The last week has been very busy, but with fun things!!!! Taxol is not nearly as bad as the red devil AC, so that has been a Godsend for my sanity. Dr. Wells said this week I had it in the top 10% of worst side effects/experience with AC. Glad to know I’m still overachieving, even with cancer!
As always, I’m ahead of myself. Last Friday, I met up with my friend Jenna and her friend Nick. We planned on going to an art fair, but alas the internet lied and none was to be found. We zsa got a drink instead. Which was absolutely lovely! After that, Mitch and I swung by our favorite bar Barry O’s. It was great to be back on their patio, seeing old faces, and feeling good.
Saturday
Last Saturday, I went to the Omaha Food Festival with Zach and Rachel, their baby Penelope, and our other friend Erica. This year it was held at Elmwood park, versus the river front previous years. It was a much more enjoyable experience, as there was more shade and space to spread out. I had an amazing pulled-brisket sandwich from New Skoo BBQ and an equally amazing somaza from Maharani. I finished it all off with a funnel cake, because I’ll always love trash food.
Sunday
Sunday was a day full of birthdays! In the morning, there was a greyhound meet up to celebrate 4 different greyhound birthdays. THIRTY SEVEN greyhounds met up at Jewel Park in Bellevue bright and early. I’m not sure what prompted it, but I was short of breath while there, so I just pulled a blanket from the car and laid in the grass. It was fun, because all the doggos would come up and hang out when they were tired.
After that I came home and promptly passed out. I always joke I must have been a greyhound and I’m not sure who fell asleep first; me or Able. I woke up at 1 pm, because we had a party to celebrate of our own! It was Oliver’s 3rd Birthday!!! We invited one of our greyhound friends Jenna over with her baby Diva. Diva surprised us all when she got in the baby pool set up for the short dogs! Like our boys, she’s never shown interest in the baby pool at home, but I guess new places, new courage. She squeezed her big old greyhound body in it and it cracked us up!
For the short dogs, we had my sister Suzy, her husband Zach, and their dog Hunter. We also went and grabbed Oliver’s good pittie mix friend from down the street named Queso. The three short dogs had a blast romping all around the back yard! Oliver was exhausted for two days straight after they left!!
Monday thru Wednesday
At this point in the week, I really started to slow down. Monday and Tuesday weren’t horrible, but I was definitely feeling it. Lots of time was spent just resting. What was interesting this week was my worst day was Wednesday, and not Tuesday like it had been historically with this chemo. I was just really tired, short of breath, and felt like a swollen sausage from the generalized edema. But I still managed to meet my daily protein, water and walking goals. I had to improvise on the walking goals, because it was so hot out (mid-90s all week): I walked around the pool in the backyard for 10 minutes, because it was shady.
Thursday
Thursday was round 5 of taxol chemo! Almost half way there!!! One of my Breasties named El was at the same time as me just NYC time so we had a good time texting each other updates and pictures. This week I was feeling dressy and had a tropical feel for chemo fashion. I wore a tropical dress I’ve had for ages (thank goodness it was forgiving) and a shark tattoo to match.
After chemo Mitch picked me up and I utilized feeling well to go get an umbrella stand for our new outdoor umbrella we got as a gift from our other greyhound friend Karen. We also went to two different banks just to move around some money. I got home and the Benadryl was still kicking in so I took a nap after a quick lunch. Then the steroids had their revenge and I was up until after midnight. Even with taking a ton of over the counter and prescribed meds I only got three hours of sleep. I also had totally spaced that I get itchy for a day or two after the Taxol. This is a very common side effect.
Today’s Science Lesson
My sister Anne is my go-to when I have med questions after-hours as she is a CRNA. She taught me some really cool stuff this week! She said my liver is most likely very angry with the poision and can’t totally get rid of it all so my skin takes over to excrete it that way, hence why I’m itchy. Besides Benadryl, IV steroids, and hydrocortisone cream there are some over the counter meds I can utilize in an off label use to help turn down the excited histamine receptors that make me itchy. It’s called off label because its not the intended use for the drugs but the drugs still can perform those functions.
Two of those drugs are Pepcid and Claritin. I’m not a huge fan of the Claritin because I feel like at first it dries me out to the point of bloody noses and then it’s a waterfall of snot in the afternoon. So I utilized my sister to feel better about not taking the Claritin as it has alot of the same histamine blocking properties as the others I already took and just try the Pepcid. Between the Pepcid, steroids, and Benadryl I wasn’t nearly as itchy all night which was very lovely. I was up all night but I sure wasn’t itchy!
Today (Friday)
Today I woke up at the ripe hour of 5AM. I got up and completed my goals for the day including a new addition of weight lifting exercises to help build up my muscles before my mastectomy. After that I laid down for some relaxation and a nap. I got a good two hours or three more hours of sleep which is good because we have a party tonight to celebrate some friends getting married in September.
Tomorrow (Saturday)
Tomorrow we have a breakfast planned with some friends and then another party for the bride of the wedding in September. I really really really hope I sleep better tonight. Last night I took nyquil, benadryl, ativan, CBD, and melatonin with, as you already know, no such help in sleeping at all. I’m not sure what I’ll try tonight. Still better side effect to have than anything on the AC red devil.
Well warriors, that’s about it. I know a lot of you knew all this from social media, but not everyone is on that. Here’s to another busy week ahead of me before we reach the half way point!
Keep up the good work.
I’m tired just reading of your activities! You are a whirlwind of life! I so admire you.
Super organized Julia! Well balanced, too, with all your fun social events. Hang in there. Looks like you’ve got this! Prayers to Saint Raphael for good dreams and actual sleep!
Hang in there Julia .. sounds like you are doing all the right stuff !! Hope this coming week is a good one !!
Wow, what an excilerating week! GREAT socializing with friends both human & furry kids.
Glad to hear your sister is able to give you suggestions.
Continue being who you are because you are such an inspiration.
Ever consider publishing your blog into a book? You bare every emotion; ups & downs, the good & the ugly, you bare it all. I heart fully feel you could help someone and their family by reading.
✌️
Glad you’re having some fun and not letting C pull you down. I’m itchy too, from my annual poison ivy infection. I’m following the same routine that you are, except for steroids. Keep up the good work, Julia. We all enjoy your blog.