It's Thursday, again

Oh, let's just go straight to todays treat after getting expanded:

Subs, slaw, and pickle from Bay Cities Deli.  Yum!!

Only a couple of more expansions to go.  Today we got 30ml into the expander.  Yay!!!

Almost full

Another Thursday, another expansion.

The expander is getting close to capacity.  Today's fill put me at 470ml out of 550ml.  It's been a long, slow process.  The closer we get, the more painful the expansions are.  Pushing out the pectoral muscle each week is getting tougher.  My left chest area is very uncomfortable.  There is not a position I can really lie down.  My breathing is labored because the expander is sitting on my lung.  The muscles are twitching more these days.  Pretty much not a lot of fun.  I cannot wait to have this hockey puck out of my body.

Today's treat:

A little something I call "The Art of Pancakes"

Drug Trial Round 2

Today was the second day of the drug trial procedure.  There is a bit of anxiety in the air after last time. Four injections in the thigh, not a day in the park.  So, again Ativan to the rescue.

As per usual, stopped by the vampire to drop off some blood and a urine sample.  Then, a quick check up with the oncologist.  He is still mystified by the roaming rash.  We discussed again when it flares up and where.  Not much he can do on his end, perhaps a short course of steroids in a couple of weeks if needed.  Otherwise have to wait to see the dermatologist. (in March)

Then, it was upstairs to the research nurse.  There we started with my new friend, Lidocaine cream.  This will hopefully numb the areas where the injections will take place.  Keeping fingers crossed.  It takes about an hour for the cream to do its magic.  So we watch lame daytime tv to kill the time.

Lidocaine cream soaking into my leg

Now, the moment of truth... injection time.  South Paw in hand.  Ready.

First injection goes into the top of my thigh.  And, I barely felt it.  Nice.  Number two goes in the side of my thigh, just down from the first.  Felt a little prick, but again hardly felt anything.  Whew.  Two down, two to go.  So far, this is going well.  Number three, your turn.  Three goes below the first one on the top side of my thigh.  Three did not go nicely.  There is some pain this time, I'd say about a 4.5 on the pain scale.  Blah!!  Okay, after a minute or so to recover, it is time for number four.  Grrrr... try to think happy thoughts...  Four goes in the side of the thigh, just down from number three.  Big squeeze on South Paw.  In goes four and not nicely!!  Four is mean and pain flows the entire time.  It gets an 8 on the pain scale.  BLAH!!  Not happy with number four.

But, we are done for today.  On the bright side, two out of four with no pain is better than last time around.  Next time will be better, right?  The nurse said we can let the Lidocaine soak in a little longer before starting injections.  Here's hoping that works.

South Paw Squeeze during injections

South Paw double checking the bandages.

Now, the nurse needs to monitor me for an hour to make sure I don't have any reactions to the drugs.  I'm pretty looped from the Ativan by now so the tv is playing, but I'm not paying attention.  The social worker checks in on me to see if I need anything.  I can barely string a simple thought together.  We chat for awhile, but I don't remember much of the conversation.

After the hour, the nurse checks my vitals and the injection sites.  All good, so I am free to go.  Yay!

Off to get today's treat:

Pastrami Ruben on Rye

Stupid Hives

After a little over a week of the hives starting to subside, yesterday they came back with a vengence.  I have no idea what was different about yesterday, but I broke out all over - arms, shoulders, back of legs.  It started after I had lunch (fish tacos).  Argh!!

Today, I had my weekly expansion appointment.  The doctor obviously noticed the out break of hives, they are very noticable today.  We go ahead and do the expansion.  (Again, I am doped up on Ativan so things go smoothly.)  Then, she asked if I wanted to see my oncologist to see if he could figure out why the hives came back.  I figured since I was there anyway, why not.  The nurse calls over to his office and they set me up.  I walk across the street to his office.

The oncologist and nurses are perplexed by the hives.  We discuss the last couple of days to see if anything different has come up.  I have not changed my soaps, lotions, detergents so I'm thinking it is something that I ate.  I cannot think of anything else that I might have come in contact with.  They suggest some topical ointments to see if that will help.  The drug trial will not allow me to take oral steroids so close to my treatment (next week).  The nurse is going to look into getting me an appointment with an allergist to see if we can get to the bottom of this.  The doctor said that during chemotherapy I was giving high doses of steroids to help with the side effects, so whatever I might be allergic to could go back to when I started treatment.  It is hard to say at this point.  So here's hoping the referral to an allergist comes soon.

Arm hives still going strong this evening.  BLAH!

This week's treat to battle the frustration of hives and another expansion:

Boston Creme Cupcake

Another Smooth Expansion

Today's expansion went well.  Taking Ativan is making the expansion process quite a bit more tolerable.  I'm still getting poked in my breast area (an initial hard pinch) and fluid is being pushed into the expander which then pushes out my pectoral muscle (causing tightness in my chest), but it goes much smoother when muscle relaxers are involved.

Feeling a bit more alive these days, means that days that I get stuck with needles and injected are treat days.  This week's treat, my first trip to the Apple Pan on the westside.

Hickory Burger and Fries

Smooth Expansion

The game plan we set for today's expansion procedure was well played.  A couple of Ativan an hour before I arrived did the trick.  I was very relaxed, a bit loopy perhaps (there was a lot of giggling).  The needle went in with no trouble today.  The doctor filled up the prescribed amount without any problems.  I was out of her office lickety split.  Nice. Very nice.

Then, it was off to breakfast with my driver/friend.  I cannot drive if I take the Ativan (for obvious reasons).  It was nice to have a pal around to enjoy the goofiness of the drug.

Applewood Smoked Bacon Breakfast Panini

Also, it was nice to have an easy, almost painless trip to the doctors.  The tightness from the expansion -  pushing out the pectoral muscles - usually lasts a couple of days and then I'll be back to normal.  Perhaps I'll try a bit of light swimming this weekend.

Lymphedema PT

Back at the Physical Therapist building for the Lymphedema starting to show in my arm.  Their goal is to get me to the point where I can comfortably do my life activities again.  As many of them as possible.

We discussed the activities I was starting up again and when I noticed swelling, how long it stayed.  At this point, doing household chores - washing dishes, laundry, cooking, etc. it begins to swell, mostly in my hand and wrist.  I'm still at a stage one swelling which is good, this means it can be managed and hopefully kept under control.  I told her I started hitting golf balls and was hoping to get in the pool again next week.  Swimming is actually good for lymphedema, the water acts as a natural compression "sleeve" for the body.  We discussed the intensity of my old work outs in the pool and that eventually I would be able to do again, I just have to take it real slow.  REAL SLOW.  She would like me to do arm workouts at 10 minutes on, 7-10 minutes rest, and I can do 3 cycles of this.  I can do as much legs as I want though.  So I have a game plan.  I am happy.  Basically, my lymphedema needs to gradually get used to the arm activities it used to be able to handle.

The therapist measured my arms to determine the amount of swelling compared to my "normal" arm.  She then needs to submit for the next sessions where she will show me how to do compression wraps on my arm for after activities, perhaps even during if needed.

I do need to wear a compression sleeve and gauntlet everyday no matter what activity I do.  I can take it of to sleep (or swim).

All the latest rage in arm wear :)