Sleepy days

I was right.. The chop/neulasta hit me the next day. I slept all day Thursday and still managed to sleep at night (although it took over an hour to fall asleep). I think the Prednisone is hitting me harder each time. Thankfully I'll be done with this cycle tomorrow. Then I'll have until Jul. 3 to recover before the next ritux infusion.

The ambition is there to do stuff, but when push gets to shove I still manage not to get anything done. Ah ... such is life. Maybe if I can get more of a schedule down (1 week chemo/ritux 2 weeks recovery), I'll have more recovery days to actually accomplish something.

Love to all

Woo-Hoo !

Here's a picture of me with my new wig!

Got my blood drawn for testing, then went to see doctor. This time had to wait for the lab results before doctor finished exam. He said my lymph nodes almost were non-existent which of course meant they were normal size (not palpable). He also said my bloodwork was excellent and that I was healing beautifully! Huzzah!!! Then I went up for my 3rd CHOP cycle. All went well and 'fast'. before Dr. Grosset okayed me for the treatment so didn't get up there until close to 11am. Had the saline, then the rest and was finished by 1pm.





Took a little nap and am feeling okay. Not ready to run marithon, but it will probably hit me tomorrow.





I'm scheduled for another ritux Thursday next week and then the next cycle on July 15. This time it will be BOTH! That will be fantastic because it will give me at least a full week without any treatment. If everything goes okay, I might even be able to go to work 1/2 for the full non-treatment week!



Love to all

Catch up day

Took the weekend off from the blog. Thursday had a 'halo' migraine at work, Friday had 2 of them (never had 2 in one day), then on Sunday had another one. Haven't the foggiest idea of why, but will mention to dr. tomorrow. I've been lucky so far in that if I can catch it at the first indication and take tylenol, all I get is the 'halo' effect for around 30 minutes and no real headache (just the 'hint' of one).

Stomach was kinda funky, but still was able to eat. Just felt 'off' all weekend. Should have felt better since it was a while from Tuesday's ritux infusion, but who knows anymore.

Since tomorrow is a CHOP session, I doubt if I'll add to the blog until Weds.

Bought a wig for special occassions. I'll have Jim take a picture and post it for you all to see.

Love to all

Back at work (part days)

Was feeling good enough on Thursday to put in 5 hours and today another 5 hours. Only took 1-1/2 days to recover from the ritux this time. Hopefully it will continue that way. Will be getting another CHOP session next Tuesday. That seems to take a little longer to recover, but we'll see.

It is sure great to get back to work, even part of a day. It seems to give me a boost of energy. I still get tired, but it's the 'good' kind.

Love to all

Ritux day

Day went pretty good. Was able to take the ritux without much of a reaction (just got 'rosy' patches on nose and cheeks) and they didn't have to stop the drip. I was doing good until the last hour when I started getting really tired.

Got home by 2:30pm and took a nap until 6pm. Felt much better when I got up.

Not much to report otherwise except tried one of the district's new 'playaway' units. Way cool!!! Showed it to all the nurses and staff and everyone was very impressed!

Love to all

Fuzzy

Had a good day today. Went in to work for 4 hours. Tired but feeling good.
Tomorrow is the "r" day so am hoping that I feel better by Friday to put in another 4 hour day.

Had my head 'shaved'. She 'buzz' cut it. There is still hair, but it's more like "velvet" length. It will take a while to get used to it, but then again, I don't have to look at it unless I look in a mirror! I do find myself 'rubbing' my head since it feels velvety.

I ordered some temporary tattoos (for when all the hair is gone). Bought some butterflies, ladybugs, geckos, frogs and an asian carp (it may be too big, but I can always use it on my leg.

Love to all

Slow days

Not much to report for last few days. Kinda tired Thursday so rested up.

Friday went to work for 4 hours. Great to be back even for a few hours. Started to get tired at the end, but it was a good tired. Of course I fell asleep while watching TV, but hey, not much going on anyway.

Saturday was quiet, enjoyed "SUN" for a change.

Today a couple of old friends will be stopping by and staying for dinner. Haven't seen them in over a year. Looking forward to catching up.

Tomorrow I'm going for another 4 hours at work, and then try to get my head shaved. Never heard back from hairdresser, but the salon has 'drop ins welcome' so I'll see if they can fit me in.

Then of course Tuesday is "R" day. Hopefully it will go better.

Love to all

Another day gone by

Went in to surgeon today for wound check. A-OK in that department. Healing up nicely. Should be a week or so and be down to a simple bandage. Shucks ... he said I don't have to come back to see him about it again. (I will be seeing him later on after this is all over to take out my port access).

Still tired, but doing okay. Waiting to hear back from hair (ha ha) dresser regarding 'shave'. Don't know if I'll post a picture or not. Depends on how I look (am I vain???).

Love to all

Sleeping Beauty??

Monday was a sleepy day. Couldn't seem to get enough. Don't know if it's the weather or leftover from Friday chemo and Saturday shot. Oh well, felt good to sleep.

Hair coming out fast and furious. Think I'll make an appointment for next week to get a 'shave'. Then you can all call me 'baldy'!

Tuesday: Had the next part of ritux. Had minor reaction ... heart rate went up to 114 and had 'funny feeling' in throat. They turned it off for 20 minutes and restarted. Finished it okay. Started the day at 10am and finished the infustion at 2:45 then waited to see the dr. until 4:15. Another long day. Ready to take a nap, but it's 5:30 already ... oh well, will probably fall asleep watching tv (isn't that the purpose of current programs???).

Heading in again on Weds afternoon to see surgeon for wound check. He'll decide whether or not to keep the home nurse care. If he decides I don't need it anymore I'll be free!! Won't be home bound!!

Next sessions are both on Tuesdays. Ritux again on June 17 and another CHOP session on June 24. Dr. Grosset upping the dose of ritux from 300 (still partial) to 500. Guess the regular dose is 700. That means I haven't even gotten one full dose yet. Oh joy!

Love to all

New Picture

Just uploaded a new picture. Little thinner both hair and me!

Little tired today, think the predisone makes me sleepy at the beginning of dose. Seem to pick up energy later in the day.

Looking forward to maybe getting out of the house later in the week. Will see how the ritux dose on Tuesday goes. Should be done with the "homebound" nursing for my biopsy wound by Wednesday. If I feel good enough Thursday or Friday I might even go in for a few hours of work !!!

Love to all

Chemo & shot

Friday: Got to the medical center and had blood drawn, then saw Dr. Grosett. He said I'd only be getting the chemo (CHOP) today, and then on Tuesday would get the ritux. Since I had a severe reaction (low blood pressure), I'd only gotten a "baby" dose (little less than half). I'll get another small dose on Tuesday. Nurse said I'm scheduled for 8 cycles of it, but really will have more infusions since I haven't gotten a 'full' dose. Doc said it looks like my lymph nodes are continuing to shrink.

Next I went up to the cancer center and began my infusions. Finished around 3pm and Jim picked me up. Have to drink at least 3qts of water. I really pushed it and felt pretty bad. Felt crummy all night. This chemo round didn't sit as well as the first (cumlative), plus all that water meant I felt really rotten.

Saturday: Woke up and took my pills (predisone needs to be taken with food) and became nauseated after eating a piece of toast. Took an anti-nausea pill then Jim and I headed to CDA to the cancer center for my Neulasta shot. The anti-nausea pill seemed to help and a nap when I got home felt great. Got up feeling much better and was able to eat.

Sorry I didn't post this earlier, but was recuperating from the chemo.

Love to all

Sleepless in Athol

Nothing different yesterday so didn't post. Woke up at 3am (pee break), and then couldn't fall back asleep until 7am. Have no idea why, but, of course took a nap this morning. Feeling a little more rested.

Other than that not feeling too bad. Trying to store up energy for long day on Friday with Chemo and another round of "R". Not looking forward to 3 qts again. Although 2 qts don't seem to bad now.

Did notice my hair is starting to fall out now. Jim will take a new picture before it's really noticeable. When it gets to that point I'll go get it shaved. Don't know if I'll post a "baldy" picture. Will have to wait and see. I'm sure it will fall out faster after Friday's session.

Love you all

Echo day

Wow ... was that cool. Saw my heart beating, valves, aorta, chambers, wall thickness all 'live'. Whole thing took about 45-50 minutes. No sweat. They said my pictures were good. I am presuming since they (tech Susan and Dr?) didn't freak out, that everthing looked normal. Finally ... something that appears to be normal.

All in all pretty good day. Still tired from not sleeping more than 2 hours at a time, but felt better than the last few days. Hopefully it will continue so I can go into Friday's session in pretty good shape. I'm curious to see how the "r" goes. If they can't push it faster it will be a 'very long day' again since there are 3 other drugs that I need to get as well. Those took around 3-4 hours the first time.

Not much more to report ... will try to be a little more creative/entertaining tomorrow.

Love you all

Glug glug

Still pretty beat. Waking up at night every 2 hours to pee. You don't realize how much water 3 quarts really is until you have to drink it. It's a little easier to get down using the 'bottled water' bottle rather than the 32 oz mug they gave me at the chemo training. Maybe because it looks different. Actually I'm drinking one ounce more (big deal) since the bottle is 33 not 32 oz. If you think of it this is really quite an achievement considering I'd be lucky to drink 1 glass of water a day before this all started.

I'm taking afternoon naps trying to catch up on sleep, but once again, I still wake up after an hour or two because .... yep you guessed it ... have to pee.

After today I should be able to cut down to 2 quarts, but then on Friday I go for a CHOP-R so have to drink 3 qts once again.

Oh well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Love you all