I'm Taking A New Blood Thinning Medication

Good news..... Last week, I had another Doppler to check and see if my blood clots have dissolved. The results are mostly positive, as the larger clot in my subclavian vein seems to be gone. I have good blood flow in my arm and the swelling is gone!

There is, however, still a small clot in my jugular vein (in my neck). I had an appointment with my Oncologist yesterday, and he said I will still need to be on some sort of blood thinning medication for awhile. The Tamoxifen I am taking has a slight risk of causing blood clots, so there is a very good chance the clot will get worse if I don't take a blood thinner.

Xarelto

Instead of giving myself shots of Arixtra every day, we are trying a newer medication called XARELTO. It is a small pill, taken once a day, and I do not need to get regular blood work like those who take Coumadin/Warfarin. I am happy about that.

Another Doppler is not scheduled until two months from now; and I will see my doctor again one week after that.

Aside from the clot, my blood pressure was back down to normal yesterday, and I continue to improve with my energy level. The pain in my joints also seems to be improving, as well as the numbness in my fingers.

I am beginning to feel more like "myself" again.

God is good.

BOOK REVIEW: Plastic Donuts by Jeff Anderson

Plastic Donuts is a small book with a big topic - the topic of financially giving to the Lord. In the book, the author shares some questions many of us have had regarding giving, such as:

• What is the right amount to give?
• Does the tithe still apply to today?
• Is the first 10% required and everything else is a free will offering?
• What should be our motivation for giving?
• Does it even matter what we give as long as we have good hearts?

There has been plenty of debate about these questions, but the author shares how the instructions in the Bible focus more on the heart of the matter rather than following a specific set of rules. He gives a different perspective on giving, and has good insight into what makes our gifts acceptable to the Lord.

The author uses an illustration of the pleasure his little girl showed when she gave him a plastic donut and he took it at "ate" it. There are numerous times when I have played with little plastic donuts as a result of my children's pretend restaurant or kitchen. So, I understand what the author is saying. I recall the delight on my children's faces when they served the food to me and I would pretend to eat it. This type of pleasure seen in our children should be the same as when we give our gifts to the Lord. If we are genuinely pleased to give to Him, then He is genuinely pleased with our gift. This, in turn, brings us closer to the Lord in our relationship with Him.

It is a book worth picking up. To learn more, head over to www.acceptablegift.org

NOTE: I received this book free of charge from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.

EL's 2nd MRI

Three weeks ago, I mentioned my daughter's MRI results, and said she would be going back for a 2nd MRI to get a closer look at two spots. (Note: In order to give her a "name" and make things easier as I write, she will be known as EL instead of just "my daughter"). The 2nd MRI was on August 9th. Things went well, overall, although EL woke up a lot grumpier this time than she did after the first one.

One week later (which was this past Friday), we finally received a call from the doctor regarding the results. This is what we currently know:

1.  The spot in the Pineal gland looks to be a fluid-filled cyst. It may or may not be causing any problems. Many people have cysts like this for years and don't ever know about it unless they have an MRI done for some unrelated reason.

2.  The Pituitary gland is enlarged, but they still do not know the cause of the enlargement.

3.  The good news is that both of these spots have not increased in size since the first MRI was done, so they are not growing (at least not very fast).

4.  The next step is to have her seen by two different specialists. One will be a Neurosurgeon, for an evaluation and opinion of the spots. The other is with an Endocrinologist who will check her hormone levels. If her hormone levels are high, that could be the cause for the Pituitary enlargement. If they are normal, then something else is the cause.

The appointments for these specialists have not been made yet, but we are going to try and get them made for the same day to save on time and travel. 

One thing "nice" about traveling to St. Louis for EL's appointments (we've had 3 so far), is that we have been able to spend some extra time with my parents. It has worked out for them to watch our son, JJ, with each trip we've made. I am grateful to them for their help and support.

As always, God is good.

Update on My Health - Prayers Are Working!

Today's doctor visit went well. The doc was running an hour and a half behind schedule, so the waiting was long, but we are used to that. He often runs behind, due to the way he takes time with his patients, including us. So, we just accept the fact that we will probably have to wait. Its the "price" for having a good doctor.

UPDATES:
1.  The swelling in my arm is almost gone, which is a good sign the blood clot has dissolved or is almost dissolved. However, the doc wants me to continue with the Arixtra shots (a blood thinner) a little while longer, just to be "safe." In two weeks, I'll have another Doppler done to check the status of the clot. Then, I will see the doc again one week after that to discuss the results.

2.  My blood pressure was high today. It was also high 2 weeks ago when I was seeing the doc. Not sure what is causing that, but we will keep an eye on it.

3.  I have been having a lot of pain and stiffness in my joints for the past few weeks. The doc said it could still be a side effect of the chemo, or it could be a deficiency in Vitamin D. They drew blood on me to check my levels for that, and I will know the results in a couple of days.

4.  I am doing good on the Tamoxifen. I'm thankful for no major side effects so far.

5.  My hair has been growing back! Right now, it is very soft and seems to be a bit darker than it was previously, but we shall see what its like as it continues to grow.

Over all, I seem to be making progress with my health. I'm so glad for that. Thanks again for all the prayers. God is faithful.

Psalm 119:89-90 - Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations.

BOOK REVIEW: Unexpected Love by Julie Coleman

Unexpected Love, by Julie Coleman, is a book for women about the conversations Jesus had with 9 different women in the Gospels of the Bible (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John).

• Mary (Jesus’ mother), at the wedding in Cana
• A woman who was chronically hemorrhaging
• A sinful woman
• A woman with a demon-possessed daughter
• An adulterous woman
• Martha (the sister of Lazarus)
• A Samaritan woman
• Salome (mother of James and John)
• Mary Magdalene, at the empty tomb

This book is unique because it uses a combination of Scripture and "artistic license" by the author as she writes in the form of a novel and fills in possible details. This could be considered controversial by some, as it seems the author is adding to the words of Scripture. However, if you read the written scenarios with the idea that they are only possibilities of what might have happened, it doesn’t pose a huge problem. The author brings great ideas and insight into what each of the women might have experienced as they spoke with Jesus. She, then, digs deeper by asking/answering questions and explaining the historical atmosphere. She also follows up with how to apply Jesus’ conversations to today’s women; then, sums it all up with some "food for thought."

I found the book to be very interesting and, for women seeking a closer relationship with the Lord, I would recommend using this book as a Bible study tool.

Chapter guides and other free resources are available at:
www.unexpectedlove.org

~~~~~~~~

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Updates on My Blood Clot and My Daughter's MRI

I recently read our newest church newsletter and, as always, browsed over the list of many people needing prayer. I saw my name listed, and also my daughter's name listed, and it was a bitter-sweet moment for me.

It was "bitter" because I was reminded of what we are being prayed for - my recovery from chemo, the blood clot I developed post surgery, and the cause of my daughter's seizures. I am ready for these situations to be completely resolved, but that hasn't happened yet.

Then, it was "sweet" because I was reminded of how blessed we are to have so many people praying for us.

Here is an update on the BLOOD CLOT, I posted about a couple of weeks ago: 

Last Wednesday, I saw the doctor again, and the swelling in my arm is going down. This is a good sign that the clot is dissolving. He is having me continue with the Arixtra shots (blood thinner), and I will see him again on August 7th for another checkup.

He also decided to start me on the Tamoxifen. Even though there is a slight risk of blood clots with this medication, he said I should be fine since I am on the blood thinner. So, my Tamoxifen journey has begun; and, so far, all is well with that. If things continue to go well, I will be taking it for the next 10 years to reduce the chances of any cancer recurrence.

Here's an update on my daughter's situation:

Her MRI results showed two masses - one in her pituitary gland, and one in her pineal gland. She has another MRI scheduled for August 9th to look at these masses more closely. It is very common for cysts to be found in these glands, so we are trying not to think the worst. But, quite honestly, these findings do concern us.

I will try to keep you updated as things unfold. Thankyou, again, for your prayer support. Please continue as you think about our family, because I KNOW they are helping get us through these uncertain times.

No matter what, God is good ALL the time.

Preparing A Child for an MRI

In a PREVIOUS POST, I mentioned my daughter had a sleep-deprived EEG done, due to some new onset seizures. The EEG showed epileptiform discharges, which basically means she has some form of epilepsy. She was put on medication (Keppra) to keep the seizures under control, and was also scheduled for an MRI.

My blogging friend, Sylvia, also has a teen daughter with epilepsy and autism. She has been dealing with yearly MRI's for the majority of her daughter's life, so I asked her what to expect and if she had any advice for us. You can check out her response on her blog: 

LIVING AND LEARNING WITH OUR NEW NORMAL

While my daughter's situation is a bit different than Sylvia's daughter, I did glean some helpful advice from someone who has gone before us. (Thankyou, Sylvia!)

This past Tuesday was the day of the MRI. She did really well with it all, and we are now waiting for the results.  Here are some of the things we did to give us a more pleasant experience, some of which were already mentioned on Sylvia's blog: 

• My husband and I went together and shared in the care of our daughter, as well as kept each other company.
• We made sure we arrived in plenty of time, so we didn't feel rushed and more stressed out.
• We asked my parents to watch our son, so we could keep our focus specifically on the needs of our daughter during this time.
• We prepared our daughter ahead of time with explanations of what she could expect.   
• We prayed and had our family and friends praying.
• I bought lots of Jell-O and clear fruit juices ahead of time to keep her tummy somewhat satisfied, since she wasn't allowed to eat anything for 8 hours prior to the test. (This was because she needed to be sedated in order to keep her completely still during the test.)
• We distracted her prior to the test with a favorite movie.
• We allowed her to bring a favorite toy for comfort. (The toy of choice this day was a stuffed Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.)
• Before they inserted an IV into her hand, we allowed them to give her nasal Versed, a medication that was sprayed into her nose in order to relieve anxiety. She did not like the spray up her nose, and had a few tears, but it was very brief. They also used a numbing spray on her hand, Pain Ease, before inserting the needle.
• We were there with her before they took her to the MRI room, and were there with her when she woke up.
• We stayed calm and reassuring, which always helps to keep her calm as well.
• As soon as we were done with the testing, we left the hospital and headed back to a more comfortable environment.

Maybe this will be a help to someone else who is preparing for their young child's or special needs child's first time MRI. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Good News and Bad News

It has been 3 weeks since my final chemo treatment, and I went back to see my Oncologist today (Wednesday, July 10th) for a checkup. I have good news and bad news...

The good news is that all of my bloodwork is now within the normal range. They are all on the low end of normal, but it is encouraging to see they are going back up and I am no longer considered to be anemic. I do still have weakness in my legs, my muscles are stiff and sore, and my hands are still experiencing the effects of neuropathy. These are all from the chemo, and I will continue to improve in these areas as time goes by.

The bad news is that I have a blood clot near my left collar bone. The fancy word for it is subclavian DVT (deep vein thrombosis). When I saw the doctor for my checkup, we showed him how swollen my arm still is after the removal of my port last Friday. He felt it was a good idea to send me over to the hospital for a Doppler, just to make sure there wasn't a blood clot causing the swelling. I was pretty sure that was not the case, and was very surprised when the tech said I did indeed have one. We are not sure how long it has been there, and the results still need to be examined more closely. We are guessing it has been there for several weeks, due to how swollen my arm has been since my arm port was installed 8 weeks ago.

The hospital sent me back to my Oncologist. We had to wait to be fitted in, since we were not scheduled to be seen again. When he finally saw us, he said we will have to hold off on me taking TAMOXIFEN for awhile, until this blood clot issue is resolved. (If you need a reminder about why I need to take Tamoxifen, go to CANCER JOURNEY #25.) The reason for the delay is because Tamoxifen also has a slight risk of causing blood clots and could make my current one worse. So, instead of taking this medication, I am now taking ARIXTRA, which is a blood thinning medication I need to inject into my stomach once per day. I will be seeing the doc again two weeks from today and we will decide if I should continue with Arixtra and/or start taking Coumadin/Warfarin.

This was not something we were expecting, and I'm not thrilled about it; but I am thankful the blood clot was found and that it has not caused a need for hospitalization. Things could have been much worse. Prayers are appreciated that the clot will dissolve quickly, that the swelling will go down in my arm, and that no other complications will arise.

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

In the midst of difficult times (most recently, my cancer journey), several have commented on the way I continue to smile. Does this mean I am happy about the difficulties I have encountered? No... most definitely not. If I had a choice, I would not have chosen to go through the trials I have faced. I don't think ANYONE wants to go through difficult times (unless they are self-martyrs, which I am not.) So, why do I still smile? For one, its just because its a part of who I am. I have always tried to find the good in life, no matter what I am going through. So, does that mean I never get discouraged? Again, the answer is No. But, my smile, which comes from deep within my spirit, is an outward expression of the JOY I have because of my trust in the Lord.

So, what exactly is JOY, then?

I have a book by Elisa Morgan called "Naked Fruit," which is about "getting honest about the fruit of the spirit." (Note: This is not a book review I am doing here, but just wanted to share some thoughts.) In this book, the author takes time to talk about the different types of fruits found in Galatians 5:22-23, one of which is JOY.  

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

In the chapter about JOY, Morgan first explains that joy is NOT the same as happiness. HAPPINESS is circumstantial and is something we experience when life is going the way we want it to go. It is "a good feeling based on good circumstances."

JOY is more than happiness. Morgan explains, "Joy is something deep that celebrates God's character despite the circumstances." It is not just an emotion, but also a quality of life.

There are so many times in our lives when things don't go as planned, or according to our desires. We don't have to be happy about them, but we can still experience joy. Why? Because "Joy is the conviction that God is in control of every detail of our lives even when those details appear to be out of control."

True JOY in our lives is having confidence in God - knowing that no matter what happens, there is a reason for it, and we can always rest confidently in the care of His loving hands.

The joy of the Lord is MY strength... And, that is something I will always smile about.

Click to enjoy this song by Twila Paris: 

THE JOY OF THE LORD

 

The Joy of the Lord will by my strength.

I will not falter, I will not faint.

He is my Shepherd, I am not afraid.

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord will be my strength

He will uphold me all of my days.

I am surrounded by mercy and grace.

And the joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord will be my strength

I will not waver, walking by faith.

He will be strong to deliver me safe.

And the joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: Pray The Scriptures

Author Kevin Johnson is the creator of the "Pray the Scriptures Bible." His new book, "Pray the Scriptures - A 40 Day Prayer Experience," is the next step to that Bible, although you don't need to have the Bible in order to read/use the book.  According to the introduction, the book helps to "build your own habit of praying Scriptures by leading you to respond to forty daily Bible readings."

Each "day" has an opening thought, a passage of Scripture broken up with prompts to use in learning to pray the Scriptures back to God, and questions to answer for reflection.

MY THOUGHTS:
(1)  This book wasn't one that sparked a huge interest in me, but maybe it would have been better if I were doing it in a group setting rather than on my own. While it CAN be used on your own, doing it with others may help give the accountability needed to truly reflect on each passage.

(2)  The author uses several different versions/translations of the Bible throughout the book. While I'm not a one-version-only type of person, there are some versions I do not recommend for study purposes (i.e. The Message) because they actually take away from or add to the original meaning of the Scriptures. I suggest using and comparing your preferred Bible translation (NIV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, etc) with what is written in the book.

(3)  This is not a book meant to just sit down and read. It is interactive and requires some thought from you. This is good, as it helps bring out more meaning of the Scriptures, and it can help you work through issues such as forgiveness, trials, loneliness, the love of God, contentment, service, etc.

NOTE: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers, and I have expressed my own opinions.