Monday I got out of this room for the first time in more than two weeks. I traveled through the tower into the old part of the hospital and down to radiology on the first floor. The nurse pushing my chariot said the trip was too short to bring any road food. I was sorely disappointed --- I was looking forward to at least a bag of cheetos for this big adventure.
They did the MUGA heart function test and the results showed only a 2% differential in function from the first go round of induction chemotherapy, so we are repeating the exact same treatment regimen. I finished the first bags this morning at around 5:00. I still feel pretty good. I have no nausea, no pain, and I have decent energy --- enough to get around the room and take care of myself without any assistance from the nurses.
During the first week of chemo, they were doing the daily blood draws from my picc line, so I didn't get a needle in the arm every day. Apparently that was not what my doctor wanted and so now I get a needle draw every morning between 4:00 and 5:00. Needless to say, I don't have to rely on an alarm clock --- that poke in the arm pretty much brings me to full conciousness.
The hair is starting to go. I'm not totally bald, yet, but each day more and more hair is left in the bottom of the shower in the morning and in my sleep cap at night. The sleep cap is something I resorted to to keep the hair off my pillow and out of my face at night. Before I put it on, I spent one night with my face covered in hair. I'm pretty sure I looked a lot like Joe-Joe the Dog Faced Boy from the circus.
It's kind of exciting to think that for the next several months at least, I can be anything I want . . . a blonde one day, red head the next.
6 comments:
Hi, just wanted to wish you a Happy 4th. With the view that you have I hope that you can enjoy some fireworks.
Hugs and prayers.
Paulette
Hi Debbye,
Thanks for sharing your story with all of those that care about you. I am sure the group is larger than you can imagine. You are an amazing woman - keep up the positive outlook and sense of humor.
Take care,
Denise
I would go with the redhead at first!
Love your comments and glad to hear you are doing so well.
Mary Ann
Hi Debbye,
Glad you got a little road trip to change the scenery a bit - must get pretty boring looking at the same four walls. However, you have a fantastic way of keeping yourself busy and keeping us all entertained. Love your stories - your amazing outlook is inspirational and your strength, powerful. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily. Take care of you.
Renea
Hi Debbye,
Just a moment amid the whirl wind of closing out the fiscal year to tell you how proud I am of you and your strength. We all are literally at our wits end during this time and your stories make our problems seem minimal at best. Take care of you and keep a positive attitude........as it is 99% of recovery. Love to you!
Sherry
Hey Debbye: I wish you all the best and do enjoy your posts so that I can keep up with your journey....A lady in my office completed her chemo treatments a few months ago and her hair is starting to "peach fuzz" in...she's on her way again to those "bad hair days" Take care...
Post a Comment