Figured I should get last week’s info posted before Jenna and I leave today for the last treatment of round 2. Last week we had the great pleasure (not!) of driving through weather once again. Had a very exciting start by getting stuck in a snow bank as we made the first turn off of our hill. Fortunately some very kind folks stopped and got us pushed out. The weather reports sounded like once we got south of Roanoke, we would lose the snow and perhaps have just rain. The rest of the drive was nicely uneventful.
We arrived at Leila’s and enjoyed a girls night with both Maura and Michele. For the non family folks reading this, Michele is Leila’s daughter who lives in Atlanta. She had been in town spending the weekend with girlfriends and stayed on to hang out with us and be my chemo buddy. We all got to chat, eat Thai food and pet Jett when she’d let us. I was the party pooper who went to bed early since I’d been much more tired this past week.
Michele and I headed to Duke for labs and chemo. Turns out the nurses were not very pleased to realize I’d lost almost 10 pounds since starting there. I am a bit happy to be 10 pounds lighter however the doc has been preaching all along that this is not the time to be losing weight. While I’m in the treatment room, the nutritionist comes to pay me a visit. Good thing Michele is there to help ask questions and take notes. I had been given Benadryl prior to the TH302/stealth bomber due to the rash I had for a day or two after the prior treatment. Between the Benadryl and increased fatigue, it was a challenge to keep my eyes open and process all the new info. Lots of good suggestions re: foods, more frequent eating, supplements, shakes, smoothies, protein counts and lofty calorie goals. I’m going to have my work cut out for me!
After all the treatments, Jenna and I head home and are amazed to spend some time driving on dry roads, under blue sky. She was able to shop before picking me up so we have some new foods to try this week. We spend time discussing plans for changing and adding to my diet.
As the week progressed, it seems like the food changes helped. I’m not as fatigued and feel a bit better than the prior week despite ongoing nausea and belly upset. It is a challenge to think about taking in more calories, preparing higher calorie meals and adding in desserts. Sure would be nice if the reason for this was something more pleasant than chemo!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday Feb 8 we get back in the car. By now we have had nothing but snow, snow, snow with more predicted. When we leave, we’re not sure that we’ll be able to drive back on the 9th. Treatment does not start as early as we’d hoped due some lab delays. All my labs have rebounded nicely and we finally get the treatment going. When we’re finished it’s raining in NC and we hear that it has been snowing at home. The first half hour or so of the drive goes well and then we get in to some fairly steady rain. This is the second drive that Jenna has made through challenging weather. When we’re about an hour from home, we hear that one of the neighbors has not been able to make it up the last bit of our hill. The thought of walking doesn’t sound like too much fun. Jim calls another neighbor with 4 wheel drive who would be happy to pick us up if we need to leave our car in town.
We do great until we start working our way up from behind the grocery store and end up in a snow bank. The last few minutes were exciting but we made it. We were VERY glad to be home.
Everyone always asks about how the side effects are going. One thing I can say is that they are not consistent. Had my usual good Wednesday with almost no nausea until late on Saturday and into Sunday but LOTS of fatigue. Some achy “gem flu” stuff off and on. I have definitely worn out the couches the past few days!
The other big question is when will I be retested. Scans and blood work are done at the end of every other session which means at the end of this round. Instead of going down on my week off, we have scheduled the lab work and CTs for Monday afternoon March 8 prior to seeing the doctor and beginning the third treatment round on March 9. Jim will be going down for that trip since we’ll get our update on the
9th when we see Dr. Blobe.
We do great until we start working our way up from behind the grocery store and end up in a snow bank. The last few minutes were exciting but we made it. We were VERY glad to be home.
Everyone always asks about how the side effects are going. One thing I can say is that they are not consistent. Had my usual good Wednesday with almost no nausea until late on Saturday and into Sunday but LOTS of fatigue. Some achy “gem flu” stuff off and on. I have definitely worn out the couches the past few days!
The other big question is when will I be retested. Scans and blood work are done at the end of every other session which means at the end of this round. Instead of going down on my week off, we have scheduled the lab work and CTs for Monday afternoon March 8 prior to seeing the doctor and beginning the third treatment round on March 9. Jim will be going down for that trip since we’ll get our update on the
9th when we see Dr. Blobe.
a weekend away, a week off
Jim and I spent the last weekend in January snowbound at the Hotel Roanoke attending the Episcopal Disocese Council weekend. We figured I could crash in the hotel room as easily as at our house. Since we’re the delegates for our little church, it gave Jim the opportunity to attend the business and breakout sessions. It was wonderful to be away and be cared for by Jim and Kevin and Lisa. Being there was good for both of us and definitely the refreshment that my soul needed.
My goal was to attend the services, meals and keynote address. I accomplished that, but just barely. I spent the opening Eucharist laying down in the pew but hey, I was there. Probably the only one praying and singing while on their side but all that mattered was being there. Ended up in the same position at the closing service!
The following week was a non treatment week however Jenna and I still needed to drive down to NC so I could have blood work and be seen by Dr. Blobe. It was nice to recover some during the off week. Jenna drove us hard : ) She is on a mission to do some serious reorganizing around here and we are off to a good start. Purged the pantry, a storage closet, some kitchen cabinets and the basement bookshelves. We had a great time getting rid of stuff and already have plans for the next off week. She has had many offers from folks wanting her to come clean their closets!
In the mean time we have let a few more people know about our situation. One friend commented that our knowledge must be a real asset for us. It made me realize that is not necessarily true. I know just enough to make myself crazy. I have decided and am now praying that my limited knowledge not get in my way and work against me. I have been allowing myself to jump to unreasonable (and always bad!) conclusions when faced with new information or symptoms. Working on this has really reduced the anxiety I had been feeling which of course helps me to feel better overall.
My goal was to attend the services, meals and keynote address. I accomplished that, but just barely. I spent the opening Eucharist laying down in the pew but hey, I was there. Probably the only one praying and singing while on their side but all that mattered was being there. Ended up in the same position at the closing service!
The following week was a non treatment week however Jenna and I still needed to drive down to NC so I could have blood work and be seen by Dr. Blobe. It was nice to recover some during the off week. Jenna drove us hard : ) She is on a mission to do some serious reorganizing around here and we are off to a good start. Purged the pantry, a storage closet, some kitchen cabinets and the basement bookshelves. We had a great time getting rid of stuff and already have plans for the next off week. She has had many offers from folks wanting her to come clean their closets!
In the mean time we have let a few more people know about our situation. One friend commented that our knowledge must be a real asset for us. It made me realize that is not necessarily true. I know just enough to make myself crazy. I have decided and am now praying that my limited knowledge not get in my way and work against me. I have been allowing myself to jump to unreasonable (and always bad!) conclusions when faced with new information or symptoms. Working on this has really reduced the anxiety I had been feeling which of course helps me to feel better overall.
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