Well this is day 4 after the 1st chemo treatment. It is a mixed bag. The chemo has not bothered me too much at all, HOWEVER the NEULASTA shot is kicking me pretty hard. That is the "morning after" shot that rebuilds white blood cells. Apparently, because Im in pain, it is working. LOL What it does is juice the bone marrow, which in return causes pain.
I dont think Ive complained too much in these blogs about pain, or really much of anything, but I will say this, bone, joint, and muscle pain all at the same time, on a 10 scale of 7-8 does hurt. THANKFULLY I do have some pain meds. The drawback? Pain meds put me to sleep. Imagine if you will a really bad cough medicine head! LOL
HOWEVER, compared to what others have gone thru, or are going thru, Im guessing this is pretty tame. I have confidence that God is still with me, and besides a little pain, (even a lot in my mind), is tame. I still have all my arms, legs, fingers, toes. I still am able to walk and talk, though a bit slower than last week at this time. LOL
I had the opportunity while getting the chemo treatment to meet a couple of other people, and one of them keeps having to come in for treatment because her disease keeps jumping around. Another was finishing up her treatment. I was right, people stuck in the same situation, in an enclosed space, do tend to talk and there really is not much that is taboo. :) I wont go into some of the subjects here, but I found out more about some cancers than I really wanted to know. :) Im still hopeful that one of these days that Im in there, there will be an opportunity to share about the God that I know that can heal.
I did decide to beat the chemicals to the punch, and I had my hair buzzed off. Probably looks a bit better than having clumps falling out. The interesting part will be when I will possibly lose my eye brows and maybe eye lashes. (This is according to the oncology nurse). Whats really freaky, I "may" lose my 'stache! Ive had this mustache since I was 18, so that has been a year or 2. :)
If anyone is still wondering if I still have the faith I had a week ago, or a month ago now, the answer is a resounding YES! It would be pointless to lose it because my bones hurt! My goodness, we are just getting started in this process, and I have about 2 1/2 - 3 months to go. Man I need all the faith I can muster. THIS will NOT get me down. YES I might have a day or 2 here and there that will drag me down a bit, but I will guarantee you that because I have a real good friend in God, that I will be bouncing back. I still believe everything that the Bible says, and it says that Jesus died for not only our sins, but for our HEALING, and Im claiming those promises. Im firmly believing that the chemo and eventually the radiation, will damage ONLY the bad cells and leave for the most part the good cells. I can tell that the 1st treatment seems to be shrinking the lymph nodes in my neck. Cant really tell about anything else, but the nodes, I can see and feel. God is totally faithful, and HIS timing is what it is all about.
So just a thought about what is coming up. Tuesday I have to get labs drawn, I trusting that those will be positive as well. The following Tuesday, I have labs again AND a Dr appt, then the following Tuesday round 2 of the chemo. They are promising that the 2nd round will not take as long. That would be good, Im really hoping that by then perhaps my body will have gotten used to the Neulasta and does not disagree with it so much.
I had a friend of mine tell me about one of her friends husbands who was just diagnosed with something similar to me. If you would, pray for him as well, his name is Tom. As always, I totally appreciate the prayers that come my way, but I like to spread them out to others that need them as much as I do. Keep the comments coming, I love reading them, and love knowing that perhaps what Im going thru is helping someone out there in some way.
Stories about life in general, politics, where I have been, where Im going, what I like to do.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteMike,
Reading your blog does so much to me, it truly ministers to me in so many ways as I have said before. I love your sense of humor had had "your hair buzzed off:" and your comments about your mustache, I have not doubt that you will be able to talk to people the God that heals. I will pray for Tom. Mike there in no way that your open and honest transparency about what you are going through, feeling and sharing with us will help someone, I am one of them for sure. Keeping you continually covered in prayer always. All you have to do is read what Our Jesus did for us to be healed the indescribable intense pain he took for each and every one of us to be healed it brings me to my knees to even wrap my head around and to know that He would have done it just for me! WOW! Thank you Jesus....we love you and we trust you for Mike's complete healing Thank you, Thank you...you are a wonderful living testimony for Jesus Mike, we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our Testimony....You are doing that with each and every word you write. Standing with you all the way. Debbie
Mike, We pray for total restoration in your body. I don't know if you had a chance to watch Keith Moore on The Believers Voice of Victory the last few weeks, but some of the episodes were concentrated specifically on the devil's "c" word. Keith had some powerful words of how to specifically speak over the attack and if you did not see any of it, or cannot watch it online, I would be honored to order the DVD for you.
ReplyDeleteWe are standing with my husband Jeff's brother, David Woodside, who is also fighting a battle identical to yours. Just when he had been given the clear sign from his oncologist additional symptoms started. He had originally went into the hospital last fall with severe leg pain and difficulty breathing which led to a diagnosis of a blood clot, complicated with pneumonia. Additional tests reveled the dreaded tumor on one lung, then the other, and finally lesions on the brain. The oncologist termed it Stage 4. With an aggressive attack of chemo, radiation, and fervent prayer, David's tumor shrunk to near anonymity, the lesions on the brain nearly vanished, and his overall health improved with each day.
Then the enemy had to give it one more sucker punch and out of the blue Dave started having debillitating headaches. He underwent a myleogram earlier this week and it was discovered the cancer was now all in his spine. He had surgery last night. We are standing with him that the devil just gave it his last shot and lost! He is the defeated foe with Dave and with you! When the pain becomes more than you feel you can endure, speak out that you are being healed and the pain is ceasing. Don't succumb to the tricks he plays on your body. Our Jesus did not go thru all that pain and suffering for us just to have the devil continue to play his games on our bodies.
We continue to pray and hold fast to the promises that you are healed in Jesus' name! Jeff and Diana Woodside