Oncology Appointment

This morning my mom and I met with my oncologist to talk about the interferon details.  It was really helpful and I definitely came out of there feeling much less nervous than I did coming in.  The one not so fun thing I found out was that I don't have very good veins in my right arm (the only one I can use because of having my lymph nodes taken out). This means that I will have a "push" surgically inserted in my skin near my collar bone.  A push is a little circular disk that is attached to a tube that will be inserted into a vein in my neck.  The push is what the nurses will use to put in the interferon and take blood when needed.  The good thing is I don't have to be stuck with a needle everyday. :)  My oncologist assured me that the worst symptoms should be a couple hours after the infusion and on through the night.  As long as I am drinking enough water and flush the stuff out, by morning most of the effects should be minimal (except for fatigue).  I saw the room that everyone sits in when getting infusions and I'll be with a lot of older people.  I'm hoping I can weasel some of them to tell me stories from when they grew up. I could listen to those stories for hours!  I will come out of this SO much wiser! haha
I've been walking everyday this week and today I walked/JOGGED!! about 2 miles.  I only jogged probably about a 10th of what I walked, but its a start!  I'm incredibly sore now, but I'm determined I'm going to stay active during this whole thing.  And I'm taking my vitamins and trying to eat somewhat healthy...although chocolate sneaks in to that healthy diet more than a few times a day.  The word "trying" is key. :)

I'm feeling happy today. I think the beautiful weather is helping my mood quite a bit.  I'm also VERY excited to get to IU on Saturday!  The IU Dance Marathon is going on from Friday until Sunday. I have to get lots of sleep so I can't participate in the whole thing but I'm excited to be there for part of it.

My physical therapy appointment is tomorrow. The therapist will teach me how to exercise my arm so that the range of motion comes back safely and without any swelling.  I'm hoping to be able to swim a bit soon so getting my arm above my head will be great!

Thank you again for all the thoughts and prayers!

And I want to say a special thank you to our veterans.  The men and women who have served our country, the ones who are serving now, and their families.  My prayers and thanks go out to all.  Thank you especially to my friend Matt Sanders, my cousin Josh Bleill, uncle Virg Bleill, and grandpa Leo Bewley. I love you SO much!

This morning I went to the doctor to get my blood tested for vitamin levels, cholesterol, iron level, ect.  This will help us to figure out the supplements I'll need to take to make sure that I stay as healthy as possible in the future.  Today I also walked a little further, about 2 1/2 miles so that I can get in the habit and try to stay active during the treatment.  It was BEAUTIFUL outside and it was just nice to do something rather than stay home.  :)  I'm trying my best to visit as many people as I can this week before I'm not feeling quite as well.  Today I was able to visit people at my church.
Tomorrow I go to my oncologist to talk about the interferon, what room I'll be in, what nurses will be taking care of me, ect...

I'm feeling pretty good right now.  Still at peace with my decision but am probably going to be at least a little nervous until I start it.  The unknown is the scary part.  I'm just not sure how bad (or good) I will feel.  Good good good!!! ...that's what I keep telling myself, haha.  I think once I've made it through the first day I will be less nervous about it and more just determined to get through it as best as I can. Praying for lots of comfort during these next four weeks.

Thank you all SO much for the thoughts and prayers!
Happy Wednesday! :)

Another Decision Made

My family and I have decided for me to go through with the interferon treatment.  I made the appointment to start the treatment Monday November 15th.  I will have blood work done tomorrow, a pre-interferon Dr. appt on Thursday, my physical therapy appt Friday, and then start the treatment on Monday.  Busy busy busy... I am extremely relieved to have made a decision.  I also feel that I've made the right one.  A wonderful peace came over me once it was final.  I now know that I am doing everything possible to ensure the best outcome for my future. No matter what happens I can feel certain that there was nothing more I could have done.
The interferon will start at 3:40 on Monday.  The infusion will last for about an hour.  I will go to the hospital Monday through Friday at 3:40 for a month.  I get the weekends off. :) The usual symptoms are flu-like, such as fever, chills, aches and pains, and chronic fatigue.  How severe these symptoms will be depends on how my body reacts, each person is different, so only time will tell. I am really nervous to start, but I'm definitely more scared to not start.
The good thing about starting to soon is that I will be done with 3 weeks before going back to school.  That will give me time to recover before going back.  I CAN'T WAIT! :) :)
I'll keep you updated on all the appointments.

Love you all!
God is Good

Last Appointment w/ my Surgeon :)

Today I had my last follow up appt with my surgeon.  WOOHOO! :)  He said that everything is looking great!  My scar looks good and I have a little bit of swelling but its nothing that my body can't fix itself.  He tried to take stick a needle under my arm and drain any extra fluid but hardly anything came out.  Very relived that all has gone so well with the surgery.  I'm SO thankful for that group of doctors and nurses. They took such good care of me.  Its hard to believe but I think I'm going to miss seeing that staff.  Haha, even the front desk new my name and face. All I had to do was wave and they would tell the doctor I was there.  I never want to go back, but I feel very thankful to have been in such good hands.
Later today I went and had lunch with my dad and grandma and am now trying to decide if, where, and when to get the treatment.

Needing LOTS of prayers about this.
SO much love!!!

This weekend has been great!  Thursday I got to go down to IU.  I had so much fun visiting with friends and going to formal. :)  On Saturday I came home with a friend and we were able to catch up and watch a movie.  Later my family played a friendly game of euchre...dad and I won! (of course) Sunday girls from my the small group I lead in Bloomington drove up to see me.  We played a great game of apples to apples and some ping pong. An excellent weekend!
 Overall I haven't had much of a problem with my arm.  Now that the tube is out I don't notice it as much.  I still cannot lift it higher than my shoulder but the constant pain is about gone.  I am feeling a little bit of swelling underneath my arm....  Tomorrow when I go to the appt with my surgeon he will probably drain it.  I also found out about the mole that was taken off on my neck. It was normal! :)  That was a very big relief!

We still haven't made the second appointment with my oncologist, but it will probably happen next week.

Thank you SO much for the prayers.
With love
Rachel

Gaining Energy

After trying to get over the surgery and the cold I'm FINALLY feeling more myself again.  Living without the drain is AMAZING. :)  I still have to watch for any swelling (so far none) but am overall feeling very positive right now.  With gaining energy, I've also discovered how out of shape I am. Not out of shape in the sense that it is hard for me to swim a full practice, but out of shape in that I just walked in the mall for 45 minutes then came home and walked Beau around the block (a 15 min walk).  My legs are now killing me.....I'm going to try and do more activities from now on to build back up. Slowly but surely. Its just hard to figure out what I can and can't do still.  I made my first physical therapy appt for November 12th.  I'm looking forward to hearing how best to gain more movement in my arm and what changes I'll need to be making for the rest of my life to keep the swelling from ever starting.

Today I also visited some of the people who work at my church. It was great seeing everyone.  I did meet one person who I had never met before. When introduced to her, she responded with "THE Rachel Bewley!?" haha...She said she has been praying for me each week. Someone I have never met or even knew existed is talking to God about me each week.  It brings me to tears thinking about it.  It just doesn't seem possible.

Love and Blessings,
Rachel

Drainless :)

This morning my drain was taken out!! :)  It feels SO good to not have to worry about it being caught on something or leaking or lifting my arm too high. I can even wear shirts without pockets and buttons to hold my drain and I can drive again.  Yay!  
Once it was taken out my nurse explained that it was like a stab wound and would probably leak and bleed for a couple days still, but will eventually stop and heal.  One thing I do have to watch for, now that the fluid doesn't have anywhere to go, is lymphedema or swelling.  I mostly have to watch for swelling under my arm. I have an appointment with my surgeon next Monday to check and see if there is any more fluid build up. If there is he will just poke a few holes and let it drain.  (Hopefully not)  Either way I don't care right now, I'm just very very thankful that I don't have to deal with that thing anymore.  I'm also going to start physical therapy within the next week or so to get the range of motion in my arm back to normal.

Today I also went to my dermatologist to make sure no other abnormal moles come up.  I'll have appointments every 3 months for the next couple of years because if anything else were to come up it would usually be within the next couple of years.  He did find one mole on the back of my neck that didn't look normal.  He also said it didn't look worrisome but would take it off and test it to be safe.  I will find out the results for that by next Monday.  Even though that wasn't great news, I couldn't help being happy when I left because I'm DRAINLESS! :)