CHEMO III

Well, I'm climbing out of the hole I've been in.

Last week was a wash.  Between the lab appointments, port placement, 3rd chemo appointment and now recovery - the whole week feels like it was lost.  

The first part of the week was stressful - getting to appointments and waiting...and waiting... and waiting -  and the last part was frustrating because the medication protocol after chemo is to have you taking powerful anti-nausea medications - that also happen to be anti-psychotics (I'm not kidding - I looked them up - this is for real). 

I recognize that there are folks out there that really need these drugs for their mental health, but I seriously don't understand how they are able to function.  (Except that when they are in the middle of a psychotic episode - they are really unable to function and probably harmful to themselves or others - so I'm sure the medication is better than the alternative.)

It knocks me down so low - I'm almost unable to get up off the couch.  I'm slow at everything.  I can't think a whole thought through.  Heck - I can barely knit.  I sleep all the time.  I'm not nauseated - but I feel pretty messed up in the head and really fatigued. (I'm sure part of that fatigue is the chemo too)

This time around I tried an experiment on myself.  I thought I'd skip the last dose of the normal anti-nausea medication and replace it with the 2 other anti-nausea meds that were prescribed to me.  Boy, was that a mistake.  The other two don't work nearly as well and I've had a couple of days of gastro-intestinal woes after the fact - though I don't feel like my head is in the clouds.  I haven't been able to eat much for the last couple of days.  I'm not sure it was worth it - but finally I'm on the mend.

RECOVERY

Last night I left the house for the first time in a week.  I spent a delightful evening sitting outside with some knitting friends.  It was so nice to enjoy the weather and Melissa, Micah, and Sylvie. I was trying to finish up a baby sweater for a friend and I finally started swatching for a summer "Ranunculus" top.  I went home exhausted, but it was worth it.

I have lots of things planned in the next week!

Tonight (June 11) is me and Paul's 31st Anniversary.  Yikes!  I still can't believe we've been married so long.  It's remarkable.  The plan is to go to Lola's Hi-Lo again.  I wrote about it a few months ago - it really is one of our favorite places.

Friday morning, our son William is flying in for a surprise visit!  We usually only get a couple of day's notice.  I'm super excited!  We'll probably just play it by ear.

Saturday is World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP Day)  I probably won't make it to any WWKIP events - but I'll definitely be knitting in public - wherever I end up.

Sunday is the Fools Flotilla!  This is one of my favorite, goofy Madison East-side events.  I've put out an open invitation to my friends and knitting groups to meet up on the east side bank of the Yahara River.  This is where people dress up in silly costumes and decorate their watercraft- and float along the river from Lake Mendota down to Lake Monona .  Everyone is so creative with their costumes.  They are funny - over the top - and it just makes me giggle.  It would be fun to participate - but I have fun just watching - and you know what they say...."Laughter is the BEST medicine"

The following weekend - my sister, Erika and my brother-in-law Joe are coming to visit.  I'm very excited to spend some time with them.  It'll be great to see them and show them around our stomping grounds.

THE MORE SERIOUS STUFF

I'll be having another MRI and CAT scan in a week and a half.  We'll get the results as I go in for my next (4th) chemo treatment. 

We'll find out whether all these treatments have been working or not.  I've noticed that my esophagus and swallowing is improved - which hopefully means that the tumor in my lung next to my esophagus is shrinking.   At this point it's maybe wishful thinking - keep your fingers crossed for good results! 

MANY THANKS

I just want to thank everyone for your good vibes, prayers, healthy wishes and positive thoughts!  It means a lot.  Thank you so very much!