Mar 6 - Mar 14 2009

Friday, March 6, 2009 10:42 AM, EST

Fashion tip for bald chicks during spring time in Louisville - cotton scarves are far better- pretty silky ones fly right off a bald noggin on a good breezy day! So thanks again "high on the hill" - chemo girls can learn alot about headgear from biker girls...I need to get some ballcaps for warmer days, but my head is seriously huge - I tried to swipe Chris' UofL hat the other day to run an errand, and couldn't wear it! You would think without hair anything would fit...nope, not for this Irish noggin.

Not much for updates, the cold is subsiding, my voice is back [though my kids and clients may have like me better muted], now we are all safely on allergy meds looking forward to a WARM weekend. My next round is Tuesday, because in theory I should be fine for a few days until I am off the steroids, and then I'll be due to crash for a day or so with fatigue and soreness...and then back to normal life. We'll see about all that [remember round 1? I'm still a bit cynical]. Regardless, I'm hoping that will be the way it goes, I'll be sure to let you know the real story. Enjoy the SUN this weekend, I'll check in after round 5!!



Tuesday, March 10, 2009 7:01 PM, EDT

So far so good on round 5, the no nausia promise is holding up - WOOOHOOOO!!!!...but the "crash" is not expected until Friday or so. The crash would be the opposite of the current jacked up on steroids somewhat false sense of energy I have going on. Can't stay on steroids forever, so Friday they stop and my body has to finish the job working with the chemo -- therefore, a bone aching fatigue ridden crash from what I am told. Hopefully short lived, then gradually back to normal [whatever normal is anymore]. For now, I'll enjoy the steroid jolt.

The treatment room was interesting today, the woman across from me today had an allergic reaction to her chemo [a close cousin to mine]...what made it extra sad was that it was round 1 for her and she had her own chemo party there, and she already seemed terrified, and then an allergic reaction [which is handled quickly but leads to alot of hubbub and anxiety when they restart your drip]. I have to say, her chemo support system was quite entertaining and helped time pass.They were fun to talk to, and were not terrified themselves, just worried about their friend. Another older couple was next to me and when the wife/patient went to the bathroom he asked me "So what do you think if I tell her I'll shave my head too when it's time to shave hers?" It was terribly sweet, I told him to tell her his idea even though she'll probably tell him not to do it, but it will be good for her to know he understands what a big deal it is for her. She had had a reaction to the same med yesterday and was back to try another today. She was tough though, I guess age puts a different perspective on all this crap. The older folks just don't seem as shaken.

Long post today - told you I was jacked up on steroids, better sign off before I really start rattling about something strange...stanger than the chemo treatment room.



Saturday, March 14, 2009 2:15 PM, EDT

The world of chemo is a strange place...keep that in mind as I say I am thrilled to feel like I have been hit by a car [achy all over, slow and dragging today] because that is SO MUCH better than the nausia and sickness of the first four rounds. So I will consider myself lucky if this is as far as it goes [today should be the low point so there is hope there!] I am on far fewer meds, which has to help...I have never been the earthy granola type [as you all well know] but this process will certainly make you appreciate putting as few chemicals in your body as you can for awhile. Killing cancer is apparently a very unnatural process.

So for today it's karate class and watching the UofL game [GO CARDS!!]...I don't expect to be much more ambitous than that. Maybe tomorrow I'll upgrade form sloth status to turtle speed...but really who cares, at least I can move!