This week wasn’t nearly as terrible as we all expected it to be. I kept waiting for my side effects to worsen, but each day stayed just about the same.
As I wrote on Monday, it took them three times to access my port. However, the needle can stay in for up to a week, so I didn’t have to repeat that process each day. The needle is connected to some small tubes, and those stayed with me all week too. They were taped to my chest and didn’t bother me.
So, each day all they had to do was connect my new IV bags to the tubes already connected to my port… no needle sticks! Woo!
Each infusion has lasted about two hours, although most of that is just fluid. The actual chemo drug only takes about 20 minutes.
I had a lot of trouble sleeping after day 2 and 3. I was extremely tired, but I just couldn’t fall asleep. However, that changed with day 4! On Thursday, I was so tired that I could hardly get through dinner. I crawled into bed around 7pm and was instantly asleep. I woke up one time around 10pm, got up, went to the bathroom, took a drink of water, and went back to sleep. This time I didn’t wake up until around 8am. That’s 13 hours of sleep! I needed it!
The same thing happened on Friday. I fell asleep on the couch at about 6:30pm, woke up around 7pm and somehow moved myself back to bed. I slept all the way until about 7am.
I don’t have treatments over the weekend, and I thought this would mean I would feel mostly normal. That was the case through yesterday afternoon. However, by Saturday evening my stomach was starting to get a little “off.” I took my prescribed nausea medicines and went to bed.
Today my stomach is even more “off.” I’m not throwing up or anything. I just don’t feel right, even after taking the nausea meds. The plan for the evening is apple sauce, crackers, and Netflix binging.
This week I will have treatments Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then I’m off for Christmas Eve and Christmas! I can’t wait for family time!
I am so happy that you are feeling as well as you do with minimal side effects! Enjoy your break this week and Merry Christmas to you, Jody and family and your mom and dad!
_____
Writing after your Dad told us the news in your folks Christmas card. “The next adventure” … Just the kind of spin we’d expect from the effervescent Maggie we so enjoyed knowing so many years ago. Please know that the Suttons will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers as we follow your progress. You will beat this!
Dear Maggie,
You are so you! I pray that you have a great Christmas and can enjoy your family. I will be singing Christmas and will have you on my heart and in my prayers! I have said a few prayers for that guy you know who knows where the “Deer Creek” is located! Also so prayers for your Mom, Bev! When you talk about how wonderful the girls at the college, I can’t help thinking that you would certainly be there for any of them!!! Love you, love your smile!
Jan Lefton
Dearest Maggie, So glad to hear what is going on. Still praying for you daily! Love you!
Praying for you today, Maggie! Take care and definitely rest.