I knew this day would come, and huzzah! Here it is. Last day in the chemo chair. I don't want to jinx myself, but the day is going pretty smoothly. Blood work came back good. Chemo got started on time. We may be out of here in the three hours originally promised -- we'll see.
The last couple of weeks have been rough. I mentioned last time that I was allergic to the anitbiotic I took for my fever. The hives got so bad that I saw the doc that Tuesday and was prescribed a steroid combo drug that finally brought relief to the swelling and itching. Then I had horrible hay fever kick in. Oh my friends, if you're a hay fever sufferer, I understand now why the sufferer label is attached to the condition. Runny eyes, water faucet nose, achy teeth, achy nose. Awful! I've never had hay fever before and I hope I never have it again. I had finally started to feel somewhat good on Sunday, but then the bridge of my nose was tender and started to swell up. And it kept swelling so that by Tuesday, another trip to the doc was in order. They were stumped. I don't know, another allergy or something? We all decided to wait and see if it would resolve on its own, and thank heaven it did. I'm no longer taking ibuprofen, in case I've developed a sensitivity to it. Don't know if this is a permanent off the list med (I do love my vitamin I!), but I guess I'll see. My biggest concern was that I might not get my last chemo today, but here I am! And we're almost done with the pre-meds (hooray anti-nausea medication!) and ready to start on the money drugs (chemo).
Besides all this medical stuff, I've been happily distracted by work the last two weeks. Lots and lots of work to do, and I've had the energy to put in a few long days, so I feel like I'm on top of things, which is a pretty terrific feeling in the midst of all this hubbub.
Last weekend, dear heart and I went shopping for containers and plants for the deck and found some pretty fun specimens. Dear heart is not one to let moss grow underfoot, so the containers have been planted and look terrific! This is the year of the yard, and I am so looking forward to making some progress in this area. Then the landscape architect who lives here won't be embarrased to say so. :)
To balance out all this goodness, my macbook display died, which is a total bummer. (Thanks, dear heart, for the loan of your laptop to write this post from the chemo chair!) One of the advantages of working at a software company is that I have friends who know how to fix computers, and one wicked smart one is going to take my mac apart this weekend and see what's what. Thank you, Mister D!
I'll post an update on the effects of this round of chemo if there's anything worth mentioning. Fingers crossed it will be an unenventful week. Next on the horizon for me is radiation. I've got an appointment to meet my radiologist on May 2. You can bet you'll hear all about my time on the tanning bed!
Looking forward to some sunshine this afternoon and tomorrow -- hope the sun is shining where you are!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Hair yesterday, hives today
As promised, here's notice that I've shaved my head. Left to my own devices yesterday, I gave both the dogs haircuts, and then turned the clippers on myself. My bald head has a nice shape, my ears don't stick out, and there aren't any funny bumps that I can see. It was a little traumatic -- it's like I look the cancer part now, no denying it. But it was ultimately freeing. No worries about hair falling out any more, no wondering when the right time is to shave my head. It's done. And I'm glad.
My plan was to wear fun makeup and earrings and sport scarves and hats just to feel cute and girlie. And I know I'll get that chance, but right now I have to wait for the hives and swelling to go down. The other thing that happened yesterday is that I spiked a fever in the afternoon. Getting a prescription filled on a Saturday evening was an odyssey in itself. (Thank you, dear heart, for supporting me through the ordeal.) We ultimately picked up the expensive antibiotic at 8pm at a 24 hr. pharmacy in Lynnwood. I was up all night with indigestion, thank you side effect, and started itching big time in the morning. Turns out I'm allergic to the antibiotic. So no more antibiotic, hello antihistamine. As long as the fever doesn't come back (and I'm sure it won't), I'm gonna be just fine.
I missed the shopping outing today -- disappointed about that, but another day....
(Minus the makeup, earrings, and hat, I look a lot like my youngest brother who sports a shaved head, except my eyebrows are more shaped.)
My plan was to wear fun makeup and earrings and sport scarves and hats just to feel cute and girlie. And I know I'll get that chance, but right now I have to wait for the hives and swelling to go down. The other thing that happened yesterday is that I spiked a fever in the afternoon. Getting a prescription filled on a Saturday evening was an odyssey in itself. (Thank you, dear heart, for supporting me through the ordeal.) We ultimately picked up the expensive antibiotic at 8pm at a 24 hr. pharmacy in Lynnwood. I was up all night with indigestion, thank you side effect, and started itching big time in the morning. Turns out I'm allergic to the antibiotic. So no more antibiotic, hello antihistamine. As long as the fever doesn't come back (and I'm sure it won't), I'm gonna be just fine.
I missed the shopping outing today -- disappointed about that, but another day....
(Minus the makeup, earrings, and hat, I look a lot like my youngest brother who sports a shaved head, except my eyebrows are more shaped.)
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sun is up, counts are down
WBC counts, that is. Which is just where they're supposed to be one week after treatment. As long as they're not zero, and they're not, I'll be just fine in a couple of days. I need to do what I did last round -- avoid germs, crowds, and sneezes for the next two days -- self-imposed quarantine. I dug out my falling-apart copy of Jane Eyre and plan to settle in for a cozy read.
If I can gather the energy, the dogs and I may all be sporting new dos by the end of the weekend. Angus just needs an ear trim, but Duncan needs an all-over shearing; he's looking like a little lambie. My onc nurse suggested it might be time for a haircut for me -- give the new growth a fresh palate to grow into (new growth isn't expected for a couple of months, but the hair I have isn't really worth hanging onto much longer). I've been looking forward to a bald head, but haven't taken the initiative to make it happen. I don't know what exactly I'm waiting for. I thought that one of my loved ones would raise the flag and say it's time. Nope, hasn't happened. I keep asking my dear husband if he's tired of looking at my funny head, but he says no. Yet another process that is taking its time, and I seem to be OK with that. I'll let you know when I get there.
I've got plans for Sunday -- a little trek north to the outlet mall with my darling daughter - she's got a new purchase in mind, and I'd like a little outing. Then back to the office on Monday for a couple of weeks of work until it's time for the *last* chemo treatment. hooray!
If I can gather the energy, the dogs and I may all be sporting new dos by the end of the weekend. Angus just needs an ear trim, but Duncan needs an all-over shearing; he's looking like a little lambie. My onc nurse suggested it might be time for a haircut for me -- give the new growth a fresh palate to grow into (new growth isn't expected for a couple of months, but the hair I have isn't really worth hanging onto much longer). I've been looking forward to a bald head, but haven't taken the initiative to make it happen. I don't know what exactly I'm waiting for. I thought that one of my loved ones would raise the flag and say it's time. Nope, hasn't happened. I keep asking my dear husband if he's tired of looking at my funny head, but he says no. Yet another process that is taking its time, and I seem to be OK with that. I'll let you know when I get there.
I've got plans for Sunday -- a little trek north to the outlet mall with my darling daughter - she's got a new purchase in mind, and I'd like a little outing. Then back to the office on Monday for a couple of weeks of work until it's time for the *last* chemo treatment. hooray!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Round Three
Here we are again, back in the chemo chair. A little bump in the road for this treatment -- my liver functions are up so we're waiting for blood results to see if I get chemo today or not. (Chemo can be hard on the liver and kidneys so they watch those results as well as the WBCs. I learn something new every visit.) I guess "stat" at the lab doesn't always mean "stat" so we get to practice patience while we wait for results.
My chemo buddy today is again my dear husband. He doesn't seem to mind these endurance visits now that he has an iPhone and can surf the web while we wile away the day. And if you know my dear husband, you know I couldn't keep him away from these events -- I've had lots of volunteers (thanks dearies, xox), but he won't relinquish the job. I also figured out my wireless connection sooner, rather than later this visit, so hope to have this post ready to go before I leave the chair today.
I feel good calling this the half-way mark of my chemo experience. Cancer treatment is a long process, so it's good to be able to mark the little milestones as they come along.
Work was busy busy this week, and I love to have a little more work to do than time to do it, but by the end of yesterday I was feeling a little frazzled and ready for a break. I treated myself to dinner with the Ms last night -- we had take-out teriyaki, because that's about the extent of my entertaining abilities these days. I can manage that and some wine or beer -- drinker's choice. And I can guarantee wine you like if you bring it with you! ;) Though I was surprised to see that I had more of a selection than usual when I checked the wine cabinet -- dear husband included me in a recent Costco trip, which means we bought more things than were on the list (e.g. wine), which is why I don't get included on most Costco trips.
Nurse update -- another 20 minutes before lab results. OK so it took 40 minutes, but my lab results look fine so we're on for chemo today. Now the order goes in for the drugs, and sometime today I should start getting my treatment (pardon the tone, I've been sitting here for almost 2 hours now and am looking at another 3 at least. c'est la vie.)
Hair update -- super thin hair, but still enough to give me a "fringe of hair" look under the hats and scarves, so I'm holding onto it for now. It looks a little frightful when I pull off my hat, but I get a chuckle out of it when I catch myself in the mirror. Not a look I would ever pick for myself, but it's very different, and often amusing. Might as well enjoy it, and hope a stiff wind never blows my hat off.
And in case I haven't mentioned it, my dear husband is a great chemo buddy. He fills my water bottle, fetches me coffee, tea, and soda, helps me navigate my iv contraption to and from the loo (as I just mentioned, I drink a lot of liquids), and shares his delicious piroshky with me. There's a great piroshky place in the first floor of the cancer institute, and every time we take the stairs we're reminded of its presence; the aroma is mouthwatering. I get a bag lunch (sandwich, fruit, and cookie) as part of my chemo treatment, but dear husband has to fend for himself -- well, not entirely, I do share my lunch with him, but remember, it's hospital food -- so he supplements with a piroshky, and sometimes a pastry if there's one that looks too good to resist. I guess they were all resistible this week.
Well I think I'm ready to wrap this one up and let you get on with your day. I've got another half hour in the chair and then will be on my way. I think our timing will work out perfectly to pick up darling daughter from work on our way home. Bonus! We'll see what this round's side effects bring. I'll check in next week.
My chemo buddy today is again my dear husband. He doesn't seem to mind these endurance visits now that he has an iPhone and can surf the web while we wile away the day. And if you know my dear husband, you know I couldn't keep him away from these events -- I've had lots of volunteers (thanks dearies, xox), but he won't relinquish the job. I also figured out my wireless connection sooner, rather than later this visit, so hope to have this post ready to go before I leave the chair today.
I feel good calling this the half-way mark of my chemo experience. Cancer treatment is a long process, so it's good to be able to mark the little milestones as they come along.
Work was busy busy this week, and I love to have a little more work to do than time to do it, but by the end of yesterday I was feeling a little frazzled and ready for a break. I treated myself to dinner with the Ms last night -- we had take-out teriyaki, because that's about the extent of my entertaining abilities these days. I can manage that and some wine or beer -- drinker's choice. And I can guarantee wine you like if you bring it with you! ;) Though I was surprised to see that I had more of a selection than usual when I checked the wine cabinet -- dear husband included me in a recent Costco trip, which means we bought more things than were on the list (e.g. wine), which is why I don't get included on most Costco trips.
Nurse update -- another 20 minutes before lab results. OK so it took 40 minutes, but my lab results look fine so we're on for chemo today. Now the order goes in for the drugs, and sometime today I should start getting my treatment (pardon the tone, I've been sitting here for almost 2 hours now and am looking at another 3 at least. c'est la vie.)
Hair update -- super thin hair, but still enough to give me a "fringe of hair" look under the hats and scarves, so I'm holding onto it for now. It looks a little frightful when I pull off my hat, but I get a chuckle out of it when I catch myself in the mirror. Not a look I would ever pick for myself, but it's very different, and often amusing. Might as well enjoy it, and hope a stiff wind never blows my hat off.
And in case I haven't mentioned it, my dear husband is a great chemo buddy. He fills my water bottle, fetches me coffee, tea, and soda, helps me navigate my iv contraption to and from the loo (as I just mentioned, I drink a lot of liquids), and shares his delicious piroshky with me. There's a great piroshky place in the first floor of the cancer institute, and every time we take the stairs we're reminded of its presence; the aroma is mouthwatering. I get a bag lunch (sandwich, fruit, and cookie) as part of my chemo treatment, but dear husband has to fend for himself -- well, not entirely, I do share my lunch with him, but remember, it's hospital food -- so he supplements with a piroshky, and sometimes a pastry if there's one that looks too good to resist. I guess they were all resistible this week.
Well I think I'm ready to wrap this one up and let you get on with your day. I've got another half hour in the chair and then will be on my way. I think our timing will work out perfectly to pick up darling daughter from work on our way home. Bonus! We'll see what this round's side effects bring. I'll check in next week.
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