Monthly Medical Report

As we navigate our way through a constant stream of medical appointments and the task of remembering to take meds/injections we are buoyed by the generosity of our peeps. All manner of gifts keep coming our way, from handmade, soft toques and shawls, gorgeous floral bouquets, awesome meals (as invited guests and prepared meals which keep our freezer filled) to the completely unexpected, stunning quilt below ...   

The quilt made and gifted by Margaret Froese, February 9th

Susan delivered the quilt gift and spent a couple of hours with me while I was in The Chair

Almost three months out of surgery the desire to paint struck. The painting calling me was the dragon I'd started last March outside of Victoria's Mountain Equipment Co-op. In the 2.5 hours I spent standing on the cold pavement all I accomplished was a complex drawing of only the dragon using a brush and burnt umber oil. 

I took my supplies to the Art Room at Linderman Law and settled in for a short, Saturday afternoon at the easel. That same evening we attended a most enjoyable and very stimulating dinner party. The following day I returned to the studio where I painted for too long. Come Monday I was completely spent. I required a two hour nap in the morning and another hour long one in the afternoon. Clearly, right now, my ambition is not aligned with my physical capacity. This is very humbling.

February 11th in the Art Room at Linderman Law

We've brought my paints home where I may or may not paint. I'm concerned I won't have the common sense to paint for only short periods of time, but mostly the urge has left. 

 

By Canada Post, my order of medicinal marijuana arrived February 14th

Following the 420 Clinic's recipe, I added the 15 grams of dried marijuana to three cups of heated sunflower oil and cooked it, on low in our slow cooker, for one hour. The house smelled as if there was a wild party in progress. When the oil had cooled I strained it through cheesecloth and filled these sealer jars ... 

Those with white contents have been frozen. The oil keeps in the refrigerator for sixty days  

The 420 Clinic advised that I orally take, 1ml three times a day. After a week, without pain relief, I called my trusted provider. The fellow I spoke with asked about my preparation and was surprised at how much oil I'd used. The ratio of their prepared oils is 10 parts oil to 1 part marijuana. Problem is their oils are heavy in THC (psychoactive) with only a trace of CBC (the anti-inflammatory component). I was advised to slowly increase the dosage of the batch I'd made. At the time of this post I am swallowing a lot of sunflower oil daily, 5ml three times a day and still I have no pain relief. Through the 420 clinic I'm making application to a different provider that has prepared oils with a higher percentage of CBD. I may add some THC to the mix. We can discuss this with the prescribing doctor at my March 7th appointment.

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Mid month my entire perineum caught fire. I couldn't discern whether I had a bladder or a vaginal yeast infection. I wound up at our local ER the evening of the 16th. My urine sample was analyzed on the spot but the vaginal swab had to be sent away. I definitely had a bladder infection and was prescribed Fosfomycin, a packet of crystals added to water, intended to be a one shot fix. Still in pain the following evening, and convinced I had a vaginal infection as well, I went back to the ER where I was given 150 mg of Fluconazole for a yeast infection. It was an uncomfortable, long weekend. Tuesday, I made a third trip to the ER. The vaginal swab was back. No yeast infection. Another urine sample established the bladder infection was still raging. This time I was prescribed a seven day round of antibiotics which have cleared it up.

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A chemo side effect is dry skin, and then these disgusting lesions erupted on my legs. They start as small, red, itchy spots with a hard lump beneath them. Then, the lump and itch disappear and they get bigger. I'm treating them with hydrocortisone cream and I'm seeing some improvement.

Still sporting some leg hair

All vanity aside here.  March 3rd, I still have some hair, (and it appears to be growing) eyebrows and eyelashes 

February 23rd marked the halfway point in my chemo treatments. As of March 2nd I have ten down and eight more to go. I continue to have no nausea and food tastes as it should so I eat - lots. On February 27th, at my follow-up appointment at genealogy/oncology, I learned that I've gained a pound. Also my blood work is holding its own and thanks to the Neupogen injections my white blood cell count is high. Home Care nurses have administered sixteen of the forty of these prescribed injections (I still daily inject the Tinzaparin blood thinner myself). Unfortunately, a side effect of Neupogen is that it promotes bone, muscle and joint pain. Exactly what I don't need. My left hip pains so much that I can't walk much at all. Outdoors, I use a cane and in the house as well when gripping the furniture and the walls isn't enough support. 

On February 28th, at the Lethbridge Bone and Joint Clinic, a wonderful retired orthopaedic surgeon assessed me. Upon viewing my recent x-ray he told me what I already know, that I'm down to no cartilage in my left hip. I'm a candidate for a replacement, but first we must finish chemo, and then, I wish to have the colostomy reversed which means another surgery. With pain relief, of some sort, hopefully I can hold off having the hip replacement until January 2018. The hip pain is sometimes so wretched there are nights I cry myself to sleep. It's so much easier to be cheery and upbeat when I have respite from the pain.

Bill is helping in every way he can. I could never do this without him. It's taking as big a toll on him as it is on me. Please keep those prayers and good vibes coming and we promise to keep our spirits elevated. Heartfelt thanks to all of you.