Hi dear friends and family -
After wondering whether or not Melody would be
up to it, and after asking the hematologist on Sunday to delay the start
of chemo for one more week (because she just wasn't feeling up to it),
we got a message from the surgeon that she should start as soon as
possible. This was all Mel needed - she rallied and on Monday was MUCH
stronger, so she decided to move forward (she also really wants to get
this over with!).
Chemo wasn't the most horrible experience, other than some weird intense
pain Mel experienced in her left arm - at first all was fine, but when
the nurse started to drip the anti-nausea meds, a severe pain crept up
her arm and that led to a removal of the IV, and a reinsertion into the
right arm, after which there were no further problems. The pain was bad
enough to bring on some mild nausea, which passed. She also experienced
unusual pain when she had her blood drawn on Monday in the same arm,
which was the primary pin-cushion post-surgery, so we think her arm was
just freakin' tired of getting poked.
The rest of the treatment went mostly uneventfully - Mel ate and drank
and managed to stay comfortable. After a very urgent, and very relieving
visit to the "porcelain facility", she felt much better, and her pelvic
pain diminished. So that's what that was all about!
We drove home and noticed that driving over the bumps in the road wasn't
causing her distress as it previously did - another indication of
healing. Once home, we were greeted with some flowers and gifts from
friends and neighbors, and Corey had snuck into the house to post a
banner, saying "First Chemo Done! We Love Bubbe!", decorated by Emma,
Gavin and Sierra. Mel lit up like a Hanukkah bush when she saw that!
She had a small dinner, then a shower and warm pajamas, and then went to
bed. She told me earlier that she felt perfectly comfortable for the
first time in a long while, but now she's starting to feel a little
worse.
We're prepared (we think) for whatever comes next. She's taking
anti-nausea meds prophylactically (including a bit of THC to help with
that, appetite, and mood), and we hope to stay ahead of it.
Thanks for riding along with us on this roller coaster ride! Wishing you
all the best for your choice of holidays, and if we don't write again
beforehand, a very Happy New Year! Here's hoping 2022 is a whole lot
better than 2021 was!
Glen