Home Again from the Hospital

    Today is one beautiful day and I am healing from the issues that brought me into the hospital.  I might add right here, that going to the ER on the weekend is NOT a good idea, at least the local city hospital.  We (Ruthie and I)  were in a "bay" overnight in the ER waiting to see if I would be admitted for extreme pain and low grade fevers until early Sunday morning when I was finally "admitted" but into the "Observation" section of the hospital.   I had extremely good care there and then later on was "wheeled" up to the oncology floor.   I was actually put into the same large, spacious room I had before and recognized "my" very caring nursing staff and even my wonderful hospitalist, Dr. Sedighi:)  I have been given such good care and they even brought in the Infectious Disease doctor who happens to have been born in Bogota, Colombia.   She is thorough and very nice.  
    My painful side where the tube is inserted is no longer painful.  I assume that it was aggravated by certain muscles being used which ordinarily would not bother but because it is a "foreign" object in my liver down to my pancreas.   There was no unusual bacterial infection found in the bile sample.  I had one CT scan and 2 chest Xrays while there.   My blood work was fine except for a little anemia, and my liver enzymes are all very good!  The tumor is growing some!
      I was given Meropenin, a broad span antibiotic through my port,  to make sure any infection that was around would be "zapped"😉   It worked.         
     My fevers went away and my pain subsided.  I still have a very small pain where the tube is inserted but nothing to cause the extreme discomfort I had last week.  
     I think the only "exercise" I can do at  this point without dislodging that area is walking which I hope to do now that the weather is getting warmer.  I did walk around the corridor of the hospital floor several times a day as I was feeling better.
     It is such a good feeling becoming "well" after you have been "sick", even in these little "gifts" from God.  
     The one activity  that I will miss will be my swimming, but God's plans are His purpose.  My dressing still has to be changed and cleaned every couple days and covered with plastic when I want to shower.  So no swimming which would probably aggravate the tube too😞
      So, today is Saturday, March 30, 2019.  I am back home.  I do have to be careful with my own physical activity which could pull on the muscles if I am not careful.
         AGain, I am very grateful to  all the family, friends, and hospital personel who take care of me in every way with meals, transportation, comfort, support, prayers and love. 

Thoughts and Updates

"Habakkuk’s transformation—from the anguished “how long” of 1:2-4 to the confidence, joy, and awe of 3:16-19—illustrates the biblical principle that honest wrestling with God is rewarded by deeper transformation. Like Job, through honestly bringing his pain and anger before God, Habakkuk was transformed, not so much by easily understandable explanations, but by encountering face-to-face the overwhelming goodness, power, and beauty of God (vv. 3-15)."   Monica Brands

    With that said, quoted from one of my devotional booklets, I have tried to focus the same soul searching to my own situation, and what I see around me.
    Going through pain, thinking about dying, watching others go through so called tragedies around me, like my brother-in-law's 35 year old son being suddenly taken because of a heart condition with no real warning to his siblings or father...it is tempting to look back, wonder, try to understand why people have to suffer through their pain of cancer or their loved ones'.
      And then, I look at my own friends in Venezuela now who are trusting God for their daily survival.   Would we, here in the USA, be able to go through anything like what they face daily?   Crime, fires, stealing, scarce and lack of medicine, food, water, electricity....when my friend Marta has a chance to Face time me, I cannot believe the constant daily battles they face.  They trust God completely for their survival.   I was told last night that they cannot even cross the border into Colombia anymore on a bridge because there is a new group of mafia type people, taken out of the prisons, who were given guns who are now patrolling the border to keep the VE army from letting anyone through....because the President cannot even trust his own army anymore!!  What???   Talk about "hell"....  my friends used to be able to at least cross over to Colombia by foot, buy some needed food supplies and return on foot.   I cannot even imagine all they must go through.  
         As to my cancer journey, I have rocky roads sometimes to maneuver, with putting in the tube which redirects the bile into my intestines and keeps things going "normally" through the digestive process.  That is quite remarkable I think but it was painful!  
         My blood work was fine Monday with the enzymes (bilirubin) at good low normal levels.  My tumor marker has gone down from 2192 to 1812.  Quite high but maybe going down?  For 3 days now I have not felt the usual side effects from the pills I am taking like I did.   A few days ago I had diarrhea, nausea, the usual "chemo funk", etc.   But the last few days have been a blessing....no side effects to speak of.   
          Today (March 21) Sebastian is nine years old.  How time flies!  Monday (March 25) Nicholas will be 16 years old!   
          That is the update for today!

New Grandchild

     Today our granddaughter, Tatum Rose Hermosa, is almost a day old.  I haven't met her in person yet but know I will in the very near future.  Her birthday happens to coincide with Ruthie's, our daughter, who was also born March 13!
      In our family, our 3  granddaughters are born on the same dates of 3 of our adult family members.

      Sarah, born April 13 is the same as Joe, Kathy's husband!

      Ellington, born Oct. 17 is the same as Bill, Ruthie's husband!

      Tatum, born March 13, is the same as Ruthie!

       As to other cancer updates, my healing from the tube stuck through my liver is coming a long.  I had the bag removed so the bile goes out inside my body and seems to be doing what it is supposed to do.  Miracles inside our bodies with modern medicine:)
In 3 months I have to have the tube removed but not sure what happens then(?)  I will find out though before hand😉
       I have Home Health coming to the house from Centra and that helps a lot.  My nurse will change the bandages or Ruthie, depending on who can in the appropriate time.
        Now to the chemo pill, Lynparza.  I did a very careless thing over the last few weeks.   I started up again on the chemo pill but was only taking one twice a day instead of the 2 twice a day that was ordered.  I realized it a few days ago, called the oncology center and reported my mistake.  So, I started taking the recommended dose 2 days ago.  The only side effects that I feel are some achiness about 45 minutes after I take the pills.  So far so good.   I really want to try to tolerate it since so many folks, including my oncologist really think it will work.  I believe it when I see it is always my attitude.  So far what I have tried  was recommended and has kept my life going. Thanks to my oncologist, Dr. Kathleen Paul, thanks to my support group which includes many friends and relatives, and mainly thanks be to God for directing all in my path.  Our neighbors the Woods and Carolyn Ashwell who have provided store runs and appointment transportation when our kids and sister cannot.
        So extremely grateful for keeping my husband as my companion at home who supports, loves, encourages and is here.  I guess we are here for both of us💗

Update post hospital...

So, it is Friday, March 8, 2019, and I have been in pain in my side since I got home now taking Tramadol.  I no longer can take Tylenol because of the liver issue, so we are into Tramadol which works fine.
I have been very weak and have been blessed to have my family rally around as well as our very caring neighbors who have offered rides to doc's appointments and supermarket runs.
I also have Home Health through Centra who are getting to know my situation.  Both AGustin and I have Home Health through different organizations and he is very happy with the help they can give him.
Wednesday, March 7,  Ruthie took me back to the radiology department at the hospital where they cut off the outside tube and bag of my biliary duct tube.  During the five days I had the bag hanging from the tube, I collected and measured the bile. I then disposed of it in the toilet.  On Wednesday, the NP connected a small "faucet" that is closed off.  The idea I think is that the bile will run  inside and bypass the plugged up duct where the tumor is interfering.  Then we will all hope and pray that this new chemo pill will start to do its work right away and shrink the tumor so the bile can pass through the duct naturally again.
Our bodies certainly are miraculous creations.
Meanwhile, my nurse came to see me yesterday from Home Health and I really like her.  We are checking now to see how much help they can give me at home vs going out to a doctor or hospital.  She is really nice and informative.   I like her a lot.
Today a PT will come and see how we can get me stronger.
Our lives are full of changes on a daily basis.  In everything, with prayer and supplication, we must make our requests known to God and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep our minds through our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.   That is the promise!  It is quite challenging to our finite bodies and minds to direct our faith and hope in these days when life presents pain, suffering and loss.  But,  I believe it is our only hope....the only way is with God's help and our trust in what was done for us individually on the Cross.

The Next Phase, a hospital stay!

     Today (Monday) marks one week since I went into the hospital with jaundice and terrible itching.  The bilirubin enzyme in my liver had risen to 11 and are supposed to be under one or zero(?)
I was weak, itching all over and had lots of tests to determine what was going on and how it could be "fixed".   
     My family was rallying around, we had just gotten Home Health through Centra and we were into the next phase of cancer challenges.
      AFter many tests, it was decided that I needed to get the bile out and that would give me some relief.  The cancer journey is such a learning experience.  Modern medicine is amazing and I think that all this learning helps, at least with choosing the right options and going the best direction.
     After the ERCP which is an MRI type test, it was found I had an obstruction in my pancreas.  The tumor was blocking the duct and causing backup of bile which causes the yellow and itching in the skin.  
      So, the docs involved were either the surgeon who felt that he couldn't really see all of the obstruction from the MRI, but the doctor who does Radiology Intervention (?) felt he probably could put a tube through my rib cage and run it through my liver past the tumor to drain the bile out into a bag which I now have attached.  I empty the bag when it gets full.   I am unsure what will happen on Wednesday when I go back to the RI doc's office for the nurse to do something.  Actually I don't know what they will do but I do know it is not invasive.   STay tuned on the next procedure.  
         Just a note on the procedure I had last Thursday.  I laid flat on a table underneath Xray machines and a giant TV screen.   The doc then poked a needle into my rib cage and strung a tube down through my abdomen.  And guess what?   I don't think any Versed was used because I was completely aware of the pain, etc.  Not sure why that was happening.   I was told I would have pain medicine and Versed like in colonoscopies or when they put in the port(?)
          Meanwhile, I came home Saturday  , very tired, happy to be home but rather homebound at the moment.  My kids have been wonderful in taking turns helping with AGustin's support hose, food, wash, errands plus caring for their own families.
          AT the same time, AGustin is also having Home Health come to help take care of his needs since I cannot help.
Unfortunately, medicare only pays for medical needs in the Home Health area.   So, when it is time to cook or clean up, neither of us can do it if it is lifting.   AGustin has a shoulder MRI on Thursday.
       So, I look at our lives and see we are suddenly OLD!!!😆   It happened so fast.   
        I have probably forgotten most of what happened the last week, but I do know and have learned a few things from this experience.
        I have learned God surrounds us with people, places, and opportunities to be thankful.  When we are thankful and go with what is happening to us, He gets us through.  
         When I was in a place I wasn't sure I would get through, God got me through one more time.   I realize that "getting" through is only temporary, but there is relief at the end and that is what we look for.  Relief from pain is what I am talking about.
        I don't want to suffer and I don't  look forward to suffering.  But, thanking God for each little blessing a long the way gets us through and gives us a reward.
        I am back on the new chemo pill called Lynparza, and depending on how it works will determine if I will go on hospice sooner rather than later.   AS long as I am on this pill, I cannot go into hospice.   But, if I don't react well to this pill and it does not shrink the tumor, I guess hospice is the next step.   And God will be with me through that step too!