Progress - Nov. 6, 2008

Monday turned out to be a stellar day all around. Not only was I given the good biopsy report, but a blood pressure medication was eliminated that had a severe interaction with my fungal chemo. Each day since then, I have become more clear headed, stronger, and I've had zero, let me repeat that...ZERO....nausea for 3 days! It feels like a full on miracle. In fact, I'd put it right up there with the lions mouths being closed while Daniel was in the lion's den! For those of you who can't make the leap...I'm Daniel, the lions are the nausea, and God shut their mouths, a.k.a. stopped the nausea. No....the nausea wasn't going to kill me...it just feels like that kind of a miracle to not be green all the time! In fact, food is starting to taste good!!

Another bit of progress, (for those of you who know me well will be relieved at this one), I am learning to address any sign of a reaction immediately. Some of you may be thinking, "Duh!", but that doesn't come so easy for me to do. Usually it means disrupting whatever is going on, no matter where we are, leaving my environment and starting through the medications that I am carrying with me. I am the first one to notice when I begin to react in an environment--well before anyone else can physically tell--yet I have tried to ignore my symptoms just hoping and praying that they would disappear so that I didn't have to disrupt whatever was going on or whoever was with me...coz I feel like a spectacle. But over the last few weeks, I have stopped that nonsense and started sounding the alarm right away. That has avoided full anaphylaxis at least 3-4 times and the use of epinephrine shots. I like that! I also like avoiding my throat closing completely, turning blue and watching the terror on the kids faces. They are beginning to relax a little bit and I can see it in them. It is goooooooooood! So, if you happen to be with me, and I say "we've got to go", I mean NOW. It doesn't matter what we are doing...literally...I just have to get out of that environment and start the protocol of medications in my purse.

Yesterday my sister and brother-in-law stopped by after they had driven down to southern Indiana to celebrate her ?? birthday the day prior. (I'd tell you how old she is, because she looks fabulous, but she'd have my head). We went to Spring Mill State Park, my first outing and also the place where Mike and I got married, and strolled the path along the creek at the village. I was fine until I had to sit from that EXHAUSTING STROLL (errrrr!). There were too many pretty leaves all falling from the trees dropping aspergillus spores around us. I could feel it in my throat. I inconvenienced everyone and we left immediately, taking drugs from my kit (not the fun kind ) and showering ASAP when we got home. The good news is that I was willing to ruin every ones' day at the park and I didn't go into anaphylaxis. There is no bad news. Now isn't that progress?! Oh...the bad news is...one of my kits was missing a restock of medication and my sister was about to take my head off any way...so I guess I should tell you her age since I'm already in trouble....nah.

So, I just wanted to give a praise report. The drug interaction has stopped and that has made a huge difference. My tremors are at least 75% less, so I am easier to look at without feeling sorry for...yea!...my nausea is completely gone, my head is clear, and I'm attempting to take some strolls. I am still in a mask pretty much all the time until we get a good freeze here too, but the spore count is significantly less than in WA. I'm glad I got to share some happy news!! I can tell I am being prayed for. Pleeeeeease don't stop! (Am I just one exclamation mark after another or what?!)