Chemo Treatment #2, done!

And just like that, chemotherapy treatment #2 is finished. For this visit, I started with a blood draw and a quick check in with the nurse practitioner before I moved to the infusion room. Even with those ‘pre-infusion’ steps, I finished up about thirty minutes later than I did two weeks ago. It seems like we can plan for four hours each visit, but that could vary slightly. Even though that feels like a long time at the doctor’s office, things seemed to move quicker this week, probably because I ‘knew the drill’ and steps didn’t have to be explained as much.

When I posted about my first infusion, I mentioned the cold sensitivity as my only true side effect. It is such a weird sensation— for instance, even ‘cool’ drinks make my tongue and throat tingle, and touching a cold doorknob makes my fingers tingle like they have fallen asleep. Sometimes the tips of my fingers will even ache painfully. It seemed to last about 3 days or so last time, so I am hopeful that short time continues.

However, a different side effect, extreme gas pains/stomach cramps, manifested after my post, and it really knocked me out. I spent more than one morning very nauseated from the painful cramps, as they seemed strongest at that time of day. Warm baths helped, as did gas-x medicine once I got it (there was a snow day in there that locked us down for a couple of days), and the symptoms seemed to ease the further removed from my infusion. It remains to be seen if that was a fluke symptom or will be regular occurrence for me.

Praises:

• Second chemo treatment is in the books! This felt smooth and ‘bump free’ largely in part because I had done it before.

• Praise the Lord for no winter weather delays!!

• Nathan was with me during the entire treatment and I am so thankful to have my number one supporter by my side through it all.

• This week is a break week for our homeschool co-op, which means I can lean into rest and recovery while having a lighter school work load for the kids.

• Friends, family and community have provided so much through meals, gift cards, and donations to our GoFundMe. It truly helps reduce the stress of bills and meals (kids keep eating even if Mom doesn’t feel like it:-).

Prayers:

• Pray that my side effects would be minimal. Please especially pray that the gas and stomach pain would be mild and manageable, so that I can avoid nausea/vomiting and continue to eat and fuel my body well.

• Pray that this second treatment would already be working to eliminate cancer cells in my body.

• Pray for continued grace and flexibility for our family as we adjust to new rhythms of infusions every two weeks and the cycle of side effects/good days and bad days.

• Pray that in all things God would be glorified.

This ‘popped’ up when I opened the Bible app this morning, and it felt appropriate. If the cares of your heart are many, I pray that you would know our loving heavenly Father who comforts, consoles and sustains you.