I just got the call I've been waiting for these past 2 mos. or so! TheraSphere is starting at Mayo next week! I was the first one called! There is a protocol: First, a sit-down meeting with 2 doctors, blood work, angiogram with tracer radioactive pellet, and finally the TheraSphere procedure itself...which will be done in one or two treatments, at least 4 weeks apart. I will be called on Mon. with the date of the first (consult) appt. for next week! I'm on my way!
Everyone please pray that nothing will hold this up now, and that I still qualify. This is my 2nd day on Levaquin and the first day I have not woke up coughing during the early morning hours and do not feel congested. By next week, I should be completely rid of this "bug."
Couldn't wait to share this great news with all of you! 
Connie
Post Edited (hep93) : 3/10/2006 2:35:34 PM (GMT-7)
Hi Connie,
Fabulous news! I know you've been waiting for this call. You have my prayers that the antibiotic does it's thing and that you will not have to delay starting treatment.
Keep us up to date.
Hugs,
Barb
LIVE IN THE MOMENT!
Hugs and Prayers
Barb
He Connie!!
Great news! Thank the Good Lord! Glad your on your way......
My
Thoughts and Prayers are still with you. Hugs to You....
Love,
Donajean
Hi connie, you my dear have just made my day with your news!!! I'm so happy for you! I've been praying for you since the day we have met here & allways will sweetie.i'm glad your cold is doing better too. how's the hip? All the very best of EVERYTHING to you hon. Take care & god bless. keep us updated. Love & Hugs. later....
"There is at least one good thing in each and every day we just have to find it and if we look hard enough we will.Somedays we just have to look a little harder than others,but its alway's there.Valerie
Thanks, y'all! I don't expect a cure from this. What we are hoping is that the tumor will shrink enough for it to become operable (best outcome) or at least for it to buy me some time and perhaps make be more comfortable if it shrinks some. Whatever happens, someone else will benefit from this study down the road. I've been wondering for a while now what I could do to "make a difference," aside from small donations to charity, and this seems to be my "raison d'etre."
Bless you all.
C.
Bless you all.
C.
Hi Connie I know you don't expect a cure but prolonging life & being more comfortable is a lot right there at this point.I'm so very happy for you,tho it would be excellant if they could operate. Did you know you make a differance in my life every time you come here? You make a lot of difference for people here Connie in ways you maybe don't even realize. This experimental treatment is just one more way of making a difference. My thoughts & prayers are with you Connie. Love & Hugs. later....
"There is at least one good thing in each and every day we just have to find it and if we look hard enough we will.Somedays we just have to look a little harder than others,but its alway's there.Valerie
Bless you, Lerie. Hope you have a better day tomorrow.
C.
Hi Connie,
That is Wonderful News!!!! You must have a heart as big as Texas, to be thinking of your "raison d'etre". It will definitely help others. I have read up on the therasphere and the study's so far are promising. I do pray that it shrinks the tumor to an operable size. I know you are in for an exhausting week, but you can do it! I will continue to keep you at the top of my prayer list, I will pray that you qualify and pray for your healing power!!! Just want you to know you are a special lady and I do care. You have just made my night great!! Bless You!!
HUGS
Teresa
Thank you, Teresa! :)
Just read your great news. I'm very pleased for you. I hope everything goes well with the treatment.
Marg
Marg
Thanks, Marg! I just got another call and my first appt. will be on Wed. for the discussion of what's being done and when, and probably some blood work. Angiogram will be next week, but I will get the date for that when I am there on Wed. I'm thinking that the TheraSphere treatment may be next week also, or very soon after that. Glad things are moving along quickly! Now I have to try to get a haircut tomorrow!! I colored my hair on Sun. I had not let my hair grow out to its natural color in over 20 years. There's about 40% gray mixed with 60% mousy brown. I'm not the mousy type, so I went back to being a redhead! :0
Connie
Connie
Hi Connie,
Things just keep on moving along, that is great to hear! I know what you you mean about the hair mine needs a cut pretty bad too! I haven't started coloring yet, could if the gray starts coming in. Let me know how the consultation goes> My prayers are with you!!
Hugs and Love,
Teresa
Hi Connie, it is so good to hear things are finnaly moving along so quickly for you. No I can't imagine you being mousy either. Red eh? Sounds fiesty like you! I've been coloring my hair every sense I went into liver failure as I seemed to go gray very quickly after entering end stage. I color mine chestnut brown. My natural haircolor. Keep us up to date Connie. My Thoughts & prayers are with you all. later....
"There is at least one good thing in each and every day we just have to find it and if we look hard enough we will.Somedays we just have to look a little harder than others,but its alway's there.Valerie
Connie -
What a great post to read - I hope you are feeling well. Good thoughts comming your way...
Patty
What a great post to read - I hope you are feeling well. Good thoughts comming your way...
Patty
Connie,
Good Luck tomorrow!! My Prayers are with you!!!
Love and Prayers
Teresa
P.S. Please feel free to e-mail :)
Thanks for the responses, everyone! Your support means a lot to me. I feel a lot better since the Levaquin knocked out the bronchitis. I'm still fatigued from the hep and cancer, but have more energy now that I've kicked the acute illness. I did get my hair cut today. I did my nails tonight, but need a pedicare. I have to have that done at a salon, as I can't bend that far or bring my foot up that close, due to the hip replacements. I'm starting to look like myself again, though!
I'm taking the handicapped van to and from St. Luke's tomorrow, and they will come for me at least 45 min. before my appt....and I told them it was for 1:30 instead of 2. The last thing I want to do is be late for this meeting. If I'm not too worn out tomorrow night, I'll come post about what's discussed and my angiogram date.
Bless you all,
Connie
I'm taking the handicapped van to and from St. Luke's tomorrow, and they will come for me at least 45 min. before my appt....and I told them it was for 1:30 instead of 2. The last thing I want to do is be late for this meeting. If I'm not too worn out tomorrow night, I'll come post about what's discussed and my angiogram date.
Bless you all,
Connie
Hi Connie, your support has meant a lot to us too!I'm glad you finally got rid of that nasty virus. Hows the hip doing?No you certainly don't want to be late for your appt. I'm glad you got out to get your hair done. My thoughts & prayers will be with you tommorrow as always Connie.Please let us know how it went as soon as you are able to sweetie. I for one will be anxious to know. good Luck & take care. Love & Hugs. later....
"There is at least one good thing in each and every day we just have to find it and if we look hard enough we will.Somedays we just have to look a little harder than others,but its alway's there.Valerie
I wrote a really long post last night about what transpired at the meeting yesterday, but lost it somewhere in cyberspace before I hit Send (hit the wrong key.) I will try to give a condensed version, since I'm not able to sleep...just keyed up and overtired, I guess.
I had the meeting with the radiologist and nurse I've been in touch with who is coordinating everything. The other doc--a hepatology radiologist who has the license to actually administer TheraSphere--was not able to make the meeting. However, I will meet with him prior to treatment.
First of all, I haven't had a scan since early Dec., so I have to get a new CT scan with contrast. That is being scheduled for sometime next week. I will get blood work the same day. Following that, the radiologist will do an angiogram. However, he is going out of town to a seminar for a week, so we don't know if we can get this done before he goes. After the angiogram, if my vessels seem okay and they are feeling sure there is no danger of the drug going to my lungs or another organ, I will meet with the other doctor. They will then order the TheraSphere, which is custom made for each individual and takes 8-10 days after they order it to reach them. Finally, I will get the treatment. The radiologist is going out of town for a second time for about 10 days. In addition, they have to get someone else to have their treatment at the same time I have mine, for purposes of comparison, logistics, etc. I have to have Bill with me when I go for the angiogram, and also to take me to the hospital for treatment. So everyone has to be free at the same time. The actual treatment could be as late as right after Easter.
I'm expecting a call this morning from the nurse, with an appt. for the CT scan and blood work next week. Since I can take the van for that, I can go any day.
Speaking of the handicapped van, I waited an hour for it to pick me up to go home, and then...just as we were going to turn into my street...it stalled out. Dead. We were on a main thoroughfare at the beginning of rush hour. A cop came along and gave us a push into my street and then into a convenience store on the corner. There we waited for an hour for someone to come out with jumper cables to get us started. That was so frustrating. I could not possibly walk to my apt. at the very end of the street. That is why I take the handicapped van. It is my means of transportation when I need to go somewhere. So I had left here at 1 p.m. and didn't get home until 6 p.m., just for a meeting 15 or 20 min. away. I was so tired, I think I was overtired, plus I had all the above swirling in my head, and just have not been able to sleep.
However, the nurse will be calling me later this morning, and then my helper will be here to clean, so I'd better try to catch a couple hours of sleep!
Thanks for all the interest and support!
Connie
I had the meeting with the radiologist and nurse I've been in touch with who is coordinating everything. The other doc--a hepatology radiologist who has the license to actually administer TheraSphere--was not able to make the meeting. However, I will meet with him prior to treatment.
First of all, I haven't had a scan since early Dec., so I have to get a new CT scan with contrast. That is being scheduled for sometime next week. I will get blood work the same day. Following that, the radiologist will do an angiogram. However, he is going out of town to a seminar for a week, so we don't know if we can get this done before he goes. After the angiogram, if my vessels seem okay and they are feeling sure there is no danger of the drug going to my lungs or another organ, I will meet with the other doctor. They will then order the TheraSphere, which is custom made for each individual and takes 8-10 days after they order it to reach them. Finally, I will get the treatment. The radiologist is going out of town for a second time for about 10 days. In addition, they have to get someone else to have their treatment at the same time I have mine, for purposes of comparison, logistics, etc. I have to have Bill with me when I go for the angiogram, and also to take me to the hospital for treatment. So everyone has to be free at the same time. The actual treatment could be as late as right after Easter.
I'm expecting a call this morning from the nurse, with an appt. for the CT scan and blood work next week. Since I can take the van for that, I can go any day.
Speaking of the handicapped van, I waited an hour for it to pick me up to go home, and then...just as we were going to turn into my street...it stalled out. Dead. We were on a main thoroughfare at the beginning of rush hour. A cop came along and gave us a push into my street and then into a convenience store on the corner. There we waited for an hour for someone to come out with jumper cables to get us started. That was so frustrating. I could not possibly walk to my apt. at the very end of the street. That is why I take the handicapped van. It is my means of transportation when I need to go somewhere. So I had left here at 1 p.m. and didn't get home until 6 p.m., just for a meeting 15 or 20 min. away. I was so tired, I think I was overtired, plus I had all the above swirling in my head, and just have not been able to sleep.
However, the nurse will be calling me later this morning, and then my helper will be here to clean, so I'd better try to catch a couple hours of sleep!
Thanks for all the interest and support!
Connie
Hi Connie,
One thing you are developing is patience. I'm sorry the start of your treatment is being drawn out but that seems to be typical when we need to coordinate medical treatment. The radiolagist sure is away alot. I know you are eager to get things going.
Paratransit is the handicapped bus or cab system here and it can be a pain in the butt also. We take it when Gene is unable to drive or we are going someplace farther away. But it always takes forever. When they don't forget to pick you up, they have to make other stops first or they are running far behind. We always allow ample time in case the appointment takes longer or is late in starting and Gene is wiped out by the time we get home.
Keep us up to date.
Hugs,
Barb
LIVE IN THE MOMENT!
Hugs and Prayers
Barb
Hello Connie,
I sure do know that keyed up feeling, makes it very hard to sleep!!! Last week on the first trip to Little Rock, It had been raining and I left the lights on to the truck. Needless to say we had to find someone kind enough to give us a boost, took about an hour. Very frustrating!!!! They have so much to prepare for with this being their first time treating with theTherasphere. Time consuming... But it is good that the ball is rolling on it!!!! I hope your Ct scan goes smoothly. I have you at the top of my Prayer list!!!
Love and Hugs,
Teresa