Oct 31, 2006 ~ Had Zometa Therapy Yesterday

Had my second Zometa therapy for the month.  First time I had it twice in one month.  Remember that is the stuff that paralyzed me the very first time I had the treatment.  Then the Doc had me doing a regiment of heavy doses of pain and inflammation meds for a 24 hour period before the treatment.  That helped. But this is the first time I went through it with no prescribed pain meds. Mentioned in last blog, I stopped taking them.  Just took Celebrex and Advil. I made it through with no real problems.  It knocks me on my ass, by making me very sleepy, so I sleep like a baby.  LaTrisha came over last night to make dinner (poor Skyelar was starving).  I did manage to get up and eat, but shortly after started feeling a little queasy, and exhausted again so I returned to bed.  Got a call from my Honey Bear, and that always makes me feel better. Skyelar had to fend for herself after that. She did her homework, readied herself for bed, and came in to give me a hug and say Good Night and went to bed.  She is such a wonderful child. (sometimes….).

I woke up this morning to get her off to school.  I felt okay.  Hey I could get myself out of bed and walk.  That is always a plus. So for the most part just feel stiff and a little achy.  Joints hurt, especially in my ankles, toes and finger joints.  All manageable.  Best thing is my hip hardly hurts at all.  Again a big PLUS,  It won’t last, but it’s Halloween, so a good day for my hip to not hurt.

I do think something is going on with my blood. Close to anemic, maybe. During my birthday party a few weeks ago, I walked in from the back yard and someone asked me what the hell happened, I had no clue, but my right leg was covered in blood.  My only concern however was that it was running down into my new black boots. Guess the mosquitoes had been biting  me outdoors and from scratching, they started bleeding badly.  It looked like someone had stabbed me with a knife.   Marina cleaned my leg up and put a bandage on it, she was very concerned.  No big deal to me.  But I would guess it was not too attractive looking in my mini skirt and knee high boots.  Anyway after that I started noticing how easy I bleed.  I have two kittens, and they attack and scratch me all the time.  The wounds are taking longer to heal as well. Again not attractive.  lol. Removing dishes from the dishwasher earlier a knife got me underneath my fingernail.  (need I say OUCH!).  I noticed the blood did not seem to be as rich and red as my blood has always been.  (been commended in the past on the quality of my blood-  lol).  It seemed watered down.  I don’t see my oncologist till December 4th.  It might simply have to do with my diet change.  I rarely eat any red meat.  I am going to take some iron supplements and see if that helps, but if it does not change in the next few weeks, I will be calling the doc.   All year I have had a problem with my gums bleeding at random moments.  Blood would just fill my mouth, gross I know.  But you should be me when it happens. Embarrassing.  (It was worse when we were in the mountains, seems the altitude had an effect on it)   My gums pulled away from my lower teeth and my teeth hurt for a period.  My front lower teeth became loose as well.(Reason I had temporarily stopped the Zometa therapy)   My point for mentioning all that now is the gums are back in tact, my teeth don’t hurt and my mouth does not bleed as often as it was.  Very rarely now.  So you would think if I have become anemic the gums would be bleeding more.  right?  Seems to me that would make sense.

My reasons for being so honest and open in detail about what I experience, is simply because I want people to know what this is all about.  What it’s like.  Sharing my journey, my experiences, may help someone else.  As I have said before, I believe everything happens for a reason, and so I believe I have cancer for a reason.  So I can do something positive with it.  Perhaps sharing my story will touch someone else, help some one going through the same thing realize they are not alone, help someone else understand what a friend or family member is going through. 

My biggest wish however is that it will MAKE every woman reading this GET A MAMMOGRAM!!! and take a female friend with you. I don’t want you to go through all this.  For every man reading this, tell your wife, your girlfriend, your female friends the same thing.  Oh and men don’t forget to check your own, you too can get breast cancer.  I have a male friend who in fact had it and beat it!

Today is the last day for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  But don’t let it stop there.  Always be Aware of your body, it can simply save your life.