No News IS Good News

Sunday Update: I'VE GOT THIS!

Drafted Friday. Interrupted Saturday. Wrapped Sunday.

(If you make it to the end, the Challenge Question awaits — plus the scandalous story of what sidetracked me on Saturday.)

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Good News First: This Round Is Manageable

First and foremost:
This round of chemo has been so much more manageable that I can honestly say — no hesitation — I can tackle the next two rounds. Not saying it’s a stay at the Four Seasons, but compared to the last three...if this is the pattern, I’m in.

After each of the first three rounds, I spent 21 days wondering:

• Do I really want to keep poisoning myself?
• Are there any alternatives?
• Could I sweet-talk my way out of chemo?

This time? Defensive and a little proactive = I’ve got this.

Hydration, Meds, and Mood: Crushing It

Hydration: ✅ Crushing it.

Meds: ✅ They finally nailed the cocktail. No crying this round — not even once.

The real MVP?
Olanzapine — technically an antipsychotic (which I’ve mentioned), but at low doses, it’s a miracle for chemo nausea. It’s kept the nausea at bay, made me a semi-normal eater again, and slowed my gut to a "charmingly sluggish" pace.
(Translation: I'm no longer sprinting to the bathroom every five minutes. Small victories.)

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Why Can’t I Stop Eating??

New development:
The Cravings.
Or should I say, the ravenous, devour-everything-in-sight phase.

I stopped the steroid and still couldn’t stop eating. Well, turns I out olanzapine doesn’t just stop nausea — it flips the “Eat Everything” switch.

• No specific cravings this time.
• Just food. All the food.

Good news: Once I pulled olanzapine and switched back to Reglan, the insatiable hunger got under control.

Bad news: Metal mouth taste = permanent resident now. (Frozen foods like Italian ice = life savers.)

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The Glamorous Side Effects Nobody Asked For: Neuropathy & Muscle Fatigue/Atrophy

Now, about my face.  Remember that steroid mouthwash they gave me to prevent mouth sores?  Yeah. That stuff turned my face into a full-on pufferfish situation.

Add in facial neuropathy = Swollen cheeks, puffed-out lips, and muscles around my mouth so fatigued that if I tried to drink out of a straw, it looked like I had just come from the dentist after getting a filling.

Bonus symptoms this weekend:

My fingertips have decided they’re tired of being team players. Dry, cracked, and so sensitive that touching anything feels like sandpaper on a sunburn.

Special shoutout to my right thumb (my dominant hand, of course) for going full diva — cracked, swollen, and so irritated that I now realize just how many basic life tasks involve using your thumb. (Spoiler: all of them.)

As an extra treat, the charming little pore blisters are making a comeback, popping up on my arms and face.

And let’s not forget the face fuzz drama: by the second week after chemo, I start to sprout some cute baby hairs around my face again...only to lose them all over again by the next round along with more pore blisters.  Enough to want to play connect the dots on my face.

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Friday, Day 11: Here Comes Trouble

Heading into the weekend…It was quiet — almost suspiciously so. You know what they say, "no news is good news." 

However... Friday afternoon hit. Still manageable, yes — but things started to shift. The chills crept in. The dreaded "make sure the bathroom isn’t too far" feeling reappeared.

This round has been so different that even I had to go back and consult my own blog just to figure out what I was supposed to be feeling by Friday, DAY 11. (For all the non-believers: this is proof that when ADHD, OCD, and a little Concerta join forces, miracles happen — like Past Me actually leaving behind a blog update that saved Present Me from total confusion.)

Turns out, Day 11 is always the nosedive:

• Immune system tanks (thank you, chemo and expired Neulasta).
• Nausea starts creeping back — but manageable thanks to Reglan.
• Pulled olanzapine to avoid creating a full-on traffic jam in my gut.
• Facial blisters and red patches staged their comeback tour.
• Peach fuzz on my head: hanging on... but barely.

Bonus round:

• Thumb still throwing a diva tantrum.
• Pore blisters redecorating my arms and face.
• Forearm hair hanging tough (eyebrows/eyelashes thinning but still standing).

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What’s Made Round 4 Easier?

Expectations + Preparation = Sanity.
I’m not getting blindsided anymore. I’m staying a lot defensive — maybe even a little proactive.

Round Five?
Bring it.
I’m ready.

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Food, Friends, and Frozen Goodness

Gratitude shoutouts!

• Starbucks Iced Passion tea deliveries from Margie and Linda.
• Peanut M&M jar refill from Jay (currently vacationing and still asking me to share my treats).
• Epic Thursday dinner from Kim — THANK YOU!

Food mishap highlight:
When asked if I wanted anything, I texted:

• "Italian ice"
• "watermelon"
  (meaning watermelon flavor).

Got... a watermelon. The fruit. (WOW, who knew?  Chemo belly loves it!)
WIN WIN — both Italian ice and real watermelon came to the rescue against my constant burning metal taste. Frozen foods for the win. Thank you Kim!

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Floral Therapy: You can never have too many

Huge thanks to:

• Jen M.— sent an arrangement from Chapmans so gorgeous it could headline a wedding.
• Sandy (fresh from Nantucket) — even though I was busy getting IV fluids, her flowers from Leonard’s made it feel like spring.
• Liz (Chip’s childhood friend from ACK) — another absolutely stunning arrangement.

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Birthday Week + Chip’s True Love Story

We wrapped up celebrating:

• My mom’s birthday on Tuesday 🎉
• Chip’s birthday on Friday 🎂

Fun Chip Fact:
He has an unhealthy, borderline obsessive relationship with... his paper shredder.

(If you don't believe me, stage right.)

Quick Calendar Update

April 30th plans? Gone. 😩😫

I got the call:
Instead of anything fun, I’ll be in Boston for my mid-chemo echocardiogram. Nothing says "party" like a freezing hospital gown and a heart scan.

Summary:
If you were planning to see me, gold star for loyalty, but I’m officially bailing.

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Saturday Distraction: Confessions of a Wig Weaver

Why didn’t I finish this blog on Saturday?

Well, here’s a reveal:
I have an unhealthy amount of real human hair. (NOT from my own head, calm down.)

Over the years:

• Clip-ins
• Tape-ins
• Sew-in wefts
• And my latest love — HALOS.

I finally put my hoarding to good use:
I wove my own real human hair wig. (See photos above)
(It’s now my new favorite... until next week, when I’ll probably have a new favorite.)

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Challenge Question!

You made it!

Now it’s your turn:

What random thing have you acquired over the years that finally served a purpose?
Or...
What are you currently collecting that you’re still waiting to justify?

Share with the masses — or if you’re shy, text me privately. Let's laugh about it together.