Well, I made it through the second round of chemo. It was great to have my sisters arrive the day after and help out tremendously. I don't think I cooked or cleaned or washed a single dish while they were here. I was scolded for doing any work - and I thoroughly enjoyed the spoiling.
It was a bit rougher the second time around for some reason and I knew to be suspicious when I heard the words 'this should never happen again'. On post-chemo day 3, I began with fevers, chills and severe fatigue. Of course it was the weekend... I was able to get by on oral antibiotics and am feeling a bit better. I am not quite back to normal, but definitely better than 2 days ago.
This round of chemo is worse than I expected but I am still keeping my spirits up - or at least doing my best. I am still working - but less than my regular schedule. It helps keep me positive and helps the time go by faster. I would probably sit home and get depressed if I did not work - so work is definitely good for my spirits. I have access to great lunches at the hospital (my sisters can testify to that!) so that is always an added benefit. I bring leftovers from lunches brought in by vendors - so Steve does not miss out too much either :-).
Thanks for all the love and support. It helps me get through this rough period. I know that in a few days, things should calm down and in about a week, I should feel almost normal. I seem to get about 5 - 7 days of feeling good between chemo treatments - but it is temporary so I can handle it. Who knows, maybe it will get easier... I can always hope.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
I'm back!
Okay, thanks to some awesome doctoring and nursing and great friends and family, I made it through the ordeal. I really thought I was going to meet my maker for a while - but I get to make memories with all of you for a bit longer.
The kids did pretty well since a great friend took them for the night while I was recovering. Steve's homemade chicken noodle soup was also part of the recovery. (He thinks it was really the soup and not the neupogen that brought my WBC's back!!)
Whatever did the trick, I am very happy to be able to stand up for more than 30 seconds. I am also very appreciative of my immune system! I am so glad there are awesome scientists who make great drugs - even if they cost outrageous amounts of money!
Thanks for all of you and your love and support. I think that was what really pulled me through! I will even be able to see the kids find their easter eggs before my IV treatment. I will bring chocolate and candies for all the staff who have to work on Easter.
The kids did pretty well since a great friend took them for the night while I was recovering. Steve's homemade chicken noodle soup was also part of the recovery. (He thinks it was really the soup and not the neupogen that brought my WBC's back!!)
Whatever did the trick, I am very happy to be able to stand up for more than 30 seconds. I am also very appreciative of my immune system! I am so glad there are awesome scientists who make great drugs - even if they cost outrageous amounts of money!
Thanks for all of you and your love and support. I think that was what really pulled me through! I will even be able to see the kids find their easter eggs before my IV treatment. I will bring chocolate and candies for all the staff who have to work on Easter.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Another Bump...
Things were going pretty well overall - fatigue and some aches and pains but nothing too bad - until yesterday. My sore throat and fatigue were more severe and persistent while at work so I checked my temp and it was high (above 100.5*). I called the oncology office and was seen in just a few hours, where they confirmed their fears. I had neutropenic fevers and my white blood cells had bottomed out. I basically had no immune system.
They did a bunch of cultures to try and find the source of infection and then started me on IV antibiotics and a shot to boost my immune system (neupogen). I felt better after those two and a bag of IV fluid but I had a pretty rough night - poor sleeping, fevers, aching and severe sore throat. Today, I went for my second dose of IV antibiotics and another neupogen shot and I was almost hospitalized. I had begged my oncologist not to hospitalize me but this morning, I would not have complained at all...
Luckily, things are turning around and while I will get IV's every day for 10 days, so far I have avoided the hospital. I can actually stand for more than 5 minutes - which I have not done in over 24 hours.
Steve was great and did not complain about picking me up and driving me home - even though he had to get both kids and get Nat ready for her part in the school play (the choir) yesterday. It really bothered me that I had to miss her show - but I felt so bad that I barely had the energy to crawl into bed last night. Steve was up a lot with me last night and did not complain about my 3 AM bath :-).
After both kids were absolute terrors this morning, I decided I really do need some help so a good friend, Diane, drove me to my IV appt and is taking both kids tonight so Steve and I can relax a bit. Another friend, Jen, is taking me (at 7 AM!!) to my IV appt tomorrow and another set of friends, Kara and Mark agreed to take the kids on Easter Sunday at 7 AM while Steve goes to my IV appt. I am a bit afraid to leave the house, but hope to get out and walk at least tomorrow.
This is a rare side effect - but it does happen. From now on, I will get a shot of neulastin (a longer acting white blood cell stimulator) after every chemo so this never happens again. At least they seem confident that it will not. I plan to stay at home on day 10 - 13 post-chemo, just in case they are wrong.
No more trips to costco, sprouts, chick filet or other spots for a few days. I hope I do not go crazy :-). I finally have enough energy to sit up and watch a movie so that may be the excitement for the weekend. The good part is that all our friends love the kids and they will get two 'easters' since the easter bunny will hit our house around noon and they will get to find eggs with their best friends Adele and Hayden in the morning.
They did a bunch of cultures to try and find the source of infection and then started me on IV antibiotics and a shot to boost my immune system (neupogen). I felt better after those two and a bag of IV fluid but I had a pretty rough night - poor sleeping, fevers, aching and severe sore throat. Today, I went for my second dose of IV antibiotics and another neupogen shot and I was almost hospitalized. I had begged my oncologist not to hospitalize me but this morning, I would not have complained at all...
Luckily, things are turning around and while I will get IV's every day for 10 days, so far I have avoided the hospital. I can actually stand for more than 5 minutes - which I have not done in over 24 hours.
Steve was great and did not complain about picking me up and driving me home - even though he had to get both kids and get Nat ready for her part in the school play (the choir) yesterday. It really bothered me that I had to miss her show - but I felt so bad that I barely had the energy to crawl into bed last night. Steve was up a lot with me last night and did not complain about my 3 AM bath :-).
After both kids were absolute terrors this morning, I decided I really do need some help so a good friend, Diane, drove me to my IV appt and is taking both kids tonight so Steve and I can relax a bit. Another friend, Jen, is taking me (at 7 AM!!) to my IV appt tomorrow and another set of friends, Kara and Mark agreed to take the kids on Easter Sunday at 7 AM while Steve goes to my IV appt. I am a bit afraid to leave the house, but hope to get out and walk at least tomorrow.
This is a rare side effect - but it does happen. From now on, I will get a shot of neulastin (a longer acting white blood cell stimulator) after every chemo so this never happens again. At least they seem confident that it will not. I plan to stay at home on day 10 - 13 post-chemo, just in case they are wrong.
No more trips to costco, sprouts, chick filet or other spots for a few days. I hope I do not go crazy :-). I finally have enough energy to sit up and watch a movie so that may be the excitement for the weekend. The good part is that all our friends love the kids and they will get two 'easters' since the easter bunny will hit our house around noon and they will get to find eggs with their best friends Adele and Hayden in the morning.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
One down, five to go...
Well the overall chemo experience has been pretty much what I have been told it would be. The day of chemo and the first day post-chemo I am pretty revved up on steroids. I totally dislike the sensation since it seems like my head is going three times faster than my body and I cannot concentrate much at all. I do get a lot of organizing and cleaning and other mindless work done.
The second afternoon, I hit the wall as the steroids wore off. I literally could hardly keep my eyes open at about 4 PM. I took a series of 10 minute naps and within an hour was okay. It was really odd though. I also felt a bit like I had a cold today with muscle aches and body aches.
Friday, the third day post-chemo I felt better than ever and felt my old self. I guess I pushed it too much though - because friday night I had terrible muscles spasms. I did not know my gluteus maximus (butt muscles!) could spasm and hurt so bad. I had to sleep with arms and legs spread out so I would not spasm. Needless to say last night was one of the worst times so far.
Today, (4-day post chemo) I am back to feeling like I have a cross between a bad cold and influenza with the fatigue and muscle aches. A 10 to 15 minute nap seems to rejuvinate me for short periods as I try and get things done.
Overall it is not as bad as I expected (so far!!). I will just have to wait and see how the next few days go. I have so many positive people around me, it is hard to stay down for any length of time. I am keeping my spirits up and playing with the kids as much as possible. Steve is being awesome at helping out with chores, so I can still be involved.
I bought all the easter goods and we just finished decorating 18 eggs - so not too bad for a chemo Mom. :-) I had hoped to take the kids to a show - but the blizzard is making that not such a good idea. We are opting for movies indoors - after Steve and AJ did quite a few sled runs.
Sharon
The second afternoon, I hit the wall as the steroids wore off. I literally could hardly keep my eyes open at about 4 PM. I took a series of 10 minute naps and within an hour was okay. It was really odd though. I also felt a bit like I had a cold today with muscle aches and body aches.
Friday, the third day post-chemo I felt better than ever and felt my old self. I guess I pushed it too much though - because friday night I had terrible muscles spasms. I did not know my gluteus maximus (butt muscles!) could spasm and hurt so bad. I had to sleep with arms and legs spread out so I would not spasm. Needless to say last night was one of the worst times so far.
Today, (4-day post chemo) I am back to feeling like I have a cross between a bad cold and influenza with the fatigue and muscle aches. A 10 to 15 minute nap seems to rejuvinate me for short periods as I try and get things done.
Overall it is not as bad as I expected (so far!!). I will just have to wait and see how the next few days go. I have so many positive people around me, it is hard to stay down for any length of time. I am keeping my spirits up and playing with the kids as much as possible. Steve is being awesome at helping out with chores, so I can still be involved.
I bought all the easter goods and we just finished decorating 18 eggs - so not too bad for a chemo Mom. :-) I had hoped to take the kids to a show - but the blizzard is making that not such a good idea. We are opting for movies indoors - after Steve and AJ did quite a few sled runs.
Sharon
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