Perpetual Ruminations

Doing Well

Four days this time around; I will not use that for my title this time around.

I've been staying busy and trying to enjoy the days knowing that I will soon be feeling the effects of chemo again; I restart on Monday.

I am recovering well and adjusting to the changes I've had to make. I sleep all night, most nights in my bed again, but still some mornings around the time they would shatter my slumber in the hospital.

Eating is still a challenge, but it's getting better. It seems foods I haven't eaten since before the surgery are a bit difficult the first time, but then they do better. I've discovered that if it's something I haven't eaten since surgery, it's best to take a very small amount the first time. After that first reintroduction, it's fine.

The other problem is the amount I can eat. I have always had a very healthy appetite and enjoy eating. I still enjoy eating, and I still have the appetite, but now I have very little capacity in my stomach; it's kind of like being banded. I'm doing well to eat about a cup of food per sitting.

This results in my not being able to eat enough food to maintain my nutritional needs without supplements. I'm also coming up way shy on how much water/liquids I can drink throughout the day, and I'm always shy on my proteins.

Currently, I'm coming close, and since I'm not very active since surgery, I'm probably doing fine. But Monday I restart my chemo, and I will need to increase my proteins and iron to keep my blood counts up. It has me a bit concerned as well as my anxieties flaring. But, I know I'll find a way to get through.

I have four chemo sessions left, and then I'm done with them. But, they are also going to start immunology on Monday and I don't know what kind of side effects that will add or for how long I'll be doing them. I do know I'm eager and ready to be done with the treatments. I should be done with chemo around the tenth of November, so I may actually be able to taste Thanksgiving dinner (and hopefully can enjoy a bit more than a cup of food per sitting). If not, well, Christmas is just around the corner.

I'll have the winter to recover from the chemo, and I'm hopeful that by spring, life can get as much back to normal as is possible.