What next?

I have finally (mostly) recovered from the last round of chemo and in retrospect, it was a trip. The side affects kept on coming through the weekend. I had an allergic reaction to the injections this time: I got raised red welts, 3 - 4" in diameter at each injection site. Those have finally subsided to the point where there is only one welt remaining. I also case of itching all over my back and to my scalp. It would move from area to area; trust me it was a real joy. That has finally passed as well. I sent an email to the study nurse today describing my reactions to see what they are going to do differently next round to handle this. At least there was one positive aspect to this round of chemo: I didn't have to wear the sleeve for a few days.
At least I have 21 days off before I start this party all over again, I just hope that they figure some of this out before the next time that they practice medicine on me.

Round 2 is behind me

This has been a lot tougher than the first round, but it let up on me today. I woke up this morning nauseous and was anticipating a real long day, but I got feeling better around noon and felt much better today than I expected. I am still a little green around the gills when I move around much, but I was able to eat dinner without forcing myself, which is a very good sign. I expect to start feeling much better tomorrow, I just think that I will avoid fried foods this time.
Two rounds down and four more to go! I have 24 days off before going through this again!

Round 2, Day 3

This has been another miserable day, although maybe not as bad as day three in round one. I have been nauseous all day long, even with staying on top of the Phenergan and Zofran and just generally felt punk all day. Last night I was sick as a dog, on top of the nausea, I had a splitting headache. I decided to run up to get some soup for dinner and the two mile truck ride was almost more than I could endure.
Going through this gives me a new appreciation for the toughness of Jen, Chris and countless others who have endured chemotherapy a lot stronger than my regime is. They walked through that wall of fire fully knowing that they were going to feel miserable and they did it anyway. That is tough, boys and girls. Having two angels looking out for me who were that tough in this life has to give me a heck of a leg up in this battle.
I am ready for this round to be done.

Whew

So far, this round is tougher than the first round was. The nausea has been a lot worse, I am barely staying on top of it even with taking the Zofran and Phenergan regularly. I haven't had any appetite the last two days, I forced myself to eat dinner last night, but it was an effort. I am running a temperature again, currently it is just under 101 and just feel sick most of the time. I did get feeling well enough last night to run over to Scouts for a few minutes to sign merit badge cards, but that and trips to Brown Cancer Center have been my only forays out of the house. Mostly, I am just wrapping a sheet around me to keep warm and chilling out in the recliner. This is just an endurance contest.

Round 2

Tuesday starts my second round of chemotherapy and I am not sure how I will handle it. I am going into this round pretty much on the downhill side of the emotional curve and I have always believed that attitude is a big part of this battle. The loneliness factor is very high these days, I am still struggling with this sleeve and glove and work has been a real bear lately. Other than that I am just peachy. I am working on my attitude but having less than stellar results. This round may be a test of my toughness, because I just don't have the emotional strength to drag myself through this time. Only time will tell.

No fun

After only six hours, I want to go on record that I am not going to like this sleeve and glove. More accurately, I am really going to dislike them. They are tight, uncomfortable and hot. On top of that, the sleeve isn't tight enough on my bicep because of the muscle loss from surgery, so they have to exchange it for a tighter one! Candy want me to wear the cussed things from the time I get up in the morning until I take a shower in the evening. The glove is so uncomfortable that it is very difficult for me to type when I wear it, the glove just restricts movement too much. At work I will just about have to wear long sleeve shirts all of the time, so I can roll the sleeves down to protect this sleeve. I will also always have to keep a glove with me to protect the compression glove, it turned out to be $120 for just the glove, I can't afford to mess that up. I will probably need to keep a light leather glove and a rubber glove with me for my left hand at all times.
The factory where I work is extremely hot in the summer. I went out today for lunch after spending a couple of hours working in the plant and the 100 degree outside temperature felt refreshingly cool! I checked the temperature on the second level in early May and it was already 130 degrees up there. Melting plastic just generates a lot of heat. Just imagine working in this environment with long sleeves and a glove on.
Have I mentioned that I really don't like this?

Fashion statement

I am on the verge of making a fashion statement for Scoutmasters: in the next few days I will be sporting a spiffy new arm sleeve and glove, which I am supposed to wear during waking hours. Candy at Dunn Therapists was much more concerned about the swelling of my arm than Dr. McMasters had been; both because it happened so quickly and that it has swelled up another two times. The sleeve is not supposed to be too expensive, but the glove is going to cost about $175 and only have a life expectancy of six months.
Each time that my arm has swollen up, it has mostly relaxed in a couple of days. However, Candy says that there is a very big risk that the valves in the lymphatic system could get permanently stuck in one of these occurances and my arm could maintain that size. This is all beginning to suggest that I might have to rethink whitewater rafting next summer. I had a ball doing it, but am not at all sure that I am prepared to endure a permanently swelled left arm for a few hours of fun. But then again.....
My fancy new sleeve and glove are on order and at least the sleeve should be in by early next week. Apparantly the glove is going to be custom made, so that may take longer. Frankly, 2007 hasn't been a banner year for me, I am ready for this fun to end.