Week 2 – Taxol and Herceptin

Yeah!  Another week down, 10 to go.  Again, the treatment day was uneventful.  A lion joined me for the day, we hung out and caught up on each other’s lives.  I love that I get to use these treatment days to spend with friends and make the most of our time together.  I was also surrounded by my PEO sisters and their loving support.  Thanks to them I have a lovely Pashmina and warm fuzzy socks to brighten up the infusion room. 
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Thank you for the lovely Pashmina, It adds the pop of color needed.

My faithful lion that took notes for me during the visit.

This week was much like the first week, but the infusion time was reduced by 30 minutes.  I was feeling ok when I got home and had lunch.   Unfortunately, I learned a valuable lesson, do not sit on the couch after having lunch on infusion day.  I started to feel overwhelming fatigue.  By 3pm I got out and went for a good long walk and felt tremendously better.  Like the previous week, I only slept about 4 hours that night, and woke up on Wednesday feeling good.  I am learning that is the steroids talking. 


Wednesday I went to my first ever acupuncture appointment.  I am beginning to believe in mysticism.  If you recall, I was diagnosed on my mom’s birthday, I was able to attend Hamilton a year early in January on my dad’s birthday.  Well when I walked into the treatment room at the acupuncturist the only thing hanging on the wall was a sign that said “Live, Laugh, Love”.  This is the phrase that is on my dad’s tomb stone.  I still get chills thinking about it. 


The acupuncture was amazing.  I highly recommend it for what ails you.  I received the detox treatment which was needles in strategic points all over my body.  I then lay there for about 45 minutes.  Through out that time, I had my eyes closed and tried to empty my mind and just feel.  What I felt was points of pain intermittently in different parts of my body and then tingling sensations, culminating in an overall tingling sensation over my whole body.  Afterwards I was very relaxed and felt like I was floating the rest of the day.  Apparently, I am very receptive.  The good feeling carried over to Thursday as well. 


Thursdays are turning into my challenging days.  This is when I get the funky stomach and if I do not pay attention to ingesting food and water throughout the day I get lightheaded and feel like I will faint.  This week because I planned and made myself drink and eat at 2 – 3-hour intervals I was able to manage it and have a very fun productive day.  I friend invited me to attend a concert at the Kimmel Center to see the Danish Quartet.  It was an amazing concert.  I am so grateful I was asked and able to attend. 
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Stay tuned for the next Sign Up Genius.  The May treatment schedule was given to me, and I would be grateful for those that want to spend treatment days with me.