Monday 1/26/09 Post Chemo 4

Surprisingly, this weekend wasn't as bad as the last chemo. It was more like the one before. Don't get me wrong, it was no cake walk. I still spent the day in bed Friday and Saturday with fluids and nausea meds. I didn't get fluids on Sunday but I did take the nausea medicine. I'm heading in today for more fluids and medicine since I feel a bit yucky today again.

Mom and I went grocery shopping yesterday. I was ok at the time but it took a lot out of me. I was wiped out when we got home.

Friday afternoon was 80 degrees. I layed in a lawn chair with Angela and Mom while the kids played outside for about an hour. That was nice. Fresh air always helps.

Overall, not too bad. 2 to go!!

Erica

Chemo #4 Jan 22, 2009

Well, so far so good. I'm loopy on my drugs righe nw so if my typing is bad that's why.
The past few times I've been a whole lot loopier so maybe this is a good sign. I don't feel sick right now but I'm sure I will in the morning.
Mom and Oti came to visit with me today. It was fun. Talking makes the time go by faster. I got my chemo, nausea drugs and 3 liters of fluids. My face looks like a blow fish from the fluids and steroids. So pretty!
I'll update again in a few days on how the nausea goes.

Love,
Erica

1 week post chemo 3

Well, my blood counts were too low for a shot. Good in a way but the shot really makes me feel better. Oh well, I do feel a lot better than I did yesterday.

I met with the radiation doctor today. I was apparently confused about the length of the treatment. I thought it was once a week for 6-7 weeks. It's once a DAY for 6-7 weeks, 30 treatments in all. It's about 15 minutes each time. Luckily they open at 5:30a.m. so I think I'll just get up early and go at about 7:00 so Jason will be home with the kids. I'll get home in time for him to leave and head to work. They're going to radiate my entire right chest and shoulder, not just the spot where the tumor was, to make sure they zap everything in case there are a few ornery cells lurking somewhere else in the area. That's fine with me, I don't want to do this again, that's for sure!

He was very positive and optimistic that this was an isolated, missed cell reccurence and that it probably won't happen again. That was encouraging. It was nice to hear good news from a doctor again after my other bad appointments.

I'm making some 2nd opinion appointments in the next few weeks too, just to be sure.

I'll update again after chemo 4.

Love,
Erica

Chemo 3, not so good

Hey all,

Chemo 3 finally caught up to me. They told me that it will build up in my body and make me a little sicker each time. The first two weren't so bad but this one was tougher.

I went back to the exhaustion that I experienced with my first chemo last year along with worse nausea. I had to have extra medicine to control it this time. It took me about 7 days to get past it this time versus the 4-5 days the last two. I was having a hard time catching my breath and feeling woozy a lot. I'm better today, so far, it's Sunday (chemo was Monday).

Stevie came down on Christmas Day and was here for about 5 days. the boys didn't want Uncle Steve to go but he had to get back to work. Mom & Dad got here on Chemo day. All 3 of them went to chemo with me. Steve called after he got home and was pretty upset. He said "it's one thing when you're told your sister has breast cancer and you deal with it from afar, it's another thing when you sit in the Chemo room with her and see what's happening." I hate to make my loved ones feel bad, it pains me. It's so routine for me now that I laugh and joke and help other patients while I'm there. It's as if I'm not going through it too. I'm not in denial, I know I am, I guess it's just my coping mechanism.

Mom & Dad have been here for a week. The boys have had a blast. Will's going to cry tomorrow when they leave. They've been a great help as always.

Love,
E