Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Phase II: Round 3 and 4 Balls Out!
Phase II (Taxol Herceptin) Round 3 and Round 4
Round 3 went pretty well overall. I tested out the driving myself plan, and it went off very well. My good friend Cindy came by and brought me an awesome Greek Lunch and provided an hour or so of entertainment which helped the 7 hours of doing nothing move along.
The doctor said the breast exam was "almost" normal. In that there would always be some scar tissue there. (That is if the breast were still going to be there). I am officially in menapause, and i can feel my ovaries squeeling in pain as they are being chemically slaughtered. As it turns out, there are also multiple forms of mucousitis, which i will leave to the imagination. Feeling slightly less "giddy" this week. Likely due to lower blood counts along with Holiday "let down" and Cedar pollen "UP" (record high for 7 years). Not to mention, it's actually been rainy and cold this week which i normally like but have found more of a challenge during menapause and without hair. I had the chance to exercise 5x this week, but unfortunately ended up opting out of the day 5 due to severe antihistimine hang over. ""Oh well", "i'll go easy on me this time". I did get to ride bikes for about 2 hours on Saturday, and did make it for my 6 mile run goal this morning, along with a couple of other easy days, so i figure that is still pretty good.
My beloved Bandera trail race was held this past weekend. Looked like it was a beautiful day. The top 4 men 100K runners broke the course record, with the winner breaking last year's new record by one hour, so it must have been. Looks like the fast kids are starting to go trail, Gilbert Tuhabonye ;). The women's 100K winner is from Austin and her toddler son's name is Asa. I, of course, immediately thought, my son's name is Ace (which is a bit more awesome and to the point), and that it could be me winning that race. Well the two topics may not be exactly relative, and may not even be applicible, but one can dream. I was reading the trail running blogs of the race sent by my friend Chuck, and then found myself researching 100 milers that would suit my skill. OK, slow down Howell. Let's get through the next 9 weeks first, surgery, and completion of 50 miler before considering 100 miles will ya! Why does running 100 miles even sound like fun? Even 50 for that matter? Everything is relative. I guess with running, at least for the most part, you have control of what you are doing. Whether you decide to run or walk, finish or not, lose control on the downhills, or step carefully. Those who know me, or who've been followng since the beginning of this email, know that i do struggle with control issues. My sister has reminded me that while i may not have control of what i must deal with, i do still have control of how i choose to deal with things, with which i agree, and am still working on. But, running is still way more fun that sitting in the infusion room with other tired bald people, or sitting in a NICU with babies who may or may not make it in the world, as my newest running partner who's 21 month old beautiful baby girl is still not fully out of the woods with medical issues, would agree. It's freedom. It's nature. And, if you train right (methodically) and run a well planned route, it's good pain. Possibly not unlike the "good" pain of the bones producing more white blood cells, or the the freedom that the ability to wash your head with a damp rag and go, gives you. Even tough things do have their potential to provide opportunity. Like the fact that i've learned more about my father and father's side of the family in the past week, than i have in the past 10 years, the fact that i now am able to have video phone conversations with anyone willing or technologically able via phone or computer, and that i've had the opportunity to catch back up with some great trail running friends and re-kindle multiple old friendships. Actually, tough things provide increased opportunity for growth and improvement in life if one allows them. Yes, I did already know the moral of Lance's book by the second chapter, from prior and current experiences (He'd take the cancer over the Tour de France Wins...really? yes, it's because that IS LIFE) and yes i did feel like i'd already been given enough of this type of opportunity, but, as i said to my Surgeon on visit number one, while hunched over with fever and illness due to strep throat, I want to LIVE!
So, I'm going to go balls out on this downhill, yet attempt to take consideration of each rock I touch, however lightly!
Round 3 went pretty well overall. I tested out the driving myself plan, and it went off very well. My good friend Cindy came by and brought me an awesome Greek Lunch and provided an hour or so of entertainment which helped the 7 hours of doing nothing move along.
The doctor said the breast exam was "almost" normal. In that there would always be some scar tissue there. (That is if the breast were still going to be there). I am officially in menapause, and i can feel my ovaries squeeling in pain as they are being chemically slaughtered. As it turns out, there are also multiple forms of mucousitis, which i will leave to the imagination. Feeling slightly less "giddy" this week. Likely due to lower blood counts along with Holiday "let down" and Cedar pollen "UP" (record high for 7 years). Not to mention, it's actually been rainy and cold this week which i normally like but have found more of a challenge during menapause and without hair. I had the chance to exercise 5x this week, but unfortunately ended up opting out of the day 5 due to severe antihistimine hang over. ""Oh well", "i'll go easy on me this time". I did get to ride bikes for about 2 hours on Saturday, and did make it for my 6 mile run goal this morning, along with a couple of other easy days, so i figure that is still pretty good.
My beloved Bandera trail race was held this past weekend. Looked like it was a beautiful day. The top 4 men 100K runners broke the course record, with the winner breaking last year's new record by one hour, so it must have been. Looks like the fast kids are starting to go trail, Gilbert Tuhabonye ;). The women's 100K winner is from Austin and her toddler son's name is Asa. I, of course, immediately thought, my son's name is Ace (which is a bit more awesome and to the point), and that it could be me winning that race. Well the two topics may not be exactly relative, and may not even be applicible, but one can dream. I was reading the trail running blogs of the race sent by my friend Chuck, and then found myself researching 100 milers that would suit my skill. OK, slow down Howell. Let's get through the next 9 weeks first, surgery, and completion of 50 miler before considering 100 miles will ya! Why does running 100 miles even sound like fun? Even 50 for that matter? Everything is relative. I guess with running, at least for the most part, you have control of what you are doing. Whether you decide to run or walk, finish or not, lose control on the downhills, or step carefully. Those who know me, or who've been followng since the beginning of this email, know that i do struggle with control issues. My sister has reminded me that while i may not have control of what i must deal with, i do still have control of how i choose to deal with things, with which i agree, and am still working on. But, running is still way more fun that sitting in the infusion room with other tired bald people, or sitting in a NICU with babies who may or may not make it in the world, as my newest running partner who's 21 month old beautiful baby girl is still not fully out of the woods with medical issues, would agree. It's freedom. It's nature. And, if you train right (methodically) and run a well planned route, it's good pain. Possibly not unlike the "good" pain of the bones producing more white blood cells, or the the freedom that the ability to wash your head with a damp rag and go, gives you. Even tough things do have their potential to provide opportunity. Like the fact that i've learned more about my father and father's side of the family in the past week, than i have in the past 10 years, the fact that i now am able to have video phone conversations with anyone willing or technologically able via phone or computer, and that i've had the opportunity to catch back up with some great trail running friends and re-kindle multiple old friendships. Actually, tough things provide increased opportunity for growth and improvement in life if one allows them. Yes, I did already know the moral of Lance's book by the second chapter, from prior and current experiences (He'd take the cancer over the Tour de France Wins...really? yes, it's because that IS LIFE) and yes i did feel like i'd already been given enough of this type of opportunity, but, as i said to my Surgeon on visit number one, while hunched over with fever and illness due to strep throat, I want to LIVE!
So, I'm going to go balls out on this downhill, yet attempt to take consideration of each rock I touch, however lightly!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Phase II (T-H) Round 2 Giddy?
> Phase II: Round 2
>
> Done.
>
> Easy. Even Great.
>
> Best week I’ve had in 3 months. Christmas was good, but this week even better, due to the loss of the bone pain! Yeah! Some mouth pain, but doable.
>
> As i mentioned in the last quick email, my blood counts were great. Kinda funny though, because, when i was at the appointment, when the nurse was about to stick the needle into my port to check the levels, i freaked for just a moment (which i do every time they are about to stick that thing) and said, "if the blood levels are too low, then we'll have stuck this thing for nothing, right?" The nurse replied, "yes", and "we can go thru the arm (which is usually not very painful) in case". She also mentioned.. on the side,,,that every time we access the port it is a risk for infection...great. So we went thru the arm for the first blood draw. Most of the other lab people there are pretty good at that. This girl was pretty good at something else, i'm sure. Anyway, i was so excited about the huge rise in the blood counts, and a few other things, that i didn't even notice the bruise until yesterday. The eventual stick into the port was not too bad, and despite the unexpected 1 hour wait to start the chemo, everything went pretty smoothly. It was nice having Lisa there for entertainment and emotional support, for sure. They gave me only 1/2 the amout of benadryl this time, so i was still a semi? functional human. Able to walk myself to the bathroom, etc.
>
> One of the "other" things included the fact that i felt so good even on the day of the chemo, after 2 naps, that i was able to go out that evening from 6:30 to 8:30 to see Richie's new band Downtube Shifter play their first official gig! It was awesome.
>
> Done.
>
> Easy. Even Great.
>
> Best week I’ve had in 3 months. Christmas was good, but this week even better, due to the loss of the bone pain! Yeah! Some mouth pain, but doable.
>
> As i mentioned in the last quick email, my blood counts were great. Kinda funny though, because, when i was at the appointment, when the nurse was about to stick the needle into my port to check the levels, i freaked for just a moment (which i do every time they are about to stick that thing) and said, "if the blood levels are too low, then we'll have stuck this thing for nothing, right?" The nurse replied, "yes", and "we can go thru the arm (which is usually not very painful) in case". She also mentioned.. on the side,,,that every time we access the port it is a risk for infection...great. So we went thru the arm for the first blood draw. Most of the other lab people there are pretty good at that. This girl was pretty good at something else, i'm sure. Anyway, i was so excited about the huge rise in the blood counts, and a few other things, that i didn't even notice the bruise until yesterday. The eventual stick into the port was not too bad, and despite the unexpected 1 hour wait to start the chemo, everything went pretty smoothly. It was nice having Lisa there for entertainment and emotional support, for sure. They gave me only 1/2 the amout of benadryl this time, so i was still a semi? functional human. Able to walk myself to the bathroom, etc.
>
> One of the "other" things included the fact that i felt so good even on the day of the chemo, after 2 naps, that i was able to go out that evening from 6:30 to 8:30 to see Richie's new band Downtube Shifter play their first official gig! It was awesome.
The place was packed with people i haven't seen in ages, some i hadn't seen since The Knievels days, and also with people that the other bands had brought. The band rocked, and it was quite exciting and emotional for me to see Richie back at what he does best. Even in the face of all this crap. I often liken Richie to Gristle. So tough, yet nutritious, and even enjoyable to the experienced. Joints...they're what hold things together... like "The Glue" as he is known in some circles. Richie is the person you want along when times get tough, I tell you. The excitement of seeing John and Richie harmonizing again with the excellent additions of our old Rockin' drummer friend Hugh, and new friend Kevin on keys, along with seeing old friends, AND feeling great, was thrilling. Wierd, for me also, in that i did not have a drop to drink and i was probably higher than anyone in the place.
>
> I thought i might be worn out the rest of the week, but not so. As my friend Cindy said to her husband about me, it was like i was almost even "Giddy". I like that description, because it is pretty much how i've felt this week. It is odd. I have even felt well enough to exercise 5 times this week! 1 elliptical, 3 easy jogs and one easy bike ride! Oh yeah, and a few Squish Ups :). Don't worry. i never exercise to the point of feeling worn out. I usually feel just barely tired at the end when i stop. I do a lot of walking during the jogging too. Due to my inherent skepticism, however, i am preparing myself for possible return of the downs. But, i'll take these ups any day!
>
> Round 3 is on Tuesday 1/4/11. I think i'll drive myself this time. :)
>
>
> Emily
> 1/2/11
>
> I thought i might be worn out the rest of the week, but not so. As my friend Cindy said to her husband about me, it was like i was almost even "Giddy". I like that description, because it is pretty much how i've felt this week. It is odd. I have even felt well enough to exercise 5 times this week! 1 elliptical, 3 easy jogs and one easy bike ride! Oh yeah, and a few Squish Ups :). Don't worry. i never exercise to the point of feeling worn out. I usually feel just barely tired at the end when i stop. I do a lot of walking during the jogging too. Due to my inherent skepticism, however, i am preparing myself for possible return of the downs. But, i'll take these ups any day!
>
> Round 3 is on Tuesday 1/4/11. I think i'll drive myself this time. :)
>
>
> Emily
> 1/2/11
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