I woke up on Thursday – chemo
day – and felt good. Jeannine was here
and wanted to go to chemo with me, and I was excited about that. When I arrived, Erica, the infusion nurse
asked how I was feeling. I said, “I’m
good – just feeling kind of ‘hyper’ today.” She said that was from the steroids
that I take the day before. I told her I
was full of questions, and she said that Dr. Powers was in, but I didn’t have
an appointment with him. I told her she
could probably answer them. Mainly I wanted
to know what the reason for all the steroids was, and she said it was to
counteract the chemo side effects, and it would make me feel this way. I talked with her about how I had the
near-fainting spells on both Mondays after the 1st 2 treatments. She thought I just probably got too hot and
had not eaten breakfast 1st.
I did tell her that I had learned to eat more protein throughout the
day, and eat protein before bed, and that helped me not be so shaky in the
mornings. I had been eating breakfast
before showering lately, and that did help.
I said the hot flashes had kind of returned even though I was taking the
gabapentin, and I really didn’t want to increase that dose until I had to because
of the side effects that add to my shakiness.
I was also concerned about my blood work, because I knew I was slightly
anemic, and I wondered if that contributed to my needing to eat more
often. She said she would gladly print
out the results of my lab work this morning so I could see it all. She is just so sweet, reassuring, and accommodating. I will really miss her when I go home. I hope I get someone there that is as kind as
she is.
She drew my blood. My, that port is nice. I don’t feel a thing when I put that numbing
cream on, covered with Press N Seal ahead of time. When the results were ready, she brought me
the print out with the items circled that they look for. She said my values were great! The hgb and hct did drop slightly again, but
she assured me that they were just fine.
“You should see some of the them that come in here! You are doing GREAT! We would not give you
chemo if you weren’t.” My white count is
holding well, so that is good.
Just before Erica started my
meds, Dr. Powers came to my side. He
asked how I was doing. Apparently, Erica
had said something to him, and we discussed again some of the questions that I
had. He just continues to be the nicest
doctor I think I’ve ever had.
She then started the IV
Benadryl, 25 mg again, and I was able to keep on visiting with Jeannine right
through that part – no restless leg syndrome at this dosage. Then the Pepsid followed by the
Decadron. I have to wait 30 minutes
after that before starting the Taxol, and it takes about an hour.
Just after the IV started,
out came Dr. Powers again. His nurse was
with him. This time he looked over my
head really well and checked out the 3 spots that are already there. He DID NOT FIND ANY NEW SPOTS! Woo hoo!!!!! He is very pleased that the
chemo seems to be doing what it is supposed to do. The incision on top of my head, from the last
surgery, has opened up just a tiny bit, but he said it was OK and healing
alright. I was glad to hear that,
because it kind of concerned me. So,
over all, he was very reassuring to me.
I just can’t have enough good things to say about this man. How I wish I could take him home to Hutch
with me. I gotta say, I have had the
BEST doctors here at this KUMC. God was,
and is, so good to me to provide the very best care here. I just have to trust
that He will lead me to good care in Hutch, too.
The time went pretty fast
with Jeannine there to keep me company.
We caught up on lots of things! When
I left, I really felt pretty good, so we stopped at the grocery store on the
way home. The rest of the day, I felt
great! My energy level was high, and I
was able to enjoy my family the rest of the day. We had our 2nd
Christmas with Jeannine and the girls.
As I sat down to eat supper,
I ran my hand through my hair to brush it back, and out came a bunch of
hair!!!
Oh, no……it has started!!! It’s funny because as we left the chemo
center, I had just said to Jeannine, “Isn’t it amazing how you can just walk
away from a place feeling fine after you’ve been filled with an hour of poison
and feel no effects?“ I knew the time would come, so I really wasn’t all that
upset about it. I know that I’ve talked a lot about my hair, but honestly,
losing my hair is not that big a deal for me right now. Half of the back of my head has been bald
since the middle of October anyway, and part of that area – where the flap is –
will never grow hair again. So, I really
have accepted the fact that I’ll not have a normal head of hair again.
After supper, we kind of made
a party out of cutting my hair. Jeannine
wanted to trim it, and I wanted it short enough that it would fit under my
hats, and not be hot on my neck when the hot flashes came.
After that I got the two wigs out that had
come, and the one I thought I’d like the best just didn’t work for me. It was more blonde and longer – kind of
whispy. It looked really nice online, but it just looked like a wig on me –
couldn’t get it to look quite right. So,
then I tried on the shorter, darker one.
That one just seemed to be more me.
I thought it might be a little dark, but I liked the highlights that
lightened it, and it seemed more comfortable on my head. I put the picture on Facebook and asked for
opinions. Honestly, I never expected so
many warm and kind responses. 😊 Immediately, my timeline lit up!!
My sister called immediately when she saw it and was crazy about
it!! She said,” Take the tag off of that
one! It’s a keeper!” So, I guess I got that message loud and clear
– that one’s a keeper. I’ll send the
other one back. I thought it might be
fun to have a couple, just to have a change if going out where no one knew
me. But it’s such a chance you take when
you order online for color, shape, etc.
But it’s not like I’m picking my hair for the rest of my life! 😀 Throughout the rest of the evening, I just
couldn’t help running my hand through my hair – yep – it was for real – 4-6
strands in my hand each time. One of my
FB friends said, “Well, stop running your hands through your hair!” 😊
Now for the absolute
HIGHLIGHT of the entire day. Get ready
for this! This absolutely blew me away! Late in the evening, I got a PM from a former
nursing student of mine who is a FB friend of mine. I have permission from her to share this, but
will not reveal her name. We both share
this in hopes that HER story may save the life of someone else!!
“I have followed your
posts and updates and wanted to share something with you. Because of you I had
the mole on my chin checked out. I had put this off for at least 6 months. Well
it was melanoma in situ with an underlying benign tumor. Had a biopsy done on
December 13th. Got the result the 15th and had an appointment on the 16th at 8m
to have it looked at. After looking at my options I went with the aggressive
option with recommended margins. It took a significant chunk out of my lower
chin. Biopsy came back clean and I am cancer free. Thank you so much for sharing!
You are the reason I had this checked. I pray for you daily and I am so grateful for your courage and
strength.”
I sat there reading that with
goose bumps and tears in my eyes. How
many times have I asked God, “Why? Why
did this happen to me??? What possible
good could come from all this??” I know
God has a divine plan for my life, and I try not to question that, but my humanness
is still there. I know already that
there have been many positive spin-offs from this, and for all those I’m very
thankful. I have, in turn, received so
many blessings myself, and I’m most thankful for them! But THIS….this just blew me away –
overwhelmed me! To think that I may have
directly saved someone life…..well that’s almost too much to comprehend.
“We never really know how
we touch each others lives. I am overwhelmed by the fact that you are in
my life and have had the courage to share your story. I will forever be
grateful and in your debt. I'm teary eyed writing this. Sending much love and
prayer.
Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you!”
I’m so grateful she shared
her story with me, and SO thankful her outcome was good. Again, perhaps HER story will save the life
of someone else. As she said, we never
know how our lives touch others. I pray
we both keep touching lives for the good.
Made my whole day – whole week!
The next day, Friday – after chemo,
I still felt good – good energy, not too shaky – as long as I eat plenty of
protein throughout the day, it helps with the shaky feeling. That seems to be my main side effect. Some of it I can control with diet – some of
it is just there. The steroids help me
have the energy and feel good, but they do add to the shakiness.
Before Jeannine and the girls
came I bought a couple jigsaw puzzles.
We all enjoy working on those, so we spent some good time working on one
of those for some of the day. Jeannine made
a delicious chicken potato dill soup that we all enjoyed. Sula had made cheese bread, so we ate well,
especially good when I didn’t have to fix it!! 😊
Today, Saturday, I woke up
with a little less energy and a little shakier. 😞 Breakfast didn’t take that away, but it’s not all that bad. This is just a more stay-at-home and
take-it-easy day. My eyes are kind of
teary and feel a bit swollen. I remember
that happened after the last one, so undoubtedly a coming-off-of-steroid
effect. I’m pretty much following the
pattern that I’ve seen developing. My “type-A
chart-keeping” 😊 helps me see patterns developing.
PLUS, I have to get ready to
watch the Alabama/Washington college football play off!!! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
Over all, I think I’m still
doing very well, and I’m so thankful to God for His every blessing that keeps
coming.
I want to wish everyone a
Very Happy, Prosperous, Healthy, and Blessed New Year!! Much love to all of you for all the wonderful
support and prayers you continue to send my way!!
And as always…….I remain in
His hands…..
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