Radiation Week 1 And Some Good News

Today while waiting to see Dr. Q a mother with her 3 children dressed in Halloween costumes handed out crafty pumpkin decorations and little sacks of candy to all the patients sitting in the waiting room.  This was such a kind gesture and a great way for a mom to teach her children about service.  I told my mom that we need to do more service as a family.

I have had 7 radiation treatments.  I still have pain, mostly in my lumbar spine and left hip.  It seems just in the last day that the pain in my tailbone has improved just a bit.  I'm continuously on pain meds which I've been instructed to take by both Dr. Q and Dr. Dan.  Sometimes I'm not sure if it is the pain medicine that is helping the pain or the radiation.  Yesterday my body ached like I had the flu.  Unfortunately flu like symptoms are a major side effect of immunotheraphy.  Thankfully Motrin seems to improve these symptoms and today I'm not feeling them.  The worst pain is in the morning.  Once I get going for the day I do better.  

I take a zofran every morning for nausea, which seems to keep it at bay throughout the day.  I don't have much of an appetite and nothing sounds good, not even sugar; well most of the time anyway.  I'll take the 2 pound weight loss I had this week. 

I'm tired all the time.  I often find myself laying on the couch with my eyes closed.  I'm not necessarily sleepy, just tired.  I don't have a lot of energy, but I have gone on a few walks this week to enjoy the beautiful fall leaves.

I watch the people that surround me at the cancer center.  Most of the time I see children my age or my mothers age who are there accompanying their aging parents who are the patients.  It's quite strange to be the patient accompanied by my healthy mom.  It just doesn't seem fair.  I'll admit I've been a little tearful today, but I'm quick to dry my tears and keep going.

I'm so tired of this routine of having radiation every day (which only takes less than 10 minutes).  It's only been a week, I know and I'm complaining.  Only 4 weeks and 2 days left.  I'm glad to have a few things to look forward to in the coming month; a few trips to see Tristen (I needed a few more flights to get my A-list prefered status), a trip back to Phoenix to work a few days, the holidays and the big 40th birthday.

Enough of Debby Downer.  Now the Good News:
Last weeks BSU/BYU game was crazy amazing and BSU is still one of the only few teams in the nation that is undefeated.  Hopefully they can keep it up this week against Wyoming.

I have started writing my recipe book.  I'm so excited for this project and hope it comes together as quickly as I want it to.  The editing is what is probably going to take the longest.  I already have 60 recipes in the book, mostly in the meat and main dishes.  I figure if I can input 5-6 recipes a day, I should have it finished by Christmas (finished, not published), well maybe.  On Saturday I attended Women Ignite conference where I met a lady who helps people publish books.  Funny how you meet people at the right time. 

We had a very fun evening of frosting donuts last week.  I will admit, this is the perfect time of year to be sick so that I can enjoy all that Fall and the Holiday season have to offer.