Treatment #4

Wow! Treatment #4 has passed and is history now. Time is going so quickly! I'm halfway through chemo infusion treatments!

Blood Work 

I went in to do my blood work and my number "were gorgeous" so that was exciting. It seems like the Udenyca shot that they are giving me is working to boost my blood counts, which allows me to get the treatments. Yay!

Side Effect Management

My hands were a little more normal for Treatment #4. At least they weren't burning. They went from warm to cool (cool is normal) so that was better. However, they did do a lot of peeling. So everywhere I went, I probably left flecks of skin. 

All I could think about with this side effect was when I would go over to my Grandma Johnson's house after one of my grandpa's brothers had left from a visit and how adamant she was that everything be dusted, vacuumed, and cleaned as soon as she could because he had a skin condition where his skin peeled a lot and it gave Grandma the willies. 

Luckily my hands didn't really hurt. They looked pretty bad, but didn't have pain related to the peeling. I did have some more neuropathy in them where they felt tingly and numb. They also spazzed out a little bit where they cramped up. I had to massage them out and then they were ok. 

My lips and mouth have some tingling and numbness too. What is also kind of funny and kind of strange is that the lower lip also spazzes out a little bit. So when I'm in a meeting and it starts wigging out, I have to get it back under control. I am trying to make sure I get enough liquids and enough electrolytes in me to calm it down.

Starting the Friday in the evening after I got my pump out, I noticed my skin became very sensitive to the touch. I noticed especially in my neck that it seemed like all my glands and lymph nodes were on high alert reacting to the chemo. That lasted until Sunday morning when I woke up.

It seemed like it took a little longer to bounce back this time. I try to go out for a walk every day. This time it took about 8 days to feel like I had a little more pep in my step. The other days I walked very slowly. One day I even had to take a nap after my walk before I got ready for work. 

I can tell that I would benefit from a nap in the daytime. I've been listening to a book about sleep and it talks about societies that honor the siesta actually are more healthy overall because they get a rest in the middle of the day. On some days I didn't take a nap and by the end of the day, I wished I had taken the time to do that. 

Random Cravings

Have you ever had a random craving and weren't sure where it came from - especially for a food you haven't eaten in years? Yep. That happened this treatment. I have to say I was a bit surprised at it. But all I could do was get myself to the store to purchase some Top Ramen noodles. You got it! A little strange but they tasted so good! Haha. The next day I ate spaghettioes. You know, the Franco American kind? I was so determined to eat so healthy and to only eat things that are going to be good for my body. I didn't do so well, but I ate something. :) And that was worth something for now.

July 24th

The 24th of July weekend was great! I was able to feel up to traveling down to Cove Fort where Mom and Dad are serving their mission. I was able to spend Saturday - Monday with them. It was great to be there. We had some good time to sit out and watch the wild turkeys come in to eat apples. We had some nice rain while I was there and it made the day a lot cooler. It was fun to see all the projects Mom and Dad are working on. I even got to watch Dad "break in" to someone's car who had locked the key inside. Mom and Dad both have some awesome skills. :) 

It was also great to be there in their sacrament meeting on Sunday. Mom and Dad were the assigned speakers. They tied in the pioneers but Mom really focused on being "in the right place" and Dad really focused on following the prophet and our leaders. They both did such a great job! I love watching them do their handiwork!

We also sang Come, Come Ye Saints. I love one line and sing it to myself prior to each treatment. "Gird up your loins, fresh courage take." While we were singing, though, I also noticed the next phrase "Our God will never us forsake." And that is so true! Heavenly Father is very much a part of our mortal journey if we let Him be. And He is so good! He gives comfort and strength in so many ways that we never have to feel alone. He is there if we seek Him. He is the source of all that is beautiful and all that brings joy. May you find that in your journey as well!