Then on to my doctor's office. After checking in and grabbing a cup of Keurig-style green tea, we were immediately called in. We saw Leigh, the awesome Nurse Practitioner since the doc was out. The visit went well, and it's a great sign that I tolerated the chemo so well. Unfortunately, we learned that Leigh, the ultimate email-responding NP, is having surgery and will be out for the next 3 months. That sucks!
We finished our visit with Leigh with hugs and well wishes and headed up stairs to the clinic. We checked in and since it would take 30 minutes to mix the chemo, we had just enough time to run to the cafe downstairs and grab some lunch. And we were called back as soon as we were done!
I found out that my treatments will take 3hr 30mins each visit and that they won't get shorter - oh well! So I settled into my awesome recliner with my warm blanket for a couple of cat naps.
I bet my dad that I'd have to pee at least 4 times, and I was right. You forget all of the fluids that are going through your body!
I started to get nauseous as we were leaving, and I also felt a little pulsating through my body. The drive home wasn't very enjoyable, but it was fast. I popped a Zofran for nausea and just kept my eyes on the road in front of me. My dad and I arrived back at my place and my stepmom was busy making meatloaf, my favorite meal!
My place was also a mess, so they helped me clean up. The steroids that I got with the treatment were kicking in and I just couldn't sit down. At one point I actually found my self walking in a small circle while reading something on my iPhone, out loud. It was trippy, but weird. I eventually crashed but that made me even more nauseous. I ended up taking a Compazine, which was a little upsetting for me to admit that I couldn't handle it.
The cold aversion was there again. It hurt my throat a little to breath the air outside or drink room temp water. I couldn't eat a piece of cantaloupe that was from a fruit tray. I got a headache, which I bet is from the steroids. I really had to wear gloves around the house since things like the laptops, or my fork and knife, or my glass of water (unless it was warm water).
This morning was a bit better. I popped a Zofran in the morning and went out to breakfast with my parents. I worked from home but didn't take any meetings so I could try to catch up from my email hell. My stepmom worked from home too so I wasn't alone. It was an uneventful day. I had less side effects with the neuropathy in the hands and feet. Cold still hurts though. But I know it gets better every day.
I emailed one of the people at my gym and let him know that although my membership had been on hold for 2 months, with only one month left to go, I wasn't going to renew at this time. Of course once this cancer stuff is over, I'll return and focus on shaping up again, but right now I'm not allowed to lose weight, and with the portacath in my chest, I'm not allowed to lift weights more than 5 lbs. My gym is really cool. They're very personable and continue to exceed expectations. I got an email back asking if I was accepting visitors so we could talk about what things I can do. Also, they're going to leave my membership open so I can use the sauna and steam room and the periodic walk on the treadmill. This will be so nice as the temps get colder since I need to walk, and the sauna/steam room will be very relaxing and will help keep me warm with my issues with cold aversion. Plus, I just got a big ole bouquet of tulips delivered to my door from my CAC family (CAC = Charlotte Athletic Club). Seriously - these guys rock!
Ok, I'm off to bed. Hopefully the melatonin will help me have a good night's sleep. I think the steroids last night really tweaked me out!
More soon,
Sarah
xoxo
I bet my dad that I'd have to pee at least 4 times, and I was right. You forget all of the fluids that are going through your body!
I started to get nauseous as we were leaving, and I also felt a little pulsating through my body. The drive home wasn't very enjoyable, but it was fast. I popped a Zofran for nausea and just kept my eyes on the road in front of me. My dad and I arrived back at my place and my stepmom was busy making meatloaf, my favorite meal!
My place was also a mess, so they helped me clean up. The steroids that I got with the treatment were kicking in and I just couldn't sit down. At one point I actually found my self walking in a small circle while reading something on my iPhone, out loud. It was trippy, but weird. I eventually crashed but that made me even more nauseous. I ended up taking a Compazine, which was a little upsetting for me to admit that I couldn't handle it.
The cold aversion was there again. It hurt my throat a little to breath the air outside or drink room temp water. I couldn't eat a piece of cantaloupe that was from a fruit tray. I got a headache, which I bet is from the steroids. I really had to wear gloves around the house since things like the laptops, or my fork and knife, or my glass of water (unless it was warm water).
This morning was a bit better. I popped a Zofran in the morning and went out to breakfast with my parents. I worked from home but didn't take any meetings so I could try to catch up from my email hell. My stepmom worked from home too so I wasn't alone. It was an uneventful day. I had less side effects with the neuropathy in the hands and feet. Cold still hurts though. But I know it gets better every day.
I emailed one of the people at my gym and let him know that although my membership had been on hold for 2 months, with only one month left to go, I wasn't going to renew at this time. Of course once this cancer stuff is over, I'll return and focus on shaping up again, but right now I'm not allowed to lose weight, and with the portacath in my chest, I'm not allowed to lift weights more than 5 lbs. My gym is really cool. They're very personable and continue to exceed expectations. I got an email back asking if I was accepting visitors so we could talk about what things I can do. Also, they're going to leave my membership open so I can use the sauna and steam room and the periodic walk on the treadmill. This will be so nice as the temps get colder since I need to walk, and the sauna/steam room will be very relaxing and will help keep me warm with my issues with cold aversion. Plus, I just got a big ole bouquet of tulips delivered to my door from my CAC family (CAC = Charlotte Athletic Club). Seriously - these guys rock!
Ok, I'm off to bed. Hopefully the melatonin will help me have a good night's sleep. I think the steroids last night really tweaked me out!
More soon,
Sarah
xoxo
You are doing great...keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know about your treatments and how you are coping with this experience on your life journey. Good to hear that you are taking charge of the rhythm of your body's responses and finding what works for you. It seems like a continuing experiment and you are becoming a master research "scientist" for yourself. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteDo you find music soothing? if you do, I'd love to send you a beautiful CD, Singing for the Soul with Jan Phillips and the Gnostic Gospel Choir that I heard last weekend. I was participating in a crafters, quilters, painters and knitters retreat.
Take good care ... sending a warm soothing river of love to surround and enfold you.