Living a miracle

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last blog.  I know that I have been pretty visible on Facebook with my videos and posts, but felt it was time for an actual update. Let me be clear - chemo SUCKS.  I thought that I would be back to normal by now, and just getting my strength up for surgery in February.  Let's just say it is still kicking my ass.  I am usually REALLY active.  I am not one to sit still for very long, and usually work out at least 3-4 times a week - weights, pilates, spin, cardio etc.  Now, I am usually bagged by about 6 pm, and can barely get through a 30 min ab workout.  This was not what I expected.   I also need to remind myself to take a break, otherwise I feel like shit.  If I do too much I get terrible headaches at night and it takes me a couple of days to feel relatively 'normal' again. I am also dealing with the crazy hormones that go along with breast cancer and its treatments.  I am not on Hormo...

The fog seems to have lifted from the second round of chemo.  I am very lucky that I have not had any nausea, but the sheer exhaustion and joint pain has been excruciating.  So far, the cold cap seems to be working.  My hair is thinning, but not falling out in clumps.  I will know by the end of the week if it is actually successful.  I was going to name this post Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow? But Kerry didn't think it was funny. This has been a challenging few days.  It seems that the symptoms compound, so it will get worse before it gets better.  I have been lethargic and cranky.  I have  had no energy and my brain is foggy.  The worst part is the lack of taste!  I have a normal appetite, but I cant taste anything!  I need savoury or sweet.  My friend, Dionne, developed these amazing organic freezies called Deebee Pops which I LOVE (http://www.deebeesorganics.com).  I bought them at Pusateries.  They are all natu...

So, one down, three to go! Chemo sucks - no way around it.  But, I know it can always be worse.  The actual process is long and (besides the actual pain of the IV) metaphorically painful.  The first session in LONG - there is a lot of waiting around and then A LOT of people talking to me - the nurses, the pharmacists, and the social worker.  I haven idea what most of them said to me - how could I take in all of that information during such a stressful time???  I am also using whats called a cold cap, in the hopes of saving my hair.  That doubles the time I am in the chair - 45 mins before and 2 hours after - all with a cap of ice on my head (http://www.coldcomfortcanada.ca).  Lets hope it works!  We will know next week. I felt the effects of the chemo almost immediately, as well as the heavy duty anti-nauseau meds.  I was, and continue to be EXHAUSTED.  Luckily, no nausea so far, but some other unexpected (by me, not the doctors) side ...