My LMS adventure

Busy day. Labs, Oncologist, Dermatologist, Home Health, Infusion. The high points include diagnosis of hand and foot syndrome from the Dermatologist. (I'm not washing my hands too much, and it's not an allergic reaction. ) Also I asked the Oncologist when we'd do scans to see how well the chemo is doing. A PET/CT scan will be after the 6th round. Somehow I had though halfway, after round 3 or 4 would be good. So a longer wait for better results.

Glorious day. Went to Cracker Barrel with my roommate. The food still tastes like sand, and he was rather tired, he was sick yesterday. When we got home he admitted he was exhausted and went back to bed. Welcome to my world. My body seems stuck on 65% as a good day. Other days are 30%. That's when I stay home from work. I finally got that basket of laundry from last weekend folded and put away. I've caught up the current laundry, because I've got energy today... and don't know about tomorrow. Monday is appointment day. Labs at 8, Oncologist at 8:45, Dermatologist at 10:30, Home Health consult at noon, Infusion at 3:00. My hands are much better... though bleed between the thumb and first finger. I'm using Triple Antibiotic Ointment on the bleeding spots, and Baby Eczema lotion for the other red spots. If I grease myself several times a day, it improves. NOW, the big question is... Is it improving because I've got less chemo in my body? (today is ...

Friday night, my roommate and I went to our favorite Chinese restaurant. It was good just to get away and enjoy dinner conversation. When I focus on temperature and texture, the food seems less horrible. Happy Friday.

No chemo this week. I am getting the stitches out of the punch biopsies that Dermatology Department did two weeks ago. I get results next week. I've been dealing with fatigue, had a quiet weekend. Now back to work. My roommate and I discussed the outcomes of this. The chemo is because of the liver mets which seems to be a small lesion. There are four lung nodules, all smaller than 2.0 cm. The Gem/Tax is hopefully taking care of those. So the next step will be a PET scan to see if the treatment is working. When this is over I'll be monitored carefully for the rest of my life. Current side effects include the reaction on my hands, which is responding well to Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief. They tend to throb when my blood pressure is up, so I'm forcing fluids and taking my lisinopril faithfully. I'm taking Advil to control the pain when it is too much. Three weeks ago I resorted to other pain meds, and am grateful I didn't need them this cycle. This wee...

Yesterday started with me feeling good. I was doing audits at work, and crashed after lunch. I drove home, carefully. Walked into the door, dropped my keys on the counter (they belong in the bowl by the door...) and laid down on the couch. I woke up at five. Dang. I was tired. When I woke up I lay there thinking I felt much better...but still couldn't motivate myself to stand up and move around for about 10 minutes. I feel so lazy, yet my body is just not working the way it did. Last night around 7 p.m. I walked once around the condo complex. Three months ago I could walk 2 miles easily on the treadmill. It's like I've got a completely different body.

okay, just a miserable me. Neulastin shot today, I'm anticipating a miserable, painful weekend. Read about several cool events at the local Renaissance Fair this weekend. I'm trying to switch phone providers to save some money. That's not working. I just want a damn cheap phone. My hands are still peeling and painful. My tummy is upset. I didn't sleep well last night. I got up at 1:15 and didn't get back to sleep. My Fitbit isn't working. Technology and my body are failing me. I asked my roommate to wash the crock pot liner, since I can't with the stupid flaking hands, and he told me it would fit in the dishwasher. Later I tried it. And remembered why I knew it had to be hand washed.... because it may have fit in his LAST dishwasher, but not in this one. Growl. Postiive? no I'm not positive... I'm just feeling rotten. This too shall pass. Another day down. Second Cycle of chemo over (or half way depending on how I count t...

I feel like I have always been healthy. Okay, 50 extra pounds, and lack of grace getting up from the floor... BUT I can get up from the floor. I could sprint to catch a door, and rationalize that this sedentary lifestyle was good enough. Second cycle of chemo is finished. Four left, if all goes well. I'm wiped. Yesterday I spent 20 minutes walking in Target, and had to find a chair. I find my energy far less than needed, finally I'm learning to gauge my energy... so I've got enough strength and focus to get back to the car AND drive home. This has been quite the challenge. I lost strength quickly. Less than a month ago I was on a treadmill for 1'13" -- warmed up and then an hour show (BONES, an episode I hadn't seen) came on. So I just kept walking 2.2 miles/hour. Now I'm reminding roommate that we've got 30 minutes before I crash. One time when I was alone I pushed too hard. Felt dizzy. Found a chair. My worry is that I'll ignor...

Tonight I went to an AA meeting (Alcoholics Anonymous). I’ve been going to meetings since 2/1983, and continuously sober since 9/28/1983. My hands are raw, and painful looking. Today I found a beauty supply store, and purchased wig caps, hair coverings, and white gloves. I was dressed for my comfort, not others. Sweater, brightly colored sneakers, huge scarf on my head and white gloves. I got to the meeting room early. A member was looking for the box with their books. He was stressed, hoped I’d know where their books were. I wasn’t much help.. At that point, I was wondering if this was a mistake. I was tired, and just wanted a bit of human contact. He commented on a “white glove inspection.” I wasn’t going to say anything, but looked so odd that I needed to say something. Eventually, before the meeting after we found the books, he asked how I was doing. And I told him. Plus I told him that I needed to find a positive way to answer the “How are you doing?” People do...

Appetite okay. Food tastes good, not great. Energy level is low, slept most of the day, tired after walking around Target for 20 minutes. No fever. Hair is very fine, and mostly gone. When I wash it, it feels like it is completely gone. However, when it dries, I see the halo of hair over my scalp. Hands are covered with psoriasis like flaking skin. Ugly. Tomorrow is chemo day #8 cycle #2. Taxotere is the drug that makes my appetite go away. I still choose to eat, even if it doesn't taste like food. Port installed, so I'll be able to knit tomorrow. I'm going to dermatology to see if the stitches can come out a day early. Then Tuesday is another injection to boost my white blood cells. Woo Hoo. I'm going to ask if I can do that after work, so I don't have to take time off. Yes, this is what a work-a-holic looks like.