Friday, October 17, 2008

Big C Update

I miss my mommy & daddy! Well, with much regret, I let them go home yesterday. They'd put in a week on the front lines, and since this was their third (fourth?) Transplant Trip, including the harvesting, it was more than I had any right to expect. And Mom, Dad: I'm grateful for every minute.

I'm also grateful to my pals, who are already calling and emailing, checking in on me. I don't think I'll be driving for awhile so even though my needs are minimal, it's nice to know help is always available.

I'm doing pretty well, all things considered. I continue to be plagued by nausea and fatigue. I rediscovered some accupressure wrist bands I bought a long time ago. These happen to be "the original Sea-Band" but I'm sure there are generics that work just as well. Theres a sort of little button on each, and you position that in the middle of your inside wrist, sort of where your watchband buckle would be. I can only wear them for 3-4 hours at a stretch, but they really do provide good relief from the nausea. I'm alternating between the bands and the "lights out!" nausea Rx, which knocks me out for 2-3 hours.

The fatigue is going to continue, probably for 6-12 months, so I'm trying to find that balancing point between really making an effort to regain some stamina, and overdoing it, which would set me back. Just forcing myself to get up, get dressed, make my bed, all help me feel like I'm making progress, but there are some days when I just can't do it.

Follicle Follies: I guess I'm not done losing hair. Although it was shaved down to 1/4" or less, my "stubble" continues to fall out, so I'm in for a long bald spell, I guess. I think I had better start preparing myself to lose my eyebrows and eyelashes, too.

I received my Absentee Ballot yesterday! I have not missed voting since I turned 18 and I surely wasn't going to miss voting in this presidential election. Ironically, Cousin Sarah is in town today. I would'a gone to see her, but doggone it, my Sunday overalls are in the wash!

Once again, I will be voting for the anti-idiot platform. America, if you break my heart a third time, I don't know what I'll do.

5 comments:

Karen said...

I love those wrist bands! I get awful carsickness, but now I can go on road trips in comfort. :) Hang in there!!

Kathy from NJ said...

My beautiful cousin had chemo for one year after a mastectomy when she was in her late 30's. Her hair started growing back (peach fuzz) three months after the chemo ended. She wore a very hot itchy wig for approx 18 months because her very young daughter cried when she saw her mother without any hair.

La Cootina said...

Oh my gosh, Kathy, I can live with being bald forever if I have to, but I don't think I could have taken a year of chemo. Your cousin is a real trooper!

Kathy from NJ said...

Because she was so young (relatively speaking) and had two very young children she chose the most aggressive treatment available. She only got the chemo once a month and it put her out of commission for about a week each month. Her "chemo brain" lasted for approx a year after treatment was finished. It's been about 3 years since she completed her treatment and so far everything is fine. PS - Her son thought the bald head was "awesome."

Anonymous said...

Hi, Nancy...
Ask the doctor if you need a warm climate to recuperate in. You can have the boys bedrooms [pick one, heck pick both and sleep in each on alternate nights!] and you even have your own bathroom upstairs.

You can even bring le doggie!