I haven't forgotten...

Hi all. Yes it has been over a week since I checked in and I must say that nothing exciting has happened, just recovering from the last one only to have another upon me this Thursday. I am being told that I am pretty healthy looking (except for the bald head and that has hair growing on it) I feel okay some days the lack of energy is greater than most but for the most part I am doing well.

I am looking at this as an experiment so I wonder when my hair will fall out totally, when I am going to feel horrible, and when is my face not going to look as healthy?. I guess I shouldn't get too anxious for any of that, okay whatever. It is getting very warm here so if I walk it is at 6 AM and yea I'm up at that time (not everyday)! My summer is going quickly and I have many questions for my doctors this week, how many treatments really(they have scheduled 4 but said to count on more)? When can I expect to have this metallic taste in my mouth gone? Do I now always have a problem with carbonation? Cause at a wedding last week that was a huge surprise, like broken glass on my tongue! Nice! I guess that is why they talk about mouth sores and such but again I have been blessed to not have any of those afflictions, I count myself extremely fortunate. I am being covered by all of your prayers and good wishes so thanks so much and I will let you know how #3 goes, this Thursday.

See ya, Deb

Always more to learn...

Now I am finishing day 30 out of 65 with 2 chemotherapy sessions under my belt as it were and realized that I am almost halfway done (well for the scheduled sessions)and I wanted to share with you all that you do keep learning about things as you go through this process. You learn that some reactions take a week to set in, unusual but there they are all the same; you learn that you don't react the way you think you should when sales people call and keep you on the phone past their appointed minute, why did I take that call anyway? I must train these guys here to ask more questions and be protective or else they get the same reaction those sales calls do! You learn that not everything is the same or happens at the same time as last time does this become monotonous or not? I guess not, your body reacts and then you choose to work thru it or just "block and tackle" as one of my cousins is so good to point out. All in all I think my "side effects" are consistent with most everyone else.
I am doing fine, less energy, more time to read, playing cards, looking for something funny on the television, trying to get out and walk on "strong" days (I have to do something), people are coming by to visit and I truly love to see people, it is starting to get warm here finally, the boys did tell me that I should go "rogue" and be bald I can carry it off, what do you think? That's all for now, I have a wedding this weekend still trying to figure out if I will be Carmen Miranda or a bag lady!
Hugs, Debi

I keep saying deflated...

Hi all, this is day 5 of the 2nd session of chemo in my veins. I have a little energy not enough to walk the dogs (much to their chagrin, those girls are whiney!) but enough to get myself started with the day and look on facebook, the blog here and get some emails sent.

These reactions seem to be repeating themselves now and not really to any more of a degree than last time, but of course not any less either! IT is nice to have Craig and Kevin home although they like me have been on their own so we are seperate bumper cars running into each other at times. It will work out I am sure, I just keep telling them to "stay out of my way" no no just kidding it all seems to be going okay and yes my headline is deflated as that little bit of air that a balloon holds is just not there. I keep trying to get some "gumption" but none to have so I will cruise along with what I have to do and get some rest today and see how tomorrow fares. The weather here in Temecula is unusually gloomy which is just fine for all of us as by this time any other year it has been in the high 90's and ghastly during the day so for now we "tread water" and know that these times are a changing.

More later, Deb

And now I am not such a classic textbook case...

The first half hour of my injection time was spent trying to find a vein that would work, what a pain in the *** I am to work with, they said no you just have funny veins they like to show us they are there and they slide away! And I do have reactions to the drugs! They are slow onset as I did have a "tiny" setback yesterday and it seems that I will take a little longer on the chemo drips. It really wasn't a horrible reaction but all the same it was a reaction which seemed to have "concerned" Craig a little as I turned bright red as the taxotere was flowing through me and then my chest tightened and I thought it would pass as sometimes drugs in your system will do this but when I started to talk and couldn't I asked for the nurse and they were there immediately stopped the drip and gave me more steroids and I took another antihistamine and then we waited another 10 minutes and started the drip slowly, I still had a slight tightening of the chest but it resolved itself so now I know what an antephylactic reaction starts like! They also told me that only 5% of patients react like that. Hey good news! So my whole visit yesterday was about 4 and 1/2 hours but next time maybe closer to 3 1/2 as they will now be giving me the benadryl as well as everything else. Ah just take some pain relievers while you are at it.

All in all it was a most pleasant day and went quickly as Craig was there and one of his work mates from SGI and his wife came by to visit so we got to catch up with them after 8 years. Christmas letters and phone calls have kept the guys in touch but it was so nice to visit with Bonnie and Jim, get their perspective and thoughts and great prayers, thanks so much for coming by! Life is changing so quickly for us all it is nice to be able to sit down and visit with people like you have just seen them last week.

Today has started pretty much like day 2 last time not really any reactions just a little lethargy and some nervousness from the steroids. It makes for a questionable day for me as I don't really know what to do and how much I can do but for now I am good, that seems to be my mantra bald but good! It is really a cool summer so far so for that I am thankful as the windows are open and fresh air is my friend. I am grateful to all of you for your ongoing comments, thoughts and prayers, I know the latter is my strength and healing power for all that I am embarking on because as one of the nurses said to me yesterday, "you are just getting started" oh joy the fun is yet to come!

Hugs, Deb

Round 2!

Hello, I know it's been over a week since I updated my blog and that's a lot of time for me not to be talking! I have been getting the house ready for college returnees, summer and Craig coming home for the summer! His company has allowed him (even though he is a newbee still) to come home for the summer and work from here, so telecommuting happens across the country, wow! He was to arrive Tues night but the storms in the east and midwest (thunder and lightning oh my!) prohibited many planes from departure and his was on that cancellation list finally 3 hours after he was scheduled to depart. So he was graciously accepted back into my cousin's home for one more night and then a cab picked him up at 5AM for a 6:50 AM flight (which turned out to be 7:30 AM) and he arrived in San Diego at Noon yesterday. It is really good to have him home for the summer!

We had my Wednesday morning club over for dinner last night, we decided that we would gather for dinner the night before my treatments with our husbands, it makes for a great group and laughter and one of the husbands (I won't name you M) told me to be myself and let the group see just how round and bald my head was and so I did and they all thought and agreed that yes my head was ROUND but I looked good!  The evening was a lot of fun but, I think I did this wrong...it should the evening of my Chemotherapy so that I don't have to worry about alcohol and or desserts wrecking my blood sugar totals! That was dumb but then I am not thinking all that clearly and these kinds of things pop up in my head usually after the fact.

Yes today is my 2nd session of chemotherapy and I have for the most part been in good health and still able to walk 2 miles a day about 3 times a week, make my weekly breakfast meetings, attend some graduation parties and open houses, attend my friend Leasa's appointments as she is still without a diagnosis of her condition after 3 years (will they ever stop saying "nonspecific blah blah blah") it is exhausting for her but she perseveres with a smile on her face! I am always curious to see how these days fare for me, am I going to have any reactions, are the reactions I had last time going to be worse this time, will I get some sleep tonight, and the underlying question of all what am I supposed to be learning from this bump in the road???  I do not have any answers for that...yet.

More tomorrow or Saturday depending on how I do and how I am feeling! Hugs to all, Deb

And it's off!

Yes I have had head shaved this afternoon. It really is liberating and chilly! I have put up a photo with a scarf on as somethings take time to get used to. I actually laughed as we (the Weds gals and my hairdresser) started by making a Mohawk and then to a slim Mohawk and then completely off! I really do have a very round head and no nicks or marks in the scalp and to tell you the truth it does feel pretty good to know that I am starting over with a new head of hair somewhere in the distant future. Some say about a month after the last chemo treatment some fuzz will start appearing. My eyebrows and lashes are still there and so you can still find my eyes but someone said you would always be able to find my eyes and of course let's not forget about my voice!

Later, Deb

DAY 14 AND COUNTING...

Hello all. I have been behind in communicating not for feeling bad or ill just waiting for something new to happen so I can report. As I bring you up to date it's day 14 and yes my hair is coming out but only by me pulling it so right now I am trying not to keep my experiment going on how many I can pull out at one time! I truly do think that by the end of the week I will sporting scarves and caps (if it's not too hot).

My weekend of trying to build up my white cells was interesting as I forgot that my allergies always kick in at this time of year and I need extra head meds. Once I got that figured that out I have been able to breath much better. Imagine that not all things or reactions are caused by the chemo meds! How exciting to have regular reactions. I am assuming that my blood white cells are better as I had that bulging bone scenario for three days and in my pelvic bone which just reminded me of the back situation that I suffered in Jan and Feb with, lovely reminders, but all of that is behind me now and I am on to wondering what I am going to look like BALD.

Aren't you curious? I will post a picture for you to enjoy or laugh at with me! I am doing well for the most part, still walking about 2 miles every other day and yes the dogs go with me. More later and hugs to all, Deb