Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.

Mine was not as I had planned. We had planned to go to our friend's for a Thai dinner. Henry was with his dad and my sister and her family usually come over on Friday so we planned our traditional Thanksgiving for tomorrow.

I woke up feeling awful this morning. I had been in to see the doctor yesterday to have my white blood count done and it had gone all the way down to 500! My normal, non-chemo, is 5000 and it had been down to 1650, but 500 is extremely low.

I called in to the doctor today, and told him how I was feeling and he prescribed antibiotics again. However, he also told me that if I had a fever at all or was feeling really bad that I needed to call again. I'm a terrible patient...but I've not felt this bad for such a long time I didn't think it was a good idea to take any chances given my low blood count...so in I went to the hospital. I was given IV fluids and more antibiotics and a shot of Neupogen to boost my white cells. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my Thanksgiving at all, but I am really grateful they were there. I am so grateful for everyone of my doctors and nurses, they are truly wonderful.

I'm still not feeling very good, but I'm home and I happy for that. I even more happy that Henry came home this evening instead of tomorrow, I feel better when he's here.

So even though my day was not as planned or what I wanted to do at all, I'm still grateful for the day and for all of you.

Much love to all of you!

Number three done

Round three of chemo was on Wednesday. Mom and Shari went with me this time, it was nice to have both of them there for company.

Chemo went about an hour faster than usual. The nurses thought I was just there for a shot of Nulasta to boost my white cell count, so I got called in a lot earlier than normal and they started the meds a little sooner. All in all it was pretty uneventful...I guess I'm just getting used to the routine.

I felt pretty good on Thursday and Friday, except for the terrible taste in my mouth. The drugs seem to kick in after a couple days and make me really tired. I feel like I've hardly left the couch today! I feel like a slug.

My sister, Shari, had her annual "Check Your Boobies" party last night. It was a really good and very informative time. Check Your Boobies was started by a friend of hers who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age as well, it's a great organization, please check it out.

http://www.checkyourboobies.org/

I'm sorry I don't have all that much to say...I really just wanted to check in and let you all know I'm doing ok.

Take care of yourselves!!!!!

Just a little update

I wanted to thank everyone again for being here and for all your kind words and support.

The last couple of weeks have been a little rough. The side effects, although minimal in number, have packed a punch. Last week I had insomnia, this week I have the painful side effect of heartburn. Happily the insomnia passed after a couple nights of literally no sleep. Unhappily, the heartburn is taking a little more work, I tired all the usual over the counter remedies and have now gone on to a prescription, I'm hoping it works soon. In the last day I've developed a very strange tingling feeling in my nose, my oncologist tells me this is a side effect of one of the drugs, who would have thought!

I had to go in to see my oncologist today and have my blood work done, because I had a fever last night. Something I never would have considered calling a doctor about before... My white blood cell count had gone down from 6900 last week to 1650 today, not a really good sign. She put me on an antibiotic to try to get whatever it is that might be causing this. If that doesn't work, next week when I go in for my next session they will give me something else to help with my white counts. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for better white counts...I've got enough drugs in me.

My hair is completely gone now. I couldn't stand the little prickly/patchy amount that was left so my mom shaved it off for me yesterday. That wasn't something I ever thought I would say...I shaved my head...yikes! I swear it's still a new experience every time I look in the mirror, even though I've been essentially bald for a few weeks now. I miss my hair more now that it's getting cold, it kept my neck warm. I suppose it's a good thing I don't mind wearing turtlenecks.

That's about it for now. Much love to you all!!!!