I am tired, but I feel like an update is overdue. Quickly tapping this out on my phone and I’m going to skip adding links.

With my last chemo infusion (number 5) the side effects definitely hit me for longer. The new thing was cold sensitivity in my hands, for example, there were several days where I wasn’t able to open the refrigerator without wearing gloves. (The freezer was out of the question). This is a normal side effect from one of the chemo drugs in my 4-drug mix: Oxaliplatin. I also noticed the numbness and tingling while walking around outside, when the weather didn’t feel particularly cold (mid-50s). Annoying. At this point, that’s gone and I’m back to normal. But it does have me wondering about the upcoming final 3 infusions — how bad will things get? I have started to set expectations at my work that I may need to be out for more days over the coming month — and possibly just fully take the time off, until chemo is done. The intermittent back-and-forth stuff is very confusing ….

My care team got me all excited, during the last infusion consult — they said all those Nivestym shots I give myself in the belly, they don’t seem to be working, so they were going to “graduate” me to a more effective shot, Neulasta, that they could give just once every pump disconnect day. I really hate giving myself the shots in my belly … really, really hate it. So … I was so excited to be done with all that. But my insurance provider sadly denied coverage for Neulasta. So now instead, I have to do yet another night (now 8 after each infusion) of the Nivestym shots. 24 more of those to go…. Argggh…

In other news, I got the covid + flu vaccines yesterday – super convenient via Seattle public Schools vaccination clinics. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to somehow coordinate this through Fred Hutch. They said they could do it, but it would be during my infusion – and that I might as well just get it done during the “off period.” As with past times I’ve gotten a Covid vaccine, there was a bit of the “mini Covid” experience as my body did what it was supposed to do. It was pretty strong last night though – a fever that kept me from sleeping until after midnight. Hence, tired all day today.

I had a very helpful followup visit with an integrative health specialist at Fred Hutch, last week. I feel like I randomly spewed a bunch of my symptoms, which don’t make any sense, all of which I lump under the umbrella term “bodily anxiety.” These have been my worst post-infusion side effects .. couple days after the last infusion, I think I came pretty close to fainting during a Bodily Anxiety episode. She heard me out and said she thinks this is a vasovagal response to the constipation I experience after every infusion. That in itself was very helpful — for me, an explanation (any explanation) calms me down. She also gave me some tactical tips to deal with this. She advised doubling down on miralax, which I’ve been doing once a day in the mornings. She said to do it again in the evening. Additionally, she said when the bodily anxiety is bad, try holding a hot water bottle against my abdomen. Which I’ve already been experimenting with. She validated that, and in doing it more often, I have found it helps!

Finally, I wanted thank Aunt Cathey for the recent card you sent. :). I love the Grammy reference. ❤️