Here we go again, again

After gall bladder surgery on June 9th and a trip to Madison on July 16th I have restarted the test drug AMG706. I have felt really good since being off the meds in May and having the gall bladder out. I have had two doses of the meds and of course blood pressure did go up 20 pts. I have had some flushing and did have a headache earlier in the day. I added the extra bp med this morning. Slight bowel and gastric probs but nothing too bad.

I hope this time around I will get the benefits without too many side effects.

Gas X is it the answer?

Well after about six weeks of this constant full feeling along with some very painful episodes of abdominal pain. I finally decided to try the Gasx that the dr. suggested last week. Lo and behold it took most of the pain away and I am back to feeling partially normal again. I will have true sympathy for any baby with colic. Never in my wildest dreams did I think gas could be so excruciating. I hope it will continue to improve.
My ct scan and appointment are next week it will be the first results after starting the trial. I am hoping for positive results.

My Shadow is gone

My loyal friend and companion of seventeen years Dexter passed away on February 7, 2010. I miss his happy smile and wagging tail, it was always nice that someone was happy to see you every time you came home. We will bring his ashes home. Labrador Retrievers are the best dogs ever! Good memories, I love you Dextie....

Too Tired

I have been really tired this week. Monday night started off with one of my most painful epicsodes. It started out with that full feeling I have been experiencing with the slight pain at the top of my abdomen right below my sternum. This was about 5 in the evening, by 6 the pain had moved to the upper right quadrant of my abdomen and the pain increased and kept steady until 3:30 am. At that time I got up to use the bathroom and pretty much got rid of everything in my system along with that I had that head to foot heat that I felt last month (not quite as intense). When this was passed (about 30min) the pain had subsided to almost nothing. I went back to sleep and slept most of Tuesday. I still am not feeling very energetic. When I am laying in bed or asleep I don't have any pain and it makes me just want to stay there. But I know I can't do that. I talked to Madison on Tuesday and no one else on the study is having this side effect. It could be the octreotide causing it, because it happens about one week after I get the shot.
I really think I need a pain pill, but the doc said to take tylenol, I don't think she realizes that I was moaning in severe pain for about six hours with this. I was ready to take anything for it. We will see.
No other side effects to post at this time. Next month will be the real tell, I will get my ct scan and we will see what has been going on with the sites on my liver.

Pain in the Neck

I will be going to Madison in a week for the first appointment after starting the study. Overall I think my blood pressure has evened out. The other things I have been dealing with the last two weeks are related to a virus, I think. My voice is still gruff, the soft tissues (ie. nose, mouth, throat) seem tender, and my eyes are getting gunky over night. The major pain at the base of my skull behind my right ear, is so sore and nothing seems to relieve it. Went to the chiropractor yesterday, no relief there. Put ice on it, no relief either. Tylenol, nothing. I sleep alot just because it doesn't hurt when I am sleeping. It just doesn't seem to be getting any better. I don't have a clue as to what might be causing it. I hope it isn't a side effect.

Bottle no. 4

Started on my 4th bottle of study drug today, so that means a trip to Madison will not be too far away. I think things have evened out in the side effects arena, but who knows what longer term use will be? After some splittling headaches, severe gastric distress, and my entire body heating up it seems the side effects are getting less noticeable.
The doctor seems to think the gastric probs and the heating might be good signs that the meds are working like they are suppose to. I would like to think it is the death thralls of the tumors exiting my body. Wouldn't that be great?
I have had a severe cough starting last Thursday (the 21st), went to walk in clinic on Monday (the 25th) and got cough syrup and a packet of predisone because he thought my chest sounded tight. I lost my voice but the cough did better, my voice is still gravelly. I don't know if the prednisone did any good at all, I would think I would be better on my own by now anyway.
Only other condition seems that the inside of my mouth is starting to be a little tender. You know my grandma always said whatever is going in your stomach is going on in your mouth too. So hopefully it won't get too bad. Just got to watch what I eat.
Speaking of eating and the necessary consequences I have decided that I there are entirely too many bodily functions to discuss this daily on a blog. I will keep those in a journal and try to keep my thoughts and general issues as information for the blog.

Day 4

Woke up to a splitting headache this morning but BP wasn't any more elevated that it had been. At 6 am 137/102, took med at 7 down to 155/87. New meds must be working.

Otherwise, Jim and I talked about what seems to be a problem that has been happening slowly over the last few months. (3-4 months) My abdomen seems bloated. It has just occured to me that it has gotten worse. I know the last month it has gotten very noticeable. Don't know if it is fluid or inflamation or what. I do need to discuss this with doctor.

My butt is still sore from shot on Wednesday. Jury still out on effect of Octreotide. Not in a mood to write anymore.