Quote for October

A Prayer for the Ephesians Eph. 3:14-21

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.


Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!


Saturday, December 17, 2011

Take Care of Yourself

What I have learned in November and December:

If a carcinoid patient feels like she is doing too much and she ought to rest, then she should do that. No matter that friends will be disappointed that she will not be at their party, stop cooking the cocktail meatballs and go lie down. The same thing goes for Thanksgiving. The other adults can chip in and finish preparing the meal, if necessary. Go lie down.

If the patient does not do that, she risks having classic carcinoid diarrhea and spending four days in bed--or in the bathroom.

In general, I have been very weak for nearly 2 weeks. I had a wonderful 8 days just before that. I did not take my cane with me, and I was able to go Christmas shopping. I also made a big trip to Target to get food and household supplies. It's a good thing I did that because on December 16 I began getting weak.

I am afraid to go anywhere that I will have to cross a parking lot. I had to walk over 200 feet last week to get my hair cut, and had to use my cane to hold me up and propel me forward.

In 2 days I have an appointment with my internist to get a prescription for a walker and to set up a handicapped parking space. I will see my oncologist on January 4. I have been giving myself rescue shots of 100 micrograms of Octreotide 1-3 times per day. I have been having the heat from carcinoid. Also, I have been alternating between diarrhea and constipation. I think all the shots may be causing constipation.

I have an echocardiogram scheduled on December 29, so we can see if there is any heart valve damage.

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