Discovering Head Covers and Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg's) for the nausea............

           Fourth week of chemo down, 14 to go! This week started my 2^nd round of (3). That’s when I get the (2) meds. The first day wasn’t bad it hit later that night and then the morning of day (2) was ok but by 1:00pm I had the worst headache in the world! Nausea set in as well. Today is day (3) sick….. I did have some soup for lunch though which tasted good. We’ll see how nauseated I get… I was approved to take my test at a different time, thank goodness. I wouldn’t have made it. I haven’t lost my hair yet but it’s thinning quite a bit.

I stopped by this store just west of where blockbusters used to be in that same complex. It is called Head Covers. The gal that helped me was awesome!! She showed me hats, scarves, wigs, hairpieces, caps etc. She also explained which ones people liked best and why, she showed me how to tie the scarves, which hats to choose for different activities. She asked if she could touch my hair, I said “yes”, afterwards she said “you’re not ready to lose it”. When you can lightly pull out 6-8 hairs in one clump then you’ll know it will be within days that it will all start coming out. Mark laughs at me because each morning when I get up I turn and check my pillow to see if there’s any hair on it. Little does he know I check after I dry my hair to see if any is left in the towel etc.?

Each new round I meet with the doctor (which was this week). She said everything looked good. She just wanted me to drink more water and walk a little more to help with me feeling like I’m retaining water and also to prevent constipation. I’m feeling more muscle aches this time, dry skin and tired (I think that’s more to being nauseated and the headaches). My sister sent me an article about Raw, Organic, and Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (the Braggs brand). I read and researched some of the info in the article. It was great there are a lot of health benefits to drinking it. The one thing I found is when I mix up some Apple cider vinegar, honey and water; it takes away my nausea almost immediately. I sip maybe 1/3-1/2 cup and I’m good. I still take the nausea pills to help with the longer control but for immediate relief it’s my drink mixture that does it. The mixture I use is; 3-4 ½ tsp Apple cider vinegar (the Bragg's), 3 tsp. honey, in 2 cups of water. I started drinking it hot now I think I prefer drinking it cold, either is good. If you make it more concentrated you’ll find that when you’re drinking it you will pucker up a little.

            I went to Bonco on Monday night; it has started up again for the year. I was fun to laugh and just have a girl’s night out. Next month I will have it at my house then I can be over with my turn for the year. Dad said he would be done with work early so he could help me with it. So far dad’s been remembering to get me flowers when the other ones are dying out. He usually will go to Dans and get some on Saturday night. This week Courtney brought over some sunflowers they have been fun to have.  The weather here has been cool surprisingly. Lots of rain!

"Fear not, I am with thee...." My hair is thinning.....

Sunday September 6th, 2014.
     Last Friday night mark and I went out to dinner for our anniversary, which was on the 2nd (33 years ago). We went to City Creek and had a good time. We took pictures because I still had my hair and of course our anniversary.
Saturday I noticed I had a thinner amount of hair in front by my bangs. When I went to chemo last Monday, Mark came with me. I was asking the nurse how I would notice that my hair was going to fall out. She told me that most people say that their hair hurts. Huh? Usually it’s your head that hurts I didn't know that hair had nerves and feelings...later Saturday night the back of my head hurt but it was weird because it really didn't feel like my head, it felt like my hair that was hurting??? It was just below my crown and only lasted about 5-10 minutes, and then it was gone. WEIRD! My head has been really itchy all week and more so this weekend so I think it will start coming out fairly soon. My days for nausea are day (2) and day (3) in the evenings... then it slowly goes away and then I feel better just in time to start over again. This week I get the (2) meds. Not looking forward to it because it’s supposed to be a bad week when I have (2) meds. I have a test this week also! Ughh!

Sunday September 7th, 2014.
     Went to our regional conference today and one of the songs we sang struck that cord again and I started to tear up and couldn't finish singing the song. It was "How Firm A Foundation" The words that hit me most were as follows in green (I will make a link so you can hear it also);                         Mormon Tabernacle Choir- How Firm a Foundation
 

        How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,

        Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

        What more can he say than to you he hath said,

        Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,

        Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

        In ev'ry condition--in sickness, in health,

        In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,

        At home or abroad, on the land or the sea--

        As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,

        As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

        Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

        For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

        I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

        Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,

        Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

        When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

        The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow,

        For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

        And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,

        And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

Sunday still; I noticed throughout the day that my hair had thinned quite a bit, not enough for most people to notice, but it hasn’t come out in chunks yet…a little nervous to lose my hair (even though I know it will grow back). I can see hair on my shirt or pants and I just pick it off. The texture of my hair is courser, like I need more conditioner even though I put it on already. My head is itchy and I want to scratch it but I'm afraid if I do the hair might be scratched off as well. Right now mentally and emotionally I'm doing good. The nausea is a pain but so far I can put up with it, we'll see how this week goes.

                                                             

                                 

                                                

Chemtherapy Side Effects continued.....(so many)....

Pain: Chemotherapy can cause pain for some people, including headaches, muscle pain, stomach pain, and pain from nerve damage, such as burning, numbness, or shooting pains (most often in the fingers, toes and legs; the nurse said these would be like shin splints). Pain usually diminishes over time, but some people may have symptoms for months or years after chemotherapy has finished due to permanent damage to the nerves. Doctors can manage pain by treating the source of the pain.

Diarrhea: Certain chemotherapy causes loose or watery bowel movements. Preventing diarrhea or treating it early helps a person avoid becoming dehydrated.

Constipation: Chemotherapy—as well as some drugs to treat nausea and vomiting, pain, depression, diarrhea, and high blood pressure—may cause constipation. Patients may also increase their risk of constipation by not drinking enough fluids, not eating balanced meals, or not getting enough exercise. I’m noticing this one, this week it has been worse.

Blood disorders: Chemotherapy affects the production of new blood cells in the bone marrow, (the spongy, inner mass of the bone). Symptoms and complications arising from low blood counts are among the most common side effects of chemotherapy.

A test called a complete blood count (CBC) will indicate the levels of red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood. An abnormally low level of RBCs results in anemia. This condition decreases the body’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body, resulting in fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath. A lower than normal number of WBCs (called leukopenia) increases the body’s risk of infection. Infections that occur when WBCs are low can quickly become serious and require prompt treatment with antibiotics.

A second type of test, called a platelet count, measures the number of platelets (blood cells that stop bleeding by plugging damaged blood vessels and helping the blood to clot) in your blood. People with thrombocytopenia (a shortage of platelets) bleed and bruise more easily.

These conditions can be treated with medications that stimulate the bone marrow to make more blood-forming cells that develop into RBCs, WBCs, and platelets.

Every week after they put in the IV they draw some blood before they start and test it to see where it’s at. If they have to adjust the amount of chemo I get, they will, after knowing the test results.

Nervous system effects: Some drugs cause nerve damage, resulting in one or more of the following nerve- or muscle-related symptoms:

• Tingling
• Burning
• Weakness or numbness in the hands and/or feet
• Weak, sore, tired, or achy muscles
• Loss of balance- I’m not sure if this is because of my foot being in a boot cast or not…
• Shaking or trembling
• Stiff neck
• Headache: sometimes it’s a normal headache other times it’s like; when you have an IV and they put the medicine in, and within seconds you feel like a surge of the medicine going in your body. That’s what my headaches feel like, a wave or fog that goes across my head. Lasting from maybe 5-10 minutes. It comes at all different times.
• Visual problems: wondering about this one…
• Walking problems
• Difficulty hearing
• Clumsiness

These symptoms usually improve when the chemotherapy dose is lowered or treatment is stopped; however, in some cases, the damage is permanent.

Changes in thinking and memory: Some patients experience difficulty thinking clearly and concentrating after chemotherapy. Cancer survivors often refer to this side effect as "chemo brain”. I sometimes have issues coming up with the right word I want to use. I hope it doesn’t get worse! Maybe it’s just senior moments early….

Sexual and reproductive issues: Chemotherapy can affect sexual function and fertility. In addition, chemotherapy is capable of harming a fetus (unborn baby) during pregnancy, particularly if given during the first trimester of pregnancy. We’re done having kids so I don’t have to worry about this one.

Appetite loss: People receiving chemotherapy may eat less than usual, not feel hungry at all, or feel full after eating only a small amount. For me it’s more how things taste, like; metal or perfume…ughh…

Long-term side effects: Most side effects of chemotherapy disappear at the end of treatment. However, some side effects may continue, come back, or develop later. Cancer survivors also have a higher risk of developing second cancers later in life. We’ll have to wait and see on this one.