Paracentesis #4, CT Scan, Dr. Appointment

 I did another Paracentesis on Weds and they took another 8 Liters out!  My body doesn't seem to want to stop accumulating  water!  I'll get another one done in 2 weeks.  Please pray that my body can heal, so that it no longer accumulates water.

The CT scan did show that my liver was shrunk in size!  There is a lot of scar tissue from the chemo.  Please pray that the scar tissue does not affect my liver function.

For chemo, this Sunday, the doctor wants to see what my CEA count is.  Blood Test is on Friday.  He has seen it go up and then go back down again.  If it stays steady or goes down, I will continue with the lighter chemo.  If not, then we will switch over to the stronger chemo.  Please pray that my CEA count will go down or stay steady.  The lighter chemo is so much easier on my body!  I would love to stay on it for as long as I can.

There is still unknowns with my CEA numbers but I'm glad my liver function hasn't declined.  My tastebuds are slowly coming back and I'm able to eat more different kinds of food!  I had a grilled chicken sandwich for the first time in 6 month and a breakfast taco!  Grateful for the little joys of life! 

My kids have started summer camp!  They are enjoying going swimming and going on field trips.

Thank you again for all your prayer, encouragement and support!  We are a little anxious to see what my CEA count will be on Friday.  Your continued prayers are much appreciated!!

Chemo #12

We did the lighter chemo again this round.  I haven't heard yet what the doctor wants to do with the next round of chemo.  Not sure if we would go back to the stronger one.  We shall see!

Since, it was the lighter chemo, I am doing well.  I have more energy and able to run some quick errands.  However, my water came back and I'm back to 129 lbs.  😞 I have my paracentesis tomorrow, so hopefully, they can take 2 gallons of water out again!  I feel so much better after this procedure!  Like I am light as a feather!

Please pray for wisdom of the doctors of what comes next for me!  I'll also be heading down to MD Anderson in the early summer to get a second opinion. 

On a different note, my family went to a Fossil and Mineral show last weekend.  My son, Nathan, was looking for a very particular type of Geo.  He wanted one that was split in half with purple/pink (amethyst) crystals inside.  It took him 2 hours to find one and the lady was so nice, she let him have his Geo for only $20!  He was sooo happy!

Blood Test #12 - CEA went up 😞

 My CEA numbers went up for the first time today.  It went up to from 589 to 931. 😞 I'm not sure exactly what this means but it looks like the weaker chemo isn't having the same effect as before.  I'm waiting on the doctor to see if my Chemo would change for this Sunday - see if they will add the stronger one back.

I have a lot of doctor's appointments this week for chemo, to assess where we are at, and for another paracentesis.  My body still hasn't stopped storying water, so my weight comes back every 2 weeks.  However, I will take this over nausea or mouth sores!!   Also, please pray for good results on my CT scan!  I believe that will determine my treatment plan for the summer.

• Sunday (5/22) - Chemo #12
• Weds (5/25) - Paracentesis
• Fri (5/27) - CT Scan
• Tues (5/31) - Meet with doctor

The CEA results isn't the news we were waiting for but we are still waiting on the doctor to see what this really means (the test results didn't come out till late last night).  My husband is a little freaked out.  Please pray for him!  I am doing good.  I am waiting on the doctor to tell us what this exactly means.  We shall see!  On the positive side, I'm eating more and my dry mouth isn't as severe anymore!  I can actually enjoy tortilla and some bready things now!

I feel like we've hit another bump on the road on this journey.  I am truly grateful that God has given us all of you for your prayers, support and encouragement!  Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Paracentesis #3 - 8 more Liters!

 Even though, my last paracentesis was only 10 days ago, the fluid started to build back up.  Before the procedure last time, I was at 131 lbs.  Yesterday, I was already back to 126 lbs. and it was becoming very uncomfortable again.  

Yesterday, went back to the doctor's office and got another paracentesis done.  8 more liters of water!  They said, I had a pocket of fluid of my right and left side and it looked about the same.  This time, they took it out of the right side, but that means, I still have 8 more liters of liquid on my left side!

I feel so much better just having that weight off and the pressure from the fluid.  It was feeling like my stomach was about to burst!

Please pray that the fluid would stop accumulating!  

I am doing well with the weaker chemo!  Praise God that I am eating more and have much more energy!  

Thank you again for all your prayers and support!

Chemo #11

Chemo #11 went very smoothly.  Without the harsher chemo, I don't feel as tired and I don't have any nausea!  It's a lot less harsher and my body.  I feel like I'm already starting to recover from my side effects of chemo.  My appetite has come back and my dry mouth is getting better!  Food is starting to taste better!  My taste buds for salt has swung not tasting salt very much to foods now tasting way too salty.   I still like sweat and sour, and ketchup!  My  mom made me Japanese cabbage rolls the other night, and she said my cabbage rolls where drowning in ketchup 😀.

I'm still retaining fluid in my stomach.  I had gone from 131 lbs. to 115 lbs.  after the paracentesis but I'm back to 122 lbs. already.  I plan to schedule another one next week.  Hoping, they can get as much out again, since my stomach is big again!

Blood Test #11 - CEA Went down to 3 digits!

 Wohoo!!!!  My CEA is down to 589!!!!  That's more than a 50% decrease since 2 weeks ago (1121)!!!  AND this is with the lighter chemo!

This Sunday, we will continue with the lighter chemo and forego the harsher one.  The lighter chemo is so much easier on my body, so I'm very happy!!  My appetite and eating has gotten a lot better since I've been off the harsher chemo.

Tears come to my eyes when I think of all the people that have loved us, supported me, prayed for me and encouraged me throughout this journey!  It's been 6 months since I've started treatment. Words cannot not express the gratitude I feel for all of you,  This journey  has had it's bumps (some larger than others).   I am in a much better place, physically and emotionally, than when I started this journey 6 months ago.  I sincerely know that I  would not have made it this far without all of you.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

8 Liters of Fluid!

Yesterday, I went in for Paracentesis procedure.  This is where they take out the fluid that is building up in your stomach.  Since, about 2 weeks ago, my stomach had been slowly getting bigger again - most likely due to the chemo, vomiting and diarrhea that I had over a month spread where I wasn't getting enough nutrition.  

When I was in the hospital for diarrhea, they did the same procedure and took out about 2 Liters.  This time they took out 8 Liters (~ 2 Gallons) of fluid!  That's about 17 lbs. of weight!  I feel so much better now!  My stomach went down from looking like I'm 9 months pregnant and about to pop, to 6 months pregnant.

Very thankful for modern medicine!  I'm so much more comfortable!