Just Breathe...

When we were at the oncologist’s office on Friday, we asked him if there was anything he could do to help me breathe. Robbie explained to him that yes, we realize it’s a symptom and it’s not going to go away, but that it was becoming a symptom difficult to endure. By the end of last week, I couldn’t say more than a sentence or two without gasping for breath. When I was at work, I’d plan trips around the office – I’d make a trip to the bathroom, printer, and coffee pot and hope that no one wanted to chat while I was getting coffee, because by that point I really couldn’t speak! Stairs required 10 minutes of recovery time.

The oncologist said he could give me a steroid and that would probably help. We picked up the prednisone on our way home, and I took my first pill on Friday night. Friday night was the best night of sleep I’ve had in weeks. Saturday when I woke up I felt like a new person. I could breathe and I had energy. It was so nice to feel normal! This weekend I baked Christmas cookies, did laundry, went to the grocery store, went to a nice dinner with the hubbie, took the dogs out, vacuumed, did dishes, built a fire, etc.!

Robbie said I should take it easy. But I was feeling more like I should live it up. In a week or two, I’m going to be getting my ass kicked by chemotherapy, and I want to remember that I did have a brief window where I could enjoy the holiday season this year.

This morning I worked from home for a bit and then headed out to get my first PET Scan. After Friday’s painful procedures, this was a walk in the park. They injected me with some sort of radioactive sugar solution, and covered me with a warmed blanket and told me to just relax for an hour. Let me repeat that – they gave me a warmed blanket. Not one that could keep me warm, but one that was actually warmed. And on a day when it hasn’t gotten out of the 30s, this was an absolute delight. I laid under my warmed blanket happily while looking out the window at the cold wind blowing.

After my hour mandatory rest period, I was told that I must pee so that I could get rid of some of my radioactivity, and then I was taken into the scan area. Once I was all positioned on the scan table, they again covered me with warmed blankets. I love this place! The scan takes about 45 minutes and the hardest part of the whole procedure is holding very still. When it was all over, they gave me apple juice since I had been fasting since the previous night. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see the results. Those will be shared with me at my next oncology appointment.

I am starting to learn the ins and outs of getting the most out of my insurance. For today’s procedure and for the procedure I’m having Wednesday, I personally had to call to get a “pre-note”. I’m not sure why, but if I call and ask if they will pay for my test, they will! But if I don’t make the call, they don’t cover as much. I’ll call whoever they want me to if it means they cover it. I’ll even say please!

So overall, a great weekend and a pretty good day. Nice to know I can still have good days.