Round Two: Infusion # 5 Days 1 - 6

The actual infusion and immediate side effects have been the easiest I have experienced in Round Two; I slept through a great deal of the treatment and the flu-like symptoms began on Saturday and were not too bad.

Right on schedule the fatigue began on Monday. The white cells were very low but not as low as they have been and I am hopeful that means that my body is fighting on its own. The Lukine injections are scheduled for every other day this week because the cells were not as low. The hemoglobin was good and a Procrit injection was not necessary, I did have the weekly B-12 injection.

Today from the knees down including my feet are freezing and a little achy, I have been wearing socks and have had them wrapped up in a quilt. This is the neuropathy and according to the CBCC staff it is possible that the leg weakness I have been experiencing and the arm weakness which recently began are also due to neuropathy. I do have some numbness of the fingers and toes and it is no longer going completely away during the final days of a cycle. On the advice of the PA I have began taking a B vitamin to see if it will help.

The only new side effect I experienced was this afternoon, I was sitting on the floor looking in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet for a warranty and a wave of nausea hit me along with the feeling that I was going to pass out. Fortunately I was low to the ground and I was able to drop my head for a minute and then lay down until it passed. I won't worry about this unless it begins to happen frequently.

A co-worker, Richard, got me hooked on Dove candy; I love the dark chocolate. The candy is foil wrapped and is just the right size, pop one in your mouth and ever so slowly let it melt....mm mm. The inside of the wrapper contains a variety of messages and today's message is, "Collect 10 different kinds of tree leaves." I'm putting this one on my bathroom mirror and counting the days until I can go on a walk with Madison, Jackson and Connor to collect those leaves. As soon as you can, find a child and experience a walk with them hunting for 10 different kinds of tree leaves - it will be time well spent.