The status quo stinks...

Mama & I got back from MD Anderson today.  I wanted to update last night, but was so tired after I got through packing, I just didn’t have it in me.  Its kind of frustrating how easily I get tired, but I guess I just need to suck it up & get used to it for now.  I’m learning that the only thing getting down or frustrated accomplishes is making me miserable.  So buck up soldier!  Things could be a WHOLE lot worse!

 

We got to see my doctor yesterday.  He said that for the most part my test results showed minimal change.  A few numbers had gone up just a little, but not enough for alarm. We will still not be doing any cancer treatment at this point.  For now, between Dr. Shah at MD Anderson and Dr. Cole here in Tulsa, they will continue to monitor me.  I see Dr. Cole in early November & will be monitored by him, probably every 4-6 weeks.  I will also continue with the IV Immune Globulin treatments to try to boost my immune system.  I will then go back to see Dr. Shah in 6 months.

 

I’m not going to lie, as the title of this post says, the status quo kind of stinks.  In some ways I feel like Wile E Coyote with the anvil hanging over my head.  I tend to be the type of person to want to move on & deal with things…not wait & see.  I’m learning to be patient with that.  Hmmm…I do believe God is working on me still yet.

 

As soon as I learn anything new of if there are any changes, I promise I will update.  If you don’t hear from me for a while, just know that we’re still in that stinky status quo phase.  Again, thank you for your comments & prayers.  As I’ve said before, they help sustain me.

All the news that's fit to print...

Well, its been a while since I’ve updated.  So long in fact that people are starting to say, “I’ve checked your blog but didn’t see anything.  What’s going on?”  So, here I am in all my glory…for whatever that’s worth.

At this point things are pretty much status quo.  I have now had four IV immune globulin infusions. My immune system numbers had improved enough after the third one that they let me go 2 months before they retested me.  Unfortunately, my numbers had dropped enough over the 2 months that my doctor said I needed the fourth infusion.

I’m actually writing this from Houston tonight…and it’s my birthday.  Kind of a weird way to spend your birthday.  Anyway, my Mama & I are here for a checkup with Dr. Shah at MD Anderson.  I will have blood work done tomorrow, and then I’ll see Dr. Shah Thursday at 9:30.  It will be interesting to see what my blood work shows.  Hopefully he can give us a better idea of when/if we can start treating the actual cancer – the multiple myeloma.  I’m ready to get this over and done with and get back to living life & feeling good.

On another note, some people know this, but I have had to step away from my position at the church for now.  I was only managing to be able to work 1-2 days a week & then would be out the rest of the week dealing with either running fevers or fighting pain.  The days I did work, I would be exhausted by the time I got home.  I was walking in the door & walking straight to the bed.  That’s just not a fun way to live.  Plus, it wasn’t fair to the church because they couldn’t depend on me to be there.  So, please pray for all of us as we go through this process.

Well, I guess that’s it for now.  If you have any questions, feel free to comment & ask them.  I’ll do my best to answer & if I can’t, I’ll ask Dr. Shah when I see him on Thursday.

Thank you everyone for caring so much about what’s going on with me.  Your prayers & good wishes are a blessing!