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| Diana, Suzi and I snowshoeing |
Yesterday I began another cycle of chemo. What better way to spend Valentine's then with my sweetheart in the Chemo Spa!. I received such a warm welcome from my oncologist and nurses. After some blood tests I found myself back in the infusion room. Mike and I settled into our little space and got comfortable while my favorite nurse Leslie got me prepped. We were there for over 4 hours and I received some fluids, anti-nausea meds, Zometa (a bone strengthening med) and then my Velcade. Hopefully this next round will help bring down my M-Spike and zap those remaining stubborn cancer cells.
After a great lunch out at our favorite Mexican spot it was time for me to put back on my mommy hat and pick up the kids and go to piano lessons. While sitting waiting for the lessons to be over I could barely lift myself off the chair. Fatigue completely settled in and I was wishing the boys were old enough to drive us home. After going over homework and the looking at the piles of Valentines dumped all over the kitchen table I dragged myself over to the couch. I literally felt like I had been hit by a freight train.
Fortunately I woke up with some energy today. Good thing, because Mike flew out to California. I am trying to slow myself down a bit today, to reserve energy for the week. I'm am hoping to keep up the exercise, maybe not to the level of last week but keep moving. I am sure everyday will be different, as I am back on my daily dose of 15 pills. I am back in the chemo chair on Thursday and then that will be one week done!
This cancer chemo schedule is just going to have to be balanced out with life as a busy mom of four kids with a husband who is traveling. This is not exactly the part-time job I had in mind, but then life has a way of throwing us curve balls. I guess my next challenge is going to be learning to live with cancer. Which means balancing the pill, chemo and doctor visits along with kids, homework, cleaning, cooking and carpooling to activities. When I think about it too much I find myself completely overwhelmed. But the alternative of being in a hospital bed sheltered from everything and everyone I love (like I was 3 months ago) keeps me grounded. Life although busy and at times overwhelming is what I love. I am just trying to take each day as it comes. Today, I am off the couch and I am not feeling sick. I got the kids off to school, did some housework and I'm heading out to do some errands. I might just try to hit the treadmill! But then I think I'll be finding my way on to the couch for a bit before the afternoon with the kids.
Enjoy the sunshine today!
Love,
Jeanie
Hello Jean, My name is Walter. We have a lot in common. I have MM and had a stem cell transplant at Dana Farber/Brigham and Womens in July 2010. I used the same rooms and had the same nurses you did. I'm now on about day 200. I lived in Hollis NH for many years. And I am a runner - used to run (and snowshoe) through Brookline often. I lived on Rocky Pond Rd. The rear of my property bordered the Beaver Brook Conservation area, and I snowshoed often thru there with my Appalachian Mtn. Club friends. I am 64 yrs. old. I ran a half marathon in Key West 2 weeks ago, and I have an official Bib Number for this year's Boston Marathon. My "long run" so far has been 16 miles (note: I could not have gone another foot after the 16, but I'm gonna do 18 miles this Friday). It sounds like your recovery process is going similar to mine as of your "Day 89". In my first 30 days, I could barely walk at all, but I picked it up about day 45 and started running. Regarding Meds, for now, I take Revlimid and a few other pills daily, and "so far, so good". I also get Zometa every 90 days. I encourage you to continue doing your workouts and running - and trying to do "a little more" every other day are the best things to do (with a day of rest in between). As for me, my MM started in May 2008. At first, it was "bad". But, I took Revlimid and Dex (and later Velcade)for 2 years until my stem cell transplant in July 2010. I also ran the Marine Corp Marathon in Oct. 2009. In conclusion, I find your blog extremely moving and meaningful, particularly the photos you show of the hospital rooms and your family at the hospital. And I encourage you to continue to take things "one day at a time".
ReplyDeleteWalter
Walter-
ReplyDeleteWow! You are an inspiration! Day 200 and you are signed up to do the marathon! That is fantastic! I wonder if we have passed by each other running or snowshoeing? I was able to run 3 miles today! It is great to start exercising once again. Did you have a complete response with your transplant? I'm not there yet but I'm hoping to get there after this round. Please stay in touch! I wish you all the best!
Jeanie
Jeanie-I am a friend of Suzi's from our Norwell days. You have been in my prayers for months, but I just got caught up on your blog. You are so amazing! My daughter just signed up for a Relay for Life event at school, and you will be on our list of those we are honoring during the walk. Give Suzi a hug for me!
ReplyDeleteDina Marcus
Hi Again from Walter. I want you to know that you certainly are an inspiration to me. Taking care of your 4 children is very "demanding", vs. me - I simply have my wife/caregiver and 2 cats. By the way, I now live in Dover NH. Regarding my recovery, all of my "blood items" have been "normal" since about day 60. My red cells and hemoglobin particularly are important to my running - and they are normal. However, my white cell count is always on the low side (2.9 vs "normal" mininum of 4.0), but, my oncologist says this is good - they want the white cells to stay on the "low side" because white cells are the multiple myeloma "bad guys". I'm not very sophisticated on the signifcance of all of the items listed on my blood tests (I get a test once per month locally at the Seacoast Cancer Center in Dover), but I watch for the numbers that are not in the normal range, and so far, so good. My doctors are impressed so far with my results, they (sort of) laugh when I tell them about my marathon training. They simply say - "do as much as you can, so long as you don't experience any problems". So - so far, so good. Like I said, I take it one day at a time. Next I go to Dana Farber on Feb. 22 for my 6 month checkup. I'll keep you posted.
ReplyDeleteWalter
Jean,
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you wrote a very beautiful, moving blog. As mothers, we tend to want to be SUPER WOMEN and do everything for everyone. The way I look at it, just getting the kids off to school everyday, carpooling to their activities, homework and dinner on the table every night are reasons to celebrate! Having the energy to run 3 miles while doing all of that is truly impressive...you continue to inspire me to push myself to higher limits! Remember to take care of yourself and don't be afraid to ask for help. You have such a wonderful support system who are "at the ready" to send in the troops and give you a well-deserved break, whenever you need it! You're always in my prayers and now I'll add Walter to my list as well. He sounds like he will be a great resource for you in terms of your treatment and recovery! Keep up the good work and stay strong! Love, Judy
Hi Jean,
ReplyDeleteJust a quick "hi". I have been thinking about you and your family.
With Love,
Ben