Chemo #5 (of round two)

I had the 5th infusion on Wednesday (10/26), leaving JUST ONE MORE. Sweet Holy Moses I can't wait to finish this out. I know these next four weeks are going to be rough with the side effects more pronounced and more disruptive. My thoughts to make it through are:

• One day at a time (maybe even count them down)
• Acceptance
• Frequently reminding myself that despite feeling like crap, there is nothing wrong
• Prayers for all of the above

Don't hesitate to reach out to me - getting encouraging phone calls or messages is great. I'll be going into the "fatigue cave" starting Friday and coming out of it around Tuesday. I have officially cut down on my working hours (FMLA) in anticipation of being more impacted by fatigue, and I have been given the OK to work from home on those days where I can be effective but require periodic rest. My work and my boss continue to be wonderfully supportive, and I am very appreciative.

One new aspect that is and will be a challenge these next four weeks - increased food sensitivity combined with losing my taste - all common with extended chemo. Foods that I would normally enjoy suddenly strike me as completely unappetizing and can even make me nauseous smelling or looking at them. I'm still figuring out what I can eat and I anticipate downing a lot of Boost/Ensure drinks throughout this time. They are reasonably tasty, have a good calorie count, and an excellent spread of vitamins and minerals. If I need to live on Boost and Protein shakes for a month - so be it. As you can imagine, I look forward to the end of this so that I can enjoy Luisa's wonderful cooking and some nice meals out.