Mass + Chemo = ???

A friend picked me up this morning for 8:30 am Mass.  I always feel better when I start the day off with Mass.  More recollected and ready to take on the day. But... this was the first day of taking my chemo first in the morning.What would happen?  The last thing I want to do in Mass it make an untoward emission.  So I took an anti-nausea medicine with the chemo and hoped that would do the trick.  (I also sat very close to the bathroom.)  Fortunately, it did! After Mass, I went to Le Boulanger with some friends and had a yogurt fruit parfait - good probiotics for my tummy! Later met a friend and had a good conversation over lunch, a healthy serving of vegetables!

Later in the afternoon, I had another physical therapy appointment.  I seem to be losing some ground on my knee.  My ankle is swelling up now that I'm off the steroids.  Harumph!

Another radiation session tonight.  I seem to spend more time in the waiting room then I do in the treatment room, which I suppose is a good thing.  It was a surprise that Duane met me and the kiddo in the waiting room afterwards, and a good thing because the kiddo had a flag football party.  A good time was had by all, and the kiddo got the Best Defensive Player award.  Woo hoo!  He did catch a few good interceptions! I love watching him play. It's like watching grace in motion! I've never seen such a talented athlete.

First Day of Chemo and Radiation

Would  you like to make "emissions" in this toilet?
Credit: http://drhousecleaning.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-clean-toilet.html

Today's schedule for radiation was at 7:00 am.  This was fine because I'm now going to sleep at 10:00 pm, which means I'm waking up at 5:00 am.  It is a good time to think and get stuff done.  Beginning  on November 19th, I get into a regular slot at 7:45 am, but until someone else comes off the calendar I'm in whatever time they can put me - which means very late in the day.  I balked at 7:00 pm, and and at least got them to put me in a little bit earlier in the day.  Amazing that they have such a back up of patients.

My first supplies of chemo arrived around 11:30 am.  Unfortunately, that was too late for me to take it because I was supposed to have lunch with friends.  So I opted to take them two hours after lunch.  Had a nice lunch with friends at Cheesecake Factory, one of my favorite places, and had my Grilled Chicken Tostada Salad.  Yum!  Lots of greens and lean protein, which is good for me.

After getting home, I took my daily dose.  I decided not to take a anti-nausea medicine because I wasn't sure I needed one.  As it turns out, I didn't have any nausea all day... until midnight when I woke up wondering if what I was feeling was nausea.  So I got up to go the bathroom and promptly threw up.  I guess that answered my question.  After taking an anti-nausea medication, I slept through the rest of the night.  Ahh!

Dry Run

Today I met my chemo doctor - on the day that my chemo is supposed to start.  Although there are a long list of side effects, I found out that nausea, rash and diarrhea are the main ones, with a slight drop in white blood cells.  I've have a blood test every week to check on my immune system.  Since they don't have any samples, I'll have to wait for them to arrive tomorrow.  Apparently, I'm not allowed to order them chemo drugs from my pharmacy. The insurance company requires that they be distributed by mail order. This may have something to with a shortage of chemo drugs in this country, and as well as them not being in big demand. 

The dry run for radiation also happened today.  They put my mask on, and situated me on the table and measured distances so that they would be putting the radiation in the right place.  I happened to wear an longer cotton shirt from India, and found that I don't need to wear a gown if I wear that.  Need more Indian shirts!  I need an excuse to go shopping!

I had an another PT appointment for my knee.  My knee is more swollen today because she worked on the back where the hamstring attaches.  More stretching needed!