Friday, February 9 – Grocery Shopping, Neuropathy, Tired and Olympics

This morning was grocery shopping, and picking up my Synthroid Rx from Costco.  We got there right before Costco opened and waited in the food court seating area for the doors to open.  Imagine that, Costco had no record of my renewed Rx being called in.  I called Dr. Levee’s office to find that one of the gals called my Rx into Express Scripts, which I have never used.  Nice…  They were going to call in my Rx to Costco right away.  I didn’t want to wait and I have enough Synthroid to get me through another week or two, so we left.  We will go back on Monday.

From there we hit Trader Joe’s, then the bank and finally Albertson’s.  My neuropathy is worse today, with my finger tips and nail beds hurting.  My feet are numb from my toes to about mid-arch.  The Darling Daughter suggested I use one of the electric carts at the Albertson’s rather than walk on my numb feet.  I contemplated it, but decided to use my own feet as I needed the exercise.

We finished the grocery shopping came home and Hubby unloaded the car while I put the groceries away.  From there we ate lunch and watched the Ninjago movie.  I was ready for a nap, but had a text from my boss checking up on me and then a call from my Dad, also checking in on me.

After I was done getting caught up with both of them, I took my nap.  2 hours later I was ready to watch me some Olympic Opening Ceremonies.  Hubby was out feeding the Orange Fluff Ball who only comes in the house for breakfast.

I’ve noticed over the past week or so a constant feeling of moistness on my upper back and my shoulders.  I figured out why I feel that way today, I have no body hair left if those areas.  No little fuzzes left to insulate me or keep my clothes from clinging directly to my skin.  So even when I do not have hot flashes I feel moist.

I went searching last night for information on how long it takes for taste buds to come back after chemo.  Four to six weeks for taste buds to return.  I also read that my hair will take 6 weeks plus to start growing back and it will be slow.  Fun, I almost miss my hair.  Almost.  I also found another website that looks like it is a good resource for those going through Breast Cancer – Beyond the Shock.   I will add a link on my page as well.  I never understood what Grade III meant on my initial biopsy, now thanks to this website, I understand.  Grades are assigned based on how quickly a cancer grows, Grades 1 through 4.  This along with the Ki-67 measure shows how aggressive my cancer was/is.  I wish I had been more willing to search the interwebs at the beginning of my diagnosis, not that I would change my treatment plan, as all I have researched so far indicates I am on the best course of treatment for my diagnosis.  I just feel I might have been more prepared for what was going to happen to me.  Not that I am sure anything prepares you for dealing with cancer, chemo, all the side effects, and how it will affect your life going forward.

Did I mention the neuropathy is worse today?  And it’s starting to hurt.  It’s very distracting and beyond annoying.  I’m not sure I can even knit if wanted to right now.  Not that I want to knit as I am too tired to concentrate on knitting.

The Darling Daughter sent me a text this morning that basically said I don’t need to be a hero, I have fought the good fight so far, it’s okay to not finish the last two cycles of chemo.  I will not be letting anyone down if I don’t finish the last two cycles.  After today and how bad the neuropathy has been, I really do hope that Dr. Sikaria decides we should skip these last two cycles.  I really am not sure how much more I can take of the side effects.

Life is counting the days until I can taste again