For this last round, I was coming from Washington DC, and had to get up at the crack of dawn to catch the flight. Mom picked me up at the airport, and off we went to Duke. I'm really starting to dislike that place.
You all know the drill: sit down, wait a lot, holler name, draw blood, sit down, wait a lot, holler name, take weight (is that REALLY my weight? Jesus.), sit downwaitalothollername, finally go back to exam room. I told cheerie Nurse Susie with the Santa hat (keep in mind this was December 9th) that I wasn't going to put the damn gown on unless she could guarantee me that someone was actually going to examine me. Pause. Nurse Susie: "Don't put it on."
Now, what Nurse Susie should have said was, "Oh, don't bother, because your doctor isn't even here today. In fact, she isn't even in the state right now." Yup, Dr. Blackwell of the leather boots and blonde hair and fierce stare was absent once again. I saw her nurse, who is very competent and nice. My bloodwork was great, white counts high, all going well in the immune system.
My only real complaint was that my heartburn has been getting worse. I find this unacceptable for some reason -- not sure why I think I should feel great while undergoing chemotherapy, but I'd sure like to. They prescribed me some new heartburn med called Protonix (see report below). We headed to the chemo factory, I got plugged in, and promptly fell asleep for most of the four hours I was being infused, only getting up to pee about every 20 minutes -- have you seen the size of those IV bags?!
After chemo, Mom drove me back to Raleigh, and we all had a delicious dinner at Jenn's house, courtesy of her husband Chad. Penne pasta, and chocolate cake for dessert. I can't imagine why I'm not losing weight. Then, to bed early, up early, on another plane, and back to DC. Chemo #7 complete.
I've fallen off the healthy-eating-wagon recently. Mostly I'm on the eat-whatever-seems-to-reduce-heartburn wagon. Oh, right, Protonix report -- it no worky. I can't really tell any improvement. If anything, my heartburn was worse this time around, and has only now diminished -- 48 hours away from my NEXT damn chemo! Also, the full-body aches only lasted about 36 hours, but the leg aches and cramping in my feet held on for quite awhile. It felt like I'd been wearing stiletto heels all day long. Except I've never worn stiletto heels all day long. But this is what I imagine my feet would feel like if I did.
*New and exciting development: I've had my first hot flash. I feel like a real woman now. They've been happening in the middle of the night -- I'll be sound asleep all cuddled under the covers, and I'll wake up for no reason and within about 10 seconds suddenly WHOA WHO TURNED UP THE HEAT IT'S 90 DEGREES IN HERE!!! Toss off covers, peel off clothes, lay in bed and feel the sweat beads popping out on my nose and forehead. It passes after ten minutes or so. I guess it could be night sweats. What's the difference?
Current Chemo Cons:
-permanent heartburn/indigestion/acid reflux
-short-lived body aches
-longer-lived lower leg & feet cramping
-hot flashes
-incredibly dry skin on my hands from the obsessive hand-washing; knuckles and joints that crack and bleed and then sting when obsessively washing hands
Current Chemo Pros: (o yes, there are a few)
-although my lashes and brows have managed to hang in there, the rest of me is completely smooth and hairless. I spend many hours stroking my own upper arms and marveling at how soft my skin is (hey, take your perks where you can get them). I feel like a baby seal. And I'm saving so much money on shaving cream.
-all of the bacteria in my body has been murdered by the chemo drugs, so my skin looks better than it has since I hit puberty! No zits, no oily T-zone, no blemishes at all.
-also, apparently all of the odor-causing bacteria have also called it quits, because I haven't needed deodorant in months! (either that, or the chemo has destroyed my sense of smell and in that case, I apologize to those who have been living with me sans-deodorant).
-I always get an aisle seat on the plane.
At any rate, I am highly irritated with my stomach/esophagus, and my tooties ache. But I'll live. Only one more to go.
Below see adorable photo of me with my godson Hudson.
You all know the drill: sit down, wait a lot, holler name, draw blood, sit down, wait a lot, holler name, take weight (is that REALLY my weight? Jesus.), sit downwaitalothollername, finally go back to exam room. I told cheerie Nurse Susie with the Santa hat (keep in mind this was December 9th) that I wasn't going to put the damn gown on unless she could guarantee me that someone was actually going to examine me. Pause. Nurse Susie: "Don't put it on."
Now, what Nurse Susie should have said was, "Oh, don't bother, because your doctor isn't even here today. In fact, she isn't even in the state right now." Yup, Dr. Blackwell of the leather boots and blonde hair and fierce stare was absent once again. I saw her nurse, who is very competent and nice. My bloodwork was great, white counts high, all going well in the immune system.
My only real complaint was that my heartburn has been getting worse. I find this unacceptable for some reason -- not sure why I think I should feel great while undergoing chemotherapy, but I'd sure like to. They prescribed me some new heartburn med called Protonix (see report below). We headed to the chemo factory, I got plugged in, and promptly fell asleep for most of the four hours I was being infused, only getting up to pee about every 20 minutes -- have you seen the size of those IV bags?!
After chemo, Mom drove me back to Raleigh, and we all had a delicious dinner at Jenn's house, courtesy of her husband Chad. Penne pasta, and chocolate cake for dessert. I can't imagine why I'm not losing weight. Then, to bed early, up early, on another plane, and back to DC. Chemo #7 complete.
I've fallen off the healthy-eating-wagon recently. Mostly I'm on the eat-whatever-seems-to-reduce-heartburn wagon. Oh, right, Protonix report -- it no worky. I can't really tell any improvement. If anything, my heartburn was worse this time around, and has only now diminished -- 48 hours away from my NEXT damn chemo! Also, the full-body aches only lasted about 36 hours, but the leg aches and cramping in my feet held on for quite awhile. It felt like I'd been wearing stiletto heels all day long. Except I've never worn stiletto heels all day long. But this is what I imagine my feet would feel like if I did.
*New and exciting development: I've had my first hot flash. I feel like a real woman now. They've been happening in the middle of the night -- I'll be sound asleep all cuddled under the covers, and I'll wake up for no reason and within about 10 seconds suddenly WHOA WHO TURNED UP THE HEAT IT'S 90 DEGREES IN HERE!!! Toss off covers, peel off clothes, lay in bed and feel the sweat beads popping out on my nose and forehead. It passes after ten minutes or so. I guess it could be night sweats. What's the difference?
Current Chemo Cons:
-permanent heartburn/indigestion/acid reflux
-short-lived body aches
-longer-lived lower leg & feet cramping
-hot flashes
-incredibly dry skin on my hands from the obsessive hand-washing; knuckles and joints that crack and bleed and then sting when obsessively washing hands
Current Chemo Pros: (o yes, there are a few)
-although my lashes and brows have managed to hang in there, the rest of me is completely smooth and hairless. I spend many hours stroking my own upper arms and marveling at how soft my skin is (hey, take your perks where you can get them). I feel like a baby seal. And I'm saving so much money on shaving cream.
-all of the bacteria in my body has been murdered by the chemo drugs, so my skin looks better than it has since I hit puberty! No zits, no oily T-zone, no blemishes at all.
-also, apparently all of the odor-causing bacteria have also called it quits, because I haven't needed deodorant in months! (either that, or the chemo has destroyed my sense of smell and in that case, I apologize to those who have been living with me sans-deodorant).
-I always get an aisle seat on the plane.
At any rate, I am highly irritated with my stomach/esophagus, and my tooties ache. But I'll live. Only one more to go.
Below see adorable photo of me with my godson Hudson.