Family Updates

I just wanted to post a bit of an update. No, I did not drop off the face of the earth.  I have not been feeling real good lately, so I just did not have the energy to post much. Besides that, my new laptop, which I got in January (after Kenzie stepped on my old one) died on me. I tried everything I could to get it running and finally had to call HP for tech support. They ended up sending me a recovery file on a USB drive, which did not help. After more tech support, I had to send my laptop in for warranty repair. It was gone about two weeks, so I fell behind on lots of stuff, as I can’t do everything I need to from my tablet and smartphone. Brian fixed my old laptop as a temporary fix until the new one came back. (He got the hard drive working again, and replaced the broken screen.) Thankfully I am back up and running on both laptops now, so I don’t need to lug the backpack up and down from the 3rd floor to the 1st.

Honestly, though, I have been so ill that not only am I overcome by dizzy spells, but I have been falling, as well. My family had a real scare about two weeks ago, when I fell right in from Kenzie, and she started screaming for Brian to come help me. I don’t seem to be getting any better. Because of the headaches and dizzy spells and falling, my primary doctor sent me for a brain MRI, and referred me to a neurologist. The brain MRI was clear. The neurologist sent me for a lumbar puncture (aka spinal tap) at the hospital last Thursday, in the surgical ward. Her intent was to not only check for MS, but also to see if the spinal fluid shows any early evidence of spreading of my ovarian cancer to my spine or head. I am waiting on the results of that, shortly, I hope.

I saw the rheumatologist, as well, to narrow down what is wrong with me lately. The pain doctor and PCP suspect Sjögren’s Syndrome. So I went for the first round of blood work. The autoimmune test came out positive. Although the Sjögren’s test was negative, the specialist said about 40% of Sjögren’s patients have a negative blood test. I am being sent for new blood work to test for other autoimmune diseases like Lupus. And to double check on Sjögren’s Syndrome, I am getting a lip biopsy, as well. (On a side note, Sierra will be seeing this doctor, as well, to monitor her Fibromyalgia.)

The gyn/onc visit went okay, for the most part. The nurse practitioner is sending me for more blood work, and is also waiting for the result of the lumbar puncture. These waiting games are always nerve wracking.

I know a bunch of you are specifically looking for news on Pop Pop (Dale). As I mentioned previously, his surgery went well. He spent a lot longer than normal in the hospital recovering. Then, he ended up having to go to a nursing home for rehab before he could go home. He got out of the rehab a short while ago, and now is seen by a visiting nurse at home.

A side story: while getting testing done when he was still in the hospital, they lost his dentures! After a whole mess of confusion, the hospital agreed to pay for a new replacement set.

There was a bit of miscommunication between the surgeon and the new oncologist he needs to see for his lung cancer. The surgeon said that he would follow up with the oncologist, but would not need chemo or radiation. That was not the case. (This miscommunication seems to be popular. When I had my first surgery, I was told that I would not need any more surgeries or any chemo. When I was referred to an oncologist, however, I did need more surgery, 3 weeks later, and started chemo immediately after I was released from the hospital.) He was advised to go though chemo once he met with the oncologist. They told him his cancer was stage 2A. (They originally thought it was stage 1.) He will need 4 rounds of chemo, spaced 3 weeks apart. Ultimately, it is left up to him whether he wants to get it done or not. But as anyone who has been through a cancer journey knows, you do what you need to do to stay alive, to buy you more time.

I will update when I can!