Better the second time around.
Friday, March 18.
Sue was nice enough to drive me down since I had no idea if I would be any better with the changes that would be made to my regimen. All in all it was a better experience this time. Port was activated immediately with no issues. My blood work was “perfect”, and things ran along at a good clip.
Now don’t get excited that the blood work was perfect, there were several red numbers on my sheet, (dang it if I forget what they were. I will ask for the results next time), but they were all normal for someone at my particular stage of chemo with my particular drugs. Not a great comforting thought, but . . .
I was made much more comfortable this time. Blanket, snacks, a drink. and it went right according to clockwork. In by 8:45 out by noon. After it was over, I had a roaring headache, but no dizziness. My head was “cloudy” but I could focus to drive well. I was completely exhausted, though . . . which I wasn’t the first time. All in all a good trade-off.
The rest of the day was uneventful. Felt like crap and all I wanted to do was sleep. My headached worsened and I took some Tylenol. It helped some, but sleep was the best medicine. My dread now, is tomorrow. I must get to the training center tomorrow and Sunday.
I mentioned my hair started to fall out on Thursday. By Friday I could make several Yorkie’s a day with what fell out of my head. I was initially told it would be gradual. A little here, a little there, till eventually it was all done. What I found out during chemo was that the eventually would be 2 weeks at the most. I’ll be lucky if I make a week.
Saturday, March 19
Wow do I feel sick. Can barely keep my eyes opened I’m so tired. My body is achy and my headache just won’t quit. BUT . . . I will make it to the training center.
I dragged through training and sat down for most of it. I detest lazy training in both trainers and owners. I just had not to many choices. Sam was there and I was VERY grateful he was. He was a huge help and I think he’s going to do both Level 1s today alone.
Last night when I collected my 5th or 6th Yorkie from my head there were several very large bald spots. I looked like one of those ads for hair replacement. That was it. I cut it short (really short) and decided it was time to either wear a wig or a chemo cap. And so we have it. No hair for Joann for 8 months. UGH. My Mom always used to call my shining glory and I was always really proud of that head of hair. . .. thin but VERY abundant and now it’s gone. People say it will be back, but now the nursing staff is telling me it will likely be different. Different in texture, different in straightness, even possibly a different color (which I highly doubt). Time will tell, but right now I have the duty of picking what hair I will (or won’t) wear every morning. I dread that. I’m trying to talk about it like it’s fun, but I was always a wash and go kind of person and this is just not going to be fun.
A few things I noticed. . . where I have no hair, boy it’s cold. I can see I will need something until it gets MUCH warmer here. The second is wigs are hot and uncomfortable. I can see that around the house it will either be nothing or a cap.
Thankfully the dogs didn’t freak out with either no hair, the cap or the wigs. They took it all in stride and just knew it was Mom. Don’t you just love dogs!
I notice I don’t sleep much the first week of chemo. I know part of it is the steroid they put in the IV. I also pee a lot more. I have to wake up at least 3 times per night to go to the bathroom. I think the runs are about to start again. One and one half weeks of that, again, not fun. I also don’t have any appetite. I’m going to put that in the not good category. I’ll have to keep an eye on that. I lost 8 pounds my first chemo week. we’ll see where we go this week.
That’s it for now. (Boy these sure aren’t short and sweet like Doogie Howser’s were); but there you have it.
Talk to you soon
–joann
