Thanks for the kind words about my "new hair". It surely makes a difference in how I feel. It lifted my spirits immediately. Now people will see me again and not the cancer.
I am feeling pretty good today. Yesterday was a "funky" day for some reason. I awoke around 1:30 in the morning with screaming pain and I was shaking was the inside out. I worked all day at getting warm and finally had to retreat to bed with heating pads to get that accomplished. I didn't have a fever so we think it was possibly one of the chemo mediations finally leaving my system. Today was a much better day.
Tomorrow I go back to the hospital to have the biliary drain removed. I am not looking forward to going back to the hospital but am looking forward to having this drain out of my side. It has been a "real" pain. I haven't been able to lift anything over 15 pounds and driving was uncomfortable because the seatbelt went right over the drain. So it is time for this thing to disappear!
The principal from my school is coming to see me on Sunday. We are going to discuss a plan for my intermittent part-time return to work. The school district has agreed to allow me to work when I can on the "good days" between the chemo treatments. This will allow me to keep my employee status current so that my benefits stay in place. I am hoping to work half days both at school and from home. I can't work with children because of the high risk of infection when my white blood cell count is low. However, I can do clerical work and my boss is delighted to have me return in this capacity.
I am cleaning closets and tossing away "stuff". I do not want the clutter in my home or my life anymore. I am also toying with the idea of selling my house and moving to something smaller, all on one floor. I will have to see what the real estate agent thinks he can get for my house before I can make a decision. I am a little concerned about the cost of electric going up next year. They are saying it can triple. My house is all electric heat, though I do supplement with a gas fireplace.
The hardest part about moving is giving up my beautiful yard (and gardening) and leaving my wonderful neighbors who look out for me all of the time. The place I am looking at is a 55+ community. I wouldn't have to mow or shovel snow. There are no stairs - one story home with no basement.
Right now I am just in the "thinking" stages but plan to go look at two homes next week. My real estate agent will meet with me and then I need to meet with the bank. If I can get fair market value for my house, I could pay for the new house and pay off my oustanding debt and be slightly better off financially than I am right now.
I just don't know if I can be happy in such a controlled environment. I will really have to think this through.
Next week I need to grocery shop to make sure I have lots of beverages, soups, and easy to heat foods in the house for the "not so good" week after chemo. My next treatment is April 9th. If this time goes like the rest I the side effects will probably hit me Sunday or Monday and then I count forward 6 days. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING THROUGH THIS AGAIN. After this treatment there are only five more. My treatments will take me up to the end of August. What happens from there depends on what the scans and bloodwork show.
In May, Michael will be away for a week in Mexico. It just happens to be the bad week after chemo. We talked about it and I told him to go diving. I am in bed sleeping for most of that time and am not very good company. He has taken care of me non-stop since January and I want him to have this break. So I will be calling on others to step up and help with my care during that time.
It's actually sort of funny that at the very time you want to be left alone the doctors insist that you can't be alone. There are just too many things that can go wrong during that time. So far I have not had any "allergic" reactions to the chemo but I am told that can happen at any stage of the game and that is why I have access to the doctors 24/7.
For the most part I just go on living my life and don't give much thought to the cancer. Soon it will not be a part of my life.
I spend lots of time near the window where I can watch these crazy squirrels playing in the yard and I bird watch daily. It seems that each day there is a new bird hanging out in the backyard. I even had a rather large hawk hanging out Sunday and Monday. Several days I have managed to walk a half mile.....then have to nap. I am looking forward to warm days when I get outside to rake and begin the spring clean-up in my yard. Michael is going to mulch for me and we hope to get that done before he leaves in May.
Also paid a visit to Rita's this week. It just happened to be "on the way" as we returned from the cancer center. Chocolate Chip Mint.....mmmmmm. Now I have to tell you, it took me from Monday until this evening to finish a small cup so I am not feeling guilty at all!
So that is what's going on in my little corner of the world.
WARNING: I found a box of old pictures today. As soon as I can get them scanned I will post some of them. Tommy also gave me a few good ones too.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Doris
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