Almost half way done with chemo!

Hello All,
It was day 1 of my third cycle of chemo yesterday. It wasn't as bad as the last day 1. I did get all swollen and uncomfortable but the pain wasn't nearly as horrible. I was dreading it and now I know I can handle it. I guess I knew I could handle it but yesterday made it seem like this will be very do-able.

Last week was a good one. I climbed at the gym twice, tele skied at Bridger on Tuesday and ran twice. Of course they weren't the normal ways I like to do these things but at least I was out there. It made me feel like a human being again. It's nice to know I'll have some good days amidst the not so good ones.

My CA215 levels (the cancer marker levels in my blood for ovarian cancer were down to 13 last week! Well elow the normal range. I am thrilled and know this all is going to work and I will be 100% better when this is all done.

I'm looking for some input. I am trying to come up with a slogan to make the bracelets that our friend Lance made millions off of. You know those little yellow bracelets that we all wear? I want it to be related to me and how I fight and have the courage to battle cancer and how I thrive on life. A friend of mine came up with Katiestrong. I like it but don't want to get sued by anyone for copyright infringements when my foundation (yes, I'm going to start a foundation to help cancer patients/survivors) becomes HUGE! So everybody put your heads together and come up with some catchy fun slogans that will be held close to everyones hearts for many years to come.

I also need to let you know that I can't respond to some of you who have responded to this blog. I don't get your email addresses when you respond. If you could either email me or add your email address to the response. I am so far behind in responding to people its overwhelming. I'm sorry and I'll get there some day. It means so much to me to hear from all of you and to know that I have so much support out there. I am truly blessed to have all of you in my life!

Donna and Carla are coming this Friday to help us out for almost a full week! Donna comes from Webster NY and Carla from Boston. I'm looking forward to having them ere and I think it will be a great mental boost for me. Rebecca and Kurt were for a weekend two weeks ago. We had so much fun! I actually felt pretty good and we really enjoyed their visit!!!

I'll keep updating and I'll do it more frequently. Sorry I've lapsed.

Love to all,
Katie

Chemo Day

Hey,

here is the hairless chick!


Just as I'm beginning to feel like a human again I go for chemo again today. One day at a time. I will be 1/3 finished after today!

Please understand that I do enjoy hearing from all of you and that I'm not calling back is not because I don't want to. This is just kicking my ass. i will be feeling better next week as I have it off. Hopeful to return calls and emails then. After today I'll be sleeping it off for a few days!

Thank you all so much,

Much Love,
Katie

Chemo Sucks

Hello All,
I'm going to attempt writing. My brain is really fuzzy so you'll have to do with incomplete sentences and some typos.

They put in the port and gave me my first Intraperitoneal chemo treatment on Wednesday. It was not a very fun day. They filled my abdomen up so full that I was having trouble breathing (my diaphragm was getting flooded out!) I tried to call the nurse but apparantly my nurse call button did not work. So I kinked my lines after about 20 minutes of them not coming in and it set the alarm off on my IV pump. Then I had to turn on my right and left sides for 15 minutes each for two hours. This was to stew all my internal organs with the chemo.

It hurs so bad to turn. I'm not sure if it was ecause of the surgery or because my muscles were so distended but they had to give me morphine to lessen the pain. I really don't like the side effects of morphine or any of those heavy duty pain meds. I took a couple of darvocets when I got home and am trying to not take any more because the pain has subsided most of the time.

We got home around 9:30 on Wednesday (the day of chemo). I slept all day on Thursday and then Friday I was very uncomfortable and kind if restless so Ididn't sleep at all. Last night was another rough night.

I'm hoping the sore ab part will get better as the tretments go. Maybe my abs will stretch better. Or at least condition themselves!

As much as I'm complaining I am very thankful for the technology of this chemo and feel that this will ged rid of any lingering tiny tumors in my body. I know it will be a difficult ride but am anticipating the end and the enriched life I will lead because of this.

Thank you all for your comments, letters, packages and support. You all are my cheering squad and it really helps to hear from you. I apologize if I'm not responding to each and every one of you. I'll get there. I have a great picture of a "peep show"that Fischer created last night from Janice and Larry (you crazy kids!)! Will post it soon!

Much love,
Katie

Pictures to follow soon. My hair is almost comletely GONE! Sexy!......cold!

Bob, Fischer and I with our Eagles while I was in the hospital.

World's cutest kid!!!!

Hello All,
I get my IP port put in on Wednesday! I'm excited to get on with this and be over with it in June.

My hair is now officially clumping out. I had it shaved down to just barely there and it comes out all over the place. I am wearing my wig, hats and tried a scarf yesterday. I had two very difficult days last week and am now pretty much accepting that the absence of my hair is going to be OK. It will start growing back in July! I just needed some time to grieve the hair loss.

I went to the Cancer Center here i Bozeman today and got the results of my blood tests from Friday. My CA125 levels are at 22! The normal level is aout 30! YEEEEEHAAAA! ....now lets just keep it this way, forever! This news is very encouraging for me and it helps to give a sense of purpose to all this crazy stuff I'm going through!

I went for a "jog" today. VERY slow, not too far. I walked after that for a bit. Last week I donned my cross country skiis and went for a "ski" with Teri. I went slower than slow and the one "hill" I went up looked like Everest to me (felt like it too!). I'm looking forward to more days like these and am sure I'll be going up many more "Everests". I actually plan on seeing that mountain next year in person! Yeah!!

I'll write more after the whole IP surgery/chemo process. Please keep sending good energy my way! Thank you all so much!

Love,
Katie