...um...85% .

Yesterday we went to Doc appt. Angela's tests have all come back with positive results. The chemo seems to be kicking some Lupus butt. Doctor Joe is impressed by her recovery, me too. She's scheduled for 4 more infusions. We're getting her scheduled for shoulder replacement after she's done with the treatments, June. Until then, no bowling.

Her walker is getting cobwebs, we've reduced the amount of drugs and her mental state is back 90%. She's back in the kitchen (whew!) and monitors her laundry.

Insert sigh of relief here________.

Yesterday was GREAT!
I haven't seen Angela with so much energy and vitality for some time. This round of chemo, without steroids, seems to have made a huge difference. Lupus type symptoms seem to be decreasing. Yahoo!

Went to a pharmacologist (ref by both of Angela's primary doctors), one who is actually anti-drug. She analyzed all the meds, vitamins and came up with a plan to minimize Angela's intake. She's eliminated some of the bad boys and increased supplements etc to balance everything out. She teaches at the U of M and is a consultant for some big pharma. She did it for free. Amazing. (insider info: take fish oils...they are life savers)

Angela's bones are a different story. I'm afraid if she sneezes too hard she'll loose a body part, as soon as the chemo is finished we're taking her in for retreads. In the mean time, as long as I keep the duck tape nearby, she should be fine...

All is well. I apologize if ya'll been wonderin' what's goin' on. Our phone/elect service has been out...

Angela had her second infusion on Monday. She's doing fine. Feels better than the last one, she says. We're home, she's smiling. Left leg is acting up, she feels/looks swollen, vitals good. While in the infusion room, funny thing...after Angela was finished with the infusion, the nurse dropped the chemo IV that was removed from Angela's arm. I went to pick it up for her, the nurse panicked and exclaimed, "don't touch that!" ....It was too toxic to touch without gloves...

Great timing. We had a ice storm Monday morning which cut our power off until approx 1.5 hr ago. We've been camping in front of the fire place. Had plenty of wood and food. Transistor radio/NPR pacified us. My campfire cooking entertained us. It's about 14 degrees out now, glad the power came back on. Ready for a shower. Flushing toilets...great concept.

More later...

Ok, ok, it's been a few days...

No news is good news.

All the blood work has come back; looking good, so chemo-infusion #2 is on for Monday a.m. This time they changed the protocol...no steroids...novel idea. They've lowered the dosage of cytoxin down a bit too...

Angela is up in spirits, up and about and the vasculitis is clearing up from her toes and fingers. Good sign...

I'll be in touch after the chemo...I think everything has leveled off for now.

Good day ya'll. The A-goil is getting stronger and more of her brain cells back. Legs seem to bother her a bit and the walker is still close by. We finally got out of the house and went over to the mom and pop's. All in all things are good. Got a dusting of snow...

The Angel has risen...

She's been up and all around today. Feeling her oats and moving energy . It's good to see the smiles again and look of optimism...

The sun broke through the clouds this afternoon....

Looking at yesterdays post I have to admit, I was struggling to post something positive. Angela has been in bed quite a bit with a fever. If it's not one thing it's another. Vitals are low. She only took 2 of her daily dose...she's tired of the drugs. It's a gray day. Is mercury in retrograde?

She always brings me back to center...all is good.

...another beautiful day, upper 40's ...

miss A is doing better. Went to Dr. appt. today, Doc is happy with her progress. Eliminated 1 of the 18 meds she takes (the other 14 are supplements). He may add a couple more later though... She still shakes like she had a triple shot cafe' mocha with powdered sugar on top...She received a prescription for a park-for-free tag for the van, she'll still make me park in the regular spaces...

I've been a little frustrated lately, time for me to vent...

• Wheelchairs...the double wide model is now the standard for the hospital. They barely squeeze through the doors. Angela looks like Edith Ann (Lily Tomlin) from Laugh In in them.
  

• Did you know there are about a dozen names for the same medications. I have to carry a pharmaceuticals guide for dummies just to keep up with what she's taking. It's not about the amount of drugs she has to take, it's about all the names I have to remember. A new pill means another 5 hours studying all their brand names, generic names, disclaimers, adverse reactions, Latin and whether or not they interact with Viagra...
  

• The prescription bottles need to have additional labels that read, "Pliers, cork screws and nut crackers are required to open container".
  

• Our Doctor, whom we have the utmost of respect for, is given 15min (honest) for each patient he sees when he is in clinic. I5 minutes. Now that's production... If you take extra time you effect the amount of time he is able to spend with other patients. Here are patients with life threatening diseases who are struggling to get a grasp on their illness and the guy who is doing his best in helping them gain sense of their condition/treatment has 15 minutes per visit to do so... We are quite fortunate; since he is a member of Angela's fan club, Ann Arbor chapter, we have had more quality time than what is allotted.

• I waited in line at the bank today longer than Angela's doctor appointment took.

• I discovered an ugly truth...pharmaceutical companies promote illness, "educate" the doctors and push the drugs... (gggrrrrrr!) ...and people go to jail for smoking pot???
  

Enough.
dOOg out

All is swell. Angela is less dependent on the walker. Her hands shake quite a bit, not sure if that will go away. Vitals are steady. Today we have a nurse and physical therapist coming over to evaluate things. They'll be coming around a few times a week for another month or so. All in all my Angela is regaining her strength, a little shy on memory...she is now 40 ya know...

New Years day...low key. The mom and pops came by with a yummy dinner... Nice entry into the new...

Humor is up...