It's been two months since a post. No news is usually good news, right? And for us, it has been.
The prednisone has been replaced with hydrocortisone at a level that mimics the normal cortisol level needed in the body. Because cortisol is essential for life, this medication will always be part of my daily regiment. I wear a bracelet that states "Adrenal Insufficiency" in case of an accident. Whenever my body is in a state of stress, extra cortisol will be required.
Recently, I had some bleeding in my bladder. To be sure there was no cancer present, a cystoscopy was ordered. Some of you may be familiar with this procedure. I was not. As you might imagine, there is only one way to see inside the bladder without an operation. It requires a very long camera to be inserted. The doctor told me ahead of time that there would be some pain and discomfort, but he asked me not to kick him. I responded, "If you don't hurt me, I won't hurt you!" He chuckled and said he was sorry, but it doesn't work that way. Fortunately, it didn't take very long, and he could tell me right then that there was no cancer. Another small problem may be causing the bleeding, which has been exacerbated by the blood thinner I have been taking. After discussing this with the heart doctor, I was able to go off all three heart medications. Yahoo!
The Tafinlar and Mekinist seem to be doing a great job of keeping the tumors from growing. We'll know for sure next month when I have another PET scan.
There seem to be side effects of each medication. There is currently some neuropathy in the toes, swelling of the ankles and feet, surface thrombosis, muscle aches and pains, joint stiffness, cracks in the palms of my hands, general fatigue and weakness, and lack of stamina, and now kinky hair! Still, those are a small cost for life!!
Thank you again for your kind thoughts, faith, and prayers!
