Last week Monday I returned to work, half days. It was good to be back to a regular routine. I was tired when I got home on Monday, but it was a good tired. Tuesday was a bit easier and I was getting back into the swing of things. Being away for 2 months, I had to reset passwords, go thru over 200 emails, and remember how to do a few things. I had a few hiccups, I hung up when I meant to adjust volume, amongst a few other things. I had to laugh at myself.
On Wednesday things were going good. About 2 hours into my day I went to use the bathroom. My bodily functions are still adjusting to having major surgery. I had a bowel movement that looked like a really, heavy menstrual flow. Not good! I contacted my doctor who told me to go to the Emergency Room as soon as possible. So I told my boss and coworkers and left work. I did go home first to grab an overnight bag in case I had to stay.
At the ER, I was taken for a CT scan and had bloodwork, urine sample etc. I was admitted and began another stay at the Sanford Hilton. I had more episodes of blood. I was on a clear liquid diet to prep for more testing. I had a lot of jello. I didn't have any pain, some minor cramping, but otherwise I felt fine. I was advised by my oncologist to stop chemo for now until we know what is causing the bleeding. On Friday afternoon I had a colonoscopy. I was so happy to be able to eat when I got back to my room. No jello, I had spaghetti and chocolate layer cake.
Saturday morning the doctor told me that where my small intestine was sewn together looked fine. The area where my large intestine was sewn together was holding, but I had a friable mucosa or ulcer. He did biopsy that area, he said it was either bleeding caused by my current chemotherapy or it was a tumor trying to grow. Saturday afternoon I got to go home. Saturday also marked my 4th anniversary of first being diagnosed with cancer,
Monday I went to work, full day, as I felt fine. As I was leaving I heard a Red Wing Blackbird sing. I was happy and concerned, happy that it was singing to me, but I also told it to seek shelter as we were getting a blizzard the next day. I saw it as I drove home, just one Red Wing.
Tuesday it was snowing, it was slippery, but we went to work. Many patients were cancelling appointments and we were getting them rescheduled. I got a message in My Chart. It was my biopsy results. It was good, no sign of malignancy in the tissue went to pathology. Thank GOD! But now we have to figure out what to do about my current chemotherapy drugs. If it is going to cause bleeding, I think I need to be on something different. I will find out this coming Wednesday at my appointment.
Chemotherapy does kill the cancer, as my cancer marker has dropped from 154 to 57. But it also causes other issues and lots of side effects. As I think about it, that Red Wing came to tell me I would be ok. When I see Red Wings I know that things will be ok. My brother Dave and great nephew Jackson saw one too last week. Jackson said it was for Auntie Dolly. He is 10 but he knows that they are my guides or spirit angels.
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