7 Down, 1 More to Go!!

Hi!

I had chemo was this past Thursday. My Mom and Dad came with me again today. We hit Chipotle before we got there and brought the food with us (it makes the time pass quicker when I get to eat). Except this time, I was sitting next to a woman that got nauseous by the smell of the onions, so Mom and I waited until she left before we finished our food.

My numbers were lower than usual for me. When I was taking the Nuelasta shot (white blood cell pumper), my white blood count was always from 8-10. Now that I was on Taxol, I don't have to take the Nuelasta shot, and my counts were as low as 2.44 one week after treatment and on the day of chemo I was still only 4.2. The doctors and nurses keep an eye on that because if you fall at about 2.0 you can be neutropenic (Neutropenia is a blood disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of a type of white blood cells called a neutrophils. Neutrophils usually make up 50-70% of circulating white blood cells and serve as the primary defense against infections by destroying bacteria in the blood. Hence, patients with neutropenia are more susceptible to bacterial infections and, without prompt medical attention, the condition may become life-threatening). Mine fall about a week after treatment and then start coming up. Dr. K doesn't seem worried about my numbers, but it has become an obsession with me, "What are my numbers? How do my numbers look? So am I doing okay? How are my numbers?" So far so good. I am suppose to stay away from sickies during my low period. It is hard, especially with my little ones that seem to leak from every orifice.

After checking my numbers, we started treatment. It went okay (boring) but that was about it. There is no break-up of having the red drug put in during these treatments. It is one HUGE back of drug/saline and I end up having to pee about 6 times during the 3-4 hours it takes to finish the treatment. THAT is the most irritating part of the whole ordeal! I met a couple more newbies and gave them my blog, so if any of you are reading this, I hope your first cycle was kind to you. If it wasn't, know that you can make it through no matter how crappy you feel. If I can do it... you can do it!

After my treatment, I scheduled my LAST CHEMO TREATMENT!!! Can I hear an AMEN!!!!

My Mom, Dad and I drove home and then proceeded through out weekend. I did okay for most of the weekend. Chris let me sleep in so I that delayed the pain. I get the pain for more days now. It is intermittent pain. I will be sitting watching TV or working and then all of a sudden I will get a sharp pain wiz through my arm, or leg, rib, wherever, then it will sit there for a few minutes and then disappear. I was told by Dr. K that these are very normal Taxol pains. It is Wednesday today and just got a righteous one in my right arm, I stop a bit until it lets go....... And then type again.

But for the most part I'm doing okay.

For an update....
My hair is still....Gone. I haven't lost my eyelashes, but my eyebrows are thinning. My mom actually cut my dad's eyebrows in my kitchen, in my line of site, when they were finished and sat back on the couch, I accused my mom and dad of flaunting his eyebrow hair at me (hahaha).
I am thinking that after radiation I will let me hair grow back in and pray it comes in thick and curly like everyone says.

My fingers and toes go numb. That is freaky!! I grabbed my toe the other day and thought that I had a HUGE piece of sock fuzz in the middle of my toes. I grabbed my foot, tore off my sock and realized it wasn't sock fuzz, it was my actual toe!! I Couldn't feel it at all! CRAZY!!! That is normal too. As long as it is not all the time, I am okay. My fingers get numb sometimes and it is very hard to do things like button or buckle mine or the girls clothes.

My nails are lifting in different areas on my fingers. But I found that if I keep my nails short it is not so bad.

Hot Flashes!! Oh my goodness these are hell. I will be sitting there (minding my own business) and then WHAM!! I get a hot flash that has me ripping of my wig and fanning myself with it (okay I whip it off at home, I haven't gotten so brave as to go wig less at work). But they are really hard. At night it is the worst. Unless I take Tylenol PM when I go to sleep, I toss and turn for what seems like forever and then during the night I will wake up sweatin' bullets and have to take off my covers, then about 10 minutes later I have to put them back on because I am freezing. This goes on at least 8-10 times a night. AARRRGGHHH!!!

But for now, that is about it. I am actually doing pretty good. I even washed the car on Memorial Day! It was so nice to be in the sun and spend some time with my family. I try really hard to not make a big deal about this hole cancer thing with the girls. My three year old will occasionally ask my why I am "Bote" and I tell her Mommy is sick, but Iam getting better and my hair will grow back. She will usually finish the sentence with, "Just like mine."

Yes, sweetie.... Just like yours.