I am trying to do better about keeping my blog more up to date. Things are sort of stagnant right now, and I don't want to be a bore!
Today I had mapping for my radiation done. For those of you that do not know what mapping is they do a CAT scan and look at the organs on the inside of your body (that they do not want to radiate) and then mark your skin in the places that they are confident they can radiate the area they want without getting the organs they don't want.
In my case they do not want to radiate my heart or lungs. In order for them to do this I have to have a box that sits on my stomach during my radiation and I take a large breath in and hold it for 15-20 seconds and they radiate. My total radiation time will take around 45 minutes they said. At least my lungs will be good and exercised after 6 weeks!
To mark my skin I had an option of tattoos or stickers. I thought well it may be cumbersome to try and keep stickers on all the time (they want the radiation going in the same spot every time) so I opted for the tiny needle point tattoos. AND I GOT STICKERS TOO. Blah. They just put a glob on ink on my skin and then poked me with a needle to make the mark. They look much like freckles and only the ones in my armpit hurt. Then they marked those areas with a sharpie and put clear stickers over that and asked that I not take them off. Hindsight is 20/20 but now I can tell people I have 8 tattoos!!
My first treatment of radiation will be next Wednesday so I will update then when I know how it is going to go. I am a bit nervous as this is another transition, another set of doctors and nurses. Some times you just feel like you are getting passed around like a new toy.
I have one request this week. I am doing so well and you guys have prayed for me for so long - this week I would like you to pray for my friend that was recently diagnosed with ALS. She is 25 & is having to move back from Boston to live with her parents. The diagnosis is new and I know her heart is heavy and her mind is full of questions as well as her family. It is also heavy on my heart and just something that I would like you, if you have a spare minute, to do. Pray that she finds the strength to complete a round of infusions she that could potentially reverse nerve damage (that cause excruciating headaches for 7 days) , that she and her mother are able to get everything prepared for her move back, that her friends in Boston show her a good time before she leaves, that they have safe travels back home, and that her and her family are able to get settled in well & that her doctors here are able to give her the best care possible. Thank you so much friends.
All my love, always.
XOXO
Mary Ann
Today I had mapping for my radiation done. For those of you that do not know what mapping is they do a CAT scan and look at the organs on the inside of your body (that they do not want to radiate) and then mark your skin in the places that they are confident they can radiate the area they want without getting the organs they don't want.
In my case they do not want to radiate my heart or lungs. In order for them to do this I have to have a box that sits on my stomach during my radiation and I take a large breath in and hold it for 15-20 seconds and they radiate. My total radiation time will take around 45 minutes they said. At least my lungs will be good and exercised after 6 weeks!
To mark my skin I had an option of tattoos or stickers. I thought well it may be cumbersome to try and keep stickers on all the time (they want the radiation going in the same spot every time) so I opted for the tiny needle point tattoos. AND I GOT STICKERS TOO. Blah. They just put a glob on ink on my skin and then poked me with a needle to make the mark. They look much like freckles and only the ones in my armpit hurt. Then they marked those areas with a sharpie and put clear stickers over that and asked that I not take them off. Hindsight is 20/20 but now I can tell people I have 8 tattoos!!
My first treatment of radiation will be next Wednesday so I will update then when I know how it is going to go. I am a bit nervous as this is another transition, another set of doctors and nurses. Some times you just feel like you are getting passed around like a new toy.
I have one request this week. I am doing so well and you guys have prayed for me for so long - this week I would like you to pray for my friend that was recently diagnosed with ALS. She is 25 & is having to move back from Boston to live with her parents. The diagnosis is new and I know her heart is heavy and her mind is full of questions as well as her family. It is also heavy on my heart and just something that I would like you, if you have a spare minute, to do. Pray that she finds the strength to complete a round of infusions she that could potentially reverse nerve damage (that cause excruciating headaches for 7 days) , that she and her mother are able to get everything prepared for her move back, that her friends in Boston show her a good time before she leaves, that they have safe travels back home, and that her and her family are able to get settled in well & that her doctors here are able to give her the best care possible. Thank you so much friends.
All my love, always.
XOXO
Mary Ann