One Crazy Week

 Well, the week of August 15 was quite an interesting week. On Monday, I was supposed to see my hematologist, but she wasn't feeling well and they called to change my appointment. I was kind of glad they did, because I wasn't feeling great either. For over a week, I was dealing with bouts of nausea due to the Zejula that I'd been taking since the end of May. In fact, it was getting worse and worse, and my quality of life was declining. I was miserable!!!

On Tuesday, August 16, I had my blood draw which went fairly well, but they had to use my hand to find a vein. Remarkably, there was no bruising and the mark where they took the blood looked like a freckle. Yeah!!! Then it was home to eat a little bit of food before I had to go get my CT scan. Before drinking the yucky contrast, I had my port accessed so they didn't have to find another vein for the CT stuff. I was so thankful that drinking the yucky contrast did not make me nauseous!!! Finally, it was time to "shoot the doughnut" as I remember Margaret Feinberg calls it. After a few times in and out, I was done. All the prep for about 5 minutes. The results were always in God's hands, but I said a prayer and gave them over to God. As I heard in a sermon recently, "Pray More, Worry Less" based on Philippians 4:6-7. "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Read those words again and know that whatever you're going through, God's got it!!!

Of course, I'm anticipating getting the results of my blood work and my CT scan on Wednesday. However, I was watching the Phillies game on Tuesday evening and about 9:30pm, I get a notification from Cooper that says I have a new test result. I was intrigued. Who's reading CT scans at 9:30pm??? That's one dedicated employee!!! So, I log in to my portal and sure enough, my CT results. I read through all the results and finally came to the "impressions." I was told by a doctor that I should read these first because that is where the speak in layman's terms not medical terms. The first line item is this:

1. Moderate to large left pleural effusion is significantly increased in size.

Oh no!!! My first thought was great!!! They are going to want me to go to the hospital, like before, and have it drained and then do the pleurodesis. I'll probably be there for several days. Blah, blah, blah. Needless to say, the other 2 "impressions" didn't faze me as much as the pleural effusion one did. And of course, my mind worked overtime while I was trying to sleep and therefore, I did not have too many hours of good sleep that night. 

The next day was fairly busy at work and that kept my mind off all the bazillion possibilities of what the doctor might say. After waiting for the doctor what seemed like forever, she came in and had another doctor with her. I forget his name, rank and serial number, but he was nice. She sat down and started talking about my lymph nodes and how they had increased in size enough that now they could biopsy them and determine whether the "nodules" are high grade ovarian cancer or low grade ovarian cancer. You see, I'm "special" and have both types in my body. Knowing what these nodules are will determine how I'm treated. The CT Scan Guided Needle Biopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, September 7 at 10am ET. Along with that, I also need to have a COVID test on Sunday morning at 8:15am ET. Fun!!! 

I bet you are wondering, what about the pleural effusion??? I was thinking the same thing, too!!! Apparently, unlike last time when I was about 95% full of fluid and needed to spend a week in the hospital, this time the pleural area around my left lung is only about 1/3 full of fluid. We discussed that if I thought I needed to have it drained, I could do that right there at MDA and I would not need to spend time in the hospital. YEAH!!! Time will tell when I need to have this drained.

As I face another medical challenge, I know that God got me in the palm of His hand and nothing that happens to me is not a surprise to Him. Some days, I feel like giving up and saying enough is enough and then I realize that God has a purpose for my life and only when my purpose on this earth is done will He call me home to heaven. I've been listening to this song by David Leonard called "Good Lord." Here are some of the lyrics:

I may not know what tomorrow holds

But I know one thing for sure

Good Lord, I got a good Lord

Every day, every step of the way it's You who opened the door

Good Lord, I got a good Lord

Good Lord, I got a good Lord

I pray that you will examine your life and what God's purpose is for your life. Only when we are in God's perfect will, will we lead a fulfilled life. 

Prayer Requests:

Sunday, September 4 -- Covid test 8:15am ET - pray for it to be negative

Tuesday, September 6 -- Hemotology appointment -- 4pm ET

Wednesday, September 7 -- CT Scan Guided Needle Biopsy -- 10am ET

Thursday, September 15 -- Follow-up oncology appointment -- 9:45am ET

SEPTEMBER IS OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

I will again be walking in the 2022 Together in Teal Run/Walk to End Ovarian Cancer on Saturday, September 10. Thankful for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition who does so much for those of us battling this disease. For those of you who have already donated to my walk page, THANK YOU. If you haven't donated yet, I would be most appreciative if you would consider donating. Please click the link below to be taken to my donation page. And THANK YOU in advance!!!

https://togetherinteal.donordrive.com/participant/Sandy_Perry

And please get to know the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

Only by His Strength,

Sandy