It’s A Beautiful Day!

Chemo Tuesday: Part 3 — The Roadrunner Edition

Let me start by saying: I FEEL AMAZING.

Like, Roadrunner-on-roids amazing. This new drug combo has me zipping around like someone dropped a Mentos in my bloodstream.

• Steroids? Check.
• Olanzapine? Doing the most.
• Ativan? Just enough to keep the crazy chill and the nausea quieter than a teenager sneaking in past curfew.
• Pepcid? My stomach’s personal security guard—shuts down the acid party before it even starts.
• Magic  Mouthwash? Like a spa day for my mouth… if the spa specialized in numbing, silencing metal demons, and coating everything in minty denial.

But before we get to today’s shocking success story, let’s rewind to Tuesday—
aka The Great IV Debacle, Part 372: Still No Vein, Still No Peace.

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April Fools! The IV Debacle 2025 Continues

I wake up at 1 a.m. and for a brief, delusional moment, I think:
Did I just turn a corner? Am I… better?

Forgot I took meds the night before—maybe they helped. Maybe it’s magic.

By 6:30 a.m., I still feel decent. Took a shower. Did my thing. Feeling semi-human. I convince myself:

“This is it. I’m going to Dana-Farber Chestnut Hill, I’m getting my fluids, we’re locking in a plan, and this IV chaos is DONE.”

Phone? On mute. Naturally. I’m busy teaching my peeps and getting eggs and flowers delivered.
Missed calls. Voicemails. Full-on tag team chaos.

I finally connect with Nurse Kristina (saint) who says I’ll be heading to Chestnut Hill. She’ll call me back with a plan.

THEN—twist!
Primary care team calls:

“We’re getting you into Beverly Day Care for fluids at 10:30!”

Cue the false joy.

Me, in a sweet, childlike whisper:

“Can you call Dana-Farber and let them know?”

No confirmation yet, but I choose denial and pretend everyone’s aligned.
Smugly head to Beverly.
Phone rings halfway there—it’s Dana-Farber.

Moral Dilemma:

• Good me: Answer the phone. Risk it all. Respect boundaries.
• Bad me: Live recklessly. DO NOT answer the phone. Stay the course. 

Guess what? I answer.

“I’m on my way to Beverly to get fluids!!!”
Other end: “No no no no no…”

Apparently, Nurse K and PCP were NOT chatting. Or I hallucinated it. Since I’m no longer barfing in my shoes, they want to see me in person to lock in a post-chemo plan.

Chestnut Hill? 128 is a disaster.
Longwood? Maybe.

So I ask. And guess what?

Linda Downey to the rescue.

By 12:20, I’m at Longwood. (Sidenote: Nurse K never canceled Beverly IV, but PCP office = legends. They assure me a plan is now in place for future rounds.)

Labs are done. Headed to 9th floor. I’m on time. Fluids begin.

First bag goes up. I think that’s it.  WRONG.

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Enter: Betsy the PA, a Plot Twist in Human Form

Lovely woman. Delightful chat.

“So this is round 3 of 4, right?”

Me: blink “THREE of FOUR??” 

Eyes light up like I just heard I won a the lottery. (I didn’t.)

“Wait… I’m doing four rounds??”

We go back and forth:

• Her: “Well, how many are you getting?”
• Me: “Fourrrrrrr?”
• Her: “What did Dr. Schumer say?”
• Me: (looks anywhere but her) “Six… but I’d love four. Can I get four?”

Her: 👀
Me: “She never said four was on the table. But can we do 4 and then surgery to reassess???”

Yes, I know. They’ll be sick of me soon. I may get fired from Dana-Farber. But if you don’t ask, you don’t get.  (Side Note: I know it’s 6, surgery, pathology’s decides how many more rounds. But, let’s see if I can change that.  PS.  I can’t ). 

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IV Strategy Tuesday: Infusion Breakdown

• ✅ Magic Mouthwash: Ordered. Picked up at Longwood pharmacy.
• ✅ IV Prilosec Fluid: 40ccs of glory.
• ✅ IV Steroids: More (obviously).
• ✅ Antipsychotic: Still invited.
• ✅ Ativan: Now a regular guest. Not for anxiety—just here to murder nausea.

And then—SURPRISE! Bonus Bag. Another liter. Why not?

By the end:
Two bags of fluids, IV Prilosec, IV steroids, Ativan.

THEN: BAM. Rash.
Not subtle. Not mild. We’re talking CHEMO RASH/BURN across the chin. Puffy. Red. Blistered. Like I face-planted into a vat of salmon. (Fun fact: it’s  the only thing I know I’m allergic to and I carry an epi pen). 

Everyone looks… mildly intrigued. No panic. Just: “Huh.”

Ice on chin. Rash fades. I remain a medical enigma.
They agree—I am interesting. (Second time in 1 week)

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Operation: Stop the Chemo Chaos

Heading into Round Four (of six… maybe four... still TBD. But not really. See ☝️).
We’ve assembled the Avengers of Antinausea (let’s review again)  

1. Magic Mouthwash

A spa day for my esophagus. Goodbye, Brillo pad throat.

2. IV Prilosec / Pepcid at Home

The gut’s personal bouncer. Kicks acid out of the club.

3. Steroids

Inflammation down. Hunger up.
Garage? Might clean it at midnight.

4. Olanzapine (Zyprexa)

Blocks nausea signals and existential dread. Fun!

5. Ativan

Sedates the brain’s nausea gremlin. Sleep = achieved.

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Two-Hour Drive Home & The Blessed Call

Dana-Farber: we cannot keep doing this two-hour commute thing.

BUT! Mid-drive, I get a call.

Saint Lauren (MFM Triage Nurse) = already spoken with Nurse K.  New post-chemo plan = LOCKED IN.

🎉 It’s happening.

• Next chemo: April 15
• That Friday: Fluids at Beverly
• Monday/Tuesday after: Labs + IV Prilosec + IV steroids + IV fluids
  → Pre-ordered. Pre-approved. No begging. No chaos. A PLAN.

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Chip Watch 2025

Poor guy. Bad back. Limping. Thought Longwood was easier than Chestnut Hill.
Spoiler: It was two hours either way. Thanks, Massachusetts.

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Steroids & Supper

Thanks to Meghan and Chef Amy P for a knockout dinner.
Still hungry? Thank you Lasagna Laurie P.

To end the night . . . 

💊 Antipsychotic,

💊Ativan,

😮 Magic mouthwash 

😴 Off to bed I went.

Round 4: 

I see you. I’m medicated, hydrated, and mildly sedated. Let’s dance.  I AM DEFINITELY WINNING.

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Wednesday: Supercharged Edition

Morning Hustle

Woke up, mouthwash swished, meds down the hatch.
Clients trained. Sass levels = high.
Thank you, weird drug cocktail.

Took a class myself. Why? Because: why not?

Laurie: My Personal Uber

With Laurie visiting, I had a chauffeur.

We lunched at Grassy Roots. Then I discovered a hidden gem:

THE DRIPBaR.
Nine months in Commodore Plaza. I never noticed.

The DRIPBaR Experience

Vitamin IVs instead of facials.
Today’s cocktail:

• Biotin (hair sings)
• Magnesium (IBS chilled)
• Vitamin C
• Calcium
• Vitamin B

Skin = glowing. Energy = unstoppable.

Afternoon Mayhem

Hit up Tendercrop. Bought plants. Planted them.
Parents came by with dinner. Cleaned. Did laundry.

CRASH? Oh yes.

Evening Crash

Forgot my next meds. Nausea returned with vengeance.
Ran upstairs. Took my antipsychotic, Ativan, and mouthwash.
By 10:30? Slept like a champion.

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Thursday Recap

Still haven’t posted this blog because I’ve been running around like me on steroids (oh wait, I am).

Taught 5 people. Worked out (two days in a row).
Forgot 12:00 meds.

40 minutes into class?
Abort mission.
Came home.
→ Psycho meds ✅
→ Tiny Ativan ✅
→ Miracle Mouthwash ✅
→ Pepcid ✅

Felt fine again. Lesson learned. So this blog is coming to and end but not before I share my newly planned wig outings with all of you. And I need your help.

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Upcoming Events: Come Play With Me

🎉 Wigs, Wine & Workout Night!

Wednesday, April 9th | 3:30 PM | B-Tone Beverly
💰 $35 | Waitlist Only

45-minute class taught by yours truly. Or just stop by for wine between 3:30–4:30

At 4:30 PM: We’ll head to Rev’s for drinks, snacks, dinner—whatever you want.

Wigs encouraged. Sass required.

No pressure. Just fun.

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🧪 Save the Date: Wigs, Wine, Wellness & Wings Bash

Wednesday, April 30th
4:00 PM – IV therapy at The DRIPBaR
6:00 PM – Dinner (location TBD)

The DRIPBaR Experience: Boost energy. Glow up. Get infused like a celebrity in recovery. Loose Weight, Jump in the Red Light Sauna or get a Hydro facial.

RSVP if you're in for:

• The drip
• The dinner
• Or both!

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How it works:

👉 Create account with my code     

          ➣Link: Join & Save $25!

          ➣Referral Code: JenniferA7D8     

👉 Book your appointment

👉 You & I each get $25 off

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❓Challenge Question❓

After our DRIPBaR session on April 30th…
Where should we go next?

We’ve hit:

• Hale Street Tavern ✅
• Rev Kitchen & Bar (next week!) ✅

Now I need new ideas!

Drop suggestions in the comments or text me.
Let’s keep the chemo FU Cancer party rolling and make our next gathering a memorable one!

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Still upright. Still fast. Still loud.
And finally—still hitting ‘publish.’

💓J