Random Things

There have been a few things that I've been meaning to write about but haven't found an easy way to incorporate into a post, so here's a random round up of things.

Post Chemo Day 9 - as expected, zero sleep until 4:30am.  Took the liberty to wrap presents from 11:00 to 1:30am.  Still not finished but huge dent made in the pile.  Clearly didn't make 5:30am workout but made the 11:00am workout.  Thank goodness for a relatively empty day.  I'm guessing I'm going to be up all of Christmas Eve night, which makes for great elf-ing.

Update on cyst from hell - Remember during Chemo Day 8 when I had that huge allergic reaction?  Well, in the middle of the 'crisis', my med oncologist (MO) came in to discuss, and before she left, I begged her to talk about the cyst.  "Wait, please, let's talk about the cyst!" I had an appointment with my dermatologist the next day and pleaded with her to help.  She told me to have him look at it, come up with a plan, and to have her paged to discuss.  So I did (he rolled his eyes).  He paged her and 'got permission' to drain it.  Honestly, so painful.  Also, so gross.  I was definitely the patient on an episode of 'Dr. Pimple Popper'.  But, it's drained and just stopped oozing into the dressing I've had to change a couple of times a day.  With a prescription topical, it's stayed clean (knock wood) and hopefully will heal up.  But since I'm on chemo, things take a long time to heal, so there's that.

Random gifts - Apologies if I haven't sent a thank you note - I've received few things without notes or info on the shipping insert.  Finally figured out who sent the radiation cream and deodorant - much appreciated for the next stage!  Still haven't figured out who sent the TCH laced cocktails but VERY fun to receive, and I am very much looking forward to diving into that sampler since alcohol and I have to part ways for the long foreseeable future.  Will pop one open after chemo ends.

Hair Loss - As of now, I'm hanging onto the last 30-35% of my hair.  Apparently you keep shedding for weeks after chemo and I'm just grateful this is happening in the winter.  Hats are okay to wear now.  I feel like I see tiny little wisps of hair growing in my part area (which would be welcome because things are scarce up there).  With the cold capping, your hair starts to grow back before chemo is done and let me tell you, I've been watching my scalp like a hawk.  My poor husband gets dragged into this analysis - "Wait, do you see that short hair?".  I hope to have some growth and then figure out how to make the new, short hair cohabitate with the longer, dead looking hair.  Sigh.  I figure it's going to be a year PFC (post final chemo) before I'm remotely happy with my hair.  I have a Pinterest page going of pixie cuts.  Sigh.  And I have Candace but she needs another adjustment.  Her lace cap is too big now because of the amount of hair I've lost and it needs to be adjusted.  It's an uphill battle.

Last chemos - I'm down to 2 more.  One on 12/18 and then Christmas Eve, 12/24.  I am hoping that my blood counts stay level so that I can get this done.  My daughters come home this weekend and will be joining me (at least in part) at my last chemos.  It's been nice to have 'shielded' them from the daily stuff as they have been off at college, immersed in their own lives.  But it will also be nice for them to see what I've been doing.  I hope they don't get too scared or upset.  My older daughter hates all medical things while my youngest (a possible pre-med major) will be all over it.  But it's different when the things that are happening are happening to your mom.  On Christmas Eve, if I get there as planned, I've decided to ring the bell.  I haven't heard one while I'm there but apparently everyone else has.  I've got to somehow acknowledge the end of this brutal part of the journey.  What better way to than on Christmas Eve.  xo J

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