Zzzzzzzz....

Well, my last chemo definitely put me into sleep mode. For the last three days, that's pretty much all I've done. Just as an example from yesterday:
- Woke up at 11AM
- Took my meds, back to sleep by 11:25
- Woke up at 5PM
- Have dinner
- Back to sleep by 11PM

My jaw feels like how it did after my early treatments, and I'm just achy. Also, my throat feels really tight (did I mention I'm whiny?). However, it looks like we're coming out the other side of things.

On Saturday, we went to Mechanicsburg, PA (about 1 1/2 hours west) to pick up our new puppy, McKendzie. She is drop-dead gorgeous. The breeder, Jill, was outstanding and we are so thankful to her after our pet-store experience a few months ago. We owe her alot.

I'll have pictures up shortly. In the meantime, Suzanne and I are in a real bind about where we are going to go for radiation. We have such a good feel for our Paoli doctor, but obviously HUP (Penn) is such a good name.... Then there's the issue of the 9 year old equipment (which Dr. Szarka doesn't think is a big deal - While she wouldn't tell us where to go, she said that shouldn't be a factor).

My brain is still mush, but I'm hoping to return to work in a few weeks. I'll probably call the boss and let her know that's my plan if all goes well (but I want to let her know the gameplan on where I'm going for rads).

Cycle 6B (Treatment 12) - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Well, that's it for the chemotherapy regimen known as ABVD. We brought a Thank You cake, a tray of cookies (which were AWESOME), and my Mom came over from Jersey to spend some time. It was great.

Did the usual routine, and got lots of hugs from the oncology nurses. The whole team over there at Paoli ROCKED. I couldn't imagine better care.

Speaking of, I think Suzanne and I have decided to get radiation done at Paoli after all. I may still be out of the office on disability when it starts (which would make HUP more difficult). Also, I may be able to arrange a modified schedule working mostly from Valley Forge for a few weeks to help transition (and while I'm getting treatments). We will see!

Its 4AM... Do You Know Where Your Brain Cells Are?

I know where mine are -- And its not in bed. I've been sleeping like crazy, but then I have insomnia at night. Its freaky, but oh well.

Feeling better, but still sleeping like crazy as mentioned above. Short term memory is shot to hell. As much as I love driving, Suzanne is pretty much doing it now, as I'm becoming very forgetful of simple things (like when we went to Wawa for something, and I got out of the car, then went to lock the car... Only to realize I'd left the keys in the ignition). Its simple little things like that, and the inability to really focus. Sounds dumb and not that big a deal, but when you start to have stuff like this you start to question your control over things. Not good for a Type A personality like myself.

The good news is my oncologist thinks this will come back quickly once I'm off the chemo drugs for a few weeks (which will also help speed up my return to work).

Oh well, off to see if I can get some sleep.

Just Checking In

So far, disability hasn't been the vacation its cracked up to be. Still feeling cruddy, and Suzanne still expects me to do stuff... So much for the Life o' the Lazy. Doing OK overall, memory is really crappy at this point. Symptoms other than that have subsided (which of course adds fuel to my phobia fire that I'm now immune to the chemo - time for an Ativan).

Treatment #11 (Cycle 6A) - And Then There Was One...

One more to go party people, one more to go. Yesterday went without any major issues. I didn't have a whole lot of questions: They knew I was going out on disability, so the tiredness, weakness, and memory issues going over into the second week was a known. I brought up the mouth sores I've had (a new one, yay for me), and we got a standard treatment and a very unstandard (but awesome one) from Dr. Dabrow (Dr. Szarka was on vacation): I have a script for "magic mouthwash" (its an oral lidocaine solution or something that will numb the mouth before I eat). The unstandard treatment is to get a football mouthpiece so the teeth don't grind on the sores - Making for little pain and quicker healing. Needless to say, we'll be trying both.

Sue and I talked, and we're going to go to HUP for radiation. While my new radiation oncologist may be Doogie Howser, MD, all reports coming in say he's a serious brain trust, and trained until Yoda (if you don't know who I'm referring to as Yoda, read my earlier post on the Rad Onc visit). He wants to see me pretty much as soon as my latest PET and CT are complete in about four weeks, so we can finalize the gameplan.

So for now, we sit and relax - Tired, weak, and ready to put this C thing waaaay behind me.

One more.

And That's That - Disability

Well, I'm now officially off the "Commuting to Philadelphia" list for the time being. I was able to handle my turnover stuff early, so since I have no specific need to be in town (and I'm feeling like crap), we're out. I'm expecting to be out for the next 4-6 weeks, but its really up to my doctor now - If anything, she'll keep me out longer.

I'll probably end up posting more here, since I'm going to have loads of free time. On the downside, I officially left "Good week, bad week" behind, I'm sore from walking 5 blocks, the memory is shot, and I have mouth sores that just made my favorite meal (beef stew) excruciating to eat.

Two more people, two more and that's it...

P.S. On the plus side, ALL of my hair is growing back - My father is now back to being the sole baldie in the family. Except... I like the bald w/ a goatee look. I think I may keep it through the summer in fact.

P.P.S. I love you people - Friends, family, new Hodge Homies... You really get an appreciation for the people you know.

Disability... Almost Made It

Well, its Tuesday, and I'm home again. So, having talked it through with Suzanne, I think I'm going to have to take disability time with only two treatments to go.
Tiredness, weakness... I was working through those. However, I think I now have "chemo brain". I thought chemo brain would be forgetfulness, etc. What I didn't expect was to feel like I'm in a fog 24/7. I can't concentrate. I can't think. Therefore, I can't get my work done.

I'm frustrated more than I've been thoughout this thing. I've managed to make it though while only requiring two weeks of FMLA time. Maybe its for the best to rest up the last four weeks, and get ready for radiation.I'm still pissed though (and not in the fun British way).