This turned out to be a very hard week. I will have to write about it a bit later when all my thoughts have been worked out. Sorry, but I have to think things out. The emotional affects the physical and vice-versa. The first part of the week was hard emotionally. The rest was hard physically.

I went in for my Neulasta shot on Monday, about which I have already written copiously. Neulasta appears to have a debilitating effect before its benefits kick in. I spent most of the week in bed, often in tears for no apparent reason. Slept through a lot of it. Had a moderate temperature all week, hovering between normal (36.5C) and 37.4C. Nothing major. The chemo instructions are to NOT take anything for a temperature. Since we cannot tell for sure that the temperature is due to Neulasta, I spent the week with the temperature and no relief.

The first time I took this drug, I spent 30 hours suffering from lower back spasms. I waited for them all week. There were small signs of them almost every day, but they passed quickly. As in one spasm then it was over. Things changed on Saturday night. Judy and Arlin brought some pizza over from the Magic Oven, one of the best and most expensive pizza houses in town. I spent most of Saturday in bed trying to regain my strength. I was not too successful. Around 9PM, my ribs around my liver started to hurt much as my lower back the previous month.

I went back to bed, took two Tylenol1s (T1s), rolled over on my left side and assumed the fetus position. This was the only position that provided some relief. I tried them all. I cried and cried. Devin came up to console me, and still I cried. It was very hard. I started to feel a bit better when the drugs finally decided to perform their designated task.  I barely slept the whole night. Woke up on the hour, took T1s every four or five hours. I have been pain free, since about 11AM when I took my last dose. This could be a good sign.

I shoveled the meager amount of snow we have had on Friday morning. More of a swept the snow away than actual shoveling. Cleaned the snow off the car, so Janet would not have to. She went to work, I went back to bed. Could not believe how exhausting shoveling a couple of inches of fluffy snow was. Slept trough to 12:30, and woke up only because I was very hungry. Warmed up some rice, then the phone started ringing. It was very bizarre. It had not rung the entire morning, but started doing so once I was awake.

Sharon Singer came over for a chat and a look see. I was in great shape. We had a wonderful time to be repeated soon, I hope. One of those rambling discussion I tend to have with a few of my friends.

Back to bed by 8PM. What a life.

The coming week has a few activities in it. I am seeing Dr. Kennedy, my surgeon on Monday, followed by Brain Fog on Tuesday, and Q-Gong on Wednesday.

That should keep me out of trouble.

That Neulasta sure does an amazing job with the white blood cells.

I had lots of energy all week, though it appeared to wane by mid afternoon. Took a lot of naps that appeared to help. Still end up in bed by around 9 every night. Strange new life.

Janet and I went out to buy a vacuum cleaner and came home with a 46″ Sony Bravia TV. What to do? It was on sale and hard to resist. Also upgraded our TV to HD to take advantage of the new TV. Nothing lie watching Dr Phil in HD. I jest. Never watch that pompous freak. Just an opinion. Don’t sue me. The picture quality is absolutely amazing. In spite of its size, it appears to take less room than the old CRT TV we have been watching for a few years.  I was surprised, though, that the quality of the stuff on the TV has not improved. Still the same old boring stuff. Life’s small toys.

And, yes, we did buy a vacuum. A Dyson. Hard to know what the right decision is. Miele, Bosch, Dyson, Hoover? One store wanted to sell me a Seba. Made in West Germany. Hospital grade filters. Live for a lifetime. $800. We had trouble enough adjusting to the $600 price tag of everyone else, let alone make the jump to $800.

Finally went to the movies. Our traditional Christmas day outing. Sherlock Holmes. Had a great time. Not the best movie in the world. What a load of fun though. All tied up neatly at the end in preparation for the sequel(s). If I understand this right, Robert Downey Jr is guaranteeing his future by making movies that end up in sequels. Iron Man, and now this. Clever lad.

Went to see the Dentist, who called my oncologist who basically said do not touch that guy. We are delaying the January chemo by a week to allow me to see the Dental Surgeon, with fewer risks. The surgeon was quite nice. Friendly, with one of those smiles that is well practiced, but not genuine. His nurse was very sympathetic to my plight and could not understand why I was quite cheerful. I told her about the amazing support network I am surrounded by, and what a great oncologist I have. The Dental Surgeons attitude changed considerably once he spoke with Dr. Hedley. Interesting how we need validation for some things. Anyways, I have to see the surgeon sometime betweem the 14th and 18th of January.

Dr Hedley’s nurse, Shahnaz called to make sure I am OK. How sweet is that?

Diana and kids came over on Christmas Eve. Diana even brought the meal. What fun. A very pleasant evening indeed.

Still have my head of hair. Thinner. Who can really tell though???

© 2010 I Have Cancer Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha