Friday night, I finished my fourth round of Chemo.
Monday morning, I got another MRI followed by a visit to the Neurologist. I don't know if she realized this was going to happen, but it was beautifully done.
But let me step back one step, as I was upset enough by my third Chemo to have already been in touch about the medications....
You see, back in 2002, I started as a receptionist for a local veterinarian. One of the first things you learn is that, when printing a label for the customer's owner, you always obey the doctor's orders as to what it is they're taking, how many pills, etc. right down to how many are in that bottle. If the animal is taking more than one prescription, such as a cat that has renal failure, the directions should specify WHEN the animal takes the drug.
For ten years, I was the first one informed if we "screwed up" and the animal was deceased because the owner was "following directions".
Now, any of you who have been keeping track know that I've been taking Keppra and Phenytoin since leaving the hospital. The directions from the Neurologist had me taking 4 Keppra and 1 Phenytoin just before bed. Then the Chemo doctors told me that "most patients take the Temodar at bedtime", but my brain objected. Between the pill that was supposed to prevent nausea being taken a half an hour before bed and the others that were "at bedtime", I'd be taking NINE pills at bedtime...and who would guarantee that I was going to wake up?
That's where the Neurologist came in.
She's was put in charge in August, when I first went to the Cancer Center. When we have a drug problem, she's the final say. Therefore, when I had a problem with the nine pills they seemed quite happy with having me take at bedtime, I reminded the doctor of my second visit with my mom, when she had gotten more than enough about my migraines, how that effects my nausea, etc., etc., etc.
She got a schedule worked out over the phone with my husband that worked really well.
She confirmed that, when the anti-nausea meds were CAUSING nausea, that I had the right idea to take the "alternate" medicine.
And it helped to have her see the rash that the last three Chemo rounds have left me with. (She's ordering a slightly smaller dose to see if that helps.)
But it's the MRI that is really impressive, particularly since she likes to put the last visits MRI vs this one. Last time, I still had a sizeable "pit". This time, it's half that size and, as she scanned up and down on the images, there's more and more that just looks like normal, healthy brain.
And here I thought that only lizards could regrow themselves....
Monday morning, I got another MRI followed by a visit to the Neurologist. I don't know if she realized this was going to happen, but it was beautifully done.
But let me step back one step, as I was upset enough by my third Chemo to have already been in touch about the medications....
You see, back in 2002, I started as a receptionist for a local veterinarian. One of the first things you learn is that, when printing a label for the customer's owner, you always obey the doctor's orders as to what it is they're taking, how many pills, etc. right down to how many are in that bottle. If the animal is taking more than one prescription, such as a cat that has renal failure, the directions should specify WHEN the animal takes the drug.
For ten years, I was the first one informed if we "screwed up" and the animal was deceased because the owner was "following directions".
Now, any of you who have been keeping track know that I've been taking Keppra and Phenytoin since leaving the hospital. The directions from the Neurologist had me taking 4 Keppra and 1 Phenytoin just before bed. Then the Chemo doctors told me that "most patients take the Temodar at bedtime", but my brain objected. Between the pill that was supposed to prevent nausea being taken a half an hour before bed and the others that were "at bedtime", I'd be taking NINE pills at bedtime...and who would guarantee that I was going to wake up?
That's where the Neurologist came in.
She's was put in charge in August, when I first went to the Cancer Center. When we have a drug problem, she's the final say. Therefore, when I had a problem with the nine pills they seemed quite happy with having me take at bedtime, I reminded the doctor of my second visit with my mom, when she had gotten more than enough about my migraines, how that effects my nausea, etc., etc., etc.
She got a schedule worked out over the phone with my husband that worked really well.
She confirmed that, when the anti-nausea meds were CAUSING nausea, that I had the right idea to take the "alternate" medicine.
And it helped to have her see the rash that the last three Chemo rounds have left me with. (She's ordering a slightly smaller dose to see if that helps.)
But it's the MRI that is really impressive, particularly since she likes to put the last visits MRI vs this one. Last time, I still had a sizeable "pit". This time, it's half that size and, as she scanned up and down on the images, there's more and more that just looks like normal, healthy brain.
And here I thought that only lizards could regrow themselves....
