October 25 202
So far my second AC Chemo was actually a little better than Chemo #1. I still have terrible indigestion, headaches and heartburn but I know what to take for it now. I know what things I can eat to help prevent the worst of it. I know when I should and shouldn’t take meds and what meds help. I’m still nauseous, weak and tired but I know if I go for a walk it will help sometimes.
Colin had a stomach virus and spent all day in the ER yesterday. Luckily, it wasn’t his appendix but it was likely viral which is pretty scary for me since I’m immunocompromised now. We tried to keep him away from us but Ali is impossible to keep away from him. I’m loading up on electrolytes to prepare and hoping for the best.
Charles gave me a cool half shaved hair cut before my runway walk. It’s growing on me but he and Alistair love it. Colin tells me he loves me no matter what my hair looks like. Speaking of hair, it hurts now but Ali asked me to leave my hair for one more day before we shave it off because he likes it so much. The follicles get sore and I’ve found sleeping in a velvet turban helps quite a bit. Satin catches the little hairs and hurts them when you move, velvet keeps it from moving which is really the best way to keep it from bothering you. My skin is insanely dry, despite drinking a gallon of water a day but it still looks pretty good. I’m using mouthwash and brushing after every meal to prevent ulcers but I always have a few. It feels like they are always waiting to start so I’m very careful about what and how I eat. I hope someday this information helps another person going through this, I wish I’d known it when I was caring for my Mom. What toothpaste and mouthwash to use really matters. Not eating acidic things helps. Not having coffee helps too even though I miss it so bad.
This is just the beginning of a long few months of chemo. I met so many inspiring survivors at Penn Medicine Breast Reconstruction Awareness day, I hope to contribute like they have to the cancer community somehow. My beautiful pink sisters there couldn’t believe I came to be in the run way show after my first AC chemo, they all cried and offered me words of encouragement. I don’t have much to offer but my experiences and hopefully it will help someone. I’m trying to find the energy to make some more videos but enjoying painting and knitting a bit more than making content at the moment.
