TODAY IS CHEMO # 3

I HAVEN'T PUT ANYTHING INTO MY BLOG FOR A FEW DAYS. NOT BECAUSE I WAS FEELING WORSE, BUT ACTUALLY BECAUSE I WAS STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE BETTER AT 3 WEEKS OUT FROM THE LAST CHEMO. I WAS ABLE TO BE A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE, BUT STILL HAD TO TAKE FREQUENT REST PERIODS TO RECOVER. I WENT TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY & BIBLE STUDY THIS MORNING, WHICH WAS GREAT! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS! IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE!

-I WAS ALSO ABLE TO BUY AN EASTER DRESS THAT I LOVE, FOR LESS THAN HALF PRICE. THAT'S EXCITING TO ME. I HAVEN'T BOUGHT ANY NEW CLOTHES FOR QUITE A WHILE. I'M NOT UP TO MY OLD "SHOP TIL YOU DROP" STANDARDS, BY ANY MEANS, BUT IT MADE ME FEEL MORE NORMAL. I EVEN TOOK MY WIG OFF IN THE DRESSING ROOM & DISCOVERED YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRUSH HAIR THAT'S NOT THERE. CLOTHES ALSO SLIP OVER YOUR BALD HEAD MUCH MORE EASILY THAN WHEN YOU'RE "HAIRY". ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PLOP THE WIG BACK ON WHEN YOU'RE DONE. I COULD GET USED TO THIS EVEN AFTER CHEMO IS DONE & MY HAIR GROWS BACK AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE A RUFFLEY EASTER DRESS & SHORT SWEATER TO WEAR ON  SUNDAY. NOW I JUST HAVE TO FEEL GOOD ENOUGH TO GO TO CHURCH AGAIN THIS SUNDAY, SINCE IT WILL ONLY BE THE 3rd DAY AFTER CHEMO . THE LORD KNOWS WHAT I NEED & WILL DIRECT ME ACCORDINGLY.

-I'VE BEEN TRYING TO INCORPORATE A TINY BIT OF EXERCISE INTO MY ROUTINE, SO WAS ABLE TO WALK WITH THE FAMILY AROUND THE BLOCK A COUPLE OF TIMES, ABOUT A WEEK APART.
WE PROBABLY LOOKED LIKE QUITE A PARADE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, BIKES, & A COUPLE OF DOGS THAT ARE TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO WALK COMFORTABLY ON LEASHES. I DID MUCH BETTER THAN I THOUGHT, BUT STILL HAD TO REST & DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AFTERWARDS. IT REALLY FELT GOOD TO BE OUT & ABOUT IN THE FRESH AIR.

TODAY I HAD MY THIRD IV CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT. IT'S BEEN 3 WEEKS SINCE THE LAST & THE NEXT ONE WILL ALSO BE 3 WEEKS FROM TODAY (AROUND MAY 12th). THAT'S HOW LONG IT SEEMS TO TAKE MY BODY TO RECOVER SUFFICIENTLY TO HANDLE MORE. MY WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT WAS NOT BACK TO NORMAL YET, BUT BETTER THAN IT HAD BEEN. WHEN THEY PUSHED THE SECOND MORE TOXIC DRUG INTO MY IV, I REACTED RIGHT AWAY, EVEN AT A 20% LOWER DOSE OF CHEMO. I STARTED TO FEEL DIZZY, THEN NAUSEATED, THEN MY IV HAND GOT TINGLEY & KIND OF NUMB. I GUESS IT WENT STRAIGHT TO MY  HEAD/BRAIN VERY RAPIDLY & THEN EVERYWHERE ELSE, WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE NURSE HAD TO SLOW THE INFUSION FOR A LITTLE WHILE FOR MY BODY TO ADJUST. MY RIGHT EYE EVEN STARTED TWITCHING FOR A SHORT WHILE BEFORE WE LEFT. I GUESS IT'S PRETTY POTENT STUFF. EVERYTHING RESOLVED BEFORE I LEFT. I SUCKED ON ICE CHIPS AGAIN THIS TIME, WHICH REALLY HELPED PREVENT MOST OF THE MOUTH SORES LAST TIME. ARTIE WAS REALLY SWEET & WENT & GOT ME A JAMBA JUICE SMOOTHIE WHICH TASTED A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN THE HANFORD WATER ICE CHIPS I BROUGHT WITH ME. HE ALSO GOT SOME VITAMINS FROM THE HEALTH FOOD STORE, WHILE MY CHEMO WAS RUNNING, THAT I WAS LOW ON. THEY HELP MY BODY REPLACE WHAT THE CHEMO TAKES AWAY. I FEEL REALLY BLESSED & CARED FOR & AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS & CONCERN.