Taxing my sense of humor

Throughout this adventure, I maintained how every week of chemotherapy is different. It is how my recipe of drugs affects my body. It is how my chemo drugs have accumulated in my system, and what reaction I have to that cumulative affect. This week has been one of my most difficult. 

First, I have made it all this way without neuropathy. This week - with only two weeks of chemo to go - I struggle with very sore fingers and toes. Accompanying that soreness, especially in the end of my fingers, I have been extremely tired and weak which means I have been sleeping twelve hours at a time. 

It was my privilege to present at the Aurora Sewing Center Sewing Club on Wednesday. We talked together about foundation paper piecing, and hopefully - in my virtual Batman shirt -  I was able to recruit new enthusiasts for paper piecing. Interesting, however, was how totally exhausted I was after that presentation, Batman shirt or not.  Once home, I crashed like I was vying for a gold medal in the Olympic event of sleeping!

Yesterday I taught two classes from home. Classes went well, but my fingers and toes reminded me how I was confronting a very real nerve challenge. And I was sooooo cold. Having bundled in layers for zero degree weather at my horse barn made no difference as I taught. My core was bone cold. 

My second frustrating side affect...I seem to have lost my taste buds again. They disappeared in December and have been active or not across this entire process. They were better for a while. Now I am back in the doldrums of what I call 'flat food'. It is so weird. Most everything tastes the same. Food just is not fun right now, and you know I love to eat!

And additionally, I continue to manage an aching tooth, one that cannot be pulled until two weeks after my chemo ends per the oncologist's dictate. My gastrointestinal system is less than enjoyable, and yet there is hope: I am growing baby fuzz on my bald head! That is something cheerful and noteworthy!!!

I keep reminding myself that last Monday was the last time I would receive the drug, Taxol. Hip hip hooray! But I do not know how long it will take to clean the Taxol out of my system. And my husband tells me I am crabby! I will confirm that. I am battle weary. I work hard at keeping my sense of humor. 

Thank goodness, I have my quilting, and I can walk the neighborhood. Both help me exercise and keep the neuropathy in check. My prayer about now is that the neuropathy retreats with the ended Taxol. My prayer is that I do not end up with permanent nerve damage. My prayer is that I can nurture that four year old spirit in a Batman shirt...and finish this chemo journey honorably.

Signing off with my chin up, The quilting cancer girl