what to say

Hi everyone.
 I have not written for awhile, because I really did not know what to say. I have been down for the count for about 4 weeks. I really did not expect to be so sick after radiation so I was not emotionally prepared for it at all. I like it when they say you will be sick for a bout a week  or this is what is going to happen. I know that there are no guarantees in anything, just was not ready .
I was so fatigued that I stayed on the couch or my bed for about 2 1/2 weeks. Then I thought I was getting better and then bang back down again. As of the last 2-3 days I have had more energy, less cough and feel more like myself. Last Thursday they took me off the Tamoxifen and we will re visit that later next month. I had so much prednisone in my system that I could not tell if all I was feeling was the T or the P. All I know is it was to much for me. My heart was beating fast, felt light headed, week, I could go on and on , but I wont. Enough to say I felt bad. Prednisone makes me cry alot also so everyone had to put up with that to.  I see both of my Oncologists next week. One will be talking to me about my lungs, which I believe are so much better. He would call each week and say " you will feel so much better next week" :)   NEXT WEEK.
The other one will talk to me about the Tamoxifen. I will try it again, just not with the prednisone.
Well this is a boring entry to my blog. That is why I have not put anything in it for awhile. The next one will be more fun.

This is a picture of my Mom and Dad, My sister and my brother. I am the one in diapers on my Moms hip. ( Funny thought, I still had my own nipples then :) Who would have thought that this family would have gone through so much. My parents are what have made me how ever strong I am. My Dad even being blind could do ANYTHING. He is my hero

pneumonitis ?

I have had a light cough for about 4 weeks, this past week it turned into shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and coughing until I would almost wet my pants. Yes I said it wet my pants. I saw one of my doctors who prescribed me a cough syrup and ordered a chest xray.
The next day I was back in my radiation oncologists office and he said I have radiation Pneumonitis. This where the lining of your lungs get inflamed. Well my right one where they radiated a portion of it is really rebellion to the radiation.
I am now on a hefty dose of prednisone for a week milder for a week and 2 weeks to get off of it. I was feeling kinda normal for about 3 days.
He said I will be doing much better by next Friday and I can tell you I am counting on it. I forgot how the steroids make me cry for no reason. You say something nice, mean indifferent and I could just start crying. It is a little un-nerving considering that I dont know what is going to make the spring spring forth. Not always in the best conditions. So for a few days I will be staying home alot. Also I do not want to catch the bad cold that is going around. That is the last thing I need.
My sweet sister dropped by a Brighton spacer for my charm bracelet that says sisters with some bling on the sides of it. Oh yes I was a gusher, then later in the day 2 sweet ladies I work with left  me some flowers on my front porch. Vera and Cindy that was so kind of you and yes again the tears rolled.  You all make me feel so special and loved. Thank you for the strength that comes through  you to me. Bless you

• 
  Radiation pneumonitis is an inflammation of the lungs due to radiation therapy. This side effect of radiation therapy occurs in 5 to 15% of people who go through radiation therapy for lung cancer, but can also result from radiation to the chest for breast cancer, lymphomas, or other cancers.
  Radiation pneumonitis most commonly occurs between 1 and 6 months after completing radiation therapy. The risk of developing this complication depends on the dose of radiation used and the amount of tissue treated. It is more common if chemotherapy is given at the same time as radiation therapy, and is more likely to occur if you have other lung diseases, such as COPD. With treatment, most people recover from radiation pneumonitis without any lasting effects.
  Common symptoms include:
  
  • Shortness of breath that is usually more notable with exercise
  • Chest pain, especially that which worsens with breathing
  • Cough
  • Low-grade fever

feeling a little more normal :)

WOW, I am finally done and actually feeling like this could be the end of it all.
I had a hard time the beginning of the second week. I got a bit depressed and could not really pin point it. I got a letter in the mail the next day from the Dr's office explaining all that I was feeling. I should check the mail more often.
Yesterday I got a beautiful card from a friend that was probably one of the most encouraging cards I have ever gotten. Thank you so much Rose Mary. So unexpected and I just loved it.
I saw DR Tiffany on Friday and she talked me into moving forward with Tamoxifen. I was a bit sceptical since 99% of my tumor could care less if my body has estrogen in it and 1 % says that it does not like it. We went over the side effects and agreed if they got bad then I would just stop taking it.
Dan also encouraged me to at least try it. What is hard is that there is no tumor that we are looking at ( thank the LORD) to see how it reacts so we are just saying if anything is there it could help. (MAYBE)
The Doctor said as far as they now I have no cancer Yahoooooo. Now I just keep going back unless I feel like something is wrong.
( not sure why the font changed ) 
I hope that you are all having a great weekend and loving the sun that is out.
I will continue to post things going on in my life and that of my kids and friends and health updates as I have them. God bless you all for your prayers for me. They are what keeps a person going.
The Joy of the Lord is our strength