Yuk, this crap is getting old.

Hello all,

Cheryl reminded me to blog. I haven't felt real good and I have gotten tired early in the evening and just haven't felt like doing much about the normal time I blog. This was round two of the new meds and it just really kicked my butt. The fatigue has been a huge burden and I haven't wanted to work out or do anything strenuous. I have to everything as soon as I get home or it won't get done. The last few days I have had bad dizzy spells when going vertical or even just laying down. It makes me get the spins really bad. My nails have become brittle, my fingers and toes have gotten numb rather than just a tingle, and I bruise or cut with the slightest contact. My nose runs every time I eat, and now anything spicy lights me up like a bright red sign. You name it - Costco salsa, Dave's Rich and Sassy BBQ sauce, certainly hot sauce on eggs, and even chipotle soup makes me sweat. This is really getting annoying.

The bright side of things is that I have gotten to spend some time with buddies for the March Madness games on the weekends. What a blast to hang out, high five when the action is good, and just go out and shoot baskets during breaks. That has been my only exercise and it was to fun to call it exercise. I had a couple of White Russian drinks and man did they taste good. We just made some reservations to go to Zion National Park with the Cary's at the end of the month and that will be real fun. Plus, I have a trip planned for Yellowstone National Park planned around the first week of July. My brother and my nephew are coming out West for the first time, so we are going to camp at the KOA so we can have a fire and hit the pool.

Work is busy and that is a blessing. It keeps me going and I really enjoy the challenges of keeping sharp and organized. It definitely keeps me focused and helps me not think about how sick I feel sometimes.

I had my first chance to re-pay the favor of someone giving advice and comfort about this C word. There was a newbie in chemo last week. She was diagnosed with stomach (C word) and was all emotional about the drugs, her port was put in wrong, and to top it off she was from Wyoming. I was walking by her on the way to the facilities and the nurse was trying to explain to her the symptoms and all the things that could happen and she looked like a dear in the headlights. I only could talk to her briefly as the nurse was trying to plow through the info as fast as possible so she get her "C-word and You" manual. I remembered that feeling of uncertainty, being a bit terrified, overwhelmed with info, and just feeling like you needed to cry for a bit.

I still feel more lucky than most, at least I am functioning in life rather than puking in a bucket and just laying in bed.

Thanks for reading and have a great night,

Jeff