Checking in on Amy

I just woke up from a 3+ hour 'nap.' I was sleepy after dinner and headed straight for my bed, and didn't get up until after 10PM. It was a really good sleep and I guess my body needed it. The side effects of radiation haven't been too bad for me yet. I have completed my 16 treatments and one of my 'boost' treatments, so I've only got three more boost treatments to go. I met with my radiation oncologist on Tuesday and he was very generous with his time. One thing I learned from him is that the protocol for radiation treatment has changed since my treatment started, and 'boost' treatments will no longer be separate but they will instead become part of the initial course of radiation. Had this change happened before my treatment started I would have saved myself four trips to the hospital. I'm glad that the people who come after me can benefit from this change. My doctor explained that, in general, the number of visits required to treat just about ...

I had my 6th radiation treatment today. Treatments have been going well. The appointments are quick, so I find I'm only out of the house for about an hour each time (~15 minutes driving; ~10 minutes parking and walking to/from the appointment; ~25 minutes to change, wait, get zapped, and change again).  Before each zap (which is, in case you were wondering, x-rays!) I lie down on the bed that has been specially prepared for me with the neck rest, knee support, angle, and hand/arm grips all in the places that were determined at my CT appointment. The technicians check my position using my tattoos and some lights that shine from the machine. They make sure everything is just right, then leave the room. After that, they take a couple of quick x-rays to make sure my position is perfect. They use the x-rays to adjust my position a tiny bit more, so I usually feel the bed move around just a bit before the radiation treatment happens.  My understanding is that I get x-rays from four ...

This weekend Rick and I are up at the cottage and our kids are not! We have never been up here alone except when doing big jobs like installing kitchen cabinets, so it's kind of weird but also VERY NICE. We are so thankful to our chosen Barrie family for kidnapping our kiddos and taking them camping this weekend. It's cool this weekend - single digits at night - but beautiful and sunny. These beauties were blooming at the point and I could not resist taking a picture: I'm definitely more tired this week than I was 3 weeks ago. We just got back from a post-dinner dog walk and I can feel how tired I am even though it wasn't far or fast. My taste buds continue to be dull and I'm noticing more of a metallic taste in my mouth this week. Sensations of being hungry or full are not normal either, so the desire to eat or not eat isn't normal. No nausea though, so I'll continue to be grateful for that. Thank you to Fiona for another wonderful walk in the w...

After a crappy chemo-drenched Sunday and Monday my body and brain bounced some of the way back yesterday. This is very good, since I was sort of counting on it. :) My mom had been here for the weekend and left yesterday morning, so she was here for the worst of my exhaustion and brain fog. Her presence helped me take more (or better) naps and I am so grateful that she can be a rock for me when I need her. Sadly, not all of my 'chemo round 3 wishes' have been granted. On the 'wish not granted' list: I still have a smattering of ridiculous white hairs hanging on to my noggin. To all of the little hairs that keep hanging on: I love you, but you are FREE TO GO.  Upon careful assessment in the last day, I believe my finger numbness has gotten worse, and I am also noticing numbness in my feet that hadn't been really been obvious to me before. The numbness isn't enough to limit any of my activities, but it is a strange sensation. On my 'wish granted' list: Eyeb...

Every little noise makes it hard for me to think today. I am tired but not. Want food and don't. The dog has had a 'barky' day, and though I love her my patience is wearing thin. I know tomorrow will be better, but it does not change the fact that I'd like to crawl out of my skin right now, or just go to sleep and wake up on Tuesday or Wednesday when my chemo hangover is all gone. Since cute dog photos always make things better, here is a picture of Martha with Lily, another Wheaten in the neighbourhood. :)

What glorious weather we had this past weekend! Weather in May can be so unpredictable. In the last 5 years we have seen just about everything, including snow. We were very lucky to be able to spend this unusually warm one at our cottage. Our cottage is part of a corporation including 8 families that have each purchased a share in what used to be a lodge/cottage resort. Leading up to Victoria Day weekend we usually coordinate with the others to do the spring job of putting in our big docks. This year two weekends were put aside for this and we were not able to attend the first. We arrived this weekend (the second of the two) to find that the big jobs had all been completed. Of course, no trip to the cottage is without 'work' of some kind, and our water heater didn't make it through the winter so Rick spent half of Saturday replacing the element. I am certainly feeling better every day post-chemo. More like myself. My surgical incisions seem to be healing OK. Every day less ...

This second round of chemo has been similar to the first. I was feeling pretty good the first couple of days (if you can consider a steroid high 'good!') and like last time that is being followed by a couple of really slow and tired days. This round I have found that the feeling of exhaustion and brain fog bothering me more than the first time. The first round of chemo I wasn't sure what to expect, so to have my symptoms limited to fatigue and a nagging headache seemed like a gift (which it really is) and that 'pleasant' surprise may have distracted me from the details. Or perhaps things are a little worse this time. Hard to say. I've been trying to explain how I feel. How my brain feels. It is weird. But I will try. This feels sort of like jet lag. The kind where you are exhausted AND you still have a 10 hour day in front of you and you need to gather your wits so you don't get on the wrong train and it takes all of your concentration. The kind where you ge...

It is the tail end of the long weekend. The sun has been shining every day which I did not expect based on last week's forecast. Even though it has been cool out the sun has tricked me into believing that spring is really here. I guess we'll see. :) On Saturday Rick learned how to give me the injection to help my blood cells grow. It was easy and I couldn't even feel it. I stayed hooked up to the IV hydration just for a couple of hours Saturday before deciding to detach myself and just drink tea and water instead. I'm sure I will be grateful for the hydration in the future if I'm having trouble eating or drinking, but at this point being hooked up to the pump just made me feel like a sick person. (And yes, I know that I AM a sick person, but I am definitely capable of drinking my prescribed 2L of fluids at this point.) I continue to feel pretty good, though the fatigue really kicked in the last couple of days. Yesterday I was feeling really tired and was in a bit of...