side effects

friday seemed fine....saturday too....until about 8:30 pm last night when i started to sleep....and just can't seem to stop. slept on and off (off being no more than 30 minutes at a time), all night and now all day today as well. then come the eye issues...i can't focus....it hurts to try and see....my head is pulsing...and now my body is all achy from all the sleeping.

i have not taken my 8 pm dose of compazine, the drug for anti nausea, in hopes that the side effects will dwindle without the nausea presenting itself. fingers crossed...

the toxic avenger takes a bride...

it is official...i am toxic....for the net three days, anyway. at 7 am this morning, i got up and applied my emla cream...went to the hospital at 8 to have the port accessed and blood done...labs came back an hour later showing that one of my five white blood cell counts was a little low, but since i wasn't having any symptoms of a cold or anything, we were to go ahead with the treatment....so, 2 hours later, i am pumped full of chemicals....out of the cancer center by noon, picking teeny up from daycare as 12:15, to the store for some supplies, and then back home for thanksgiving leftovers and (drum roll please) the shaving of my head....so, here it is:

so now, i am getting tired...i have already taken the anti nausea meds (just in case), and i am ready for some water and then a nap. i am sure i will write more later as side effects come...and go....

...a much needed break, of sorts....

monday i had my ct scan in the morning, then met with my oncologist in the afternoon. the results for the bone scan and the muga test from the week before were GREAT...no issues...everything looks good. as far as the ct scan, however, there were two little things that need to be looked at that came up on the CT scan before I can start chemo:

1. there is a small (4.5mm x 3.5mm) nodule in my right lung, and...
2. they found a cyst on my left ovary (i told them i am getting ready to ovulate, but they want an ultrasound to be safe.)

they may not do anything about the nodule in the lung as it is so small, and under the rib bone...we may just wait and see if it changes shape/size. she is asking the radiologist to look at the scan. once she gets all those results, we will schedule the start of my chemo (if all is well)...looks like the day after thanksgiving is the target.

well, today i had the ultrasound before i went to work...and after a good deal of prodding around, it comes out that everything is just fine...nothing abnormal with any part of my reproductive organs, so yay me! now, if we can just figure out the plan with the lung, we will be all set...so, it looks like chemo will start two weeks from tomorrow after all....which means, i will have another two weeks of feeling great before my treatments have to begin...which is good...i will feel good for bret's birthday, and can spoil him rotten, just like he deserves!

happy....

so last week i had my first two tests since recovering from the portacath surgery....and everything we GREAT! they accessed my port with no issues what so ever...both times. i LOVE my portacath...no matter what it took to get it in, it is proving to be a lifesaver...no more digging for hours in my left arm to try and get a vein...it is a no pain, 5 minute process...and they have full access.

monday i have my last test for a while...i am having the ct scan...then meeting with my oncologist to discuss the bone scan and muga i took last week. once we look over all th results, we will set my chemotherapy start date..and then it is only 8 sessions...and i am free (hopefully...so keep your fingers crossed!!!)

outside of the medical shit, life is so good...i am so in love...happy to be here with the man i love...enjoying being around the people with whom i work....but missing the rest of my family...i can't wait to ge better and go back to chicago for a visit...a "cancer free" party...everyone has been so supportive...all my friends and family....i am so very grateful and thankful