It’s Almost April

Not my garden but I wish

As the day for disposing of another page of the calendar nears, the daffodils in the garden are in a concerted effort to make it look like spring as they push their leaves up through the ground.  Actually they are about five inches tall. Brave souls they are.  Having had rain all afternoon and now snow you know what I mean. The snowflakes are huge! They appear to be about the size of quarters if not larger. The wind has been whipping around so it’s hard to tell from which direction the moisture comes. We have flash flood warnings. The ground is so saturated from all of last fall’s rain, there is no place for more to go.

This week was my first encounter with the enhanced protection due to the COVID 19 virus at the hospital or clinic.  No visitors or companions are allowed in the facilities. One is screened when entering the hospital, questions asked and temperature taken. 

Wednesday I checked in at the hospital for my labs, CT scan and MRI. Funny but I can remember the day (long ago) when there was one MRI machine on a semi that traveled between the three hospitals. This was my fourth MRI at the third location in the same hospital complex! The price of the equipment must have dropped considerably, or not. My considered opinion is that the manufacturer of the MRI “thing” had John Cage compose the sounds which emanate therefrom.

Thursday I was off to see the doctor to find out the results of the previous day. My sodium is down again in the low range. Last test showed I was near the top. Doctor surmised that my normal sodium reading might be in the low category and that the previous test was a kind of fluke. It is one of the readings the helps determine whether the medication is working or not.

The CT scan showed that the liver lesions had become somewhat smaller but the lung lesions had grown slightly again. The conclusion was that the immunotherapy is not working as it should and we need to try something else. So he has ordered Topotecan. Topotecan is a type of chemotherapy drug called a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor. It works by blocking a chemical called topoisomerase 1. This chemical helps to separate and repair the DNA in cells when they divide. Cancer cells need to make and repair DNA in order to grow and multiply.This medication can be given as an infusion or orally and needs to be taken for a week every three weeks. He didn’t want to order infusions because of the necessity of going to the Center and possible exposure to the COVID 19 virus. It has some of the same side effects as the chemo treatments I was taking before.  It looks like I’m about to lose my curls!  Six tablets per day is the dosage along with anti-nausea medication.

The patient advocate came to see me and I learned that Medicare Part B might pay for the medication. If it were considered an ordinary prescription she would have the financial aid person come and visit with me! She called after I returned home and said it would be covered under Part B with no co-pay! I knew that what I had been taking was $40,000 an infusion. If this compares in price it would put me in the poor house shortly. It has to be dispensed though the Specialized Pharmacy and there are numerous instructions about how it should be handled. They will deliver it on Monday. Another step on the pilgrimage.

Sophia and her master spent most of the afternoon in front of the living room fireplace. I with a book and she enjoying a nap.  I’ve not had much appetite this week feeling nauseous from time to time. This evening I do believe that I’m hungry.  Friend Ed brought over a couple of caramel rolls his wife baked today.  I’ve not indulged yet but I’m sure they will serve as my dessert. Discretion will  most likely cause me to save one for tomorrow.

Kindnesses come in various guises.  I received a couple of cards from friends I do not see very often. A good friend came to pick up my laundry and returned it all neatly folded. What a blessing! My laundry does not usually get sent out but my washer died a couple of weeks ago and the needed part is back ordered until May. I’m so blessed and so grateful. 

Thanks for your prayers and good wishes and for all the love showered upon me.