Getting Ready

 

 

 

Second chemo treatment is tomorrow.  Wondering how it will go this time.  I’ve been taking the Prevacid since Monday 2x a day… and am to take it 4 days after chemo as well… and hopefully that will prevent the severe nausea I had the first time.  Met with Dr. Cohen today.  He said if I should feel that nausea again, call, and go to the hospital… they will hook me up with an IV that will stop the nausea immediately… watch some TV, stay overnight in the “hotel” and go home the next day.  He said there is no good reason to put my body through that trauma again. 

 

Other than the nausea in the beginning and some lingering fatigue after that for a couple days, I’ve really had a very, very easy time of it these past two weeks.  I’ve felt energetic physically, and happy!  I just don’t worry… I’m in the process of treating any cancer that might be left in my body… and that’s really all I can do now anyway.  So I’m just living my life as usual… at work and at home… but perhaps with a bit more JOY than ever before.  Isn’t that ironic?  But it’s true.  I just appreciate things so much more… especially the “little” things.

 

My hair is still coming out.  If I run my fingers through it… it just comes out so easily.  It’s not falling out on it’s own… but just when I coax it just a bit.  A lot more has come out this evening than last night.  No biggy today… doesn’t upset me at all.  But then again, my hair is so thick that there are no bald spots yet… just thinning.  Ric can’t believe how much hair I’ve lost and yet to look at it, you still can’t tell.  Chemo tomorrow.  I’m sure by Monday, I’ll be sporting a hat or a wig.  And I realize it will be traumatic when it’s all gone… but then I’ll adjust… and that’ll be that. 

 

Did some things around the house today that I need to take care of before chemo (since I don’t know exactly how I’ll feel for a few days)… laundry, etc.  Packed my little goody bag to take to treatment.  I’m going by myself tomorrow.  I’ve really had to convince Ric about this.  I don’t want him to go every time… it takes too long… I can read and be perfectly happy and content.  I’m not one bit afraid… the treatment itself was very easy last time… the nurses are fantastic.  I’ve promised Ric that if for some reason I don’t feel like I can drive, I will call him.  So, that’s my plan.

 

Ric just called from the bathroom… “Jeanne, something’s happening with my head… maybe it’s like sympathy pains… it’s really, really itchy and tingly… oh, oh…” and he pulled out two clumps of hair!

 

Funny though… Ric’s hair is straight, and mine is curly… and the hair he had in his hand was curly… surely he didn’t get my discarded hair out of the trash?!?!  Silly guy… he will go to any lengths to keep me laughing.  It works.  Every time.

 

Jeanne K. Cochran

4/19/06