Monday 30 May 2011

Moved in ... Well almost

Having had a good week we packed up and moved most of our stuff in to our new place Thursday. Still quite a lot to do, but it was great just being the three of us and despite me getting a cold, my first bug since November, we had a good weekend. We'll be back and forth to my parents place to have help but we're hopeful we're moving forward to a more normal day to day situation soon.

We managed to get to church which was great, but made us realise I'm still not that strong as it wiped me out for the rest of the day. Hoping to see more friends too over coming weeks and months, which is long overdue. We managed a date a week ago. Took Ray to see We Will Rock You as a surprise as he loves Queen and needed a night out. Was fun and good to be out. Hoping to go out to cinema next as not been since December and we love going. Ray has had quite a lot going on at work too so he needs some light relief.

Had two more dates for follow up appointments second week of June so just trusting cancers gone and my body is healing. Been finding my body is getting stronger now the chemo is leaving me. Nails getting less brittle and horrible taste in mouth going too. Hair is not really growing now, in fact it started falling out again but Drs reassured me that can happen, just got to wait and see. Getting fed up with hats though. Tummy is better and various other symptoms slowly going too. Had some encouraging words from people in church about my body and blood being made new.

Been struck by a verse in the bible which says those who sow in tears will reap in joy. I've felt like we've sowed well, being real about how we have felt and trusting there is purpose in it all. I was reminded on Sunday of the importance of reaping well too. I think I've had a few weeks of an in-between stage coming out of a difficult time but not quite in to the next. Think I'm the sort of person who can often cope with the difficult bit but finds the bit afterwards hard. Drs told us that this is normal but I was reminded on Sunday that the promise is you can reap with joy. I'm going to focus on this over the coming weeks and pray I have joy in the reaping.

Friday 20 May 2011

Doing well

I'm five weeks post chemo now and I'm starting to get my body and mind back which is great. I definitely hit a bit of a low
In hospital and wasn't really sure how much more I could take, but thankfully with lots of rest at home and help from my amazing family I am really recovering and chemo is leaving me more every day. I can't believe how much energy I have now. Ive not felt this well for a long time and even though I'm weak compared to everyone else still, I'm managing normal things and my three hour day naps are down to 30mins to one hour :) hurrah!

I've been starting to paint the house as a way of trying to move in before Christmas, and to do 'normal' stuff. We've made amazing progress and my poor family are exhausted but it's looking like a house that you could actually imagine living in.

Ray and I are pretty tired. I think the stress of the last six months is hitting us and we're keen to just try and rest lots, get back in to church life, see our friends and to move in to our own house. God's carried us through thankfully. Just feels great dreaming a bit about the future and not having the treadmill of chemo and cancer defining timings.

Thanks again for all the encouragement x

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Good news

Quick update to say pain is so much better and so I'm reducing my friend morphine. My body seems to be getting back to normal for post chemo and bloods are looking better. Surgical team have explained I have got a wound but as pain is now manageable and I've been given meds I don't need surgery and they'll see me as an outpatient. Hurrah! So relieved. Staying tonight and then hopefully discharged tomorrow morning to rest at home :)

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Getting some answers

Thanks for all the kind words and concern, I'm doing better and wanted go give a quick update.

Had lots of results through which are great. My White blood cells are not low and have overnight gone from 0.4 to 4.9! Hurrah. I'm not neutropenic now but they're still being cautious with stuff so still in isolation and on anti vitals and antibiotics at the moment. The MRI results are great too-

No cancer :) Massive relief and still not sunk in as still in hospital
Ovarian cyst gone (they found one two months ago but must have been a normal cyst women get occasionally)
No abscess

This means that we don't need to do anything today other than control pain and let my body get a bit better. We still don't know what is causing pain but there doesn't seem to be an infection which hopefully means it could just be a tear that needs surgery but we'll see tomorrow.

Pain relief doubled so I'm quite a happy bunny at mo :) bit out of it. We'll see what surgeons say tomorrow.

Will update when I know more. Love to u all xx

Monday 2 May 2011

Slight detour...Update

I'm writing this from a hospital bed in Bournemouth Hospital having been admitted yesterday unexpectedly. I'm doing ok now I'm on pain relief but the complications I've had With an existing health condition worsened by the chemo unfortunately took a turn for the worst Thursday night, worsening until we made a decision that the pain was too much for me manage so in to ward 11 for some nice morphine!:) without going in to too much detail they think ive torn internally which quite possibly is now infected and in an area renowned, I've now learnt, to be very painful. I've had a problem since I had Millie so whilst it's not been caused by chemo it has worsened it greatly. Thankful for the wonderful Haematology Drs though! The whole situation isn't helped that I am neutropenic, a condition where your White blood cells drop very low putting you in danger of fighting infection. Sadly mine have been 0.1 despite injections to get my body to produce more. Bit of a pickle as Surgeons can't investigate/operate until my levels are up to 2 but it could well be that my wound is causing an infection stopping the White blood cells from rising. Bit of a pickle! So we've all agreed get MRI done tomorrow ( no one is on to do it today/yesterday due to bank holiday) see what we can see, wait for White blood to increase helped by antibiotics fighting my possible infection/internal wound and hope I can get in surgery in next few days. Sigh.

Palarva is my word for the day! :)

To be honest we knew I'd have to get my ongoing condition sorted sometime after chemo but it's torn so badly now that I'm left with no choice. Pain has dictated that. Well, was hoping to have May off but looks like that's not the case.

But had some wonderful news.... I'm in REMISSION ! :0

Found out yesterday that they have put me in remission pile and despite still needing MRI etc they are seeing it as a precaution only. So weird to have the R word as no one had actually said it though they've hinted. So chemo is over at least just got to deal with my 30yr old body falling apart. Honestly, if you are fit and healthy you have a MASSIVE amount to be thankful for, remember to stop and think about the blessing you have in just the wonder of your body. I used to take it for granted and I've never been so aware of what a precious creations are bodies are. Say Thank you today :)

Anyway enough of Genevieve's word for the day...

So it is a watch this space about this whole next stage to the Gen saga :)

Prayers for healing, Grace for some v.obnoxious and unnecessarily rude surgeons and for pain management would be great. Also especially for little Millie who is not allowed to visit as I'm in an infection control area so I may not see her for a week! We're going to miss each other a lot so pls pray she has abundant Grace during what has been a very testing time for the little tot.

Speak soon x