Tuesday, July 22, 2008

one day left

I have to go to the emergency room again. My blood pressure is too low, and I reported feeling dizzy when I stood up, and the home health nurse called my oncologist's office, which called back only after the nurse triage office closed, so I can't go there, so I have to go to the eff-ing emergency room, maybe just to get rehydrated. Steve is going to come home early to take me there, and the nanny said she can stay late, so thank God that works out.

This round of chemo really kicked me to the curb. I didn't get dressed all weekend. Just too tired and foggy and nauseous. Just lay in bed and read romance novels intermittent with sleep. Today I got dressed around noon. I'm off one of the drugs but have another day on the other. I hear it starts to affect you more with each cycle, which scares me. How much of this can I take?

Addendum, next morning: Thanks for all your good wishes! Everything was fine. They couldn't find any other clues to explain the low blood pressure, and by the time I arrived at the hospital, it was back up to the low side of regular. They took blood and urine samples and fed me a sandwich. I asked them not to put an IV in if I could take fluids orally, to which the doctor agreed. Steve and I got to watch some HGTV, and I went home with instructions to drink lots of fluids. Today I had enough energy to weed and water the garden. Four hours until I'm off the pumps. Yeah!

18 comments:

surly said...

I'm so sorry that this round has knocked you out like it has. I hope you're able to get effective and speedy treatment at the ER today. Hang in there, Emilie. ((hug))

Monkeymama said...

I hope you can get in and out quickly at the ER and that they take good care of you. ER staff have been some of the kindest to us, so I hope you get a good set today.

Do what you have to do to get through this. Until you wrote about it earlier, I assumed that being in bed with PJs on would be not out of the ordinary during treatment.

We're still praying for you here.

LutherLiz said...

I'm thinking about you. hopefully it is just hydration and you are able to get out of the ER quickly. As always let us know if there is anything we can do!

Megan Thomas said...

Emilie,

Sorry that this round has been so tough for you. Our thoughts are with you and we hope that you feel better soon.

Love, Megan, Gordon & Katie

st said...

I've heard that if the chemo really makes you sick, that its really working well. you are a "responder". Those cancer cells are being kicked to the curb 100 times harder than you are. Stay Strong.

Anonymous said...

Dear Emilie, Hello dear. This is the first time I am sending you this little get well note. I read your article in The Catholic Spirit a few months ago and have been following your story ever since.

I am so sorry you are having medical troubles but somehow I wanted to thank you for writing about your life. You are a wonderful writer. You have a gift!

I would like you to know that you are in many people's thoughts and prayers, even those of us you haven't met yet. Take care Emilie.

Anonymous said...

Emilie...
I don't know you, I've just read your articles in the Catholic Spirit, but you've touched me so. We are very like-minded...that being said, I'm praying for you. Throughout the day I send up little tiny prayers for you....

Hang in there...breathe deeply and take it one day at a time.....God Bless you!
Pam

Anonymous said...

Oh, Emi...
Kick that cancer ass!@*)(*#$@^%
LYMI
LizzieBoo

Jo on the go said...

Be strong, Em. I know you feel weaker, but I'm wishing and hoping and praying that this chemo is actually making you stronger. I hate the ER, too.

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear this round is harder. Hang in there, and thank goodness for the resting spells between sessions!

Christina

Rebecca said...

We are all thinking of you. I hope that it helps to know that. Each and every day we are thinking of you.

Unknown said...

"How much more of this I can take?" I know the answer to that is "as much as you have to to get better" because you are so strong, and so determined. You will find the strength, I know you will. I hope this trip to the ER is swift and you will be able to rest and regain some strength after you turn the drugs off. Always thinking of you.

Anonymous said...

I'm hoping that you're back at home and feeling a little better, Emilie.

Thinking about you,

Shannon

kristine said...

OH Emilie. I hope you are back at home. Van put that so well. I think she summed it all up...perfectly!

Wordgirl said...

Just a person out here thinking of you.


Pam

Anonymous said...

Really like what Christina said, which is cherish the rests between chemo.

And what Meg said, about the possibility of your being sick meaning you're responding well.

Hang in there sis.

- Susanne

Anonymous said...

Emilie, we have never met, but you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers every day. You are strong and you will beat this!

Anonymous said...

Em, thanks for the update!

Another thing I want to say is, like you wrote, thank God for Steve's being able to leave work early, and the nanny's being able to stay late.

- Susanne