Treatment No. 5

Today was a big day... Treatment No. 5!  I am so excited to only have one more to go and that will be three weeks from today.  When I started this journey, 6 chemo treatments over 18 weeks felt like such a daunting process. It has not been easy, but then again, I am making it through it beautifully so I have so very much to be thankful for.

Dad went with me to treatment today, his first chemo infusion experience.  We watched the bags of medicine go drip, drip, drip for 5 hours of infusion but really, the time goes by so quickly.  We were in a private procedure room today, with a hospital bed, a lounge chair for Dad and two TVs with Fox News playing the entire day. I had many visitors today to break up the day; Kyle, Katye and Greg.  Katye and Jenna made me their infamous treatment posters, which give me so much inspiration between treatments.  I keep them in my bathroom to remind me everyday how far I have come and how close I am to the finish line.

My visit with Dr. Meyering was encouraging, no big news, aside from we are reducing my dose of steroids for this treatment and next.  I have insomnia while I am on them, which isn't helping me get my rest to stay strong.  So I look forward for the half dose coming my way.  I have bad tummy aches during my sick days so the Dr. gave me a hopeful remedy that I will try out.

Tomorrow in the morning,  I have an Echocardiogram scheudled to check my heart.  Heart failure can be common during chemo and Herceptin treatments, so I look forward to getting the good news that my heart is pumping strong.  Then my Neulasta shot is in the late afternoon to keep my white blood cell counts up.

Saturday will be the start of my sick days and then I will be functioning somewhat normally by Wednesday and then almost completely back to normal by Friday of next week.  Wish me luck!  XXOO