Side effects are no fun.....

Another few days of upset stomach and cramping.  Not a fun side effect of the steroids that they have me take for 3 days post chemo.  Other then my stomach feeling like it's rotting out.....I feel pretty good.  Today is my "hit the wall" day where I am in bed most of the day resting off and on.  I am kinda getting use to what to expect now.  I put a call into my support nurse to see if I can take anything for my stomach.  I just want it to stop hurting and cramping so much.  Not fun.  I am trying to remember that this is all just temporary and soon I will be back to my old self in no time.  Only 5 to go.....

Post chemo Day 3 blahs.....

The day 3 blahs have set in.  Where I just feel blah!!  Kurt gave me my needle in the stomach this morning - first time without the nurse coming.  He does really well but the needle stings like crazy so I feel bad for him that I'm doing labour breathing while he is putting the needle in.  He's brave to do that though given how much I hate needles.  I was up at 4am this morning thanks to the steroids.  So I got up and watched the men's final tennis match.  What a crazy one that was!!!  I had a big nap after my needle today and woke up to have lunch.  The boys have been with my parents since Friday so Kurt is picking them up after nap today. 

Yesterday I felt really good.  I had a bit of nausea in the morning but not bad at all.  I just kept eating and drinking lots.  I think my mistake in the past has been not eating enough protein and letting my blood pressure get low.  So I ate tons of protein yesterday and even ate my favourite Thai food complete with mango shake for dinner.  Kurt was craving Thai but didn't want to bring it home if I didn't want it.  That would have been cruel.  But I thought "Well what's the worst that can happen?".  So I sent him out to get us both meals and shakes.  It tasted really good and sat well in my tummy.  I had my leftovers for lunch today. 

I'm feeling pretty positive and good that the last 2 rounds have gone better.  I'm happy that in 2 weeks I get my last dose of these meds - the ones that make you feel nauseous and sick.  Then the last 4 rounds are a different chemo drug with new side effects. 

Thank you to everyone for their well wishes, emails, texts, phone calls and flowers.  I am constantly humbled by how much love and support I have. 

3 down.....5 to go......

Things went pretty well today at chemo.  I had a super nice nurse that put my IV in like it was nothing.  We saw a couple there who we'd met my first round.  We also met another couple who were next to me.  She is pregnant and due in 2 weeks and his last chemo is in 2 weeks.  They were young like us and had a 3 year old at home. 

I have been able to eat bits and pieces since coming home but I do have some nausea this time.  Not as bad as round 1 though.  So I've been in bed taking it easy.  I "page" Kurt on the phone and he brings me whatever I need.  Just feeling tired but doing okay. 

The BEST treat of all today was coming home after chemo to a SPOTLESS house thanks to Lorri and Kelly.  They came in while I was at the hospital and cleaned everything, disinfected and even did my laundry.  It's nice to come home to a clean house and know that the germs are gone.  My parents picked up the boys from daycare today and will have them for the weekend.  Jack apparently was so excited for his sleepover that he told his teachers several times that he was going to sleep at Grandpa's house. 

Overall feeling pretty good.  I'm really happy that next time will be my half way mark.  Almost at the top of the hill. 

Gearing up for Round 3.......

Mom took me to the hospital again today for my blood work and meeting with my oncologist.  Today was a piece of cake with no waiting and no drama from the others in the waiting room (kinda boring).  I got to the lab and was the next number called so we were in and out and off to lunch in no time.  Side note.....we ate at Zoup in Waterloo and it was DELICIOUS.  After lunch back we went to the hospital.  We didn't wait long before I was called in to see the oncologist.  The first stop is the scale where the nurse weighs me.  I was happy to learn that not only did I not loose any weight but I gained all the weight back that I had lost the first round.  Then we moved to the examining room to wait.  A new nurse came in as my usual nurse was away.  She was happy to learn that my weight was good but cringed (literally) when I told her it must be from the Costco poutine that I ate on Monday.  She just stopped and said "I hope you are eating fruits and vegetables too".  I told her I was but I cannot pass up poutine whenever I go to Costco.  I think she even gagged a bit.  My oncologist came in almost right away and checked me over - given my sinus infection.  She said my lungs all sound clear (despite my cough) and that my sinus' are still a bit swollen but nothing to worry about.  She said my blood counts were all good but my liver was showing some signs from the chemo which is totally normal and they'll monitor with my routine blood work.  I didn't break the news to her that last night I went out to the bar for a drink with my friend.  Perhaps my liver was protesting my Blue Lagoon?!  I'm good to go for round 3 and I was excited when my oncologist said, "Next time I see you, you'll be half way done".  YES!!! 

I am armed with all my meds and ready for round 3 tomorrow.  I have to be there for 9:40am so hope to be home just after lunch for some rice and bed.  Fingers crossed this round goes well like last time.  I will update over the weekend when I get a chance. 

Lots to do.....

Yesterday I started to feel better and actually limited myself to 1 nap.  I am starting to think that the more time I spend lying around makes me feel more exhausted.  Weird I know but I think my body just assumes that I'm to be in bed all day.  After napping when the boys did Jack and I had a "Mommy and Jack afternoon".  I got my wig on, put my make up on and we headed out to get his hair cut.  Then off to Tim Hortons for some donuts before picking up supper and heading home.  It was SO nice to just be out with Jack.  He has been having such a hard time with everything and I think it helped him to see me looking somewhat "normal" with my wig on and out and about.  We left the hair salon and he said, "Well that was excellent".  I guess having 2 suckers, watching a movie and getting stickers makes for an "excellent" hair cutting experience.  It was a fun afternoon together and I think I needed it as much as Jack did.  I have been trying to hang onto anything "normal" through all this and yet I feel like nothing has been normal for so many weeks. 

This week I have LOTS to get done before my 3rd chemo on Friday.  My sinus infection is still hanging on but I feel that I can function at least so I've got to get our and get things checked off my "to do" list.  I'm happy that I'm onto my 3rd round which means that I'm almost done the first 4 rounds before my chemo meds change for the last 4.  In my mind I have been breaking my chemo down by the first 4 and last 4 treatments.  It seems more manageable in my head to do that rather then thinking of it all as 4 months.  I can't believe it has been 2 months since my diagnosis.  I feel like so much has happened since then but yet April feels SO far away.  One day at a time.......

Missing my nose hairs......

I am back from the doctor having been diagnosed with a sinus infection and now I'm on antibiotics.  Oh how I miss my nose hairs when my nose is running down my face.  Who knew that they were so essential to a cold?! 

I was blessed today to have my friend Kim stop by with boxes of kleenex and a Starbucks for me.  We sat and chatted for awhile and it's always nice to see her.  We have the best conversations!!!  She makes me laugh and she didn't care that I was pretty well useless on the couch while we hung out.  Tonight Dawn came to clean my house and cook us all dinner.  The boys always love seeing their "Auntie Dawnie".  The meal was delicious and my house looks and smells so clean.  She was here cleaning while my mom took me to the doctor.  I came home and went right to bed for a nap - it was the first time I'd been out of the house in days and it felt like an all day field trip.  Dawn just kept cleaning and cooking while I napped.  I always knew that I had the most amazing support but through all this I continue to be overwhelmed by everyone's love and support that they have given me and my family.  I'm so lucky to be going through this with the love and support of so many people.  It makes it that much easier to know that I'm not alone. 

Down and out.....

I have been battling a cold since my last chemo a week ago and things are not getting any better.  I have NO energy and I am so sick of blowing my nose.  Having no nose hairs makes things a little bit more awkward when having a cold and having little immune system makes it hard to fight it off.  I woke up last night with tons of pressure in my sinus' and a horrible headache.  So I stayed awake and kept taking my temperature to make sure I didn't have a fever.  A fever means a trip right to the hospital.  So after little sleep and lots of discomfort, I am heading to the family doctor today to see what she can do for me.  I hope that I can get some kind of relief given that I have chemo in a week.  I'd really like a few days of feeling good before I get zapped again.  I'll update once I'm back from the doctor today.......