28 Days in the Hospital

I got out of the hospital yesterday 01-24-2011. Yes I was in for 28 days. That's a long time without your own bed!!!  It probably would not have been as long if Dr. X didn't leave me in pain so long and we didn't have to transfer...but it was well worth the the transfer.  I have an appointment with the new doctor at Baylor....and this appt. will decide if I have one more round of chemo or go straight to transplant! I vote go straight to transplant so I can say "I had leukemia"!  My sister informed me I have a "MUD" or matched unknown donor.  Thank you MUD for doing everything you're doing and giving up for me...someone you don't know...bless you and your family always.  I will update after my appt. tomorrow!  Still fighting.

Love to all,
Katie

Baylor

It's Monday morning, gray and overcast, looks like rain...again from my 9th floor hospital suite.  It's really something,  all hardwood floors, bigger rooms, my own refrigerator....Awesome!  Oh yeah,  there is a Chick fil A and a Starbucks, for those of you that like to bring me Starbucks. I believe it's on the basement floor and go straight ahead as soon as you get off the elevators and its on your left. LOL jk hi.  Anyway,  I cannot say enough about this hospital!  Every single person, nurse, doctor, housekeeper, etc...has offered nothing less than the best southern hospitality I've experienced in a long time...in a hospital setting anyway! I guess I forgot that some of the symptoms of chemo come a week or two after having chemo, like the neuropothy in my fingers was finally starting to go away and today I woke up and it's just as bad as before. It has also taken to my upper arms...feels like I got ten tetanus shots in each arm...ouch. And I'm still having pain in my femur and upper leg muscles from the Nulasta shot. They think the vinchristine could be causing this also,  who knows, but who cares?  I'm ALIVE and WELL, and well taken care of!  I cannot thank my Mother enough for all she does, has done and will continue to do for me while I'm sick. Thank you Mom, I love you.  If I had to name everyone that has supported me and cared for me through this, I just know I'd leave someone out by accident, but I love each and every one of you.  I'm so blessed to have two sisters that are nurses and come see me and bring me junk.... i.e. (thank you Kim for the girl scout cookies, and Jenn for the Starbucks and body wash and lotion) yeah they spoil me, yeah I like it! And it's fantastic to have an Aunt Sherry close by for when the others are gone....(if you don't have an Aunt Sherry, you should get one ;) ) Well that's all I have for right now.

Still Fighting,
Katie

Playing Catch Up....surprise lol

Well good morning folks!  I'm going to try and bring everyone up to speed the best I can with out writing a novel. Okay, so we talked about Dr.no good not wanting to give me pain medicine for the NEULASTA. Lets go over a few of the side effects of Neulasta....

Neulasta side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Neulasta: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Neulasta and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• sudden or severe pain in your left upper stomach spreading up to your shoulder;
  
• severe dizziness, skin rash, or flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
  
• rapid breathing or feeling short of breath;
  
• signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, unusual weakness; or
  
• bruising, swelling, pain, redness, or a hard lump where the injection was given.
  

Less serious Neulasta side effects may include:

• bone pain;
  
• pain in your arms or legs; or
  
• bruising, swelling, pain, redness, or a hard lump where the injection was given.
  
  I had:
  1. Pain in both upper shoulders
  2. flushing
  3. fever
  4. chills
  5. sore throat
  6. loss of appetite (big time)
  7. nausea and vomiting
  8. mouth sores (but mine were so far down my esophagus the numbing meds wouldn't reach)
  9. bruising, swelling and a hard lump at site of injection (see photo) ouch!
  10. BONE PAIN
  11. Pain in arms and legs
  
  Whew, but none of that warranted pain medication.  I went 4 days and 3 nights in this condition with no medicine at all, no nurse would come in my room to console me when I lay there crying, praying that the good Lord take me home, then had to reconsider that prayer because I'm fighting for Ryan and Rachel, in fact they came by to shut my door so the other patients couldn't hear me. So I started to pray for strength, and pain relief from God, whom is my ultimate healer, NO DOCTOR, NO NURSE BUT GOD is my ultimate healer and as I lay there as still as I could,  I can guarantee you my pain eased, a little, but it did, and at that point I knew everything was going to be okay somehow someway.  I believe it was that evening Jennifer called me and asked me if I wanted to transfer to Baylor Dallas (and of course I did), so she said she would call me in the morning after working out the details.  Morning came and Jenn called...with Dr. X on the phone who wanted to confirm I no longer wanted to be in his care haha really guy come on!  The very next morning two men with a stretcher came by my room and picked me up and transported me HERE, to Baylor Dallas!  Love Love Love it!  From the moment I was wheeled they've made it seem like I'm the only patient here!  Every single nurse I've met so far has been so wonderful.  My new Dr. who is the doctor that will do my transplant is FABULOUS!  He has me on a great pain regimen and said anything else I may need it's mine!  Comfort is key here! I've had two great nights of sleep, and I need to go explore some more...I hear we have a starbucks and chick fil a....score.  Katie is happy, getting great care...no exceptional care, will I should probably stop writing now as I just had pain medicine lol.
  
  Still Fighting,
  Katie Maldonado
  

Uh oh!

I'm not quite sure why, but I woke up around 12:30 w/ severe pain all over my body.  If I remember correctly they gave me a shot of levoquin in my stomach, but I thought that it was supposed to prevent blood clots.  It was awful, I FINALLY got pain medicine for it. It's 5am now and I still feel like I've been hit by a truck, all muscles hurt, and I have been doing lots of walking laps and laps around the oncology floor but the pain remains.  My Dr.'s response, you don't have any more leukemia in your blood so you shouldn't hurt. Whatever. I wish he could fill my shoes for a day...just one day, not every day like me, then see what "doesn't" hurt so bad!  

Still Fighting, Katie

Visitors!

This evening I had two of the greatest visitors!  I've known Brianna and her Mother since I was in 6th grade!  It was so great to see them "healthy" because they were waiting to come see me until they were well enough.  Brianna didn't miss too many days by my side when I went through my induction chemotherapy,  she's always been there when I've needed her....oh and she brought starbucks. Yum, thanks Bri.  Dee (Brianna's) mother used to take us everywere during our summers out of school...I don't know how she did it being a night time neonatal nurse, only sleeping a few hours then taking us shopping, or where ever really....I'm glad you retired early Dee!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Jim Shore cross that sings Amazing Grace! You guys are truely amazing and your hospitality is one of a kind.   I love you guys.  Still Fighting, 

Katie! 

Not the best day...but I'm entitled!

I feel like such a complainer sometimes, but really this nasty cancer is all I have to talk about because it consumes my everyday life. Every decision I make revolves around it. Yes, I have great days, and yes I have horrible days, but EVERYDAY I have God! Not once have I questioned "why me"...why not me? I believe God uses us in many different ways and what ever his glorious plan for me is I trust with everything I have he knows what he's doing. PS i have overheard some people say they are so tired of hearing about cancer....then close your ears, eyes, and browser and go about your healthy life.....which by the way could be ripped away from you in a day just as mine was. Still fighting- Katie

On another note... My blood sugars have been well into the 200's so I've been getting insulin shots in the belly...also they started my nupogen last night....my legs hurt, but my doctor doesn't feel like I need pain medicine, (um I'm pretty sure pain control is my right as a patient) but as discussed we don't exactly see eye to eye on many issues).  I'll be fine...what 2 more months, I'll have my "new birthday" and wont have to deal with him anymore.  I woke up this morning with severe edema (swelling everywhere)...you can barely see my eyes or knuckles...quite humorous to look in the mirror and see that but I'm sure my lasiks is coming soon haha. My father came to spend the night w me from Austin last night an I woke up to a starbucks....it probably wasn't a good idea to drink but hey, I'm a sucker for the stuff and anyone that would like my drink order, I'd be happy to give it to you! lol still fighting - Katie

I continue to thank each and every one of you for the continued thoughts and prayers and you are all in mine. ! 

In Christ,
Katie