another harrowing week...made easier....

Thank you to all for your notes, your blog comments, emails, facebook wall comments, phone calls, long drives, flights across the country, your caring and your love that has surrounded me as these new challenges arise.

I met Keith last Thursday morning at MGH at the Radiology Oncology unit. I got mapped and what-not and had the treatment. The next day we met with Dr. Efstathious--let's just call him Jason, and he described the plan and the additions he had added to the consent form. He and Michaelson had gone over the scan again and decided to expand treatment to include some of the chest where there were nodes also. He was very thorough and detailed in his explanation and also went over the potential side effects. I was so glad Keith was there--a phrase I have continued to say over the past 6 days...it has been a joy for me, of course, and he has been such a help. They mapped the area again, which again took about 45 minutes of agony on the table---you can't move a muscle, and my back was again killing me. But anyway, the second treatment was accomplished and we went home. On Friday, at the third treatment, they again did extra pictures---I keep waiting for the quick visit they keep promising....finally happened on Tuesday. After Friday's visit, Keith and I actually did a little Chrismas shopping, had lunch at Panara and headed home. On Sunday, I had an appointment for Reiki, which was very helpful and relaxing, kind a a redirection of energy, massage, etc. Keith had lunch with his Dad during that, and then Keith and I headed over the Brenda's and watched the Patriots game against Seattle...we left before half-time--I was just tired and out of energy and out of breath. We watched a John Adams chronicle that I had taped--it was great. On Monday, treatment (each day at 10:40am, no treatment on the weekends), I had an appointment with the chiropractor, who worked a bit on my sciatic problem. It really seemed to help. MGH has me on oxycontin for the pain in the abdomen/sciatic nerve/back. It has been extremely helpful, as I have been unable to get at all comfortable in bed, enough to get any sleep, so I've been a walking zombie--more than usual...Keith and I met with Kara, the RNP on Monday--she came over from Yawkey to see us. She observed that the node in my neck was bigger, and that I was struggling even more with catching my breath. She added a steroid to the mix, hoping that it would help with the inflammation in my neck. Keith had emailed her on Sunday afternoon regarding my issues, and she emailed him back around midnight, telling him what she was putting in place. By Monday evening, I had arrangements for a visiting nurse (she came today), and oxygen had arrived and I was plugged in by Monday night. She also had the talk with me about life support and DNR issues. This woman is great. Kristeen and Maia arrived on Monday night also. Maia is staying at Kristin and Chris's in RI and gets to have an overnight with her sweet cousin, Addison tonight. They are great little friends and are having a blast together. Today got off to a harrowing start with constipation issues caused by the oxy, and other things. Heather and Keith both went in with me--finally for a short visit....we got stuck in traffic and I was so uncomfortable in the car, I just didn't know what to do with myself, but blessedly in not too long, I was back home, and feeling better.

I'm off to bed now, the eyelids are getting very heavy. It's hard to believe I'm so worn-out, with everyone waiting on me, and me not lifting a finger. Thank God for family and friends...not sure how I would have gotten through this....

More later.....