Chemo #11....Plus a Funny of the Day

So, I am laying here (literally) after having my 11th treatment today. I feel quite haggard to be very honest with you. After coming home I ended up sleeping for several hours. Then when I woke up I was so weak that I could barely lift my arms and legs. I also started suffering from nausea and acid reflux that makes all my pregnancies look like a picnic at the park.

I took all my medication - one to cover one symptom and then others to cover the side-effects of that pill and that goes on and on it seems. Prior to this I rarely took pills of any kind - even a Tylenol for a headache. Look at me now! Soon it will be over and the pills will hopefully be gone for good.

The next 3 days will be rough. I get my immunity booster shot tomorrow and it will take me out for at least 24 hours. Sunday or Monday I should be feeling better (hopefully).

This is my 2nd to the last one. So close to the end. I am so determined to get this done and over with. I want my life back.  :-)

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Blessings!
Andrea

P.S. Okay, I have a "Funny of the Day" for you..... My 11-year-old is a book-aholic. He reads every minute that he can. So, we were going to the store recently to get diapers and other things to prepare for my down week and my son asks, "Can I take my book in and read while we are walking around?" Yes, he was dead serious and for those of you who know him I am sure you are not surprised. I got such a kick out of this.

Chemo #5

Yesterday I received my fifth chemo treatment. I did pretty well until evening hit and then I became incredibly fatigued. It was also a rough night as I suffered a tremendous amount of acid reflux type stuff. Once I finally got that under control, I was able to sleep pretty well.

I woke up to find that 3 of my 4 children had climbed in bed with me. Thank goodness we have a king sized bed. I didn't mind. It just reminded me once again of the struggles they are having with all of this and their desire to be close and around their mom like things use to be. Although it is hard on me to see them struggle with this - it forces me to keep pressing on. I know that no matter what I should be on the downhill slide of my treatments. That is so refreshing in itself.

I am having some issues with my next treatment already. I will share those in my next post. It really is just a constant battle of the ups and downs of this process.

Hope all is well with each of you and that the blessings of God are abundantly yours.

~Andrea

Day 42: Is there another word for tired?

I feel like I have used all of the words that have the meaning of "tired" up and yet, I am still tired. I didn't post this last night as I went to bed so early. I am also still feeling a bit nauseated as well. I am really looking forward to that going away.

I still feel like I am in a very dark and isolated place. I realized today that I have not done anything creative in a while and that is probably why I am feeling so blah. My creativity is such an avenue of expression for me and I realize quickly that when I don't use my creativity for something, I start to get grumpy. My writing hasn't even worked. I have an account that I have to turn in an article each morning and I feel like I am barely getting through them.

I keep seeking God in this and I keep asking for His mercy - His relief in all of this. I have faith that He will answer....I just hope it is soon.

Day 8: First Chemo

Today marked the first day of chemo. When Jason dropped me off I had a flashback to when my mom use to drop me off for the first day of school. That same nervous feeling but having to be a big girl and make the walk by yourself into the building. Jason would have gone with me but we were trying to get all of the kids situated where they need to be. Something the Gressman  household is not use to as they are with me 90% of the time.

I was the first one in the office and so it gave me some ample time to read my bible. God just really spoke to me, reassured me that I was on the right path and showed me his mercy and love for the millionth time. You just have to love him. I will share more on His revelation to me later.

I went back to the chemo room and was told that it was going to take around 4 hours! I had no idea it would take that long. It then stretched into 6 hours. I had no idea being a patient would be a full time job!

The med's that they gave me did make me sleepy so I was able to take a couple of naps during that time. I cannot remember the last time I just sat in one spot and did nothing for that many hours.

I did meet a lovely lady today. She has Hodgkin's as well, is just slightly ahead of me in her staging, and a month ahead of me in treatments. Such a gift from God she was today. I was able to ask her so many questions. My treatment is very different than someone who has breast cancer or other types of cancer so it was just so nice to talk with someone who has what I have.

How I am Feeling:
Not going to lie to you, I am tired. Jason is home and is taking great care of me. I am excited to get my "helping hands" in place. I have received so many offers of help it has just been amazing. I am actually excited to have some of my friends over to just visit with.

Please pray that the chemo does what it is suppose to do and that not too many of my good cells are damaged in the process.

Thank you all for reading! I hope this finds you all happy and healthy.

Love you all!
Andrea