was MUCH TO AGGRESSIVE. (I had my reports faxed from Tx. to her.)
I knew it was aggressive when I had to continue BIG pain pills and ice.....and for 10 minutes each hr. I would do the exercises at home plus the 3 times a week I was at the therapist. I was willing to go through the pain....thinking that it would help in the end!

My frustration was not KNOWING what was good for my body. I've never been on this path before and if you are now.......maybe you body is different and it would work for you. I'm sure the therapist in Tx. thought they were doing what was right....I was also told she worked with gals with mastectomy pain?????

The part that I'm disappointed with now is that I can't start treatments until Aug. 7th....she is booked solid. I will then go once a week down the mountain to Denver for an hour of therapy. During the hour time we had last Thur...she spent the last 15 minutes on ONE side of GENTLE (the same pressure you would pet a cat!!) to see if I could see a difference when I got up. Maybe it was positive thinking but ...it had lessened the pain a little. She gave me 3 exercises to do twice a day ....same press sure as petting a cat....until I can see her.

So counting the days until Aug 7th and hoping there might be a cancellation before then.

That's the journey for now.....thanks so much for your continued prayers! They are precious as gold to me!!

Loving Him and YOU,
Donna