EEG

If you’ve followed my blog from the beginning, you know that I’ve used a Wizard of Oz analogy as a running theme to describe my experiences of the last two years. So….early this morning, as Dorothy headed west across the 520 bridge, she was once again grateful for a glorious view of the Emerald City…with [...]

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Keppra + Lamictal

Apparently Keppra + Lamictal = Insomnia. It’s 5 am and I’ve finally decided to just get up rather than lie in bed awake. I’ve been up a couple of times already (to make trips to the bathroom) and discovered that Keppra + Lamictal also equals Dizziness! I managed to not tip over but I was [...]

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Santorini…Again

If you’re a regular visitor to my blog, you know that Santorini is one of my favorite “mental travel” destinations. Well….I just got off the phone with my mom who happens to be traveling to Santorini in May….without me, of course. Someday I’ll get to go but, for now, I’ll just imagine myself enjoying a [...]

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My Cancerversary

One year ago today, I found myself in the emergency room at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital in Vancouver, Washington. I was in the Portland area at the time, house-sitting for friends and caring for their dogs while they were on vacation. I had Sophie and her second litter with me at the time and had [...]

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Know Your Nodes

Lymphoma Awareness Day is this Monday, September 15. Know Your Nodes!

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PET Results

I’ve just returned from Dr. Cui’s office where I learned that my tumor is smaller…..but she was unable to quantify “smaller”. The radiologist didn’t measure the tumor…..I don’t know why. I asked….”he just didn’t”. The PET scan showed that the cancer is confined to my stomach with no nodes involved so I’ll have surgery in [...]

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PET scan

I’ve just returned from my PET scan, Starbucks in hand. I told the nurses this morning that if the Starbucks dash was an Olympic event, I’d be on the US team! The PET scan was no big deal, more like a glorified CT scan. I arrived at 7:30 this morning and was taken to a [...]

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PET Scan

After two very grumpy phone conversations this morning, I now have a PET scan scheduled for Wednesday, August 20 at 7:30 am. The procedure will last 2.5 hours and I will meet with Dr Cui next Friday morning for the results.

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Remember This One?

This is one of my happy places. Someday when I go to Santorini I’m going to have to find this place. Today I’m grumpy. I still don’t have an appointment for my PET scan next week. For those of you who have asked what a PET scan is, here’s a link: http://www.nhlcyberfamily.org/tests/imaging.htm. This will be [...]

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Iron Deficiency Anemia

I haven’t slept well for the last few nights….and counting sheep hasn’t helped! I’m anemic again. Low iron levels mean low levels of oxygen in my blood…..leading to shortness of breath, insomnia, dizziness, and headaches. Ordinarily, the recommended daily iron intake for a woman my age is 18 mg. I take 225 mg…….on an empty [...]

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