5 Minute Update and Another Good Day

Hi! I am doing really good today.  Yesterday was a good day as well.  Yesterday, I left the house at 7:15am and returned at 5:30pm.  It was a full day and it went pretty good!  I was running at about 80% energy level, but overall good.

With treatment comes changes in levels of energy, levels of fatigue, levels of initiative, levels of pain, levels of general interest, levels of taste.  (I like to try to put words to better define my experience.)  Energy level is the most long lasting side effect for me as time passes between treatments.  All other side effects go away for the most part.  I end up liking my coffee, but I do have aversions to some foods and drinks that never really leave me.  I probably have about 85% taste right now.  Foods just aren't what they usually are.

I decided that on my good days, I would exercise as much as possible.  I am concerned for muscle atrophy that can occur during my bad days.  This is me talking, not my doctor or anyone else.  So, for the last couple of nights when the sun goes down, I have walked the neighborhood.  I am not breaking a sweat or breaking records, but something is better than nothing.  I would love this to be a jog for a couple of miles.  Right now its walking about 1.25 miles. 

Also, I scheduled an outpatient surgery for August 16th to have my ovaries out.  This will permanently get rid of naturally produced estrogen.  Estrogen feeds my cancer- its got to go!  This means I will be in menopause.  I will not be able to take the medication to help with menopause because that is an estrogen provided therapy.  Obviously, I am not a candidate for that.  So in the weeks to come, I will be reading up on this.  It may not be too far from what I am experiencing now in terms of body temperature- really hot or cold.  And my moods, as I have mentioned before are random. LOL.  That may mean business as usual! 

Someone mentioned that I should check out the Doctor Roach Integrative Medicine Center in Midway, KY.  I made an appointment with Dr. Jim Roach on July 26th.  I am continuing my current program with my oncologist and chemotherapy, etc.  I am looking into this for any other advice that could complement my chemo and help my body fight with bigger guns.  What I like most about this place is the nutrition advice.  Well, I like the sounds of it.  If it doesn't include ice cream, cupcakes or fried chicken, I may hate it.  Just sayin'! 

I am continuously comforted in God's peace.  I pray for Jack and Chris to also experience this peace, not forced by what we think is peace, but by only what God can provide.  I am solid in my relationship with God, and He is my number one go-to for healing, peace, comfort.  Thank you for your prayers and your faith.  :)

Good day today! :):)

Hi. :) I have had a great day today!  Last week went downhill until Friday. Had great days Friday, Saturday, and today- Sunday. I have taken regular breaks in between activities. I have a busy week at work coming up so as long as I take my breaks I should be fine. :).

I was at church today and the message was from Luke 8...a woman who touched Jesus's robe and was healed from 12 years of bleeding. She was not an interruption for him to go heal someone else.  She was His daughter and took time for her. None of us are an interruption to the work of God, and no issue or problem is more important than someone else's. He has time for all of us and He doesn't have to be a last resort, He is always at work in our lives. Thanks for letting me share that, as it is so comforting to me to know that not just me but all of us are cared for by Him.

I am so thankful for the good and bad days. I will remind myself of this on the bad days. :). I am getting the hang of this for now. Lol!

I will write more sooner than later. Xoxo. Amanda

Happy Fourth of July!

This weekend has been filled with highs and lows. I tried to get a pedicure and became dizzy, lost probably 95% vision and had to call Chris to pick me up. The next morning I was fine and successfully accomplished it. I have been out socializing a few hours here and there but most hours have been spent on couch and in bed.

I cannot fight the rhythms of treatment. They are stronger than me. Even if I feel good (normally I would run 100 errands, go to the grocery 3x, and do 100 more things), I must hold myself back to reserve my energy. It's very very hard for me to do that.

On Thursday I was feeling frustrated. Today I am helping myself work thru this and remembering to not fight it. Enjoy the good moments and lay down in the bad moments. I am feeling very tired at the moment where my levels feel like they have dipped again.

Still  no sign of rash. Yay. I feel incredibly blessed for my friends and family and work friends who are all there for me for anything. I mean really blessed. God is in this with us. Love you all.

Happy Fourth of July!!! :) xoxoxo

Blah. (Just made myself laugh with this title)

Chemotherapy sucks. I did fine getting treatment on Monday, even though I got stuck 4x before we got going. The inside of my right arm looks like a total wreck. So long sleeve shirts for me. I did well over last couple of days. Today is not so good. It's just a bad day. I don't want to move, don't want to do anything. My rhythm of treatments are not in line with Summer fun. It's interfering with the Fourth of July weekend. We decided to not travel to see my husband's family.

It's here...the down kind of day. Physically, I am experiencing muscle aches and just that flu like feeling that you hear about with chemo.  The physical downess can have an effect on my mental state sometimes, like today. I want my hair back. I want to be in the sun. I want my energy back. I want to run the roads working.  I want to open the sunroof and sing in my car.  I want to be able to drink my coffee, etc etc. I am so frustrated!

Bottom line, the medicine is making me better. This is temporary. I have to get past this to get well. I need to stop complaining and rest up. There will be better days ahead.

Chemo #2 is upon me

Hi. I have chemo treatment#2 (tomorrow as of now) on Monday 6/27. I get blood work done at 8am, meet with Dr Harper at 8:45am and go into treatment directly after.  I will probably be there til 1:30-2pm. I took steroids today getting ready for it and ate a great meal tonight cooked by my brother in law. He is always ready to put anything on the grill. :). I am doing well. I am experiencing some hot flashes tonight. I am afraid to say that I think this will get more frequent as I remember the last time. I am always in anticipation of the treatment. So hopefully I will sleep ok. My cough is still with me, but it is different.  I will ask about this with my doctor tomorrow. I know the treatments are working so I really believe there is no way it could be growing or spreading. Maybe it's just holes left in my bronchial tubes from where the nodes have gone down in swelling. I'll take that! :) xoxoxo. God is my refuge and my foundation. So thankful to have not just a rock but the one and only Great I Am's rock beneath me. :). I'll report how this one goes. Lots of love, hugs and kisses.

Movie of Pics- Turn your sound on

 

Hi, so I have been wanting to post pics for you, so I created a little Movie on my iPhone.  Threw some things together for you.  Gloves on was first day of treatment.  Other shots of me are in my new hair pieces. :) I am doing well this week.  Almost 100%.  I am dealing with my hair gone much easier the second time around.  :)  That's your prayers working. :) XOXOXO

 

Click here for YouTube link if you can't view below. 

 

Today- It gets real.

Hi,
You will be happy to know that I went to Chicago again this past weekend and had a great weekend!  I feel pretty close to 100%.  The side effects have let up quite a bit this week.  The only ones that are present are that taste is a little off, my nose layers are stripped so its pretty bloody most of the time, only a touch of muscle pain from time to time, other issues where I have to stay close to a restroom, and the big one right now...my hair is officially coming out.  Its not falling out of my head yet, but if I tug on 10 strands, those 10 strands come out. 

So, I decided that today I must be a big girl.  I am going to shave my head.  I am mad about it.  Mainly because a wig can be weird and uncomfortable.  So, I am going to try to find some cool ways to do scarves and such this time.  And it screams "she is sick".  I know I am sick but I don't want my body screaming it at people.  I want to live normal.  Again, this is the fight in my head.

I made an appointment with my hair person, Tiny, at 6:30pm at his shop. This will be difficult for both of us.  The first time I went to him is when my hair just started growing back in October 2012 and he highlighted it for me.  His mom passed away from breast cancer.  We often talk about his mom, laugh, joke, talk about how my hair has grown back so healthy.  We have been good for each other.  But today will be much different. 

Last time, Barb, my Mom, Holly and I played "Eye of the Tiger" while shaving my head in my kitchen.  I may be playing it all day today in the car. 

I just ate a Sprinkles cupcake, lemon.  That makes me happy. :) The fruit ones are much better than the others, I think.

So, today it gets real.