Sorry folks, I'm supposed to be keeping you updated, but have just not felt like anything newsworthy was happening, which is good news, right? So, today is catch-up day, because I will be filling you in on the latest. I apologize for the length...maybe you can read it in several sittings....
First of all, I decided to override my workaholic mentality [no easy task, because the GUILT is horrendous!] I did not report to work as I had wanted to (against the wishes of my Oncologist, I might add, because I am wonder woman, after all, and nothing is gonna bother me). She was adamant that it would be very easy for me to pick up illness from the children on the bus, and with no immunity to speak of, I would literally be up a crick without a paddle (my words, not hers---she was way more professional in her explanation as to why I should not be driving school bus because of the disease factors involved)
Well, as the day approached and I had already overdone it on the weekend, driving three bus runs to the state fair for Epiphany Diner Volunteers, Realized I was NOT wonder woman, and was NOT feeling very well. So, after a lot of agonizing mental compromise, called work and let them know I would NOT be driving. It still bothers me immensely and I worry about "my kids" on my route...WHO is driving them? etc.
Friends have reminded me repeatedly that I need to take care of Myself...Never been very good at that.
Come Monday morning, I woke up sick, tired, nauseated and dizzy. Was SO relieved I was not driving the school bus right then. So it proves that sometimes I am actually capable of making good decisions on my own behalf.
Spent the rest of the rest of this week relaxing, sleeping, and generally taking it easy. Spent Wednesday with Sandy L. from work, because it was her Birthday. We ate at Olive Garden. Fun time! Started feeling better again....just in time for another round of Chemo!!! Yay!
Oh, and as of Thursday, I started noticing hairs falling out...went to bed, and my scalp felt really weird...almost painful...which started a whole lot of thinking...am I going bald now?...will I wake up in a pile of hair?...am I really going to lose ALL my hair?...then said to myself...shut up and go to sleep...there's nothing you can do about it anyway, one way or the other...maybe you won't lose all your hair...maybe just some of it...oh shut up and go to sleep! So I did.
SO, today [Friday] was my appointment, and I got there and my bloodwork looked good (everything on the sheet said, "normal") Which meant I could have the chemo again. YAY! Spoke with the nurse specialist who asked me all about my health and symptoms, and she again reminded me that I should NOT be driving with all the kids. She also asked me about my hair and assured me that the kind of chemo I am getting is a sure bet for hair loss. She said, this second round will make it happen.
Once I was hooked-up with all the IVs, settled-in to my chair and crocheted on the blanket for my soon-to-be-born [July 13th?] Granddaughter, Daphne. The actual process is not unpleasant, except when they flush the port with saline...it gives off a horrible odor! Feels like the hair in my nostrils is curling. (maybe that won't be an issue in the near future.) LOL! Watched a biography on Janet Jackson (most of it, anyway) and chatted with the nurse and the patient next to me, who was in there for the whole day! Compared to my measly three hours, I told her she was a trooper!
Texted back and forth with Michelle in Seattle.
Got off the "comfy chair" to use the restroom, and then decided to wander up and down the hall inside the oncology clinic. Told them I was going dancing with my new beau...the IV stand. The nurse said he was awfully thin. Told her next time, I'll bring him a HAT! LOL!
The time went amazingly fast, and after all the pain meds, etc. I was feeling good. Stopped-by the Cancer Resource Center down the hall from the clinic, and inquired about wigs...well, that turned-out to be an understatement! Did they have WIGS! Hundreds of them. Many of them on display. Tried on a blonde one...it made me look sick! Not good. But the next one I tried was SOooooo Cute! It's dark brown underneath with lots of highlights. It is not quite shoulder length, and is a straight, curved cut. I showed it to the lady and she said, excitedly, "OH, that is YOU!" So, of course, because I really liked it, and she approved, decided it was "the one". She also gave me a comfy jersey knit cap for bedtime to keep my head warm; a pull-on scarf for days when I don't feel like wearing a wig; but the fun one was a pink cap with "Chemo Sucks" embroidered on the front. When I finally figure out how to put pictures on my blog, will post some.) It will go great with my "Cancer Sucks" T-shirt that I got from Suz.
Then went into Anoka to the Coop Store and bought some wheat grass capsules, on reccomendation from a friend to keep my energy up. Took them immediately, and did notice a surge of energy.
So, headed to the pet store to pick up more food for our Chihuahua, Kiita. Then stopped at KFC and got a meal with grilled chicken. Took it over to Suz' house where Gary was out walking her dog, Gunnar, while she and her husband were gone. We ate, then both left for home.
I took a nap, and then Georgia stopped-by and brought us some banana bread she made...yum. Casie came over to hang out for the evening. I also finished the last load of laundry for the week, and made a Birthday Card for my Son-in-law, Chuck (also on the 13th of Sept, Tacy's due date). Put Fiona's name on the front of her scrapbook.
Full day. I feel good. Tomorrow I pack and go to my appointment at Mercy Hospital for my 24-hour-later shot for my white blood cell count and then we leave Sunday morning (Gary, Edith-Gary's Mom, and I) to Lehi, Utah to see Tacy, Chuck, and Fiona (and hopefully) Daphne!
Love to ALL!
Mary
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