Archive for CT Scan

My scan came back with no growth!

By Crystal Heimgartner · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Well I not only made it through the CT but had pretty good news. My scan came back with no growth so that’s awesome! The more we look at it we’re not sure that I don’t have a 2cm reduction which would be absolutely amazing as I work towards a reversal surgery and remission. I was very nervous about the test but thrilled with the results. My oncologist told me that he couldn’t argue for chemo with results like that and wanted to know a little more about what I was doing. I am thrilled with my decision to change to Dr Dan. He said to come again in 6 weeks and repeat the scan in 3 months.

Also I had some good family news this week as well.

After some consideration I decided to approach Dr Mark about a “clean” food Cafe’/Gluten free bakery. Because if my diet restrictions I can’t go out to eat or have as many options for food when I’m out and about. I’d like to make foods that are gluten free and “clean”(meaning no canola/vegetable oil, refined sugars or flour ect) He seemed excited about it and I think we may move that direction. He told me that he would love to make “the market”(his store) a lunch place where you could get great food which is exactly what I was thinking. If I did it out of the market I would have access to fresh organic ingredients and a fully functioning kitchen. I’m excited to see what comes of it!

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It’s been a year since my diagnosis and first surgery.

By Crystal Heimgartner · Comments (1)
Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Well I’m finally slowed down enough to write an entry. It’s been a year since my diagnosis and first surgery. I find it kind of ironic that almost a year to the day of my diagnosis and thinking my life was ending I watched my beautiful niece being born and her life just beginning. Also when I got home I threw a surprise party for my best friend with her husband. It made me so grateful to be healthy enough to enjoy these moments and look forward to many more. I am so busy since I got home and am doing a modified fast before my CT next week. I’m a little nervous about my scan since I didn’t do as well on my diet while on vacation as I should have but feel pretty good over all. Praying for great results. I was recently given a kitchen gadget called a norwalk juice press by a lovely lady who happened upon my yard sale. They are incredible little things. They do juice, nut butter, salads ect and am so blessed to have one. Yesterday the girls and I juiced about 16 qrts of juice and froze several for them for school. It was a lot of fun, today maybe some sunshine and relaxation…after bills and laundry.

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I am sad right now

By Crystal Heimgartner · Comments (3)
Thursday, May 27th, 2010

I met with Mark yesterday and we went over my scan and he said there is no growth. He doesn’t understand why they are so upset, it’s not like new tumors are exploding all over my body. He sees no need to go bak on chemo. He says once it’s been a year we are going to get a lot more aggressive with my treatment with some extensive fasts ect. I believe in what we are doing and I am active where on chemo I wasn’t and that means a lot to me.

I am sad right now. I just read a caring bridge site for a little girl that I met in the waiting room for CT’s. She is 7 yrs old and she has been battling for a few years now. First of all it was so sad to see this brave little girl the same age as one of my daughters fighting for her life when I know how hard it is on me as a grown person. But when I started reading her journal and saw that her doctors are worried about her weight loss and have advised them to “fatten her up” so she is eating ice cream and high calorie stuff. I wish people knew how badly sugar and milk ect are for growing tumors! Why aren’t Dr’s telling people??? I have gotten so passionate about this stuff but i don’t want to spew it all over people that I don’t know. I wish I could tell everyone how important not eating like crap matters. Every time I walk into the “chemo suite” to get my blood drawn and see the multiple jars of candy and the ladies with cookies walking around it makes me want to scream. The lady with the cookies is just trying to make people cheerful and I get that but when you have cancer a smile and a kind word are a lot more beneficial than cookies and treats.

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I’m well into over three days of fasting

By Crystal Heimgartner · Comments (1)
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

I’m well into over three days of fasting. Today was a little easier but I still want to eat so badly. It makes you very aware of your body and different things going on around you. I’ve spent the last 3 and a half days having water only except for a half of a Kombucha to help with a headache. It seems like the days go by so slowly. I keep watching the clock just hoping that it will be bed time and off to the next day. Mark says I have to do a longer one after the CT and that makes me a little nervous because this has been hard enough but I know I can do it. I’m trying to keep thinking that it will be helpful to me long term but I’m ready to not be light headed when I get up and move around. I also would love to have energy to go for a run or play some hockey. This weakness reminds me of being on chemo.

Today I learned that some of my family feels like I have been disconnected recently. I didn’t feel that way but I have been doing a lot of self evaluation stuff and trying to get by day by day doing it all on my own. However Darick is back now and should be here most of the time now and that will make it a little easier. This blog is my outlet so that I don’t have to talk about it all the time and a way for me to let people know what I am thinking without having to call everyone and go through it over and over. I’m sorry if I have been distant or people feel like I am different. I didn’t intend to hurt anyones feelings. I have been told that I am different now and I am glad to say that I really am but I believe in a good way. I appreciate life a little more and have not put as much effort into everyone else and have settled in to figure out where my happiness lies and spending time with my kids. Now that Darick is back I am hoping to see all of you a lot more and have some free time. Summer is coming and that will make my schedule a lot more flexible.

I love you all even if I haven’t seen you as much as I would like :)

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It’s been a whirl wind of days

By Crystal Heimgartner · Comments (3)
Thursday, February 25th, 2010

It’s been a whirl wind of days. Monday I had a CT and met with my oncologist. He said that my Cat scan looked the same as it did in October which in it’s own way is good. That means at least its not growing!
Then Tuesday I saw my surgeon hoping desperately for him to say that everything was ready to reverse my ostomy. He palpated my abdomen and said “Crystal this is soft, like unbelievably soft.” He seemed quite surprised. After an internal exam he let me get dressed and then came in to talk to me. He said that he thought that my CT actually looked better but that I still had a 4cm mass at the top of the rectal wall so he wanted to wait two more months to see if we could get them to shrink some more. He said “You can do anything for 2 months, be patient.” I told him that I have been patient. He told me 10 weeks and its been 7 months. I think that’s pretty patient. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t pretty disappointed but I am doing my best to live with it and be content to wait. In working with Mark I have realized how hard I am on myself and other people and I know that this will only soften me towards other peoples “defects.” I feel like I am going the right direction and believe my day is coming.
There is a fundraiser this weekend for me at crossfit asylum. It is being put on my one of my nurses. She is a real sweet heart and I am SO grateful for all the support I have continued to receive through out this journey. I receive so much support emotionally and financially. Every time I go to buy ostomy supplies at $400 a month I feel overwhelmed with gratefulness for the help I have had. This journey is far from over but I know with all of you I can do it.

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I saw Mark today and my kidney functions looked good

By Crystal Heimgartner · Comments (3)
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Today was a lot of fun. Gary and I got bored and decided to play with lighting and makeup. It was empowering to get in front of the camera and feel some what like a normal woman again. For the first time I felt like I looked like a girl. I did some crazy makeup and that made it more than just posing. My favorite picture makes me think of strength and determination, 2 things I need to get through the tough days.

I saw Mark today and my kidney functions looked good. So far so good. I have a CT on Monday so we will see what happens from here.

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I got my kidney stints out on Thursday

By Crystal Heimgartner · Comments (1)
Sunday, February 14th, 2010

I got my kidney stints out on Thursday. It was a horrible experience getting them out but I am glad to be free of them. I will have my blood drawn on Tuesday to ensure that my kidneys are functioning ok without them. There is a chance that I will have them put back in but I am hopeful that they’re out of my life for good.

I have a CT on Monday the 22nd and see my surgeon on the 23rd to see what the next step is for me. I am hopeful that he will reverse my ostomy so that I can start living a “normal” life again.

I had a good weekend. I went to my brothers last basketball game on Friday. Saturday I took my girls skiing and went to a hockey game with Darick. Today we got Darick all packed to o north for work again and my mom is here to spend the night. She and I are taking the girls to the hockey game tonight. Idaho vs Fresno. We beat them in overtime last night. It was a great game. Just happy to be alive and have a few great Valentines in my life.

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