May 6, 2021 - Hold My Hand

Today was my Brain MRI. It is done, over, finished. It was a total drag to wake up at 5AM to be at Mayo by 6AM, but it paid off. Not only did I have my Brain MRI the first thing this AM, but we were able to meet with my Neuro Oncologist by noon – with the Results! This never happens. It usually takes a few days between test and appointment. There was barely anytime to fret.

Drum roll……. My Brain Scan looked clean! Yay Me! Yay Jamie! But more importantly, Yay Mason! My doc scheduled my next one for August. Currently, he wants to keep me on a 3-month Brain MRI cycle and SO DO I. I do sleep better at night knowing that we are being vigilant about any progression that may be occurring. I don’t want a new brain tumor (lesion) to creep up on me. I want to see them coming!

AND, in early June, I will have my full PET Scan to monitor any changes in my other organs where cancer may want to visit. We are hopeful that it continues to shy away from my liver, lungs, and bones. So far, this trifecta of chemo drugs is working!!

I do have a love hate with my current chemo cocktail. It appears to be doing it’s intended job, which is keeping cancer cells sleeping. However, in order for it to do that, it is wreaking a little havoc on my healthy cells and my life. It is manageable, but it is not easy.

Oversharing alert! I have come pretty adept at managing my GI issues. Thankfully I am at home most of the time, so a private, clean, and pretty, bathroom is only a few steps away. I couldn’t imagine my past life of traveling, not knowing the condition of a public restrooms. Oh, the horror!

I also met with a pharmacologist at Mayo a few weeks ago. She basically reviewed my medicines, looked for any conflicts, and had a few suggestions to help counter my daily dance with nausea. News flash: she suggested that I take my nausea medicine BEFORE the nausea hit me. Imagine that. Well, I have changed my regime a bit and have seen improvement.

When it comes to my neuropathy, joint pain, tingling hands and feet, I haven’t found much relief. I am resigned to the fact that I need Jamie to open my medicine bottles, jelly jars, pickle jars, mason jars (LOL) – heck I need him to be my hands in all of that. Thankfully he does not mind!

Back to the sharing the right amount…The thought occurred to me that many of you may not have any experience with a Brain MRI…has any of you experienced one? Essentially, they insert an IV, which if you remember, it can take multiple sticks to get me! I lay on a very hard cold table, where they cover me up with copious amounts of warmed blankets (I insist)! They make sure my head is resting in a pillow with sides and they attach a face plate over to keep my head still. Lastly, they put on headphones and let me choose the music of my choice. So, while that machine beeps and barks, I get to fall into a pseudo nap listening to whatever tunes suit me that day. Today it was Hootie and Blowfish, starting with “I Go Blind”. It made me think of many karaoke nights of Jamie and I serenading each other.

Sigh! I digress!

After about 20 minutes or so, they insert contrast into may IV and take pictures for another 20 minutes. All of this is going on while I am toe tapping in my head to Hootie. So net net, today was a good day. As Hootie says, "Hold My Hand".

With a little love and some tenderness

We'll walk upon the water

We'll rise above the mess

With a little peace and some harmony

We'll take the world together

We'll take 'em by the hand

'Cause I've got a hand for you Hooo I wanna run with you