Friday, May 16, 2008

High blood pressure

Hey Everyone- I am done with my second round of chemo. It went well, just tired is all. I spent most of Wednesday in bed, I never did get out of my pajamas. I forgot to tell you and Sue reminded me about my most recent scan. It basically was about the same, nothing exciting to report. I don't know if that is good or bad but my oncologist said there wasn't anything to report. I have a scheduled PET/CT scan coming up I believe this Tuesday, May 20th. So I maybe this scan will show more improvement or something.
The other thing that has been going on is I've noticed my blood pressure has been rather high since I started chemo again. I thought maybe the first week I was just nervous but it has been high ever since and yesterday when I went to get my pump off, it was super high for me 163/101. Yikes. The nurse practitioner talked to the doctor and they gave me a prescription for high blood pressure medication. But what really upset me was they didn't even mention trying to figure out why my blood pressure might be that high. They just threw the script at me and said, well we don't know why it is that high. I thought, and told them, well maybe we should draw some blood to see if anything is abnormal. SO they did, only because I told them too. Maybe there isn't a reason it has all of a sudden shot up but then maybe there is a reason and I would like to find that reason, if there is one, ya know. I was a bit frustrated by the whole situation and a bit upset that they just kind of blew it off! I will be following up with my primary care doctor when she gets back in town next week, so we can try to figure out if something is causing this.
I have been meaning to mention something else. I know some of you found my site through Jennifer Ireland's website which has not to long ago been quiet since Chris is no longer blogging. I keep in touch with Jen's mother, Jan, who misses the website tremendously, the support she got from it. I think she said she has blogged atleast once about the girls. So you might check the site from time to time. Also one of her doctors is blogging on the foundation site, I believe. So you might go and check that out as well. We can still support the foundation which is trying to raise money for young adults like me who need some help financially from time to time for extra expenses from cancer. They have many activities set up, a golf tournament and pub crawl in St. Louis, etc. The website will tell you more about all that, so please don't forget about that site! Jan still checks the site regularly so I think you can send her comments through there or you can through here as well, she says she checks my site regularly too! Recently her father is going through chemotherapy so she has had one thing after another going on in her life. She continues to need support!
well, I think that is all for now, there is so much I had been meaning to write about so I am glad I have. I need to go, Ella is trying to touch buttons on the computer and almost just erased this whole message a minute ago. I will try to write soon. Everyone have a great weekend. I am pump free and am going to enjoy the weather. Shawndra

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why do you think Chris is no longer blogging? Sue

Astraea said...

I will be praying about your blood pressure! Have a wonderful weekend! I hope Ella is doing well in her bed! God bless.

Anonymous said...

FANTASTIC FRIDAY TO U SHAWNDRA,
JUST WANTED TO LET U KNOW WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR U ON A DIALY BASIS...OUR LESSON IN BIBLE STUDY LAST NIGHT WAS ABOUT GOD BEING IN CONTROL, AND WE MUST WAIT ON HIM TO DO THE VERY BEST FOR US....FOR WITH HIM ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE..I TODAY WILL PRAY ABOUT YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE...
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN THRU MUCH TRAUMA OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND IN GOD'S TIME WE HAVE A MIRACLE IN MY DAUGHTER IN LAW...WE NEARLY LOST HER BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD SHE HAS SURVIVED OPEN HEART SURGERY REPLACING ONE OF HER HEART VALVES, AND IS NOW AT HOME RECOVERING...THANKS BE TO GOD...
YOUR MIRACLE IS BEING WORKED ON AS I TYPE THIS....THRU THE POWER OF PRAYER....HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND AND ENJOY THE WEATHER....WITH CHRISTIAN LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, AN ANGEL OF PRAYER IN KC, MO...JEN MILLER PS: SUE, U CAN CHECK OUT CHRIS IRELAND'S LAST POST AND HE EXPLAINS HIS REASONING FOR NO LONGER BLOGGING..HOPE IT HELPS :)

Coco said...

Hi Shawndra, I don't think I've ever commented, but have been following your journey for quite some time now and praying for you. Hey, I was just looking at this article

http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/426154

RIGHT before I clicked onto your blog and I saw "High blood pressure". Coincidence? I thought I should pass the article on to you! It can't hurt! :)

Stacy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stacy said...

Have a great weekend. Enjoy what is supposed to be great weather (we never know with Missouri weather right!). I also want you to know, we have children about the same age! They seem to act very much alike!! I find comfort in knowing someone else has "locked" their kid in their room!! I pray for you daily!! Your an inspiration!! Keep the faith...
Stacy

Anonymous said...

Hey Shawndra -

I just wanted you to know that I understand your frustration. It seems too often Doctors are quick to write a script that will fix the symptom without trying to find the problem, which I'm sure you know being in the healthcare field. Your primary Dr. will delve into the issue, I'm sure.

Enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weekend we are going to have.

And to all those heading out for the Crawl for Cancer this weekend, have fun and be careful!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Shawndra,

I'm sorry to hear about the high blood pressure, and all your frustrations in dealing with that. I hope you can get both some improvement and some answers this week! You have been in my thoughts and prayers daily, my friend. Hang in there...we're all pulling for you...things will get better soon, I just know it!

Enjoy your weekend, too! :)

Michelle

Anonymous said...

Shawndra-

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all! Keep Believing!!!

The Mudge Family

Anonymous said...

AHHH! Warm weather. Sunshine. All the right ingrediants for a happy mood. It seems we have waited SO long for spring this year. It is difficult to say why they weren't too concerened with your blood pressure. Perhaps it is something that goes hand in hand with a certain med. or treatment and they jsut assume you know that. In any case, your concern is very real and it is not at all out of line for you to question it, just as it is theirs to follow through and try to answer. As to Jennifers site, it isn't for me to ask why Chris is no longer posting, perhaps for him it is best to focus elsewhere on her behalf. And for Jan, she continues to draw strength from all that continue to visit it. I will try to touch base there from time to time. So, with that I am off to enjoy this wonderful day with my Grand daughter. Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

So glad you made it through relatively "easily" last week. (Nothing easy about it really but glad you did ok) That is strange re: blood pressure- are you in any pain? that could do it.... I am looking forward to getting together w/ you and Ella Friday. Should we come to your house or where do you want to meet up? Call me when you have time. xo Many Blessings.
Adriane