Days following the first treatment

On Friday, the day after my first chemo treatment, I woke up feeling great. Well, relatively great. Not knowing what to expect, it definitely didn't feel like I had just had chemotherapy the day before. I had a light breakfast of yogurt and toast and relaxed for a while. We had to go back to Blue Ridge Cancer Care later that afternoon for a shot of Neulasta to boost my blood count and an IV of Embrel to keep the anti-nausea meds flowing. I got in bed mid-day for a short nap, the only problem with that was that once that happened, the thought of getting up to go back to "that place" was hard but after a little procrastinating, I got through it. Let's just say, the Neulasta shot is proposed as a "little shot right under the skin" but what they don't say is that it HURTS and BURNS like nobody's business. Seriously. My whole upper arm was on fire. I was very thankful for the port at this time. This visit to the BRCC only took about a half hour so it wasn't too bad other than the freakin shot. So we were homebound again! Later that night I did notice some moderate back and neck pain, most likely from the shot which can cause bone pain. I took some ibuprofen for it before bed.

On a lighter note... my aunt Dorothy had created this care basket for me during my treatments. She said everytime that I have to go for a treatment or feel bad, I can open a package! It's like Christmas!!! Woo!!!  I felt so bad on Thursday with the migraine after treatment, I didn't open it... BUT I took advantage of it today! And my first present was...

...Fuzzy, pink socks! I love socks! I haven't taken them off since! :) I'm loving the idea of the care basket. *hint, hint* to anyone who has other folks who need a little love and attention (not talking about me here) but this is a GREAT idea for people in your life! I feel very special and pampered anytime I go to the basket. :)

On Saturday I felt pretty crummy. I think this is to be expected from what I've talked to others about. The third day seems to exist to make you feel rough. I didn't feel like eating, just the mention  of food made me feel ill. I took a phenogren for good measure. Mom and I did manage a few short walks to "the curve" and back throughout the day, a short distance past our driveway - just long enough for me to stretch my legs and get fresh air. I had a talk with a friend who had been through the same treatments, Mary, and that was very encouraging. The exhaustion had started to set in and I took a TWO HOUR nap! Mom couldn't really understand how I felt until I said, my arms are just so heavy they feel hard to lift. I mean, it's not like that all the time but it was at that moment, and she seemed to understand it then.

Sunday was a better day. I still felt tired but the nausea wasn't as strong as the other day. I don't know if it is the treatment or a result of the week in the hospital and then the week on the couch after the chest tube incident but I STILL have no attention span. I would love to be able to read a book or watch a movie or even a tv show without getting antsy or falling asleep! Either extreme! It was a rainy day with all of us stuck in the house together. My friend Lynn, came over for a visit and we had a good chat. But I could feel myself starting to drift off after she'd been here about an hour. Finally I had to excuse myself for a nap. I felt like an 80 year old woman! Except I don't think even my Grandma does that. Lol. Anyways, after about an hour nap I felt a bit refreshed. I played a game of rummy with dad, we've learned how to play cards again. :) Then my friend Sabrina called to go see her house down the road, it was good to get out of the house a few minutes and do that. Right before bed I felt the severe pain in my back and neck starting again... it was worse than before since when dad tried to hug me I actually cried out in pain. I took a Loritab and laid down in bed. I don't know how long the bone pain goes on but I hope not much longer.