Tired — Post-Hurricane Post

Today I took care of the boys myself (Nancy had some storm damage from Katrina and stayed home to take care of that). It was far more exhausting than I remembered from last April (the last time it was All Me). They are extremely busy little guys. I’m very grateful for the playroom, though; it’s a nice big area where they can run around and play all day long and (mostly) stay out of danger and trouble. Before we had the playroom, I was constantly terrified they’d fall and hit their heads on the fireplace bricks or hurt themselves on the edges of the coffee table or just get into mischief in the living room. The playroom is much better…for everyone!

Tomorrow I’ve got an oncologist appointment; they’ll be checking my WBC levels. I can’t help but think of cancer patients down on the Coast and in New Orleans and how they must be suffering, whether they were evacuated or not. Feeling miserable AND not having a home, air conditioning, or a comfortable bed? Oh my.

As for us, we personally came through Katrina virtually unscathed (a tiny bit of water damage in the playroom and our butterfly bushes were knocked over by the wind), and friends and family in harder-hit areas all seem to be safe, even if many of them lost their homes. Want to help? Donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Round 5, Day 5

Woke up feeling unbelieveably good, and although I’m a bit tired, I’m still feeling very good. Maybe the Curse of the Odd-Numbered Round is not as bad as we thought?

It’s good timing that I’m feeling better now as it’s just in time to batten down the hatches in preparation for Hurricane Katrina. Yes, we’re six hours from the Gulf Coast, but Katrina is due to bring tons of rain our way in a day or two, and we can’t get caught unprepared. Good thoughts and prayers to New Orleans.

Round 5, Day 4

Looks like Rebecca’s “Odd-Numbered Round” theory is turning out to be true (that the odd-numbered rounds are the roughest). I’m still achy, queasy, and all-around yucky-feeling.

But it’s almost done. So that’s something to keep focused on!

Round 5, Day 3

Not feeling very good at all. Very queasy and headachy and my bones are aching too (due to the Neulasta shot).

Round 5, Day 2

I’m already pretty tired and nauseated. I went for my neulasta shot and that went well, but later on in the afternoon I got really tired and burpy. I’m hoping this isn’t a sign of another really rough weekend (like with Round #3).

Had to check with the doctor yesterday that he wouldn’t try and pull a fast one on me. “We’re not going to finish round six and have you turn around and say ‘well, that went so well, let’s do another six rounds,’ are you?” He laughed and said, no, he promises, I’m done with treatments when I get to number six. HURRAH!

Round 5

Had Round #5 today, which I slept through most of, except for a few bathroom breaks and when Tom brought me lunch from McAlister’s. They were teasing me in the treatment room because I had the little knitted throw that I always bring to treatment over my shoulders and then a hospital blanket over the rest of my body. I was so chilly! All the other women getting chemo were burning up and kept saying they were getting hot just looking at me all bundled up. Came home and napped some more. Tom is trying to get me to go back for another nap now but I don’t want my sleep schedule to get too messed up, so I’ll putter around for a while and then go to bed early instead.

Oh, the results of my bone scan came back normal. Good. I assume that means my bones are not riddled with cancer, so I am pleased.

Last-Minute Pre-Chemo Day

Had a good day with several things accomplished before tomorrow’s Round #5. No hugely significant accomplishments, just things like stopping by the bank, picking up some groceries, and going to the post office–but things that make me feel accomplished nonetheless!

I never reported back on the outcome of the Great Wig Washing Experiment. Hmm. Well, it doesn’t look “like new,” but it looks better than it did pre-washing. But I think I need to go easier on the Wig Conditioner next time; poor “Sassy” wig looks a touch on the greasy side.

Round #5 starts at 9:15 tomorrow morning (well, that’s when my appointment is, anyway…the chemo itself probably won’t start flowing until closer to 10:30 or 11 a.m.)!

semi-busy

Refilled a few prescriptions and picked up some groceries today, and even did some ironing! I am definitely in my “Get Things Done Before Chemo Starts” mode.

I was able to reschedule my appointment with the migraine specialist in Memphis. I was originally supposed to go there on Friday morning, but when I realized that’s only two days after Round #5, I got worried. Anyhow, now I’ll be seeing the migraine doctor right after Labor Day instead. Much better!

Mid-Round Report

Another boiling hot day, and I’m still tired and headachy. It’s becoming a pattern, actually, feeling really tired before a new round of chemo.

I washed a wig today and am on pins and needles waiting to see if it dries with the style intact. Everyone swears synthetic wigs retain their style after shampooing, but I’m still nervous. It’s my everyday (“Sassy”) wig that I washed.

Fairly Normal, All Things Considered

Feeling about as normal as I’ve felt during the whole chemo thing. I’ve got some energy, I didn’t have to take a nap, I wasn’t nauseated, I ate a big lunch…it was pretty good. Of course, my nose still ran like mad* and I am bald as bald can be, so I’m not about to forget I’m a chemo patient.

* apparently this is a common side effect of chemo and I’ve had it from the word go.