After Chemo #3

I enjoyed a restful, drug-induced nap through chemo on Wednesday, and I had a regular bowel movement this morning. One would wonder if I had a spa day this week 

 That is a HUGE improvement from being constipated  from Tuesday to Sunday on the first infusion.  Even though my dietician wants me to be more active, '"like take a walk or a jog or something" (yeah, right!), and the person who wrote up my lab reports, cautioned me about my health- (duh--I'm on cancer-fighting poison.), and warned me not to take supplements 24 hours before- (stay in your lane, please. My oncologist can be the one to give me the big advice, since she knows all the treatments, results, and history, thanks.)

I reached the halfway point with Wednesday's treatment, and am a bit shocked by how I'm feeling by the same time on Friday.  (Is it only two days later?)

Don't die; don't delay.  Don't die; don't delay......

Amazingly, my health has gone well.  The week has been a little more stressful that I expected, though, thanks to Stephen's work week, the weather not cooperating for the kids to get themselves to and from school--cold/rainy, some extra school stuff for the kids, Oh, and me having to use Youtube  to Dermabond (Stitch) my aunt's face up after she fell down the stairs and into a beam in my kitchen, since it happened after Stephen was on the way to work and before the boys had woken up.  We didn't want them to see the blood shooting onto the floor or walls.  It was bad enough for them to see blood on her clothes.  I was actually proud of my medical work and not freaking out myself, as this was a bleeder.  First, I watched the online 'training."  Then, I needed to get the bleeding slowed down before gluing the wound, especially since it was on the face, above the eyebrow. I got some ice on it to help with pain and to get some swelling down, for a clean closure.

Then, the real Dr. Mom work could begin.    

I got some large, sterile gloves on my tiny hands and disinfected the site.  

I followed the Youtube instructions, and even though it should have been "just ok," it was better than that.  

There was a much bigger black eye today, but very little pain, according to the patient.  

Today is my last day of steroids for this round, so I'm praying to be able to keep health at a better than "just ok" level.

BTHOC--again!

I've decided to try my hardest to stay alive and to keep the health up to fight this beast into the ground.

Labs + Dr. Coolio

I was exhausted after the break from our regularly scheduled program for MLK Day on Monday. Regular life always seems like there is SO much to accomplish in the day, but this time around, it seems like cancer is truly trying hard to change it.

The pharmacy at my clinic is still under construction.  In order to obtain the adjusted drugs for my case and to make those changes available for delivery here, from the Mother Ship.

My Aunt Terri is here to help while I suffer with an aching back and exhaustion and driving my minions to school and sports, as the weather continues to be cold and rainy.  She drove me to my appointments today and waited for me to meet wit the doctor.  Then, she came back to my room and did some awesome shop talk over ranch stuff and on the best parts of beef to eat with my nurse, who grew up on a farm in Kansas.

I received my lab results on my bloodwork, and they are mostly on the low side.   None of this is majorly concerning to my health care professionals,  as it is pretty normal for this type of treatment.  There are, however, a few changes they want me to make to my diet in connection, For example, my iron is low. so I need to up that.  My WBW + RBC are low, among other things.  The dietitian gave me ideas on how to change my intake and how to improve my blood work for next time.



Dr Cole and I discussed any symptom problems since the last infusion.  I have had a few, weird shots of pain, from my ankles to my knees, flowing up the fronts of my legs around what felt like along my shins.  I also have felt some lower back pain, worse that before.  Today, it actually compared to back labor when my children were each born, before drugs.  I also felt pain in the lower front abdomen, as if I'd pulled muscles.  After an examination, the Doctor thinks these symptoms are most likely to be signs that my bone marrow is recovering from the negative effects of chemo, which is a great thing!

I did better on the second round with the poop teeter/totter.  I haven't been experiencing any mouth sores.  I told her about my few days of depression and frustration about this time feeling so much harder and worry about if this is it.  I also shared my "mom wins" with my youngest son and if getting him testing and entered into the dyslexia program he needs is the only reason I'm still here, then it's worth it!  I also have seen miracles in my health through this crazy weather-shifting winter and not being sick with cough and cold symptoms. Those are small miracles in the long-run of health.

With my lab results being lower, and since I'm already starting to feel exhausted, Dr. Cole mentioned that I need to take care of myself--my nutrition, my resting, and do as much as I can to stay on top of my overall health.  If my blood work gets too bad, we will have to delay the timing of the individual treatments. We want to try to keep as most of track as we can.

After tomorrow's infusion, I'll be halfway through this treatment, but it's only going to get more difficult on my body.  She advised me to "call in the troops." [How could I have been doing THIS well if the troops HAD NOT ALREADY been called in?!] She was amazed at my support group, and I'm so grateful for all the help and rides and meals and love and support and service the troops have already brought out.  We are almost halfway there, warriors!  WE CAN DO IT!

As we wrapped up the appointment, we reviewed the advice:  Stay healthy, rested, and positive.  Eat right, be as active as I can be, and take all the help that is offered. She wants me to be able to stay on track for the treatments and to be healthy enough to stay around for a long time.

"Here's my overall advice for you:
Don't Die
and
Don't Delay."

Ok.  You're the Doc. Doc.

We had a good laugh Basically, she reminded me that I'm the only patient she could say this to, the only one with the personality to laugh and take it all in stride, with the understanding of it all.

For as long as I can and as long as God is willing......That's my new motto:  "Don't Die + Don't Delay,"

along with the old standby:
BTHOC + Kick Cancer to the Curb.