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.

  

Chemo #2

My son allowed me to borrow his White Elephant gift from the night before my my second dose of this chemo.  

I found it fitting--a great shoutout to so many of you, "THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND!"  If you're too young to get the reference, it's "Golden Girls."  This one for me is going to be for my Rose Gold Girls: the Pink Cancer Warriors." I love you and the support you offer in countless ways. as I travel down this road and back again.  

I feel that friendship, hair or no hair!  Thank you for being my pals and confidants.  

We are still kicking cancer to the curb.  BTHOC!!

I am trying this time to follow the frug plan, with added steps to avoid the terrible constipation from the first time.  Plus, we did some ice treatment on my hands, which is so-far helping to prevent nueropohty.  After the ice and 2 warm blankets, I was out for the count!  The last treatment of 2019.  What a year!

Hair No More

After a few days of my hair coming out in clumps, and then the follicles and scalp in constant pain, (like leaving a bun/braid/ponytail in too long and then brushing it out the opposite way), it was time to shave this head-----AGAIN!

A last minute invite was sent out for any local support who might want too be witnesses to the change, and the new 'do started at 8:45.

A friend of a friend (Lynn) was available at such short notice, which I was grateful for!

I was so grateful for local warriors also available for this impromptu party.

Off it came.....complete with a background story: 

Gone now!  

I'm thankful, so I've been told, that I have a good head for baldness.  This has come in handy for FOUR TIMES NOW!!!!  

Let Me Be Clear

The boys came to Dr. C's for a little field trip.  They were not that amused.  

It was nice for my clinic to finally meet these crazies that I talk about all the time!  

We discussed side effects from the first treatment, found out that I am scheduled to have SIX of these doses, with midway scans after the first THREE.  

Also, there was a bit of confusion about the clear scans I reported in a blog post about my BRAIN.  I have been monitoring brain activity, independent of other body parts for years now.  After my gamma knife radiation, earlier this year, that schedule has been every three months.  In order to take advantage of meeting the out-of-pocket insurance costs for 2019, we squeezed one more brain scan in for the year.  

As there has been some rough news from the results of my regular full-body scans, I thought it would be nice to bring up something to praise by sharing that my BRAIN SCAN was clear--something good to end the year on.  No, my whole body is not clear---yet, but it's good to look for silver linings whenever I can.  

I hope that clears that up.  Sorry for not clarifying earlier!!!

Brain MRI + RESULTS!

Everything was lined up for a smooth experience downtown this week.  

My new port was accessed for the contrast.  

Easy-peasy.

Returned to Dr. Wardak's office for results today:  SCANS ARE CLEAR!!!

No worries into 2020!

A Fall

Do you remember in Greek Mythology, Icarus, who ignored the advice of his father and flew too close to the sun?  Icarus thought he knew better and that the solar rays would cause him no harm.   When cautioned to use his wings only to stay in the safe zone between sun and sea, Icarus flew higher.  Soon, it was too late.  The wax in his feathered wings couldn't hold up forever.  It melted under the high heat, and Icarus fell down and drowned in the sea.  

Like Icarus himself, I too, tempted fate and lost.  I decided to wear these little beauties to Christmas church service:   

It was going so well. I didn't have to do a lot of walking.  Just get to a pew and listen to some beautiful, holiday hymns.  It was going to be fine.  Getting from the car into the house was the last hurdle.  That big, beautiful heel got caught in a crevice in the garage floor, and I fell--gracefully--to the ground.

Thankfully, no broken bones....only bruises and scrapes.  After an icepack and a few days, I'm back to kicking cancer down.