Thursday Morning

I had another bout of nausea last night.  Then, took an anti-nausea pill at 11:00 p.m. and went to bed.  Woke up around 3:00 a.m. feeling fine and so, I ate a fruit cup before going back to sleep.  Got up and took another anti-nausea pill at 8:30 a.m., drank some lemonade.  Haven't eaten anything yet, as I feel ever so slightly nauseated.  Just hoping it'll go away if I ignore it. 

Cousin called to say she's on her way.  Daughter will be home tonight (and then, she'll be home until after New Year's). 

I'll be going in for a follow-up visit with the oncologist, tomorrow, to go over blood test results and have hydration.  If the white blood cell count is too low, they will give me injections, they said, to stimulate cell production (which can cause bone pain, they said; I'm hoping the cell count is OK). 

Today, I am grateful for:

- Anti-nausea drugs
- Fruit cups
- Cousin visiting
- Daughter coming home
- Everyone's thoughts and prayers

I hope you are all having a lovely day.  Take care of yourselves during this busy time of the year.

Wednesday: Blood Tests and Another So-So Day

My day has been so-so.  I woke up feeling a bit better, and had half of a nutritional drink, but then, the nausea started.  I took a pill and felt a bit better.  My cousin took me to have my blood tests done.  Came home and threw up.  :( Felt a bit better after that and managed to eat a fruit cup for lunch.  Cousin brought me some soup, but I didn't feel up to having any.

After cousin left, I rested on the sofa and took a nap.  Took another anti-nausea med in the afternoon (every 8 hrs) and ate a banana.  Had a headache earlier, but it's better now.

 

I had a little of the soup cousin brought for my dinner and made another glass of lemonade.  I think I'll be OK if I can keep the soup down.  By the way, I know that I am not eating how I should, but, I am just taking it easy, going with what I can keep down.  One good thing is I have plenty of fat reserves that can be called upon to contribute.  :)

I am hoping that tomorrow will be a better day.  Cousin has said she will come again in the morning to visit me.  I really don't know how to thank her.  She has been such a blessing.

Daughter will be home, too, tomorrow.  She called me earlier to let me know the results from last week's final exam (she did very well, having answered the bonus questions correctly and getting the extra points for them and very positive comments from her professor).  She's not sure how she did in today's exam; she said she had difficulties with the last 2 questions.  

 

Today I am grateful for:

 

- My cousin being there for me

- Feeling somewhat better

- Knowing I've everyone's thoughts and prayers helping me through this

- Daughter doing well in her test

- Getting through another day

 

How are you all doing?  I'm sorry I haven't felt up to reading any blogs yet, but I think I'll be able to catch up tomorrow.  

Another So-So Day

Today has been another so-so day.  Still fatigued.  Still a bit nauseated even with the anti-nausea pill. 

Daughter left in the morning; one of her friends took her to the airport.  I slept until my cousin called and said she was coming to see me.  She has been like an angel - she brought 2 bags full of nutritional drinks and juice, held me when I threw up, did the dishes, swept and tidied and fed me broth before she left.  She will come again, tomorrow, to take me to get the blood test done.

I slept all afternoon and now, I am up to chat with daughter and update everyone, here.

Hopefully, tomorrow, will be a better day.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Daughter's friends giving her rides
- Daughter had a safe flight back
- My cousin
- Naps on the sofa
- Dancer cat keeping me company

Hope you are all keeping well and feeling fine.

Fatigue

Well, the fatigue set in, yesterday evening and stayed with me the whole day.  I spent the whole day sleeping.  I'd wake up, drink something, try to eat something, go to the bathroom and go back to sleep!  I've no appetite, so, eating has been limited.  I'm drinking the meal replacement drinks, eating a spoon of peanut butter for protein, plus fruit.  I realize this is not ideal, but, it is all I can manage at this time.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Being able to spend the day resting
- A card and flower from my neighbor
- Daughter being home to take care of me (although she goes back to Berkeley, tomorrow)
- The nausea is not too bad (didn't have to take any anti-nausea meds. yet, today)
- Peppermints

Hope you all had a lovely day, today. 

Quick Update

Just a quick update:  Yesterday afternoon, I began to feel a bit queasy.  It wasn't too bad and I tried to fight it, but, finally took an anti-nausea pill a little after 4:00 p.m.  A little later, I went for a walk around the block with daughter, to get some fresh air and exercise.    I had a bit of an upset tummy, too, so I rested in the evening, and took it easy.  I finished knitting another hat - I am thinking of making a few extra hats and leaving them at the treatment center for anyone who might like to have one.  I took another anti-nausea pill before I went to sleep.

Woke up feeling a little lethargic, this morning.  Not tired, exactly, just a bit blah.  My mouth felt very dry, even after drinking water.  I felt better after drinking a cup of tea.  I don't feel nauseated, so I haven't taken another anti-nausea pill.  However, I ate a graham cracker and nibbled on a piece of preserved ginger, just as a preventive measure.

Daughter did some grocery shopping for me and brought a friend of mine for a visit.  That was a nice diversion.  Daughter has just returned after dropping my friend off at her home. 

Planning a quiet evening, resting.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Fairly mild side effects
- My daughter's love and caring and patience with me
- Friends and family who call and visit
- Offers of help
- A day of sunshine and warm temperatures

Hope you have all had a lovely day.

Morning After Chemo

I never intended this blog to be about my health issues, and I promise, I will try to keep it from becoming one, but all of you are so caring and concerned that I want to give you a brief update since last night!  :D

I woke up feeling just fine, this morning!  Such a blessing!  No nausea, no swelling, no aches and pains, no fatigue (although I've been told it will come later).  I didn't need to take any anti-nausea medications or even crackers to keep it at bay.  I made and had a cup of tea.  Ate bread and cheese for breakfast as that was what I wanted (went through and rejected a list of breakfast items including eggs, pancakes, French toast, waffles, cereal and milk, protein bars, nutritional drink, etc.!  Picky, picky!  :D)  I am keeping myself hydrated and have drunk 2 cups of water so far (along with the cup of tea).  My goal is to drink 10 cups of water, today (I've been told to drink 10-12 cups a day).

I am planning to have more of the Chinese fried rice and chicken from yesterday, for lunch, today.  The chicken has onions and celery in it, and I will add some broccoli, as well, for more green veggies.  Haven't decided on dinner, yet, but I might have baked chicken and vegetables (beets, carrots, green peas, maybe corn).

I've spent a relaxed morning, posting on-line, chatting on the phone with my neighbor who called to see how I was feeling, and having daughter pay a bill for me, on-line!

Plans for the afternoon include doing my holiday cards.  I have bought my stamps for holiday cards, but I had planned to make my holiday cards, this year, so haven't bought any cards!  I will have to either make some simple ones this weekend, or have daughter buy me a box or two when she goes shopping, next!  Oh, and I need to make two thank you cards, as well and get them in the mail!

Today, I am feeling grateful for:

- My many, many blessings!
- Lack of nausea
- Minimal side effects
- Everyone's prayers and caring
- Having the perfect excuse to just relax ("I'm resting!")  :D

I am wishing you all the lovely Saturday.  Hope all is well with you and your family and loved ones.  Have a blessed day!

First Day of Chemo Therapy

I had the first session today.  The day went very well. So much better than I had dared to hope!

My cousin who was accompanying me got here by 6:45 a.m. and we left the house at 7:15 a.m.  I drove my car while cousin followed in her car (she was trying to familiarize herself of the route so that she can take me on future sessions).  Traffic wasn't too bad - it's what the TV traffic reporters call "Friday light".  What that means in So. California terms is that the freeways were a solid parking lot!

We got to the clinic by 8:30 a.m.  In plenty of time for appointment at 9:00 a.m.  I was called in more or less on time.  I asked if  my daughter and cousin could come in and was told yes.  Lots of other patients were also accompanied by a friend or family member, although I was the only one with two companions!  It was practically an entourage!  LOL!

My blood pressure was elevated but, they rechecked (and I tried deep breathing, etc.) and it went down quite a bit.  It could be the stress of the situation, insufficient sleep, or the new medicine isn't doing as well as hoped (won't be the first time that has happened!).  The doctor came in and said he won't come too close to me because he has a cold - BUT HE WASN'T EVEN WEARING A MASK!!!  WHAT???!!!  He went over things with me again and answered more of daughter's questions.  :)

But then, we had to wait for some time because...guess what...my echo cardiogram test results (taken on October 23) had not been received by the clinic and had to be requested, again!  Now, where have I heard this before?   Anyway, they were finally received and reviewed and treatment started.

It didn't hurt.  I didn't feel a thing, other than a dry mouth (easily alleviated with drinks of water). I didn't feel nauseated.  Such a blessing!  

I recalled the Bible verse I had been directed to by a friend:  Isaiah 43,2:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

I had told her that I equated the treatment as the waters, with the chemo treatment being the rivers and the radiation being the fire.

I read this Bible verse and another one, Joshua 1;9, before I started my treatment.  During my treatment, I read my book of prayers.  My cousin held my hand and silently prayed.  My daughter sat on the other side of me and checked on me.  And I knitted.

I was given Benadryl which they said might make me feel sleepy and I didn't feel sleepy.  They gave me steroids which they said might give me a burst of energy and keep me awake in the night, but I stay up late anyway so I don't think it's kicked in yet!  They gave me anti-nausea drugs which apparently worked very well.  They gave me 2 types of chemo which didn't seem to have any immediate side effects (other than the dry mouth.) 

We came home around 2:00 p.m.  Daughter drove, although I really could have driven myself if I had needed to.  The gardener was doing the garden when we arrived and I showed him my spindly dracaena plant and, since it is toxic to cats, offered it to him.  He said he'll come by on Sunday to collect it, as he didn't have enough room for it in his truck, today.  He loved it's "sculptural effects".

Daughter went to pick up my anti-nausea drugs from the pharmacy and bought Chinese take out for lunch, while cousin stayed with me and kept me company.  Cousin left after lunch (which I enjoyed because I was hungry) and daughter and I took a nap!

In the evening, another cousin called and visited;  I made us tea and felt fine.  I made soup for dinner and, by that time (after 8:30 p.m.), I was getting hungry and thought I might be feeling just a little queasy.  So, I had 2 crackers, took one anti-nausea pill (I was given 2 kinds - 1 to take first to prevent the nausea, and the second to take if I still feel nauseated after 4 hrs.), ate my soup with toast and treated myself to chocolate for dessert.  I no longer feel any queasiness.

I have drunk 10 cups of water, today (includes 2 cups of tea, as that's mostly water).  I have eaten breakfast (bread and butter), lunch (Chinese fried rice and chicken), dinner (chicken vegetable soup) and snacks (nutritional drink, peach fruit cup).  

The only possible side effect I've had has been the dry mouth.  As side effects go, I'll accept that, gratefully.  I also had a slight pressure in my sinuses - but I had that since I woke up, so, it's possibly related to weather (kind of cloudy, today) or not enough sleep! 

A HUGE thank you to everyone who kept me in your thoughts and prayers. I know I got through today with no discomfort due to the power of your prayers.  Today's flight of steps up the mountain was accomplished with very little discomfort.

I hope I will continue to feel this well, tomorrow, too, but we shall see.  Someone mentioned that the side effects really make themselves feel a few days later as the body tries to repair itself - the fatigues, aches, pains, etc.  Again, we shall see.  

I need to do a blood test on Wednesday for a white blood cell count and go in for hydration next Friday.   I am supposed to get the chemo therapy every 3rd Friday, but, the 3rd Friday from today falls on Christmas Day and the following Friday is New Year's Day.  So, my oncologist said he will postpone my next chemo session until after the holidays, for January 8!  Which means I can spend the holidays without worrying about being nauseated and fatigued, etc.  What a blessing!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Kind medical staff (the nurse who attended to me was so pleasant and caring!)
- A loving, caring cousin who spent practically the whole day with me.
- A loving, caring daughter.
- Getting though the first chemo session without experiencing debilitating side effects.
- The prayers, thoughts and well wishes of so many family and friends throughout the world!
- So many blessings

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but today was a lovely day!