Well, friends, I am THRILLED to report that the small reduction in Gemzar dosage --from twelve hundred something thingamajigs per metric squared something to a thousand something thingamajigs per metric squared something -- has made an ENORMOUS difference in my well being!I had treatment on Friday. Friday night was ok, Saturday was pretty good also until the evening, when a headache hit and also a mild feeling of having the flu. On Saturday I gave myself a Neupogen shot, so Sunday morning brought back, hip, and thigh pain (it's normal; the purpose of the shots is to put your bone marrow into hyper-production of white blood cells, causing the marrow to expand, which is temporarily painful. Some folks experience pain with these growth stimulators more than others, and I just happen to fall into the hit-by-a-truck category. C'est la vie.) Sunday I felt worse, with increased headache and jaw pain, nausea, mouth pain and fatigue, but still pushed myself to be up and active all day, and probably overdid it because I really fell out in the afternoon. This morning, Monday, I've got all of the aforementioned complaints -- as well as a RAGING headache -- but I'm truly NOT complaining! I'd say I'm faring, overall, about 75% better than I was during the last cycle. That's huge! I was out of commission for 10 days on that one! Lorraine is ecstatic. She missed me last time! (I was getting out of bed around 7:00 p.m.)
The constipation is under control this time -- still an issue, but nowhere NEAR the problem it was last time. I'd say the headache, jaw pain and body aches are the worst. But seriously: SO much better than Round One.
Sorry to go through the whole litany of bodily experiences, but I record them all here, as I've done since the beginning, in the hopes that my experience can be of some benefit to someone else down the road. I know that when I first entered into what would become a sort of cancer career, I was so eager to read of others' personal experiences with treatment, and there was a real dearth of Hodgkins blogs back then. (Now there are many more.) As I've entered into new treatments I've found so little personal info online, I've vowed to share my experiences here. Interestingly, I share MUCH more information here than I do with my closest friends!
In other news, Lorraine and I have entered into a new weight loss period......of which my part will be shared here! Holy mother of GAWD it will be good to talk about something besides freakin' cancer!! Hello, Weight Loss Blog, my old friend! I missed you so! As some of you may know -- or read in my blog header -- this thing started, back in the day (2004,) as a weight loss blog, back when I was busting my ass to lose weight instead of beat (or live with) cancer. I lost about 80 pounds in 8 months by watching what I ate and exercising. (The loss was not related to my lymphoma; nothing sudden or drastic, just a steady rate of loss which actually slowed towards the end, as my cancer was progressing.) I'm currently about 20 pounds over my ending weight of that time, and I intend to do it again like I did it last time. Stay tuned.
13 comments:
Go get'em, girl! My dang cancer gave me a 50 lbs memento that I'm working to get off - I'll work there with you!
I'm totally in on the weight loss/fitness thing, so lace up those sneakers, sweet Sarah and let's get at it! Actually, you can do a virtual half marathon through Nike+ and the Nike Women's Marathon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/#events. I'm signed up and I started training last night.
I didn't realize you were updating your blog again.
I'm so glad it is so much easier and so glad this combo kicked HD's butt. Sorry it kicked yours too. However, if what you describe is easy, I am glad you survived the last round.
((( HUGS ))),
Judy
Hi Sarah - just checking out your blog - haven't had too long to browse, just grabbing a couple of kiddie-free minutes (bliss!!).
I'm with you on the whole weight-loss thing. Cancer has given me additional weight too, despite not even having the blasted disease. Being a care-giver has lead to a LOT of comfort-eating!! :(
For every pound you lose - I vow to lose the same the following week - no pressure girl!!
Thanks for all your words on the Lymphoma forum, you are so wise and your HL experiences have helped us out on numerous occasions...take care of you all.......x
Veronica aka 'Wullieswife'
Bring on the weightloss blog! I might need to start one as well - dropping that damn chemo weight is going to be tough - I'm adding your blog to my favorites and we'll get skinny together :)
Kelly
Hey Sarah, I've had a little (and I do mean little) luck trying to think of things I should eat rather than worrying about what I shouldn't. So I'm looking for nutritionally dense recipes.
This is turkey bean soup. It's easy to make and it takes substitutions gracefully.
Turkey Bean Soup (base recipe)
1 lb. italian turkey sausage, removed from casing
2 teasp. olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
1 can of chopped tomatoes
1 can of beans (I used Great Northern)
2 cups of chicken broth
Brown the sausage like it was hamburger and add the onion and garlic and saute until onion is transparent.
Add everything else and simmer for 15 minutes. It's high in fiber, low in calories. Sometimes I add chard. Sometimes I double the chicken broth and add whole wheat pasta. I always add some sort of heat--a squirt of hot sauce or a diced serrano pepper.
Whooooop! Go Sar and the weight blogging begins.
Also, I'm sure you're very, very much aware of this. But, I too was put in the 'hit by a truck' category for those shots, and pill form of narcotics were probably nothing compared to you lovely constipation, but it was brutal.
My Onc's put me the last few chemos on the 'patch.' AM has been on it several times too I think. It might just be something to throw out there to your onc. Constipation and bone pain goes way down, and spirits tend to go... haha. way up. It's a pretty hard core narcotic - but you're a pretty hard core girl.
Thinking of you constantly Sarah. Much, much love to you, L, and all the fur babes.
Bekah
Well, I was going to post a 100-page essay on the Freemasons; but I seem to have misplaced those nice little pills I'd bought at the street corner, I'll just stick with wishing you the best. ;^)
I am very happy that you are still around + doing better.
Thinking of you, Sarah! So glad that the reduction in dosage made you feel a lot better.
Love,
TOG
How you doing, cookie? Love you!
Hi There! I found your blog link on the lymphoma.org message boards. I was reading a post of yours where you are discussing how much longer you have to live. I must say you sound like a strong and admirable woman! We just found out that my Mom may have lymphoma. It was just detected in a CT Scan on Friday. So we are in the early stages and really have no idea what we are dealing with yet. ANYWAYS, I see here that you are going to be doing some weight loss. I thought you may be interested in checking out my blog as I have lost over 140 lbs (half of myself) in the last year. I did it using Weight Watchers Online and exercising. You should check it out. I've journalled my entire weight loss journey, and the progress pictures are just awesome! www.gottagetshrunk.blogspot.com
Good Luck to you with your treatment.
I came by from somewhere else, and got caught up in your story. I am hoping for the best for you, and above all, quality of life. You have the right attitude and great relationships,which are big plusses. Take care.
Sarah, You blew into my life on a whim from Florence and stayed with me for 6 years. We shared so much. I will always love you...the idealistic, stubborn girly girl. You made my lonely life so much fuller for a few short years as I was too incapacitated by fear to let anyone new into my life. Then, just as i came into my own you sensed that you were crowding me or had completed your mission and like an angel you left to make it on your own in this big big world. Life was almost never kind to you ('cepting Lorriane) but you took all the blows with a smile and dignity and an almost niave belief in the goodness of men to make the right choices (and showed such disappointment when they didn't). I had hoped that one day you would sit down and write about your crazy life...the rightful heir to the Auntie mame story, and share your experiences with the rest of the world. The world is much less brght without your tender loving smile and your cajoling to always do the right thing. There will never be anyone like you. Lorraine and I have been the luckiest people on earth to have shared you. You will sorely be missed. Fly away now and sleep tight my darling! Love always.. your Huey!
XO
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