Sunday, March 25, 2007 1:02 PM, CDT

Hello all,
Still fighting the exhaustion. And I’m getting pretty tired of it…get it?? Wow, I crack myself up! I think I’m coming down with a cold, which isn’t really helping. The impending cold has also put Greg on high alert and I think he’s considering calling the Surgeon General to find out what we should do. I try to point out that I’m going tomorrow morning to have my blood counts done and while I’m there I could maybe just start with a nurse in the practice instead of escalating the situation to the highest possible level.
Although I’m giving Greg a hard time, it is extremely important that I take my health seriously. I have to take my temperature every day and if I run a temp of 100.6 or higher, I need to either call the oncologist’s office or go to the Emergency Room. The real concern as my blood counts get low is a bacterial infection. If I run a temp, I would probably be placed on antibiotics, either orally or intravenously (and I wonder if they would give them to me via my port—how intriguing). So, even something as simple as a cold could complicate itself rather rapidly. And the complications could be extremely serious. But, what the heck, I love to give Greg a hard time anyway!
As I said, I’m going tomorrow to have my blood counts taken and my Mom asked what they’d do if the counts weren’t good. And to tell you the truth, I have absolutely no idea. Dr. Walsh spent an extensive amount of time on a Sunday afternoon explaining the chemo and all its side effects. He did mention what the procedure is if my counts are low but to be perfectly honest with you, I can’t remember; I’m on information overload. He mentioned the drug Procrit (which my mother pointed out now has black label warnings so she wants me to ask a ton of questions about it before I take it. And if any of you know me, you know I’m an expert in asking a ton of questions. How’s a million questions grab you?), and there’s also a shot they could give me. But I’ll take it as it comes and I’ll let you know.
I saw some old friends this weekend. I spent Friday afternoon with Melissa and it’s always fun to sit and talk to her. And two dear friends that I used to work with, Noreen and Ellen, came by the house yesterday. Noreen brought lunch and two of her boys; the kids had fun and Ellen and Noreen took care of me with some TLC and lots and lots of laughs. Ellen brought a care package of movies, popcorn and candy. So maybe if I talk about nausea in the next few days it’s because I’ve had too many Milk Duds and Good and Plenty’s!! But is there really such a thing as too much?? Thanks guys!
I also had the chance to spend Saturday night with my parents. Greg and Steven were away on an overnight trip to Battleship Cove (so glad I wasn’t there!), so I got a babysitter for the girls and went out with my parents. We went shopping and out to dinner. See, I just told you in the last post I wasn’t up for eating or shopping. I really had to dig deep to muster the strength, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices! J I’ve got spring fever and my wardrobe needed some bright colored short-sleeved shirts. I bet Greg would like to point out that I have plenty but what does he know about a girl and her wardrobe? Or a girl and her shoes for that matter!
I’ve talked about my neuropathy and how it affects my hands and feet but have I mentioned that I also can’t have anything cold to drink? Well, I can’t. I get pins and needles in my throat and it feels a little bit like it’s closing on me. It’s a strange feeling.
It’s so refreshing when you’re really, really thirsty to kick back a nice tall tepid glass of water! Thank goodness I love red wine because it doesn’t need to be chilled. While I can handle the tepid drinks, what I really miss is my ice cream. It’s my comfort food and when you can’t have it, you want it all the more. I’ll be eating more Ben and Jerry’s Heath Bar Crunch when this is all over than they can keep on the shelves!!
Just another note on my port because before Melissa took a peek at it on Friday, she thought it was outside my body. So if there are others of you that are picturing me with a plastic disk flapping in the wind under my collarbone, I’m letting you know that it’s all under my skin. A few of us have made the following observation: If any of your parents or grandparents had a pacemaker, it’s kind of like that. The port isn’t as big as a pacemaker but it’s totally under my skin. The nubbin I refer to is just the enormous, freakish lump it creates. The port feels a lot better; the area isn’t tender anymore but sometimes I can just feel it there under my skin…it’s weird!
Have a good one,
Love,
Kim