Julie can't eat cheese

I am a week out from the second cycle of AC/Red Devil! I didn’t feel as sick as the first round, but I have been more tired overall. Which, I will take. Other side effects continue: food aversions/not much sounds good, mouth dryness/tenderness… have I said yet coffee doesn’t even really sound good?! I have barely been drinking a cup and it’s mostly to keep caffeine headaches at bay. And the dreaded hair loss started.

The day after chemo last week (3/9), Dan did something to his back and could not walk. At all. He was completely couch bound. I talked him into a telehealth appointment and luckily I was feeling well enough that day to pick up P from school and then go to get his prescription for a muscle relaxer. We kept P home on Friday from school – Dan was still in a ton of pain and I wasn’t sure when the steroid would wear off and/or if I would start feeling sick from chemo and be able to pick her up. I did feel well enough to drive to acupuncture in the morning and then Dan and I were both on the couch and P entertained herself most of the day. I never felt as bad as I did the first cycle, so I was able to get up and make her food. Thankfully, we will have help the final 2 cycles of Red Devil (Dan’s sister comes next week and then my parents will be here for the last one). Woo hoo!

My hair started falling out more and more starting on Saturday. When I touched my head, 10-ish strands would come out. Then on Sunday, the top of my head started hurting a little as well. It was time to buzz it. I asked P if she wanted to help – she declined, but asked that I wear a wig when we came down. [I did not – but did put a beanie on.] Dan buzzed it super short for me. I have not taken any photos and cannot really look in the mirror – I pretty much have a beanie on at all times right now. I am not a cute bald person and am not sure I want to remember this part of treatment.

I started wearing wigs in meetings for work this week! I am rotating them on different days. They do make my head itch, so I have just been wearing for meetings and then back to beanies when I am not on Zoom. I did meet a friend for a walk on 3/15 and wore a wig for the first time in public! It was cold out – so actually kept me warm!

I had a physical therapy appointment on 3/13 with a lymphedema specialist. She talked about prevention and what to look out for. I am most at risk for developing lymphedema within 3 years, but it carries a lifetime risk. She referred me to get a compression sleeve, so I will have an appointment soon. She suggested wearing the sleeve while exercising and when traveling via plane. She also measured my arms to get a baseline so we would know if there were changes in the future. Then she checked how I am healing and range of motion. She reviewed scar and lymph massage and exercises to increase range of motion. She stressed doing the exercises to get full range of motion back before radiation starts, as that will further damage tissue. My overall range of motion is pretty good and I have no signs of lymphedema now, so don’t need to go to PT ongoing.

I had a super fun session via Zoom with an Orly color expert and a witch/psychic medium to create my own nail polish color! It was a cool session of intention setting and creating. I talked about things I wanted to let go of, goals for the year, and things I wanted more of. The witch/psychic talked about good colors to go with my intentions – we decided on a coral color. While the colorist mixed the colors, the witch/psychic described the meaning of the colors: pink (soothing, caring energy), orange (motivating), yellow (positivity and joy), white (fresh energy), and lastly a pearl shimmer (calming, soothing). I got to name the color – I have been seeing the word BOLD a lot recently, so I named my color Be Bold and Brave. I am excited to wear it, after it charges under the new moon next week.

Up next: 3rd round of Red Devil next week. And Dan can finally walk again! Hallelujah!