Hi All-
Here is the chemo
round one update. Truthfully, this is
the first day I’ve really been up to posting. Chemo truly did knock me out! The
thing I really wasn’t prepared for was the exhaustion and the headaches. I thought I’d be able to play on my computer,
work, read a book, etc. But, no! It has been best to just rest with my eyes
closed rather than to try to do anything else.
Trying to focus on things has caused my head to pound badly!
Today is the best
I’ve felt since last Wednesday morning, so I’m hoping I’m turning the corner. And, I’m learning that probably the best policy
is to take it really easy and as much as possible…sleep it off!
So, I started chemo
last Tuesday. They unbandaged my port,
accessed it, I met with the doctors, and then went into the infusion suite. The suite is amazing, with a view of the
whole valley. The nurses are as
wonderful as can be. They make it as
comfortable as they possibly can! I was
there from 9 am until 5:30 pm. Before
they actually infuse with chemo, they give me a bunch of pre-meds. I know I’m taking meds to help my kidneys
flush the dying cells, meds to hold off any reactions, Tylenol, anti-nausea meds,
and Benadryl. There are others, I can’t
name them and don’t really care what they are as long as they work. The anti-nausea and the Benadryl, I believe,
are what make me sleepy. Anyway, I slept
my way through Tuesday’s entire infusion!
Poor Troy, he’s been the trooper who just keeps a long, boring vigil by
my side while I sleep! My mom and
step-dad came Tuesday, I remember that briefly.
Thanks.
Wednesday morning
I woke up and actually felt pretty good.
I rode my bike trainer really slowly for ½ hour and headed back up to
Huntsman. I did the pre-meds and then
began infusion. Wednesday was not the
greatest! I’m giving you all the details….sorry if there are too many but I’m a
curious sort and figure you are too.
Wednesday wasn’t supposed to take that long, but when they would turn up
the drip, I would get really bad chest pains and HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE gas
pains. Troy went and bought GasX and it
didn’t do a dang thing. They turned off
the drip a few times to let me recover before resuming. A couple of times, I tried going to the
bathroom. Maybe that will help – right? Well, I was BARELY trying, (like barely
pushing) and it would drop my blood pressure, I would break into a cold sweat,
start panting, and nearly pass out. The
first time that happened, I had to pull the emergency cord and be rescued via
wheelchair, pants down!, from the bathroom!
And, no, I didn’t actually go.
After recovering
from that awesome experience, we (Troy went in the bathroom with me) tried
again. Once again, nurses and wheelchair
to the rescue! I’ve officially lost all
dignity!
So, add to the
list of meds, stool softener! We need to
make going potty as easy as possible for me!
After Wednesday’s
9:30-6 experience, I felt pretty icky, I had missed Frasier’s cross-country
meet, and was frustrated! I went home
and just slept. Thursday, I did not want
to go back! But I did and it went much
quicker! I even made it home and made it
to Elijah’s parent-teacher-conference.
It was nice to feel like a mom again.
But, as the night wore on, the worse I felt. From Thursday night until today things are
actually quite a blur.
I had to go to
Huntsman on Friday for a shot. They
decided to add that into my regimen to help my bone marrow recover more
quickly. Troy also ran the St. George
marathon yesterday and was driving down Friday afternoon. And, the Huntsman caseworkers arranged a tour
for my kids so they could see what was going on and not be scared for me. So, I got up and rode the bus to my office Friday
morning (bad idea as I woke up extremely nauseaus)! And then the family was going to pick me up
and take me for my shot. I didn’t have
to teach, but classes were going and I went in to see my students. I went back to my office and laid on the
floor for an hour. Then I went back out
to end class and gave about 25 students an awesome projection show. When I threw up, I did it like a champ! I remember my TAs holding my hair back and patting
my back. Thanks ladies and sorry to the
awesome SFEBB custodial crew!
After that I went
back to my office and laid there until Troy got there. We went to Huntsman, they gave me a bunch of
anti-nausea meds, gave me my shot, then laid me on a couch and I fell
asleep. The kids went on the tour
without me. L
I really don’t
even remember much about the next 36 hours.
I made it to the car, got situated and fell asleep. Next thing I remember, I was in St. George at
Troy’s awesome cousin’s (Adam & Joi Showell) house. I laid on their couch and went back to
sleep. At some point, Troy woke me and I
took some meds and ate a breadstick. I
don’t remember going to bed, but I ended up there. I remember Troy leaving for the
marathon. Then, by grace, I woke up, and
felt pretty good. So I showered and then
Adam and Joi helped me and the kids get down to the finish of the
marathon. I sat in a soccer chair in the
shade, and was able to see Troy finish…he did AWESOME…and a bunch of other
friends!
My friend Stacia
ran her first marathon (as me! Shhhhhh!)
and did awesome! She said I was her
inspiration. J Thanks Stacia! Also, a couple other friends, Sherrie
Shepherd and Tiffanie Evans-Browne qualified for Boston and told me afterward
that they thought of me when things got hard!
Plus, great job to Jessica Wilding-Walker for killing it with a
3:13! Go DXC! And also all my other friends who ran… Mike
Smith, Mark Chamberlain, Nikki Hancock, Brett Wilding, Cherie Pierce-Mask, who
am I missing?? YOU ALL DID GREAT!
I’m not going to
lie, as I was sitting there watching the race and seeing all kinds of people in
great shape, I started to feel a bit bad for myself! I was signed up for this race. I was in great running form 4 years ago. I was qualifying for Boston! Now, look at me. BUT, I’ve had bad runs that then make me
grateful for good runs and I know that in this journey I will also have bad days. Those are going to make me sooooo grateful
for the days ahead when I will feel great again! And, when I will run again! I know that will happen, in fact, last but
not least, great job to my cancer buddy Kevin Robson, who also has CLL and
finished chemo about 6 months ago. He
ran the marathon and finished yesterday! Kevin, I’m
gonna be just like you in a few months!!
After the race, I
fell asleep in the car. Troy showered,
packed up and then we went to a Mexican restaurant. I ate some soup.
I did wake up for a
few to see my beloved UTES beat UCLA!
Woot woot! Then went back to sleep. So, since Friday morning, until Sunday
morning, I’ve been awake for maybe 6 hours!
Today I’m awake, but just laying on the couch. I’m going to rest easy today and see how I
feel in the morning. I’d like to go to
work if possible.
Thanks to everyone
for the prayers, meals, to my dad for the cherry tomatos today (that’s what
sounded good), texts and messages. If I
don’t answer, please don’t take it personally.
I’ve been so out of it, its been hard to respond sometimes.
As I lay here
today though, I’m very grateful. I get a
nice conference Sunday to just relax on the couch. I feel a bit better today, my bones aren’t
hurting nearly as much as we thought they might, and I know that this is all to
make me feel better and be a better person. I
don’t know why I needed cancer to figure it out, but I am appreciating so many little things about life. It was awesome to see
people do well yesterday, I love my kids and husband and how awesome they are, they
are absolutely taking charge and taking care of me! I love how Sloane set the horse up to the
Little People Thanksgiving table so that he can eat with them too,
If you are wanting
to visit me, PLEASE make sure you are healthy and not battling a cold,
etc. Also, my doctors have asked that
everyone I come in contact with please get flu shots as soon as possible. Thanks for accommodating or staying away! J
Luvs and Rock ON!
