October 22, 2021

I want to say first, that I know so many of you were praying for me today. I could feel the warmth and strength of your love and prayers lifting me and carrying me into the world of the unknown.  I received a lot of text messages lifting me up and checking in with me and sharing the prayers that were being lifted.  To all of you – Thank you!  I am so GRATEFUL for the support that I am receiving from so many.  

Chemo day will go like this:  Check-in, labs, Physicians Asst/Doctor visit, chemo.  I did all of this and some additional tasks since it was my first day.  I also had to visit the scheduling team to get scheduled for my next 4 doses and weekly lab checks and to visit the pharmacist – or as I will lovingly call them – my new best friend.  The pharmacist provided me with so many anti-nausea drugs to PREVENT nausea and/or TREAT nausea.  My plan is to PREVENT!!!  Little did I know…. 

Chemo is nothing until you leave, but being administered the chemo doesn’t hurt and didn’t bother me.  Most of the people around me were laid out in their assigned chairs with their pillows and blankets sleeping.  But y’all know me so here I come walking into Chemo Day 1 with two bags full of stuff:  my blanket, supplements to show the PA, food – a banana, cut carrots, cauliflower, celery, peanut butter and ranch dressings, bars, and more snacks (you need options right?)  I also brought my computer to work and my iPad, and iPhone, course.  While others were sleeping I was working and listening to music on my phone.  Y’all know me… I hate to sit… I feel like I’m missing out on doing something.

Brandi was my nurse, at first, I think she was a bit annoyed that I was such a chatty one, but then she warmed up to me and we had a great time.  Brandi was kindly explaining all she was doing.  First, saline to make sure the port is doing its job, then an anti-nausea med (bless you my pharmacist and the doctor who prescribed it), then a steroid to also help with nausea, then my first chemo dose which is Cyclophosphamide or Cytoxan (or the C drug reference in the title), then more saline, then the Doxorubicin or Adriamycin (or the A drug referenced above) and while my new friend Brandi was getting my handy dandy Nulesta patch, which helps to my bones to generate white blood cells that the chemo destroys, she was also kind enough to allow me another bag of saline – which I gladly took.  But for those who have been down this path, or know of others who have they will tell you that the A drug is commonly referred to as “Red Devil” –  Why? You ask… because it turns your urine, tears, and sweat red after treatment.  

Please do not google these or the side effects because you will wish you hadn’t. TRUST ME ON THIS.  Most of these drugs have common side effects from nausea, vomiting, headaches, decreased white blood cell counts, fatigue or decreased red blood cell counts, constipation or diarrhea, muscle or joint pains, hair loss, mouth sores, etc.  Because I had learned about these I was prepared – not only did I have my handy supplies from the pharmacist but we have $70.00 of stuff from CVS to stop any of these other symptoms if needed.  Best to be prepared right? 

When I was finished with chemo I went home and tried to work for a few hours, however, by 4 pm, I was starting to get a headache which continued through the night and into Saturday.   About 5 pm or so, I started feeling SO nauseous, but thankfully I did not vomit (Y’all know what I’m talking about).  I was in bed, out of bed, head throbbing, stomach-turning, etc.  My wonderful husband, Mano, and son, Christian took turns sitting with me while I laid in bed while they were there to help if I got sick – again PRAISES – I never got sick.  I eventually tried going to the couch (nope) and then finally asked Mano and Christian to move the living room coffee table and I proceeded to lay on the floor and sleep (PRAISES again).  About midnight I was able to get up and get into bed.  

I did take some of the TREAT meds (Zofran) through the night and into Saturday as a precaution Mano has been diligently keeping a list of meds, symptoms, what I’ve eaten, etc.  So we will have data to show the doctors for next time.  

Saturday, I was tired and catnapped most of the day with my trusty babies keeping vigil, see the photo below.  I did manage to get up and go walk the dogs with Mano in the evening, chatted with some neighbors and Cory dropped me off some Japanese soup from Toyko – so dinner was covered.  Yeah!

Sunday, today – OBVIOUSLY I am feeling much better. I have called my mom, Pat, because today is her birthday and talked with my bestie, Tab, in Florida.  I cleaned the kitchen (y’all get it no one cleans as we do), I paid some bills, drank a cup of coffee, caught up on scheduling the million doctors appointments I have now, ate some toast with butter, had greens drink, a protein drink and will now go settle back to relax for a bit so I can work tomorrow.  

In closing – 

THANK YOU – to everyone who is praying for me – keep it up – it’s working!

PRAISES – that I was not sicker than I was.

GRATEFUL – for such skilled medical professionals guiding this path for me.

Love to all!

Xo,

Tracy