Julie can't eat cheese

It’s been a wild week+. Where to even start?!

I had some amazing friends surprise me and bring breakfast the Friday (3/31) before my last Red Devil to celebrate. I keep saying it and continue to be so blown away by you all. It inspires me and gives me strength to keep fighting!

Food started sounding good over that weekend so I did my power eating to boost my neutrophils. P now will ask for some dark chocolate and say “It’s good for me!” Cheers to that.

My parents arrived on 4/4 to help out for a week. I talked my mom into coming to chemo to sit with me and my dad was on P duty, getting her ready and to school. Dan drove us to the medical center on 4/5. I did my labs first – the metabolic panel came back right away, then the CBC panel, but it took over an hour for the manual diff count to come in – which clears me for chemo and has the neutrophil level.

I met with my oncologist before chemo. My liver level had gone down (still high but much lower than 2 weeks before) – phew! I was also super anemic and my Dr said it takes about 100 days for our bodies to regenerate red blood cells. This explains why I am always cold. It also causes an increased heart rate (my watch notified me of this a week ago), fatigue, and memory issues. If it’s not one thing, it’s another… Not much I can do about it and they aren’t concerned with the RBC count. We also talked about preparation for my next round of chemo (new drug) in 2 weeks.

Then it was off to chemo, where I had to wait until the last blood test came in before I was cleared. It finally did and I had big, big neutrophil energy! The level was in the normal range (very low end, but the highest it’s been for me since starting chemo!)! Hell yes omega 3s, vit C, and dark chocolate! Seriously, go get yourself some dark chocolate.

Apparently I wasn’t allowed to have someone come with me to chemo, but the nurse allowed my mom to come in and put us in a private room. Then it was my last Red Devil infusion! I did it: 4 out of 4 – let’s keep it moving.

I slept all day after chemo, was able to work Thursday and did acupuncture, then slept all day Friday and Saturday. Sunday I started to have a little more energy. Luckily weeks ago, I had gotten P’s Easter basket ready. Dan hid most of the eggs for her egg hunt and made a really nice (mostly vegan) brunch.

P started complaining of a sore throat late on Sunday (4/9), then woke up with a full on cold Monday morning. I went straight to my office and didn’t interact with her. Dan Covid tested her and it was positive! Effffffffffff. It was then like a game show for me – 5 minutes to grab what you need and get out to the Airstream to isolate. I called my nurse right away to ask what I should do (isolate, call back if I develop symptoms, go to ER if I’m having trouble breathing) but she didn’t seem too concerned.

And I’ve been in the Airstream since (and will stay here until she tests negative). I’ve tested negative so far (3 days). Luckily the Airstream is set up with power, water and internet. I mean, I’m not slumming it – the 3 of us lived in the Airstream for a year (that was my first blog – Finding Hoffland). But I am lonely and bored and I can’t Pelo! I text Dan about 57384772 times a day to bring me things I need. He’s keeping P in her room to not spread germs around the house, but I’m still terrified Dan is going to catch it and then I’ll be out here longer. The universe has a really warped sense of humor… I’m laughing to not cry about it.

Dan also gave me my last shot on 4/10! I won’t have to have those with the next round. So happy to be done with that, but probably not as glad as him. Serious hero status!

I submitted my application for paid medical leave on 4/11. I am lucky to be in one of only ELEVEN (11! That’s it) states that have this. I am going through sick leave quickly and didn’t want to wait until I am out to apply. Work has been a good distraction, but I am not interested in running myself down and still have 3 more months of chemo and then radiation. If I need more time off to heal – getting well is the priority. I’m on one about medical care and paid medical leave – but this post is long enough, so I will get on that soap box another time.

Next up: 12 weeks of Taxol (weekly infusions) and labs only once every 3 weeks. It will *hopefully* not be as taxing as AC/Red Devil. Fatigue and neuropathy are the most common side effects. I also read in a cancer group that some saw their hair start to grow back during Taxol – guess I will start using my hair growth serum!

Hopefully I stay Covid negative so I can do chemo 4/19, and get back in the house soon. 🤞🏻