Summer Time Today!

I know some of you are actually experiencing winter with snow and cold weather, but our Southern California winter felt like summer today. I just had to get out for a walk. I hadn't walked since Tuesday, and needed to get back on track again. It seemed a little hard up the hill today as I walked my usual route around the neighborhood, but I marched steadily along and completed the 3-mile course. Later in the afternoon, I gave into another short nap. It didn't invigorate me as much as yesterday's nap did. Maybe the chemo drugs are catching up to me.

To prevent the aches of the Neulasta shot, I'm continuing with the Tylenol, taking 2 pills every 6 hours (if I remember to take them on time). It's working so far. I feel twinges of pain, mostly in my upper arms, but nothing bad. I'll try to keep on schedule with the Tylenol just to prevent the bone aches from gaining any ground. I have also been taking Claritin since yesterday, but I don't know if it's helping or not. Since it doesn't hurt me, I'll take it through Sunday like I did last time just to be sure. The aches might get worse without it. I don't want to change anything for the worse.

Taste is just about gone again. My dinner of a cup of chicken noodle soup and a grilled ham and cheese sandwich were lifeless. Actually, the meal would have probably been lifeless without the effects of chemo. I definitely have an appetite but don't find food tasty at this point after a treatment. During the last round, my taste improved near the end of the 3-week period, so perhaps it will do the same this time too. Again, I have had no problem with nausea and continue to eat and stay hydrated with lots of water.

My mouth and throat are a bit sensitive just like last time. Sometimes a little sore around the back and sides. I gargle each evening with some warm water with salt and baking soda in it. By morning my mouth is feeling pretty good. This side effect was also temporary during the last 3 weeks, so I hope it is a non-issue by later next week.

Well, I'm running out of steam. Time to get in bed with a good book.