Hi all....thanks for telling me what works for you to get your head back in the game.
This first new treatment hit me hard because I actually forgot how hard this is!!
Similar to CRguy's advice, I "fake it until I make it." As I've previously posted, I was diagnosed almost 10 years ago at the age of 42. I've had recurrences nearly every 18 month, give or take, and have treated sometimes with surgery, sometimes with chemo. As a mom of 4 kids, ages 8-14 at diagnosis, I had neither the time or the inclination to sit back! I've been an active participant in life the entire time. Most people don't even know I have cancer. I have my own motto: Today is a good day for a good day!
I have been off chemo for 10 months, and when I restarted last week, I was thinking "OK, here we go. Yes, it sucks but you can do.." But it's like childbirth....I didn't quite remember how sucky and painful it is!
As a self-declared expert on surviving chemo, I have my own ways of making the process easier. I don't do steroids because the crash is not worth it to me. I don't do Nuelasta shots, because my counts don't drop very much (like Ron50) and the shots make me feel really bad. I have the anti-nausea protocol that I follow. Lots of liquids. Lots of sleep. Lots of trashy TV. I start chemo on Monday, disconnect on Wednesday. By Friday, I'm feeling almost human again. And Sunday morning finds me yelling at my kids to pick this up! or put that away!..and they're like: OK, Mom's back!
My off week is all about catching up on errands and chores. Being Mom. Hanging with my Hubby. Meeting friends for lunch or book club or drinks. And exercising....which is now walking instead of running, yoga instead of boot camp. Right now it's the exercise that I miss because I have been in a bit of pain in my rib area. But since the first day of treatment, I have not had to take a pain pill, so that's great. And I actually slept on my side last night, for the first time since December. All good!
I don't take any special supplements, but eat a healthy diet. I take Vitamin D, Vitamin C, probiotics and Lunesta at night to sleep. One thing I've done over the last 10 years is take 800mg of cimetide daily (Rp1954). I researched this early in my journey and it seemed like it could help and couldn't hurt.
Thanks again for all your advice. You're the best!!