I Can’t Make This Stuff Up {An Update}

It has been a WHILE since I have updated here. This is mostly because life has been relatively boring 😉 In my last post (from JULY!!) I had just finished the 28 rounds of regular radiation and had my 3rd of 14 infusions of microscopic cancer killing juice- aka Kadcyla. After that post- I finished up my 5 rounds of radiation “boosts” and then continued with my infusions every 3 weeks.

For those of you on Facebook, you likely saw my updates after each infusion. Basically- my infusions went VERY well and I had little side effects. I sometimes had mild nausea the days after, constipation, and fatigue (especially the last couple months) but overall my infusions were very well tolerated. My labs were mostly good the entire time- with the exception of a slightly low white blood cell count (it just never fully rebounded after my last round of TCHP chemo, for some reason). My liver is an AMAZING organ- my liver enzymes were NEVER elevated which meant I was able to indulge in wine in moderation during treatment which was so awesome to have a little bit of “normal” mixed in.

We have been continuing to homeschool and our year has gone well. In January I changed up our curriculum and it was the BEST decision ever- the kids are all really engaged and loving all the things we are learning. We LOVE history and are doing TWO history programs ;). The plan is to continue homeschooling in the future…Esella is planning on going to “real” high school of some sort (she’s in 6th grade so we have two more years) so we are trying to figure that out soon as we are unsure of if she will go to the local public high school (it’s about 2 miles away), another public high school in our district, or a private school. Lots to think about!

Other than homeschooling and infusions, our lives have been pretty boring.

Until last week.

Last week, was my FINAL infusion of microscopic cancer killing juice (Kadcyla). I have been looking forward to that day since the day I found out I had to do 14 rounds of it, haha. However, to be totally honest, finishing treatment brought on a LOT of anxiety. My “safety net” of sorts is being taken away. Now what?? What if there are still cells floating around??

Tuesday was the day- the last infusion. As usual, the infusion went perfectly. I brought candy to share with my AMAZING infusion nurses and they decorated my little cubby with signs and THE BELL. I arrived home to signs and a GIANT balloon and candy and SO MUCH LOVE from my family.

The afternoons after my infusions, I usually spend relaxing on the couch. I want the medicine to do it’s thing- so I take it easy and continue to drink water. I also sometimes feel…waterlogged from all the fluids.

While sitting on the couch, I felt a weird feeling in my chest. It felt like….bubbles. I was sitting with kinda bad posture so I adjusted my body and the weird feeling went away.

Until the next day.

On Wednesday afternoon, I felt the weird feeling again while on the couch. I adjusted my posture..and it went away. But then it happened again later and this time I COULD HEAR IT.

After putting the kids to bed, I went and laid on my bed and now it was happening a LOT and it was LOUD. Esella came in and I told her about it, and she was able to easily hear it. Her eyes got wide and she said “That.Is. Creepy.”

Justin came in, and I explained it all to him and then he heard it too. At this point, there was a distinct clicking sound coming from the area of my heart in addition to a gurgling sound.

Being a cancer survivor, I am at higher risk for heart issues. Chemo in general can weaken the heart- and the specific meds I was on can cause heart issues (which is why I had heart ECHOs every 3 months- always totally normal). So we decided not to wait and Justin took me into the ER at about 10:30pm.

Let me tell you, they take “chest sounds” VERY SERIOUSLY. Even though I felt FINE, I was rushed back for an immediate EKG (I hadn’t even finished changing into my gown when they brought in the machine). EKG was fine- my O2 was 100%. I was hooked up to a heart monitor and had no less than 10 vials of blood taken.

Then, then nurse heard it.

The clicking sound.

Not with her stethoscope- she could hear it just standing in my room with me. “Oh my god! It’s CLICKING!”

The doctor came in and went over all of my history and said I was getting “the full work up.”

YAY. (I don’t half-ass anything you see).

When I am stressed, scared, or feel sick- I shake. It actually helps calm down my nervous system. In fact, I shook during all of my births which sometimes freaked out the nurses.

So I was shaking BADLY. I was terrified. I was scared there was something very wrong with my heart. I was offered meds for the anxiety and finally accepted them (Ativan) and I am SO SO THANKFUL. I was able to relax a little as I got my chest xray and then my chest CT.

However nothing could quite prepare me for what the doctor told me.

Him: (In a possibly German accent) “I think I know what is wrong with you. I am waiting for the CT to confirm, but I am fairly positive you have a collapsed lung.”

Me: {Blank stare} “UM WHAT?? But I didn’t have any injury!! How did this happen??”

Him: “Sometimes these things just happen. We call it spontaneous. This is a much better outcome that it could have been with your symptoms.”

CT confirmed I had a “very small” pneumothorax (collapsed lung) at about 20%.

I was then admitted to the hospital and put on high flow oxygen to try to reinflate my lung. It was around 1am when I was moved to my room.

I barely slept- and was woken at 5:30am for more bloodwork. I had another chest xray around 1:30pm and then around 2:15pm I finally saw the pulmonologist who said my lung was stable so I could go home on bedrest and follow up with additional X-rays to monitor progress. Justin and the kids picked me up around 3:30 and I was never so glad to be taking a shower and curling up on my couch!

I had a follow up X-ray on Friday which was “stable, and nothing to worry about” so I go on Tuesday for another X-ray- I am hoping it is starting to close up.

But our fun wasn’t over yet!

On Saturday- the plumbing in half our house was backed up- so we had to have a plumber come out- he ended up arriving at 8:30pm and worked until after 10 to clear our pipes (70 feet!!!).

On Sunday- our dishwasher wasn’t draining. Justin thought he found the issue (broken pieces of plate) but it still wasn’t draining. So, we have another plumber here right now, as I’m typing this, fixing it.

In addition to all of this, my family suffered a great loss on Tuesday. My Uncle Tom (my mom’s brother) passed away. Every time I think about it, I start to cry but I am trying not to cry because of my lung. Uncle Tom was my favorite uncle- and I have so many happy memories with him during my childhood and adulthood. I am feeling deep sorrow for my Aunt Bernie (his wife) and my cousins and their children during this time. Uncle Tom was a great “Pop Pop” and will be deeply missed.

(That is my Uncle Tom with my Mom a couple years ago)

So….I’ve had QUITE a week. And I can’t make this stuff up!

Well- the kids and I are going to watch some documentaries about ancient worlds in a few since I am on bedrest. We hope you are all doing well in this pandemic life we’ve been in the last year. I know it’s been a rough year for all of us! Looking forward to NORMALCY SOON!!

With Love,

Katie