I'm co-opting this blog to be my voice in communicating with friends and family about my health. If you want to see my suggestions for contacting me without causing me stress or adding to an already emotional roller coaster, see this page. To start at the beginning, see https://marybirds.blogspot.com/2019/03/testing-testing.html
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I'm starting to get the cycle figured out, with more energy at the end (and oddly, the beginning) of the chemo cycle. I was able to guide every day on the Weslaco Spring Chirp Birding Festival by assigning myself the easiest trips in terms of walking. It's good to be the queen! I also leaned on my co-leaders for extra help, so thanks to them I got through it - three straight long days - without getting over-tired. I even walked a mile and a half the day after the Spring Chirp between a little light birding and some overdue grocery shopping.
It was great to get out on Scarlet's boat two days (dolphins under the boat, pink Franklin's Gulls, Mangrove Warbler), and then visit the King Ranch with Jim Sinclair. We started the day with a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl near the gate, and then we got to go birding. A Tropical Parula put on a great show while the Northern Beardless Tyrannulets were less confiding. We ended the day with some migrant shorebirds on a playa or seasonal wetland. It was awesome!
I've remembered to get some Pepcid for the after-chemo acid attacks, and I don't need to buy any more comfort food since I didn't use much last month. I'm not looking forward to another couple days running to the doctors office for preliminary blood tests and another day sitting around all day hooked to an IV, but I want to get this whole treatment thing behind me. Soon.
My surgeon (Dr #6) called it when she said I was so sick from the cancer that the chemo might make me feel better. She didn't over sell that, but I have to say I'm feeling good - no nausea, vomiting, afternoon fever, or any of the other things plaguing me the last two years. I'm still sensitive to heat and humidity, and had one day I couldn't even walk a little without getting overheated. Yesterday doing my bird survey at the National Butterfly Center I felt like I could run ... that's new.
Bring it on! Chemo #3 this week.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Better Living Through Chemistry
I'm feeling so much better immediately post-chemo this round. I have been birding every day and walking a mile or more, where my limit last round even at the end of the cycle was more limited. I know I had some mental let down and stress (hard on the migranes) after the first treatment that was much more limited this time.
As previously mentioned I also got some additional post-treatment anti-nausea meds after discussions with Dr. 7. These are keeping me hungry and eating unlike last time when I struggled to eat 500-700 calories a day the first week. I'm still popping antacids the first few days since I forgot to buy any Pepcid, but I'll have them for next time. Even though I wasn't sick the anti-nausea meds evened things out.
I actually went to South Padre Island Sunday and saw a lot of people - more people than migrants I think! The non-human highlights were the continuing stunning adult male Varied Bunting at the SPI Birding and Nature Center, and the hybrid Baltimore x Bullock's Oriole. The trip tired me out and I came home early for a nap. This trip ended up knocking me out for a couple of days, but it was worth it. And somehow I pulled a bunch of muscles, but I can't recall doing anything physical at all!
Wednesday I did a couple hours work, but no walking. Thursday I got over to see the continuing Crimson-collared Grosbeak at Quinta Mazatlan, though the high humidity wilted me very quickly. Air conditioning is my best friend right now!
As previously mentioned I also got some additional post-treatment anti-nausea meds after discussions with Dr. 7. These are keeping me hungry and eating unlike last time when I struggled to eat 500-700 calories a day the first week. I'm still popping antacids the first few days since I forgot to buy any Pepcid, but I'll have them for next time. Even though I wasn't sick the anti-nausea meds evened things out.
I actually went to South Padre Island Sunday and saw a lot of people - more people than migrants I think! The non-human highlights were the continuing stunning adult male Varied Bunting at the SPI Birding and Nature Center, and the hybrid Baltimore x Bullock's Oriole. The trip tired me out and I came home early for a nap. This trip ended up knocking me out for a couple of days, but it was worth it. And somehow I pulled a bunch of muscles, but I can't recall doing anything physical at all!
Wednesday I did a couple hours work, but no walking. Thursday I got over to see the continuing Crimson-collared Grosbeak at Quinta Mazatlan, though the high humidity wilted me very quickly. Air conditioning is my best friend right now!
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Chemo #2, same s**t different day
Just a brief reminder if you see me in the field, please don't touch me - I bruise easily and have very low disease resistance. I have been poked full of holes. We can bump elbows but that's about it. Thank you!
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After my very upbeat appointment with Dr. #7 (she who shall remain nameless) I had a good nights sleep. I get to chemo in a GREAT mood ready to do battle with these tumors and sign in at the desk, 15 minutes early for a 9 AM appointment. At thirty minutes after arrival I check with the receptionist - they aren't ready for me to pay the copay yet, there are still people ahead of me. At an hour I ask for a supervisor. First story is that finance doesn't have the numbers for them (what I owe for copay - same as last time! Come on!). Second story is that the nurse at Dr #7s office didn't get the change in meds delivered until right before 5 PM and the pharmacy is still working on it.
My point with the supervisor and anyone else who stopped to listen is that communication on all fronts was nonexistent. I offered to call finance and I offered to pick up the meds from the pharmacy (seriously? Holding me up for two Benadryl pills and a Pepcid instead of the IV versions? I could have run home and got these in the time I was sitting around in a VERY FULL (endless) waiting room). I said they could have asked me if I wanted to return in an hour or when they paged me. When I finally did pay, they gave me the wrong receipt - first I noticed the wrong amount, then the wrong name. This after having the lab nurse label my blood with someone elses sticker last time, good thing I noticed that major error before they were sent to the lab.
Once these issues were wrapped up I was quickly taken back to the infusion room. The people just ahead of me got the sunny bright room with the window, so I got the nearly end of the line with the dungeon like darkness. The worst part was the florescent light in the hall (these really bother me with the migranes) and of course the TV (cable but not much on daytime) was right in front of the light. Good thing I had a great book on my phone recommended by my niece Kristin. It's now 1.5 hours since I arrived. The book was the highlight of my entertainment.
The nurses figure out that I don't have a port (ok, they asked) and tried some soft sell on getting one. They proclaimed the two veins at my left elbow as in need of rest (3 weeks and 3 months break already) so they stick me in a new place on the wrist. I'm running out of left hand veins if they won't reuse them. They hook me up to some saline and bring me pills to start with (now 2 hours in). The rest of the premeds go quick since two were switched from IV to pill.
Even better news on the room is that the room is much quieter with fewer near neighbors, especially when the room next to me is vacant. The IV machines beep as they run dry and the constant beeping on all sides was annoying last time. Fewer neighbors, fewer beeps today - and less TV noise from the empty room.
.
It's easy to tell when they switch to the chemo drugs as the nurses put on gowns. The first chemo drug is hung at about 1 PM after a lunch of a turkey (I think) sandwich, chips and a sprite. I asked for a coke (feeling sleepy and I'm told they won't let me have dark drinks, though evidently more coffee would be possible. Oh well.).
This first chemo drug is the drug I reacted last time to so I asked the nurse to hang out for five minutes or until the drug hits me. I was a little worried with the Benadryl being converted from IV to pill. Fortunately no reaction (thank you Dr. #7) and it's just watch the bag go down over the next 3 hours. At 4 PM they flush the line and replace the bag with the next chemo bag. It runs over about 30 minutes (more like 40) and then they flush the line again. Five PM I'm still looking for my next appointment and find I have to go up front to the receptionist to get it. Ugh. I got the first appointment of the day for treatment 3 and learn that people come in up to an hour early to sign in first. I can see why given the delays at the front desk.
With the change in meds from IV to pill it's down to 6 hours on the IV (from 7 hours last time). Still, BORING. I did get some naps in - the dark room helped with that as did the Benadryl and the reduced noise.
Rick and May arrived as I walked out the front door, and we headed to dinner as I was a little hungry. We tried a new place and ate too much (at least I did). I stopped to pick up some post-treatment nausea prescription meds on the way home from dinner, love the drive through pharmacy! I need to learn not to go to sleep at 8 PM as I was up for good at 2 AM. Now it's time to go birding.
I'm impressed with how little negative impact I had last time from the chemo, and so far (knock on wood and thanks to better living through chemistry) even less this time. Onwards!
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After my very upbeat appointment with Dr. #7 (she who shall remain nameless) I had a good nights sleep. I get to chemo in a GREAT mood ready to do battle with these tumors and sign in at the desk, 15 minutes early for a 9 AM appointment. At thirty minutes after arrival I check with the receptionist - they aren't ready for me to pay the copay yet, there are still people ahead of me. At an hour I ask for a supervisor. First story is that finance doesn't have the numbers for them (what I owe for copay - same as last time! Come on!). Second story is that the nurse at Dr #7s office didn't get the change in meds delivered until right before 5 PM and the pharmacy is still working on it.
My point with the supervisor and anyone else who stopped to listen is that communication on all fronts was nonexistent. I offered to call finance and I offered to pick up the meds from the pharmacy (seriously? Holding me up for two Benadryl pills and a Pepcid instead of the IV versions? I could have run home and got these in the time I was sitting around in a VERY FULL (endless) waiting room). I said they could have asked me if I wanted to return in an hour or when they paged me. When I finally did pay, they gave me the wrong receipt - first I noticed the wrong amount, then the wrong name. This after having the lab nurse label my blood with someone elses sticker last time, good thing I noticed that major error before they were sent to the lab.
Once these issues were wrapped up I was quickly taken back to the infusion room. The people just ahead of me got the sunny bright room with the window, so I got the nearly end of the line with the dungeon like darkness. The worst part was the florescent light in the hall (these really bother me with the migranes) and of course the TV (cable but not much on daytime) was right in front of the light. Good thing I had a great book on my phone recommended by my niece Kristin. It's now 1.5 hours since I arrived. The book was the highlight of my entertainment.
The nurses figure out that I don't have a port (ok, they asked) and tried some soft sell on getting one. They proclaimed the two veins at my left elbow as in need of rest (3 weeks and 3 months break already) so they stick me in a new place on the wrist. I'm running out of left hand veins if they won't reuse them. They hook me up to some saline and bring me pills to start with (now 2 hours in). The rest of the premeds go quick since two were switched from IV to pill.
Even better news on the room is that the room is much quieter with fewer near neighbors, especially when the room next to me is vacant. The IV machines beep as they run dry and the constant beeping on all sides was annoying last time. Fewer neighbors, fewer beeps today - and less TV noise from the empty room.
.
It's easy to tell when they switch to the chemo drugs as the nurses put on gowns. The first chemo drug is hung at about 1 PM after a lunch of a turkey (I think) sandwich, chips and a sprite. I asked for a coke (feeling sleepy and I'm told they won't let me have dark drinks, though evidently more coffee would be possible. Oh well.).
This first chemo drug is the drug I reacted last time to so I asked the nurse to hang out for five minutes or until the drug hits me. I was a little worried with the Benadryl being converted from IV to pill. Fortunately no reaction (thank you Dr. #7) and it's just watch the bag go down over the next 3 hours. At 4 PM they flush the line and replace the bag with the next chemo bag. It runs over about 30 minutes (more like 40) and then they flush the line again. Five PM I'm still looking for my next appointment and find I have to go up front to the receptionist to get it. Ugh. I got the first appointment of the day for treatment 3 and learn that people come in up to an hour early to sign in first. I can see why given the delays at the front desk.
With the change in meds from IV to pill it's down to 6 hours on the IV (from 7 hours last time). Still, BORING. I did get some naps in - the dark room helped with that as did the Benadryl and the reduced noise.
Rick and May arrived as I walked out the front door, and we headed to dinner as I was a little hungry. We tried a new place and ate too much (at least I did). I stopped to pick up some post-treatment nausea prescription meds on the way home from dinner, love the drive through pharmacy! I need to learn not to go to sleep at 8 PM as I was up for good at 2 AM. Now it's time to go birding.
I'm impressed with how little negative impact I had last time from the chemo, and so far (knock on wood and thanks to better living through chemistry) even less this time. Onwards!
Friday, April 12, 2019
Half by Half - Resting Phase week 3
I remember in elementary school having trouble understanding that if you go half way to a destination, and half the remaining distance, and repeat forever you will never get to your destination. It seemed to me when you got there - usually by means of an imaginary giant step - you were there. The lesson Is being made by my hair. Every time I brush my hair half the remaining hair comes out on the brush. It would be easy to not brush it except for the mats that keep developing at the base of my skull. I'd say I'm down to 2% of my hair or less now. It feels so odd to have my hair not hitting me in the back. Well, it's gone. All I have left are wisps.
The highlight of the week was going to see the Elf Owls at Bentsen, returning to their traditional nest site. The female stuck her head out of the nest about sunset and later the male came in and briefly paused at the entrance to the nest. It was quite a site! The birders and photographers were well behaved which was much appreciated.
I also got a last tour of Esteros back trails with Rick and May Snider before their impending departure. We saw a lot of birds including some county year birds for me. A highlight was seeing Javier DeLeon with Bill Clark and Billy Snider checking on the Harris's Hawks.
I really like Dr #7. My report of "no big deal" about chemo treatment 1 was met with "we can do better". So I've got after treatment pills to pick up. Wish they'd been done yesterday but the pharmacy didn't have one in stock.
And now it's back to poison the tumors again. Seven hours on an IV but starting earlier. I'm hoping for a smooth session without an allergic reaction this time! I'm ready to be terrified, bored, sleepy, and stir crazy all at the same time. Got to love drugs, a tether and bad cable. If it works it's worth it.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Hair yesterday, gone today. Resting phase, week 2.
Well. There's nothing like shedding huge hunks of hair. Huge hunks of LONG hair. I knew going in that one of the most visible field marks of a person undergoing chemo is hair loss. One of the drugs I'm on has hair loss as a side effect and one doesn't. The odds were good that I'd lose my hair. I considered donating it to one of those hair for wigs places, but inertia won out. Yesterday I pulled out a hair brush and it pulled out my hair.
As background, I last had my hair cut when I was young (I was so young I wasn't birding yet). My mother took me in for a hair cut without telling my father. After work I greeted him at the door when he came home and he cried. I'd never seen him cry before. My dad cried because my hair was short. This was the start of the great bangs war. I hated bangs. I never cut my hair again. Trim the ends? Sure. But not cut. And that was a lot of years ago. I'm used to having long hair - though every summer as a kid I'd threaten to get a buzz cut. Long hair is so hot! Now's my chance, LOL!
Don't get me wrong, I still have some hair today but it's a lot thinner. And today it's a lot less important, though yesterday it was surprise.
Of all the potential side effects of the chemo drugs, hair loss is a social inconvenience at worst. It will most likely grow back once I've defeated this cancer so it's just a short term oddity. But it was still shocking to see all that hair coming out. And no, I don't plan to do wigs or turbins or the like, but a sun hat will be a requirement when I go out. And I hope to avoid as many of those other side effects as possible. The list is horrific.
I've been feeling pretty good, I can walk a half a mile but I'm puffing at the end (middle?) of it. My temperature seems to have stabilized in a more normal range and I even have appetite! One night this week I woke up and ate another meal because I was HUNGRY. That's so much better than forcing myself to eat every single bite. And thanks to KR and SH I have a box of protein drinks for after the next treatment, hoping that will help keep my energy up. I've gotten practice at chugging liquids without tasting them, like CT contrast. All these survival skills I'm picking up, LOL!
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Reminder -
If you want to see my suggestions for contacting me without causing me stress or adding to an already emotional roller coaster, see this page. To start at the beginning, see https://marybirds.blogspot.com/2019/03/testing-testing.html.
As background, I last had my hair cut when I was young (I was so young I wasn't birding yet). My mother took me in for a hair cut without telling my father. After work I greeted him at the door when he came home and he cried. I'd never seen him cry before. My dad cried because my hair was short. This was the start of the great bangs war. I hated bangs. I never cut my hair again. Trim the ends? Sure. But not cut. And that was a lot of years ago. I'm used to having long hair - though every summer as a kid I'd threaten to get a buzz cut. Long hair is so hot! Now's my chance, LOL!
Don't get me wrong, I still have some hair today but it's a lot thinner. And today it's a lot less important, though yesterday it was surprise.
Of all the potential side effects of the chemo drugs, hair loss is a social inconvenience at worst. It will most likely grow back once I've defeated this cancer so it's just a short term oddity. But it was still shocking to see all that hair coming out. And no, I don't plan to do wigs or turbins or the like, but a sun hat will be a requirement when I go out. And I hope to avoid as many of those other side effects as possible. The list is horrific.
I've been feeling pretty good, I can walk a half a mile but I'm puffing at the end (middle?) of it. My temperature seems to have stabilized in a more normal range and I even have appetite! One night this week I woke up and ate another meal because I was HUNGRY. That's so much better than forcing myself to eat every single bite. And thanks to KR and SH I have a box of protein drinks for after the next treatment, hoping that will help keep my energy up. I've gotten practice at chugging liquids without tasting them, like CT contrast. All these survival skills I'm picking up, LOL!
__________________________
Reminder -
If you want to see my suggestions for contacting me without causing me stress or adding to an already emotional roller coaster, see this page. To start at the beginning, see https://marybirds.blogspot.com/2019/03/testing-testing.html.
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