It's Thursday!

The last chemo treatment was 2 weeks ago today, and the next one is a week away. All this week, I’ve been feeling pretty good, and eating well, and working full days. Today I was tired. No, more than tired; exhausted, as though I’d been up all night. My bed was calling to me as I got dressed for work, promising comfort and quiet. I thought that if I could just get to work and have some coffee, that I would just perk right up. Guess what? I was wrong again. I struggled through the morning, even after coffee and a couple of snacks. After a little rest and a little lunch, I was feeling much better and worked the whole day after all. But for a while there, the beast earned a few points.

In the last post, I mentioned that I have fluid in my lung. At times, it was very painful, especially when lying down. A couple of times, I had pain under my heart, I had stabbing pains when I tried to breathe, and it felt like my left lung was frozen in a vice grip. When I got up and moved around a little, all the pain vanished. It would be gone for days, but it sometimes came back at night. Maybe it’s my imagination, but it seems to be getting better now, even without treatment. (I really

don’t want to see Mr. Needle. That can only mean more trouble for me.) The only pain I’ve had in the last couple of days is the pain in my back whenever I sneeze, so I avoid that whenever possible. And then I swear when I can’t avoid the sneeze. (Is anyone surprised?)

Sometimes I just have to laugh at my “chemo brain” (It’s either laugh or cry, and crying ruins my make-up, sooo…) . One day last week, I was working on a project for my son, and I was trying to add 49 and 6. Couldn’t do it. I knew that I had been taught how to add numbers, and I knew that I was capable of adding these two. I also knew that I was never going to get the right total. I finally counted on my fingers. Yeah, laugh all you want to. Some days are just like that in Chemotown.

Thanks for being here. Every day, you all inspire me to keep moving.

Addendum: It's never smart to poke the bear, even inadvertantly. Thursday night was painful, thanks to the the fluid in my lung. I awoke in the middle of the night in pain. I hurt, couldn't breathe, and could only lie flat on my back in semi-comfort. Fortunately, my white knight came to my rescue in the form of liquid Motrin. (It works FAST!) Ahhh.. much better. Maybe it's time to make that appointment with Mr. Needle after all. (Sigh.)

¶ 6:10 PM