Anemia

 Well.  I was so focused on my low sodium and white blood cell levels that I never looked at my lab results for hemoglobin.

WOW, have they dropped. 

When I saw my doctor last week, she was concerned enough to say that I might need a blood transfusion, if my dietary efforts aren't enough. She told me to really focus on upping iron-rich foods, again.

SO, on the way home from that appointment, I picked up some of the liquid iron supplement that I used to take when I was having really heavy periods, and was anemic.

I've been taking that every day since, and have also been focused on making meals that are high in iron.  

I ditched my menu plan for part of last week, and changed things up.  

I made a Brazilian style black bean soup with added spinach and lime juice, and OH MY GOODNESS was it delicious.  There is still a lot of it in the freezer, so I can have it for lunches.

Then, last night, I made a favorite Greek casserole, but with butterbeans (instead of chicken), rice, spinach, onion, lemon, and feta.  YUM!!!

Butterbeans are higher in iron than chicken.

I am also snacking on pumpkin seeds, and have had oatmeal with dried apricots for breakfast.  Both of those (pumpkin seeds and dried apricots) are good sources of iron, and there's a little in whole grain oats, too.

Prior to this focus, I HAD noticed that I was pretty pale, and that I was getting light headed when I stood up, and could hear my pulse in my head when everything was quiet.

Those can both be caused by anemia, but also dehydration.  

I try REALLY HARD to stay super hydrated, but I don't always succeed.  SO, I have re-focused on that as well, since the doctor mentioned it again, too.

The result is that I DO feel a bit better already.  I didn't get light headed yesterday upon standing, and I didn't notice the pulse sound last night, and yes, I was listening for it, because it had become disruptive to my sleep.

In the mirror this morning, I do not look as ghostly pale, either.

I will need to keep this up as long as I am on this chemo, and hopefully, will be able to stabilize my hemoglobin levels.

If not, there will be a transfusion.

In other news, it rained twice this past week!  Not very MUCH, but some is better than none!

It was 106F yesterday, before the storm, and will be 102F today, with high humidity, thanks to the rain.... YUCK.   

This is the latest into September that this area has EVER had this much intense heat, and there are still several days of it in the forecast ahead.  

However, they ARE saying that there will be a cold front on Autumn Equinox, as if the weather is paying attention, and realizes that it's time to get over it being a blast furnace down here.

I will believe it when I feel it, as I have said before.

Despite the heat, though, I am determined to grill chicken for dinner.  Tomorrow, there will be red meat and greens! 

Back to the chemo chair this coming week to start round #3.  Wish me luck with everything, and have a great week! 

Improvement

 The lowered dose of the chemo seems to have helped tremendously.  I have not had one bout of diarrhea (or abdominal cramping) yet!

Treatment appointment went fine, neulasta appointment went fine, Pepcid and Clairtin are keeping the neulasta side effects at a low roar.  I'm tired, but totally was able to do all of my chores yesterday, and not need a nap!  Neulasta gives me a headache and chills, but the bone pain isn't a factor, which is great.

It's been SO much better than the first round.

I've had a lot of insomnia, though, which I have always gone through from time to time, so it may just be my "usual."

My only concern about the lowered chemo dose is that it's no longer working, as happened when we lowered the dose of the chemo pill I was on previously.

All we can do is wait for my scan, which is scheduled for Oct. 2nd.

I see my oncologist for a check in this coming Wednesday, and I can ask her if there is a concern that it may not be enough chemo to be effective.

Anyway. 

Dave got the second part of his long-delayed dental cleaning done this past week, and has now purchased a "Water Pik" to use every night.  

Since he refuses to floss, this is the next best thing, and I am SO GLAD he is finally taking care of his teeth and gums!

Since we are unable to travel, due to my treatment regime, we are spending some of the money we saved up on some home improvements.

We had a non-slip coating applied to the front porch and back stoop, to reduce fall risk.  That happened this past week.

Next up will be insulating the floor, under the house - in the crawl space.

We will also be getting our duct work replaced.... but THAT is going on the home equity line of credit, as it is a much bigger expense in all, but will fold easily into the monthly payment we are already making (that was the expense for the window replacement project).

There is mold and moisture in the old duct work, and that is probably why we are always congested, and have itchy eyes.

The intense heat continues, and keeps us trapped indoors most of the time.  I am very grateful for our outings to the gym, and to do errands.

I also go outside every morning, first thing, and water the flower bed (which has very few flowers in it  this year, and which really shows lack of attention...but there's no way we've been able to keep up with tending it during this brutal summer), and refill the watering stations for birds and bugs.

The forecast shows that we might get another day or two of upper 90s at the end of the week, but that is seriously all the "relief" we can hope for right now.  Hopefully, the forecast will change as the week goes along.

We have no plans for Labor Day, as no one invited us to anything (as per usual), and, besides, my immune system is compromised anyway, so we would had to have said no.  

That is also why we didn't take the initiative to invite anyone over here, either. 
Not that any of our few friends would actually have come. 

We don't really have friends around here who we do stuff like that with anymore.  They've either moved away, or become estranged.

So, if you have plans, please have fun, and be safe!  

We got our traditional package of hot dogs, and chips and dip, but will be boiling the hot dogs, since it's too hot to use the grill outside.

Have a great week! 

Modifications

 I saw my oncologist on the day before I returned to the chemo chair last week.

She took note of my rather extensive digestive system side effects, and prescribed two additional medications to ease the symptoms, as well as ordered a lower dose of the chemo for the second round.

I had the first part of my two-part treatment on Wednesday, and, though I was there for SIX HOURS (for a 3 hour treatment), due to delays in the lab and pharmacy, all went well, and I have felt pretty well since.

Treatment night was mostly sleepless, but I know that's the norm, and is not unexpected.  Cold sweats and insomnia are the rule.

My hair was mostly all gone by the time I saw the doctor, too, and we shaved the rest of it off, because all that was left were whisps here and there, and it was a LOT uglier than a bald head.

I know it was hard for Dave to help me with this, but he was a trooper, and did most of the the job for me.

We got to the gym all three days last week, and plan to do the same this coming week.  I know, now, that my next Friday work out, after I receive the Neulasta injection, will be subdued, but I also know that I can still get some activity and exercise in, despite how the Neulasta makes me feel.

The addition of pepcid and clairtin really made a difference, so I will continue that, for sure.

In other news, there was one surviving baby wren, and it fledged on Friday!  I have named it Hope, and I really HOPE that it is out there somewhere, growing and thriving.

I chased the neighbors' cat away at least a dozen times on Friday, so there's that worry, but there is nothing to be done for it now.

It's been so quiet since the wrens left..... we had gotten used to a lot of bird activity and noise (the parent wrens making "angry bird" sounds to protect the nest), and now it's just.... over. 

The symbolism of it all, though, will never leave me.  The timing was immaculate, and I am SO glad that the extreme heat didn't kill ALL of the chicks.

We went from 5 eggs, to three tiny hatchlings, to two nestlings, to one surviving fledgling.... and it was so cool to be part of it all!

After a very brief respite from the heat a few days ago, we are back to over 100F every day for the foreseeable future.....this has been one of the worst summers on record for days over 100.  I really, sincerely, hate it. 

They are saying we will see 100F every day at least until the third week of September.

BUT, going to the gym really helps with my cabin fever.  To be around people, even if we don't really interact, and to get my walks in, even if it's on an indoor track, is MUCH better than just endlessly sitting at home, out of the sun and heat.

An added bonus to both the Wellness study that I did back in the spring, and now going to the gym consistently, is that I have lost ten pounds.  I needed to lose that weight, so it's not anything to be concerned about, and is not related to my treatment.

I feel a lot more comfortable in my skin than I did six months ago.  I still do a lot of the exercises I learned during the study, and have the added advantage now of access to the equipment of the gym.

I also know that I am a lot stronger, and can see and feel great muscle tone in areas where I had lost it from being too sedentary.

It also benefits my mental health, both as I mentioned above, AND by seeing the progress I have made.

Anyway, that's about all I have for you today.  I will be back in the chemo chair on Wednesday, then go in for my Neulasta on Thursday, then I get the week after next "off."

Have a lovely week! 

...sigh....

 Well, the chemo side effects really kicked in shortly after I posted last week.  

What had been a bit of mild digestive upset turned into painful cramping, and diarrhea multiple times per day and night.  It was not what I would call severe, like I had with the chemo pill during the winter, but definitely NOT NORMAL, and very uncomfortable/discomforting.

I was able to bring it under control, for the most part, using imodium and metamucil, but the cramping was still an issue.

SO--it has not been a fun week, to say the least.

My hair also started falling out heavily, so I got it cut short, and now can see my scalp through what's left of it.  My guess is that it will all be gone by the time I see my doctor on Tuesday.

I had not anticipated being bald again, but here we are.  None of the other treatments I have had for the past ten years have caused this level of hair loss.  Sigh.

It hurts my heart, and having to throw away expensive shampoo and conditioner for curly hair sucked, too...but I won't need it again for several years, so it had to go.

I go outside a few times a day and remove the loose hair, so it's not all over the house.  

Seeing the longer hair still in piles on the patio is a bit distressing, but it will eventually blow away.  That was why I got it cut short....I remember that it was easier to deal with falling out when it's short.

A dear friend in Michigan is sending me a box of scarves and what not, as I donated most of my scarves years ago.  I also got some bandannas. 

Thankfully, I don't have to go back to the chemo chair until Wednesday, and my guts seem to be better today.  So far.

Despite my tummy issues, we were able to go to the gym all three of our usual days, and, on Thursday, we finally got to the special exhibit at the art museum!  It was lovely.

The weather has continued to be extremely hot and dry, with daily highs over 100F.  Today will not be any different, in the long run, but this morning, it was 74, so the windows were open for a little while.

I have been putting out water for birds and bugs, and the wrens seem to be finding ample food for their two surviving nestlings!  

The babies are getting bigger, and louder!  At first, their tiny voices were just barely audible, but now, I can hear them even with the windows closed and music playing in the house.  It's so exciting, and fun, and heartening, to have them here!

I will be making a new-to-me recipe today for "Cafeteria noodles" with broccoli.  I don't remember cafeteria noodles from my school days, but apparently, they were a thing in the 90s.  It looks really comforting, and I need that however I can get it.

Have the best week you can, and I pledge to try to do the same! 

No prisoners!

 My dear, long time friend, Cathy, who passed away last year, said this when herself, or any of her tribe of friends, were facing health challenges.

I completed round one of Trodelvy chemo last week.  The treatment went well, and I have had only slight side effects from the chemo itself, so far.  That could change any minute, though.

The day after, I received my first Neulasta injection.  My chemo nurse counseled me in a method to fight the side effects of this injection, which, you may recall, was the ONE THING that made me call in sick during my first year of chemo.

He suggested taking over the counter pepcid, and clairtin, every day, for five days, to combat the intense flu like symptoms caused by the immune boosting injection.

So far, it has been helping!  It also seemed to reduce my steroid reaction, so that's a plus.

I have been very tired, and headachy, but I have been able to function.  Even went to the gym on Friday, though I did scale things back a bit, and took it easier than usual.

I have been trying to focus on hydration, have been avoiding my nightly glasses of wine, and have been resting when I need to.

Let's hope things stay at about this level, rather than getting worse, as we go along.

I am VERY grateful that I have no more appointments until the 25th, when I see my doctor ahead of starting round two.  During this break, I can focus on recovering from round one.

I am ALSO EXTREMELY GRATEFUL that I am no longer working full time during this process.  This is a new experience for me, and I love being free to just take care of myself, instead of having to fulfill the attendance obligations of my unreasonable former employer.

In other news, I am curious about the number of views my blog has been getting.   The numbers suddenly spiked last week!

Usually, I see an average of maybe 7 to 10 views per post, but now, looking back down the list of posts, there are 20, 30, or even more views.

Do any of my readers know why this might be?  YOU CAN LEAVE COMMENTS, you know!  *wink*

Maybe Blogger updated their tracking, or maybe, for whatever reason, people are suddenly interested in the journey of one cancer patient who lives far away from friends and family, and who keeps a blog to help them all stay informed, and to stay connected when things are good.

Writing one post a week for everyone is easier than updating people one at a time, HAHA!

The weather here has been insufferable, and there is no end in sight.

Every morning, I go out and fill watering dishes, and the bird bath, and we put out bird food.

Our wren babies have started to hatch, which is SUCH a miracle in this horrible weather.  I am enlivened, and cheered, by this magical event taking place right here.

This coming week, Dave has his follow up dentist appointment to get his permanent crown, and we will get to the gym, as per usual.  

No other pressures threaten our daily functioning, which is such a lovely feeling.

Here's hoping all of you (apparently there are a lot of you) have a wonderful week.

Community

 Our house guests are on the road, and our weekend was comfortable and successful!

I had no adverse reactions to my first part of cycle 1 of the new chemo, so was able to do all of the things I wanted to do, like making food for the guests, making sure of every possible comfort for them, cleaning, and going to the Pagan Pride event yesterday.

I have been to every one of these events since moving here, and it is a great pleasure to me to see the community growing by leaps and bounds....especially in OKLAHOMA.

The group I belong to was one of the sponsors, and though I wasn't able to extend any energy to volunteer, it was a pleasure to show up and support my new friends.

Dave did okay with the noise and crowds, but ultimately, he had enough, and we had to leave.  We DID get to see our friend perform, and I got to see some other friends here and there.

Didn't buy anything this year, though, other than a piece I had commissioned from an artist a few months ago that was pre-planned.

It has been extremely hot and dry here, and the grass is suddenly brown.  Which is good, in a way, because it's too hot to mow.

My treatment day last Wednesday was extremely long.  

We were at the clinic for something like 7 and 1/2 hours all together, because they have to do the first treatment very slowly.  

They do this, and they observe me the whole time, to be sure there isn't an immediate bad reaction.  I'm given a bell to ring, in case anything happens while a nurse isn't actively watching me.  

The first hour was spent waiting for a blood test result that has to be run before each infusion.  (There will be an hour wait at the beginning every time I go.  Whee. )

Anyway, the steroid sweats that night were the worst I have ever had, I think, though I DID make sure to tell my doctor's PA that the dose needed to be what it was previously.  

Even the reduced dose caused me to soak through three sets of pajamas, and my sheets and pillows.

I got very little sleep, so I was VERY grateful that our guests were able to delay their arrival, so I could mostly take it easy on Thursday.

After the steroids wore off, though, I actually have been feeling almost normal.  My mouth feels.... different..... more dry, and sensitive, so we will see how that goes.

Part 2 of cycle 1 is Wednesday, and it it only scheduled to be 3 hours, but we shall see.  The day after, I have to go back for the Neulasta injection, which is just a shot in the arm. 

(Neulasta was the ONE THING that made me feel really bad during my first year of chemo)

I am just as pleased as punch that I did not have any ill effects this weekend.   Things may change going forward, but, for today, I am grateful.

We plan to return to the gym tomorrow, and I don't have to be at the clinic until 1pm on Wednesday, so we can go on Wednesday, too!  

I am off to continue putting things back where they were, HAHA..... (taking stuff out of the closets, where it had to be stashed to make room for guests).

Have a great week! 

Respite

 This weekend, we have had a break from the intense heat.  It's been nice to be able to open the windows in the morning, yesterday and today.  

Our wrens' nest has 4 eggs now, and we have seen momma going into the nest, so it was NOT abandoned as we had thought over the past week! 

There were also two butterflies on the prairie phlox yesterday, which REALLY made me happy.  It's been so hot and dry the past couple of weeks, that we had not seen any pollinators of any kind anywhere in the yard.

The heat met an old record of 108F on Friday, with heat index (how the humidity makes it feel outside) of 113F.

But, then a front came through in the middle of the night (making ALL of my bones hurt), and we woke yesterday to 73F, the coolest morning in a long time!  

Dave got the front yard mowed yesterday, and will do the back today. 

We are both in the process of working through lists of chores to get ready for house guests to arrive next Friday.  Thankfully, they were able to change their plans when we found out that my chemo starts on Wednesday.

I will "attack" the guest room today.  It's become a sort of catch all since I stopped working from home a year ago this past week.  My retirement anniversary was July 31st! 

It's been really nice to not be on any kind of cancer drug for this little stretch of time.  My body needed this break, even if the cancer might be spreading faster at the moment.  
I still feel fine, other than some aches and pains, and we will be hitting the cancer HARD very soon.

Because of the less hot weather this weekend, I've been able to use the grill, so I made burgers last night, and have some new-to-us fish to try tonight.

Neither of us has ever had steelhead trout, and it was on sale, so we are trying it!

We both have multiple appointments this coming week.  Dave sees his cardiologist and the dentist (miracle of miracles), and I have chemo and my own 6 month dental appointment.

The super hot weather returns tomorrow.  Ugh. 

We never made it to the art museum last week, but the exhibit will be there for a while, so we will get there eventually.

Have a good week!