1st Treatment

Well, my first cycle of chemo is almost over and I'm celebrating by going to the salon tomorrow and shaving my head.  (FYI, when I say cycle, I mean the three weeks from the chemo treatment until the following chemo treatment, hope that makes sense).  Yes, the time has come.  For the first time in my life, I can actually say that I'm literally pulling my hair out.  Actually doing it right now.  Going to have a lot of vacuuming to do tomorrow.  Anyway, I've decided to make my GI Jane transformation a mini event, and have asked a friend of mine who is a photographer to come document the moment, so as soon as I have the pics, I'll take a deep breath and post them on here for everyone to see.  Of course my vanity is also compelling me to go get my makeup done and potentially follow up my new style with a pedicure, which admittedly diminishes the tough girl image my new do is supposed to convey, but what can I say, you can take the hair off the girl but not the girl with the hair, umm....or something like that.  I swear that was supposed to work.  

As promised, here is my weekly update.  Basically, I felt normal this week.  Was a extremely refreshing after months of not feeling well (promise to post updates explaining the not feeling well soon).  I have to admit, I didn't really enjoy my 1st chemo treatment.  Not sure if you want to know how it felt, but since we're going for full disclosure here, just picture your worst hangover, take it up a few notches and then have the hangover last for 8 days.  Of course a little unexpected hospital fiasco didn't help the situation (will explain this in a separate post), but overall, I highly recommend avoiding chemo at all costs.  The one good thing that I can say about this is that I finally have a fool proof reason to take a nap in the middle of the day, and I am absolutely taking advantage of it.  Warning to those who call me around 3 in the afternoon.  If I don't answer, or I answer, but don't seem to remember the conversation, probably called me during a nap.  Anyway, this glorious week, I actually was able to make it through the day without any naps.  Only wrinkle this week was that I had a test to do that was left over from the unfortunate hospital fiasco.  Now I won't describe it in detail, but if any doctor runs up to you and tries to tell you that you need sigmoidoscopy, run the other way as fast as you can.  Just trust me on this one.  It's very unpleasant. Anyway, I'm sure I've pretty much ruined your next meal, or your falling asleep after reading this rambling message, so I'll sign off.  Will drop in tomorrow to let you know how the shearing event turns out.  The mantra tomorrow...bald is beautiful, bald is beautiful, bald is beautiful.  Keep that in mind while you're eating your cornflakes.  Anyway, thanks again for reading. 

Straight from the trenches,

DT