Round 2/Phase 2: Rock My World - White Pills vs. Blue

Greetings to one and all on this glorious official second day of fall. The sun is shining, the air is crisp and it's just starting to look and smell like autumn. I love Sweater Weather and the fall season where hubby and I currently reside is just a wee bit longer than in our beloved home-and-native-land, where it is hot, sticky and humid one day, followed by a couple of weeks of leaves changing and temperatures dipping....then BLAMMO! You are shoveling snow and freezing your butt off for the next six months. OK, perhaps a slight exaggeration and I have likely irked my fellow Canuckistanian compatriots for perpetuating a stereotype (sorry 'bout that), but I tell you that the city where hubby and I resided for 20+ years does indeed - for all intents and purposes - have two seasons: 1) Hot and 2) Really Freakin' Cold. And it is particularly top of mind because we just returned from a trip there and thus, my habitual digressions are markedly magnified.

In any event, it has once again been a while since I have sat down in my home office chair (and a comfy one at that), stared at my computer screen and then proceeded to unleash my musings, anxieties and general outlook on the World-Through-The-Eyes-Of-A-Gal-With-A-Brain-Tumaaaa-And-No-Hair (yes, I confess that I am mildly - ok more-than-mildly - obsessed about my hair. I declare that it is my prerogative and it is my right to throw the odd follicly-challenged temper tantrum!) Where was I? Ah yes. Sitting, droning on and on, not saying much of anything, so time to bring you fine folks up to speed.

When last I posted, I was just getting over a case of the shingles, and I couldn't hear out of my left ear. Mercifully, on the shingles bit, they (touch wood/knock on wood) have not returned. Additionally and on a very positive note, hubby and many of our pals have taken advantage of the new shingles vaccine, so for those of you who have had chickenpox as a child, I strongly recommend that you please take advantage and get vaccinated. Shingles is U-G-L-Y, nasty, sh**ty, painful, icky. Plus, the drugs the docs prescribe for you are just as ugly, nasty and icky. The three-second investment of  "This may sting a little" offers an outstanding return. Point made, methinks. :-)

On the ear issue, the Sudafed my radiation oncologist suggested I take just wasn't helping, so hubby and I did go and see my primary care physician a couple of weeks ago. Gosh, I adore her; she gave me a huge hug when she saw me. I mean, how many of you can say that your doctor hugs you? Heavy sigh. She personifies what a doctor should be and is absolutely in the right profession. I digress. She prescribed a six-day booster pack of methylprednisolone - AKA corticosteroids - and 10-days worth of antibiotics - Giant Pink Pills (at least they weren't Big BLUE Pills!). Yeah. More drugs!!! I've read that for some folks, steroids give them energy and increase their appetite, but sadly, they have the opposite effect on me, so lo and behold, I lost a little more weight over the past couple of weeks and slept a lot. Sounds all too familiar, doesn't it? Heavy sigh revisited. The moral of the story, though, and the good news is that I can now hear out of my left ear. All that matters. Alleluia! Alleluia! All-e-luuuuuuuu-i-aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

And ....the big news is that This Gal is heading back to work in one week. One week! GULP! For the first few weeks, I will go into the office one or two days a week, then work from home the remainder of the time and then ramp up to a full-time week when I feel ready. I am so thankful for the flexibility I am being offered, and plus, the added bonus is that the work I do isn't such that I need to show my face (and bald head) in the office every single day. Speaking of my bald head (yet again) and my Skinnier-Than-Ever-Middle-Aged-Body, I had a chat with my dearest pal CIF over the weekend and I was telling her that I was forced to do some retail therapy recently because many of my clothes simply do not fit me. At some point, I intend to put some weight back on and in fact, I haven't shopped for anything all year and hubby can attest to that, so I only picked up a few things. It just seems so unimportant. After all, it's just stuff, right? So, my pal remarked to me that when I start to think about what I am going to wear and pulling myself together as it were, that I MUST be feeling better and that I am ready to face the world. And I hadn't thought of it in quite that way, but she's right! Bravissima, CIF!

The other thing I decided is that This Gal ain't buying a wig. At least, not in the short term. Nope, there's a permanency to it that is just not quite palatable to me. Perhaps if I had long hair, it might be easier? So hats, caps and scarves it is! Started stocking up on jaunty little cappelli and I must admit, I am stoked about wearing them. And I may do the bald thing but there is no rush for that. This experience has taught me so many things, one of which is setting the right priorities. To jump off the deep end on Day One is not prudent and after all, I want to do it for me and when I'm ready. Is it possible that I'm finally growing up? ;-) Read a great quote recently and it states that maturity comes when we understand small things. Discuss.

And ... Round Two of The Big White Pill starts tonight.

Yup, same chemo except the pills they shipped me this time around are white, not blue. Shakin' it up a bit. I like it. Maybe someone from the pharma company read my rant about how they are sadists for making all of their pills blue. So, five days of The Big White Pill and no vino (waaaaaah!), a full weekend of sleep and then back-to-work - and the real world or a different world I should say - on Monday! So much more to fill you fine folks in on - for now, I have prattled on long enough, methinks. The moral of the story is that I am feeling good, energy levels are good, appetite is still a little slow in coming back but I'm sleeping well and my head feels clear. AND I can add two plus two! (YEAH!). Oh .... also heading to see Dr-Ferragamo-Slash-Pliner this Wednesday. Will keep you updated on the latest developments (fingers/toes/eyes crossed that it's all good news!)

Thanking all of you again - from the bottom of my heart - for all of your love, support, cards, texts, emails, phone calls. Hubby and I seriously could not have gotten through any of this without your love and support and encouragement. How fortunate are WE?? Look forward to hosting some of you fine folks soon - cc, MM, KSL, Big Bro...and DC, it was awesome to have you over a couple of weeks ago; Mama-san and Papa-san - sending much, much love your way; P & S K - SO good to see you; and the M clan - love you all so so much.

Speriamo di vedervi presto. Noi vi amiamo.

Cancerella, Buderello, e i Due Gatti
xoxoxoxoxo