Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Making some progress on antique rug and

the mat for Jimmie Dean's little chair that sits at the front door so he can see out!

First, here's the antique adaptation.  It measures 19" by 42" and there's really not that much more to do.  Just sit down and Do It!!!May 18 rug pics 001

I think this shot depicts the colors the best.

May 18 rug pics 005

Very muted from my usual color palette.   (That's why I think I totally lost interest in it right in the middle of the rug.  When we hooked at JoLynn's a couple of weekends ago, it was my intention to get all the red diamonds hooked around the border.  That made it seem like there's not so much more!  Just fill in some lines now~~~LOL.

And this little mat for J.D. has been what I've been doing while I lost interest in the big star rug!  He sits on this little chair every day and watches the children walking to and from school.  I think he likes his little mat!May 18 rug pics 007

Had some not so good health news over the weekend.  I spent all of Saturday night in the ER.  I had seen my MD two weeks earlier for what I thought was asthma.  He gave me an inhaler and it did nothing.  So my radiation oncologist said her husband is a pulmonary specialist and sent me to his office that very minute!  He gave another inhaler, which also didn't help.  That was last Wednesday.  Well, by Saturday afternoon I Could Not Breathe and told Mick to take me to the Urgent Care Clinic.  They did tests that showed a suspected pulmonary embolism (from the surgery)  He said go to the ER immediately!  Your husband can drive you~I don't think you need an ambulance!  Scared the shit out of me!!!  Got to the ER and thank God I was expedited and didn't have to sit in the waiting room with sick babies that don't have health insurance~~~totally another story,  don't get me started on that.  But that's just not right for a mother to have to go there to get treatment for her sick child...

The ER physician comes in and checks the EKG and chest x-rays from the place I had just come from and suggested "congestive heart failure" especially since my breathing was almost impossible when I tried to lay down.  He explained that the left side of my heart showed damage and inflammation~~~ probably from the chemotherapy!!!!

He called my oncologist who said it Was Not from chemo, it was from radiation.  The ER doc was ready to admit me and start running all the heart tests and hook me up with a cardiologist.  Looking back, I wish that's what had happened.

He did, in the hospital start an IV with Lasix and Prednisone to try to get rid of some of the fluid on my lungs.  Then prescribed Prednisone for eight days.  I dread that.  Last time I took it I gained 20 pounds overnight and it took over a year to get it off.  Guess that's the least of my troubles right now though.

Yesterday I saw both oncologists/ the regular one and the radiation one.  Boy are they protective of their special fields of medicine!!!  Again the radiation doctor said it wasn't possible to have any heart damage from only 10 treatments (which makes since to me) but the regular oncologist keeps saying the chemo I took doesn't cause heart problems.  WRONG..... Now I should have known better than this because before I could have the chemo I had to have a MUGA(sp) test to make sure my heart could handle these drugs.  (This is what Tammy does all day in her job in nuclear medicine).  Of course me being me, I came home and read every thing I could find out about the drugs I received.

1. Adriamycin: side effects:  COMMON:

Damage to the heart with the symptoms of:

swelling of the hands and ankles 

shortness of breath

difficulty breathing

2. Cytoxan: side effects: Rare

Damage to the heart muscle.  Symptoms include difficulty breathing, swelling of the legs and feet and tiring easily.

I was supposed to have a radiation treatment today, but just can't do it right now.  Although the RA Dr. PROMISED ME this wasn't the problem.  Yesterday she said, "do you want this cancer to come back?  Then march down that hall and get your treatment!"  Which I DID!!!  But I just couldn't do it today.  How are you gonna know what's the right thing to do?  I will always question myself now.  what if.....what if...

Good news~~~This Thursday at 4:00 p.m. I am scheduled for an ECHO cardiogram.  This will answer all the questions about my heart.  Even congestive heart failure can be treated with medicine and the breast cancer is gone! Please send out some positive vibes my way!  I truly believe in  Prayer and Positive Thinking.  And I promise to keep you guys informed.

Peace and love,

Sheri

 

16 comments:

Unknown said...

I love Jimmy Deans rug, so clever of you.
You know I will be praying.

weaverpat said...

You will be in my thoughts and prayers!!!
It's awful that the medication that can take away the cancer has such detrimental side effects on other organs. You are wise for doing the research and keeping informed. It certainly helps to know what questions to ask!
Sending healing vibes your way!!!

Alice ~ Folk Art Primitives said...

You got it!! You know I am praying hard for you that they get on top of this and treat you and let you live your life in peace!! You have so many online friends who are on your side and I know you have lots of 'in person' friends who are right there who will uplift you and cheer you on! Just bask in the glory of all the prayer and positive thought that is coming your way ~ and in the meantime, hook as much as you can! I love J.D.'s little rug ~ how cute!

Rugs and Pugs said...

Sheri ~
Sending lot of prayers and positive vibes your way.
Love the rugs ~ JD's is too cute!
Hugs :)
Lauren

Tammy Burks said...

Sheri,
You know I'm thinking about you. Will talk to you on Thursday. love, Love, LOVE Jimmie Dean's rug...he looks so cute looking at it!

Joanne said...

Sheri - so sorry you are going thru this after getting over the other! Oh my! Sending you good wishes and positive thoughts!

Love that photo of Jd and his rug - oh it's adorable ! Now come on finish up that other rug!

Orange Sink said...

Dear Sheri,
I think this is all too common in the medical field now with all these different drugs. What are the choices but to allow these Dr's to use them and deal with the after effects later. You are so smart in keeping informed and asking questions. The key is doing what you are doing and staying positive. I am so glad I've "met" you through our blogs. You are an inspiration and a very strong woman! I am continuing sending healing and positive energies along with all the dear bloggers and hookers! Adorable little rug for adorable little Jimmie Dean! Warm hugs! Cathy G

Kim said...

Its so hard to read a post like this. We trust the medical professionals to "fix" us, yet so often the cure creates another issue. I'm so sorry you have had to deal with another bump in the road. Prayers are continuing for you.
Kim xoxoxo

Jacqueline said...

my prayers are coming your way.

best of luck and try to stay positive.

Jasminmoon said...

Love and Hugs Sweetheart, hang in there, yes, it is the chemo drugs, namely the Red Devil that has caused this ( I now am a proud owner of a defective heart valve that will need to be replaced)...and that is WHY they do the MUGA's....for petes sake....people wonder why I'm leaving nursing....THIS IS WHY!!!!!

Sending love and good energy!

Ter'e said...

Ditto on what Alice said. My prayers are so quiet and simple.......like talking to my old friend............

Oh Sheri, you are never out of my thoughts and prayers. I was just thinking of you early this a.m. and wondering how you were doing in your yard and how much your hair had grown back. Little did I know, or feel, that anything was going wrong.

You have so many people praying for and PULLING FOR you!!!!! Sending huge GOOD VIBES your way.

The rugs are precious.............I'm so thankful you feel like doing a little hooking! Love ya Lots!

Plumruncreek ♥ said...

Love your little rug. I hope you feel better!!

ShabbySheep said...

Thanks again, for all your well wishes. As of right now, 11:00 am Wed., I'm going to do the radiation treatments today at 2:00. Today yes, tomorrow ???
And Mindy (Jasminmoon)I don't know your email addy. Write me please!
Sheri

dulcy said...

Hi Sweetie......... wow........ I had no idea all this was going on! All I can say is, I'll call you tomorrow and maybe you'll know more. I'm so sorry you're having to go through all this just when you thought you were on the uphill climb... We'll chat tomorrow if you're up to it. Love little Jimmie Dean's rug!

xoxo
dulcy

Taos Sunflower said...

Sheri: Sorry to hear you've had all these problems...I hope you get better news next time you see the doctor and this is all just a bump in the road. XX Martie
PS Love both mats for JD. Lucky guy!

SweetAnnee said...

Love your rug.

The cancer news ..ick. I was thinking you were fine.

Let me know what you find out. I can't believe you went through all that ..and now you have these problems