Cancer update

I guess it's time for an update. I've been trying to update on Instagram and Facebook but a lot of people just read it here.  

We have been trying to have as "normal" of a summer as possible. We went to Inside Out, to Hazelton for the fireworks, celebrated the 4th the best we could. We had the annual Capps 3rd of July party and it was a blast. On Saturday we went to the Buhl Parade and then that night we had dinner at Sean's and watched the fireworks later that night. 

I had to start my Low-Iodine diet at a hard time. I can't have dairy, soy, any sodium with iodine.  My mom has been amazing at helping me find foods I could eat. She made me 5 loaves of bread (iodine free), a big bowl of chicken/rice/bean soup I could heat up, crepe mix without egg yolk or milk, She made me a steak on 4th of July I could eat and brought me lots of fresh fruits and veggies. 

They say that you should prepare ahead of time for the diet and I honestly couldn't focus on that so I am beyond thankful for my mom for not letting me starve.

I can make my crepes savory or sweet! 

I had to get off my meds that would supplement not having my thyroid (same meds as when people are hypothyroid) so that the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) would build in my system and the I-131 (Radioactive Iodine) treatment will be more effective. It has been messing with me harder than I thought it could. I read that thyroid function literally has to do with every cell in the body so it's no wonder I am exhausted, moody, anxious, just not functioning like a normal human being. I have continued to work and Curtis asked me if I wanted to take time off. I would have but I don't get paid unless I am not there so I needed to power through since I am taking a week off for the I-131.

The two weeks I have had to work while off my meds have been the most difficult. Combine that with my new diet and I felt like I had hit a new low. I work with some amazing people and my boss has been very considerate to me with my cancer treatments. I also have amazing patients who are so kind and sympathetic that it makes it so much easier. 

My husband and kids also deserve to be acknowledged. They have put up with a moody mom and wife and I have done my best to care for them and keep things normal. I have been very fortunate for the support I have had these last couple months. 

Monday June 29, Lily started throwing up at 3 am and literally threw up every 30 minutes until 6:30 when I had to get up and decide whether or not I was going to go to work. I was able to skip my 8am patient but I did have to work. My schedule was too full so I chose to work the day. Grandma Joan took Lily for the day and I was so thankful. I came home that night and had never felt such extreme exhaustion in my entire life.  My best friend Kara's sister (who has always been like a sister to me) sent me a card along with Jamberry in them. I cried when I saw them in the mail. It was such a small act of kindness but I absolutely needed it that day. Thank you Jessi. 

I was able to be in bed by 8 and out by 9. She then brought us dinner the next night. So grateful.

This last week, July 6, Paige came down with thrush. Her mouth was killing her, she wouldn't eat, she'd cry for hours in the night. I took her into Dr. Godfrey and he was able to give her Rx for Nystatin and Magic Mouthwash. She slowly improved but this week was pretty rough. I'm again so thankful for family. On Tuesday after Dr. had seen Paige, I decided I didn't want to leave her at daycare all day so Jenny came and got her for me, picked up her Rx, and then Anne (Cole & Jess) kept her all day for me at home. She slept for 3 hours at nap time

That night my mom made us a low iodine dinner-full roasted chicken. It was delicious. 

To top that off, Curtis brought home this quilt made from Gael at work alongside her church group. It brightened my very hard day. 

Wednesday was a crazy full day. I had to get girls up a little early, get them to daycare, get to MSTI to have my blood drawn (they needed to test my TSH levels since I have been off meds for 2 weeks) If my levels were over 30 then I could get the go ahead to do the I-131. I was able to get to work by 8am for my first patient. I saw my typical 4 patients in the morning and then my mom and dad took me to lunch. I got steak and broccoli thinking I did so well on my diet and then realized later that broccoli is full of iodine. I was so sad I messed my diet up over broccoli!!!! I should have had cheese or chocolate or something better...

I then went back to work and saw my last 4 patients of the day. I had a 4:30 appt with Dr. Mayes so I finished early on my 4pm and jetted out. My scar was healing beautifully and then the past couple of weeks it's been red, inflammed, and oozing.  I decided it was time to have it looked at. Dr. Mayes said that it's a combination of a reaction to the stitches along with not being on my meds. My body won't heal properly so he had to give me a couple of Rx to apply to my scar. I am hoping by the time I get back to work it won't be as noticeable.

On my way to Dr. Mayes I got the phone call from the Radiation Nurse who said my TSH (Thryoid Stimulating Hormone) levels were over 30. In fact, they were 71.4 which is AWESOME. (this doesn't have anything to do with my iodine diet. I am on that to starve my body of Iodine so that the treatment will be more effective) My uptake to the Radioactive Iodine will be very good because it'll only be attracted to TSH cells and Follicular Cancer cells so the more TSH the better. I am extremely hypothyroid though. The nurse said, "ya, those levels are high, you must feel like crap." I laughed and said I sure do!

To add perspective- normal TSH is 0.47-4.68 People are hypo or hyper thyroid pending on those levels. So 71.4 is obviously a high # but it's opposite in the fact that 71.4 means I am HYPOthyroid which of course makes sense since I have no thyroid.  It really is a miracle I've been able to function like I have the last two weeks and it's no wonder my scar has looked so rough. I can't wait for medications again!!!!

I finished my workweek Wednesday and my mom and dad bought me a massage from my cousin Nikki. I was able to get that done Thursday and it was so nice. I have such a great support system. My parents have been feeding me so much this week. I just can't even explain how much it's been getting me through these days. I am so lucky. 

So next phase of treatment will be July 13 where I will go in and take my I-131 pill. I will then be radioactive for at least 48 hours but was told 4 days for my kids. I am excited to get it done and over with. I will be quarantined to my room/bathroom and we are going to pretend I am not home to the kids. It's easier than trying to explain, especially to Paige. She obviously won't grasp why mom can't hold her. Curtis will sleep in the other room and care for the girls with help in the morning from Liz to run them to daycare. 

One week after that, on July 20, I will go in for my scan to see where the cancer has metastasized to. We know it's in my nodes in my neck and it would be a miracle if it was just there. I can also handle it if it's in my lungs. Pray for us that it's not in my bones or anywhere else. I am really nervous about the scan. All this time through surgery, and now this I-131, it's been hard to deal with the fact that I have no idea where the cancer is at. I am anxious for that.

Feel free to text, call, message me next week. I will be bored. I would also appreciate any prayers being offered on my behalf. If things go well then I will be close to being done with any treatment. If it's spread to my lungs or bones then I don't know what will happen next. The I-131 should kill most of it but there may have to be more I do. Still so many unknowns...

 I know I have said this before but there is so much good in this world and the prayers, love, and financial support we have been shown has been so helpful to keep our spirits up through all of this. Thank you to EVERYONE who has said a prayer on our behalf. I promise you I have felt it. My outlook on service to others has been changed so much and I look forward to giving back to others in need for the rest of my life. Even if it's in a small way. 

I know it's in the picture above but this tile is amazing. It is in MSTI (Mountain States Tumor Institute) and I feel like it serves to an inspirations to those fighting cancer along with their family members. Cancer is limited. No matter what.