Hi Shana.
I'm doing good. Been extremely busy with work. I worked entire labor day weekend like 6-8 hours a day. Yesterday was a 10 hour day of work.
Today is much the same, but taking lil break. Temps have been cooler since the entire NW seems to be on fire. Some teenagers set the entire gorge ablaze by dropping firecrackers into a canyon.
It's quite sad as that area is a historical area with some of the most beautiful forests and hiking trails in the world along with waterfalls, rivers and streams. Pretty much all of Oregon and Washington are in a haze of smoke - once again (right after we got some clear up from all the Canadian smoke). It's a bummer in that it keeps me from doing my 2 mile daily walk.
Hopefully you continue to have no bone pain. It can really be painful. Since my ONC dropped me off OXI he seemed to think my WBC would bounce back. I am thinking it has, as well as platelet count as my energy level is almost back to normal, my hair is starting to grow back (had shaved it since I was tired of clumps of hair falling out in the shower and on my pillows), and just feel better overall. I still have a little numbness in the fingers and feet, but that's getting less as well as the not being able to swallow. As for the cold sensitivity it was one of the side effects that I experienced the least. With it only effecting me on days 1-3/4 and then going away rest of cycle. That one is completely gone, but still keeping the cold to minimum on drinks as one of my sweet nurses said it would increase other neuropathy effects so to refrain for a couple months. I've had really loose stools since day 6. Days 1-5 bowel movements were more on the constipated side. Pretty much par for the course, obviously was the 5fu causing the loose stool unless something else is going on. Unfortunately its hard to gain weight when it happens. My weight continues to slide a bit. Down to 155 lbs from 183 pre diagnosis.
I'll be getting CBC and all the other standard blood tests on the 11th, day before my next infusion. If WBC are up I won't be getting another zarxio.
If they are still under, They will shoot me up with Zarxio that day.
Hope you are experiencing more standard BAY area temps.
May you continue having good progress!
Hugs back at you
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Glad all is well with you Ben,
You need to eat more but I know it's hard to do when your stomach is going in all directions. I lost quite a bit of weight too and only recently have been able to gain some back. I was down to 126 lbs which was way too skinny for me especially without my former muscle tone. I am up to 138-140 now and have notice increase in calf muscle from walking. I've managed to get 2-3 miles in on non chemo days. I went to Costco one day when it was too hot outside and Nordstrom as well. I had to replace most of my clothes due to the weight loss, which I quite enjoy, been a long time since I was a size 6! (only upshot in this ordeal) II never thought it would be so hard to actually gain weight since it's been a battle to lose in the past.
I had first Zarxio shot yesterday, no bone pain (knock on wood) and scheduled for two more. Then I am off treatment next week and resume chemo on 9/18 if bloodwork all checks out. My tincture of opium is keeping diarrhea in check. Happily my family doesn't have to hear about my bowel life all the time. This forum is the one place where we can be as graphic as necessary
Steroids were reduced in half, I am hoping for more reduction since I'm not experiencing any nausea with the new chemo cocktail like I did with 5FU. I was getting a whopping 20mg and got 10 mg on Monday. I was able to sleep some but no more than 5 hours with waking up here and there. I've been up since 5am, breakfast is warming on the stove, waiting for my daughter to get up and eat before she goes to work. The steroids do help with appetite, do you get any as pre-med prior to infusion? If so, how does it affect you? I just get such a surge of energy that lasts for 2-3 days then I pretty much crash for the next day to catch up on sleep. It's no wonder that some athletes crave the stuff!
It's cooled down here finally and we're supposed to get some sprinkles today but it's just passing through and then more summer temps in 80's and perhaps low 90's. Hope it cools down for you too and it's just awful that kids set fires and destroyed all that land. There's just no reason for that, I hope they catch them if they haven't as yet.
Have a great day, hugs!
Shana