Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 11,12, & 13

I have been a running nose, lung hacking, stuffy head mess the last three days. God Damn Cold! I guess the one positive aspect about getting the cold...its shifted my focus away from the cancer and the post chemo stuff.

Oh..and the other little fun wrinkle to add to the cold/chemo mix is my infected toe. The toe nail feel off my right big toe....and now the toe seems to be infected. Its all red..and it hurts. Jim of course has been FREAKING out about it (being the overly protective boyfriend he his). He is hounding me to get it looked at by the doctor. I am getting blood work and a CT scan done tomorrow. I will ask to see a nurse to show her my big nasty toe.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 10

Was a nice day weather wise. Hit against the wall at the park...and went for a walk. At night I started coming down with a cough...I think I am getting sick. YIKES! I am not sure how getting a cold works in with the whole cancer treatment plan. I guess I will have to see how bad the cold gets before I panic to much.

Other than the cold...everything else seems to be OK. No side effects to deal with or worry about so thats a good thing.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 8 & 9

On Saturday Jim and I went to a local glass blowing factory and made glass pumpkins. Afterwards we ate lunch downtown...then..home to the couch. Ventured off the couch to go out to dinner with his parents.

Sunday we picked up our glass pumpkins (mine looks more like a tomato then a pumpkin)...and did some shopping. Most important purchase...Halloween Candy! Now we just have to manage not to eat all of it before Saturday.

Starting to get some of the constipation side effects again.. I have been loading up on the Senokot-S...so..hoping its not as bad as last time.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 7

It was blood work day today. Had to get my finger poked and my blood analyzed. Everything was good. Oh..and I have been meaning to do a weight update. When I first started chemo many weeks ago I weighed 211. That first week after my first chemo I weighed myself at the gym and I weighed 198. I am now thinking that scale at the gym is faulty. For my second chemo session I weighed 204, and for this last chemo session I weighed 203. I weighed myself today after getting the blood results and I weighed 205. So..I have lost about 6 pounds since this whole chemo thing started. Honestly - I was hoping I would lose more. I have not been working out for the last several weeks for fear of getting sick from all the germs at the gym. I am hoping once I can work out again that I lose more weight. My goal is to get below 200.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 6

Dare I say it...I felt pretty good today (yes..I know..I am now tempting the wrath of the universe). I actually caught myself thinking that I was totally done with cancer and that it wasn't so bad - thats how good I felt. I know it was a moment of delusion...but..it for a brief moment I felt like I did before all this shit started. It was a nice moment.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 5

Yea! I am done with the cancer pills. I took the last of the prednisone today. No more cancer pills! So far this post round of chemo seems to be going good. No constipation (knock on wood) or any other side effects. Although I am happy to be done with this phase of the cancer treatment..I am kind of scared about heading into the radiation portion. Not scared that it will make me feel the way chemo did...just scared of the side effects.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 4

So - was feeling pretty good today. Only one more day of taking the prednisone pills after today. Then...I picked up the "The Lymphomas" handbook from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Jim had picked up during my last chemo session. That sent me into a depression again.

I was reading about the side effects of the radiation treatment. To quote the book - "Radiation therapy has been associated with cancers of the breast, lung, stomach, bone and soft tissues. Often they occur many years after treatment" Grrreeeatttt! So...here you are cruising along a couple of years after you THINK you have gotten over cancer...then BAM.....you get it back because of some treatment you had several years ago. So...when the doctor tells me I am "cured"....I guess what he is really saying is..I just won't have to deal with it for a couple years.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 3

This is the last day/time I have to take the Kyrtil pills. Yea! Getting one step closer to being over this cancer treatment. I have 2 more days of the prednisone...then I will be done with the cancer pills.

Stomach was a little messed up today....had to take some optional nausea medicine. Feeling a little more lethargic after this chemo treatment than the last 2. Think it probably has to do with it being so cold outside.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 2

This is the stage of the chemo treatment I don't like. These days right after chemo remind me that I am fighting cancer...which is kind of sobering thought. When I start to feel better that 2nd and 3rd week after chemo, I start to forget, or at least minimize, the whole thought of cancer. These couple of days right after chemo where I am just lethargic and feel weird inside bring it all back that I have cancer.

Although this was my last chemo treatment...and the doctor expects me to fully recover from the cancer...I wonder if I will ever fully recover mentally. I mean...it will always be in my head...so...for the rest of my life...every bump I feel...or every weird ache I get is going to make me think I have cancer again.

Post 3rd Chemo Session - Day 1

I went for my Neulasta shot today. Can I just say..I am tired of getting pricked and poked. Within the last day I have been stuck 4 times with needles. I am over it.

We went out to dinner with some friends tonight. I thought for sure I would get to play my cancer card tonight...you know...talk about the whole ordeal I have been through. I mean..we have not been out with this couple since this whole cancer thing went down. I was totally denied. I think I got about two minutes of conversation time...then...it was all about them (and their non cancer having problems). Whatever...

3rd (and last) Chemo Session

Today was my 3rd (and last) Chemo session (Yea!). Was a little disappointed in the doctor we met with today to discuss the post-chemo treatment. He wasn't very nice or informative.
So, want I understand so far, my post chemo treatment involves getting a PET scan and a CT scan done in 3 weeks. Then..meet with the doctor again to review the results. If there are no "hot spots" on the scans- then I will proceed to radiation. If there are "hot spots" then they will re-biopsy and I guess I would start chemo again (not sure on that point).

The doctor said the radiation treatment would take 4 weeks. That was different information than the 1 week I was originally told it would be.

The nurse giving me chemo had a hard time sticking my vein today. The first jab was really painful...and apparently she missed the vein. She did a second attempt further up my arm..thankfully she got a vein that time. Once again I pretty much slept thru the whole 5 hour procedure.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 20

So - yesterday the magazine job was stressful putting out all the freakin magazines that came in. Today it was the California Closets job that was stressful. I had two large jobs that I needed to work on so I could order all the material since I was going to be off on Friday. Not fun. Thankfully the magazine job is pretty easy on Thursday - I just have to put out all the weekly mags like People, US Weekly, etc...

Jim and I went out for our nice pre-chemo dinner. Then it was home to watch Bones, and Project Runway. A nice night.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 19

I hate Wednesdays! I know most people hate Mondays, but, I hate Wednesdays. I have to work both jobs on Wednesdays. My California Closets job and the magazine job. There were a shit load of magazines to put out today.

And I hate the public! OMG....the public can be so annoying! First - it never fails - where ever I set up the magazine totes on the floor so I can start putting out the magazines - is the exact spot that every wants to look for something. I swear...its like another little joke the universe likes to play. When I first walk in the whole magazine/book department is empty....then I come out with my totes...start to work on them...then all of sudden the department is crawling with people and they all want to see the shelves that the totes are stacked in front off. Come on, REALLY?
Then "they" (the public) is just oblivious to people around them...specifically me. There was some stupid ass kid that was just standing looking glass eyed at the magazine rack...he was reading or reaching for any of the magazines...he was just spaced out standing in front of the rack. And of course it was in the exact spot that I was working trying to put magazines out. So..I kept having to walk around him saying excuse me. After the 3rd time having to work around him I wanted to yell COME ON...MOVE ALREADY!

Then some girl come in and starting freakin out about the books. Apparently she has never seen books in a Wal Mart store? She kept yelling "OMG..Books...look at the books". Then she would scream her friends name and tell them to look the books. This went out for a good 5-10 minutes. Then of course she wanted to look at the shelves behind the totes. I wanted to shoot her.

Ended up working until 8pm putting out the magazines. Needless to say I was exhausted when I got home.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 18

Started off as a pretty low key day. Still nursing the blisters on my hand. Cleaned the house after getting off work - which wiped me out. Feel asleep for like an hour. We went over to Jim's parents for a belated birthday dinner.

So - I don't know if it was the meal....or his parents house....but...ended up getting constipated again. Wasn't fun. Had a hard time sleeping due to being so uncomfortable.

Still dreading the upcoming chemo session on Friday. I should be excited that its my last one...but...for some reason I am just dreading it. Looking forward to finding out what the post chemo treatment plan is.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 17

Was a nice day weather wise so I went to hit against the wall at the park with the new tennis racket Jim gave me for my birthday. I have not played since the middle of August.....so...was pretty rusty. Ended up getting two huge blisters on my hand (ouch!). Walked the 1.5 loop in the park after hitting on the wall. Needless to say I was exhausted when I got home.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 16

Its my Birthday today! I am 44yrs old today. Needless to say, thanks to the cancer, this will be a milestone/memorable birthday.

Jim got me a new tennis racket and tennis bag for my birthday. It proves that he is really good a listening to me because I have been saying for months that I wanted a new tennis racket. Now..I can't wait to have enough energy to get out and start playing tennis again.

It was a really low key Birthday...we just went out to lunch at a local Irish pub (it was an all Irish weekend). I was totally exhausted from yesterday. After lunch...I took a long nap...then just laid on the couch.

I am already dreading the next chemo session. Its coming up in 5 days. It seems like the 3rd chemo session is coming up faster than the 2nd one did. The good news is that this will be my last chemo session. I will be doing radiation treatment after this chemo session.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 15

Jim and I, along with his parents, went to the Central Kentucky Highland Games in Eminence, KY today. We went to see the Irish Pipe Band Competition. Lets just say...it was interesting..I am glad we went...but..we won't be going back next year. First...its like a hour away. Second..it seemed to be more about the bands themselves than the spectators. There was no information given about where stuff would be happening....like..where the bands be playing. You had to either ask someone in one of the bands...or..just following one of the bands as they were marching to figure out where they were going.

The venue for the event was pretty cool. It was on same big ranch/farm that had been set up like a medieval village. It was a permanent set up..so..we are thinking they hold a lot of renaissance fairs there (there were some renaissance clothed people walking around when we were there)

Below are some pictures from the event.

Cool Celtic cross:

Plaid Anyone...

A view of the "village"

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 14

I love Fridays. I only have to work my California Closets job....get done with that at 1:30pm..then its the weekend. Yea!.

I had a appointment for blood work after work today. Usually its a pretty uneventful appointment. They prick your finger then milk your finger like a cow udder to fill up a little test tube with blood. Then they send you back to the waiting area to sit for like 20 minutes so you can get the blood test results. Well...today....there was a glitch. They took my blood...sent me back to the waiting area...then after a couple of minutes the nurse came back out and called my name again...apparently there was a problem with my blood sample (Cue immediate panic reaction). The nurse said there was some clotting in the sample so they could not test it...so..instead of pricking my finger this time..they had to stick a needle in my arm to get the blood. (I will never complain about how much I hate getting my finger pricked again...OUCH..the needle sucks!)

Everything worked out after that. Blood results were really good. My white blood cell count was really good...and the neutrophils were 6.43..which is really good. They were only at like .43 at this stage after the 1st chemo session. The neutrophils have to be at least 1.5 to receive chemo. So...just need to maintain the high level until next Friday.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 13

Well....13 lived up to its unlucky number status. Seemed like a pretty uneventful day....worked the magazine job in the afternoon....then was craving a chicken parm sub for dinner..so..got one for the local Italian restaurant. Everything seemed good.....until later that night. Woke up around midnight with a huge bout of diarrhea.....went back to bed after that only to wake up to another huge bout of it (Thinking the chicken parm sub was to blame). Was afraid to go back to sleep after that thinking I might end up shitting on myself. I laid down on the guest room bed so I would not bother Jim. I did end up falling asleep (and thankfully did not shit on myself).

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 12

Things are starting to settle down....finally. Bad part is...my next chemo session is only about a week away. Its feeling like this 3 week time is going by faster than after the 1st chemo session.

Had to work the magazine job today. Working that job reminds me just how much weaker I am. I seem to get really fatigued about half way through putting out the magazines. Thank God Wednesdays are the only really heavy work days.....cause I don't know if I would be able to handle more days like today.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 11

The constipation issue is finally starting to go away. Actually went to the bathroom twice today..whoo..hoo...lucky me.

I cleaned the house after I got off work....it only took like an hour and half to clean it...but..it kicked my ass. Laid down on the couch when I was done and slept for like an hour.

And I have discovered a new form of crack. The local Chinese restaurant sells these chicken wings that are to DIE FOR! OMG...THEY ARE SO GOOD. I got some on Sunday and they were so good. I woke up from my nap today...and I had to have more! So like some drug addict looking for his next hit...I drove to the restaurant and ordered some to go. And they did not disappoint! They are sooooooo goood...yum, yum, YUM.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 10

Still have some stomach/digestive issues. Jim did some research today on my symptoms.....and we are thinking the pain is being caused by constipation. One the side effects of chemo is some of your nerves go numb. They told my I may loose feeling in some of my fingers.....but..Jim found out that the nerves in your intestines could be affected as well.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 8&9

I was a bloated painful mess this weekend. Had lower stomach pains all weekend. Not sure what is causing it. First I thought it was constipation....but...now I am thinking maybe its just stomach pain caused by the chemo (the chemo kills your stomach lining). I have been eating a lot more fiber...have taken stool softeners (yes..I even used the dulcolax suppository)...but..not getting any results. So...maybe its not constipation....maybe its my stomach. Either way..its uncomfortable..and I ain't liking it.

Jim threw his Dad a retirement dinner party on Saturday. It was a nice family get together. Sunday Jim and I went to the St. James Art Fair. What a cool ass neighborhood! Loved the architecture of that whole neighborhood. Was dead tired after walking around the fair though. I wonder how long after I finish chemo it will take me to get my energy levels back to where simply walking doesn't wear me out.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 7

Relief! Things are finally "moving" again. OMG....so..I called the nurse practitioner about the constipation. She recommended over the counter Dulcolax suppositories. I asked Jim to do the embarrassing task of picking them up for me (which he did without hesitation...awww...he is so sweet to me).

Thankfully I didn't need to use them. Jim brought them home...and I started reading the box (Insert into rectum....etc...). I guess I got so scared that this is what my life had come to that everything started going on its own.

I got blood work done today. Everything looked good according to the nurse.

Jim and I went to see a play tonight (Rocky Horror Picture Show)...was nice to go out.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 6

Well - I rounded the corner - into a brick wall! I think the universe has a sense of humor in that way...you know..you start sending out all these "I'm doing fine" vibes...then BAM...no your not.

My problem is constipation. Everything was working fine...then all of sudden it stopped. Its been 2 days....and its getting uncomfortable. I have taken senokot-s, I have eaten fiber one bars, I am drinking plenty of water....still no luck in the poopies department.

Was feeling tired today too...which surprised me. Was working the magazine job and just started feeling fatigued.

Post 2nd Chemo Session - Day 5

Well...I defiantly feel I have rounded the chemo corner. Insides feel much more normal today. I guess I have gotten used to having less energy because I am not feeling as tired or fatigued as I was after the 1st chemo session.

Thankfully the magazine job was easy today...I was dreading it. Jim planned to come help me if I got too tired, but, turned out he didn't need too.