Oct. 8, 2021

6 CHEMO TREATMENTS = 24 + WKS OF KILLER DRUGS @ WORK

Friday, October 8, 2021 1:54 PM

Hi! It's the day after my last Chemotherapy treatment. It doesn't mean I'm done with chemo, or that it's done with me. For the next 3 wks. or more, the drugs will be doing their thing to kill cancer cells and mess about with some of my good cells. The ones most noticeable to me are my hair (of course) and my vision. When my hair starts to fall out, my vision becomes quite blurred. And when my hair began to grow back, my vision cleared up. So much going on with this chemo stuff! Between the blurred vision and the effects of the Gabapentin, I haven't been driving for all these months!

  I had a private room again yesterday like I did the 1st time I had chemo. It's great because I have my own biffy and total comfort. I slept through most of the treatment, which was the shortest (4 1/2 hrs.) of all 6.

   I'll have a CT scan in about 3 wks. from now, with a follow-up with the medical oncologist after that. There will be further follow-ups every 3 months to see how I'm doing. 

   I started chemotherapy on the feast of St. Catherine of Siena and I end on All Saint's Day (3 wks. from my last chemo)! Thinking about that is a good feeling... knowing that I'm not only accompanied by many saints who have gone before us, but also many who are walking with me on this earth today, that I am blessed to know and who are devoted to praying for me.

  So far, I'm doing more than I've been able to do for the rest of my chemo day, and the day after (so far). It feels like chemo was 2 days ago, not 1! I guess that's the steroids. Just now my face and neck turned burning red. Didn't think it would happen this time, as I'm taking an anti-allergy drug with Benadryl added to the mix (to prevent this cooked lobster look). It's not really even uncomfortable, so I'll take this side effect over many others. You know what's really weird? I'm on heavy duty stuff,( including in the chemo drug mix) for anti-nausea/gut pain. I took the max last night, & pain still kept me up till 2:30. Then I remembered the TUMS. Yup, it worked!

  Larry's off loading up on groceries. He just called and said it's more than really crazy. It is Thanksgiving weekend!

    Hope y'all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! It is whatever we make it! I'm looking forward to whatever mine's gonna be!  Super quiet for sure!

God bless you with many things to be grateful for! xoxo