Tag Archives: lymphocytes

Dec. 20.

The Light Ahead

By Liana Gardner | Posted in Good Day |
Comments (8)

My doctors always tell me to stay away from sick people — and I have done my best, but there is a part of my brain that wonders how that is even possible. Turns out my best wasn’t quite good enough because I picked up an infection while grocery shopping (I know, I know… I should have left it on the shelf, but the bugger jumped in the cart, and boy have I paid for it). That was early November. Last week, I finally got the all clear from my doc, but it took 2 courses of strong antibiotics to beat it. I am used to responding well to antibiotics, so to have been on one of the stronger antibiotics to begin with to have to need something stronger was a bit concerning. Fortunately, it did knock it out. But the night before my “well-check”, I felt a little pea-sized nodule on the side of my neck. So I pointed it out because I thought it might be the lymphoma making an appearance. My doctor felt the same, so he called the oncologist and I had a CT scan done on Friday.

I had an appointment with the oncologist today (in advance of my quarterly appointment) and she agrees that my blood values are rising too quickly for what is normally a slow-progressing disease, and that the nodule, as well as a few others she found during the exam, are lymphoma. So, it is back to chemo. With a twist. There are new treatment protocols and the one she feels is best for me at this time means that I only have to take a pill a day instead of a monthly drug infusion via IV. WHAT A RELIEF!! I will have to go in monthly to have my blood values checked to ensure the treatment is working as it should, but no spending about 20 hours over the course of 3 days with an IV in on a monthly basis.

The picture at the top expresses exactly how I feel at the moment. So peaceful and calm with a lantern lighting my way.

Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Jul. 13.

Bye Bye Remission

By Liana Gardner | Posted in Musings |
Comments (11)
Miriadna - Far Cry

Miriadna – Far Cry

It has been 3 months since my last blog post. I feel like I’m starting a confessional. 😉 As you might tell from the title of this post, I am no longer in remission. The slightly elevated lymphocyte count decided to go on a bender and became a definitely elevated lymphocyte count. The little buggers decided to more than double over the past 3 months. Which is not exactly the results we wanted from this visit and we are still in wait and see mode.

unsinkablemollybrownA few weeks ago, a good friend said I reminded him of Molly Brown … the UNSINKABLE Molly Brown. I was honored by his comparison. Molly was a childhood hero of mine. No matter what happened, Molly fought and scratched and managed to survive and succeed against the odds. She survived the sinking of the Titanic and fought to do the right thing and go back to save more people who were in the water close to the Titanic as it sank. I have always identified with Molly, I wanted to be the type of person she was, always striving to be better, concerned and caring toward her fellow man, dusting herself off when she met with a setback and striding forward again. She had the will to succeed. The will to survive.

So do I.

While this news is not exactly welcome, it is also not the end of the world. I AM a survivor and will continue to keep my focus on eating the right foods, exercising, and getting enough rest. It’s the only thing, outside of prayer, I can do to help effect any change in my body. The results were not a surprise to me. I have not been feeling 100% for a while now. And certain of the small symptoms have been creeping back in, like:

  • Easy bruising
  • Small blood vessel bursting to create blood blisters
  • Higher fatigue levels
  • And the dreaded night sweats have become worse

All of these things were a precursor to my diagnosis in the first place, so as they have been increasing I have had a sinking feeling that my counts were getting out of whack. But other than that, I feel okay. And for today, okay will do fine.

What comes next? Well, we are still monitoring the development, so I go back in another 3 months and we do this all over again. The only changes I need to make are to make sure I exercise additional caution with regards to being around people. My doc has told me to stay away from sick people again, since my ability to fight off infection is once again compromised. So limiting exposure to crowds, making sure I don’t get exposed if someone comes into the office with a cold, if I see someone hacking and sneezing … run the other way. In other words, stay as healthy as I can.

What can you do??? Say some prayers, or send good juju to the Universe, and join me in thinking positive thoughts because I have way too much to accomplish to succumb to failings on the part of my body. 😉

The mountains at the top of this post are to remind me that I scale mountains every day and the only way to get to the peak is to keep climbing, no matter how many times you slip and fall. If you fall, you get up, clean off the scrapes, ignore the bruises, and continue moving forward.

Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Apr. 12.

Change in Values

By Liana Gardner | Posted in Musings |
Comments (8)

It has been awhile since I updated this blog … and for good reason — there hasn’t been anything to say. Two years ago, April 10th, I had my last chemo treatment. File that under “WOW, Time flies!!” Today, I had my quarterly blood-letting to check to see how things are going. In some respects, those two years have passed like I only blinked my eyes, but in others, I realize how much I have accomplished and how my life has changed … for the better. Throughout it all, my doctor has been thrilled with my blood values, as they have been smack dab in the middle of the normal range. That changed today.

Today my visit brought a bit of news. My lymphocyte count is no longer in the normal range; it has crossed the line into the “high” territory. At this juncture, the doctor is adopting a wait and see attitude because I have recently been sick, and that could be the cause of the elevated lymphocyte count. We discussed testing, but since the tests she would run at this time were negative when my system was 50% compromised, we decided against doing any tests. And I swear, any more radiation tests and I’ll start glowing like a Christmas bulb.

What does wait and see mean? I put renewed focus on my health — eating the right foods, exercising more, and making sure I get enough rest — and in July we look at my blood values again. From there … who knows? I am not going to speculate. In fact, I’m going to keep on moving forward with my life, focused on the wonderful things I’m involved with, and figure this is a blip on the radar caused by the recent bout of bronchitis.

I liked this picture of clouds because even though they’re dark and night is falling, they are still lit by the sun and their radiance is beautiful.

Tagged: , , , , ,

UA-19119025-1