February. I was suppose to start chemo on my birthday weekend! Happy Birthday MMEE!!! Fortunately for your girl over here, insurance was dddrrrraaaagggging their feet and it was not approved in time. So, I got to enjoy a quiet birthday weekend with my girls. We laughed, we ate junk, we drank and just hung out. My favorite way to spend a weekend!
The next week was the longest/slowest week. I remember every other thought that ran through my head was some version of "I'm barely 35 and here I am on chemotherapy". While my faith in our Lord was unfailing I couldn't help but wonder what was to come. Would I be super sick? Which of the list of side effects would show up in me? How long would they last? I put on a brave face but inside I was scared to death. A few hundred what if thoughts, a few break downs (pro tip, the shower is a great place to have a break down!), and countless conversations later the day had come. I took a half day off work because it takes 40 forevers to get poison pumped into your system. My momma picked me up from my house and we headed out.
I said it in my last post but walking into an oncology office hits way differently as a patient. Traditionally you get your blood drawn, see the doctor and then go get your poison of choice. Funny thing is that isn't even a joke in this case...although a dr. pepper sounds just amazing as I type this...back on topic because I digress! My friend/doctor set it up so I just had to go in and get the infusion to cut down on time off work. Little did we know 'Rona was on her way to rock our world's forever (it seems). I get called back to "the tank" as they call it. Basically it's just like you see on TV, it's literally a bunch of lounge chairs with people hooked up to IV's....not a place you want to be! The nurses are so upbeat, and break out in song every now and again, and it's good people watching while you have nothing else to do!
They get me hooked up and my nurse talks me through everything being my first time (don't worry the next time you don't get that treatment). You get a nausea medicine first that is suppose to be like really strong, I was never nauseous so I guess it worked? After your nausea meds, they start your chemo medicine. Evidently this medicine is known to hurt because they kept coming over and asking me if I was ok, I would say yes, and they would walk away amazed. Of course I would laugh! Well, a few hours later they un-hook you and you are able to go. Then I would take pills for two weeks before having an off week which would complete the 3 week cycle.
My mom decided she was going to spend the night with me because she wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get sick during the night or have some reaction. We ordered in food, and just stayed up talking and watching TV. Something we rarely get to do just the two of us. Luckily, I slept really really well! No sickness, and just a touch of cold sensitivity. We make coffee and end up talking some more, until dad calls and asked if we had started breakfast..OOPS! We hadn't even turned on the tv we ere so busy talking over coffee. But never you fear, the breakfast king came to the rescue! This little tradition is something I treasure about the whole experience.
I pretty much make it through round one with no side effects. I did end up in the ER once because I got fever but it was nothing (thank you LORD!). My doctor was super glad I could report no side effects from the first round when I went in for my mid-cycle checkup.
So three weeks later we did it again! Although, the second time I got my levels checked (which is why they do it) my liver levels were real high...so we put it off a week and she decreased how much I was getting. My body obviously couldn't handle that amount we started with.
The second round was pretty much identical to the first. Went in, got the infusion taken care of and went home with no real side effects to report. But I would score another momma slumber party and daddy breakfast!
So I guess it was a pretty uneventful month, I mean if you don't count putting poison in your body! Hahaha! But seriously, I thank God every day for His provision of health and lack of side effects. I thank him for the sweet nurses who worked on me. I thank him for my great support system. This part of the story much like the first half could have been soooo different!
'Rona's coming y'all....
until next time!
XO!
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