9/25/2012

Well, it's been a rough few days. Starting Saturday I was hit with some pretty bad nausea, none of the medication seemed to help. Sunday I was still feeling awful and got some new meds, but that didn't work and things just got worse. On Monday it was not good and I was given another medication to try, but that didn't work. I basically spent the past four days in bed. Today, my dad came to Morris and brought me to the clinic in Ottawa. There they gave me I.V. fluids, steroids, and medication. I started to feel much better. After the I.V. we drove down to Peoria to see Dr. Thomas. He adjusted the medication and has me coming into the Peoria clinic tomorrow for more I.V. fluids and meds. He doesn't seem too worried and thinks we'll be able to get things adjusted. I always appreciate his calming demeanor. So hopefully I'll be feeling good soon and the next treatment won't be quite so bad. I definitely feel better and am able to drink and eat a a little bit. Maybe it's good that the first time was so tough, because it will make the next five treatments seem like a walk in the park. ;)

I also saw Dr. Jones today and the incisions are looking good and slowing healing. Of course, I get to see him again next week. I have been there every week since surgery and at this point it would just be weird not to see him, ha, but I am really grateful that he is attentive and cautious.

I want to give a shout out to Tony because he has been super amazing as always, taking care of the kids and me and the house and everything! I am so lucky.

I also want to just let everyone know how much I love all of the prayers, the thoughts, the kindness, the cards,  the comments, the meals, and the support. We are soooooo thankful.

9/15/2012

I met with Dr. Thomas yesterday. We have decided to start chemo on Wednesday 9/18. My incisions are looking good, but we just want to give them a few more days to completely heal. My port looks good and I haven't had any problems with it, it's just a little sore. Dr. Thomas sent my pathology from the surgery to another lab for testing because there was a discrepancy in the hormone receptor status. Originally I was hormone receptor negative, then after the surgery the pathology indicated I was hormone receptor positive. After sending the sample to another lab, that does more extensive testing, the results were hormone receptor negative. This means for me that I will not have to take Tamoxifen for 5 years as part of my treatment. I am still definitely HR2 positive and will need to have Herceptin for a year.

I have an appointment with Dr. Jones on Tuesday to follow up on the incisions.

My entourage (Tony, my mom, and my sis) and I will all be heading to Ottawa on Wednesday morning to start chemo. :)  I am feeling ready to begin this next phase. I am hoping and praying that the next four months of treatment go smoothly and go quickly!

Thank you so much for all the prayers and kindness. I am so grateful to have such an amazing support system. Please keep the positive thoughts and prayers coming! Thank you!

9/11/2012

The port surgery went well. I had a great nurse who got my IV started with no problems, which was a huge relief! I was so thankful. Tony and I went back to Morris today. I am pretty tired and a little sore, but so happy we were able to do this today. I will see Dr. Thomas on Friday and hopefully be able to begin chemo then or very soon after. Big thank you to all of the love, support, prayers, and kindness from everyone!

9/11/12

We met with Dr. Jones (the plastic surgeon) earlier this morning to check to see if there was sufficient healing of the incisions.  Thankfully this was the case and he gave the go ahead with Colleen's scheduled port surgery today.  The procedure lasted about 30 minutes with no complication.  Dr. Paulsen (the general surgeon who performed the surgery) said everything went well.  The IV was completed on the first attempt and Colleen was very, very grateful for such a talented nurse.  We are just about to go see Colleen and will let you know how she is feeling.

9/7/2012

Just a quick update....I saw Dr. Jones on this Tuesday. The incisions seem to be healing, but we are going to wait another week before I can move forward with the port surgery. I will see him this coming Tuesday in the morning and hopefully everything will be good to go and I will have surgery at 11:30 am on the same day. I also have an appointment with Dr. Thomas on next Friday and may be able to start chemo. Until then we are just taking things one step at a time and staying positive. Thank you so much for all of the kindness and support!