Ready, Set, Whoopa$$

We just got back from a visit to the chemo doctor (Dr. Law). My hemoglobin is a "robust" 11, so it's on the rise, which is a good thing. We won't know my INR number until tomorrow, but it's kinda useless since I'm going off Coumadin in preparation for outpatient surgery Monday morning to have my port-o-cath put in for chemo. So I'm still on blood thinner injections (BOO), but I'm now down to once a day injections (YAY!!!). Gotta look for the little blessings.

Chemo starts next Tuesday. Right now we're going for the full dose, but if I'm still not as healed as Dr. Law wants, then we'll do the first treatment in smaller weekly doses, then progress to the bigger doses, possibly intra-peritoneal. It's weird to think about putting massive levels of poison into your system to fight these pesky cancer cells. I'm hoping to incorporate diet and supplement changes to help with the side effects. I have prescriptions for nausea and stuff like that, but I'm hoping to not have to use them since I don't love being on unnecessary meds. However, being nauseated isn't exactly fun, either, so I'm open to taking them.

I've been looking as some scrub/chemo hats at Etsy.com. I've decided to get some colorful, fun wraps in preparation for my hairless days. On the bright side, I've decided not to shave my legs since I'm going to lose that hair anyway. That and the fact that I can't quite bend down yet to shave them. I guess I should get to know my eyebrow pencil as well, unless I want to watch people get perpetually perplexed as to what emotion I'm having since my eyebrows will fall out, too. Hmmm, now THAT could be fun. I could charge a fee, like a carnival game. Guess which mood eyebrow-less Sandy is in. Oh, the possibilities. :o)

Yesterday was a bit of a wallower again. I'm constantly surprised by how easily the hells can seep into the cracks of happiness with their insidious nature and seemingly take over, at least temporarily. I'm having trouble dealing with the unexpected flow of tears. Usually when I have tears, I can attach a feeling to them and it somehow makes sense. Now all I can attach it to is the fact that I don't have any ovaries anymore and my hormones are running amuck. Running amuck, I tell you! So if you meet me on the street and I burst into tears, attribute it to ovary-loss and tell me a joke. I might cry even harder, but it may be because your joke wasn't too good. You'll never know. Just kidding. :o)

As scary as the prospect of chemo is, I'm at least glad to be getting started and moving forward to beat this blasted disease. Now the image in my head is a bit like Ironman, only my forearms and legs suddenly get covered in cans of Whoopa$$ and I'm kicking the cancer cells out of the ballpark. Here's to all of you, for your prayers, support, gifts, etc. And here's to Whoopa$$. Keep it coming.

Love to all, Sandy