Side Effects and Moving Walls

My treatment in Bullhead went well. They just moved into a new facility and the chemo room is very large with new recliners and a closed captioned TV, so you don't have to listen to it blasting throughout the entire room. I had to meet with the P.A. and oncologist first, so of course I didn't get in on time, but they were very pleasant. The chemo nurse was also very nice and they have a well stocked fridge and yummy snacks. (That is very important!) Mike is thinking that he is going to start chemo with me next time so he can have free juice and snacks... what a great idea!

I felt pretty good, just a little tired and I didn't feel much like eating. I went to bed fairly early and slept until 2am before I desperately needed to go to the bathroom. I had to go so bad that I forgot to unplug my VAC from the AC and ran into the side of the bed as I was unplugging it. My eyes were burning and I couldn't quite get them open (must be a funky side effect of the chemo or the anti-nausea medicine), so I made it the rest of the way around the bed with my eyes half closed, but ran into the wall....twice. I finally made it into the bathroom with only a couple of bruises and my bladder still intact.

I haven't checked my hair yet this morning.... I think it is still there! I did find out that I won't be needing that bikini wax that I have always been wanting! (TMI- I know!)

Haircut... Barbie Doll Style

I started pulling chunks of hair out this morning, and although I had a friend coming over in the afternoon to cut it, I figured I probably wouldn't have any left by the time she got to the house. I called her and told her that Hailey and I were going to have a "hair cutting party".(If anybody wants to do this for their kid's birthday, I am available!) I know everyone has cut their Barbie's hair at one time.(It's okay guys... we know what you did with your sister's barbies). So basically, that is what I did. I took a chunk of hair and put it in a small ponytail and cut it off. It actually didn't turn out too bad considering what I did...AND I only had one gray hair! (No... I wasn't drunk)
My friend did come over and clean it up a bit. It was a little uneven... I guess it doesn't really matter since it will probably all be gone in the next few days anyway... and I did have fun.

I am heading up to Bullhead for my treatment tomorrow, at least I will stay nice and cool!

I thought I was feeling good

I had my follow-up appointment with the oncologist yesterday (Friday). I had my labs drawn on Thursday (by a "ramming vampire"). The labs are usually done in-house, but since I have BC/BS insurance, they have to be sent out, so they didn't have the results when I went in for my appointment. The doctor left the exam room to see if he could get the results faxed. After about 10 minutes of waiting, the nurse pops her head in the room and says that another Susan M Weber got her blood drawn the same day at the same lab and the results may have got mixed up, so they were just trying to get it straightened out. Luckily we don't have the same birthdate, but I guess they are similar. It isn't the first time they have got us mixed up.

So... anyway.... the physician came in with the results (that they still weren't completely sure were mine) and it showed I was slightly anemic (which is expected) and my liver enzymes were elevated (which was not expected). He asked me how much I drank. I should've said "None, but I think I am getting close to starting." He wanted me to get another blood draw just to make sure it was accurate. He called me back with the results yesterday afternoon, and the liver enzymes had gone down some, but were still slightly elevated. He said it was probably from the chemo and if it continues to stay elevated, we may have to skip a week, but for now I am going to continue with the scheduled treatments.

My next scheduled chemo is for Tuesday. I was going to have it done in Havasu, but my oncologist is going to be out of town, and with the regime that I am doing he felt more comfortable with me getting established with one of the out of town oncologists, so I have to go to Bullhead City for my treatment.

It is kind of funny, I went in to the office feeling pretty good, then he gives me my lab results and all of a sudden, I am tired and my head hurts!

Sponge Bob Square Boobs?

I was having the best day ever yesterday, and I am feeling pretty spunky today.... except for the "ball and chain" attached to my breast like a colicky baby. The coffee still tastes bad, but at least it is the first thing I can have in the morning!

I got in the water (only up to my waist) with my HSST kids yesterday. Hailey also came and helped which worked out great. We worked on the other side of the bulkhead and did some "back to basic" drills and technique work. I think the kids did great... what a wonderful feeling to see them pick it up and go from struggling to make it 10 feet to swimming 25 yards effortlessly. It doesn't seem like a lot to a seasoned swimmer, but it is a big deal to a 6 year old!

I guess I was feeling a little too good. I thought I could get out of the pool my usual way, by pulling myself up on the bulkhead... mmm not a good idea and it didn't work. I believe I pulled some scar tissue away from the expander. It continued to cause intermittent pain throughout the day, but I think it must have completely tore, because I am not having any more pain, I just have a square looking breast... very interesting!

It is time to sneak out of the house for my morning walk. I think I will wear a tight tank and see if I get any funny looks. :)

Anything but the Coffee!

I wasn't feeling so great yesterday. I did walk about 3 miles in the morning, but about an hour after I got home I started getting a little nauseated, so it was back to the oyster crackers, ginger ale and applesauce.... yum! I bet you can guess what I probably WON'T be eating next year. The nausea lasted most of the day and last night. I did get a lot of napping in.

I was JUST starting to feel a little better this morning, so after I had my ACG, (applesauce, crackers, ginger ale) I decided I better have some coffee so I don't get my caffeine withdrawal headache. My one and only bad habit (that I admit to anyway) is ruined! The coffee tastes like it was boiled with metal shavings... not fair!!! I guess I will cancel my membership to Gevalia.

I wonder how a Bud light with lime will taste................ ;)

Swim Across the Lake

Some of the kids from our swim team swam across the lake yesterday. They ALL made it, which was just awesome! Here is a link to the article in the local newspaper Lake Swim .I had wanted to swim with them this year... but I guess I will have to wait until next year when I am not attached to a vacuum. :)

I did get to have a little bit of fun... after having a moderate meltdown, I convinced Mike that I could take the Waverunner from the launch ramp to Windsor 4. One of the parents was going to use it to follow the swimmers. He was going to pick it up at the launch ramp, but I thought "why should he have all the fun?" so, I took off the VAC (I can remove it briefly... usually for a shower, but the lake is water, so that counts, right?) And I had the most fun I have had in 3 months! That short ride did my mind a lot of good!

I had planned on riding on Coach Mike's boat across the lake to cheer on the swimmers, but I had to get my Neulasta shot, so I wasn't able to go. I am hoping our "team photographer" got a lot of good photos. I know he got a great one of me coming in on the Waverunner!

I think I have Mike (husband Mike) convinced that if I wear a big hat, long sleeves, pants and put the VAC in a waterproof bag, we can take the skis out on the lake.... I will take pictures.

Here is a pic of the snake

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