It has been a really rough month so far. I went in for my 2nd round of chemo on March 28th, but my white blood count was really low (2.0 and the needed range is 4.0-10.5). I had to get 2 shots of
Neulasta, a shot that helps boost white blood cells. I got a shot of that on that day and then the next day. The shot was horrible. I handled the first one pretty well, but an hour or 2 after the second one I was in so much pain I had to stay in bed. Since white blood cells are created in your bone marrow it makes your bones ache really bad. I had never been in that much pain before. The only medicine they recommend is Claratin and advil. I honestly couldn't tell a difference with or without the medicine. I was relieved when I woke up on Saturday and wasn't hurting as badly.
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| I was sent home on 3/28 looking like this |
It was all worth it in the end, however. When I went back in on Monday (4/1) all of my numbers were looking good - rather "good enough for chemo" as the nurse putting. This was a good chemo session because my sister got to go with me. She was pretty thrilled to see them hook up the IV through my port and see what I am experiencing. We also got some good sissy time in, which is kind of hard to come by with our kids and lives. I felt pretty well after round 2, just a little bit queasy, but nothing unbearable. I did have to get another shot of Neulasta the next day, that one barely hurt my bones at all.
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| Chemo round #2! |
On Saturday (4/6) was the
Lymphomathon. Craig, his brother and sister, my mom, sister, her boyfriend, my mom's friend Marcella and our kiddos all went. Marcella raised over $400! A group of women from a Baby Center forum that I have been on for over 2 years also helped me raise another $150. They also bombarded me that day with pictures of them and their kids sporting violet to show their support from a far. I was definitely feeling the love all day as my phone kept blowing up with facebook notifications of pictures. The walk itself was good. I was pretty nervous since it had been a chemo/neulasta week, but I had no problems. It was only 5k, anymore than that and I wouldn't have made it. They did a survivors photo before it started and a really nice woman pulled me aside to talk to me about her experience and reassure me of my own journey. She went into remission in 2005, had a relapse and has been cancer free since 2007. She was telling me not to worry about anything other than getting healthy and if I relapse it will still be ok and not to lose hope. She also talked to Craig a little bit about being my support and that he is clearly doing a great job at it.
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| Craig, Christopher, Oliver, Me and Mallory. I got a yellow shirt for being a survivor/warrior. |
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| The long line of Survivors and supporters walking |
Everything was going smoothly until last week (4/9). I had stitches over my port pop and it was leaking really gross fluid. Of course this would happen right when the doctors office is closing so I had to called the after hours line. My doctor called me back within minutes and said not to worry and to just make sure I went in to have her look at it the next day. I had a slight infection, but otherwise it looked okay. She just put me on antibiotics for a week. I went back for my monthly check up on Tuesday (4/16). She was happy enough with how my port is looking and told me to make sure to keep it dry and call if it happens again. She felt around my neck and armpits to see if I'm getting any less lumpy. She said she could barely feel anything. WHOO HOO! :-) She is extremely happy with the progress I have made after just 2 rounds of chemo. The only thing is that since I responded so poorly after the first round of chemo she wants me to get the shots after every round of chemo rather than the planned once a month. Oh, and she was impressed with my full head of hair! She said I'm one of the few she has had hold on to it this long. What can I say, I'm determined ;-)
Round 3 of chemo was this last Thursday (4/18). This time was pretty rough. I was starting to feeling nauseous as the meds were being put in me. We stopped by Souper Salad on the way home for lunch. I ate way too much and spent the rest of the day in bed wishing I hadn't eaten and fighting back vomit. I lost that battle, but I felt so much better afterwards.
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| Round 3 of chemo. HALF WAY DONE! |
Yesterday, I went in for my neulasta shot and then decided it would be best if I kept myself busy and moving around so I went to the grocery store and then made dinner. I had no real side effects which was awesome! I didn't even take my anti nausea medicine. Today, on the other hand, my bones and muscles hurt. I tried going to work but only lasted about 4 hours before I had to leave. I'll be trying again tomorrow, though I won't be pushing myself. I filed FMLA for a reason :-)
Also, yesterday the same group of woman who donated for the lymphomathon sent me a big box full of cards, a spa gift certificate and an amazon gift card. A lot of the cards had their kids hand prints, doodles or even their raspberry finger prints, it is so cute and sweet. I was so surprised. I am truly amazed with the support they have shown me throughout not only this but my pregnancy and the first 2 years of raising Oliver. Joining that forum was one of the best choices I've made. I hope that one day I am able to return the favor for each and every one of them. I don't have friends who live close by since I moved here after the forced socialization of high school and I'm painfully shy so making friends is really hard for me. It really means a lot to me when the friends I do have show their support like this. I appreciated their kind words in our usual forms of communication, this was just over the top. I hope I never stop feeling this loved. I wish I could bottle up this feeling and save it for a rainy day.
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| Thank you again, Ladies. |
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Since 1/16/13 to 4/20/13
33 veils of blood
2 PET scans
1 CT scan
5 IVs
2 surgeries
3 chemotherapy treatments
4 neulasta shots
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