Journey with Mary D

Well my Monday didn't start great since I didn't sleep at all last night.  I slept for about 20 minutes during our early morning drive and that is it.  UGH!!  I don't do well without sleep. The oral steroids I have to take the day before and day after each treatment are really messing with my sleep.   So treatment routine starts with blood work, then vitals and then claiming my seat.  It wasn't as busy today, so I got a window seat.  Oh the little things!  My bloodwork came back ok, with the white blood count up a little, but my BP was high.  They think it is from a combination of the steroid and lack of sleep.  So they are adjusting the IV steroid a little and giving me something to help me sleep. Fingers crossed for a good week!   Score update pending.....

So on September 19th I started Cycle 2.  The beginning of each cycle starts out normal, with blood work and then vitals, but on the first day of a cycle we get to visit with Kelsey, the Nurse Practitioner.  I was prepared today with my questions.  It was a good visit.  Everything seems to be going as planned.  So, we head to the treatment room and get started. Score...I am still winning 😃

So this is week 3 of treatment.  Same routine, just a different day. This week will be a little different.  I have to get a shot on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.  They originally scheduled me to go to Nashville for those.  Thankfully I was able to get those done at our Primary Care facility in Cookeville at the Averitt Clinic. They made sure I was the first patient in after lunch and made sure I was not exposed to any sickness, man those girls rock! Score this week....I'm winning!!!!  More good days then bad, yay. 

CHEMO was on Tuesday this week due the Labor Day Holiday.  We spent the night in Nashville, since we dropped my sister off at the airport on Monday night.  It was nice to get to sleep in a bit, since we didn't have to make the early morning drive from Cookeville for my appointment at 7:45am.   I'm becoming a pro now.  First blood work, then vitals, and then claim my spot in the treatment room.  I put on my comfy non slip socks (thanks Helen) and claimed my heated blanket. So week 2 proved to be a little better for me.  I was tired by the end of the week, but not exhausted.   So the score this week ... I call it a tie!

I survived the first day of CHEMO.  I was told of all the side effects that could happen.  Nausea, hair loss, numbness, bone pain, etc.  But I was not prepared for the fatigue.  They said with my treatments being on Mondays, that Tuesday and Wednesday would be my good days. Then I would start going down hill on Thursday, with Friday being the worst day.  Then I should go back up Saturday and feel almost normal on Sunday and ready to start it all over again.  Well, week 1 knocked me down for the majority of the week.  Not sure if it was the drugs or just the whole process.  I was so tired and all I wanted or could do was sleep.  So if I am keeping score CHEMO won week #1