My Unexpected Journey Blog - Page 2 of 5

The Slaytons Go To NYC Star Trek Convention!

Sep 1, 20164 CommentsUncategorized

Well, if you ever told me I’d ever be going to a Star Trek convention I would not have believed you. Not that I don’t like Star Trek – I do – but … but … Our daughter REALLY likes it. Like, a LOT. Going to the convention is our present to her for her for her 13th birthday, which is tomorrow – the day the convention starts. And, although I blush to admit this, we went ahead and bought the VIP tickets. Really? Yes, really. What can I say, except having brain cancer has made me a […]

Aug 23, 201612 CommentsUncategorizedCancer assumptions, Cancer MRI Results, Children's Author Brain Cancer, Follow up, Fran Cannon Slayton Brain Cancer, Fran Cannon Slayton Little Bee Books, Fran Cannon Slayton Snowball Moon, Fran Cannon Slayton When the Whistle Blows, MRI, MRI Results, Scanxiety

Bottom Line: MRI Results Are Great! The short version: the MRI last week showed that there is no new visible growth of the tumor. Hooray! The long version is slightly more complicated. It took a day longer to get to that result than I expected. Expectations are often such impediments to the happiness of the moment. If I could better let go of my expectations I think I would be happier as I deal with what is actually happening. I was told that I would get the MRI in the morning, the radiologist would read it, and we’d have the […]

Driving, Feeling Better & MRI Tomorrow

Aug 15, 201618 CommentsUncategorized

Well, it has been awhile since I posted last. It’s because, as of July 17th, I’ve been allowed to drive again! Oddly enough, I wasn’t biting at the bit to get back at it. The break, while often majorly inconvenient, also had its own special, slow-downy charm about it. In many ways, not being able to drive was very relaxing. But at other times I felt a bit like a hostage in my own house. I may have mentioned this before, but the technical, mechanical aspect of driving came back the moment I sat back down behind the wheel. It […]

Independence

Jul 5, 20166 CommentsUncategorized

Happy Independence Day, a day late, from someone who is still pretty dang dependent on others. But that is changing, slowly. Last week I went to see my oncologist to ask him to reduce my seizure medication (which I’d already reduced without permission – I am a bad patient, or bad at patience, or both!). After a good-natured but well-deserved scolding in which he reminded me that he needs to know exactly how much medicine I am taking at all times in case I happen to have a seizure, my awesome oncologist actually reduced my seizure medication even more! I […]

Ups and Downs

Jun 23, 20166 CommentsInfection, Keppra, Losing Weight on Steroids, Oncologist Visits, Reducing Steroids, Seizures and Brain Tumors, Side Effects of Medications, Steroids, Tapering SteroidsSide Effects of Medications

Ups. One of the BIG ups in my life is that since my brain tumor was removed, the hip and shoulder problems that I’ve dealt for years are, very slowly, getting better! I didn’t fully realize how bad things were until my muscles started unclenching and untwisting and loosening. What a difference! Frankly, it’s a little disconcerting at times. These muscles have been clamped down for so long, it feels scary for them finally to let go. Joints are clunking into places they haven’t been for years. It feels like my rear end might fall off. But it also feels […]

Kidney Ultrasound: The End of a Difficult Week

Jun 6, 201612 CommentsInfection, Kidney ultrasound, Mammogram, Ultrasound, Urinary Tract Infection, UTIHydrocortisone, Kidney Ultrasound, Mammogram, Scanxiety

Let me just say this: Last week was pretty stressful. I’m glad it’s over. Up until now I’ve been pretty good about keeping perspective. But I readily admit: last week challenged me. With a lingering UTI, a callback ultrasound after my mammogram, and a kidney ultrasound, it was a bit much. I felt sick. I was stressed. I struggled to maintain as much positivity in my life as possible. It was pretty hard. Kidney ultrasound: Rough process. I had my kidney ultrasound on Thursday. It was a rough process. Not the ultrasound itself – that was easy. And painless. The […]

Mammogram Follow Up Okie Dokie!

Jun 6, 20162 CommentsMammogram, Metastisis, Scanxiety, Ultrasound

Hooray! Great news! It took a long time, an ultrasound, and another 3D mammogram, but the result was worth it. Nothing at all to worry about. Yay! I am so happy to have clear – and good – news! The good news did take awhile to get to it, though. Fortunately, my doctor had told me it didn’t seem like anything to worry about so wasn’t too worried as I sat in the waiting room in my UVA-provided, mauve mammogram “outfit.” Plus, Marshall was out there in the other waiting room, and I knew he’d be with me when the […]

Infection and Insurance Update

Jun 1, 20165 CommentsAnthem Insurance Not Paying, Infection, Insurance Company Fights, Insurance Company Not Paying, Mammogram, Metastisis, Scanxiety, Urinary Tract Infection, UTI

Long story short: Infection is close to being totally clear. The long story is that over the weekend I kept having a low grade fever up to 99.8, even while taking a very strong antibiotic (Levoquin) and Tylenol. I felt weak and horrible, and was worried about whether I would have to go to the hospital – fevers, even low ones, seem to make me more susceptible to passing out since my craniotomy. By Monday, after four days on the antibiotic, I still had this weird low grade temperature, on and off. And I continued to feel horrible. After receiving […]

Infections, Steroids, Mammogram Callback – Really?

May 28, 201618 CommentsInfection, Mammogram, Metastisis, Steroids, Urinary Tract Infection, UTI

Monday I felt good. Then it went downhill. I took two long, slow walks this past Monday – it was the furthest I’d walked in months. It felt great. In fact, I felt so good that I forgot to take my 5 p.m. steroid dose until 9 p.m.. It would have kept me up if I’d taken it so late in the day, so I opted to skip it and then email my endocrinologist the following morning for instructions. My endocrinologist told me I could use this as an opportunity to try tapering down the steroid from 12.5 mg […]

Tapering Steroids & Bisy Backsons

May 19, 20165 CommentsSteroidsBisy Backson, Dexamethasone, Different Kinds of Steroids and Cancer, Hydrocortisone, Side Effects of Steroids, Steroids and Cancer, Steroids and Fatigue

I emailed my endocrinologist on Monday, telling him I’d really like to get off the steroids as soon as possible. So as of this past Monday, with his blessing, I have gone down from 15 mg of hydrocortisone to 12.5 mg each day. Until today, I was feeling pretty good. Today, I’ve been tired since I woke up. But fatigue is a common symptom of weaning off steroids, so I don’t think it’s any big deal. I am currently reading The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. It’s pretty good reading for someone with cancer, I think. The chapter “Bisy […]