The orcs had not made their appearance Wednesday morning when Glenn took me to the Dorothy Schneider Cancer Center for my transfusion. They waited until I got there. Fortunately, I had pain meds with me. I got all comfortable in a chair with a view--could have had a bed. I got Tylenol and benedryl as pre meds, then settled back for two units of A positive blood. My appointment was at 8:15 in the morning and I left around 2. I got some knitting done and a great deal of snoozing. My friend and Eastern Star Sister Meg took me home. I napped for another hour or so. I was really pretty drowsy all day.
Today, I definitely have more pep. I'm not ready to run a marathon (ever), but I feel more energetic today and the orc attacks aren't as bad. I'm staying on top of that with meds.
It's opening day of baseball season, so I get to cheer for the Giants this evening. I have many knitting projects, so baseball season didn't come any too soon. The added energy will help too.
Go Giants!
xxooxx
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Chemo 3.2 and other stuff
The orcs retreated slowly about two weeks after they came so the last two weeks of the cycle weren't bad. I have no energy because my hemoglobin is very low--not so low that I couldn't have chemo today but low enough to for me to get two units of blood on Wednesday.
I spent most of week three and four inside watching it rain. Gretchen came up on Friday. She took me on a forced march in the afternoon--I did a little over a mile with rest stops.) We were going to go to a movie, but there was nothing playing that we were excited about. Saturday was the Ceili. We practiced to two hours in the morning. I came home, took a rest, painted my face--should do that more often--I look quite good with make-up--and we were off to the Ceili. It had a sort of shaky start--Sue was late--so we rearranged things and Andy taught some dances at the beginning. Eventually, things worked out. We had a great crowd and we played really well. I should have had the transfusion on Thursday, because I was really tired. But this is my passion and I played on adrenalin. The band played, we had some vocals, we had dancing for the audience, we had refreshments. Babies Emilie (14 months) and Viviann (9 months) had a blast dancing. It was hard to concentrate on the music because they were so cute, but I managed. Gretchen was very proud of me, which made me feel really good.
Sunday we went to church--i was lay reader and got to read from Numbers (everyone's favorite...). There was a meeting after church with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance--I was tired, we didn't stay. There was also a short PNC meeting--didn't stay for that either. Gretchen went for a long walk in the afternoon while I slept. We hopped on BART a little after four and went to dinner with Victoria and her new family in the evening. A good time was had by all.
Today was chemo--I wanted Gretchen to see what I go through. She did a lunch run and went for a walk while I was being infused. We came home--I napped and Gretchen went to Tanforan to get something cool to wear home tomorrow--we finally seem to be free of storms for the next week. Gretchen made me dinner, which was very nice of her. She's heading home tomorrow. I have a PNC meeting tomorrow night then the transfusion on Wednesday. I'm expecting to feel dreadful for the next few weeks. I'll try to blog sooner but make no promises.
xxooxx
I spent most of week three and four inside watching it rain. Gretchen came up on Friday. She took me on a forced march in the afternoon--I did a little over a mile with rest stops.) We were going to go to a movie, but there was nothing playing that we were excited about. Saturday was the Ceili. We practiced to two hours in the morning. I came home, took a rest, painted my face--should do that more often--I look quite good with make-up--and we were off to the Ceili. It had a sort of shaky start--Sue was late--so we rearranged things and Andy taught some dances at the beginning. Eventually, things worked out. We had a great crowd and we played really well. I should have had the transfusion on Thursday, because I was really tired. But this is my passion and I played on adrenalin. The band played, we had some vocals, we had dancing for the audience, we had refreshments. Babies Emilie (14 months) and Viviann (9 months) had a blast dancing. It was hard to concentrate on the music because they were so cute, but I managed. Gretchen was very proud of me, which made me feel really good.
Sunday we went to church--i was lay reader and got to read from Numbers (everyone's favorite...). There was a meeting after church with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance--I was tired, we didn't stay. There was also a short PNC meeting--didn't stay for that either. Gretchen went for a long walk in the afternoon while I slept. We hopped on BART a little after four and went to dinner with Victoria and her new family in the evening. A good time was had by all.
Today was chemo--I wanted Gretchen to see what I go through. She did a lunch run and went for a walk while I was being infused. We came home--I napped and Gretchen went to Tanforan to get something cool to wear home tomorrow--we finally seem to be free of storms for the next week. Gretchen made me dinner, which was very nice of her. She's heading home tomorrow. I have a PNC meeting tomorrow night then the transfusion on Wednesday. I'm expecting to feel dreadful for the next few weeks. I'll try to blog sooner but make no promises.
xxooxx
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Two weeks later
My sister reminded me that i haven't blogged in days, so I thought I'd stick my head up and let you know I'm still breathing. The orcs were pretty relentless this time. It wasn't as painful as Chemo 1, but it just went on and on. I saw Dr. Chee yesterday. She increased my pain meds and sent me for an abdominal x-ray. It could be still healing from the surgery or scar tissue. I have what I'm expecting to be the last appointment with the surgeon tomorrow. The incision has healed, but things are still hurting. Blood counts are down, but that's to be expected with chemo. We'll check it again next week and if the red count is still low, I might get a transfusion to give me some extra energy for the ceili.
That has been a joyful part of the last two weeks. We practice every Tuesday night for about an hour. Fiddling takes a little more energy than I've got right now, but it's so uplifting. The music stays rolling around in my head. You can't be cheerless with jigs dancing around in your brain. It just doesn't work.
Beside the band, there has been Eastern Star (two new, enthusiastic members last week--Yippee!), the PNC, the committee that is going on forever, church, knitting--lots of knitting. It's just that there's nothing new and exciting. I wake up each morning, so I guess that's the plus. And if the orcs are retreating till the next infusion of poison, so much the better.
xxooxx
That has been a joyful part of the last two weeks. We practice every Tuesday night for about an hour. Fiddling takes a little more energy than I've got right now, but it's so uplifting. The music stays rolling around in my head. You can't be cheerless with jigs dancing around in your brain. It just doesn't work.
Beside the band, there has been Eastern Star (two new, enthusiastic members last week--Yippee!), the PNC, the committee that is going on forever, church, knitting--lots of knitting. It's just that there's nothing new and exciting. I wake up each morning, so I guess that's the plus. And if the orcs are retreating till the next infusion of poison, so much the better.
xxooxx
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Chemo 3.1 Day 3
Just a quick status update. The Orcs have returned and have made camp in my abdomen. Feeling dreadful. This too shall pass--just not soon enough.
xxooxx
xxooxx
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