We're back at the treatment center outside of ATL (Newnan), getting chemo treatment #2. Mom's first treatment went well, but the side effects were a little jarring. Mom was mainly worried about nausea and vomiting, but she experienced none of that! Yay! 🎉 But on day 3, the joint/muscle pain and body aches made her miserable. She said she hurt from her scalp all the way to her toes, and that it felt like body aches from the flu x 10.. and that it hurt to even just touch her skin. I spoke to her by phone one day when she was just starting to feel a little better with regard to the aches and she said she hurt so bad that she just wanted to "waller" all over("waller" is a mama term, for sure 😂). That lasted for a couple days and the doctor called and prescribed some meds for "wanting to waller" and it quickly got better. 👍😜
The only other true side effect (and to mom, it was the worst) was the gastro-intestinal issue that took 2 weeks to resolve (I'll spare you the emoji). But once she got that worked out, she says she felt pretty good. We are going to take some precautions this time around to where we can either keep that from being a problem or it not be as bad. And by "we," I mean Mama obviously. Not much I can do in that department! 😬
Her hair began falling out in clumps last week (as we expected), so it wasn't a shock. We spent a few days at the beach over the weekend and we decided to go ahead and shave it in front of the kids so that they weren't shocked when mom suddenly had no hair. I feel like them seeing me shave her head really helped the process. Millie held the trashcan as I shaved off huge clumps and put them in. She said "Thank you" every time I put more in it and seemed totally unphased by it. Chase was his normal busy-body self and didn't really pay much attention, but he sure gave mom a good once-over when I was finished.
*disclaimer: this is not actual footage of Chase*
Fortunately though, he didn't hesitate to go to his AnnaAnna when it was all said and done. 😍 It was a relief because Chase wanted nothing to do with me last week, and all I did was come home with bangs! 😳 #notfeelingthelove
We had a check-up with the oncologist today. He performed a physical exam and we are happy to report that he was NOT able to locate the lump anymore just by feeling around! Great news! 🙌🙌🙌🙌 No ultrasound was performed but the doctor was obviously pleased with that assessment alone! #fightinglikeamother 💁
Overall, mom is and has been in great spirits, and has mostly remained her normal, jovial self through it all so far! 👯 I could tell when she didn't feel well though as I called to check in daily. 😔 I hate being so far away, but I'm so grateful for friends like Brookes, who took her and Grandmama enough food for an army during the worst of it. Jessica and her mom also stopped by one day to visit, and brought them some Krispy Kreme doughnuts and some flowers. Mom's sister-cousin, Debbie, came and checked on her and brought her favorite Bojangles' meal, and they've had several visitors popping in and out periodically. It's been really refreshing, and that's not even counting the people that have so generously offered to bring meals or do whatever they can to help. We're just trying to space it all out, since we have 6 more months of somewhat uncertainty. I don't want to use up all of our help in one treatment! So, again - thank you all for all of the support through cards, messages, meals, visits, and offering to help watch the kids while I come with Mom. I can't imagine her coming here by herself, even though she has assured me she could do it(and I'm sure she could). But I don't see a reason to have her do that, if I can get it worked out to be here with her. So thanks to everyone that helps so that I don't have to imagine her doing it alone!! 💗💗💗
#stronglikemom💪
