Yesterday was good! (Chemo 2a, days 1&2)

So yesterday was chemo number 3, or the beginning of round two, however you may look at it. It went...okay! It was my 33rd birthday, and I have had a really really rough time lately dealing with the mucousitis. I haven't been able to eat much anything solid going on 5 days now and the pain was starting to get to me psychologically. Big time. But today, I have not had a Vicodin in 17 odd hours and I still can't eat solid food, but I'm thinking the steroids I am given pre chemo helped me yesterday and today? I'm not sure, but I'll take it for whatever it's worth! I can honestly say that I had a pretty decent birthday even! :) 

My oncologist really gets on my nerves with his lack of bedside manner. He had a resident come in and do an examination on me regarding the awful mouth sores I have because he wanted to see if an antiviral medication was needed (it was)...he told me I would only see him every four weeks now and that on the alternating weeks where I got chemo but didn't see him, I would have my blood counts checked at the infusion center.  My blood counts were low yesterday, but okay and chemo went fairly smoothly except for the fact that I was exhausted and HIGhLY irritable and was dreading the fact that I had ANOTHER appointment with my general practitioner after chemo was done, but thankfully her office is in same hospital as the cancer center so it all worked out pretty well. At that appointment, she had me talk to a fourth year med student before she came in, he examined my lymph nodes and scared me by saying that he felt a "significant difference between the right and left side" grrr! My own oncologist won't even feel them because we both physically can tell the difference in appearance in my neck, chest, and armpit. I have a PET scan scheduled for Febuaray 17th to see how the cancer is responding to treatment. He is hoping to see significant improvement to no evidence of disease...(but will have to continue with the scheduled treatment no matter how good it looks...just the way it is...by then I'll have 8 chemo's left to do and my 5 weeks of radiation still) I am so nervous but optimistic of seeing at least improvement on this upcoming scan because of what is physically noticeable. I just want to continue on with the rest of my treatment knowing that it's working and that I am kicking this cancer in the ass! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I feel like I have already been through so much...I can't imagine what it'll be like for me to learn that we may have to try something different if this chemotherapy isn't working. It's a scary thought I don't like thinking! 

I was prescribed more medication yesterday for potassium, sleep, my muscle spasms, ,(due to my CP, not my HL) and my antiviral medication...this is all on top of the pain meds, magic mouthwash, anti nausea meds, vitamin d, and the regular OTC stuff I take. It's hard to keep straight, but I'm thinking of investing in a pill case like my grandma uses that has different compartments for different times of the day. 

I'll do what I have to do for as long as I have to do it! 

I was feeling pretty bad here, but was keeping on keeping on! My hoodie (given to me by a survivor) says "fight like a girl" I love it!!

The swelling in my face and neck (and chest and armpit) are gone! Bite me, mr med student...my pet scan is going to be beautiful!