A better day / Boosting the signal

Better day today -- stronger, less mouth pain, less distress in general. I even did some work.

The skin is peeling off my fingertips and feet. I was warned this was a possible consequence of chemo, so I'm not worried, but it's painful and has made these appendages unusually sensitive to temperature and pressure. Usually, I can plunge my hands into nearly boiling water without a qualm, due to decades of the same. Right now, I am qualming away.

And speaking of qualms and even more disturbing sensations, I have linked to a story over in my other blog that has me channeling my Civil Rights Warrior mother. Please boost the signal, if you feel so inclined.

Thank God for Cream of Wheat

I do, in fact, have opportunistic infections in my mouth and elsewhere. I also now have two mouthwashes and a stronger antifungal powder. They aren't helping much yet, and it's too painful to eat anything that's not utterly soft. A piece of soft roll requires to be soaked in water before I can eat it. See heading for other sources of nutrition.

It is to be hoped that this will abate post haste. Also, boo on no one telling me that I have to be extra-careful rinsing my mouth after using my Advair inhaler, as steroids make this whole thing worse.

What yeast can do to the human body makes me glad I'm not vegan. I plan to kill lots of them (or have them killed on my behalf) and eat them. In the future, when it doesn't hurt so much.

One... more... climb...

I suspect that the climb out of the Chemo Hole may take longer this time, only because it's Treatment Four and Treatment Three was rather devastating in that regard. But I am really starting to look forward -- everything from plans to watch most of the Breeder's Cup races to plans for an anniversary Dinner Out, to plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas and future adventures.

Future adventures. Anniversaries. How wonderful.

And, perhaps, yet more meaning to come. I hope to stay connected to the data management people at D-F in some way, if they want the sort of input I can provide. Going to work on seeing if that's possible next week.

The Last Chemo Train Has Left the Station

Quite groggy from the last chemo, but I just wanted to document that it was nearly as smooth as silk. After listening to my tale of woe from the last time, the lab nurse spent a good 15 minutes finding just the right vein. It was on the side of my wrist, right over a nerve, which made it uncomfortable once the infusion began, but a couple of warm compresses opened everything nicely.

And I had been having a very rapid heartrate, which concerned me -- as I thought, it's due to chemo-induced anemia, which is forcing my heart to beat faster to keep me oxygenated. Kind of like being at high altitude, in a way.

And it seems that my immune system should be back to life in about a month! Just in time to kiss babies at Thanksgiving.

Infusion nurse: "I mean this in the nicest possible way -- I hope I never see you again!"

Arigato Gazimashta to you, too!