The Standoff!

     As you know, I had my head shaved about a week ago to avoid looking like a wet shaggy dog as my hair fell out! The short stubbles that were left are coming out fast and furiously these last 2 days. I look like an old man...balding on the top and sides of my head, just like an old man gets bald! My apologies to any old, bald men who may be reading this!!!

 

     Last week, after I had my head shaved, I decided I would have a standoff with God. Since the hair on my head is falling out quickly, I figured the hair on my legs should fall out at the same time and same rate. I decided I would NOT shave my legs because the hair on my legs DARN WELL BETTER FALL OUT TOO!!!!!!! That just made sense to me!

 

     I waited. And waited. And waited some more!

 

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday...no hair gone from my legs yet.  Surely, it will start falling out soon!

 

     By Saturday, I realized that I would have to give in and end the standoff! We had three events to go to that day and my hairy legs would NOT be acceptable.

 

Olivia's party celebrating her first birthday was at 11:30 on Saturday. By 10:00am, NONE of the hair on my legs had fallen out so I cried "Uncle" and shaved those darn legs!!! Boy, did I hate to back down but I had no choice! Olivia may not have minded, but the people at the wedding and the graduation we went to after her party may not have appreciated "the hairy look"!!!!

 

SO I had no choice but to cave, shave, and end the standoff! AARGH!

 

      The Golden Thread here is that most likely, that was the last time I will have to shave my legs...or so I've been told. I'll keep you posted to see if that is accurate!!!

     I have been feeling really good for the last 5 or 6 days. I am almost back to normal (my chemo normal, that is!), minus my hair, a few left over mouth/throat sores, and a little less stamina than normal.

 

     I'm so relieved and very glad I am going into my next chemo treatment tomorrow feeling so good. I would have liked to be rid of all my mouth sores but that wasn't to be. Luckily, they don't really bother my eating since my appetite is back. 

 

     Tomorrow morning, I will walk into the RMCC to get my pre-chemo meds, the Herceptin, the two chemo drugs, Taxotere and Carboplatin, then IV fluids to flush my port and to get a little extra fluid into me before the chemo effects hit.

 

 On Wednesday, I will get the nasty Neulasta shot which will put me into bed or at least on the couch for Friday and Saturday for sure, maybe longer. 

 

My Golden Thread is that I feel so good going into treatment # 2. I am blessed for that!

 

     My prayers for the next 7 days are that I may avoid the horrible, rare side effect I experienced the first time I had chemo. I am currently taking a medication that the doctor said "MAY" help. That word, "MAY" scares me a bit. I'd prefer "WILL" but I guess I will take what comes my way. I really, really do not want to have to go through that horrific pain again, but time will tell.

 

The good part of chemo # 2 is that I know what to expect. Or is that the bad part???  We'll see, we'll see...