What A WEEK I've Had!

Some weeks seem better to forget.

SUNDAY morning 2 am (Rexburg, Idaho)
      Suffice it to say - there's no place like home when you're sick... and throwing up .. and......

MONDAY morning (home)
YUCKY odor from my lifting/bleeding nails.  Called the doctor.  Of course they had the day off and the on-call gal wasn't very nice.  So I started taking Amoxicillian that I carry with me 24/7 because of my ITP.

TUESDAY morning (work)
Called the oncologist about my nails.  They don't know what to do as it is such a RARE side effect from the Taxotere.  I was told to keep taking the antibiotic and if it got worse to visit my primary physician. 

WEDNESDAY evening (Jenni's)
I start getting very very very achy.  OH NO!  Not the flu, please?!

THURSDAY morning (home)
Still very achy, nails are worse.  I have the start of a sore throat.  My left breast was red and under my arm was painful. Called my plastic surgeon (who was out of town) and spoke with the nurse.  I was told to watch it carefully... (ok).   I went into my primary about my nails.  His diagnosis was... SURPRISE!  Infection plus fungus yuck.  He gave me a prescription for Lamsil.  It's given daily for 6 weeks for fingernails and 3 months for toenails.  I'm taking it for 3 months....... blah.  Dr. Mower (bless his heart) told me that it will cure the problem about 80% of the time.  NOOOOOO  PLEASE do not give me a statistic!!  

Let's review my statistical luck~

Splectomy - 60% will "cure" ITP

     Jeri:  40% not cured

Breast Cancer 1 in 8 women

     Jeri:  the 1

HER2 gene (the most aggressive) not found in 80% of Breast Cancer cases

      Jeri: 20% HER2+++

I should go to Vegas!  Anyway, I'm trying hard NOT to focus that 20% of people will still have yucky nails the rest of their lives after this treatment.  BAH HUMBUG!

FRIDAY (home)

After a lovely lunch with my friends Colette and Rea, I called the plastic surgeon's office again.  Things were worse.  I was told to go the ER.  I whined about going there but the nurse patiently explained the severity of problems this type of infection can cause.  If the infection was too advanced I would have to stay in the hospital for several days - on IV's and have things removed and cleaned out surgically.  Not fun.  Thankfully -  I caught it early and it is treatable outside of the hospital. I was diagnosed with a "surgical wound infection".  I was given an IV (huge bruise - the nurse was terrible) and then sent home with MORE pills to take....two pills four times a day for seven days.  This morning I took 10 pills!  WHO said this isn't fun?!

My lovely hospital gown and IV (around the back) Feb 2013

Jenni's visit to cheer me up after my ER trip

If I feel good on Monday - the doctor wants to see me on Tuesday.  If not, he wants me in his office Monday morning.  

What next Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer??

One thing I have learned over and over throughout this cancer experience is that we each need to listen to our own bodies and then to ourselves.  We know our bodies better than anyone else, including the doctors.  I knew things felt different.  I knew something wasn't quite right.  I always worry about "bothering" someone else.  No more!  Health is too important and things can change in a flash.

SUNDAY (church)
I decided to be totally brave.  I made my first public appearance without wearing a hat or wig, to church.  I've pulled off my hat (as shown above) but have always had it close to quickly put back on my head.  Anyway, I felt it was quite brave of me.  I still don't have a lot of hair.  I still look like a cancer patient and not a woman with a chic hairstyle... but I DID IT!   What do you think??

My public debut - Feb 2013

STRIKE A POSE!