I feel normal again! Sorta.

AnacortesGirl
AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I feel normal again except for the pain in my hands and feet that have me back on hydrocodone.  And the bald head.  And the lack of energy.  And the daily meds.  And the lousy sleeping patterns.  And the hot flashes. And the inability to exercise or do any housework that puts my hands in water, around chemicals or any kind of rubbing motions.

But I feel great!  I can think again.  I have positive thoughts again.

Went in for my weekly visit/infusion and my blood work came back with WBC at 1.7 and RBC at 7.8.  Could barely talk to the onc because all I wanted to do was cry.  DH had to speak for me at times cause I just couldn't.  He canceled chemo for the week and will decide next week if I'm finished or if I'll complete the last 3 weeks.  Sent me off to the infusion center for 3 units of blood.  Got two units yesterday and will get one more today.

But the effect has been wonderful.  Didn't have near this much effect with the other 3 transfusions.  The nurse joked that I was getting blood from an 18 year old donor.  It sure feels like it was.  Last week was hell but now life is good again.  I have a week to heal and I'm not even going to worry about whether I get more chemo or not.  I've made it through the usual 24 weeks and maybe I'll make it through the last 3 to complete the trial.  Either way -- I can do it!

No real message here other than I wish I could buy a round of good days for the house.  Hand them out like chocolates.  It's so nice to have my mind back and my thoughts positive again.

  

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Comments

  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited March 2010

    yeah Christy..

    chocolates are good.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited March 2010

    SOOOO glad to hear your better-hang in there you can do this!!!

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  • ElaineD
    ElaineD Member Posts: 2,265
    edited March 2010

    Just wanted to say....well done, good for you! It's so empowering to read of people making the very best of things, under challenging situations. It makes such a welcome change from complaining/worrying posts . Keep it up-you're setting a great example to one and all.

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited March 2010

    Having your mind back and positive thoughts is a very big deal - so glad you're feeling better!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2010

    Great to hear! You will only get better and better!

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited March 2010

    Glad you're feeling better!   The whole world seems brighter when your body starts to heal.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited March 2010

    Chemo is tough...........glad you're doing better.

    Have some of that chocolate!

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited March 2010

    Come here and be strong-come here and fall apart we are here for you either way and certainly understand.

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  • bejuce
    bejuce Member Posts: 97
    edited March 2010

    You can do it! You will do it! Repeat this mantra over and over and over again...

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited March 2010

    Christy,

    So glad you are feeling better!  Chocolate just doesn't "hang out" in my house....it seems to disappear!

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  • lillian194020
    lillian194020 Member Posts: 105
    edited March 2010

    FANTASTIC!!  I'm happy that you're coming back to yourself.  I've had a couple of blood transfusions during this wild ride, and the difference afterward was amazing!  I actually had some energy.  Sounds like it did wonders for you and I wish you many, many more positive, upbeat times.

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  • Beverly11
    Beverly11 Member Posts: 443
    edited March 2010

    Christy - Keep plugging on.  One foot in front of another.  I just hope you keep getting stronger and stronger.  But, it takes a lot of time for some of us.  Exercise and optimum nutrition are so helpful.

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited March 2010

    Thanks to everyone for the good thoughts.  Yesterday I finally felt good enough to get out in the yard for a half hour or so.  Then I followed up with a very short walk (4 blocks??).  Small steps but it's in the right direction.  Feet don't hurt anymore and the pain in the fingers is almost gone. 

    Now that I've had a taste of chemo freedom I don't know if I want to go back to chemo jail.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited March 2010

    Christy.... So glad you are feeling better.  Being severely anemic really does knock the crap out of you.  Never got where you were, but is really hard to be positive when you can hardly move.  I can understand why the blood transfusion helped.

    We should have at least one more day of glorious weather, and if you live in Anacortes, you live in one of the most glorious places on the face of this earth in terms of scenery.  Can you look at the Spring bloom?  Are the tulip fields out yet, or perhaps daffodills in La Conner?  I could see Mt Baker from the ferry when I did the Chilly Hilly over the weekend.  All this should do wonders for the spirit.

    Not just the sights, but also the scents.  One bush in the Parsons Garden here in Seattle has the most amazing lemon scent.  Made sure I walked by and inhaled deeply on my walk last night.

    Good luck, and like me, chemo is almost over for you.  And then we will be in full spring. - Claire

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited March 2010

    Claire -

    This week has been wonderful.  I just woke up and feel tired but it's because I've been getting some much more exercise.  The last two days I was able to work in the yard a couple hours each. Nothing like I used -- a much slower pace -- but it sure felt good and gave me a chance to knock down some weeds before they became trees.

    The daffodills fields are in full bloom.  They predict the best times for the tulips are March 21 thru April 10.  Since April is the festival most of the bloom will be gone this year.  I planted some bulbs last fall that I don't think I'll ever be able to look at without thinking of them as "chemo bulbs".  I knew the bulbs would either be blooming or close to it when I finished chemo.  They are looking great!

    Baker has been gorgeous this year.  And I can't believe how many times we have been able to see Rainier from the high bridge.  I feel fotunate that the winter has been so mild -- the agonies of last winter and doing chemo at the same time were one of my fears.

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited March 2010

    OK - I guess I'm a sucker. I signed up for another week. I started chemo again.  But I feel so darn good that I think I can live for the week and make it through the next 3 weeks.  What it came down to is that this is my one real shot for finishing this trial and having no regrets.  I better go for it.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2010

    Christy - good for you! You really don't want to have any regrets with this - it is a one shot deal. And you have come through so much, a few more weeks will be nothing. Remember, you will start feeling good again in three little weeks....

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited March 2010

    My winter worries were a lot simpler.  Would I make it up the hill to Group Health?  Path is the same one as the picture that made the news worldwide a year ago....bus hanging over I5.  Yes, THAT hill, and with a shift car.  I have learned to time things so I don't get stuck at the lights.

    Great thing about Group Health location though is that I got a full view of the fresh snow on the Cascades yesterday.  They always give me the window seat.  So worth the climb to the top of Capitol Hill.

    So you don't worry, I am having friends take me to Taxol as I don't think safe to drive when full of benadryl.  No such problems with AC though.

    Anacortes Girl.....congrats on signing back up for Chemo.  Because the most important thing is to make it all the way through treatment.

    Thanks also for the tip on the tulips. Planning an expedition with two of my friends, and probably husband and son of one of them.  So we can do the easy route and actually see something!  Last year, we did that one month later.  I am more than fine for the 20 mile route, but unfortunately will need to skip the ale at the end.

    I may also do the (post) Tulip Pedal which is something like April 16th, but the 40 mile route.  That is always great fun, and then I load up with local Skagit Valley produce for the trip home.

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