Saturday morning random thoughts

Happy long weekend everyone. My blog today is going to be an update and some random thoughts from over the past week.

Most importantly, I was able to get my second round of chemo yesterday. Yeah! My blood counts were excellent and I sailed through the long transfusion period with my sister at my side. One new and strange side effect, that I probably didn't notice last time, my eyes blurred during the Benadryl drip. It made reading my Chatelaine magazine difficult because the words jumped all over the page. Interesting.

I feel pretty good this morning. I'm religiously taking my anti-nauseau meds and knock on wood, they're working so far. Some slight chest pressure/heart burn started about 10 minutes ago. I can deal with that.

Another side effect, which I also experienced last time too, is the early morning waking (some would even call 3 a.m. the middle of the night). I suspect it's from the steroids the nurses give me to prevent an allergic reaction.

I got many compliments from the cancer clinic staff on my t-shirt from Margie with the slogan "I'm kickin' ovarian cancer's butt." That's how I felt yesterday too. I was bouncy and optimistic. I think some of the staff and other patients may have found that strange. Angie and I snacked on the smorgasboard of munchies she brought, my spirits were up and I received the medicine I needed to fight.

Oh, much to our suprise, I learned from my oncologist yesterday that I may have another round of chemotherapy before my surgery because his secretary still has to book it (why that hasn't already been started is beyond me). I was dissapointed by the news.

So I may have my next chemo on June 5, with surgery in early to mid July. Or I may have the operation in mid June, as originally planned. As scared as I am of the invasive surgery, at least it will allow the doctors to cut out the offending tumours (I envision Arnold Swartzeneggar saying that word - TOO muur) and remove the main organs that are the sources of the disease. But at least the chemo is working on shrinking the offending interlopers.

On a funny note, as I was losing my hair this week and my palms were completely covered in lost strands, I kept singing in my head "clap for the wolfman." Strange how the mind works during semi-tragic events.

Yet as anxious and scared as I was about the hair loss, it really is no big deal. I really don't care. I'm willing to show people, and I mostly put on head scarves and hats so as not to startle others. Go figure. Besides, I have my bald husband by my side and so we're just a couple of coneheads together. There will be four of us by the end of the day (ha!).

Kudos to Jodi for providing a post chemo meal for my family last night. What a huge relief. I came home to a crock pot of yummy smelling food - and I was even well enough to eat a bit. Thank you!

Friends, and all the big and small things they do to help, are a blessing. I don't know what I would do without you. I know I've requested this before, but it never hurts to be reminded to think of something in your life that is a blessing (even if it's the experience of a long weekend).

Until next time,
Tina