Reaction to Hives

I did the test...and it's not the Neosporin and it's not El Pollo Loco!  Yeah!!!  So I guess my hives was a reaction to the Nuelesta shot or just a reaction to Chemo and/or my white blood cell count.  Who knows?  I doubt it was stress, because I've been gone thru much more stress in the past!

Anyhow I am thankful that right now I don't have HIVES!!!

Hives

song-chasing pavements

Hives!  Yikes! 
I can't even post a picture of some of the hives I found on google...so gross!

Clayton left on Tuesday and Thursday I started getting HIVES and huge stomach pains!  Not sure why, it was definitely a mystery?  Finally had time to relax and not worry and I end up with hives? 

 Was it the stress of everything? Was I more worried about my son than I thought?  Was it because of the chemo? 

I ended up in emergency Thursday evening and they gave me morphine (thank god for that, wish I could take that home) and some Benedryl which I had already taken at home. 

They did a Cat scan and could not find anything wrong.  But they did do blood work and found that my white blood cell count was over 34 thousand. The emergency Dr. thought that was really high and thought that was why I was having hives.  So the only thing we could think of was that I was having a reaction to a shot my chemo Dr gives the day after chemo called Nuelesta. 

 It helps boost your bone marrow and your white cell count.  So the emergency Dr. sent me home because there was not much they could do. 

So Friday morning I saw the chemo Dr (his assistant and he said if I was going to have a reaction it would be a week later.  Which was exactly to the day. But of course he thought it was just stress!!!!  So he prescribed Prednisone which seem to make it worse and then back in the emergency I went.  They gave me that shot they give you when you are allergic to bees which gave some comfort.  My thinking was if you can't get rid of these hives, then please give me something to knock me out till they pass!!!!

The emergency Dr. prescribed Hydroxyzine which worked...YEAH!   I did have hives for four days and by Sunday found relief!!!

Question?  What caused the hives?  Well, chemo lowers your resistance to germs and infection.

Last night (Wednesday) I did the same thing I did the night I got hives.  I put some  new neosporin on my boo boos and

had El Pollo Loco for dinner (salad, taquito,and a chicken leg)

Yum!

and then couple hours later started getting itchy?  I've had El Pollo Loco for dinner before and nothing has happened.  Of course I'm going to rule out the food:)  So it either has to be the neosporin or the shot of Nuelasta?

I will do a test tonight and try the neosporin and see what happens?  Pray I don't get the itchies!!!  Or actually maybe I do want them...cause I really like El Pollo Loco!

So who knows why, but tonight I will get some answers I will try the neosporin and if nothing happens tomorrow I will have El Pollo Loco and if nothing happens, my guess it was a reaction to the

shot. 

Oh... by the way this is what my bathroom counter looks like!  How do old people keep track of all their meds? :)  I've actually done really well thru this whole process (besides losing the hair thing) and hopefully this will be the worst of it!

What is Neulasta?

Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is a colony stimulating factor. It is a man-made form of a protein (amino acid) that stimulates the bone marrow and promotes the growth of white blood cells called neutrophils in your body. White blood cells help your body fight against infection.

Neulasta is used to prevent neutropenia, a lack of certain white blood cells caused by receiving chemotherapy.

Neulasta may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Neulasta:

Bone or joint pain; constipation; muscle pain.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Neulasta:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; dizziness; fast heartbeat; increased sweating; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); fast breathing; fever; left-sided shoulder tip pain; left-sided upper stomach pain; a lump, swelling, or bruising at the injection site; severe or persistent bone, chest, joint, or stomach pain; shortness of breath; swelling of the hands, feet, arms, or legs; wheezing.

Boot Camp for Clay

Song- You raised me up

Well,... a week ago I lost possession of my SON! (As his recruiter would say!) 

 My son is now at BOOT CAMP for the NAVY!  He has been waiting all year for this! 

 He wants to be part of the SWCC program which stands for "Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman"  Navy also calls them "the quiet Professionals"  They are the warriors of the sea.  Their missions are covert.  Their strikes are ferocious. And their forces are elite!  All SWCCs thrive on adrenaline and determination! 

Their purpose: unconventional warfare from the world's waterways, including insertion and extraction of Navy SEALS.

 What 23 year old would not want to do this? 
 Well this is what my son wants to do...he qualified for the program, now he just has to get thru boot camp and then onto training for SWCC!

Clayton has always thrived on adrenaline since he was a young boy wanting to be a Ninja turtle with his cousin, to jumping out of planes...and now the Navy!

Clayton and his cousin Kevin

Clay rock climbing

Clay just having fun

Clay sky diving

I am very proud of my son and his decision to do this and starting this new chapter in his life! 

 Of course as a mother I will always worry!  And since my son has been in boot camp I have decided that is all I do or have done is...WORRY about my children.  Now that he is gone, I can't worry when, and where he is going and  or when he will be home!  I can't believe how much time I spent doing that?  Now my mind does not know what to do?  I can only worry so much cause I have no idea what he is doing?

 So now I will have to fill my time and my mind with something else!.....  Maybe I will go paint his room:)

Clayton live life to the fullest and enjoy everything life has to offer, stand strong and trust in God in everything you do and be more than you ever thought you could be!

I love you Clay...hurry home!

Going away party for Clay for Navy

Song-My Wish


Wow....its been a long couple of weeks! 

My son has been getting ready to ship out for the Navy, so... I have been basically a wreck!  Can't even  talk about it,...it makes me cry.  He has been waiting all year for this! 
Planning a going away party,...stressing,.....then on top of all that still dealing with Chemo:/  Then the Navy changed his shipping out date a week early!  I know my son has been anxious to get things going, but com'n give a mom a break! 

So I planned a party, got the invitations sent out, started the shopping and cooking, took time out for a chemo treatment  (thanks Cindy), rested a day and then started again the next day.  Thanks Cindy for the pics, that is one thing I always forget!!!!!!!!!!



Clayton almost 24 yrs (Feb)

 His Party was a success!!!  It was not a surprise, because there was no way I could pull that off while he was living with me. 

This was his initial sign in a year ago

 Thank you to all the friends and family that showed up to give him a great send off! 

Thank you Camille (my daughter) for helping when your momma did not feel well. And thank you to Clay, Kayla & Camille for blowing up all those balloons and letting momma rest.  Just to have you in the same room ....was a party for me! 
 And thank you to Mark & David for pulling a poker tournament for him and helping with that.  I know nothing about Poker and could never have pulled that together.  Thanks Tony (Sardella) for your help with all the Pizza! They LOVED IT! 

 And thank you to everyone that stayed late (3am) and had a great time, I know Clay loved it and he had a great time and will never forget it!!!! 

And for those that could not make it, we were sorry you could not come....you missed a great time and a great hug, from a great kid! :)    WE WILL MISS YOU CLAY!  Enjoy this new chapter in your life!

Here are some pics from the party:

Cousin LOVE- Clay, Lisa, Zach, Dane,Jett, & Teda

Clayton with grandma & grandpa Hoffner

Deklan & David

Dane & Jett loving the balloons!