Chemo - 0
Sarah - 1
Hair - 1
It's almost two weeks to the day, since I had my first chemo treatment. I have to say I'm feeling ok....
I should start from the beginning.
I received a lot of support since my last post, so thank you every one...it really means a lot.
Before I started chemo, I was overwhelmed with very dire information...kind of like "oh shit I'm done" kinda info and even tho I was warned not to to do this...I did, I went there...I payed a visit to Dr. Google. It's really one of the worst things you can do, you can't verify the information is that up to date or correct, and really, everyone's cancer case is significantly different. When you have information that isn't great, it's only human to want to find something...anything, to turn it around to make it better. Dr. Google does not do that, if anything, it just makes things much much worse.
My mom and I now have a deal, we don't visit Dr. Google, it's not worth the heartache. What I did do tho was meet with my Dr. again. I saw him the day before my 1st chemo. I asked him some pretty hard questions. I am glad I did. I felt a million times better, my attitude is back where it should be, and if I haven't said it enough...those Dr's at the cancer clinic are all freaking fantastic.
Onto Chemo....
My friend Wendy picked me up for Chemo, it started at 9:30. I wasn't nervous because I had done it before, I was more...in a really good mood. I was happy to get it started, the days spent waiting weren't fun, let's just get this chemo show on the damn road (she said on the first week ha ha).
The chemo room at the cancer clinic is a very large U shaped room. There are about 20 comfy chairs around the perimeter of the room, all spaced a decent amount apart for privacy and room for a guest. Chemotherapy isn't like what it used to be or like the movies show it, no one is lying in agony puking all over the place. In fact, there are many different walks of life, hooked up to their respective IV poles and their magic potions, people either read, sleep or visit with a guest.
Once they hooked me up, they filled me full of hydration fluids, then some Benadryl in case I had a reaction to one of the concoctions, and an anti-nauseant. I was going to receive three different types of chemotherapy drugs, not all three could be given at the same time, so bag number 1 was first, and that was going to take 3 hours. It's a laborious process, I got there at 9:30 but didn't get out of there until after 4 that afternoon. It would have been longer if it was a busier day and the nurses took longer to get to me to change up the bags, or if I had had a reaction, which thankfully I didn't. The time did go by quick as I had Wendy there, she went on the diet coke runs, then a lunch run, and it was nice to catch up and hang out. Thanks Wendy!
I went home with a red folder with all the "what to expects", thankfully, I have had very little side effects to date. They said I would have achy joints, well I have RA, so check!, they said I would be feeling fatigued and/or exhausted...where do I start?...check!. They said I would have mouth sores, yuk..got those, and another wierd side effect is tingly feeling at the bottom of your feet...totally wierd..check! I'm not complaining....because I still have my hair.
All in all, besides being very tired and sleeping a great deal, first round of chemo I definitely won.
Another great in the books, is that we had a fantastic weekend with our friends Jacqui and her two daughters Cassie and Dakota, and Jacqui's sister Jodi. They came up from Washington and Oregon for a quick visit and we all had a blast. Good food, lots of laughs, a whole lot of talking...and then sadly hugs goodbye, but next time isn't far away. love you guys xox
Thanks again to everyone who has reached out to me and the kids, having any kind of support right now is appreciated, more than you know.
xo
s
