Resting

I am lying here on my sofa, posting from my phone for the first time. So it may be a short post! This week was rough. My chemo was Tuesday instead of Monday due to Memorial Day. So I went in on Tuesday, saw the doc. Then went into the infusion center. Not exactly my favorite place to be. I chose a seat and waited for the poisons. The nurse hooked up the Aloxi/Decadron combination (for nausea) and let it run in. Then she hooked up the CPT-11 and the leucovorin and let that stuff run. I was told that there wasn't enough Avastin on hand so they decided to give that to me on Thursday when I returned to get unhooked. So after my cocktail finished then she hooked up my 5-FU which infuses over 46 hours. I came home on Tuesday and felt just aweful. It's not that I was experiencing nausea or throwing up. The drugs take care of that. I just overall felt horrible, very fatigued. I really don't want to do this anymore, yet I have 6 more to go.

My appetite does funny things. Sometimes I feel like eating a salad. Sometimes it's a Taco Bell taco. Or tortilla chips and dour cream. Or spicy V8. Or regular V8. Or even Fritos and spicy bean dip. Mostly it's either really clean flavors or it's strong (sour cream) or salty (chips) flavors. Those break through the numbness of my tongue. The clean flavors don't confuse it.

Well that's what's on my mind right now. I just wanted to share that with you.

Garden Pics Updated 5/25/09

I have uploaded some new pics of the garden progress, taken 5/25/09, along with notes in the captions. This link will take you directly to the album.

How Chemo Affects My Energy

Well, for those of you who are wondering how I'm doing, let's just say that I'm very busy right now. When I have chemo (as a reminder it's every other week) I have absolutely no energy and I feel as if I will never have energy again. I don't want to do anything. I don't want to chat online. I especially don't want to talk to anyone in person or on the phone. Carrying on a conversation of any kind makes me so tired. Just putting together coherent sentences drains me. So, I hide under a rock. That's why those of you who tell me I look great or I am so strong only see that part of me. I don't really let anyone see the other part. Not because I want to spare you. Not at all. I want to spare myself the energy drain. I usually won't even answer the phone. Sometimes I can send out a couple of cell phone texts but that's usually the extent of my abilities.

So, this goes on for about a week. My chemotherapy sessions are usually always on Mondays and by the weekend I am feeling like perhaps I can got out for short excursions, but then return home to nap. Usually I don't feel like my normal self until the following Tuesday. Then I start running in circles, cramming everything into the few days that I have.

My next chemo is on Tuesday the 26th. I get an extra day this week because of Memorial Day. That's great, until I remember that I will get one less day the next cycle, assuming I return to Mondays. I like Mondays for my treatments because it's possible for me to be somewhat social by Saturday if I get enough rest.

I have 7 cycles remaining. Then the MD will order an MRI every 3 months to keep an eye on things. I really want this to be over.

I'll try to update this more often. I may start to repeat myself but I understand you would probably like an update anyway. I appreciate that you check in here to see how things are going.

Next blog post: Updated garden pics!

PET Scan Results

Just a quick note while I have some residual energy. Last Tuesday (May 5) I had a PET scan performed. This past Monday I got the result. No new tumors, lesions, or anything. Just some inflammation in my abdominal area from the surgery. So all is well. My oncologist did say that she would like for me to do 6 months (12 cycles) of chemo to help ensure nothing comes back. I've done 5. I guess I can do 7 more. Ugh! And I will have an MRI every 3 months as follow up.

On to brighter things: The garden. This weekend I will take new photos. We (David was a BIG help) planted the 5 tomato plants, 3 pie pumpkin plants, and the 2 squash plants that we started from seed. We also put down a lot of compost (mulch) to help keep the ground cool. So far it's looking great and I do expect to get some nice harvesting eventually. I still have to plant the okra (they are in a seed starter tray) and when I do they will do very well. I have learned that I like starting seeds. That way I transplant little guys that have a head start against the bugs and critters.

Garden Pics Updated

I have uploaded some new pics of the garden progress, along with notes in the captions. This link will take you directly to the album. I have added some detail in the captions so that you know what you are looking at!