josigirl13
josigirl13's Cancer Blog
July 10, 2007
| the end of round one | Views: 2505 |
After a nice long stay at home the last week and a half, I will be going back into the hospital on Thursday. I am starting an enzyme treatment called L-Asparginase. This is an injection rather than an IV treatment. Supposedly, people have really bad reactions to the treatment so they want me to stay in the hospital for the first 4 or 5 days to monitor that. People either have a bad allergic reaction (rashes etc) in which case they will stop the treatment, or some people get pancreatitis or have liver problems, bad stomach aches, nausea, and other unpleasant things that are probably best dealt with in the hospital. If I don’t have any bad reactions then I can go home on Sunday, but if I do they will probably keep me there for the whole 12 days of the treatment. This will suck, and will also only give me about 6 or 7 days at home before going back in for round 2 of chemo at the beginning of August.
Also, I have officially started losing my hair. Those of you who know me (and especially those who have lived with me) know that I am pretty much always shedding. This is totally different. Huge clumps of my hair are coming out and it feels like there is a bunch of unattached hair caught up with attached hair on my head. It feels sorta itchy and like something is just sitting on my head. Bizarre. There’s no like bald spots yet or anything, just seems thinner in some places, and my ponytail feels….disembodied. I ordered some headscarves online; I hope they show up before things start getting patchy!
On a positive note, I have been feeling really good and had a good time hanging out with my brother, sister-in-law, dad and stepmom last week. Mom is here this week and I think we got her apartment nailed down. I got to see it today and was coveting it (jo, you have to move here, I need a roomie!) I also have been getting lots of good mail! Thanks to Roger’s family for all the cards this week, and to Suzanne for jokes and Nancy for books and CDs and to Kathy and family for books and cards. I just finished a great book Joanna gave me where the author decides to cook all the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. She then blogs about making things like Aspic, sauces with bone marrow, Boef Bourgignon, etc. She calls it “The Project” and I think this is a fabulous idea. I have been going through my cookbooks for recipes I have been wanting to make but never had time. Tonight we had pork tenderloin roasted with fennel, white wine, garlic and rosemary along with some roasted potatoes and fresh steamed green beans. Lovely, thank you Jamie Oliver!
Hope all is well with all of you. Keep posting your comments, others are really enjoying them! I will try to post more on my progress during my hospital stay.
Peace, love, and good health,
Josi
05.04.08 - 
Sara 
Lan 
Kasia 
Thanks for your support -
Gal! I think you are one of strongest person I know. God is holding your hand as you go through the treatment that will make life much better for you.
To all your supports,you are the greast, to stand by this wonderful gal.
” We need to take care of each other”
Hug Sherri.
Good luck with your next hospital visit. I will be thinking of you.
Ah, now we will soon know what your next hair color will be.. I still have my money on black, shiny, stick straight hair when it starts growing back in.
Josie – while I don’t know you – I have heard a lot of wonderful things about you, from your Dad – I work with him in Minneapolis. He is so incredibly proud of you. I wish you the best in your upcoming treatments. Stay strong and keep smiling.
Heather Daniels
I think you and JO are going to be twins. My bet is on thick red hair :) But stay away from the pigeons.
One can only dream, Michelle. Everyone wants to be a redhead, secretly..though josi saw enough of my hair agony (when I would stumble in the bathroom and note that it was sticking up in 87 different directions) on 1650 8th Avenue that I wouldn’t wish it upon her. No, straight… it is the way to go
dude – i don’t remember you shedding when we lived together in malta… maybe i don’t remember because we were always hungover. damn that muddy waters and city of london!... (were those the names of the bars across the street?... everything is such a blur… haha)
hang in there, lady… i’m thinking of you…
linds
As a natural redhead I’ve always gotten mixed feelings about my hair. People either love it or hate it. I was picked on horribly as a kid. Before I started chemo and I knew my hair would fall out so I took the drastic step to see what I would look like as a blonde, brunette and jet black. None suited me as well as the red!
Keep the faith Josi. Hair grows back and life goes on. You are a warrior! I will keep you in my prayers!
I still vote for something completely wacky. I think you need to buy a wig in a color like pink or blue. It would be awesome! Sonia would use the pink one after you because it would fit perfectly into her gimmick. :)
Hey Josi!
Just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you. Don’t worry…headscarves are totally in fashion right now. I am sure you will look fabulous in them :)
It was great seeing you last week and hopefully we can catch up soon (I must tell you about my prostitution case I just finished—jury is out right now, but there was a great defense—something about carpet cleaning?)
Take care and I will be sending good thoughts and prayers your way as always,
jen
Josi—
Best of luck the next couple of days with your treatment. Todd and I are thinking about you every day and are praying for you. You are such a strong person, that I know you are going to beat this. Keep smiling and having faith. We love you and miss you. Hugs and kisses.
~Andreea
how is it going dude… hope you are hanging in there… stay strong. I am coming in august.
Hi Josi:
We’re trying to be dedicated shop keepers, however we’re having more fun looking for jokes for you. :)
The trouble is our selection is limited – seems as if there are only two topics to choose from – blondes and lawyers…......go figure….....here are a few samples…..............
How are a lawyer and a sperm alike?
They both hope to be human one day!......
(Not so good?....try this)
How many blonde jokes are there
One – the rest are all true!
(Still not so good – try again)
Two blondes are walking down the street. One blonde looks down – finds a mirror and looks into it exclaiming “WOW – I know this person – I’ve seen her before….....The second blonde takes the mirror – looks into it and says ..”DUH…of course you have – That’s me!
:) :) OK - we’re not the best comedians – but maybe we’ll improve with age – and we’d better hurry…..WE LOVE YOU.
My flight is booked and I can’t wait to spend time with you. Thinking of you.
Hey mama!
Wig, headscarves or even baldy – you’ll rock all those looks. I’ve been keeping tabs from afar – this site is great. I just came back from a stint in good old Minnesota…I got some mosquito bites just for you!
Keep on keepin on honey – a day will come again where we will roll up those jeans, wade in the ocean, boogie to Usher, eat an f’tira sandwich and drink a Cisk – toasting to this latest installment in the series of your life episodes that feature you kicking ass and taking names.
I love you – and I’m thinking about you all the time.
xoxoxo Marabus