Lizz’s Cancer Journey.

09/10/2022

I haven’t wrote in here in awhile. I just have been trying to keep busy to keep the creeping bad thoughts away. I was approved for a extended long term disability. My first day back at work will be October 3. My blood work is slowly improving I still go every week until it normalizes. I’ve been taking small walks with my two dogs around the neighborhood which has been getting alittle easier as the weeks go. I’ve been staying inside because my white blood count has been critical and I’ve been afraid to get sick so I’ve been doing many hobbies to keep my spirits up.
Thank you for everyone who has prayed for me and my family.

08/18/2022

The doctors want me to continue blood work every week and keep an eye on white blood count. So no additional medications right now. The wait and see approach. Just nervous my date to return to work is September 1 and with students coming back from vacation for fall semester and my immune system still compromised while we do this wait and see I’m a bit nervous. So I’m trying to work with disability, work and my doctors to give me 2-3 more weeks so my labs improve. I know it will always be something but I’ve been out of work since 5/6 when hysterectomy was aborted. They used all of my paid time off for family medical leave so when I return I have no days to fall back on so I want to make sure I return as well as I can.

08/16/2022

White blood count did come up .2 since Thursday so waiting to see if the doctors want to put me on medication to help it come up or if it will be a wait and see approach. Just stinks. I’d love to get out of the house for a beach day trip or something but even outside with the crowds I can’t. I’ll just have to make up for it next year and get through this now. Just starting to feel really isolated. But looking at the positives I’m isolated at home and not at a hospital. Could always be worse.

08/12/2022

Update from my last post. The gyn oncology office called me sometimes my phone goes right to voicemail so I didn’t get to talk to them but they want me to repeat my blood work on Monday and if the WBC is still low they will put me on medication to try to bring it up. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 I just started weening off the nausea medications. I hope this comes up so I don’t have to take anything.

08/12/2022

The doctors say it takes 3-4 weeks after treatment for blood work to start leveling out. Doesn’t make me less scared. especially after being at the cancer center everyday for the last two months, it’s the last place I want to go back to let alone any doctor right now. I just want to be normal and enjoy the summer like everyone else. But instead I’m isolating myself because I’m afraid to get sick and my body not be able to fight it.

08/11/2022

Slowly starting to gain some energy back, somedays better then others. Just having some side effects like stomachaches, headaches, diarrhea and some nausea still but I was told all that is to be expected. I go for blood work today and hopefully the numbers are better then last week. I was worried when I saw all the alerts and things low last week but was told it’s to be expected. I just thought it was odd the bloodwork was worse now then it was during treatment. Mostly the Platelets and WBC had extremely low and alerts. Just means my blood isn’t clotting as well and I can get sick easier so I have to be a little more careful. I’ve just been trying to keep myself busy that’s why I haven’t posted much. It’s hard to wait to see if the treatment worked and I try my best not to think about it or be negative about it. I mostly had a good appetite during treatment, I gained weight instead of losing but now I can’t finish what’s on my plate 80% of the time. My stomach starts to hurt so bad I end up passing my plate to Alex for him to finish. Just trying to find a new normal for now.

08/03/2022

08/02/2022

Tomorrow is my last day of external radiation. It’s crazy to think I won’t have doctors appointments everyday of the week. I’m trying to get long term disability through my work just for a month or two so I can regain some strength before going back. Still waiting for the approval. As of right now I’m suppose to go back August 15 but I don’t feel ready. I’ve been mostly immobile because of the fatigue and weakness from treatment and I still take Zofran and Compazine every 4 hours for nausea. So hopefully everything goes through. Was talking to my oncologist through patient portal yesterday and was told in 3 months I will more then likely have a scan. So I won’t know if treatment worked until that scan and I’m going to have to stay positive and keep my mind busy these next 3 months.

07/29/2022

Thank GOD it’s Friday! I have 3 days left of treatment after today. I’m not sure when scans will be or if the treatment worked yet but I’m so happy that soon the daily doctor visits will be over and I can try to have some kind of normalcy back.
I’ve been getting into rock tumbling and wire wrapping as a hobby and it’s been helping my mind stay busy. So I thank you everyone that has helped me and has cheered me on with that. Feels like I finally chose a hobby that will stick and I hope when I have the inventory And put the necklaces out people will like them 🙂

Just going to add some of my favorites 🙂

****I just want to make a note that I’m not selling anything or trying to sell anyone anything. Eventually I do want to ship necklaces out and it be strictly a donation based only kind of thing that I can recycle back into materials to keep me busy. Thank you 💚💚

07/26/2022

My last chemo is complete! All I have is 6 external radiations left. Since my chemo was done the chemo staff wanted me to ring the bell but I said at the start of this journey I can’t ring the bell until Riley and MiMi ring the bell.
The staff gave me a keychain though before I left.

07/26/2022

Phew!!! My last chemo today. I almost didn’t get it because I have a uti. With Cisplatin already being rough on kidneys they were deciding whether to push back chemo or not. They said because I don’t have temperature they will do chemo.
Just thankful I’m getting it over with. I was a tough stick this morning took 4 tries but we finally got it.
Had external radiation before this and I have a feeling I will be napping soon. Long days but we’re getting there.
My magnesium is low again so I will need a added magnesium drip to treatment again. Which stinks if anyone has had magnesium pushed into veins it’s a really achy feeling. I end up rubbing my arm for two hours because of the aches.
Almost done such a relief to know it’s all almost done.
My treatment continues to work 3-6 months after it’s over. So I pray cancer goes and stays gone.

07/25/2022

Todays my last Brachytherapy!! Thank god. They have been rough so I’m happy to be at this finish line with this part of treatment.
The anesthesiologist used local/numbing shot on hand before placing iv. It was wonderful I didn’t even feel the iv go in afterwards. I’m shocked they don’t do that all the time.
Waiting for them to finish planning treatment with the Ct scan they took and then I’ll go back into the room.

Just want to thank everyone for praying. It means a lot. Most of the people that follow me don’t know me personally and I just appreciate all of the support and love you have shown to me over the last couple months.

07/22/2022

A very good friend of mine Kaitlyn made a meal train link because I’ve been having extreme fatigue and I found myself going to can soups or junk that is easy but I probably shouldnt be eatting those things especially not now when my body needs vitamins and minerals to fight this cancer.

Thank you so much for everyone who’s been by my side fighting this with me. I don’t know where I would be without my small but mighty support group. Love you all.

07/22/2022

Thank god it’s Friday!!!
Last day of treatment after this long week! And alittle break before another long week. But it’s almost over. I keep telling myself it’s almost over.
We are working on getting me long term disability just for a little bit after treatment so I can rebuild strength back before going back to work full time. I haven’t been able to walk longer then ten minutes without getting sick and fatigue. So I’m hoping that will be approved shortly. Just a lot of deconditioning from treatment.
I’m hanging in this morning. Today is doctor day too which is good because after brachytherapy yesterday (internal radiation) I’ve been afraid to urinate because of how bad it hurts/burns. Maybe they will order a urine just incase since I already need blood work later for chemo Tuesday.

07/21/2022

I’m having a hard time sleeping so I figured I would update on how I’m doing this week.
I knew it was going to be a rough week going in with having internal radiation, external radiation and chemo but it’s been a little rougher then I thought.
I’ve been submerging myself into a new hobby to try to stay as positive and upbeat as I can and when I get good at it I’d love to share it with you and the rest of the world. I started a little mission page and when I have stuff to show I will share.

In a few hours I go in the for third internal radiation. I have to do four of them total so right now I’m halfway there and after today just one more left thank god and they are pretty brutual. But I’m getting through them.

This week I’ve felt the most fatigue and weakness overall. I have had a hard time even taking my dogs for a walk around the corner because I start dry heeving and feeling overall not well. It’s been hard to come to terms with as well with the other side effects. But I keep telling myself it’s just a hiccup in my journey and soon this part will be over.

Just want to share some positive things at the end of this post on leave it on a nice note. Last week we found a cardinal has made a nest in the butterfly bush outside of my home. Two eggs have hatched since and it’s been so beautiful to watch them grow and thrive.

07/19/2022

Alittle anxious today. Yesterday when I was in the hospital for internal radiation the nurses were unable to get a iv in me. They had to get the anesthesiologist to start the iv line. So I’m hoping they can get it today with minimum digging for it.
External radiation was done at 8am so I’m just hanging out until 9am for chemo.
My throats is still really sore and inflamed from the anesthesia yesterday.
It’s going to be a long week.

Update: one stick thank god she said the veins are deep though harder to get. Was told I’ll have a magnesium drip to my pre meds before chemo because it’s really low.

07/18/2022

At my second brachytherapy. The nurse prepping me is really good. She gave me a lavender patch with essential oil to put on my gown and put a patch on my back with a little cushion because I will have to lay flat for a long period of time. She already faxed the order for pain management to the pharmacy to make sure everything is ready when it is needed.

Hoping for a better treatment today. I just need to get through them.

If your ever at the hospital definitely ask if they have essential oil aroma patches they are really nice and calming.