It looks as though I will start on the trial drug Friday morning. I am not quite sure how these decisions get made. My blood pressure is still high, just around the cutoff value. I guess we have abandoned the desire to lower the blood pressure before starting this new drug. The sooner, the better.
In fact, this morning my blood pressure had gone up from earlier in the week and was just above the cutoff value. I was seriously worried I wouldn't be able to start the trial this week. But really: how are you going to get a nice low reading when stress raises blood pressure, and you're feeling like getting a low reading is, somewhat literally, a matter of life and death? No stress there, nuh-uh. Add to the mix sending me to the chemo suite to get the reading -- yeah, the place at which I spent five solid minutes vomiting the last time I walked in the door -- and you can appreciate that maybe there was good reason this reading wasn't as low as it might be.
Nevertheless, Friday I have to have a reading that meets the criterion, and it will be taken at the chemo suite, so nurse Connie and I brainstormed strategies for keeping my pressure as low as possible. Meditation, strategic timing for taking medications, and a little bit of a fast-acting anti-anxiety drug all have their place. Plus I know all of you will be rooting for me and siphoning off my anxiety and holding it with you for a while, and that will help a lot.
I am rooting for you, Leslie! Sending calm, peaceful thoughts your way to keep that reading low.-Sylvie
ReplyDeleteLeslie, picture yourself lying in the hammock in Little Compton, looking up at the fishbone pattern of the locust leaves overtop the blue of the sky, smelling the sea and the grass, thinking about all the yummy things you've planted in the garden, picturing all the little ones in the family clammering to get first dibs on digging up your potatoes, .... maybe going and staying there in your mind all day will help. :)
ReplyDeleteThinking of you, breathing deeply. Nancy
ReplyDeleteThinking of you today, along with all of the folks pulling for you. We are all closing our eyes, breathing deep and going to the "happy places" in our heads and hearts hoping that our peace will become your peace and get that number where it needs to be.
ReplyDeleteThank you all. It worked! See today's post.
ReplyDelete