PET Scan On Monday

Hi Everyone~ the next test will be on Monday. This is the last test from my oncologist to establish a new base line.
I will have 2 more stress tests with the cardiologist after Monday. We have a busy weekend ahead so I thought I would get this out today.
Please be in prayer about the PET scan on Monday and the following results.
Thanks all, have a good weekend!
Elayne

I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Psalm 62;5-7

Tests today are done!

Ok, three tests down, three to go. My day started at Donise's with 2 huge bottles of " banana smoothie" ( yea right) contrast. After a few sips of bottle #1 I started to feel sick and thought "this is going to be a rough day". Thankfully, it went away and I was able to get the 2 bottles down.
I had the CT and bone scans as well as a chest X Ray done. I want to thank so many of you that have been and were praying this morning. I could truly feel it during my tests and felt completely calm, no anxiety at all. I do not have any results yet, but will let you know through the blog when I know.
We had a 2 hour break in between tests so Donise and I went to MiMi's Cafe for brunch and did some shopping. I am pretty wiped out now, plan to take it easy tonight.
Thanks again for all the prayer support, please continue to pray that the test results come back fine over these next couple of days.
Elayne

Tests tomorrow

Tonight I will be spending the night with my friend Donise. She lives close to the hospital and I have to be there early ( without my coffee:) for the first 3 tests.
I will be having a bone scan, chest X-ray and CT scan. Donise will be taking me.

I am doing pretty well with the beta blocker so far. I have noticed that my heart is not racing and having the palpitations nearly like it was before. Also, my blood pressure seems to be dropping even further. So, it does seem to be doing what it is supposed to do. However, I do feel more fatigue now.

One of the meds I am on is causing sleep problems and I usually only sleep about 4-5 hours at night. I then have to take a different medicine to help me get back to sleep. It is quite a balancing act with all these different medications.

I know many of you are praying along with us for these tests over the next 2 weeks. I truly appreciate that. As you can imagine there is a lot of anxiety that comes with having these tests done. Today, I am feeling surprisingly calm. Please pray that I will remain this way tonight and tomorrow. I am looking forward to "girl time" with Donise.

Thanks everyone for your prayers and support! The tests tomorrow begin at 9 am.
Elayne

In The Shadow Of Your Cross

As I was running last night listening to my I pod the song Shadow Of Your Cross by Joel Engle played and the words really struck me as so appropriate as I head into my upcoming tests these next couple of weeks. Here are some of the words from this song ~

IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR CROSS, I WILL LIVE FOR ALL MY DAYS.
HOW COULD I FORGET THE PRICE YOU PAID
IN THE SHELTER OF YOUR LOVE, I WILL GIVE ALL MY PRAISE
IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR CROSS I WILL STAY.

Cardiologist apt. yesterday

Good morning everyone~ Chris and I saw another cardiologist yesterday and the visit went well. He was very thorough and answered almost every one of our questions we had written down before we even asked.
After talking with him, I better understand the reason for the beta blocker he wants me to be on and began a low dose last night. He will work the dosage up over the next weeks/months. I will then have another muga scan to see if there is improvement with my injection fraction number. Last test it showed 45, normal is 50. Mine was in the 50's before the Herceptin. He feels that I have a good chance at getting it back up on the medication or at least keeping it stable at 45.
For now, he said I need to let my heart get stronger. I can still run but only 5 or 10 K's, no half or whole marathons for now. His goal is to get that number back up and then I can resume the more intense running.
So... I am still good to go for the upcoming 5K ( Race For The Cure) but unsure about the half marathon in January.
Next week he will have me come in for a stress test on the treadmill with pictures of my heart. I then go back the next day for a "resting" test. This will be done to make sure there are no blockages or other problems. So, it looks like we are on the right track for now.
Over these next few weeks I will be going through a battery of tests and doctors apts.

Please be in prayer with our family that EVERY test comes back with good results, that there is no spread,the pain in my back eases up and for total healing. Also that I will not have any side effects from the new med. for my heart, that it will do only what it is supposed to do.

Thanks to all of you so far for the encouragement, support and donations for The Race For The Cure! I will leave the link for that web page located above the map.

Those who hope in the LORD, will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. Isaiah 40:31

Race For The Cure ~ June 7th!

Dear Friends and Family,

I recently decided to participate in the the Komen North Texas Race for the Cure® on June 7, 2008 in the fight against breast cancer. One in eight women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime and the more we raise, the more the North Texas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure can give back to fund vital breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in our own community and support the national search for a cure.

Click on the link to the right of this page "Elayne's Race For The Cure Page" to visit my personal page, read about our race plans and pledge your support if you would like. All donations are tax-deductible.

Please join me in the fight by pledging in support of my participation in the Race or contributing to the Komen North Texas Race for the Cure®. Whatever you can give will help! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress as I continue to train over the next 3 weeks.

Thank you so much for your time and support in the fight against breast cancer! Together, we can save lives!

Sincerely,

Elayne Minich

My Guys!

Hey everyone ~ hope you all had a great Mothers Day. We sure did. Here are a couple of pics from Sunday. I will post more about our day on the family blog tomorrow.

I have been feeling pretty good overall. Started on a new medication to help with the anxiety almost 3 weeks ago and it has finally helped take the "edge" off. So far, the one side effect I am having is I only sleep about 5 hours at night and have a hard time getting back to sleep.Hopefully, I will not develop anymore side effects.

My tests are scheduled for May 28th and June 2. My doctor will be getting a new baseline on me since the Herceptin treatments have had to stop. This means lots of tests. I have also decided to get another opinion with a new cardiologist before I begin on another medication. Thanks to those of you that gave me some names, that was helpful.

In the meantime I am enjoying the break and concentrating on keeping strong, healthy and positive. Running has been a huge help and I have 2 runs planned. The Race For The Cure on June 7th in Texas and The PF Chang Rock and Roll half marathon in Arizona in January! More on those later.

Many of you have asked me "what can I do"?, prayer over these next few weeks is the most important thing you can do~ please continue to pray that all these tests at the end of the month come back with good results ( we are praying for healing) and for the pain in my back to ease up ( rib and spine).
Thanks All~ Elayne
If you have questions about how anything in particular is going, please feel free to leave a comment on the blog and I will answer it.

No MRI this week

Dr. Adams ( my oncologist) said it is fine to wait till the end of the month when all my tests are scheduled to check my back. Meanwhile, it has felt better the past 2 days.
Thanks for the prayers, calls and e-mails :)
Elayne

Cardiologist / update

For those of you that live in this area I am looking for a cardiologist that you can recommend. I have been to two and would like a third opinion. Preferably someone around here. My oncologist nurse gave me another name but he is also pretty far. It would be great if I could see someone closer that comes recommended. If you know of someone, please e-mail or call me.

Also, It looks like I will have to have an MRI of my lower back done this week. I have had pain there for a couple of weeks that does not seem to be going away. I thought I pulled a muscle, but will need to get it checked. I am on 2 new meds. over the past month or two ( one for BP and one for anxiety) and having trouble with fatigue and sleeping through the night. Spent most of the day today on the couch. I hate feeling like this. I'm not allowed to have too many "pity parties", my doctor says people will stop coming :) So, hopefully I will feel better tomorrow :)

Please be in prayer about the test this week, the upcoming tests at the end of May and for discernment about what is best for me regarding my heart. Apparently, any time there is "permanent damage" to the heart it is considered having "heart failure". To what degree and what to do is what I am uncertain about at this point.

Thanks all for keeping up with the blog(s) and the prayer support!
Elayne