Thursday, October 11, 2012

Water Retention

Sunrise this morning.
I feel like crud. I think the fatigue is starting to sneak its way in & that doesn't help me this morning. My body feels sore and swollen all over. I know its because of all the saline/liquids they've been putting in me. I weighed in at 126lbs this morning, like I said its mostly water. I'll be down to 120 maybe on Monday. I'm sluggish, my head doesn't feel like its all here today. I really just want to sleep the day away. So I guess it begins... I will try to do some walking, but I am definitely staying away from resistance exercises today. My skin is too tender to the touch because of all the water in my body. I'm being discharged in a few minutes. I can't wait to lay in my familiar bed and REALLY relax.

Update: So when I got home I took a few naps with my dog Korra. She was a good dog today, giving me love and licking me a bit too much lol. Right now I am helping my husband put away the laundry & I managed to walk... about a mile. Maybe it was a little less,  but I think I deserve a cheat day :P

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Day 3 of (ICE) Chemo

He later found my stuffed teddy bear on the
bed and started chewing on him LoL.
Yesterday I attended a workshop on frame painting. It was just me and my husband and they gave us the supplies. I will post a video update of yesterdays happenings & you can see our masterpieces in the video.

Today I weighed in at 123lbs which means I have gained 20lbs since my lowest weight in late august of 103lbs. My appetite is still great, no bad side effects from chemo so far. I was told 14 laps in the hallway equals a mile, so I completed that task. Will walk more later :) I also did some arm band exercises. I relaxed in the recreation room for a little while, checked out the cute library they have (there's a lot of books-its nice). I also got a visit from Oliver, a doggy visitor. I hope to see two more doggies later. I forgot to mention that they have me recording how much I pee (for anyone who's been through chemo before). I have to do it so they know my kidneys are functioning well or something like that.

Exercise: I did 2 miles worth of laps (28 laps) and arm exercises with a good deal of resistance (I'm updating now at 3:22am & already feeling sore).

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Day 2 of (ICE) Chemo

I took a shower like this
because I am still
getting infused.
My chemo has nothing to do with ice, it is an abbreviation of the 3 medicines I have to take.

I have been up since they woke me for blood at 7:15am, I proceeded to get some motion going by doing ten laps around the hospital hall. At one point I knocked down a big sign because my IV pump machine has wheels that stick out. That was a little embarrassing but the custodian told me he would fix it -lol! Oops! Breakfast came & I had an really good omelette, saved my oatmeal & bagel for later. I had to take a shower with wires connected to me, but they have this plastic meant to cover your chest if you have a port like me. I will post a picture. Sorry if its too showy, my nurse walked right in afterwards so I didn't have time to take a better shot. I slept with the wires connected to my chest (its really not as horrible as one might think).

I received my first medicine last night, today I am getting a mix of that one & a new one at the moment. They gave me anti-nausea medicine just in case with this 2nd drug. I am trying to eat a lot before the bad side effects kick in. Also I weighed in at 121 today, but that's really just water weight. I've peed over 20x since I've been here, yeah... that part is pretty annoying. Now I remember why my hands got so dried & peeled the first time I went through this 2 years ago (washing my hands all the time). So far my body still feels good!

Exercise: In total today I did 18 laps and light arm exercises.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Checking In To The Kettering Hotel

My impression of my dog  Korra
if she found out she had to
stay in the hospital. 
A disappointing morning but my doctor wanted a "perfect" scan, so I was prepared for this. Its still a let down though. I weighed in JUST under 120lbs today, which is great news seeing as how this new chemo called ICE will likely induce nausea and vomitting (lets hope not). I'm not one who throws up easily, so I'm going to make sure my food stays down even when the going gets tough hehe.

I will be here for two nights and likely be able to leave Wednesday ::crossing fingers:: I must say its kinda weird to check-in for a room at a hospital feeling completely fine. I've never done that before. Each time I've stayed in a hospital it was because I was sick. Picture me, just sitting on my hospital bed right now just chillin. Thats what I'm doing, just here sitting, not even hooked up to anything yet.

***Update: They finally gave me my first infusion of this ICE chemo and it is 10:30pm. I checked in at 2pm, thats crazy! Also I managed to get a tiny workout in: 20 Squats, 30 leg circles each leg, 40 alternating lunges, 20+ wall pushups, 2min 15sec wall sit, and 20 alternating standing glute kickbacks. I might have done a few other short exercises but I can't remember exactly.